An Improvement of Model Predictive for Aircraft Longitudinal Flight Control Based on Intelligent Technique

This paper introduces a new intelligent tuning for the model predictive control (MPC) based on an effective intelligent algorithm named the bat-inspired algorithm (BIA) for the aircraft longitudinal flight. The tuning of MPC horizon parameters represents the main challenge to adjust the system performance. So, the BIA algorithm is intended to overcome the tuning issue of MPC parameters due to conventional methods, such as trial and error or designer experience. The BIA is adopted to explore the best parameters of MPC based on the minimization of various time domain objective functions. The suggested aircraft model takes into account the aircraft dynamics and constraints. The nonlinear dynamics of aircraft, gust disturbance, parameters uncertainty and environment variations are considered the main issues against the control of aircraft to provide a good flight performance. The nonlinear autoregressive moving average (NARMA-L2) controller and proportional integral (PI) controller are suggested for aircraft control in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed MPC based on BIA. The proposed MPC based on BIA and suggested controllers are evaluated against various criteria and functions to prove the effectiveness of MPC based on BIA. The results confirm that the accomplishment of the suggested BIA-based MPC is outstanding to the NARMA-L2 and traditional PI controllers according to the cross-correlation criteria, integral time absolute error (ITAE), system overshoot, response settling time, and system robustness

An Improvement of Model Predictive for Aircraft Longitudinal Flight Control Based on Intelligent Technique

This paper introduces a new intelligent tuning for the model predictive control (MPC) based on an effective intelligent algorithm named the bat-inspired algorithm (BIA) for the aircraft longitudinal flight. The tuning of MPC horizon parameters represents the main challenge to adjust the system performance. So, the BIA algorithm is intended to overcome the tuning issue of MPC parameters due to conventional methods, such as trial and error or designer experience. The BIA is adopted to explore the best parameters of MPC based on the minimization of various time domain objective functions. The suggested aircraft model takes into account the aircraft dynamics and constraints. The nonlinear dynamics of aircraft, gust disturbance, parameters uncertainty and environment variations are considered the main issues against the control of aircraft to provide a good flight performance. The nonlinear autoregressive moving average (NARMA-L2) controller and proportional integral (PI) controller are suggested for aircraft control in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed MPC based on BIA. The proposed MPC based on BIA and suggested controllers are evaluated against various criteria and functions to prove the effectiveness of MPC based on BIA. The results confirm that the accomplishment of the suggested BIA-based MPC is outstanding to the NARMA-L2 and traditional PI controllers according to the cross-correlation criteria, integral time absolute error (ITAE), system overshoot, response settling time, and system robustness

Computer simulation for the seismic behaviour of bridge expansion joints enhanced with SMA: Case study

This paper concerns the study of the expansion joints of Benha Bridge under seismic loads. The seismic behaviour of its bridge expansion joints has been enhanced by shape memory alloy (SMA) dampers as a form of energy-dissipation device. SMA can dissipate a part of the input energy from the earthquake by generating a counterforce for the induced seismic force, allowing the opportunity to control the joint width and overcome pounding and unseating problems. In this research, MATLAB programs are developed to calculate the joint width responses in the two cases of without SMA and with SMA control devices embedded between adjacent bridge frames, which are modeled as a single degree of freedom system for each frame. Benha Bridge is the subject of this case study, which aims to check and validate the SMA parameter values that their charts have introduced from earlier research and to improve the seismic behaviour of bridge expansion joints by eliminating unseating and pounding problems. The results show that SMA dampers are able to control the joint width and absorb the excess forces caused by nearby expansion joint overlap. Furthermore, SMA design charts are applicable for bridges of multiple frames when they are homogenous in time periods

Fabrication of New Multifunctional Cotton/Lycra Composites Protective Textiles through Deposition of Nano Silica Coating

This study aims to develop multifunctional pile cotton fabrics by implementing different compositions of lycra yarns with different densities of the cotton fabric under study. Highly dispersed silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) with small sizes—in the range of 10–40 nm—were successfully prepared and were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle size distribution of nano silica was determined via dynamic laser scattering (DLS) and measurements of its zeta potential. Cotton/lycra fabrics were treated using prepared SiO2 NPs in presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a crosslinking agent. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the nano-treated fabrics and assure homogeneous dispersion of SiO2 NPs on the cotton/lycra composites. Additionally, the nanoparticles were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against human pathogens such as Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The functional properties of the new composite pile cotton fabrics include excellent antibacterial, highly self-cleaning, and excellent UV protection factor (UPF) properties

Novel Antiviral and Antibacterial Durable Polyester Fabrics Printed with Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs)

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the importance of developing advanced protective equipment, and new antiviral fabrics for the protection and prevention of life-threatening viral diseases are needed. In this study, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were combined with polyester fabrics using printing technique to obtain multifunctional properties, including combined antiviral and antibacterial activities as well as coloring. The properties of the printed polyester fabrics with SeNPs were estimated, including tensile strength and color fastness. Characterization of the SeNPs was carried out using TEM and SEM. The results of the analysis showed good uniformity and stability of the particles with sizes range from 40–60 nm and 40–80 nm for SeNPs 25 mM and 50 mM, respectively, as well as uniform coating of the SeNPs on the fabric. In addition, the SeNPs—printed polyester fabric exhibited high disinfection activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with an inhibition percentage of 87.5%. Moreover, a toxicity test of the resulting printed fabric revealed low cytotoxicity against the HFB4 cell line. In contrast, the treated fabric under study showed excellent killing potentiality against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli). This multifunctional fabric has high potential for use in protective clothing applications by providing passive and active protection pathways

Anti-Alzheimer Activity of Combinations of Cocoa with Vinpocetine or Other Nutraceuticals in Rat Model: Modulation of Wnt3/β-Catenin/GSK-3β/Nrf2/HO-1 and PERK/CHOP/Bcl-2 Pathways

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating illness with limited therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study is to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AD and explore the potential neuroprotective effects of cocoa, either alone or in combination with other nutraceuticals, in an animal model of aluminum-induced AD. Rats were divided into nine groups: control, aluminum chloride (AlCl3) alone, AlCl3 with cocoa alone, AlCl3 with vinpocetine (VIN), AlCl3 with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), AlCl3 with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), AlCl3 with wheatgrass (WG), AlCl3 with vitamin (Vit) B complex, and AlCl3 with a combination of Vit C, Vit E, and selenium (Se). The animals were treated for five weeks, and we assessed behavioral, histopathological, and biochemical changes, focusing on oxidative stress, inflammation, Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling, ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis. AlCl3 administration induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and downregulation of cellular antioxidants (Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, and TAC). AlCl3 also upregulated inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α and IL-1β) and GSK-3β, leading to increased tau phosphorylation, decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, and downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, AlCl3 intensified C/EBP, p-PERK, GRP-78, and CHOP, indicating sustained ER stress, and decreased Beclin-1 and anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expressions. These alterations contributed to the observed behavioral and histological changes in the AlCl3-induced AD model. Administration of cocoa, either alone or in combination with other nutraceuticals, particularly VIN or EGCG, demonstrated remarkable amelioration of all assessed parameters. The combination of cocoa with nutraceuticals attenuated the AD-mediated deterioration by modulating interrelated pathophysiological pathways, including inflammation, antioxidant responses, GSK-3β-Wnt/β-catenin signaling, ER stress, and apoptosis. These findings provide insights into the intricate pathogenesis of AD and highlight the neuroprotective effects of nutraceuticals through multiple signaling pathways