Comparison of near- and far-fault ground motion effect on the nonlinear response of dam–reservoir–foundation systems

In this paper, it is aimed to compare the near- and far-fault ground motion effects on the nonlinear dynamic response of dams including dam–reservoir–foundation interaction. Two different types of dams, which are concrete arch and concrete faced rockfill dams, are selected to investigate the near- and far-fault ground motion effects on the dam responses. The behavior of reservoir water is taken into account using Lagrangian approach. The Drucker–Prager material model is employed in nonlinear analyses. Near and far-fault strong ground motion records, which have approximately identical peak ground accelerations, of Loma Prieta (1989) earthquake are selected for the analyses. Displacements, maximum and minimum principal stresses are determined using the finite element method. The displacements and principal stresses obtained from the analyses of dams subjected to each fault effect are compared with each other. It is clearly seen that there is more seismic demand on displacements and stresses when the dam is subjected to near-fault ground motion.     

A new zwitterionic electrochromatographic stationary phase based on poly(3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate) reactive monolith

A new reactive monolith, poly(3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate), poly(HPMA‐Cl‐co‐EDMA) was synthesized and post‐functionalized by taurine (2‐aminoethane sulfonic acid) to obtain a zwitterionic stationary phase for capillary electrochromatography. The new stationary phase contained charged groups such as secondary amine providing anodic electroosmotic flow and sulfonic acid groups providing cathodic electroosmotic flow. Hence, the capillary electrochromatography separations with the new zwitterionic monolith were performed with either anodic or cathodic electroosmotic flow. The electrochromatographic separation of alkylbenzenes and phenols was successfully performed. The zwitterionic monolith also allowed the separation of nucleosides using only electrokinetic mode. Theoretical plate numbers up to ~10⁵ plates/m were achieved. Our study is the first report based on poly(HPMA‐Cl‐co‐EDMA) reactive monolith post‐functionalized with a zwitterionic ligand allowing to operate in both anodic and cathodic electroosmotic flow modes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of silk fibroin based films loaded with rutin–β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

In this study, cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with rutin were prepared via co-precipitation method. Stability constant and solubility energy of beta-cyclodextrin complex were calculated as 262 M^?1 and 1,737 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Aqueous solubility of rutin was increased with inclusion complex of beta-cyclodextrin. The effect of temperature on both aqueous solubility of free rutin, and its inclusion complex was also studied. Characterization of cyclodextrin complexes were conducted with UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Characterization results supported formation of inclusion complexes. Dissolution profiles of rutin, physical mixture and inclusion complex of rutin were observed at 37 °C. Dissolution results proved the effect of cyclodextrin addition on solubility rate of rutin. After loading rutin and its complexes into silk fibroin based films, release tests were performed at 37 °C in neutral pH conditions for 24 h. Most of the rutin were released from silk fibroin films within the first 5 h and the rest of it was released slowly (sustained release). Electron microscope analyses showed that films had homogenous and dense morphologies. These results revealed that silk fibroin is useful for preparing bioactive films loaded with natural compounds and for modifying their release behaviour at physiological conditions.     

Experimental study on the 3D‐printed plastic parts and predicting the mechanical properties using artificial neural networks

This study investigates the mechanical properties of 3D‐printed plastic parts fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). For this purpose, a 3D printer named KASAME was designed and built by the researchers. The test samples were fabricated using polylactic acid (PLA). The experiments were conducted using three melt temperatures (190°C, 205°C, and 220°C), four layer thickness values (0.06 mm, 0.10 mm, 0.19 mm, and 0.35 mm), and three raster pattern orientations (+45°/?45° [the crisscross pattern], horizontal and vertical). Tensile strength tests were performed to determine tensile strength values of the samples and fracture surfaces were also analyzed. Using artificial neural networks, a mathematical model for the tensile test results was generated corresponding to the raster pattern employed in 3D fabrication. Tensile strength tests indicated that melt temperature, layer thickness, and raster pattern orientation had a significant effect on the tensile strengths of the samples. According to the result of the experiment, the maximum average tensile strength values were observed for the samples fabricated using the crisscross raster pattern. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) table shows the raster pattern (PCR) value of 48.68% was obtained with the highest degree of influence. With respect to R ², the best performing artificial neural network model, with test and training values of 0.999199 and 0.999997, respectively, was observed to be the crisscross raster pattern. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pricing Options on Defaultable Stocks*

