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Active packaging (AP) is a new class of innovative food packaging, containing bioactive compounds, is able to maintain the quality of food and extend its shelf life by releasing active agent during storage. The main challenge in designing the AP system is slowing the release rate of active compounds for its prolonged activity. Controlled-release active packaging (CRP) is an innovative technology that provides control in the release of active compounds during storage. Various approaches have been proposed to design CRP. The purpose of this review was to gather and present the strategies utilized for release controlling of active compounds from food AP systems. The chemical modification of polymers, the preparation of multilayer films and the use of cross-linking agents are some methods tried in the last decades. Other approaches use molecular complexes and irradiation treatments. Micro- or nano-encapsulation of active compounds and using nano-structured materials in the AP film matrix are the newest techniques used for the preparation of CRP systems. The action mechanism for each technique was described and an effort was made to highlight representative published papers about each release controlling approach. This review will benefit future prospects of exploring other innovative release controlling methods in food CRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to investigate the feasibility of composite and laminated chitosan (CH) and whey protein isolate (WPI) film preparation which was containing cumin essential oil and chitosan nanofiber. Production of composite film was possible by decreasing WPI pH to below its isoelectric pH. Double-layer was also prepared by pouring WPI solution on dried CH film. amount of active agent and nanofiller was fixed (125 mg/100ml) and only the effect of CH/WPI ration and film type (laminated or composite) on the properties of films was arudied by RSM analytical method. The color, watercontact angle, moisture absorption, solubility, water vapor permeability and mechanical properties of films were determined. By using desirability function and according to the results, optimum formulation of composite film (65.14% WPI and 34.85% CH) and laminated film (49.01% WPI and 50.99% CH) was achieved. Microstructure of optimized films was analyzed by FTIR, FE-SEM and XRD tests. Results of FE-SEM indicated a heterogenous stracture in composite film but without any phase separation. Also, at the laminatred film good attachment between two layers of CH and WPI was observed. Semi-crystalline stracture of composite film was approved by XRD analysis and there was no detectable difference between peak intensity and crystalline stracture of composite and laminated film. there was a slight difference in the FTIR spectra of composite and laminated films. According to the results, the characteristics of composite film in comparison to laminated film had better accordance with the used prediction model. But the laminated film exhibited better morphological characteristics and could be suggested for preservation of different foods due to its high potential for use in food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates synthesis of impregnating phenol–formaldehyde resins in which up to 30 wt % formulation phenol is replaced by cardanol, a plant product. The resulting resins were used to make impregnated paper for laminating the plywood and particle boards. The synthesis and structure of cardanol-containing water-soluble resols were studied by IR spectroscopy and 1H NMR, and the reactivity of phenol cardanol formaldehyde resins at 80–150°C was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The optimal amount of cardanol in relation to phenol in the resin structure was determined. It is shown that the introduction of cardanol into the composition of phenol–formaldehyde resins reduces the impregnation time of kraft paper and improves the surface quality and elasticity of the impregnated paper, with the use of such paper making it possible to decrease the water absorption of laminated particle board materials and the emission of formaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxicity of metal to living organisms, including human beings, was discovered a long time ago. In the present time, aluminum exposure is widely used for wrapping food to keep it taste and smell. However it will affect to human health security, specially the brain. This study aimed to investigate the changes of histological Structure on the cerebral cortex caused by aluminum chloride. The mice were injected intraperitoneally with AlCl3 200 mg/kg body weight, once every 3 days, totalizing 10 administrations. Control only was administration distilled water. Histological observations were carried out using the paraffin method. The results of this study show that aluminum chloride cause disorganization of the laminated cerebral cortex, vacuolization, karyolysis, congestion, and hemorrhage. The mice of one and two-months of age group were more susceptible to aluminum chloride than the mice of the three-months of age group. This research can apply for an assessment of the exposure risk to heavy metal. Increasing Al contamination can occur naturally or by anthropogenic activities. The accumulation of the heavy metal in the organism can occur by biomagnification, by which heavy metal is passed from one trophic level to the next within a food web. Therefore communities that live in urban areas potentially exposed to metals aluminum and should be more concerned related to understanding health risks. Further studies are needed to examine the above matters. We recommend calculating the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake of aluminum and implication on local people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blocks-in-Conduit is a novel approach to cable, coil, and splice technologies with unique benefits for a high-current-density toroid winding to operate at 20 T at 20 K. Blocks of REBCO tape are cabled in conduit, with a laminated structure and thin-wall center-tube that provides twist along the cable, spring-loaded stress management within the cable, and cross-flow cooling throughout a thick toroid winding. The coil technology utilizes a co-wound armor structure that integrates stress management, cross-flow cooling and bypass of coil stress to protect the BIC. An interleaved splice joint enables low-resistance demountable splices within the winding pack. These provisions yield maximum current density in the winding pack, maximum stability of the REBCO tape blocks, and minimum conductor cost for a tokamak toroid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jelly-roll (JR) processed wires using metal thin foils as starting materials have excellent cold workability and drawability. We have successfully fabricated Nb/Al composite mono-core wires having 50 μm in outer diameter and over 400 meters in length. Furthermore, some of the wires were additionally drawn to 30 μm in outer diameter. It is known that the critical current density (Jc) of Nb3Al synthesized by low-temperature diffusion reactions increases with decreasing the diffusion distance between Nb and Al. In this study, we have confirmed that Jc would increase with decreasing the wire diameter, and the maximum Jc has been obtained on Nb3Al wires with 30 μm in diameter. In addition, a 7-wire round cable has also been demonstrated using 80 μm diameter wire, with an Ic 7 times the Ic of a single wire. A transport current test was performed for the cable sample simulating W&R and R&W processes using a 50 mm diameter G10 holder. There were no differences between the Ic and the n-values in the W&R and R&W processes. Moreover, as a feasibility study, a 3rd bundle Rutherford cable has been successfully fabricated using 3,108 pure copper wires 50 μm in diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leakage flux penetrating laminated iron cores in power transformers and large generators induces eddy current and local loss. Due to the strong magnetic anisotropy of the lamination structure, the penetrating flux tends to saturate the lamination in its plane, even when the incident stray flux density is low. Therefore, the combined effect of anisotropy and nonlinearity has a great impact on the eddy current distribution and the associated power losses. Moreover, the incident normal flux often interacts with the main flux, where the phase angle between the two fluxes may play a significant role. A measurement device is developed to emulate the actual leakage flux in a steel lamination and the power losses are measured at the flux densities of various magnitudes and phases. The measurement results are compared and interpreted by the results obtained from a finite-element analysis, where the homogenization approach for material modeling is implemented, taking the combined effect of