On nonlinear finite element analysis in single-, multi- and parallel-processors

Numerical solution of nonlinear equilibrium problems of structures by means of Newton-Raphson type iterations is reviewed. Each step of the iteration is shown to correspond to the solution of a linear problem, therefore the feasibility of the finite element method for nonlinear analysis is established. Organization and flow of data for various types of digital computers, such as single-processor/single-level memory, single-processor/two-level-memory, vector-processor/two-level-memory, and parallel-processors, with and without sub-structuring (i.e. partitioning) are given. The effect of the relative costs of computation, memory and data transfer on substructuring is shown. The idea of assigning comparable size substructures to parallel processors is exploited. Under Cholesky type factorization schemes, the efficiency of parallel processing is shown to decrease due to the occasional shared data, just as that due to the shared facilities.     

A Particle Swarm Optimization Assessment for the Determination of Non-Darcian Flow Parameters in a Confined Aquifer

Being one of the preliminary in-situ testing methods, aquifer pumping tests would provide significant insights which form a basis for the aquifer characterization. The use of Darcian based flow models to describe the groundwater flow would be ineffective for the aquifer pumping tests under certain circumstances. Non-Darcian flow models could therefore construct more accurate portrayal of physical reality for the assessment of aquifer testing. The interpretation of flow parameters obtained from non-Darcian flows via classical curve matching methods seems extremely difficult to acquire a unique match since the well-defined type curves have not been developed. In this study, an evolutionary optimization based algorithm, called as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), was established to determine the flow parameters namely power index, storativity and the turbulent factor which serves as an apparent hydraulic conductivity. The proposed PSO based parameter estimation scheme was implemented for a number of numerical test cases and the estimation performance was evaluated by comparing with available population based algorithms. The results reveal that the PSO based estimation approach is successfully able to identify the flow parameters in an accurate and fast manner. A number of sensitivity analyses were also conducted to draw the limitations of the introduced PSO based technique. The positive findings from this study pointed the potential capability of using PSO as a viable algorithm to process the complex relations in the flow.

     

Encoding Information on the Excited State of a Molecular Spin Chain

The quantum states of nano-objects can drive electrical transport properties across lateral and local-probe junctions. This raises the prospect, in a solid-state device, of electrically encoding information at the quantum level using spin-flip excitations between electron spins. However, this electronic state has no defined magnetic orientation and is short-lived. Using a novel vertical nanojunction process, these limitations are overcome and this steady-state capability is experimentally demonstrated in solid-state spintronic devices. The excited quantum state of a spin chain formed by Co phthalocyanine molecules coupled to a ferromagnetic electrode constitutes a distinct magnetic unit endowed with a coercive field. This generates a specific steady-state magnetoresistance trace that is tied to the spin-flip conductance channel, and is opposite in sign to the ground state magnetoresistance term, as expected from spin excitation transition rules. The experimental 5.9 meV thermal energy barrier between the ground and excited spin states is confirmed by density functional theory, in line with macrospin phenomenological modeling of magnetotransport results. This low-voltage control over a spin chain's quantum state and spintronic contribution lay a path for transmitting spin wave-encoded information across molecular layers in devices. It should also stimulate quantum prospects for the antiferromagnetic spintronics and oxides electronics communities.     

Antioxidant abietane diterpenoids from Salvia barrelieri

The root extract of endemic Algerian Salvia species Salvia barrelieri Ettling and its diterpenoids were investigated for potential antioxidant activity. From its acetone extract, a new natural abietane diterpenoid 7-oxoroyleanone-12-methyl ether (1) and six known diterpenoids 7α-acetoxyroyleanone-12-methyl ether (2), royleanone (3), horminone (4), 7-acetylhorminone (5), cryptojaponol (6) and inuroyleanol (7) were isolated, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic means. Among the diterpenoids, the new diterpenoid 7-oxoroyleanone-12-methyl ether (1) showed highest superoxide anion scavenging activity while inuroyleanol (7) showed both the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in β-carotene–linoleic acid system. These findings indicate that S. barrelieri extract as well as isolated abietane diterpenes, particularly inuroyleanol are promising antioxidants which can be used as food additives.     

