Computations for a jet impinging obliquely on a flat surface

A SIMPLE-C algorithm and Jones-Launder k-ε two-equation turbulence model are used to simulate a two-dimensional jet impinging obliquely on a flat surface. Both the continuity and momentum equations for the unsteady state are cast into suitable finite difference equations. The pressure, velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent energy dissipation rate distributions are solved and show good agreement with various experimental data. The calculations show that the flow field structure of the jet impinging obliquely on a flat surface is strongly affected by the oblique impingement angle. The maximum pressure zone of the obliquely impinging jet flow field moves towards the left as the oblique impingement angle is decreased.     

The interaction between a plane shear layer and a slender body

The interaction of a plane shear layer with a thin flat plate located in the nonlinear region of the shear layer has been investigated experimentally. The shear layer's velocity ratio is 0.375, and its Reynolds number is ΔUθ₀/μ = 625. It is found that for different angles of attack of the plate, the mixing layer is deflected toward the slower stream. In addition, the plate attenuates turbulent fluctuations of the shear layer structures.     

Finite element analysis of axisymmetric free jet impingement

A numerical algorithm to determine the impingement of an axisymmetric free jet upon a curved deflector is presented. The problem is considered within the potential flow theory with the allowance of gravity and surface tension effects. The primary dependent variable is the Stokes streamfunction, which is approximated through finite elements using the isoparametric Hermite Zienkiewicz element. To find the correct position of the free boundaries, a trial-and-error method is employed which amounts to solving a boundary value problem (BVP) for the Stokes streamfunction at each iteration step. An efficient method is proposed to solve this BVP. The algorithm to find the correct position of the free boundaries is tested by computing the impingement upon an infinite disc and a hemispherical deflector. To confirm the correctness of the solution, each problem has been solved using several different mesh gradings. A comparison between the Zienkiewicz and the other standard C⁰ finite elements is also given.     

Structure-based development of specific inhibitors for individual cathepsins and their medical applications

Specific inhibitors for individual cathepsins have been developed based on their tertiary structures of X-ray crystallography. Cathepsin B-specific inhibitors, CA-074 and CA-030, and cathepsin L specific inhibitors, CLIK-148 and CLIK-195, were designed as the epoxysuccinate derivatives. Cathepsin S inhibitor, CLIK-060, and cathepsin K inhibitor, CLIK-166, were synthesized. These inhibitors can use in vitro and also in vivo, and show no toxicity for experimental animals by the amounts used as the cathepsin inhibitor.Various cathepsins are used in the processing of antigenic proteins. The CLIK-060 treatment to the autoimmune disease, Sjögren model mice, led to strongly suppress the expression of the pathological symptoms. Cathepsins L or K participates to the degradation of bone collagen. The CLIK-148 protects osteoporosis in animals and also protects the bone metastasis of cancer cells. Cathepsin L also enhances insulin-induced glucose uptake into 3T3-L1 adipocytes, suggesting cathepsin L plays the roles in adipogenesis and glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes.     

Mathematical and physical simulation of the interaction between a gas jet and a liquid free surface

In this work a two phase 3D mathematical model was developed using the volume of fluid (VOF) algorithm, which is able to accurately describe the cavity geometry and size as well as the liquid flow patterns created when a gas jet that impinges on a liquid free surface. These phenomena are commonly found in steelmaking operations such as in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and the Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) where oxygen jets impinge on a steel bath and they control heat, momentum and mass transfer. The model was successfully validated with measurements made on a physical model through velocity fields obtained by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and high speed camera images of the cavity. Agreement between model predictions and experimental measurements is excellent in both x-velocity component of the liquid and cavity sizes. The cavity formed in the liquid by the impinging jet depends on a force balance at the free surface where the inertial force of the jet governs this phenomena, while the liquid circulation depends on also the jet inertial force of the jet, but its angle plays an important role, being the lowest angle the best choice to shear the bath and promote stronger circulation and better mixing in the liquid.     

