Experimental Modal Damping Identification of a Mechanical Structure Using Video Magnification Technique

Vibration can be introduced in all mechanical fields in our life. Engineers try to avoid its negative effect leading in some cases to deformation in the machines. Many researches are dedicated to study the identification of damping especially in multi degree of freedom systems with particular attention to the source of energy dissipation. They focus on developing new tools or methods which may be used in real problems to obtain accurate results about the amount (or value) and the location of energy dissipation in the structure. The aim of this paper is to present an original procedure aims to experimentally determine the modal damping ratio of a mechanical structure. The proposed procedure consists of extracting the Frequency Response Function of the vibrating system using the video magnification method and then calculate the modal damping ratio using the 3-dB method. These experimental measurements are carried out by giving an external force on a cantilever beam, then the modal damping ratios are extracted using motion magnification. The obtained results show a relative error less than 4.2% between the experimental measurements and the analytical calculation for the Frequency Response Function (FRF) curves. The novelty of the paper is to combine the video magnification technique and the 3dB method in a procedure that aims to experimentally measure the modal damping of a mechanical structure. The proposed procedure in this paper represents the damping identification as a simple and easy engineering application.     

Online preconcentration of arsenic compounds by dynamic pH junction-capillary electrophoresis

An online preconcentration technique by dynamic pH junction was studied to improve the detection limit for anionic arsenic compounds by CE. The main target compound is roxarsone, or 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid, which is being used as an animal feed additive. The other inorganic and organoarsenic compounds studied are the possible biotransformation products of roxarsone. The arsenic species were separated by a dynamic pH junction in a fused-silica capillary using 15 mM phosphate buffer (pH 10.6) as the BGE and 15 mM acetic acid as the sample matrix. CE with UV detection was monitored at a wavelength of 192 nm. The influence of buffer pH and concentration on dynamic pH junction were investigated. The arsenic species focusing resulted in LOD improvement by a factor of 100-800. The combined use of C18 and anion exchange SPE and dynamic pH junction to CE analysis of chicken litter and soils helps to increase the detection sensitivity. Recoveries of spiked samples ranged between 70 and 72%.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Novel Substituted Bis‐Pyridone,Pyrazole, and Thiazole Derivatives

A variety of novel bis‐heterocyclic derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of bis‐cyanoacetanilide derivative 3 with various aromatic aldehydes (1:2 molar ratio), to give the corresponding bis‐arylidene derivatives 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j , 5k , 5l , 5m . On the other hand, reacting compound 3 with substituted 2‐hydroxybenzaldehydes 6a , 6b , 6c afforded 2‐iminochromene‐3‐carboxamides 7a , 7b , 7c . The reaction of compound 5 with malononitrile afforded the novel bis‐pyridones 9a , 9b , 9c , 9f , 9g , 9h . The reaction of 5 with hydrazine derivatives afforded pyrazoles 11a , 11b , 11c , 11d , 11e , 11f , respectively. Compound 3 reacts with phenyl isothiocyanate in the presence of potassium hydroxide at room temperature followed by addition of some different halo‐carbonyl compounds to afford bis‐poly‐functionalized thiazole derivatives 13a , 13b , 13c . The bis‐enamine derivative 15 reacts also with hydrazine hydrate, guanidine, and hydroxylamine to give bis‐pyrazole 17 , pyrimidine 19 , and isoxazole 21 derivatives, respectively. Some of the newly synthesized compounds show moderate to high antimicrobial activity.     

Development and validation of a rapid ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of darunavir,ritonavir, and tenofovir in human plasma: Application to human pharmacokinetics

A sensitive ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous determination of darunavir, ritonavir and tenofovir in human plasma. Sample preparation involved a simple liquid–liquid extraction using 200 μL of human plasma extracted with methyl tert‐butyl ether for three analytes and internal standard. The separation was accomplished on an Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) analytical column using gradient elution of acetonitrile/methanol (80:20, v/v) and 5.0 mM ammonium acetate containing 0.01% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The linearity of the method ranged between 20.0 and 12 000 ng/mL for darunavir, 2.0 and 2280 ng/mL for ritonavir, and 14.0 and 1600 ng/mL for tenofovir using 200 μL of plasma. The method was completely validated for its selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, precision and accuracy, recovery, matrix effect, stability, and dilution integrity. The extraction recoveries were consistent and ranged between 79.91 and 90.04% for all three analytes and internal standard. The method exhibited good intra‐day and inter‐day precision between 1.78 and 6.27%. Finally the method was successfully applied for human pharmacokinetic study in eight healthy male volunteers after the oral administration of 600 mg darunavir along with 100 mg ritonavir and 100 mg tenofovir as boosters.     

