Weil Representation and Metaplectic Groups over an Integral Domain

Given F a locally compact, nondiscrete, non-archimedean field of characteristic ≠ 2 and R an integral domain such that a non-trivial smooth character χ: F → R ^× exists, we construct the (reduced) metaplectic group attached to χ and R. We show that it is in the expected cases a double cover of the symplectic group over F. Finally, we define a faithful infinite dimensional R-representation of the metaplectic group analogue to the Weil representation in the complex case.     

Predicted and measured plate velocities induced by turbulent boundary layers

A method for the prediction of velocity levels of a fuselage plate excited by turbulent boundary layers is described. The aim is to identify a method for the prediction of the relative changes of the velocity levels caused by variations of plate geometry and flight conditions. The Corcos, Efimtsov and Chase models are used to characterize the dynamic surface pressure cross-spectra. Predicted results using these models are compared with the result of in-flight measurements of plate velocities. It is found that the Corcos model gives the best agreement with the measured results for three different flight conditions. The Efimtsov extension and Chase models tend to underestimate the plate response in the lower frequency range. It is evident that the velocity level of the plate elements of the fuselage very much depends on the speed of the aircraft. An increase of the speed of the aircraft by 10% is likely to increase the plate velocity level by 3 dB and a reduction of the speed by 10% would give a reduction of 3 dB.     

Novel conductive nanocomposites from perfluoropolyether waterborne polyurethanes and carbon nanotubes

The exceptional electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been exploited for the preparation of conductive nanocomposites based on a large variety of insulating polymers. Among these, perfluoropolyether‐polyurethanes (PFPE‐PUs) represent a class of highly performing fluorinated materials with excellent water/oil repellency, chemical resistance, and substrate adhesion. The incorporation of highly conductive fillers to this class of highly performing materials allows them to be exploited in new technological and industrial fields where their unique properties need to be combined with the electrical conductivity or the electrostatic dissipation properties of carbon nanotubes. However, no studies have been presented so far on nanocomposites based on PFPE‐PUs and CNTs. In this work, polymer nanocomposites based on waterborne PFPE‐PUs and increasing amounts of carboxylated multiwall CNTs (COOH‐CNTs) were prepared and characterized for the first time. The effect of increasing concentration of COOH‐CNTs on the physical, mechanical, and surface properties of the nanocomposites was investigated by means of rheological measurements, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermal characterization, optical contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, electrical measurements showed that the highly insulating undoped PFPE‐PU system undergoes substantial modifications upon addition of COOH‐CNTs, leading to the formation of conductive nanocomposites with electrical conductivities as high as 1 S/cm. The results of this study demonstrate that the addition of COOH‐CNTs to PFPE‐PU systems represents a promising strategy to expand their possible use to technological applications where chemical stability, water/oil repellence and electrical conductivity are simultaneously required. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mesh locking effects in the finite volume solution of 2-D anisotropic diffusion equations

Strongly anisotropic diffusion equations require special techniques to overcome or reduce the mesh locking phenomenon. We present a finite volume scheme that tries to approximate with the best possible accuracy the quantities that are of importance in discretizing anisotropic fluxes. In particular, we discuss the crucial role of accurate evaluations of the tangential components of the gradient acting tangentially to the control volume boundaries, that are called into play by anisotropic diffusion tensors. To obtain the sought characteristics from the proposed finite volume method, we employ a second-order accurate reconstruction scheme which is used to evaluate both normal and tangential cell-interface gradients. The experimental results on a number of different meshes show that the scheme maintains optimal convergence rates in both L² and H¹ norms except for the benchmark test considering full Neumann boundary conditions on non-uniform grids. In such a case, a severe locking effect is experienced and documented. However, within the range of practical values of the anisotropy ratio, the scheme is robust and efficient. We postulate and verify experimentally the existence of a quadratic relationship between the anisotropy ratio and the mesh size parameter that guarantees optimal and sub-optimal convergence rates.     

