Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on basalt/polysiloxane composites: mechanical and thermal characterization

In the present investigation, a novel technique has been developed to fabricate composite materials containing TiO₂ nanoparticles, polysiloxane resin, and basalt fabric. A high-intensity ultrasonic probe was used to obtain a homogenous molecular mixture of TiO₂ nanoparticles and polysiloxane resin, thus the nanoparticles were infused into the resin through sonic cavitation. The loading effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the thermal and mechanical properties of basalt fabric reinforced polysiloxane composite materials has been investigated. Composite samples were prepared, each using two layers of basalt fabric with TiO₂ nanoparticles loading from 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3% by weight. Size distribution of nanoparticles was observed by particle size analyzer and the prepared fabric nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Tensile testing was performed as per American standard for testing of materials (ASTM) standards. The dependence of dynamic mechanical parameters E′, E′′, tan (delta), T _g, and heat distortion temperature (HDT) are associated with the filler content and can be controlled by the curing conditions. Tensile results show that 1.5 wt.% loading of TiO₂ nanoparticles in the nanocomposites resulted in highest improvement in tensile modulus compared to the neat system. DMA studies also revealed that 1.5 wt.% doped system exhibits highest storage modulus as compared to the neat and other loading percentages. DSC and TGA studies show that T _g and HDT of the composite increases with the increase in wt.% of nanofillers in the composite. Based on these results, it is clear that miscibility of nanoparticles in the resin is of prime importance with regard to performance.     

Thermoelectric Power Generation Utilizing the Waste Heat from a Biomass Boiler

The objective of the presented work is to test the possibility of using thermoelectric power to convert flue gas waste heat from a small-scale domestic pellet boiler, and to assess the influence of a thermoelectric generator on its function. A prototype of the generator, able to be connected to an existing device, was designed, constructed, and tested. The performance of the generator as well as the impact of the generator on the operation of the boiler was investigated under various operating conditions. The boiler gained auxiliary power and could become a combined heat and power unit allowing self-sufficient operation. The created unit represents an independent source of electricity with effective use of fuel.     

Applying Petri Nets to Modeling of Many-Core Processor Self-Testing when Tests are Performed Randomly

Today’s many-core processors are manufactured in inherently unreliable technologies. Massively defective technologies used for production of many-core processors are the direct consequence of the feature size shrinkage in today’s CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology. Due to these reliability problems, fault-tolerance of many-core processors becomes one of the major challenges. To reduce the probability of failures of many-core processors various fault tolerance techniques can be applied. The most preferable and promising techniques are the ones that can be easily implemented and have minimal cost while providing high level of processor fault tolerance. One of the promising techniques for detection of faulty cores, and consequently, for performing the first step in providing many-core processor fault tolerance is mutual testing among processor cores. Mutual testing can be performed either in a random manner or according to a deterministic scheduling policy. In the paper we deal with random execution of mutual tests. Effectiveness of such testing can be evaluated through its modeling. In the paper, we have shown how Stochastic Petri Nets can be used for this purpose and have obtained some results that can be useful for developing and implementation of testing procedure in many-core processors.     

The thermal protection of a specific experimental instrument for monitoring of combustion conditions on the grate of municipal solid waste incinerators

The thermal protection of the specific experimental instrument for monitoring of combustion conditions on the grate of municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWI) represents a very important part of the assembled measuring system. The inner part of the instrument with control electronics and diverse sensors (temperature and flue gas concentration measurements) requires sufficient thermal protection against the high temperature environment of the combustion process with a surrounding temperature higher than 1200 °C. The influence of the high temperature environment is limited, but not fully eliminated, by thermal protection. The thermal protection is applied in two different ways. The standard thermal insulation with low thermal conductivity represents passive protection. The optimal thickness of the insulation itself partially defines the heat flux to the central part of the measuring system and its impacts upon increase of the inner temperature. The second type of protection, in an active mode, in addition to low conductivity, also provides heat storage. The full-scale thermal protection is designed by means of computer calculations with boundary and initial conditions or laboratory measurements within a similar environment to that on the grate of the MSWI. An additional aim of the sufficient thermal protection development is also to minimize the final size of the experimental instrument. The experimental trials have approved the functionality of the measuring instrument in high temperatures by keeping the inner temperature at the very low level.     

APPLICATION OF CHROMATIC MONITORING AS A PLASMA DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE

This paper describes the application of chromatic monitoring of both laboratory and industrial plasmas. The light emitted from the nitrogen plasma generated in the different plasma sources was measured with an imaging spectrograph. The emission spectra were reduced to data points representing the chromatic coordinates of these spectra. The data compression makes this method attractive for monitoring plasma parameter changes. The aim of this work was to test the possibility of application of chromatic monitoring for plasma processing.     