magnetic anisotropy and the saturation into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops a multi-scale model order reduction (MOR) method including both material and machine scale MOR. The material-scale MOR homogenizes the eddy-current (EC) field in laminated cores using the Legendre expansion of magnetic induction along the stacking direction within each steel sheet. The machine-scale MOR represents the EC field in electromagnetic devices with their equivalent Cauer ladder network (CLN). The former MOR is built into the latter by applying the CLN procedure to the homogenized EC field equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development of a stretchable electronic textile (e-textile) and the design of a knee sleeve with integrated electrodes for wearable applications. The e-textile is achieved by laminating a printed conductive pattern onto knitted fabric, followed by printing a carbon rubber electrode layer on top of the conductive pads of the conductive pattern. The Young's modulus of two knitted stretchable fabrics, made of different textile yarns, is tested and their impact on the e-textile and garment properties is discussed. Four printed conductive track designs in the form of a straight line, a sine wave, a half circle, and a horseshoe are laminated on these fabrics. The four designs are investigated in terms of conductivity, change during stretching, relaxation after stretching, and wash durability. A snap connector, attached to each end of the conductive tracks, provides electronic interconnection. The e-textiles survive 100 wash cycles with a resultant maximum resistance increase of 1.44 times. A fitted knee sleeve, for use in wearable electrotherapy for knee joint pain management, is fabricated by laminating a conductive track in the optimal sinusoidal design and then printing carbon rubber electrodes on top. [Display omitted] • Introduce a method for measuring the stretchability in stretchable electronic textiles. • Evaluated the stretchability of four shaped tracks on knitted fabrics specifically for applications requiring a 50% strain. • Developed an electronic textile with the capability to withstand 100 cycles of washing. • Introduced pattern cutting techniques to the realm of wearable technology to enhance usability. • A fitted knee sleeve is fabricated by laminating an optimal sinusoidal track and printing carbon rubber electrodes on top. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] A precompression pressure optimization strategy using in-die elastic recovery was developed to effectively address tablet lamination caused by air entrapment. This strategy involves exacerbating the air entrapment issue using high tableting speeds and main compaction pressures and collecting in-die elastic recovery data as a function of precompression pressure. The optimized precompression pressure, which corresponds to the minimum elastic recovery, is most effective at eliminating air from the powder bed prior to the main compression. When the optimized precompression pressure was employed, intact tablets of a model blend prone to lamination due to air entrapment could be produced over a wide range of high main compaction pressures, while tablets without precompression laminated immediately after ejection at equivalent main compaction pressures. This optimization strategy is effective for addressing lamination issues due to air entrapment using precompression. An advantage of this strategy is that intact tablets are not required to identify an optimized precompression pressure since elastic recovery measurements occur in-die. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a model for determining the non-isothermal curing kinetics of peroxide crosslinking polyolefin copolymers used for encapsulation of silicon solar cells in photovoltaic modules. Therefore, rheological data of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and polyolefin elastomer (POE) were analyzed. The curing kinetics were described assuming a temperature dependent Arrhenius rate coefficient and implementing a reaction rate model. Validation was performed under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. An excellent agreement of experimental and model data was ascertained. The model was used to determine the non-isothermal crosslinking conversion during lamination of EVA or POE based photovoltaic mini-modules. Temperatures were tracked by positioning seven sensors within the mini-modules. Moreover, a thermal simulation model was implemented. Also on module level, the experimental results corroborated the simulated data. A lamination temperature of 150 °C led to insufficient curing of POE based modules. Similar conversion rates were achieved for EVA and POE encapsulants at 150 and 160 °C, respectively. • Non-isothermal curing kinetics model for peroxide crosslinking encapsulants. • Implemented model requires just temperature profile as input data. • Tracking the cure state within mini PV modules revealed distinct inhomogeneities. • Curing was fastest close to the bottom glass being in contact with the heat source. • Curing of the encapsulant was slowest in between the silicon cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report for the first time a one-step fabrication by lamination of inexpensive graphene paper (GP) based Ag/AgCl pseudo-reference (RE) and K+-selective coated-film electrodes forming the novelty of this work. Contrary to our previous work about laminated GP solid-contact electrodes, the electrode fabrication in this work does not require manual drop casting steps after the lamination, simplifying the fabrication and making it suitable for mass production. We also eliminated the need of the solid contact and simplified the electrode construction by placing the plasticized potassium-selective PVC membrane (ISM) directly on the GP functioning as combined electrode substrate and ion-to-electron transducer. Both Ag/AgCl and the ISMs were pre-deposited on rectangular GP sheets (10 ×100 mm2) before placing them inside laminating pouches and feeding them through an office laminator after which the electrodes were ready for use. Five batches of 32 pseudo-REs had a very good E 0 reproducibility of ± 2.8 mV. The K+-electrodes had a slope and detection limit of 57.4 ± 0.3 mV/pK (n = 4) and 6 × 10−7 M, and the E 0 reproducibility was in the best case only ± 1.2 mV matching the performance of non-laminated K+-electrodes. This work demonstrates that the ISMs are compatible with the lamination where the temperature can momentarily rise to ca. 130 °C. [Display omitted] • Hot lamination of planar and flexible graphene paper based pseudo-REs and ISEs. • One-step fabrication by lamination of low-cost electrodes that are suitable for mass production. • The Ag/AgCl pseudo-REs had a good batch-to-batch E 0 reproducibility of ± 2.8 (n = 32). • The K+-ionophore valinomycin does not degrade during hot lamination at ca. 130 °C. • Laminated K+-selective electrodes match the performance of non-laminated ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeDominant-active RAC1 rescues photoreceptor structure in Drosophila rhodopsin-null mutants, indicating an important role in morphogenesis. This report assesses the morphogenetic effect of activated RAC1 during mammalian rod photoreceptor development using transgenic mice that express constitutively active (CA) RAC1.MethodsTransgenic mice were generated by expressing CA RAC1 under control of the Rhodopsin promoter, and morphological features of the photoreceptors were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. Function was evaluated by electroretinography. Potential protein partners of CA RAC1 were identified by co-immunoprecipitation of retinal extracts.ResultsConstitutively active RAC1 expression in differentiating rods disrupted outer retinal lamination as early as postnatal day (P)6, and many photoreceptor cell nuclei were displaced apically into the presumptive subretinal space. These photoreceptors did not develop normal inner and outer segments and had abnormal placement of synaptic elements. Some photoreceptor nuclei were also mislocalized into the inner nuclear layer. Extensive photoreceptor degeneration was subsequently observed in the adult animal. Constitutively active RAC1 formed a complex with the polarity protein PAR6 and with microtubule motor dynein in mouse retina. The normal localization of the PAR6 complex was disrupted in CA RAC1-expressing rod photoreceptors.ConclusionsConstitutively active RAC1 had a profound negative effect on mouse rod cell viability and development. Rod photoreceptors in the CA RAC1 retina exhibited a defect in polarity and migration. Constitutively active RAC1 disrupted rod morphogenesis and gave a phenotype resembling that found in the Crumbs mutant. PAR6 and dynein are two potential downstream effectors that may be involved in CA RAC1-mediated defective mouse photoreceptor morphogenesis.

