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Herein, a miniaturized, three-electrode paper-based electrochemical sensing platform for selective and sensitive electroanalytical sensing of hypochlorite has been reported. A hybrid method for fabricating the electrochemical device on the paper-based substrate, using ink-jet printing with conductive carbon inks as counter and reference electrode, has been demonstrated. Further, a CuO@Graphite sheet was incorporated separately using adhesive double-sided tape on the paper-based substrate, which served as the working electrode. The prepared device was subjected to hypochlorite solution of 1 mM to explore the electrochemical behavior of chlorine. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SQWV) were leveraged in the potential window of − 0.7 V to 0 V for conducting the experiments, whereby a sharp reduction peak at a peak potential E0 = − 0.43 V vs Ag/AgCl was obtained. Further, the consequence of potential scan rate and the effect of concentration and interference from other chemicals were also analyzed. A linear concentration range of 90–10 nM and a detection limit of 13.15 nM (9.78 × 10–4 ppm) with standard deviation of 1.013 were obtained. The fabricated paper-based electrode system was also tested on real samples such as lake water and tap water and the results are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleaning of paper objects represents one of the most complex cases of laser ablation, since low volumes of dispersed material phases are evaporated while a sensitive and fragile fibrous organic matrix has to be preserved. Conventional chemical and mechanical cleaning methods suffer from the common phenomenon that the foreign matter is diluted into the substrate rather than removed. The application of a laser beam allows highly localized and optically specific interaction. However, the occurrence of extreme temperatures and light intensities may cause irreversible alteration of the paper matrix. Further, incomplete removal and/or chemical conversion of contaminations may result in insufficient cleaning or affect the ageing behaviour. Laser treatments were performed by Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers at three wavelengths (355 nm, 532 nm, and 1064 nm). Papers contaminated with inks and adhesive-tape remnants served as model samples. Multispectral imaging and colorimetric results served to quantify and systematize the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3D paper-based microfluidic device has been developed for colorimetric determination of selected heavy metals in water samples by stacking layers of wax patterned paper and double-sided adhesive tape. It has the capability of wicking fluids and distributing microliter volumes of samples from single inlet into affrays of detection zones without external pumps, thus a range of metal assays can be simply and inexpensively performed. We demonstrate a prototype of four sample inlets for up to four heavy metal assays each, with detection limits as follows: Cu (II) = 0.29 ppm, Ni(II) = 0.33 ppm, Cd (II) = 0.19 ppm, and Cr (VI) = 0.35 ppm, which provided quantitative data that were in agreement with values gained from atomic absorption. It has the ability to identify these four metals in mixtures and is immune to interferences from either nontoxic metal ions such as Na(I) and K(I) or components found in reservoir or beach water. With the incorporation of a portable detector, a camera mobile phone, this 3D paper-based microfluidic device should be useful as a simple, rapid, and on-site screening approach of heavy metals in aquatic environments. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aged pressure sensitive tapes (PSTs) can compromise the integrity and readability of drawings and paper artworks. Typically, PSTs on contemporary artifacts are difficult to remove owing to degradation processes and to the intrinsic sensitiveness of paper, inks and dyes to the solvents and tools used in the traditional conservation practice. Alternatively, we provide here a critical overview and expansion on the use of two recently developed methodologies for the removal of PSTs, based on the confinement of cleaning fluids in retentive gels. Various combinations of PSTs backings and adhesives were addressed on paper mock-ups containing different types of artistic media (inks, dyes), monitoring the ability of a hydrogel and an organogel to gradually exchange, respectively, an oil-in-water microemulsion or diethyl carbonate through the PSTs backings, swelling the adhesive layers and enabling safe PST removal. It was shown that the two methodologies are complementary as they target the removal of tapes with different components. In all cases, selective tape removal was carried out without uncontrolled bleeding of inks or transport of dissolved matter through the paper matrix, thanks to the retentiveness of the gels. The two cleaning systems were then assessed on four completely different artworks on paper, where they proved to be versatile tools to remove aged PSTs, or re-adhere detackified tapes that were part of the original artwork. Overall, the two methodologies complement each other and allowed overcoming the limitations of traditional cleaning approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduces a method of analysis of peeling data from paper. Peeling behavior for a pressure sensitive adhesive tape on newsprint; Link between paper properties and peeling behavior; Comparison between the peak peel force and the steady-state peel force. Comparison between the interfacial adhesion for newsprint and for filter paper.

In this paper, a novel simulation-based evolutionary method is presented for designing parameter-free MEMS structures with maximum degrees of freedom. This novel design method enabled semiautomatic structure evolution by weighing the attributes of each segment of the structure and yielded an optimal design after multiple iterations. The proposed method was utilized to optimize the pressure-sensitive diaphragm of a piezoresistive pressure sensor (PPS). Finite element method (FEM) simulations revealed that, in comparison to conventional diaphragms without islands and with square islands, the optimized diaphragm increased the stress by 10% and 16% and reduced the nonlinearity by 57% and 77%, respectively. These improvements demonstrate the value of this method. Characterization of the fabricated PPS revealed a high sensitivity of 8.8 mV V−1 MPa−1 and a low nonlinearity of 0.058% FS at 20 °C, indicating excellent sensor performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the stabilization problem of a tape moving axially between two sets of rollers. We propose a modelization which yields a hybrid system accounting for the mass of the left rollers that undergoes an external non-uniformly bounded disturbance. The active disturbance rejection control approach is adopted in this paper; first, an extended state observer with time varying gain of exponential type is designed to estimate the disturbance; then, a feedback controller is proposed in which the approximated disturbance is used to eliminate the effect of the disturbance. We prove the well-posedness of the closed-loop system by the semigroup theory. We employ the Lyapunov method to establish the exponential stability. We conclude by presenting a numerical example to support the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cables carrying substantial currents, the current carrying capacity of a single YBCO tape is limited, and multiple tapes need to be connected in parallel. The current sharing design of parallel YBCO tapes has emerged as a central concern in the HTS cable design. However, various tape parameters, including critical current I c , n-value, and joint resistance, can significantly influence the current distribution in the system. In this paper, the influence of YBCO tape parameters on the current distribution characteristics of the cable was studied. The results showed that the current distribution and quench characteristics were regulated by tape I c , tape n-value, and tape joint resistance together, and that meanwhile, the total current also served as an important factor. Significant influence of the joint resistance was also observed in the event of a limited total current, which was no longer obvious for a total current close to the total I c . For the parallel tapes