Having Your Cake and Eating It, Too: Using Special Masters in Daubert Hearings to Promote Scientific Analyses of Expert Testimony

The article discusses issues on the admissibility of scientific evidence in federal court trials in the U.S., and the use by judges of court-appointed experts and advisors to help in making evidentiary decisions requiring technical or scientific knowledge

On the Use of Gallic Acid as a Potential Natural Antioxidant and Ultraviolet Light Stabilizer in Cast-Extruded Bio-Based High-Density Polyethylene Films

This study originally explores the use of gallic acid (GA) as a natural additive in bio-based high-density polyethylene (bio-HDPE) formulations. Thus, bio-HDPE was first melt-compounded with two different loadings of GA, namely 0.3 and 0.8 parts per hundred resin (phr) of biopolymer, by twin-screw extrusion and thereafter shaped into films using a cast-roll machine. The resultant bio-HDPE films containing GA were characterized in terms of their mechanical, morphological, and thermal performance as well as ultraviolet (UV) light stability to evaluate their potential application in food packaging. The incorporation of 0.3 and 0.8 phr of GA reduced the mechanical ductility and crystallinity of bio-HDPE, but it positively contributed to delaying the onset oxidation temperature (OOT) by 36.5 °C and nearly 44 °C, respectively. Moreover, the oxidation induction time (OIT) of bio-HDPE, measured at 210 °C, was delayed for up to approximately 56 and 240 min, respectively. Furthermore, the UV light stability of the bio-HDPE films was remarkably improved, remaining stable for an exposure time of 10 h even at the lowest GA content. The addition of the natural antioxidant slightly induced a yellow color in the bio-HDPE films and it also reduced their transparency, although a high contact transparency level was maintained. This property can be desirable in some packaging materials for light protection, especially UV radiation, which causes lipid oxidation in food products. Therefore, GA can successfully improve the thermal resistance and UV light stability of green polyolefins and will potentially promote the use of natural additives for sustainable food packaging applications

On Mass-Spring System Implementation in Cluster-Based MANETs for Natural Disaster Applications

Communication after natural disasters is paramount.Disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis leavethe affected area reachable only to wireless devices. In suchconditions, Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) play a criticalrole. The issue of MANETs communication backbone can beaddressed by self-organized cluster-based algorithms. The vir-tual backbone will maintain an efficient communication on theMANET, adapting to the dynamic topology changes thanks toits self-organized nature. Nevertheless, they do not take intoaccount the node’s mobility. If a node moves away from itsneighboring nodes, connectivity will be lost and thus, networksegmentation will occur. Therefore, it is fundamental to maintainthe connectivity and the communication between nodes whileexploring the area. In this paper, we propose the applicationof a mass-spring system on the Energy-Efficient Self-OrganizedAlgorithm (EESOA) for Disaster Area applications. Results willshow that our proposal performs best when deployment ofMANET’s nodes is dense while maintaining a connected network.ITESO, A.C

A comparison between the analytical solution of a single cantilever beam fixed at one end and the use of the finite elements method (FEM) with SolidWorks

Este objeto de aprendizaje se enmarca en el contexto de la formación de los graduados en ingeniería y se centra en el estudio comparativo de la resolución de un problema simple de cálculo de una viga mediante el método analítico y el empleo de herramientas basadas en el método de los elementos finitos. Este artículo docente tiene por objeto comparar las diferencias entre ambos métodos y el potencial que ofrecen las herramientas basadas en el Método de los Elementos Finitos (FEA) como herramienta de ayuda en el proceso de desarrollo de partes y ensamblajes en ingeniería.Balart Gimeno, RA.; Quiles Carrillo, LJ.; Montañés Muñoz, N. (2018). A comparison between the analytical solution of a single cantilever beam fixed at one end and the use of the finite elements method (FEM) with SolidWorks. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/103904DE

Evaluating the environmental impact of a series of materials on an engineering part with the Sustainability tool of SolidWorks

This article aims to study of the environmental effects of selecting different materials on an engineering part by using the Sustainability tool in SolidWorks. With this tool it is possible to assess the ecoefficiency of a particular material (or set of materials) in engineering applications.Montañés Muñoz, N.; Balart Gimeno, RA.; Quiles Carrillo, LJ. (2018). Evaluating the environmental impact of a series of materials on an engineering part with the Sustainability tool of SolidWorks. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/104572DE

Interpretation of the results obtained by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in SolidWorks

El artículo se centra en la interpretación de los resultados que ofrece un software de análisis mediante el método de los elementos finitos (FEA) bajo la plataforma SolidWorks. Se pretende que el alumno realice un análisis crítico de los resultados.Balart Gimeno, RA.; Quiles Carrillo, LJ.; Montañés Muñoz, N. (2018). Interpretation of the results obtained by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in SolidWorks. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/104404DE

