Single‐step fabrication of an anode supported planar single‐chamber solid oxide fuel cell

We present single‐step‐co‐sintering manufacture of a planar single‐chamber solid oxide fuel cell (SC‐SOFC) with porous multilayer structures consisting of NiO/CGO, CGO and CGO‐LSCF as anode, electrolyte, and cathode, respectively. Their green tapes were casted with 20 μm thickness and stacked into layers of anode, electrolyte, and cathode (10:2:2), then hot‐pressed at 2 MPa and 60°C for 5 minutes (deemed optimal). Subsequently, hot laminated layers were cut into 40 × 40 mm cells and co‐sintered up to 1200°C via different sintering profiles. Shrinkage behavior and curvature developments of cells were characterized, determining the best sintering profile. Hence, anode‐supported SC‐SOFCs were fabricated via a single‐step co‐sintering process, albeit with curvature formation at edges. Subsequently, anode thickness was increased to 800 μm and electrolyte reduced to 20 μm to obtain SOFCs with drastically reduced curvature with the help of a porous alumina cover plate.     

Drying process in vapor swollen heterogels

Disk-shaped heterogels were prepared by combining methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (S) with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) as a crosslinker agent in the presence of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Swelling experiments were performed under chloroform vapor and the swollen gels are then allowed to dry under room temperature. Gravimetric technique was used to study drying processes. It is observed that two different regimes are present in the drying processes of these heterogels. Fickian diffusion model was used to determine desorption coefficients for each drying step in both regimes. Desorption coefficients, D _d, of heterogels were found to be strongly correlated with the mixture composition of polymeric materials in the heterogel system for both regimes. Heterogels with high S content dry much slower than the heterogels with low S content.     

The effect of new ferrite content on the tensile fracture behaviour of dual phase steels

The effect of new ferrite present with different volume fractions and morphologies of martensite on microvoids formation and tensile fracture behaviour in dual phase steels has been studied for a steel containing 0.065% C, 1.58% Mn and 0.5% Ni. Fine and coarse dual phase microstructures were obtained from two different starting conditions. Martensite contents were kept constant at 18 and 25% and new ferrite content was varied by controlled cooling from intercritical annealing temperature of 740, 750 and 785°C. In both fine and coarse dual phase structures microvoids formed at martensite particles, inclusions and martensite-ferrite interfaces in the necked region. Martensite morphology had an influence in determining martensite cracking. Coarse and interconnected martensite distributed along ferrite grain boundaries cracked easily. Martensite cracking was less frequent and the microvoids were smaller in the fine structure than the coarse ones. Microvoid coalescence was the dominant form of fracture in both structures. The specimens with higher new ferrite contents had higher densities of voids. In these samples, voids initiated mostly by decohesion at the interface, and by some examples of fracture of martensite     

Newcomer adjustment during organizational socialization: A meta-analytic review of antecedents, outcomes, and methods.

The authors tested a model of antecedents and outcomes of newcomer adjustment using 70 unique samples of newcomers with meta-analytic and path modeling techniques. Specifically, they proposed and tested a model in which adjustment (role clarity, self-efficacy, and social acceptance) mediated the effects of organizational socialization tactics and information seeking on socialization outcomes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment, job performance, intentions to remain, and turnover). The results generally supported this model. In addition, the authors examined the moderating effects of methodology on these relationships by coding for 3 methodological issues: data collection type (longitudinal vs. cross-sectional), sample characteristics (school-to-work vs. work-to-work transitions), and measurement of the antecedents (facet vs. composite measurement). Discussion focuses on the implications of the findings and suggestions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cylindrical and spherical shells with cracks

The symmetric problem for the cylindrical and spherical shells containing a meridional crack is considered. The problem is solved for a uniform membrane load and a uniform bending moment applied to the surface of the crack. The extensional and bending components of the stress intensity factor ratio are obtained as functions of shell parameter and are tabulated. The results are also plotted in order to compare them with the existing asymptotic solutions.

