A Mach‐uniform preconditioner for incompressible and subsonic flows

In this study, a novel Mach‐uniform preconditioning method is developed for the solution of Euler equations at low subsonic and incompressible flow conditions. In contrast to the methods developed earlier in which the conservation of mass equation is preconditioned, in the present method, the conservation of energy equation is preconditioned, which enforces the divergence free constraint on the velocity field even at the limiting case of incompressible, zero Mach number flows. Despite most preconditioners, the proposed Mach‐uniform preconditioning method does not have a singularity point at zero Mach number. The preconditioned system of equations preserves the strong conservation form of Euler equations for compressible flows and recovers the artificial compressibility equations in the case of zero Mach number. A two‐dimensional Euler solver is developed for validation and performance evaluation of the present formulation for a wide range of Mach number flows. The validation cases studied show the convergence acceleration, stability, and accuracy of the present Mach‐uniform preconditioner in comparison to the non‐preconditioned compressible flow solutions. The convergence acceleration obtained with the present formulation is similar to those of the well‐known preconditioned system of equations for low subsonic flows and to those of the artificial compressibility method for incompressible flows. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adhesion in the contact of a spherical indenter with a layered elastic half-space

With the emergence of micro- and nano-technology, the contact mechanics of MEMS and NEMS devices and components is becoming more important. Thus it is important to gain a better understanding of the role of coatings and thin films on micro- and nano-scale contact phenomena, and to understand the interactions of measurement devices, such as an atomic force microscope (AFM), with layered media.More specifically, in this work the frictionless contact, with adhesion, between a spherical indenter and an elastic-layered medium is investigated. This configuration can be viewed as either a single contact model or as a building block of a multi-asperity rough surface contact model. As the scale decreases to the nano level, adhesion becomes an important issue. The presence of adhesion affects the relationships among the applied force, the penetration of the indenter, and the size of the contact area. This axisymmetric problem includes the effect of adhesion using a Maugis type of adhesion model. This model spans the range of the Tabor parameter between the JKR and DMT regions. The key parameters in this analysis are the elastic moduli ratio of the layer and the substrate, the dimensionless layer thickness, and the Maugis adhesion parameter. The results can be applied to a rigid or to an elastic indenter.     

Synthesis of new aryl(hetaryl)-substituted tandospirone analogues with potential anxiolytic activity via reductive Heck type hydroarylations

Tandospirone (I), developed as an anxiolytic drug, is an aryl-piperazine compound that binds to both 5-HT_1A and dopamine D4 receptors. Palladium-catalysed hydroarylation reactions of tandospirone analogues containing an oxygen bridge and 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl or 2,3-dichlorophenyl groups were studied in order to find a new stereoselective access to a series of new exo-aryl(hetaryl)-substituted derivatives with potential biological activity.     

One-Pot Synthesis of Mannich Bases Under Solvent-Free Conditions

A mild and practically convenient one-pot procedure for the Mannich reaction via condensation of amines, aldehydes and malonates, β-ketoesters, or β-dicarbonyl compounds has been carried out without using any organic solvent, metallic catalyst, or Lewis acids or bases at room temperature. The present protocol offers several advantages, such as goods yields, simple procedure with easy workup, and the absence of any volatile, hazardous organic solvents and metallic catalyst.     

Paal–Knorr Pyrrole Synthesis in Water

Water was a suitable medium for Paal–Knorr pyrrole cyclocondensation. Hexa-2,5-dione was reacted with several aliphatic and aromatic primary amines, affording N-substituted 2,5-dimethyl pyrrole derivatives in good to excellent yields. An efficient, green method using water either as environmentally friendly solvent or catalyst was presented.     

The effect of Laplacian filter in adaptive unsharp masking for infrared image enhancement

Image processing, in particular image enhancement techniques have been the focal point of considerable research activity in the last decade. With the aid of an existing image enhancement technique, adaptive unsharp masking (AUM), we propose a novel kernel to be used in AUM filtering in order to enhance discontinuities which occur on the edges of targets of interest in infrared (IR) images. The proposed method uses an adaptive filter approach where an objective function is minimized by using descent algorithms. The output IR image has better sharpness and contrast adjustment for the detection of targets in terms of objective quality metrics. Hence, the proposed method ensures that the edges of the targets in IR images are sharper and that the quality of contrast adjustment has its optimum level in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratios.     

Raman lasing with a cold atom gain medium in a high-finesse optical cavity

We demonstrate a Raman laser using cold (87)Rb atoms as the gain medium in a high-finesse optical cavity. We observe robust continuous wave lasing in the atypical regime where single atoms can considerably affect the cavity field. Consequently, we discover unusual lasing threshold behavior in the system causing jumps in lasing power, and propose a model to explain the effect. We also measure the intermode laser linewidth, and observe values as low as 80 Hz. The tunable gain properties of this laser suggest multiple directions for future research.     

Elemental‐Sulfur‐Mediated Facile Synthesis of a Covalent Triazine Framework for High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

A covalent triazine framework (CTF) with embedded polymeric sulfur and a high sulfur content of 62 wt % was synthesized under catalyst‐ and solvent‐free reaction conditions from 1,4‐dicyanobenzene and elemental sulfur. Our synthetic approach introduces a new way of preparing CTFs under environmentally benign conditions by the direct utilization of elemental sulfur. The homogeneous sulfur distribution is due to the in situ formation of the framework structure, and chemical sulfur impregnation within the micropores of CTF effectively suppresses the dissolution of polysulfides into the electrolyte. Furthermore, the triazine framework facilitates electron and ion transport, which leads to a high‐performance lithium–sulfur battery.     

Advance selling to strategic consumers

Advance selling of goods and services is a form of separating purchase from consumption. It is often employed when consumers are uncertain about their consumption utilities until a short time period before consumption. A book to be released, a concert to attend, or a cruise to take are some examples. Invariably, in consumers’ mind inventory availability (of copies, seats, or rooms) is a concern. In this paper we study a retailer’s inventory and pricing decisions in an advance selling scenario that involves consumers who are strategic. Some consumers not only consider advance and spot prices, but also the uncertainty in future availability of the product (during the spot period) and in their consumption utility from it. We characterize the optimal inventory management and pricing policies, and discuss several interesting aspects of the solution. For example, it can be optimal for the retailer to limit advance sales even if there is more demand for it, and it can be optimal for the retailer to limit its inventory even though there is more capacity to keep it, but not both.     

Synthesis and characterizations of N,N-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylaniline derivatives and X-ray crystal structure of palladium (II), platinum (II) complexes

N,N-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylaniline compounds, [Ph₂P]₂N-C₆H₄-C₂H₅, with ethyl groups at the ortho- and para-positions have been synthesized. Oxidation of the aminophosphines with hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur and selenium gave the corresponding oxides, sulfides and selenides [Ph₂P(E)]₂N-C₆H₄-C₂H₅ (E = O, S, Se). Complexes [MCl₂{(Ph₂P)₂N-C₆H₄-(C₂H₅)}] (M = Pd, Pt) and [Cu{(Ph₂P)₂N-C₆H₄-C₂H₅}₂]PF₆ were obtained by the reaction of N,N-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylaniline with [MCl₂(COD)] (M = Pd, Pt) and [Cu(MeCN)₄]PF₆. The new compounds were characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy and microanalysis. In addition, representative solid-state structures of the palladium and platinum complexes were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.