Sharif Digital Repository

Distresses are integral parts of pavement that occur during the life of the road. Bitumen distress is known as one of the most important problems of Iran's roads, especially in tropical areas and transit routes with heavy axes; so, identifying the effective factors in creating the bleeding phenomenon is very necessary and important. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the parameters of the mixing design in creation of bleeding phenomenon and its severity. The collected data were then analyzed and grouped using Design Expert and SPSS software. The results show that all five parameters of optimal bitumen percent, bitumen percent in asphalt mixture, void percent of Marshall... 

There is no simple definition of sexism, but it can be described as prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, especially against women, based on their gender. In online interactions, sexism is relatively rare but still harmful. One out of ten American adults says that they have been harassed because of their gender and have been the target of sexism, so sexism is a growing issue. The Explainable Detection of Online Sexism shared task in SemEval-2023 aims at building sexism detection systems for the English language. In order to address the problem, we use large language models such as RoBERTa and DeBERTa. In addition, we present a novel method called Random Layer Adversarial Training... 

Position sensors are essential in the control of moving systems. Variable Reluctance (VR) resolvers are used as position sensors in the control of permanent magnet motors due to their simple and robust structure. VR resolvers can be built in outer/inner stator configuration. Although most of the commercial VR resolvers have outer stator /inner rotor configuration, the manufacturing process of the inner stator resolver is much simpler than that of outer stator ones. However, design considerations of inner stator/outer rotor configurations are not well established. Therefore, in this paper the influence of different number of stator slots, pole number of windings, and number of rotor saliency... 

Copper anode (∼98%) is widely used to produce the cathode (99.995 wt%) in electrorefining process. These anodes sometimes become problematic from the production line due to the presence of bumps/holes on their surface. To find the reason of this defect, chemical composition of the three casted anodes was determined by the quantmeter analysis. Also, the microscopic and phase analysis were done by FESEM, EDS, XRD, and XRF for three types of anodes bump. The chemical analysis of anodes confirmed a high level of sulfur and oxygen, which have a key role in the formation of bumps. The results confirmed the presence of impurities including Cu2S, BaSO4, CaCO3 and MgCO3, which cause the formation of... 

The presence of nodules on the surface of cathode copper plates was the most important reason for the failure of the punch of mechanical clinching of copper cathode sheets. This study demonstrated a comprehensive investigation into the nodulation growth of copper cathodes in the electrorefining plant based on metallographic analysis. More than 15 random samples were selected from the top, middle, and bottom of the cathodes produced in the Khatoon Abad copper refinery, Iran. Studies were carried out based on the determination of growth modes including field oriented isolated crystal (FT), basis-oriented reproduction (BR), field-oriented texture (FT), and unoriented dispersion (UD). A scanning... 

Although the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using interference screw is a well-accepted surgical procedure, patients still suffer graft failure in the initial rehabilitation phase. Graft fixation stability of a newly designed anatomical hybrid thread tapered interference screw (AHTTIS) was compared with a conventional standard one (CSIS) by conducting in-vitro mechanical tests. According to the CSIS manufacturer's instruction, eight tapered bone tunnels, matching AHTTIS geometry, and eight straight cylindrical tunnels were drilled in artificial bone blocks. Bovine tendon grafts were fixed using AHTTIS and CSIS in their corresponding bone tunnels. Each graft was subjected to... 

The flying agility demonstrated by dragonflies is accomplished by means of complex aerodynamic forces produced by flapping their four wings arranged in a tandem configuration. The current study presents a novel tandem flapping wing mechanism for a biomimetic air vehicle that was designed and manufactured to experimentally investigate the aerodynamic forces. By optimizing the configuration and using spatial network analysis, it is shown that the designed structure can flap the wings in a linear up–down stroke motion and is capable of maintaining good consistency and aerodynamic performance. Such a mechanism could be used in a future biomimetic micro air vehicle (BMAV) design. The mechanism... 

The combined effects of climate change and growing water demand due to population growth, industrial and agricultural developments cause an increase in water scarcity and the subsequent environmental crisis in river basins, which results in conflicts over the property rights and allocation agreements. Thus, an integrated, sustainable and efficient water allocation considering changes in water resources due to climate change and change of users’ demands is necessary. In this study, the drainage basin of Zarinehrood was chosen to evaluate the function of selective methods. Assessing climate change impact scenarios of the Fifth IPCC reports, e.g., RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5, have been... 

Systematic delivery of therapeutic agents to specific sites, with a stimulus-responsive drug release profile is currently a rapidly growing area. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are the useful platforms as drug/gene delivery systems due to their unique properties including the ability to control the pore size, high porosity, and morphology, which can directly affect the mechanism and profile of drug release. The appropriate fabrication strategy can tailor the particle shape and size, leading to enhanced delivery and release mechanisms. The MSN surface can be modified by using either organic or inorganic molecules to induce smart and site-specific drug delivery and release.... 

Bioreactor system has been used in bone tissue engineering in order to simulate dynamic nature of bone tissue environments. Perfusion bioreactors have been reported as the most efficient types of shear-loading bioreactor. Also, combination of forces, such as rotation plus perfusion, has been reported to enhance cell growth and osteogenic differentiation. Mathematical modeling using sophisticated infrastructure processes could be helpful and streamline the development of functional grafts by estimating and defining an effective range of bioreactor settings for better augmentation of tissue engineering. This study is aimed to conduct computational modeling for newly designed bioreactors in... 

