Neuroscience and architecture: What does the brain tell to an emotional experience of architecture via a functional MR study?

Environment psychologically affects individuals. According to the base of cognitive psychology, there is a direct relationship between human behavior, environment, and emotional process. Assuming that pleasantness and unpleasantness are associated with peripheral nervous system activation, the current study aims to explore if the pleasant or unpleasant architectural places can stimulate the brain regions engaged in emotions or not. As the main contribution, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measuring blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) changes to effectively detect the brain's region that mainly responds to the emotional-perceptual processes. Based on the results of examining the emotional assessment model of “Pleasure-Arousal” applied to 140 students, 30 most-rated images representing 15 pleasant and 15 unpleasant places were shown to 32 participants in a 1.5-T MRI scanner. After applying standard preprocessing steps (re-alignment, slice-timing, co-registration, segmentation, normalization, and smoothing) to functional MR images, first-level analysis was applied to each subject. The results were evaluated using statistical corrections at different levels for female and male participants with the second-level analysis. In conclusion, it has been shown that there is a significant linkage between environmental experience and brain activation so that the architectural qualities can change blood flow in specific brain regions.     

Influence of bearing ball recirculation on error motions of linear axes

For positioning systems utilizing linear guides and trucks with recirculating balls, a method is presented that uses the measured total error motions and the measured phase of ball loops within trucks to determine the influence of each ball loop on the error motions. The influence of ball recirculation on the error motions is estimated a priori via a least-squares solution based on data collected from a multitude of motion tests in which varying phases were measured by sensors integrated into the trucks. This method enables real-time estimation of performance degradations and identification of their sources.     

Optimum dynamic balancing of planar parallel manipulators based on sensitivity analysis

This paper addresses the optimum dynamic balancing of planar parallel manipulators exemplified with a 2 DOF parallel manipulator articulated with revolute joints. The dynamic balancing is formulated as an optimisation problem such that while the shaking force balancing is accomplished through analytically obtained balancing constraints, an objective function based on the sensitivity analysis of shaking moment with respect to the position, velocity and acceleration of the links is used to minimise the shaking moment. Sets of optimisation results corresponding to various combinations of the elements of the objective function are evaluated in order to quantify their influence on the resulting shaking moment, ground forces and the driving torques. The results prove that the proposed optimisation approach can be used to completely eliminate the shaking force and to minimise the shaking moment transmitted to the frame of the parallel mechanism. For parallel manipulators or mechanisms with higher degrees of freedom, for which it is virtually impossible to obtain shaking force balancing conditions analytically, we propose an alternative constrained optimisation procedure. This procedure is based on the fact that while the magnitude of either the shaking force or the shaking moment can be bounded through including a set of constraints in the optimisation algorithm, the sensitivities of the other, either those of the shaking force or the shaking moment, can be minimised.     

A review on measurement science needs for real-time control of additive manufacturing metal powder bed fusion processes

Additive manufacturing technologies are increasingly used in the development of new products. However, variations in part quality in terms of material properties, dimensional tolerances, surface roughness and defects limit its broader acceptance. Process control today based on heuristics and experimental data yields limited improvement in part quality. In an effort to identify the needed measurement science for real-time closed-loop control of additive manufacturing (AM) processes, this paper presents a literature review on the current AM control schemes, process measurements and modelling and simulation methods as it applies to the powder bed fusion process, though results from other processes are reviewed where applicable. We present our research findings to identify the correlations between process parameters, process signatures and product quality. We also present research recommendations on the key control issues to serve as a technical basis for standards development in this area. Complimentary details to this paper with summary tables, range of values, preliminary correlations and correlation figures can be accessed from a National Institute of Standards and Technology Report (http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2015/NIST.IR.8036.pdf). This paper is developed based on the report.     