Research subject. In this research, we carried out a series of mineralogical, petrological and geochemical studies to investigate ore zones present in the Kusa ilmenite-magnetite deposit located within the boundaries of a similarly-named laminated gabbro massif. Here, ore bodies occur at various intrusion horizons among laminated apogabbroid amphibolites of a different basicity. In the intrusion section, the composition of halogens (Cl, F) in co-existing fluid-bearing minerals (apatite, am-phibole, staurolite) was analyzed.Materials and methods. In order to investigate the composition of mineral samples, their polished sections were examined using an electronic-microprobe analyzer JXA-5. The content of petrogenic and microelement components (CRF and ICP-MS methods) in the rock and ore samples was determined using the facilities of the Laboratory of Physical and Chemical methods, UBRAS Institute of Geology and Geochemisty.Results. It is established that the content of Cl and F in the apatite, amphibole and staurolite under study, as well as the chemical composition of ilmenite, magnetite, and hombombite components, depend on the position of the ore bodies in the intrusion. Thus, the apatites from the near-ore rocks in the central part of the deposit showed the highest Cl concentrations of up to 4.1%, while those located in the near-contact parts of the intrusion demonstrated a much lower Cl content of 2%. The central ore-bearing zone having the maximal Cl content features the largest formation of ore bodies, which (including magnetite) contain higher amounts of Fe2O3, Cr and V The presence of fluid-bearing minerals (apatite, scapolite, etc.) with high chlorine concentrations of up to 2.44% is this deposit is established.Conclusions. The identified peculiarities of halogen distribution in the apatite of bipyroxene gabbro, as well as the inheritance of relations TiO2/FeO in bipyroxene gabbro, in massive magnetite-ilmenite ores and in near-ore rocks point to a single magmatic source of these formations.

