On stagnation point flow of Sisko fluid over a stretching sheet

The steady two-dimensional stagnation-point flow, represented by Sisko fluid constitutive model, over a stretching sheet is investigated theoretically. Using suitable similarity transformations, the governing boundary-layer equations are transformed into the self-similar non-linear ordinary differential equation. The transformed equation is then solved using a very efficient analytic technique namely the homotopy analysis method (HAM) and the HAM solutions are validated by the exact analytic solutions obtain in certain special cases. The influence of the power-law index (n), the material parameter (A) and the velocity ratio parameter (d/c) on the flow characteristics is studied and presented through several graphs. In addition, the local skin friction coefficient for several values of these parameters is tabulated and examined. The similarity solutions for both the Newtonian and the power-law fluids are presented as special cases of the analysis. The results obtained reveal that, in comparison with the Newtonian and the power-law fluids, the velocity profiles of the Sisko fluid are much faster (slower), for d/c<1 (d/c>1), respectively.     

Thermal radiation effects on Williamson fluid flow due to an expanding/contracting cylinder with nanomaterials: Dual solutions

The phenomena of heat and mass transfer during the flow of non-Newtonian transfer are amongst the core subjects in mechanical sciences. Recently, the nanomaterials are among the eminent tools for improving the low thermal conductivity of working fluids. Therefore, in view of the existing contributions, this article presents a two-dimensional numerical simulation for the transient flow of a non-Newtonian nanofluid generated by an expanding/contracting circular cylinder. This critical review further explores the impacts of variable magnetic field, thermal radiation, velocity slip and convective boundary conditions. The basic governing equations for Williamson fluid flow are formulated with the assistance of boundary layer approximations. The non-dimensional form of partially coupled ordinary differential equations has been tackled numerically by utilizing versatile Runge–Kutta integration scheme. The momentum, thermal and concentration characteristics are investigated with respect to several critical parameters, like, Weissenberg number, unsteadiness parameter, viscosity ratio parameter, slip parameter, suction parameter, magnetic parameter, thermophoresis parameter, Brownian motion parameter, Prandtl number, Lewis number and Biot number. The outcomes of the systematic reviews of these parameters and forest plots are illustrated. The study reveals that multiple solutions for the considered problem occurs for diverse values of involved physical parameters. The computed results indicate that the friction and heat transfer coefficients are significantly raised by the magnetic parameter for upper branch solutions.     

A compact solution for ion beam therapy with laser accelerated protons

The recent advancements in the field of laser-driven particle acceleration have made Laser-driven Ion Beam Therapy (L-IBT) an attractive alternative to the conventional particle therapy facilities. To bring this emerging technology to clinical application, we introduce the broad energy assorted depth dose deposition model which makes efficient use of the large energy spread and high dose-per-pulse of Laser Accelerated Protons (LAP) and is capable of delivering homogeneous doses to tumors. Furthermore, as a key component of L-IBT solution, we present a compact iso-centric gantry design with 360° rotation capability and an integrated shot-to-shot energy selection system for efficient transport of LAP with large energy spread to the patient. We show that gantry size could be reduced by a factor of 2–3 compared to conventional gantry systems by utilizing pulsed air-core magnets.     

Effect of layer sliding on the interfacial electronic properties of intercalated silicene/indium selenide van der Waals heterostructure

Methods capable of tuning the properties of van der Waals (vdW) layered materials in a controlled and reversible manner are highly desirable. Interfacial electronic properties of two-dimensional vdW heterostructure consisting of silicene and indium selenide (InSe) have been calculated using density functional theory-based computational code. Furthermore, in order to vary the aforementioned properties, silicene is slid over a InSe layer in the presence of Li intercalation. On intercalation of the heterostructure, the buckling parameter associated with the corrugation of silicene decreases from 0.44 Å to 0.36 Å, whereas the InSe structure remains unaffected. Potential energy scans reveal a significant increase in the sliding energy barrier for the case of intercalated heterostructure as compared with the unintercalated heterostructure. The sliding of the silicene encounters the maximum energy barrier of 0.14 eV. Anisotropic analysis shows the noteworthy differences between calculated in-plane and out-of-plane part of dielectric function. A variation of the planar average charge density difference, dipole charge transfer and dipole moment have been discussed to elucidate the usability spectrum of the heterostructure. The employed approach based on intercalation and layer sliding can be effectively utilized for obtaining next-generation multifunctional devices.     

