Attempts were made in the present study to design and develop skeletally modified ether linked tetraglycidyl epoxy resin (TGBAPSB), which is subsequently reinforced with different weight percentages of amine functionalized mullite fiber (F-MF). The F-MF was synthesized by reacting mullite fiber with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as coupling agent and the F-MF structure was confirmed by FT-IR. TGBAPSB reinforced with F-MF formulation was cured with 4,4’-diamino diphenyl methane (DDM) to obtain nanocomposite. The surface morphology of TGBAPSB-F-MF epoxy nanocomposites was investigated by XRD, SEM and AFM studies. From the study, it follows that these nanocomposite materials offer enhancement in mechanical, thermal, thermo-mechanical, dielectric properties compared to neat (TGBAPSB) epoxy matrix. Hence we recommend these nanocomposites for a possible use in advanced engineering applications that require both toughness and stiffness.

Despite Cameroon’s immense sand reserves, several enterprises continue to import standardized sands to investigate the properties of concretes and mortars and to guarantee the durability of built structures. The present work not only falls within the scope of import substitution but also aims to characterize and improve the properties of local sand (Sanaga) and compare them with those of imported standardized sand widely used in laboratories. Sanaga sand was treated with HCl and then characterized in the laboratory. The constituent minerals of Sanaga sand are quartz, albite, biotite, and kaolinite. The silica content (SiO₂) of this untreated sand is 93.48 wt.%. After treatment, it rose 97.5 wt.% for 0.5 M and 97.3 wt.% for 1 M HCl concentration. The sand is clean (ES, 97.67%–98.87%), with fineness moduli of 2.45, 2.48, and 2.63 for untreated sand and sand treated with HCl concentrations of 0.5 and 1 M respectively. The mechanical strengths (39.59–42.4 MPa) obtained on mortars made with untreated Sanaga sand are unsatisfactory compared with those obtained on mortars made with standardized sand and with the expected strengths. The HCl treatment used in this study significantly improved these strengths (41.12–52.36 MPa), resulting in strength deficiencies of less than 10% after 28 curing days compared with expected values. Thus, the treatment of Sanaga sand with a 0.5 M HCl concentration offers better results for use as standardized sand.

Recent research efforts have increasingly concentrated on creating innovative biomaterials to improve bone tissue engineering techniques. Among these, hybrid nanomaterials stand out as a promising category of biomaterials. In this study, we present a straightforward, cost-efficient, and optimized hydrothermal synthesis method to produce high-purity Ta-doped potassium titanate nanofibers. Morphological characterizations revealed that Ta-doping maintained the native crystal structure of potassium titanate, highlighting its exciting potential in bone tissue engineering.

A Detailed geophysical investigation was conducted on Knossos territory of Crete Island. Main scope was the detection of underground archaeological settlements. Geophysical prospecting applied by an experienced geophysical team. According to area dimensions in relation to geological and structural conditions, the team designed specific geophysical techniques, by adopted non-catastrophic methods. Three different types of geophysical techniques performed gradually. Geophysical investigation consisted of the application of geoelectric mapping and geomagnetic prospecting. Electric mapping focusses on recording soil resistance distribution. Geomagnetic survey was performed by using two different types of magnetometers. Firstly, recorded distribution of geomagnetic intensity and secondly alteration of vertical gradient. Measured stations laid along the south-north axis with intervals equal to one meter. Both magnetometers were adjusted on a quiet magnetic station. Values were stored in files readable by geophysical interpretation software in XYZ format. Oasis Montaj was adopted for interpretation of measured physical properties distribution. Interpretation results were illustrated as color scale maps. Further processing applied on magnetic measurements. Results are confirmed by overlaying results from three different techniques. Geoelectric mapping contributed to detection of a few archaeological targets. Most of them were recorded by geomagnetic technique. Total intensity aimed to report the existence of magnetized bodies. Vertical gradient detected subsurface targets with clearly geometrical characteristics.

Introduction: It is universally accepted that the posteroanterior skull radiograph shows a lower degree of distortion than other radiographic images, so that measurements on it are considered reliable. Objective: To determine the percentage of distortion in the different facial regions of the postero-anterior skull radiograph. Methods: Thirty human skulls with their jaws were divided by three horizontal and four vertical planes into fifteen quadrants; there were ten in the skull and five in the jaw. On each of them a steel wire was placed in vertical and horizontal positions and their length (actual measurement) was measured. Each set was X-rayed in posteroanterior projection and the length of the wires was measured in the image (radiographic measurement). Results: It was not possible to measure in the lateral quadrants of the skull. The horizontal measurement in the right and left lower intermediate quadrants of the skull and in the intermediate and lateral quadrants of both sides of the mandible is not reliable; in the median quadrant of the mandible it is minimized; in the right and left upper intermediate and median quadrants of the skull and in the median of the mandible it is magnified. Vertical measurements in all quadrants are reliable; in the right and left upper intermediate and left upper and middle quadrants of the skull and in the right and left middle and lateral quadrants of the mandible it is magnified; in the lower intermediate and upper and lower middle quadrants of the skull and median of the mandible it is minimized. The least distortion for both measurements occurs in the upper median quadrant of the skull. Percentages of distortion are reported for each quadrant. Conclusions: Distortion is present in the posteroanterior skull radiograph and varies from one region of the face to another.

To address the problem that the imaging inversion method based on a single model in integrated aperture imaging is difficult to effectively correct model errors and perform accurate image reconstruction, a dual-model (DM)-based integrated aperture imaging inversion method is proposed for correcting the parametric errors of the inversion model and performing highly accurate millimeter-wave image reconstruction of the target scene. In view of the different parameter sensitivities of the Fourier transform (MFFT) model and the G-matrix (GM) model, the proposed DM method first corrects the imaging parameters with errors accurately by comparing the reconstruction errors of the two models; then recon-structs a high-precision target image based on the accurate GM model with the help of an improved regularization method. It is proved by simulation experiments that the proposed DM method can effectively correct the parameter errors of the imaging model and reconstruct the target scene with high accuracy in millimeter wave images compared with the traditional single-model imaging method.