with the same I c , the one with higher resistance quenched later, while in the case of the same resistance, the effect of the tape I c is greater than that of the tape n-value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze in detail the features of the application of the magneto-optical imaging technique for studying HTS tapes. We present a detailed description of the experimental technique and features of the research facility for low temperatures research. The features of the penetration of a magnetic field into a superconductor are described, and the procedure for calibrating a magneto-optical film and algorithms for calculating magnetic field profiles from magneto-optical images are described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport loss of stacked high-temperature superconducting tapes is an important factor affecting their working performance, so it has always been an important research content of superconducting technology. However, the current simulation model for stacked superconducting tapes is slow and time-consuming when there are more stacked layers, which seriously affects the research process. In this paper, the homogenization model and simplified model of stacked superconducting tapes are built and compared with the original model, and the results show that the two models can both greatly improve the simulation speed and obtain the correct AC loss value, which proves their accuracy and reliability. Subsequently, the transport loss characteristics of superconducting tapes under different stacked conditions are simulated and analyzed using the simplified model. The results show that the transport loss of stacked superconducting tapes is positively correlated with the number of layers and negatively correlated with the stacked spacing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliable peeling-off and picking-up of thin chips from adhesive tape is still one of the crucial techniques in electronics packaging. The fracture of thin chip induced by high cracking stress, and the chip deviation after needle ejection in chip peeling-off stage have greatly affected the success ratio of chip pick-up processes. In this paper, a spring-buffer chip peeling technology is proposed, where the pick-up head is assigned to come in contact with the chip to avoid the chip deviation, and a spring is designed in pick-up heads which can prevent the chip cracking due to the buffer effect. Here, an effective theoretical chip–adhesive–substrate model considering the spring effect is presented to address the chip peeling analysis and competing fracture behavior between interfacial delamination and chip crack. The analytical results show that the spring-buffer chip peeling technology using the pick-up head with a spring can ensure chip peeling and restrain chip cracking under a large ejecting needle force as it can reduce the stress concentration by the needle tip. Additionally, the three-dimensional finite-element model and experiments are completed to verify the analytical results, and the paper introduces a process window for reliable chip peeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature superconducting magnets are a system with a complex configuration. In the process of creating such systems, HTSC tapes can be subject to mechanical damage, which leads to a deterioration in the transport characteristics of the tape. This paper presents the results of experimental studies of the effect of mechanical stresses on the transport characteristics of the second-generation HTSC tapes. The volt-ampere characteristics of various samples of second-generation HTSC tapes were measured during their winding on cylindrical formers of various diameters. Winding was carried out at the angles of 22° and 40° relative to the former axis with a force from 10 to 20 N. Different winding options were compared and the optimal set of winding configurations corresponding to the minimum degradation of the critical current of the tape was determined. Scanning Hall magnetometry is used to determine the regions of localization of defects arising at various winding options. All measurements were carried out at the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. The obtained data made it possible to calculate the area of flow of the longitudinal and transverse components of the current in each individual case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D-printed anodes for bioelectrochemical systems are increasingly being reported. However, comparisons between 3D-printed anodes and their non-3D-printed counterparts with the same material composition are still lacking. In addition, surface roughness parameters that could be correlated with bioelectrochemical performance are rarely determined. To fill these gaps, slurries with identical composition but different mass fractions were processed into SiOC anodes by tape-casting, freeze-casting, or direct-ink writing. The current generation was investigated using electroactive biofilms enriched with Geobacter spp. Freeze-cast anodes showed more surface pores and the highest surface kurtosis of 5.7 ± 0.5, whereas tape-cast and 3D-printed anodes showed a closed surface porosity. 3D-printing was only possible using slurries 85 wt% of mass fraction. The surface pores of the freeze-cast anodes improved bacterial adhesion and resulted in a high initial (first cycle) maximum current density per geometric surface area of 9.2 ± 2.1 A m−2. The larger surface area of the 3D-printed anodes prevented pore clogging and produced the highest current density per geometric surface area of 12.0 ± 1.2 A m−2. The current density values of all anodes are similar when the current density is normalized over the entire geometric surface as determined by CT-scans. This study highlights the role of geometric surface area in normalizing current generation and the need to use more surface roughness parameters to correlate anode properties, bacterial adhesion, and current generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of oil spills has severe damage upon both the environment and human health. Hence, the development of a green, recyclable, complex environment resistant, and efficient oil–water separation aerogel is required in order to effectively absorb marine or industrial oil. In this study, modified cellulose/N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide/tannin (PCMT) composite porous materials were prepared utilizing the sol–gel method and were modified with tertbutyl acrylate. PCMT possesses a three-dimensional interpenetrating porous structure, exhibiting remarkable oil–water separation performance and excellent compressive strength (PCMT can capable of bearing 7000 times its own weight; PCMT can endure 290.3 kPa pressure at 80% strain when the amount of tannin is 0.2 g). The unique pore structure of PCMT engenders differential oil adsorption capacities (PCMT0, PCMT0.05, PCMT0.1, and PCMT0.2 evince higher adsorption capacities for petroleum ether and dichloromethane, n-hexane and dichloromethane, toluene, and toluene and dichloromethane, respectively). Of critical import, PCMT demonstrates exceptional adaptability to complex environments, wherein the porous materials maintain good hydrophobicity and oil absorption capacity under conditions of vigorous stirring, a wide pH range (1–14), a wide temperature range (4–160 °C), ultraviolet irradiation (8 h), and tape peeling (10 times). Moreover, the porous materials may be employed for the recovery of oil through simple mechanical extrusion, thus demonstrating certain economic significance and the application potential in the treatment of oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the problem of spliced money in ATM (Automatic Teller Machine), the paper puts forward a template matching algorithm for recognition of left and right numbers based on one-dimensional gray scale projection. First it uses the Canny boundary detection algorithm to separate the banknote boundary from the R component image, and then preprocesses the image to make the subsequent processing easier; secondly applies the predefined location to divide the area of left and right numbers; thirdly calculates the one-dimensional gray scale projection curves of left and right numbers, based on which every character or number is divided; finally carries out the operation of template matching to obtain correlation coefficients of every