Natural frequencies and mode shapes of initially curved carbon nanotube resonators under electric excitation

Estimating accurately the natural frequencies of electrically actuated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been an active research subject over the past few years. Despite the importance of the topic, robust knowledge is still missing in the understanding of the role of various physical parameters affecting the natural frequencies, such as the stretching of doubly clamped CNTs, the DC electrostatic force, and the initial curvature of slack CNTs. In this investigation, we use a 2D nonlinear curved beam model in the form of an arch to simulate the coupled in-plane and out-of-plane motions of a CNT with curvature. We calculate the variation of its natural frequencies and mode shapes with the level of slackness and the DC electrostatic load. Towards this end, we derive a reduced-order model using a multimode Galerkin procedure. We show various scenarios of mode crossing and mode veering as the levels of slackness and DC load are varied. Finally, we tackle the forced vibration problem of a curved CNT when actuated by small DC and AC loads. The results show the transfer of energy among the vibration modes involved in the veering phenomenon.     

Adaptive Estimation of the Lag of a Long–memory Process

Various estimators of the lag parameter of long–memory processes have been proposed in the literature. Such estimators, at best, are asymptotically efficient (in the traditional BAN sense) under Gaussian assumptions. An adaptive estimate, which is uniformly (with respect to the underlying innovation density) locally asymptotically minimax (LAM) in the sense of Fabian and Hannan (1982), is proposed here for the lag parameter d in the simple long–memory model (1−L)^d X_t=ε_t. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Visible photoluminescence in porous GaAs capped by GaAs

A typical porous structure with pores diameters ranging from 10 to 50 nm has been obtained by electrochemical etching of (1 0 0) heavily doped p-type GaAs substrate in HF solution. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) investigations of the porous GaAs (π-GaAs) reveal the presence of two PL bands, I₁ and I₂, located at 1.403 and 1.877 eV, respectively. After GaAs capping, the I₁ and I₂ PL bands exhibit opposite shift trends. However, the emission efficiency of these two bands is not strongly modified. Low temperature PL of capped porous GaAs versus injection levels shows that the I₁ PL band exhibits a red shift while the I₂ PL band exhibits a blue shift with increasing injection levels. The I₂ PL band intensity temperature dependence shows an anomalous behaviour and its energy location shows a blue shift as temperature increases. The observed PL bands act independently and are attributed to electron – hole recombination in porous GaAs and to the well-known quantum confinement effects in GaAs nanocrystallites. The I₂ PL band excitation power and temperature dependencies were explained by the filling effect of GaAs nanocrystallites energy states.     

Multi-levels inverse identification of physical parameters of porous materials

The identification of the physical parameters of porous materials presents an important field of research, in which many identification methods are developed. One of those methods is presented in this paper. In fact, a multi-levels inverse identification method is developed in order to estimate these physical parameters. The proposed method is based on the minimization of the difference between a reference acoustic absorption coefficient of a porous material and the computed values. The minimization is done according three levels, in each level an acoustic model of porous material is used to evaluate one or two parameters. Finally, the five physical parameters of the porous materials are deduced. The proposed method is applied to Polyurethane foam material. The obtained results are satisfying with small values of errors and with estimated acoustic absorption coefficient reaching the reference one.     

A conductometric immunosensor based on functionalized magnetite nanoparticles for E. coli detection

We report a new approach for immunoassays based on magnetite nanoparticles for Escherichia coli (E. coli) detection using conductometric measurements. Biotinylated antibodies, anti-E. coli, were immobilized on streptavidin modified magnetite nanoparticles by biotin–streptavidin interaction. A layer of functionalized nanoparticles were directly immobilized on the conductometric electrode using glutaraldehyde cross-linking.The specific test with E. coli cells and the non specific test using Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) were investigated by conductometric measurements. Results show a good response as a function of antigen additions. The detection of 1 CFU/ml of E. coli induces a conductivity variation of 35 μS. The negative test shows good selectivity using the conductometric immunosensor. Conductometric measurements allow to detect 500 CFU/l.     

Primary photoreactions of the 3',5'-dimethoxybenzoin cage and determination of the release rate in polar media

3',5'-dimethoxybenzoin (DMB) is an important photoremovable protecting group. The primary photoreactions of DMB acetate and fluoride following photoexcitation by a subpicosecond laser flash were investigated by pump-probe spectroscopy. The primary photoproduct is identified as a preoxetane biradical intermediate that decays by different pathways depending on solvent polarity. In polar solvents (acetonitrile, water), the biradical decays by releasing acetate or fluoride with a lifetime of about 2 ns. Thus, DMB is an excellent protecting group for the investigation of fast processes such as protein folding.     

A straightforward approach to N-substituted-2H-indazol-2-amines through reductive cyclization

A versatile two-step, one-pot reaction to access N-substituted-2H-indazol-2-amine derivatives has been elaborated. A diverse set of analogues was obtained by a sequential hydrazone formation and reductive cyclization in moderate to good yields from readily available starting materials. The strategy tolerates a broad range of substitutions pattern and functional groups allowing further derivatizations.     

Effect of organic modifier and temperature on the resolution of betamethasone and dexamethasone using a porous graphitic carbon column: application to their identification and confirmation in human urine by LC-ESI-MS/MS

The effects of temperature, organic modifier and the type of acid on the retention factor, the resolution and peak shape of betamethasone and dexamethasone are described. The study is performed using narrow bore porous graphitic carbon (PGC) columns online with diode-array detector (DAD) and ESI MS/MS. The results show that temperature affects the retention behaviour of the two compounds and ACN yields the best separation while no effect is obtained by changing the type of organic acid. The developed method is applied for the confirmation of dexamethasone and betamethasone in human urine.