Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Some Sn-Zn Based Lead-Free Quinary Alloys

Although there are many lead-free soldering alloys on the market, none of them have ideal qualities. The researchers are combining binary alloys with a variety of additional materials to create the soldering alloys’ features. The eutectic Sn-9Zn alloy is among them. This paper investigated the mechanical and electrical properties of Sn-9Zn-x (Ag, Cu, Sb);{x = 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6} lead-free solder alloys. The mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and ductility were examined at the strain rates in a range from 4.17 10−3 s−1 to 208.5 10−3 s−1 at room temperature. It is found that increasing the content of the alloying elements and strain rate increases the elastic modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and yield strength while the ductility decreases. The electrical conductivity of the alloys is found to be a little smaller than that of the Sn-9Zn eutectic alloy.

Design and Numerical Analysis of Ultra-High Negative Dispersion, Highly Birefringent Nonlinear Single Mode Core-Tune Photonic Crystal Fiber (CT-PCF) over Communication Bands

This paper presents the development of a highly efficient CT-PCF (Core-Tune Photonic Crystal Fiber) with substantial birefringence, tailored for applications in high-bit-rate communication and sensing while minimizing signal loss. The design incorporates a modified broadband dispersion compensating structure, optimized for operation across the E, S, C, and L communication bands within a wavelength range spanning 1360 nm to 1625 nm. Notably, the CT-PCF demonstrates a remarkable birefringence of 2.372 × 10-2 at 1550 nm, surpassing traditional PCF structures. Single-mode performance is evaluated using the Higher Order Mode Extinction Ratio (HOMER) method, revealing a peak HOMER value of 104 at 1550 nm. Furthermore, at 1550 nm, the CT-PCF exhibits exceptional nonlinear characteristics, featuring a high nonlinearity of 50.74 W-1⋅Km-1 for y polarization. In comparison to existing designs, the proposed CT-PCF exhibits superior performance metrics and optical characteristics. Additionally, the y polarization dispersion coefficient of the CT-PCF at 1550 nm is measured at -3534 ps/(nm⋅km). Overall, the CT-PCF represents a significant advancement, outperforming established systems in terms of performance metrics and optical properties.

GliomaCNN: An Effective Lightweight CNN Model in Assessment of Classifying Brain Tumor from Magnetic Resonance Images Using Explainable AI

Brain tumors pose a significant threat to human lives and have gained increasing attention as the tenth leading cause of global mortality.This study addresses the pressing issue of brain tumor classification using Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).It focuses on distinguishing between Low-Grade Gliomas(LGG)and High-Grade Gliomas(HGG).LGGs are benign and typically manageable with surgical resection,while HGGs are malignant and more aggressive.The research introduces an innovative custom convolutional neural network(CNN)model,Glioma-CNN.GliomaCNN stands out as a lightweight CNN model compared to its predecessors.The research utilized the BraTS 2020 dataset for its experiments.Integrated with the gradient-boosting algorithm,GliomaCNN has achieved an impressive accuracy of 99.1569%.The model’s interpretability is ensured through SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping(Grad-CAM++).They provide insights into critical decision-making regions for classification outcomes.Despite challenges in identifying tumors in images without visible signs,the model demonstrates remarkable performance in this critical medical application,offering a promising tool for accurate brain tumor diagnosis which paves the way for enhanced early detection and treatment of brain tumors.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Oxytetracycline Dihydrate from Aqueous Solution Using Nano ZnO and ZnO.xBaTiO3 (x = 3%, 18%, 33% and 48%)

