Analysis of the squeezing flow of dusty fluids

The current investigation deals with the study of the effect of introducing a small fraction of dust, by volume, to the fluid in a squeeze film on the viscous resistance to a steady moving disc. Expressions are obtained for the fluid-phase and the dust-phase velocity distributions and the dust particle number density. Analysis based on an iterative procedure indicates that the resistance to motion experienced by the moving disc increases due to the presence of dust.Nomenclature A arbitrary function of integration - B bulk concentration - F resistance to motion experienced by the disc (dusty fluid case) - F _c resistance to motion experienced by the disc (clean fluid case) - F* difference in resistance between the clean fluid and dusty fluid films - f mass concentration - h thickness of the squeeze film - K Stokes coefficient of resistance - m mass of a single dust particle - fluid viscosity coefficient - N dust particles number density - N ₀ dust particles number density at r=R - n iteration level - p fluid pressure in the squeeze film - P pressure in the surrounding - R radius of the disc - fluid density - (r, , y) cylindrical coordinates - t time - U fluid-phase velocity vector - V dust-phase velocity vector - ₁ fluid-phase radial velocity component - U ₂ dust-phase radial velocity component     

Chaos and instability in a power system: Subharmonic-resonant case

The response of a single-machine quasi-infinite busbar system to the simultaneous occurrence of principal parametric resonance and subharmonic resonance of order one-half is investigated. By numerical simulations we show the existence of oscillatory solutions (limit cycles), period-doubling bifurcations, chaos, and unbounded motions (loss of synchronism). The method of multiple scales is used to derive a second-order analytical solution that predicts (a) the onset of period-doubling bifurcations, which is a precursor to chaos and unbounded motions (loss of synchronism), and (b) saddle-node bifurcations, which may be precursors to loss of synchronism.     

The role of Fe–X···X–Fe contacts in the crystal structures of [(2-iodopyridinium)2FeX4]X (X = Cl, Br)

The analogy of chloride–chloride contacts in compounds containing Fe–Cl1···Cl2–Fe synthons with well-studied organic C–Cl1···Cl2–C interactions has been investigated. The crystal structures of the two tetrahaloferrate(III) salts, [(2-iodopyridinium)₂FeX₄]X (X = Cl, Br) have been determined. Analysis of these two isomorphous structures and related published structures shows that the arrangement of Fe–Cl1···Cl2–Fe synthons is similar to that of C–Cl1···Cl2–C with the Fe–Cl1···Cl2 and Cl1···Cl2–Fe angles being ~150°. While inter-chlorine distances are less than the sum of van der Waals radii in C–Cl1···Cl2–C units, they are equal to, or longer, than the sum of van der Waals radii in the corresponding Fe–Cl1···Cl2–Fe contacts. This might indicate that the arrangement of Fe–Cl1···Cl2–Fe synthons occurs predominately to reduce repulsive forces rather than as a result of attractive forces. However, it is observed that the halide–halide distance in [(2-iodopyridinium)₂FeBr₄]Br is shorter than in the isostructural chloride species, which can be explained by the fact that bromine is softer than chlorine. Several intermolecular forces unite the cations and anions within the crystalline lattice of [(2-iodopyridinium)₂FeX₄]X including N–H···X^?, C–I···X–Fe, N(π)···X–Fe, N(π)···I–C, and Fe–X1···X2–Fe contacts. The calculated electron density and electrostatic potential of the [FeX₄]^? anions and the organic iodopyridinium cations was used to describe the arrangement of these synthons and the hierarchy of the strengths of the respective contacts.     

Comparison of Aluminium Nanostructures Created by Discharges in Various Dielectric Liquids

Synthesis of aluminium-containing nanoparticles (NPs) by electrical discharges was performed in three dielectric liquids (heptane, liquid nitrogen and water) with aluminium electrodes. The nature of the liquid plays an essential role in the synthesis yield and in the structural properties of NPs. Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy of selected emission lines emitted during the discharge and its time afterglow was used to observe the chemical changes occurring in the gas phase. It turns out that in heptane and liquid nitrogen, crystalline metallic NPs (from 5 to 10 nm in diameter) are synthesized and oxidized next into amorphous alumina when they are in contact with air, once the liquid is evaporated. In heptane, the transformation of the liquid itself into hydrogenated amorphous carbon creates a kind a matrix in which the aluminium NPs are embedded. Sometimes, a protective graphite shell grows around the NPs and protects them from any further oxidation. In water, these crystalline metallic NPs are synthesized during the first 800 ns of the discharge process, when oxidation is limited by the outward flux of the metallic vapour. They are oxidized next in water. A second type of alumina NPs (several 10 s of nm in diameter) are produced from 800 ns on. They are likely formed from AlO molecules and no longer from aluminium atoms. In every liquid, sub-micrometric particles are also found due to droplet emission from the liquid well created during impacts of spark discharges on electrodes.     

