Stabilization of active fault‐tolerant control systems by uncertain nonhomogeneous markovian jump models

This article investigates the stabilization and control problems for a general active fault‐tolerant control system (AFTCS) in a stochastic framework. The novelty of the research lies in utilizing uncertain nonhomogeneous Markovian structures to take account for the imperfect fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) algorithms of the AFTCS. The underlying AFTCS is supposed to be modeled by two random processes of Markov type; one characterizing the system fault process and the other describing the FDD process. It is assumed that the FDD algorithm is imperfect and provides inaccurate Markovian parameters for the FDD process. Specifically, it provides uncertain transition rates (TRs); the TRs that lie in an interval without any particular structures. This framework is more consistent with real‐world applications to accommodate different types of faults. It is more general than the previously developed AFTCSs because of eliminating the need for an accurate estimation of the fault process. To solve the stabilizability and the controller design problems of this AFTCS, the whole system is viewed as an uncertain nonhomogeneous Markovian jump linear system (NHMJLS) with time‐varying and uncertain specifications. Based on the multiple and stochastic Lyapunov function for the NHMJLS, first a sufficient condition is obtained to analyze the system stabilizability and then, the controller gains are synthesized. Unlike the previous fault‐tolerant controllers, the proposed robust controller only needs to access the FDD process, besides it is easily obtainable through the existing optimization techniques. It is successfully tested on a practical inverted pendulum controlled by a fault‐prone DC motor. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 318–329, 2016     

Ca2+‐complex stability of GAPAGPLIVPY peptide in gas and aqueous phase,investigated by affinity capillary electrophoresis and molecular dynamics simulations and compared to mass spectrometric results

Strong, sequence‐specific gas‐phase bindings between proline‐rich peptides and alkaline earth metal ions in nanoESI‐MS experiments were reported by Lehmann et al. (Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2006, 20, 2404–2410), however its relevance for physiological‐like aqueous phase is uncertain. Therefore, the complexes should also be studied in aqueous solution and the relevance of the MS method for binding studies be evaluated. A mobility shift ACE method was used for determining the binding between the small peptide GAPAGPLIVPY and various metal ions in aqueous solution. The findings were compared to the MS results and further explained using computational methods. While the MS data showed a strong alkaline earth ion binding, the ACE results showed nonsignificant binding. The proposed vacuum state complex also decomposed during a molecular dynamic simulation in aqueous solution. This study shows that the formed stable peptide–metal ion adducts in the gas phase by ESI‐MS does not imply the existence of analogous adducts in the aqueous phase. Comparing peptide–metal ion interaction under the gaseous MS and aqueous ACE conditions showed huge difference in binding behavior.     

Investigation of a mutual interaction force at different pressure amplitudes in sulfuric acid

This paper investigates the secondary Bjerknes force for two oscillating bubbles in various pressure amplitudes in a concentration of 95% sulfuric acid.The equilibrium radii of the bubbles are assumed to be smaller than 10 μm at a frequency of 37 kHz in various strong driving acoustical fields around 2.0 bars (1 bar=10 5 Pa).The secondary Bjerknes force is investigated in uncoupled and coupled states between the bubbles,with regard to the quasi-adiabatic model for the bubble interior.It finds that the value of the secondary Bjerknes force depends on the driven pressure of sulfuric acid and its amount would be increased by liquid pressure amplitude enhancement.The results show that the repulsion area of the interaction force would be increased by increasing the driven pressure because of nonlinear oscillation of bubbles.     

Hydrodynamics and oxygen mass transfer in a packed bed split-cylinder airlift reactor containing dilute alcoholic solutions

In this article, the influences of alcohols on the hydrodynamics and oxygen mass transfer characteristics in an airlift reactor equipped with packing were investigated. The hydrodynamic parameters and mass transfer coefficient in 1 % (v/v) aqueous solutions of four aliphatic alcohols were tested. It was concluded that alcohols addition increased gas holdup and gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient. The packing installation increased mass transfer coefficient, gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity, as well.     

Encapsulation of Photosensitizers and Upconversion Nanocrystals in Lipid Micelles for Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising method for cancer therapy. However, it is constrained by limited penetration depth of visible light, hydrophobicity of photosensitizers, and lack of tumor targeting. In this work, the photosensitizer zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) are encapsulated into OQPGA‐PEG/RGD/TAT lipid micelles. The UCNs acting as a nanotransducer convert deep‐penetrating near‐infrared (NIR) light to visible light for activating the photosensitizer. OQPGA‐PEG/RGD/TAT lipid micelles are used as a carrier for the photosensitizer, with improved biocompatibility and cancer‐targeting ability. The results show that the photosensitizer ZnPc‐ and UCNs‐loaded OQPGA‐PEG/RGD/TAT lipid micelles are nanoparticles with an average size of 25 nm. The lipid micelle nanoparticles are stable in water with low leakage of photosensitizer. The absorption peak of the photosensitizer overlaps with the emission peak of UCNs, so the visible fluorescence emitted from the UCNs upon excitation by the NIR laser at 980 nm can activate the photosensitizer to produce singlet oxygen for PDT. The targeting RGD peptide and cell‐penetrating TAT peptide on the surface help the nanoparticles getting into cancer cells. The OQPGA‐PEG/RGD/TAT lipid micelles encapsulated with both the photosensitizer ZnPc and UCNs could be used for targeted PDT by using deep‐penetrating NIR light as the light source.     

Novel spectrophotometric method for determination of cinacalcet hydrochloride in its tablets via derivatization with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate

This study represents the first report on the development of a novel spectrophotometric method for determination of cinacalcet hydrochloride (CIN) in its tablet dosage forms. Studies were carried out to investigate the reaction between CIN and 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate (NQS) reagent. In alkaline medium (pH 8.5), an orange red-colored product exhibiting maximum absorption peak (λ _max) at 490 nm was produced. The stoichiometry and kinetic of the reaction were investigated and the reaction mechanism was postulated. This color-developing reaction was employed in the development of a simple and rapid visible-spectrophotometric method for determination of CIN in its tablets. Under the optimized reaction conditions, Beer's law correlating the absorbance with CIN concentration was obeyed in the range of 3 - 100 μg/ml with good correlation coefficient (0.9993). The molar absorptivity (ε) was 4.2 × 10⁵ l/mol/cm. The limits of detection and quantification were 1.9 and 5.7 μg/ml, respectively. The precision of the method was satisfactory; the values of relative standard deviations (RSD) did not exceed 2%. No interference was observed from the excipients that are present in the tablets. The proposed method was applied successfully for the determination of CIN in its pharmaceutical tablets with good accuracy and precisions; the label claim percentage was 100.80 - 102.23 ± 1.27 - 1.62%. The results were compared favorably with those of a reference pre-validated method. The method is practical and valuable in terms of its routine application in quality control laboratories.     

Multiple-beam interference fringes applied to investigate the index profile of the optical fiber dip

A numerical-based phase shift method is presented to study optical fibers having a dip in the refractive index profile at the center of the core. Mathematical expressions for the shape of multiple-beam Fizeau fringes crossing a graded-index optical fiber (GRIN) comprising a central graded-index dip or GRIN fiber with a constant refractive index dip, immersed in a silvered liquid wedge, are derived. The index profile parameters of the central dip are determined by comparing the theoretical fringe shape across the fiber cross-section and the experimental fringe shape obtained from micro-interferograms of the wedge interferometer.