An investigation into design and manufacturing of mechanical conveyors systems for food processing

This paper presents the results of a research investigation undertaken to develop methodologies and techniques that will reduce the cost and time of the design, manufacturing and assembly of mechanical conveyor systems used in the food and beverage industry. The improved methodology for design and production of conveyor components is based on the minimisation of materials, parts and costs, using the rules of design for manufacture and design for assembly. Results obtained on a test conveyor system verify the benefits of using the improved techniques. The overall material cost was reduced by 19% and the overall assembly cost was reduced by 20% compared to conventional methods.     

Conception of Stretchable Resistive Memory Devices Based on Nanostructure‐Controlled Carbohydrate‐block‐Polyisoprene Block Copolymers

It is discovered that the memory‐type behaviors of novel carbohydrate‐block ‐polyisoprene (MH‐b ‐PI) block copolymers‐based devices, including write‐once‐read‐many‐times, Flash, and dynamic‐random‐access‐memory, can be easily controlled by the self‐assembly nanostructures (vertical cylinder, horizontal cylinder, and order‐packed sphere), in which the MH and PI blocks, respectively, provide the charge‐trapping and stretchable function. With increasing the flexible PI block length, the stretchability of the designed copolymers can be significantly improved up to 100% without forming cracks. Thus, intrinsically stretchable resistive memory devices (polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)/carbon nanotubes(CNTs)/MH‐b ‐PI thin film/Al) using the MH‐b ‐PI thin film as an active layer is successfully fabricated and that using the MH‐b ‐PI_12.6k under 100% strain exhibits an excellent ON/OFF current ratio of over 10⁶ (reading at ?1 V) with stable V _set around ?2 V. Furthermore, the endurance characteristics can be maintained over 500 cycles upon 40% strain. This work establishes and represents a novel avenue for the design of green carbohydrate‐derived and stretchable memory materials.     

Novel hybrid block copolymer nanocarrier systems to load lipophilic drugs prepared by microphase inversion method

Nanoparticles based on block copolymers of oligosaccharides [β-cyclodextrin (βCyD) and maltoheptaose (Mal₇)] and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared by microphase inversion method. Zeta-potential, particle size measurements and morphological analysis of drug-free and drug-loaded nanoparticles were performed by using, respectively, laser-doppler anemometry, dynamic and static light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. ρ-Ratio values were correlated with transmission electron microscopy observations. Both types of amphiphilic block copolymers, βCyD-b-PCL_5k and Mal₇-b-PCL_5k, self-assembled in water to form spherical vesicles, presented a hydrodynamic diameter of 72 and 34 nm, respectively. The incorporation of drugs into nanoparticles did not affect significantly the particle size for βCyD-b-PCL_5k-based nanoparticles with progesterone, unlike the other tested systems. On the other hand, all nanoparticles (with and without drug) were negatively charged. Both nanoparticulate systems showed high drug loading efficiency (higher than 95%), confirming their suitability as delivery system for lipophilic drugs.     

Adsorption of reactive dyes from aqueous solutions by fly ash: kinetic and equilibrium studies

Adsorption kinetic and equilibrium studies of three reactive dyes namely, Remazol Brillant Blue (RB), Remazol Red 133 (RR) and Rifacion Yellow HED (RY) from aqueous solutions at various initial dye concentration (100–500 mg/l), pH (2–8), particle size (45–112.5 μm) and temperature (293–323 K) on fly ash (FA) were studied in a batch mode operation. The adsorbent was characterized with using several methods such as SEM, XRD and FTIR. Adsorption of RB reactive dye was found to be pH dependent but both RR and RY reactive dyes were not. The result showed that the amount adsorbed of the reactive dyes increased with increasing initial dye concentration and contact time. Batch kinetic data from experimental investigations on the removal of reactive dyes from aqueous solutions using FA have been well described by external mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion models. It was found that external mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion had rate limiting affects on the removal process. This was attributed to the relatively simple macropore structure of FA particles. The adsorption data fitted well with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The optimum conditions for removal of the reactive dyes were 100 mg/l initial dye concentration, 0.6 g/100 ml adsorbent dose, temperature of 293 K, 45 μm particle size, pH 6 and agitation speed of 250 rpm, respectively. The values of Langmuir and Freundlich constants were found to increase with increasing temperature in the range 135–180 and 15–34 mg/g for RB, 47–86 and 1.9–3.7 mg/g for RR and 37–61 and 3.0–3.6 mg/g for RY reactive dyes, respectively. Different thermodynamic parameters viz., changes in standard free energy, enthalpy and entropy were evaluated and it was found that the reaction was spontaneous and endothermic in nature.     

A validity study of functionally-based behavioral consultation with students with emotional/behavioral disabilities.

