Experimental investigation on the stability of bride girder against tsunami forces

Bridges are the most useful part in the transportation network. Any disruption of the bridge structures may hamper the whole transportation system. In the last recent tsunamis, numerous number of bridges were structurally damaged by the tsunami waves. Lack of proper provisions of tsunami forces in the design guidelines also contributes to the augmentations of the damage level. Therefore, proper evaluation of the tsunami forces on the bridge girder should be introduced in the design promptly. In this study, laboratory experiments were carried out to reveal the damage mechanism of the bridge girder by assessing the exerted tsunami forces. Both broken and unbroken waves were considered for the analysis. The results showed that measured forces were larger for broken waves than those of unbroken waves. Maximum force of the broken waves was 4.59 times as large as the hydrostatic pressure. Also, waves reached the peak value more rapidly for larger wave heights than those of smaller ones. Additionally, a girder that is placed at a higher position is much vulnerable to tsunami hazard.     

Thermal and related studies of some zirconia gels

The thermal properties of a number of zirconia gels, prepared with various precipitants, have been studied by thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and evolved gas analysis. The results obtained show that ligands derived from the various precipitants are incorporated in these gels and strongly influence their high temperature behaviour. The observed properties are interpreted on the basis of a defect structure involving O^2- vacancies generated through the removal of these ligands at higher temperatures.     

Flexible and Conductive 3D Printable Polyvinylidene Fluoride and Poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) Based Gel Polymer Electrolytes

In this work, 3D printable gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) based on N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in lithium chloride containing ethylene glycol solution are synthesized and their physicochemical properties are investigated. 3D printing is carried out with a customized stereolithography type 3D gel printer named “Soft and Wet Intelligent Matter‐Easy Realizer” and free forming GPE samples having variable shapes and sizes are obtained. Printed PVDF/PDMAAm‐based GPEs exhibit tunable mechanical properties and favorable thermal stability. Electrochemical proprieties of the printed GPEs are carried out via impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range of 25–90 °C by varying PVDF content. Ionic conductivity as high as 6.5 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 is achieved at room temperature for GPE containing low PVDF content (5 wt%) and conductivity of the GPEs is increased as temperature rises.     

Targeting S100A9 Reduces Neutrophil Recruitment,Inflammation and Lung Damage in Abdominal Sepsis

S100A9, a pro-inflammatory alarmin, is up-regulated in inflamed tissues. However, the role of S100A9 in regulating neutrophil activation, inflammation and lung damage in sepsis is not known. Herein, we hypothesized that blocking S100A9 function may attenuate neutrophil recruitment in septic lung injury. Male C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with the S100A9 inhibitor ABR-238901 (10 mg/kg), prior to cercal ligation and puncture (CLP). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were harvested for analysis of neutrophil infiltration as well as edema and CXC chemokine production. Blood was collected for analysis of membrane-activated complex-1 (Mac-1) expression on neutrophils as well as CXC chemokines and IL-6 in plasma. Induction of CLP markedly increased plasma levels of S100A9. ABR-238901 decreased CLP-induced neutrophil infiltration and edema formation in the lung. In addition, inhibition of S100A9 decreased the CLP-induced up-regulation of Mac-1 on neutrophils. Administration of ABR-238901 also inhibited the CLP-induced increase of CXCL-1, CXCL-2 and IL-6 in plasma and lungs. Our results suggest that S100A9 promotes neutrophil activation and pulmonary accumulation in sepsis. Targeting S100A9 function decreased formation of CXC chemokines in circulation and lungs and attenuated sepsis-induced lung damage. These novel findings suggest that S100A9 plays an important pro-inflammatory role in sepsis and could be a useful target to protect against the excessive inflammation and lung damage associated with the disease.     

Synthesis of a polyaminophosphonate and its evaluation as an antiscalant in desalination plant

The cationic monomer, N,N‐diallyl‐3‐(diethylphosphonato)propylammonium chloride, was cyclopolymerized in aqueous solutions using t‐butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) or ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiators to afford a cationic polyelectrolyte (CPE) having a (diethylphosphonato)propyl pendent. The CPE on acidic hydrolysis of the diester groups gave pH‐responsive polyzwitterionic acid (PZA) which on treatment with one and two equivalents NaOH gave zwitterionic/anionic polyelectrolyte (ZAPE) and dianionic polyelectrolyte (DAPE), respectively. The solution properties of the CPE, PZA, ZAPE, and DAPE were investigated in detail by viscometric technique. For the purpose of comparison, the solution properties of the polymers were correlated to a structurally similar polyzwitterion (PZ) having monoethylphosphonate and NH⁺ groups. When performance evaluation was carried out for application in reverse osmosis (RO) plants, DAPE at a concentration of 10 ppm in brackish water feed proved very effective as an inhibitor against calcium sulfate scale. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:166–174, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopic Analysis of Sensitization-Based Solar Cells

