Pole placement with sensitivity function shaping using 2nd order digital notch filters

This technical note deals with the design of robust digital controllers using pole placement with sensitivity shaping by means of the use of digital notch (band-stop) filters. The use of this type of filters drastically simplifies the effective shaping of the sensitivity functions and the resulting procedure competes with the procedure based on the use of Q-parameterization combined with convex optimization (Automatica 35 (1999) 1111). The feasibility of the technique is illustrated by its application to the control of a very flexible arm.     

A comparative study of direct and indirect evaluation of piezoelectric properties of electrophoreticaly deposited (Ba,Ca) (Zr,Ti)O3 lead-free piezoceramics

The development and optimisation of piezoceramics are targeted usually to enhance their piezoelectric properties evaluated by both the direct or indirect measurement methods. The presented work aims to elaborate on the correlation of one direct (Berlincourt) and two indirect (convert and field-dependent) piezoelectric measurement methods on various material states. The role of the ceramic powder treatment by ball milling and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique on the determined electric properties as well as basic physical and mechanical properties of (Ba_0.85Ca_0.15) (Zr_0.1Ti_0.9)O₃ ceramics (BCZT) was investigated. It was found that the EPD technologically supported by milling allows obtaining thick and dense deposits (>2 mm). After sintering, the BCZT ceramics with a relative density of >95%, hardness in the range of 2.3–2.9 GPa and piezoelectric coefficients of d₃₃* = 940 pm/V, d_33(E=0) = 427 pm/V and d₃₃ = 364 pC/N can be achieved. Reported results also suggest that indirect (field-dependent) and direct (Berlincourt) measurements of the piezoelectric coefficients can be comparable at optimal poling conditions.     

Characterization of glow‐discharge–treated cellulose acetate membrane surfaces for single‐layer enzyme electrode studies

Cellulose acetate membranes (CA) were modified by means of plasma polymerization of ethylene diamine (EDA) and n‐butylamine (n‐BA). The motivation for this work was the application of a modified membrane for the single‐layer enzyme electrode. A tubular reactor with the external radiofrequency (13.56 MHz) excitation was used. Surface modification was performed at 5, 10, and 15 W power (at 27 Pa working pressure) for 5, 10, 15 min. Modified surfaces were characterized in detail by FTIR–ATR, XPS (ESCA), contact angle, and enzyme immobilization activity. The best treatment results were obtained for EDA with 5 W and 30 min and 15 W and 10 min. These results are discussed using surface analysis data. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1341–1352, 2001     

Comparative analysis of microstructure and fracture surfaces of blade roots

Samples of chromium stainless steel were loaded to investigate fatigue crack growth in roots of steam turbine blades. Images of the material microstructure and fracture surfaces were subjected to textural image analysis. The main steps were normalization, enhancement of fiber structures and 2D Fourier transforms. By means of analysis of spectra in the space of periods, characteristic dimensions of both image sets were investigated. The locations of three peaks of spectral functions are very close in both image sets. It may be concluded that the material microstructure is projected onto the morphology of fracture surfaces much more than was expected.     

A vibrating tube flow densitometer for measurements with corrosive solutions at temperatures up to 723 K and pressures up to 40 MPa

A new version of a vibrating tube flow densitometer has been designed permitting measurements of density differences between two fluids in the temperature range from 298 to 723 K and at pressures up to 40 MPa. The instrument is equipped with a Pt/Rh20 vibrating tube (1.6-mm o.d.) and a Pt/Rh10 transporting tube (1.2-mm o.d.) permitting measurements with highly corrosive liquids. The period of oscillation of the tube is about 7.5 ms, with a typical stability better than 10⁻⁴% over about a 1-h period over the entire temperature interval. The calibration constantK at room temperature is about 530 kg·m⁻³·ms⁻², with a temperature coefficient of approximately −0.13kg·m⁻³·ms⁻²·K⁻¹, and is practically pressure independent. It can be determined by calibration with a reproducibility generally better than 0.1%. The instrument was tested with NaCl(aq) solutions in the temperature range from 373 to 690 K for density differences between sample and reference liquid ranging from 200 to 2 kg·m⁻³; the corresponding errors are believed to be below 0.3 and 5%, respectively. A highly automated temperature control maintains the temperature of the tube stable to within ±0.02 K.     

Laminated alumina/zirconia ceramic composites prepared by electrophoretic deposition

The electrophoretic deposition of alumina and zirconia powders from isopropanolic suspension in the presence of monochloroacetic acid was studied in the constant-current regime. The different levels of electric current during deposition from 250 μA to 48 mA were used. The green density of the deposit depends on the current density and then on the particle velocity during deposition, reaching values from 58% to 61% according to the electric current used. It was found that the lower the green density of the green deposit, the larger the pores. The low green density led to low final fired density and subsequently to the low Vickers hardness HV5 ranging from 2000 to 1650 depending on electric current used. Based on these findings microlaminates having various thickness ratios to achieve different residual stress levels were prepared consisting of alternating layers of alumina and zirconia.     

