An optimal type II fuzzy sliding mode control design for a class of nonlinear systems

This study deals with the problem of controlling a class of uncertain nonlinear systems in the presence of external disturbances. To achieve this goal, a new Optimal Type-2 Fuzzy Sliding Mode Controller (OT2FSMC) is introduced. In the proposed controller, a novel heuristic algorithm, namely particle swarm optimization with random inertia weight (RNW–PSO), is employed. To achieve an optimal performance, the parameters of the proposed controller as well as the input and output membership functions are optimized simultaneously by RNW–PSO. The globally asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system is mathematically proved. Finally, this method of control is applied to the inverted pendulum system as a case study. Simulation results show the system performance is desirable.     

Synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles and bis-benzimidazoles by microwave in the presence of alumina-methanesulfonic acid

A microwave-assisted method for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles in the presence of alumina-methanesulfonic acid (AMA) is reported. In addition, by this method some new bis-benzimidazoles from the direct reaction of phenylenediamine and dicarboxylic acid under microwave irradiation in good to excellent yields are described.     

Phenol-containing macrocyclic diamides as new catalysts in the highly regioselective conversion of epoxides to beta-hydroxy thiocyanates.

The regioselective ring-opening reactions of some epoxides with ammonium thiocyanate in the presence of a series of new phenol-containing macrocyclic diamides and also dibenzo-18-crown-6-, 18-crown-6-, benzo-15-crown-5-, and pyridine-containing macrocyclic diamide have been studied. The epoxides were subject to cleavage by NH(4)SCN in the presence of these catalysts under mild reaction conditions in various aprotic solvents. In this study, reagents and conditions have been discovered with which the individual beta-hydroxy thiocyanates can be synthesized in high yield and with more than 90% regioselectivity. The results can be discussed in terms of a four-step mechanism: (1) formation of complex between catalyst and NH(4)SCN, (2) release of SCN(-) nucleophile from the complex, (3) reaction of the active nucleophile at the less sterically hindered site in the epoxide, and (4) regeneration of catalyst. The major advantages of this method are as follows: (1) high regioselectivity, (2) simple regeneration of catalyst, (3) its reuse through several cycles without a decrease in activity, and (4) ease of workup of the reaction.     

Amin-functionalized magnetic-silica core-shell nanoparticles for removal of Hg2+ from aqueous solution

Magnetic nanoparticles with monodisperse shape and size were prepared by a simple method and covered by silica. The prepared core-shell Fe₃O₄@silica nanoparticles were functionalized by amino groups and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. The synthesized nanoparticles were employed as an adsorbent for removal of Hg²⁺ from aqueous solutions, and the adsorption phenomena were studied from both equilibrium and kinetic point of views. The adsorption equilibriums were analyzed using different isotherm models and correlation coefficients were determined for each isotherm. The experimental data were fitted to the Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm better than other isotherms. The adsorption kinetics was tested for the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Elovich kinetic models at different initial concentrations of the adsorbate. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model describes the kinetics of the adsorption process for amino functionalized adsorbents. The maximum adsorption occurred at pH 5.7 and the adsorption capacity for Fe₃O₄@silica-NH₂ toward Hg²⁺ was as high as 126.7 mg/g which was near four times more than unmodified silica adsorbent.     

Metal Hydrogen Sulfates Catalyzed Methoxymethylation of Alcohols under Solvent‐Free Conditions

Methoxymethylation of a variety of alcohols was performed by using formaldehyde dimethoxy acetal in the presence of metal hydrogen sulfate M(HSO₄)_n at room temperature and solvent‐free conditions. The methoxymethyl ethers (MOM‐ethers) were obtained with high yields and purity.     

Nonlinear dynamics of filamentation instability and current filament merging in a high density current-driven plasma

The magnetic field generation due to the filamentation instability (FI) of a high density current-driven plasma is studied through a new nonlinear diffusion equation. This equation is obtained on the basis of quantum hydrodynamic model and numerically solved by applying the Crank–Nicolson method. The spatiotemporal evolution of the magnetic field and the electron density distribution exhibits the current filament merging as a nonlinear phase of the FI which is responsible for the strong magnetic fields in the current-driven plasmas. It is found that the general behaviour of the FI is the same as that of the classical case but the instability growth rate, its magnitude, and the saturation time are affected by the quantum effects. It is eventually concluded that the quantum effects can play a stabilizing role in such situation.     

Filamentation Instability in a Current‐Carrying Plasma in the Presence of Quantum Effects

The filamentation instability of a current‐carrying plasma under the diffusion condition is investigated taking into account the Bohm potential and the Fermi electron pressure. Using quantum hydrodynamic equations, the dispersion relation and growth rate of the instability is obtained. It is found that the filamentation instability, in the presence of quantum effects, depends on various characteristic parameters such as: electron Fermi velocity, plasma number density, ion thermal velocity and electron drift velocity. Moreover, the wavelength region in which the instability occurs is more restricted and the minimum size of filaments is larger, in comparison with the classical case. It is also found that the growth rate of the instability is smaller in the presence of quantum effects. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)