Traditional wastewater mostly contains pharmaceutical ingredients. Therefore, the wastewater must be completely free from antibiotics before its release into the environment. In the present study, photocatalytic degradation was done to investigate the removal efficiency of Oxytetracycline Dihydrate (OTC) using ZnO, ZnO/3%BaTiO3 (3 BZ), ZnO/18%BaTiO3 (18 BZ), ZnO/ 33%BaTiO3 (33 BZ) and ZnO/48%BaTiO3 (48 BZ) under UV light. After the exposure time of 420 min, about 99.57% and 97.87% of OTC was degraded using ZnO and 3 BZ respectively. Further, increasing the amount of BaTiO3 in ZnO prolongs the degradation time. Therefore, faster efficiency was found using ZnO nanoparticles. The observed reaction rate constant using ZnO was 0.00933 min-1 which decreased to 0.00532 min-1 using 48 BZ, indicating the decrease of reaction rate for increasing the amount of BaTiO3. Hence, the use of ZnO photocatalyst is anticipated to be a promising technique for the photocatalytic degradation of contaminated wastewater with oxytetracycline antibiotics using UV light.

Hydroxyapatite/Alginate Nanocomposite: In Situ Processing and Properties for Biomedical Applications

The development of advanced biomaterials is crucial for addressing the increasing demand for improved medical implants and tissue engineering scaffolds. Hydroxyapatite (HAp), a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite, is widely recognized for its excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, making it an ideal candidate for bone-related applications. However, its brittleness and lack of flexibility limit its broader application in dynamic biological environments. To overcome these limitations, this study explores the synthesis of Hydroxyapatite/Alginate (HAp/Alg) nanocomposites, leveraging the biocompatibility and flexibility of alginate—a natural polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed. The HAp/Alg nanocomposites were synthesized using in situ hybridization techniques with varying alginate concentrations (10 to 40 wt%) to optimize their structural and functional properties. The motivation behind this work lies in the potential of these composites to combine the desirable properties of both HAp and alginate, resulting in a material that not only mimics the mineral composition of bone but also offers enhanced flexibility and structural integrity. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis/Differential Thermal Analysis (TGA/DTA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and cytotoxicity testing to evaluate the structural, chemical, and biological properties of the composites. XRD analysis indicated a complex interaction between alginate concentration and crystal growth, with crystallite size increasing up to 10 wt% alginate before decreasing. FT-IR spectra confirmed significant biological reactivity at the composite’s surface and within the polymer matrix, suggesting strong potential for biological interactions. SEM images revealed a more uniform microstructure in HAp/Alg composites compared to pure HAp, which is likely to improve their performance in biomedical applications. TGA/DTA results demonstrated the thermal stability of the composites across various temperature conditions, while cytotoxicity tests confirmed their biocompatibility, making them suitable for use in medical applications. This study not only successfully synthesizes HAp/Alg nanocomposites with enhanced structural uniformity and biocompatibility but also provides a promising avenue for the development of next-generation biomaterials that could significantly impact the field of regenerative medicine and biomedical engineering.

Comparative Analysis between Single Diode and Double Diode Model of PV Cell: Concentrate Different Parameters Effect on Its Efficiency

This research appraises comparative analysis between single diode and double diode model of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells to enhance the conversion efficiency of power engendering PV solar systems. Single diode model is simple and easy to implement, whereas double diode model has better accuracy which acquiesces for more precise forecast of PV systems performance. Exploration is done on the basis of simulation results and MATLAB tool is used to serve this purpose. Simulations are performed by varying distinct model parameters such as solar irradiance, temperature, value of parasitic resistances, ideality factor of diode and number of series and parallel connected solar cells used to assemble PV array. Conspicuous demonstration is executed to analyze effects of these specifications on the efficiency curve and power vs. voltage output characteristics of PV cell for specified models.

