An improved error bound for a finite element approximation of a model for phase separation of a multi-component alloy

Using the approach of Rulla (1996 SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 33, 68-87)for analysing the time discretization error and assuming moreregularity on the initial data, we improve on the error boundderived by Barrett and Blowey (1996 IMA J. Numer. Anal. 16,257-287) for a fully practical piecewise linear finite elementapproximation with a backward Euler time discretization of amodel for phase separation of a multi-component alloy.     

Finite element approximation of a model for phase separation of a multi-component alloy with a concentration-dependent mobility matrix

We consider a model for phase separation of a multi-componentalloy with a concentration-dependent mobility matrix and logarithmicfree energy. In particular we prove that there exists a uniquesolution for sufficiently smooth initial data. Further, we provean error bound for a fully practical piecewise linear finiteelement approximation in one and two space dimensions. Finallynumerical experiments with three components in one space dimensionare presented.     

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric determination of inhibition of human cytochrome P450 isozymes by resveratrol and resveratrol-3-sulfate

trans-Resveratrol, a phenolic phytoalexin occurring in grapes, wine, peanuts, and cranberries, has been reported to both have anticarcinogenic, antioxidative, phytoestrogenic, and cardioprotective activities, and to be a weak inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4, which might have significance for drug-drug interactions. Since trans-resveratrol is rapidly converted in vivo to primarily trans-resveratrol-3-sulfate, a rapid, selective, and sensitive method using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was developed to investigate human cytochrome P450 inhibition by trans-resveratrol-3-sulfate. Effects of trans-resveratrol and trans-resveratrol-3-sulfate on the metabolism of selective cytochrome P450 substrates (CYP1A2/ethoxyresorufin, CYP2C9/diclofenac, CYP2C19/(S)-mephenytoin, CYP2D6/bufuralol, CYP3A4/testosterone) were monitored using cDNA-expressed human recombinant isozymes. For method validation, LC/MS/MS was used to measure the inhibition of various cytochrome P450 isozymes by different concentrations (0-50 microM) of known selective inhibitors. IC(50) values of 3.2, 1.4, 8.9, 0.2, and 0.3 microM were obtained for the standard isozyme inhibitors CYP1A2/furafylline, CYP2C9/sulfaphenazole, CYP2C19/tranylcypromine, CYP2D6/quinidine, and CYP3A4/ketoconazole, respectively, which were in good agreement with literature values. trans-Resveratrol showed IC(50) values of 11.6 microM for CYP2C19 and 1.1 microM for CYP3A4, but the IC(50) values exceeded 50 microM for all the other CYP isozymes, which indicated no inhibition. No enzyme inhibition was observed for trans-resveratrol-3-sulfate. Our results indicate that trans-resveratrol is a marginal inhibitor of CYP3A4 and a weak inhibitor of CYP2C19, but its major metabolite trans-resveratrol-3-sulfate is not an inhibitor of any of the cytochrome P450 isozymes investigated.