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Byline: Raghunath. Murugan, Raghul. Maniam, Vembar. Dhanasekarapandiyan, G. Hariharan Context: Parotid gland lesions in children requiring surgical management are not common. Neoplastic lesions of the parotid glands are also less [...]

The purpose of this paper is to identify the risk factors involved in the process of supply chain management by small medium enterprises (SMEs) especially the companies engaged in the production of auto components as well as assessing those risks by 'probability-impact analysis'. Researchers conducted a survey of about 72 auto component manufacturing companies in the Manchester of South (Coimbatore District) by using a well-structured questionnaire. Based on the survey of literature as well as discussion with the domain experts, we identified the 17 risk factors in the context of SMEs' supply chain. The identified risk factors are further categorised into four dimensions viz. supply-side risks, operation side risks, demand side risks and external side risks. The major findings of this study point out towards the crucial supply chain risk factors such as lack of financial support, breakdown of machineries, demand fluctuations, up gradation of technology and unable to reduce the raw material cost by the key suppliers. It is expected that the outcome of this study will assist SCM professionals in decision making for better mitigating of risks and to excel in the supply chain performance.

The “Every Child A Scientist” (ECAS) program, since its inception in 2002, has emphasized the importance of experiential and activity based learning to supplement standard “chalk and talk” learning. In a modified version of this program (2021–22), 153 middle school students from two corporation schools of Chennai participated in a two-week science learning sessions using digital e-learning modules. The present study summarises the outcomes of this program. The customised course content developed based on the state school curriculum, delivered using digital smart boards, with audio-visual learning, hands on practical sessions, provided easy grasp of scientific concepts. Integration of practical laboratory based sessions bridged the gap between theory and practice. Simplifying science learning using digital tools has the potential to enhance school academic performance. Students could consciously relate scientific concepts to events in their day-to-day life. Bilingual teaching contributed to easy assimilation and understanding of science concepts. An enabling academic environment with approachable educators is crucial to science learning. Access to internet and desktop systems, awareness of internet based learning resources as secondary sources of learning facilitated and fostered self-learning. Providing nutri-dense meals in schools for overall cognitive development, better learning and physical growth will also ease parental pressures. Thus, technology and science based methods will provide solutions to big challenges in the future. In this context, providing quality science education using digital tools can help integrate socio-economically marginalised students into the main stream.

In this paper, we have applied the wavelet-based computational algorithms to solve some nonlinear oscillator equations arising in engineering. Operational matrices of derivatives are used to convert nonlinear differential equation into a system of linear/nonlinear algebraic equations. Convergence analysis of the wavelet algorithms is discussed. The obtained results are validated with the results obtained by homotopy perturbation method (HPM), modified homotopy perturbation method, differential transformation method (DTM), modified differential transform method and MATLAB solutions. Satisfactory agreement with the HPM, DTM and numerical solution is observed.

Transmitting medical information through a network for the purpose of tele-diagnosis involves greater risk of losing confidentiality and integrity of the information being transmitted. This paper presents a scheme that ensures reversibility of the cover image and also makes it suitable for the field of telemedicine. The methodology uses cryptographic and the steganographic methods. The proposed work decreases the overhead by reducing the size of the auxiliary data to be embedded which is used to achieve the reversibility of the cover image. The proposed method also improves security of the data and enhances the image quality. The algorithm yields a reversible data hiding (RDH) scheme based on pixel value ordering (PVO). The methodology differs from other basic schemes as it uses Gray code instead of ordinary binary codes. It naturally suits for medical steganography as the carrier image can be reconstructed after extraction of the secret data and also the distortion caused due to embedding is very less. The method is also robust as one time pad cryptographic technique is used to generate the key.

In this paper, we have introduced an efficient Legendre wavelet spectral method (LWSM) to ship roll motion model for investigating the nonlinear damping coefficients. The accuracy of the proposed method is assessed by rolling with an initial amplitude using nonlinear type of equations. To the best of our knowledge until now there is no rigorous wavelet solution has been reported for the above model. Convergence analysis of the proposed method is discussed. The operational matrix of derivative is utilized to convert a ship roll motion equation into a set of algebraic equations. Accurate coefficients can be easily obtained for large rolling angles up to the amplitude at the maximum value of the restoring moment using wavelets. Some numerical examples are given to show the validity and applicability of the proposed wavelet method. Moreover the use of Legendre wavelets is found to be simple,flexible, accurate, efficient and small computation cost.

