Certification with optimal control strategies

The optimal control methodology called concentration-of-measure optimal control (COMOC), seeks to minimise a concen- tration-of-measure upper bound on the probability of failure of an uncertain system. This bound is computed for a system characterised by a single performance measure depending on random inputs. This work considers controlled multibody dynamics taking place in an uncertain environment. The goal is to quantify uncertainty in a controlled robot manoeuvre and to minimise the probability of failure with regard to a performance measure. First, a deterministic optimal control problem is solved, yielding state and control trajectories that minimise an objective function. Boundary conditions for the optimal control problem are chosen such that the system performs ideally in the sense of the performance measure. Secondly, the obtained manoeuvre is reconsidered in the presence of uncertainty. Using a concentration-of-measure inequality, a rigorous upper bound for the probability of failure is derived. Finally, an optimisation is performed that searches for a control sequence (in the neighbourhood of the given one), that minimises the probability of failure. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Existence of three weak solutions for a perturbed anisotropic discrete Dirichlet problem

In this paper, we study the existence of at least three distinct solutions for a perturbed anisotropic discrete Dirichlet problem. Our approach is based on recent variational methods for smooth functionals defined on reflexive Banach spaces. Some examples are presented to demonstrate the application of our main results.     

n-almost prime submodules

Let R be a commutative ring with identity. A proper submodule N of an R-module M will be called prime [resp. n-almost prime], if for r ∈ R and a ∈ M with ra ∈ N [resp. ra ∈ N \ (N: M) ^n?1 N], either a ∈ N or r ∈ (N: M). In this note we will study the relations between prime, primary and n-almost prime submodules. Among other results it is proved that:

1. If N is an n-almost prime submodule of an R-module M, then N is prime or N = (N: M)N, in case M is finitely generated semisimple, or M is torsion-free with dim R = 1.
2. Every n-almost prime submodule of a torsion-free Noetherian module is primary.
3. Every n-almost prime submodule of a finitely generated torsion-free module over a Dedekind domain is prime.
4. There exists a finitely generated faithful R-module M such that every proper submodule of M is n-almost prime, if and only if R is Von Neumann regular or R is a local ring with the maximal ideal m such that m ² = 0.
5. If I is an n-almost prime ideal of R and F is a flat R-module with IF ≠ F, then IF is an n-almost prime submodule of F.

     

Sonochemical synthesis of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures

This work is about fabrication of ZnO nanostructures (ZnO-NS) via a simple sonochemical method. The chemicals used for the synthesis of various shaped ZnO are Zn salt, sodium hydroxide and ammonia solution without other structure directing agent or surfactant needed. This method is feasible and green, as it does not require high temperature and/or highly toxic chemicals. The shape of the ZnO-NS can be tuned by adjusting the ultrasound energy dissipated via varying the ultrasonication time from 5 to 60 min. It was found that uniform ZnO nanorods with diameter around 50 nm were formed after 15 min of ultrasonication while flowerlike ZnO-NS was formed after 30 min. This method produces high quality ZnO-NS with controllable shapes, uniformity, and purity.     

Determination of acidic drugs in biological and environmental matrices by membrane‐based dual emulsification liquid‐phase microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A simple method is introduced providing a highly clean microextraction for the determination of some anti‐inflammatory drugs as the model analytes in human urine and environmental matrices. This method is based upon the implementation of two consecutive emulsification liquid‐phase microextractions, which are separated by a syringe filtration step. In this method, the organic extraction solvent (dihexyl ether) is dispersed into the aqueous sample solution (20 mL), and the resulting cloudy mixture is passed through a hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene syringe filter. By this action, the extraction phase containing the analytes and many interfering species that could be transferred into the organic phase is retained behind the hydrophilic membrane. The filter is then detached from the syringe and attached to another syringe containing an aqueous solution (pH 12.0, 150 μL), and by the in‐syringe dispersion of the organic phase into the aqueous phase, the analytes are selectively back‐extracted into the aqueous phase. The developed method is centrifuge‐free and very simple, and provides a high sample clean‐up in a few minutes. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the developed method provided a linearity in the range of 2.0–2000 ng/mL, a low limit of detection (0.5 ng/mL), and enrichment factors of 47–53.     

