Ceramic fuel cells using novel proton-conducting BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.1Yb0.05Zn0.05O3-δ electrolyte

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Protonic ceramic fuel cells have become extremely interesting due to their high power output at the intermediate temperature range...     

An equivalent von Mises stress and corresponding equivalent plastic strain for elastic–plastic ordinary peridynamics

Meccanica - Simple formulas for calculating equivalent von Mises stress and von Mises effective plastic strain in an elastic–plastic ordinary peridynamic analysis are proposed. The equivalent...     

On using mesh-based and mesh-free methods in problems defined by Eringen’s non-local integral model: issues and remedies

With the recent success of nonlocal theories in modeling of engineering problems involving small intrinsic length scales, such as modeling of crack propagation, this paper addresses issues pertaining to cost-ineffectiveness of Eringen’s integral model. The cost effectiveness of the computation may be considered as a twofold issue; one pertaining to the non-local model and another pertaining to the numerical tool. First of all, we shall show that during the solution of problems with Eringen’s non-local integral model, there is no need to consider the integral model for the whole computational domain. In fact, the problems may be solved by just using the integral model close to the boundaries, i.e. a boundary layer effect, or around the points with singularities. In this paper we propose a partitioning strategy to remarkably reduce the computational cost. This may be considered as a gateway for solving some types of two-scale problems, e.g. those with macro/micro and nano scales, in which the small scale effects are localized just at parts of the domain. To demonstrate the efficiency of the numerical tools, we examine the performance of the finite element method (FEM), the element free Galerkin method (EFG) and the finite point method (FPM). This paves the way for using mesh-free methods in the solution of problems with non-local integral models. Examples with smooth and non-smooth solutions are considered for examining the efficiency of the methods. It will be shown that, by considering the boundary layer effect, the FEM and FPM will be efficient enough for being used in problems defined by Eringen’s non-local integral model.

     

A Novel Method for Permeability Estimation from Micro-tomographic Images

Transport in Porous Media - A methodology has been developed to create a pore network model (PNM) from the geometrical/topological information extracted from the micro-tomographic images of a...     

On Interface Conditions for Flows in Coupled Free-Porous Media

Transport in Porous Media - Many processes in nature (e.g., physical and biogeochemical processes in hyporheic zones, and arterial mass transport) occur near the interface of free-porous media. A...     

On the response of MEMS resonators under generic electrostatic loadings: experiments and applications

Nonlinear Dynamics - We present an investigation of the dynamic behavior of an electrostatically actuated clamped–clamped microbeam, under the simultaneous excitation of primary and...     

Mo (CO)6‐assisted Pd‐supported magnetic graphene oxide‐catalyzed carbonylation‐cyclization as an efficient way for the synthesis of 4(3H)‐quinazolinones

In this paper, a novel catalyst is introduced based on the immobilization of palladium on modified magnetic graphene oxide nanoparticles. The catalyst is characterized by several methods, including transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray fluorescence, vibrating‐sample magnetometer, Fourier transform‐infrared and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The activity of the catalyst was investigated in the synthesis of 4(3H)‐quinazolinones via Pd‐catalyzed carbonylation‐cyclization of N‐(2‐bromoaryl) benzimidamides by Mo (CO)₆. The Mo (CO)₆ is used as a carbon monoxide source for performing the reaction under mild conditions. The catalyst showed good reusability, and no change in activity was observed after 10 cycles of recovery.     

Preparation,characterization, and assessment of cytotoxicity,antioxidant, antibacterial,antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing properties of titanium nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam leaves

