Forward vehicle collision mitigation by braking system based on artificial bee colony algorithm

Decision-making is a crucial step in vehicles’ safety systems, which determines the right time for the system to intervene and to take the required action, depending on the current situation of the vehicle. The warning/intervention system becomes active when the driving situation considered unpleasant while still giving the control to the driver. Taking the action of warning, braking and determining the best time for this intervention are important decisions in collision mitigation systems. In this work, a novel system is designed based on artificial bee colony algorithm to enhance the decision-making in such systems. This work concentrates on collision mitigation by braking systems only, for front-to-rear accidents. This paper studies cases when the hosting vehicle approaches moving and stationary objects. This work is simulated, and the results are obtained and analyzed which proved the contribution to this work in reducing the collision speed and the stopping distance, in comparison with previous related works.     

The Impact of Experience and Perception on the Efficiency of E-procurement in Malaysia

The technology of E-procurement becomes more popular in many developed countries due to its accuracy in decision making for big projects that enhance the public bidding process for development projects in any country. The experience of employees who operate the system of E-procurement and the perception of users who bid for projects are essential to ensure the efticiency of procurement and the whole bidding process for public projects. This paper examined the impact of employee＇s experience on the efficiency of E-procurement systems in public agencies. In addition, we attempt to examine the perception factor of using E-procurement systems with regard to users in the seller side. A survey was conducted to identify the impact of experience and perception on the efficiency towards adoption and use of E-procurement system among users who working in firms participated in online bidding for public agencies projects, and employees who are working in E-procurement department in government administrations Malaysian government. A total of 80 questionnaires were collected and the data were analyzed to look at the level of the impact of experience and perception in E-procurement users. The general findings indicate a positive attitude experience and perception among the users in using the E-procurement.     

Simulation of High-Temperature AA5083 Bulge Forming with a Hardening/Softening Material Model

High-temperature bulge forming of AA5083 aluminum sheet was simulated with the commercial finite element (FE) code ABAQUS™. A material model that is strain rate sensitive and accounts for strain hardening and softening was used. Results were compared with data from AA5083 bulge forming experiments at 450 °C where the gas pressure was a prescribed constant value. The results show that the material model is capable of predicting the deformation and thinning behavior at different constant pressure levels. In ancillary simulations, time-varying pressure profiles were computed (rather than prescribed) with an internal ABAQUS™ routine that attempts to maintain the strain rate at the bulge dome pole within a specified range. The time-varying profiles, for which no experimental AA5083 bulge forming data exist, can be programmed into existing bulge testing instrumentation to validate the associated predictions of bulge dome height and thinning. The present effort represents a necessary step toward predicting gas pressure profiles by coupling the pressure profile with a desired sheet deformation rate.     

Alteration of the mechanical and thermal properties of nylon 6/nylon 6,6 blends by nanoclay

Nylon 6 [N(6)], nylon 6,6 [N(6,6)], and their blends at different clay loadings were prepared. The mix was melted and injected into strip‐shaped samples. Mechanical and thermal analyses were performed to investigate the effect of blending and the incorporated clay on the mechanical and thermal properties. Enhancements in the Young's modulus and hardness were obtained for all of the nanocomposites, with a 55% increase in Young's modulus after the addition of 6 wt % nanoclay, although the improvement in tensile strength depended on the blend ratio, with greatest effects on the 50% N(6)/50% N(6,6) blend with increases of 44 and 59% for 2 and 4% clay loadings, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis showed an enhancement in the thermal properties in the 50% N(6)/50% N(6,6) blend at 2% clay loading, and the blend exhibited ductile behavior at this loading. Increases in the crystallization peak temperatures of 10–15° in N(6,6) and the two blends 30% N(6)/70% N(6,6) and 50% N(6)/50% N(6,6) were observed after the addition of the clay. The nanoclay enhanced the γ‐/β‐form crystals in N(6) and N(6,6) neat polymers and also in the blends. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FT‐IR revealed the formation of hydrogen bonding and the possible formation of ionic bonds between the polymers and the nanoclay, which resulted in enhancements in the mechanical properties of the blends. The distribution of the nanoclay in the blend was well dispersed, as shown by X‐ray diffraction analysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Optical and electrical analysis of polyethylene oxide/disodium hexachloroplatinate complex composite films

The present study reports the synthesis of composite films comprising PEO/Na₂PtCl₆ complex and their deposition onto fused silica substrates via the dip-coating method. Chemical, crystallographic, and thermal characterizations are carried out to confirm the incorporation of Na₂PtCl₆ and PEO matrix into the films. The transmittance of the PEO film is initially high and decreases subsquently with an increase in Na₂PtCl₆ content. The optical band-gap energy of the composite films decreases exponentially from 4.62 to 3.79 eV with the increase in Na₂PtCl₆ content. Furthermore, in the normal dispersion region, the refractive index of the PEO film decreases from 2.00 to 1.670 as the wavelength increases from 400 to 700 nm. The refractive index values increase with an increase in the concentration of Na₂PtCl₆ in the PEO film up to 8 wt.%. The incorporation of Na₂PtCl₆ into the PEO matrix increases the electrical conductivity because of the combined enhancement of the PEO conductivity and increase i Na₂PtCl₆. These findings suggest that PEO/Na₂PtCl₆ complex composite films have potential applications in UV-shielding and optoelectronic devices.     

