Experimental and numerical investigation of a vertical vibration isolator for seismic applications

In near-fault seismic zones, the vertical acceleration experienced during a strong event can be greater than horizontal acceleration. Methods to reduce horizontal acceleration are applied in various forms and are in common use. However, methods to reduce vertical acceleration, and practical protection systems for these applications, remain elusive. One strategy to protect structures, which has been demonstrated to be effective in situations where the excitation is horizontal, is to isolate the structure. For vertical excitations, this is difficult due to the need to maintain sufficient stiffness and strength in the direction of gravitational loads. The need to maintain high stiffness for gravity loading while allowing flexibility for isolation during earthquakes has led to research on the use of High-Static-Low-Dynamic Stiffness Systems (HSLDSS) and in particular Quasi-Zero Stiffness Systems (QZSS), which have zero equivalent stiffness in the equilibrium position. Although effective, the QZSS is sensitive to mistuning and prone to large deformations for relatively small increments in static load for building applications. This paper presents the results of an analytical and experimental study in which a HSLDSS isolation system carrying a payload is subject to vertical base excitation using sinusoidal as well as actual, scaled earthquake signals. Static loading tests are also presented. This isolation system consists of rigid rotating arms, horizontal and vertical springs and a vertical damper. By a suitable selection of parameters this could also serve as a QZSS. Results show that both the QZSS and HSLDSS can significantly reduce the magnification of the force as well as the transmission of the acceleration and that the HSLDSS retains stiffness at the equilibrium position. The numerical model includes friction and is solved using direct integration of the equation of motion. Experimental results from a scale model agree well theoretical predictions.

     

PbTe nanostructures: Microwave-assisted synthesis by using lead Schiff-base precursor,characterization and formation mechanism

Pure cubic phase lead telluride (PbTe) nanostructures have been produced by using a Schiff-base complex as a precursor in the presence of microwave irradiation. The Schiff base used as ligand was derived from salicylaldehyde and ethylenediamine. The Schiff-base complex was marked as [Pb(salen)]. In addition, the effect of the irradiation time and the type of reducing agent on the morphology and purity of the final products was investigated. The as-synthesized PbTe nanostructures were characterized extensively by techniques like X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microwave formation mechanism of the PbTe nanostructures was studied by XRD patterns of the products. Although it was found that both ionic and atomic mechanisms could take place for the preparation of PbTe, the main steps were according to the atomic reaction process, which could occur between elemental Pb and Te.     

Defining and using microbial spectral databases

This work shows how fingerprints of mass spectral patterns from microbial isolates are affected by variations in instrumental condition, by sample environment, and by sample handling factors. It describes a novel method by which pattern distortions can be mathematically corrected for variations in factors not amenable to experimental control. One uncontrollable variable is "between-batch" differences in culture media. Another, relevant for determination of noncultured extracts, is differences between the cells' environmental experience (e.g., starved environmental extracts versus cultured standards). The method suggests that, after a single growth cycle on a solid medium (perhaps, a selective one), pyrolysis MS spectra of microbial isolates can be algorithmically compensated and an unknown isolate identified using a spectral database defined by culture on a different (perhaps, nonselective) medium. This reduces identification time to as few as 24 h from sample collection. The concept also proposes a possible way to compensate certain noncultured, nonisolated samples (e.g., cells concentrated from urine or impacted from aerosol or semi-selectively extracted by immunoaffinity methods from heavily contaminated matrices) for identification within half an hour. Using the method, microbial mass spectra from different labs can be assembled into coherent databases similar to those routinely used to identify pure compounds. This type of data treatment is applicable for rapid detection in biowarfare and bioterror events as well as in forensic, research, and clinical laboratory contexts.     

Ultrasound-promoted solvent-free aza-Michael addition of p-toluenesulfonamide to fumaric esters by potassium carbonate: Synthesis of p-toluenesulfonamide derivatives

An efficient, mild, inexpensive and eco-friendly protocol for the synthesis of p-toluenesulfonamide derivatives by aza-Michael addition reaction of p-toluenesulfonamide to fumaric esters using potassium carbonate under ultrasound irradiation was developed. This method is simple, convenient and the desired compounds are produced in good to excellent yield. The bulkiness of alkoxy group (–OR) of fumaric esters did not affect significantly on the yields and reaction times. This reaction worked well on linear and nonlinear alkyl fumarates. The reaction, surprisingly, was not successful on methyl fumarate. In this case methyl fumarate has been hydrolyzed to fumaric acid under reaction conditions.     