Magnetic Hysteresis and Complex Initial Permeability of Cr³⁺Substituted Mn-Zn Ferrites

The impact of Cr3+ ion on the magnetic properties of Mn0.50Zn0.50CrxFe2-xO4 (with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) has been studied. Ferrite samples were synthesized by combustion method and sintered at various temperatures (1250°C, 1300°C and 1350°C). The structural properties were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction patterns and indicated that the samples possess single phase cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameter decreases with the increase in Cr3+ content, as the ionic radius of Cr3+ ion is smaller than that of Fe3+. The average grain size (D), bulk density (ρB) and initial permeability (μi’ )decreases with increase in Cr3+ content whereas porosity follows its opposite trend. The ρB was found to increase with increase in Cr3+ content as the sintering temperature (Ts) is increased from 1250°C to 1350°C. The Ts affects the densification, grain growth and (μi’ ) of the samples. The (μi’ ) strongly depends on average grain size, density and intragranular porosity. The B-H loops of the compositions were measured at room temperature. The saturation magnetization (Ms), coercivity (Hc) and hysteresis losses were studied as a function of Cr3+ content. The Ms was found to decrease with the increase of Cr3+ content, which is attributed to the dilution of A-B interaction.

Comparative Study on Dyeing of Cotton, Modal and Lyocell Fabrics Using Bifunctional and Polyfunctional Reactive Dyes

Polyfunctional reactive dyes have been introduced by the renowned dye manufacturers in the recent years for better exhaustion and fixation performance. This paper deals with evaluation of the dyeing performance of three cellulosic fibres namely cotton, modal and lyocell with polyfunctional (Avitera Cardinal SE) reactive dye in comparison a bifunctional-(Novacron Brilliant Red FN-3GL) reactive dye. The purpose of this study is to achieve a better understanding of exhaustion and fixation behaviour in dyeing of cotton, modal and lyocell fibres using these two types of reactive dyes. The dyeing was carried out at four different shade% (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%). Besides studying exhaustion (%) and fixation (%) along with K/S values of dyed fabrics, several other quality parameters e.g. bursting strength, pilling resistance and colour fastness to wash were also examined. Finally, the optimum combination among the three types of cellulosic fabrics and two types of reactive dyes was observed. Lyocell fabric and polyfunctional reactive dyes have been found more sustainable.

Impact of the Presence of the Loop at Different Location on Fabric Width and Areal Density of a Weft Knitted Structure

Knitted structures are progressively built up from row after row of knitted intermeshed loops known as knitted loops. Apart from this knitted loops, tuck or miss loops may be produced by varying the timing of the intermeshing sequence of the old loop and new loops. These loops are main and prominent part of the design of the weft knitted structures. Structures having float or miss loop exhibits many noticeable characteristics. The fabrics renders better surface appearance or color pattern. Dimensional stability is significantly improved. Fabric width is reduced and areal density is also increased considerably due to the presence of float loops in the structure. Therefore, the dimensional and physical features of different knitted structures having knit-miss loops may be studied carefully to find the influence of float stitch or loop on fabric width and areal density. In this project work, such an attempt has been made to specify some specific single jersey structures, which will be ensured as an effective tool for product research and development as well as for meeting up customer’s quality requirements of high class products.

Study on Fabric and Seam Strength Loss of Denim Trousers for Different Washing Treatments

This paper shows that fabric and seam strength loss (%) of the selected denim trousers occurred for different washing applications. At first, a commonly used denim fabric of 12.5 Oz/yd2 was selected to make the trousers containing two types of seam i.e. superimposed and lapped seam. Then bleach, enzyme and acid wash were applied on the produced trousers and fabric & seam strength loss were determined by using related standard and equipment. It was found that fabric strength loss is higher in case of acid wash and the loss of seam strength is higher in case of enzyme wash.

Impact of the Speed of Flat of a Typical Carding Machine on the Quality of Carded Sliver and 40 Ne Yarn