Morphological and dielectric properties of barium chloride‐filled poly(vinylidene fluoride) films

Morphological characteristics of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) films, filled with mass fractions (w ≤ 20%) of Barium Chloride (BaCl₂), were investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectra and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The dielectric properties of films were measured from 250 Hz to 1 MHz range between 100 and 400 K as a function of frequency and temperature. Spectroscopic data revealed that the filled and unfilled films include α‐, β‐, and γ‐crystalline phases. By a 20% filling, 73% increase was obtained in the total degree of crystallinity. Since the BaCl₂ formed fluorine bridges over the chain segments on the crystal lamellar surface, the γ‐crystalline phase decreased, whereas the total degree of crystallinity increased. Dielectric measurements showed that maximum of the dielectric loss factor belonging to β‐relaxation transition decreased linearly with filling level. The filling process did not have any effect on the real dielectric constant till α‐relaxation transition region. However, in the α‐relaxation transition region, it was determined that the real dielectric constant increased linearly with filling level. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1782–1789, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Biohydrogen production by Rhodobacter capsulatus Hup mutant in pilot solar tubular photobioreactor

In this study, a pilot solar tubular photobioreactor was successfully implemented for fed batch operation in outdoor conditions for photofermentative hydrogen production with Rhodobacter capsulatus (Hup⁻) mutant. The bacteria had a rapid growth with a specific growth rate of 0.052 h⁻¹ in the batch exponential phase and cell dry weight remained in the range of 1–1.5 g/L throughout the fed batch operation. The feeding strategy was to keep acetic acid concentration in the photobioreactor at the range of 20 mM by adjusting feed acetate concentration. The maximum molar productivity obtained was 0.40 mol H₂/(m³ h) and the yield obtained was 0.35 mol H₂ per mole of acetic acid fed. Evolved gas contained 95–99% hydrogen and the rest was carbon dioxide by volume.     

Effects of compression on water distribution in gas diffusion layer materials of PEMFC in a point injection device by means of synchrotron X-ray imaging

In this study, ex-situ experiments performed with a point injection device are conducted to evaluate water distributions in gas diffusion layer (GDL) materials which serve as porous transport media in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this regard, GDL samples manufactured by SGL Group are placed into the point injection device and visualized by means of synchrotron X-ray radiographic and tomographic imaging. The resulting image data undergoes a coordinate transformation that ascertains water agglomerations in GDL pores with regard to their radial displacements from the injection point. In this way, water transport in two different GDL samples possessing the same structural characteristics, but with unique compression rates, are investigated in terms of in-plane water distribution. The radial displacement analysis indicated that the pore saturation of the compressed GDL is higher in both the micro porous layer (MPL) region and the carbon fiber substrate region than that of the uncompressed GDL. The water agglomerations in the uncompressed GDL are predominantly observed in the vicinity of the injection point, indicating a limited in-plane transport. Conversely, in the compressed case water accumulations are detected far from the injection point, even at the edge of the GDL, pointing out that compression promotes the in-plane transport. Prior to the ex-situ experiments, both GDL samples have undergone an ageing procedure to mimic realistic cell operating conditions.     

Effects of Ozone Treatment on Microbiological Quality and Physicochemical Properties of Turkey Breast Meat

ABSTRACT

The effects of ozone treatment (1 × 10^?2 kg m^?3, for up to 8 h) on quality parameters of turkey meat were investigated. Ozone was effective in inactivating microorganisms. Approximately 2.9, 2.3 and 1.9 log reductions were achieved in the counts of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and yeast-mold, respectively. Ozone caused significant changes in carbonyl contents, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, color and pH values of the samples. Water holding capacity and cooking yield of treated samples increased significantly (p < .05). This is the first report demonstrating that quality parameters of turkey breast meat are markedly affected by ozone treatment.