Sharif Digital Repository

An efficient, green, novel and rapid vortex-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction (VADSPE) technique was used for the preconcentration and determination of trace levels of Cu2+ followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized from graphite and then modified by pectic acid (poly-d-galacturonic acid, PA) to synthesize the pectic acid–graphene oxide (PA-GO) nanocomposite. The Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, field emission scanning electron microcopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were used to characterize the synthesized GO-PA nanocomposite. By using VADSPE technique, PA-GO was used as an adsorbent for... 

Aluminum matrix in situ nanocomposite was produced by one to six passes friction stir processing (FSP) with pre-placed Fe3O4 nanoparticles (15-20 nm). Microstructure studies showed that solid-state reactions between the aluminum matrix and Fe3O4 particles during the process led to in situ formation of Al3Fe and Al5Fe2 in the stir zone. Initial Fe3O4 as well as Al-Fe intermetallic compounds (IMCs) particles were homogeneously dispersed in a fine grain matrix after six passes of FSP. Hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the composites were increased 64 and 27%, respectively, compared to the base metal. The reasons were studied in the light of reinforcing particles distribution, formation... 

One of the main subjects in automotive industries is to enhance the efficiency of internal combustion engines. Wear between cylinder and ring is one of the major parameters reducing the engine performance. So many parameters are affecting the wear losses. Temperature plays a key role on the severity of wear condition in internal combustion engines. In conventional cast iron cylinders, it is not possible to increase the temperature from a defined level, as it causes excessive wear in contact area between cylinder liner and piston ring. One of the major benefits of using ceramic coating is their ability to withstand in higher temperatures, while having adequate hardness to improve wear rate... 

As an alternative to adaptive nonlinear schemes for dimensionality reduction, linear random projection has recently proved to be a reliable means for high-dimensional data processing. Widespread application of conventional random projection in the context of image analysis is, however, mainly impeded by excessive computational and memory requirements. In this paper, a two-dimensional random projection scheme is considered as a remedy to this problem, and the associated key notion of concentration of measure is closely studied. It is then applied in the contexts of image classification and sparse image reconstruction. Finally, theoretical results are validated within a comprehensive set of... 

The theory of compressive sampling involves making random linear projections of a signal. Provided signal is sparse in some basis, small number of such measurements preserves the information in the signal, with high probability. Following the success in signal reconstruction, compressive framework has recently proved useful in classification, particularly hypothesis testing. In this paper, conventional random projection scheme is first extended to the image domain and the key notion of concentration of measure is closely studied. Findings are then employed to develop a 2D compressive classifier (2D-CC) for sparse images. Finally, theoretical results are validated within a realistic... 

Spectral manifold learning techniques have recently found extensive applications in machine vision. The common strategy of spectral algorithms for manifold learning is exploiting the local relationships in a symmetric adjacency graph, which is typically constructed using k-nearest neighborhood (k-NN) criterion. In this paper, with our focus on locally linear embedding as a powerful and well-known spectral technique, shortcomings of k-NN for construction of the adjacency graph are first illustrated, and then a new criterion, namely k/K-nearest neighborhood (k/K-NN) is introduced to overcome these drawbacks. The proposed criterion involves finding the sparsest representation of each sample in... 

The theory of compressive sampling involves making random linear projections of a signal. Provided signal is sparse in some basis, small number of such measurements preserves the information in the signal, with high probability. Following the success in signal reconstruction, compressive framework has recently proved useful in classification. In this paper, conventional random projection scheme is first extended to the image domain and the key notion of concentration of measure is studied. Findings are then employed to develop a 2D compressive classifier (2DCC) for sparse images. Finally, theoretical results are validated within a realistic experimental framework. ©2009 IEEE  

Spectral manifold learning techniques have recently found extensive applications in machine vision. The common strategy of spectral algorithms for manifold learning is exploiting the local relationships in a symmetric adjacency graph, which is typically constructed using k -nearest neighborhood (k-NN) criterion. In this paper, with our focus on locally linear embedding as a powerful and well-known spectral technique, shortcomings of k-NN for construction of the adjacency graph are first illustrated, and then a new criterion, namely k/K-nearest neighborhood (k/K-NN) is introduced to overcome these drawbacks. The proposed criterion involves finding the sparsest representation of each sample in... 

The present contribution is devoted to develop multivariate analytical figures of merit (AFOMs) as a new metric for evaluation of quantitative measurements using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC × GC–MS). In this regard, new definition of sensitivity (SEN) is extended to GC × GC–MS data and then, other multivariate AFOMs including analytical SEN (γ), selectivity (SEL) and limit of detection (LOD) are calculated. Also, two frequently used second- and third-order calibration algorithms of multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) as representative of multi-set methods and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) as representative of... 

