Mechanical properties of a cryogenically mechanically alloyed polycarbonate–poly(aryl ether ether ketone) system

The processing–property relationship of a model cryogenically mechanically alloyed polymer–polymer system [polycarbonate (PC) and poly(aryl ether ether ketone) (PEEK)] was investigated. PC and PEEK powders were cryogenically mechanically alloyed for 10 h, and the resulting two‐phase powder particles were processed into testable coupons with a miniature ram‐injection molder. The bulk mechanical properties of the coupons made from the mechanically alloyed powders and nonmechanically alloyed powders were investigated as a function of mechanical alloying and injection‐molding parameters. The injection‐molded coupons were mechanically tested in the three‐point‐bending mode. The results demonstrated that no measurable improvement was achieved in the energy to break, strain at failure, or failure strength in the coupons made from the mechanically alloyed materials in comparison with those of the coupons made from the nonmechanically alloyed powders. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1196–1202, 2003     

Pole placement adaptive control with persistent jumps in the plant parameters

In this paper we consider the problem of adaptively stabilizing, and providing step tracking for, an uncertain linear time-varying system. We propose an adaptive pole placement controller which solves the problem for a single-input single-output plant whose parameters switch at a moderate rate among the elements of a compact set. The output feedback controller incorporates an integrator, and its action emulates the behaviour of a pole placement state feedback compensator; the controller is periodic and mildly nonlinear, is easy to implement, is noise tolerant, and tolerates a degree of unmodelled dynamics.     

Kinetics of Thermal Dehydroxylation and Carbonation of Magnesium Hydroxide

The kinetics of simultaneous dehydroxylation and carbonation of precipitated Mg(OH)₂ were studied using isothermal and nonisothermal thermogravimetric analyses. Specimens were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and through measurements of the volume of carbon dioxide evolved in a subsequent reaction with hydrochloric acid. From 275° to 475°C, the kinetics of isothermal dehydroxylation in helium were best fit to a contracting-sphere model, yielding an activation energy of 146 kJ/mol, which was greater than values reported in the literature for isothermal dehydroxylation under vacuum (53–126 kJ/mol). The carbonation kinetics were complicated by the fact that dehydroxylation occurred simultaneously. The overall kinetics also could be fit to a contracting-sphere model, yielding a net activation energy of 304 kJ/mol. The most rapid carbonation kinetics occurred near 375°C. At this temperature, Mg(OH)₂ underwent rapid dehydroxylation and subsequent phase transformation, whereas thermodynamics favored the formation of carbonate. During carbonation, MgCO₃ precipitated on the surface of disrupted Mg(OH)₂ crystals acting as a kinetic barrier to both the outward diffusion of H₂O and the inward diffusion of CO₂.     

CO2 process intensification of algae oil extraction to biodiesel

Algae-to-biodiesel processes are hindered by high costs and low energy return on investment.^1,2. Herein, three foci in research improve algae-to-biodiesel processes by: (1) reducing high installation and energy costs in the CO₂ sequestration, cultivation, and harvesting stages; (2) improving oil extraction and biodiesel generation; and (3) increasing utilization of the proteins in lipid-extracted biomass (e.g., for animal feed), as well as the omega-3 fatty acids for nutraceuticals and food supplements. A process is introduced that uses carbon dioxide to aid in all three of these foci. CO₂ is used first in the form of microbubbles to lyse algae cell walls, releasing triglyceride oils. CO₂ also aids with transesterification of these triglycerides using methanol. At low temperatures (353.15–368.15 K) and intermediate pressures (5–10 MMPa), carbon dioxide causes methanol to dissolve partially in the triglyceride phase and triglyceride to dissolve partially in the methanol phase, increasing the transesterification reaction rate. Due to the nondestructive nature of these processes, other metabolites can also be harvested providing improvements in both mass and economic efficiency with an overall sharp reduction in the modeled price of biodiesel.     

Characterization of PA-12 specimens fabricated by projection sintering at various sintering parameters

Large area projection sintering (LAPS) promises to be a new method in the field of additive manufacturing. Developed in the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of South Florida, LAPS uses long exposure times over a broad area of powder to fuse into dense, reproducible materials. In contrast, LS, a common powder-based additive manufacturing, uses a focused beam of light scanned quickly over the material. Local regions of concentrated high-energy bursts of light lead to higher peak temperatures and differing cooling dynamics and overall crystallinity. The mechanical properties of laser sintered specimens suffer because of uneven particle fusion. LAPS offers the capacity to fine-tune fusion properties through enhanced thermodynamic control of the heating and cooling profiles for sintering. Further research is required to identify the relationship between LAPS build settings and part properties to enable the fabrication of custom parts with desired properties. This study examines the influence of LAPS sintering parameters on chemical structures, crystallinity, mechanical, and thermal properties of polyamide-12 specimens using powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, small-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and microhardness testing. It was observed that higher crystallinity was imparted to specimens that were sintered for a shorter time and vice versa.     

