An Investigation of the Effect of Sintering Conditions on the Mechanical Behavior of Electroplated Nickel Foams

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - This study investigates the effect of sintering temperature on the compression strength of nickel foams in an inert atmosphere. The nickel foams were...     

Morphology, rheology and dynamic mechanical properties of PP/EVA/clay nanocomposites

This paper reports on morphology, rheology and dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer/clay nanocomposite system prepared via a single step melt compounding process using a twin screw micro-compounder. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigations revealed that the dispersed phase droplet size was reduced with incorporation of an organo-modified montmorillonite (OMMT). This reduction was more significant in presence of a maleated PP (PP-g-MAH) used as compatibilizer. Phase inversion in the compatibilized blends caused a further decrease in PP droplet size. The OMMT gallery spacing was higher in nanocomposites with EVA as matrix which could be attributed to higher tendency of OMMT nanoparticles towards EVA rather than PP. This enhanced tendency was confirmed by rheological analysis too. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results also showed that the majority of OMMT nanoparticles were localized on the interface and within EVA droplets. According to dynamic mechanical analysis, the compatibilized nanocomposites showed higher storage and loss moduli due to better dispersion of OMMT layers. The modulus enhancement of nanocomposites as a function of OMMT volume fraction was modeled by Halpin-Tsai’s-Nielsen expression of modulus for nanocomposites. The results of modeling suggested that the aspect ratio of the intercalated OMMT, in the form of Einstein coefficient (K _E), plays a determining role in the modulus enhancement of nanocomposites.     

A skewed unscented Kalman filter

State estimation of nonlinear systems is a challenging task, especially when the Gaussian approximation fails. The unscented Kalman filter was proposed to deal with state estimation of nonlinear systems. We modify the traditional unscented Kalman filter to capture the third-order moment (skewness) of the state vector. Methods are also proposed to reduce the computation time of the suggested approach, and showing that the proposed algorithm is as fast as the unscented Kalman filter. Simulation results confirm that the method is better than, or at least as good as, the unscented Kalman filter.     

Nonlinear Viscoelastic Response of Unidirectional Polymeric Laminated Composite Plates Under Bending Loads

Nonlinear bending analysis of polymeric laminated composite plate is examined considering material nonlinearity for viscoelastic matrix material through a Micro–macro approach. The micromechanical Simplified Unit Cell Method (SUCM) in three-dimensional closed-form solution is used for the overall behavior of the unidirectional composite in any combination of loading conditions. The elastic fibers are transversely isotropic where Schapery single integral equation in multiaxial stress state describes the matrix material by recursive-iterative formulation. The finite difference Dynamic Relaxation (DR) method is utilized to study the bending behavior of Mindlin annular sector plate including geometric nonlinearity under uniform lateral pressure with clamped and hinged edge constraints. The unsymmetrical laminated plate deflection is predicted for different thicknesses and also various pressures in different time steps and they are compared with elastic finite element results. As a main objective, the deflection results of viscoelastic laminated sector plate are obtained for various fiber volume fractions in the composite system.     

Thermosensitive nanoparticles prepared from poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐acrylamide‐vinilpyrrolidone) and its blend with poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) for efficient drug delivery system

Temperature‐responsive polymers have become increasingly attractive as carrier for the injectable drug delivery systems. In the present work, we have studied the preparation of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐acrylamide‐vinilpyrrolidone) (NIPAAm‐AAm‐VP terpolymer) nanoparticulated terpolymer and its blend with poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide, PLGA; molar ratio of lactide/glycolid 1/3). Thermosensitive terpolymer, poly(NIPAAm‐AAm‐VP) was prepared by free‐radical polymerization in aqueous solution. The nanoparticles of poly(NIPAAm‐AAm‐VP) and its blend with PLGA containing naltrexone were prepared using the evaporation and w/o emulsion‐solvent evaporation methods, respectively. Nanoparticles prepared from terpolymer‐PLGA blend at low polymer concentration (5%) shows larger particle size (>300 nm) and higher drug content%. Various types of nanoparticles showed a burst release of less than 10% after 24 h . The results suggest that by regulating different variables, desired release profiles of naltrexone can be achieved using a blend of PLGA‐poly(NIPAAm‐AAm‐VP) nanoparticulate system. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

A new and accurate fault location algorithm for combined transmission lines using Adaptive Network-Based Fuzzy Inference System

This paper presents a new and accurate algorithm for locating faults in a combined overhead transmission line with underground power cable using Adaptive Network-Based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The proposed method uses 10 ANFIS networks and consists of 3 stages, including fault type classification, faulty section detection and exact fault location. In the first part, an ANFIS is used to determine the fault type, applying four inputs, i.e., fundamental component of three phase currents and zero sequence current. Another ANFIS network is used to detect the faulty section, whether the fault is on the overhead line or on the underground cable. Other eight ANFIS networks are utilized to pinpoint the faults (two for each fault type). Four inputs, i.e., the dc component of the current, fundamental frequency of the voltage and current and the angle between them, are used to train the neuro-fuzzy inference systems in order to accurately locate the faults on each part of the combined line. The proposed method is evaluated under different fault conditions such as different fault locations, different fault inception angles and different fault resistances. Simulation results confirm that the proposed method can be used as an efficient means for accurate fault location on the combined transmission lines.     

