Co-citation Analysis: An Overview

This article gives an overview of co-citation analysis and its applications in tracking the linkages among the intellectual works and mapping the evolutionary structure of scientific disciplines. It also focuses on the features, interface, terminology used, merits and demerits of co-citation based online database applications

Optimizing Obscurity: Advancing Stealth Capabilities and Performance of BWB Fighter with Symmetric Supercritical Airfoils

The F-22 Raptor is widely recognized as the most dominant aircraft on the battlefield due to its unparalleled stealth characteristics. However, in terms of overall performance, it is not the best. The current article proposes the design of a next-generation blended wing body (BWB) aircraft. A key motivation for using a symmetrical supercritical airfoil is the research gap identified in the literature. This design also incorporates novel approaches such as short take-off and landing capabilities and a dual combustor engine, which are expected to significantly enhance performance characteristics. The double delta wing structure, combined with the BWB design, plays a crucial role in optimizing aerodynamics. Stealth aspects are further improved through the use of advanced coatings and radar cross-section (RCS) reduction techniques. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) brings cutting-edge advancements to aircraft functionalities, while the incorporation of a biometric nosecone ensures that this aircraft represents the next generation in aviation technology

India: The Space Phoenix Rising to Global Leadership

Phoenix is a mythical bird that rises from its own ashes. Today, Japan is often referred to as a Phoenix in terms of development. Despite the devastation caused by the nuclear attacks during World War II, it has emerged as one of the most developed and advanced countries in the world. The same can be said for India. Ancient India was home to renowned astronomers like Varahamihira, physicists like Rishi Kanad, mathematicians like Aryabhata, and aviators like Bharata Muni. We even had advanced spacecraft and propulsion technologies in ancient times. However, during the medieval period, India lost its prominence in space exploration due to various invasions, transformations of kingdoms, and natural calamities. Since gaining independence, India has demonstrated remarkable growth in the space sector. Therefore, it is not contradictory to refer to India as the Phoenix of the space industry. Just as flocks of birds have one leader (Nayak in Hindi) while flying in the sky, India is poised to become a Vishwanayak, guiding the world in the coming decades

Review on the SENSE Organization and Future Applications

This article reviews the establishment and contributions of NASA's Space Environment and Spacecraft Effects (SENSE) organization, created to extend human presence beyond Low Earth Orbit and explore Near Earth Asteroids. SENSE aims to educate the public, develop space research models, and collaborate with global space organizations. The article outlines SENSE's hierarchical structure and technical working groups, which focus on charged particles, space environment, and interplanetary extra-terrestrial effects. It highlights the organization's use of robotics and artificial intelligence and presents two innovative applications derived from SENSE's research: electromagnetic wings for Low Earth Orbit and biometric nose cones for re-entry vehicles

Advanced Space Missions: DART, CLEARSPACE-1, and Mars Colonization Technologies

This commentary explores several advanced space missions, including NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, the CLEARSPACE-1 mission for space debris removal, and cutting-edge technologies for Mars colonization. It discusses preparatory procedures for advanced space missions, mission designs, trajectories, and innovative technologies that will be employed in future space endeavours

Vimanas: Bridging Modern Aerospace Innovations with Ancient Spacecraft Technologies

The TV show Ancient Aliens on the HISTORY channel experimented with an ancient VIMANA model in a wind tunnel and found that it produced lift. This event sparked curiosity among people unaware of ancient Indian technologies. This paper reviews the technologies purportedly utilized in ancient Indian airplanes, as described in the Vedas. These texts frequently referenced various technologies resembling those used in contemporary aircraft and included myths and traditions about Hindu gods. Shivkar Talpade, an Indian with a strong interest in aviation, was inspired by these accounts. He later built and piloted an aircraft called Marutsakha, using mercury as fuel. Additionally, the Rukma Vimana has been cited as an inspiration for SpaceX's Crew Dragon module. These ancient aviation concepts share similarities with modern ideas, such as ion propulsion engines, antigravity aircraft, and stealth technologies. Research on vimanas has been made possible by translating old manuscripts into modern languages. The aim of current research is to inspire the younger generation to revive the nation's glory through scientific inquiry

Building solids inside nano-space: from confined amorphous through confined solvate to confined ‘metastable’ polymorph

The nanocrystallisation of complex molecules inside mesoporous hosts and control over the resulting structure is a significant challenge. To date the largest organic molecule crystallised inside the nano-pores is a known pharmaceutical intermediate – ROY (259.3 g mol1). In this work we demonstrate smart manipulation of the phase of a larger confined pharmaceutical – indomethacin (IMC, 357.8 g mol1), a substance with known conformational flexibility and complex polymorphic behaviour. We show the detailed structural analysis and the control of solid state transformations of encapsulated molecules inside the pores of mesoscopic cellular foam (MCF, pore size ca. 29 nm) and controlled pore glass (CPG, pore size ca. 55 nm). Starting from confined amorphous IMC we drive crystallisation into a confined methanol solvate, which upon vacuum drying leads to the stabilised rare form V of IMC inside the MCF host. In contrast to the pure form, encapsulated form V does not transform into a more stable polymorph upon heating. The size of the constraining pores and the drug concentration within the pores determine whether the amorphous state of the drug is stabilised or it recrystallises into confined nanocrystals. The work presents, in a critical manner, an application of complementary techniques (DSC, PXRD, solid-state NMR, N2 adsorption) to confirm unambiguously the phase transitions under confinement and offers a comprehensive strategy towards the formation and control of nano-crystalline encapsulated organic solids

Activity Index (AI) and extent of collaboration: a case study of rainwater harvesting literature with a scientometric overview

Rainwater harvesting research is being conducted in much wider perspectives from agriculture to using in house toilets. The study has assessed the research activity by different countries with the help of Activity Index (AI) and the collaboration and its impact. The SCOPUS publication records are made use of for the analysis of RWH research activities. The quality of the publications is analysed in terms of citations received to the papers and Spain has come on the top having 42 citations per paper. Cross-field relative activity in rainwater harvesting research is measured and it was interesting to note that among the leading countries conducting RWH research, a few developed countries are below world average of RWH activity. Out of the 141 countries which have at least one publication on RWH, 132 (94%) have at least one paper written in collaboration with other countries. US is the collaboration hub of many countries and the strength of collaboration of India, China, UK, Brazil is noteworthy. It was also found that there is a positive correlation between the collaboration strength and impact of papers. The results are relevant to know the relative of strength of different countries in RWH as well as boosting the collaboration among countries and researcher mobility