The structural dimension of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is of great importance in defining their properties and thus applications. In particular, 2D layered MOFs are of considerable interest because of their useful applications, which are facilitated by unique structural features of 2D materials, such as a large number of open active sites and high surface areas. Herein, this work demonstrates a methodology for the selective synthesis of a 2D layered MOF in the presence of the competitive formation of a 3D MOF. The ratio of the reactants, metal ions and organic building blocks used during the reaction is found to be critical for the selective formation of a 2D MOF, and is associated with its chemical composition. In addition, the well defined and uniform micro-sized 2D MOF particles are successfully synthesized in the presence of an ultrasonic dispersion. Moreover, the laminated 2D MOF layers are directly synthesized via a modified bottom-up lamination method, a combination of chemical and physical stimuli, in the presence of surfactant and ultrasonication.

Shape uniformity is one of the key factors for determining the performance of planar solid oxide fuel cells. Three parameters must be considered to acquire a full picture of shape uniformity: the extent of warpage, surface roughness and thickness variations. The present study examines the thickness variations of yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolytes after sintering. An optical technique has been successfully developed to determine the thickness variations, which are closely related to microstructure uniformity. A warm isostatic pressing lamination technique can be used to reduce thickness variations.

In this work, the effect of cold deformation prior to annealing treatment on the microstructure and magnetic hysteresis energy losses in a low carbon grain non-oriented semi-processed electrical steel with 0.60 mm thickness was investigated. The samples were subjected to different percentages of deformation, in a range of 5–20% reduction and annealed at temperatures between 650 and 950 °C for 60 min, these were characterized by Optical Microscopy. Meanwhile the energy losses were calculated from the magnetic hysteresis loops using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. The experimental results showed that cold deformation increases energy losses by 50% when the steel is deformed 20%, due to microstructural defects that are introduced to the material during deformation. The presence of the microstructural defects was verified through measurements of Full Width at Half Maximum by means of X-ray diffraction. On the other hand, it was observed that annealing at temperatures below Ac1 causes only small changes in the microstructure of the steel, however, it promotes the recovery of magnetic properties by 50% with respect to the deformed material. In contrast, when the material is annealed between Ac1 and Ac3 (α+γ) magnetic properties are recovered ~33% with respect to the initial state and, at values higher than 65% compared to the state of greatest deformation (20%), as a result of both microstructural modification and the evolution of the grain size experienced by the material.

In this study, laminator design and production are realized for small & medium scale photovoltaic (PV) module production. The reliability of the energy to be supplied by the PV modules and / or the system is possible by being durable against external conditions and long life. This can be ensured by the protection provided by industrially mandatory lamination techniques. For the aim of the study, first, the solid model of the system is created using the Solidworks® program and the system is simulated for optimum production conditions. After this step, the components of the designed system are identified and aluminium plates are produced in CNC and assembled on the chassis. The temperature control is provided by the PID controller while the desired thermal distribution for lamination of the PV module layers is provided by cartridge resistors. The upper aluminium sheet with flexible membrane for vacuum and / or pressure procedures required for the lamination of the PV module components is positioned on the slide rails. Following completion of the design and assembly, cell matrices are constructed by connecting solar cells in series and / or parallel, and the system is tested for industrial performance. As a result, the digital PID temperature-controlled laminator test kit for PV module production will provide insight into the lamination processes in existing technologies and ensure that students at undergraduate / graduate level have the necessary knowledge and experience.

