Three-dimensional structure of ordered and chaotic vortex streets behind circular cylinders at low Reynolds numbers

We have investigated the spatial and temporal structure of certain cases of chaotic and organized vortex shedding in self-excited cylinder wakes at low Reynolds number (40–200) by extending hot-wire measurements to much larger downstream locations than our earlier measurements (Van Atta and Gharib, 1987) and performing concurrent smoke-wire flow visualizations. We describe here results for two cases in which chaotic vortex shedding is observed. The first is the single-vibration frequency locked-in case, in which the most highly disturbed regions of the vortex street, which produce chaotic spectra, are confined to compact spanwise-periodic propagating disturbed regions. The second is the multiple-vibration frequency case in which chaotic velocity spectra are observed at all spanwise locations.     

Synthesis of ω‐phosphonated poly(ethylene oxide)s through the combination of kabachnik–fields reaction and “click” chemistry

The synthesis of new ω‐phosphonic acid‐terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEOs) monomethyl ethers was investigated by the combination of Atherton–Todd or Kabachnik–Fields reactions and the “click” copper‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azides and terminal alkynes. The Atherton–Todd route fails to give the corresponding phosphonic acid‐terminated PEOs due to competitive cleavage of the P? N bond during the dealkylation step. In contrast, the Kabachnik–Fields route leads with very good yields to ω‐phosphonic acid‐PEO through “click” reaction of azido‐PEO onto dimethyl aminopropargyl phosphonate prepared by Kabachnik–Fields reaction between propargylbenzylimine and dimethyl phosphonate, followed by acidic hydrolysis. The reported methodology, precluding the use of anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide, leads to novel well‐defined phosphonic acid‐terminated PEOs from commercially available products in good yields. Moreover, such a strategy can be adapted to anchor phosphonic acid functionality onto a wide range of polymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of cobalt in biological samples and natural waters using a flow injection system with on-line preconcentration by ion-pair adsorption in a knotted reactor

An on-line flow injection preconcentration-ETAAS method is developed for trace determination of cobalt in biological materials and natural samples by ion-pair sorption on the inner walls of a PTFE knotted reactor. The ion-pair is formed between the negatively charged cobalt-nitroso-R-salt complex and the tetrabutylammonium counter-ion. An enhancement factor of 15, a sampling frequency of 17 and a concentration efficiency of 4 are obtained for a preconcentration time of 60 s and a sample loading flow rate of 5 mL min^–1. The detection limit (3σ) is 5 ng L^–1. The relative standard deviation at the 0.2 μg L^–1 level is 2.3%. The analytical results obtained for standard reference materials are in good agreement with the certified or indicated values and satisfactory recoveries of spiked cobalt in tap water are obtained.     

Fiber Bragg grating sensor demodulation technique by synthesis of grating parameters from its reflection spectrum

In this paper, we present a very reliable simulating algorithm to synthesize the physical parameters of a fiber Bragg grating structure from its reflection spectrum. The knowledge of the gratings parameters allows the determination of the maximum wavelength. The algorithm is then tested to monitor the shift of the central wavelength in response to a change of temperature. Our numerical program uses the transfer matrix method and the Nelder–Mead simplex algorithm. It can be easily implemented in the case of twin Bragg gratings. A twin grating is composed of two identical gratings separated by a short length of fiber. The demodulation technique has been tested experimentally with temperature sensors. It is very accurate and provides absolute measurements.     

Coulomb dissociation of 8B and the low-energy cross section of the 7Be(p,gamma)8B solar fusion reaction

An exclusive measurement of the Coulomb breakup of 8B into 7Be+p at 254A MeV allowed the study of the angular correlations of the breakup particles. These correlations demonstrate clearly that E1 multipolarity dominates and that E2 multipolarity can be neglected. By using a simple single-particle model for 8B and treating the breakup in first-order perturbation theory, we extract a zero-energy S factor of S17(0)=18.6+/-1.2+/-1.0 eV b, where the first error is experimental and the second one reflects the theoretical uncertainty in the extrapolation.     

