Optimization of the integrated fleet-level imperfect selective maintenance and repairpersons assignment problem

Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing - Industrial environments such as manufacturing and transportation industries usually involve fleets of identical systems that must carry out several missions...     

Stability and 2,4-dinitrotoluene response of organic field effect transistors based on π-conjugated thiophene oligomers

This paper reports on organic field effect transistors (OFETs) based on two π-conjugated oligomers derived from thiophenes and their use as sensors for the detection of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). The detection mechanism relies on donor-acceptor interactions between the π-conjugated system (donor) and the nitrated molecule (acceptor). An important feature of sensors is the stability under operation, so, a large part of this work will be dealing with the behavior of OFETs under bias stress experiments as well as with the influence of temperature during operation. Most of results reported here are concerning hexyl capped tetra Thienylene–Vinylene (denominated 4-TV). Some preliminary results on the promising hexyl capped quinquethiophene derived from 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (denominated TETET) are also reported. Under a DNT contaminated air atmosphere ( 7 ppm), 4-TV based OFETs exhibit an increase of the drain current when DNT is present in the atmosphere as expected.     

Enhanced two-antenna structures for universal mobile telecommunications system diversity terminals

The design of several universal mobile telecommunications system multi-antenna systems with radiators having a high isolation, a high total efficiency and a low envelope correlation is presented. First, two planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs), closely positioned at the top edge of a small ground plane whose size is representative of the printed circuit board of a mobile phone, are described. A technical solution is then proposed to increase the isolation between the antennas and enhance their total efficiency when still keeping them closely spaced. The technical solution is based on an optimal neutralisation technique, applied between the antennas of the structure. Several optimal systems, based on different parameters, are fabricated and measured. The simulated and measured S-parameters are presented in addition to the gain radiation patterns, the surface currents on the structure and the theoretical and experimental total efficiencies. The envelope correlation coefficients are also computed using two different equations. It is then demonstrated that, with the help of the neutralisation technique, a system composed of two closely spaced PIFAs located at the top edge of a small ground plane can lead to a high total efficiency and a low envelope correlation coefficient. In conclusion, this technique can be easily implemented at the terminal side of a wireless link and may enhance its diversity gain and multiple input multiple output performance.     

Dendrimer enhanced ultrafiltration. 1. Recovery of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions using PAMAM dendrimers with ethylene diamine core and terminal NH2 groups

This article discusses the feasibility of using dendrimer enhanced ultrafiltration (DEUF)to recover Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. Building upon the results of fundamental investigations of Cu(II) binding to PAMAM dendrimers with ethylenediamine (EDA) core and terminal NH2 groups, we combine (i) dead-end ultrafiltration (UF) experiments with (ii) atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization of membrane fouling to assess the feasibility of using DEUF to recover Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. On a mass basis, the Cu(II) binding capacities of the EDA core PAMAM dendrimers are much larger and more sensitive to solution pH than those of linear polymers with amine groups. The dendrimer-Cu(II) complexes can be efficiently separated from aqueous solutions by ultrafiltration. The metal ion laden dendrimers can be regenerated by decreasing the solution pH to 4.0; thus enabling the recovery of the bound Cu(II) ions and recycling of the dendrimers. The UF measurements and AFM characterization studies show that EDA core PAMAM dendrimers with terminal NH2 groups have very lowtendency to foul the commercially available regenerated cellulose (RC) membranes evaluated in this study. The overall results of these experiments suggest that DEUF is a promising process for recovering metal ions such as Cu(II) from aqueous solutions.     

Sampling of French local networks and applications

In this paper the authors describe a study in progress by which it is intended to represent all the French local telephone networks by just a small number of typical cases. The objectives are firstly, to gain a better knowledge of the existing network and secondly, to be able to compare equipment policies by simulating the evolution of the sample networks. The representative areas were chosen by original data analysis methods (principal component analysis followed by classification and choice of samples). Detailed data appertaining to the sample areas were then collected. They give examples of overall statistical results extrapolated at national level and discuss the corresponding applications. Lastly, they consider further developments of the study.     

Highly Efficient Dehydration of Glycerol to Acrolein Over Isomorphously Substituted Fe-MFI Zeolites

Gas phase dehydration of glycerol formerly in aqueous solution to acrolein was studied over iron MFI zeolites prepared by post-synthesis isomorphous substitution with different iron contents, Si/Al and substitution ratios. High Si/Al (60) ratios led to high conversion in presence of air and the insertion of iron in the zeolite framework greatly improved the catalytic performances by altering the amount and the nature of the coke components reducing dramatically the deactivation. Over the most efficient sample, acrolein yield reached a stabilized value of 68% with an excellent selectivity (80%), which ranked this catalyst among the best for the selective conversion of crude glycerol.

Graphical Abstract

Open image in new window

     

Dendritic anion hosts: perchlorate uptake by G5-NH2 poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer in water and model electrolyte solutions

Perchlorate (ClO4-) has emerged as a major groundwater and surface water contaminant in the United States. Ion exchange (IX) is the most widely used technology for treating water containing lower concentrations of perchlorate (<100 ppb). However, a major drawback of IX is the need for frequent regeneration or disposal of the perchlorate-laden resins. As a first step toward the development of high-capacity, selective and recyclable dendritic ligandsforthe recovery of perchloratefrom aqueous solutions by dendrimer filtration, we tested the hypothesis that dendrimers with hydrophobic cavities and positively charged internal groups should selectively bind ClO4- over more hydrophilic anions such as Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-), and HCO3-. We measured the uptake of ClO4- by the fifth generation (G5-NH2) poly(propyleneimine) (PPI) dendrimer with a diaminobutane core and terminal NH2 groups in deonized water and model electrolyte solutions as a function of (i) anion-dendrimer loading, (ii) solution pH, (iii) background electrolyte concentration, and (iv) reaction time. The ClO4- binding capacity of this dendrimer is comparable to those of perchlorate-selective IX resins. However, its ClO4- binding kinetics is faster and reaches equilibrium in approximately 1 h. Note also that only a high pH (approximately 9.0) aqueous solution is needed to release more than 90% of the bound ClO4- anions by deprotonation of the dendrimer tertiary amine groups. The overall results of this study suggest that dendritic macromolecules such as the G5-PPI NH2 dendrimer provide ideal building blocks for the development of high-capacity, selective and recyclable ligands for the recovery of anions such as perchlorate from aqueous solutions by dendrimer enhanced filtration.     

The Quest for Bose-Einstein Condensation in Solid 4He

Ever since the seminal torsional oscillator (TO) measurements of Kim and Chan which suggested the existence of a phase transition in solid ⁴He, from normal to a ??supersolid?? state below a critical temperature T _c = 200 mK, there has been an unprecedented amount of excitement and research activity aimed at better understanding this phase. Despite much work, this remarkable phase has yet to be independently confirmed by conventional scattering techniques, such as neutron scattering. We have carried out a series of neutron scattering measurements, which we here review, aimed at observing Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in solid ⁴He at temperatures below T _c . In bulk liquid ⁴He, the appearance of BEC below T _?? signals the onset of superfluidity. The observation of a condensate fraction in the solid would provide an unambiguous confirmation for ??supersolidity??. Although, our measurements have not yet revealed a non-zero condensate fraction or algebraic off diagonal long-range order n ₀ in solid ⁴He down to 65 mK, i.e. n ₀=(0±0.3)%, our search for BEC and its corollaries continues with improved instrumentation.