Some new exact analytical solutions for helical flows of second grade fluids

The helical flow of a second grade fluid, between two infinite coaxial circular cylinders, is studied using Laplace and finite Hankel transforms. The motion of the fluid is due to the inner cylinder that, at time t = 0⁺ begins to rotate around its axis, and to slide along the same axis due to hyperbolic sine or cosine shear stresses. The components of the velocity field and the resulting shear stresses are presented in series form in terms of Bessel functions J₀(•), Y₀(•), J₁(•), Y₁(•), J₂(•) and Y₂(•). The solutions that have been obtained satisfy all imposed initial and boundary conditions and are presented as a sum of large-time and transient solutions. Furthermore, the solutions for Newtonian fluids performing the same motion are also obtained as special cases of general solutions. Finally, the solutions that have been obtained are compared and the influence of pertinent parameters on the fluid motion is discussed. A comparison between second grade and Newtonian fluids is analyzed by graphical illustrations.     

The hyper-Zagreb index and some graph operations

Let G be a simple connected graph. The Hyper-Zagreb index is defined as \(\textit{HM}(G)=\sum _{uv\in E_{G}}(d_{G}(u)+d_{G}(v))^2\). In this paper some exact expressions for the hyper-Zagreb index of graph operations containing cartesian product and join of n graphs, splice, link and chain of graphs will be presented. We also apply these results to some graphs to chemical and general interest, such as \(C_4\) nanotube, rectangular grid, prism, complete n-partite graph.     

Developing a Conceptual Model of STEAM Teaching Practices

STEAM, where the “A” represents arts and humanities, is considered a transdisciplinary learning process that has the potential to increase diverse participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. However, a well‐defined conceptual model that clearly articulates essential components of the STEAM approach is needed to conduct empirical research on STEAM's efficacy–in particular, the teaching content that should be considered when enacting STEAM teaching practices. This paper proposes a conceptual model of STEAM, providing educators with the opportunity to teach effectively using transdisciplinary inquiry. The instructional content domain of the model includes problem‐based delivery, discipline integration, and problem‐solving skills.     

LC-MS/MS-Based Metabolomic Profiling of Constituents from Glochidion velutinum and Its Activity against Cancer Cell Lines

This study aimed to establish the phytochemical profile of Glochidion velutinum and its cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer (PC-3) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. The phytochemical composition of G. velutinum leaf extract and its fractions was established with the help of total phenolic and flavonoid contents and LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics analysis. The crude methanolic extract and its fractions were studied for pharmacological activity against PC-3 and MCF-7 cell lines using the MTT assay. The total phenolic content of the crude extract and its fractions ranged from 44 to 859 µg GAE/mg of sample whereas total flavonoid contents ranged from 20 to 315 µg QE/mg of sample. A total of forty-eight compounds were tentatively dereplicated in the extract and its fractions. These phytochemicals included benzoic acid derivatives, flavans, flavones, O-methylated flavonoids, flavonoid O- and C-glycosides, pyranocoumarins, hydrolysable tannins, carbohydrate conjugates, fatty acids, coumarin glycosides, monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, and terpene glycosides. The crude extract (IC₅₀ = 89 µg/mL), the chloroform fraction (IC₅₀ = 27 µg/mL), and the water fraction (IC₅₀ = 36 µg/mL) were found to be active against the PC-3 cell line. However, the crude extract (IC₅₀ = 431 µg/mL), the chloroform fraction (IC₅₀ = 222 µg/mL), and the ethyl acetate fraction (IC₅₀ = 226 µg/mL) have shown prominent activity against breast cancer cells. Moreover, G. velutinum extract and its fractions presented negligible toxicity to normal macrophages at the maximum tested dose (600 µg/mL). Among the compounds identified through LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics analysis, epigallocatechin gallate, ellagic acid, isovitexin, and rutin were reported to have anticancer activity against both prostate and breast cancer cell lines and might be responsible for the cytotoxic activities of G. velutinum extract and its bioactive fractions.     