Extraction of antidepressant drugs in biological samples using alkanol‐based nano structured supramolecular solvent microextraction followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric analysis

In the present study, a supramolecular solvent was formed from reverse micelle aggregates of octanol. The proposed supramolecular solvent was used for rapid extraction of some antidepressants drugs including amitriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, maprotiline, sertraline, and doxepin from biological samples. Alkanol‐based supramolecular solvents have a unique array of physicochemical properties, making them a very attractive alternative to replace organic solvents in analytical extractions. The parameters affecting the extraction of target analytes (i.e., the volume of tetrahydrofuran and octanol as the major components comprising the supramolecular solvent, chain length of alkanols, sample solution pH, salt addition, and ultrasonic time) were investigated and optimized by factor by factor optimization method. Under the optimum conditions, preconcentration factors of 470, 490, 460, 385, 370, and 430 were obtained for amitriptyline, doxepin, imipramine, desipramine, maprotiline, and sertraline, respectively. The linear ranges and coefficients of determination (R²) were obtained in the range of 0.01–100 μg/L and 0.9974–0.9991, respectively. Also the limits of detection (S/N = 3) of 0.003–0.03 μg/L, and precisions (n = 5) of 4.9–8.9% were calculated. Finally, the method was successfully applied for the extraction of antidepressant drugs in biological samples, and relative recoveries in the range of 91–102% were obtained.     

DFT/TDDFT Investigation of Electronic,Magnetic, and Optical Properties of Graphene Containing Different Values of Se Impurity

Physics of the Solid State - The electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of graphene (gr) containing selenium impurities of 2, 3, 5.5, and 12.5% were calculated by DFT. By increasing the...     

Role of sodium decoration on the methane storage properties of BC3 nanosheet

First-principles calculations including dispersion correction are carried out to investigate pristine and Na-decorated graphene-like BC₃ (h-BC₃) for their application as methane storage materials. Structural optimization shows that the methane is physisorbed on the pristine sheet via van der Waals forces with adsorption energy of ?2.7 kcal/mol. It was found that unlike the pristine graphene, sodium decorated sheet can effectively interact with the CH₄ molecule, so that each metal atom bound on sheet may adsorb up to four CH₄. Furthermore, no bond dissociation was observed for the adsorption of CH₄ on Na-decorated h-BC₃, which means that decorated sheet can act as a storage device for methane safety storage. The results indicate that decoration of the Na atom on surface of sheet induces significant changes in electronic properties of the sheet and its E _g is unchanged after adsorption of CH₄ molecules. Theoretical methane storage capacity of Na-decorated BC₃ nanosheet could approach 18.1 wt%.     

MWCNTs@NHBut/PTA: New efficient solid acid catalyst for solvent free synthesis of benzochromenopyrimidines

In this study, a novel and eco‐friendly synthesis of benzochromenopyrimidines catalyzed by phosphotugstic acid immobilized on aminated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs@NHBut/PTA) is reported. New solid acid catalyst was prepared through a simple process with good percentage of organo metallic groups and characterized with FTIR, TEM, SEM, EDX and TGA techniques. Reusable catalytic system provides a convenient, safe and green pathway to generate a variety of benzochromenopyrimidines under mild conditions.     

Modeling and active control of chatter vibrations of piezoelectric stacked machining arm in micro-turning process

Self-excited vibrations known as chatter are considered as the most detrimental issue in micro-turning processes. Occurring unpredictably, they adversely affect the tool life, productivity rate and surface quality of the machining processes. In this paper, a novel machining arm is modeled as a piezoelectric stacked rod which is subjected to a chatter force in the orthogonal micro-turning process. Due to the fact that machining processes are affected by various sources of uncertainties, H_∞ robust control approach is used to suppress the chatter vibrations of the machining arm in the presence of tool wear and dynamic model parameter variations. Also, input control force of the system is provided by exciting the input voltage of piezoelectric layers of the rod. In order to be certain that the designed controller succeeds in suppressing vibrations of the effective structural modes, behavior of the first three modes of vibrations are considered in the final response of the machining arm. In the following, performance of the robust H_∞ controller is compared with a modified PID controller. Simulation results show that the H_∞ controller improves the robustness and performance of the system against uncertainties. The PID controller extends the stability region of the sharp tool and fails to achieve this purpose for the worn tool although its performance is acceptable in suppressing chatter vibrations.