Incorporation of Ru(II) Polypyridyl Complexes into Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis

Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes are compounds of great interest in cancer therapy due to their unique photophysical, photochemical, and biological properties. For effective treatment, they must be able to penetrate tumor cells effectively and selectively. The development of nanoscale carriers capable of delivering Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes has the potential to passively or selectively enhance their cellular uptake in tumor cells. Many different strategies have been explored to incorporate Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes into a variety of nanosized constructs, ranging from organic to inorganic materials. Herein, recent developments in nanomaterials loaded with Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes are highlighted. Their rational design, preparation, and physicochemical properties are described, and their potential applications in cancer therapy are eventually discussed.     

A predictive hybrid force modeling in turning: application to stainless steel dry machining with a coated groove tool

The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology - This paper presents an hybrid numerical/analytical modeling for estimation of cutting forces in machining process. The approach...     

Compressive and Tensile Behaviours of PLLA Matrix Composites Reinforced with Randomly Dispersed Flax Fibres

Nowadays, the ecological footprint of a material is becoming tremendously important. The Poly l-Lactide Acid (PLLA) matrix composites reinforced by randomly scattered flax fibres have mechanical properties similar to polyester/glass composites [1], lower environmental impacts and can be compost at the end of their lives. In this study, the mechanical characterization of biocomposites has been pushed further with the determination of the compressive and tensile properties. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of single flax fibres have been measured and implemented in a micro-mechanical estimation of the composite elastic modulus. Tensile and compressive stiffness determined by the mechanical analyses show very good correlations with the mathematical estimation.     

A priori checking inconsistencies among strategic constraints for assembly plan generation

This paper is related to the field of assembly plan generation. It describes a new approach to a priori check the consistency of an assembly strategy that is given by the assembly system designers before running an assembly plan generation algorithm. The aim of this work is to improve the assembly plan designer’s efficiency by reducing the research space while proving the existence of acceptable solutions. The assembly strategy combined with the product’s model implies a set of constraints on the assembly processes. The proposed method determines whether the given assembly strategy produces possible assembly processes. In case of inconsistencies among the strategic constraints, the method will help the designer to identify the contradictory constraints. The set of constraints can be expressed by a Boolean equation. First we present the key concepts and models related to the product, processes, and added values in the field of assembly plan generation. Second we define existing strategic constraints, and propose three new ones and a classification of strategic assembly constraints. The originality of the proposed method consists in defining an elementary strategic constraint that is used to describe every other constraint. The proposed method leads to model an assembly strategy by a single Boolean equation that is used to check the inconsistencies. An industrial case study is provided to highlight and to demonstrate the interests of this approach.     

In situ injection of THF to trigger gas hydrate crystallization: Application to the evaluation of a kinetic hydrate promoter

This paper investigates an original method to efficiently trigger gas hydrate crystallization. This method consists of an in situ injection of a small amount of THF into an aqueous phase in contact with a gas-hydrate-former phase at pressure and temperature conditions inside the hydrate metastable zone. In the presence of a CO₂–CH₄ gas mixture, our results show that the THF injection induces immediate crystallization of a first hydrate containing THF. This triggers the formation of the CO₂–CH₄ binary hydrate as proven by the pressure and temperature reached at equilibrium. This experimental method, which “cancels out” the stochasticity of the hydrate crystallization, was used to evaluate the effect of the anionic surfactant SDS at different concentrations, on the formation kinetics of the CO₂–CH₄ hydrate. The results are discussed and compared with those published in a recent article (Ricaurte et al., 2013), where THF was not injected but present in the aqueous phase from the beginning and at much higher concentrations.     

Mechanical Property of HVOF Inconel 718 Coating for Aeronautic Repair

The module of elasticity is one of the most important mechanical properties defining the strength of a material which is a prerequisite to design a component from its early stage of conception to its field of application. When a material is to be thermally sprayed, mechanical properties of the deposited layers differ from the bulk material, mainly due to the anisotropy of the highly textured coating microstructure. The mechanical response of the deposited layers significantly influences the overall performance of the coated component. It is, therefore, of importance to evaluate the effective module of elasticity of the coating. Conventional experimental methods such as microindentation, nanoindentation and four-point bending tests have been investigated and their results vary significantly, mainly due to inhomogeneous characteristics of the coating microstructure. Synchrotron radiation coupled with a tensile test rig has been proposed as an alternative method to determine the coating anisotropic elastic behavior dependence on crystallographic orientations. The investigation was performed on Inconel 718 (IN718) HVOF coatings sprayed on IN718 substrates. Combining these experimental techniques yield a deeper understanding of the nature of the HVOF coating Young’s modulus and thus a tool for Design Practice for repair applications.     

Multiparametric analysis within the proper generalized decomposition framework

Optimization campaigns, which are being launched more and more often, require the execution of many parametric studies which can make the approach very costly in terms of computation time. Here, in order to reduce these computation times, we undertake to develop a multiparametric strategy using the LATIN method along with Proper Generalized Decomposition. This approach is compared to other common strategies, especially those based on POD.