Real time object detection and trackingsystem for video surveillance system

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This paper introduces a system capable of real-time video surveillance in low-end edge computing environment by combining object detection tracking algorithm....     

Molecular modeling guided isotope separation of gadolinium with strong cation exchange resin using displacement chromatography

Molecular modeling was carried out using DFT to identify the suitable displacing agent for carrying out Gd isotope separation using displacement chromatography. EDTA was identified as the best eluting agent among EDTA, malic acid and citric acid. Displacement chromatography of Gd adsorption band in cation exchange resin was performed to observe the isotope effects in the Gd ion exchange processes involving complex forming reagent – EDTA. The heavier isotope of ¹⁶⁰Gd was found to be enriched at the front boundary of Gd adsorption band, while the lighter isotopes of ¹⁵⁵Gd and ¹⁵⁷Gd were enriched at the rear boundary.     

Enhancement of properties of recycled coarse aggregate concrete using bacteria

Due to rapid construction, necessity for raw materials of concrete, especially coarse aggregate, tends to increase the danger of early exhaustion of the natural resources. An alternative source of raw materials would perhaps delay the advent of this early exhaustion. Recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) plays a great role as an alternative raw material that can replace the natural coarse aggregate (NCA) for concrete. Previous studies show that the properties of RCA concrete are inferior in quality compared to NCA concrete. This article attempts to study the improvement of properties of RCA concrete with the addition of bacteria named as Bacillus subtilis. The experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the improvement of the compressive strength, capillary water absorption, and drying shrinkage of RCA concrete incorporating bacteria. The compressive strength of RCA concrete is found to be increased by about 20% when the cell concentration of B. subtilis is 10⁶ cells/ml. The capillary water absorption as well as drying shrinkage of RCA are reduced when bacteria is incorporated. The improvement of RCA concrete is confirmed to be due to the calcium carbonate precipitation as observed from the microstructure studies carried out on it such as EDX, SEM, and XRD.     

Vapour–liquid slip in a parallel-plate electrochemical fluorination reactor

A mathematical model was used to study the effect of slip between the gas and liquid phases on the performance of an electrochemical fluorination reactor. The model incorporates two-phase flow with differential material, energy and pressure balances. The effect of slip on the temperature, pressure, gas fraction and current distribution in the reactor is presented under relatively severe operating conditions. In addition, the effect of slip on the cell voltage, current efficiency and energy usage is shown at different flow rates over a wide current range. It was found that slip of the gas past the liquid is insignificant under normal operating conditions, but it is significant at high cell currents and low flow rates. Under these more severe operating conditions, slip significantly reduces the cell voltage, and hence the energy usage, since less gas resides in the reactor.     

Epoxidized linolenic acid salts as multifunctional additives for the thermal stability of plasticized PVC

Calcium and zinc salts of epoxidized linolenic acid were synthesized and used as multifunctional additives, to minimize or prevent the reaction of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) with liberated hydrochloric acid (HCl) during the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in particular. These metal epoxy salts were incorporated as thermal stabilizers for both diisodecyl phthalate and ESO–plasticized PVC blends that underwent thermal degradation studies at 170°C. The overall performance of these metal epoxy salts was examined by thermal gravimetric analysis and visual color retention of the PVC blends. The weight loss profiles of the metal salt stabilized PVC were comparable to those of blends containing metal stearates. There were, however, vast improvements in color retention of the plasticized PVC using these novel additives. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41736.     

Effect of primary alpha phase variation on mechanical behaviour of Ti–6Al–4V alloy

Small punch tests (SPTs) have been carried out at room temperature to correlate the microstructural variation of Ti–6Al–4V alloy with that of SPT parameters. Microstructural variation in terms of different volume fractions of primary alpha phase of Ti–6Al–4V alloy has been introduced as a result of solution annealing at different temperatures followed by thermal aging. Small punch test parameters, i.e. total area under the load vs displacement curve, area under the zone of elastic bending, plastic bending and plastic instability have been found to increase from the content of 10% primary alpha phase to 20% primary alpha phase and then these are decreasing from the content of 20% primary alpha phase to 30% primary alpha phase.     

The Change of X‐ray Diffraction Peak Width During in situ Conventional Sintering of Nanoscale Powders

Diffraction peaks of nanoscale particles of 3 mol% yttria‐stabilized zirconia become sharper as the powder sinters. The reduction in the peak width is correlated with the increase in density. The sharpening of the peak agrees reasonably well with the remaining free surface area as the sample sinters. Therefore, high curvature of the free surface of the pores is assumed to lead to peak broadening (the grain boundaries that grow at the expense of the free surfaces of the pores do not have this curvature). The change in the grain size during sintering does not make a significant contribution to peak width.     

Studies of cryotreatment on the performance of integral diaphragm pressure transducers for space application

The integral diaphragm pressure transducers machined out of precipitation hardened martensite stainless steel (APX4) are widely used for propellant pressure measurements in space applications. These transducers are expected to exhibit dimensional stability and linearity for their entire useful life. These vital factors are very critical for the reliable performance and dependability of the pressure transducers. However, these transducers invariably develop internal stresses during various stages of machining. These stresses have an adverse effect on the performance of the transducers causing deviation from linearity. In order to eliminate these possibilities, it was planned to cryotreat the machined transducers to improve both the long-term linearity and dimensional stability. To study these effects, an experimental cryotreatment unit was designed and developed based on the concept of indirect cooling using the concept of cold nitrogen gas forced closed loop convection currents. The system has the capability of cryotreating large number of samples for varied rates of cooling, soaking and warm-up. After obtaining the initial levels of residual stress and retained austenite using X-ray diffraction techniques, the pressure transducers were cryotreated at 98 K for 36 h. Immediately after cryotreatment, the transducers were tempered at 510 °C for 3 h in vacuum furnace. Results after cryo treatment clearly indicated significant reduction in residual stress levels and conversion of retained austenite to martensite. These changes have brought in improvements in long term zero drift and dimensional stability. The cryotreated pressure transducers have been incorporated for actual space applications.