Firework inspired load balancing approach for wireless sensor networks

Wireless Networks - In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), where power consumption is a huge concern, the improvement of the network’s lifetime is an area of constant study and innovation. The...     

Interdisciplinary research: roles for self-organization

No generally accepted principles and guidelines currently exist to help engineers design local interaction mechanisms that result in a desired global behavior. However, several communities have developed ways of approaching this problem in the context of niched application areas. Because the ideas underlying these approaches are often obscured or underemphasized in technical papers, the authors review the role of self-organization in their work. They provide a better picture of the status of the emerging field of self-organizing systems or autonomic computing.     

Secondary web-flange interaction in framed-tube buildings

In the conventional plane-frame model of framed-tube buildings, only the primary interaction between the web frame and the flange frame is considered, through vertical shear transfer at corner columns. In addition to this, a secondary interaction takes place due to horizontal shear transfer at each floor level, through the floor slab having high in-plane rigidity. This interaction causes a discrepancy in member forces of a few bottom and top storeys. A simple modification is suggested in the form of an additional cantilever column connected to the conventional plane-frame model by axial force transfer members at every floor level. The improved model yields member forces in all the storeys that are very close to those obtained using 3D analysis.     

Healing substrates with mobile, particle-filled microcapsules: designing a 'repair and go' system.

We model the rolling motion of a fluid-driven, particle-filled microcapsule along a heterogeneous, adhesive substrate to determine how the release of the encapsulated nanoparticles can be harnessed to repair damage on the underlying surface. We integrate the lattice Boltzmann model for hydrodynamics and the lattice spring model for the micromechanics of elastic solids to capture the interactions between the elastic shell of the microcapsule and the surrounding fluids. A Brownian dynamics model is used to simulate the release of nanoparticles from the capsule and their diffusion into the surrounding solution. We focus on a substrate that contains a damaged region (e.g. a crack or eroded surface coating), which prevents the otherwise mobile capsule from rolling along the surface. We isolate conditions where nanoparticles released from the arrested capsule can repair the damage and thereby enable the capsules to again move along the substrate. Through these studies, we establish guidelines for designing particle-filled microcapsules that perform a 'repair and go' function and thus, can be utilized to repair damage in microchannels and microfluidic devices.     

An efficient neural-network model for real-time fault detection in industrial machine

Neural Computing and Applications - Induction machines have extensive demand in industries as they are used for large-scale production and, therefore, vulnerable to both electrical and mechanical...     

A Newly Developed Synbiotic Yogurt Prevents Diabetes by Improving the Microbiome–Intestine–Pancreas Axis

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing worldwide, and there are no long-term preventive strategies to stop this growth. Emerging research shows that perturbations in the gut microbiome significantly contribute to the development of T2D, while microbiome modulators may be beneficial for T2D prevention. However, microbiome modulators that are effective, safe, affordable, and able to be administered daily are not yet available. Based on our previous pro- and prebiotic studies, we developed a novel synbiotic yogurt comprised of human-origin probiotics and plant-based prebiotics and investigated its impact on diet- and streptozotocin-induced T2D in mice. We compared the effects of our synbiotic yogurt to those of a commercially available yogurt (control yogurt). Interestingly, we found that the feeding of the synbiotic yogurt significantly reduced the development of hyperglycemia (diabetes) in response to high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin compared to milk-fed controls. Surprisingly, the control yogurt exacerbated diabetes progression. Synbiotic yogurt beneficially modulated the gut microbiota composition compared to milk, while the control yogurt negatively modulated it by significantly increasing the abundance of detrimental bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, the synbiotic yogurt protected pancreatic islet morphology compared to the milk control, while the control yogurt demonstrated worse effects on islets. These results suggest that our newly developed synbiotic yogurt protects against diabetes in mice and can be used as a therapeutic to prevent diabetes progression.     

Thio Sol–Gel Process for the Synthesis of Titanium Disulfide

A thio sol–gel process for the synthesis of titanium disulfide using titanium alkoxide as the metal source is demonstrated. The alkoxide reacts at room temperature with H₂S to form a precipitate which is a precursor to the sulfide. Through infrared spectroscopy and chemical analysis of the powder and gas chromatographic analysis of the liquid byproducts of the reaction, it is shown that a partially sulfidized alkoxide precursor forms through the displacement of alkoxy groups from the alkoxide by sulfur-bearing thiol groups. This thiolysis reaction is very similar to that which occurs in the case of sol–gel reactions to form oxides. The alkoxy–thiol species then undergo condensation–polymerization by the liberation of H₂S. When it is heat-treated in H₂S, this precursor transforms to TiS₂ at ∼700°C. Systematic heat treatments have been performed and the formation of TiS₂ has been observed using X-ray diffractometry. The change in the morphology has also been studied using scanning electron microscopy.     

Thiophene-based dendronized macromonomers and polymers

The synthesis of thiophene-containing second (G2) and third generation (G3) dendronized macromonomers with methacrylate polymerizable units as well as their corresponding dendronized polymers is reported. The dendrons are prepared from branched thiophene oligomers and are decorated with straight alkyl chains for solubility reasons. The polymerization reactions were done with AIBN as initiator and the polymers were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and GPC. Molar masses are in the range of 2.2-5.4 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹ (G2) and 1.3-3.0 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹ (G3) for different runs. These polymers are investigated by cyclic voltammetry and optical spectroscopy.     

Damage Development and Moduli Reductions in Nicalon—Calcium Aluminosilicate Composites under Static Fatigue and Cyclic Fatigue

Unidirectional and cross-ply Nicalon fiber-reinforced calcium aluminosilicate (CAS) glass-ceramic composite specimens were subjected to tension–tension cyclic fatigue and static fatigue loadings. Microcrack densities, longitudinal Young's modulus, and major Poisson's ratio were measured at regular intervals of load cycles and load time. The matrix crack (0° plies) density and transverse crack (90° plies) density increased gradually with fatigue cycles and load time. The crack growth is environmentally driven and depends on the maximum load and time. Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio decreased gradually with fatigue cycles and load time. The saturation crack densities under fatigue loadings were found to be comparable to those under monotonic loading. A matrix crack growth limit strain exists, below which matrix cracks do not grow significantly under fatigue loading. This limit coincides with the matrix crack initiation strain. Linear correlations between crack density and moduli reductions obtained from quasi-static data can predict the moduli reductions under cyclic loading, using experimentally measured crack densities. A logarithmic correlation can predict the Young's modulus reduction in a limited stress range. A fatigue crack growth model is proposed to explain the presence of two distinct regimes of crack growth and Young's modulus reduction.