Numerical simulation of a flexible fiber deformation in a viscous flow by the immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method

In this paper, deformation of a mass-less elastic fiber with a fixed end, immersed in a two-dimensional viscous channel flow, is simulated numerically. The lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to solve the Newtonian flow field and the immersed-boundary method (IBM) is employed to simulate the deformation of the flexible fiber interacting with the flow. The results of this unsteady simulation including fiber deformation, fluid velocity field, and variations of the fiber length are depicted in different time-steps through the simulation time. Similar trends are observed in plots representing length change of fibers with different values of stretching constant. Also, the numerical solution reaches a steady state equivalent to the fluid channel flow over a flat plate.     

Effect of Si substitution on electronic structure and magnetic properties of Heusler compounds Co2TiAl1−xSix

The electronic structures of Co-based Heusler compounds CoTiAl_1−xSi_x (x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) are calculated by first-principles using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within GGA and LSDA+U scheme. Particular emphasis was put on the role of the main group elements. In recent years, the GGA calculations of Co₂TiAl (x=0) and Co₂TiSi (x=1) indicated that they are half-metallic, but the electronic structure of this compound with x=0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 has not been reported yet, neither theoretically nor experimentally. The calculated results reveal that these are half-metallic and exhibit an energy gap in the minority spin state and also show 100% spin polarization. The substitution of Al by Si leads to an increase in the number of valence electrons, with increasing x. Our calculated results clearly show that with the Si doping, the lattice parameter linearly decreases; bulk modulus increases, and the total magnetic moment increases. The calculated energy gap in the minority spin state, using GGA scheme, was smaller than that obtained by using LSDA+U scheme. The outcomes of this research also show that the Co-3d DOS and therefore, the magnetic properties of compounds are dependent on electron concentration of the main group elements and it will affect the degree of p-d orbital occupation.     

Dynamical thermal effects in InGaAsP microtubes at telecom wavelengths

We report on the observation of a dynamical thermal effect in InGaAsP microtubes at telecom wavelengths. The microtubes are fabricated by releasing a strained semiconductor bilayer and are picked up by abruptly tapered optical fibers for subsequent coupling with adiabatically tapered optical fibers. As a result of absorption by InAs quantum dots embedded in the tube structure, these microtubes show dynamical thermal effects at wavelengths around 1525 nm and 1578 nm, while they are passive at longer wavelengths near 1634 nm. The photon absorption induced thermal effect is visualized by generating a pair of microbottles. The dynamical thermal effect can be avoided or exploited for passive or active applications by utilizing appropriate resonance wavelengths.     

Hard–soft modeling parallel factor analysis to solve equilibrium processes

PARAFAC model is the most famous model for analyzing three‐way data. However, this method does not converge to chemically meaningful solutions when applied to three‐way problems involving rank overlap profiles at least in one mode. Rank overlap can be simply found where components have similar spectral profiles or analytes appearing in identical proportions throughout an experiment. However, an appropriate selection of the initial parameters and constraints such as non‐negativity and unimodality can still make PARAFAC model useful in this regard. Although such constraints reduce rotational freedom in PARAFAC solution, they are generally insufficient to wholly eliminate the rotational problem. The goal of the present paper is to incorporate hard modeling constraint in the soft‐modeled PARAFAC algorithm to overcome non‐uniqueness problem in the equilibrium processes involving linearly dependent factors at least in one mode. The hard constraint is introduced to force some or all of the concentration profiles to fulfill an equilibrium model that is refined at each iteration cycle of the optimization process of PARAFAC. The proposed approach is called hard–soft PARAFAC (HSPARAFAC). When the rank overlap species obeys equilibrium model in HSPARAFAC, the unique results are obtained even in the presence of non‐modeled interferences. The new modification in the treatment of equilibrium data sets yields more satisfactory results than the exclusive PARAFAC algorithm. Simulated and real examples with rank overlap problem are used to confirm this statement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and Spectral Analysis of Nickel-containing Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves of Type-5

