Probing the Nature of the Cluster Effect Observed with Synthetic Multivalent Galactosides and Peanut Agglutinin Lectin

We designed a set of multi‐galactosides with valencies ranging from one to seven and different spacer‐arm lengths. The compounds display a high structural homology for a strict assessment of multivalent phenomena. The multimers were first evaluated by an enzyme‐linked lectin assay (ELLA) toward the peanut agglutinin (PNA). The binding affinity was shown to be dependent on the spacer‐arm length, and cluster effects were observed for the galactosides bearing the shortest and the longest linkers. The latter compounds were shown to be much more potent PNA cross‐linkers in a “sandwich assay”. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments also revealed the formation of soluble aggregates between heptavalent derivatives with medium or long linkers and the labeled PNA. ELLA experiments performed with valency‐controlled clusters and labeled lectins are therefore not always devoid from aggregative processes. The precise nature of the multivalent interaction observed by ELLA for the compounds bearing the shortest linkers, which are unable to form PNA aggregates, was further investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The galactosides were grafted onto the tip of a cantilever and the PNA lectin onto a gold surface. Similar unbinding forces were registered when the valency of the ligands was increased, thus showing that the multimers cannot interact more strongly with PNA. Multiple binding events to the PNA were also never observed, thus confirming that a chelate binding mode does not operate with the multivalent galactosides, probably because the linkers are too short. Altogether, these results suggest that the cluster effect that operates in ELLA with the multimers is not related to additional PNA stabilizations and can be ascribed to local concentration effects that favor a dynamic turnover of the tethered galactosides in the PNA binding sites.     

Investigation of New Ion-Conducting ORMOLYTES: Structure and Properties

Two families of hybrid organic-inorganic composites exhibiting Li⁺ ionic conduction (ORMOLYTES) have been prepared by the sol-gel process. The first family, prepared from a mixture of 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, O,O Bis (2-aminopropyl)-polyethyleneglycol (or O,O Bis (2-aminopropyl)-polypropyleneglycol) and lithium salt, presents chemical bonds between the organic and the inorganic phase and an ionic conductivity higher than 10^-4 S m^-1 at room temperature. Their properties have been related to their structure using liquid state NMR measurements of ⁷Li between -100°C and +100°C and the DMTA technique. In the second family, prepared by ultrasonic method from a mixture of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and lithium salt, the organic and inorganic phases are not chemically bonded. Ionic conductivity has been studied as a function of the polymer chain length and concentration. Values of up to 10^-2 S m^-1 at room temperature have been obtained (with a silica-PEG₃₀₀ system, PEG/TEOS = 40% in weight). Again, structure was investigated by liquid state ⁷Li NMR measurements.     

Determination of arsenic species in marine organisms by HPLC-ICP-OES and HPLC-HG-QFAAS

Separation and quantification of six arsenic species have been performed in cod, tuna and mussel samples by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and hydride generation-quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-QFAAS) as detection techniques. It has been shown that arsenic extraction with a water-methanol (11) mixture is sufficiently quantitative for the cod and tuna, in which arsenic is mainly present as arsenobetaine (about 90% of total As extracted). In contrast, only 60% of the element is extracted from the mussels and the chromatograms obtained reveal the presence of an unknown compound. Detection limits are in the g ml^–1 range for the HPLC-ICP-OES technique (quantification of arsenobetaine and arsenocholine) and in the ng ml^–1 range for the HPLC-HG-QFAAS system (quantification of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acids).     

Convective heat transfer over two blocks arbitrary located in a 2D plane channel using a hybrid lattice Boltzmann-finite difference method

The present paper deals with the numerical investigation of a 2D laminar fluid flow and heat transfer in a plane channel with two square blocks located at arbitrary positions. The numerical model is based on a coupling between the multiple relaxation time-lattice Boltzmann equation and the finite difference method for incompressible flow. Both the horizontal and the vertical separation distances between the two blocks are varied. Particular attention was paid to the distribution patterns of the time averaged local Nusselt number on the top and bottom walls. Results obtained from the present study show a complex flow patterns developed in the channel due to the change of the square blocks positions.     

Two new refined shear displacement models for functionally graded sandwich plates

Two refined displacement models, RSDT1 and RSDT2, are developed for a bending analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates. Unlike any other theory, the number of unknown functions involved is only four, as against five in case of other shear deformation theories. The developed models are variationally consistent, have strong similarity with classical plate theory in many aspects, do not require shear correction factor, and give rise to transverse shear stress variation such that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness satisfying shear stress-free surface conditions. The accuracy of the analysis presented is demonstrated by comparing the results with solutions derived from other higher-order models. The functionally graded layers are assumed to have isotropic, two-constituent material distribution through the thickness, and the modulus of elasticity, Poisson’s ratio of the faces, and thermal expansion coefficients are assumed to vary according to a power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The core layer is still homogeneous and made of an isotropic ceramic material. Numerical results for deflections and stresses of functionally graded metal–ceramic plates are investigated. It can be concluded that the proposed models are accurate and simple in solving the bending behavior of functionally graded plates.     

On the thermal anisotropy affecting transfers in a multilayer porous mediumSur l'effet de l'anisotropie thermique sur les transferts dans un milieu poreux multicouches

An analytical model for studying double-diffusive natural convection within a multilayer anisotropic porous medium is developed and validated with respect to a direct numerical silmulation. The studied domain is composed of two horizontal porous layers where the lower one is thermally anisotropic and is submitted to a uniform horizontal heat flux and a vertical mass flux. The assumption of parallel flow is validated and the effect of anisotropy on dynamic transitions is investigated. To cite this article: R. Bennacer et al., C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

Testing for nonlinear dependence in financial markets

This article addresses the question of improving the detection of nonlinear dependence by means of recently developed nonparametric tests. To this end a generalized version of BDS test and a new test based on symbolic dynamics are used on realizations from a well-known artificial market for which the dynamic equation governing the market is known. Comparisons with other tests for detecting nonlinearity are also provided. We show that the test based on symbolic dynamics outperforms other tests with the advantage that it depends only on one free parameter, namely the embedding dimension. This does not hold for other tests for nonlinearity.     

Self-similar solutions to the generalized deterministic KPZ equation

Geometric properties of shape functions of self-similar solution to the equation are studied, and q are positive numbers. These shapes-the solutions of the corresponding nonlinear ODE-are of very different nature. The properties usually depend on three critical values of q (1, 3/2 and 2). For the range 1<q<2 the dependence of is more remarkable, for example there is no global existence in general.