On detection of linear and nonlinear optimization problems

Automatic classification of optimization problems as linear or nonlinear is now being demanded in some modeling and optimization systems to make such systems more user friendly. This requires that the system examine the model and make such determination. On such method of analysis is discussed in this paper.     

Electrochemical sensor for H2O2 using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a nanocomposite consisting of graphene oxide,cobalt(III) oxide,horseradish peroxidase and nafion

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe the synthesis of a nanocomposite consisting of graphene oxide, cobalt(III) oxide and horseradish peroxidase (HRP/GO-Co3O4) in a nafion matrix. The...     

α-Helix-Mimetic Foldamers for Targeting HIV-1 TAR RNA

An oligopyridylamide-based foldamer approach has been employed to target HIV TAR RNA-TAT assembly as a model system to study RNA-protein interactions. The oligopyridylamide scaffold adopts a constrained conformation which presents surface functionalities at distinct spatial locations and mimic the chemical features of the secondary structure of proteins. We have designed a library of oligopyridylamides containing diverse surface functionalities which mimic the side chain residues of the TAT protein domain. The interaction of TAR RNA and TAT plays a pivotal role in facilitating HIV replication. The library was screened using various fluorescent based assays to identify antagonists of the TAR RNA-TAT complex. A tricationic oligopyridylamide ADH-19, possessed the highest affinity towards TAR and efficiently inhibited the TAR RNA-TAT interaction with apparent K_d of 4.1±1.0 μm . Spectroscopic studies demonstrated that ADH-19 interacts with the bulge and the lower bulge regions of TAR RNA, the domains important for TAT interaction. ADH-19 demonstrated appreciable in vivo efficacy (IC₅₀=25±1 μm ) by rescuing TZM-bl cells infected with the pseudovirus HIV-1HXB-2.     

Ring-opening reactions of oxetanes: A review of methodology development and synthetic applications

Ring-opening reactions of oxetanes yield important functionalized products depending upon the nature of nucleophiles as well as substitution pattern on the oxetane ring. Ring opening of oxetanes can be carried out under a variety of reaction conditions. In this review article, an up-to-date overview of major synthetic methodologies involved in the ring opening of oxetanes as well as their synthetic applications has been presented.     

Electrochemical Mechanisms in Potentiometric Phosphate Sensing Using Pure Cobalt,Molybdenum and their Alloy for Environmental Applications

Phosphorus (P) is ubiquitous in the environment, but its measurement is costly and time-consuming. Sensor-based measurement shows potential, but selection of right metal remains the major challenge due to strong P species dependence on pH. This study examined the feasibility of pure cobalt, molybdenum, and their electrodeposited alloy, Co₆₃Mo₄₂ (wt %), as phosphate sensors. The cobalt, molybdenum and alloy exhibited mixed potential, Nernst potential, and oxidation-reduction (red-ox) mechanisms, respectively. Alloy showed good selectivity over a wide pH range, but high limit of detection and long response time (8–14 minutes). Yet, alloy provides a new opportunity for improving electrochemical phosphate sensors.     

A new compact difference scheme for second derivative in non-uniform grid expressed in self-adjoint form

A single-parameter family of self-adjoint compact difference (SACD) schemes is developed for discretizing the Laplacian operator in self-adjoint form. Developed implicit scheme is formally second-order accurate (with respect to truncation error) with a free parameter, α which helps control the numerical properties in the spectral plane. The SACD scheme is analyzed in the spectral plane for its resolution properties for both periodic and non-periodic problems using the matrix spectral analysis [T.K. Sengupta, G. Ganeriwal, S. De, Analysis of central and upwind schemes, J. Comput. Phys. 192 (2) (2003) 677–694]. The major objective here is to identify the advantages of the new scheme over the traditional explicit second order CD2 scheme, in discretizing the Laplacian operator in self-adjoint form. This appears in Navier–Stokes equation and in other transport equations and boundary value problems (bvp) expressed in orthogonal co-ordinate systems, either in physical or in transformed plane. We also compare the developed method with the higher order compact schemes for non-uniform grids. To demonstrate the accuracy of SACD scheme we have tested it for: (i) bi-directional wave propagation problem, given by the second order wave equation and (ii) an elliptic bvp, as in the Stommel ocean model for the stream function. These examples help infer the properties of SACD scheme when solving different types of partial differential equations. Most importantly the effects of grid-stretching and choice of value of the free parameter (α) are investigated here. We also compare the present implicit compact method with explicit compact method known as the higher order compact (HOC) method.Also, the practical applications of the SACD scheme are explored by solving the Navier–Stokes equation for the cases of: (a) a flow inside a lid-driven cavity and (b) the receptivity and instability of an external adverse pressure gradient flow over a flat plate. In the former, unsteadiness of the flow is captured and in the latter, the receptivity of the flow is studied in causing flow instability by triggering Tollmien–Schlichting waves. The new scheme shows a marked improvement over the explicit scheme for low Reynolds number steady flow in lid driven cavity. Whereas for the flow in the same geometry at higher Reynolds numbers, efficacy of the scheme is established by showing the formation of a triangular vortex and secondary vortical structures. Presented scheme is perfectly capable of expressing the diffusion operator accurately as shown via the capturing of instability waves inside the shear layer.