Phenolic composition and functional properties of wild mint (Mentha longifolia var. calliantha (Stapf) Briq.)

Mints (Mentha species) are widely used as food, medicine, spice, and flavoring agents. At the present work, phenolics profile of infusion and ethanol extract of Mentha longifolia was determined using an RP–HPLC–DAD system. Total bioactive contents, radical scavenging, reducing power, metal chelating, and enzyme inhibitory activities relevant to Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes mellitus, and skin disorders were evaluated. Sixteen phenolic compounds (ten phenolic acids and six flavonoids) were identified in the extracts in which sinapic acid (7132 µg/g extract) and rosmarinic acid (6260 µg/g extract) were the most abundant compounds. Strong antioxidant effects were observed in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, 2,2?-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), cupric ion reducing activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating assays. Results indicated selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and high α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential. Findings showed that M. longifolia has promising health benefits due to its high concentration of useful phenolic compounds and has great potential for possible applications in the preparation of functional ingredients.     

Effect of Bainite Morphology on Mechanical Properties of the Mixed Bainite-martensite Microstructure in D6AC Steel

The effect of bainite morphology on mechanical properties of the mixed bainite-martensite microstructure in D6AC low alloy ultra-high strength steel has been studied in the present work. For this purpose, samples austenitized at 910 C for 40 min were quenched in three different ways. Some of the samples were directly oil-quenched, some others were quenched in salt bath at 330 C and the remaining samples were quenched in salt bath at 425 C for various holding times. All samples were tempered at 200 C for 2 h. Microstructures were examined by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fracture surfaces also were studied by SEM. Results showed that the mixed microstructure containing martensite and 28 vol.% of the lower bainite exhibited higher yield and tensile strengths than the fully martensitic microstructure. This could be mainly attributed to the partitioning of the prior austenite grains by the lower bainite and enhancing the strength of lower bainite in the mixed microstructure by plastic constraint. Charpy V-notch (CVN) impact energy and ductility were improved by increasing the volume fraction of the lower bainite. This is not the case about the mixed microstructure containing the upper bainite and martensite. As a result, the tensile and CVN impact properties of mixed upper bainite-martensite microstructure are lower than those of the fully martensitic microstructure. Finally, fractography studies showed cleavage fracture at the surface of CVN impact specimens with martensitic and upper bainitic microstructures confirming the tendency to brittle behavior.     

Influence of Pulse Electrodeposition and Heat Treatment on Microstructure,Tribological, and Corrosion Behavior of Nano-Grain Size Co-W Coatings

In the present study, Co-W nano-structured alloy coatings are produced on low-carbon steel substrate by means of pulse electrodeposition from a citrate-based bath under different average current densities and duty cycles. The results indicate that the coating deposited under 60% of duty cycle and 1 A/dm² of average current density exhibit optimum pulse plating conditions with 44.38 wt.% W, 37 nm grain size, and 758 HV microhardness. The effect of heat treatment temperature on microstructure, composition, corrosion behavior, and morphology of amorphous deposited Co-W alloy with 44 wt.% W was investigated. The microhardness of the coating increased to 1052 HV after heat treatment at 600 °C, which is due to the formation of Co₃W and CoWO₄ phases in the deposit. Furthermore, the coatings heat-treated at 600 °C had lower friction coefficients and better wear resistance under various loads than before heating.     

Synthesis and characterization of antibacterial polyurethane coatings from quaternary ammonium salts functionalized soybean oil based polyols

In this study, a simple and versatile synthetic approach was developed to prepare bactericidal polyurethane coatings. For this purpose, introduction of both quaternary ammonium salts (QASs), with well-known antibacterial activity, and reactive hydroxyl groups on to the backbone of soybean oil was considered. Epoxidized soybean oil was reacted with diethylamine and the intermediate tertiary amine containing polyol was reacted with two different alkylating agents, methyl iodide and benzyl chloride, to produce MQAP and BQAP, respectively. These functional polyols were reacted with different diisocyanate monomers to prepare polyurethane coatings. Depending on the structure of monomers used for the preparation of polyurethane coatings, initial modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break of samples were in the ranges of 122–339 MPa, 4.6–12.4 MPa and 8.4–46%, respectively. Polyurethane coatings based on isophorone diisocyanate showed proper mechanical properties and adhesion strength (0.41 MPa) for coating application. Study of fibroblast cells interaction with prepared polyurethanes showed promising cells viability in the range of 78-108%. Meanwhile, MQAP based samples with higher concentration of QASs showed better adhesion strength, surface hydrophilicity and antibacterial activity (about 95% bacterial reduction). Therefore, these materials can find applications as bactericidal coating for biomedical devices and implants.     

A spread-sheet model for efficient production and scheduling of a manufacturing line/cell

In this paper we develop an efficient spread-sheet production planning/scheduling model for a resource-constraint production line or a manufacturing cell that produces several products but one at a time with significant changeover time and changeover cost. There are also management and physical constraints related to the operating hours, production capacity and amount of inventory allowed. The production line/cell supplies several products to customers who pull the products according to their own operating policy (working hours) that may be different from manufacture's operating hours. We also show several real-world applications and highlight the benefits and merits of the model.     

