Global dynamics of an epidemiological model with age-of-infection dependent treatment rate

We revisit a previously established model for influenza transmission dynamics, in which antiviral treatment as a single containment strategy was administered within a specified window of opportunity for initiating treatment. We extend this model to a more general framework with age-of-infection dependent treatment rates. The resulting age structured model can be transformed into a closed system of delay differential equations, for which we perform a complete global stability analysis. By constructing suitable Lyapunov functions, we show that the effective reproduction number fully characterizes the possible outcomes of disease dynamics. Our results allow us to evaluate treatment strategies and examine the impact of treatment delays on the potential success of disease control.     

Synthesis of Flexible Elastomeric Polyurethane Films with High Elasticity and Evaluation of Their Structural Permanency

Flexible elastomeric polyurethane (EPU) films were synthesized by ultraviolet (UV) curing of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) through the reaction among poly (oxytetramethylene) diol (PTMO), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), cis-2-butene-1,4-diol (cis-BDO), and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA). In order to improve elasticity and structural permanency in the synthesized TPUs, cross-linking reaction involving unsaturated groups of chain extender (cis-BDO) and reactive diluent (HDDA) using 27 and 41 seconds of UV radiation is introduced. Investigation of structure and mechanical properties was performed using FTIR, GPC, and tensile tests. Stress-strain behavior showed that Young's moduli of EPUs were in the range of 0.2 to 0.4 MPa, which is evidence for high flexibility. Three times of repeated loading on one sample up to 100% strain with 10 min intervals for its recovery showed that considerable structural change didn't occur under these conditions and all observed permanent sets vanished within a time not exceeding 10 min.     

Incompressible Roe‐like scheme for turbulent flows

In the current study, numerical investigation of incompressible turbulent flow is presented. By the artificial compressibility method, momentum and continuity equations are coupled. Considering Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations, the Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model, which has accurate results in two‐dimensional problems, is used to calculate Reynolds stresses. For convective fluxes a Roe‐like scheme is proposed for the steady Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations. Also, Jameson averaging method was implemented. In comparison, the proposed characteristics‐based upwind incompressible turbulent Roe‐like scheme, demonstrated very accurate results, high stability, and fast convergence. The fifth‐order Runge–Kutta scheme is used for time discretization. The local time stepping and implicit residual smoothing were applied as the convergence acceleration techniques. Suitable boundary conditions have been implemented considering flow behavior. The problem has been studied at high Reynolds numbers for cross flow around the horizontal circular cylinder and NACA0012 hydrofoil. Results were compared with those of others and a good agreement has been observed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A versatile supported silver for heterogeneously catalysed processes: Synthesis of 3‐Acyloxylindolines solvent‐free conditions

We have found that fibrous nanosilica (KCC‐1) can used as a excellent support for the synthesis of highly sparse nanoparticles and has high surface area that was functionalized with Tetrathia‐azacyclopentadecane (TTACP) groups acting as the strong performers so that the Ag nanoparticles were well‐dispersed without aggregation on the fibers of the KCC‐1 microspheres (KCC‐1/TTACP/Ag). We enthusiasm to report one‐pot synthesis of 3‐Acyloxylindolines for first time from N‐tosyl‐2‐vinylaniline, and benzoic acid in the presence of KCC‐1/TTACP/Ag as a catalyst.     

Synthesis of New β,β′-Diketodithioethers via Swern Oxidation and Study of Their Hydrazone Formation Rate

The synthesis of β,β′-diketodithioethers 4b–j from corresponding β,β′-dihydroxydithioethers 3b–j was carried out by a Swern oxidation using DMSO-oxalyl chloride as oxidizing agent. β,β′-Dihydroxydithioethers 3b–j were prepared by the reaction of two molar equivalents of epoxides 1b–j with dimercaptoethane 2 in the presence of a saturated aqueous solution of potassium carbonate. The reactivity behavior of imine formation of the β,β′-diketodithioethers 4b–j by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine was also investigated, and a mechanism was proposed by using molecular orbital (MO) calculations. To confirm the proposed mechanism, the role of the thia function to activate hydrazone formation by measuring HOMO-LUMO energy levels was also demonstrated.     

Fuzzy chance-constrained data envelopment analysis: a structured literature review,current trends,and future directions

Fuzzy Optimization and Decision Making - Fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA) is one of the most applicable approaches for performance assessment of peer decision making units under ambiguity...     

Zirconium (IV) porphyrin graphene oxide: a new and efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones

A covalently cross‐linked graphene oxide (GO) as a catalyst was prepared by a cross‐linking process using the nucleophilic reaction of zirconium (IV)‐coordinated 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis (aminophenyl)porphyrin (ZrPPh) with carboxyl groups of the edges of GO (GO‐ZrPPh). The chemical structure of catalyst was characterized by different analyses such as FT‐IR, SEM, TEM, EDS, ICP, TGA and UV. All analyses confirm the occurrence of successfully covalent immobilization of ZrPPh on the GO. Also, TEM and SEM images show that ZrPPh has been immobilized in the both of the edges and the basal plane of GO. The activity of the catalyst was studied for the synthesis of 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones via Biginelli reaction. The cross‐linked catalyst is able to catalyze the reaction in short reaction times and good to excellent yields.