Transesterification of edible and non-edible oils over basic solid Mg/Zr catalysts

A series of Mg–Zr catalysts with varying Mg to Zr ratios was prepared by co-precipitation method. These catalysts were characterized by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photo electron spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption of CO₂. The catalytic activity of these catalysts was evaluated for the room temperature transesterification of both edible and non-edible oils to their corresponding fatty acid methyl esters. The catalyst with Mg/Zr (2:1 wt./wt.%) exhibited exceptional activity towards transesterification reaction within short reaction time. The effects of different reaction parameters such as catalyst to oil mass ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time and methanol to oil molar ratio were studied to optimize the reaction conditions. The reasons for the observed activity of these catalysts are discussed in terms of their basicity and other physico-chemical properties.     

On the Performance of Various 5G Signals Sensing Based on Hybrid Filter

International Journal of Wireless Information Networks - The 5G wireless communication system is promised to exploit many kinds of waveform for satisfying various requirements to transmit huge size...     

AB-DAM: attribute-based data access model in blockchain for healthcare applications

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This research introduces a novel attribute-based data access model in Blockchain (AB-DAM) Framework in Healthcare Systems to enhance the authentication of the...     

Attentional networks for music generation

Realistic music generation has always remained as a challenging problem as it may lack structure or rationality. In this work, we propose a deep learning based music generation method in order to produce old style music particularly JAZZ with rehashed melodic structures utilizing a Bi-directional Long Short Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) Neural Network with attention. Owing to the success in modelling long-term temporal dependencies in sequential data and its success in case of videos, Bi-LSTMs with attention serves as a natural choice and early utilization in music generation. We validate in our experiments that Bi-LSTMs with attention are able to preserve the richness and technical nuances of the music performed.

     

Development of a Multi-phase AlCuTaVW High-Entropy Alloy Using Powder Metallurgy Route and its Mechanical Properties

Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals - Equiatomic AlCuTaVW high-entropy alloy (HEA) composition have resulted in a single-phase solid solution with a bcc crystal structure after...     

Dynamic routing under recurrent and non-recurrent congestion using real-time ITS information

In just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing environments, on-time delivery is a key performance measure for dispatching and routing of freight vehicles. Growing travel time delays and variability, attributable to increasing congestion in transportation networks, are greatly impacting the efficiency of JIT logistics operations. Recurrent and non-recurrent congestion are the two primary reasons for delivery delay and variability. Over 50% of all travel time delays are attributable to non-recurrent congestion sources such as incidents. Despite its importance, state-of-the-art dynamic routing algorithms assume away the effect of these incidents on travel time. In this study, we propose a stochastic dynamic programming formulation for dynamic routing of vehicles in non-stationary stochastic networks subject to both recurrent and non-recurrent congestion. We also propose alternative models to estimate incident induced delays that can be integrated with dynamic routing algorithms. Proposed dynamic routing models exploit real-time traffic information regarding speeds and incidents from Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) sources to improve delivery performance. Results are very promising when the algorithms are tested in a simulated network of South-East Michigan freeways using historical data from the MITS Center and Traffic.com.     

Thermomechanical properties and morphology of polyethylene oxide and phenolic resole blends

Blends of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and resole type phenolic resin were prepared by a solution cast method using water as a solvent. The cured blends were made by heat curing without using any catalyst. The blends were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), which indicated that PEO forms compatible blend with the resole. The glass transition values, read from the DMA traces, showed a positive shift as compared to the theoretical values calculated by the Fox equation. This suggests a strong H‐bonding interaction between the phenolic resole and PEO as established by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Flexural test indicated an enhanced flexibility of the blends when compared to the neat phenolic resin. The fracture surface analysis by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed an increase in plastic deformation with increasing PEO concentration in the blend. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Dynamic Voltage Restorer with Active Disturbance Rejection Control

Power quality is one of the major concerns among consumers and electric utility companies. CUPS （custom power systems） devices are used to improve the quality of power and enhance the reliability of the power supply in the distribution networks. The DVR （dynamic voltage restorer） is an important CUPS device used to mitigate voltage sag/swell and imbalances. Various control techniques have been implemented to control the DVR, among which the PID （proportional-integral-derivative） controller is dominant because of its model independent property and its error driven technique. In this paper, a new controller based on the ADRC （active disturbance rejection control） concept is developed, and its performance is compared to that of the PID controller. The model of the DVR and its ADRC and PID controllers were developed under the MATLAB （matrix laboratory）/Simulink environment. The simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness of the ADRC over the PID controller.     

Moisture diffusion through nanoclay/vinylester processed using twin‐screw extrusion

This research concerns moisture absorption through nanoclay/vinylester composites in artificial seawater medium and the resulting properties of degradation. Cloisite 15A, an organomodified nanoclay, and Cloisite Na, a naturally occurring nanoclay, were studied to examine the influence of organomodification on the moisture ingress behavior of the nanocomposites processed by using ultrasonication and twin‐screw extrusion. Although X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed exfoliation of Cloisite 15A in vinylester, Cloisite Na was only intercalated. Moisture diffusivity decreased by 72% due to the addition of 5 wt% of Cloisite 15A to vinylester. However, the same increased in the case of the addition of Cloisite Na, suggesting a positive influence of the organomodification on the moisture barrier properties. Although Fick's Law of Diffusion showed deviation from the experimental data in the nonlinear region of moisture absorption as a function of duration of exposure, the Langmuir Model was in better agreement with the experimental data in the entire range. (Cloisite 15A)/vinylester showed lower levels of microhardness deterioration due to moisture absorption than that of (Cloisite Na)/vinylester. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 20:152–159, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Catalysis of a β-elimination applying membranes with incorporated molecularly imprinted polymer particles

Summary Molecularly imprinted membranes are known to be applicable as recognition elements in separation, extraction and sensors, however, not as catalysts. In this paper, two different formats of molecularly imprinted membranes were generated and used as catalysts in a dehydrofluorination reaction. The first format was based on cellulose filter membranes which were coated with a polymer imprinted with a transition-state analogue of the chosen reaction. Alternatively, ground bulk polymers have been incorporated in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrices on cellulose membranes. Both types of membranes were evaluated in membrane reactors. Either the substrate solution was pumped once only through the membrane, or the substrate solution was recirculated through the membrane. The coated membranes did not show any specific catalytic effect when comparing the molecularly imprinted with a non-imprinted control polymer membrane. Nevertheless, the PVA membranes containing the imprinted polymer particles showed specific catalytic effects, compared to PVA membranes with incorporated non-imprinted control polymer particles.