Mimicking cell membrane-like structures on alkylated silicon surfaces by peptide amphiphiles

We present a new strategy for flexible attachment of peptide amphiphiles on functionalized silicon surfaces. This method involves the production of an alkylated surface on which a lipidated peptide can then be attached through hydrophobic interaction. We applied this to two derivatives of amphiphilic peptide molecules with the same amino acid sequence (A-A-A-A-G-G-G-E-R-G-D) but different in alkyl chain lengths (palmitic acid, undecanoic acid). The basis of this work was to develop substrates which are more biocompatible and bioactive. The ultra-thin peptide amphiphile films were characterized using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the length of the alkyl chain in the peptide amphiphile affects the packing and coverage of the peptides on the silicon surface.     

Algorithm for solving product mix problem in two-constraint resources environment

The theory of constraints is an approach to production planning and control that emphasizes on the constraints in the system to increase throughput. One application in the theory of constraints is product mix decision. The objective of this paper is to present an algorithm to determine the product mix in a two-constraint resources environment. The theory of constraints solution could not reach optimum solution and has the risk of being infeasible when multiple constraint resources exist. The proposed algorithm is suitable for improving solutions obtained from theory of constraints and could provide throughput in product mix problems. Some alternatives are compared in this paper: the standard theory of constraints, integer linear programming, tabu search, hybrid tabu simulated annealing, and proposed algorithm solution. The numerical result shows the advantages of the proposed algorithm.     

Base-metal catalysts based on porous layered double hydroxides for alkaline-free sodium borohydride hydrolysis

Catalyzed hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (SBH) has demonstrated promise for generation of a pure hydrogen stream for use with fuel cells. In designing an improved continuous hydrogen generator that uses the substantial heat released in the hydrolysis reaction to more effectively separate the sodium borate by-product, we sought a robust base-metal catalyst that could tolerate the exothermic reaction under flow conditions. Working under base-free conditions in ethanol solvent we identified reduced nickel and iron-containing particles supported on layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as robust catalysts. Catalytic activity was enhanced further using high surface area hierarchical supports prepared using the ‘inverse opal’ method. In particular, macroporous NiMgAl and FeMgAl LDHs produced 0.4 and 1.0 mol of hydrogen per minute per mole of active metal of the supported catalyst in aqueous ethanol solvent.     

Analysis,synchronisation and circuit design of a new highly nonlinear chaotic system

This paper investigates a three-dimensional autonomous chaotic flow without linear terms. Dynamical behaviour of the proposed system is investigated through eigenvalue structures, phase portraits, bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponents and basin of attraction. For a suitable choice of the parameters, the proposed system can exhibit anti-monotonicity, periodic oscillations and double-scroll chaotic attractor. Basin of attraction of the proposed system shows that the chaotic attractor is self-excited. Furthermore, feasibility of double-scroll chaotic attractor in the real word is investigated by using the OrCAD-PSpice software via an electronic implementation of the proposed system. A good qualitative agreement is illustrated between the numerical simulations and the OrCAD-PSpice results. Finally, a finite-time control method based on dynamic sliding surface for the synchronisation of master and slave chaotic systems in the presence of external disturbances is performed. Using the suggested control technique, the superior master–slave synchronisation is attained. Illustrative simulation results on the studied chaotic system are presented to indicate the effectiveness of the suggested scheme.     

Polyurethane/amino‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites: Microstructure,thermal, mechanical,and rheological properties

A mixture of two different polyols, (polytetramethylene ether glycol and polydimethylsiloxane), were employed to synthesize a new structure of polyurethane (PU) with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and 1,4‐butanediol as chain extender. PU nanocomposites containing variable amount (0.3, 0.5, 1, and 3 wt %) of amino‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (NH₂‐MWNT) were prepared via in situ polymerization. The dispersion of NH₂‐MWNT into polymer matrix was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) confirmed the urethane‐urea chemical bonding between the PU chains and the NH₂‐MWNT. Thermal stabilities of the nanocomposites were examined with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the results indicated a remarkable improvement with increasing NH₂‐MWNT contents. The results of dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) including storage modulus (E′) and glass transition temperature (T_g), as well as tensile properties demonstrated that the yield strength, strain‐at‐break, and young modulus were enhanced by increasing NH₂‐MWNT content. Rheological behavior including complex viscosity and storage and loss moduli of the PU nanocomposites improved with increasing NH₂‐MWNT loading, as well. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44411.     

Nonlinear optical investigations on Al doping ratio in ZnO thin film under pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation

In the present study, it has been reported on the effect of Al doping on linear and nonlinear optical properties of ZnO thin films synthesized by spray pyrolysis method. The structural properties of ZnO thin films with different Al doping levels (0–4 wt%) were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results obtained from XRD analysis indicated that the grain size decreased as the Al doping value increased. The UV–Vis diffused refraction spectroscopy was used for calculation of band gap. The optical band gap of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films is increased from 3.26 to 3.31 eV with increasing the Al content from 0 to 4 wt%. The measurements of nonlinear optical properties of AZO thin films have been performed using a nanosecond Nd:YAG pulse laser at 532 nm by the Z-scan technique. The undoped ZnO thin film exhibits reverse saturation absorption (RSA) whereas the AZO thin films exhibit saturation absorption (SA) that shows RSA to SA process with adding Al to ZnO structure under laser irradiation. On the other hand, all the films showed a self-defocusing phenomenon because the photons of laser stay on below the absorption edge of the ZnO and AZO films. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, χ⁽³⁾, of AZO thin films, was varied from of the order of 10^?5–10^?4 esu. The results suggest that AZO thin films may be promising candidates for nonlinear optical applications.     

