Jose Luis Orellana, Michael Mauhar, Christopher L. Kitchens^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 340-350, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634126

Abstract Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biodegradable polymers due to the ability to synthesize it economically at industrial scale and its favorable properties for many consumer products. However, the rigid nature of PLA is not desirable for specific applications, requiring the incorporation of effective bioderived additives in order to enhance the PLA toughness and broaden applications. In this work, PLA was modified by graft polymerization of polyacrylic acid (PLA-g-PAA) to increase the hydrophilicity to promote compatibilization of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) or high molecular polyethylene glycol (PEG). CNCs were found to act More >

Estela Krause Sammartino^1,2,3†, María Marta Reboredo⁴, Mirta I. Aranguren^*,4

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.2, pp. 101-112, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634144

Abstract Composites made from polypropylene (PP) and local South American fibers traditionally used in yarnderived craftsmanships, Caranday Palm, were studied regarding the effect of fiber addition, concentration and characteristics of the coupling agent (molecular weight and percentage of grafted maleic anhydride), as well as type of processing. A laboratory-scale intensive mixing followed by compression, and pilot plant twin extrusion followed by injection, were the two processes investigated. The use of the first one allowed the selection of processable formulations with high fiber concentration and a percentage of coupling agent below the surface fiber saturation. In fact,… More >

Robles-Hernández L, J Hernández-Huerta, AC González-Franco, OA Hernández-Rodríguez, A Núñez-Barrios, R Pérez-Leal

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 253-261, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.253

Abstract Chili pepper is one of the main crops of economic importance in Mexico, and Fusarium wilting is a disease that limits its production. In addition, the inappropriate use of agrochemicals in farming activities generate environmental and health problems. Therefore, in this study the effectiveness of Streptomyces sp PRIO41 was evaluated as a (1) biocontrol agent of Fusarium spp and (2) plant growth promoter bacteria. Assays of pathogenicity and virulence of Fusarium spp. in jalapeño pepper seeds, and interactions of these pathogens with Streptomyces PRIO41 were evaluated under two nutritional conditions. In the greenhouse, the effectiveness of Streptomyces sp.… More >

K. Kuramoto¹, M. Furuichi², K. Kakuda²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.106, No.3, pp. 169-186, 2015, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2015.106.169

Abstract This paper describes a scheme to improve efficiency of multi-agent simulation system (MAS) on single computer that has multiple processor cores. Simulation technology is applied for broad usage in the world, and MAS gathers attention from the fields that treat complicated and non-numeric issues such as traffic analysis, analyzing evacuation from a building, and defense training. Since the requirements of simulation scale and fidelity are growing, the importance of their performance is also increasing. However, CPU clock speedup is slowing, and improvement of computer performance has come to depend on the number of processors, cores,… More >

V. K. Srivastava¹, A. Pizzi^2,3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.2, No.3, pp. 201-206, 2014, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634107

Abstract Fine wood powder/furanic foams were prepared with a strong predominance of the wood component. Low weight and density are important properties of foamed composites. Focusing on preparing light materials, wood foam composites were made using a chemical foaming method and expanded using diethyl ether as the foaming agent. The additives were added to note their effect on the density and mechanical properties, like impact strength and Young’s moduli, of the expanded composites. Various tests and scanning electron microscopy analysis were also performed. The foaming agent resulted in closed cells with varied sizes and more or More >

F. S. Tabatabaei^∗, M. Jazayeri^†, P. Ghahari^‡, N. Haghighipour^§

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 209-220, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.209

Abstract During orthodontic treatments, applied mechanical forces create strain and result in tooth movement through the alveolar bone. This response to mechanical strain is a fundamental biological reaction. The present study evaluated the effect of equiaxial strain within the range of orthodontic forces on the osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Following isolation and culture of hDPSCs, 3rd passage cells were transferred on a silicone membrane covered with collagen. Cell adhesion to the membrane was evaluated under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cells were divided into three groups: the first group was placed in… More >

Hideki Fujii¹, Shinobu Yoshimura¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.88, No.1, pp. 49-64, 2012, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2012.088.049

Abstract Recently, global warming issues have been discussed all over the world. Of the total amount of CO₂ emitted in Japan, a transportation sector is responsible for 20%. In the transportation sector, 90% of the emission is due to road traffic. This amount must be reduced drastically to realize a low-carbon society. To do so, various measures have been discussed, and the effects of the measures must be estimated quantitatively. In conventional measurement methods, the amount of vehicle emission is simply calculated by multiplying travel distance or gasoline consumption by a specified emission coefficient. Such an approach… More >

Hideki Fujii¹, Shinobu Yoshimura¹, Kazuya Seki¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.63, No.3, pp. 265-282, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2010.063.265

Abstract Traffic system is a typical complex system emerged through interactions among a large number of traffic actors such as car drivers, pedestrians and others. We model each actor as an intelligent agent that can judge and act by itself autonomously, and develop a traffic simulator named MATES, which is based on an intelligent multi-agent model. In this simulator, microscopic behaviors of the traffic actors cause macroscopic traffic phenomena through their interaction. In this research, we newly develop a coordinative behavior model among multiple cars, and implement it to MATES to enhance the reproducibility of traffic More >

Grijalba PE, HE Palmucci

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.76, pp. 79-84, 2007, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2007.76.079

Abstract A new disease of Spathiphyllum wallisii plants, characterized by leaf yellowing and wilting due to root and crown rot, was observed in nurseries of the Great Buenos Aires, Argentina. A fungus was consistently isolated from diseased tissue and identified as Cylindrocladium spathiphylli, on the base of its morphological and cultural characteristics. Inoculation tests were carried out which confirmed this fungus as the causal agent of the disease. This is the first report of C. spathiphylli causing root and crown rot of S. wallisii in Buenos Aires. More >

S. Yoshimura ¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 17-26, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2006.011.017

Abstract This paper describes a development of an advanced traffic simulator based on a multi-agent approach which is named MATES (Multi-Agent based Traffic and Environment Simulator). City traffic phenomena are essentially regarded as complex systems consisting of a number of human beings. Each element creating traffic phenomena such as car (driver), traffic signal, pedestrian and others is modeled as an intelligent agent that possesses its own logic of behavior and preference. The environment surrounding each agent consists of other cars, road network, traffic signals, pedestrian and others. Interaction among numerous agents simulates nonlinear behaviors of city More >