The carding cycle affects the sliver quality and the subsequent yarn attributes since it is the main sliver formation step. Processing parameters assume a significant part in affecting the nature of the eventual outcome in any sorts of production. In the case of carding machine, a higher production rate makes the operation more sensitive. And this will cause degradation in product quality. So optimization of speed is the talk of the town in spinning field [1]. Extreme higher speed can prompt fiber harm and unnecessary neps generation will corrupt the end result. Again lower speed will lessen the production rate which isn’t reasonable. So we need to discover the ideal speed which will be advantageous to both product quality and production rate. In carding machine, real operational activity happens between flats and cards [1]. From an ordinary perspective, high produce able cards generates higher level of speed. Speed of the cards impacts the carding cycle and the nature of the yarn and in practical point of view, flat’s level of speed is advanced and optimized. The aim of the project was to find out the optimum flat speed in the context of yarn quality. 40 Ne cotton yarns were produced with the slivers manufactured at different flat speeds such as 240, 260, 280, 300 and 320 mm/min. The quality parameters of slivers and yarns were tested and analyzed.

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Mn_0.50-xZn_0.50Cu_xFe₂O₄

Mn0.50-xZn0.50CuxFe2O4 (where x = 0.0 - 0.3) ferrites have been synthesized by auto combustion method. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that all compositions are of single phase cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameter decreases with the increase in Cu2+ content obeying the Vegard’s law. The bulk density, average grain size, initial permeability, Néel temperature and saturation magnetic induction of Mn0.50-xZn0.50CuxFe2O4 increased with increasing Cu2+content. It is observed that both density and initial permeability increase with increasing sintering temperature. The maximum initial permeability is found to be 1061 which is almost four times greater than that of the parent composition. The resonance frequency of all the samples shifts towards the lower frequency as the permeability increases with Cu2+ content. It is observed from B-H loops of Mn0.50-xZn0.50CuxFe2O4 that coercivity decreases and retentivity increases with Cu2+ content. Possible explanations for the observed magnetic properties with various Cu2+ contents are discussed.

Study of Physical, Chemical and Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Talc Filled Polyester Resin Composite Using Styrene Monomer

Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic (FRTP) composites are emerging as potential materials in many engineering fields. In this research, the compression-molding process was used as the fabrication technique for producing talc-filled reinforced polyester composite. The weight percentage of these composites was varied, like 30 wt%, 40 wt%, 45 wt%, and 50 wt% talc, respectively. Besides, different percentages of styrene monomer, such as 0 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30 wt%, were also used in this study. Different types of physical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated. The water absorption percentage is increased for composites having a higher percentage of talc filler, while the elasticity of the composites shows a decreasing nature with the increase of talc content. Compressive strength is increased with higher talc content. After a certain limit, with the increase of talc content, it decreases and remains more or less constant. The flexural properties (flexural strength, tangent modulus, and flexural strain) of polyester-talc composites are higher initially, and as the percentage of talc increases, the flexural properties decrease or remain constant. The rate of water absorption is very low with the increase in soaking time. The thermal analysis of polyester-talc composites shows that the thermal stability of the composites is better than that of polyester.

Unveiling the Predictive Capabilities of Machine Learning in Air Quality Data Analysis: A Comparative Evaluation of Different Regression Models

Air quality is a critical concern for public health and environmental regulation. The Air Quality Index (AQI), a widely adopted index by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), serves as a crucial metric for reporting site-specific air pollution levels. Accurately predicting air quality, as measured by the AQI, is essential for effective air pollution management. In this study, we aim to identify the most reliable regression model among linear discriminant analysis (LDA), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), logistic regression, and K-nearest neighbors (KNN). We conducted four different regression analyses using a machine learning approach to determine the model with the best performance. By employing the confusion matrix and error percentages, we selected the best-performing model, which yielded prediction error rates of 22%, 23%, 20%, and 27%, respectively, for LDA, QDA, logistic regression, and KNN models. The logistic regression model outperformed the other three statistical models in predicting AQI. Understanding these models' performance can help address an existing gap in air quality research and contribute to the integration of regression techniques in AQI studies, ultimately benefiting stakeholders like environmental regulators, healthcare professionals, urban planners, and researchers.

