Optimization of Electrical Performance of Defected n+-p-p+ Solar Cell with CdS/BaSi2/Cu2O Heterostructure Using SCAPs 1D

Present study investigates the performance of BaSi2 based BSF structure solar cell. SCAPS 1D simulator has been employed to investigate the heterostructure solar cell. To decrease the recombination loss due to minority carrier, a new configuration is proposed by inclusion of the p-type cuprous oxide (Cu2O) as BSF layer. The Cu2O BSF layer width varying in range 0.1 to 0.4 µm to analyze the feasibility of device for optimum performance. The anticipated structure consists of ZnO/CdS/BaSi2/Cu2O layers and offers the maximum efficiency of above 24%. Parameters for example open circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), conversion efficiency (η) and quantum efficiency (QE) of the device have been analyzed graphically. The optimized structure may have significant impact on future development of advanced photovoltaic devices.

Overload of the Temporomandibular Joints Accumulates γδ T Cells in a Mouse Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Morphological and Histological Evaluation

Recently, it has been reported that γδ T cells are associated with the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there are many uncertainties about their relationship. In this study, we investigated the morphological and histological properties of peripheral as well as temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis with and without exposure to mechanical strain on the TMJ. Collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) was induced by administering collagen type II antibody and lipopolysaccharide to male DBA/1JNCrlj mice at 9−12 weeks of age, and mechanical stress (MS) was applied to the mandibular condyle. After 14 days, 3D morphological evaluation by micro-CT, histological staining (Hematoxylin Eosin, Safranin O, and Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase staining), and immunohistochemical staining (ADAMTS-5 antibody, CD3 antibody, CD45 antibody, RORγt antibody, γδ T cell receptor antibody) were performed. The lower jawbone was collected. The mandibular condyle showed a rough change in the surface of the mandibular condyle based on three-dimensional analysis by micro-CT imaging. Histological examination revealed bone and cartilage destruction, such as a decrease in chondrocyte layer width and an increase in the number of osteoclasts in the mandibular condyle. Then, immune-histological staining revealed accumulation of T and γδ T cells in the subchondral bone. The temporomandibular joint is less sensitive to the onset of RA, but it has been suggested that it is exacerbated by mechanical stimulation. Additionally, the involvement of γδ T cells was suggested as the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis.

IMPACT OF REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION AND AIR POLLUTION ON INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF MELIA AZEDARACH L. LEAVES

This study was performed to investigate the impact of air pollution on leaf area and anatomical features of Melia azedarach L. trees, in urban areas with three demographical classes: location (I) industrial area, location (II) roadside area and free parts (control area) as a location (III) of Duhok city/Kurdistan Region-Iraq, during July 2021. The results demonstrated that the leaf area of selected plants' leaves in location I had reduced with no noticeable change in the average stomata density in the three locations I, II and Ⅲ. Meanwhile, the results of the most anatomical features of the blade (blade, lower cuticle, epidermis (both upper and lower) thickness, palisade layer height and spongy parenchyma width) in addition to midrib parameters (epidermis thickness (upper and lower), collenchyma and parenchyma layer width, phloem and xylem width and pith diameter) were decreased in both locations I, II, and with well-developed anatomical features in location III.

Comparison of the electrical and impedance properties of Au/(ZnOMn:PVP)/ n-Si (MPS) type Schottky-diodes (SDs) before and after gamma-irradiation

The effect of 60Co-irradiation) on the electrical parameters in the Au/(ZnOMn:PVP)/n-Si SDs has been investigated using the current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance/conductance-voltage (C/G-V) measurements. Firstly, the values of reverse-saturation-current (Io), ideality-factor (n), barrier-height (BH), shunt/series resistances (Rsh, Rs), and rectifying-rate (RR) were extracted from the I-V data before and after gamma-irradiation (5 and 60 kGy) using thermionic-emission (TE), Norde, and Cheung methods. The surface-states (Nss) versus energy (Ec-Ess) profile was extracted from I-V data considering voltage-dependent of n and BH using the Card-Rhoderick method. Secondly, the doping-donor atoms (Nd), Fermi-energy (EF), BH, maximum electric-field (Em), and depletion-layer width (Wd) were extracted from the linear-part of reverse-bias C-2-V plot for 100 kHz before and after irradiation. Finally, the voltage-dependent profiles of Rs and radiation-induced of Nss were extracted from the C/G-V plots by using Nicollian-Brews and the difference between C-V plots before and after irradiation, respectively. The peak behavior in the Nss-V plots and shifts in its position was attributed to special-distribution of Nss at (ZnOMn:PVP)/n-Si interface and restructure/reordering of them under radiation and electric field. Experimental results show that gamma-irradiation is more effective both on the I-V and C/G-V plots or electrical parameters, and hence the fabricated Au/(ZnOMn:PVP)/n-Si SDs can be used as a radiation-sensor.

