Harmonic generation in a two-dimensional nonlinear quasi-crystal

Second-harmonic generation in a two-dimensional nonlinear quasi-crystal is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. Temperature and wavelength tuning of the crystal reveal the uniformity of the pattern while angle tuning reveals the dense nature of the crystal's Fourier spectrum. These results compare well with theoretical predictions showing the excellent uniformity of the crystal and suggest that more-complicated nonlinear holograms should be possible.     

Forced and unforced unsteadiness in an axial turbomachine

Different sources of unsteadiness in low-speed axial turbomachinery are identified and classified in this paper. From the classical picture segregating non-periodic mechanisms (turbulence) from periodic phenomena (unsteadiness), a further decomposition is outlined to distinguish between forced (deterministic periodicities) and unforced (non-deterministic) unsteadiness. Raw velocity traces, measured for several test conditions in a typical industrial fan with hot-wire anemometry, are ensemble-averaged to obtain time-resolved fluctuations. Then, a frequency-based filtering procedure is employed to isolate non-deterministic, but also non-chaotic, disturbances from the remaining turbulent fluctuations, resulting in the so-called unforced unsteadiness. This term reveals coherent flow structures that involve “large-scale” unsteadiness with other periodic features different to the blade rotation scales (BPF). As a starting point, the kinetic energy associated to the total unsteadiness (in terms of a percentage of the kinetic energy of the time-averaged flow) is analyzed as a function of the operating conditions. Next, the different components contributing to the total unsteadiness of the flow are also observed, in order to determine their particular significance on the global unsteady scenario. It is shown that the turbulent kinetic energy reaches up to approximately a 50–60% of the total unsteady energy, while both forced and unforced components contribute equally to the rest of the energy. In addition, it is observed that higher levels of unforced unsteadiness are concentrated towards the endwall boundary layers where forced unsteadiness is notably reduced due to the loss of the wake–core structure. Conversely, forced unsteadiness is more evident at inner regions of the rotor passage. Furthermore, unforced unsteadiness is especially intense in the tip regions where large-scales associated to the tip leakage vortex are established. It is demonstrated that the estimation of the unforced unsteadiness constitutes an accurate indicator of the presence of tip leakage flows for low-speed axial turbomachinery. Moreover, this is confirmed through the representation of the degree of anisotropy, where typical anisotropic structures are revealed. Finally, with the introduction of power spectrum densities for the unforced components, it is possible to identify typical eddy sizes of these large fluctuations.     

A Combined Crystallographic and Theoretical Study Explains the Capability of Carboxylic Acids to Adopt Multiple Binding Modes in the Active Site of Carbonic Anhydrases

Carboxylates are the least investigated class of inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases (CAs). Here we explain the versatility of binding of these molecules to CAs by examining a new adduct of hCA II with N‐carboxymethyl‐saccharin.     

SnO2 “Russian Doll” Octahedra Prepared by Metalorganic Synthesis: A New Structure for Sub‐ppm CO Detection

Micrometer‐sized hierarchical Sn₃O₂(OH)₂ octahedra, which are self‐assembled one inside the other, resembling “Russian doll” organization, have been obtained by a metalorganic approach. This synthesis is based on the controlled hydrolysis of [Sn(NMe₂)₂]₂ in the presence of an alkylamine ligand in an organic solvent (THF). The water content of the medium proved to be a key parameter for the formation of these multi‐walled octahedra. The resultant structures have been used as gas‐sensitive layers on micromachined silicon devices. During in situ heating, Sn₃O₂(OH)₂ is oxidized to SnO₂ while retaining the initial morphology. The sensors present outstanding dynamic responses at very low CO concentrations (7 % and 67 % resistance variation to 0.25 and 20 ppm CO, respectively, at an operating temperature of 500 °C). This superior gas‐sensing performance is closely related to the unique microstructure of the SnO₂ multi‐walled octahedra.     

Nonmacrocyclic luminescent lanthanide complexes stable in biological media

The synthesis of ligand L(P)H(8), based on a 2,6-bispyrazolyl-pyridine scaffold functionalized by iminobismethylenephosphonate functions, is described and its pK values were determined by a combination of pH-spectrophotometric titrations and potentiometry. The interaction of L(P) with Tb(3+) was investigated in water (0.01 M TRIS/HCl pH = 7.0) by means of UV-vis and fluorescence titration experiments and evidenced the formation of at least three species with 1:1; 1:2, and 2:1 M-L ratios, the 1:1 complex appearing as particularly stable under these conditions (log K(cond) > 8). Na(4)[LnL(P)H] complexes (Ln = Eu and Tb) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and electrospray mass spectrometry. Their photophysical properties were investigated in aqueous solutions, revealing an excellent shielding of the Ln cations from the solvent environment (no water molecules in the first coordination sphere), very long luminescence lifetimes (τ(H(2)(O)) = 1.50 and 3.28 ms, respectively, for Eu and Tb) and reasonable luminescent quantum yields (?(H(2)(O)) = 2.4 and 37%, respectively, for Eu and Tb). Using fetal bovine serum as a model for biological media showed the Tb complex to remain luminescent in these conditions. The structure of the europium complex was studied by means of density functional theory (DFT) modeling, confirming the wrapping of the ligand around the cation, and the very good shielding of the coordinated Ln cation. The conditional stability constant for the formation of the Tb complex with L(P) was determined by competition experiments with EDTA and monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy (log K(TbL(P)cond) = 14.1 ± 0.3, 0.01 M TRIS/HCl, pH = 7.4) and was used to determine the thermodynamic constant (log K(TbL(P)) = 20.4 ± 0.4). A systematic comparison with ligand L(C), in which phosphonate functions are replaced by carboxylate ones, is made throughout the study, highlighting the large interest of the introduction of phosphonate moieties to obtain biologically stable luminescent lanthanide complexes.     

