Increasing the robustness of fault identification in rotor dynamics by means of M-estimators

One of the most common problems in rotor dynamics is the identification of faults and model-based methods are often used for this purpose. In some applications, the least-squares (LS) estimate is used to find out the position and the severity of impending faults on the basis of experimental vibration data of rotating machinery. Anyhow LS are not very robust with respect to possible outliers (noise and gross errors) in the experimental data and to inaccuracies in the model.The introduction of weights in the LS algorithm has proven to be effective in increasing the robustness and successful experimental cases, both on test rigs and on real machines, are reported in literature. However, the arbitrary choice of the weights is normally based on operators’ experience. In this paper, an improvement is presented by introducing a method that is robust in itself, the M-estimate, which allows defining automatically the weights. This method is general and can be applied in every problem of regression or estimation, not necessarily related to rotor dynamics.The fundamental theoretical aspects are introduced in the first part, while several experimental test cases are presented by means of fault identification on a test rig and on a gas turbo generator in the second part of the paper. The obtained results highlight the increasing of the accuracy allowed by M-estimate.     

Microencapsulation of roasted coffee oil Pickering emulsions using spray- and freeze-drying: physical,structural and in vitro bioaccessibility studies

Microcapsules produced from well-defined emulsion templates are an interesting alternative for lipid encapsulation. This work aimed to produce microcapsules by the freeze-drying (FD) and spray-drying (SD) of Pickering emulsions of roasted coffee oil (RCO) stabilised with chitosan nanoparticles produced by self-aggregation or by crosslinking with tripolyphosphate. The dried microcapsules were characterised in terms of particle size, oil retention and structure; furthermore, the in vitro bioaccessibility of polyphenols from microencapsulated RCO was investigated. The use of chitosan nanoparticles to stabilise the emulsions increased oil retention in the microcapsules giving values between 83.04% and 95.36%. SD produced spherical microcapsules with small particle sizes (˜11 μm), whereas FD microcapsules showed an irregular shape and porous structure. Although FD had the lowest impact on the bioactive compounds, SD promoted better protection for phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity during in vitro digestion.     

Early Life Events and Maturation of the Dentate Gyrus: Implications for Neurons and Glial Cells

The dentate gyrus (DG), an important part of the hippocampus, plays a significant role in learning, memory, and emotional behavior. Factors potentially influencing normal development of neurons and glial cells in the DG during its maturation can exert long-lasting effects on brain functions. Early life stress may modify maturation of the DG and induce lifelong alterations in its structure and functioning, underlying brain pathologies in adults. In this paper, maturation of neurons and glial cells (microglia and astrocytes) and the effects of early life events on maturation processes in the DG have been comprehensively reviewed. Early postnatal interventions affecting the DG eventually result in an altered number of granule neurons in the DG, ectopic location of neurons and changes in adult neurogenesis. Adverse events in early life provoke proinflammatory changes in hippocampal glia at cellular and molecular levels immediately after stress exposure. Later, the cellular changes may disappear, though alterations in gene expression pattern persist. Additional stressful events later in life contribute to manifestation of glial changes and behavioral deficits. Alterations in the maturation of neuronal and glial cells induced by early life stress are interdependent and influence the development of neural nets, thus predisposing the brain to the development of cognitive and psychiatric disorders.     

One‐Step Synthesis and Optical Properties of Benzoate‐ and Biphenolate‐Capped ZrO2 Nanoparticles

