LOADng-AT: a novel practical implementation of hybrid AHP-TOPSIS algorithm in reactive routing protocol for intelligent IoT-based networks

The Journal of Supercomputing - Despite that IoT technology provides a promising future for human life, some significant challenges such as routing, security, low-cost equipment, energy...     

Influence of electrolytes of Li salts,EMIMBF4, and mixed phases on electrochemical and physical properties of Nafion membrane

Electrolyte‐soaked Nafion is commonly used as an ionic polymer in soft actuators. Here, a multitechnique investigation was applied to correlate the electrochemical behavior of Nafion membranes with their microstructures and nanostructures as a function of electrolyte type. The influence of electrolytes of Li salts with different counteranions on the Nafion membranes was investigated in terms of hydration level, structure (using X‐ray diffraction and small angle X‐ray scattering), stress–strain characteristics, and electrochemical behavior (by cyclic voltammetery and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). The effects of using ionic liquid (IL), as the electrolyte, addition of different supporting solvent and the addition of Li⁺ ions to water‐free IL‐soaked membranes on the structural and electrochemical properties of Nafion were examined. The nano‐ and microstructure of the Nafion changed considerably as a function of the identity of the electrolyte solution. The electrochemical behavior of the IL‐soaked samples was compared with that of the water‐soaked Li⁺‐exchanged Nafion. It was seen that the ionic conductivity of the Nafion membranes was reduced significantly when water was replaced by pure IL. Using the supporting solvents increased the conductivity of IL‐soaked Nafion membranes dramatically. The presence of a small amount of Li⁺ ions together with the IL ions caused a significant decrease in charge transfer resistance and increases in double layer capacitance and in ionic conductivity over that of the water‐free sample and also over water‐soaked Li⁺‐exchanged Nafion. These findings can be useful to improve the knowledge on Nafion's microstructure and also to improve the electromechanical behavior of Nafion‐based ionic polymer–metal composites actuators. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45239.     

Multiresolutions numerically from subdivisions

In previous work we introduced a construction to produce multiresolutions from given subdivisions. A portion of that construction required solving bilinear equations using a symbolic algebra system. Here we replace the bilinear equations with a pair of linear equation systems, resulting in a completely numerical construction. Diagrammatic tools provide assistance in carrying this out. The construction is shown for an example of univariate subdivision. The results for a bivariate subdivision are given to illustrate the construction's ability to handle multivariate meshes, as well as special points, without requiring any modification of approach. The construction usually results in analysis and reconstruction filters that are finite, since it seeks each filter locally for the neighborhood of the mesh to which it applies. The use of a set of filters constructed in this way is compared with filters based on spline wavelets for image compression to show that the construction can yield satisfactory results.     

A concept of microfluidic electronic tongue

The information obtained by monitoring the diffusion progress rates of ionic species in liquid-filled microfluidic channels is used for their identification. The diffusion rates of five different analytes, HCl, KI, KCl, NaCl, and LiCl, through pure water-filled channels of different diameters are experimentally investigated by recording the temporal variation of the channel conductance. The results are described based on a modified diffusion equation which, along with the diffusivity of the ionic species, accounts for the rates of their physical adsorption to the channel walls. The addition of two scalar analyte-related parameters, other than the analyte diffusivity in the liquid medium, facilitates fitting of the theoretically predicted process rates to those measured in different microfluidic channels. It is shown that combining the data extracted from the temporal conductance variation in two appropriately designed channels facilitates recognition of an unknown electrolyte among HCl, KI, KCl, NaCl, and LiCl solutions in distilled water regardless of their concentrations. The two-channel device fabricated based on the presented concept is a low-cost disposable electronic tongue which can discriminate between ??sour?? and ??salty?? electrolytes. The ion discrimination power of the device can be enhanced by the addition of channels made of, or coated with, different materials.     

Modeling of glycolysis of flexible polyurethane foam wastes by artificial neural network methodology

The glycolysis process as a useful approach to recycling flexible polyurethane foam wastes is modeled in this work. To obtain high quality recycled polyol, the effects of influential processing and material parameters, i.e. process time, process temperature, catalyst‐to‐solvent (Cat/Sol) and solvent‐to‐foam (Sol/Foam) ratios, on the efficiency of the glycolysis reaction were investigated individually and simultaneously. For the continuous prediction of process behavior and interactive effects of parameters, an artificial neural network (ANN) model as an efficient statistical‐mathematical method has been developed. The results of modeling for the criteria that determine the glycolysis process efficiency including the hydroxyl value of the recycled polyol and isocyanate functional group conversion prove that the adopted ANN model successfully anticipates the recycling process responses over the whole range of experimental conditions. The Cat/Sol ratio showed the strongest influence on the quality of the recycled polyol among the studied parameters, where the minimum hydroxyl value was obtained at a medium amount of the assigned ratio. For the consumed polyurethane foam, a higher value of this ratio led to an increase in the hydroxyl value and isocyanate conversion. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of dealcoholation of support in MgCl2-supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts on catalyst activity and polypropylene powder morphology

