Investigation of the titanium–indium system

The phase diagram of the Ti–In system was determined using DTA, XRD and EDX analyses. The existence of the phases Ti₂In₅ [Mn₂Hg₅ type structure, space group P4/mbm, a=0.99995(3), c=0.29960(2) nm] and Ti₃In [Ni₃Sn type structure, space group P6₃/mmc, a=0.5978(1), c=0.4812(1) nm] was confirmed. The phase previously labeled Ti₃In₂ was found to exist in a narrow homogeneity region near Ti₅₆In₄₄. Rietveld refinement of the XRD powder pattern yielded solutions compatible with a Cu₃Au-type or a BiIn-type crystal structure, but not with a CuAu-type crystal structure. Furthermore, at 38.5 at.% In, a new phase was observed having a γ-brass related crystal structure [Ti₈In₅, space group , a=0.99578(6) nm]. The intermetallic phases were formed by a cascade of peritectic reactions ending in a eutectic at >99 at.% indium between Ti₂In₅ and (In) at 0.4 K below the melting temperature of pure indium.     

Preparation and characterization of strong cation exchange terpolymer resin as effective adsorbent for removal of disperse dyes

In this study, (hydroxypropylmethacrylate-co-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate-co-glycidylmetharylate) terpolymer resin functionalized with sulfonic acid groups was prepared and used as cation exchange resin for removal of two different disperse dyes (i.e., Direct Red R [DR-R] and Disperse Violet 28 [DV-28]) from aqueous solution. The properties of the adsorbent were determined using Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller methods. The maximum adsorption capacity of the resin for the DR-R and DV-28 was found to be 86.1 and 179.6 mg/g, respectively. Desorption study was realized to evaluate the reusability of the resin and the percent desorption from the resin for DR-R and DV-28 dyes was found to be approximately 89.4% and 91.7%, respectively. The experimental data were evaluated using different kinetics and isotherm models. These results show that the experimental data could be designated with the second-order kinetic model and both Langmuir and Temkin isotherm models. Finally, the presented resin was able to remove large amounts of organic pollutants in a short process time with a low amount of adsorbent. Thus, it was shown that the prepared resin has high potential for use as an effective and sustainable adsorbent for the treatment of industrial wastewater. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:192–201, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Model-based testing for software safety: a systematic mapping study

Testing safety-critical systems is crucial since a failure or malfunction may result in death or serious injuries to people, equipment, or environment. An important challenge in testing is the derivation of test cases that can identify the potential faults. Model-based testing adopts models of a system under test and/or its environment to derive test artifacts. This paper aims to provide a systematic mapping study to identify, analyze, and describe the state-of-the-art advances in model-based testing for software safety. The systematic mapping study is conducted as a multi-phase study selection process using the published literature in major software engineering journals and conference proceedings. We reviewed 751 papers and 36 of them have been selected as primary studies to answer our research questions. Based on the analysis of the data extraction process, we discuss the primary trends and approaches and present the identified obstacles. This study shows that model-based testing can provide important benefits for software safety testing. Several solution directions have been identified, but further research is critical for reliable model-based testing approach for safety.     

Adsorption of Congo Red dye by native amine and carboxyl modified biomass of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Funalia trogii</Emphasis>: Isotherms,kinetics and thermodynamics mechanisms

Native, iminodiacetic acid and triethylenetetraamine modified biomasses of Funalia trogii were used for removal of Congo Red dye (CRD) from aqueous medium. The native and modified fungal biomasses were characterized using ATR-FTIR, Zeta potential, contact angle studies and analytical methods. FTIR studies of the native and chemically modified adsorbent preparations show that amine, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups are involved in the adsorption of the model dye (i.e., Congo Red). The maximum adsorption of the CRD on the native, carboxyl and amine groups modified fungal biomasses was obtained at pH 5.0. The amount of adsorbed dye on the adsorbent samples increased as the initial concentration of CRD in the solution increased to 200mg/L. The adsorption capacities of native, carboxyl groups and amine modified fungal preparations were 90.4, 153.6 and 193.7mg/g dry adsorbents, respectively. The data was fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model, and followed the pseudo-second-order equations. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG ^o , ΔH ^o and ΔS ^o ) were also calculated. The results showed that triethylenetetraamine (TETA) modified biomass of F. trogii presented an excellent dye removal performance and can be used in various environmental applications such as various micro-pollutants removal from aqueous medium.     

Evaluation of biocultural landscapes and associated ecosystem services in the region of Suğla Lake in Turkey

The purpose of this study was to evaluate biocultural landscapes and associated ecosystem services in the region of Su?la Lake located in Konya Province of Turkey. Method of the study includes four stages. In the first stage, the biodiversity function of landscapes was identified by overlapping the maps of flora and fauna and then it was evaluated by using a 1–5 score system. Second, the cultural diversity function of landscapes was evaluated by site survey and literature review. The obtained data were evaluated according to the 11 criteria by using a 1–4 score system. The analysed data were transferred on to the maps. Third, the biocultural landscapes were designated by overlapping the maps of the biodiversity and cultural diversity functions of landscapes. Finally, major ecosystem services provided by the biocultural landscapes were examined by assessing the collected data on the biodiversity and cultural diversity functions of landscapes and review of literature.     

