The use of recycled low-density polyethylene films from protective prepreg for the development of nanocomposites with bentonite clay

Prepreg is a pre-impregnated composite fiber where a thermoset polymer matrix material is present. Before being used, these materials are kept at low temperatures and have a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film for your protection. The increase in the use of structural composites based on prepregs causes an increase in the amount of protective LDPE film. This material is usually discarded or incinerated and can cause great damage to the environment. Thus, the present work aimed to study the feasibility of recycling up to 100% of protective LDPE (rLDPE) to develop blends-based nanocomposites with rLDPE/virgin LDPE (60/40, 70/30, 80/20, 90/10 and 100/0) with the addition of 5 wt% of compatibilizer agent (maleic anhydride grafted LDPE, LDPE-g-MA), and 1 wt% of bentonite (BNT) using a co-rotational twin-screw extruder, followed by hot pressing in a hydropneumatic press and die-cutting. Water absorption test, thermal aging resistance, morphological characterization by scanning electron microscopy, mechanical properties by Izod impact strength and tensile tests, and differential scanning calorimetry were performed. By the results, it was possible to verify the viability of 100% of the recycling of rLDPE. The results showed a good distribution of 1 wt% of BNT in the matrix, better mechanical properties when compared with virgin LDPE. Furthermore, the thermal properties, water absorption test, and thermal aging resistance showed no statistical differences between the samples. These results confirm the effectiveness and the environmental gain in the use of the recycled material.     

Squinted SAR focusing for improving automatic radar sounder data analysis and enhancement

Radar sounder (RS) instruments are providing a huge amount of subsurface data. In order to support the study of this data, several automatic methods have been recently proposed. So far, the development of such methods mostly focused on publicly available radargrams (standard products), which are generated from raw data in order to obtain high visual quality images. The possibility to exploit raw processing to derive additional information for automatic analyses has not yet been considered. In order to fill this gap, in this paper, we show that by properly tuning raw signal processing it is possible to automatically obtain additional a priori information on subsurface targets. Such information can be used to potentially improve the results of further automatic analyses and/or address problems that cannot be easily solved automatically using only standard products. In particular, we propose four measurements obtained using squinted synthetic aperture radar focusing that provide useful physical information about subsurface features. Moreover, in order to prove the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a novel preprocessing method for automatic layer detection techniques based on the concepts developed in this paper is presented and validated. All the examples reported in the paper use real planetary RS data acquired by the SHAllow RADar instrument on Mars.     

Particle Detachment from Rough Surfaces in Turbulent Flows: An Analytical Expression for Resuspension Fraction

The critical shear velocity for resuspension of micrometer size particles from rough surfaces was studied. The random variation of surface roughness was accounted for. The recently developed Monte Carlo simulations accounted for the statistical variations of physical parameters that control the particle resuspension process. A sensitivity analysis showed that the surface roughness and its random variation was the key factor affecting the particle resuspension from rough surfaces. The theory of probabilistic transformation was used and an analytical expression for evaluating the resuspension fraction of particles of different sizes from rough surfaces versus the shear velocity was developed. The resuspension fractions as predicted by the analytical model were evaluated for several particles sizes for a range of turbulent flow shear velocities. The resulting resuspension fractions were compared with those obtained from the Monte Carlo simulations as well as the available experimental data. It was found that the predictions of the new analytical equation were in good agreement with the Monte Carlo simulation results and the experimental data, especially for smaller size particles. This new analytical expression could be used as a simple empirical equation for estimating flow-induced resuspension of particles from rough surfaces.     

A block-symmetric linearization of odd degree matrix polynomials with optimal eigenvalue condition number and backward error

The standard way of solving numerically a polynomial eigenvalue problem (PEP) is to use a linearization and solve the corresponding generalized eigenvalue problem (GEP). In addition, if the PEP possesses one of the structures arising very often in applications, then the use of a linearization that preserves such structure combined with a structured algorithm for the GEP presents considerable numerical advantages. Block-symmetric linearizations have proven to be very useful for constructing structured linearizations of structured matrix polynomials. In this scenario, we analyze the eigenvalue condition numbers and backward errors of approximated eigenpairs of a block symmetric linearization that was introduced by Fiedler (Linear Algebra Appl 372:325–331, 2003) for scalar polynomials and generalized to matrix polynomials by Antoniou and Vologiannidis (Electron J Linear Algebra 11:78–87, 2004). This analysis reveals that such linearization has much better numerical properties than any other block-symmetric linearization analyzed so far in the literature, including those in the well known vector space \(\mathbb {DL}(P)\) of block-symmetric linearizations. The main drawback of the analyzed linearization is that it can be constructed only for matrix polynomials of odd degree, but we believe that it will be possible to extend its use to even degree polynomials via some strategies in the near future.     

Remaining Life Evaluation Based on Strain Deformation Monitoring

The operating conditions of a power plant affect its structural integrity due to many degradation mechanisms, among which is creep. Strain measurements constitute a relatively simple and reliable method of obtaining accurate data regarding the capability of engineering materials to withstand loads and of determining stress distribution in all manner of structural components. This work carried out a critical evaluation of the application of a high-temperature strain gage on a strain and stress analysis. The sensor was undergoing a group of long-term creep tests whose results were compared with the creep machine’s acquisition system. The same strain gage was part of a monitoring system and its out some used on the remaining life evaluation a power plant’s pipeline. The methodology consists of online strain monitoring of those components or regions more susceptible to creep failure, which were identified by finite element analysis. The long-term creep tests using high-temperature strain gages showed that the relative position between sensor and the sample necking region exercises great influence on the measured results. Linear relationship between minimum creep rate obtained by strain gages and rupture time values was observed. The power plant pipeline analysis showed that thermomechanical fatigue is the predominant degradation mechanism.     

