Hydrodynamics of binary fluid phase segregation

Starting with the Vlasov-Boltzmann equation for a binary fluid mixture, we derive an equation for the velocity field u when the system is segregated into two phases (at low temperatures) with a sharp interface between them. u satisfies the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations together with a jump boundary condition for the pressure across the interface which, in turn, moves with a velocity given by the normal component of u. Numerical simulations of the Vlasov-Boltzmann equations for shear flows parallel and perpendicular to the interface in a phase segregated mixture support this analysis. We expect similar behavior in real fluid mixtures.     

Surface morphology changes of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) fabrics induced by cold plasma treatments

Some selective cold plasma processing modify specific surface properties of textile polymeric materials such as their dyeability, wettability and hydrorepellence. To correlate the sample surface changes with the acquired surface properties allows one to obtain information on the chemical and physical processing involved in plasma treatment. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been applied to investigate the morphological and topographical surface modifications induced by RF cold plasma processing of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) fabrics. Rms surface roughness and surface area of the samples are measured before and after the treatments. The morphology changes have been analysed as a function of the treatment time and air gas pressure. Measurements have been performed also using plasmas produced by different gases such as He, Ar, SF₆ and CF₄. The PET shows different behaviour with different gas plasmas. In the case of air, He and Ar gases the sample surface modifications seem to be mainly due to etching effects, while the fluorine atoms grafting probably is responsible for surface rearrangement process using SF₆ and CF₄ gases. As a consequence different surface properties are produced in the plasma treated samples. Article presented at the International Conference on the Frontiers of Plasma Physics and Technology, 9–14 December 2002, Bangalore, India.     

Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy in Elimination of HPV‐16 and HPV‐18 Associated with CIN I in Mexican Women

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT), using δ‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA), in the elimination of premalignant cervical lesions in Mexican patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and/or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Thirty women diagnosed with CIN I and/or positive for HPV participated in the study. Topical 6% 5‐ALA in gel form was applied to the uterine cervix; after 4 h, the lesion area was irradiated with a light dose of 200 J cm^?2 at 635 nm. This procedure was performed three times at 48‐h intervals. Clinical follow‐up was performed at 3, 6, and 12 months after the initial PDT administration, by colposcopy, cervical cytology, histopathological analysis, polymerase chain reaction, and hybrid capture. Of HPV‐infected patients without evidence of CIN I, 80% cleared the infection, while HPV associated with CIN I was eliminated in 83% of patients (P < 0.05). At 12 months, CIN I had regressed in 57% of patients, although this response was not statistically significant. PDT using 6% 5‐ALA is concluded to be effective in eliminating HPV infection associated or not with CIN I.     

Homoconjugated ketones with extended unsaturation: Wavelength-selective,regioselective, diastereoselective,and enantiospecific photochemical transformations of methyl 7-oxospiro[5.5]undeca-1,3-and -2,4,-diene-2-carboxylate

The title molecules were shown to photorearrange with remarkable selectivity. Wavelength variation steers the rearrangement modes, of which the [1,2]-acyl shift was found to be largely regioselective, diastereoselective, and enantiospecific. Chemical intercorrelation of products and mechanistic studies were carried out all along. The potential significance of these photochemical processes in selective synthetic schemes is discussed.     

Affinity Chromatography-Based Assays for the Screening of Potential Ligands Selective for G-Quadruplex Structures

DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) are key structures for the development of targeted anticancer therapies. In this context, ligands selectively interacting with G4s can represent valuable anticancer drugs. Aiming at speeding up the identification of G4-targeting synthetic or natural compounds, we developed an affinity chromatography-based assay, named G-quadruplex on Oligo Affinity Support (G4-OAS), by synthesizing G4-forming sequences on commercially available polystyrene OAS. Then, due to unspecific binding of several hydrophobic ligands on nude OAS, we moved to Controlled Pore Glass (CPG). We thus conceived an ad hoc functionalized, universal support on which both the on-support elongation and deprotection of the G4-forming oligonucleotides can be performed, along with the successive affinity chromatography-based assay, renamed as G-quadruplex on Controlled Pore Glass (G4-CPG) assay. Here we describe these assays and their applications to the screening of several libraries of chemically different putative G4 ligands. Finally, ongoing studies and outlook of our G4-CPG assay are reported.     

Existence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis><Superscript>1</Superscript><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>–2</Subscript>’s on a double covering of a hyperelliptic curve

Abstract Let X be a non–hyperelliptic curve of genus g which is a double covering of a hyperelliptic curve C of genus h. In this paper, we prove that, if h≥ 3 and g≥ 4h+5, then X admits a complete, base point free g¹_g–2. Moreover, if h=3, this result holds under the mild condition g≥ 4h+3=15. Keywords: Double covering of hyperelliptic curves, Pencil of degree g–2 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000:) 14H30, 14H45     

Vorticity shedding from a lentil-shaped body at large incidence in uniform flow

The 2D flow about a lentil-shaped body at high incidence in uniform stream is numerically simulated for high Reynolds numbers. The separation points are fixed on the body edges and the vorticity released through a Kutta-like condition is spatially discretized by point vortices. Their Lagrangianinviscid dynamics is described by using both aconformal mapping and aboundary elements method. The present results are in good agreement with previous calculations but still not satisfactory when compared with the experiments.The aim of the present work is to investigate the effect of different Kutta conditions and the effect of different amalgamation procedures in the far wake on global quantities such as theStrouhal number or the total shed circulation. Other remarkable effects induced either by the action of viscosity or by the rising of secondary 3D motion, may not be analyzed by the present simplified model.