The Effect of Varying Almond Shell Flour (ASF) Loading in Composites with Poly(Butylene Succinate (PBS) Matrix Compatibilized with Maleinized Linseed Oil (MLO)

[EN] In this work poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) composites with varying loads of almond shell flour (ASF) in the 10-50 wt % were manufactured by extrusion and subsequent injection molding thus showing the feasibility of these combined manufacturing processes for composites up to 50 wt % ASF. A vegetable oil-derived compatibilizer, maleinized linseed oil (MLO), was used in PBS/ASF composites with a constant ASF to MLO (wt/wt) ratio of 10.0:1.5. Mechanical properties of PBS/ASF/MLO composites were obtained by standard tensile, hardness, and impact tests. The morphology of these composites was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy-FESEM) and the main thermal properties were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamical mechanical-thermal analysis (DMTA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and thermogravimetry (TGA). As the ASF loading increased, a decrease in maximum tensile strength could be detected due to the presence of ASF filler and a plasticization effect provided by MLO which also provided a compatibilization effect due to the interaction of succinic anhydride polar groups contained in MLO with hydroxyl groups in both PBS (hydroxyl terminal groups) and ASF (hydroxyl groups in cellulose). FESEM study reveals a positive contribution of MLO to embed ASF particles into the PBS matrix, thus leading to balanced mechanical properties. Varying ASF loading on PBS composites represents an environmentally-friendly solution to broaden PBS uses at the industrial level while the use of MLO contributes to overcome or minimize the lack of interaction between the hydrophobic PBS matrix and the highly hydrophilic ASF filler.This research was supported by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) program number MAT2017-84909-C2-2-R.Liminana, P.; Quiles-Carrillo, L.; Boronat, T.; Balart, R.; Montanes, N. (2018). The Effect of Varying Almond Shell Flour (ASF) Loading in Composites with Poly(Butylene Succinate (PBS) Matrix Compatibilized with Maleinized Linseed Oil (MLO). Materials. 11(11):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11112179S1171111Hottle, T. A., Bilec, M. M., & Landis, A. E. (2017). Biopolymer production and end of life comparisons using life cycle assessment. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 122, 295-306. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.03.002Zhu, Y., Romain, C., & Williams, C. K. (2016). 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Influence of chemical treatments on mechanical properties of hemp fiber reinforced composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 133, 210-217. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.09.030Shaniba, V., Sreejith, M. P., Aparna, K. B., Jinitha, T. V., & Purushothaman, E. (2017). Mechanical and thermal behavior of styrene butadiene rubber composites reinforced with silane-treated peanut shell powder. Polymer Bulletin, 74(10), 3977-3994. doi:10.1007/s00289-017-1931-4Phua, Y. J., Chow, W. S., & Mohd Ishak, Z. A. (2013). Reactive processing of maleic anhydride-grafted poly(butylene succinate) and the compatibilizing effect on poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites. Express Polymer Letters, 7(4), 340-354. doi:10.3144/expresspolymlett.2013.31Zhu, N., Ye, M., Shi, D., & Chen, M. (2017). Reactive compatibilization of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate)/Spirulina microalgae composites. Macromolecular Research, 25(2), 165-171. doi:10.1007/s13233-017-5025-9Chieng, B., Ibrahim, N., Then, Y., & Loo, Y. (2014). Epoxidized Vegetable Oils Plasticized Poly(lactic acid) Biocomposites: Mechanical, Thermal and Morphology Properties. Molecules, 19(10), 16024-16038. doi:10.3390/molecules191016024Orue, A., Eceiza, A., & Arbelaiz, A. (2018). Preparation and characterization of poly(lactic acid) plasticized with vegetable oils and reinforced with sisal fibers. Industrial Crops and Products, 112, 170-180. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.11.011Balart, J. F., Fombuena, V., Fenollar, O., Boronat, T., & Sánchez-Nacher, L. (2016). Processing and characterization of high environmental efficiency composites based on PLA and hazelnut shell flour (HSF) with biobased plasticizers derived from epoxidized linseed oil (ELO). Composites Part B: Engineering, 86, 168-177. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.09.063Garcia-Garcia, D., Ferri, J. M., Montanes, N., Lopez-Martinez, J., & Balart, R. (2016). Plasticization effects of epoxidized vegetable oils on mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). 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Thermal stability and fire reaction of poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites using natural clays and FR additives. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 29(1), 69-83. doi:10.1002/pat.4090Chen, G.-X., & Yoon, J.-S. (2005). Thermal stability of poly(l-lactide)/poly(butylene succinate)/clay nanocomposites. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 88(2), 206-212. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2004.06.005Ferrero, B., Fombuena, V., Fenollar, O., Boronat, T., & Balart, R. (2014). Development of natural fiber-reinforced plastics (NFRP) based on biobased polyethylene and waste fibers from Posidonia oceanica seaweed. Polymer Composites, 36(8), 1378-1385. doi:10.1002/pc.23042Fuqua, M. A., Chevali, V. S., & Ulven, C. A. (2012). Lignocellulosic byproducts as filler in polypropylene: Comprehensive study on the effects of compatibilization and loading. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 127(2), 862-868. doi:10.1002/app.3782