Enhanced lipid peroxidation in hepatic cirrhosis

> Objective: This paper describes the deliberations of an interdisciplinary group of clinical and basic scientists who met at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to discuss the potential role of fetal behavior in assessing fetal well being and predicting neonatal outcome. The conference focused on three aspects of fetal behavior: 1) habituation; 2) state transitions; and 3) movement. Methods: The participants consisted of 25 leaders in the fields of obstetrics, perinatal medicine, neonatology, developmental psychobiology, developmental neuroscience, developmental psychology, ethology, and mathematics. The meeting was divided into three parts. In each of these a plenary speaker (a recognized expert in his field) began the session with an overview of the scientific theme. Two respondents, with research expertise in fetal research (animal models or human fetuses) followed with remarks on the plenary talk and comments based on their own studies. At the conclusion of these comments, the participants met in small groups to discuss the plenary proceedings and their implications for assessing human fetal well being and predicting outcome. At the conclusion of the small group deliberations all of the participants reconvened in a plenary session. During this part of the meeting a rapporteur from each small group summarized their discussions. Results and Conclusions: 1) Fetal habituation: there was a general consensus that research on this aspect of fetal behavior may have a high payoff for assessing human fetal well being and predicting neonatal outcome. 2) Behavioral state transitions: participants agreed that transitions afford investigators with an indication of when (timing) and how (models) behavior changes within and between developmental periods. Knowledge of transitions during development allows for tracking of behaviors that may be necessary for the fetus to adapt to its in utero environment or prepare for its postnatal life. 3) Chaos theory and fetal movement: participants concluded that non-linear dynamics systems analysis models could be useful to analyze "noise" within a measurement system; better define time scales; and increase resolution and thereby better identify "signals."     

Using SPDY to improve Web 2.0 over satellite links

During the last decade, the Web has grown in terms of complexity, while the evolution of the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) has not experienced the same trend. Even if HTTP 1.1 adds improvements like persistent connections and request pipelining, they are not decisive, especially in modern mixed wireless/wired networks, often including satellites. The latter play a key role for accessing the Internet everywhere, and they are one of the preferred methods to provide connectivity in rural areas or for disaster relief operations. However, they suffer of high‐latency and packet losses, which degrade the browsing experience. Consequently, the investigation of protocols mitigating the limitations of HTTP, also in challenging scenarios, is crucial both for the industry and the academia. In this perspective, SPDY, which is a protocol optimized for the access to Web 2.0 contents over fixed and mobile devices, could be suitable also for satellite links. Therefore, this paper evaluates its performance when used both in real and emulated satellite scenarios. Results indicate the effectiveness of SPDY if compared with HTTP, but at the price of a more fragile behavior when in the presence of errors. Besides, SPDY can also reduce the transport overhead experienced by middleboxes typically deployed by service providers using satellite links. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Channel Expressway: Twin-bored road tunnels under the English Channel

The proposal for a fixed link between France and England by means of a submarine tunnel under the English Channel has been examined in its various aspects of layout, tunnelling, ventilation, safety and operation criteria. The choice of the underground solution has been suggested by the low depth (40–60 m) of the Channel sea bottom between Calais and Dover, and by the presence, at an accesible depth, of a quite continuous geologic stratum of chalk marl with a low permeability and fair compressive strength. The submarine road tunnel is 48 km long and is constituted of two tunnels with an external diameter of 12.10 m. The excavation of the two main tunnels will be done with prototypical tunnel boring machines allotted to the various sections, for an average excavation rate of 25 m per day over a five-year period. The lining is made of precast concrete segments laid by two erectors from the machine itself. The suggested longitudinal ventilation system has short supplementary ventilation tunnels for air filtration, external and adjacent to the main two tunnels and of the same diameter. The ventilation is influenced and facilitated by the input of fresh air from two vertical shafts connected with islands on the open sea. Safety equipment is forseen for communication and information inside the tunnel as well as to guide transit in the dangerous zones. A new lighting system has been proposed.     

Supported Lipid Bilayer Assembly on PEDOT:PSS Films and Transistors

Lipid bilayers are widely employed as a model system to investigate interactions between cells and their environment. Supported lipid bilayers (SLB) with integrated transmembrane proteins are emerging as a preferred platform for sensing applications. Challenges lie in the generation of SLB on surfaces which allow transduction of signals for characterization of lipid bilayer and incorporated transmembrane proteins. For the first time, the formation of SLBs is shown on films of the conducting polymer, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), using traditional methods for characterizing lipid bilayer quality and function (QCM‐D, FRAP) combined with impedance spectroscopy. Further, partial formation of SLBs on PEDOT:PSS based organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) is successfully demonstrated, as well as the ability to integrate and sense the ion pore α‐hemolysin, confirming the sensitivity of the OECT as a transducer of biological membrane function. This work represents a highly promising first step toward the use of such OECTs for functional readout of transmembrane proteins in their native environment.     

On elastic traffic via contention resolution diversity slotted aloha satellite access

This paper presents a performance study relative to the coupling of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) with the Contention Resolution Diversity slotted aloha (CRDSA) protocol, in the case of greedy TCP connections (also called elephants) on Digital Video Broadcasting‐Return Channel via a geostationary satellite. CRDSA, which takes advantage of interference cancellation algorithms for collision/contention resolution, has already exhibited interesting performance when the power levels of all received bursts are perfectly balanced. In this paper, we extend the study to a more realistic case, where a certain spreading of the bursts' power levels is taken into account. The consequent capture effect even facilitates the collision resolution mechanism and yields an improvement in the overall TCP performance with respect to the balanced case. Furthermore, in certain conditions, the adoption of packet level forward error correction allows achieving even higher peaks of throughput than the expected ones. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.