Characterization,mechanical, and antibacterial properties of nanofibers derived from olive leaf,fumitory, and terebinth extracts

In this study, nanofiber structures were obtained with convenient polymers (PVA [polyvinyl alcohol] and PCL [poly ^o-caprolactone]) derived from the herbal extracts of olive leaves, fumitory, and terebinth plants. Optimum nanofiber structures were identified by measuring viscosity and conductivity values and performing morphological analysis, characterization, and mechanical tests of the prepared solutions. The potential use for wound healing at the most efficient level was determined as a result of antibacterial analysis of the structures obtained. APT (PVA/terebinth) and BFO (PCL/fumitory) nanofibers had the thinnest diameter range and the highest strength values. In terms of the determination of antibacterial effects, nanofiber structures of all 3 plant species proved to be effective against bacteria. The greatest effect was observed against Escherichia coli in the nanofiber structure containing olive leaves, with a zone diameter of 32 mm. In addition, APT and BFO nanofibers had the highest values of thinness and strength. In these 2 samples, using BFO against Staphylococcus aureus and APT against Candida albicans increased their areas of activity. In the literature review, no study was available about obtaining nanofibers, especially from fumitory and terebinth plants. This study aimed to increase knowledge on obtaining nanofiber structures, including various polymers derived from olive leaves, fumitory, and terebinth plants.     

On some generalized sequence spaces of fuzzy numbers defined by a sequence of Orlicz functions

The purpose of the paper is to introduce the concepts of almost λ-statistical convergence and strongly almost λ-convergence of sequences of fuzzy numbers. We establish some connections between these concepts. It is also shown that if a sequence of fuzzy numbers is strongly almost λ-convergent with respect to a sequence of Orlicz funtions then it is almost λ-statistical convergent.     

Renal-related perinephric fluid collections: MRI findings

We retrospectively reviewed MR studies on 10 patients with renal-related perinephric fluid collections who underwent MRI in three institutions between January 2001 and August 2004. All patients underwent MRI of the abdomen and T1-weighted, T2-weighted and serial contrast-enhanced images, including delayed-phase contrast-enhanced images 10-12 min after contrast injection, were obtained. Perinephric fluid collections in 5 patients revealed MRI findings of simple fluid content (i.e., hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images). In another 5 patients, a complex perinephric fluid content (i.e., mixed hyper/hypointense on T1-weighted images and mixed hypo/hyperintense on T2-weighted images compatible with blood breakdown products and pus) was observed. In 5 patients, contrast extravasation on late-phase images that was compatible with urine leak was demonstrated. Our results suggest that MRI may determine the content of perinephric fluid collections on noncontrast T1-weighted and T2-weighted images and that contrast extravasation on late-phase images is associated with urine extravasation from renal collecting systems.     

Static cylindrical matter shells

Static cylindrical shells composed of massive particles arising from matching of two different Levi–Civita space-times are studied for the shell satisfying either an isotropic or an anisotropic equation of state. We find that these solutions satisfy the energy conditions for certain ranges of the parameters.     

Accelerated Levi-Civita-Bertotti-Robinson metric in D dimensions

A conformally flat accelerated charge metric is found in an arbitrary dimension D. It is a solution of the Einstein-Maxwell-null fluid equations with a cosmological constant in D ≥ 4 dimensions. When the acceleration is zero, our solution reduces to the Levi-Civita-Bertotti-Robinson metric. We show that the charge loses its energy, for all dimensions, due to the acceleration.     

High-dimensional model representations generated from low order terms--lp-RS-HDMR

High-dimensional model representation (HDMR) is a general set of quantitative model assessment and analysis tools for improving the efficiency of deducing high dimensional input-output system behavior. RS-HDMR is a particular form of HDMR based on random sampling (RS) of the input variables. The component functions in an HDMR expansion are optimal choices tailored to the n-variate function f(x) being represented over the desired domain of the n-dimensional vector x. The high-order terms (usually larger than second order, or equivalently beyond cooperativity between pairs of variables) in the expansion are often negligible. When it is necessary to go beyond the first and the second order RS-HDMR, this article introduces a modified low-order term product (lp)-RS-HDMR method to approximately represent the high-order RS-HDMR component functions as products of low-order functions. Using this method the high-order truncated RS-HDMR expansions may be constructed without directly computing the original high-order terms. The mathematical foundations of lp-RS-HDMR are presented along with an illustration of its utility in an atmospheric chemical kinetics model.     

A new algebraic approach to the eigenvalue problems of linear differential operators without integrations

In this work, a new approximation scheme based on the evaluation of the pointwise expectation of the Hamiltonian (H) via a conveniently chosen basis set is proposed. This scheme does not necessitate integration; however, physical and mathematical considerations in choosing the basis set are considerably important when very precise and rapidly convergent results are desired. In this method, the best linear combination of “well-selected” basis functions are sought in a way such that H ψ / ψ is flat in the neighborhood of a conveniently chosen point in the domain of H. This yields an algebraic eigenvalue problem. Some concrete applications that have already been realized confirm the efficiency of this approach.     

Characteristic Regimes of Transitional Separation Bubbles in Unsteady Flow

This experimental investigation deals with transition phenomena of a separated boundary layer under unsteady inlet flow conditions. The main purpose of this investigation is to understand the influence of the rotor-stator interaction in turbomachinery on the subsequent, highly loaded boundary layer. The research project is divided into two phases. In the first phase, which has been completed recently, only the variation of mean velocity caused by upstream blades was simulated in the experiments while the free-stream turbulence intensity was retained at a constant low level. The experiments are carried out in an Eifel-type wind tunnel to investigate the laminar separated boundary layer of a flat plate under oscillating inlet conditions. The adverse pressure gradient, similar to that of turbomachines, is generated by the contoured upper wall. The unsteadiness is produced by a rotating flap located downstream of the test section. The reduced frequency, the amplitude and the mean Reynolds number are varied to simulate the conditions prevailing in turbomachines. In addition to the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability of the separated shear layer, a lower frequency instability was observed. This is frequently referred to as `free shear layer flapping' and results in two distinctly different ways of re-attachment, depending primarily on the Reynolds number. For low momentum thickness Reynolds numbers at the separation point, large-scale vortices locked to the frequency of the unsteady main flow are identified. They originate nearly at the top of the separation bubble and are ejected downstream. A fully turbulent boundary layer develops after these vortices mix out. For higher Reynolds numbers, transition is completed within a short length of the free shear layer and there-attachment region. The characteristic momentum thickness Reynolds number separating these two regimes in unsteady flow is about 125. The Strouhal number (reduced frequency) does not appear to have any significant effect. Based on the experimental results, this behaviour is discussed in some detail. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.