Contribution of electrolyte pH and deposition potentials to the magnetic anisotropy of electrodeposited nickel films

The influence of electrolyte pH and cathode potential on the magnetic properties of single layer Nickel films electrodeposited on polycrystalline titanium substrates was studied. The films were deposited at the electrolyte pH=3.5±0.1, 2.5±0.1 and 2.1±0.1 by varying the deposition potentials (?1.2, ?1.5 and ?1.8 V vs saturated calomel electrode, SCE) applied in continuous waveform. The structural analysis by X-ray diffraction revealed that the films have face-centred cubic structure. Results of the magnetic measurements obtained by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) indicated that the magnetic properties were affected by the electrolyte pH and the cathode potentials in terms of magnetic anisotropy. At the highest pH the films deposited at the lowest potential had in-plane magnetic anisotropy. As the electrolyte pH decreased from the high (pH=3.5±0.1) to low (pH=2.5±0.1), which is aided by increasing the potentials, resulted in an almost magnetic isotropy in the films. However, isotropic magnetic behaviour was observed for the film deposited at the low pH combined with the high potential (?1.8 V vs SCE). Magnetic thickness profile of the samples obtained by VSM revealed that the isotropic films have a smoother magnetic variation across the film from one edge than the anisotropic ones. This is also verified with a microscopic observation by an optical microscope and the surface of the isotropic films is observed to be smoother than that of the anisotropic ones. Furthermore, all films were found to have planar magnetic anisotropy irrespective of the pH’s and the potentials.     

Novel high-precision current-mode multiplier/divider

In this paper, a method to reduce the second order effects on the circuit performances caused by the small sized MOS transistors is proposed. A current mode square-root circuit, a squarer/divider circuit and a multiplier/divider circuit are designed using this method. Proposed circuits have been simulated with SPICE simulator using 0.35 μm CMOS technology parameters. The main advantages of the proposed circuit are reduced errors of the output current function, a smaller area on the chip, possibility of controlling the output current with the control voltage, operation at higher frequencies and more efficient power consumption. As a result, it can be considered as a useful building block for IC designer.     

The Advantages of an Inquiry Approach for Science Instruction in Middle Grades

The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the Iowa Chautauqua Professional Development Program in terms of changes in concept mastery, use of process skills, application of science concept and skills, student attitudes toward science, student creativity, and student perceptions regarding their science classrooms. Participants were 12 teachers who agreed to participate in an experimental study where an inquiry approach was utilized with one section and traditional strategies in another section. A total of 24 sections of students were enrolled in inquiry sections (365 students) and traditional sections (359 students). The data collected were analyzed using quantitative methods. The results are tabulated and contrasted for students enrolled in the two sections for each teacher. The results indicate that student use and understanding of science skills and concepts in the inquiry sections increased significantly more than they did for students enrolled in typical sections in terms of process skills, creativity skills, ability to apply science concepts, and the development of more positive attitudes.     

Improving weighted information criterion by using optimization

Although artificial neural networks (ANN) have been widely used in forecasting time series, the determination of the best model is still a problem that has been studied a lot. Various approaches available in the literature have been proposed in order to select the best model for forecasting in ANN in recent years. One of these approaches is to use a model selection strategy based on the weighted information criterion (WIC). WIC is calculated by summing weighted different selection criteria which measure the forecasting accuracy of an ANN model in different ways. In the calculation of WIC, the weights of different selection criteria are determined heuristically. In this study, these weights are calculated by using optimization in order to obtain a more consistent criterion. Four real time series are analyzed in order to show the efficiency of the improved WIC. When the weights are determined based on the optimization, it is obviously seen that the improved WIC produces better results.     

On the optimal control problem for Schrödinger equation with complex potential

The existence and uniqueness for the solution of the problem of determining the v(x,t) potential in the Schrödinger equation from the measured final data ψ(x,T)=y(x) is investigated. For the objective functional , it is proven that the problem has at least one solution for α?0, and has a unique solution for α>0. The necessary condition for solvability the problem is stated as the variational principle.     

KAM-tori near an analytic elliptic fixed point

We study the accumulation of an elliptic fixed point of a real analytic Hamiltonian by quasi-periodic invariant tori. We show that a fixed point with Diophantine frequency vector ω ₀ is always accumulated by invariant complex analytic KAM-tori. Indeed, the following alternative holds: If the Birkhoff normal form of the Hamiltonian at the invariant point satisfies a Rüssmann transversality condition, the fixed point is accumulated by real analytic KAM-tori which cover positive Lebesgue measure in the phase space (in this part it suffices to assume that ω ₀ has rationally independent coordinates). If the Birkhoff normal form is degenerate, there exists an analytic subvariety of complex dimension at least d + 1 passing through 0 that is foliated by complex analytic KAM-tori with frequency ω ₀. This is an extension of previous results obtained in [1] to the case of an elliptic fixed point.     

Convergence of a finite difference method for the time-fractional diffusion equation with concentrated capacity

We investigate the convergence of difference scheme for the time-fractional differential equation with fractional derivative of an order with the coefficient at the time derivative containing Dirac delta distribution. Convergence order of is proved. A numerical example demonstrates the theoretical results. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

MHD mixed convection in a nanofluid filled vertical lid-driven cavity having a flexible fin attached to its upper wall

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this study, fluid flow and heat transfer in a vertical lid-driven CuO–water nanofluid filled square cavity with a flexible fin attached to its...