Supplementing Holstein cows with low doses of bovine somatotropin prepartum and postpartum reduces calving-related diseases

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether supplementing Holstein cows with bovine somatotropin (bST; 142.8 mg/14 d), beginning at 21 d (±3 d) before expected calving and continuing through 42 d in milk (±3 d), affected the incidence rates of retained fetal membranes (RFM), metritis (MET), clinical mastitis (MAS), digestive problems (DIG), ketosis (KET), milk fever (MF), displaced abomasum (DA, left or right), lameness (LAM), or number of sick cows during the first 60 d in milk. Data for multiparous Holstein cows from 3 separate trials were merged for analyses (n = 437). Cows in the bST-supplemented group (n = 162) received biweekly subcutaneous injections of Posilac, whereas control cows (n = 166) and a group of cohorts (n = 109) were not supplemented. Incidences of disease were collected from the herd health records. Across all treatment groups, the incidence rates (number of diseased cows divided by the total number of cows) for RFM, MET, MAS, DIG, KET, MF, DA, and LAM were 8.47, 18.31, 16.02, 4.35, 4.35, 3.66, 3.20, and 3.66%, respectively. The incidence rates of RFM, MET, MAS, DIG, KET, MF, DA, and LAM for cows in the bST-supplemented, control, and cohort groups were 6.79, 7.83, and 11.93%; 16.05, 7.47, and 22.94%; 10.49, 18.07, and 21.10%; 1.23, 5.42, and 7.34%; 1.23, 6.02, and 6.42%; 2.47, 4.22, and 4.59%; 2.47, 3.61, and 3.67%; and 3.70, 3.61, and 3.67%, respectively. The percentages of sick cows (number of cows having one or more cases of disease divided by the total number of cows) in the bST-supplemented, control, and cohort groups were 33.95, 43.37, and 49.54%, respectively. Significant chi-squared values were detected between the bST-supplemented and control groups for MAS, DIG, and KET, with a greater number of healthy cows in the bST-supplemented group. No differences in incidences of diseases or sick cows were detected between the control and cohort groups. Results indicated that a low dose of bST supplemented to Holstein cows for 3 wk prepartum through 60 d in milk reduced the incidences of some calving-related diseases compared with nonsupplemented controls or cohorts. Importantly, no negative effects of bST supplementation on postpartum calving diseases were detected compared with nonsupplemented cows.     

Milk production from Holstein half udders after concurrent thirty- and seventy-day dry periods

The objective of this study was to use a within-cow, half-udder model to compare the effect of cessation of milk removal from mammary quarters within respective half udders at either 30 or 70 d before expected calving date (ECD) on the ability of the half udders to subsequently produce milk. Pregnant Holstein cows were assigned to control (n = 14) or treatment (TRT, n = 26) groups. All mammary quarters in the udder of cows in the control group had 70-d (68 ± 9 d) dry periods, whereas in each cow of the TRT group, 1 randomly selected half udder was dried at 70 d before ECD and the other half udder continued to be milked twice daily until dried at 30 d before ECD. From 80 through 70 d before ECD, amounts of milk produced by the left and right half udders of cows in the TRT group were measured at the first-shift milking. No differences were detected in the actual or relative amounts of milk produced by the left (3.46 ± 0.2 kg; 48.8 ± 1.0%) and the right (3.63 ± 0.2 kg; 51.2 ± 1.0%) half udders. Furthermore, the actual and relative amounts of milk produced by the half udders (n = 12 left, 14 right) subsequently dry for 67 ± 7 d (3.56 ± 0.2 kg; 50.2 ± 1.0%) and the half udders (n = 14 left, 12 right) subsequently dry for 27 ± 7 d (3.54 ± 0.2 kg; 49.8 ± 1.0%) did not differ before they were dried. However, from 3 to 100 d of the subsequent lactation, the 30-d dry half udders produced 18.9% less milk than the 70-d dry half udders (16.3 vs. 20.1 ± 1.0 kg/d). In addition, relative amounts of total-udder milk produced by the 30- and 70-d dry half udders in the same cow differed (44.9 vs. 55.1 ± 0.2%, respectively). Cows in the control group produced more milk than cows in the TRT group through 80 DIM (39.5 vs. 35.2 ± 0.6 kg/d), but not from 3 through 150 DIM (39.0 vs. 36.2 ± 1.6 kg/d). Thus, half udders that produced the same actual and relative amounts of milk before being dried did not do so when given a 30-d dry period instead of a 70-d dry period. When compared with the pre-dry value (49.8%), the relative contribution of half udders dry for 30 d to the total milk yield during the first 100 DIM was decreased by 9.8%.     

An investigation on use of colemanite powder as abrasive in abrasive waterjet cutting (AWJC)

In the present study, the cutting performance outputs (surface roughness, surface waviness and kerf taper angle) of colemanite powder as abrasive in abrasive waterjet cutting (AWJC) with varying traverse rate and abrasive flow rate were investigated experimentally. The performance outputs were compared to that of garnet which is in common use in industry as abrasive in AWJC industry. Al7075, marble, glass, Ti6Al4V and a composite material were selected as sample materials in the experiments. Furthermore, colemanite powder was mixed with garnet powder at certain proportions and the obtained surface characteristics were compared with those cut with pure garnet powder. It is found experimentally that in spite of higher amount of colemanite powder consumption with respect to garnet to perform the same cutting action, the colemanite powder could be an alternative powder for AWJC process.