Parameter Identification Based on First Order Approximation Neural Networks

Constitutive models for structural analyses contain material parameters. Usually not all of them can be determined a priori with sufficient accuracy. They must be set such that numerical results agree with available measurements as well as possible. Hence, an inverse problem must be solved. In order to keep the number of the required numerical calculations for parameter identification as small as possible, back analyses are performed iteratively. In each iteration step, a backpropagation artificial neural network (BPANN) is trained to approximate results of already performed numerical analyses. In this paper the classical zero‐order training algorithm is extended in order to obtain first‐order approximation neural networks. Based on the trained BPANN, a prognosis of optimal parameters can be obtained.     

Analysis of Citrus Bioflavonoid Content and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitory Potential of Commercially Available Supplements

Citrus bioflavonoids are polyphenolic plant-derived pigments found in high levels in oranges, lemons, grapefruits and other citrus fruits. The three most abundant types of citrus bioflavonoids are hesperidin, naringenin and eriocitrin. Citrus bioflavonoids have long been known to possess powerful free radical-scavenging properties and cardioprotective effects. The study involved the analysis of 10 commercially available citrus bioflavonoid supplements from three different countries: Australia, the United States and Canada. The supplements were tested for their citrus bioflavonoid content which varied from 0.8 to 33.3% w/w. The daily bioflavonoid dose varied from 19 mg to 560 mg. Hesperidin was the major citrus bioflavonoid in nine out of ten supplements. One supplement was found to contain less than 10% of the quantity of rutin claimed to have been added. The DPP-4 inhibitory potential, compared through an estimation of rutin equivalence, ranged from 1.9 mg to 400 mg per day. This data highlights the variability between the supplements in their potential to inhibit DPP-4 for subsequent health benefits.     

Implementation of an analogue model of a memristor based on a light-dependent resistor

In this paper,an analogue model of a memristor using a light-dependent resistor(LDR) is presented.This model can be simplified into two parts:a control circuit and a variable resistor.It can be used to easily verify theoretical presumptions about the switching properties of memristors.This LDR-based memristor model can also be used in both simulations and experiments for future research into memristor applications.The paper includes mathematical models,simulations,and experimental results.     

Effect of donor-acceptor substitution on the nonlinear optical properties of oligo(1,4-phenyleneethynylene)s studied by third harmonic generation spectroscopy

Third-harmonic generation (THG) spectroscopy was performed for oligo(1,4-phenyleneethynylene)s (OPEs) with terminal donor-acceptor (DA) substitution and compared to the results of merely donor substituted OPEs and regular OPE chains with 2,5-dipropoxy benzene rings. Both, extension of the conjugation and push-pull effect enhance the molecular hyperpolarizability gamma, even for the DAOPEs, which exhibit a hypsochromic shift of the long-wavelength absorption for increasing length L of the conjugated chain.     

Extraction and derivatization of polar herbicides for GC-MS analyses

A sample preparation procedure including a simultaneous microwave-assisted (MA) extraction and derivatization for the determination of chlorophenoxy acids in soil samples is presented. For a selective and sensitive measurement, an analytical technique such as GC coupled with MS needs to be adopted. For GC analyses, chlorophenoxy acids have to be converted into more volatile and thermally stable derivatives. Derivatization by means of microwave radiation offers new alternatives in terms of shorter derivatization time and reduces susceptibility for the formation of artefacts. Extraction and derivatization into methyl esters (ME) were performed with sulphuric acid and methanol. Due to the novelty of the simultaneous extraction and derivatization assisted by means of microwave radiation, a careful investigation and optimization of influential reaction parameters was necessary. It could be shown that the combination of sulphuric acid and methanol provides a fast sample preparation including an efficient clean up procedure. The data obtained by the described method are in good agreement with those published for the reference material. Finally, compared to conventional heating and also to the standard procedure of the EPA, the sample preparation time could be considerably shortened.