Status of Selective Emitters for p-Type c-Si Solar Cells

Crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells have the lion share in world PV market. Solar cells made from crystalline silicon have lower conversion efficiency, hence optimization of each process steps are very important. Achieving low-cost photovoltaic energy in the coming years will depend on the development of third-generation solar cells. Given the trend towards these Si materials, the most promising selective emitter methods are identified to date. Current industrial monocrystalline Cz Si solar cells based on screen-printing technology for contact formation and homogeneous emitter have an efficiency potential of around 18.4%. Limitations at the rear side by the fully covering Al-BSF can be changed by selective emitter designs allowing a decoupling and separate optimization of the metallised and non-metallised areas. Several selective emitter concepts that are already in industrial mass production or close to it are presented, and their specialties and status concerning cell performance are demonstrated. Key issues that are considered here are the cost-effectiveness, added complexity, additional benefits, reliability and efficiency potential of each selective emitter tech- niques.

Feasibility Study of Smart Grid in Bangladesh

The agenda of this paper is to discuss about the significance and a detailed feasibility study of practical implementation of Smart Grid in Bangladesh. Smart grid refers to an electric power system that enhances grid reliability and efficiency by automatically responding to system disturbances. Power crisis is a major problem for a developing country like Bangladesh. Efficient transmission and distribution of electricity with essential energy resources is a fundamental requirement to provide citizens and economies. The paper analyzes the characteristics of Smart Grid and a comparative analysis with conventional grid system. It also discusses about the efficient transmission and distribution process which will integrate power system with renewable energy and information system.

Emergence of Water Urbanism for Water Born “Can Tho”

Growing from water, Can Tho is a region on delta area of Southern Vietnam carved up by the currents of Mekong’s tributary, where settlements and water are closely interact. Being an important city, Can Tho puts in high expectations for investment calls that activate the growth of the city towards a new direction of urbanism. This trend seems to neglect its nature way of coping with water. In this connection, the intention of the research is to understand the urbanism in delta area of Can Tho, its confidences and fears the region has to experience and deal with. The intensive field work reveals an evaluation towards Can Tho’s spatial quality and major water problems. As a closing, the last section has share thoughts that different strategies of urban design to retrieve back the wisdom of living with water which are required for future urbanity of Can Tho region.

Mathematical Analysis of the Transmission Dynamics of Tuberculosis

We develop a dynamical model to understand the underlying dynamics of TUBERCULOSIS infection at population level. The model, which integrates the treatment of individuals, the infections of latent and recovery individuals, is rigorously analyzed to acquire insight into its dynamical features. The phenomenon resulted due to the exogenous infection of TUBERCULOSIS disease. The mathematical analysis reveals that the model exhibits a backward bifurcation when TB treatment remains of infected class. It is shown that, in the absence of treatment, the model has a disease-free equilibrium (DEF) which is globally asymptotically stable (GAS) and the associated reproduction threshold is less than unity. Further, the model has a unique endemic equilibrium (EEP), for a special case, whenever the associated reproduction threshold quantity exceeds unity. For a special case, the EEP is GAS using the central manifold theorem of Castillo-Chavez.

Retraction:Modeling Electrical Characteristics of a pn-Junction Silicon Solar Cell Using PSpice

Short Retraction Notice The article has been retracted due to the investigation of complaints received against it. The substantial portions of the text came from Luis Casta?er and Santigo Silvestre, " Modelling photovoltaic systems using PSpice".The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and we treat all unethical behavior such as plagiarism seriously. This paper published in Vol.3 No.2 133-138, 2012, has been removed from this site.

Effective Control Strategies on the Transmission Dynamics of a Vector-Borne Disease

In this paper, we have rigorously analyzed a model to find the effective control strategies on the transmission dynamics of a vector-borne disease. It is proved that the global dynamics of the disease are completely determined by the basic reproduction number. The numerical simulations (using MatLab and Maple) of the model reveal that the precautionary measures at the aquatic and adult stage decrease the number of new cases of dengue virus. Numerical simulation indicates that if we take the precautionary measures seriously then it would be more effective than even giving the treatment to the infected individuals.