On the existence of chaos in the electronically adjustable structures of the state variable filters

As demonstrated in the paper, chaotic motion can appear in state variable filters, that is, common network structures dedicated for analog signal processing. In particular, two Kerwin–Huelsman–Newcomb biquadratic filtering sections are considered for theoretical, numerical and experimental analysis. Mathematical models are designed, and conditions for evolution of typical strange attractors are provided. The corresponding largest Lyapunov exponent is calculated and visualized as a function of internal system parameters and the shape of input harmonic waveform. Mutual connection between the mathematical model and the real lumped electronic circuit is discussed in detail. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variable narrowband transmission filters with a wide rejection band for spectrometry

Variable narrowband transmission filters are useful for the development of compact spectrometers. For this purpose the filter should be directly coupled to the detector and the wavelength of the transmission peak should move in one surface direction over a length of a few millimeters. To obtain both a wide measurement spectrum and high accuracy, the ratio of extreme operating wavelengths is required to be greater than 2:1 and the width of the transmission band narrower than 10 nm. A metal-dielectric variable transmission filter, with an operating range of 400-1000 nm, is proposed. The method for obtaining variable transmission filters, with dimensions of a few millimeters, is described.     

Discovery of Long Non-Coding RNA MALAT1 Amplification in Precancerous Colorectal Lesions

A colorectal adenoma, an aberrantly growing tissue, arises from the intestinal epithelium and is considered as precursor of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we investigated structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in adenomas, hypothesizing that chromosomal instability (CIN) occurs early in adenomas. We applied array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) to fresh frozen colorectal adenomas and their adjacent mucosa from 16 patients who underwent colonoscopy examination. In our study, histologically similar colorectal adenomas showed wide variability in chromosomal instability. Based on the obtained results, we further stratified patients into four distinct groups. The first group showed the gain of MALAT1 and TALAM1, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The second group involved patients with numerous microdeletions. The third group consisted of patients with a disrupted karyotype. The fourth group of patients did not show any CIN in adenomas. Overall, we identified frequent losses in genes, such as TSC2, COL1A1, NOTCH1, MIR4673, and GNAS, and gene gain containing MALAT1 and TALAM1. Since long non-coding RNA MALAT1 is associated with cancer cell metastasis and migration, its gene amplification represents an important event for adenoma development.     

Understanding massively multiplayer online role‐playing game addiction: A hedonic management perspective

Massively multiplayer online role‐playing game (MMORPG) addiction presents a serious issue worldwide and has attracted increasing attention from academic and other public communities. This article addresses this critical issue and fills research gaps by proposing and testing a research model of MMORPG addiction. Building on the conceptual foundation of the hedonic management model of addiction and the technology affordance perspective, we develop a research model explaining how MMORPG affordances (ie, achievement, social and immersion affordances) are associated with the duality of hedonic effects (ie, perceived positive mood enhancement and perceived negative mood reduction) and the extent of MMORPG addiction. Using structural equation modelling, we empirically test our research model with 406 MMORPG players. The results show that both perceived positive mood enhancement and perceived negative mood reduction positively correlate with the extent of MMORPG addiction. Furthermore, achievement and immersion affordances are positively associated with the duality of hedonic effects, whereas social affordance is not. Our study contributes to the growing body of technology addiction literature by revealing the relationships between the two hedonic effects and the extent of MMORPG addiction, and by offering a contextualised explanation of the role of MMORPG affordances in these relationships. We offer an alternative perspective on the far‐reaching, unintended relationships between technological affordances and addictive technology use. Our study provides game developers and policymakers with insights into preventing MMORPG addiction to create an entertaining, healthy virtual playground.     

Hypersensitivity Induced by Intrathecal Bradykinin Administration Is Enhanced by N-oleoyldopamine (OLDA) and Prevented by TRPV1 Antagonist

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels contribute to the development of several chronic pain states and represent a possible therapeutic target in many painful disease treatment. Proinflammatory mediator bradykinin (BK) sensitizes TRPV1, whereas noxious peripheral stimulation increases BK level in the spinal cord. Here, we investigated the involvement of spinal TRPV1 in thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity, evoked by intrathecal (i.t.) administration of BK and an endogenous agonist of TRPV1, N-oleoyldopamine (OLDA), using behavioral tests and i.t. catheter implantation, and administration of BK-induced transient thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. All these hypersensitive states were enhanced by co-administration of a low dose of OLDA (0.42 µg i.t.), which was ineffective only under the control conditions. Intrathecal pretreatment with TRPV1 selective antagonist SB366791 prevented hypersensitivity induced by i.t. co-administration of BK and OLDA. Our results demonstrate that both thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity evoked by co-administration of BK and OLDA is mediated by the activation of spinal TRPV1 channels.