On finite element approximation and stabilization methods for compressible viscous flows

This work is devoted to the numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations for compressible viscous fluids. Finite element approximations and stabilization techniques are addressed. We present methods to implement discontinuous approximations for the pressure and the density. An upwinding methodology is being investigated which combines the ideas behind the stream line Petrov–Galerkin method and the flux limiter methods aiming to introduce numerical diffusion only where it is necessary.     

Review and complements on mixed-hybrid finite element methods for fluid flows

Mixed and hybrid finite element methods for the resolution of a wide range of linear and nonlinear boundary value problems (linear elasticity, Stokes problem, Navier–Stokes equations, Boussinesq equations, etc.) have known a great development in the last few years. These methods allow simultaneous computation of the original variable and its gradient, both of them being equally accurate. Moreover, they have local conservation properties (conservation of the mass and the momentum) as in the finite volume methods.The purpose of this paper is to give a review on some mixed finite elements developed recently for the resolution of Stokes and Navier–Stokes equations, and the linear elasticity problem. Further developments for a quasi-Newtonian flow obeying the power law are presented.     

A prenyloxycoumarin from Psiadia dentata

A new coumarin identified as 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-7-(3-methyl-but-2-enyloxy)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (isoobtusitin) was isolated from Psiadia dentata. This compound showed, in vitro, a moderate inhibitory activity against poliovirus and a very weak activity against (HIV), whereas it was inactive against (HSV1), (VSV), and murine tumoral cell lines (3LL, L1210).     

A three-dimensional quadratic nonconforming element

Summary We define a second-degree nonconforming element on tetrahedra. We build a basis for the opproximation space derived from this element. We prove a discrete regularity property similar to the one that holds for the corresponding two-dimensional element.This work was partly supported by NSERC and by the Ministère de l'Education du Québec     

Field-theoretic methods in strongly-coupled models of general gauge mediation

An often-exploited feature of the operator product expansion (OPE) is that it incorporates a splitting of ultraviolet and infrared physics. In this paper we use this feature of the OPE to perform simple, approximate computations of soft masses in gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. The approximation amounts to truncating the OPEs for hidden-sector current–current operator products. Our method yields visible-sector superpartner spectra in terms of vacuum expectation values of a few hidden-sector IR elementary fields. We manage to obtain reasonable approximations to soft masses, even when the hidden sector is strongly coupled. We demonstrate our techniques in several examples, including a new framework where supersymmetry breaking arises both from a hidden sector and dynamically. Our results suggest that strongly-coupled models of supersymmetry breaking are naturally split.     

Isomerism and decoherence

In the present paper we address the problem of optical isomerism embodied in the socalled “Hund’s paradox”, which points to the difficulty to account for chirality by means of quantum mechanics. In particular, we explain the answer to the problem proposed by the theory of decoherence. The purpose of this article is to challenge this answer on the basis of a conceptual analysis of the phenomenon of decoherence, that reveals the limitations of the theory of decoherence to solve the difficulties posed by optical isomerism and, in general, by quantum measurement.     

A Maltol-Containing Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex as a Potential Anticancer Agent

Cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapy, despite its severe side effects, is to date one of the leading strategies against cancer. Metal-based drugs present several potential advantages when compared to organic compounds and they have gained trust from the scientific community after the approval on the market of the drug cisplatin. Recently, we reported the ruthenium complex ([Ru(DIP)₂(sq)](PF₆) (where DIP is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenantroline and sq is semiquinonate) with a remarkable potential as chemotherapeutic agent against cancer, both in vitro and in vivo. In this work, we analyse a structurally similar compound, namely [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆), carrying the flavour-enhancing agent approved by the FDA, maltol (mal). To possess an FDA approved ligand is crucial for a complex, whose mechanism of action might include ligand exchange. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterisation of [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆), its stability in solutions and under conditions that resemble the physiological ones, and its in-depth biological investigation. Cytotoxicity tests on different cell lines in 2D model and on HeLa MultiCellular Tumour Spheroids (MCTS) demonstrated that our compound has higher activity than cisplatin, inspiring further tests. [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆) was efficiently internalised by HeLa cells through a passive transport mechanism and severely affected the mitochondrial metabolism.     

Charge Oscillations in a Simple Model of Interacting Magnetic Orbits

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - Exact eigenstates for a set of two or more interacting electronic orbits in a magnetic field are studied for a class of factorized Hamiltonians...