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a very powerful tool for elucidation of charge transfer and transport processes in sensitization-based solar cells (e.g., dye-sensitized solar cells [DSSCs], quantum dot-sensitized solar cells [QDSSCs], and perovskite solar cells [PSCs]). EIS measures the electrochemical response to small amplitude AC signals over a wide range of frequencies. Analysis of the EIS response provides information about the corresponding parameters of the cells. Here, we review the fundamentals of EIS, charge transport kinetic processes, and equivalent circuit models of sensitization-based solar cells and use these concepts to explain the EIS spectra of DSSCs, QDSSCs, and PSCs. This review will be very useful for understanding the fundamental charge transfer and transport processes in different sensitization-based solar cells and the use of an equivalent circuit model to interpret the observed charge transfer and reactions.     

Magnetic Nanoparticle Arrays Self-Assembled on Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media

We study magnetic-field directed self-assembly of magnetic nanoparticles onto templates recorded on perpendicular magnetic recording media, and quantify feature width and height as a function of assembly time. Feature widths are determined from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images, while heights are obtained with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). For short assembly times, widths were ~150 nm, while heights were ~14 nm, a single nanoparticle on average with a 10:1 aspect ratio. For long assembly times, widths approach 550 nm, while the average height grows to 3 nanoparticles, ~35 nm; a 16:1 aspect ratio. We perform magnetometry on these self-assembled structures and observe the slope of the magnetic moment vs. field curve increases with time. This increase suggests magnetic nanoparticle interactions evolve from nanoparticle–nanoparticle interactions to cluster–cluster interactions as opposed to feature–feature interactions. We suggest the aspect ratio increase occurs because the magnetic field gradients are strongest near the transitions between recorded regions in perpendicular media. If these gradients can be optimized for assembly, strong potential exists for using perpendicular recording templates to assemble complex heterogeneous materials.     

Alcoholysis of palm oil mid-fraction by lipase from Rhizopus rhizopodiformis

A mycelial lipase from Rhizopus rhizopodiformis was prepared in fragment form. The lipase was examined to catalyze the alcoholysis of palm oil mid-fraction (PMF) in organic solvents. High percentage conversions of PMF to alkyl esters were achieved when methanol or propanol was used as acyl acceptor. Of the two most prevalent fatty acids in PMF, palmitic acid seemed to be preferred over oleic acid in the formation of methyl and propyl esters. The optimal ratio of oil to methanol in the alcoholysis reaction is 1 to 2 moles. The lipase exhibited high alcoholysis activities in nonpolar solvents (log P>2), such as hexane, benzene, toluene, and heptane. The enzyme showed exceptionally high thermostability.     

Effects of functionalization conditions of sulfonic acid grafted SBA-15 on catalytic activity in the esterification of glycerol to monoglyceride: a factorial design approach

A series of propyl sulfonic acid-modified SBA-15 catalysts (SBA-15SO₃H) was prepared under various conditions using post-functionalization approach. A factorial design coupled with response surface analysis were employed to evaluate the effects of the preparation conditions on the catalyst activity. Optimization of the conditions to find the most active SBA-15SO₃H catalyst with the highest activity in glycerol esterification with lauric acid at 160?°C for 6?h was also made. Amount of 3-(mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) and reflux time were chosen as parameters of the preparation conditions. The presence of propyl sulfonic acid groups in SBA-15SO₃H catalysts was confirmed by FT-TIR method. The catalysts were also characterized by means of surface analysis, XRD, TEM and TGA. The results obtained from the statistical models suggested that the amount of MPTMS was more important parameter to influence the activity compared to the reflux time. The optimum preparation condition was achieved at a reflux time of 20?h and an MPTMS amount of 1?mL/gram SBA-15 to obtain the SBA-15SO₃H(1) with the highest monoglyceride selectivity (70.2%) and corresponding lauric acid conversion (95%) in the esterification process.     

Mass transfer from outer surface of thin tubes in parallel turbulent flow

The mass transfer coefficients from the outer surface of tubes or cylinders held in parallel turbulent steams have been calculated using integral momentum and mass transfer equations. The solution uses a hydrodynamics independent constant, λ _c which depends only upon Schmidt number. The results exhibit significant effect of curvature. For Schmidt number less than 108, Sherwood number can be predicted by $Sh_d Sc^{ - 1/3} = 0.039Sc^{0.208} times left( {frac{L} {d}} right)^alpha operatorname{Re} _d^{0.8}$Sh_d Sc^{ - 1/3} = 0.039Sc^{0.208} times left( {frac{L} {d}} right)^alpha operatorname{Re} _d^{0.8}, where α = −0.169Sc^−0.0103. The effect of the curvature is insignificant where $frac{L} {d}operatorname{Re} _L^{ - 0.2} - 0.033 times ln (Sc) leqslant 0.214$frac{L} {d}operatorname{Re} _L^{ - 0.2} - 0.033 times ln (Sc) leqslant 0.214.