Logic-based modeling of information transfer in cyber–physical multi-agent systems

In modeling multi-agent systems, the structure of their communication is typically one of the most important aspects, especially for systems that strive toward self-organization or collaborative adaptation. Traditionally, such structures have often been described using logic-based approaches as they provide a formal foundation for many verification methods. However, these formalisms are typically not well suited to reflect the stochastic nature of communication in the cyber–physical setting. In particular, their level of abstraction is either too high to provide sufficient accuracy or too low to be practicable in more complex models. Therefore, we propose an extension of the logic-based modeling language SALMA, which we have introduced recently, that provides adequate high-level constructs for communication and data propagation, explicitly taking into account stochastic delays and errors. In combination with SALMA’s tool support for simulation and statistical model checking, this creates a pragmatic approach for verification and validation of cyber–physical multi-agent systems.     

Development of Cu particles and Cu core-shell particles reinforced Al composite

Copper particles were incorporated and retained in elemental state in an aluminium matrix by friction stir processing thereby producing a non-equilibrium particulate composite. The processed Al–Cu_p composite exhibited improved strength with significantly high ductility. The composite was stable up to a temperature of more than 300°C. Thermal exposure at 350°C for more than 10 min led to diffusion of Cu atoms into the Al matrix forming a core-shell type structure in the Cu particles and thus producing an Al–Cu core-shell composite. The shell consists of multiple layers, the thickness of which was controllable.     

Investigating the co-substitution impact of yttrium–nickel cations on lattice,morphological and magnetic parameters of SrM based ceramics

This study details the impact of the co-substitution of Y³⁺-Ni³⁺ ions for the Fe³⁺ ions on the structural, morphological and, magnetic parameters of SrM based SrY_xFe_12-2xNi_xO₁₉ (0.00 ≤ x ≥ 0.25) (SrYFeNiO) ceramic magnets synthesized by the ceramic route. Rietveld refinement of XRD confirmed the hexagonal (P63/mmc (194), z = 2) SrFe₁₂O₁₉ phase for all and an additional rhombohedral (R-3c (167), z = 6) hematite Fe₂O₃ phase for x = 0.2, x = 0.25 doping levels. The experimental and theoretical measurements abstracted the stretch of lattice parameters, i.e., the crystallographic axis and the lattice cell volume, and the dislocation of the crystallographic plane (1 1 4) for the hexagonal system, certified the heavy Y³⁺-Ni³⁺ ions substitution. To examine the morphological parameters, FESEM presented the regular hexagonal platelets of sizes ~ 1–2 μm, and EDX revealed the presence of constituent elements with their atomic and weight percentages in SrFeYNiO products. The extraction of vibrational frequencies of Fe–O bonds at tetrahedral and octahedral sites of iron through FT-IR spectroscopy authenticates the formation of the SrM phase. XPS correlated the doped elements, i.e., nickel in Ni⁺² and Ni⁺³ and yttrium in Y⁺³, whereas parent element, i.e., iron in Fe⁺³ and Fe⁺² chemical states, enlightened their impact on the magnetic parameters. Hysteresis loop analysis deduced a linear decline in magnetic parameters such as saturation magnetization (M_s) and remnant magnetization (M_r) due to non-magnetic Y³⁺ and less magnetic Ni³⁺ ions installment in 4f1 and 2b polyhedral sites of Fe³⁺ ions. However, high coercivity (H_c) up to 2.92 kOe ∈ x = 0.15 and extended magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) up to 5.790× 10⁶ Erg/g ∈ x = 0.15 of our obtained ceramic magnets affirmed their application in permanent magnetic industry. M(T) curves also demonstrated the decrease in M_s and displayed an SPM at T_B, which is shifting towards lower temperatures with increasing Y³⁺-Ni³⁺ contents approved the expansion of lattice parameters.     

Solid solution limit of Fe2O3 in mullite crystals,produced from kaolin by solid state reactions

Porcelain, wall/floor tiles, and roofing tiles are classified as traditional ceramics and are produced from natural raw materials such as clay, quartz, and feldspar. The raw materials are selected by the oxide content which provides the desired properties of the final product. However, impurities such as Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ may have a significant influence on both physical/mechanical properties and aesthetic appearance. Fe₂O₃, which is of particular importance, causes black maculation formation in tablewares, in which whiteness is essential. The only way to overcome the black maculation is to corrupt the Fe₂O₃ crystal structure and to employ Fe^2+/3+ cation, making a solid solution with a host crystal (i.e. mullite-3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂). The aim of this study is to identify the solubility limit of Fe₂O₃ in mullite crystals. With the scope of the study, an illite/kaolinite was utilized by adding an increasing amount of Fe₂O₃ (e.g. 1–2–4–6–8–10?wt%) into the recipes fired at 1300?°C for 3?h after homogenization. According to the mullite phase content, it is concluded that ~ 5?wt% of Fe₂O₃ could be dissolved in mullite crystal structure on the basis of the Rietveld refinement of the XRD patterns.     

The effect of TiO2 nanotube morphological engineering and ZnS quantum dots on the water splitting reaction: A theoretical and experimental study

Ordered arrays of TiO₂ nanotubes with smooth and rippled morphologies were prepared by one-step titanium oxidation in NH₄F and ethylene glycol solution. The samples were then decorated with ZnS using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method. The experiments under constant or pulsed applied voltage resulted in smooth and rippled TiO₂material morphologies, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, incident photon-to-current efficiency, linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate the structure and morphology of the TiO₂ nanotubes, along with their photoelectrochemical activity in the water splitting reaction. An envelope function was proposed to correlate the anisotropic morphologies and broad distribution of mobility due to the random nature of charge carrier transport. The smooth and rippled morphologies were evaluated using the transmission line model. First-principles quantum mechanical calculations based on the density functional theory at the B3LYP level are conducted to obtain a better understanding of optical properties of TiO₂.     

