Photoinduced effects in nematic liquid crystals

Temperature, concentration of the solvent and pressure are the parameters that are well known to bring about phase transitions in liquid-crystalline systems. In recent years a new parameter has been added to this list: light. The principle behind these photoinduced transitions is the light-driven shape transformation of certain photoactive materials like, e.g., azobenzene. In this article, we present results of various aspects of our recent investigations on such photoinduced transitions in the nematic phase and highlight the feature that light is a new tool to study phase transitions and the associated critical phenomena.     

An electrical stimulation data based model to predict the healing period of fractured limb

ABSTRACT

In this work, diagnosing of reunion of human tibia fracture across limbs using a simple mathematical model is demonstrated. At present in practice, the fracture reunion is predicted using repeated radiographs. Frequent exposure to such radiation causes harmful health effects in patients. Hence, as an alternative, modelling technique using electrical data recorded across patients stimulated with DC electric voltage of range 0.1–1V is proposed. Various model structures, namely P1D and P1DZ models were tried. An error analysis was performed and it was observed that the measured data fitted P1DZ model with an error less than 5%. Model parameters namely process gain and time constant were observed. When the model parameter process gain becomes constant, the time constant reduces significantly indicating the healing of fracture. Reunion was also confirmed with simultaneously taken radiographs. The fact that human bone is a biological semi-conductor therefore exhibits electrical properties and bone does behave like a capacitor is proved by empirical methods in our study is the novelty of the work.     

Total ordering for intuitionistic fuzzy numbers

Intuitionistic fuzzy set plays a vital role in decision making, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. Many decision‐making problems consist of different types of datum, where fuzzy set theoretical approaches may fail to obtain the optimal decision. Numerous approaches for intuitionistic fuzzy decision‐making problem have been introduced in the literature to overcome these short comings. But there is no single approach that can be used to solve all kinds of problems because of the partial ordering defined on the collection of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IFNs). Even though ranking of fuzzy numbers have been studied from early seventies in the last century, a total order on the entire class of fuzzy numbers has been introduced by Wang and Wang (Fuzzy Sets Syst 2014, 243, 131–141) only on 2014. A total order on the collection of all IFN is an open problem till today. In this article, a total order on the entire class of IFN using upper lower dense sequence in the interval [0, 1] is proposed and compared with existing techniques using illustrative examples, further an algorithm (which is problem independent) for solving any intuitionistic fuzzy multicriteria decision‐making problem (Intuitionistic fuzzy MCDM) is introduced. This new total ordering on IFNs generalizes the total ordering defined in Wang and Wang ( 22 ) for fuzzy numbers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 54–66, 2016     

Runge-Kutta methods for quadratic ordinary differential equations

Many systems of ordinary differential equations are quadratic: the derivative can be expressed as a quadratic function of the dependent variable. We demonstrate that this feature can be exploited in the numerical solution by Runge-Kutta methods, since the quadratic structure serves to decrease the number of order conditions. We discuss issues related to construction design and implementation and present a number of new methods of Runge-Kutta and Runge-Kutta-Nyström type that display superior behaviour when applied to quadratic ordinary differential equations.     

High-temperature ferromagnetism in Zn1−xMnxO semiconductor thin films

Clear evidence of ferromagnetic behavior at temperatures >400 K as well as spin polarization of the charge carriers have been observed in Zn_1−xMn_xO thin films grown on Al₂O₃ and MgO substrates. The magnetic properties depended on the exact Mn concentration and the growth parameters. In well-characterized single-phase films, the magnetic moment is 4.8 μ_B/Mn at 350 K, the highest moment yet reported for any Mn doped magnetic semiconductor. Anomalous Hall effect shows that the charge carriers (electrons) are spin-polarized and participate in the observed ferromagnetic behavior.     

