Modulational instability in binary spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates

We study modulation instability (MI) of flat states in two-component spin-orbit-coupled (SOC) Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in the framework of coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations for two components of the pseudospinor wave function. The analysis is performed for equal densities of the components. Effects of the interaction parameters, Rabi coupling, and SOC on the MI are investigated. In particular, the results demonstrate that the SOC strongly alters the commonly known MI (immiscibility) condition, $g_{12} > g_{1} g_{2}$, for the binary superfluid with coefficients $g_{1,2}$ and $g_{12}$ of the intra- and interspecies repulsive interactions. In fact, the binary BEC is always subject to the MI under the action of the SOC, which implies that the ground state of the system is plausibly represented by a striped phase

Partial Biodegradable Blend with High Stability against Biodegradation for Fused Deposition Modeling.

This research presents a partial biodegradable polymeric blend aimed for large-scale fused deposition modeling (FDM). The literature reports partial biodegradable blends with high contents of fossil fuel-based polymers (>20%) that make them unfriendly to the ecosystem. Furthermore, the reported polymer systems neither present good mechanical strength nor have been investigated in vulnerable environments that results in biodegradation. This research, as a continuity of previous work, presents the stability against biodegradability of a partial biodegradable blend prepared with polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP). The blend is designed with intended excess physical interlocking and sufficient chemical grafting, which has only been investigated for thermal and hydrolytic degradation before by the same authors. The research presents, for the first time, ANOVA analysis for the statistical evaluation of endurance against biodegradability. The statistical results are complemented with thermochemical and visual analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) determines the signs of intermolecular interactions that are further confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The thermochemical interactions observed in FTIR and DSC are validated with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is also used as a visual technique to affirm the physical interlocking. It is concluded that the blend exhibits high stability against soil biodegradation in terms of high mechanical strength and high mass retention percentage.Published onlin

Partial Biodegradable Blend for Fused Filament Fabrication: In-Process Thermal and Post-Printing Moisture Resistance.

Despite the extensive research, the moisture-based degradation of the 3D-printed polypropylene and polylactic acid blend is not yet reported. This research is a part of study reported on partial biodegradable blends proposed for large-scale additive manufacturing applications. However, the previous work does not provide information about the stability of the proposed blend system against moisture-based degradation. Therefore, this research presents a combination of excessive physical interlocking and minimum chemical grafting in a partial biodegradable blend to achieve stability against in-process thermal and moisture-based degradation. In this regard, a blend of polylactic acid and polypropylene compatibilized with polyethylene graft maleic anhydride is presented for fused filament fabrication. The research implements, for the first time, an ANOVA for combined thermal and moisture-based degradation. The results are explained using thermochemical and microscopic techniques. Scanning electron microscopy is used for analyzing the printed blend. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has allowed studying the intermolecular interactions due to the partial blending and degradation mechanism. Differential scanning calorimetry analyzes the blending (physical interlocking or chemical grafting) and thermochemical effects of the degradation mechanism. The thermogravimetric analysis further validates the physical interlocking and chemical grafting. The novel concept of partial blending with excessive interlocking reports high mechanical stability against moisture-based degradation.Published onlin

Tunable Platform Tolerant Antenna Design for RFID and IoT Applications Using Characteristic Mode Analysis

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a key technology to realize IoT (Internet of Things) dreams. RFID technology has been emerging in sensing, identification, tracking, and localization of goods. In order to tag a huge number of things, it is cost-effective to use one RFID antenna for tagging different things. Therefore, in this paper a platform tolerant RFID tag antenna with tunable capability is proposed. The proposed tag antenna is designed and optimized using characteristic mode analysis (CMA). Moreover, this tag antenna consists of a folded patch wrapped around FR 4 substrate and a feeding loop element printed on a paper substrate. The inductive feeding loop is stacked over folded patch and it provides impedance match with RFID chip. Because of separate radiating and feeding element, this tag antenna has a versatility of impedance matching with any RFID chip. Furthermore, this tag is able to cover American RFID band (902-928 MHz) and can be tuned to European RFID band (865-868 MHz) by adding tunable strips. In order to demonstrate platform tolerant operation, the read range of RFID tag is measured by mounting it on different materials. The maximum read range of RFID tag is 4.5 m in free space or on dielectrics and 6.5 m above 200 × 200 mm2 metal plate, respectively

Intravenous Fluid Administration May Improve Post-Operative Course of Patients with Chronic Subdural Hematoma: A Retrospective Study

Background: The treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is still charged of significant risk of hematoma recurrence. Patient-related predictors and the surgical procedures themselves have been addressed in many studies. In contrast, postoperative management has infrequently been subjected to detailed analysis. Moreover variable intravenous fluid administration (IFA) was not reported in literature till now in the context of cSDH treatment. Methodology/Principal Findings: A total of 45 patients with cSDH were operated in our department via two burr hole craniostomy within one calendar year. Downward drainage was routinely left in hematoma cavity for a one day. Independent variables selected for the analysis were related to various aspects of patient management, including IFA. Two dependent variables were chosen as measure of clinical course: the rate of hematoma recurrence (RHR) and neurological status at discharge from hospital expressed in points of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed. Hematoma recurrence with subsequent evacuation occurred in 7 (15%) patients. Univariate regression analysis revealed that length of IFA after surgery influenced both dependent variables: RHR (p = 0.045) and GOS (p = 0.023). Multivariate regression performed by backward elimination method confirmed that IFA is a sole independent factor influencing RHR. Post hoc dichotomous division of patients revealed that those receiving at least 2000 ml/day over 3 day period revealed lower RHR than the group with less intensive IFA. (p = 0.031)