Porous nanostructured ZnO films deposited by picosecond laser ablation

Porous nanostructured polycrystalline ZnO films, free of large particulates, were deposited by picosecond laser ablation. Using a Zn target, zinc oxide films were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates using a picosecond Nd:YVO₄ laser (8 ps, 50 kHz, 532 nm, 0.17 J/cm²) in an oxygen atmosphere at room temperature (RT). The morpho-structural characteristics of ZnO films deposited at different oxygen pressures (150–900 mTorr) and gas flow rates (0.25 and 10 sccm) were studied. The post-deposition influence of annealing (250–550 °C) in oxygen on the film characteristics was also investigated. At RT, a mixture of Zn and ZnO formed. At substrate temperatures above 350 °C, the films were completely oxidized, containing a ZnO wurtzite phase with crystallite sizes of 12.2–40.1 nm. At pressures of up to 450 mTorr, the porous films consisted of well-distinguished primary nanoparticles with average sizes of 45–58 nm, while at higher pressures, larger clusters (3.1–14.7 μm) were dominant, leading to thicker films; higher flow rates favored clustering.     

Local and global heat transfer coefficients of a stabilised ice slurry in laminar and transitional flows

The thermal behaviour of a new two-phase secondary refrigerant has been analysed. The “stabilised ice slurry” is a suspension in a low viscosity oil of ultraporous polymeric particles filled with water. In order to determine the convective heat transfer coefficient of this secondary refrigerant with water–ice phase change, an experimental set-up was built. It allows determining the local heat transfer coefficients inside two heat exchangers, having rectangular sections (80 × 8 mm²) of 1 m length, by mean of fluxmeters located along the working section. The slurry is first cooled and frozen in one of the exchangers, then heated and melted in the other exchanger. The results obtained for laminar or transitional flows shows that the heat transfer coefficients of the ice slurry are obviously higher than the heat transfer coefficients obtained with the single-phase fluid (oil). Correlations giving the local and global Nusselt numbers, depending on the Graetz or Reynolds numbers and on the particle mass fraction, have been established.     

Synthesis and adsorption properties of nanocrystalline ferrites for kinetic modeling development

Nanocrystalline ferrites are known to be used in different applications, including industrial wastewater management. For environmental water issues, one of the most widely applied techniques is the adsorption of pollutants. The adsorption capacity of Congo red (CR) dye on different MFe₂O₄ (M = Co²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺) ferrites, synthesized by coprecipitation method, was determined. Specific isotherms and kinetic models were used to characterize the adsorption process. Interesting results were obtained for MgFe₂O₄ with adsorption capacity ranging from 39% up to 70% dependent on the initial dye concentration. Furthermore, an artificial intelligence model based on neural network was developed in order to model the adsorption rates followed by the generation of 3D adsorption rate models for each type of synthesized ferrite. These models were obtained in order to provide information about the particle-dye system`s kinetics at various initial CR concentration. Specific techniques were used to characterize the functionalized magnetic particles.     

Unsupervised deep learning for real-time assessment of video streaming services

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Evaluating quality of experience in video streaming services requires a quality metric that works in real time and for a broad range of video types and network...     

The influence of Covid-19 on publications in economics: bibliometric evidence from five working paper series

Scientometrics - We compare Covid-related working papers in economics to non-Covid-related working papers in four dimensions. Based on five well-known working papers series and data from the RePEc...     

α‐Keto Phenylamides as P1′‐Extended Proteasome Inhibitors

The major challenge for proteasome inhibitor design lies in achieving high selectivity for, and activity against, the target, which requires specific interactions with the active site. Novel ligands aim to overcome off‐target‐related side effects such as peripheral neuropathy, which is frequently observed in cancer patients treated with the FDA‐approved proteasome inhibitors bortezomib ( 1 ) or carfilzomib ( 2 ). A systematic comparison of electrophilic headgroups recently identified the class of α‐keto amides as promising for next generation drug development. On the basis of crystallographic knowledge, we were able to develop a structure–activity relationship (SAR)‐based approach for rational ligand design using an electronic parameter (Hammett’s σ) and in silico molecular modeling. This resulted in the tripeptidic α‐keto phenylamide BSc4999 [(S)‐3‐(benzyloxycarbonyl‐(S)‐leucyl‐(S)‐leucylamino)‐5‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐N‐(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)hexanamide, 6 a ], a highly potent (IC₅₀=38 nM ), cell‐permeable, and slowly reversible covalent inhibitor which targets both the primed and non‐primed sites of the proteasome’s substrate binding channel as a special criterion for selectivity. The improved inhibition potency and selectivity of this new α‐keto phenylamide makes it a promising candidate for targeting a wider range of tumor subtypes than commercially available proteasome inhibitors and presents a new candidate for future studies.     

Polysulfone–polyaniline‐type membranes obtained in a steady‐state system: Structural and hydrodynamic characteristics

Structural and hydrodynamic characteristics of polysulfone–polyaniline‐type membranes (Psf‐PANI) are depending on a number of parameters. The present article details the influence upon such membrane of the characteristics of obtaining process, type of monomer used in generating the composite membrane and pH of the solution permeating the membranes (for flow characterization). Membranes were obtained in a steady‐state process, using an inversion phase technique accompanied by an in situ chemical reaction. The composite character of the material is a result of inserting, in the pre‐existing porous polymer structure (polysulfone, Psf) of a second monomer (aniline or substituted anilines, e.g., amino‐benzoic acid, 3ABA) through an oxidative polycondensation reaction. The steady‐state process ensures a constant and reproducible structure of the composite material. As the study shows, from the two types of obtained composite membranes, the one that uses aniline polycondensation on polysulfone substrate presents better performances, compared with the one that uses substituted aniline in polycondensation (Psf‐P3ABA). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1640–1647, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Method for early detection of the regenerative instability in turning

Nowadays, approaches in chatter detection and control are based on chatter prediction, by using a machining system dynamic model, or on chatter detection by different techniques, but after chatter onset. They are not efficient because the models are complicated and specific (in the first case) respectively because of chatter unwanted consequences occurrence (in the second case). This paper presents a method for early detection of the process regenerative instability state (as a specific process current dynamical state), based on cutting force monitoring. Using the cutting force records, the process current dynamical state is assessed. Appropriate cutting force signal features are defined, based on signal statistic processing, signal chaotic modeling or signal harmonic analysis, and used on this purpose. The process dynamical state evolution is modeled aiming the features values prediction. Two types of models were used in this purpose: linear and neural. The instability regenerative mechanism is identified by using either dedicated features or input variable selection. The method was conceived and experimentally implemented in the case of turning process. The results show the method reliability and the possibility of using it in developing an intelligent system for stability control.     

Protection of Romania’s beaches with a floating shore dyke infrastructure

Because the classical solutions for marine erosion control in the littoral areas of Romania with weak resistance to the waves, did not offer satisfactory results, other measures were taken. The solutions have included floating wave‐breakers and hardened shoreline, but they do not act directly upon the cause of marine erosion. An intelligent solution, which absorbs wave energy and converts it into electric energy, simultaneously protects the beach and coastal structures. The energy‐capturing dyke, if installed on wind turbines and solar panels, may lead to increasing the efficiency and profitability of the future coastal structure developments.