Towards an integrated biosensor array for simultaneous and rapid multi-analysis of endocrine disrupting chemicals

In this paper we propose the construction and application of a portable multi-purpose biosensor array for the simultaneous detection of a wide range of endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs), based on the recognition operated by various enzymes and microorganisms. The developed biosensor combines both electrochemical and optical transduction systems, in order to increase the number of chemical species which can be monitored. Considering to the maximum residue level (MRL) of contaminants established by the European Commission, the biosensor system was able to detect most of the chemicals analysed with very high sensitivity. In particular, atrazine and diuron were detected with a limit of detection of 0.5 nM, with an RSD% less than 5%; paraoxon and chlorpyrifos were revealed with a detection of 5 μM and 4.5 μM, respectively, with an RSD% less than 6%; catechol and bisphenol A were identified with a limit of detection of 1 μM and 35 μM respectively, with an RSD% less than 5%.     

Synthesis of Hexahydro‐2‐pyrindine (=Hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyridine) Derivatives as Conformationally Restricted Analogs of the Nicotinic Ligands Arecolone and Isoarecolone

Two hexahydropyrindine derivatives, 1,2,3,4,6,7‐hexahydro‐2‐methyl‐5H‐cyclopenta[c]pyridin‐5‐one ( 1 ) and 1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexahydro‐2‐methyl‐7H‐cyclopenta[c]pyridin‐7‐one ( 2 ), and their methiodides 14 and 26 , respectively, were synthesized. They can be considered rigid analogues of the known nicotinic agonists arecolone (=1‐(1,2,5,6‐tetrahydro‐1‐methylpyridin‐3‐yl)ethanone) and isoarecolone (=1‐(1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro‐1‐methylpyridin‐4‐yl)ethanone). The affinity for the central nicotinic receptor were measured on rat cerebral cortex. Although only the methiodide 14 , among the four conformationally restricted compounds, shows an appreciable affinity, the results obtained provide useful information on the molecular requirements at the interaction site of the central nicotinic receptors.     

Fully reversible procedure for silver staining improves densitometry of complex mixtures of biopolymers resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Due to its high sensitivity, silver staining is a widely popular method for the revelation of biopolymers separated by both native and denaturing electrophoresis. A step-by-step method for the destaining and restaining of overdeveloped/overloaded silver-stained bands is described that is applicable to both proteins and nucleic acids. The procedure significantly improves densitometric analysis of gels that have been silver stained with either commercial kits or solutions made in-house. The method permits reproducible densitometry of silver-stained gels and allows quantification of both main and minor components in complex mixture of molecules resolved on the same gel slab. All steps may be interrupted and are readily reversible, allowing for facile densitometric analyses and photographic recording under optimized conditions. Furthermore, common artifacts such as differential staining of the two gel surfaces, localized uneven yellow-ochre background, and the presence of fold marks and fingerprints can be easily removed.     

An approach for including the stiffness and damping of elastohydrodynamic point contacts in deep groove ball bearing equilibrium models

This work presents a methodology for including the Elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film effects to a lateral vibration model of a deep groove ball bearing by using a novel approximation for the EHD contacts by a set of equivalent nonlinear spring and viscous damper. The fitting of the equivalent contact model used the results of a transient multi-level finite difference EHD algorithm to adjust the dynamic parameters. The comparison between the approximated model and the finite difference simulated results showed a suitable representation of the stationary and dynamic contact behaviors. The linear damping hypothesis could be shown as a rough representation of the actual hysteretic behavior of the EHD contact. Nevertheless, the overall accuracy of the model was not impaired by the use of such approximation. Further on, the inclusion of the equivalent EHD contact model is equated for both the restoring and the dissipative components of the bearing?s lateral dynamics. The derived model was used to investigate the effects of the rolling element bearing lubrication on the vibration response of a rotor?s lumped parameter model. The fluid film stiffening effect, previously only observable by experimentation, could be quantified using the proposed model, as well as the portion of the bearing damping provided by the EHD fluid film. Results from a laboratory rotor–bearing test rig were used to indirectly validate the proposed contact approximation. A finite element model of the rotor accounting for the lubricated bearing formulation adequately portrayed the frequency content of the bearing orbits observed on the test rig.