Lattice Gas Model in Random Medium and Open Boundaries: Hydrodynamic and Relaxation to the Steady State

We consider a lattice gas interacting by the exclusion rule in the presence of a random field given by i.i.d. bounded random variables in a bounded domain in contact with particles reservoir at different densities. We show, in dimensions d≥3, that the rescaled empirical density field almost surely, with respect to the random field, converges to the unique weak solution of a quasilinear parabolic equation having the diffusion matrix determined by the statistical properties of the external random field and boundary conditions determined by the density of the reservoir. Further we show that the rescaled empirical density field, in the stationary regime, almost surely with respect to the random field, converges to the solution of the associated stationary transport equation.     

Homogenization of rectangular cross-section fibre-reinforced materials: bending–torsion effects

We study the homogenization of an elastic material in contact with periodic parallel elastic rectangular cross-section fibres of higher rigidity. The interactions between the matrix and the fibres are described by a local adhesion contact law with interfacial adhesive stiffness parameter depending on the period. Assuming that the Lamé constants in the fibres and the stiffness parameter have appropriate orders of magnitude, we derive a class of energy functionals involving extension, flexure and torsion terms.     

Strong gravitational lensing by a charged Kiselev black hole

We study the gravitational lensing scenario where the lens is a spherically symmetric charged black hole (BH) surrounded by quintessence matter. The null geodesic equations in the curved background of the black hole are derived. The resulting trajectory equation is solved analytically via perturbation and series methods for a special choice of parameters, and the distance of the closest approach to black hole is calculated. We also derive the lens equation giving the bending angle of light in the curved background. In the strong field approximation, the solution of the lens equation is also obtained for all values of the quintessence parameter \(w_q\). For all \(w_q\), we show that there are no stable closed null orbits and that corrections to the deflection angle for the Reissner–Nordström black hole when the observer and the source are at large, but finite, distances from the lens do not depend on the charge up to the inverse of the distances squared. A part of the present work, analyzed, however, with a different approach, is the extension of Younas et al. (Phys Rev D 92:084042, 2015) where the uncharged case has been treated.     

Energy harvesting from quasi-periodic vibrations using electromagnetic coupling with delay

In this paper, we study quasi-periodic vibrational energy harvesting in a delayed self-excited oscillator with a delayed electromagnetic coupling. The energy harvester system consists in a delayed van der Pol oscillator with delay amplitude modulation coupled to a delayed electromagnetic coupling mechanism. It is assumed that time delay is inherently present in the mechanical subsystem of the harvester, while it is introduced in the electrical circuit to control and optimize the output power of the system. A double-step perturbation method is performed near a delay parametric resonance to approximate the quasi-periodic solutions of the harvester which are used to extract the quasi-periodic vibration-based power. The influence of the time delay introduced in the electromagnetic subsystem on the performance of the quasi-periodic vibration-based energy harvesting is examined. In particular, it is shown that for appropriate values of amplitudes and frequency of time delay the maximum output power of the harvester is not necessarily accompanied by the maximum amplitude of system response.     

Statics and dynamics of single chains in polymer blends and copolymer melts — results beyond the random phase approximation

We present new results on the behaviour of single chains in homo-and copolymer blends which are beyond the rendom phase approximation (RPA). The radius of gyration of a chain in the blend was found to depend strongly on the interactions as well as the effective diffusion constant of a single chain in the blend or copolymer melt. Note that these results cannot be obtained in the original formulation of the RPA. They are based on the effective Hamiltonian of the chain in the medium. In the equation found for the self diffusion constant of a single chain, D_s, the second term is directly the value of the effective potential at zero wave vector. Thus the measurement of D_s would detect the screened potential at q = 0. Experimental verification of these results is in progress.     

Dynamics of multicomponent polymer mixtures: theoretical models

Theoretical models describing the dynamics of multicomponent polymer mixtures are reviewed. Some detailed derivations are shown to make the basic assumptions clear and to ease the comparison between these models. The effects of random noise and memory functions on the time evolution of dynamical correlation functions are examined. The long-range hydrodynamic interactions or mode-coupling effects are also included. A possible extension of these models to the kinetics of spinodal decomposition in solutions of polymer mixtures is briefly discussed.     

Mesoporous γ‐Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Magnetically Triggered Release of Doxorubicin and Hyperthermia Treatment

Mesoporous iron‐oxide nanoparticles (mNPs) were prepared by using a modified nanocasting approach with mesoporous carbon as a hard template. mNPs were first loaded with doxorubicin (Dox), an anticancer drug, and then coated with the thermosensitive polymer Pluronic F108 to prevent the leakage of Dox molecules from the pores that would otherwise occur under physiological conditions. The Dox‐loaded, Pluronic F108‐coated system (Dox@F108‐mNPs) was stable at room temperature and physiological pH and released its Dox cargo slowly under acidic conditions or in a sudden burst with magnetic heating. No significant toxicity was observed in vitro when Dox@F108‐mNPs were incubated with noncancerous cells, a result consistent with the minimal internalization of the particles that occurs with normal cells. On the other hand, the drug‐loaded particles significantly reduced the viability of cervical cancer cells (HeLa, IC₅₀=0.70 μm ), wild‐type ovarian cancer cells (A2780, IC₅₀=0.50 μm ) and Dox‐resistant ovarian cancer cells (A2780/AD, IC₅₀=0.53 μm ). In addition, the treatment of HeLa cells with both Dox@F108‐mNPs and subsequent alternating magnetic‐field‐induced hyperthermia was significantly more effective at reducing cell viability than either Dox or Dox@F108‐mNP treatment alone. Thus, Dox@F108‐mNPs constitute a novel soft/hard hybrid nanocarrier system that is highly stable under physiological conditions, temperature‐responsive, and has chemo‐ and thermotherapeutic modes of action.