Compatibilization of Poly(2,6-dimethyl-l,4-phenylene oxide) and Poly(2,6-dichloro-l,4-phenylene oxide) with Sulfonated Polystyrene and its Na and Zn-neutralized Ionomers

Compatibility of acidic (H), Na, and Zn neutralized sulfonated polystyrene ionomer blends with Poly(2,6-dimethyl- 1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) and Poly(2,6-dichloro- 1,4-phenylene oxide) (PDCIPO) was investigated by Dilute Solution Viscometry (DSV) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The intrinsic viscosities of the blends, are measured in suitable solvents. The degree of compatibility of the blends is characterized by Δb parameter. According to the results, PPO is completely miscible, except for Na-neutralized 1.7 mol% sulfonated polystyrene (Na1.7SPS) which is completely immiscible with PPO and PDClPO. PDClPO is completely miscible with Zn-neutralized sulfonated polystyrene (Zn4.8SPS) and partially miscible with acid sulfonated polystyrene (4.8SPS). Received: 12 August 2001/Revised version: 21 January 2002/Accepted: 11 March 2003 Correspondence to Leyla Aras     

Removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions by kaolinite and batch design

The removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions by kaolinite was investigated by using a batch-type method. Effects of factors such as pH, ionic strength, temperature, acid-activation and calcination on copper adsorption were investigated. The uptake of copper was determined from changes in concentration as measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The extent of copper adsorption increased with increasing pH and temperature and with decreasing ionic strength, acid-activation and calcination temperature. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were used to determine the isotherm parameters associated with the adsorption process. The results provide support for the adsorption of copper ions onto kaolinite. Thermodynamic parameters indicated the endothermic nature of copper adsorption on kaolinite. The experimental results were applied a batch design. As a result, the kaolinite may be used for removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions.     

Removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions by hazelnut shell

There is a great potential of woody hazelnut shell to use in some applications. Sorption studies are one of these. For this reason in this paper, batch adsorption of Cu(2+) ions onto hazelnut shells was studied. The capacity of the adsorption for the removal of copper ions from aqueous solution was investigated under different conditions such as solution contact time (1-360 min), particle size (0-75, 75-150 and 150-200 microm), temperature of solution (25-60 degrees ) and solution pH (3-7). Moreover, zeta potential of particles at different initial pHs (2-10) was measured. The equilibrium data were processed according to Langmuir and Freundlich's models and higher adsorption capacity values towards Cu(2+) ions were shown. The adsorption kinetics was investigated and the best fit was achieved by a second-order equation.     

Characterisation of Fuel Cell Membranes as a Function of Drying by Means of Contact Angle Measurements

In another paper in this volume, it is demonstrated that the electrochemical interface in MEAs, and thus the polarization performance of the resulting fuel cells, can be improved by optimising the hot‐pressing procedure in the MEA preparation. In particular, the extent of drying of the membrane during MEA preparation was shown to be critical. In the present investigation, the effect of the drying process, and thus water content, on the hydrophilicity, wetting, and surface energies of some fuel cell membranes is examined. Wetting and surface energies are well known to influence the bonding behaviour of materials. Conclusions about how membrane drying and changes in water content influence membrane bonding and the relative importance of these surface effects are drawn.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of poly(styrene-co-ally alcohol)-graft-stearic acid copolymers as novel solid–solid PCMs for thermal energy storage

A series of poly(styrene-co-allyalcohol)-graft-stearic acid copolymers were synthesized as novel polymeric solid–solid phase change materials (SSPCMs). The graft copolymerization reactions between poly(styrene-co-allyalcohol) and stearoyl chloride were verified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy techniques. The crystal morphology of the SSPCMs was investigated using polarized optical microscopy (POM) technique. Thermal energy storage properties of the synthesized SSPCMs were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The POM results showed that the crystalline phase of the copolymers transformed to amorphous phase above their phase transition temperatures. Thermal energy storage properties of the synthesized SSPCMs were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and found that they had typical solid–solid phase transition temperatures in the range of 27–30 °C and high latent heat enthalpy between 34 and 74 J/g. Especially, the copolymer with the mole ratio of 1/1 (poly(styrene-co-allyalcohol)/stearoyl chloride) is the most attractive one due to the highest latent heat storage capacity among them. The results of DSC and FT-IR analysis indicated that the synthesized SSPCMs had good thermal reliability and chemical stability after 5000 thermal cycles. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis results suggested that the synthesized SSPCMs had high thermal resistance. In addition, thermal conductivity measurements signified that the synthesized PCMs had higher thermal conductivity compared to that of poly(styrene-co-allyalcohol). The synthesized copolymers as novel SSPCMs have considerable potential for thermal energy storage applications such as solar space heating and cooling in buildings and greenhouses.