According to the evolving requirements of smartphone consumers, the form of smartphone displays is becoming more advanced and diversified. In particular, the shape of the cover window of smartphones is changing from a conventional flat rigid shape to a bended shape with multiple curvatures. However, a relatively advanced lamination process is required to bond the flexible OLED panel to the bended cover window. To overcome this limitation, in this study, a hybrid structured silicone pad with multi-hardness was developed as a pad to be used for the lamination. Hybrid silicone pads were modeled in various shapes, considering the stress points and spreading characteristics of the pad pertaining to the vertical, horizontal, and center orientations during compression in the lamination process. In addition, the compression strength of the proposed pad was evaluated through simulation, and the compression results and reliability of the pad were validated through lamination process experiments performed using an optically clear adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flex barrier and optical density (OD) are two unique properties for metallized films and aluminum foil. This study investigated the effect of flexing on barrier properties of a laminate comprising metallized films and aluminum foil, as well as OD and adhesive lamination process on the overall multilayer laminate performance. Three (3) barrier layers, namely aluminum foil, metallized polyethylene terephthalate (met OPET) film with a high OD, and standard metallized PET film(met OPET), were laminated with the same printing layer OPET and sealing layer linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), into OPET/adhesive/foil/adhesive/LLDPE and OPET/adhesive/met OPET/adhesive/LLDPE structures. The oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) were measured before and after flexing. The aluminum foil centered laminate had an excellent oxygen barrier after the 20-cycle flexing test and failed to retain its oxygen barrier after the 270-cycle flexing. Compared to the aluminum foil centered laminate, the metallized film centered laminates were less affected by the flexing on the oxygen barrier. For all laminates, the water vapor barrier was less severely affected by flexing than the oxygen barrier. This study suggests that the ASTMF392 Gelbo D (20- cycle flexing) can determine if aluminum foil and metallized film centered laminates are resistant to flex-formed pinhole failures. A higher OD, a thicker film thickness and lamination process improved laminate's actual barrier, resulting in lower measured transmission rates versus that predicted using Henry's solubility law and Fick's diffusion law. The laminate's water vapor transmission rate is 55–74% lower than predicted. The oxygen transmission rate is 15–31% lower than predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lamination technique is one of the most promising and effective approaches to produce flexible organic solar cells (OSCs), with the combination of high throughput and simultaneous encapsulation. In this study, flexible ITO‐free OSCs were successfully fabricated by lamination technique under the optimized temperature and pressure. It is found that the introduction of hole interface layer of PEDOT:MoO3 helps to improve both the film hydrophobicity and the carrier extraction. A high efficiency improvement of about 30% is obtained in the interface‐modified laminating flexible ITO‐free OSCs compared to the conventional laminated device. This work illustrates that anode interface engineering has a significant effect on the improvement of performance of roll‐to‐roll laminated and self‐encapsulated OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The superior colliculus is a conserved sensorimotor structure that integrates visual and other sensory information to drive reflexive behaviors. Although the evidence for this is strong and compelling, a number of experiments reveal a role for the superior colliculus in behaviors usually associated with the cerebral cortex, such as attention and decision-making. Indeed, in addition to collicular outputs targeting brainstem regions controlling movements, the superior colliculus also has ascending projections linking it to forebrain structures including the basal ganglia and amygdala, highlighting the fact that the superior colliculus, with its vast inputs and outputs, can influence processing throughout the neuraxis. Today, modern molecular and genetic methods combined with sophisticated behavioral assessments have the potential to make significant breakthroughs in our understanding of the evolution and conservation of neuronal cell types and circuits in the superior colliculus that give rise to simple and complex behaviors. Basso et al. provide a new look at the superior colliculus. Focusing on classic and recent work, the review highlights how the colliculus is positioned to affect much of the neuraxis and plays key roles in both simple and complex behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to minimize eddy current losses in an open-core type of transformer, a lower width-to-thickness ratio of lamination sheets and even varying lamination stacking direction than in the case of standard transformers are used. Consequently, narrow eddy current loops must be considered as a 2-D phenomenon, i.e., edge effects and irregular current density distributions cannot be neglected. A two-step method for the calculation of eddy currents and eddy current losses in an open-core transformer is presented. In the first step, using the anisotropic surrogate material, the magnetic flux density distribution within the bulk core model is calculated. In the second step, the magnetic flux density obtained in the first step is used as input to calculate eddy currents in a sufficient number of densely meshed 2-D slices of the laminated core. Numerical simulation of the method is carried out, and the results are compared with those obtained using a homogenization method and the brute force approach. The results show good agreement and indicate the importance of taking edge effects into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the energy transition and the growth of electromobility, the demand for lithium-ion batteries has increased in recent years. Great demands are being placed on the quality of battery cells and their electrochemical properties. Therefore, the understanding of interactions between products and processes and the implementation of quality management measures are essential factors that requires inline capable process monitoring. In battery cell lamination processes, a typical problem source of quality issues can be seen in missing or misaligned components (anodes, cathodes and separators). An automatic detection of missing or misaligned components, however, has not been established thus far. In this study, acoustic measurements to detect components in battery cell lamination were applied. Although the use of acoustic measurement methods for process monitoring has already proven its usefulness in various fields of application, it has not yet been applied to battery cell production. While laminating battery electrodes and separators, acoustic emissions were recorded. Signal analysis and machine learning techniques were used to acoustically distinguish the individual components that have been processed. This way, the detection of components with a balanced accuracy of up to 83% was possible, proving the feasibility of the concept as an inline capable monitoring system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today’s cell production, the focus lies on maximizing productivity while maintaining product quality. To achieve this, the lamination of electrode and separator is one key process technology, as it bonds the electrode and separator to form mechanically resilient intermediate products. These mechanically resilient intermediates are necessary to enable high throughput processes. Although the lamination process has significant effects on the electrochemical performance of battery cells, it has not been sufficiently researched with regard to its process-product interdependencies. Therefore, this paper addresses the investigation of these interdependencies and proposes three characterization methods (grey scale analysis, high potential tests, electrochemical cycling and C-rate tests). The results of the three methods show that the lamination process with its process parameters (lamination temperature, lamination pressure and material feed rate) has an influence on both the properties of the intermediate product and the cell properties. In conclusion, the knowledge of the process-product interdependencies is essential in order to utilize the advantages of lamination integrated into the process chain and consequently achieve quality-assured cell production.