Nomadic Speech-Based Text Entry: A Decision Model Strategy for Improved Speech to Text Processing

Speech text entry can be problematic during ideal dictation conditions, but difficulties are magnified when external conditions deteriorate. Motion during speech is an extraordinary condition that might have detrimental effects on automatic speech recognition. This research examined speech text entry while mobile. Speech enrollment profiles were created by participants in both a seated and walking environment. Dictation tasks were also completed in both the seated and walking conditions. Although results from an earlier study suggested that completing the enrollment process under more challenging conditions may lead to improved recognition accuracy under both challenging and less challenging conditions, the current study provided contradictory results. A detailed review of error rates confirmed that some participants minimized errors by enrolling under more challenging conditions while others benefited by enrolling under less challenging conditions. Still others minimized errors when different enrollment models were used under the opposing condition. Leveraging these insights, we developed a decision model to minimize recognition error rates regardless of the conditions experienced while completing dictation tasks. When applying the model to existing data, error rates were reduced significantly but additional research is necessary to effectively validate the proposed solution.     

QuickBird and Hyperion data analysis of an invasive plant species in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador: Implications for control and land use management

In the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, one of the greatest threats to the terrestrial ecosystem is the increasing number and areal extent of invasive species. Increased human presence on the islands has hastened the introduction of plant and animal species that threaten the native and endemic flora and fauna. Considerable research on invasive species in the Galapagos Islands has been conducted by the Charles Darwin Foundation. We complement that work through a spatially- and spectrally-explicit satellite assessment of an important invasive plant species (Psidium guajava — guava) on Isabela Island that integrates diverse remote sensing systems, data types, spatial and spectral resolutions, and analytical and image processing approaches. QuickBird and Hyperion satellite data are processed to characterize the areal extent and spatial structure of guava through the following approaches: (1) QuickBird data are classified through a traditional pixel-based approach (i.e., an unsupervised classification approach using the ISODATA algorithm), as well as an Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) approach; (2) multiple approaches for spectral “unmixing” of the Hyperion hyper-spectral data are assessed to construct spectral end-members from QuickBird data using linear and non-linear mixture modeling approaches; and (3) landscape pattern metrics are calculated and compared for the pixel-based, object-based, and spectral unmixing approaches. The spectral–spatial characteristics of guava are interpreted relative to management strategies for the control of guava and the restoration of natural ecosystems in the Galapagos National Park.     

Identifying discriminating variables between teachers who fully integrate computers and teachers with limited integration

Given the prevalence of computers in education today, it is critical to understand teachers’ perspectives regarding computer integration in their classrooms. The current study surveyed a random sample of a heterogeneous group of 185 elementary and 204 secondary teachers in order to provide a comprehensive summary of teacher characteristics and variables that best discriminate between teachers who integrate computers and those who do not. Discriminant Function Analysis indicated seven variables for elementary teachers and six for secondary teachers (accounting for 74% and 68% of the variance, respectively) that discriminated between high and low integrators. Variables included positive teaching experiences with computers; teacher’s comfort with computers; beliefs supporting the use of computers as an instructional tool; training; motivation; support; and teaching efficacy. Implications for support of computer integration in the classroom are discussed.     

The segmented presentation of visually structured texts: Effects on text comprehension

The effects of a segmented presentation applied to a visually structured text were examined in the context of the explosion of small-screen devices. Empirical research investigating the influence of text signaling on text processing suggests that the text visual structure may influence comprehension by facilitating the construction of a coherent text representation. Undergraduate students were asked to read a text under different segmented conditions varying on the type of information provided about the text visual structure and on the segmentation unit. When the segmented presentation did not supply any information or when it only offered local information about the text visual structure, text comprehension depended on the segmentation unit. When the segmentation unit did not fit the text visual structure, an erroneous text representation was constructed, whereas the compatible segmentation unit led to a correct text comprehension. When the segmented presentation rendered the global text visual structure, the segmentation unit had no effect on comprehension and more readers constructed a correct and close text representation. Thus, the text visual structure seems to play a role in text comprehension and this role has to be taken into account for text segmented presentation.     

FBDR-Fuzzy Based DDoS Attack Detection and Recovery Mechanism for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) is considered as one of the exploring technology for its deployment of the massive number of dedicated sensor nodes which sense the environment and collect the data. The collected data are sent to the sink node through the intermediate nodes. Since the sensors node data are exposed to the internet, there is a possibility of vulnerability in the WSN. The common attack that affects most of the sensor nodes is the Distributed Denial of Services (DDoS) attack. This paper aims to identify the DDoS (Flooding) attack quickly and to recover the data of sensor nodes using the fuzzy logic mechanism. Fuzzy based DDoS attack Detection and Recovery mechanism (FBDR) uses type 1 fuzzy logic to detect the occurrence of DDoS attack in a node. Similarly fuzzy- type 2 is used for the recovery of data from the DDoS attack. Both the type 1 fuzzy-based rule and type 2 fuzzy-based rule perform well in terms of identifying the DDoS attack and recover the data under attack. It also helps to reduce the energy consumption of each node and improves the lifetime of the network. The proposed FBDR scheme is also compared with other related existing schemes. The proposed method saves energy usage by up to 20% compared with the related schemes. The experimental results represent that the FBDR method works better than other similar schemes.