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This research introduces an optimal adaptive fuzzy controller consisting of two fuzzy systems each including 1 output, 2 inputs, and 25 fuzzy rules. The designed fuzzy sytems, in turn, comprises Gaussian membership functions and applies the singleton fuzzifier, center average defuzzifier, and product inference engine. Moreover, the Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) is utilized to ascertain the optimum parameters of the controller. The body acceleration and the relative displacement between the tire and the sprung mass are utilized to form a proper objective function in the optimization procedure. Results show the dominance of the proposed approach over the conventional controllers.

Background/Objectives:Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), as an autoimmune disease including mucosa and the skin, is associated with several complications and comorbidities. The present study planned to determine the effect of L-carnitine (LC) supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress (OS), antioxidant capacity and lipid profile in PV patients.Subjects/MethodsFifty two control and patients with PV, participated in the current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The patients were allocated randomly to receive 2 g per day LC tartrate subdivided into two equal doses of 1 g before breakfast and dinner (n=26) or placebo (n=26) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric, lipid profile and OS values were determined at baseline and end of intervention period.Results:LC intake significantly reduced serum levels of triglycerides, total-, LDL- cholesterol and oxidative stress index (OSI; P<0.05). In addition, supplementation with LC resulted to a meaningful increase in levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (P=0.05) and serum carnitine (P<0.001). LC intake revealed non-significant change in serum total oxidant capacity (P=0.15) and HDL- cholesterol (P=0.06) in comparison to the placebo.Conclusions:LC consumption may have favorable results on TAC, OSI and lipid profiles in patients with PV. The results were in line with the idea that LC supplementation can be associated with positive effects on metabolic status and OS of patients with PV.

Nanocrystalline nickel electrodeposits were fabricated from an additive-free Watts bath by pulse current electrodeposition technique. The coatings were obtained at different current densities, duty cycles and pulse frequencies and were characterised using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray diffraction. The corrosion properties of the coatings in 3.5 wt-% NaCl solution were investigated using potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All the nickel samples exhibited active–passive potentiodynamic polarisation behaviour. A strong relationship was observed between the crystallographic orientation of the nickel electrodeposits and their corrosion resistance. Commonly the corrosion current density increases with I(200)/I(111)ratio (I(hkl)is the peak intensity corresponding to (hkl) crystal plane). The passive layer is more stable on [211] oriented grains than on [100] oriented grains. The Nyquist impedance curves were composed of two depressed semicircles corresponding to charge transfer process and diffusion process through a porous passive layer. [211] orientation and small grain size favour high microhardness values.

Nanocrystalline nickel electrodeposits were fabricated from an additive-free Watts bath by pulse current electrodeposition technique. The coatings were obtained at different current densities, duty cycles and pulse frequencies and were characterised using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray diffraction. The corrosion properties of the coatings in 3.5 wt-% NaCl solution were investigated using potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All the nickel samples exhibited active–passive potentiodynamic polarisation behaviour. A strong relationship was observed between the crystallographic orientation of the nickel electrodeposits and their corrosion resistance. Commonly the corrosion current density increases with I(200)/I(111)ratio (I(hkl)is the peak intensity corresponding to (hkl) crystal plane). The passive layer is more stable on [211] oriented grains than on [100] oriented grains. The Nyquist impedance curves were composed of two depressed semicircles corresponding to charge transfer process and diffusion process through a porous passive layer. [211] orientation and small grain size favour high microhardness values.

Background:Obesity is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation which has been linked to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes in obese patients. Aim:To evaluate changes in pro/anti-inflammatory adipocytokines and metabolic profile after moderate diet-induced weight loss. Subjects and methods:Twenty-nine pre-menopausal obese women (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) aged 21 to 54 years without diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia, were enrolled in this study. We measured anthropometric parameters, lipid and glucose profiles, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-18 in obese women, who then entered a medically supervised program aimed at reducing body weight by 10% or more. Obese women restricted their caloric intake (by 500–1000 kcal/day) and consumed 50 g/day of a fiber supplement (Slim Last Powder) for 12 weeks. Results:By completing the dietary intervention program, weight (Δ=−10.0%, p<0.0001), body mass index, waist circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting plasma glucose significantly decreased, while HDL-cholesterol significantly increased. While plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-18 decreased by 27% after 12 weeks, no significant change was observed in circulating levels of IL-10. Conclusion:Our study suggests that an improved body composition induced by restriction of energy intake is associated with favorable serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-18 in obese women. However, the anti-inflammatory IL-10 is not affected by a moderate weight decrease.

A study on the elasticity solution of the functionally graded (FG) shell with two piezoelectric layers is presented. In this article, the structure is finitely long, simply supported, and FG with two piezoelectric layers under pressure and electrostatic excitation. The equations of equilibrium, which are coupled partial differential equations, are reduced to ordinary differential equations (o.d.e.) with variable coefficients by means of trigonometric function expansion in the longitudinal direction. The resulting o.d.e. are solved by the Galerkin finite-element method and the Newmark method. Numerical results are presented for a FG cylindrical shell with a piezoelectric layer as an actuator in the external surface and a piezoelectric layer as a sensor in the internal surface.

In this work, raw acrylic fibers RAF have been modified with ethanolamine to provide new chelating fibers and prepared polyacrylonitrilemonoethanolamine PANMEA. PANMEA fiber was prepared by conversion nitrile groups into hydroxyle groups using ethanolamine solution with different concentration under refluxing at different temperatures and different times. The fiber structure has been investigated by different experimental techniques of characterization such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis TGA, scanning electron microscopy SEM and the physical and mechanical properties has also been investigated in this study. The PANMEA was examined as chelating material in a series of batch adsorption experiments for removal Cu II, Pb II and Ni II ions. The ion adsorption of PANMEA was determined with the atomic adsorption method. PANMEA show adsorption metal ions more than usual fiber because of the modification.

In this article, dynamic analysis of functionally graded (FG) plates integrated with two piezoelectric layers has been carried out. The rectangular plate is simply supported at four edges and exposed to dynamic excitation. Three-dimensional elasticity equations have been considered. Using a series expansion of mechanical and electrical displacements, the partial differential equations have been reduced to ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with variable coefficients. The solution of the resulting system of ODEs has been carried out using the Galerkin method. The final result is obtained by taking just one term in the series expansion. The Newmark method has been used to move forward in the time domain for a dynamic solution. Finally, numerical results have been presented for a simply supported rectangular FG plate integrated with two piezoelectric layers. In some cases, results have been compared to previously published works.

ABSTRACTA PVC membrane sensor for Nickel (II) ions based on 2,5-thiophenyl bis(5-tert-butyl-1,3-benzoxazole) as membrane carrier was prepared. The sensor exhibits a Nernstian response for Ni2+ions over a wide concentration range (10−2–10−5M). It has a relatively fast response time and can be used for at least 2 months without any considerable divergence in potentials. The nature of the plasticizer, the additive, the concentration of internal solutions in the electrodes and the composition of the membrane were investigated. The proposed membrane electrode revealed very good selectivities for Ni2+over a wide variety of other metal cations and could be used in pH range of 4.0–8.0. It was successfully applied for the direct determination of Ni2+in solution and as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of nickel ion in both water and 85% acetonitrile solutions.