Synthesis and characterization of polypropiolate sodium (PPNa)-Fe3O4 nanocomposite

Polypropiolate sodium (PPNa)-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by the precipitation of Fe₃O₄ in the presence of sodium polypropiolate and followed by reflux route. Structural, morphological, electrical and magnetic properties evaluation of the nanocomposite were performed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating scanning magnetometry (VSM) and conductivity measurements. Crystalline phase was identified as magnetite with an average crystallite size of 7 ± 3 nm as estimated from X-ray line profile fitting. Particle size estimated from TEM, by log-normal fitting, is ∼9 ± 1 nm. FT-IR analysis shows that the binding of PPNa on the surface of iron oxide is through bidentate linkage of carboxyl group. TGA analysis showed the presence of 20% PPNa around 80% magnetic core (Fe₃O₄)…PPNa-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite show superparamagnetic characteristics at room temperature. It is found that the a.c. conductivity of the nanocomposites obeys the well-known power law of frequency in which it also depends on temperature. Additionally, its d.c. conductivity showed that two operating regions of the activation energy. Both real and imaginary parts of either permittivity exhibit almost the same attitudes which are the indication of the same ability in the stored energy, and dissipation of energy within the PPNa and PPNa-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites.     

A team-oriented design methodology for mixed model assembly systems

Team-oriented approaches are widely being used in modern real life assembly systems, as are other modern systems. In this paper, first the literature of single and mixed model assembly line balancing, which plays an important role for the design of assembly systems, is reviewed. The associated literature matrixes reveal that team-oriented approaches do not have an intensive research area. Second, a team-oriented mathematical programming model for creating assembly teams (physical stations) in mixed model assembly lines is devised. Owing to the fact that this model is NP hard, a scheduling based heuristic algorithm is developed. The mixed model assembly line design methodology, which includes a team-oriented algorithm as a step, is proposed. Both model sequencing and worker transfer systems are included in the methodology. The algorithms for each step of the methodology are also coded by using MATLAB and MS Excel is used as the user interface. Furthermore, the presented methodology was applied in a chosen segment of a real life mixed model tractor assembly system.     

A randomized prospective trial comparing 45 and 90-ml oral sodium phosphate with X-Prep in the preparation of patients for colonoscopy

Incontinentia pigmenti is an uncommon genodermatosis that occurs in female infants. The characteristic dental defects are partial anodontia and the presence of some peg-shaped teeth. This report describes a patient with incontinentia pigmenti who exhibited multiple missing teeth in both arches. The patient had malpositioned teeth and decreased occlusal vertical dimension associated with the missing teeth. Orthodontic treatment was required for prosthetic purposes. The dental anomalies of incontinentia pigmenti and the treatment procedure are presented.     

Evaluation of Disturbance Weighting Parameter of Minimax Attenuation Problems

Abstract:   This article presents a simple evaluation of the disturbance weighting parameter of well-known minimax disturbance attenuation problems derived for earthquake-excited structures. It is concluded from a careful analysis of the derived closed form solutions that linear quadratic regulator (LQR) performance which corresponds to white noise assumption is the best performance of the sub-optimal minimax control (OMC) although it is also the worst performance of the OMC and the disturbance weighting parameter is as a measure of the system stability. For the completeness of the article, OMC is also compared to LQR and unimplementable optimal control.     

Epidemiology of enuresis in Turkish children

The treatment and favorable outcome of a bitch with uterine torsion and two retained fetuses are described. The condition was corrected surgically by ovariohysterectomy. Complications (i.e., septic shock, peritonitis, and hemostatic abnormalities) were managed with aggressive medical therapy. Torsion of the gravid uterus in dogs is a life-threatening condition which can have a successful outcome if medical complications encountered in the pre- and postoperative periods are treated quickly and effectively.     

Electrorheological properties of kaolinite,polyindole, and polyindole/kaolinite composite suspensions

In this study, polyindole (PIN) and polyindole/kaolinite (PIN/KAO) composite were synthesized by free radical polymerization using FeCl₃ as an initiator. Average particle sizes (d₅₀) of PIN and PIN/KAO composite were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) as 7.2 and 6.2 μm, respectively. The samples were characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis, DSC/TGA and SEM measurements. Suspensions of KAO, PIN, and PIN/KAO composite were prepared in silicone oil (SO) and the sedimentation stabilities were determined. Electrorheological (ER) properties of these suspensions were studied as a function of dispersed phase concentration, shear rate, shear stress, and temperature; and yield stresses and excess shear stresses determined. Further, dielectric properties of KAO, PIN, and PIN/KAO composite were investigated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Neodymium-doped tantalum pentoxide waveguide lasers

The fabrication, spectroscopic properties, and laser performance of Nd/sup 3+/-doped Ta/sub 2/O/sub 5/ channel waveguide lasers are described. Lasing is obtained at both 1.066 and 1.375 /spl mu/m with threshold pump powers as low as 2.7 mW. The rib waveguides are reactive-ion-etched into Nd:Ta/sub 2/O/sub 5/ layers formed by reactive magnetron sputtering. These high-index low-loss rare-earth-doped waveguides are fabricated on silicon substrates and offer the potential for integration with photonic crystal structures for compact optical circuits.     

Preparation of cross-sectional specimens of ceramic thermal barrier coatings for transmission electron microscopy

During the microstructural examination of ceramic thermal barrier coatings by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), initial efforts for the preparation of cross-sectional thin foils from interface regions by conventional means were mostly failures. Delamination of the Y₂O₃-stabilized ZrO₂ ceramic coating from the nickel-base alloy substrate sometimes occurred during fine polishing at around 80 μm thickness but mostly occurred during dimpling. Because of this sensitivity, special techniques for mechanical handling were developed so that ion milling could give thin enough regions of the metal-ceramic interface. TEM showed convincingly that the highly fragile nature of the coatings is in fact due to the extensive porosity at the interface developed as a result of heat treatment.     

3-D shape modeling for hearing aid design [Applications Corner]

Advances in 3-D scanning and fabrication hardware as well as 3-D geometric design software have transformed a once laborintensive manual manufacturing into an efficient digital process for hearing aid design, resulting in higher quality, reduced cost, and better fitting devices. Future work in this field will continue to focus on increasing automation until the process is fully automatic.