Stress and strain effects on the electronic structure and optical properties of ScN monolayer

Based on the density functional theory, electronic and optical properties of a monolayer scandium nitride structure have been studied under different strain conditions. Our results indicate that both biaxial compressive and tensile strain effects lead to change the band gap of this structure with different rates. Also, optical absorption spectrum peaks experience an obvious red and blue shifts with the exerting of tensile and compressive strains, respectively. Our results express that ScN monolayer can be the promising candidate for the future nano-base electrical and optical devices.     

Synthesis of NiGa layered double hydroxides. A combined EXAFS, SAXS, and TEM study. 2. Hydrolysis of a Ni2+/Ga3+ solution

Takovites are nickel-based layered double hydroxides (LDH) with a general formula that can be written as Ni(1-x)Al(x)(OH)2, A(z-)(x/z), yH(2)O, where A is a compensating interlayer anion. As in some other LDH samples, the positive charge of the layer can be adjusted upon synthesis and various anions can be exchanged in the interlayer region. It is then important to understand the synthesis pathway of these materials. We then undertook a study on the hydrolytic behavior of pure Ni salts and mixtures of Ni and Ga salts. This paper focuses on the hydrolysis of Ni(2+) and Ga(3+) ions, together in solution, carried out by base addition. The samples will be defined by their hydrolysis ratio R = [OH(-)]/([Ni(2+)] + [Ga(3+)]). Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to obtain information on the colloidal species size and shape on a large scale. Each hydrolyzed sample was also studied by Ni K-edge and Ga K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) to obtain information on the local structure of the species in suspension. SAXS curves reveal the presence of bidimensional objects whatever the R values. The platelets formed for R values >/=1.1 are slightly thicker and smaller in size, which may be linked to their different natures. Complementary information is provided by TEM analysis: the first colloids formed have a structure very close to that of alpha-GaOOH, as shown by electronic diffraction. Those structures are progressively replaced by Ni-Ga LDH platelets with increasing hydrolysis ratio, which are the only species in suspension for R = 2.0, as shown by XRD. EXAFS results confirm the complete hydrolysis of gallium before the formation of Ni-Ga LDH phases.     

Synthesis of NiGa layered double hydroxides. A combined EXAFS, SAXS, and TEM study. 3. Synthesis at constant pH

The present paper focuses on the direct synthesis of NiGa layered double hydroxides (LDHs) by concomitant addition of Ni and Ga chloride in solution with NaOH solution, at a constant pH value of 6.5. Various Ni/Ga ratios (Ni/Ga = 2, Ni/Ga = 4, or Ni/Ga = 6) were investigated, and samples were collected after successive additions. Each sample was then analyzed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to derive information about the shape of the objects formed upon synthesis. In parallel Ni K-edge and Ga K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis were carried out on relevant samples to obtain information on the local structure of the species in suspension. SAXS curves reveal significant changes. At the beginning of the synthesis, for low added volumes (V(s)), the suspension appears to contain both monodimensional and bidimensional objects. For higher V(s), the monodimensional objects disappear and only platelike particles are detected in the suspension. EXAFS results show that all the added gallium atoms are involved in a solid Ni-Ga LDH phase throughout the whole synthesis. In contrast, some nickel cations do not precipitate in the Ni-Ga LDH. At the beginning of the synthesis, for low added volumes they are also involved in the formation of fibrous polycations. For higher added volumes, the fibers are not observed anymore and monomeric nickel species are then present in the suspension.     

Liouville-space-based optimal control modeling of quantum system

We investigate the modeling of optimal control of quantum system in Liouville space by combining classical engineering control theory with quantum theory. Aiming at two typical models of optimal control, we derive the requirements of optimal control via taking the expected value of the observable physical quantity to maximum as performance index, which forms the bedrock for further investigating the design of control law.     

Reconnaissance of the specific surface of vapour grown carbon micro and nanofibres as a main controller of the sorption of hydrogen

The influence of the hydrogen content in several physical aspects of carbonaceous microfibres obtained from a mixture of hydrogen and hydrocarbon gas is examinated in this study. The hydrogen content is evaluated behalf a measurement of the fibres density. These changes of content depend on the manufacturing process and further treatments of the fibres. The surface energy is established after contact angle evaluation. There is not a clear relation between the surface energy and the porosity, which is a very relevant parameter in order to establish the hydrogen storage capacity of all materials.The fibres have been evaluated using Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), which provides a map of the surface potential. These measurements suggest a relation between the surface potential and the hydrogen adsorbed in the surface of the fibres.