A ghost-cell immersed boundary method for large-eddy simulations of compressible turbulent flows

A methodology to perform a ghost-cell-based immersed boundary method (GCIBM) is presented for simulating compressible turbulent flows around complex geometries. In this method, the boundary condition on the immersed boundary is enforced through the use of ‘ghost cells’ that are located inside the solid body. The computations of variables on these ghost cells are achieved using linear interpolation schemes. The validity and applicability of the proposed method is verified using a three-dimensional (3D) flow over a circular cylinder, and a large-eddy simulation of fully developed 3D turbulent flow in a channel with a wavy surface. The results agree well with the previous numerical and experimental results, given that the grid resolution is reasonably fine. To demonstrate the capability of the method for higher Mach numbers, supersonic turbulent flow over a circular cylinder is presented. While more work still needs to be done to demonstrate higher robustness and accuracy, the present work provides interesting insights using the GCIBM for the compressible flows.     

On the Hamming distances of repeated-root constacyclic codes of length 4ps

Let $p$ be an odd prime, $s$, $m$ be positive integers, $\gamma ,\lambda$ be nonzero elements of the finite field ${\mathbb{F}}_{p^m}$ such that ${\gamma }^{p^s}=\lambda$. In this paper, we show that, for any positive integer $\eta$, the Hamming distances of all repeated-root $\lambda$-constacyclic codes of length $\eta p^s$ can be determined by those of certain simple-root $\gamma$-constacyclic codes of length $\eta$. Using this result, Hamming distances of all constacyclic codes of length $4p^s$ are obtained. As an application, we identify all MDS $\lambda$-constacyclic codes of length $4p^s$.     

Review of stationary phases for microelectromechanical systems in gas chromatography: feasibility and separations

This review covers the recent development of stationary phases for chip-based gas chromatography (GC). Portable systems for rapid and reliable analysis are urgently needed. One way to achieve this is to miniaturize the entire analysis. Because the column is the central component of the GC system and determines the feasibility and quality of separation, this review focuses on stationary phases reported in the literature and their use in different fields during the last two decades, with emphasis on different methods for introducing the stationary phase into the GC column.     

Estimation of radon and thoron caused dose at exraction and processing sites of mineral sand mining area in Vietnam (HA TINH province)

Mineral sands are mined in several countries to supply to the titanium and zircon producing industries. Coastal black mineral sands usually contain, besides ilmenite (FeTiO₃) and rutile (TiO₂), radioactive minerals such as zircon (ZrSiO₄) and monazite (RePO₄). Radon and thoron activity concentration originated from natural radioactive contents of the black mineral sand was monitored at the extraction and processing for black minerals in the coastal areas of Ha Tinh Province, one of the around 40 coastal mineral sand deposits in Vietnam. The survey was carried out with the Raduet chambers made by Radosys Ltd—Hungary. The obtained results for 25 investigated points show that the measured values are not high in the residential houses and in case of the sand extraction site as well. At the titanium processing plant the measured values were higher than outside the facility (Radon: 18–55 Bq/m³ with average of 34 Bq/³ and Thoron 33–118 Bq/m³ with average of 58 Bq/m³) but still comparable to the average concentration of the world published by UNSCEAR. The typical outdoor levels of radon and thoron gas are each of the order of 10 Bq/m³. Although the radon concentrations were low in the zircon and titanium processing plants, the thoron concentrations in the houses for separating rutile and zircon were very high. At zircon processing factory, the thoron concentration could reach 2,931 Bq/m³ and the estimated annual effective dose would be 21.4 mSv/a. Intervention has to be taken in order to reduce the thoron level in this factory since the level of thoron and its progenies corresponding to an annual occupational effective dose is beyond the action level of 6 mSv/a.     

Improvement of Regio-Specific Production of Myricetin-3-O-α-l-Rhamnoside in Engineered Escherichia coli

Myricetin is an important flavonol whose medically important properties include activities as an antioxidant, anticarcinogen, and antimutagen. The solubility, stability, and other biological properties of the compounds can be enhanced by conjugating aglycon with sugar moieties. The type of sugar moiety also plays a significant role in the biological and physical properties of the natural product glycosides. Reconstructed Escherichia coli containing thymidine diphosphate-α-l-rhamnose sugar gene cassette and Arabidopsis-derived glycosyltransferase were used for rhamnosylation of myricetin. Myricetin (100 μM) was exogenously supplemented to induced cultures of engineered E. coli. The formation of target product—myricetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnoside—was confirmed by chromatographic and NMR analyses. The yield of product was improved by using various mutants and methylated cyclodextrin as a molecular carrier for myricetin in combination with E. coli M3G3. The maximal yield of product is 55.6 μM (3.31-fold higher than the control E. coli MG3) and shows 55.6 % bioconversion of substrate under optimized conditions.     

New Reactions of N‐tert‐Butylimines; Formation of N‐Heterocycles by Methyl Radical Elimination on Flash Vacuum Thermolysis of N‐Benzylidene‐ and N‐(2‐Pyridylmethylidene)‐tert‐butylamines

Thermal reactions of N‐benzylidene‐ and N‐(2‐pyridylmethylidene)‐tert‐butylamines ( 5 and 13 ) under FVT conditions have been investigated. Unexpectedly, at 800 °C, compound 5 yields 1,2‐dimethylindole and 3‐methylisoquinoline. In the reaction of 13 at 800 °C, 3‐methylimidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine was obtained as the major product. Mechanisms of these reactions have been proposed on the basis of DFT calculations. Furthermore, UV‐photoelectron spectroscopy combined with FVT has been applied for direct monitoring and characterization of the thermolysis products in situ.     

Uncovering the Stoichiometry of Pyrococcus furiosus RNase P,a Multi‐Subunit Catalytic Ribonucleoprotein Complex,by Surface‐Induced Dissociation and Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

We demonstrate that surface‐induced dissociation (SID) coupled with ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM‐MS) is a powerful tool for determining the stoichiometry of a multi‐subunit ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex assembled in a solution containing Mg²⁺. We investigated Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) RNase P, an archaeal RNP that catalyzes tRNA 5′ maturation. Previous step‐wise, Mg²⁺‐dependent reconstitutions of Pfu RNase P with its catalytic RNA subunit and two interacting protein cofactor pairs (RPP21⋅RPP29 and POP5⋅RPP30) revealed functional RNP intermediates en route to the RNase P enzyme, but provided no information on subunit stoichiometry. Our native MS studies with the proteins showed RPP21⋅RPP29 and (POP5⋅RPP30)₂ complexes, but indicated a 1:1 composition for all subunits when either one or both protein complexes bind the cognate RNA. These results highlight the utility of SID and IM‐MS in resolving conformational heterogeneity and yielding insights on RNP assembly.