Sharif Digital Repository

A mathematical model has been developed that is based the dual sorption in the dense layer and pore flow in the porous layer. In the porous layer a resistance model is applied where four mechanisms, i.e., Knudsen, Viscous, Slip, and Surface flows, are superimposed. Steady-state, constant pressure along the membrane and constant physical properties are assumed. Its application to the separation of H 2S/CH 4 gas mixtures as a sour gas in natural gas sweetening by using a PPO hollow fiber module is put forward. The Quasi Newton method is used to determine the parameters of membrane transport model for the case of H 2S/CH 4 separation. The H 2S and CH 4 permeances increased by increasing the... 

In this work, permeation of mixed gases H2S/CH4 through commercial polyphenylene oxide (PPO) hollow fiber and poly (ester urethane) urea (PEUU) flat membranes was studied at pressures of 345–689 kPa, at ambient temperature and at 313.15 K. Various H2S concentrations of about 100–5000 ppm in CH4 binary synthetic gas mixtures as well as a real natural gas sample obtained from a gas refinery containing 0.3360 mol.% H2S (equivalent to 3360 ppm) were tested. It was observed that the permeance of components was affected by the balance between competitive sorption and plasticization effects. Separation factors of H2S/CH4 were in the range of 1.3–2.9, 1.8–3.1 and 2.2–4.3 at pressures of 345, 517 and... 

In this paper, we address the problem of recovering degraded images using multivariate Gaussian mixture model (GMM) as a prior. The GMM framework in our method for image restoration is based on the assumption that the accumulation of similar patches in a neighborhood are derived from a multivariate Gaussian probability distribution with a specific covariance and mean. Previous methods of image restoration with GMM have not considered spatial (geometric) distance between patches in clustering. Our conducted experiments show that in the case of constraining Gaussian estimates into a finite-sized windows, the patch clusters are more likely to be derived from the estimated multivariate Gaussian... 

In this paper, we address the problem of dictionary learning for sparse representation. Considering the regularized form of the dictionary learning problem, we propose a method based on a homotopy approach, in which the regularization parameter is overall decreased along iterations. We estimate the value of the regularization parameter adaptively at each iteration based on the current value of the dictionary and the sparse coefficients, such that it preserves both sparse coefficients and dictionary optimality conditions. This value is, then, gradually decreased for the next iteration to follow a homotopy method. The results show that our method has faster implementation compared to recent... 

In this paper we address the problem of image interpolation using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) as a prior. Previous methods of image restoration with GMM have not considered spatial (geometric) distance between patches in clustering, failing to fully exploit the coherency of nearby patches. The GMM framework in our method for image interpolation is based on the assumption that the accumulation of similar patches in a neighborhood are derived from a multivariate Gaussian probability distribution with a specific covariance and mean. An Expectation Maximization-like (EM-like) algorithm is used in order to determine patches in a cluster and restore them. The results show that our image... 

Design of an Ultra-Wideband 3-dB quadrature (90°) Hybrid using ADS and HFSS softwares plus Measurement report are presented. Simultaneous Use of these two softwares lead to fast and accurate design procedure. The coupler is realized in broadside stripline and with the connection of coupled regions in tandem structure. The measured data agrees well with the expected values from simulations, and shows a good ultra wide bandwidth response over the frequency range of 1-10 GHz. Measurements showed an amplitude unbalance of ±1.5 dB, a phase unbalance of 90°±7° , and an isolation and a return loss characteristics of more than 14 dB over the frequency of 1 to 10 GHz  

The Ni-base superalloy GTD-111 is employed in high-power stationary gas turbines because of its high temperature strength and oxidation resistance. The temperature dependence of the tensile behavior of GTD-111 has been studied by tensile tests in the temperature range of 25-900°C with a constant strain rate of 10-4s-1. The results showed an abnormal tensile property variation with increasing temperature. The yield strength decreased slightly with temperature up to about 650°C and then increased between 650 and 750°C. Above 750°C, a rapid decrease in the yield strength was found. The tensile strength showed a similar behavior except for its maximum that occurred at 650°C. The elongation... 

The challenge of finding an optimized and reliable path dates back to emersion of mobile robots. Several approaches have been developed that have partially answered this need. Satisfying results in previous implementations has led to an increased utilization of sampling-based motion planning algorithms in recent years, especially in high degrees of freedom (DOF), fast evolving environments. Another advantage of these algorithms is their probabilistic completeness that guarantees delivery of a path in sufficient time, if one exists. On the other hand, sampling based motion planners leave no comment on safety of the planned path. This paper suggests biasing the Rapidly-exploring Random Trees... 

In this paper, we address global non-fragile control and synchronization of a new fractional order chaotic system. First we inspect the chaotic behavior of the fractional order system under study and also find the lowest order (2.49) for the introduced dynamics to remain chaotic. Then, a necessary and sufficient condition which can be easily extended to other fractional-order systems is proposed in terms of Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) to check whether the candidate state feedback controller with parameter uncertainty can guarantee zero convergence of error or not. In addition, the proposed method provides a global zero attraction of error that guarantees stability around all existing... 