流体喷射条件下金属材料冲刷腐蚀的研究进展

综述了流体喷射条件下冲刷腐蚀试验装置、冲刷腐蚀机理的研究进展,总结和分析了流速、固相颗粒、攻角等因素对冲刷腐蚀的影响,最后指出了流体喷射下金属材料冲刷腐蚀研究中存在的问题,并展望了流体喷射条件下金属材料冲刷腐蚀的研究方向.     

Molecular features related to the binding mode of PPARδ agonists from QSAR and docking analyses

Diabetes affects approximately 4% of world’s population and metabolic syndrome has been directly related to obesity. There is a class of nuclear receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which controls the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. It has been considered an attractive target to treat diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Accordingly, the primary objective of this study was to employ molecular modelling techniques to understand the factors involved in PPARδ activation. The QSAR models obtained showed good internal and external consistency and presented good validation coefficients (QSAR: q² = 0.83, r² = 0.87; HQSAR: q² = 0.73, r² = 0.90; CoMFA: q² = 0.88, r² = 0.94). The selected properties and the contour maps described the possible interactions between the PPARδ receptor and its agonists. From these findings, it is possible to propose molecular modifications to design new compounds with improved biological properties.     

Oxidative stress is associated with the number of components of metabolic syndrome: LIPGENE study

Previous evidence supports the important role that oxidative stress (OxS) plays in metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related manifestations. We determined the relationship between the number of MetS components and the degree of OxS in MetS patients. In this comparative cross-sectional study from the LIPGENE cohort, a total of 91 MetS patients (43 men and 48 women; aged between 45 and 68 years) were divided into four groups based on the number of MetS components: subjects with 2, 3, 4 and 5 MetS components (n=20, 31, 28 and 12, respectively). We measured ischemic reactive hyperemia (IRH), plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), total nitrite, lipid peroxidation products (LPO), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) plasma activities. sVCAM-1, H₂O₂ and LPO levels were lower in subjects with 2 or 3 MetS components than subjects with 4 or 5 MetS components. IRH and total nitrite levels were higher in subjects with 2 or 3 MetS components than subjects with 4 or 5 MetS components. SOD and GPx activities were lower in subjects with 2 MetS components than subjects with 4 or 5 MetS components. Waist circumference, weight, age, homeostatic model assessment-β, triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein and sVCAM-1 levels were significantly correlated with SOD activity. MetS subjects with more MetS components may have a higher OxS level. Furthermore, association between SOD activity and MetS components may indicate that this variable could be the most relevant OxS biomarker in patients suffering from MetS and could be used as a predictive tool to determine the degree of the underlying OxS in MetS.     

Establishment of a concept of visceral fat syndrome and discovery of adiponectin

Although obesity is a major background of life style-related diseases such as diabetes mellitus, lipid disorder, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, the extent of whole body fat accumulation does not necessarily the determinant for the occurrence of these diseases. We developed the method for body fat analysis using CT scan and established the concept of visceral fat obesity, in other word metabolic syndrome in which intra-abdominal visceral fat accumulation has an important role in the development of diabetes, lipid disorder, hypertension and atherosclerosis. In order to clarify the mechanism that visceral fat accumulation causes metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, we have analyzed gene expression profile in subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue. From the analysis, we found that adipose tissue, especially visceral adipose tissue expressed abundantly the genes encoding bioactive substances such as cytokines, growth factors and complements. In addition to known bioactive substances, we found a novel collagen-like protein which we named adiponectin. Adiponectin is present in plasma at a very high concentration and is inversely associated with visceral fat accumulation. Adiponectin has anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive and anti-atherogenic properties and recent studies revealed that this protein has an anti-inflammatory and anti-oncogenic function. Therefore hypoadiponectinemia induced by visceral fat accumulation should become a strong risk factor for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and also some kinds of cancers.In this review article, I would like to discuss the mechanism of life style-related diseases by focusing on the dysregulation of adiponectin related to obesity, especially visceral obesity.