A Multi-Criteria Group Decision Making Methodology Using Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Sets: Application to Water Resources Management

In this paper, a new fuzzy group decision-making methodology which determines and incorporates negotiation powers of decision makers is developed. The proposed method is based on a combination of interval type-2 fuzzy sets and a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model, namely TOPSIS. To examine the applicability of the proposed methodology, it is used for finding the best scenario of allocating water and reclaimed wastewater to domestic, agricultural, and industrial water sectors and restoring groundwater quantity and quality in the Varamin region located in Tehran metropolitan area in Iran. The results show that the selected scenario leads to an acceptable groundwater conservation level during a long-term planning horizon. Although the capital cost of this scenario is high, which leads to groundwater restoration during the 34-year planning horizon, it is determined as the best allocation scenario. This scenario also entails the second least pumping cost, due to less water allocation from the groundwater. To evaluate the results of the proposed methodology, they are compared with those obtained using some well-known interval type-2 decision-making approaches including arithmetic-based, TOPSIS-based, and likelihood-based comparison methods. The Spearman correlation coefficient shows that the obtained results generally concur with those of the other methods. It is also concluded that the proposed methodology gives more reasonable results by calculating and considering the negotiation powers of decision makers in an extended TOPSIS-based group decision-making model.

     

Preparation and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/gum tragacanth/cellulose nanocomposite film

The effects of gum tragacanth obtained from two species of Astragalus Gossypinus (GT-G) and A. Parrowianus (GT-P) at two levels of 10% and 30% combined with cellulose nanofibers (CNF; 5%) on the physico-mechanical and structural properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite film were investigated in this study. The water solubility and water vapor permeability of the films decreased with increasing the content of both gums, especially in the film containing 30% GT-P. The highest values of the tensile strength (39.3 MPa) and elongation at break (445%) belonged to the treatment containing 10% GT-P (90/10P/0). The FTIR and DSC analyses confirmed good interactions between GT and PVA in the 90/10P/0 treatment. SEM images indicated the dense structure of this film as the optimum treatment. Although the presence of CNF in the films containing GT-G improved some properties, especially the Young modulus, it impaired all the functional properties of nanocomposite GT-P film.     

Characterization of minocycline loaded chitosan/polyethylene glycol/glycerol blend films as antibacterial wound dressings

Wound care has been a challenging subject for medical teams and researchers. Bacterial infections are one of the most serious complications in injured skins that often affect healing process. Antibacterial wound dressings can be used to facilitate wound healing process. The purpose of this study is to fabricate chitosan (Chito)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) antibacterial wound dressing doped with minocycline, and to evaluate the influence of composition ratio on the blending properties of the films. To improve the mechanical properties of these films, we examined various amounts of glycerol as a plasticizer. Moreover, we investigated morphological and mechanical aspects, water uptake, degradation, water vapor transmission and wettability properties of the films prepared with various ratios of Chito/PEG/Gly. Assessment of mechanical properties revealed that film containing 80:20 ratio Chito/PEG with 40 PHR Gly content exhibits the highest ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break (9.74 MPa and 45.73% respectively). Furthermore, results demonstrated that upon increasing PEG and Gly contents, degradability and hydrophilicity of the films increased whereas water uptake decreased. Water vapor transmission rate of the films was close to the range of 530–1200 g/m²d, indicating that the as formed films are possible candidates for dressing low exudate wounds or burns. Minocycline loaded films exhibited a biphasic drug release profile and it was more effective on gram-positive bacteria than on gram-negative bacteria. The polymeric film with the highest amount of loaded drug (2%) exhibited insignificant cytotoxicity (88%) against normal fibroblast cell line.     

