A control volume finite element method for three-dimensional three-phase flows

A novel control volume finite element method with adaptive anisotropic unstructured meshes is presented for three-dimensional three-phase flows with interfacial tension. The numerical framework consists of a mixed control volume and finite element formulation with a new P₁DG-P₂ elements (linear discontinuous velocity between elements and quadratic continuous pressure between elements). A “volume of fluid” type method is used for the interface capturing, which is based on compressive control volume advection and second-order finite element methods. A force-balanced continuum surface force model is employed for the interfacial tension on unstructured meshes. The interfacial tension coefficient decomposition method is also used to deal with interfacial tension pairings between different phases. Numerical examples of benchmark tests and the dynamics of three-dimensional three-phase rising bubble, and droplet impact are presented. The results are compared with the analytical solutions and previously published experimental data, demonstrating the capability of the present method.     

First highly regio- and diastereoselective [3+2] cycloaddition of chiral nonracemic Fischer carbene complexes with azomethine ylides: an enantioselective synthesis of (+)-rolipram

A new procedure for the synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted and 1,4-disubstituted pyrrolidin-2-one derivatives in an enantioselective fashion is reported. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of (+/-)-menthol and (-)-8-phenylmenthol derived Fischer alkoxy alkenyl carbene complexes with in situ generated functionalized azomethine ylides gives the corresponding cycloadducts as chelated tetracarbonyl Fischer carbene complexes. Only one regioisomer is detected in all cases, and the diastereoselectivity of the reaction is very high when (-)-8-phenylmenthol derived carbenes are employed. Oxidation and further transformation of the cycloadducts provide an easy access to pyrrolidin-2-ones. The anti-inflammatory and antidepressant drug (+)-Rolipram is readily prepared in four steps in a 20% overall yield by taking advantage of this newly developed methodology.     

Visual spatial memory is enhanced in female rats (but inhibited in males) by dietary soy phytoestrogens

Background  

In learning and memory tasks, requiring visual spatial memory (VSM), males exhibit superior performance to females (a difference attributed to the hormonal influence of estrogen). This study examined the influence of phytoestrogens (estrogen-like plant compounds) on VSM, utilizing radial arm-maze methods to examine varying aspects of memory. Additionally, brain phytoestrogen, calbindin (CALB), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels were determined.     

Universally prestarlike functions as convolution multipliers

Universally prestarlike functions (of order α ≤ 1) in the slit domain L:=\mathbbC\[1,￥]{\Lambda:=\mathbb{C}{\setminus}[1,\infty]} have recently been introduced in Ruscheweyh et al. (Israel J Math, to appear). This notation generalizes the corresponding one for functions in the unit disk \mathbbD{\mathbb{D}} (and other circular domains in \mathbbC{\mathbb{C}}). In this paper we study the behaviour of universally prestarlike functions under the Hadamard product. In particular it is shown that these function classes (with α fixed), are closed under convolution, and that their members, as Hadamard multipliers, also preserve the prestarlikeness (of the same order) of functions in arbitrary circular domains containing the origin.     

Surface‐Functionalized Nanoparticles by Olefin Metathesis: A Chemoselective Approach for In Vivo Characterization of Atherosclerosis Plaque

The use of click chemistry reactions for the functionalization of nanoparticles is particularly useful to modify the surface in a well‐defined manner and to enhance the targeting properties, thus facilitating clinical translation. Here it is demonstrated that olefin metathesis can be used for the chemoselective functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles with three different examples. This approach enables, in one step, the synthesis and functionalization of different water‐stable magnetite‐based particles from oleic acid‐coated counterparts. The surface of the nanoparticles was completely characterized showing how the metathesis approach introduces a large number of hydrophilic molecules on their coating layer. As an example of the possible applications of these new nanocomposites, a focus was taken on atherosclerosis plaques. It is also demonstrated how the in vitro properties of one of the probes, particularly its Ca²⁺‐binding properties, mediate their final in vivo use; that is, the selective accumulation in atherosclerotic plaques. This opens promising new applications to detect possible microcalcifications associated with plaque vulnerability. The accumulation of the new imaging tracers is demonstrated by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging of carotids and aorta in the ApoE^?/? mouse model and the results were confirmed by histology.     

Highly selective and sensitive chromo-fluorogenic detection of the Tetryl explosive using functional silica nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles containing polyamines and thiol groups have been used as probes for the selective detection of Tetryl.     

Replica-symmetric solutions of a dilute Ising ferromagnet in a random field

We use the replica method in order to obtain an expression for the variational free energy of an Ising ferromagnet on a Viana-Bray lattice in the presence of random external fields. Introducing a global order parameter, in the replica-symmetric context, the problem is reduced to the analysis of the solutions of a nonlinear integral equation. At zero temperature, and under some restrictions on the form of the random fields, we are able to perform a detailed analysis of stability of the replica-symmetric solutions. In contrast to the behaviour of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model for a spin glass in a uniform field, the paramagnetic solution is fully stable in a sufficiently large random field.     

Complexation Study and Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Pipemidic Acid with γ-Cyclodextrin

The fluorimetric characteristics of pipemidic acid (PIPE) have been investigated. It has been proven that the fluorescence emission band of pipemidic acid at 439 nm is significantly intensified in the presence of γ-cyclodextrin. The inclusional complexation between the antibacterial pipemidic acid and γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) has been studied. A 1:1 stoichiometry of the complex was established and its association constant was calculated by a nonlinear regression method, monitoring the changes in the fluorescence signal of pipemidic acid in the presence of γ-CD. According to the results obtained, a spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of PIPE has been proposed. The best limits of detection and quantification were obtained in presence of γ-CD, in acidic media. The dynamic range of the method was comprised between 0.18 and 1.40 μg/ml.     

Wavelet expansions forBMOρ (w)‐functions

We give necessary and sufficient conditions on the wavelet coefficients of a function for being a member of some BMO_φ (w) space. We achieve this characterization for a wide variety of wavelet systems. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)