On forced convection in channels partially filled with porous substrates

 This paper numerically simulates the forced convection flow in the developing region of a parallel-plate channel partially filled with two porous substrates of equal thickness deposited at the inner walls of the channel. The major objective of the present work is to investigate the impact of several operating and design parameters on the thermal performance of the channel under consideration. The physical problem is simulated by using Darcy–Brinkman–Forchheimer model. For a prescribed amount of porous material, the current investigation discusses the comparison between inserting this entire amount at one side of the channel and inserting half of this amount at each side of the channel. Received on 25 May 2000 / Published online: 29 November 2001     

Dual anti-inflammatory and antiglycation propensities of a potentially novel class of functionalized fluoroquinolones

Promoted by elevated blood glucose concentrations in diabetes, glycation involves the nonenzymatic addition of reducing sugars and/or their reactive degradation products to amine groups on proteins. New synthetic approaches to 18 fluoroquinolones (FQs) have been developed on the basis of a promising antiglycation activity using 400μM methylglyoxal as the choice glucocytotoxicity concentration. Their anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging properties were elucidated in vitro. Intriguingly, FQs could exhibit an exceedingly more superior than or substantially comparable cytoprotection against methylglyoxal-induced carbonyl toxicity in RAW264.7 macrophages and antiglycation activity to aminoguanidine, as the reference compound. This kind of activity can suggestively be associated with the chelating properties possessed by the synthesized FQs as their DPPH radical scavenging activities proved to be significantly inferior to those of the reference compound, the ascorbic acid. The inhibitory bioactivities using the Griess assay were examined of the compounds against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Selectively, compounds R-2TCBA , R-4FACBA , R-3TCBA , and R-4CLACBA exerted an exceedingly remarkable and superior anti-inflammatory effects (P < .001 vs indomethacin IC₅₀ value of 101.07 ± 2.2 μM) while R-4TCBA and T-4BrACBA were moderately more efficacious than indomethacin. Compounds T-4CLACBA and R-4BrACBA displayed comparable activity with indomethacin. None of the tested compounds and indomethacin exerted any cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. FQs possess potent duality of antiglycation–anti-inflammatory capacities and are devoid of undesirable side effects. FQs can, therefore, serve as scaffolds for the development and designing of new clinical deglycation and antiglycation therapeutic agents.     

The mathematical model of reflection and refraction of longitudinal waves in thermo-piezoelectric materials

In this paper, the basic equations of motion, of Gauss and of heat conduction, together with constitutive relations for pyro- and piezoelectric media, are presented. Three thermoelastic theories are considered: classical dynamical coupled theory, the Lord–Shulman theory with one relaxation time and Green and Lindsay theory with two relaxation times. For incident elastic longitudinal, potential electric and thermal waves, referred to as qP, φ-mode and T-mode waves, which impinge upon the interface between two different transversal isotropic media, reflection and refraction coefficients are obtained by solving a set of linear algebraic equations. A case study is investigated: a system formed by two semi-infinite, hexagonal symmetric, pyroelectric–piezoelectric media, namely Cadmium Selenide (CdSe) and Barium Titanate (BaTiO₃). Numerical results for the reflection and refraction coefficients are obtained, and their behavior versus the incidence angle is analyzed. The interaction with the interface give rises to different kinds of reflected and refracted waves: (i) two reflected elastic waves in the first medium, one longitudinal (qP-wave) and the other transversal (qSV-wave), and a similar situation for the refracted waves in the second medium; (ii) two reflected potential electric waves and a similar situation for the refracted waves; (iii) two reflected thermal waves and a similar situation for the refracted waves. The amplitudes of the reflected and refracted waves are functions of the incident angle, of the thermal relaxation times and of the media elastic, electric, thermal constants. This study is relevant to signal processing, sound systems, wireless communications, surface acoustic wave devices and military defense equipment.     

Effect of Pregnancy on the Speaking Voice

The study aims to investigate the vocal symptoms and acoustic changes in pregnant women pre- and postpartum in comparison to the controls. A total of 25 pregnant women who presented for delivery were enrolled in this study. Twenty-one nonpregnant women were matched as controls. Vocal symptoms such as hoarseness, vocal fatigue, and aphonia were assessed. Acoustic analysis included fundamental frequency (F₀), habitual pitch, relative average perturbation (RAP), shimmer, noise-to-harmony ratio (NHR), and maximum phonation time (MPT). There were no significant differences in the incidence of vocal symptoms in pregnant women versus controls. However, vocal fatigue was more prevalent in the pregnant group. With respect to the acoustic parameters, there was a significant decrease in the MPT at term. The rest of the variables were comparable. Postpartum, the MPT significantly increased and there was an increase in F₀ and a significant decrease in the voice turbulence index (VTI). Pregnant women have more vocal fatigue and a reduction in MPT compared to the controls. Immediately after delivery, there is a significant increase in MPT.     

Development of a new approach for deterministic supply chain network design

This paper proposes a mixed integer linear programming model and solution algorithm for solving supply chain network design problems in deterministic, multi-commodity, single-period contexts. The strategic level of supply chain planning and tactical level planning of supply chain are aggregated to propose an integrated model. The model integrates location and capacity choices for suppliers, plants and warehouses selection, product range assignment and production flows. The open-or-close decisions for the facilities are binary decision variables and the production and transportation flow decisions are continuous decision variables. Consequently, this problem is a binary mixed integer linear programming problem. In this paper, a modified version of Benders’ decomposition is proposed to solve the model. The most difficulty associated with the Benders’ decomposition is the solution of master problem, as in many real-life problems the model will be NP-hard and very time consuming. In the proposed procedure, the master problem will be developed using the surrogate constraints. We show that the main constraints of the master problem can be replaced by the strongest surrogate constraint. The generated problem with the strongest surrogate constraint is a valid relaxation of the main problem. Furthermore, a near-optimal initial solution is generated for a reduction in the number of iterations.