Effect of amount, size, and spatial distribution of intermetallics on incipient localization during plastic deformation

Virtual microstructures having a systematic variation of amount, mean size, standard deviation of size, and spatial arrangement of intermetallics have been synthesized, and their deformation behavior in uniaxial tension has been evaluated using finite element analysis. Four spatial arrangements of intermetallics have been considered in this work, namely: random, clustered, and two-ordered structures. Various mathematical quantities have been developed to quantify the severity of deformation including plastic work density distribution (PWDD), percentile work-density volume criterion (PWC), and percentile stress volume criterion (PSC). This approach eliminates the need for an external trigger in FEA to achieve localization. The method developed has led to a better understanding of the effect of different microstructural attributes on the process of deformation. This has resulted in guidelines for optimizing the microstructure to minimize material damage and thereby maximize ductility.     

International Symposium on Wearable Computing (ISWC) 2008

The 12th International Symposium on Wearable Computing (ISWC) was held in Pittsburgh in September 2008. It is one of the longest-running conferences focusing on aspects of pervasive and mobile computing. With over 60 submissions, the program committee selected eight long papers, seven short papers, and nine posters for the conference (a 26 percent acceptance rate for long papers). Sessions, which were presented over two days, covered location mapping, mobile phones and human interfaces, activity recognition, activity support, and power and system integration.     

Note-against-note two-voice counterpoint by means of fuzzy logic

In this study, we propose a fuzzy logic based approach for the ‘harmonization with constraints’ problem in music. After the mathematical modeling of the harmonization problem, the solution is carried out by means of proper fuzzy membership functions depending on the rules imposed by the music theory. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed technique, particular problems of note-against-note two-voice counterpoint are considered. The method is flexible, adaptable and simple in terms of implementation. Moreover, from the constraint satisfaction perspective, the solutions generated by the method satisfy ‘arc-consistency’; which could not have been achieved by majority of the previous studies existing in the literature. The method also provides a gateway for the arranger/composer to incorporate his/her own stylistic preferences to the solution by simply adjusting the shapes of the membership functions. Additional features (such as providing variability in the final solutions at different executions) increase the power of the method in terms of creativity. This approach can be extended for the solution of more complicated problems in music such as orchestration, improvisation, and even composition.     

Formation of Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Nanocomposites

Hybrid inorganic/organic nanocomposites were produced by the exposure of spun films of octa-(benzo-15-crown-5)-substituted phthalocyanine of Cd(II) to an environment of hydrogen sulfide gas. The formation of cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots in the metal free phthalocyanine matrix was identified in the phthalocyanine matrix from atomic force microscopy images. The mean size of CdS quantum dots was estimated to be 2–3 nm, from optical absorption and Raman spectra for the nanocomposites.     

Vanadium pentoxide: Synthesis and characterization of nanorod and nanoparticle V2O5 using CTAB micelle solution

Using a surfactant-mediated method (surfactant based on cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, CTAB) V₂O₅ nanorod and nanoparticles have been successfully prepared. Morphologies of V₂O₅ nanostructures can be controlled by applying different precursors and by varying reaction conditions within the CTAB soft template. With ammonium metavanadate and sulfuric acid as precursors, nanoparticles are synthesized in the size range of 45–160 nm. Precursors of vanadyl sulfate hydrate and sodium hydroxide yield vanadium pentoxide nanorods with diameters of 30–90 nm and lengths of 260–600 nm. The resulting products are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (VPSEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) is included to test catalytic performance. The results show that V₂O₅ nanoparticles and nanorods achieve better catalytic performance compared to bulk V₂O₅, i.e. lower onset temperature, workability at lower temperatures, and higher H₂ consumption (μmol/g).     

Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of Mannose Receptor in Zebra Fish (Danio rerio) during Infection with Aeromonas sobria

Mannose receptor (MR) is a member of pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), which plays a significant role in immunity responses. Much work on MR has been done in mammals and birds while little in fish. In this report, a MR gene (designated as zfMR) was cloned from zebra fish (Danio rerio), which is an attractive model for the studies of animal diseases. The full-length cDNA of zfMR contains 6248 bp encoding a putative protein of 1428 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequences showed that zfMR contained a cysteine-rich domain, a single fibronectin type II (FN II) domain, eight C-type lectin-like domains (CTLDs), a transmembrane domain and a short C-terminal cytoplasmic domain, sharing highly conserved structures with MRs from the other species. The MR mRNA could be detected in all examined tissues with highest level in kidney. The temporal expression patterns of MR, IL-1β and TNF-α mRNAs were analyzed in the liver, spleen, kidney and intestine post of infection with Aeromonas sobria. By immunohistochemistry assay, slight enhancement of MR protein was also observed in the spleen and intestine of the infected zebra fish. The established zebra fish-A. sobria infection model will be valuable for elucidating the role of MR in fish immune responses to infection.     

Fatigue properties of hemp and glass fiber composites

The fatigue properties of nonwoven randomly oriented short hemp fiber mat and chopped strand mat (CSM) glass fiber reinforced polyester composites have been studied, mainly in tension–tension mode. Despite having poorer absolute fatigue strength, the hemp fiber composites exhibited less fatigue sensitivity as compared with the CSM glass fiber composites in tension–tension fatigue. This could be correlated with the lower stiffness degradation observed during fatigue of the hemp fiber composites as compared with the glass fiber composites at the same normalized peak stress levels. Also, images recorded during fatigue loading showed that the hemp fiber composites were better at resisting crack formation and growth than the glass fiber composites. These results suggest that hemp fiber composites have the potential to replace glass fiber composites in applications where components are subjected to fatigue loads but the stress levels are of moderate value. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1926–1934, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Scheduling∕Cost Optimization and Neural Dynamics Model for Construction

A general mathematical formulation is presented for the scheduling of construction projects and is applied to the problem of highway construction scheduling. Repetitive and nonrepetitive tasks, work continuity constraints, multiple-crew strategies, and the effects of varying job conditions on the performance of a crew can be modeled. An optimization formulation is presented for the construction project scheduling problem, with the goal of minimizing the direct construction cost. The nonlinear optimization is then solved by the neural dynamics model developed recently by Adeli and Park. For any given construction duration, the model yields the optimum construction schedule for minimum construction cost automatically. By varying the construction duration, one can solve the cost-duration trade-off problem and obtain the global optimum schedule and the corresponding minimum construction cost. The new construction scheduling model provides the capabilities of both the critical path method (CPM) and linear scheduling method (LSM) approaches. In addition, it provides features desirable for repetitive projects, such as highway construction, and allows schedulers greater flexibility. It is particularly suitable for studying the effects of change order on the construction cost. This research provides the mathematical foundation for development of a new generation of more general, flexible, and accurate construction scheduling systems.     

Analysis of Resistive Open Defects in Drowsy SRAM Cells

New fault behaviors can emerge with the introduction of a drowsy mode to SRAMs. In this work, we show that, in addition to the data-retention faults that can occur during the drowsy mode, open defects in SRAM cells can also result in new fault behaviors when a memory is accessed immediately after wake-up. We first describe these new read-after-drowsy (RAD) fault behaviors and derive their corresponding fault primitives (FPs). Then, we propose a new March test, called March RAD, by inserting drowsy operations to a traditional test algorithm. Finally, the impact of the standby supply voltage on triggering the drowsy faults in SRAM cells is investigated. It is shown that, as the supply voltage is reduced in the drowsy mode to further cut down leakage, open defects with a parasitic resistance as small as 100 K Ω begin to cause faults.