Correction to: Contamination of TiO2 thin films spin coated on borosilicate and rutile substrates

Journal of Materials Science -     

Novel Cost Efficient Resource Allocation Technique Based on Deadline and Budget Constraints for Edge Users

Wireless Personal Communications - The edge computing paradigm has experienced quick development in recent years. This paradigm is featured by pushing the storage and computational resources closer...     

Structural performance of steel plate shear walls with trapezoidal corrugations and centrally-placed square perforations

Steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) are an efficient lateral force-resisting system, and can be designed with corrugated and/or perforated infill plates, depending on structural considerations, architectural requirements, and service design. This paper presents a study on the structural performance of SPSWs with horizontal trapezoidal corrugations and centrally-placed square perforations under monotonic loading. Finite element models were developed for assessment of the buckling stability, stiffness, strength, and ductility performances of the shear walls. To this end, parametric studies were performed by considering the web-plate corrugation angle, thickness, and size of opening as the varying parameters in the nonlinear pushover analyses. It was found that the design of the boundary frame members can be effective in minimizing the deformations imposed by infill plates, providing system ductility, and developing lateral load resistance through stable development of diagonal tension-field action in the web plate. The effects of introducing web-plate perforations, and increasing the size of the opening, on the structural performance were also investigated. Proper design and detailing of the SPSW, along with optimal selection of the web-plate geometrical and corrugation parameters, can ensure desirable structural behavior and seismic performance for such lateral force-resisting systems.     

A fuzzy Bayesian belief network for safety assessment of oil and gas pipelines

Safety assessment of oil and gas (O&G) pipelines is necessary to prevent unwanted events that may cause catastrophic accidents and heavy financial losses. This study develops a safety assessment model for O&G pipeline failure by incorporating fuzzy logic into Bayesian belief network. Proposed fuzzy Bayesian belief network (FBBN) model explicitly represents dependencies of events, updating probabilities and representation of uncertain knowledge (such as randomness, vagueness and ignorance). The study highlights the utility of FBBN in safety analysis of O&G pipeline because of its flexible structure, allowing it to fit a wide variety of accident scenarios. The sensitivity analysis of the proposed model indicates that construction defect, overload, mechanical damage, bad installation and quality of worker are the most significant causes for the O&G pipeline failures. The research results can help owners of transmission and distribution pipeline companies and professionals to prepare preventive safety measures and allocate proper resources.     

采用振动台进行3维单层板系统的动力分析

在几组地面运动作用下,采用振动台对预制的3维夹芯板单层建筑进行足尺动态试验。研究的目的是获取所描述系统在动态荷载下的抗震性能,例如,线性和非线性结构特征、可塑性、刚度退化、破坏机制。通过分析,得出固有频率、振动模式及试验与数值分析结果的对比。此外,对横向变形采用试验方法进行测量并与数值计算结果比较;安装加速计测量两个正交方向的加速度。结果显示,对于强地震,3维夹芯板系统具有相当大的抵抗作用。其抵抗强地震的主要原因为：1）高出按抗震设防烈度设计的结构强度。2）非弹性变形引起较小的能量耗散。3）在基准地面运动下,峰值位移都在允许范围内。对循环推覆荷载的分析显示,模型结构的位移延展比为4．50,强度系数约为6．0。     

Ant and Mite Diversity Drives Toxin Variation in the Little Devil Poison Frog

Poison frogs sequester chemical defenses from arthropod prey, although the details of how arthropod diversity contributes to variation in poison frog toxins remains unclear. We characterized skin alkaloid profiles in the Little Devil poison frog, Oophaga sylvatica (Dendrobatidae), across three populations in northwestern Ecuador. Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, we identified histrionicotoxins, 3,5- and 5,8-disubstituted indolizidines, decahydroquinolines, and lehmizidines as the primary alkaloid toxins in these O. sylvatica populations. Frog skin alkaloid composition varied along a geographical gradient following population distribution in a principal component analysis. We also characterized diversity in arthropods isolated from frog stomach contents and confirmed that O. sylvatica specialize on ants and mites. To test the hypothesis that poison frog toxin variability reflects species and chemical diversity in arthropod prey, we (1) used sequencing of cytochrome oxidase 1 to identify individual prey specimens, and (2) used liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry to chemically profile consumed ants and mites. We identified 45 ants and 9 mites in frog stomachs, including several undescribed species. We also showed that chemical profiles of consumed ants and mites cluster by frog population, suggesting different frog populations have access to chemically distinct prey. Finally, by comparing chemical profiles of frog skin and isolated prey items, we traced the arthropod source of four poison frog alkaloids, including 3,5- and 5,8-disubstituted indolizidines and a lehmizidine alkaloid. Together, the data show that toxin variability in O. sylvatica reflects chemical diversity in arthropod prey.     

Biodegradation of Medicinal Plants Waste in an Anaerobic Digestion Reactor for Biogas Production

Glycyrrhiza glabra, Mint, Cuminum cyminum, Lavender and Arctium medicinal are considered as edible plants with therapeutic properties and as medicinal plants in Iran. After extraction process of medicinal plants, residual wastes are not suitable for animal feed and are considered as waste and as an environmental threat. At present there is no proper management of waste of these plants and they are burned or buried. The present study discusses the possibility of biogas production from Glycyrrhiza Glabra Waste (GGW), Mentha Waste (MW), Cuminum Cyminum Waste (CCW), Lavender Waste (LW) and Arctium Waste (AW). 250 g of these plants with TS of 10% were digested in the batch type reactors at the temperature of 35°C. The highest biogas production rate were observed to be 13611 mL and 13471 mL for CCW and GGW (10% TS), respectively. While the maximum methane was related to GGW with a value of 9041 mL (10% TS). The highest specific biogas and methane production were related to CCW with value of 247.4 mL.(g.VS)-1 and 65.1 mL.(g.VS)-1, respectively. As an important result, it was obvious that in lignocellulose materials, it cannot be concluded that the materials with similar ratio of C/N has the similar digestion and biogas production ability.     

Plasticity modeling of FRP-confined circular reinforced concrete columns subjected to eccentric axial loading

This paper presents a numerical study on FRP-wrap strengthened reinforced concrete columns subjected to eccentric axial loads using ABAQUS®. For modeling of concrete dilation under non-uniform confinement pressure, a smooth cap plasticity model was combined with concrete damaged plasticity model. This model includes different concrete compaction–dilation behaviors which is pressure-dependent. Proposed model has been calibrated and verified for concrete in number of unconfined and full-wrapped columns under combination of axial force and bending moment. Presented numerical predictions are shown to be in close agreement with existing experimental results. The effect of laminate stacking sequences and column slenderness on strength and ductility of members was examined thoroughly. The results of this study recommend taking fiber angles between zero (circumferential) and 30° can improve ultimate strength and ductility of confined short concrete columns. However, for slender concrete columns the optimum fiber orientation can be set between 15° and 30°.     

Optimization of furfural production from millet husk using response surface methodology

Biomass has been recognized as a viable source for energy and bio-based chemicals. This study reported furfural production from millet husk via simultaneous hydrolysis and dehydration processes. Effect of reaction variables such as temperature (120–200°C), resident time (15–45 min), and acid concentration (5–10%) was studied using central composite design. Furfural yield (71.55%) was achieved at 184°C, 39 min, and 9% acid concentration. FT-IR spectrum of the produced furfural showed absorption at 1,697 and 2,880 cm^?1 indicating a conjugated carbonyl functional group and aldehydic hydrogen. The results revealed that millet husk could be a potential substrate for furfural production.