Anticorrosion properties of an epoxy zinc-rich composite coating reinforced with zinc,aluminum, and iron oxide pigments

The effects of lamellar aluminum (Al) and micaceous iron oxide (MIO) pigments on the anticorrosion properties of an epoxy zinc-rich coating were studied. To this end, the epoxy zinc-rich coatings containing 70% w/w spherical Zn particles, 60% w/w Zn + 10% w/w MIO, and 60% w/w Zn + 10% w/w Al were prepared. The electrochemical noise (ECN), potentiostatic polarization technique, and salt spray test were employed in order to investigate the anticorrosion performances of the zinc-rich coatings. The zinc-rich coatings morphologies were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after the salt spray test. The open-circuit potential values were also measured at different immersion times. Results showed that MIO particles could enhance the cathodic protection duration of the zinc-rich coating by enhancing its barrier properties and reducing the zinc particles oxidation rate. It was also shown that Al particles reduced zinc-rich coating sacrificial behavior at short immersion times and increased it at long immersion times. Unlike MIO particles, Al particles behaved both as barrier and sacrificial pigment.     

Concept learning games

In this paper, we intend to have a game theoretic study on the concept learning problem in a multi-agent system. Concept learning is a very essential and well-studied domain of machine learning when it is studied under the characteristics of a multi-agent system. The most important reasons are the partiality of the environment perception for any agent and also the communication holdbacks, resulting into a deep need for a collaborative protocol in favor of multi-agent transactions. Here we wish to investigate multi-agent concept learning with the help of its components, thoroughly with a game theoretic taste, esp. on the pre-learning processes. Based on two standard notations, we address the non-unanimity of concepts, classification of objects, voting and communicating protocol, and also the learning itself. In such a game of concept learning, we consider a group of agents, communicating and consulting to upgrade their ontologies based on their conceptualizations of the environment. For this purpose, we investigate the problem in two separate and standard distinctions of game theory study, cooperation and competition. Several solution concepts and innovative ideas from the multi-agent realm are used to produce an approach that contains the reasoning process of the agents in this system. Some experimentations come at the end to show the functionality of our approach. These experimentations come distinctly for both cooperative and competitive views.     

Evaluation of suspended load transport rate using transport formulas and artificial neural network models （Case study： Chelchay Catchment）＊

Accurate estimation of sediment load or transport rate is very important to a wide range of water resources projects. This study was undertaken to determine the most appropriate model to predict suspended load in the Chelchay Watershed, northeast of Iran. In total, 59 data series were collected from four gravel bed-rivers and a sand bed river and two depth integrating suspended load samplers to evaluate nine suspended load formulas and feed forward backpropagation Artificial Neural Network (ANN) structures. Although the Chang formula with higher correlation coefficient (r = 0.69) and lower Root Mean Square Error (RMSE = 0.013) is the best suspended load predictor among the nine studied formulas, the ANN models significantly outperform traditional suspended load formulas and show their superior performance for all statistical parameters. Among different ANN structures two models including 4 inputs, 4 hidden and one output neurons, and 4 inputs, 4 and one hidden and one output neurons provide the best simulation with the RMSE values of 0.0009 and 0.001, respectively.     

Targeted disruption of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 2 suggests a role for FGF signaling in pregastrulation mammalian development

We disrupted the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene by introducing a neo cassette into the IIIc ligand binding exon and by deleting a genomic DNA fragment encoding its transmembrane domain and part of its kinase I domain. A recessive embryonic lethal mutation was obtained. Preimplantation development was normal until the blastocyst stage. Homozygous mutant embryos died a few hours after implantation at a random position in the uterine crypt, with collapsed yolk cavity. Mutant blastocysts hatched, adhered, and formed a layer of trophoblast giant cells in vitro, but after prolonged culture, the growth of the inner cell mass stopped, no visceral endoderm formed, and finally the egg cylinder disintegrated. It follows that FGFR2 is required for early postimplantation development between implantation and the formation of the egg cylinder. We suggest that FGFR2 contributes to the outgrowth, differentiation, and maintenance of the inner cell mass and raise the possibility that this activity is mediated by FGF4 signals transmitted by FGFR2. The role of early FGF signaling in pregastrulation development as a possible adaptation to mammalian (amniote) embryogenesis is discussed.     