character or number, comparing which with threshold it judges whether the left and right numbers are matched. For the transparent tape attached to the spliced money, a method based on the difference in object reflectivity to recognize the tape is designed. First it highlights the characteristics of the tape by preprocessing and binary morphological analysis of the B component image. Finally, it judges whether there is transparent tape on the surface of the banknote according to the set threshold value. Experimental results show that both number matching and tape detection can be completed, and algorithm can correctly recognize spliced money. The correct recognition rate of the algorithm reaches 100%, and the false positive rate、false negative rate are both 0. The processing is fast and simple, which meets the requirements of ATM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefiting from the high critical temperature and high critical current, the second-generation high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape is widely used in various large-scale magnet applications. Due to the length limitation of producing superconducting tapes, the joints between superconducting tapes are inevitable for large-scale high-field magnets. The joule loss from the joint resistance under over-current conditions is even larger, which will cause a sharp temperature rise, and will also decay the critical current of the superconducting tape. In this paper, 3 configurations of HTS joints are adopted to model the joint resistance characteristics using new methods, whose joint resistance model is coupled with the real-time operating temperature. The results show that the proposed temperature-dependent HTS joint resistance model well matches the experiment and analytical solution. Therefore, both the experiment and novel modeling investigation can provide useful and accurate references for the superconducting joints in real devices, and the temperature-dependent HTS joint resistance model can play an important role in giving early warnings of the over-current for HTS tapes and high-field magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of merging sorted lists in the least number of pairwise comparisons has been solved completely only for a few special cases. Graham and Karp (Sorting Search 3:197–207, 1999) independently discovered that the tape merge algorithm is optimal in the worst case when the two lists have the same size. In their seminal papers, Stockmeyer and Yao (SIAM J Comput 9(1):85–90, 1980), Murphy and Paull (Inf Control 42(1):87–96, 1979), and Christen (On the optimality of the straight merging algorithm, 1978) independently showed when the lists to be merged are of size m and n satisfying m ≤ n ≤ ⌊ 3 2 m ⌋ + 1 , the tape merge algorithm is optimal in the worst case. This paper extends this result by showing that the tape merge algorithm is optimal in the worst case whenever the size of one list is no larger than 1.52 times the size of the other. The main tool we use to prove the lower bound is Knuth's (1999) adversary methods. In addition, we show that the lower bound cannot be improved to 1.8 via Knuth's adversary methods. Moreover, we design a simple procedure, and by invoking this procedure recursively until the remaining subproblem can be solved efficiently by another known algorithm, we achieve constant improvement of the upper bound for 2 m - 2 ≤ n ≤ 3 m . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conductor on round core (CORC) cable wound with second-generation high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes is a promising cable candidate with superiority in current capacity and mechanical strength. The composing superconductors and the former are tightly assembled, resulting in a strong electro-magnetic interaction between them. Correspondingly, the AC loss is influenced by the cable structure. In this paper, a 3D finite-element model of the CORC cable is first built, and it includes the complex geometry, the angular dependence of critical current and the periodic settings. The modelling is verified by the measurements conducted for the transport loss of a two-layer CORC cable. Subsequently, the simulated results show that the primary transport loss shifts from the former to the superconductors as the current increases. Meanwhile, the loss exhibited in the outer layer is larger than that of the inner layer, which is caused by the shielding effect among layers and the former. This also leads to the current inhomogeneity in CORC cables. In contrast with the two-layer case, the simulated single-layer structure indicates stronger frequency dependence because the eddy current loss in the copper former is always dominant without the cancellation of the opposite-wound layers. The core eddy current of the single structure is denser on the outer surface. Finally, the AC transport losses among a straight HTS tape, a two-layer cable and a single-layer cable are compared. The two-layer structure is confirmed to minimise the loss, meaning an even-numbered arrangement makes better use of the cable space and superconducting materials. Having illustrated the electro-magnetic behaviour inside the CORC cable, this work is an essential reference for the structure design of CORC cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When calculating the AC loss of REBa2Cu3O7−x (REBCO, RE = rare earth) coated conductor cable with stacked geometry, it is often considered that the tapes in the cable is perfectly stacked (there is no transverse misalignment of the tapes). However, the actual stacked cable will have transverse misalignment. The influence of transverse misalignment of tapes on the AC loss of the whole cable needs to be studied in order to understand the actual situation. In this paper, the 2-D H formulation calculated the AC loss of the cable with 10 tapes stacked in three cases. In the first case, the cables are perfectly stacked without lateral misalignment between the tapes. In the second case, the tapes of the cable are oblique to one side. In the third case, the tapes are disordered with each other. The result shows that under the transport current at 50 Hz, when the transport current is less than 0.75Ic0, the transport loss of the cable with obliquely stacked cable is more than the perfectly stacked cable, and when the transport current is greater than 0.75Ic0, the transport loss of the perfectly stacked cable is slightly larger than the obliquely stacked cable. Moreover, the transport loss of disorderly stacked cable is more than perfectly stacked cable at 50 Hz. When the transport current amplitude and the misalignment distance between the tapes in the cable are constant, the transport loss of obliquely stacked cable and disorderly stacked cable relative to perfectly stacked cable both increases first and then decreases as the frequency increases. Under the 50 Hz magnetization field, the magnetization loss of the perfectly stacked cable is less than the cables with oblique misalignment and disorder misalignment. When the amplitude of the external magnetic field and the misalignment distance between the tapes in the cable are constant, the magnetization loss of obliquely stacked cable and disorderly stacked cable relative to perfectly stacked cable also increased first and then decreased as the frequency increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood-derived materials have been utilized to develop filtration membranes for sustainable oil/water separation. However, it remains a significant challenge to manufacture durable wood-based membranes with high efficiency and ultra-high flux by simple methods. Herein, we report a facile strategy to fabricate a novel superhydrophobic hybrid wood membrane (PDMS@MOF-199/WS) with ultrahigh-flux and excellent oil/water separation performance. Firstly, copper-based metal organic frameworks (MOF-199) were in situ grown on the TEMPO-oxidized wood sponge (TO-WS) substrate to construct a hierarchical micro-nano structure with internal inherent microchannels. Secondly, a super-wetting surface was formed through soaking in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and heat treatment. Remarkably, the water contact angle (WCA) of PDMS@MOF-199/WS could reach 163° and the oil contact angle (OCA) was around 0°, which remained stable over a long period of ultrasonic treatment and tape peeling. More importantly, the as-prepared