Biogenic Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Catharanthus roseus and Its Cytotoxicity Effect on Vero Cell Lines

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is a chronic and sometimes fatal condition which affects people all over the world. Nanotherapeutics have shown tremendous potential to combat chronic diseases—including DM2—as they enhance the overall impact of drugs on biological systems. Greenly synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Catharanthus roseus methanolic extract (C. AgNPs) were examined primarily for their cytotoxic and antidiabetic effects. Methods: Characterization of C. AgNPs was performed by UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The C. AgNPs were trialed on Vero cell line and afterwards on an animal model (rats). Results: The C. AgNPs showed standard structural and functional characterization as revealed by FTIR and XRD analyses. The zetapotential analysis indicated stability while EDX analysis confirmed the formation of composite capping with Ag metal. The cytotoxic effect (IC50) of C. AgNPs on Vero cell lines was found to be 568 g/mL. The animal model analyses further revealed a significant difference in water intake, food intake, body weight, urine volume, and urine sugar of tested rats after treatment with aqueous extract of C. AgNPs. Moreover, five groups of rats including control and diabetic groups (NC1, PC2, DG1, DG2, and DG3) were investigated for their blood glucose and glycemic control analysis. Conclusions: The C. AgNPs exhibited positive potential on the Vero cell line as well as on experimental rats. The lipid profile in all the diabetic groups (DG1-3) were significantly increased compared with both of the control groups (p < 0.05). The present study revealed the significance of C. AgNPs in nanotherapeutics.     

Anticancer metallopharmaceutical agents based on mixed‐ligand palladium(II) complexes with dithiocarbamates and tertiary organophosphine ligands

Mixed‐ligand palladium(II) complexes of the type [(DT)Pd(PR₃)Cl], where DT = diethyldithiocarbamate (1), dibutyldithiocarbamate (2,3), dipropyldithiocarbamate (4,5), bis(2‐methoxyethyl)dithiocarbamate; PR₃ = benzyldiphenylphosphine (1,4), diphenyl‐o‐tolylphosphine (2), diphenyl‐t‐butylphosphine (3), P‐chlorodiphenylphosphine (5) and triphenylphosphine (6), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses and FT‐IR, Raman and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and these analyses showed that the complexes have pseudo square‐planar geometry around the Pd(II) and that the dithiocarbamate ligand is bound in a bidentate fashion, while the remaining two positions are occupied by a tertiary organophosphine and a chloride ligand. The anticancer studies showed that the Pd(II) complexes are highly active against cisplatin‐resistant DU145 human prostate carcinoma (HTB‐81) cells with the highest activity shown by compound 6 (IC₅₀ = 2.12 µm ). The redox behavior and ds‐DNA‐denaturing ability of the complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry and two reduction and one oxidation waves were observed. The decrease in the reduction peak currents illustrated the consumption of the mixed‐ligand drug by the DNA molecule. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrical insulation performance of flame retardant fillers filled with polypropylene/ethylene propylene diene monomer composites

Flame retardant fillers composed of zinc hydroxy stannate (ZHS), calcium borates (CaB), and NP‐100 were embedded separately in 50% polypropylene (PP) and 50% ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) blends. Several formulations containing flame retardant fillers, PP, and EPDM were prepared using an internal mixer and were molded in a compression mold to form test samples. The effects of filler loading (15, 30, 45, and 60 vol%) on the dielectric breakdown strength and contact angle were determined. It was found that PP/EPDM/NP‐100 has higher breakdown strength than PP/EPDM/ZHS and PP/EPDM/CaB. The contact angle of PP/EPDM/NP‐100 and PP/EPDM/ZHS showed an ascending order with filler loading, implying an increase in hydrophobicity. With regard to the PP/EPDM/CaB system, the contact angle showed an ascending order up to 30 vol% followed by a descending order at 45–60 vol%. Water absorption studies indicated that PP/EPDM/NP‐100 has lower water absorption compared with PP/EPDM/ZHS and PP/EPDM/CaB. PP/EPDM filled with 15 vol% NP‐100 was found to exhibit interesting insulating properties in comparison with other composite systems, thanks to high breakdown voltage, good hydrophobicity, and low water absorption. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow-induced deformation of shallow microfluidic channels

We study the elastic deformation of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannels under imposed flow rates and the effect of this deformation on the laminar flow profile and pressure distribution within the channels. Deformation is demonstrated to be an important consideration in low aspect ratio (height to width) channels and the effect becomes increasingly pronounced for very shallow channels. Bulging channels are imaged under varying flow conditions by confocal microscopy. The deformation is related to the pressure and is thus non-uniform throughout the channel, with tapering occurring along the stream-wise axis. The measured pressure drop is monitored as a function of the imposed flow rate. For a given pressure drop, the corresponding flow rate in a deforming channel is found to be several times higher than expected in a non-deforming channel. The experimental results are supported by scaling analysis and computational fluid dynamics simulations coupled to materials deformation models.