Effect of monolayer order and dynamics on the electronic transport of molecular wires

This article discusses the self assembly of conjugated thiol molecular wires on Au(111) substrates and their charge transport studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Molecular resolution imaging of the conjugated thiols show that differences in their structure and inter molecular interactions result in an ordering on gold that is different from the hexagonal symmetry found in alkanethiols. Tunneling spectroscopy on the molecular wires provides information about their intrinsic electronic properties such as the origin of the observed conductance gap and asymmetry in the I–Vs. Further by concurrent topographic and tunneling spectroscopic studies on a conjugated thiol molecule self assembled with and without molecular order, we show that packing and order determine the response of the monolayer to various competing interactions and that the presence of molecular order is very important for reproducible transport measurements. Competing forces between the electric field, intermolecular interactions, tip-molecule physisorption and substrate-molecule chemisorption impact the transport measurements and its reliability. This study points to the fact that molecular electronic devices should be designed to be tolerant to such fluctuations and dynamics. PACS 68.37.Ef; 73.63.-b; 81.16.Dn     

Freestanding conducting polyaniline film for the control of electromagnetic radiations

Electromagnetic interference is pollution generated due to dense nature of circuitry in electronic devices and is required to be control at its source. Polyaniline is an environmentally stable conducting polymer which can be cast as thin film, which can replace the corrosive metals as a shield for the control of electromagnetic radiations. In this communication we discuss our results on the preparation of flexible freestanding conducting polyaniline film of varied thickness using either p-toluenesulphonic acid (PTSA) or camphor-10-sulphonic acid as a primary dopant and 4-chloro-3-methyl phenol (CMC) as a secondary dopant. The resulting films were characterized by conductivity, scanning electron micrograph and shielding effectiveness measurements (SE). The SE measurements were carried out using co-axial transmission line method in the frequency range of 0.1–1000 MHz. We noticed that only the change of 2% in the shielding effectiveness of these films over the period of 3 years indicating the environmental stability of polyaniline films.     

Effect of γ-ray and photoirradiation on very low density polyethylene

The fourth type of polyethylene—very low density polyethylene (VLDPE)—has been developed very recently. VLDPE is a copolymer of ethylene and 1-butene. The radiation and photo degradation of VLDPE was studied using gel, FT-IR, and UV spectral measurements. Mechanical tests were also done; the rate of gel and carbonyl formation was high. End methyl ? CH₃ group was found to increase in the case of radiation degradation. The initial modulus was very low indicating the rubbery nature in the copolymer. VLDPE was found to be highly resistant to radiation-induced degradation than linear low density polyethylene. VLDPE is highly susceptible to thermal effects.     

EPR of vanadyl ion in a natural mineral, apophyllite

Single crystal EPR spectra of a natural mineral, apophyllite, containing VO(II) ion as an impurity have been investigated. The EPR spectra of the mineral, as obtained, was complex in nature, but was simplified by annealing the crystals at 490 K. The EPR parameters of the VO(II) species in the annealed crystal,g _∥ = 1.924 (2);g _⊥ = 1.983 (2);A _∥ = 18.35 (5); andA _⊥ = 7.24 (5)mT, are very close to a typical VO(II) impurity. Theoretically calculated line positions, using second-order hyperfine terms in the spin Hamiltonian with an axially symmetricg andA tensor values, agreed very well with the experimental ones. The EPR analysis of the annealed crystal has further revealed that the most preferred location of the VO(II) impurity is a substitutional Ca(II) site. The calculated bonding parameters and admixture coefficients indicate a fair amount of covalent bonding in the complex.     

Developments in Titanium-Based Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Oxide Catalysts for Sustainable Biodiesel Production: A Review

Biodiesel represents a biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Despite more than three decades of research, significant obstacles still hinder the widespread production of biodiesel. This current review elucidates both the potential and the existing challenges associated with homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in catalyzing biodiesel production, with a particular focus on alkali analogues, alkaline earth metal oxides, and titania-based catalysts. In particular, a comprehensive analysis is presented concerning alkali and alkaline earth-based titania (TiO₂) catalysts. Among these, the alkaline earth metal oxides, including lithium, calcium, and strontium when combined with titanium-based catalysts, exhibit superior catalytic activity compared to other metal oxides, owing to their heightened basicity. Consequently, this review offers a thorough and up-to-date insight into the potential of titania-based heterogeneous catalysts for advancing biodiesel production.