Paper-based analytical devices possess desirable properties such as low cost, convenient production, and rapid output. These advantages over conventional analytical devices have attracted tremendous attention in recent years, and an abundance of fabrication techniques have been achieved with different designs. Related approaches are adopted by scientists and engineers from different research fields to create practical devices tailored for various applications. Among a diverse selection of strategies, paper-based analytical devices featuring enclosed channels can protect its contents from environmental harm, which is helpful in designing paper-based devices aimed toward practical use. However, superior properties of enclosed device designs have often been neglected when a paper-based platform is selected, and related discussion is still lacking in the field. To fill this empty space in the relevant literature, important issues are highlighted and recent research achievements are included in this article, which should have implication for scientists interested in sensing technology, analytical chemistry, material science, and miniaturized devices. For the convenience of reader's understanding, this article provides a general introduction to the basic properties and concepts of paper-based analytical devices. Firstly, commonly used fabrication strategies and detection methods are mentioned, with an in-depth emphasis on paper-based devices with enclosed channels, including breakthroughs in device types, thoughts on novel fabrication, and practical application examples. Subsequently, other important topics related to enclosed paper-based device design are summarized, and future challenges and opportunities in the field are also discussed. Image 1 • Brief introduction to the background of paper-based analytical devices. • In-depth discussion of paper-based analytical devices with enclosed channels. • How enclosed channels improve device lifetime and flow properties. • Challenges and perspective opportunities for enclosed paper-based devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how aesthetic institutional logics and objects shape markets. We focus on the champagne field, for which dominant category conventions include luxury, celebration and protected regional origin (exemplified by grande marque champagne). Our attention, however, is on more recent, alternative conventions, such as site-specific terroir and passionate artisanality (exemplified by "grower champagne"). In analyzing how trade associations, small-scale producers and wine writers represent champagne, we offer an approach that is sensitive to both top-down and bottom-up dynamics of logics. Drawing on the concept of lamination to provide a processual bridge between category conventions and institutional objects (and thus logics), we find that representations from the three actor groups build up – layering and (at least partially) overlapping – such that both dominant and alternative frames come to shape the champagne field. We suggest how divergent representational practices may be directed at and by a common aesthetic institutional object. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of this work is to present, for the first time, the use of Dynamic Mechanical Analysis as a tool to characterize the thermo-mechanical behavior of green tapes defining the process conditions for the subsequent lamination step. This method was applied on tapes of protonic conductors, key-materials for different applications in the energy sector, from gas separation membranes to solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzers. The pore former (rice starch) content was found to considerably affect the thermomechanical behavior (elastic and storage moduli, elongation to break, viscosity) of the tape and therefore the lamination process. The temperature required for a proper lamination increases from 50 up to 75 °C passing from the system without rice starch to the one with the highest pore former amount. This work identifies for the first time an optimal lamination viscosity (1010 Pa s), regardless the tapes formulation, required for a suitable adhesion among the layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend the unpublished work of Handel and Miller on the classification, up to isotopy, of endperiodic automorphisms of surfaces. We give the Handel–Miller construction of the geodesic laminations, give an axiomatic theory for pseudo-geodesic laminations, show that the geodesic laminations satisfy the axioms, and prove that pseudo-geodesic laminations satisfying our axioms are ambiently isotopic to the geodesic laminations. The axiomatic approach allows us to show that the given endperiodic automorphism is isotopic to a smooth endperiodic automorphism preserving smooth laminations ambiently isotopic to the original ones. Using the axioms, we also prove the 'transfer theorem' for foliations of 3-manifolds, namely that, if two depth-one foliations ${\mathcal{F}}$ and ${\mathcal{F}}^{\prime }$ are transverse to a common one-dimensional foliation ${\mathcal{L}}$ whose monodromy on the non-compact leaves of ${\mathcal{F}}$ exhibits the nice dynamics of Handel–Miller theory, then ${\mathcal{L}}$ also induces monodromy on the non-compact leaves of ${\mathcal{F}}^{\prime }$ exhibiting the same nice dynamics. Our theory also applies to surfaces with infinitely many ends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principles of modification with salts of polyfunctional acids used as a catalyst-modifier in the synthesis of impregnating aminoformaldehyde oligomers are considered. The properties of the prepared oligomers are represented both during synthesis and during storage. It is shown that the synthesized oligomers make it possible to obtain high-quality coatings of wood-based board materials by lamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport layer and interface optimization is critical for improving the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) but is restricted by the conventional fabrication approach of sequential layer deposition. While the bottom transport layer is processed with minimum constraints, the narrow thermal and chemical stability window of the halide perovskite (HP) layer severely restricts the choice of top transport layer and its processing conditions. To overcome these limitations, we demonstrate lamination of HPs─where two transport layer-perovskite half-stacks are independently processed and diffusion-bonded at the HP-HP interface─as an alternative fabrication strategy that enables self-encapsulated solar cells. Power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of >21% are realized using cells that incorporate a novel transport layer combination along with dual-interface passivation via self-assembled monolayers, both of which are uniquely enabled by the lamination approach. This is the highest reported PCE for any laminated PSC encapsulated between glass substrates. We further show that this approach expands the processing window beyond traditional fabrication processes and is adaptable for different transport layer compositions. The laminated PSCs retained >75% of their initial PCE after 1000 h of 1-sun illumination at 40 °C in air using an all-inorganic transport layer configuration without additional encapsulation. Furthermore, a laminated 1 cm 2 device maintained a V of 1.16 V. The scalable lamination strategy in this study enables the implementation of new transport layers and interfacial engineering approaches for improving performance and stability.oc of 1.16 V. The scalable lamination strategy in this study enables the implementation of new transport layers and interfacial engineering approaches for improving performance and stability.

The improvement of the robustness of the performance of electrical machines in presence of neglected features, such as manufacturing tolerances and deviations in material properties and parameters, is increasingly demanded. The available optimization procedures do not account for manufacturing tolerances, leaving the decision process incomplete. The article proposes a methodology for the selection of the more robust design towards manufacturing tolerances among the best candidates, detected by an optimization procedure. Statistical tools for tolerance analysis and worst-case analysis are discussed and adopted for the scope. The proposed methodology is used to select a robust design with respect to torque ripple deviations due to geometric tolerances in the laminations of a Synchronous Reluctance Motor with fluid shaped barriers. The statistical performance analysis and the worst-case analysis provide an estimation of the performance deterioration in the presence of the tolerances in the manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to set forth a computationally efficient methodology to quantify the effects and assess the relevance of geometric and material uncertainty on a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM), based on a nonlinear finite-element model (FEM). Our methodology follows the theory of Gaussian process regression and principal component analysis to build a computationally inexpensive surrogate model that replaces the FEM. Uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis studies focus on the electromagnetic torque, flux linkage, and core loss of the PMSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) is commonly used as a core material in electric machines. These laminations are cut into the desired core shape that modifies the material properties near the cut edge, which consequently changes the magnetic performance of the core lamination. Magnetic property deterioration due to cutting has been reported in the literature but less attention has been given to the microstructural changes due to cutting and its relation to the magnetic properties. The present research focuses on the effects of laser cutting on microstructure and magnetic properties of NOES laminations. A number of lamination steel samples were laser-cut using an identical procedure to that expected on an industrial scale. Property measurements showed that the magnetic permeability of the samples decreased while the core losses increased. The core loss increase was significant, about 22% at 50 Hz and 1.5 T. This was attributed to the change in the micromagnetic characteristics of the sample due to cutting. The change in micromagnetics was investigated using magnetic domain imaging and distorted domain structure was observed near the laser-cut edge. Backscattered electron imaging and nanoindentation measurements were also used for further investigation of micromagnetic properties of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pigmented rat is an increasingly important model in visual neuroscience research, yet the lamination of retinal projections in the dLGN has not been examined in sufficient detail. From previous studies it was known that most of the rat dLGN receives monocular input from the contralateral eye, with a small island receiving predominantly ipsilateral projections. Here we revisit the question using cholera toxin B subunit, a tracer that efficiently fills retinal terminals after intra-ocular injection. We imaged retinal termini throughout the dLGN at 0.5 μm resolution and traced areas of ipsilateral and contralateral terminals to obtain a high resolution 3D reconstruction of the projection pattern. Retinal termini in the dLGN are well segregated by eye of origin, as expected. We find, however, that the ipsilateral projections form multiple discrete projection zones in three dimensions, not the single island previously described. It remains to be determined whether these subdomains represent distinct functional sublaminae, as is the case in other mammals.

