A Pore-Scale Model for Permeable Biofilm: Numerical Simulations and Laboratory Experiments

Transport in Porous Media - In this paper, we derive a pore-scale model for permeable biofilm formation in a two-dimensional pore. The pore is divided into two phases: water and biofilm. The...     

3D Graphene Foam by Chemical Vapor Deposition: Synthesis,Properties, and Energy-Related Applications

In this review, we highlight recent advancements in 3D graphene foam synthesis by template-assisted chemical vapor deposition, as well as their potential energy storage and conversion applications. This method offers good control of the number of graphene layers and porosity, as well as continuous connection of the graphene sheets. The review covers all the substrate types, catalysts, and precursors used to synthesize 3D graphene by the CVD method, as well as their most viable energy-related applications.     

In Vitro Assessment of the Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Profile of Natural Preparations Containing Bergamot,Orange and Clove Essential Oils

Medicinal plants and essential oils (EOs), in particular, were intensively studied in recent years as viable alternatives for antiproliferative chemical synthetic agents. In the same lines, the present study focuses on investigating the effects of natural preparations (emulsions) based on EOs obtained from Citrus bergamia Risso (bergamot-BEO), Citrus sinensis Osbeck (orange-OEO), and Syzygium aromaticum Merill et L. M. Perry (clove-CEO) on different healthy (human immortalized keratinocytes—HaCaT and primary human gingival fibroblasts—HGF) and human tumor cell lines (human melanoma—A375 and oral squamous carcinoma—SCC-4) in terms of the cells’ viability and cellular morphology. The obtained results indicate that the CEO emulsion (ECEO) induced a dose-dependent cytotoxic in both healthy (HaCaT and HGF) and tumor (A375 and SCC-4) cells. OEO emulsion (EOEO) increased cell viability percentage both for HaCaT and A375 cells and had an antiproliferative effect at the highest concentration in HGF and SCC-4 cells. BEO emulsion (EBEO) decreased the viability percentage of SCC-4 tumor cells. By associating OEO with CEO as a binary mixture in an emulsified formulation, the inhibition of tumor cell viability increases. The E(BEO/OEO) binary emulsion induced an antiproliferative effect on oral health and tumor cells, with a minimal effect on skin cells. The non-invasive tests performed to verify the safety of the test compound’s emulsions at skin level indicated that these compounds do not significantly modify the physiological skin parameters and can be considered safe for human skin.     

Quantized superfields

We construct quantized free superfields and represent them as operator‐valued distributions in Fock space starting with the Majorana field. We then analyse the algebras generated by free component quantum fields together with the Susy generators Q, . This enables us to obtain the quantized chiral superfield by finite Susy transformation from its scalar component. To get hermitian superfields we study by the same method a second scalar field algebra from which various scalar superfields can be obtained by exponentiation. Next we investigate the vector algebra and use it to construct the massive vector superfield. Surprisingly enough, the result is totally different from the vector multiplet in the literature. It contains two hermitian four‐vector components instead of one and a spin‐3/2 field similar to the gravitino in supergravity.     

Heat shock,visible light or high calcium augment the cytotoxic effects of Ailanthus altissima (Swingle) leaf extracts against Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells

To gain new insight into the antimicrobial potential of Ailanthus altissima Swingle, ethanol leaf extracts were evaluated for the antifungal effects against the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae. The extracts inhibited the yeast growth in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect could be augmented by heat shock, exposure to visible light or exposure to high concentrations of Ca²⁺. Using transgenic yeast cells expressing the Ca²⁺-dependent photoprotein, aequorin, it was found that the leaf extracts induced cytosolic Ca²⁺ elevation. Experiments on yeast mutants with defects in Ca²⁺ transport demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of the A. altissima leaf extracts (AaLEs) was mediated by transient pulses of Ca²⁺ ions which were released into the cytosol predominantly from the vacuole. The investigation of the antifungal synergies involving AaLEs may contribute to the development of optimal and safe combination therapies for the treatment of drug-resistant fungal infections.     

Sequential enzymatic procedure for the preparation of enantiomerically pure 2-heteroaryl-2-hydroxyacetic acids

Starting from the racemic 2-benzofuranyl- and 2-benzo[b]thiophenyl-2-hydroxyacetic acid ethyl esters as substrates, a general method was developed for the efficient synthesis of the corresponding highly enantiomerically enriched (ee up to 99%) (R)- and (S)-2-heteroaryl-2-hydroxyacetic acids.     

An Upscaled Model for Permeable Biofilm in a Thin Channel and Tube

Transport in Porous Media - In this paper, we derive upscaled equations for modeling biofilm growth in porous media. The resulting macroscale mathematical models consider permeable multi-species...     

Towards hybrid two-phase modelling using linear domain decomposition

The viscous flow of two immiscible fluids in a porous medium on the Darcy scale is governed by a system of nonlinear parabolic equations. If infinite mobility of one phase can be assumed (e.g., in soil layers in contact with the atmosphere) the system can be substituted by the scalar Richards model. Thus, the porous medium domain may be partitioned into disjoint subdomains where either the full two-phase or the simplified Richards model dynamics are valid. Extending the previously considered one-model situations we suggest coupling conditions for this hybrid model approach. Based on an Euler implicit discretization, a linear iterative (L-type) domain decomposition scheme is proposed, and proved to be convergent. The theoretical findings are verified by a comparative numerical study that in particular confirms the efficiency of the hybrid ansatz as compared to full two-phase model computations.