Solid-state cooling line based on the electrocaloric effect

In this paper, the feasibility of using ferroelectric materials as a cooling device or solid-state refrigerator based on the electrocaloric effect has been considered. The electrocaloric responses of two different ferroelectric capacitors (PMN-25PT, PZN-4.5PT) are studied. In this study, the dynamics of temperature variation at the edges of a layered structure comprised of an electrocaloric material with heatconducting elements on its sides to an applied periodic electric field have been studied. Electrocaloric elements can generate directed heat flux as a thermal pump by alternative switching. A temperature reduction of 6° is obtained in an electric field of 1 KV/mm at a frequency of 1 Hz for PMN-25PT material after applying 80 cycles. It is shown that the type of applied electric pulses and ferroelectric material affect the results.     

Petrological control on engineering properties of carbonate rocks in arid regions

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Petrological features of carbonate rocks that exert control on their mechanical and physical properties are examined in the study presented...     

Evaluation of IMERG and MRMS remotely sensed snowfall products

In this study, snow accumulation (SA) estimates of the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) (IMERG) and Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) products were evaluated against the SNOwpack TELemetry (SNOTEL) ground observations over a Basin in the western United States from October 2016 to February 2017. IMERG underestimated SA in three snowfall probability thresholds of 45%, 65% and 85%. With increasing the threshold from 45% to 85%, MRMS Bias index showed overestimation compared to that of the IMERG. Overall, MRMS presented more accurate results than the IMERG. In categorical analysis, IMERG had better probability of detection (POD) values than the MRMS although MRMS was generally more accurate than the IMERG in all thresholds. Moreover, with respect to Bias, mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) indices in various elevation classes, IMERG was more efficient in lower elevation classes while in categorical analysis, MRMS performed worse than the IMERG based on the POD values. This weakness increased in higher elevation classes. Also, in another comparison in different SA classes, the results showed that IMERG had better performance than the MRMS under moderate snowfall condition. However, MRMS estimates improved in heavy snowfall. In general, it was concluded that the IMERG performed better in snowfall detection than the MRMS; while in contrast, the opposite was true in estimating the SA.     

Correction to: Artificial neural network modelling of Cr(VI) surface adsorption with NiO nanoparticles using the results obtained from optimization of response surface methodology

Neural Computing and Applications - The author list in the original publication included Mohammad A. Behnajady as second author.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Image pattern recognition in big data: taxonomy and open challenges: survey

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Image pattern recognition in the field of big data has gained increasing importance and attention from researchers and practitioners in many domains of science...     

Identification and analysis of hydrostatic transmission system

The dynamic behavior of hydro-static transmission (HST) systems is studied experimentally and theoretically to formulate a linearized mathematical model of the HST system and a recursive identification model is then proposed. A computer-controlled test rig is developed and the system state responses are measured. The results obtained from the experimental work and the linearized models are used to build a recursive identification model in order to identify the system under study. Furthermore, comparisons among the experimental, simulated, and identified results are presented. These results show that recursive identification models are powerful tools that can be used for the identification and analysis of HST. Finally, parameter variations of the volume displacement and the motor torque are introduced to the system in order to study their effect on pressure and hydraulic motor speed.     

Variable sampling plan for resubmitted lots based on process capability index and Bayesian approach

Acceptance sampling plans are applied for quality inspection of products. Among the design approaches of sampling plan, the most important one is to use process capability indices in order to improve the quality of manufacturing processes and the quality inspection of products. But, selection of estimators of process capability index and their sampling distribution is very important. Bayesian statistical technique can be used to obtain the sampling distribution. In this paper, a variable sampling plan is developed for resubmitted lots based on process capability index and Bayesian approach. In the proposed sampling plan, lots are inspected several times depending on the quality level of the process. In addition, this paper presents an optimization model for determining the decision parameters of developed sampling plan with regards to the constraints related to the risk of consumer and producer. Two comparison studied have been done including: First, the methods of double sapling plan (DSP), multiple dependent state (MDS) sampling plan, and repetitive group sampling (RGS) plan are elaborated, and also in order to comparing developed sampling plans, an expected number of products as average sample number (ASN) is used for different developed plans; second, a comparison study between Bayesian approach and exact probability distribution is carried out and their results are analyzed. It is observed that the ASN values of MDS sampling plan is less than ASN values of other methods, and also the ASN values of different variable sampling plans based on Bayesian approach is less than ASN values obtained using exact approach.     