Modeling and robust discrete LQ repetitive control of electrically driven robots

Discrete linear quadratic control has been efciently applied to linear systems as an optimal control.However,a robotic system is highly nonlinear,heavily coupled and uncertain.To overcome the problem,the robotic system can be modeled as a linear discrete-time time-varying system in performing repetitive tasks.This modeling motivates us to develop an optimal repetitive control.The contribution of this paper is twofold.For the frst time,it presents discrete linear quadratic repetitive control for electrically driven robots using the mentioned model.The proposed control approach is based on the voltage control strategy.Second,uncertainty is efectively compensated by employing a robust time-delay controller.The uncertainty can include parametric uncertainty,unmodeled dynamics and external disturbances.To highlight its ability in overcoming the uncertainty,the dynamic equation of an articulated robot is introduced and used for the simulation,modeling and control purposes.Stability analysis verifes the proposed control approach and simulation results show its efectiveness.     

Introducing realistic tire–pavement contact stresses into Pavement Analysis using Nonlinear Damage Approach (PANDA)

Realistic tire–pavement interface contact areas and stresses were incorporated into the Pavement Analysis using Nonlinear Damage Approach (PANDA) user interface (PUI). PANDA is a software library developed to simulate the complex thermo-viscoelastic–viscoplastic–viscodamage responses of the pavement to mechanical and environmental loads. The PUI is an interface generating a finite element representation of the pavement within PANDA. The application of realistic tire loading is necessary to calculate accurate pavement responses. The PUI incorporates a database of tire contact areas and stresses obtained from tire finite element simulations. The database includes tire interface characteristics with pavements for various applied loads, tire inflation pressures, vehicle speeds and scenarios of different rolling simulations. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the effect of simulations of tire contact stresses that match field measurements on viscoelastic and viscoplastic pavement responses. Pavement responses are greatly affected using realistic tire loading contact stresses and contact geometry as compared to simplified contact models. The impact on rutting and damage predictions cannot be ignored if reliable projections of pavement performance are to be made. This study confirms the importance of considering realistic three-dimensional contact stresses to design and analyse pavements.     

Optical Properties of Self‐Assembled Cellulose Nanocrystals Films Suspended at Planar–Symmetrical Interfaces

Hierarchically structured materials comprising rod‐like, chiral, nanoparticles are commonly encountered in nature as they can form assemblies with exceptional optical and mechanical characteristics. These include cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which have a large potential for the fabrication of bioinspired materials mimicking those advanced properties. Fine‐tuning the optomechanical properties of assemblies obtained from CNCs hinges on the transformations from suspensions of liquid crystals to long‐range order in the dry state. So far, associated transitions have been studied using trivial interfaces such as planar substrates. Such transitions are explored as they evolve onto meshed supports. The meshed substrate offers a complex topology, as is encountered in nature, for the formation of CNCs films. The CNCs self‐assembly occurs under confinement and support of the framework bounding the mesh openings. This leads to coexisting suspended and supported nanoparticle layers exhibiting nematic and/or chiral nematic order. Optical microscopy combined with crossed polarizers indicate that the formation of the suspended films occurs via intermediate gelation or kinetic arrest of CNCs across the mesh's open areas. The formation of self‐standing, ultrathin films of CNCs with tunable optical properties, such as selective reflections in the visible range (structural color), is demonstrated by using the presented simple and scalable approach.     

Surface characterization and biological properties of regular dentin,demineralized dentin,and deproteinized dentin

Bone autografts are often used for reconstruction of bone defects; however, due to the limitations of autografts, researchers have been in search of bone substitutes. Dentin is of particular interest for this purpose due to high similarity to bone. This in vitro study sought to assess the surface characteristics and biological properties of dentin samples prepared with different treatments. This study was conducted on regular (RD), demineralized (DemD), and deproteinized (DepD) dentin samples. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used for surface characterization. Samples were immersed in simulated body fluid, and their bioactivity was evaluated under a scanning electron microscope. The methyl thiazol tetrazolium assay, scanning electron microscope analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed, respectively to assess viability/proliferation, adhesion/morphology and osteoblast differentiation of cultured human dental pulp stem cells on dentin powders. Of the three dentin samples, DepD showed the highest and RD showed the lowest rate of formation and deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals. Although, the difference in superficial apatite was not significant among samples, functional groups on the surface, however, were more distinct on DepD. At four weeks, hydroxyapatite deposits were noted as needle-shaped accumulations on DemD sample and numerous hexagonal HA deposit masses were seen, covering the surface of DepD. The methyl thiazol tetrazolium, scanning electron microscope, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses during the 10-day cell culture on dentin powders showed the highest cell adhesion and viability and rapid differentiation in DepD. Based on the parameters evaluated in this in vitro study, DepD showed high rate of formation/deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals and adhesion/viability/osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells, which may support its osteoinductive/osteoconductive potential for bone regeneration.     

