Upgrading poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) beads: Incorporation of organomodified metal-free semiconductor graphitic carbon nitride through suspension photopolymerization to generate photoactive resins

The inclusion of the metal free semiconductor graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) into polymer systems brings a variety of new options, for instance as a heterogeneous photoredox polymer initiator. In this context, we present here the decoration of the inner surface of poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) beads with organomodified g-CN via one pot suspension photopolymerization. The resulting beads are varied by changing reaction parameters, such as, crosslinking ratio, presence of porogens, and mechanical agitation. The photocatalytic activity of so-formed beads was tested by aqueous rhodamine B dye photodegradation experiments. Additionally, dye adsorption/desorption properties were examined in aqueous as well as in organic solvents. Photoinduced surface modification with vinylsulfonic acid and 4-vinyl pyridine is introduced. Overall, metal-free semiconductor g-CN donates photoactivity to polymer networks that can be employed for dye photodegradation and acid–base catalyst transformation through facile photoinduced surface modifications.     

Integrated FEM/BEM approach to the dynamic and acoustic analysis of plate structures

An integrated finite element/boundary element method approach to the prediction of the interior acoustic radiation of open ended box structures is presented. Dynamic response of the structure is predicted in terms of the nodal displacements under sinusoidal point force excitation using the finite element method. Theoretical results obtained in terms of frequency response functions are verified using the results from tests performed on a box structure. The interior acoustic field is then examined by the boundary element method using the boundary conditions obtained from the finite element analysis. Sound pressure levels produced inside the structure are calculated and the results are compared with the experimental measurements.     

Modification of the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process via different ranking methods

The use of fuzzy set theory in the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has gained popularity in recent years as part of the multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) process to more realistically reflect human judgment. However, due to the nature of fuzzy calculations, this situation imposes more computational load. The aim of this study is to propose methods for obtaining accurate weights from fuzzy pairwise comparison matrices with the least amount of computational load possible. In this context, two different fuzzy AHP (FAHP) methods based on fuzzy numbers ranking methods have been proposed and these proposed methods are compared with commonly accepted FAHP methods. Magnitude-based fuzzy AHP (MFAHP), which is one of the proposed methods, has outperformed all other methods according to accurate weight and computational load. Although the other proposed method, called the total difference-based fuzzy AHP (TDFAHP), gave better results than the frequently used Chang's fuzzy extent analysis method, it could not produce more accurate weight results than many other methods in general. But performance analysis shows that it is as good as the MFAHP in terms of computational load.     

Sliding Mode Differentiator Based Tracking Control of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Application to Hypersonic Flight

This paper presents a performance‐guaranteed adaptive back‐stepping design for a class of nonlinear systems with uncertainties and disturbances. To circumvent the increasing complexity caused by the repeated analytic differentiations in back‐stepping, sliding mode differentiation technique is employed to estimate the derivative of the virtual control. Compared with the well‐known command filtered back‐stepping, no compensating signal is required. Besides, time‐varying parameters, system uncertainties and external disturbances are compensated using nonlinear damping technique, while the output tracking error is regulated in the prescribed range with the adjustable convergence speed and steady‐state error. As a verification example, this method is applied to the longitudinal control of an air‐breathing hypersonic vehicle configured with the variable geometry inlet.     

Plasma-activated direct bonding of diamond-on-insulator wafers to thermal oxide grown silicon wafers

Diamond-on-insulator (DOI) wafers featuring ultrananocrystalline diamond are studied via atomic force microscopy, profilometer and wafer bow measurements. Plasma-activated direct bonding of DOI wafers to thermal oxide grown silicon wafers is investigated under vacuum. DOI wafer with chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) on the diamond surface makes a poor bonding to silicon wafers with thermal oxide. Our results show that plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of silicon dioxide on top of the DOI wafer, CMP of the oxide layer and annealing are essential to achieve very high quality direct bonding to thermal oxide grown on silicon wafers. Plasma activation results in the formation of high quality bonds without exceeding 550 °C in the direct wafer bonding process.     

An efficient,heterogeneous, reusable atom transfer radical polymerization catalyst

Melamine based porous polymer (MPP) was prepared as a template solid to incorporate Cu(I) cations into the framework through chelating with nitrogen groups of the melamine. The copper integrated porous material (Cu(I)@MPP) was used as a heterogeneous catalyst and displayed high activity in copper catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The characterization of the Cu(I)@MPP was performed using nitrogen adsorption experiments and wide‐angle X‐ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. The atomic absorption spectroscopy measurements confirmed that the catalyst is practically non‐leaching and Cu(I) was found to be below 20 ppb after each atom transfer radical polymerization. Moreover, the catalyst showed reusability without any significant change in its activity. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

纤维增强复合材料提高圆形桥柱延展性的修复设计

建筑物中柱和桥墩的修复设计要求对结构变形能力进行精确预测。本文提出分析模型近似计算经纤维增强聚合物修复的钢筋混凝土柱的潜在塑性关键区的延展性。提出能够代表纤维增强聚合物混凝土响应的双线性应力一应变模型，该模型在低压下混凝土响应降低，在高压下混凝土响应增强。对于承受轴力和弯矩的圆柱，模型采用近似形式的组合分析，根据无量纲柱参数和纤维增强聚合物提供的约束压力来计算经纤维增强聚合物修复的截面延展性。通过比较组合分析的模型估计结果和试验结果，验证纤维增强聚合物修复柱延展性模型的精确性。随后，建立了循环桥柱纤维增强聚合物简单非重复抗震修复设计程序。最后，对不同轴向荷载、含筋率、纤维增强聚合物数量进行典型桥柱参数研究，计算结果以无量纲形式给出，有助于工程师采用纤维增强聚合物进行提高柱延展性的抗震修复设计。     

Coronary artery bypass grafting versus percutaneous coronary intervention in end-stage kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies

The most significant complication of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is cardiovascular disease, mainly coronary artery disease (CAD). Although the effective treatment of CAD is an important prognostic factor, whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is better for treating CAD in this group of patients is still controversial. We searched Pubmed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials articles that compared the outcomes of CABG versus PCI in patients with ESKD requiring dialysis. A total of 10 observational studies with 39,666 patients were included. Our analysis showed that when compared to PCI, CABG had lower risk of need for repeat revascularization (relative risk [RR] = 2.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1–2.42, p < 0.00001) and cardiovascular death (RR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.14–1.23, p < 0.00001) and higher risk for short-term mortality (RR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.38–0.48, p < 0.00001). There was no statistically significant difference between the PCI and CABG groups in the risk for late mortality (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.97–1.14, p = 0.25), myocardial infarction (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.46–2.36, p = 0.91) or stroke (RR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.64–1.61, p = 0.95). This meta-analysis showed that in ESKD patients requiring dialysis, CABG was superior to PCI in regard to cardiovascular death and need for repeat revascularization and inferior to PCI in regard to short term mortality. However, this meta-analysis has limitations and needs confirmation with large randomized controlled trials.