While the differentiation factors have been widely used to differentiate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into various cell types, they can cause harm at the same time. Therefore, it is beneficial to propose methods to differentiate MSCs without factors. Herein, magnetoelectric (ME) nanofibers were synthesized as the scaffold for the growth of MSCs and their differentiation into neural cells without factors. This nanocomposite takes the advantage of the synergies of the magnetostrictive filler, CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (CFO), and piezoelectric polymer, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). Graphene oxide nanosheets were decorated with CFO nanoparticles for a proper dispersion in the polymer through... 

Grid computing is a type of parallel and distributed system that provides the possibility of sharing, choosing and collecting the autonomous resources (such as computer, software, databases, and equipments) that are distributed geographically. Resource discovery is one of the key subjects in distributed systems and especially Grids. We should consider that Grid consists of different applications that each of them consist of different hardware and software resources, therefore recognizing these resources is important in a Grid system. Classical approaches to Grid resource discovery are either centralized or hierarchical [1] (and will maybe prove inefficient as the scale of Grid systems... 

Recently, a renewed interest arises in the application of nanotechnology for the upstream petroleum industry. In particular, adding nanoparticles to fluids may drastically benefit enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and improve well drilling, by changing the properties of the fluid, rocks wettability alteration, advanced drag reduction, strengthening the sand consolidation, reducing the interfacial tension and increasing the mobility of the capillary trapped oil. In this study, we focus on roles of clay nano-particles on polymer viscosity. Polymer-flooding schemes for recovering residual oil have been in general less than satisfactory due to loss of chemical components by adsorption on reservoir... 

Polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites with 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt-% nanoclay contents were prepared. X-ray diffraction patterns, transmission electron microscopy images, tensile test, and thermogravimetric analysis were utilised to reveal the morphological, mechanical, and thermal-resistant properties of the prepared nanocomposites. The exfoliated structure was obtained for nanoclay contents up to 3 wt-%. Incorporation of nanoclay to the PU matrix prompted the thermal stability of the polymer. A nanocomposite filled with 3 wt-% nanoclay showed the best tensile strength in the prepared nanocomposites. Subsequently, the nanocomposite with the 3 wt-% nanoclay was reinforced with carbon and glass... 

In spinal cord injuries, axonal regeneration decreases with the activation of astrocytes followed by glial scar formation. Targeting reactive astrocytes has been recently performed by unsafe viral vectors to inhibit gliosis. In the current study, biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles were selected as an alternative for viruses to target reactive astrocytes for further drug/gene delivery applications. Lipopolysaccharide-bonded chitosan-quantum dots/poly acrylic acid nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation method to target reactive astrocytes both in vitro and in spinal cord-injured rats. Owing to their biocompatibility and pH-responsive behavior, chitosan and poly acrylic acid were the... 

We have investigated the piezoelectric response of the hydrogenated graphene oxide (H-G-SiO2) stacks both experimentally and theoretically. The piezoresponse force microscopy method and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to study the piezoresponse effect of this structure from both experimental and computational point of views. A mono-layer graphene, made by chemical vapour deposition method, is deposited on Si/SiO2 substrate and its surface is then functionalized with hydrogen atoms. The vertical piezoresponse, observed by piezoresponse force microscopy, is measured to be about 2146 pC N-1, that is comparable to the reported state of the art piezoelectric materials such... 

Trapping a single aerosol using optical tweezers could be of great importance for environmental sciences. Though a single nanoparticle as small as 10 nm is successfully trapped in aqueous media using optical tweezers, due to spherical aberration only large clusters of nanoparticles were stably trapped in air. In this paper we provide our theoretical and experimental results on optimized trapping of aerosols as small as 400 nm in radius by the introduction of an extra spherical aberration source in order to minimize the total spherical aberration of the system. Our method allows for trapping of high refractive index particles such as polystyrene beads in air. It also provides considerably... 

Optical tweezers have proven to be indispensable micromanipulation tools especially in aqueous solutions. Because of the significantly larger spherical aberration induced by the refractive index mismatch, trapping aerosols has always been cumbersome if not impossible. We introduce a simple but very efficient method for optimized aerosol trapping at a desired depth. We show that a wise selection of the immersion medium and the mechanical tube length not only enables trapping of objects that are known to be untrappable but also provides a way to tune the trappable depth range  

In this paper, electrical wire explosion (EWE) was used as a simple, clean, in situ method to synthesise nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles in liquid mediums. The structural and physical properties of the synthesised nZVI particles were characterised by x-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The synthesised spherical nanoparticles, at a specific size of 10–50 nm, possessed large surface areas of approximately 13.27 m2/g, reinforcing the significant advantages of EWE, that is, less aggregation and in situ production of nanoparticles with enhanced removal efficacy, for groundwater treatment....