Superplastic Forming of Triangular Channels with Sharp Radii

The superplastic forming process is used to form light weight components with complex features in one manufacturing step. However, the non-uniformity of the produced part thickness and the possibility of severe thinning are among its major disadvantages. The goal of this parametric study was to investigate feasible geometries for triangular channels to be manufactured by superplastic forming. The channels considered had sharp radii and served as secondary features extending along a circular path at the base of a shallow cup. An axisymmetric finite element model in ABAQUS? was used to simulate the forming process. Effects of the aspect ratios of both the cup and the triangular channel on the thickness distribution and the pressure profiles were investigated. An experimental setup was used for validating the simulation results for AA5083 at 500 °C.     

130nm串扰延迟的处理技术

在当今的深亚微米设计中,诸如串扰延迟等信号完整性效应可能导致无穷尽的信号损害,对时序收敛造成负面影响.然而,你可以通过串扰延迟预防、分析和修复方法,来应对这种挑战.在采用这三种方法时,Freescale公司利用诸如MPC5554型32位嵌入式控制器之类的IC,迅速实现了130mSOC(单片系统)设计的时序收敛.这种器件基于符合PowerPC Book E的e500芯核,拟应用于需要复杂实时控制的应用系统,如先进的汽车传动系统.图1简要示出了这种SOC设计所集成的主要外围设备.     

Test Strategies for Electrode Degradation in Bio-Fluidic Microsystems

Electrode technology is fundamental to numerous actuation and sensing functions in bio-fluidic microsystems that target portable bio-analytical instruments. Within these systems high levels of reliability and robustness are crucial and normally complemented by requirements for extremely low probabilities of false positives or negatives being generated. New methods of validating functionality and integrity of the reading are hence required. Embedded test and condition monitoring are crucial technologies for delivering these capabilities. This paper presents two solutions for detecting degradation in electrodes that interface to fluidic or biological systems. In the first solution, a low frequency, impedance based method for identifying degraded structures within an array is proposed. This method depends on measuring and comparing the impedance of each sensing electrode. This research is backed up by physical measurements from an electrode array for drug testing on cardiac and neuron tissue. In the second solution, a mid-frequency oscillation test technique is proposed that is sensitive to degradation in the bio-fluidic interface capacitance, to contamination and to fouling.     

Recent Advancements in Design Optimization of Lattice-Structured Materials

Metamaterials, also known as lattice-structured materials, imitate the multifunctionality of natural architects as tailoring their physical properties is associated with manipulating their microstructure. As the recent evolution of additive manufacturing enables the creation of intricate geometries with minimal material wastage, improving the design to manufacturing cycle of lattice structured materials has become one of the trending research areas. Triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) and plate lattice materials are renowned for their exceptional mechanical behavior in lightweight applications. Apparently, several types of design optimization strategies are explored to maximize their performance for better biocompatibility and mechanical loading resistance. Some of these strategies include functional gradation and multimorphology hybridization that are comprehensively described in this review. Their benefits and drawbacks are highlighted with a focus on TPMS and plate lattice materials. The review anticipates the utilization of automated design exploration methods (i.e., topology optimization and data-driven methods) to further enhance the design optimization procedure of lattice structured materials.     

Nephron ultrastructural alterations induced by zinc oxide nanoparticles: an electron microscopic study

Due to their unique properties, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are invested in many industries, commercial products, and nanomedicine with potential risk for human health and the environment. The present study aims to focus on alterations that might be induced by ZnO NPs in the nephron ultrastructure. Male Wister Albino rats were subjected to ZnO NPs at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg for 21 days. Kidney biopsies were processed to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultrastructural pathology examinations. Exposure to ZnO NPs‐induced ultrastructural alterations in the proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs) and to lesser extent in the distal ones (DCTs), while the loops of Henle were almost not affected. The glomeruli demonstrated dilatation, partial mesangial cells loss, matrix ballooning, slits filtration widening, and basement membrane thickening. Moreover, PCT revealed cytoplasmic necrosis, vacuolation, erosion, and disorganisation of the apical microvilli together with mitochondrial swelling and cristae destruction. The nuclei of the renal cells exhibited nuclear deformity, heterochromatin accumulation, and apoptotic activities. The findings indicate that ZnO nanomaterial have the potential to affect the nephron ultrastructure suggesting alteration in the kidney functions. More work is needed for better understanding the toxicity and pathogenesis of ZnO oxide nanomaterial.Inspec keywords: electron microscopy, zinc compounds, transmission electron microscopy, nanomedicine, biochemistry, diseases, cellular biophysics, biomembranes, kidney, nanofabrication, molecular biophysics, nanoparticles, II‐VI semiconductors, biomedical optical imagingOther keywords: electron microscopic study, unique properties, zinc oxide nanoparticles, ZnO NPs, nephron ultrastructure, Male Wister Albino rats, ultrastructural pathology examinations, NPs‐induced ultrastructural alterations, partial mesangial cells loss, ZnO nonmaterial, ZnO oxide nonmaterial, nephron ultrastructural alterations, kidney biopsies, time 21.0 d, ZnO