Smart dampers control in a Remoissenet–Peyrard substrate potential

A model of spring-block on a moving plate with a nonlinear periodic substrate potential whose shape can be varied continuously as a function of a shape parameter is investigated. The dynamical study of the system for different values of the shape parameter involves the analysis of phase space, the construction of bifurcation diagrams, and the computation of the largest Lyapunov exponent. A smart damper associated with drag coefficient is proposed to reduce stick-slip and chaotic motions. The domain of validity of the control method is derived.     

Numerical investigation on dynamic characteristics of drilling shaft in deep hole drilling influenced by minimal quantity lubrication

The dynamic characteristics of drilling shaft in deep hole drilling influenced by minimal quantity lubrication (MQL) is investigated. According to the features of the compressible fluid Reynolds equation in oil/air feature, a time-dependent mathematical model is established to describe the pressure distribution of cutting fluid with nonlinearity in MQL deep hole drilling. By introducing the differential transformation approach, the time-dependent pressure equation arising from cutting fluid is solved by the use of direct integral method. The influences of the rotational speed, the transverse displacement ratio, and radial clearance on the hydrodynamic pressure distribution of cutting fluid are obtained. The advantage of this method is to overcome much of the computational cost and has its rapid convergence rate. Furthermore, the nonlinear responses of drilling shaft influenced by MQL are analyzed, and the instability rotational speeds of drilling tool are discussed while the design parameters of drilling shaft system changing.     

Study of benznidazole–cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, cytotoxicity and trypanocidal activity

The current chemotherapy for Chagas disease is still based on benznidazole, which has low solubility, but complexation with cyclodextrins provides a way of increasing the solubility. The objective of this work was to characterize the inclusion complexes formed between benznidazole (BNZ) and randomly 2-methyled-β-cyclodextrin (RM-β-CD) in aqueous solution and study cytotoxicity and trypanocidal. BNZ:RM-β-CD solution complex systems were prepared and characterized using the phase solubility diagram, nuclear magnetic resonance and a photostability assays, also to investigate the in vitro trypanocidal activity with epimastigote forms of Trypanossoma cruzi and the study of cytotoxicity against mammal cells. The phase-solubility diagram displayed an A _L-type feature, providing evidence of the formation of soluble inclusion complexes. The continuous variation method showed the existence of a complex with 1:1 stoichiometry. Toxicity assays demonstrated that inclusion complexes were able to reduce the toxic effects caused by benznidazole alone and that this did not interfere with the trypanocidal activity of the benznidazole. The use of inclusion complexes benznidazole:cyclodextrin is thus a promising alternative for the development of a safe and stable liquid formulation and a new option for the treatment of Chagas disease.     

Synthesis and Photochromic Properties of Configurationally Varied Azobenzene Glycosides

Spatial orientation of carbohydrates is a meaningful parameter in carbohydrate recognition processes. To vary orientation of sugars with temporal and spatial resolution, photosensitive glycoconjugates with favorable photochromic properties appear to be opportune. Here, a series of azobenzene glycosides were synthesized, employing glycoside synthesis and Mills reaction, to allow “switching” of carbohydrate orientation by reversible E/Z isomerization of the azobenzene N=N double bond. Their photochromic properties were tested and effects of azobenzene substitution as well as the effect of anomeric configuration and the orientation of the sugars 2-hydroxy group were evaluated.     

Ground-state correlation properties of charged bosons trapped in strongly anisotropic harmonic potentials

We study systems of a few charged bosons contained within a strongly anisotropic harmonic trap. A detailed examination of the ground-state correlation properties of two-, three-, and four-particle systems is carried out within the framework of the single-mode approximation of the transverse components. The linear correlation entropy of the quasi-1D systems is discussed in dependence on the confinement anisotropy and compared with a strictly 1D limit. Only at weak interaction the correlation properties depend strongly on the anisotropy parameter.     

A majorization inequality for Wright-convex functions revisited

We give an elementary proof of a majorization inequality concerning Wright-convex functions.     

Molecular Recognition in Glycolaldehyde,the Simplest Sugar: Two Isolated Hydrogen Bonds Win Over One Cooperative Pair

Carbohydrates are used in nature as molecular recognition tools. Understanding their conformational behavior upon aggregation helps in rationalizing the way in which cells and bacteria use sugars to communicate. Here, the simplest α-hydroxy carbonyl compound, glycolaldehyde, was used as a model system. It was shown to form compact polar C₂-symmetric dimers with intermolecular O–H⋅⋅⋅O=C bonds, while sacrificing the corresponding intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Supersonic jet infrared (IR) and Raman spectra combined with high-level quantum chemical calculations provide a consistent picture for the preference over more typical hydrogen bond insertion and addition patterns. Experimental evidence for at least one metastable dimer is presented. A rotational spectroscopy investigation of these dimers is encouraged, also in view of astrophysical searches. The binding motif competition of aldehydic sugars might play a role in chirality recognition phenomena of more complex derivatives in the gas phase.     

Influence of Macro-pores on DNAPL Migration in Double-Porosity Soil Using Light Transmission Visualization Method

Double porosity is a substantial microstructure characteristic in a wide range of geomaterials. It is a natural phenomenon that can be found in many types of soil, and it can result from biological, chemical or mechanical damage. In this paper, the influence of macro-pores on dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) migration in double-porosity medium was investigated using light transmission visualization technique. Three experiments were carried out in two-dimensional flow chambers filled with a double-porosity medium composed of a mixture of local sand and sintered kaolin clay spheres arranged in a periodic manner. In each experiment, a different volumetric fraction of macro-pores and micropores was used. Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was used to simulate DNAPL, and it was dyed using Oil-Red-O for better visualization. A predetermined amount of PCE was injected into the flow chambers and this amount was re-calculated using image analysis. A very strong correlation was found between the PCE amount injected and the amount calculated from image analysis in each experiment. The experiment was repeated by filling the flow chamber with silica sand to represent single-porosity medium. The results show that the macro-pores have a considerable effect on the PCE migration in double-porosity soil as the PCE movement was the fastest in the third experiment which contained the largest macro-pores volume. The accuracy of the method was validated using statistical analysis. The results show a slight difference between the means of the three experiments, indicating that the method is viable for monitoring NAPL migration in double-porosity medium under different volumetric fractions of macro-pores and micropores.     

Mathematical Modeling of Tidal Effects in Groundwater

This paper presents a special use of the linear poroelasticity theory to describe tidally induced groundwater oscillations. Two models of oscillation inducing mechanism make use of this theory to predict groundwater level fluctuations. The numerical solutions of both models are presented and compared with well water level measurement obtained in Police Basin, north-east Bohemia.