Thermoelectric Properties of High-Entropy Wolframite Oxide: (CoCuNiFeZn)1−xGaxWO4

Herein, the synthesis of high-entropy wolframite oxide (CoCuNiFeZn)_1-xGaxWO₄ through standard solid-state route followed by spark plasma sintering and their structural, microstructural, and thermoelectric (TE) properties are investigated. X-ray diffraction pattern followed by patterns matching refinement shows a monoclinic structure with the volume of the unit cell decreasing with increasing Ga content. The optical bandgap for these oxides shows a cocktail effect in high-entropy configuration. The Seebeck coefficient indicates electrons as dominating charge carriers with a nondegenerate behavior. The electrical resistivity decreases with increasing temperature depicting a semiconducting nature. Thermal conductivity in high-entropy samples (κ ≈ 2.1 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ @ 300 K) is significantly lower as compared to MgWO₄ (κ ≈ 11.5 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ @ 300 K), which can be explained by the strong phonon scattering due to large lattice disorder in high-entropy configuration. The TE figure of merit zT increases with Ga doping via modifying all three TE parameters positively.     

Novel optical polarizer design based on metasurface nano aperture for biological sensing in mid-infrared regime

Since Metasurfaces are playing important roles in optical devices such as optical polarizers and detectors, in this article, we have proposed a novel shape of nano aperture antenna for mid-infrared applications such as bio-sensing and other potential optical applications based on plasmonic characteristic of the gold layer over the SiN substrate. The transmittance tensor is obtained for vertical and horizontal linear polarization and base on boundary condition of the metasurface, the circular polarizations are extracted which are confirmed by the electric field distributions. We have shown by the parametric studies that the phase difference is altered by the gap and slot width and so with the dimension modification, we are able to achieve circular polarizer in the optical range. The biological materials with a thickness of 80 nm have then been placed over the metasurface layer and the figures of merits have been obtained. We have revealed that when the circular polarization is osculated to the metasurface at a special frequency the linear polarization is obtained in the other side of the metasurface. The nano aperture has been modeled and the finite difference time domain calculations are performed in CST Microwave Studio as a commercial full wave simulation software.     

Output feedback controller for hysteretic time-delayed MIMO nonlinear systems

In this paper, an H ^?? output feedback controller is developed for a class of time-delayed MIMO nonlinear systems, containing backlash as an input nonlinearity. Particularly, a state observer is proposed to estimate unmeasurable states. The control law can be divided into two elements: An adaptive interval type-2 fuzzy part which approximates the uncertain model. The second part is an H ^??-based controller, which attenuates the effects of external disturbances and approximation errors to a prescribed level. Furthermore, the Lyapunov theorem is used to prove stability of proposed controller and its robustness to external disturbance, hysteresis input nonlinearity, and time varying time-delay. As an example, the designed controller is applied to address the tracking problem of 2-DOF robotic manipulator. Simulation results not only verify the robust properties but also in comparison with an existing method reveal the ability of the proposed controller to exclude the effects of unknown time varying time-delays and hysteresis input nonlinearity.     

Does shape matter? Bioeffects of gold nanomaterials in a human skin cell model

Gold nanomaterials (AuNMs) have distinctive electronic and optical properties, making them ideal candidates for biological, medical, and defense applications. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate the potential biological impact of AuNMs before employing them in any application. This study investigates two AuNMs with different aspect ratios (AR) on mediation of biological responses in the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) to model potential skin exposure to these AuNMs. The cellular responses were evaluated by cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, alteration in gene and protein expression, and inflammatory response. Gold nanospheres, nominally 20 nm in diameter and coated with mercaptopropane sulfonate (AuNS-MPS), formed agglomerates when dispersed in cell culture media, had a large fractal dimension (D(f) = 2.57 ± 0.4) (i.e., tightly bound and densely packed) and were found to be nontoxic even at the highest dose of 100 μg/mL. Highly uniform, 16.7 nm diameter, and 43.8 nm long polyethylene glycol-capped gold nanorods (AuNR-PEG) also formed agglomerates when dispersed into the cell culture media. However, the agglomerates had a smaller fractal dimension (D(f) = 1.28 ± 0.08) (i.e., loosely bound) and were found to be cytotoxic to the HaCaT cells, with a significant decrease in cell viability occurring at 25 μg/mL and higher. Moreover, AuNR-PEG caused significant ROS production and up-regulated several genes involved in cellular stress and toxicity. These results, combined with increased levels of inflammatory and apoptotic proteins, demonstrated that the AuNR-PEG induced apoptosis. Exposure to AuNS-MPS, however, did not show any of the detrimental effects observed from the AuNR-PEG. Therefore, we conclude that shape appears to play a key role in mediating the cellular response to AuNMs.     

