• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.2277-2287
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• 2015

In recent times, multilevel inverters are given high priority in many large industrial drive applications. However, the reliability of multilevel inverters are mainly affected by the failure of power electronic switches. In this paper, open-switch and short-switch failure of multilevel inverters and its identification using a high performance diagnostic system is discussed. Experimental and simulation studies were carried out on five level cascaded H-Bridge multilevel inverter and its output voltage waveforms were analyzed at different switch fault cases and at different modulation index values. Salient frequency domain features of the output voltage signal were extracted using the discrete wavelet transform multi resolution signal decomposition technique. Real time application of the proposed fault diagnostic system was implemented through the LabVIEW software. Artificial neural network was trained offline using the Matlab software and the resultant network parameters were transferred to LabVIEW real time system. In the proposed system, it is possible to precisely identify the individual faulty switch (may be due to open-switch (or) short-switch failure) of multilevel inverters.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.81-85
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• 2018

In this study, the chemical composition of bacterial melanin isolated from the Streptomyces glaucescens strain was elucidated by ultra-high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. Ultra-high-resolution mass profiles of the microbial melanin product were acquired using a 15 Tesla FT-ICR mass spectrometer in positive and negative ion modes via electrospray ionization to obtain more complete descriptions of the molecular compositions of melanin-derived organic constituents. A mass resolving power of 500,000 (at m/z 400) was achieved for all spectra while collecting 400 scans per sample with a 4 M transient. The results of this analysis revealed that the melanin pigment isolated from S. glaucescens predominantly exhibits CHON and CHO species, which belong to the proteins class of compounds, with the mean C/O and C/N ratios of 4.3 and 13.1, thus suggesting that the melanin could be eumelanin. This analytical approach could be utilized to investigate the molecular compositions of a variety of natural or synthetic melanins. The compositional features of melanins are important for understanding their formation mechanisms and physico-chemical properties.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.35-51
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• 2013

Over the last two decades Wavelet Transformation (WT) method has been widely utilized for the damage identification of structures. The main objective of this paper is to discuss and present some of common shortcomings and limitations of mathematical software, as well as other precautionary measures that need to be considered when using them for wavelet analysis applications. Due to popular usage of MATLABMATLAB(R) comparing to other mathematical tools among researchers for data processing of structural responses through WT analysis, this software was chosen for specific study. To the best of the authors' knowledge, these limitations and observations have not been previously identified or discussed in the literature. In this work, a square plate with a severe damage, in form of a crack, parallel to the left edge of the plate is selected for a pilot study. The steady state harmonic response is used for measuring the deflection shape across the line parallel to one edge and perpendicular to the damage. Several criteria and cases such as the smallest size damage that can be detected, correlation between the crack width and the number of sampling points, and the influence of the damage thickness on the accuracy of the result are investigated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제17권3_4호
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• pp.409-428
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• 2004

In this paper, a Holder exponent, a measure of the degree to which a signal is differentiable, is presented to detect the presence of a discontinuity and when the discontinuity occurs in a dynamic signal. This discontinuity detection has potential applications to structural health monitoring because discontinuities are often introduced into dynamic response data as a result of certain types of damage. Wavelet transforms are incorporated with the Holder exponent to capture the time varying nature of discontinuities, and a classification procedure is developed to quantify when changes in the Holder exponent are significant. The proposed Holder exponent analysis is applied to various experimental signals to reveal underlying damage causing events from the signals. Signals being analyzed include acceleration response of a mechanical system with a rattling internal part, acceleration signals of a three-story building model with a loosing bolt, and strain records of an in-situ bridge during construction. The experimental results presented in this paper demonstrate that the Holder exponent can be an effective tool for identifying certain types of events that introduce discontinuities into the measured dynamic response data.

• Advances in environmental research
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.69-81
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• 2015

A new magnetite-silica core/shell nanocomposite ($Fe_3O4@nSiO_2@mSiO_2$) was synthesized and functionalized with trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS). The prepared nanocomposite was used for the removal of diesel oil from aqueous media. The characterization of magnetite-silica nanocomposite was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), surface area measurement, and vibrating sample magnetization (VSM). Results have shown that the desired structure was obtained and surface modification was successfully carried out. FTIR analysis has confirmed the presence of TMCS on the surface of magnetite silica nanocomposites. The low- angle XRD pattern of nanocomposites indicated the mesoscopic structure of silica shell. Furthermore, TEM results have shown the core/shell structure with porous silica shell. Adsorption kinetic studies indicated that the nanocomposite was able to remove 80% of the oil contaminant during 2 h and fit well with the pseudo-second order model. Equilibrium studies at room temperature showed that the experimental data fitted well with Freundlich isotherm. The magnetic property of nanocomposite facilitated the separation of solid phase from aqueous solution.