In this article, free vibration behavior of a rotating nano/microcircular plate constructed from functionally graded magneto-elastic material is simulated with the first-order shear deformation theory. For the sake of comparison, the nonlocal elasticity theory and the modified couple stress theory are employed to implement the small size effect in the natural frequencies behavior of the nano/microcircular plate. The governing equations of motion for functionally graded magneto-elastic material nano/microcircular plates are derived based on Hamilton’s principle; comparing the obtained results with those in the literature, they are in a good agreement. Finally, the governing equations are... 

In the last few years, we have witnessed an explosion in applications of sparse representation, the majority of which share the need for finding sparse solutions of underdetermined systems of linear equations (USLE's). Based on recently proposed smoothed ℓ0-norm (SL0), we develop a noise-tolerant algorithm for sparse representation, namely Robust-SL0, enjoying the same computational advantages of SL0, while demonstrating remarkable robustness against noise. The proposed algorithm is developed by adopting the corresponding optimization problem for noisy settings, followed by theoreticallyjustified approximation to reduce the complexity. Stability properties of Robust-SL0 are rigorously... 

Characterization and calcination behavior of a low-grade manganese ore, as a part of Mn ferroalloys production, was studied by XRF, ex-situ XRD, in-situ XRD, and SEM-EDS techniques. Calcination experiments were carried out at and up to 900 °C (1173 K) in air and argon atmospheres. The samples were in particles and powder forms. The results indicated that both quartz and calcite phases in the ore exhibit a bimodal spatial distribution; as relatively large regions and finely distributed in the Mn- and Fe-containing phases. By Rietveld analysis of the in-situ XRD data, the reactions occurring upon heating during the calcination process were deduced. Thermal decomposition and reactive diffusion... 

Red mud (RM) is generated as a by-product during the production of alumina from bauxite ore. In this study, RM packing in a column is used as a catalyst for carbon–carbon double bond formation via Knoevenagel condensation. The reactants are added to the top of the column and then eluted with solvent. The products are collected in high yields and short time. RM packed in a column eliminates a catalyst separation step from the reaction mixture in this work. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC  

The most important event following the establishmenet of the Internet network was the Web introduced by Tim Berners-Lee. Websites give their owners features that allow sharing with which they can publish their content with users and visitors. In the last 5 years, we have seen some changes in the use of web. Users want to participate in content sharing and they like to interact with each other. This is known as Web 2.0. In the last year, Web 2.0 has reached maturity and now we need a smart web which will be accordingly be called Web 3.0. Web 3.0 is based on semantic web definition. Changing the way of using the web has had a clear impact on E-Tourism and its development and also on business... 

A new gelator based of oleylamide has been introduced, which was gelled nonpolar hydrocarbon and CCl4 solvents through self-assembly. Also, the gelator formed a two-component hydrogel in combination with SDS, an anionic surfactant. UV-Vis studies revealed that the H-type and J-type aggregation of organogels in hexane and hydrogel in water, respectively. The xerogel, obtained by evaporating the solvent of organogel, selectively gelled and adsorbed oil spills on water surfaces. The effect of the various parameters, including temperature, water acidity and pH on the oil spill adsorption was studied, revealing the high ability of the xerogel to removing the oil contamination from water in up to... 

Red mud (RM) which emerges as a by-product from the alumina producing process has been used as an efficient catalyst for one-pot direct synthesis of nitrile compounds from aldehydes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride under microwave irradiation. ©ARKAT USA, Inc  

(Chemical Equation Presented) New 2-aryl-4-chloro-3-hydroxy-1H-indole-5,7- dicarbaldehydes were synthesized in three steps from acetophenone derivatives. By oxidation of acetophenones to aryl glyoxals using selenium dioxide and condensation with acetylacetone in the presence of ammonium acetate in water 3-acetyl-5-aryl-4-hydroxy-2-methyl-1H-pyrrols were obtained. 2-Aryl-4-chloro-3-hydroxy-1H-indole-5,7-dicarbaldehydes were synthesized via Vilsmeier-Haack reaction of pyrrole derivatives in moderate yields  

Poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulphonic acid) crosslinked with N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide catalyses efficiently the three component condensation reaction of an aromatic aldehyde, β-ketoester and urea in refluxing ethanol to afford the corresponding dihydropyrimidinones in high yield  

Oxoperoxo tungsten(VI) complex immobilized on Schiff base-modified Fe3O4 super paramagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and appropriately characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, BET, and VSM analysis. The synthesized nanoparticles efficiently catalyzed oxidation of benzylic alcohols with H2O2 as oxidant in high yields, with high to excellent selectivity. The catalyst can be recovered using an external magnetic field and recycled for subsequent oxidation reactions without any appreciable loss of efficiency. The simple preparation, high activity, excellent selectivity, and simple recoverability of the catalyst are advantageous. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis... 

(Chemical Equation Presented) New 2-alkyl-5-aryl-(1H)-pyrrole-4-ol derivatives were synthesized via three-component reaction of β-dicarbonyl compounds with arylglyoxals in the presence of ammonium acetate in water at room temperature. © 2008 American Chemical Society