Spherical support was produced using melt quenching method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that support particles have a rough surface morphology with small pore sizes. The size of primary particles determined to be about 50 nm. Produced particles were dealcoholated using hot nitrogen flow. In this study, the dealcoholation apparatus was similar to a fluidized bed reactor. It consists of three main zones: heating zone, bed zone, and expansion zone. This apparatus is capable to dealcoholate and elutriate support particles at the same time. Results showed a significant increase in specific pore volume and surface area of support particles during the dealcoholation. According to the obtained results, two mechanisms were proposed to explain effect of the dealcoholation on the morphology of support particles. Three dealcoholated samples of different alcohol contents were used in the catalyst preparation. Results showed that by decrease in alcohol content of support particles, specific surface area, and pore volume of catalysts increased. Moreover, titanium content of final catalysts increased slightly. Polymerization of propylene was carried out using obtained catalysts in slurry phase. An increase in catalyst activity and enhancement of polypropylene powder morphology were observed as the alcohol content of support particles decreased.     

Compressible magnetorheological fluids

A novel compressible magnetorheological fluid (CMRF) has been synthesized with additives that provide compressibility to the fluid. This CMRF has been designed to provide an elastic component to a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) that can be used as a springless damper. CMRF provides controllable compressibility to the MRF. The controllability of the fluid is achieved by the use of magnetic particles and an external magnetic field, and the fluid is made compressible by the addition of suspended compressible polymer particles. The compressibility of the fluid has been characterized with force–displacement measurements. This CMRF has controllable off‐state viscosity and high shear yield stress. The incorporation of polymeric particles into the MRF also decreases the settling of iron particles and improves the redispersion of the fluid. To make the fluid more redispersible, the surface of the iron particles is coated with a high‐temperature fluorinated polymer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Effective wavelength calibration for moiré fringe projection

The fringe patterns seen when using moiré instruments are similar to the patterns seen in traditional interferometry but differ in the spacing between consecutive fringes. In traditional interferometry, the spacing is constant and related to the wavelength of the source. In moiré fringe projection, the spacing (the effective wavelength) may not be constant over the field of view and the spacing depends on the system geometry. In these cases, using a constant effective wavelength over the field of view causes inaccurate surface height measurements. We examine the calibration process of the moiré fringe projection measurement, which takes this varying wavelength into account to produce a pixel-by-pixel wavelength map. The wavelength calibration procedure is to move the object in the out-of-plane direction a known distance until every pixel intensity value goes through at least one cycle. A sinusoidal function is then fit to the data to extract the effective wavelength pixel by pixel, yielding an effective wavelength map. A calibrated step height was used to validate the effective wavelength map with results within 1% of the nominal value of the step height. The error sources that contributed to the uncertainty in determining the height of the artifact are also investigated.     

Plasmonic photothermal therapy of colon cancer cells utilising gold nanoshells: an in vitro study

In this study, gold nanoshell (GNS) were synthesised utilising the Halas method. The obtained nanoparticles (NPs) were characterised by Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. FTIR spectra demonstrated the successful functionalisation of silica NP with 3‐aminopropyl trimethoxysilane. SEM and TEM images showed the morphology and diameter of the synthesised silica NPs (137 ± 26 nm) and GNS. UV–Vis spectrum illustrated the maximum absorbance of the resultant GNS and their average hydrodynamic diameter was 159 nm. For in vitro study, HCT‐116 cells were exposed to gold nanoshells and intense pulsed light in different experiment groups. The results showed that exposing the cells to nanoshells and 30 s irradiation would efficiently decrease the viability percentage of the cells to about 30% compared with the control. A continued exposure of 4 min decreased the viability of the cancer cells to 20%. The results demonstrated that photothermal therapy would be promising in treatment of colon cancer cells utilising gold nanoshells.Inspec keywords: gold, silicon compounds, nanomedicine, plasmonics, radiation therapy, bio‐optics, cancer, cellular biophysics, nanoparticles, Fourier transform spectra, infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectraOther keywords: plasmonic photothermal therapy, colon cancer cells, gold‐silica nanoshells, GNS, Halas method, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, SEM, transmission electron microscopy, TEM, UV‐vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, FTIR spectra, 3‐aminopropyl trimethoxysilane, morphology, in vitro study, HCT‐116 cells, cell viability, nanoparticles, time 30 s, time 4 min, Au