Mixed Finite Element Methods for Fourth Order Elliptic Optimal Control Problems

In this paper, a priori error estimates are derived for the mixed finite element discretization of optimal control problems governed by fourth order elliptic partial differential equations. The state and co-state are discretized by Raviart-Thomas mixed finite element spaces and the control variable is approximated by piecewise constant functions. The error estimates derived for the state variable as well as those for the control variable seem to be new. We illustrate with a numerical example to confirm our theoretical results.     

Diffusion-Thermo and Radiation Effects on Unsteady MHD Flow Through Porous Medium Past an Impulsively Started Infinite Vertical Plate with Variable Temperature and Mass Diffusion

The objective of this study is to investigate diffusion-thermo (Dufour effect) and radiation effects on unsteady MHD free convection flow past an impulsively started infinite vertical plate with variable temperature and uniform mass diffusion in the presence of transverse applied magnetic field through porous medium. At time t > 0, the plate is given an impulsive motion with constant velocity u ₀ in the vertical upward direction against to the gravitational field. At the same time, the plate temperature is raised linearly with time t and the level of concentration near the plate is raised to ${{C}_{\rm w}^{\prime}}$ . A magnetic field of uniform strength B ₀ is applied normal to the direction to the flow. The dimensionless governing equations are solved in closed form by Laplace transform technique. The effect of flow parameters on velocity, temperature, concentration, the rate of heat transfer and the rate of mass transfer are shown through graphs.     

Growth of tetrakis thiourea potassium iodide as new second order optical material

A novel organometallic nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal, namely thiourea complex of tetrakis thiourea potassium iodide (TTPI), has been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique. The harvested crystal is large in size. To our knowledge there is no report is available for the bulk size single crystal of TTPI. This material has a positive temperature coefficient and has been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique. The grown crystal have been characterized by employing several techniques such as single crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction, FTIR, UV‐Vis‐NIR spectra, thermo gravimetric analyses respectively. Etching studies have also been carried out in order to know the surface defects on the as grown specimen of TTPI. The relative second harmonic generation efficiency have been tested by using Nd:YAG laser as source. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Theory of collective motion of interacting gas of polyvalent Hg atoms at 3.0, 6.3 and 9.0 particles per nm

Collective dynamics of interacting gaseous mercury at high temperatures and pressures having densities of 3.0, 2.1 and 1.0 g cm⁻³, as determined very recently by the measurement of dynamical structure factor using the inelastic X-ray scattering, have been successfully explained, making use of the recently modified microscopic theory of a simple fluid. It also turns out that in determining the collective dynamics of all the three systems of the mercury vapor, the two body interactions, as prevalent in a weakly interacting system, play a dominant role.     

Cholesterol Sequestration from Caveolae/Lipid Rafts Enhances Cationic Liposome-Mediated Nucleic Acid Delivery into Endothelial Cells

Delivering nucleic acids into the endothelium has great potential in treating vascular diseases. However, endothelial cells, which line the vasculature, are considered as sensitive in nature and hard to transfect. Low transfection efficacies in endothelial cells limit their potential therapeutic applications. Towards improving the transfection efficiency, we made an effort to understand the internalization of lipoplexes into the cells, which is the first and most critical step in nucleic acid transfections. In this study, we demonstrated that the transient modulation of caveolae/lipid rafts mediated endocytosis with the cholesterol-sequestrating agents, nystatin, filipin III, and siRNA against Cav-1, which significantly increased the transfection properties of cationic lipid-(2-hydroxy-N-methyl-N,N-bis(2-tetradecanamidoethyl)ethanaminium chloride), namely, amide liposomes in combination with 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) (AD Liposomes) in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SK-Hep1). In particular, nystatin was found to be highly effective with 2–3-fold enhanced transfection efficacy when compared with amide liposomes in combination with Cholesterol (AC), by switching lipoplex internalization predominantly through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis.     

Polycarbonate membrane assisted growth of pyramidal SnO2 particles

We demonstrate here the utility of polycarbonate membrane in preparing oxide particles of unusual shape and properties. Unlike the usual formation of nanowires or tubes using alumina templates, here, pyramidal shaped SnO₂ particles with a preferred orientation along the (2 1 1) direction have been prepared using polycarbonate membranes. Simple impregnation of SnO₂ sol into a polycarbonate membrane by sonication followed by calcination at 800 °C resulted in the formation of pyramidal shaped SnO₂ particles. Compared to the alumina membrane the recovery of the particles from polycarbonate membrane is very simple. The sensor fabricated using such particles without any catalyst addition exhibited 64% sensitivity towards 500 ppm butane at 500 °C with a recovery time of 27 s. This method could be used as a simple technique to prepare oxide particles of different size and shape for diverse applications.     

Ion- Beam Modification of Peo Based Polymer Electrolytes

In this paper, we report the ion beam interaction with a well explored ion conducting polymer electrolyte, viz., polyethylene oxide complexed with sodium iodide (PEO:NaI). Li³⁺ ions at 50 MeV were bombarded on the film at different flux. The conductivity modulation of the films has been reported due to interaction at different fluence. The increase in the total conductivity is explained in terms of the change in the number of charge carriers and the dielectric constant of the polymer electrolyte films.