Generalized PageRank on directed configuration networks

This paper studies the distribution of a family of rankings, which includes Google's PageRank, on a directed configuration model. In particular, it is shown that the distribution of the rank of a randomly chosen node in the graph converges in distribution to a finite random variable that can be written as a linear combination of i.i.d. copies of the attracting endogenous solution to a stochastic fixed‐point equation of the form where is a real‐valued vector with , and the are i.i.d. copies of , independent of . Moreover, we provide precise asymptotics for the limit , which when the in‐degree distribution in the directed configuration model has a power law imply a power law distribution for with the same exponent. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 51, 237–274, 2017     

Synthesis Gas Production from Natural Gas on Supported Pt Catalysts

Auto-thermal reforming of methane, combining partial oxidation and reforming of methane with CO2 or steam, was carried out with Pt/Al2O3, Pt/ZrO2 and Pt/CeO2 catalysts, in a temperature range of 300-900℃. The auto-thermal reforming occurs in two simultaneous stages, namely, total combustion of methane and reforming of the unconverted methane with steam and CO2, with the O2 conversion of 100% starting from 450 ℃. For combination with CO2 reforming, the Pt/CeO2 catalyst showed the lowest initial activity at 800 ℃, and the highest stability over 40 h on-stream. This catalyst also presented the best performance for the reaction with steam at 800 ℃. The higher resistance to coke formation of the catalyst supported on ceria is due to the metal-support interactions and the higher mobility of oxygen in the oxide lattice.     

Water soluble complexes of methyl β-cyclodextrin and sulconazole nitrate

Complexation between methyl β-cyclodextrin (Me βCD) and sulconazole nitrate (SULC) was realized both under freeze drying and ultrasonication conditions. The process was carried out in solution and in solid state. In solution, the complexation was evaluated using solubility studies, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR) and UV–Vis absorption studies. In the solid state, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction studies were used. Solubility studies indicate the existence of inclusion complexes between SULC and Me βCD. ¹H-NMR data showed that the inclusion complexes have different structures, according with the method we used for synthesis: for the freeze dried method the complex is obtained by complexation of dichlorobenzene ring of SULC into inner cavity of CD while for ultrasonication method the complex is obtained by complexation of imidazole graph of SULC into the CD molecule. DSC and X-ray studies bring supplementary information concerning the formation of complex Me βCD–SULC. As a result of the inclusion process into Me βCD, the solubility of SULC increase significant, being 10 times more comparative with the pure drug. We anticipate that these modifications will have a significant impact on the biological effects of the drug, making the SULC–Me βCD complex an appropriate candidate for a new drug delivery system.     

Perfect Simulation for a Stationary Silo with Absorbing Walls

The objective of this work is to generate random samples of the unique stationary distribution associated to the stochastic model for grain storage in a finite bidimensional silo. The support of this measure is an unbounded and continuous state space and therefore a truncation was necessary to apply the CFTP perfect simulation scheme. The performance of the algorithm was measured by comparing the sample moments to the theoretical ones.     

Tauberian polynomials

In this paper we introduce and study the notion of homogeneous Tauberian polynomial, aiming at extending the concept of Tauberian operator. Such notion is characterized in terms of the polynomial topology for which we prove a Banach–Alaoglu type theorem. A number of examples show that the behavior of Tauberian polynomials differs from that of Tauberian operators.     

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition with Sulfonamides Incorporating Pyrazole- and Pyridazinecarboxamide Moieties Provides Examples of Isoform-Selective Inhibitors

A series of benzenesulfonamides incorporating pyrazole- and pyridazinecarboxamides decorated with several bulky moieties has been obtained by original procedures. The new derivatives were investigated for the inhibition of four physiologically crucial human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.2.1.1) isoforms, hCA I and II (cytosolic enzymes) as well as hCA IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor-associated isoforms). Examples of isoform-selective inhibitors were obtained for all four enzymes investigated here, and a computational approach was employed for explaining the observed selectivity, which may be useful in drug design approaches for obtaining inhibitors with pharmacological applications useful as antiglaucoma, diuretic, antitumor or anti-cerebral ischemia drugs.     

Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Potential of Tamus communis Rhizomes

Tamus communis L. is a plant distributed in a number of geographical areas whose rhizome has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic remedy. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of the chemical composition and biological activity of the extracts or individual compounds of the rhizome. The data for the principal secondary metabolites are systematized: sterols, steroidal saponins, phenanthrenes, dihydrophenanthrenes, etc. Results of biological tests for anti-inflammatory action, cytotoxicity, anticholinesterase effect, and xanthine oxidase inhibition are presented. Some open questions about the therapeutic properties of the plant are also addressed.     

The Physicochemical,Microbiological, and Structural Changes in Beef Are Dependent on the Ultrasound System,Time, and One-Side Exposition

The effect of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) system (bath, 37 kHz and 90 W/cm²; or probe, 24 kHz and 400 W) and application time (25 or 50 min, one-side exposition) on the properties of bovine Longissimus lumborum after 7 d of storage at 4 °C was studied. The bath system significantly increased the lightness of the muscle, while other color parameters (a*, b*, hue, and chroma) were not different from the control. The water holding capacity and shear force decreased significantly (3.1–5% and 0.59–0.72 kgf, respectively) in sonicated meat independently of the system, favoring the tenderization of the muscle after storage. Microstructural changes observed in the HIU-exposed surface provided evidence of a higher area of interfibrillar spaces (1813 vs. 705 µm² in the control), producing tenderization of the muscle, compared with the control. HIU significantly increased counts of total aerobic and coliform bacteria, especially after 50 min of ultrasonication. HIU also increased lactic acid bacterial counts in the bath system. Single-sided muscle exposition to ultrasound may produce sufficient significant changes in muscle properties, which could decrease long treatment times that would be needed for the exposition of both sides. HIU in bath systems increases tenderness by modifying meat ultrastructure, with no significant changes in physicochemical parameters. Nevertheless, microbiological quality may need to be considered during the process due to a slight increase in bacterial counts.     

Development of a biomechanical model to study the horizontal vibration transmitted from shoulder to head

On daily activity a human operator is exposed to vibration in working environment. So, the human body will react in different way. The problem is how much from the initial signal will be sent to the other parts of the body and how much that motion will be damped along the studied parts. The vibrations in horizontal plane are some unexpected, so the human operator will not take any position to prevent them. In this condition the horizontal vibrations will have the higher effect possible. In this paper, the shoulder, neck and the head are modeled together like a mechanical system with four degree of freedom. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)