Dielectric behavior of Cu–GeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> cermet thin films

Capacitance and dielectric loss measurements were carried out using an Al/Cu–GeO₂/Al sandwich structure for 0 to 10 vol% Cu films, 120–400 nm thick, deposited at 0.4–1.5 nm/s in the frequency and temperature range 1–10⁶ Hz and 90–573 K, respectively. The variation of capacitance and dielectric loss with frequency and temperature follows the Goswami and Goswami model. Capacitance decreases slowly with increasing thickness and also varies with the change in deposition rate of the cermet film.     

THE INFLUENCE OF LOAD MISALIGNMENT DURING UNIAXIAL LOW-CYCLE FATIGUE TESTING—I: MODELLING

Abstract— A quantitative model has been proposed which predicts the extent of lifetime scatter in low-cycle fatigue due to the influence of bending caused by load misalignment. The main components of the model are the mechanism of bending, the type of extensometer used to control strain and the fatigue characteristics of the material being assessed. Three mechanisms of bending have been studied and it is argued that the most damaging one is a consequence of a lateral offset in the centre-lines of the load-train with respect to either a machine's frame or ram. Scatter in lifetime is a maximum when strain is controlled by a single extensometer (which is generally the case) and when fatigue behaviour is dictated by crack initiation at the largest surface defect. Two types of scatter have been examined, (i) repeatability scatter due to testing practice within a single laboratory, and (ii) reproducibility scatter between laboratories. An example of the magnitude of reproducibility scatter due to bending has been given by using an equation based on the universal slopes method due to Manson.     

Full scale thermal testing of latent heat storage in wallboard

Full scale thermal storage tests were conducted in a room lined with PCM wallboard having latent heat storage capacity. The results were compared with those obtained from tests conducted in a similar room lined with ordinary wallboard. The research showed that PCM wallboard can function efficiently as a thermal storage medium which can be applied to peak load shifting, improved use of waste and solar heat as well as more efficient operation of heating and cooling equipment.     

THE INFLUENCE OF LOAD MISALIGNMENT DURING UNIAXIAL LOW-CYCLE FATIGUE TESTING—II: APPLICATIONS

Abstract— Models for predicting scatter bands due to bending have been applied to four alloys, namely AISI 316L, Nimonic 101, 9 Cr-1 Mo, and IN 718. The alloys were tested extensively by 26 laboratories in an international round robin exercise sponsored by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the EC. After initially selecting data for analysis on the basis of their confirmed conformance to the ASTM bending criterion, it has been shown that in all four materials a major fraction of the data scatter could be attributed to bending. Furthermore, at the lowest strain range the predicted bending component represents the highest proportion of the experimental interlaboratory scatter. Many laboratories did not report any measure of bending and so could not be used in the initial analysis. However, a further interesting deduction from the models is that the entire BCR data-set can be encompassed within a scatter band based upon a bending criterion that is twice the allowable ASTM limit. Differences in the extent of scatter between materials at a given total strain range can be attributed to the gradient of the logarithmic plot of total strain range as a function of lifetime.     

Multi-objective GA with fuzzy decision making for security enhancement in power system

Power system security enhancement is a major concern in the operation of power system. In this paper, the task of security enhancement is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem with minimization of fuel cost and minimization of FACTS device investment cost as objectives. Generator active power, generator bus voltage magnitude and the reactance of Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC) are taken as the decision variables. The probable locations of TCSC are pre-selected based on the values of Line Overload Sensitivity Index (LOSI) calculated for each branch in the system. Multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) is applied to solve this security optimization problem. In the proposed GA, the decision variables are represented as floating point numbers in the GA population. The MOGA emphasize non-dominated solutions and simultaneously maintains diversity in the non-dominated solutions. A fuzzy set theory-based approach is employed to obtain the best compromise solution over the trade-off curve. The proposed approach has been evaluated on the IEEE 30-bus and IEEE 118-bus test systems. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach for solving the multi-objective security enhancement problem.     