modified wood membrane can efficiently separate a wide range of immiscible oil/water mixtures, solely by tiny gravity, with ultra-high flux of 10,385 L m−2 h−1 (carbon tetrachloride/water) and separation efficiency of 99.6% (n-hexane). Furthermore, this novel membrane can also effectively separate surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions with an efficiency of as high as 97.8%. Meanwhile, the hybrid membrane displayed exceptional reusability, maintaining a high-flux of 8599.6 L m−2 h−1 and retaining WCA at 154.8° after 12 cycles. Our results demonstrate that the synergetic impact of MOF-199 and PDMS as a means of encoding on-surface wettability substantially improved the separation efficiency. This work opens a new avenue for the design of functional wood-derived filtration membranes for the ultrahigh flux oil–water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify adhesive renal venous tumor thrombus (RVTT) of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by contrast-enhancement CT (CECT). Materials and methods: Our retrospective study included 53 patients who underwent preoperative CECT and pathologically confirmed RCC combined with RVTT. They were divided into two groups based on the intra-operative findings of RVTT adhesion to the venous wall, with 26 cases in the adhesive RVTT group (ARVTT) and 27 cases in the non-adhesive group (NRVTT). The location, maximum diameter (MD) and CT values of tumors, the maximum length (ML) and width (MW) of RVTT, and length of inferior vena cava tumor thrombus were compared between the two groups. The presence of renal venous wall involvement, renal venous wall inflammation, and enlarged retroperitoneal lymph node was compared between the two groups. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the diagnostic performance. Results: The MD of RCC and the ML and MW of the RVTT were all larger in the ARVTT group than in the NRVTT group (p = 0.042, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002). The proportion of renal vein wall involvement and renal vein wall inflammation were higher in the ARVTT group than in NRVTT groups (both p < 0.001). The multivariable model including ML and vascular wall inflammation to predict ARVTT could achieve the best diagnostic performance with the area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 0.91, 88.5%, 96.3%, and 92.5%, respectively. Conclusion: The multivariable model acquired by CECT images could be used to predict RVTT adhesion. Clinical relevance statement: For RCC patients with tumor thrombus, contrast-enhanced CT could noninvasively predict the adhesion of tumor thrombus, thus predicting the difficulty of surgery and contributing to the selection of an appropriate treatment plan. Key Points: • The length and width of the tumor thrombus could be used to predict its adhesion to the vessel wall. • Adhesion of the tumor thrombus can be reflected by inflammation of the renal vein wall. • The multivariable model from CECT can well predict whether the tumor thrombus adhered to the vein wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the production and the characterization of the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) printed flexible temperature sensors for high-precision reading in temperature sensing applications. The temperature sensor was fabricated using the inkjet printing method by depositing carbon nanotube (CNT) ink on soft taffeta fabric. An aqueous CNT-based conductive ink was formulated for the inkjet printing process. A translucent polyurethane (PU) welding tape was used as an encapsulation layer on the surface of the sensors to protect sensors from various environmental effects during usage and testing. The fabricated sensors function as thermistors, as the conductivity increases with temperature linearly. The performances of differently patterned three temperature sensors were compared. The highest obtained temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and the thermal index are −1.04%/°C and 1135 K, respectively. The fabricated sensors possess a high-temperature sensitivity between room temperature and 50 °C and perform better than the typical commercial platinum temperature sensors and most of the recently reported CNT-based temperature sensors in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial resistance to currently available antibiotics poses a great threat in the global fight against infections. An important step in determining bacterial antibiotic resistance can be selective DNA sequence capture and fluorescence labeling. In this paper, we demonstrate the fabrication of simple, robust, inexpensive microfluidic devices for DNA capture and fluorescence detection of a model antibiotic resistance gene sequence. We laser micromachined polymethyl methacrylate microchannels and enclosed them using pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes. We then formed porous polymer monoliths with DNA capture probes in these microchannels and used them for sequence-specific capture, fluorescent labeling, and laser-induced fluorescence detection of picomolar (pM) concentrations of synthetic and plasmid antibiotic resistance gene targets. The relative fluorescence for the elution peaks increased with loaded target DNA concentration. We observed higher fluorescence signal and percent recovery for synthetic target DNA compared to plasmid DNA at the same loaded target concentration. A non-target gene was used for control experiments and produced < 3% capture relative to the same concentration of target. The full analysis process including device fabrication was completed in less than 90 min with a limit of detection of 30 pM. The simplicity of device fabrication and good DNA capture selectivity demonstrated herein have potential for application with processes for bacterial plasmid DNA extraction and single-particle counting to facilitate determination of antibiotic susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we prove that a k-tape Minsky machine operating with time can be modeled by a three-tape Minsky machine in a time not exceeding . It is shown that multitape Turing machines can be modeled by three-tape Minsky machines with optimal word encoding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing IT-Security breaches and the extensively growing loss due to fraud related incidents cause the need for being prepared for a digital investigation. A specific capability maturity model can assist organizations to determine their current state according to implement digital forensic readiness measures and get assistance to reach a desired level in having related capabilities implemented. This paper examines how such a model can assist in integrating digital forensic readiness related measures and to reach an appropriate maturity level. Through facilitating core elements of the IT-Governance framework COBIT 5 and the core characteristics of implementing digital forensic readiness a proposal for a specific capability maturity model has been conducted. In five maturity levels (Initial, Managed, Defined, Quantitatively Managed and Optimized) the different stages of implementing digital forensic readiness measures are represented. It can be shown that with the IT-Governance aligned model the implementation of digital forensic readiness can be assisted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape stacks have broad applications in magnetic levitation because of the uniform induced current distribution, good heat dissipation, and preferable mechanical properties. Configuration of the stack is one of the primary factors on the uniformity and strength of the trapped magnetic field. In this paper, the levitation characteristics, which are levitation force, stiffness, and rotational friction of four different YBCO tape stack configurations, were compared. It is observed from the experiments that there is an obvious influence of stack configurations on the levitation characteristics. The levitation forces gradually improve with the increase of tape pieces. While the module No.2 is an inclined stack, the levitation force is related to the inclination angle. Most of the tape stack modules can give low loss rotation in levitation, and the magnitude of the friction coefficient is close to 10− 6. By the investigation of levitation characteristics, the tape stack has great potential for the bearing application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The