Reaction of Chalcones with Cellular Thiols. The Effect of the 4-Substitution of Chalcones and Protonation State of the Thiols on the Addition Process. Diastereoselective Thiol Addition

Several biological effects of chalcones have been reported to be associated with their thiol reactivity. In vivo, the reactions can result in the formation of small-molecule or protein thiol adducts. Both types of reactions can play a role in the biological effects of this class of compounds. Progress of the reaction of 4-methyl- and 4-methoxychalcone with glutathione and N-acetylcysteine was studied by the HPLC-UV-VIS method. The reactions were conducted under three different pH conditions. HPLC-MS measurements confirmed the structure of the formed adducts. The chalcones reacted with both thiols under all incubation conditions. The initial rate and composition of the equilibrium mixtures depended on the ratio of the deprotonated form of the thiols. In the reaction of 4-methoxychalcone with N-acetylcysteine under strongly basic conditions, transformation of the kinetic adduct into the thermodynamically more stable one was observed. Addition of S-protonated N-acetylcysteine onto the polar double bonds of the chalcones showed different degrees of diastereoselectivity. Both chalcones showed a Michael-type addition reaction with the ionized and non-ionized forms of the investigated thiols. The initial reactivity of the chalcones and the equilibrium composition of the incubates showed a positive correlation with the degree of ionization of the thiols. Conversions showed systematic differences under each set of conditions. The observed differences can hint at the difference in reported biological actions of 4-methyl- and 4-methoxy-substituted chalcones.     

Sensitive kinetic-spectrophotometric determination of iodate in iodized table salt based on its accelerating effect on the reaction of bromate with chloride ion in the presence of hydrazine.

A simple, precise, sensitive and accurate method was developed for rapid determination of trace quantities of iodate. The method is based on the accelerating effect of iodate on the reaction of bromate and chloride acid in the presence of hydrazine in acidic media. The decolorization of Methyl Orange with the reaction products was used to monitor the reaction spectrophotometrically at 525 nm. Iodate could be determined in the concentration ranges of 0.03 - 1.2 microg ml(-1). The relative standard deviation for ten replicate determinations of 0.3 microg ml(-1) of iodate was 1.65%. The proposed method was applied to the determination of iodate in table salts with satisfactory results.     

Thermal decomposition of [bis(salicylaldehydato)cadmium(II)] to CdS nanocrystals

The present investigation reports, the novel synthesis of nanocrystals CdS using thermal decomposition of [bis(salicylaldehydato)cadmium(II)], as a new precursor, and elemental sulfur in oleylamine. The as-synthesized CdS crystals have diameters about 10 nm. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectra. The results of this paper show that the shape and size of cadmium sulfide nanocrystals can be controlled systematically by adjusting certain reaction parameters, such as the reactant concentration, the reaction temperature and the reaction time. Cadmium sulfide nanoparticles and nanorods with different lengths have been successfully prepared.     

Application of a new water-soluble polyethylenimine polymer sorbent for simultaneous separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of copper and manganese and their determination by atomic absorption spectrophotometry

In this work, a water-soluble polymer, polyethylenimine (PEI) was used for the simultaneous separation and preconcentration of trace Cu and Mn prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. For this purpose, the sample and the PEI solution were mixed and the metal-bound polymer was precipitated by adding acetone. The precipitate was separated and dissolved in a minimum amounts of water and aspirated into a flame AAS. By increasing the ratio of the volumes of sample to water used in dissolving the precipitate, the analyte elements were concentrated as needed. The sorption is quantitative in the pH ≥6. Detection limits were 5.2 μg/L for Cu and 5.4 μg/L for Mn. This method is simple, fast and precise.     

Synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles from [bis(2-hydroxyacetophenato)cobalt(II)] by thermal decomposition

[Bis(2-hydroxyacetophenato)cobalt(II)] was used as a new precursor to prepare cobalt (Co) and tricobalt tetraoxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles of 15–25 nm in average diameter by thermal decomposition. The different combinations of triphenylphosphine, and oleylamine were added as surfactants to control the particle size. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Time-dependent FT-IR studies indicate that oxidation of the as-synthesized cobalt nanoparticles in air is slow. The valence change of cobalt from the nanoparticle sample is not observed after it is kept in hexane under air for 30 days. The magnetic property was studied with vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The hysteresis loops of the obtained samples reveal the soft magnet behaviors the enhanced coercivity (H_c) and decreased saturation magnetization (M_s) in contrast to their respective bulk materials.