Design,analysis and simulation of a novel linear capacitive tilt micro-sensor

A new capacitive structure for tilt sensor based on the MEMS technology is designed, analyzed and simulated. With a detailed analysis, we achieve to a precise relation between capacitance and inclination angle. Taking advantage of cylindrical structure in our design, we reach to a linear relationship between capacitance and tilt angle. In three designs of our capacitive tilt micro-sensor, there are 1, 2 and 4 micro capacitors. These capacitors have a common plate of mercury which is movable. Another plate is fixed. Displacement of mercury according to the deflection tends to the variations of capacitors and subsequently total capacitance of the tilt micro-sensor changes. In each of three designs for this micro-sensor, output capacitance (C_out) is introduced with a special equation for obtaining a linear and continues relationship between C_out and tilt angle. The last proposed micro-sensor structure with 4 micro capacitors, shows linear relationship for C_out over tilt measurement range of ?180° to +180° on one axis besides proper sensitivity.     

Stability analysis of model-based networked distributed control systems

Networked distributed control systems (NDCSs) face serious challenges such as delays and packet dropouts induced by the communication network employed to connect local controllers of interacting subsystems. These two network-induced shortcomings may degrade the performance or even destabilize NDCSs. This paper is concerned with the problem of stability analysis and stabilization of the NDCSs, featuring both random delay and random packet loss in their communication networks. A model-based networked distributed control framework is proposed to stabilize the NDCS consisting of discrete-time subsystems interconnected through their states. In this control framework, to compensate for the adverse effects of these two network-induced shortcomings, an interaction estimator is provided in each local controller; in addition to a main control unit. This estimator uses the explicit model of the subsystems to estimate the evolution of the states of interacting subsystems, when information about their actual values is not available. A model for the NDCS subject to both random packet loss and random delay is developed. By providing a 3-step interaction estimating algorithm, the closed-loop model-based networked distributed control system (MB-NDCS) is formulated as a time-dependent impulsive system. Then, a quadratic Lyapunov function is constructed to derive a linear matrix inequality (LMI) based sufficient condition for stability analysis of the overall impulsive system. Finally, an illustrative example of a network of interconnected chemical reactors with recycle is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Influence of MWCTs and nanometal oxide/MWCTs hybrids on the thermal conduction of their acrylic-based nanocomposites

In this study, acrylic-based nanocomposites containing different contents of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and metal oxide nanoparticles (i.e., TiO₂, CuO and Fe₂O₃) were fabricated by solvent mixing method. The thermal conductivity of these samples was evaluated. The results indicated that the thermal conductivity of all fabricated samples was significantly improved even at small loading of MWCNTs. It was found that the thermal conductivity was enhanced by increase in MWCNTs content up to 5 wt%. Similarly, the metal oxide nanoparticles caused up to 75 % increment in thermal conductivity at 1.5 wt% of their loading in acrylic film. Contrary to expectations, the thermal conductivity of acrylic film was more increased by nanometal oxides (i.e., TiO₂, CuO and Fe₂O₃) than MWCNTs. The effect of hybridizing of nanometal oxide particles (1.5 wt%) and MWCNTs (1.5 wt%) on thermal conduction was investigated as well. It was found that hybridizing improved thermal conductivities by about 85, 94 and 97 % for Fe₂O₃, TiO₂ and CuO, respectively. Finally, the effects of TiO₂ pigment and CaCO₃ extender on the thermal conductivity of acrylic polymer and nano-TiO₂ acrylic composites were studied. It was found that TiO₂ could increase considerably thermal conduction of its acrylic films and acrylic nanocomposites.     

An Energy Efficient Autonomous Method for Coverage Optimization in Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks

In this paper, a distributed method for coverage optimization of random deployed WMSNs utilizing motility and mobility capabilities of nodes, is proposed. The aims followed by the method are first, maximizing the coverage ratio by minimizing both the covered overlapping areas, and the coverage holes after random deployment, and second, enhancing energy efficiency of the coverage optimization procedure, by minimizing the needed rotations and specially movements, comparing with the previous schemes. To these aims, the most appropriate location and orientation of the nodes are calculated round by round considering all the possible nested compositions of rotation and movement. But, rotating and moving the nodes are performed after terminating the algorithm rounds and achieving the decisive results. So, the proposed method does not impose the overhead of trial and error of rotation or relocation on the network nodes. The performance of the proposed approach has been compared with the previous works for different network configurations; simulation results show that the proposed approach outperforms the previous schemes in terms of both coverage ratio and energy efficiency.