width of REBCO (REBa2Cu3O7-x, RE: rare earths)-coated conductor is an important factor associated with AC (alternating current) loss of the tape. In the same electromagnetic environment, coils winding with narrow REBCO tapes generate less AC loss than the wide one. For a single coil, the critical current density of outer turns is higher than that of inner turns, due to the inhomogeneous distribution of magnetic field. This paper presents a multi-width technique which is applicable for single REBCO coil by partly slitting single tape in place, which can effectively reduce AC loss, while maintaining current-carrying capacity in high field. The AC loss of coils with slitting in different turns is calculated by the software of finite element modeling (FEM). The results indicate that the appropriate slitting in radially outer turns of coil appears effective to reduce AC loss, especially in the case of the coils running with high current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanowire (Ag NW) networks are remarkable components that may be able to replace indium tin oxide (ITO) as transparent electrodes. In this paper, the Ag NW based flexible transparent electrodes are prepared via PEDOT:PSS sol–gel transition without vacuum process, provides very high figure of merit by minimizing junction resistance, and also exhibit excellent mechanical robustness against bending. The sheet resistance of the flexible Ag NW-based films reduces from 1000 to 9.4 Ω/sq. at transmittance of ~ 90%. The conduction mechanism involves Ag NWs to PEDOT:PSS carrier injection prior to the formation of a continuous metal conduction pathway. Calculations of figure of merit display a large value of 340, which is superior to that obtained from the flexible ITO, carbon nanotube, graphene, copper nanowire, and other silver nanowire and hybrid thin films. Meanwhile, the sheet resistance does not show great change after tape test due to the effect of PEDOT:PSS. Finally, the successful implementation of the prepared Ag NWs-based transparent electrodes into a flexible transparent heater is demonstrated, verifying the applicability of the electrodes. It is believed that our study is the key step toward realizing the practical use of NW flexible transparent electrodes in various flexible electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infinite time Turing machines represent a model of computability that extends the operations of Turing machines to transfinite ordinal time by defining the content of each cell at limit steps to be the lim sup of the sequences of previous contents of that cell. In this paper, we study a computational model obtained by replacing the lim sup rule with an 'eventually constant' rule: at each limit step, the value of each cell is defined if and only if the content of that cell has stabilized before that limit step and is then equal to this constant value. We call these machines weak infinite time Turing machines (wITTMs). We study different variants of wITTMs adding multiple tapes, heads, or bidimensional tapes. We show that some of these models are equivalent to each other concerning their computational strength. We show that wITTMs decide exactly the arithmetic relations on natural numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a study on the stick-slip torsional vibration of the spinning shaft in an automotive water pump. We propose a dynamic rotor model with a pulley, an impeller, a mechanical seal and a shaft to analyze the stick-slip vibration of a water pump. The dynamic states of the mechanical seal are classified into stick and slip states depending on whether the seal and mating rings of the mechanical seal have relative motion or not. We derived the partial differential equations of motion and the corresponding boundary conditions for each state of the seal. In addition, we established a judgement criterion for the stick and slip states of the seal. After the equations of motion were discretized by a proposed finite element procedure, the dynamic responses of the rotor system of a water pump were computed by using the generalized-a time integration method. Furthermore, we analyzed the effects of various system parameters on stick-slip vibration, including the mass moment of inertia for the pulley, the drag torque at the impeller, the external torque at the pulley, and the normal force between the seal and mating rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing of drilling depth, the working conditions of the drilling engineering are becoming more complicated. When drilling in the complex well structure, there are many new problems or challenges such as low rate of penetration (ROP), serious stick–slip phenomenon, or high risk of downhole tools failure. The most critical factor in solving these new challenges is improving rock breaking efficiency. Considering this, this paper proposed a new oscillator based on the positive displacement motor. Combining with new complex drilling conditions, the new structure was designed. The mathematical models were presented, including the working mechanism of the new design with its structure parameters. Furthermore, the theoretical models of dynamics under new conditions were analyzed, including the new bottom hole assembly. Based on this, we can get the vibration displacement, velocity, and the system vibration spectrum at different drill string positions. Compared with the results of a numerical example, the lab test was carried out. The two important parameters of vibration frequency and impact forces were compared with the theoretical results, which verified the correctness of the theoretical model and the accuracy of the solution method. Moreover, field experiments were also tested to verify the results, and the field experimental data showed that the new design could increase ROP obviously. The method and conclusions of the research can provide a new reference for the new downhole technology of enhancing the ROP or improving the rock breaking efficiency in complex well structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insulating structure near the slot outlet of high-voltage generator stator coils is the typical bushing structure, which is prone to corona and has a decisive impact on the safety of the generator. In engineering, nonlinear resistance anti-corona tapes are usually bound with around the main insulation surface of the stator coils near the slot, to achieve the effect of homogenizing the electric field. Usually, the resistance nonlinearity is increased by adding semi conductive or conductive materials into the anti-corona tape. However, after the process of adding semi conductive or conductive materials, the breakdown strength of anti-corona tape is often reduced, resulting in that anti-corona tapes with good nonlinear cannot be applied. In order to have both good nonlinear resistance and breakdown strength, epoxy resin (EP) is used as a matrix, which is blended with one-dimensional structured carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and zero-dimensional structured polyaniline (PANI) to obtain nonlinearly good materials in this paper. The nonlinear conductivity characteristics and breakdown characteristics were tested separately. The results show that compared to MWCNTs/EP composite materials, PANI-MWCNTs/EP composite materials have higher nonlinear coefficients and breakdown strength. The breakdown field strength of 0.5wt% MWCNTs/EP composites is 2.11 kV/mm, and the nonlinear coefficient is 1.41. In contrast, the breakdown field strength of 3wt% PANI-0.5wt% MWCNTs/EP was increased by 106.16%, and the nonlinear coefficient is as high as 5.32. In addition, with the increase in PANI doping amount, the nonlinear coefficient of PANI-MWCNTs/EP gradually increases, and the breakdown strength also gradually increases. It can be seen that doping PANI can improve the breakdown strength while maintaining the range of resistivity variation within the nonlinear material working field strength. This discovery can provide reference for the development of nonlinear anti-corona materials for subsequent high-voltage generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superhydrophobic surface is an ideal choice to enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminum (Al) and Al-based alloys which are widely used in various industrial fields. However, there are limitations in the