Propagation of material and surface profile uncertainties on MEMS micro‐resonators using a stochastic second‐order computational multi‐scale approach

This paper aims at accounting for the uncertainties because of material structure and surface topology of micro‐beams in a stochastic multi‐scale model. For micro‐resonators made of anisotropic polycrystalline materials, micro‐scale uncertainties exist because of the grain size, grain orientation, and the surface profile. First, micro‐scale realizations of stochastic volume elements are obtained based on experimental measurements. To account for the surface roughness, the stochastic volume elements are defined as a volume element having the same thickness as the microelectromechanical system (MEMS), with a view to the use of a plate model at the structural scale. The uncertainties are then propagated up to an intermediate scale, the meso‐scale, through a second‐order homogenization procedure. From the meso‐scale plate‐resultant material property realizations, a spatially correlated random field of the in‐plane, out‐of‐plane, and cross‐resultant material tensors can be characterized. Owing to this characterized random field, realizations of MEMS‐scale problems can be defined on a plate finite element model. Samples of the macro‐scale quantity of interest can then be computed by relying on a Monte Carlo simulation procedure. As a case study, the resonance frequency of MEMS micro‐beams is investigated for different uncertainty cases, such as grain‐preferred orientations and surface roughness effects. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of muscular lengthening on cramps

The risks of acquisition of hepatitis C infection, the histological spectrum of liver disease, and the presence of viraemia were investigated in anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive blood donors. All 357 (0.64%) blood donors to the South Australian Red Cross Transfusion Service found to have anti-HCV antibody during the first seven months of testing in 1990 were assessed, and 70 (19.6%) were found to have elevated alanine transaminase levels. These subjects were referred for participation in the study; 31 presented for enrollment. Sixteen (52%) of the 31 patients had previously used intravenous drugs, four (13%) had been transfused, two (6%) had a history of occupational exposure to blood, and three (10%) had tattoos and ear-piercing as possible risk factors for acquisition of hepatitis C. There was no history of parenteral exposure in six (16%). None of these donors had clinical evidence of liver disease, but in all 24 of the 31 who had a liver biopsy there was histological evidence of significant liver damage. Twelve had evidence of chronic active hepatitis. All 24 subjects biopsied were viraemic as judged by the presence of HCV RNA in serum.     

Carbonylation of Dinitrotoluene to Dimethyl Toluenedicarbamate; High Efficiency of Phosphorus Acids as Promoters for the Palladium‐Phenanthroline Catalytic System

Phosphorus acids are excellent promoters for the palladium‐phenanthroline catalyzed carbonylation of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene to 2,4‐toluenedicarbamate. For the first time, all intermediate nitrocarbamates and aminocarbamates have been independently synthesized and their amount after every catalytic reaction precisely quantified. An extensive optimization of all experimental variables has been carried out. The best acids are phenylphosphonic and 4‐tolylphosphonic acids. The addition of 2,2‐dimethoxypropane as an internal drying agent is highly beneficial. The addition of an amine derived from the starting dinitroarene increases both rate and selectivity of the carbonylation reaction. The complexes [Pd(Phen)₂] [SbF₆] and [Pd(Phen)₂][BAr^F₄] [Ar^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃] have been prepared for the first time. The latter displays a markedly higher solubility than all other [Pd(Phen)₂]²⁺ complexes. The effect of several possible promoters has also been investigated. Under the optimized experimental conditions, a 77.6% selectivity in dicarbamate was obtained when working at a molar ratio dinitrotoluene/Pd=2920. At the end of the reaction, the dicarbamate spontaneously precipitates out of the solution in high yields upon cooling, with no inclusion of the acid promoter or of phenanthroline. 2,6‐Dinitrotoluene can also be efficiently carbonylated to the corresponding dicarbamate.     

Nanostructure and internal strain distribution in porous silicon

Porous silicon (PS) layers with different degrees of porosity have been fabricated and their nanostructure has been investigated using complementary methods as FE-SEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy), SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering), and Raman spectroscopy. Correlation of these results with strain analyses is also required for envisaged applications in MEMS technology. Symmetrical and asymmetrical rocking curves obtained by high-resolution X-ray diffraction completed with reciprocal space maps (RSMs) explain the features observed in Raman spectra: the PS film in-depth contains two layers-bulk and highly strained superficial layer, between them being a graded strain layer.