Reliability-Based Optimization Using Differential Evolution and Inverse Reliability Analysis for Engineering System Design

In this contribution, a new methodology based on a double-loop iteration process is proposed for the treatment of uncertainties in engineering system design. The inner optimization loop is used to find the solution associated with the highest probability value (inverse reliability analysis), and the outer loop is the regular optimization loop used to solve the considered reliability problem through differential evolution and multi-objective optimization differential evolution algorithms. The proposed methodology is applied to mathematical functions and to the design of classical engineering systems according to both mono- and multi-objective contexts. The obtained results are compared with those obtained by classical approaches and demonstrate that the proposed strategy represents an interesting alternative to reliability design of engineering systems.     

Monitoring thermal,structural properties,methotrexate release and biological activity from biocompatible spray-dried microparticles

Boron phosphates (BPs) with different acidities were prepared by regulating the calcination temperatures for the reaction products of boric acid and phosphoric acid. The crystal structure, morphology, surface acidity, and thermal stability were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), chemical absorbed apparatus, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The effects of BPs on the combustion behavior and catalyzing the carbonization of bisphenol-A epoxy resin (EP) were investigated by the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimetry test. Upon loading 5 mass% BP prepared at 300 °C, the LOI value of the EP/BP composites increased to 29.6%, and moreover, the peak heat release rate and average specific extinction area decreased by 43 and 25%, respectively. A possible catalyzing carbonization mechanism was explored by TG coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG–FTIR), TG, FTIR, SEM, Raman spectroscopy (Raman), and XPS. The results demonstrated that BP catalyzed EP to degrade at relatively low temperature, and the yield, compactness, and graphitization degree of the char residue were obviously enhanced with an increase in the ratio of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites (B/L value) and the total surface acid sites on the BP surface. Therefore, the catalyzing carbonization flame retardancy of the EP/BP composites can be improved through regulating the surface acidity of BP.     

Random walks on free products of cyclic groups

Let G be a free product of a finite family of finite groups,with the set of generators being formed by the union of thefinite groups. We consider a transient nearest-neighbour randomwalk on G. We give a new proof of the fact that the harmonicmeasure is a special Markovian measure entirely determined bya finite set of polynomial equations. We show that in severalsimple cases of interest, the polynomial equations can be explicitlysolved to get closed form formulae for the drift. The examplesconsidered are /2 /3, /3 /3, /k /k and the Hecke groups /2 /k.We also use these various examples to study Vershik's notionof extremal generators, which is based on the relation betweenthe drift, the entropy and the growth of the group.     

Crystalline properties and decomposition kinetics of cellulose fibers in wood pulp obtained by two pulping processes

In this study two cellulose fibers, Eucalyptus grandis (CEG) and Pinus taeda (CPT), obtained through the kraft and sulfite pulping processes, respectively, were characterized. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out. From the XRD analysis the interplanar distance, crystallite size and crystallinity index were calculated and the degradation kinetics parameters were determined by TGA at heating rates of 5, 10, 20 and 40 °C min⁻¹ using the Avrami, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Criado methods. The results obtained by FTIR showed that the composition of the fibers is similar, while from the XRD analysis slight differences in the crystallinity were observed. The thermogravimetric analysis showed higher thermal stability for CPT than CEG while the values for the activation energy (E_a) were higher for CEG than CPT. The results obtained by Avrami and Criado methods showed that the degradation mechanism in the CEG samples involves a diffusion process while in the case of CPT the degradation process is a phase boundary controlled reaction. The degradation mechanisms demonstrated that the difference between thermal stability and E_a may be due to differences in the type of crystalline structure of the samples obtained through the two pulping processes.     