complex fabrication process, high cost, and easy damage of micro-nano structures for processing superhydrophobic Al surface. To address the aforementioned limitations, we presented an efficient and facile method via acid wet blasting method to fabricate micro-nano composite structures on the Al substrate and subsequently low surface energy modification to obtain superhydrophobic Al surface (SHP-AWBM-Al), which had a water contact angle of 162° and rolling angle of 3°. The fabricated SHP-AWBM-Al had excellent self-cleaning performance, anti-fouling ability, and good fog collection ability. Tape peeling test, sandpaper friction test, acidic solution corrosion test, alkaline solution corrosion test, and natural environment corrosion test showed that the SHP-AWBM-Al had good mechanical stability and chemical stability compared with the superhydrophobic Al surface (SHP-H-Al) obtained by chemical etching. In addition, the electrochemical corrosion test showed that the SHP-AWBM-Al was more corrosion-resistant than the SHP-H-Al. This finding could enhance the technology for fabricating superhydrophobic Al surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Augmented anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) techniques have been proposed to reduce the high reported re-injury rates and low rates of return to sport (RTS). This study reports clinical outcomes, RTS and re-injury rates in patients undergoing ACLR using autologous hamstrings augmented with suture tape. Materials and methods: A total of 53 patients were prospectively recruited, undergoing ACLR using hamstrings with suture tape augmentation, combined with a structured rehabilitation programme. Outcomes were collected to 24 months, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), KT-1000 measurements, peak isokinetic knee strength and a four hop test battery. Limb Symmetry Indices (LSIs) were calculated for performance measures, whilst RTS rates, re-tears and re-operations were presented. Results: There were no significant side-to-side differences in anterior tibial translation between the operated and non-operated knees at 6 months (p = 0.433), with no increase (p = 0.841) in side-to-side anterior tibial translation from 6 to 24 months. At 24 months, 98.0% of patients demonstrated normal (< 3 mm) or near normal (3–5 mm) side-to-side differences. LSIs for peak knee extensor torque (p < 0.0001) and the single (p = 0.001), triple (p = 0.001) and triple crossover (p < 0.0001) hop tests for distance significantly improved. All PROMs significantly improved (p < 0.0001), with 70.2% and 85.7% of patients actively participating in pivoting sports at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Three patients underwent secondary procedures for meniscal symptoms. One patient suffered an ACL re-tear (17 months), with no further ipsilateral or contralateral injuries. Conclusion: ACLR with suture tape augmentation demonstrated no evidence of excessive anterior tibial translation, high-scoring PROMs, sound performance scores, a high rate of RTS and low re-injury rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deposition of a plasmonic metal layer on a nanostructured oxide surface is one of the important methods of preparing a platform for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements. In this contribution, we describe the formation of SERS substrates by the deposition of a silver layer on ordered a Ta2O5 nanopore array. The influence of various experimental anodization process parameters on the morphology of a Ta2O5 nanopore array was carefully studied. It was found that the formation of a Ta2O5 nanopore array is possible under a broad potential range (15–50 V) in a highly acidic solution containing F− ions. In some cases, the nanopore array structures were covered by an outer layer rich in F− and SO42− ions, which could easily be removed using adhesive tape or by sonication. The deposition of an Ag layer led to SERS activity. The optimal Ag layer thickness was specified based on SEM and DRS measurements. The SERS substrates formed exhibited high point-to-point, sample-to-sample and time durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed-vegetation planting patterns are commonly seen in urban areas for specific reasons like aesthetic, cooling, and particle deposition effects of the vegetation. However, they may have a negative impact on human health by worsening the air quality inside the street canyon due to the decreased air exchange rate. From the view of precise control of pollutant concentration in the sensitive areas of people's concern in the existed street canyons, thirty-four cases with different vegetation planting patterns and pressure loss coefficients (λ) are studied numerically to investigate the effects of vegetation on airflow and pollutant dispersion inside the canyon. The cases of treeless and 2 rows of tree planting patterns in wind-tunnel measurements were selected for the model validation. The results demonstrate that compared to the treeless case, the greenbelts can greatly change the airflow features and reduce the pollutant concentration at the leeward side, while the only-tree planting patterns have little impact on the flow and deteriorate dispersion within the street canyon. Moreover, rows of greenbelts planted under the corresponding trees can reduce the average pollutant concentrations on the leeward wall and the footpath of the street canyon by up to 22.6% and 33.2%, respectively. Besides, the pattern of 1 row of trees with 1 row of greenbelts planted in the street canyon center should be suggested as the optimal mixed vegetation configuration in this study. That is because compared to the treeless case the pollutant concentration on leeward wall, windward wall, leeward footpath, and windward footpath can be reduced by 14.2%, 10.0%, 24.6%, and 37%, respectively. It is helpful to the city planners to consider whether the disadvantages of planting vegetation inside the street canyon would overwhelm the advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is still a challenge to achieve large-area preparation of robust superhydrophobic surfaces with strong mechanical stability. Here, a simple and low-cost method to prepare robust decoupling superhydrophobic coatings on aluminum (Al) alloys substrate has been presented. The superhydrophobicity and robustness of decoupling coatings are realized by structuring surfaces at two different length scales, with nanostructures for superhydrophobicity and microstructures for robustness. This prepared decoupling coating shows promising superhydrophobicity, with water contact angle (CA) of ∼158.4° and roll off angle (RA) of ∼3°. It also exhibits high repellency for impacting water droplets. Notably, the decoupling coating processes outstanding adhesion strength on the substrate after tape-peeling and cross-cut tests, also with promising wear resistantance after sandpaper abrasion and wear test. The friction coefficient of this decoupling coating is only ∼0.2. In addition, the robust decoupling superhydrophobic coating is applied to underwater buoyancy enhancement and fluid resistance reduction (drag reduction rate ∼30.09%). This decoupling superhydrophobic coating also displays promising self-cleaning and antifouling properties. Moreover, benefitting from the photocatalytic property of TiO2, this decoupling coating is also exploited for degrading organics to achieve seawater purification. This obtained decoupling superhydrophobic coating is expected to apply on other solids in marine fields, and the simple and eco-friendly method develops the potential practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides have become attractive materials for flexible wearable devices because of their intriguing chemistry characteristics and sensitivity to external stimuli. However, the growth of two-dimensional materials on polymer surfaces is generally carried out by the time-consuming and costly chemical vapor deposition method. Reducing the manufacturing and integration costs while improving the device performance remains to be challenging. Herein, we report a simple liquid metal-assisted hydrothermal method for the growth of two-dimensional nanomaterials on the polymer surface. Specifically, a layer of liquid metal was coated on commercial tape, while layered cobalt sulfide was grown on its surface by a simple one-step hydrothermal method. Different kinds