Biosynthesis of waste pistachio shell supported silver nanoparticles for the catalytic reduction processes

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) are immobilised on pistachio shell surface by Cichorium intybus L. leaves extract as an antioxidant media. The Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope analyses confirmed the support of silver NPs on the pistachio shell (Ag NPs/pistachio shell). Ag NPs on the pistachio shell had a diameter basically in the 10–15 nm range. Reduction reactions of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP), and organic dyes at ambient condition were used in the investigation of the catalytic performance of the prepared catalyst. Through this research, the Ag NPs/pistachio shell shows a high activity and recyclability, and reusability without loss of its catalytic activity.Inspec keywords: transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticles, X‐ray diffraction, catalysis, nanofabrication, dyes, X‐ray chemical analysis, reduction (chemical), silver, catalysts, Fourier transform infrared spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopyOther keywords: waste pistachio shell, silver nanoparticles, catalytic reduction processes, pistachio shell surface, antioxidant media, infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope analyses, reduction reactions, catalytic performance, catalytic activity, Cichorium intybus L. leaves extract, size 10.0 nm to 15.0 nm, Ag     

A new combination of artificial neural network and <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-nearest neighbors models to predict blast-induced ground vibration and air-overpressure

Blasting operation is widely used method for rock excavation in mining and civil works. Ground vibration and air-overpressure (AOp) are two of the most detrimental effects induced by blasting. So, evaluation and prediction of ground vibration and AOp are essential. This paper presents a new combination of artificial neural network (ANN) and K-nearest neighbors (KNN) models to predict blast-induced ground vibration and AOp. Here, this combination is abbreviated using ANN-KNN. To indicate performance of the ANN-KNN model in predicting ground vibration and AOp, a pre-developed ANN as well as two empirical equations, presented by United States Bureau of Mines (USBM), were developed. To construct the mentioned models, maximum charge per delay (MC) and distance between blast face and monitoring station (D) were set as input parameters, whereas AOp and peak particle velocity (PPV), as a vibration index, were considered as output parameters. A database consisting of 75 datasets, obtained from the Shur river dam, Iran, was utilized to develop the mentioned models. In terms of using three performance indices, namely coefficient correlation (R ²), root mean square error and variance account for, the superiority of the ANN-KNN model was proved in comparison with the ANN and USBM equations.     

Nano levels detection of beryllium by a novel beryllium PVC-based membrane sensor based on 2,3,5,6,8,9-hexahydro-1,4,7,10-benzotetra oxacyclododecine-12-carbaldehyde-12-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hy

A novel poly(vinyl chloride)-based 2,3,5,6,8,9-hexahydro-1,4,7,10-benzotetra oxacyclododecine-12-carbaldehyde-12-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hy (PBC) with sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) as an anion excluder, benzyl acetate (BA), acetophenon (AP) and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (NPOE) as plasticizing solvent mediators was prepared and investigated as a beryllium selective sensor. The best performance was observed with the membrane having the PVC–NaTPB–NPOE–PBC composition 30%:3%:62%:5%, which worked well over a very wide concentration range (1.0×10⁻⁷ M to 1.0×10⁻¹ M). The sensor exhibits a Nernstian slope of 29.9 mV per decade of Be²⁺ activity. The detection limit of the sensor is 7.0×10⁻⁸ M (630 ppt). The proposed electrode shows excellent discriminating ability toward Be²⁺ ion with regard to alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. It was successfully applied to the determination of beryllium in a mineral sample.