A comparative study for synthesis methods of nano-structured (9Ni–2Mg–Y) alloy catalysts and effect of the produced alloy on hydrogen desorption properties of MgH2

9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy powders were prepared by arc melting, induction melting, mechanical alloying, solid state reaction and subsequent ball milling processes. The results showed that melting processes are not suitable for preparation of 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy due to high losses of Mg and Y. Therefore, 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy powder was prepared by three methods including: 1) mechanical alloying, 2) mechanical alloying + solid state reaction + ball milling, and 3) mixing + solid state reaction + ball milling. The prepared 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy powders were compared for their catalytic effects on hydrogen desorption of MgH₂. It is found that 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy powder prepared by mechanical alloying + solid state reaction + ball milling method has a smaller particle size (1–5 μm) and higher surface area (1.7 m² g⁻¹) than that of other methods. H₂ desorption tests revealed that addition of 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy prepared by mechanical alloying + solid state reaction + ball milling to MgH₂ decreases the hydrogen desorption temperature of MgH₂ from 425 to 210 °C and improves the hydrogen desorption capacity from 0 to 3.5 wt.% at 350 °C during 8 min.     

Microstructures and Properties of Nanocrystalline NiFe Alloy With and Without Particulate TiC Reinforcement by Mechanical Alloying

In the current study, Ni₅₀Fe₅₀ alloy powders were prepared using a high-energy planetary ball mill. The effects of TiC addition (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 wt pct) and milling time on the sequence of alloy formation, the microstructure, and microhardness of the product were studied. The structure of solid solution phase, the lattice parameter, lattice strain, and grain size were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. The correlation between the apparent densities and the milling time is explained by the morphologic evolution of the powder particles occurring during the high-energy milling process. The powder morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy. It was found that FCC γ (Fe–Ni) solid solution was formed after 10 hours of milling, and this time was reduced to 7 hours when TiC was added. Therefore, brittle particles (TiC) accelerate the milling process by increasing crystal defects leading to a shorter diffusion path. Observations of polished cross section showed uniform distribution of the reinforcement particles. The apparent density increases with the increasing TiC content. It was also found that the higher TiC amount leads to larger lattice parameter, higher internal strain, and lower grain size of the alloy.     

Preparation and Characterization of Novel Polyimide/SiO2 Nano-hybrid Films by In Situ Polymerization

A silicon-based aromatic polyimide (PI) containing pendent aryl rings was synthesized by solution polycondensation of a silicon-containing diamine with 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride. Its nano-hybrids with different colloidal SiO₂ concentrations were synthesized by in situ polymerization. The reactions were carried out in presence of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a coupling agent. The inclusion of the coupling agent in the polymer chain and its co-condensation with SiO₂ nanoparticles afforded a silica network that was interconnected chemically with the PI matrix. The chemical structure of the hybrid materials was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The morphology of the hybrid films and the surface roughness were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The results indicated that nanometer-scale inorganic particles were homogeneously dispersed throughout the PI matrix with 50–70 nm size range. The best results and favorable miscibility between polymer and silica phases in the nano-hybrids were obtained when up to 40 wt% nanoparticles were introduced into the backbone of PI matrix.     

Influence of novel surface modifying macromolecules and coagulation media on the gas permeation properties of different polymeric gas separation membranes

Integrally skinned asymmetric membranes for the separation of O₂ and N₂ were fabricated by the phase inversion technique from polysulfone, polyetherimide, and polyimide. Two types of surface modifying macromolecules (SMMs) including hydrophilic SMM (LSMM) and charged SMM (cSMM) were synthesized and blended with the casting solution to modify the membrane surface. The cast film was then immersed in the first coagulant alcohol (methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol) for a predetermined period, before being immersed in the second coagulant (water). The SMMs used in these experiments were laboratory synthesized by the two‐step process of polyurethane prepolymer synthesis and end capping, before being characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. Their molecular structure was determined from the molecular weight obtained by gel permeation chromatography. The membranes were characterized by contact angle measurement and O₂ and N₂ gas permeation performance. Attempts were made to interpret the gas permeation data by delayed demixing affected by solubility parameters of polymer, solvent, and nonsolvent. Furthermore, the permeation performance of cSMM membranes was interpreted by the solvation of the charged sulfonate groups present in cSMM. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Derivation of low-power first-order low-pass,high-pass and all-pass filters

In this letter, a new voltage-mode (VM) configuration for providing low-power and simultaneous realization of first-order low-pass, high-pass and all-pass filters is presented. The output of the all-pass filter is taken differentially. The proposed circuit contains low number of components, i.e., only two NMOS transistors, a floating battery, a grounded capacitor and a floating resistor. Adding two NMOS transistors to the proposed circuit it is modified as an all-pass filter with a single-ended output. The main advantage of the presented circuits in comparison with other counterparts is their extremely low power dissipation. Moreover, the floating resistor can be replaced with an additional NMOS transistor in triode region to provide electronic tunability. Simulation results using SPICE program are given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed circuit.