of flexible sensors can be prepared, such as bending sensor, pressure sensor, and humidity sensor, which can be used to detect motion, writing, breathing, and other signals. This strategy can also be assigned to sensing signals on different objects, which may further expand and enrich the application of two-dimensional materials in sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stick–slip driving is widely used in the field of nanotechnology because of its high resolution and theoretically unlimited displacement. However, it suffers from such problems as low velocity and one-step displacement instability. In this paper, a method to improve the performance of inertial stick–slip movement from the perspective of overturning moment is proposed. Firstly, modeling and mechanical analysis of the inertial stick–slip platform structure. Then analyzing the influence of overturning moment through the conservation of energy and getting calculation results. Finally, building an experimental system for verification and finding that the height of the inertial force dropped by 5 mm, and the prototype single step displacement increased by 26%. Through theoretical calculation and experiment, the influence of overturning moment on inertial stick–slip motion is verified, which provides further guidance for inertial stick–slip motion platform design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous roll-to-roll fabrication is essential for transferring the idea of bio-inspired, fibrillar dry adhesives into large-scale, synthetic, high-performance adhesive tapes. Toward this aim, we investigated process parameters that allow us to control the morphology and the resulting adhesion of mushroom-shaped micropatterned surfaces. Flexible silicone templates enabled the replication process of the polyurethane acrylate pre-polymer involving UV-light-induced cross-linking. For this paper, we particularly tailored the polyurethane acrylate pre-polymer by adding chemical components to tune UV curing kinetics and to reduce oxygen inhibition of radicals. We found that higher intensities of the UV light and faster reaction kinetics improved the quality of the microstructures, i.e., a larger cap diameter of the mushroom tips was achieved. The polymer blend U6E4 exhibited the fastest curing kinetics, which resulted in a micromorphology similar to that of the Ni-shim master structures. Best adhesion results were obtained for adhesive tapes made from U6E4 with 116 kPa pull-off stress, 1.4 N cm−1 peel strength and 71 kPa shear strength. In addition, repeated attachment–detachment tests over 100,000 cycles demonstrated strong robustness and reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study investigates hydrodynamic analysis of heat exchanger with crosscut twisted tapes and filled with thermal oil-based SWCNT nanofluid (NF). SIMPLE algorithm and FVM method are used. The heat transfer fluid enters the test section at Tin = 300 K in different flow velocities, which are related with Reynolds numbers 5000, 10,000, 15,000 and 20,000. For ensuring that the input flow to test section is always fully developed, the input part to length 2L is considered. It is also intended to ensure that the flow does not return to test section of the exit section of length L. Also, the test section has the constant temperature of Ts = 400 K. Different geometrical parameters of twisted tapes in heat exchanger are studied. The optimization is carried out due to fulfill the highest performance evaluation criterion (PEC index). Based on results, usage of twisted tapes has a sharp impact on thermal and hydraulic characteristics of heat exchanger and leading to swirling motion, which improve the heat transfer coefficient and augment the pressure drop (ΔP). Besides, usage of simple model is more efficient than crosscut model. Also, it is understood that the PEC index values always are more than 1.11, which means that employment of these turbulators is effective and positive with thermal–hydraulic viewpoint. The simple model (Case K and N = 8) is introduced as the most optimum model in this paper, and its PEC values for system filled with NF in ϕ = 0.8% at Re = 5000, 10,000, 15,000 and 20,000 are 1.37, 1.59, 1.78 and 1.93, respectively. The application of machine learning methods showed that the output parameters in the simulation of heat exchangers are well predicted. The accuracy of the developed neural network was such that the maximum error was below 1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of computer simulation and experimental rolling of 0.55 mm thick, 100 mm wide tapes made of AD33 aluminium alloy on an industrial 175 × 300 double-roll mill under different contact friction conditions. The study quantifies the impact of technological lubricants on the distribution of rolling forces, moments, and powers along the tape length. It has been shown that the use of technological lubricants reduces the force and power parameters compared to dry rolling. When simulating the rolling process of tapes made of AD33 alloy with I40 technological lubricant (5%), the rolling force decreases by 6.72 kN (7.9%), the rolling moment—by 0.026 kNm (12.6%) and the rolling power—by 0.098 kW (12.8%) compared to dry rolling. When the rolls are lubricated with kerosene, the rolling force decreases by 8.8%, the rolling moment—by 18.8%, and the rolling power—by 18.6%. The results of computer simulation of rolling with various technological lubricants have led to the development and implementation of a new rolling mode on a 175 × 300 double-roll mill using I40 industrial oil as the technological lubricant. The new mode ensures the specified thickness accuracy of 0.55 ± 0.01 mm along the length of AD33 alloy tapes, significantly reduces the deformation time, and decreases the loads on equipment (by 5–8%) at the machine-building plant in Dong Nai city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RDX (Royal Demolition Explosive) is the organic compound with the formula (O2NNCH2)3. It is a white solid material without smell or taste, widely used as an explosive. It is more energetic explosive than TNT, and it was used widely in World War II. The estimated number of RDX-C4 cases in Bahrain ranged between the years 2015–2018 (May) with a total quantity of 370.72 KG in a total number of 38 cases. The effect of explosive RDX-C4 is very massive and can cause many causalities and fatalities among civilians and policemen. These cases consisted of adhesive film with tapes wrapped around RDX-C4 substance (Demolition Charge M112), black batteries, pipes, black bag contained RDX-C4, and in magnetic improvised explosive device (IED). Touch DNA recovery utilized different collection methods, such as nylon swabbing, tape lifting, and direct cutting of certain parts of the samples that were positive of RDX-C4 through DXR Raman Spectrometer. Samples were extracted and purified with magnetic beads chemistry and quantified. Low copy DNA extracts were subjected to a concentration step. DNA extracts were amplified and processed for detection to obtain reliable results using GlobalFiler Amplification PCR kit and run through ABI 3500xL Genetic Analyzer for fragment length determination. We have discovered that RDX-C4 cannot bind to the DNA nor to the solutions used in DNA typing. Thus, it does not cause DNA inhibition or degradation. From this point of view, we were successful in obtaining acceptable and fit results using advanced techniques. This study will be very useful and informative to assist the forensic community in terrorism case applications worldwide as terrorists do not respect geographical boundaries nor ethnicities of the victims, and the use of DNA profiling technology is the most suitable way to identify the terrorists and keep an end to their violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesive tapes are commonly used in electronics and automotive parts, and it is important to predict the peel force of the tapes by finite element simulations. Much research has been conducted to propose different functional forms of the cohesive zone model which are used in finite element simulations, but it is difficult to determine the parameters of those functional forms. In this study a methodology was proposed to determine the parameters of a bilinear cohesive zone model based on the results of the double cantilever beam test and several peel tests, and to predict the peel force