Response robustness and safety against jump to contact in AFMs controlled via different techniques

The role of a global dynamics analysis to assess a system robustness and actual safety in operating conditions is investigated by studying the effect of different local and global control techniques on the nonlinear behavior of a noncontact AFM via dynamical integrity concepts and tools

Nonlinear dynamics and control in macro/micro-mechanics: some computational issues

Computational issues in the global dynamics of two systems in micro- and macro-mechanics, with different dimensionality, are addressed. Attention is focused on calculation of integrity measures, determination of saddle manifolds undergoing global bifurcations, implementation of a control procedure for delaying basins erosion, selection of 2D cross-sections of multidimensional basins of attraction for understanding the role of transient dynamics in the global scenario of coupled steady responses

Bifurcation scenarios, dynamical integrity and control of noncontact atomic force microscopes

The research focuses on the description of the global dynamical behavior of a reduced-order model of noncontact Atomic Force Microscope. Different numerical analyses and continuation techniques are carried out to investigate the evolution of the main system periodic solutions and relevant basins of attraction under variations of the most significant system parameters. Local bifurcations, stability boundaries and basin erosion processes around primary and subharmonic resonance regions are studied in presence of both the parametrical horizontal excitation and the external one, and the obtained behavior charts are used not only to compare the results with the literature ones, but also as practical instruments to characterize the operation ranges in terms of the selected parameters. With the same perspective, dynamical integrity concepts, such as detection of basins of attraction, and quantification of their erosion process via integrity measures, are applied to determine acceptable frequency-dependent thresholds associated with a priori safe design targets. Furthermore, an external feedback control is introduced with the aim to take the system response to a selected reference one, thus providing a simple and efficient method to avoid possible unstable motions. Upon checking the effectiveness of the procedure in the weakly nonlinear regime via a perturbation approach, several numerical analyses in the strongly nonlinear regime are accomplished to achieve a description of its dynamical behavior as a function of the newly inserted parameters, and to critically evaluate the effectiveness of the control actuation on the system dynamics, with also a view to the overall response scenario

Nonlinear vibrations of symmetric cross-ply laminates via thermomechanically coupled reduced order models

Thermomechanically coupled, geometrically nonlinear, laminated plates are addressed through a unified 2D formulation, by considering classical and third-order shear-deformable von Karman models, along with correspondingly consistent linear and cubic variations of the temperature along the thickness. Minimal dimension reduction of the mechanical problem is accomplished for symmetric cross-ply laminates, ending up for both models to a coupled three-mode reduced model with terms and coefficients of variable nature depending on the variety of mechanical and/or thermal excitations. Nonlinear vibrations of the classical model are investigated in conditions of thermal dynamics either passively entrained by the harmonically varying transverse load via the existing coupling terms, or also playing some active role owed to a temperature difference with respect to the surrounding medium

Dupilumab in the treatment of severe uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP): A multicentric observational Phase IV real-life study (DUPIREAL)

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with significant morbidity and reduced health-related quality of life. Findings from clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of dupilumab in CRSwNP, although real-world evidence is still limited. Methods This Phase IV real-life, observational, multicenter study assessed the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP (n = 648) over the first year of treatment. We collected data at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up. We focused on nasal polyps score (NPS), symptoms, and olfactory function. We stratified outcomes by comorbidities, previous surgery, and adherence to intranasal corticosteroids, and examined the success rates based on current guidelines, as well as potential predictors of response at each timepoint. Results We observed a significant decrease in NPS from a median value of 6 (IQR 5–6) at baseline to 1.0 (IQR 0.0–2.0) at 12 months (p < .001), and a significant decrease in Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test-22 (SNOT-22) from a median score of 58 (IQR 49–70) at baseline to 11 (IQR 6–21; p < .001) at 12 months. Sniffin' Sticks scores showed a significant increase over 12 months (p < .001) compared to baseline. The results were unaffected by concomitant diseases, number of previous surgeries, and adherence to topical steroids, except for minor differences in rapidity of action. An excellent-moderate response was observed in 96.9% of patients at 12 months based on EPOS 2020 criteria. Conclusions Our findings from this large-scale real-life study support the effectiveness of dupilumab as an add-on therapy in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP in reducing polyp size and improving the quality of life, severity of symptoms, nasal congestion, and smell

BIFURCATION SCENARIOS, DYNAMICAL INTEGRITY AND CONTROL OF NONCONTACT ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPES

The research focuses on the description of the global dynamical behavior of a reduced-order model of noncontact Atomic Force Microscope. Different numerical analyses and continuation techniques are carried out to investigate the evolution of the main system periodic solutions and relevant basins of attraction under variations of the most significant system parameters. Local bifurcations, stability boundaries and basin erosion processes around primary and subharmonic resonance regions are studied in presence of both the parametrical horizontal excitation and the external one, and the obtained behavior charts are used not only to compare the results with the literature ones, but also as practical instruments to characterize the operation ranges in terms of the selected parameters. With the same perspective, dynamical integrity concepts, such as detection of basins of attraction, and quantification of their erosion process via integrity measures, are applied to determine acceptable frequency-dependent thresholds associated with a priori safe design targets. Furthermore, an external feedback control is introduced with the aim to take the system response to a selected reference one, thus providing a simple and efficient method to avoid possible unstable motions. Upon checking the effectiveness of the procedure in the weakly nonlinear regime via a perturbation approach, several numerical analyses in the strongly nonlinear regime are accomplished to achieve a description of its dynamical behavior as a function of the newly inserted parameters, and to critically evaluate the effectiveness of the control actuation on the system dynamics, with also a view to the overall response scenario

Global dynamics effects of a feedback control of noncontact atomic force microscopy

Dynamical integrity of a noncontact AFM model with external feedback control is investigated to evaluate the effects of such local control procedure on the erosion of the basins of attraction of the system bounded solutions. The outcomes highlight that around the resonance frequencies the system undergoes a worsening of its practical stability, with respect to variations of the forcing amplitude and the tip-sample distance, as well, thus underlining the importance of a global analysis to assess the system actual safety in operating conditions

Global dynamics and integrity in noncontacting atomic force microscopy with feedback control

Dynamical integrity of a noncontact AFM model with external feedback control is investigated to evaluate the effects of such local control procedure on the erosion of the basins of attraction of the system bounded solutions. Two-dimensional cross sections of the five-dimensional basins of attraction have been systematically constructed, and the relevant erosion profiles are obtained for the parametrically excited system. The outcomes, summarized by the so-called isointegrity curves (i.e., frequency-dependent thresholds with constant residual integrity which actually represent the system practical safety), highlight that around the resonance frequencies, the system undergoes a worsening of its practical stability, with respect to variations in the forcing amplitude and the tip–sample distance, as well, thus underlining the importance of a global analysis to assess the system actual safety in operating conditions

High order asymptotic dynamics of a nonlinearly coupled electromechanical system

A nonlinearly coupled mathematical model of an electro-magneto-mechanical system is studied via the multiple scale approach in order to investigate its weakly nonlinear dynamics and analytically predict its salient features. The obtained amplitude modulation equations up to the third order perturbation allow to analytically describe the mechanical and electrical responses in terms of frequency-response curves and stability scenarios. A critical threshold of Hopf bifurcation is detected and analyzed as a function of the main system parameters. The subsequent extension of the asymptotic scheme up to the fifth order proves to grasp also the post-critical behavior, providing with the accurate identification of the amplitude of the quasiperiodic responses characterizing the unstable region of the ordinary differential equations system

Influence of a locally-tailored external feedback control on the overall dynamics of a non-contact AFM model

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