Development of ultrafine-grained Al 6063 alloy by cryorolling with the optimized initial heat treatment conditions

The effects of rolling temperature and rolling strain on the microstructural refinement of Al 6063 alloy are investigated in the present work by employing electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, transmission electron microscope (TEM) investigations, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The solution treated bulk Al 6063 alloy samples are subjected to cryorolling and room temperature rolling to produce sheets with different strain levels such as 0.4, 2.3 and 3.8, respectively. Prior to cryorolling and room temperature rolling, the initial conditions such as solution treatment temperature, and sample immersion duration time, in liquid nitrogen, before cryorolling are optimized by using EBSD analysis, TEM investigations, hardness test, and tensile test. It is observed that the formation of recrystallized ultrafine-grains with the high angle grain boundaries occurs at the strain value of 3.8. However, in case of room temperature rolled samples, the sub-grains are not recrystallized even up to the strain value of 3.8.     

Wide null control of symmetric linear antenna array using novel particle swarm optimization

In this article, the method of nullifying the radiation pattern of a symmetric linear antenna array in a particular direction is propounded using an evolutionary swarm intelligence technique, Novel particle swarm optimization (NPSO). Particle swarm optimization with constriction factor approach (PSOCFA) is also adopted to compare the NPSO based results. Single or multiple wide nulls are achieved by optimum perturbations of elements current amplitude weights to have symmetric nulls about the main beam. Different numerical examples are presented to illustrate the capability of NPSO for pattern synthesis with a prescribed wide nulls locations and depths. Further, the peak Sidelobe Levels are also reduces when compared to a uniformly excited array having equal number of elements. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011.     

Soft computing‐based approach for optimal design of on‐chip comparator and folded‐cascode op‐amp using colliding bodies optimization

This paper presents an efficient approach for the optimal designs of two analog circuits, namely complementary metal oxide semiconductor) two‐stage comparator with p‐channel metal oxide semiconductor input driver and n‐channel input and folded‐cascode operational amplifier using a recently proposed meta‐heuristic‐based optimization algorithm named as colliding bodies optimization (CBO). It is a multi‐agent algorithm that does not depend upon any internal control parameter, making the algorithm extremely simple. The main objective of this paper is to optimize the metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors' sizes using CBO in order to reduce the areas occupied by the circuits and to get better performance parameters of the circuits. Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis simulation has been carried out by using the optimal values of MOS transistors' sizes and other design parameters to validate that CBO‐based design is satisfying the desired specifications. Simulation results demonstrate that the design specifications are closely met and the required functionalities are achieved. The simulation results also confirm that the CBO‐based approach is superior to the other algorithms in terms of MOS area and performance parameters like gain, power dissipation, etc., for the examples considered. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Incidence and genetic variability of Listeria species from three milk processing plants

The presence of Listeria in three milk processing environments as a potential source of milk contamination was assessed. Swab samples (n = 210) taken from milk processing plants were examined. Sample sites included the milk processing equipment, besides areas handling raw and pasteurized milk. The USDA Listeria-selective enrichment procedure was used to process the samples. Forty one (19.52%) Listeria isolates were recovered. The isolates were further subjected to biochemical and genotypic characterization. Out of 41 isolates, 16 (7.62%) were confirmed as Listeria monocytogenes, 2 (0.95%) as L. ivanovii, 19 (9.05%) as L. innocua. 1 (0.48%) as L. seeligeri and 3 (1.43%) as L. grayi. All the L. monocytogenes isolates were positive for the hlyA gene. PCR based serotyping revealed all L. monocytogenes to be of 1/2a, 1/2c, 3a and 3c serovar group. AscI and ApaI restriction analysis yielded four PFGE clusters for 16 L. monocytogenes isolates obtained from raw milk collector, milk silos, buttermilk mixer, cheese and other milk product processor. No predominant PFGE cluster was observed among these L. monocytogenes isolates. The main sources of L. monocytogenes were found to be raw milk collector and milk silos. In the present study L. monocytogenes was isolated from milk and milk products processing plants which could cross-contaminate the processed products and may possess a potential threat to public health.     

