Analysis of some medicinal plants in South-western Nigeria using PIXE

Summary Analysis of thirteen medicinal plants of various biological activities commonly used in South-western Nigeria was carried out using PIXE technique. Nine of these plants are anti-cancer while four are antimicrobial. PIXE measurements were carried out using collimated proton beams delivered by the 2. 5 MV AN 2000 Van de Graaff accelerator at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), (LNL) Legnaro, (Padova), Italy. The results showed the presence of twenty three different elements in the plants and none of them contains any toxic heavy metals. Only Chenopodium ambrosioides showed detectable levels of selenium which is considered important in cancer prevention.     

一类非线性方程解的存在和唯一性及在图像中的应用

本文我们给出一个修正的非线性扩散方程模型，与Cotte Lions和Morel的模型相比该模型有许多实质上的优点。主要的想法是把原来去噪声部分：卷积Gauss过程替代为解一个有界区域上的线性抛物方程问题，因此避开了对初始数值如何全平面延拓的问题。我们从数学上的证明该问题解的存在性和适定性，同时给出对矩形域情况的解的级数形式。最后我们给基于本模型的数值计算差分模型，并且给出几个具体图像在该模型下处理结果。     

Extension of a combined analytical/numerical initial value problem solver for unsteady periodic flow

Here we describe analytical and numerical modifications that extend the Differential Reduced Ejector/ mixer Analysis (DREA), a combined analytical/numerical, multiple species ejector/mixing code developed for preliminary design applications, to apply to periodic unsteady flow. An unsteady periodic flow modelling capability opens a range of pertinent simulation problems including pulse detonation engines (PDE), internal combustion engine ICE applications, mixing enhancement and more fundamental fluid dynamic unsteadiness, e.g. fan instability/vortex shedding problems. Although mapping between steady and periodic forms for a scalar equation is a classical problem in applied mathematics, we will show that extension to systems of equations and, moreover, problems with complex initial conditions are more challenging. Additionally, the inherent large gradient initial condition singularities that are characteristic of mixing flows and that have greatly influenced the DREA code formulation, place considerable limitations on the use of numerical solution methods. Fortunately, using the combined analytical–numerical form of the DREA formulation, a successful formulation is developed and described. Comparison of this method with experimental measurements for jet flows with excitation shows reasonable agreement with the simulation. Other flow fields are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the model. As such, we demonstrate that unsteady periodic effects can be included within the simple, efficient, coarse grid DREA implementation that has been the original intent of the DREA development effort, namely, to provide a viable tool where more complex and expensive models are inappropriate. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimum experimental conditions of the brittle fracture technique for homogenisation of biological materials

Optimum experimental conditions for the brittle fracture technique applied in trace metal analysis of biological material are described. The efficiency of the technique was tested by sieve and radio-tracer experiments. Numerical results are presented for human placenta submitted to eight different grinding procedures.     

Game of two cars: Case of variable speed

A stochastic version of Isaacs's (Ref. 1) game of two cars is dealt with here. In this version, the pursuer, owing to thrust and drag forces, has a variable speed, whereas the evader's speed is constant. Also, the pursuer can maneuver as long as his speed is bounded by some lower and upper limits. The probability of interception, corresponding to optimal (saddle-point) feedback strategies, is computed and serves as a reference for evaluating the performance of four different versions of the proportional navigation pursuit law as well as two other strategies.     

Transport properties of a side-chain liquid-crystalline polymer. Poly(4-acryloyloxy biphenyl)

The transport properties of a side-chain liquid-crystalline polymer forming a smectic A phase have been investigated using dichloromethane as a permeant. Samples differing in the isotropization enthaoly were analyzed. A. Correlation between this thermal parameter and sorption has been found, while the diffusion coefficient is substantially the same in all samples. The results obtained can be explained in terms of a biphasis model in which a disordered permeable phase is present within the liquid-crystalline phase, which is impermeable to the diffusant molecules.     

Improved quantitation of 13-cis- and all-trans-acitretin in human plasma by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A reliable analytical method has been developed for measurement of 13-cis- and all-trans-acitretin (Neotigason) in human plasma by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, with ultraviolet detection. Human plasma was obtained after centrifugation of whole blood samples and deproteinized by ethanolic denaturation. After liquid-liquid extraction with water-n-hexane, and aliquot ws chromatographed on a silica column using isocratic elution with n-hexane-methylsalicylate-acetic acid (200:18:0.6, v/v). The wavelength was set at 360 nm, and for plasma samples a limit of quantification of 3-4 ng/ml was obtained. All manipulations were carried out under dim light conditions to prevent photoisomerization.     

Enantioseparation of Dencichine and D-Isomer on L-Cysteine Derivative Phase by Ligand-exchange Chromatography

Dencichine (β-N-oxalyl-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid, L-ODAP), a nonprotein amino acid, is a haemostatic agent present in important Chinese medicinal herbs such as Panax notoginseng, as well as other Panax species1. It was first isolated from the seeds …     

Implementation of recycling routes for scanning probe microscopy tips.

In this work, effective, yet simple, recycling mechanisms for used scanning probe microscopy (SPM) tips were implemented. Comprising a tip profile characterization methodology and specific cleaning procedures, which decontaminate SPM tips whether the contamination nature is known or not, such routes were optimized during numerous tests with brand new, previously used, and already discarded categories of SPM tips. The results show that if the used tip suffered contamination only, but no physical damages, during its scanning lifetime, it becomes readily available for reutilization after the cleansing process, characterizing a recycling route. On the other hand, if the tip went through wear and breakages during its utilization, it still can be decontaminated, but may not be directly reutilized due to its inadequate physical profile. Nevertheless, the methodology developed in this work may yet be applied as part of a more complex recycling route.