Electrochemical performances of the Zinc oxide/Nickel oxide loaded multi-walled carbon nanotubes (ZnO/NiO@MWCNT - ZNC) were evaluated under different electrolytes. ZNC nanocomposites (NCs), has been successfully synthesized by a simple one-step hydrothermal method and calcinated at 500 °C. The crystalline phases of ZnO, NiO, and MWCNT, present in the prepared NCs were studied by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and their structural characteristics were revealed. The calcinated samples were further characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic (FT-IR) techniques to evaluate the morphological and functional behaviours, respectively. ZNC NCs modified working electrodes were fabricated using the doctor blade technique and their electrochemical performances were tested using different electrolytes (pure and redox additive added electrolytes), such as 1 M KOH, 1 M KOH + 0.1 M K4[Fe(CN)6], 1 M Na2SO4and 1 M Na2SO4 + 0.1 M K4[Fe(CN)6]. Among these electrolytes, ZNC NCs modified working electrode possessed the superior electrochemical performance with the specific capacitance value of 1988.8 Fg−1under 0.1 M K4[Fe(CN)6] added 1 M Na2SO4aqueous electrolyte and achieved a superior specific capacitance retention of 97.2 % after 2000 GCD cycles. The fabricated asymmetrical type supercapacitors possessed the superior energy and power densities of 43.59 W h kg−1and 4000 W kg−1, respectively under the freshly prepared redox additives added Na2SO4aqueous electrolyte.

Bismuth oxide/Zinc oxide (Bi2O3/ZnO-BZ) and Bismuth Oxide/Zinc Oxide loaded Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (Bi2O3/ZnO@MWCNT-BZM) nanocomposites (NCs) were successfully synthesized through the one-pot hydrothermal method. The prepared samples were analytically characterized to reveal their structural, morphological and functional group characteristics. The presence of Bi2O3nanoparticles with mixed crystalline phases (Cubic and Monoclinic) and hexagonally structured ZnO nanoparticles in BZM NCs were confirmed by XRD analysis. The electrochemical performances of the prepared NCs were investigated using 1 M KOH electrolyte in an electrochemical workstation under two and three-electrode configurations. The asymmetric supercapacitor fabricated by using BZM NCs modified working electrode possessed the maximum of 204.92 Fg−1specific capacitance, whereas BZ NCs modified working electrode showed only 145.90 Fg−1at the scan rate of 5 mVs−1. BZ NCs retained their electrochemical behaviour of about 78.45 % after 5000 charge-discharge cycles and it was further extended up to 84.62 % by the incorporation of MWCNT. Through the fabrication of supercapacitors using BZM NCs, a maximum of 1800 Wkg−1power density and 9.433 Whkg−1energy density were achieved. The proposed BZM NCs-based electrodes with superior power and energy densities with high cyclic stability provided vital advantages for long-term commercial applications.

A great effort has been exerted to develop drug carriers aiming at satisfying the requirements, such as safety, greater efficiency, predictable therapeutic response, and prolonged release period. The present study aims at developing the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles as a carrier as a function of particle size for amoxicillin drug delivery system. The amoxicillin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles have a good antibacterial activity against infectious Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been prepared by wet chemical precipitation method varying the pH values. Particle size and morphology of the as-prepared ZnO powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. Drug loading, in vitro drug release and antibacterial activity have been analyzed. Maximum zone of inhibition is observed for Staphylococcus epidermis. The results show that inhibitory efficacy of drug-loaded ZnO nanoparticles is very much dependent on its chosen concentration, drug loading, and size.

Roll motion is one of the key motions related to a vessel’s dynamic stability. It is essential for the dynamic stability of ships in the realistic sea. For this research study, we have investigated the parameters involved in damping of the ship. In general, mathematical modelling of the rolling response of a ship can be formulated by the linear, nonlinear, and fractional differential equations because the amplitude of oscillation is increased. An efficient Genocchi polynomial approximation method (GPAM) is successfully applied for the biased ship roll motion model. The basic idea of the collocation method together with the operational matrices of derivatives used for nonlinear differential equation and convert it into a system of algebraic equations. The convergence and error analysis of the proposed method are also discussed. A few numerical experiments are carried out for some specific and important types of problems including the biased roll motion equations. The results are compared to those produced using the Legendre wavelet method (LWM) and the homotopy perturbation method (HPM). It is observed that the proposed spectral algorithm is robust, accurate, and easy to apply.

This study introduced a generalized operational matrix using Clique polynomials of a complete graph and proposed the latest approach to solve the nonlinear Klein–Gordon (KG) equation. KG equations describe many real physical phenomena in fluid dynamics, electrical engineering, biogenetics, tribology. By using the properties of the operational matrix, we transform the nonlinear KG equation into a system of algebraic equations. Unknown coefficients to be determined by Newton’s method. The present technique is applied to four problems, and the obtained results are compared with another method in the literature. Also, we discussed some theorems on convergence analysis and continuous property.

In this paper, a theoretical model of biofiltration of mixture of hydrophilic (methanol) and hydrophobic (α-pinene) volatile organic compounds is discussed. An efficient wavelet-based operational matrix method is developed for the analytical expressions pertaining to the concentration profiles of methanol and α-pinene in the air stream and bio-film stream. The convergence and supporting analysis of the proposed method is discussed. The operational matrix of derivatives contains many zero entries, which lead to the high efficiency of the method and reasonable accuracy is achieved even with less number of collocation points. Our results are in good agreement with the Bernstein polynomial method and Adomian decomposition method. The efficiency of the proposed method is confirmed by using computational CPU runtime.