In recent decades, nanotechnology is growing rapidly owing to its widespread application in science and industry. The aim of the experiment was chemical characterization and evaluation of cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing activities of titanium nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam leaves (TiNPs@Ziziphora). These nanoparticles were characterized by fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–visible spectroscopy. The synthesized TiNPs@Ziziphora had great cell viability dose‐dependently (Investigating the effect of the plant on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cell line) and revealed this method was nontoxic. Then, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging test was done to assess the antioxidant properties, which indicated similar antioxidant potentials for TiNPs@Ziziphora and butylated hydroxytoluene. Agar diffusion tests were applied to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were specified by macro‐broth dilution assay. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software (Duncan post‐hoc test). TiNPs@Ziziphora indicated higher antibacterial and antifungal effects than all standard antibiotics (p ≤ 0.01). Also, TiNPs@Ziziphora inhibited the growth of all bacteria at 2‐16 mg/ml concentrations and removed them at 2‐32 mg/ml concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In case of antifungal properties of TiNPs@Ziziphora, they prevented the growth of all fungi at 2‐8 mg/ml concentrations and destroyed them at 2‐16 mg/ml concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In vivo experiment, after creating the cutaneous wound, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: untreated control, treatment with Eucerin basal ointment, treatment with 3% tetracycline ointment, treatment with 0.2% TiO₂ ointment, treatment with 0.2% Z. clinopodioides ointment, and treatment with 0.2% TiNPs@Ziziphora ointment. These groups were treated for 10 days. For histopathological and biochemical analysis of the healing trend, a 3 × 3 cm section was prepared from all dermal thicknesses at day 10. Use of TiNPs@Ziziphora ointment in the treatment groups substantially reduced (p ≤ 0.01) the wound area, total cells, neutrophil, and lymphocyte and remarkably raised (p ≤ 0.01) the wound contracture, hydroxyl proline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte, and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate compared to other groups. In conclusion, the results revealed the useful non‐cytotoxic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing effects of TiNPs@Ziziphora.     

Terpolymerization of Triisopropylsilyl Acrylate,Methyl Methacrylate,and Butyl Acrylate: Reactivity Ratio Estimation

Ternary monomer reactivity ratios of triisopropylsilyl acrylate (SiA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and n‐butyl acrylate (BA), as common monomers in self‐polishing coatings (SPCs) binders are obtained using experimental data collected from free radical bulk polymerization at 70 °C. Different terpolymerizations at low and medium‐high conversions are performed at optimized feed compositions. Estimations are made using the error‐in‐variables model (EVM) framework, applying the recast form of the Alfrey–Goldfinger (AG) model and a direct numerical integration (DNI) approach to the collected data. Estimations from individual low and medium‐high conversion data are compared to those found with the combined data (full conversion range data). The highest certainty in point estimates are obtained with analysis of the full conversion range data. Furthermore, the reactivity ratios determined from the combined data fall between those found with analysis of individual low and medium‐high conversion data, another corroboration of reliable data collection. Reactivity ratios determined from analysis of the combined data (r_SiA/MMA = 0.4185, r_MMA/SiA = 1.3754, r_SiA/BA = 0.8739, r_BA/SiA = 0.5736, r_BA/MMA = 0.3692, r_MMA/BA = 1.7919) are used in the recast AG model to predict cumulative terpolymer composition as a function of conversion. The experimental data and model prediction show satisfactory agreement.     

Synthesis and characterization of Co (III) salen complex immobilized on cobalt ferrite‐silica nanoparticle and their application in the synthesis of spirooxindoles

The preparation, characterization and catalytic application of Co (III) salen complex loaded on cobalt ferrite‐silica nanoparticle [CoFe₂O₄@SiO₂@ Co (III) salen complex] are described. Co (III) salen complex loaded on ferrite cobalt‐silica nanoparticles is characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive X‐ray, vibrating‐sample magnetometer and Fourier transform‐infrared analyses. The thermal stability of the material is also determined by thermal gravimetric analysis. An average crystallite size is determined from the full‐width at half‐maximum of the strongest reflection by using Scherrer's approximation by powder X‐ray diffractometry. The efficiency of CoFe₂O₄@SiO₂@Co (III) salen complex is investigated in the synthesis of spirooxindoles of malononitrile, various isatins with 1,3‐dicarbonyles. The nanocatalyst demonstrated excellent catalytic activity that gave the corresponding coupling products in good to excellent yields. Moreover, the recoverability and reusability of CoFe₂O₄@SiO₂@Co (III) salen complex is investigated where nanocatalyst could be recovered and reused at least five times without any appreciable decrease in activity and selectivity, which confirmed its high efficiency and high stability under the reaction conditions and during recycling stages.