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to studynickel ion positions in the aluminophosphate molecularsieves of the AlPO-5 type. Nickel ions wereintroduced into the reactant mixture of thealuminophosphate and the synthesis carried outhydrothermally through various methods of gel, clearsolution and diluted suspension. The visibleabsorption spectra obtained of the dried, hydrated andcalcined materials were studied. A distinct andwell-defined triplet absorption band observed at about625, 580 and 540 nm was assigned to tetrahedralframework-substituted nickel(II) ions. A relativelystrong band at about 400 nm and two broad bands withsimilar intensity at 730 and 660 nm were assigned tooctahedral nickel species. These 730 and 660 nm bandsare observable only in the sample where nickel cationswere incorporated merely in the octahedralextra-framework sites by ion-exchange treatment ofSAPO-5. According to the synthesis procedure used,the amount of tetrahedral framework-substituted nickelions in comparison with octahedral ones can beevaluated from the intensities of the characteristicbands of the 4- and 6-coordinated nickel ions. Thereis much more octahedral nickel compared with thetetrahedral ones estimated in the light of theintensity data taking into account the absorptivitiesof nickel (II) symmetries. This work showed thatusing our synthesis procedure of a dilutedsuspension will result in preparing NiAPO-5 molecular sieve with more nickel cationsincorporated in the framework sites ofthe aluminophosphate. A very small quantity of thesecations remain in their sites at temperatures as highas 550°C.     

A Computational Model of Technological Innovation at the Firm Level

The factors which speed and slow technological innovation have been of interest to policy makers since at least the mid 1960's. Since that time, many theoretical models of innovation at the firm level and at the industry level have been proposed. Due to limitations in computational complexity, nearly all of these models have assumed a single, representative firm type. Very few have systematically investigated the implications of markets with a variety of firm types. With increases in computing power and the advent of agent-based modeling, interactions between agent types can now be explored. In this paper, a computational model of innovative firms in competitive markets is presented. Firms devote resources to R&D which can lead to new, improved products allowing firms to steal market share from their competitors. Two types of firms, differentiated by the strategies they use in pursuing new innovations, are allowed to coexist. One type pursues exclusively radical innovations, while the other pursues exclusively incremental innovations. It will be demonstrated that under certain conditions, a synergy exists between firms of different types which allows heterogeneous populations of firms to earn more than homogeneous ones.     

Antiviral Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin: An Update

The treatment of viral disease has become a medical challenge because of the increasing incidence and prevalence of human viral pathogens, as well as the lack of viable treatment alternatives, including plant-derived strategies. This review attempts to investigate the trends of research on in vitro antiviral effects of curcumin against different classes of human viral pathogens worldwide. Various electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for published English articles evaluating the anti-viral activity of curcumin. Data were then extracted and analyzed. The forty-three studies (published from 1993 to 2020) that were identified contain data for 24 different viruses. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50), 50% effective/inhibitory concentration (EC50/IC50), and stimulation index (SI) parameters showed that curcumin had antiviral activity against viruses causing diseases in humans. Data presented in this review highlight the potential antiviral applications of curcumin and open new avenues for further experiments on the clinical applications of curcumin and its derivatives.     

相位可控的氟钪纳米晶的合成及其上转换发光性能

控制反应条件如表面活性剂的组成、加入量或反应时间,可以制得不同形态、相结构且具有上转换发光(UCL)的氟钪纳米晶(NCs)。改变表面活性剂油酸(OA)/油胺(OM)的比例有利于晶体结构从立方相ScF_3∶Yb,Er转变为具有上转换发光性能增强的正交相KSc_2F_7∶Yb,Er纳米晶,而纳米晶的形态会发生从小到大的转变。改变掺杂元素的种类及含量,在980 nm光激发下,KSc_2F_7纳米晶的上转换发光可以从蓝色变到白色,再到主要发射紫色光。     

The Effect of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Collagen Incorporated with Exo-Polysaccharides Derived from Rhodotorula mucilaginosa sp. on Burn Healing

Burn is one of the physically debilitating injuries that can be potentially fatal; therefore, providing appropriate coverage in order to reduce possible mortality risk and accelerate wound healing is mandatory. In this study, collagen/exo-polysaccharide (Col/EPS 1–3%) scaffolds are synthesized from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) skins incorporated with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa sp. GUMS16, respectively, for promoting Grade 3 burn wound healing. Physicochemical characterizations and, consequently, biological properties of the Col/EPS scaffolds are tested. The results show that the presence of EPS does not affect the minimum porosity dimensions, while raising the EPS amount significantly reduces the maximum porosity dimensions. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR, and tensile property results confirm the successful incorporation of the EPS into Col scaffolds. Furthermore,the biological results show that the increasing EPS does not affect Col biodegradability and cell viability, and the use of Col/EPS 1% on rat models displays a faster healing rate. Finally, histopathological examination reveals that the Col/EPS 1% treatment accelerates wound healing, through greater re-epithelialization and dermal remodeling, more abundant fibroblast cells and Col accumulation. These findings suggest that Col/EPS 1% promotes dermal wound healing via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which can be a potential medical process in the treatment of burn wounds.