Synthesis,characterization, thermal stability and electrochemical properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-imine-functionalized oligophenol via enzymatic oxidative polycondensation

Ortho-imine functionalized oligophenol was synthesized via enzymatic polymerization of 2-((4-nitrophenylimino)methyl)phenol (NPIMP). Enzymatic polymerization was catalyzed by Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) oxidizer yielded oligophenol with imine functionality on the side-chain. Effects of various factors including reaction pH, temperature and solvent system on the polymerization were studied. Optimum polymerization with the highest yield (96 %) and number-average molecular weight (M _n = 7300 g/mol, degree of polymerization ≈ 30) was accomplished using equivolume mixture of acetone/pH 7.0 phosphate buffer medium at 35 °C in 24 h under air. Characterization of the resulting oligomer was accomplished by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H and ¹³C NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polymerization involved elimination of hydrogen from NPIMP, and the oligomer possessed phenolic –OH end groups. The oligomer backbone was composed of oxyphenylene and phenylene repeat units. The optical band gaps (Eg) of NPIMP and oligo(NPIMP) were measured as 3.21 and 3.39 Eg, respectively. Thermal stability of the oligo(NPIMP) was also found to be relatively high, and lost 5 % of its mass at 175 °C and lost 50 % of its mass at 600 °C.     

Effect of processing techniques on antioxidative enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids of table olives

In this study, olive fruits (Olea europeae cv. Gemlik) of the most common sources of table olives in Turkey were used. Total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AC), and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, CAT; ascorbate peroxidase, APX; and glutathione reductase, GR) of table olives were compared by 4 different methods of ripe table olive processing. Results revealed that TPC of the processed olives ranged from 117.44 to 418.69 mg gallic acid equivalents/g fresh weight (f.w.). The highest AC as mg Trolox equivalents of 189.58/g f.w. was obtained from unprocessed black olives. CAT, APX, and GR activities of unprocessed olives were higher than those obtained in all processed olives. In conclusion, TPC, AC, and antioxidant enzyme activities are strongly affected by fruit ripening and processing in table olives of ‘Gemlik’ cultivar. In addition, the best processing technique is untreated black olives in brine for antioxidant properties.     

The Effects of Mg Substitution in Bi-2223 Superconductors

The effects of Mg substitution in Bi-2223 superconductor system has been studied for the Bi_1.7Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca₂Cu_3−x Mg _x O _y nominal composition (x=0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) which was prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction. The properties of these compounds have been investigated by measuring the electrical resistivity, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and density. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to investigate the surface microstructure of the samples. It has been found that the effects of Mg substitution support the development of both the Bi-2212 and Bi-2223 phases. These measurements and analyses enable us to discuss the effects of Mg dopant on superconducting properties. We found that onset critical temperatures (T _c, onset) decrease with addition x>0.10 in resistivity measurements. The presence of Mg influenced the microstructure of the samples and decreased the mean grain size of Bi-2223 grains up to x=0.10.     

A “mutual update” training algorithm for fuzzy adaptivelogic control/decision network (FALCON)

The conventional two-stage training algorithm of the fuzzy/neural architecture, called FALCON, may not provide accurate results for certain type of problems, due to the implicit assumption of independence that this training makes about parameters of the underlying fuzzy inference system. In this paper, a training scheme is proposed for this fuzzy/neural architecture, which is based on line search methods that have long been used in iterative optimization problems. This scheme involves synchronous update of the parameters of the architecture corresponding to input and output space partitions and rules defining the underlying mapping; the magnitude and direction of the update at each iteration is determined using the Armijo rule. In our motor fault detection study case, the mutual update algorithm arrived at the steady-state error of the conventional FALCON training algorithm is twice as fast and produced a lower steady-state error by an order of magnitude.     

Fuzzy inference systems implemented on neural architectures formotor fault detection and diagnosis

Motor fault detection and diagnosis involves processing a large amount of information of the motor system. With the combined synergy of fuzzy logic and neural networks, a better understanding of the heuristics underlying the motor fault detection/diagnosis process and successful fault detection/diagnosis schemes can be achieved. This paper presents two neural fuzzy (NN/FZ) inference systems, namely, fuzzy adaptive learning control/decision network (FALCON) and adaptive network based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), with applications to induction motor fault detection/diagnosis problems. The general specifications of the NN/FZ systems are discussed. In addition, the fault detection/diagnosis structures are analyzed and compared with regard to their learning algorithms, initial knowledge requirements, extracted knowledge types, domain partitioning, rule structuring and modifications. Simulated experimental results are presented in terms of motor fault detection accuracy and knowledge extraction feasibility. Results suggest new and promising research areas for using NN/FZ inference systems for incipient fault detection and diagnosis in induction motors     

Optical dispersion and dielectric properties of rubrene organic semiconductor thin film

Rubrene thin film has been fabricated on a glass substrate by spin-coating at 300 K. The optical dispersion and dielectric properties of the film have been determined from the analysis of transmittance and reflectance measurements at normal incident of light between 200 and 700 nm. The optical transmittance of the film was estimated as of 80–85 % in the visible range. Optical absorption characteristics show that the absorption mechanism is due to the indirect transition. The transport and onset optical energy gaps were determined as 2.93 and 2.31 eV, respectively. Single term Sellmeier dispersion relation and Wemple–DiDomenico single oscillator model were used to determine the optical dispersion parameters. Several dispersion parameters such as lattice dielectric constant, optical dielectric constant at higher frequency, dispersion energy, oscillator energy, the ratio of carrier concentration to the effective mass, the average oscillator wavelength, and average oscillator strength were determined by analysis of refractive index dispersion. The loss factor, the electric modulus, the optical conductivity, the volume and surface energy loss functions, and the relaxation time were also evaluated from the optical dielectric constants analysis.     

Effects of pattern coating and vacuum assistance on porosity of aluminium lost foam castings

Lost foam casting (LFC) process has several advantages when compared to conventional sand casting techniques however formation of large amount of gaseous products during foam pattern removal increases porosity fraction of castings, especially for low melting point A1 and Mg alloys. In this study pattern coating and vacuum assistance at the time of filling were investigated and their characterizations in constant casting conditions have been determined. Green sand moulding technique was carried out for all moulds because it is necessary to obtain sound castings by using expandable polystyrene (EPS) foam patterns without refractory coating. Simple prismatic shaped patterns were prepared from cutting pieces from an EPS isolation board. A well-known A380 Al-Si-Cu casting alloy was cast at 730°C. As expected, pattern coating reduce the gas permeability and increase porosity however metal penetration into sand grains and surface roughening occurs without coating. Slight vacuum were applied to moulds with vacuum casting machine until solidification. Vacuum assistance enhanced gas removal and it has clear effect on decreasing porosity.     

A Center for Teaching Design in Electrical and Computer Engineering

We describe a new approach which is currently being used in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University to provide engineering design education for our undergraduate students. We have formed an Undergraduate Design Center which closely interacts with local industry to attract real-life design projects. Students work on these projects with faculty and industry mentors to fulfill the requirements of a one-semester design course. The center makes use of a networked computer environment which facilitates preliminary design.