Marginal shell of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus: single-unit response properties in the unanesthetized decerebrate cat

The marginal shell of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) is anatomically different from its central core. We investigated 38 single units in the shells of 10 cats and contrasted them with 62 single units in the cores of 15 cats. The sites of all shell units were localized with the use of reconstructed electrode tracks. The shell units were divided into acoustically well-driven (68%) and weakly/not-driven (32%) subgroups. The shell units mostly exhibited low spontaneous rates (SRs). Among the well-driven shell units, a large majority (68%) exhibited wide dynamic ranges (> or = 50 dB) to tones, noise, or both, with some ranges as wide as 89 dB. In contrast, a large majority (80%) of the core units exhibited narrow dynamic ranges (< 50 dB) to tones and noise. The poststimulus time histograms (PSTHs) of the well-driven shell units included pause-build (29%), onset (24%), and unusual (33%) types, whereas those of the core units included mainly primary-like (47%) and chopper (29%) types. The excitatory-inhibitory areas (EIAs) of the well-driven shell units included types I/III (47%), III (22%), IV (13%), and II (9%), whereas those of the core units included mainly types III (52%) and I/III (32%). On the basis of Fisher's exact tests, we conclude that the shell and core neural groups of the AVCN are significantly different regarding all of the following physiological characteristics: SR, maximum driven rate, threshold and dynamic range to tones and noise, frequency response area, PSTH type, latency, and EIA type. Wide dynamic ranges of the well-driven shell units suggest that they may play a role in encoding absolute intensity of acoustic stimulus.     

Development of ultrafine grained Al–Mg–Si alloy with enhanced strength and ductility

The microstructure and mechanical properties of a precipitation hardenable Al–Mg–Si alloy subjected to cryorolling (CR), short annealing and ageing treatments are reported in this present work. The pre-cryorolled solid solution treatment combined with post-CR short annealing (155 °C for 5 min) and then ageing treatment (125 °C for 12 h) has been found to be the optimum processing condition to obtain the ultrafine grained microstructure with substantial improvement of tensile strength (286 MPa) and good tensile ductility (14%) in the Al–Mg–Si alloy. The significant improvement of the mechanical properties of the cryorolled and peak aged 6063 Al alloys have been observed as compared to its bulk alloys in the peak-aged condition (T6).     

A combined theoretical and experimental investigation of the valorization of mechanical and thermal properties of the fly ash-reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites

Journal of Materials Science - Fly ash (FA) particles were surface modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (Ctab) and hybridized with graphene oxide (GO) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)...     

Wide‐bandwidth multifrequency circularly polarized monopole antenna for wireless communication applications

In this article, wideband circularly polarized monopole antennas with multiresonating frequencies are presented for Bluetooth, WLAN, WiMAX, and X‐band applications. The designed antennas have dimensions of 50 × 35 × 1.6 mm³. Two different substrates (FR4‐epoxy and PTFE) are used for fabricating the antennas. The antennas consist of corner truncated I‐shaped and C‐shaped strips excited by a 50 Ω microstrip feed line. The parametric analyses are performed with the help of Ansoft HFSS V.11 EM simulator. Both antennas have been fabricated and measured. The measured percentage bandwidth of the antenna made by FR4 substrate is 31.32% (centered at 1.66 GHz), and 64.85% (centered at 5.69 GHz). The percentage bandwidth of antenna made by PTFE substrate is 20.57% (centered 2.43 GHz) and 68.74% (centered at 7.39 GHz). In addition to that, there exists 3 dB AR bandwidth for LHCP of about 1050 MHz for 5.2 GHz WLAN‐band. The reflection coefficient, radiation patterns, and the gains of both the antennas are studied in detail. It is found that the measured and simulated results are in good agreement.