Development and Characterization of Curcumin-Silver Nanoparticles as a Promising Formulation to Test on Human Pterygium-Derived Keratinocytes

Pterygium is a progressive disease of the human eye arising from sub-conjunctival tissue and extending onto the cornea. Due to its invasive growth, pterygium can reach the pupil compromising visual function. Currently available medical treatments have limited success in suppressing efficiently the disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that curcumin, polyphenol isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, induces apoptosis of human pterygium fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent manner showing promising activity in the treatment of this ophthalmic disease. However, this molecule is not very soluble in water in either neutral or acidic pH and is only slightly more soluble in alkaline conditions, while its dissolving in organic solvents drastically reduces its potential use for biomedical applications. A nanoformulation of curcumin stabilized silver nanoparticles (Cur-AgNPs) seems an effective strategy to increase the bioavailability of curcumin without inducing toxic effects. In fact, silver nitrates have been used safely for the treatment of many ophthalmic conditions and diseases for a long time and the concentration of AgNPs in this formulation is quite low. The synthesis of this new compound was achieved through a modified Bettini’s method adapted to improve the quality of the product intended for human use. Indeed, the pH of the reaction was changed to 9, the temperature of the reaction was increased from 90 °C to 100 °C and after the synthesis the Cur-AgNPs were dispersed in Borax buffer using a dialysis step to improve the biocompatibility of the formulation. This new compound will be able to deliver both components (curcumin and silver) at the same time to the affected tissue, representing an alternative and a more sophisticated strategy for the treatment of human pterygium. Further in vitro and in vivo assays will be required to validate this formulation.     

A mixed finite element/finite volume approach for solving biodegradation transport in groundwater

A numerical model for the simulation of flow and transport of organic compounds undergoing bacterial oxygen- and nitrate-based respiration is presented. General assumptions regarding microbial population, bacteria metabolism and effects of oxygen, nitrogen and nutrient concentration on organic substrate rate of consumption are briefly described. The numerical solution techniques for solving both the flow and the transport are presented. The saturated flow equation is discretized using a high-order mixed finite element scheme, which provides a highly accurate estimation of the velocity field. The transport equation for a sorbing porous medium is approximated using a finite volume scheme enclosing an upwind TVD shock-capturing technique for capturing concentration-unsteady steep fronts. The performance and capabilities of the present approach in a bio-remediation context are assessed by considering a set of test problems. The reliability of the numerical results concerning solution accuracy and the computational efficiency in terms of cost and memory requirements are also estimated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Further Remarks on the Luo–Hou’s Ansatz for a Self-similar Solution to the 3D Euler Equations

It is shown that the self-similar ansatz proposed by T. Hou and G. Luo to describe a singular solution of the 3D axisymmetric Euler equations leads, without assuming any asymptotic condition on the self-similar profiles, to an overdetermined system of partial differential equations that produces two families of solutions: a class of trivial solutions in which the vorticity field is identically zero, and a family of solutions that blow-up immediately, where the vorticity field is governed by a stationary regime. In any case, the analytical properties of these solutions are not consistent with the numerical observations reported by T. Hou and G. Luo. Therefore, this result is a refinement of the previous work published by D. Chae and T.-P. Tsai on this matter, where the authors found the trivial class of solutions under a certain decay condition of the blow-up profiles.     

Human capital estimation in higher education

The concept of human capital (HC) could be defined, from an economical viewpoint, as a stock variable representing the capacity of an individual to produce a sustained flow of income due to its investment in (higher) education and work experience. This paper focuses on the empirical estimation of the graduates’ latent variable HC, composed of two principal dimensions, Educational HC and Work Experience HC, within a realistic structural model, allowing causal relationship among endogenous and exogenous indicators, taking into account possible effects of external covariates. New administrative archives and a novel methodological approach are used. The methodology is applied to estimate HC of graduates in several universities of the Milan area in the early stages of their working career. The empirical results confirm the structure of the Italian job market, where investment in HC through higher education plays only a marginal role for explaining the economic performance.