The Role of Rigid Residues in Modulating TEM-1 β-Lactamase Function and Thermostability

The relationship between protein motions (i.e., dynamics) and enzymatic function has begun to be explored in β-lactamases as a way to advance our understanding of these proteins. In a recent study, we analyzed the dynamic profiles of TEM-1 (a ubiquitous class A β-lactamase) and several ancestrally reconstructed homologues. A chief finding of this work was that rigid residues that were allosterically coupled to the active site appeared to have profound effects on enzyme function, even when separated from the active site by many angstroms. In the present work, our aim was to further explore the implications of protein dynamics on β-lactamase function by altering the dynamic profile of TEM-1 using computational protein design methods. The Rosetta software suite was used to mutate amino acids surrounding either rigid residues that are highly coupled to the active site or to flexible residues with no apparent communication with the active site. Experimental characterization of ten designed proteins indicated that alteration of residues surrounding rigid, highly coupled residues, substantially affected both enzymatic activity and stability; in contrast, native-like activities and stabilities were maintained when flexible, uncoupled residues, were targeted. Our results provide additional insight into the structure-function relationship present in the TEM family of β-lactamases. Furthermore, the integration of computational protein design methods with analyses of protein dynamics represents a general approach that could be used to extend our understanding of the relationship between dynamics and function in other enzyme classes.     

Contributions to characterization of poly(vinyl chloride)–lignin blends

The present study evaluates the impact of blending organosolv and kraft lignins, which are natural polymer by‐products in the pulp and paper industry, with plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in flooring formulations. Also examined is the impact of replacing dioctyl phthalate, a PVC industry general‐purpose plasticizer, with diethylene glycol dibenzoate (Benzoflex 2‐45), tricresyl phosphate (Lindol), or alkyl sulfonic phenyl ester (Mesamoll) in these formulations. The influence of the different types of lignins and plasticizers on the processibility, thermal, and mechanical properties of the blends is discussed. These properties demonstrate that partial replacement of PVC (20 parts) with different lignins is feasible for some formulations that can be successfully used as matrices for a high level of calcium carbonate filler in flooring products. In addition, the data demonstrate that the presence of certain plasticizers, which interfere with the intramolecular interactions existing in lignins, may allow the lignin molecules to have more molecular mobility. The morphology and the properties of PVC plasticized lignin blends are strongly influenced by the degree and mode of the lignin plasticization and its dispersion within the PVC matrix. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2732–2748, 2006     

Recycling of pharmaceutical waste gelatin for controlled‐release applications. I. A 2,4‐dicholorphenoxy acetic acid based system

Gelatin is a natural macromolecular protein. It contains a wide variety of amino acids in its polymer structure, and it is colorless to yellowish, water‐soluble, and tasteless. It is used as a dispersing agent, sizing medium, and coating for photographic films and in pharmaceutical formulations. In this study, biodegradable mulching, based on waste gelatin from pharmaceutical gelatin scraps (derived from pharmaceutical soft gelatin capsule production), was formulated via the casting of water solutions or suspensions into flexible and consistent films. Gelatin was blended with synthetic materials such as poly(vinyl alcohol) and other natural wastes such as sugar cane bagasse and sawdust. To all formulations, 2,4‐dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4‐D) was added as a herbicide. The morphology and mechanical properties of the samples were investigated with scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing, respectively. The results showed that the produced films had controlled‐release properties. The effects of various additives and crosslinking on the films and the release of the herbicide 2,4‐D from the films were also investigated. The introduction of synthetic and natural additives reduced the release rate of 2,4‐D. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2313–2319, 2004     

Design of Online Vitals Monitor by Integrating Big Data and IoT

In this work, we design a multisensory IoT-based online vitals monitor (hereinafter referred to as the VITALS) to sense four bedside physiological parameters including pulse (heart) rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and peripheral oxygen saturation. Then, the proposed system constantly transfers these signals to the analytics system which aids in enhancing diagnostics at an earlier stage as well as monitoring after recovery. The core hardware of the VITALS includes commercial off-the-shelf sensing devices/medical equipment, a powerful microcontroller, a reliable wireless communication module, and a big data analytics system. It extracts human vital signs in a pre-programmed interval of 30 min and sends them to big data analytics system through the WiFi module for further analysis. We use Apache Kafka (to gather live data streams from connected sensors), Apache Spark (to categorize the patient vitals and notify the medical professionals while identifying abnormalities in physiological parameters), Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) (to archive data streams for further analysis and long-term storage), Spark SQL, Hive and Matplotlib (to support caregivers to access/visualize appropriate information from collected data streams and to explore/understand the health status of the individuals). In addition, we develop a mobile application to send statistical graphs to doctors and patients to enable them to monitor health conditions remotely. Our proposed system is implemented on three patients for 7 days to check the effectiveness of sensing, data processing, and data transmission mechanisms. To validate the system accuracy, we compare the data values collected from established sensors with the measured readouts using a commercial healthcare monitor, the Welch Allyn® Spot Check. Our proposed system provides improved care solutions, especially for those whose access to care services is limited.