? ?. This work was inspired by the SAMSI workshops on Financial Mathematics, Statistics and Econometrics (Fall 2005, Spring 2006 North Carolina). The author wishes to thank the organizers for the travel grant to participate in this stimulating event. I also would like to thank Bo Yang for his research assistance and the two anonymous referees and an anonymous associate editor for their valuable suggestions. Stock option price approximations are developed for a model which takes both the risk of default and the stochastic volatility into account. The intensity of defaults is assumed to be influenced by the volatility. It is shown that it might be possible to infer the risk neutral default intensity from the stock option prices. The proposed option price approximation has a rich implied volatility surface structure and fits the data implied volatility well. A calibration exercise shows that an effective hazard rate from bonds issued by a company can be used to explain the impliedvolatility skew of the option prices issued by the same company. It is also observed that the implied yield spread obtained from calibrating all the model parameters to the option prices matches the observed yield spread.     

Numerical investigation of a water flow in a rib-roughened channel by using Reynolds stress model

In this paper, water flow in a rib-roughened channel is investigated numerically by using Reynolds stress turbulence models (RSM) on a three-dimensional (3-D) domain. Computational results for mean streamwise velocity component and turbulent kinetic energy show good agreements with available experimental data. Five rib pitch-to-height ratios (p/h) of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 are analysed for six different Reynolds numbers (Re) of 3000, 7000, 12,000, 20,000, 40,000 and 65,000. Velocity vectors, streamlines and Reynolds stresses are showed for these ratios and Re numbers. Streamlines revealed that Reynolds numbers do not affect flowfield but play an important role in the Reynolds stresses.     

Cylindrical-sinc beam

Propagation of diffracted beams in free space has already been identified. One possible solution is derived from the Helmholtz wave equation and this solution is named as cylindrical-sinc beam. Therefore, cylindrical-sinc beam is a new beam type which can be obtained from Helmholtz equation. Diffraction properties of this new beam type were observed from an opaque aperture screen. Additionally, geometrical theory of diffraction is used to determine numerical values of diffracted fields. This new beam type which does not exist in the literature was observed by using these methods passing through an opaque aperture. The obtained expression was analyzed numerically. Simulation results of the beam depending on the length of aperture and distance to the observation point were added.     

Syntheses,structural characterizations and microbial activities of Ni(II) and Zn(II) 5-aminoisophthalate coordination polymers

Two coordination polymers with 5-aminoisophthalic acid (H₂aip), [Ni(μ-aip)(H₂O)₂(tmeda)]_n (1) and {H₂dap[Zn₂(μ-aip)(μ₃-aip)₂]?9H₂O}_n (2) (H₂aip = 5-aminoisophthalic acid, tmeda = N,N,N′-N′-tetramethylethylenediamine, dap = 1,3-diaminopropane) have been synthesized. Elemental and thermal analyses, magnetic susceptibilities, IR, AAS, mass and UV–vis spectroscopic studies have been performed to characterize the compounds. Nickel(II) has octahedral geometry by two oxygens of different carboxylates, bidentate, tmeda as bidentate chelating and two water ligands. Zn(II) has tetrahedral geometry by three oxygens of different carboxylate groups and one nitrogen by amine of aip. 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system with space group Pccn and 2 in monoclinic crystal system with space group P2₁/c. Complex 2 exhibits photoluminescence properties in the solid state at room temperature. This study determined the susceptibility patterns of 1 and 2 against bacterial, yeast and mold micro-organisms. Antimicrobial activities were done on 12 different micro-organisms using the micro-dilution method. Tested microbial species were inhibited by 1 with a Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 375–3000 μg mL^?1. Compound 2 showed antimicrobial activities against tested micro-organisms with a MIC of 188–1500 μg mL^?1. Compound 2 showed antibacterial activity against Legionella pneumophila sg1 375 μg mL^?1 (MIC value).