Polypyrrole nanotube modified by gold nanoparticles for improving the neural microelectrodes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - High selectivity and low impedance are preferred properties for neural microelectrodes. The localized and controlled release of drugs from the...     

Single-walled boron nitride nanotube as nano-sensor

Nowadays, the eye-catching characteristics of boron nitride nanotubes, in particular, the capability of sensing nano-objects, have opened up new prospects to develop the bio-/nano-sensing technologies. This research deals with physically affected single-walled boron nitride nanotubes (SWBNNT) as nano-sensors for sensing attached nanoscale objects. Three different boundary conditions including simply supported at both ends, clamped-free and clamped-clamped are considered to illustrate the vibrational behaviour of SWBNNTs as nano-sensor. The Rayleigh and Timoshenko beam theories are employed to model the SWBNNT. Also, the nonlocal strain gradient model is utilized to capture the size-dependent effects. One of the major factors in the scrutiny of mass nano-sensors is pertinent to the variation in frequency shift magnitudes against the number and mass weight values of attached nanoparticles. Herein, the effects of the nonlocal and material length scale parameters, the number and location of nano-objects, the rotary inertia and mass weight magnitudes of attached nanoparticles, the aspect ratio of SWBNNT, electrical potential and different boundary conditions on the variation in frequency shift and resonant frequency are analysed.     

Photoinduced Birefringence in Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Polymeric Thin Films Doped with Di-Azo Sudan G

Photoinduced birefringence in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polymeric thin films doped with di-azo Sudan G was investigated. A pump-probe method was used to study the dynamic behavior of the birefringence. The mechanism for the inducement of birefringence is discussed in terms of the photoisomerization of the di-azo Sudan G molecules. The results showed that the dynamic evolution of the photoinduced birefringence was such that the average birefringence increased, saturated, and then decreased with respect to the laser pump intensity. Also, an exponential-like relationship was observed between both the saturation and the isotropic states of the averaged transmitted probe beam (expressing the residual anisotropy) and the birefringence on one hand, and the intensity amplitudes of the pumping powers on the other hand.     

Intraspecific competition of predator for prey with variable rates in protected areas

Nonlinear Dynamics - In this present study, we systematically explore the periodicity (almost periodic nature) of a dynamical system in time-varying environment, which portrays a special case of...     

Modeling and active control of chatter vibrations of piezoelectric stacked machining arm in micro-turning process

Self-excited vibrations known as chatter are considered as the most detrimental issue in micro-turning processes. Occurring unpredictably, they adversely affect the tool life, productivity rate and surface quality of the machining processes. In this paper, a novel machining arm is modeled as a piezoelectric stacked rod which is subjected to a chatter force in the orthogonal micro-turning process. Due to the fact that machining processes are affected by various sources of uncertainties, H_∞ robust control approach is used to suppress the chatter vibrations of the machining arm in the presence of tool wear and dynamic model parameter variations. Also, input control force of the system is provided by exciting the input voltage of piezoelectric layers of the rod. In order to be certain that the designed controller succeeds in suppressing vibrations of the effective structural modes, behavior of the first three modes of vibrations are considered in the final response of the machining arm. In the following, performance of the robust H_∞ controller is compared with a modified PID controller. Simulation results show that the H_∞ controller improves the robustness and performance of the system against uncertainties. The PID controller extends the stability region of the sharp tool and fails to achieve this purpose for the worn tool although its performance is acceptable in suppressing chatter vibrations.

     

Hydrogeochemical modeling for groundwater management in arid and semiarid regions using MODFLOW and MT3DMS: A case study of the Jeffara of Medenine coastal aquifer,South-Eastern Tunisia

The study of water quality and the quantification of reserves and their variations according to natural and anthropogenic forcing is necessary to establish an adequate management plan for groundwater resources. For this purpose, a modeling approach is a useful tool that allows, after calibration phase and verification of simulation, and under different scenarios of forcing and operational changes, to estimate and control the groundwater quantity and quality. The main objective of this study is to collect all available data in a model that simulates the Jeffara of Medenine coastal aquifer system functioning. To achieve this goal, a conceptual model was constructed based on previous studies and hydrogeological investigations. The regional groundwater numerical flow model for the Jeffara aquifer was developed using MODFLOW working under steady-state and transient conditions. Groundwater elevations measured from the piezometric wells distributed throughout the study area in 1973 were selected as the target water levels for steady state (head) model calibration. A transient simulation was undertaken for the 42 years from 1973 to 2015. The historical transient model calibration was satisfactory, consistent with the continuous piezometric decline in response to the increase in groundwater abstraction. The developed numerical model was used to study the system's behavior over the next 35 years under various constraints. Two scenarios for potential groundwater extraction for the period 2015–2050 are presented. The predictive simulations show the effect of the increase of the exploitation on the piezometric levels. To study the phenomenon of salinization, which is one of the most severe and widespread groundwater contamination problems, especially in coastal regions, a solute transport model has been constructed by using MT3DMS software coupled with the groundwater flow model. The best calibration results are obtained when the connection with the overlying superficial aquifer is considered suggesting that groundwater contamination originates from this aquifer. Recommendations for water resource managers

• The results of this study show that Groundwater resources of Jeffara of Medenine coastal aquifer in Tunisia are under immense pressure from multiple stresses.
• The water resources manager must consider the impact of economic and demographic development in groundwater management to avoid the intrusion of saline water.
• The results obtained presented some reference information that can serve as a basis for water resources planning.
• The model runs to provide information that managers can use to regulate and adequately control the Jeffara of Medenine water resources.

     

Efficient post-plasma catalytic degradation of toluene via series of Co–Cu/TiO2 catalysts

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) represent a very important class of pollutants that causes serious health effects. There is an urgent requirement to establish...     

Terpyridine Based Heteroleptic Ruthenium Complexes: Influence of Donor and Acceptor Ligands in Photosensitization

We report heteroleptic ruthenium complexes of terpyridine (tpy) ligands with directly linked carboxylic acid anchors. These complexes feature methyl or methoxy-substituted ^4′−Phtpy as donor ligands. We prepared these heteroleptic complexes from the ruthenium (II) precursor via a milder route to preclude the homoleptic complex formation. The donor−acceptor arrangement of tpy ligands in these ruthenium complexes renders visible light absorption giving metal and ligand-to-ligand charge transfer excitations at c.a. 490 nm. We evaluate the effect of the tpy donor substituents on the light-harvesting ability in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) and compare their photosensitizing ability with heteroleptic complexes bearing phenyl spacer at the acceptor end. Further, scrutinizing their photovoltaic performance, we studied their electron transfer kinetics in DSSCs using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This paper presents the structure-photosensitization relationship of these heteroleptic ruthenium complexes through a combined experimental and computational approach.