Polythiophene/borax conducting composite II: Electrorheology and industrial applications

In this study, polythiophene (PT) and polythiophene/ borax conducting composite (PT/borax) were in‐situ synthesized using FeCl₃ as oxidizing agent containing 89.2% PT and 10.8% borax. The electrorheological (ER), creep‐recovery, and vibration damping characteristics of the PT/borax composite were investigated. A volume fraction series (φ = 5–25%) of the PT/borax/silicone oil dispersions were prepared and sedimentation stabilities were determined. An ER activity was observed from the samples, when subjected to external electric field strength thus, they were classified as smart materials. Some parameters affecting the ER properties of the dispersions such as volume fraction, shear rate, electric field strength, frequency and temperature were investigated. Creep tests were applied to the suspensions to investigate the viscoelastic behaviors and recoverable viscoelastic deformations observed. Finally, real time vibration damping experiment was carried out on a modified automobile shock absorber and a 68% vibration damping capacity determined for borax/SO suspension system under E = 0.3kV/mm condition. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011.© 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Indoor radon measurements in the granodiorite area of Bergama (Pergamon)-Kozak, Turkey

Indoor radon levels in 20 dwellings of rural areas at the Kozak-Bergama (Pergamon) granodiorite area in Turkey were measured by the alpha track etch integrated method. These dwellings were monitored for eight successive months. Results show that the radon levels varied widely in the area ranging from 11±1 to 727±11 Bq m(-3) and the geometric mean was found to be 63 Bq m(-3) with a geometric standard deviation of 2 Bq m(-3). A log-normal distribution of the radon concentration was obtained for the studied area. Estimated annual effective doses due to the indoor radon ranged from 0.27 to 18.34 mSv y(-1) with a mean value of 1.95 mSv y(-1), which is lower than the effective dose values 3-10 mSv given as the range of action levels recommended by International Commission on Radiation Protection. All dosimetric calculations were performed based on the guidance of the UNSCEAR 2000 report.     

Synthesis and photopolymerizations of new phosphonated methacrylates from alkyl α‐hydroxymethacrylates and glycidyl methacrylate

Novel aromatic mono‐ and di(phosphonate) or phosphonic acid monomers for use in dental composites were synthesized. Synthesis of monomer 1a involved three steps: (i) reaction of t‐butyl α‐bromomethacrylate (t‐BuBMA) and Bisphenol A, (ii) conversion to diacid chloride derivative using thionyl chloride, (iii) reaction of diacid chloride with diethyl (2‐hydroxyphenyl) phosphonate. Monomer 2a was synthesized from the reaction of 2‐chloromethacryloyl chloride and diethyl (2‐hydroxyphenyl) phosphonate. Synthesis of monomer 3a involved reaction of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) with diethyl (2‐hydroxyphenyl) phosphonate. Hydrolysis of the phosphonate groups of monomers 1a and 2a with trimethylsilyl bromide (TMSBr) gave monomers 1b and 2b with phosphonic acid functionality, which is intended to improve binding ability of dental composites. The homopolymerization and copolymerization behaviors of the synthesized monomers with (Bis‐GMA) were investigated using photodifferential scanning calorimetry at 40°C with 2,2′‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenyl acetophenone as photoinitiator. The interaction of the monomer 1b with hydroxyapatite (HAP) was investigated using Fourier transform infrared technique. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Reconstruction of Grenfell Tower fire. Part 3—Numerical simulation of the Grenfell Tower disaster: Contribution to the understanding of the fire propagation and behaviour during the vertical fire spread

The dramatic event of the Grenfell Tower (June 2017), involving a combustible façade system, has raised concerns regarding the fire risk that these systems address. Indeed, as façades are complex systems, it is not straightforward to assess which part of the system is involved in the global fire behaviour. Understanding such façade fires is thus very complex as it depends on a combination of various products and system characteristics, including window frames or air gap or cavity barriers. Fire development inside the initial apartment was investigated using an appropriate CFD model with different scenarios for the fire source and ventilation conditions in a previous study. Fire propagation through the window to the external façade and to higher apartments was modelled and validated against visual observations. This paper describes CFD modelling of the complete Grenfell tower facade, and investigates vertical fire spread behaviour over the full height façade from the initial apartment. Contributions from the combustion of all the apartments' furniture, depending on window failure, and architectural details of the refurbished façade are considered in the numerical model. The modelling results are validated by comparison with photographic and video observations of the real fire.     