Immunophenotypic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells undergoing in vitro apoptosis after isolation from human immunodeficiency virus-infected children

Lymphocytes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals undergo accelerated apoptosis in vitro, but the subsets of cells affected have not been clearly defined. This study examined the relationship between lymphocyte phenotype and apoptotic cell death in HIV-infected children by flow cytometry. Direct examination of the phenotype of apoptotic lymphocytes was accomplished using a combination of surface antigen labeling performed simultaneously with the Tdt mediated Utp nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. In comparison to live cells, apoptotic lymphocytes displayed an overrepresentation of CD45RO and HLA-DR expressing cells, while CD28 and CD95 expressing cells were underrepresented. Lymphocytes expressing CD4, CD8, and CD38 were equally represented in apoptotic and live populations. When percent lymphocyte apoptosis follow- ing culture was examined independently with lymphocyte subsets in fresh blood, apoptosis was negatively correlated with the percentage of CD4 cells, but not with specific CD4 T-cell subsets. Although not correlated with the percentage of total CD8 cells, apoptosis was positively correlated with specific CD8 T-cell subsets expressing CD45RO and CD95 and negatively correlated for CD8 T cells expressing CD45RA. These results provide direct evidence that a population of activated lymphocytes with the memory phenotype lacking the costimulatory molecule CD28 are especially prone to undergo apoptosis. The findings related to CD95 expression in fresh and apoptotic cells implicate Fas-dependent and Fas-independent pathways of apoptosis in HIV disease in children.     

Material‐Auswahlbox zur Herstellung fortgeschrittener Polymermembranen für die Wasseraufbereitung

Within the framework of the MABMEM research project, new high‐performance membranes are being developed for sustainable water management. The performance of the membranes will be evaluated in comparative and standardized fouling tests as well as in terms of the removal of trace impurities on a laboratory scale. Seven candidates are currently being tested in demonstrator trials with real‐water matrix in a waterworks for the direct treatment of dam water without prior coagulation over a period of 6 months. Subsequently, the new membrane materials will be operated with the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant.     

Microstructure and Optical Bandgap of Cobalt Selenide Nanofilms

Semiconductors - The purpose of this research is to explore the properties of CoSe nanostructured thin films on glass substrates prepared by a chemical solution deposition method. Special attention...     

Machine learning model for mapping of music mood and human emotion based on physiological signals

Emotion is considered a physiological state that appears whenever a transformation is observed by an individual in their environment or body. While studying the literature, it has been observed that combining the electrical activity of the brain, along with other physiological signals for the accurate analysis of human emotions is yet to be explored in greater depth. On the basis of physiological signals, this work has proposed a model using machine learning approaches for the calibration of music mood and human emotion. The proposed model consists of three phases (a) prediction of the mood of the song based on audio signals, (b) prediction of the emotion of the human-based on physiological signals using EEG, GSR, ECG, Pulse Detector, and finally, (c) the mapping has been done between the music mood and the human emotion and classifies them in real-time. Extensive experimentations have been conducted on the different music mood datasets and human emotion for influential feature extraction, training, testing and performance evaluation. An effort has been made to observe and measure the human emotions up to a certain degree of accuracy and efficiency by recording a person’s bio- signals in response to music. Further, to test the applicability of the proposed work, playlists are generated based on the user’s real-time emotion determined using features generated from different physiological sensors and mood depicted by musical excerpts. This work could prove to be helpful for improving mental and physical health by scientifically analyzing the physiological signals.

     

Investigation of the soil amplification factor in the Adapazari region

Turkey is located on the highly active Eurasian plate. A very active strike slip fault, the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), crosses Turkey from east to west; earthquakes occurred on this fault on August 17, 1999 (Kocaeli) and November 12, 1999 (Düzce). Regional geology and subsoil conditions can significantly change the characteristics of ground motion. For this reason, determining soil amplification during an earthquake, especially for soft soils, is a very important topic for researchers. In this study, one dimensional ground response analyses were performed for selected Adapazari sites using the August 17, 1999 Kocaeli earthquake strong ground motion record with SHAKE2000 software. Soil characteristics and depth to engineering bedrock at the selected sites are different and the observed level of structural damage at these sites during the Kocaeli earthquake was also different. Calculated soil surface response spectrums at these sites were compared with the recommended design spectra of the Turkish Earthquake Code and the Eurocode 8. According to one dimensional ground response analyses, the calculated response spectra of the selected sites exceed the recommended design spectra of the Turkish Earthquake Code and the Eurocode 8. Calculations show that higher amplification ratios occur at higher periods due to soil behaviour. Results of this study indicate that local geological conditions may amplify ground motion at some periods and, due to this amplification, the calculated response spectra may exceed the recommended design spectra. Therefore, it is clear that local site conditions must be considered for earthquake-resistant engineering designs on soft alluvial soil deposits.