‘Click Synthesis’ of Some Novel O‐Substituted Oximes Containing 1,2,3‐Triazole‐1,4‐diyl Residues as New Analogs of β‐Adrenoceptor Antagonists

The ‘click synthesis’ of some novel O‐substituted oximes, 7a – 7t , which contain 1,2,3‐triazolediyl residues, as new analogs of β‐adrenoceptor antagonists is described (Schemes 1–4). The synthesis of these compounds was achieved in four to five steps. The formation of oximes of 9H‐fluoren‐9‐one and benzophenone, i.e., 9a and 9b , respectively, followed by their reaction with propargyl bromide, afforded O‐propargyl oximes 10a and 10b , respectively, which by a subsequent CuI‐catalyzed Huisgen cycloaddition with prepared β‐azido alcohols 11a – 11j (Schemes 2 and 3), led to the target compounds 7a – 7t in good yields.     

Tools to Simulate Distributive Mixing in Twin‐Screw Extruders

The application of the mapping method in finite element modeling is extended to quantitatively compare mixing in different twin‐screw extruder layouts. The mapping method provides volumetric quantities, which are crucial for the analysis and optimization of mixing based on the tracking of particles in the velocity field. A new approach to the mapping method is developed to analyze mixing in complex, dynamic open geometries. Several screw configurations and different types of conveying screws are compared, changing the pitch and gap widths. The volume‐weighted intensity of segregation is used as a mixing measure.

     

Insights in hydrodynamics of bubbling fluidized beds at elevated pressure by DEM–CFD approach

A numerical simulation was conducted to study the effect of pressure on bubble dynamics in a gas–solid fluidized bed. The gas flow was modeled using the continuum theory and the solid phase, by the discrete element method (DEM). To validate the simulation results, calculated local pressure fluctuations were compared with corresponding experimental data of 1-mm polyethylene particles. It was shown that the model successfully predicts the hydrodynamic features of the fluidized bed as observed in the experiments. Influence of pressure on bubble rise characteristics such as bubble rise path, bubble stability, average bubbles diameter and bubble velocity through the bed was investigated. The simulation results are in conformity with current hydrodynamic theories and concepts for fluidized beds at high pressures. The results show further that elevated pressure reduces bubble growth, velocity and stability and enhances bubble gyration through the bed, leading to change in bed flow structure.     

A simple one-pot procedure for the direct conversion of alcohols into alkyl nitriles using TsIm

A convenient and efficient one-pot preparation of nitriles from alcohols using N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)imidazole (TsIm) is described. In this method, treatment of alcohols with a mixture of NaCN, TsIm and triethylamine in the presence of catalytic amounts of tetra-n-butylammonium iodide (TBAI) in refluxing DMF furnishes the corresponding alkyl nitriles in good yields. This methodology is highly efficient for various structurally diverse alcohols with selectivity for ROH: 1° > 2° > 3°.     

Heterocycle-bridged and Conformationally Constrained Retinoids: Synthesis of 4-(7,8,9,10-Tetrahydro-7,7,10,10-tetramethyl-4H-benzo[6,7]chromeno-[4,3-d]thiazole-2-yl)benzoic Acid

Retinoids are a class of synthetic and natural compounds structurally related to retinoic acid. In a search for discovery of a new class of heterocycle‐bridged and conformationally constrained retinoids, here we report the synthesis of 4‐(7,8,9,10‐tetrahydro‐7,7,10,10‐tetramethyl‐4H‐benzo[6,7]chromeno[4,3‐d]thiazole‐2‐yl)benzoic acid ( 10 ) starting from 5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐5,5,8,8‐tetramethylnaphthalen‐2‐ol ( 13 ). Several approaches was attempted to obtain target compound 10 . Structure elucidation of synthesized compounds has been made on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral data (¹H NMR, IR and MS).