In this work, we report the synthesis and study of nanocomposites with a biobased epoxy/amine (Epilok 60-600G/Curamine 30-952) matrix reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or functionalised with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO-rGO). These graphene related materials (GRMs) were first dispersed into a Curamine hardener using bath ultrasonication, followed by the addition of epoxy resin. Curing kinetics were studied by DSC under non-isothermal and isothermal conditions. The addition of 1.5 wt% of GLYMO-rGO into the epoxy matrix was found to increase the degree of cure by up to 12% and glass transition temperature by 14 °C. Mechanical testing showed that the addition of 0.05 wt% GLYMO-rGO improves Young’s modulus and tensile strength by 60% and 16%, respectively, compared to neat epoxy. Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates were prepared via hand lay up, using the nanocomposite system GRM/Epilok/Curamine as matrix, and were cut as CFRP adherents for lap shear joints. GRM/Epilok/Curamine was also used as adhesive to bond CFRP/CFRP and CFRP/aluminium adherents. The addition of 0.1 wt% GLYMO-rGO into the adhesive and CRFP adherents showed improved lap shear strength by 23.6% compared to neat resin, while in the case of CFRP/Aluminium joints the increase was 21.2%.

Aimed at improving the electromagnetic (EM) shielding and flame retardancy of cellulose materials, graphene (GE) nanoplates were introduced into cellulose matrix films by blending in1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The structure and performance of the obtained composite films were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, EM shielding effectiveness (SE), and combustion tests. GE introduction formed and stacked laminated structures in the films after drying due to controlled shrinkage of the cellulose matrix. The lamination of GE nanoplates into the films was beneficial for providing EM shielding due to multiple internal reflection of EM radiation; furthermore, they also increased flame resistance based on the “labyrinth effect.” The SE of these composite films increased gradually with increased GE content and reached 22.3 dB under an incident frequency of 1500 MHz. TG analysis indicated that these composite films possessed improved thermal stability due to GE addition. Reduced flammability was confirmed by their extended times to ignition or inability to be ignited, reduced heat release rates observed in cone calorimetry tests, and increased limiting oxygen index values. These films with improved EM shielding and flame retardancy could be considered potential candidates for multipurpose materials in various applications, such as electronics and radar evasion.

Graphene has been widely used due to its excellent electrical, mechanical and chemical properties. Defects produced during its transfer process will seriously affect the performance of graphene devices. In this paper, single-layer graphene was transferred onto glass and silicon dioxide (SiO2) substrates by wet transfer technology, and the square resistances thereof were tested. Due to the different binding forces of the transferred graphene surfaces, there may have been pollutants present. PMMA residues, graphene laminations and other defects that occurred in the wet transfer process were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. These defects influenced the square resistance of the produced graphene films, and of these defects, PMMA residue was the most influential; square resistance increased with increasing PMMA residue.

Fatigue analysis helps in predicting life of the component and seeks improvements of the whole process in design phase. Efforts are continually made to combat the fatigue phenomenon, yet certain mechanical components are still failing due to fatigue. The present work proposes a laminated design of beams, which undergo fatigue. The well-known Paris-Erdogan formula was used to theoretically predict fatigue life of the proposed design. The design was shown to enhance fatigue properties through laminating the cross section of the component; Barriers in front of a propagating crack is deliberately included by lamination. Spectacular levels of improvement in the fatigue life of up to 102% were achieved by replacing the monolithic type by only seven laminates. The present analysis was proved efficient in verifying the anticipated improvement acquired by the proposed design of laminated beams.

Losses due to eddy currents in an open-type transformer core are significantly reduced by the lamination of the transformer core. In order to further reduce the eddy current losses, the open-type core often has a multi-part structure, i.e., it is composed of several more slender cores. The complete homogenization of such a core is not possible when an A→,V−A→ formulation is used, where A and V represent the magnetic vector potential and electric scalar potential, respectively. On the other hand, an A→,T→−A→ formulation, where T represents the electric vector potential, enables the complete homogenization of the general open-type core, but the simulation converges poorly due to the large number of degrees of freedom. By eliminating the redundant degrees of freedom, the convergence rate is significantly improved, and is at least twice as good as the convergence rate of the simulation based on the A→,V−A→ formulation. In this paper, a method for the calculation of the eddy current losses in an open-type core based on the A→,T→−A→ formulation with the elimination of redundant degrees of freedom is presented. The method is validated by comparison with a brute force simulation based on the A→,V−A→ formulation, and the efficiency of the method is determined by comparison with the standard homogenization method based on the A→,V−A→ formulation.

