A Nonlinear Age-Structured Model of Population Dynamics with Inherited Properties

In this paper, we present some results regarding existence and uniqueness of solution on L ^p -spaces, 1 < p < + ∞, to a nonlinear initial boundary value problem originally proposed by Lebowitz and Rubinow (J Math Biol 1:17–36, 1974) to model an age-structured cell population with inherited properties. Our results complete those obtained by Garcia-Falset (Math Meth Appl Sci 34:1658–1666, 2011).     

Nonlinear semigroup approach to transport equations with delayed neutrons

This paper deal with a nonlinear transport equation with delayed neutron and general boundary conditions. We establish, via the nonlinear semigroups approach, the existence and uniqueness of the mild solution, weak solution, strong solution and local solution on L~p-spaces(1 ≤ p +∞). Local and non local evolution problems are discussed.     

Optimization of the mineral content in polymeric gels: The effect of calcium to phosphate molar ratio

The influence of calcium to phosphate (Ca/P) molar ratio on the extent of mineralization in a model (poly)acrylamide gel was investigated under simulated physiological conditions. We hypothesized that the optimal growth of hydroxyapatite crystals will take place at the stoichiometric Ca/P molar ratio of 1.67. Phosphate ions were incorporated during the polymerization of the gel and mineralization was initiated by submersion of the gel in calcium acetate solution. Ca/P molar ratios were varied in the range of 0.5–5.0. The mineralized gel was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mineral weight fraction analysis via ashing. Raman spectra captured across the bulk of the gels indicated the presence of mineral at the core section. The phosphate symmetric stretching peak was observed in the range of 955–960 cm⁻¹ which is characteristic of hydroxyapatite. SEM images showed that crystals formed at Ca/P=2.0 were denser and larger in size than at other molar ratios. In agreement with SEM images, the dry weight fraction of mineral reached the maximum at the molar ratio of 2.0 and the extent of mineralization rapidly declined as the molar ratio diverged from 2.0. Also, the crystallinity of the mineral was optimum at the molar ratio of 2.0. Thus it appears that for effective mineralization, the molar ratio of the two ions needs to be in excess of the stoichiometric requirement, suggesting that ions are expended in processes other than the formation and growth of hydroxyapatite crystals. Therefore, the optimal level of mineralization in biomimetic-based growth of calcium phosphate crystals in sol–gel environment requires consideration of a range of molar ratios as opposed to using the molar ratios corresponding to that of the crystal species intended to grow.     

Application of Flying Jet Plasma for Production of Biodiesel Fuel from Wasted Vegetable Oil

Biodiesel, a good partial or total substitute for petrodiesel, is a renewable clean burning fuel which can be produced from transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats with an alcohol in presence of a catalyst. Since the feedstock costs in this process constitutes more than 70 % of the overall cost, use of wasted vegetable oil (i.e. consumed cooking oil) for biodiesel production is a big challenge in terms of cost reduction and environmental impacts. Nonetheless, the content of residues in the wasted vegetable oil, formed during frying, is a major drawback could be faced in this direction. In this research, we applied an unconventional design of flying jet dielectric barrier discharge plasma torch to treat several specimens of wasted cooking oil collected from different resources before transesterification. In other experiments, the jet plasma itself was used to catalyze the reaction process. The examined plasma torch was found more feasible than conventional DBD reactor design in terms of gas and power consumptions. Upon inducting plasma treatment, the transesterification process resulted in higher biodiesel yield, lower reaction time and easier product separation than the conventional path. Upon catalyzing the reaction by the sole jet plasma effect, the biodiesel content of saturated methyl esters was higher than conventional tranesterification. Also, the yield and properties were found within commercial standards.     

Electrical conductivity-microstructure correlation in AIN-CuO composites

Water vapor is an important constituent of any gas and in many applications is regarded as a contaminant that needs to be monitored and controlled. AIN-CuO composites (2 % ≤ CuO ≤ 50 % by weight) have been studied to exploit them as novel humidity sensors over wide ranges of moisture levels and temperature. Development of benign microstructure with open porosity has been attempted by varying the composition and firing conditions. The impedance data acquired on the composites over the frequency range 5 Hz to 13 MHz, revealed a bulk response in terms of a single semicircular relaxation in the complex Z*-plane. A systematic variation of electrical conductivity with CuO content in the composites has been explained in the light of percolation theory.     

Optimization of a miniaturized DBD plasma chip for mercury detection in water samples

In this work, an optimization study was conducted to investigate the performance of a custom-designed miniaturized dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) microplasma chip to be utilized as a radiation source for mercury determination in water samples. The experimental work was implemented by using experimental design, and the results were assessed by applying statistical techniques. The proposed DBD chip was designed and fabricated in a simple way by using a few microscope glass slides aligned together and held by a Perspex chip holder, which proved useful for miniaturization purposes. Argon gas at 75–180 mL/min was used in the experiments as a discharge gas, while AC power in the range 75–175 W at 38 kHz was supplied to the load from a custom-made power source. A UV-visible spectrometer was used, and the spectroscopic parameters were optimized thoroughly and applied in the later analysis. Plasma characteristics were determined theoretically by analysing the recorded spectroscopic data. The estimated electron temperature (T _e = 0.849 eV) was found to be higher than the excitation temperature (T _exc = 0.55 eV) and the rotational temperature (T _rot  = 0.064 eV), which indicates non-thermal plasma is generated in the proposed chip. Mercury cold vapour generation experiments were conducted according to experimental plan by examining four parameters (HCl and SnCl₂ concentrations, argon flow rate, and the applied power) and considering the recorded intensity for the mercury line (253.65 nm) as the objective function. Furthermore, an optimization technique and statistical approaches were applied to investigate the individual and interaction effects of the tested parameters on the system performance. The calculated analytical figures of merit (LOD = 2.8 μg/L and RSD = 3.5%) indicates a reasonable precision system to be adopted as a basis for a miniaturized portable device for mercury detection in water samples.