Creating a CAD model of a single beam for engineering analysis with SolidWorks

Artículo centrado en el desarrollo de un modelo CAD de un problema típico en el ámbito de la ingeniería, análisis de vigas.Balart Gimeno, RA.; Quiles Carrillo, LJ.; Montañés Muñoz, N. (2018). Creating a CAD model of a single beam for engineering analysis with SolidWorks. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/104387DE

Injection-molded parts of fully bio-based polyamide 1010 strengthened with waste derived slate fibers pretreated with glycidyl- and amino-silane coupling agents

[EN] Fully bio-based polyamide 1010 (PA1010) was melt-compounded with 15 wt% of slate fibers (SFs), which were obtained from wastes of the tile industry, and the resultant composites were shaped into parts by injection molding. The as-received fibers were first thermally treated and afterwards subjected to surface modification with glycidyl- and amino-silane coupling agents to improve the interfacial adhesion of the composites. The incorporation of both the glycidyl-silane slate fiber (G-SF) and amino-silane slate fiber (A-SF) remarkably improved the mechanical strength of PA1010, inducing a 3-fold increase in tensile modulus. The composite parts prepared with the silanized SFs also presented higher thermal stability and improved thermomechanical resistance. Water uptake was reduced below 1%, encouragingly suggesting that the mechanical performance of the PA1010/SF composites would be scarcely affected by atmospheric humidity. G-SF was the most effective in strengthening PA1010. This improvement was ascribed to the higher reactivity of the cyclic anhydride in the coupled silane with the terminal hydroxyl groups of the biopolymer.The Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities MICIU) is acknowledged for funding through the MAT2017-84909-C2-2-R and AGL2015-63855-C2-1-R projects. Quiles-Carrillo holds a FPU grant (FPU15/03812) from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports (MECD) whereas Torres-Giner is a recipient of a Juan de la Cierva-Incorporacion contract (IJCI-2016-29675) from MICIU.Quiles-Carrillo, L.; Boronat, T.; Montanes, N.; Balart, R.; Torres-Giner, S. (2019). Injection-molded parts of fully bio-based polyamide 1010 strengthened with waste derived slate fibers pretreated with glycidyl- and amino-silane coupling agents. Polymer Testing. 77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2019.04.022S7

Manufacturing and Characterization of Composite Fibreboards with Posidonia oceanica Wastes with an Environmentally-Friendly Binder from Epoxy Resin

[EN] Highly environmentally-friendly fibreboards were manufactured by hot-press moulding using Posidonia ocaeanica wastes and a partially biobased epoxy resin as binder. Fibreboards with a constant fibre content of 70 wt % were successfully manufactured by thermo-compression. The effects of a conventional alkali treatment were compared to the synergistic effects that additional silanization with two silanes (amino and glycidyl) can exert on the mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of fibreboards. The results revealed a remarkable improvement of the mechanical properties with the combination of the alkali treatment followed by the silanization. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed increased resin-fibre interactions due to the synergistic effect of both amino- and glycidyl-silanes. These fibreboards represent a formaldehyde-free solution and can positively contribute to sustainable development as the lignocellulosic component is a waste and the binder resin is partially biobased.This work was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness-MINECO [MAT2014-59242-C2-1-R]. D. Garcia-Garcia wants to thank the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports for the financial support through a FPU grant number FPU13/06011. L. Quiles-Carrillo acknowledges Generalitat Valenciana-GV for financial support through a FPI grant (ACIF/2016/182) and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports (MECD) for his FPU grant (FPU15/03812).Garcia-Garcia, D.; Quiles-Carrillo, L.; Montanes, N.; Fombuena, V.; Balart, R. (2018). Manufacturing and Characterization of Composite Fibreboards with Posidonia oceanica Wastes with an Environmentally-Friendly Binder from Epoxy Resin. Materials. 11(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11010035S3511