New synthesis method of HA/P(D,L)LA composites: study of fibronectin adsorption and their effects in osteoblastic behavior for bone tissue engineering

A novel synthetic method to synthesize hydroxyapatite/poly (D,L) lactic acid biocomposite is presented in this study by mixing only the precursors hydroxyapatite and (D,L) LA monomer without adding neither solvent nor catalyst. Three compositions were successfully synthesized with the weight ratios of 1/1, 1/3, and 3/5 (hydroxyapatite/(D,L) lactic acid), and the grafting efficiency of poly (D,L) lactic acid on hydroxyapatite surface reaches up to 84?%. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the hydroxyapatite particles were successfully incorporated into the poly (D,L) lactic acid polymer and X ray diffraction analysis showed that hydroxyapatite preserved its crystallinity after poly (D,L) lactic acid grafting. Differential scanning calorimetry shows that Tg of hydroxyapatite/poly (D,L) lactic acid composite is less than Tg of pure poly (D,L) lactic acid, which facilitates the shaping of the composite obtained. The addition of poly (D,L) lactic acid improves the adsorption properties of hydroxyapatite for fibronectin extracellular matrix protein. Furthermore, the presence of poly (D,L) lactic acid on hydroxyapatite surface coated with fibronectin enhanced pre-osteoblast STRO-1 adhesion and cell spreading. These results show the promising potential of hydroxyapatite/poly (D,L) lactic acid composite as a bone substitute material for orthopedic applications and bone tissue engineering.     

Influence of Alumina-Supported M–Pt Catalysts in DeNOx Reactions with M = Pd or Ir or Ru

To better understand N₂ formation in the selective catalytic reduction of NO _x by propene under oxidative atmosphere, we studied the catalytic behavior of bimetallics. Surface segregation phenomena may provoke geometric and electronic modifications of the catalytic active sites. To explain our results we invoked: (i) the facile way to oxidize the bimetallic aggregates, (ii) the presence of atoms with low coordination number able to be oxidized first and (iii) an eventual formation of like vic-diNO _x species on such bimetallics leading to N₂ formation.     

Numerical research of double‐diffusive natural convection in elliptical cylinders: Effect of thermal Rayleigh number

This paper is the first part of a two‐part study, and it presented numerical research of double‐diffusive natural convection within an annulus area, situated in two horizontal confocal elliptic solids charged by a Newtonian fluid. The elliptical coordinates were used to transform the physical domain into a rectangular one. To resolve the governing equations and the boundary layer conditions, a calculator code based on the finite volume approach was developed. The details of the influences of thermal Rayleigh number on heat and mass transfer were investigated. Results obtained were compared with those existing in other reasearch works.     

Production of biodiesel at small-scale (10 L) for local power generation

The transesterification reaction of two different types of raw materials, a refined cooking oil and a used cooking sample, was performed at small scale (10 L) at the constant temperature of 65 °C. The effects of several reaction parameters, such as KOH wt% with respect to the oil weight, methanol/oil molar ratio and reaction time, were investigated. Biodiesel yields as good as 97.5 and 93.2% were achieved for the refined and the cooking oils, respectively, in the following conditions: 1.2 wt% of KOH as catalyst, a methanol/oil molar ratio of 6:1 and reaction time of 60 min.The properties of the biodiesel obtained starting from the used cooking oil are as good as those of the biodiesels obeying the European standards. The resulting product was used in a diesel electricity generator engine, which operated in real conditions. The results showed that biodiesel combustion leads to higher concentration of CO and to a lower emission of NO_x as compared to a petrodiesel-fueled engine. An optimization of the operating parameters of the engine would guarantee lower CO emissions in conformity with the regulation.     

Growth mechanism and properties of InGaN insertions in GaN nanowires

We demonstrate the strong influence of strain on the morphology and In content of InGaN insertions in GaN nanowires, in agreement with theoretical predictions which establish that InGaN island nucleation on GaN nanowires may be energetically favorable, depending on In content and nanowire diameter. EDX analyses reveal In inhomogeneities between the successive dots but also along the growth direction within each dot, which is attributed to compositional pulling. Nanometer-resolved cathodoluminescence on single nanowires allowed us to probe the luminescence of single dots, revealing enhanced luminescence from the high In content top part with respect to the lower In content dot base.     

