Determination of cadmium and selected micronutrients in commonly used and traded medicinal plants in Turkey

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants commonly used and traded in Turkey were monitored for their cadmium and selected micronutrient (copper, iron, manganese and zinc) content. RESULTS: Cadmium was not detected in any sample of licorice extract, linden flowers or nettle leaves. However, in the rest of the samples, cadmium was found in the range of 7–126 µg kg^?1, with the highest concentration in chamomile leaf. Of all the monitored trace elements, the highest concentration found was 520 mg kg^?1 iron in zahter. The highest copper, manganese and zinc concentrations were found in rose hips (24 mg kg^?1), Turkish oregano (58 mg kg^?1) and zahter (50 mg kg^?1), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study reveal that cadmium and trace element concentrations in medicinal plants commonly used as traditional medicines in Turkey are well below the critical levels. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of variable friction coefficient on sheet metal drawing

A variable friction model that relates the parameters of sheet metal drawing to the local lubrication conditions taking place during the deformation, has been integrated to a finite element program. Variable friction coefficients for the contacting surfaces are determined from the friction model, which uses the related parameters obtained at each time step of the finite element program as inputs. A number of numerical runs have been performed and the strains are compared with the experimental results for circular blanks. A good agreement is obtained between the numerical and experimental results for the variable friction model used.     

Stochastic convergence analysis of recursive successive over-relaxation algorithm in adaptive filtering

A stochastic convergence analysis of the parameter vector estimation obtained by the recursive successive over-relaxation (RSOR) algorithm is performed in mean sense and mean-square sense. Also, excess of mean-square error and misadjustment analysis of the RSOR algorithm is presented. These results are verified by ensemble-averaged computer simulations. Furthermore, the performance of the RSOR algorithm is examined using a system identification example and compared with other widely used adaptive algorithms. Computer simulations show that the RSOR algorithm has better convergence rate than the widely used gradient-based algorithms and gives comparable results obtained by the recursive least-squares RLS algorithm.     

Dexterous workspace optimization of an asymmetric six-degree of freedom Stewart–Gough platform type manipulator

In this paper, an asymmetric Generalized Stewart–Gough Platform (GSP) type parallel manipulator is designed by considering the type synthesis approach. The asymmetric six-Degree Of Freedom (DOF) manipulator optimized in this paper is selected among the GSPs classified under the name of 6D. The dexterous workspace optimization of Asymmetric parallel Manipulator with tEn Different Linear Actuator Lengths (AMEDLAL) subject to kinematics and geometric constraints is performed by using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The condition number and Minimum Singular Value (MSV) of homogenized Jacobian matrix are employed to obtain the dexterous workspace of AMEDLAL. Finally, the six-DOF AMEDLAL is also compared with the optimized Traditional Stewart–Gough Platform Manipulator (TSPM) considering the volume of the dexterous workspace in order to demonstrate its kinematic performance. Comparisons show that the manipulator proposed in this study illustrates better kinematic performance than TSPM.     

All‐pass filters using DDCC‐ and MOSFET‐based electronic resistor

The main motivation in this paper is to draw attention to the tunability and input‐signal amplitude limitations when a nonlinear device is used as a resistor. For this purpose, two first‐order all‐pass filters are proposed using differential difference current conveyor (DDCC), a capacitor and a resistor without element‐matching restriction. These all‐pass filter circuits can be made electronically tunable with electronic resistors. Tunability and input‐signal amplitude limitations of the proposed circuits due to the operational restrictions of the electronic resistors are examined. PSPICE simulations confirm the validity and the practical utility of the proposed circuits. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiple attribute decision-making solution to material selection problem based on modified fuzzy axiomatic design-model selection interface algorithm

Material selection, one of the mostly encountered decision problems in material science literature, is still an onerous task for manufacturing organisations. Achieving accurate solution to this issue, the paper developed a model selection interface to enable analytical solutions to different problem concepts in material selection under multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) environments. Specifically, the generic framework of the fuzzy axiomatic design-model selection interface (FAD-MSI) is modified and successfully applied to the different material selection problem concepts. Consequently, the derived problem-model sets can be referred to accomplish further proposals on this era.     

An integrated decision aid extension to material selection problem

Choice of an adequate material in design process is one of the critical tasks for the relevant decision-makers. At this insight, the consistency of the decisions is extremely depending on the relevance of adapted techniques to the nature of different problem cases. This paper proposed an integrated decision aid (IDEA) to match the suitable techniques with different problem cases based on the following six dimensions: (i) the type of the decision problem, (ii) the size of the problem, (iii) selection of the preference techniques by decision-makers, (iv) decision-makers’ preference structure, (v) the necessity for the use of relative importance, (vi) the nature of performance values. Furthermore, the implementation procedure of the proposed IDEA for a material selection problem is demonstrated with the previously cited applications from material science literature. Hereafter, it is expected that the IDEA provides great advantages and encouragements to researchers/practitioners in order to prevent excessive time consuming, probable misapplications, and the other challenging issues in multiple criteria analysis of material selection problems.