Eighteen students (K-11th grade) with emotional/behavioral disorders who were at-risk for change of placement to more restrictive settings participated. Construct validity of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) was assessed with a multifunction-multimethod matrix that showed excellent convergent and divergent agreement with combined FBA methods and functional analysis results. Treatment validity was assessed with random assignment to either a FBA with consultation condition (FBC) or to a behavioral consultation without FBA condition (BC). Growth curve analysis showed a significant decrease in inappropriate behavior from baseline to treatment for both treatment groups compared to a control group. The efficiency of teachers' implementation effected treatment validity. Effect sizes showed that regardless of treatment condition that interventions with good fidelity realized the largest effect (d = -1.14). Social and habilitative validity was assessed with telephone interviews conducted a year after treatment. Sixty-five percent attributed the students' problem behaviors to their thoughts or feelings, whereas only 25% attributed it to classroom variables. Many (57%) indicated the most helpful intervention would be individual counseling, whereas only 14% indicated a more involved classroom management plan would be useful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sorption of target anions by ligand exchange

The sorption of anionic ligands such as I⁻, Br⁻, and SCN⁻ onto diaminoethyl–sporopollenin (DAE–sporopollenin) was investigated in both column and batch experiments at room temperature. The isotherm binding constants suggest that the resin is most efficient at the binding of I⁻ compared with Br⁻ or SCN⁻. The general ligand sorption affinity series observed was I⁻ > Br⁻ > SCN⁻. This ligand sorption could be described by considering the hydration of ions in the exchanger. The sorption behavior of the ligand exchanger and the possibilities of selectively removing and recovering ligands are discussed on the basis of their chemical and complexing properties. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 771–774, 1998     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288C genome annotation: a working hypothesis

The S. cerevisiae genome is the most well-characterized eukaryotic genome and one of the simplest in terms of identifying open reading frames (ORFs), yet its primary annotation has been updated continually in the decade since its initial release in 1996 (Goffeau et al., 1996). The Saccharomyces Genome Database (SGD; www.yeastgenome.org) (Hirschman et al., 2006), the community-designated repository for this reference genome, strives to ensure that the S. cerevisiae annotation is as accurate and useful as possible. At SGD, the S. cerevisiae genome sequence and annotation are treated as a working hypothesis, which must be repeatedly tested and refined. In this paper, in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the completion of the S. cerevisiae genome sequence, we discuss the ways in which the S. cerevisiae sequence and annotation have changed, consider the multiple sources of experimental and comparative data on which these changes are based, and describe our methods for evaluating, incorporating and documenting these new data.     

Towards ultrathick battery electrodes: aligned carbon nanotube-enabled architecture

Vapor deposition techniques were utilized to synthesize very thick (～1 mm) Li-ion battery anodes consisting of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes coated with silicon and carbon. The produced anode demonstrated ultrahigh thermal (>400 W·m(-1) ·K(-1)) and high electrical (>20 S·m(-1)) conductivities, high cycle stability, and high average capacity (>3000 mAh·g(Si) (-1)). The processes utilized allow for the conformal deposition of other materials, thus making it a promising architecture for the development of Li-ion anodes and cathodes with greatly enhanced electrical and thermal conductivities.     

Influence of machining parameters and new nano-coated tool on drilling performance of CFRP/Aluminium sandwich

Drilling and fastening of hybrid materials in one-shot operation reduces cycle time of assembly of aerospace structures. One of the most common problems encountered in automatic drilling and riveting of multimaterial is that the continuous chips curl up on the body of the tool. Drilling of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is manageable, but when the minute drill hits the aluminium (Al) or titanium (Ti), the hot and continuous chips produced during machining considerably damage the CFRP hole. This study aims to solve this problem by employing nano-coated drills on multimaterial made of CFRP and aluminium alloy. The influence of cutting parameters on the quality of the holes, chip formation and tool wear were also analyzed. Two types of tungsten carbide drills were used for the present study, one with nano-coating and the other, without nano coating. The experimental results indicated that the shape and the size of the chips are strongly influenced by feed rate. The thrust force generated during drilling of the composite plate with coated drills was 10–15% lesser when compared to that generated during drilling with uncoated drills; similarly, the thrust force in the aluminium alloy was 50% lesser with coated drills when compared to thrust force generated without coated drills. Thus, the use of nano-coated drills significantly reduced the surface roughness and thrust force when compared with uncoated tools.     

Mechanical properties of ferrochromium slag in granular layers of flexible pavements

Ferrochromium slag is a waste material obtained from the manufacture of ferrochromium (FeCr). This article reports the results of experiments, aiming to identify the properties of ferrochromium slag when it is used as an artificial aggregate for preparation of granular layers of flexible pavements. The experimental program consisted of two stages: (1) study of the physical and chemical properties of slag; (2) study of the mechanical properties of specimens made with ferrochromium slag and limestone as aggregate. Laboratory prepared cylindrical specimens were tested in repeated load triaxial (RLT) test apparatus, developed at Süleyman Demirel University, Turkey. In addition, particle size analysis, abrasion test, frost resistance, compaction test, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test and leaching test were performed on the materials prior to RLT testing. The results indicate that the physical and mechanical properties of air-cooled ferrochromium slag are as good or better than those of natural aggregates. Therefore, FeCr slag and SiFeCr slag have potential to be used as a pavement base layer material in applications where crushed limestone aggregate materials are traditionally used.