Optical fluxes propagation in the planar transport layer of multilayer coatings

The article is concerned with peculiarities study of the quasimonochromatic optical fluxes propagation through thin planar transparent layer of multilayer coating. There is shown that these fluxes can be transported by the layer in process of its multiple consequtive total internal reflection or by the waveguide-resonance propagation manner depending on correlation between the layer width and the radiation coherence length half of transported fluxes. Efficiency comparison of these radiation transportation mechanisms showed that the waveguide-resonance propagation approach is more adequate for results description of the optical waveguides functioning. It allowed to conclude that optical waveguides (fibers) function in frame of the waveguide-resonance paradigm and the waveguide-resonance mechanism is responsible for the light fluxes transportation on great distances.

Influence of welding parameters on decarburization in heat affected zone of dissimilar weldments after post weld heat treatment

Purpose: This paper aims to assess an influence of thermal welding parameters on microstructural evolution in the weld adjacent zone of P91 steel, overlayed by austenitic consumables, after post weld heat treatment. Design/methodology/approach: Analysis of the width of decarburized layer on microphotographs of overlayed specimens after tempering 750°C, 7 and 18 hours. Specimens were made by using different heat input and preheating temperature parameters. Findings: It is shown that with increase of the heat input energy, the width of the resulting decarbonized layer decreases linearly; the effect of heating temperature on the layer width is parabolic with a minimum at a temperature of ~195°C. Research limitations/implications: Future research may include comparison of the creep rupture strength of the weldments, made with different welding parameters, to assess the influence of kinetics of decarburization and variation of the parameters on creep rupture strength. Practical implications: Results permit to achieve minimization of rate of carbon diffusion in the weld adjacent zone of the HAZ by means of variation of welded parameters. Originality/value: Experimentally was confirmed a role of high-diffusivity paths (grain boundaries) on carbon diffusion in the HAZ of dissimilar weldments; found correlation between welding parameters and the rate of the diffusion during high temperature exposure.

Experimental Study on Time-Dependent Changes in Rheological Properties and Flow Rate of 3D Concrete Printing Materials

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) materials require a relatively low water-to-binder ratio (W/B) of 0.3 or less to ensure their buildability and flow properties are sufficiently maintained after mixing. In this study, the rheological properties of 3DCP materials with W/B 0.28 were evaluated up to 60 min after mixing, and the yield stress and plastic viscosity were analyzed over time. A gradual decrease in flow rate with time was observed during the transport of 200 kg of material per batch through a 20 m hose. To examine the time-dependent changes in flow rate and layer volume, a 2200 mm × 1000 mm test specimen was printed. The dependence of the layer width over time during the printing process was measured and analyzed. The experimental analyses showed that the flow rate and layer volume of the 3DCP material gradually decreased with time after mixing, which was correlated with the rheological properties.

The Effects of Micro-vessel Curvature Induced Elongational Flows on Platelet Adhesion

The emerging profile of blood flow and the cross-sectional distribution of blood cells have far reaching biological consequences in various diseases and vital internal processes, such as platelet adhesion. The effects of several essential blood flow parameters, such as red blood cell free layer width, wall shear rate, and hematocrit on platelet adhesion were previously explored to great lengths in straight geometries. In the current work, the effects of channel curvature on cellular blood flow are investigated by simulating the accurate cellular movement and interaction of red blood cells and platelets in a half-arc channel for multiple wall shear rate and hematocrit values. The results show significant differences in the emerging shear rate values and distributions between the inner and outer arc of the channel curve, while the cell distributions remain predominantly uninfluenced. The simulation predictions are also compared to experimental platelet adhesion in a similar curved geometry. The inner side of the arc shows elevated platelet adhesion intensity at high wall shear rate, which correlates with increased shear rate and shear rate gradient sites in the simulation. Furthermore, since the platelet availability for binding seems uninfluenced by the curvature, these effects might influence the binding mechanics rather than the probability. The presence of elongational flows is detected in the simulations and the link to increased platelet adhesion is discussed in the experimental results.

Theoretical Study of Electronic and Optical Properties in Doped Quantum Structures with Razavy Confining Potential: Effects of External Fields

We investigate the energy states of confined electrons in doped quantum structures with Razavy-like confining potentials. The theoretical investigation is performed within the effective mass and parabolic band approximations, including the influence of externally applied electric and magnetic fields. First, we analyze the case of a Razavy quantum well and determine its conduction subband spectrum, focusing on the lowest energy levels and their probability densities. These properties have been numerically determined by self-consistently solving the coupled system of Schr\"{o}dinger, Poisson, and charge neutrality equations. Doping is introduced via an on-center $\delta$-like layer. In order to evaluate the associated total (linear plus nonlinear) optical absorption coefficient (TOAC), we have calculated the corresponding diagonal and off-diagonal electric dipole matrix elements, the main energy separation, and the occupancy ratio which are the main factors governing the variation of this optical response. A detailed discussion is given about the influence of doping concentration as well as electric and magnetic fields, which can produce shifts in the light absorption signal, towards either lower or higher frequencies. As an extension of the self-consistent method to a two-dimensional problem, the energy states of quantum wire system of circular cross section, with internal doping and Razavy potential have been calculated. The response of eigenvalues, self-consistent potentials and electron densities is studied with the variation of $\delta$-doping layer width and of the donor density. Finally, the origin of Friedel-like oscillations, that arise in the density profile, generated by the occupation of internal and surface electronic states has been explained.