Formation of solitons and shocks in toroidal ion temperature gradient mode in the presence of non-Maxwellian electrons

Linear and nonlinear phenomena are investigated in toroidal ion temperature gradient (TITG)-driven pure drift mode. The model includes inhomogeneity in background magnetic field, ion temperature, and density. Finite Larmor radius effect is incorporated to understand the effect of low-frequency wave on ion dynamics. Electrons are assumed to follow nonthermal distribution, that is, kappa and Cairns distributions. Dispersion relation is obtained to analyse the linear behaviour of the TITG mode in the presence of non-Maxwellian electron distribution. In the nonlinear regime, exact solutions (soliton and shocks) are obtained (in dispersive and dissipative medium respectively) by using functional variable method to solve the nonlinear partial differential equation obtained for the system under consideration. Graphical illustrations are used to exhibit the characteristics of linear and nonlinear structures and their dependence on different physical parameters. It is observed that for TITG-driven pure drift mode, rarefactive solitons are formed for both thermal and nonthermal electron distributions. It is also observed that variation of electrons from standard thermal distribution affects the propagation characteristics of linear and nonlinear structures in TITG-driven modes. Results of our investigations will be helpful to understand the low-frequency waves in inhomogeneous plasmas in the presence of nonthermal electron distributions which are frequently observed by satellite missions and are also observed in laboratory plasmas.     

A technique for digital steganography using chaotic maps

Chaos has been applied extensively in secure communication over the last decade, but most of the chaotic security protocols defined, are cryptographically weak or slow to compute. Also, study of chaotic phenomena as application in security area is not discussed in detail. In this paper, we have intensely studied chaos, their influence in secure communications and proposed a steganography technique in spatial domain for digital images based upon chaotic maps. By applying chaos effectively in secure communication, the strength of the overall anticipated algorithm has been increased to a significant level. In addition, few security statistical analyses such as correlation, entropy, energy, contrast, homogeneity, peak signal to noise ratio, and mean square error have also been carried out and shown that it can survive against various differential attacks such as the known message attack, known cover attack, known stego attack, and stego only attack.     

Photochemical synthesis of a ladder diborole: a new boron-containing conjugate material

Climbing the ladder: Reductive cyclization of alkynyl haloboranes lead to the bis-benzocycloborabutylidene rather than the expected ladder diborole, despite the former being much less thermodynamically favored. Photochemical conversion to the ladder diborole was, however, quite facile upon irradiation at 254?nm.     

Carbon monoxide activation via O-bound CO using decamethylscandocinium-hydridoborate ion pairs

Ion pairs [Cp*(2)Sc](+)[HB(p-C(6)F(4)R)(3)](-) (R = F, 1-F; R = H, 1-H) were prepared and shown to be unreactive toward D(2) and α-olefins, leading to the conclusion that no back-transfer of hydride from boron to scandium occurs. Nevertheless, reaction with CO is observed to yield two products, both ion pairs of the [Cp*(2)Sc](+) cation with formylborate (2-R) and borataepoxide (3-R) counteranions. DFT calculations show that these products arise from the carbonyl adduct of the [Cp*(2)Sc](+) in which the CO is bonded to scandium through the oxygen atom, not the carbon atom. The formylborate 2-R is formed in a two-step process initiated by an abstraction of the hydride by the carbon end of an O-bound CO, which forms an η(2)-formyl intermediate that adds, in a second step, the borane at the carbon. The borataepoxide 3-R is suggested to result from an isomerization of 2-R. This unprecedented reaction represents a new way to activate CO via a reaction channel emanating from the ephemeral isocarbonyl isomer of the CO adduct.     

Tautomers of anthrahydroquinones: enzymatic reduction and implications for chrysophanol, monodictyphenone, and related xanthone biosyntheses

Reduction of emodin by sodium dithionite resulted in the formation of two tautomeric forms of emodin hydroquinone. Subsequent conversion by the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) MdpC into the corresponding 3-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroanthracen-1(2H)-one implies that deoxygenation is the first step in monodictyphenone biosynthesis. Implications for chrysophanol formation as well as reaction sequences in the related xanthone, ergochrome, and bianthraquinone biosyntheses are discussed.     

Symmetries of boundary layer equations of power-law fluids of second grade

A modified power-law fluid of second grade is considered. The model is a combination of power-law and second grade fluid in which the fluid may exhibit normal stresses, shear thinning or shear thickening behaviors. The equations of motion are derived for two dimensional incompressible flows, and from which the boundary layer equations are derived. Symmetries of the boundary layer equations are found by using Lie group theory, and then group classification with respect to power-law index is performed. By using one of the symmetries, namely the scaling symmetry, the partial differential system is transformed into an ordinary differential system, which is numerically integrated under the classical boundary layer conditions. Effects of power-law index and second grade coefficient on the boundary layers are shown and solutions are contrasted with the usual second grade fluid solutions.