Equivalent linear stochastic seismic response of isolated bridges

Stochastic response of bridges seismically isolated by lead-rubber bearings (LRB) is investigated. The earthquake excitation is modeled as a non-stationary random process (i.e. uniformly modulated broad-band excitation). The stochastic response of isolated bridge is obtained using the time-dependent equivalent linearization technique as the force-deformation behavior of the LRB is highly nonlinear. The non-stationary response of isolated bridge is compared with the corresponding stationary response in order to study the effects of non-stationary characteristics of the earthquake input motion. For a given isolated bridge system and excitation, it was observed that there exists an optimum value of the yield strength of LRB for which the root mean square (rms) absolute acceleration of bridge deck attains the minimum value. The optimum yield strength of LRB is investigated under important parametric variations such as isolation period and damping ratio of the LRB and the frequency content and intensity of earthquake excitation. It is shown that the above parameters have significant effects on the optimum yield strength of LRB. Finally, closed-form expressions for the optimum yield strength of LRB and corresponding response of the isolated bridge system are proposed. These expressions were derived based on the model of bridge with rigid deck and pier condition subjected to stationary white-noise excitation. It was observed that there is a very good comparison between the proposed closed-form expressions and actual optimum parameters and response of the isolated bridge system. These expressions can be used for initial optimal design of seismic isolation system for the bridges.     

Crystallographic investigations of benzothiazol-2-yl-hydrazine

The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with unit cell parameters a = 10.842(9), b = 5.750(7), c = 12.964(6) Å, = 110.13(6), V = 758.8(11) ų and Z = 4. The final reliability index is 0.060 for 1034 observed reflections. The five-membered heterocyclic thiazole ring is coplanar with its fused benzene ring. The crystal structure is stabilized by two intermolecular N=H s N hydrogen bonded interactions.     

Practical,high-yield synthesis of thiol-terminated diacetylenes for formation of conductive monolayers

Self-assembled monolayers of thiol terminated conjugated diacetylenes can be cross-linked using ultraviolet light to form highly conjugated polydiacetylenic conductive monolayers [1]; however, the reported syntheses of the diacetylene monomers present numerous problems that prevent the wide spread application of these in functional materials. We report a redesigned four-step synthesis that proceeds in 75–80% overall yields and allows gram scale production of an array of thiol terminated conjugated diacetylenes, thereby allowing examination and application of these low-dimensional conductive materials.     

A convenient synthesis of the enantiomerically pure (S)-2,4-dihydroxybutyl-4-hydroxybenzoate using hydrolytic kinetic resolution

(S)-2,4-Dihydroxybutyl-4-hydroxybenzoate was prepared in an extremely simple and practical way with high enantiomeric excess (99% ee) using Jacobsen’s Hydrolytic Kinetic Resolution technique as a key step and source of chirality.     

Evaluation of Octyl-β-D-Glucopyranoside (OGP) for Cytotoxic,Hemolytic<Emphasis Type="Italic">,</Emphasis> Thrombolytic,and Antibacterial Activity

The current study indicates that octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (OGP) as a detergent which has the ability to make the lipid layer stiff. OGP was subjected for toxicity studies and in vitro cytotoxicty assays on cancerous HeLa and non-cancerous myoblasts H9c2 cell lines. Test against aquatic organisms were carried out in Artemia salina and LC₅₀ values were calculated. Hemolytic activity tested for blood bio-compalibity showed hemolysis rate of 10–16%, followed by thrombolytic activity to burst the clots in blood. Also, the samples showed good lysis when compared to the standard streptokinase. Furthermore, α-amylase activity has been carried out to check the inhibition of α-amylase by the OGP. Finally, antibacterial activity has been tested against four different pathogens and their MIC values have been calculated.     

Synthesis and structure determination of 7a-Aza-B-homostigmast-5-eno [7a, 7-d] tetrazole-3β-yl chloride (C29H47N4Cl)

7a-Aza-B-homostigmast-5-eno [7a, 7-d] tetrazole-3β-yl chloride (C₂₉H₄₇N₄Cl) was synthesized for its crystallographic analysis and to investigate the role of intra- and intermolecular interactions in steroids. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2 with unit cell parameters: a = 38.481(2), b = 6.661(3), c = 11.111 (6) ?, β = 94.49 (4)^o; λ( MoKα) = 0.71069 ?, V = 2839(2) ?³, and Z = 4. The structure has been solved by direct methods using X-ray diffraction techniques. The final reliability index for the computed structure is 0.0597 for 1252 observed reflections. Except the five-membered ring, all other rings of the steroid nucleus exist in non-planar conformations. The structure is stabilized by C–H···N intermolecular interaction.Supplementary material CCDC-267926 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data can be obtained free of charge at www.ccdc.cam.an.uk/uk/conts/retrieving.html or from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC), 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, United Kingdom; Fax: $+$44(0) 1223-336033; e-mail: deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk.     

A Ferroelectric Aminophosphonium Cyanoferrate with a Large Electrostrictive Coefficient as a Piezoelectric Nanogenerator

Hybrid materials possessing piezo- and ferroelectric properties emerge as excellent alternatives to conventional piezoceramics due to their merits of facile synthesis, lightweight nature, ease of fabrication and mechanical flexibility. Inspired by the structural stability of aminophosphonium compounds, here we report the first A₃BX₆ type cyanometallate [Ph₂(ⁱPrNH)₂P]₃[Fe(CN)₆] ( 1 ), which shows a ferroelectric saturation polarization (P_s) of 3.71 μC cm⁻². Compound 1 exhibits a high electrostrictive coefficient (Q₃₃) of 0.73 m⁴ C⁻², far exceeding those of piezoceramics (0.034–0.096 m⁴ C⁻²). Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) analysis demonstrates the polarization switching and domain structure of 1 further confirming its ferroelectric nature. Furthermore, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymer composite films of 1 were prepared and employed as piezoelectric nanogenerators. Notably, the 15 wt % 1 -TPU device gave a maximum output voltage of 13.57 V and a power density of 6.03 μW cm⁻².     

Electrode Materials for Desalination of Water via Capacitive Deionization

Recent years have seen the emergence of capacitive deionization (CDI) as a promising desalination technique for converting sea and wastewater into potable water, due to its energy efficiency and eco-friendly nature. However, its low salt removal capacity and parasitic reactions have limited its effectiveness. As a result, the development of porous carbon nanomaterials as electrode materials have been explored, while taking into account of material characteristics such as morphology, wettability, high conductivity, chemical robustness, cyclic stability, specific surface area, and ease of production. To tackle the parasitic reaction issue, membrane capacitive deionization (mCDI) was proposed which utilizes ion-exchange membranes coupled to the electrode. Fabrication techniques along with the experimental parameters used to evaluate the desalination performance of different materials are discussed in this review to provide an overview of improvements made for CDI and mCDI desalination purposes     

Unit-Regularity of Regular Nilpotent Elements

Let a be a regular element of a ring R. If either K:=r _R (a) has the exchange property or every power of a is regular, then we prove that for every positive integer n there exist decompositions

$$R_{R} = K \oplus X_{n} \oplus Y_{n} = E_{n} \oplus X_{n} \oplus aY_{n}, $$

where \(Y_{n} \subseteq a^{n}R\) and E _n ?R/a R. As applications we get easier proofs of the results that a strongly π-regular ring has stable range one and also that a strongly π-regular element whose every power is regular is unit-regular.