Chemical vapor deposition of poly(3‐alkylthiophene) nanoparticles on fabric: Chemical and electrochemical characterization

Chemical vapor deposition of poly(3‐methylthiophene) and poly (3‐hexylthiophene) as conductive polymers on the surface of polyester fabrics was successfully obtained. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of polymers on surface of fabrics (the fingerprint of polythiophenes, υ 600–1500 cm^?1). The uniformity of deposition and nanoparticles (average size of 60 nm) were proved with scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that P3HT‐coated samples offer higher conductivity in compared to P3MT‐coated samples. The impedance modulus of P3HT‐coated samples was lowered nine times to that of row materials and reached to c8000 Ω. The samples have also shown electrochromic properties under electrical current, changing its color from yellowish green at 0 V to dark green at +12 V for poly (3‐hexylthiophene) samples and from brown at 0 V to red at +12 V for poly(3‐methylthiophene)‐coated fabrics (V = 0 V, λ = 450 nm; V = 12 V, λ = 650 nm). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40673.     

LaMer diagram approach to study the nucleation and growth of Cu2O nanoparticles using supersaturation theory

Uptake to cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanoparticle synthesis with various particle sizes and shapes via supersaturation chemistry approach (LaMer model) has been conducted. Ascorbic acid and maltodextrine as reducing agents and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surfactant were utilized for synthesis of Cu₂O nanoparticles in aqueous solution. The narrow particle size range was achieved by controlling the kinetics of nucleation and growth of particles to satisfy LaMer theory. This mean was performed utilizing different reducing agents (ascorbic acid and maltodextrin) and also, changing the reducing agent addition condition. The results showed the reducing agent addition condition, varying the size of Cu₂O nanoparticles from 89 nm to 74 nm for drop-wisely and at-once routes, respectively. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results indicate the shape of as-prepared cuprous oxide nanoparticles have close relationship with thermodynamic and kinetic conditions, and also reducing addition condition.     

Application of genetic algorithm to computer-aided process planning in preliminary and detailed planning

Computer-aided process planning (CAPP) is an important interface between computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) in the computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) environment. A good process plan of a part is built up based on two elements: (1) optimized sequence of the operations of the part; and (2) optimized selection of the machine, cutting tool and tool access direction (TAD) for each operation. On the other hand, two levels of planning in the process planning is suggested: (1) preliminary and (2) secondary and detailed planning. In this paper for the preliminary stage, the feasible sequences of operations are generated based on the analysis of constraints and using a genetic algorithm (GA). Then in the detailed planning stage, using a genetic algorithm again which prunes the initial feasible sequences, the optimized operations sequence and the optimized selection of the machine, cutting tool, and TAD for each operation are obtained. By applying the proposed GA in two levels of planning, the CAPP system can generate optimal or near-optimal process plans based on a selected criterion. A number of case studies are carried out to demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the proposed algorithm. This algorithm performs well on all the test problems, exceeding or matching the solution quality of the results reported in the literature for most problems. The main contribution of this work is to emerge the preliminary and detailed planning, implementation of compulsive and additive constraints, optimization sequence of the operations of the part, and optimization selection of machine, cutting tool and TAD for each operation using the proposed GA, simultaneously.     

Aggravated decrease in the activity of nucleus basalis neurons in Alzheimer's disease is apolipoprotein E-type dependent

As reported before, the metabolic activity of nucleus basalis neurons is reduced significantly in Alzheimer patients. Because the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon4 genotype is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we determined whether the decrease in metabolic activity in nucleus basalis neurons in AD is ApoE-type dependent. The size of the Golgi apparatus (GA) was determined as a measure of neuronal metabolic activity in 30 controls and 41 AD patients with a known ApoE genotype by using an image analysis system in the nucleus basalis of Meynert. A polyclonal antibody directed against MG-160, a sialoglycoprotein of the GA, was used to visualize this organelle. There was a very strong reduction in the size of the GA in the nucleus basalis of AD patients. Furthermore, a strong and significant extra reduction in the size of the GA was found in the nucleus basalis neurons of AD patients with either one or two ApoE epsilon4 alleles compared with Alzheimer patients without ApoE epsilon4 alleles. Our data show that the decreased activity of nucleus basalis neurons in AD is ApoE epsilon4 dependent and suggest that ApoE epsilon4 participates in the pathogenesis of AD by decreasing neuronal metabolism.