Point-Substitution of Phenylalanine Residues of 26RFa Neuropeptide: A Structure-Activity Relationship Study

26RFa is a neuropeptide that activates the rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor QRFPR/GPR103. This peptidergic system is involved in the regulation of a wide array of physiological processes including feeding behavior and glucose homeostasis. Herein, the pharmacological profile of a homogenous library of QRFPR-targeting peptide derivatives was investigated in vitro on human QRFPR-transfected cells with the aim to provide possible insights into the structural determinants of the Phe residues to govern receptor activation. Our work advocates to include in next generations of 26RFa_(20–26)-based QRFPR agonists effective substitutions for each Phe unit, i.e., replacement of the Phe²² residue by a constrained 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid moiety, and substitution of both Phe²⁴ and Phe²⁶ by their para-chloro counterpart. Taken as a whole, this study emphasizes that optimized modifications in the C-terminal part of 26RFa are mandatory to design selective and potent peptide agonists for human QRFPR.     

Synthesis of Galectin Inhibitors by Regioselective 3′-O-Sulfation of Vanillin Lactosides Obtained under Phase Transfer Catalysis

Vanillin-based lactoside derivatives were synthetized using phase-transfer catalyzed reactions from per-O-acetylated lactosyl bromide. The aldehyde group of the vanillin moiety was then modified to generate a series of related analogs having variable functionalities in the para- position of the aromatic residue. The corresponding unprotected lactosides, obtained by Zemplén transesterification, were regioselectively 3′-O-sulfated using tin chemistry activation followed by treatment with sulfur trioxide-trimethylamine complex (Men₃N-SO₃). Additional derivatives were also prepared from the vanillin’s aldehyde using a Knoevenagel reaction to provide extended α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acid which was next reduced to the saturated counterpart.     

Orientation of molecular groups of fibers in nonoriented samples determined by polarized ATR-FTIR spectroscopy

A method based on polarized attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy is proposed for determining the infrared dichroic absorption ratio of a single fiber from a sample deposited flat on a germanium crystal without the requirement of fiber orientation. The method shows its efficiency on cellulose fibers of paper and has been applied to protein fibers (type I collagen and β-amyloid) and polysaccharide fibers (cellulose and starch). The method gives access to the dichroic ratio of strong absorptions bands, which is not easily accessible with conventional absorption techniques. Then, the orientation of the molecular groups of organic fibers can be easily determined by polarized ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. By extension, this method will be useful to determine the molecular orientation of fibers in structured complex samples, such as biological tissues and plants. Spatially resolved information on the organization of the fiber network will be easily extracted by utilizing a focal plane array detector for imaging measurements.     

Analytical and numerical studies for seiches in a closed basin with various geometric shapes of longitudinal section

Seiches are long-period standing waves with a unique period called a natural resonant period, during which the phenomenon of resonance occurs. The occurrence of resonance in coastal areas can cause destruction to surrounding natural and man-made structures. By determining the resonant period of a given basin, we can pinpoint the conditions that allow waves to achieve resonance. In this study, a mathematical model is developed from the shallow water equations to examine seiches and resonances in various types of closed basin. The developed model is solved analytically using the separation of variables method to determine the seiches' fundamental resonant periods. Comparisons between the analytical solutions and experimental measurements for resonant periods are also provided. It is shown that the analytical resonant period confirms the experimental data for closed basin of various geometric profiles. Using a finite volume method on a staggered grid, the model is solved numerically to simulate the wave profile when resonance phenomenon occurs. Through those numerical simulations, we also obtain the fundamental resonant period for each basin which agrees with the derived analytical period.     

The Effect of Different Ethoxylations for Sorbitan Monolaurate on Enhancing Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) of Wheat Straw to Ethanol

In this paper, four nonionic surfactants with different hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) based on sorbitan monolaurate were synthesized by introducing ethylene oxide gas (n = 20, 40, 60, and 80 ethylene oxide units). The chemical structure of the prepared ethoxylated surfactants was confirmed using Fourier transform-infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopes. The surface tension and thermodynamic properties of the prepared surfactants have been studied. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process for ethanol production from microwave/alkali pretreated wheat straw has been assayed using nonionic surfactants have different ethylene oxide units. Ethanol yield was 82% and 61% for Kluyveromyces marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively, with the addition of 2.5 g/l of the prepared nonionic surfactant (HLB = 18.2). Results show that the production of ethanol from microwave/alkali pretreated wheat straw increased with increasing the (HLB) value of the nonionic surfactant.