Large-scale structure of passive scalar turbulence

We investigate the large-scale statistics of a passive scalar transported by a turbulent velocity field by means of direct numerical simulations. We focus on scales larger than the characteristic length scale of scalar injection, yet smaller than the correlation length of the velocity. We show the existence of nontrivial long-range correlations in the form of new power laws for the decay of high-order coarse-grained scalar cumulants. This result contradicts the classical scenario of Gibbs equilibrium statistics that should hold in the absence of scalar flux. The breakdown of "thermal equilibrium" at large scales is traced back to the statistical geometry of turbulent dispersion of two scalar blobs. The numerical values obtained for the scaling exponents of the coarse-grained scalar cumulants are in agreement with recent theoretical results.     

On Graphlike k-Dissimilarity Vectors

Let \({\mathcal{G} = (G, w)}\) be a positive-weighted simple finite connected graph, that is, let G be a simple finite connected graph endowed with a function w from the set of edges of G to the set of positive real numbers. For any subgraph \({G^\prime}\) of G, we define \({w(G^\prime)}\) to be the sum of the weights of the edges of \({G^\prime}\) . For any i ₁, . . . , i _k vertices of G, let \({D_{\{i_1,..., i_k\}} (\mathcal{G})}\) be the minimum of the weights of the subgraphs of G connecting i ₁, . . . , i _k . The \({D_{\{i_1,..., i_k\}}(\mathcal{G})}\) are called k-weights of \({\mathcal{G}}\) . Given a family of positive real numbers parametrized by the k-subsets of {1, . . . , n}, \({{\{D_I\}_{I} \in { \{1,...,n\} \choose k}}}\) , we can wonder when there exist a weighted graph \({\mathcal{G}}\) (or a weighted tree) and an n-subset {1, . . . , n} of the set of its vertices such that \({D_I (\mathcal{G}) = D_I}\) for any \({I} \in { \{1,...,n\} \choose k}\) . In this paper we study this problem in the case k =  n?1.     

Effect of some physico-chemical conditions on an immunoassay for viable Escherichia coli

Viable Escherichia coli can be detected by an immunoassay in which live bacteria captured on antibody-coated paramagnetic beads are induced to synthesize the enzyme β-galactosidase, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of the slightly fluorescent substrate 4-methyl umbelliferyl-β-d-galactoside to the highly fluorescent product 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin for detection. The effects of bacterial strain, presence of dead bacteria, and some environmental stresses on assay performance were evaluated.     

Chemistry and biology of glycosaminoglycans in blood coagulation

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are widely distributed in animal tissues where they are usually associated with proteins. Six types are commonly recognized: heparin (Hep), heparan sulfate (HS), dermatan sulfate (DS), chondroitin sulfate (Ch-S), keratan sulfate (KS) and hyaluronic acid (Hyal). They are structurally related with a carbohydrate backbone consisting of alternating hexuronic acid (L-iduronic acid and/or D-glucuronic acid) or galactose units and hexosamine (D-glucosamine or D-galactosamine) residues. All GAGs, except Hyal, show sulfate groups along their chains. Certain sulfate glycoaminoglycans have the ability to interfere with blood coagulation, as demonstrated by the extensive clinical use of Hep as an anticoagulant agent. HS and DS show a good anticoagulant activity, although weaker than that of Hep. In contrast, Ch-S has a low ability to inhibit plasma serine proteases, and KS and Hyal are devoid of any effect on coagulation cascade. The interaction between blood coagulation serine proteases and GAGs can be found to have two principle mechanisms: the specific “lock and key” binding and the nonspecific cooperative electrostatic association. This different ability of GAGs to interact with coagulation cascade proteins depends on the molecular weight, the ratio of iduronic/glucoronic acid and the sulfation degree. Many attempts have been made to improve or induce anticoagulant activity of natural GAGs-by chemical modification. Increasing sulfation degree of DS and Ch-S is followed by their biological activity increasing. Hyal, which is devoid of any anticoagulant effect, acquires a good ability to inactivate plasma serine proteases, i.e. thrombin and Factor Xa, when it is sulfated. This ability increases by increasing the number of sulfate groups per disaccharide unit, although the mechanism of action is different from that of Hep, but seems to be independent of its molecular weight.     

Schwarzschild Metrics and Quasi-Universes

The exterior and interior Schwarzschild solutions are rewritten replacing the usual radial variable with an angular one. This allows us to obtain some results that otherwise are less apparent or even hidden in other coordinate systems.     

Pyrene‐Excimers‐Based Antenna Systems

A series of dendrimeric compounds bearing pyrene units were synthesized to afford light‐harvesting antennae based on the formation of intramolecular excimers. The synthetic plan profited from the efficiency of the Huisgen reaction, the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azides and terminal alkynes, which allowed ready assembly of the different building blocks. The three molecular antennae obtained, of increasing generation, revealed efficient energy transfer both in solution and in the solid state.     

Compatibility of a closed singular universe with present observational data

The influence of the constant term A on the cosmological equations is investigated. It is shown that a closed singular universe is possible even with the presently known matter and radiation densities, provided that the universe age is restricted to a suitable range.     

Large-scale anisotropy in scalar turbulence

The effect of anisotropy on the statistics of a passive tracer transported by a turbulent flow is investigated. We show that under broad conditions an arbitrarily small amount of anisotropy propagates to the large scales where it eventually dominates the structure of the concentration field. This result is obtained analytically in the framework of an exactly solvable model and confirmed by numerical simulations of scalar transport in two-dimensional turbulence.     

Photoinduced Energy- and Electron-Transfer Processes in a Side-to-Face RuII-Porphyrin/Perylene-bisimide Array

A side-to-face array DPy-gPBI[Ru(4-tBuTPP)(CO)]₂, based on a “green” perylene bisimide chromophore sandwiched between two Ru^II-porphyrins, has been prepared by self-assembly. Its photophysical properties have been characterized in detail by a combination of steady-state and time-resolved techniques upon selective excitation of the two different components. Different photoinduced processes are observed as a function of the excitation wavelength. Electron transfer quenching is attained upon “red light” excitation of the perylene unit, whilst an energy transfer pathway is followed upon “green light” excitation of the metallo-porphyrin moiety. Regardless of the excitation wavelength efficient population of the triplet excited state of the perylene chromophore is achieved. The photophysical results are discussed within the framework of classical electron transfer theory and compared with those of a previously reported system.