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Zusammenfassung Das symmetrische Problem für zylindrische and sphärische Schalen, die einen meridionalen Riß haben, wurde behandeft. Das Problem wurde für eine einheitliche Membranlast and ein einheitliches Biegungsmoment auf der Oberfläche des Risses angewandt, gelöst.Die ausdehnenden und biegenden Komponente des Druckstärkefaktorenradius wurden als Funktionen des Schalenparameters erhalten and tabuliert. Die Ergebnisse wurden auch aufgezeichnet, um sie mit den bestehenden asymmetrischen Lösungen zu vergleichen.

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Résumé On considère le problème symétrique d'enveloppes cylindriques et sphériques comportant une fissure qui se développe suivant un méridien. La solution est apportée dans le cas d'une contrainte de membrane uniforme et d'un moment de flexion uniformément appliqué aux lèvres de la fissure.Ces composantes de traction et de flexion qui agissent sur le facteur d'intensité des contraintes sont determinées en fonction des paramètres de l'enveloppe, et présentées sous forme de tableaux. Les résultats ont 6t6 également portés en diagrammes, de manière à les comparer aux solutions asymptotiques existantes.

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This work was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under the Grant NGR 39-007-011.     

Adaptive three-dimensional cellular genetic algorithm for balancing exploration and exploitation processes

This paper presents a new adaptive algorithm that aims to control the exploration/exploitation trade-off dynamically. The algorithm is designed based on three-dimensional cellular genetic algorithms (3D-cGAs). In this study, our methodology is based on the change in the global selection pressure induced by dynamic tuning of the local selection rate. The parameter tuning of the local selection method is a way to define the global selection pressure. A diversity speed measure is used to guide the algorithm. Therefore, the integration of existing techniques helps in achieving our aims. A benchmark of well-known continuous test functions and real world problems was selected to investigate the effectiveness of the algorithm proposed. In addition, we provide a comparison between the proposed algorithm and other static and dynamic algorithms in order to study the different effects on the performance of the algorithms. Overall, the results show that the proposed algorithm provides the most desirable performance in terms of efficiency, efficacy, and speed for most problems considered. The results also confirm that problems of various characteristics require different selection pressures, which are difficult to be identified.     

Bifunctional Catalyst Control of Alkene Isomerization

The ability to control the formation and chemistry of alkenes is of central importance to organic synthesis in both industry and academia. Progress in using catalysts with bifunctional (heteroaryl)phosphines to control positional and/or geometric selectivity in alkene isomerization and related chemistry is summarized.

     

Confined batch foaming of semi-crystalline rubbery elastomers with carbon dioxide using a mold

Confined foaming of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-carbon monoxide) using carbon dioxide as a physical blowing agent in a mold with either permeable or impermeable boundaries has been explored as a strategy to control final foam dimensions and morphology. The results are discussed in terms of comparisons to free-foaming experiments conducted at the same pressure and temperature conditions following the same pressurization and depressurization paths. Foaming experiments were carried out at 30 and 40°C and 100, 200, and 300 bar followed by rapid depressurization of the foaming cell. Confined foaming led to smaller pores with more uniform distributions across the polymer cross-section. However, bulk foam densities of the foams generated under confinement were higher than those generated under the free-foaming mode. Surface characteristics and skin layer formation were altered by expansion against both the permeable and impermeable boundaries. Confined foaming promotes uniform pore distribution and overall dimensional uniformity and may impart surface texture but the trade-off is in the degree to which the bulk foam density can be lowered.     

A highly selective and sensitive benzothiazole‐based ‘turn‐on’ fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ ion

A simple benzothiazole‐based fluorescent probe (TDA) for the determination of Hg²⁺ ion in aqueous solutions was synthesised in one step and characterised by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, APT, COSY, FTIR, and elemental analysis. TDA shows a significant fluorescence change upon the interaction of Hg²⁺ ion in DMF–water (v/v = 1/1), while only minor changes in fluorescence intensity are observed with 18 other metal ions. Fluorescence enhancement by a factor of 15 is achieved upon selective interaction with Hg²⁺ ion. The Hg²⁺ ion detection process is found to be pH dependent; therefore, TDA could be feasible within a pH range of 4.0–7.0.