A study of the peculiarities and a comparative analysis of the technologies used for the fabrication of elements of novel hybrid microfluidic biochips for express biomedical analysis have been carried out. The biochips were designed with an incorporated microfluidic system, which enabled an accumulation of the target compounds in a biological fluid to be achieved, thus increasing the biochip system’s sensitivity and even implementing a label-free design of the detection unit. The multilevel process of manufacturing a microfluidic system of a given topology for label-free fluorometric detection of protein structures is presented. The technological process included the chemical modification of the working surface of glass substrates by silanization using (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS), formation of the microchannels, for which SU-8 technologies and a last generation dry film photoresist were studied and compared. The solid-state phosphor layers were deposited using three methods: drop application; airbrushing; and mechanical spraying onto the adhesive surface. The processes of sealing the system, installing input ports, and packaging using micro-assembly technologies are described. The technological process has been optimized and the biochip was implemented and tested. The presented system can be used to design novel high-performance diagnostic tools that implement the function of express detection of protein markers of diseases and create low-power multimodal, highly intelligent portable analytical decision-making systems in medicine.

The composite fabric is a new type of automobile fabric in recent years. The three-layer composite fabric was made of different materials that were linen weaving fabric, knitting fabric and warp-knitted spacer fabric. Through testing performances of three different adhesives, the thermoplastic urethanes（TPU） hot melt powder was selected to adhere every fabric. Then, the laminating process was designed and applied. The optimized process conditions were following: the temperature was 150℃,the pressure was 2.0 N·cm-2,the time was 80 s, and the dosage of adhesive was 20 g·m-2.This new laminated fabric has multi-functions, such as comfortability, permeability and physic mechanical properties. This lamination process will be used to be the basis for the study of functional laminated car seat fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for calculating eddy currents and corresponding losses in a laminated transformer core using finite element method is developed. The method is based on the transformation of the 3D model into the corresponding 2D model. The 2D laminated domain coincides with the slice of the 3D laminated domain. Eddy currents are therefore considered as 2D phenomena within lamination, instead of the 1D approximation, thus taking into account the edge effects. By using the 2D mesh, the number of finite elements is drastically reduced. The validity and precision of the method are verified by comparing the results of the simulation with the results obtained using the brute force approach and with the results obtained using the homogenisation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The requirement for electrical machines with high power/torque density has stimulated the development of high efficient cooling systems to dissipate the heat within the machines. This article presents a new water cooling topology for thermal management of a permanent-magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) with concentrated windings. The advanced cooling configuration consists of several water cold plates radially inserted into the core laminations. Therefore, the heat sources in laminations and windings are close to the coolant. Three-dimensional electromagnetic finite-element analysis and the computational fluid dynamics are used to evaluate the performance of the PMSM. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed cooling configuration, one PMSM with the proposed cooling configuration and the other with the regular water jacket (WJ) are designed and built under the similar sizes and specifications. The simulated and tested results show that the winding temperature can be reduced by over 20 °C using this cooling technique compared to using the WJ at the rated condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a new approach to an old challenge in the magnetic cores of power transformers and other magnetic devices with grain-oriented (GO) electrical steels. The main aim of this article is to evaluate the effects of interlaminar faults (ILFs) of different configurations on dynamic performance and dynamic energy losses of the magnetic cores with GO silicon steels. In the relevant studies, artificial short circuits of different configurations were applied between the laminations of stacks of four Epstein size laminations of 3% GO silicon steel. The results showed that ILF evaluation and core quality assessment can be effectively done by interpreting the dynamic hysteresis loops of the cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implantable organ-like grafts made using tissue engineering techniques could potentially be used as circulatory assist devices in people with heart failure. The aims of this study were to engineer implantable, thick cardiac tubes by the stepwise transplantation of cardiac cell sheets onto intestinal mesentery and confirm that these cardiac tubes exhibited pulsatile activity and generated an internal pressure. Cell sheets were created by culturing neonatal rat cardiac cells on temperature-responsive dishes. After harvesting, three cell sheets were stacked, and the triple-layered cell sheet was rolled around a section of endotracheal tube. The resulting construct was cultured to generate a cardiac tube. In the single-step group (n = 6), a cardiac tube was implanted onto the intestinal mesentery of a rat. In the double-step group (n = 6), a cardiac tube was implanted onto the intestinal mesentery of a rat, and another new cardiac tube was inserted into the original cardiac tube one day later. The pulsations and internal pressures of the implanted cardiac tubes were evaluated 1, 2 and 4 weeks after transplantation. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to confirm whether vasculature was present in the cardiac tubes at 4 weeks after transplantation. We found that the cardiac tubes developed spontaneous pulsations from 1 week after transplantation. The average internal pressures of the cardiac tubes at 4 weeks after transplantation were 1.8 ± 1.0 mmHg in the single-step group and 2.5 ± 0.3 mmHg in the double-step group. The cardiac tubes in the double-step group contracted in response to electrical stimulation at 4 weeks after transplantation. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed engraftment of the transplanted cardiac cell sheets and neovascularization of the cardiac tubes in both groups. Our findings demonstrate that it is feasible to generate functional cardiac tubes using the mesentery as a vascular bed. Further development of this technique will include the creation of a thicker tube, transplantation of the tube into major vessels and evaluation of the function of the tube under physiological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]