氟锆酸钾盐混合物对Mg-3Y-3.5Sm-2Zn合金组织和性能的影响

制备了三种氟锆酸钾(K2ZrF6)盐混合物(M),分别在三个温度下将三种盐混合物加入到铸态Mg-3Y-3.5Sm-2Zn合金中。通过差热分析(DSC),X射线衍射(XRD),光学显微镜(OM),扫描电子显微镜(SEM),能量色散谱(EDS)和拉伸试验研究了合金的显微组织和力学性能,讨论了K2ZrF6盐混合物在合金中的晶粒细化机理。结果表明,铸态Mg-3Y-3.5Sm-2Zn合金由α-Mg,Mg12(Y,Sm)Zn 和 (Mg,Zn)3(Y,Sm)三种相组成。SEM和XRD检测发现,添加K2ZrF6盐混合物不会在合金中产生新的相。在780°C下加入M3盐(60wt% K2ZrF6-20wt% NaCl-20wt% KCl)时,合金的晶粒细化效果最佳。通过在780℃下加入三种盐,铸态Mg-3Y-3.5Sm-2Zn合金的力学性能得到提高,由M3盐细化后的合金具有最佳的力学性能。K2ZrF6盐混合物可细化铸态Mg-3Y-3.5Sm-2Zn合金,这是由于Mg和K2ZrF6之间还原反应得到的细Zr质点和富锆区在合金中起到的晶粒细化作用。     

Classic and inverse compositional Gauss-Newton in global DIC

Today, effective implementations of digital image correlation (DIC) are based on iterative algorithms with constant linear operators. A relevant idea of the classic finite element (or, more generally, global) DIC solver consists in replacing the gradient of the deformed state image with that of the reference image, so as to obtain a constant operator. Different arguments (small strains, small deformations, equality of the two gradients close to the solution, etc) have been given in the literature to justify this approximation, but none of them are fully accurate. Indeed, the convergence of the optimization algorithm has to be investigated from its ability to produce descent directions. Through such a study, this paper attempts to explain why this approximation works and what is its domain of validity. Then, an inverse compositional Gauss-Newton implementation of finite element DIC is proposed as a cost-effective and mathematically sound alternative to this approximation.     

高频微振辅助工艺对激光焊接接头组织性能的影响

基于自主搭建的高频微振平台，进行316L不锈钢振动辅助激光焊接试验，探究高频微振激光焊接工艺对接头组织性能的影响. 结果表明，施加振动后，焊缝表面无飞溅，成形良好. 截面未出现塌陷、堆高，背部熔宽均匀. 振动的施加，能够明显细化焊缝区的晶粒，在共振频率1 467.5 Hz的高频微振激光焊条件下，晶粒尺寸最小. 点状颗粒物分布在奥氏体晶粒间，趋于弥散，新相及大颗粒物减少. 随着振动频率增加，焊缝区显微硬度值跟着增加，在较高共振频率显微硬度值增加显著，在共振频率1 467.5 Hz、加速度160 m/s2条件下，焊缝区平均硬度206 HV，与无振动相比，硬度值增加5.6%.     

Effect of apple cider vinegar agent on the microstructure,phase evolution,and magnetic properties of CoFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles

In the present study, spinel structure CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by the sol-gel auto-combustion technique. The effect of apple cider vinegar (ACV) addition as an organic biocompatible agent on the size, morphology, and magnetic properties of CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles was investigated in detail. The phase evolution, particle size, and lattice parameter changes of the synthesized phase have been estimated by using Rietveld structure refinement analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data. Also, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) of the samples verified the presence of two expected bands correspond to tetrahedral and octahedral metal-oxygen complexes within the spinel structure. Furthermore, microstructural observations revealed that ultrafine particles have a semi-spherical morphology. It was shown that the particles size decreased from ~45 to ~17 nm with an increase in the amount of ACV. Magnetic properties were carried out by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature. Both the saturation magnetization (M_s) and coercivity (H_c) were found to be significantly dependent on the crystallite size and the amount of ACV.     

Application of the phase extension method in virus crystallography

The procedure for phase extension (PX) involves gradually extending the initial phases from low resolution (e.g. ～8?Å) to the high-resolution limit of a diffraction data set. Structural redundancy present in the viral capsids that display icosahedral symmetry results in a high degree of non-crystallographic symmetry (NCS), which in turn translates into higher phasing power and is critical for improving and extending phases to higher resolution. Greater completeness of the diffraction data and determination of a molecular replacement solution, which entails accurately identifying the virus particle orientation(s) and position(s), are important for the smooth progression of the PX procedure. In addition, proper definition of a molecular mask (envelope) around the NCS-asymmetric unit has been found to be important for the success of density modification procedures, such as density averaging and solvent flattening. Regardless of the degree of NCS, the PX method appears to work well in all space groups, provided an accurate molecular mask is used along with reasonable initial phases. However, in the cases with space group P1, in addition to requiring a molecular mask, starting the PX at a higher resolution (e.g. 6?Å) overcame the previously reported problems due to Babinet phases and phase flipping errors.