Studies on the effect of temperature and time on the SS 304 surface for the properties degradation of the solar collector

The properties of emissivity (?) and absorptivity (α) of the surface of the material is an essential output for the solar collector. This paper highlights the work based on the RSM design expert, to study the effect of parameters’ temperature and time when the surface is exposed to sunlight and absorbing the properties of emissivity and absorptivity of the material SS 304. The temperature range of the SS 304 varied from 20°C to 356°C for various time intervals from 90 to 1100?h. From this experimental work, it is clearly seen that the emissivity rate increased when the surface is focused onto sunlight beyond the saturated level. The absorptivity of the surface of SS 304 increases till the optimum level and reaches the saturated level. As a result, after the optimum level, emissivity rate of the surface increases, and absorptivity of the surface decreases when it is focused onto sunlight.     

Estrogen content of dairy and swine wastes

Naturally occurring estrogens in animal wastes may cause negative environmental impacts, yet their abundance in animal waste treatment and storage structures is poorly documented. To better quantify estrogen concentrations in animal wastes, multiple waste samples were collected from treatment and storage structures at dairy and swine facilities and analyzed for concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and 17alpha-estradiol by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (E2 only). Mass ratios of each estrogen to the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were also determined. Because manure application rates are typically macronutrient-based, estrogen to macronutrient ratios are proportional to areal mass application rates of estrogen to fields. Swine farrowing waste (from farrowing sows and piglets) had the highest ratios of E2 to macronutrients. Mean ratios in swine farrowing waste were roughly twice those in swine finishing waste (from growing male and nonpregnant female animals) and more than four times higher than those in dairy waste (from lactating cows in various stages of their reproductive cycles); these differences were statistically significant (alpha = 0.05). Estrone followed a similar trend. In contrast, ratios of 17alpha-estradiol to macronutrients were highest in dairy operations. These results can be used to better predict estrogen loading rates on fields receiving swine and dairy wastes.     

Particle swarm optimization algorithm to maximize assembly efficiency

The demands on assembly accuracy require accurate operations both in machining and assembly in order to achieve the high performance of products. Although advanced machining technologies can be used to satisfy most of the demands on precision assembly, the corresponding manufacturing cost will also be increased. Selective assembly provides an effective way for producing high-precision assembly from relatively low-precision components. The accuracy of selective assembly is mainly based on the number of groups and the range of the group (allocated equally on the design tolerance). However, there are often surplus parts in some groups due to the imbalance of mating parts, especially in the cases of undesired dimensional distributions, which makes the methods developed and reported in the literature often not suitable for practice. In this work, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed by applying batch selective assembly method to a complex assembly with three mating components (as in ball bearing: an inner race, ball and outer race), to minimize the surplus parts and thereby maximizing the assembly efficiency. Due to the continuous nature of particle swarm optimization algorithm, standard PSO equations cannot be used to generate discrete combination of mating parts. An effective encoding scheme is developed to make the combination of mating parts feasible. The evolution performance of the PSO algorithm with different control parameter values is also analysed.     

Antibody against synthetic rat PTH peptide (1-34) blocks PTH-mediated cAMP formation and phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells

The expression of the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors was investigated by Western blot analysis and RT-PCR in cultured chick Bergmann and Müller glial cells. Using subunit-specific antibodies directed to the carboxy terminus of the rat NMDAR2A/B we detected the expression of the NMDAR2 subunit in both kinds of culture. The functional subunit of the NMDA receptor, NMDAR1, was detected by means of RT-PCR. These results, together with our previous functional characterization of NMDA receptors in radial glia, provide conclusive evidence for the expression of functional NMDA receptor/channels in Bergmann and Muller glia cells. Our findings strengthen the notion of a modulatory role of glial cells in synaptic transmission.     

Effect of Fiber Bridging Stress on the Fracture Resistance of Silicon-Carbide-Fiber/Zircon Composites

The room-temperature fracture-resistance behavior ( R -curve) of unidirectional silicon-carbide-fiber-reinforced zircon-matrix composites has been studied experimentally and numerically. The composites showed strong rising R -curve behavior from experimental results that used in situ crack-length measurements taken via optical microscopy as well as the compliance method. A numerical calculation, based on the available models, then was performed to determine the bridging-stress function from the experimental R -curve. In addition, the effect of the residual stress and constituent properties on the bridging-stress function also has been considered in the numerical calculations. These results have indicated that the bridging-stress function, which controls the fracture resistance of ceramic composites, can be obtained from the carefully measured R -curve.     

Biocomposite proton‐exchange membrane electrolytes for direct methanol fuel cells

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐amino acid (AA) biocomposite membranes are prepared by blending PVA with AAs such as glycine, lysine (LY), and phenyl alanine followed by in situ crosslinking with citric acid (CA) and explored as a new class of biocomposite membrane electrolytes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). CA crosslinks with PVA through esterification offers adequate chemical, thermal, and morphological stability thereby produces methanol‐obstructing close‐packed polymeric network. These biocomposite membranes are characterized in terms of mechanical, thermal, sorption, and proton‐conducting properties. Hydrophilic nature of AA zwitterions significantly facilitates proton conduction and CA crosslinking mitigates methanol crossover through establishing appropriate balance between hydrophilic/hydrophobic domains. The rational design of membrane microstructure with proper arrangement of hydrophobic/hydrophilic domains is a key to enhance electrochemical selectivity of PVA‐AA/CA biocomposite membranes. Biocomposite membrane comprising LY exhibits nearly threefold higher electrochemical selectivity in relation to PVA/CA blend membrane. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43514.     

Superior corrosion protection performance of polypdopamine-intercalated CeO2/polyurethane nanocomposite coatings on steel in 3.5% NaCl solution

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - Newly synthesized polyurethane (PU)–polydopamine (Pda)/CeO2 (cerium oxide) nanocomposite-coated mild steel was investigated for its corrosion protection...     

Effect of Silicon Activity on Liquid-Phase Sintering of Nitrogen Ceramics

Volatilization resulting from the thermal decomposition of Si₃N₄ causes the large weight loss and desintering phenomenon observed during pressureless sintering of Si₃N₄-5% MgO and sialon (z =2)-5% MgO. The addition of a few weight percent of Si to the powder suppresses this volatilazation and helps to achieve fully dense Si₃N₄ components.     

The Change of X‐ray Diffraction Peak Width During in situ Conventional Sintering of Nanoscale Powders

Diffraction peaks of nanoscale particles of 3 mol% yttria‐stabilized zirconia become sharper as the powder sinters. The reduction in the peak width is correlated with the increase in density. The sharpening of the peak agrees reasonably well with the remaining free surface area as the sample sinters. Therefore, high curvature of the free surface of the pores is assumed to lead to peak broadening (the grain boundaries that grow at the expense of the free surfaces of the pores do not have this curvature). The change in the grain size during sintering does not make a significant contribution to peak width.