Highly efficient photocatalytic performance of dye-sensitized K-doped ZnO nanotapers synthesized by a facile one-step electrochemical method for quantitative hydrogen generation

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The different morphologies of K-doped ZnO nanostructures were successfully synthesized by a facile one-step electrochemical method using control of the...     

Application of the BASNEF Model in Safety Training in Automobile Manufacturing Plants

After controls, including engineering and management, the final way to control noise is to use hearing protection devices. Due to the lack of a standardized questionnaire regarding investigating workers’ use of hearing protection devices on the basis of the BASNEF behavioral model, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of health education based on the BASNEF model on the use of hearing protection devices in workers of an automobile manufacturing plant in Iran. This quasi-experimental and prospective intervention study was performed on 80 workers at an automobile manufacturing plant who are exposed to noise levels above 85 decibels and do not use hearing protection devices. In this study, 40 people working in a cast iron foundry were selected as the intervention group, and 40 working in aluminum casting were chosen as the control group. Questionnaires were analyzed at the beginning of the intervention and three months after the intervention in the intervention and control groups. There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups before the intervention. There was a significant difference between the intervention and control groups after the intervention in the area of knowledge. A significant correlation was observed between the intervention and control groups after the intervention program in all areas of the BASNEF educational model except behavioral intention. In this study, the effect of educational intervention on the use of hearing protection devices was investigated, and with the educational intervention, it was tried to get help from influential people and enabling factors in education based on the BASNEF model. The results showed that the educational intervention based on the BASNEF model can improve the knowledge of individuals in both the intervention and control groups.     

Calculation of Half-Metal,Debye and Curie Temperatures of Co_2 VAl Compound: First Principles Study

By FP-LAPW calculations, the structural, elastic, Debye and Curie temperatures, electronic and magnetic properties of Co2 VAl are investigated. The results indicate that Ferromagnetic(FM) phase is more stable than AntiFerromagnetic(AFM) and Non-magnetic(NM) ones. In addition, C11–C12 0, C44 0, and B 0 so Co2 VAl is an elastically stable material with high Debye temperature. Also, the B/G ratio exhibits a ductility behavior. The relatively high Curie temperature provides it as a favorable material for spintronic application. It's electronic and magnetic properties are studied by GGA+U approach leading to a 100% spin polarization at Fermi level.     

Analytical Study on the Rate of Sound Transmission Loss in Single Row Honeycomb Sandwich Panel Using a Numerical Method

Honeycomb structures have recently, replaced with conventional homogeneous materials. Given the fact that sandwich panels containing a honeycomb core are able to adjust geometric parameters, including internal angles, they are suitable for acoustic control applications. The main objective of this study was to obtain a transmission loss curve in a specific honeycomb frequency range along with same overall dimensions and weight. In this study, a finite element model (FEM) in ABAQUS software was used to simulate honeycomb panels, evaluate resonant frequencies, and for acoustic analysis. This model was used to obtain acoustic pressure and then to calculate the sound transmission loss (STL) in MATLAB software. Vibration and acoustic analysis of panels were performed in the frequency range of 1 to 1000 Hz. The models analyzed in this design includes 14-single row-honeycomb designs with angles of −45°, −30°, −15°, 0°, +15°, +30°, +45°. The results showed that a-single row and −45°cell angle honeycomb panel in the frequency range of 1 to 1000 Hz had the highest STL as well as the highest number of frequency modes (90 mods). Furthermore, the panel had the highest STL regarding the area under the STL curve (dB∙Hz). The panels containing more frequency mods, have a higher transmission loss. Moreover, the sound transmission loss is more sensitive to the cell angle variable (θ). In other studies, the STL was more sensitive to the number of honeycomb cells in the horizontal and vertical directions, as well as the angle of cells.     

Enhanced Maturation of 3D Bioprinted Skeletal Muscle Tissue Constructs Encapsulating Soluble Factor-Releasing Microparticles

Several microfabrication technologies have been used to engineer native-like skeletal muscle tissues. However, the successful development of muscle remains a significant challenge in the tissue engineering field. Muscle tissue engineering aims to combine muscle precursor cells aligned within a highly organized 3D structure and biological factors crucial to support cell differentiation and maturation into functional myotubes and myofibers. In this study, the use of 3D bioprinting is proposed for the fabrication of muscle tissues using gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) incorporating sustained insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-releasing microparticles and myoblast cells. This study hypothesizes that functional and mature myotubes will be obtained more efficiently using a bioink that can release IGF-1 sustainably for in vitro muscle engineering. Synthesized microfluidic-assisted polymeric microparticles demonstrate successful adsorption of IGF-1 and sustained release of IGF-1 at physiological pH for at least 21 days. Incorporating the IGF-1-releasing microparticles in the GelMA bioink assisted in promoting the alignment of myoblasts and differentiation into myotubes. Furthermore, the myotubes show spontaneous contraction in the muscle constructs bioprinted with IGF-1-releasing bioink. The proposed bioprinting strategy aims to improve the development of new therapies applied to the regeneration and maturation of muscle tissues.     

A fractional‐order model for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and immune system interactions

In this study, a mathematical, fractional‐order model was developed for B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with immune system, and then analyzed. Interactions between B leukemia cells, natural killer cells, cytotoxic T cells, and T‐helper cells are considered to be incorporated into a system consisting of four fractional differential equations. For estimation of the parameters, clinical data of six patients were used. By numerical solution of the system, the interactions between the leukemia cell population and the immune system cell populations for values of α ∈ (0,1) at different times were explained. By determining points of equilibrium and stability of the system were met. Bifurcation analysis showed that use of the fractional‐order model, figure out unpredictable behaviors of the system such as saddle‐node, bistability and hysteresis phenomenon occurred in the system by changing the values of some of the parameters, it was predictable.     

Constructing a sequence of discrete Hessian matrices of an SC 1 function uniformly convergent to the generalized Hessian matrix

We construct a uniform approximation for generalized Hessian matrix of an SC ¹ function. Using the discrete gradient and the extended second order derivative, we define the discrete Hessian matrix. We construct a sequence of sets, where each set is composed of discrete Hessian matrices. We first show some new properties of SC ¹ functions. Then, we prove that for SC ¹ functions the sequence of the set of discrete Hessian matrices is uniformly convergent to the generalized Hessian matrix.