A simple one‐pot approach based on the “benzyl alcohol route” is used for the preparation of benzoate‐ and biphenolate‐capped zirconia and, benzoate‐capped Eu‐doped zirconia nanoparticles. Powder X‐ray diffraction studies and high‐ resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) showed that the nanoparticles present high crystallinity and uniform particle sizes ranging from 3 to 4 nm. FT‐IR and solid state NMR (SS‐NMR) studies revealed that the nanoparticles are coated with a large amount of organic species when the reaction temperature is above 300 °C. It was found that the alcohol used as solvent is oxidized at the surface of the nanoparticles to the respective carboxylic acid which acts as a stabilizer, controlling the nanoparticles growth. The optical properties of these hybrid nanoparticles were studied by room and low (12K) temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy, time‐resolved spectroscopy and absolute emission quantum yield. The as‐synthesized benzoate‐ and biphenolate‐capped nanoparticles exhibit interesting emission properties in the UV and blue spectral regions together with values of emission quantum yields much higher than those reported for zirconia nanoparticles of similar size. The photoluminescent properties were attributed to a cooperative effect of the capping ligands and the defects associated to the ZrO₂ nanoparticles. Due to the overlapping of the various emission components involved (i.e., the emission of europium(III) intra‐4f⁶ transitions, defects in the zirconia and capping ligands) a tunable emission color ranging from purplish‐pink to greenish‐blue could be obtained for the europium‐doped zirconia nanoparticles by simply selecting different excitation wavelengths.     

Microstructured fuel processors for fuel-cell applications

Microstructured reactors are being developed at IMM for the processing of various fuels to provide hydrogen for mobile and portable fuel-cell systems. The key feature of the systems is the integrated-plate heat-exchanger technology, which allows for thermal integration of several functions in a single device. For example, steam reforming may be coupled with exothermic reactions in separate flow-paths of a heat exchanger. Catalyst coatings are also under development for numerous reactions, such as propane steam reforming, methanol steam reforming, catalytic combustion, water-gas shift, and preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide. These catalysts are being investigated in specially developed testing reactors. Reactors and complete fuel processors are being tested up to 5 kW power output of the corresponding fuel cell. This paper was presented at the ASM Materials Solutions Conference & Show held October 18–21, 2004 in Columbus, OH.     

Correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3/ZrO2 nanocomposites

The aim of this work was to correlate the microstructure of alumina matrix nanocomposites containing 1, 3, and 5 vol% of monoclinic zirconia nanometric particles with the mechanical properties and wear resistance of these composites. The microstructural analysis showed the beneficial effect of the zirconia particles in the alumina matrix regarding grain growth and improvement of the properties: up to 8% for the microhardness, 11% for the flexural strength and 23% for the wear resistance for nanocomposites containing 5 vol% of particles when compared to inclusion-free alumina.     

Polymerization of ethylene oxide by the activated monomer mechanism

The Polymerization of ethylene oxide catalysed by protonic acids and proceeding via the activated monomer mechanism differs from the polymerizations of substituted epoxides like propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin. The kinetics of ethylene oxide polymerization were investigated and compared with the kinetics of model reactions, namely addition of oligomers of ethylene oxide to ethylene oxide. The mechanism of polymerization involves, besides the addition of monomer to the terminal hydroxyl groups, the addition to the polymer ether groups. This reaction does not take place for substituted oxiranes, most probably because of steric hindrance.     

Polyether-modified fullerenes

Summary Polyether-modified fullerenes have been prepared under mild conditions by reacting C₆₀ or C₇₀ in toluene with a precursor poly(oxyethylene) or poly(oxypropylene) polymer possessing amino end-groups. In the early stages of the interaction, soluble products are formed. Later, cross-linking proceeds between the polyfunctional fullerenes and the bifunctional polyethers. The non-crosslinked fullerene derivatives are soluble both in toluene and water; by evaporation of toluene, very adhesive films are formed.     

Up-regulation of T lymphocyte and antibody production by inflammatory cytokines released by macrophage exposure to multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Our data demonstrate that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are internalized by macrophages, subsequently activating them to produce interleukin (IL)-12 (IL-12). This cytokine induced the proliferative response of T lymphocytes to a nonspecific mitogen and to ovalbumin (OVA). This increase in the proliferative response was accompanied by an increase in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFNγ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and IL-6, in mice inoculated with MWCNTs, whether or not they had been immunized with OVA. A decrease in the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) was observed in the mice treated with MWCNTs, whereas the suppression of the expression of both TGFβ and IL-10 was observed in mice that had been both treated and immunized. The activation of the T lymphocyte response by the pro-inflammatory cytokines leads to an increase in antibody production to OVA, suggesting the important immunostimulatory effect of carbon nanotubes.