A metaheuristic analysis of heat transfer rates through porous fins of tapered and step profiles: a comparative study

Neural Computing and Applications - The advanced high-end gadgets and sophisticated machines require effective mechanism of transferring heat away from the sources. In a large number of...     

Interpenetrating polymer network/functionalized-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite: As an advanced functional material

In this report, smart polyurethane-polystyrene interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)-based nanocomposites were fabricated using simultaneous polymerization technique with different doses of functionalized reduced graphene oxide (f-RGO). RGO was functionalized with monoglyceride of sunflower oil in the presence of toluene diisocyanate. Successful functionalization of RGO was supported by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. Most interestingly, the fabricated IPN-based nanocomposites showed significant enhancements in mechanical (tensile strength: 165%; elongation at break: 198%; toughness: 340%) and thermal (thermally stable up to 262°C) properties upon incorporation of 1 weight% of f-RGO. Moreover, the fabricated nanocomposites exhibited outstanding chemical resistance, self-cleaning behavior through surface hydrophobicity (static contact angle: 125.6–136.5°), multi-stimuli responsive shape memory effect (100% recovery within 33–44 s by microwave and 265–308 s by sunlight) and thermally actuated artificial muscle-like behavior. Therefore, the studied smart nanocomposites with the aforementioned properties hold significant potential for possible advanced applications.     

Fabrication and characterization of electrospun psyllium husk-based nanofibers for tissue regeneration

The present study reports for first time the blending of psyllium husk (PH) powder/gelatin (G) in the polymer-rich composition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to make an electrospinnable solution. The composite was prepared in 3 different ratios viz., 100% (wt/wt) (PVA + PH), 75% + 25% (PVA + 75PH + 25G) (wt/wt) and 50% + 50% (PVA + 50PH + 50G) (wt/wt) in 6% PVA solution. Optimum electrospinning parameters were evaluated for all the prepared blends. The fabricated nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, porosity percentage, and fiber orientation using ImageJ software. A qualitative in vitro degradation study at room temperature is supported by SEM images. The cellular interactions were characterized by MTT assay of NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells for 2 and 4 days with an optimum cell growth of >50% by fourth day of culture and long-term cultivation of L929-RFP cells was observed for 10 days. The nanofibers were formed in the range of 49–600 nm. PVA + 75PH + 25G when cultured with L929-RFP cells exhibited highest fluorescence intensity and thus supported cellular proliferation significantly. Based on the results obtained from various analyses, we anticipate that fabricated psyllium-based nanofiber can be used as a promising candidate for wound healing and other biomedical applications.     

Mutations Closer to the Active Site Improve the Promiscuous Aldolase Activity of 4‐Oxalocrotonate Tautomerase More Effectively than Distant Mutations

The enzyme 4‐oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4‐OT), which catalyzes enol–keto tautomerization as part of a degradative pathway for aromatic hydrocarbons, promiscuously catalyzes various carbon–carbon bond‐forming reactions. These include the aldol condensation of acetaldehyde with benzaldehyde to yield cinnamaldehyde. Here, we demonstrate that 4‐OT can be engineered into a more efficient aldolase for this condensation reaction, with a >5000‐fold improvement in catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m) and a >10⁷‐fold change in reaction specificity, by exploring small libraries in which only “hotspots” are varied. The hotspots were identified by systematic mutagenesis (covering each residue), followed by a screen for single mutations that give a strong improvement in the desired aldolase activity. All beneficial mutations were near the active site of 4‐OT, thus underpinning the notion that new catalytic activities of a promiscuous enzyme are more effectively enhanced by mutations close to the active site.     

Scalable approach to uncertainty quantification and robust design of interconnected dynamical systems

Development of robust dynamical systems and networks such as autonomous aircraft systems capable of accomplishing complex missions faces challenges due to the dynamically evolving uncertainties coming from model uncertainties, necessity to operate in a hostile cluttered urban environment, and the distributed and dynamic nature of the communication and computation resources. Model-based robust design is difficult because of the complexity of the hybrid dynamic models including continuous vehicle dynamics, the discrete models of computations and communications, and the size of the problem. We will overview recent advances in methodology and tools to model, analyze, and design robust autonomous aerospace systems operating in uncertain environment, with stress on efficient uncertainty quantification and robust design using the case studies of the mission including model-based target tracking and search, and trajectory planning in uncertain urban environment. To show that the methodology is generally applicable to uncertain dynamical systems, we will also show examples of application of the new methods to efficient uncertainty quantification of energy usage in buildings, and stability assessment of interconnected power networks.     

A moment-method characterization of V-Koch fractal dipole antennas

This article compares input impedances and radiation characteristics of half wavelength Koch fractal V–electric dipoles having included angles 60°, 90° and 120°. The study considers three structures. In the 1st structure the Koch arms open into the V-region, in 2nd structure they open away from the V-region and in the third structure, one arm opens into and the other away from the V-region. A first iteration, structure 1 of V-Koch electric dipole antenna with included angle of 120° was fabricated and the experimental return loss was in good agreement with simulation. At their first resonances the antennas’ gain and input resistance decrease with decrease in included angles, an observation synonymous to Euclidian electric dipoles. In terms of gain, the first structure is found to give better performance than the other two. For this structure, the pattern distortion at the second resonance was also less compared to the other structures.     

Exploring the Influence of Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate as a Modifier for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Blends

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blend at various blend ratios has been modified via reactive processing with 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Modification of the blends with even small amount of MDI shows significant improvement in physico-mechanical properties for EVA/TPU 50/50 and 30/70 blends, and it is also supported by the superior melt rheological behavior and dramatic improvement in oil resistance property. After the treatment of electron beam (dose range: 50–150?kGy), radiation crosslinked EVA/TPU (30:70) blend reveals further improvement in various properties. This particular material can find potential application as cable sheathing component.     

Crystallization behaviour and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Al<Subscript>87.5</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>7</Subscript>Mm<Subscript>5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript> amorphous alloy

The crystallization behaviour and the mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Al_87.5Ni₇Mm₅Fe_0.5 alloy ribbons have been examined in both as-melt-spun and heat-treated condition using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tensile testing and Vicker’s microhardness machine. XRD and TEM studies revealed that the as-melt-spun ribbons are fully amorphous. The amorphous ribbon undergoes three-stage crystallization process upon heating. Primary crystallization resulted in the formation of fine nanocrystalline fcc-Al particles embedded in the amorphous matrix. The second and third crystallization stages correspond to the precipitation of Al₁₁(La,Ce)₃ and Al₃Ni phases, respectively. Microhardness and tensile strength of the ribbons were examined with the variation of temperature and subsequently correlated with the evolved structure. Initially, the microhardness of the ribbon increases with temperature followed by a sharp drop in hardness owing to the decomposition of amorphous matrix that leads to formation of intermetallic compounds     

Centered inclined slot coupling between waveguides with coplanar axes

The article presents the method of finding the complete equivalent circuit of two waveguides with coplanar axes coupled through a centered inclined slot in the common broad wall. The variational method based on dyadic Green's function is used for finding the parameters of the equivalent circuit. A cosinusoidal aperture field distribution is assumed. Considerable mathematical simplification is resulted from replacing the centered inclined slot by an equivalent magnetic dipole. Coupling slot characteristics are deduced, including resonant length, dominant mode scattering in both the waveguides. Numerical and experimental results for resonant lengths and scattering parameters are presented over a range of tilt angles, frequencies, and waveguide dimensions. These results have significant applications in linear waveguide arrays and coupler design. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011.