Functionally graded material shafts are the main part of many modern rotary machines such as turbines and electric motors. The purpose of this study is to present an analytical solution of the elastic-plastic deformation of functionally graded material hollow rotor under a high centrifugal effect and finally determine the maximum allowed angular velocity of a hollow functionally graded material rotating shaft. Introducing non-dimensional parameters, the equilibrium equation has been analytically solved. The results for variable material properties are compared with the homogeneous rotor and the case in which Young’s modulus is the only variable while density and yield stress are considered... 

A method is developed for in situ generation of 1,3-dioxan-5-one derivatives 2. These compounds are simple precursors for accessing carbohydrate structures and previously had to be produced via stepwise procedures using excessive amounts of reagents. In the present work, three different derivatives of 2 were synthesized via the reaction of trialkoxyalkanes with dihydroxyacetone dimer 1 in the presence of acetic acid as the catalyst. In the same pot, derivatives of 2 were reacted with aromatic aldehydes and 30 mol% of pyrrolidine to obtain high yields of the respective bischalcones 3 within short time periods. © 2019 M. Javad Poursharifi et al., published by De Gruyter 2019  

The learning effects of the workers and machine deterioration in an aggregate production planning (APP) problem have not been taken into account in the literature yet. These factors affect the performance of any real-world production system and require attention. In this paper, a bi-objective optimization model is developed for an APP problem with labor learning effect and machine deterioration. The first objective of this model maximizes the profit by improving learning and reducing the failure cost of the system. The second objective function minimizes the costs associated with repairs and deterioration, which depend on the failure rate of the machines in the production periods. The aim of... 

To improve the thermal stability of starch in water-based drilling fluid, monoethanolamine (MEA) was added, and the effect was investigated by laboratory experiment. The experimental results show that the addition of monoethanolamine (MEA) increases the apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, dynamic shear force, and static shear force of the drilling fluid, and reduces the filtration rate of drilling fluid and thickness of mud cake apparently. By creating hydrogen bonds with starch polymer, the monoethanolamine can prevent hydrolysis of starch at high temperature. Starch, as a natural polymer, is able to improve the rheological properties and reduce filtration of drilling fluid, but it works... 

To improve the thermal stability of starch in water-based drilling fluid, monoethanolamine (MEA) was added, and the effect was investigated by laboratory experiment. The experimental results show that the addition of monoethanolamine (MEA) increases the apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, dynamic shear force, and static shear force of the drilling fluid, and reduces the filtration rate of drilling fluid and thickness of mud cake apparently. By creating hydrogen bonds with starch polymer, the monoethanolamine can prevent hydrolysis of starch at high temperature. Starch, as a natural polymer, is able to improve the rheological properties and reduce filtration of drilling fluid, but it works... 

Storage conditions seem to be important in the long-term stability of nanoparticles (NPs). This work studies the effects of surfactants and storage container on particle size distribution and zeta potential during long-term storage of acid hydrolyzed potato starch NPs. The NPs were prepared from potato starch using acid hydrolysis and high-intensity ultrasonication. During the ultrasonic treatment, the surfactants were added dropwise to the solutions to reduce the size and stabilize the formed NPs. Particle size distribution, zeta potential, and FE-SEM were used to characterize the ensuing NPs. Additionally, a 5-month stability study was performed to evaluate the maintenance of potato starch... 

Neural tissue engineering aims at developing novel approaches for the treatment of diseases of the nervous system, by providing a permissive environment for the growth and differentiation of neural cells. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems provide a closer biomimetic environment, and promote better cell differentiation and improved cell function, than could be achieved by conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems. With the recent advances in the discovery and introduction of different types of stem cells for tissue engineering, microfluidic platforms have provided an improved microenvironment for the 3D-culture of stem cells. Microfluidic systems can provide more precise... 

Nanotechnology could provide a new complementary approach to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) which is now one of the biggest killers in the Western world. The course of events, which leads to atherosclerosis and CAD, involves many biological factors and cellular disease processes which may be mitigated by therapeutic methods enhanced by nanotechnology. Nanoparticles can provide a variety of delivery systems for cargoes such as drugs and genes that can address many problems within the arteries. In order to improve the performance of current stents, nanotechnology provides different nanomaterial coatings, in addition to controlled-release nanocarriers, to prevent in-stent restenosis.... 

In conventional grinding of hard to cut materials such as Ti6Al4V alloys, surface burning, redeposition and adhesion of chips to the grinding wheel and workpeice occur visibly unless it is carried out at low speeds and with high volume of cutting fluid. Ultrasonic assisted grinding is an efficient machining process which improves the machinability of hard-to-cut materials by changing the kinematics of the process. In this research, the effect of imposition of ultrasonic vibration on the grinding of Ti6Al4V alloy is studied. Longitudinal vibration at ultrasonic frequency range (20 kHz) is applied on the workpiece and machining forces and surface roughness are compared between conventional... 

In this study hydroxyapatite (HA)/zirconia/alumina composite coatings on titanium metal was carried out using Sol-Gel dip coating and calcination process. Hydroxyapatite-Alumina-Zirconia sol, coated samples in three processes by changing final sol stirring time, aging time, calcination temperature of synthesized powder and prepared coating and rate of coating. Some parts of prepared sol were also synthesized and became powder in all three processes. Scanning electron microscopy was used to estimate the particle size of the surface and for morphological analysis. The functional group and crystallization characteristics of the powders were analyzed using (FTIR) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD)....