at other peel tests by conducting finite element simulations. By comparing the estimated peel forces from finite element simulations to the measured peel forces, the methodology proposed in this study was proven to be simple yet effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the geometrical structure of dimpled twisted tape inserts in the inner pipe of a double-pipe heat exchanger (HX) on the Nusselt number (Nu), friction factor (f), and thermal performance factor (η) was experimentally investigated. Various geometries of twisted tape (TT) including typical, continuous, continuous winglet, and discontinuous louvered twisted tape geometries in both dimpled and non-dimpled forms were considered. The Reynolds number in the annular space was selected to be constant at 11000 and a range of Reynolds number between 5000 and 9500 was considered for cold flow in the inner pipe. The results indicated that all these inserts significantly augmented the Nu and friction factor compared to the plain pipe, but under the same conditions, the dimpled twisted tapes exhibited a higher Nu, friction factor, and thermal performance in comparison with similar non-dimpled twisted tapes. The discontinuous dimpled louvered twisted tape achieved the maximum Nu and thermal performance as compared with the other twisted tape inserts. The maximum obtained thermal performance factor of the heat exchanger is 1.24 at Re = 5300 for the dimpled louvered twisted tape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alloy-reinforced Bi-2223 composite tapes can be used to realize high-magnetic field magnets, and its equivalent mechanical properties are important because of the great stress during the manufacturing and operation of magnets. Since the alloy-reinforced Bi-2223 tape has a complex structure, suitable analytical methods and equivalent models are necessary. The analysis of the equivalent mechanical properties is achieved by the mixture rule method and finite element simulation of simplified models. By using different simplified models, it is found that the single-filament elliptical model reduced computation time at most compared with the multi-filaments model, while the deviation from the experimental results is the minimum. It also shows that the details of the geometry in the models have little effect on the results. The results of the mixture rule method also agree with the experimental results, demonstrating that using the mixture rule method and simulation method of a single-filament elliptical model for mechanical analysis of alloy-reinforced Bi-2223 tapes is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experimental study, we aimed to determine the combined effect of circular and semicircular cuts on twisted tape inserts in a double pipe heat exchanger operating in a turbulent regime with a Reynolds number ranging from 4000 to 18000. The insert used had circular cuts on the neutral axis and semicircular cuts on the edges. The diameter of the cuts was varied between 4 mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm for twisted tapes with twist ratios (x/b) of 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5. To reduce errors and increase automation, we employed the internet of things approach to measure additional input and output parameters, as well as cold and hot flow rates. This approach yielded more reliable results by minimizing human intervention. The findings of the present study indicate that the definite modifications in twisted tape led to a significant improvement in thermohydraulic performance metrics. Compared to other types of cuts, the circular and semicircular cut twisted tapes with x/b = 4.5 and φ = 8 mm achieved the most competitive enhancement in thermohydraulic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main task in creating high-current cables based on HTSC-2 wires for thermonuclear installations is to maximize the resistance of the cable to mechanical stresses. Its solution is directly related to the strength of the HTSC-2 wires, which is determined by the supporting steel tape substrate. Therefore, the diagnosis of stresses in the carrier tape is of particular importance. The only direct method for measuring internal strains and residual stresses inside a material is neutron stress diffractometry. However, its application to thin steel tapes is limited by the intensity of the neutron beam. In this study, by the example of a 100-µm-thick AISI 310S stainless steel tape applied as a substrate in manufacturing HTSC-2 wire at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, it is shown that this restriction can be circumvented if the measurements are carried out on stacks of tapes similar to HTSC stacks in high-current cables. In this approach, the diagnosis with neutron stress diffractometry is performed on the AISI 310S tape as delivered, after mechanical polishing, and after applying a YSZ buffer layer. The high sensitivity of the method is noted, which makes it possible to determine the crescent-shaped deformation of the tape and the degree of its stretching after mechanical polishing and to measure the residual stresses arising during the deposition of the YSZ layer. The results obtained show that the neutron stress diffractometry has good prospects for diagnosing internal strains and stresses in HTSC stacks of high-current cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Investigate the effect of erosive challenge with hydrochloric acid (HCl) on the surface of five different restorative materials. Material and methods: Ten plates of five restorative materials (Admira Fusion, Activa BioActive-Restorative, Charisma, Equia Forte HT Fil/EF, Filtek Universal Restorative/FU) were obtained. Half of the plate surfaces was covered with an adhesive tape, creating a control area, and the other side was submitted to the HCl (0.06 M HCl; pH 1.2; at 37 °C; for 30 h). Plates with control and HCl-treated areas were analyzed regarding the surface roughness (Sa), roughness profile (Rv), surface loss (SL), microhardness (MI), and gloss (GL) (n = 10). Surface morphology was analyzed by SEM and chemical elements were identified by EDX (n = 5). Data were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). Results: Most materials were not affected by HCl. FU showed the lowest Sa and Rv, and the highest GL after HCl. On the other hand, EF presented the highest Sa, Rv, and SL, and the lowest GL. The MI of materials was not changed after HCl. Topographical and chemical alterations were observed after HCl only for EF. Conclusions: The composites showed minor surface changes after HCl, which was not observed for the glass ionomer cement (EF). FU presented the best performance regarding the parameters evaluated. Clinical relevance: The effects of erosive challenge with HCl on composites were minimal, while the glass ionomer cements might not be indicated as restorative material for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many assembly line processes like metabolic and signaling networks in biological systems, the products of the first enzyme are the reactant for the next enzyme in the network. Working of multiple machines leads to efficient utilization of resources. Motivated by this, we investigate if multiple Maxwell demons lead to more efficient information processing. We study the phase space of multiple demons acting on an information tape based on the model of Mandal and Jarzynski [1-2]. Their model is analytically solvable and the phase space of the device has three regions: engine, where work is delivered by writing information to the tape, erasure, where work is performed on the device to erase information on the tape, and dud, when work is performed and, at the same time, the information is written to the tape. For identical demons, we find that the erasure region increases at the expense of the dud region, while the information engine region does not change appreciably. The efficiency of the multiple demon device increases with the number of demons in the device and saturates to the equilibrium (maximum) efficiency even at short cycle times for very large numbers of demons. By investigating a device with non-identical demons acting on a tape, we identify the demon parameters that control the different regions of the phase space. Our model is well suited to study information processing in assembly line systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]