• Advances in materials Research
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.191-204
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• 2012

In this paper, we report on the obtention of nanocrystalline $SrMoO_4$ synthesized through modified combustion process. These powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy. These studies reveal that the scheelite-type $SrMoO_4$ crystallizes in tetragonal structure with I41/${\alpha}$ (N#88) space group. Transmission electron microscopy image shows that the nanocrystalline $SrMoO_4$ powders have average size of 18 nm. The optical band gap determined from the UV-V is absorption spectra for the as prepared sample is 3.7 eV. These powders showed a strong green photoluminescence emission. The samples are sintered at a relatively low temperature of $850^{\circ}C$. The morphology of the sintered pellet is studied with scanning electron microscopy. The dielectric constant and loss factor values obtained at 5 MHz for a well sintered $SrMoO_4$ pellet has been found to be 9.50 and $7.5{\times}10^{-3}$ respectively. Thus nano $SrMoO_4$ is a potential candidate for low temperature co-fired ceramics and luminescent applications.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.85-105
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• 2011

The influence of surface elasticity and surface residual stress on the elastic field of an isotropic nanoscale elastic layer of finite thickness bonded to a rigid material base is considered by employing the Gurtin-Murdoch continuum theory of elastic material surfaces. The fundamental solutions corresponding to buried vertical and horizontal line loads are obtained by using Fourier integral transform techniques. Selected numerical results are presented for the cases of a finite elastic layer and a semi-infinite elastic medium to portray the influence of surface elasticity and residual surface stress on the bulk stress field. It is found that the bulk stress field depends significantly on both surface elastic constants and residual surface stress. The consideration of out-of-plane terms of the surface stress yields significantly different solutions compared to previous studies. The solutions presented in this study can be used to examine a variety of practical problems involving nanoscale/soft material systems and to develop boundary integral equations methods for such systems.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.401-406
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• 2015

Background: This study was planned as comparative and descriptive in order to measure and evaluate the knowledge and attitudes regarding early diagnosis of women with and without a family history of cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of the relatives of female patients (N=253) who were admitted to Istanbul University of Medicine. Women with a family history of cervical cancer formed the case group, while those without family history of cervical cancer constituted the control group. Two distinct data collection tools, a questionnaire and the Miller Behavioral Style Scale (MBSS), were used in order to obtain data for evaluation with SPSS for Windows 20.0 statistics package program. Results: It was found that 61.0% of the case group with family history of cervical cancer and 19.0% of the control group without family history of cervical cancer were using early diagnostic methods. Thus the presence of an individual with cervical cancer in the family affected the attitudes towards early diagnosis. It was further found that the level of knowledge on cervical cancer and PAP smear test was higher in the case group, which was more sensitive with regard to being informed about cervical cancer as compared to general society. However, the average MBSS scores were not significantly different compared to the control group. Conclusions: It was noted that, women participating this study knowledgeable, but this did not necessarily transform into better behavior.

• Carbon letters
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.171-182
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• 2015

Mesophase pitch is an important starting material for making a wide spectrum of industrial and advanced carbon products. It is produced by pyrolysis of petroleum residues. In this work, mesophase formation behavior in petroleum residues was studied to prepare environmentally-benign mesophase pitches, and the composition of petroleum residues and its influence on the mesophase formation was investigated. Two petroleum residues, i.e., clarified oil s (CLO-1, CLO-2) obtained from fluid catalytic cracking units of different Indian petroleum refineries, were taken as feed stocks. A third petroleum residue, aromatic extract (AE), was produced by extraction of one of the CLO-1 by using N-methyl pyrrolidone solvent. These petroleum residues were thermally treated at 380℃ to examine their mesophase formation behavior. Mesophase pitches produced as a result of thermal treatment were characterized physico-chemically, as well as by instrumental techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry. Thermal treatment of these petroleum residues led to formation of a liquid-crystalline phase (mesophase). The mesophase formation behavior in the petroleum residues was analyzed by optical microscopy. Mesophase pitch prepared from CLO-2 exhibited the highest mesophase content (53 vol%) as compared to other mesophase pitches prepared from CLO-1 and AE.

• Carbon letters
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2009

Activated carbon spheres (ACS) were prepared at different heating rates by carbonization of the resole-type phenolic beads (PB) at $950^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$ atmosphere followed by activation of the resultant char at different temperatures for 5 h in $CO_2$ atmosphere. Influence of heating rate on porosity and temperature on carbon structure and porosity of ACS were investigated. Effect of heating rate and temperature on porosity of ACS was also studied from adsorption isotherms of nitrogen at 77 K using BET method. The results revealed that ACS have exhibited a BET surface area and pore volume greater than $2260\;m^2/g$ and $1.63\;cm^3/g$ respectively. The structural characteristics variation of ACS with different temperature was studied using Raman spectroscopy. The results exhibited that amount of disorganized carbon affects both the pore structure and adsorption properties of ACS. ACS were also evaluated for structural information using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. ACS were evaluated for chemical composition using CHNS analysis. The ACS prepared different temperatures became more carbonaceous material compared to carbonized material. ACS have possessed well-developed pores structure which were verified by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). SEM micrographs also exhibited that ACS have possessed well-developed micro- and meso-pores structure and the pore size of ACS increased with increasing activation temperature.