Rapid Synthesis of Porous Honeycomb Cu/Pd through a Hydrogen‐Bubble Templating Method

A rapid electrochemical method based on using a clean hydrogen‐bubble template to form a bimetallic porous honeycomb Cu/Pd structure has been investigated. The addition of palladium salt to a copper‐plating bath under conditions of vigorous hydrogen evolution was found to influence the pore size and bulk concentration of copper and palladium in the honeycomb bimetallic structure. The surface was characterised by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which revealed that the surface of honeycomb Cu/Pd was found to be rich with a Cu/Pd alloy. The inclusion of palladium in the bimetallic structure not only influenced the pore size, but also modified the dendritic nature of the internal wall structure of the parent copper material into small nanometre‐sized crystallites. The chemical composition of the bimetallic structure and substantial morphology changes were found to significantly influence the surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopic response for immobilised rhodamine B and the hydrogen‐evolution reaction. The ability to create free‐standing films of this honeycomb material may also have many advantages in the areas of gas‐ and liquid‐phase heterogeneous catalysis.     

Stereoelectronic interactions and the one-bond C-F coupling constant in sevoflurane

The conformational preference of the widely utilized anesthetic fluoromethyl-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl ether (sevoflurane) has been investigated computationally and by NMR spectroscopy. Three conformational minima were located at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level, but one is significantly more stable (by ca. 4 kcal/mol) than the other two. This is the case both for gas phase calculations and for solution NMR data. Although the main conformer is stabilized by electron delocalization (n(O) → σ*(C-F)), this type of hyperconjugation was not found to be the main driver for the conformer stabilization in the gas phase and, consequently, for the apparent anomeric effect in sevoflurane. Instead, more classical steric and electrostatic interactions appear to be responsible for the conformational energies. Also the (1)J(CF) coupling constants do not appear to be dominated by hyperconjugation; again, dipolar interactions are invoked instead.     

Structural characteristics of the tendinous cord–papillary muscle junction in healthy and hypertensive rats

Although the myotendinous junction (MTJ) of skeletal striated muscle is well known, more detailed studies regarding the structure of the cardiac MTJ are scarce. The objective of the present study was to investigate the morphological characteristics of the MTJ in hearts of healthy and hypertensive (SHR) female rats using histological, ultrastructural and three-dimensional (SEM) methods, as well as to evaluate the expression of vinculin by immunofluorescence. In the two groups, light microscopy showed branching tendinous cords and collagen bundles penetrating the apex of the finger-like projections of the papillary muscle. SEM analysis revealed an enlarged apex of the papillary muscle in SHR which was not observed in healthy animals. The loss of force transmission appears to be compensated by the amplified connection between the papillary muscle and valvular collagen. A large number of intercalated disks close to the fiber apex, small amounts of an amorphous intercellular substance and numerous vesicles were observed in SHR. In these animals, the expression of vinculin was more marked showing a regular distribution and a pattern of transverse striations along the sarcolemma. The presence of this protein in transverse bands suggests that vinculin surrounds myofibrils in the region of the Z band. Vinculin staining was also more marked in the region of the tendinous cord–papillary muscle junctions of SHR compared to control animals. Vinculin was quantified by electrophoresis and higher amounts of this protein were observed in SHR compared to control animals.     

Sensitive voltammetric determination of xanthinol nicotinate at a carbon nanotubes-ionic liquid gel modified electrode

The electrochemistry of xanthinol nicotinate(Xan) was studied by cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode modified by a gel containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs) and room-temperature ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate(BMTMPF_6).The modified electrode exhibited good promotion to the electrochemical oxidation of Xan and an ultrasensitive electrochemical method was proposed for the determination of Xan.This method was successfully applied to the determination of...     

On the 4JHH long‐range coupling in 2‐bromocyclohexanone: conformational insights

2‐Bromocyclohexanone is a model compound in which a ⁴J_{H2, H6} coupling constant is observed, whereas the corresponding ⁴J_{H2, H4} is absent. The observed long‐range coupling is not only a result of the known W‐type coupling, in the axial conformation, but also because of the less usual diaxial spin–spin coupling in the equatorial conformer. The carbonyl group plays a determining role in describing the coupling pathway, as concluded by natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis; although the and interactions in the axial conformer contribute for transmitting the spin information associated with the W‐type coupling, the strong and hyperconjugations in the equatorial conformer define an enhanced coupling pathway for ⁴J_{H2, H6}, despite the inhibition of this coupling because of interaction and the large carbonyl angle. These findings provide the experimental evidence that orbital interactions contribute for the conformational isomerism of 2‐bromocyclohexanone. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.