Small scale biodiesel synthesis from waste frying oil and crude methanol in Morocco

Biodiesel was produced at small scale by transesterification of used frying oil(UFO) recovered from Moroccan pastry shops and fish frying restaurants. Biodiesel was first synthesised at laboratory scale in order to optimize the transesterification parameters. The cost of the final product was also optimized using low-cost raw materials.The UFO and the produced biodiesel were characterized with several techniques including gas chromatography,1H NMR,13 C NMR, FTIR, and TGA–TDA techniques.1H NMR gas chromatographic analyses of the final product confirmed that the transesterification in the chosen experimental conditions was completed. These results were confirmed by TGA–TDA analysis used as new techniques to monitoring triglyceride conversion. The biodiesel did not contain any trace of glycerol, and it did meet the international standards. The transesterification at low cost in small scale conditions was performed at 60 °C using 1.2% of KOH and a methanol/oil molar ratio of 6:1. A yield of 80.8% was achieved. The properties of the produced biodiesel were found to be as good as those of biodiesels obeying to European standards. The biodiesel production was also performed at small-scale for individual utilisation. Thus, the product was tested in a kerosene stove for heating and non-modified commercial diesel engine producing electricity.     

Stability of Swirling Flows with Heat Transfer in a Cylindrical Enclosure with CO/Counter-Rotating End Disks Under an Axial Magnetic Field

In this article, a numerical study of swirling flows with heat transfer generated by two rotating end disks (co- and counter-rotating) inside a cylindrical enclosure having an aspect ratio equal to 2, filled with a liquid metal, and submitted to a vertical temperature gradient and an axial magnetic field is studied. The governing Navier-Stokes, energy, and potential equations along with appropriate boundary conditions are solved by using the finite-volume method. The flow and temperature fields are presented by stream function and isotherms, respectively. This flow is very unstable and reveals a great richness of structures. In an oscillatory regime, results are presented for various values of the Hartmann number, Ha = 5, 10, 20 and 30, and Richardson numbers, Ri = 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4, in order to see their effects on the value of the critical Reynolds number, Re_cr. Stability diagrams are established according to the numerical results of this investigation. These diagrams show the dependence of Re_cr with the increase of Ha for various values of Ri. The flow between co-rotating end disks is very different from the flow between counter-rotating end disks. Finally, this study confirms the possibility of stabilization of a liquid metal flow by application of an axial magnetic field.     

Characterization of soluble organic matter from Youssoufia rock phosphate

Extractable lipids represent 12% of the total organic matter contained in Youssoufla rock phosphate. This soluble organic matter corresponds mainly to free, directly extractable lipids. They are dominantly neutral lipids (neutral/acid fraction ratio: 1.5). Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric studies showed for the alkanes a bimodal distribution C₁₅---C₂₁ and C₂₂---C₃₃ dominated, respectively, by C₁₈ and C₂₇. The dominant hopanes were identified under the thermodynamically stable αβ-form, αββ-steranes were also present with the non-diagenetic ααα- and βαα-steranes. Phytane and pristane deriving from the transformation of chlorophyll chains were also identified.Acids were saturated linear C₁₂---C₃₀ acids with a predominance of the C₁₆ and C₁₈ members, unsaturated C_16:1 and C_18:1 acids and even dicarboxylic acids. The results obtained suggest that the organic matter present in the phosphate has a marine origin with a significant continental contribution.     

Field Acceleration Model for TDDB: Still a Valid Tool to Study the Reliability of Thick SiO2-Based Dielectric Layers?

The aim of this paper is to investigate the reliability of thick oxides that are dedicated to the power integrated device fabrication. The field dependence of defect-related time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) mode over a wide range of oxide thickness T_OX and electric field E, using multiple wafer fabrication lots, is investigated. TDDB tests are conducted under constant current injection using structures with different areas. For that, we have applied a new electric field model based on a 1/E model (reciprocal field dependence) that is proposed recently in the literature. We show that when the dielectric thickness increases, this electric field acceleration model gives an erroneous prediction of the long-term reliability. We conclude that it is too early to give a generalized law of dielectric to predict their reliability without taking into account the influence of thicknesses. Consequently, the 1/E model may therefore have to be revised.     

Vibration reduction of a single cylinder reciprocating compressor based on multi-stage balancing

Basically, a reciprocating compressor consists of three main mechanical subsets: the hermetic housing, the crankcase and the rotor-crankshaft assembly. The counterweight mass located on the rotor-crankshaft is designed to balance the eccentric masses of the slider-crank mechanism which predominate in comparison to the residual distributed unbalance masses due to manufacturing. However, excessive vibration levels can be observed. The objective of the study is to perform a reliable finite element model for balancing the compressor by taking into account the dynamic behavior of the three subsets. The rotor-crankshaft assembly is considered as a flexible body, while the crankcase and the housing are assumed to be rigid. The rotor-crankshaft model is updated by using experimental modal analysis at rest. The characteristics of the fluid film bearings are speed of rotation dependant. The forces of the pressure and of the slider-crank mechanism are expanded by using Fourier transformation. The Influence Coefficient Method is used to investigate several balancing solutions to reduce the vibratory levels of the target plane located on the three main subsets. The experiments carried out show that this multi-stage balancing procedure is rather more efficient than a classical approach based only on the dynamic balancing of the rotor crankshaft assembly.