Projection Pursuit Evaluation Model of Regional Surface Water Environment Based on Improved Chicken Swarm Optimization Algorithm

A Projection Pursuit Evaluation model of surface water environment based on an Improved Chicken Swarm Optimization Algorithm (ICSOA-PPE) is constructed using the ICSOA to optimize the optimal projection direction. Using the Jiansanjiang Administration in Heilongjiang Province, China as an example, 15 subordinate farms were used as an evaluation unit by selecting water quality indexes including COD_Mn, NH₃-N, TP, TN, F^? to evaluate the environmental quality of surface water using the ICSOA-PPE model. The results show that the environmental quality of surface water from all farms in this region was generally poor, except for that at the Qinglongshan, Qindeli and Daxing farms. These three farms met the standard for drinking water sources, while the remaining farms failed to reach the standard. By analyzing the relationship between the total amount of chemical fertilizer application per ha, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer application per ha, the amount of phosphate fertilizer application per ha and the environmental quality of the surface water, a conclusion could be reached that the total amount of chemical fertilizer has a substantial effect on water environment. Additionally, the contribution rate of the amount of nitrogen fertilizer application per ha to the organic pollution and the concentration of NH₃-N is substantial, and the amount of phosphate fertilizer influences the water environmental quality to some extent. An analysis and comparison of the traversal capacity, the offset capacity and the convergence capacity of the Genetic Algorithm (GA), the Chicken Swarm Optimization Algorithm (CSOA) and ICSOA reveal that ICSOA is the better optimization algorithm, indicating that the ICSOA-PPE model is logical and reliable.     

A meta-heuristic framework for forecasting household electricity consumption

It may be difficult to model household electricity consumption with conventional methods such as regression due to seasonal and monthly changes. This paper illustrates a flexible integrated meta-heuristic framework based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP), conventional regression and design of experiment (DOE) for forecasting household electricity consumption. Previous studies base their verification by the difference in error estimation, whereas this study uses various error estimation methods and design of experiment (DOE). Moreover, DOE is based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Furthermore, actual data is compared with ANN MLP and conventional regression model through ANOVA. If the null hypothesis is accepted, DMRT is used to select either ANN MLP or conventional regression. However, if the null hypothesis is accepted then the proposed framework selects either the MLP or regression model based on the average of Minimum Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Mean Square Error (MSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The significance of this study is the integration of ANN MLP, conventional regression and DOE for flexible modeling and improved processing, development and testing of household electricity consumption. Some of the previous studies assume that ANN MLP provide better estimation and others estimate electricity consumptions based on the conventional regression approach. However, this study presents a flexible integrated framework to locate the best model based on the actual data. Moreover, it would provide more reliable and precise forecasting for policy makers. To show the applicability and superiority of the integrated approach, annual household electricity consumption in Iran from 1974 to 2003 was collected for processing, training and testing purpose.     

Wellbuilt for wellbeing: Controlling relative humidity in the workplace matters for our health

This study offers a new perspective on the role of relative humidity in strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of office workers. A lack of studies of sufficient participant size and diversity relating relative humidity (RH) to measured health outcomes has been a driving factor in relaxing thermal comfort standards for RH and removing a lower limit for dry air. We examined the association between RH and objectively measured stress responses, physical activity (PA), and sleep quality. A diverse group of office workers (n = 134) from four well-functioning federal buildings wore chest-mounted heart rate variability monitors for three consecutive days, while at the same time, RH and temperature (T) were measured in their workplaces. Those who spent the majority of their time at the office in conditions of 30%-60% RH experienced 25% less stress at the office than those who spent the majority of their time in drier conditions. Further, a correlational study of our stress response suggests optimal values for RH may exist within an even narrower range around 45%. Finally, we found an indirect effect of objectively measured poorer sleep quality, mediated by stress responses, for those outside this range.