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Sommario Si studia il flusso attorno ad una lente ad elevata incidenza nelle ipotesi di elevato numero di Reynolds e flusso bidimensionale. I punti di separazione sono fissati sulle estremità della lente e la produzione di vorticità da questi è realizzata con opportune condizioni di Kutta. La dinamica dei vortici è descritta con un modello Lagrangiano non viscoso. I risultati, ottenuti sia con l'uso di una trasformazione conforme che con un metodo agli elementi di contorno, sono in ottimo accordo con i risultati di precedenti simulazioni numeriche, ma non sono ancora soddisfacenti se confrontati con gli esperimenti.Si analizza in termini di grandezze globali del flusso, quali il numero di Strouhal e la circolazione totale rilasciata, l'effetto di due diverse condizioni di Kutta e dell'uso di procedure di compattazione della scia lontana. Si conclude che l'uso di diverse condizioni di Kutta produce risultati pressoché identici mentre l'utilizzo di procedure di compattazione della scia può alterare in modo significativo il numero di Strouhal del flusso. Rimangono da analizzare altre possibili cause del disaccordo con le sperimentazioni quali la diffusione viscosa e la probabile presenza di moti tridimensionali.

     

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Discharge for Polysiloxane Thin Films Deposition and Comparison with Low Pressure Process

An atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier plasma discharge has been used to study a thin film deposition process. The DBD device is enclosed in a vacuum chamber and one of the electrodes is a rotating cylinder. Thus, this device is able to simulate continuous processing in arbitrary deposition condition of pressure and atmosphere composition. A deposition process of thin organosilicon films has been studied reproducing a nitrogen atmosphere with small admixtures of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) vapours. The plasma discharge has been characterized with optical emission spectroscopy and voltage-current measurements. Thin films chemical composition and morphology have been characterized with FTIR spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. A strong dependency of deposit character from the HMDSO concentration has been found and then compared with the same dependency of a typical low pressure plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition process.     

Halide and nitrite recognizing hexanuclear metallacycle copper(II) pyrazolates

Halide-centered hexanuclear, anionic copper(II) pyrazolate complexes [trans-Cu(6)((3,5-CF(3))(2)pz)(6)(OH)(6)X](-), X = Cl, Br, I are isolated in a good yield from the redox reaction of the trinuclear copper(I) pyrazolate complex [μ-Cu(3)((3,5-CF(3))(2)pz)(3)] with a halide source such as PPh(3)AuCl or [Bu(4)N]X, X = Cl, Br, or I, in air. X-ray structures of the anion-centered hexanuclear complexes show that the six copper atoms are bridged by bis(3,5-trifluoromethyl)pyrazolate and hydroxyl ligands above and below the six copper atom plane. The anions are located at the center of the cavity and weakly bound to the six copper atoms in a μ(6)-arrangement, Cu-X = ~3.1 ?. A nitrite-centered hexanuclear copper(II) pyrazolate complex [trans-Cu(6)((3,5-CF(3))(2)pz)(6)(OH)(6)(NO(2))](-) was obtained when a solution of [PPN]NO(2) in CH(3)CN was added dropwise to the trinuclear copper(I) pyrazolate complex [μ-Cu(3)((3,5-CF(3))(2)pz)(3)] dissolved in CH(3)CN, in air. Blue crystals are produced by slow evaporation of the acetonitrile solvent. The X-ray structure of [PPN][trans-Cu(6)((3,5-CF(3))(2)pz)(6)(OH)(6)(NO(2))] complex shows the nitrite anion sits in the hexanuclear cavity and is perpendicular to the copper plane with a O-N-O angle of 118.3(7)°. The (19)F and (1)H NMR of the pyrazolate ring atoms are sensitive to the anion present in the ring. Anion exchange of the NO(2)(-) by Cl(-) can be observed easily by (1)H NMR.     

10.1007/s10955-006-9040-z

We derive hydrodynamic equations describing the evolution of a binary fluid segregated into two regions, each rich in one species,which are separated (on the macroscopic scale) by a sharp interface. Our starting point is a Vlasov-Boltzmann (VB) equation describing the evolution of the one particle position and velocity distributions, f_i (x, v, t), i = 1, 2. The solution of the VB equation is developed in a Hilbert expansion appropriate for this system. This yields incompressible Navier-Stokes equations for the velocity field u and a jump boundary condition for the pressure across the interface. The interface, in turn, moves with a velocity given by the normal component of u.