Cytokine expression in mice exposed to diesel exhaust particles by inhalation. Role of tumor necrosis factor

Background  

Particulate air pollution has been associated with lung and cardiovascular disease, for which lung inflammation may be a driving mechanism. The pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been suggested to have a key-role in particle-induced inflammation.     

Differential biocompatibility of carbon nanotubes and nanodiamonds

Carbon nanomaterials are being produced in increasingly larger quantities for many applications due to their novel characteristics such as enhanced thermal, electrical, mechanical, and biological properties. However, there is a lack of data on biological interactions to assess their biocompatibility before they will be accepted as non-toxic in industrial or biomedical arenas. In the present study, we examined both neuronal and lung cell lines for biocompatibility in aqueous suspensions of carbon nanomaterials, such as nanodiamonds (NDs), single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs, MWNTs), and carbon black (CB), at concentrations ranging from 25–100 μg/ml for 24 h. Our results indicated that these carbon nanomaterials displayed differential biocompatibility in these two different cell lines. The greatest biocompatibility was found after incubation with NDs and both cell types followed the trend: ND > CB > MWNT > SWNT. Macrophages were found to be more sensitive to the nanomaterials with up to five times the generation of reactive oxygen species after incubation with MWNTs or SWNTs. However, there was a lack of ROS generation from either cell line incubated with ND-raw, as well as intact mitochondrial membranes, suggesting that NDs may be useful as a benchmark nanoparticle non-toxic control in replacement of CB, and should be further investigated for use in medical applications.     

Carbon black nanoparticle instillation induces sustained inflammation and genotoxicity in mouse lung and liver

Background

Widespread occupational exposure to carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) raises concerns over their safety. CBNPs are genotoxic in vitro but less is known about their genotoxicity in various organs in vivo.

Methods

We investigated inflammatory and acute phase responses, DNA strand breaks (SB) and oxidatively damaged DNA in C57BL/6 mice 1, 3 and 28 days after a single instillation of 0.018, 0.054 or 0.162 mg Printex 90 CBNPs, alongside sham controls. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was analyzed for cellular composition. SB in BAL cells, whole lung and liver were assessed using the alkaline comet assay. Formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (FPG) sensitive sites were assessed as an indicator of oxidatively damaged DNA. Pulmonary and hepatic acute phase response was evaluated by Saa3 mRNA real-time quantitative PCR.

Results

Inflammation was strongest 1 and 3 days post-exposure, and remained elevated for the two highest doses (i.e., 0.054 and 0.162 mg) 28 days post-exposure (P < 0.001). SB were detected in lung at all doses on post-exposure day 1 (P < 0.001) and remained elevated at the two highest doses until day 28 (P < 0.05). BAL cell DNA SB were elevated relative to controls at least at the highest dose on all post-exposure days (P < 0.05). The level of FPG sensitive sites in lung was increased throughout with significant increases occurring on post-exposure days 1 and 3, in comparison to controls (P < 0.001-0.05). SB in liver were detected on post-exposure days 1 (P < 0.001) and 28 (P < 0.001). Polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell counts in BAL correlated strongly with FPG sensitive sites in lung (r = 0.88, P < 0.001), whereas no such correlation was observed with SB (r = 0.52, P = 0.08). CBNP increased the expression of Saa3 mRNA in lung tissue on day 1 (all doses), 3 (all doses) and 28 (0.054 and 0.162 mg), but not in liver.

Conclusions

Deposition of CBNPs in lung induces inflammatory and genotoxic effects in mouse lung that persist considerably after the initial exposure. Our results demonstrate that CBNPs may cause genotoxicity both in the primary exposed tissue, lung and BAL cells, and in a secondary tissue, the liver.