A comprehensive study of soft magnetic materials based on FeSi spheres and polymeric resin modified by silica nanorods

A novel soft magnetic composite (SMC) based on spherical FeSi particles precisely covered by hybrid phenolic resin was designed. The hybrid resin including silica nano-rods chemically incorporated into the phenolic polymer matrix was prepared by the modified sol–gel method. A chemical bridge connecting silica nano-rods with the base polymeric net was verified by FTIR, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, whereas the shape and size of silica nano-rods were determined by TEM. It is shown that the modification of polymeric resin by silica nano-rods generally leads to the improved thermal and mechanical properties of the final samples. The hybrid resin serves as a perfect insulating coating deposited on FeSi particles and the core–shell particles can be further compacted by standard powder metallurgy methods in order to prepare final samples for mechanical, electric and magnetic testing. SEM images evidence negligible porosity, uniform distribution of the hybrid resin around FeSi particles, as well as, dimensional shape stability of the final samples after thermal treatment. The hardness, flexural strength and density of the final samples are comparable to the sintered SMCs, but they simultaneously exhibit much higher specific resistivity along with only slightly lower coercivity and permeability.     

The magnetic compass mechanisms of birds and rodents are based on different physical principles.

Recently, oscillating magnetic fields in the MHz-range were introduced as a useful diagnostic tool to identify the mechanism underlying magnetoreception. The effect of very weak high-frequency fields on the orientation of migratory birds indicates that the avian magnetic compass is based on a radical pair mechanism. To analyse the nature of the magnetic compass of mammals, we tested rodents, Ansell's mole-rats, using their tendency to build their nests in the southern part of the arena as a criterion whether or not they could orient. In contrast to birds, their orientation was not disrupted when a broad-band field of 0.1-10MHz of 85nT or a 1.315MHz field of 480nT was added to the static geomagnetic field of 46000nT. Even increasing the intensity of the 1.315MHz field (Zeeman frequency in the local geomagnetic field) to 4800nT, more than a tenth of the static field, the mole-rats remained unaffected and continued to build their nests in the south. These results indicate that in contrast to that of birds, their magnetic compass does not involve radical pair processes; it seems to be based on a fundamentally different principle, which probably involves magnetite.     

Physical,mechanical, and biological properties of electrophoretically deposited lithium-doped calcium phosphates

In the present work, the preparation of sintered lithium-doped tricalcium phosphates was studied, along with their physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Calcium phosphates were shaped via the use of electrophoretic deposition (EPD), using colloidally milled dispersions of hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles. The dispersions were stabilised with monochloroacetic acid. Lithium was incorporated into the structure via an addition of lithium chloride, which also served to optimise the deposition process. The dispersions were milled colloidally for periods of 0–48 h. The colloidal milling resulted in two effects: i) disintegration of the commercial HAp powder (10 µm) agglomerates, ii) unimodal distribution of the HAp particles (~ 170 nm). The fine particles of the milled HAp dispersions accelerated the deposition rate, and increased the mass of the deposit. The reduced size of the initial particles, owed to the milling, led to the superior arrangement of the particles during deposition and to reduced porosity after sintering (1050–1250 °C). The HAp decomposed into tricalcium phosphate phases during sintering. At a sintering temperature of 1250 °C, grain growth occurred, which consequently resulted in a slight degradation of the mechanical properties (reduction in hardness and Young's modulus). In contrast, the hardness and Young's modulus increased as the dispersion milling time increased (smaller grain size after sintering); however, the fracture toughness did not change. The results of the biological testing confirmed the bioactivity of the material through the growth of the apatite layer in the simulated body fluid (SBF), and the biodegradation of the prepared materials in the Tris-HCl solution. With regard to the preparation of compact lithium-doped tricalcium phosphates, the best results were obtained in the case of the sample that utilised the dispersion that was milled for 48 h, and was sintered at 1050 °C.     

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in Novel Porcine Model of Diffuse Liver Damage Induced by Repeated Biliary Obstruction

In liver surgery, biliary obstruction can lead to secondary biliary cirrhosis, a life-threatening disease with liver transplantation as the only curative treatment option. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been shown to improve liver function in both acute and chronic liver disease models. This study evaluated the effect of allogenic MSC transplantation in a large animal model of repeated biliary obstruction followed by partial hepatectomy. MSC transplantation supported the growth of regenerated liver tissue after 14 days (MSC group, n = 10: from 1087 ± 108 (0 h) to 1243 ± 92 mL (14 days); control group, n = 11: from 1080 ± 95 (0 h) to 1100 ± 105 mL (14 days), p = 0.016), with a lower volume fraction of hepatocytes in regenerated liver tissue compared to resected liver tissue (59.5 ± 10.2% vs. 70.2 ± 5.6%, p < 0.05). Volume fraction of connective tissue, blood vessels and bile vessels in regenerated liver tissue, serum levels of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) and liver metabolites (albumin, bilirubin, urea and creatinine), as well as plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and TGF-β, were not affected by MSC transplantation. In our novel, large animal (pig) model of repeated biliary obstruction followed by partial hepatectomy, MSC transplantation promoted growth of liver tissue without any effect on liver function. This study underscores the importance of translating results between small and large animal models as well as the careful translation of results from animal model into human medicine.