A new electrochromic copolymer based on dithienylpyrrole and EDOT

A new compound, namely diethyl 2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-3,4-dicarboxylate (1), was copolymerized with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) via electrochemical method. The copolymer exhibits multicolor electrochromic property: It is found that the copolymer, poly(1-co-EDOT), has a specific optical band gap (1.71 eV) to reflect and/or transmit reddish brown color in the neutral state, and it can be switched to reddish orange, orange, yellowish green and blue colors upon oxidation in a low switching time (1.0 s). Importantly, these colors are essential for camouflage and/or full color electrochromic device/display applications. In addition to these, the obtained copolymer has a coloration efficiency of 173 cm²/C at 500 nm.     

Performance of an HT‐PEMFC having a catalyst with graphene and multiwalled carbon nanotube support

In this study, the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotube and graphene nanoplatelet‐based catalyst supports on the performance of reformate gas‐fed polybenzimidazole (PBI)‐based high‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT‐PEMFC) was investigated. In addition, the effect of several microwave conditions on the performance of the Pt‐Ru/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) catalyst was assessed. Through X‐ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy, the catalysts' chemical structure and morphology were characterized. Cyclic voltammetry analysis was used for the electrochemical characterization of catalysts through an electrochemical cell with three electrodes connected to a potentiostat. The results showed that the best performing catalyst is the catalyst produced using 800‐W power for 40 seconds. The electrochemically active surface area values of this catalyst ranged from 54 to 45 m²/g. Single‐cell performance tests of the HT‐PEMFC were then carried out. In these tests, reformate gas mixture, consisting of H₂, CO₂, and CO, was fed to the anode side at 160°C without humidification. These tests for the best performing catalyst yielded peak power density of 0.280 W/cm² and current density (at 0.6 V) of 0.180 A/cm² in the H₂/air environment and peak power density of 0.266 W/cm² and current density (at 0.6 V) of 0.171 A/cm² in the reformate gas/air environment. As a result of the experiments, it was found that Pt‐Ru/MWCNT‐GNP hybrid material is a suitable catalyst for HT‐PEMFC.     

DressBoard: An Embedded Virtual Try-On System for Ties and Bowties

In real life, trying a dress is generally physically exhausting and time consuming. In this study, a novel embedded virtual try-on system for ties and bowties is proposed, which will save time and enhance the shopping experience. The presented system is based on human computer interaction with embedded design, where the goal is to simulate tie/bowtie trial on a person in the camera view. Users can choose a tie/bowtie model available in the database via a touch screen. The system will then fit the selected model rapidly and accurately, and display the fitting result. Performance of the proposed system is experimentally evaluated on images acquired in a real-life scenario. The results showed that both fitting accuracy and process time vary almost-linearly with image resolution, where real-time and accurate (average error varies in the 0.5–5.0 cm range by resolution) performance can be achieved. In addition, the proposed system can handle fitting in videos, where experimental evaluations revealed real-time, accurate, and robust (to illumination change and image variations) performance even in the absence of collared garment.     

Synthesis,characterization and surface properties of star‐shaped polymeric surfactants with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane core

Star‐shaped amphiphilic polymeric surfactants comprising a hydrophobic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) core and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) arms with various chain lengths are successfully synthesized using copper(I)‐catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction. Their chemical structures and molecular characteristics are clearly confirmed using Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopies and gel permeation chromatography, and no homopolymer is found after CuAAC click reaction. Aqueous solutions of these star‐shaped polymers have been investigated using atomic force and transmission electron microscopies and dynamic light scattering studies and it is found that they can self‐assemble into micelles. The sizes of the micelles can be adjusted by the length of the PEG arms, where longer chains not only lead to increased micelle sizes, but also reduce the contact angle values. Moreover, the melting points and root mean square roughness of the obtained star‐shaped polymers are slightly increased on increasing the chain length of the PEG arms. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of controlled atmosphere storage and low-dose irradiation on potato tuber components affecting acrylamide and color formations upon frying

The effects of normal and controlled atmosphere combinations on tuber components responsible for acrylamide formation were studied during prolonged storage at 9±1 °C using the tubers of “Agria” and “Russet Burbank.” The effects of low-dose irradiation (50, 200 Gy) prior to normal atmosphere storage were also studied. There was only a limited increase in the concentrations of sugars during 6 month of storage under normal atmosphere conditions. Low-dose irradiation slightly decreased the rate of sweetening in the tubers. The potential of acrylamide formation remained almost the same; however, the loss of firmness became clearer during 6 month of storage under normal atmosphere conditions. Controlled atmosphere storage in which O₂ was deficient to a sufficient respiration increased the concentrations of sugars, and thus, the potential of acrylamide formation in potatoes upon frying at 170 °C for 10 min. The sum of glucose and fructose concentrations showed a good correlation (r ²∼0.90) with the potential of acrylamide formation for both cultivars.     

Bubbly cavitating flow generation and investigation of its erosional nature for biomedical applications

This paper presents a study that investigates the destructive energy output resulting from hydrodynamic bubbly cavitation in microchannels and its potential use in biomedical applications. The research performed in this study includes results from bubbly cavitation experiments and findings showing the destructive effects of bubbly cavitating flow on selected solid specimens and live cells. The bubbles generated by hydrodynamic cavitation are highly destructive at the surfaces of the target medium on which they are carefully focused. The resulting destructive energy output could be effectively used for biomedical treatments, such as destroying kidney stones (renal calculi) or killing cancer cells. Motivated by this potential, the cavitation damage to cancerous cells and material removal from chalk pieces (which possess similar material properties as some kidney stones) was investigated. Our results showed that cavitation could induce damage both on chalk pieces and leukemia/lymphoma cells. We discovered that hydrodynamic cavitation exposure had early and delayed effects on cancer cell survival. Hence, the potential of hydrodynamic bubbly cavitation generated at the microscale for biomedical treatments was revealed using the microchannel configuration as a microorifice (with an inner diameter of 147 μm and a length of 1.52 cm), which acts as the source of bubbly cavitating flows.     

The Triple Helix as a model to analyze Israeli Magnet Program and lessons for late-developing countries like Turkey

Although the systemic changes towards innovation networking between university-industry and governmental actors have recently found a place on the international policy and literature agenda, networking between the organizations and people - for the national survival, production and growth - has been deeply rooted in the Israeli system even before the establishment of the Israeli State in 1948. Internal and international constraints fostered the formation of personal links, as did institutional settings that promoted networking. This paper reviews the interaction of societal, organizational and cultural features that render innovation networks in Israel successful. The research focuses on the impacts of the Israeli Magnet Program on the Israeli R&D growth and performance. The implications of innovation networks for a late-developing country like Turkey are reviewed in the contexts of catching-up and cross-regional collaboration between the Israeli and Turkish industries and academies.     

Core size and time effects on water absorption values of rock and cement mortar samples

There is no standard size for samples used to establish water absorption (WA) by weight and volume. A total of 150 samples with five different diameters (54, 48, 42, 30 and 21 mm) were cored from sandstone, limestone and cement mortar with a length:diameter ratio between 2.0 and 2.5. The laboratory experiments were continued for 90 days, although some samples reached their maximum absorption at 43 and 60 days. The study has shown that WA values vary significantly with sample dimension and time. NX (54 mm) cores had the lowest WA values while 21 and 30 mm diameter cores gave the highest WA values. The difference between 24-h and 90-day WA values was greatest for the 21 mm cores.