Monotone combined edge finite volume–finite element scheme for Anisotropic Keller–Segel model

In this article, a new numerical scheme for a degenerate Keller–Segel model with heterogeneous anisotropic tensors is treated. It is well‐known that standard finite volume scheme not permit to handle anisotropic diffusion without any restrictions on meshes. Therefore, a combined finite volume‐nonconforming finite element scheme is introduced, developed, and studied. The unknowns of this scheme are the values at the center of cell edges. Convergence of the approximate solution to the continuous solution is proved only supposing the shape regularity condition for the primal mesh. This scheme ensures the validity of the discrete maximum principle under the classical condition that all transmissibilities coefficients are positive. Therefore, a nonlinear technique is presented, as a correction of the diffusive flux, to provide a monotone scheme for general tensors. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 30: 1030–1065, 2014     

Two compressible immiscible fluids in porous media

We consider a model of flow of two compressible and immiscible phases in a three-dimensional porous media. The equations are obtained by the conservation of the mass of each phase. This model is treated in its general form with the whole nonlinear terms. The only assumption concerns the dependence of densities on a global pressure. We obtain the existence of weak solutions under different kinds of degeneracies of the capillary terms.     

A study of the conduction mechanism of single crystal Li0.5Fe2.5O4 through the transition points

The differential thermal analysis, electrical resistivity and thermopower are studied as a function of temperature in the range 300–1100 K. The measurements show two transition points at 905 and 1030 K. The first point is linked with the magnetic transition at the Néel temperature (T_N), and the second with the order-disorder phase. The conduction mechanism through the Néel point is discussed using the spin polaron model.     

High yielding selective access to spirocyclopropanated 5-oxopiperazine-2-carboxylates and 1,4-diazepane-2,5-diones from methyl 2-chloro-2-cyclopropylideneacetate

The 2-spirocyclopropanated methyl 5-oxopiperazine-2-carboxylate and the 3-spirocyclopropanated 6-chloro-1,4-diazepane-2,5-dione could both be prepared at choice in 93 and 88% yield, respectively, from methyl 2-chloro-2-cyclopropylideneacetate () in a sequence of Michael addition of 3-benzyloxypropylamine, peptide coupling with N-Boc-glycine, Boc-group removal and cyclization. Transformation of the benzyloxypropyl side chain, peptide coupling with N-Boc-(S)-asparagine, deprotection and repeated cyclization led to the octahydro[2H]pyrazino[1,2-a]pyrazinetrione scaffold containing a rigidified mimic of a tripeptide with a DGR motif. The overall yield of after deprotection of (a total of 13 steps in 8 distinct operations) was 30%.     

Neuroprotective Potential of Synthetic Mono-Carbonyl Curcumin Analogs Assessed by Molecular Docking Studies

Cognitive decline in dementia is associated with deficiency of the cholinergic system. In this study, five mono-carbonyl curcumin analogs were synthesized, and on the basis of their promising in vitro anticholinesterase activities, they were further investigated for in vivo neuroprotective and memory enhancing effects in scopolamine-induced amnesia using elevated plus maze (EPM) and novel object recognition (NOR) behavioral mice models. The effects of the synthesized compounds on the cholinergic system involvement in the brain hippocampus and their binding mode in the active site of cholinesterases were also determined. Compound h2 (p < 0.001) and h3 (p < 0.001) significantly inhibited the cholinesterases and reversed the effects of scopolamine by significantly reducing TLT (p < 0.001) in EPM, while (p < 0.001) increased the time exploring the novel object. The % discrimination index (DI) was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the novel object recognition test. The mechanism of cholinesterase inhibition was further validated through molecular docking study using MOE software. The results obtained from the in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies showed that the synthesized curcumin analogs exhibited significantly higher memory-enhancing potential, and h3 could be an effective neuroprotective agent. However, more study is suggested to explore its exact mechanism of action.     

High‐Temperature Study of 2‐Methyl Furan and 2‐Methyl Tetrahydrofuran Combustion

The ignition behavior of methyl furan (2‐MF) and methyl tetrahydrofuran (2‐MTHF) is investigated using the shock tube technique. Experiments are carried out using homogeneous gaseous mixtures of fuel, oxygen, and argon with equivalence ratios, ?, of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 at average pressures of 3 and 12 atm over a temperature range of 1060–1300 K. In addition to ignition delay time measurements, fuel concentration time histories during ignition and pyrolysis of 2‐MTHF are obtained by means of laser absorption spectroscopy using a He–Ne laser at a fixed wavelength of 3.39 µm. With respect to ignition delay times, it is observed that under similar conditions of equivalence ratio and argon/oxygen ratio (D), 2‐MTHF has longer ignition delay times than 2‐MF at 3 atm. In addition, 2‐MTHF has longer ignition delay times than 2‐MF at higher temperatures for the case of 12 atm and under the same conditions of ? and D. The higher reactivity of 2‐MF, as indicated by shorter ignition delay times, is attributed to differences in chemical structure, whereby weaker C–H bond sites are more readily susceptible to radical attack than in 2‐MTHF. It is observed that ignition delay times of 2‐MTHF decrease with increasing equivalence ratio at 12 atm for fixed argon/oxygen ratio. Ignition delay times are compared with model predictions using recent chemical kinetic models of both fuels, showing that both models generally predict shorter ignition delay times than measured. The relatively higher absorption cross section of 2‐MTHF at 3.39 µm allows for its concentration time histories to be determined and compared to model predictions. In line with the observed discrepancy in ignition predictions, predicted 2‐MTHF concentration profiles are such that the fuel is shown to be more rapidly consumed than observed in the experiments. The study advances understanding of the combustion chemistry of these cyclic ethers that are potential alternative fuels.     

Influence of hyperbranched polyesters on the surface tension of polyols

The influence of hyperbranched polyesters with different functional end groups on the surface tension of mixtures with an oligo(ester diol) was investigated. The temperature dependence of the surface tension of the pure components and of the mixtures was measured by a modified Wilhelmy balance technique. The results indicate that the surface tension of the pure hyperbranched polyesters strongly depends on the functionality of the end groups. The functionalization of the hydroxyl end groups by short alkyl chains (methyl, tert-butyl) reduced the surface tension depending on the degree of substitution. The surface tension of the mixtures with the hydroxyl-terminated hyperbranched polyester was slightly increased at higher concentrations of the hyperbranched polymer compared to the surface tension of the pure ester diol. On the other hand, the surface tension of mixtures could be considerably decreased using 1% of hyperbranched polyester polyols partially substituted with short alkyl chains. In that case, the modified hyperbranched polyesters act as surface active agents. On the molecular level, the enrichment of the modified hyperbranched polyester in the surface region was proven by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements.