A study for quality evaluation of Taxilli Herba from different hosts based on fingerprint-activity relationship modeling and multivariate statistical analysis

In this study, a fingerprint-activity relationship modeling between chemical fingerprints and antirheumatic activity was established, and multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of Taxilli Herba (TH) from different hosts. Characteristic fingerprints of 20 batches of TH samples were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS), and the similarity analysis was calculated based on thirteen common characteristic peaks by hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Subsequently, nine efficacy markers were discovered by combining fingerprints and antirheumatic activity through grey correlation analysis (GCA) and bivariate correlation analysis (BCA). Meanwhile, the content of 5 constituents in 9 markers was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). The comprehensive quality of TH was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis, including principal components analysis (PCA) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that a high dose of TH extract could markedly ameliorate arthritis damage compared to other doses, with flavonoids playing an important role in the antirheumatic activity. The comprehensive quality of samples from Morus alba L. (SS) was superior to those from Liquidambar formosana Hance (FXS). The present study will demonstrate the markers associated with efficacy, and provide an applicable strategy for more comprehensive quality control and evaluation of TH.     

A variational coupled cluster theory for closed shells using a propagator modification procedure

A general partial summation method for including arbitrary classes of diagrams to all orders in the coupled cluster based size consistent energy functional for closed shell states is developed. Since the various reduced density matrices which appear in the energy functional are essentially the time-independent analogues of the corresponding many body Green functions, it is possible to derive Dyson-like equations for these quantities. By expanding the associated proper self energy parts in terms of the T-amplitudes, one can carry out partial summations in the reduced density matrices and thus in energy. At a higher level, higher order terms in a proper self energy can also be generated by renormalizing the internal propagators in it, and considering only the irreducible self-energy terms.     

Application of coset representations to the construction of symmetry adapted functions

Summary A coset representation (G(/G _i )), which is defined algebraically by a coset decomposition of a finite groupG by its subgroupG _i , is shown to be a method for the decomposition of a regular body into its point group orbits. This proof also shows that each member of theG(/G _i ) orbit belongs to theG _i site-symmetry. In addition, a general equation concerning the multiplicities of such coset representations is derived and shown to involve Brester's equations and thek-value equations of framework groups as special cases. The relationship of the coset representation and the site-symmetry affords a general procedure for obtaining symmetry adapted functions.     

Millettia ferruginea extract attenuates cisplatin-induced alterations in kidney functioning,DNA damage,oxidative stress,and renal tissue morphology

This study aimed to investigate the beneficial role of Millettia ferruginea extract (MF) in preventing cisplatin (Cisp) induced nephrotoxicity in rats. A total of 55 metabolites were identified using LC-MS analysis. The in vivo results indicated that MF pretreatment for 4 weeks (20 mg/kg b.w.) remarkably attenuated the altered renal biomarkers by decreasing the levels of plasma creatinine, urea, and uric acid when compared to the Cisp-group. The nephroprotective capacity of MF was further strengthened by histopathological observations, where Cisp + MF treated rats showed lower number of inflammatory cells and tubular degenerative changes than the Cisp-group. The harmful effects of cisplatin on renal oxidative stress indicators (MDA, SOD, CAT, and GPx), were restored by the treatment of MF. In addition, the reduction of inflammatory markers (IL-6 and TNF-α), associated with alleviating DNA fragmentation, highlighted the preventive effect of MF in kidney tissue. Additionally, MF components presented lower binding energies when docked into the active site of TNF-α and IL-6. The present findings concluded that M. ferruginea extract exhibited nephroprotective potential, which may be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Further work is recommended to confirm the current results, explore the involved mechanism of action, and determine the therapeutic doses and time.     

Finite element investigation of the ground states of the helium trimers 4He3 and 4He2–3He

A three‐dimensional finite element method is applied to the ground states of the symmetric and asymmetric atomic helium trimers ⁴He₃ and ⁴He₂–³He. Three different He–He interaction potentials of hard‐core nature were studied. Two extrapolation procedures based on the convergence properties of the finite element method are investigated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Flow over rectangular porous block in a fixed width channel: influence of porosity and aspect ratio

Flow over a rectangular porous block placed in a fixed width channel is considered and the influence of block aspect ratio on the heat transfer rate from the block is examined. A non-porous solid block is also accommodated to compare the effect of porosity on the flow field and heat transfer characteristics. Aspect ratio and the porosity of the block are varied in the simulations. A numerical scheme employing a control volume approach is considered when predicting the flow and temperature fields. The Reynolds number is selected to yield the mix convection situation in the flow field. It is found that the aspect ratio significantly influences Nu and Gr numbers, in which case increasing the aspect ratio enhances Nu while lowering Gr. Increasing porosity improves the heat transfer rates from the porous block, provided that at high aspect ratios, this situation ceases due to blockage effect of the body in the channel.     

Reconstruction of n-dimensional convex bodies from surface tensors

In this paper, we derive uniqueness and stability results for surface tensors. Further, we develop two algorithms that reconstruct shape of n-dimensional convex bodies. One algorithm requires knowledge of a finite number of surface tensors, whereas the other algorithm is based on noisy measurements of a finite number of harmonic intrinsic volumes. The derived stability results ensure consistency of the two algorithms. Examples that illustrate the feasibility of the algorithms are presented.     

Validation of a novel very large eddy simulation method for simulation of turbulent separated flow

The paper describes the validation of a newly developed very LES (VLES) method for the simulation of turbulent separated flow. The new VLES method is a unified simulation approach that can change seamlessly from Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes to DNS depending on the numerical resolution. Four complex test cases are selected to validate the performance of the new method, that is, the flow past a square cylinder at Re = 3000 confined in a channel (with a blockage ratio of 20%), the turbulent flow over a circular cylinder at Re = 3900 as well as Re = 140,000, and a turbulent backward‐facing step flow with a thick incoming boundary layer at Re = 40,000. The simulation results are compared with available experimental, LES, and detached eddy simulation‐type results. The new VLES model performs well overall, and the predictions are satisfactory compared with previous experimental and numerical results. It is observed that the new VLES method is quite efficient for the turbulent flow simulations; that is, good predictions can be obtained using a quite coarse mesh compared with the previous LES method. Discussions of the implementation of the present VLES modeling are also conducted on the basis of the simulations of turbulent channel flow up to high Reynolds number of Re_τ = 4000. The efficiency of the present VLES modeling is also observed in the channel flow simulation. From a practical point of view, this new method has considerable potential for more complex turbulent flow simulations at relative high Reynolds numbers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

First and second coordination spheres in 8-azaxanthinato salts of divalent metal aquacomplexes – Ab initio and DFT study

The hydrogen bonding pattern in complexes of the type [M²⁺(H₂O)₆](dmax)₂ (M = Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Cd, Hdmax = 1,3-dimethyl-8-azaxanthine), [M²⁺(H₂O)₄(py)₂](dmax)₂ (M = Mn, Co, Zn, Cd, py = pyridine) and [M²⁺(dmax)₂(H₂O)₂(py)₂]·2H₂O (M = Ni, Cu) were studied by ab initio (MP2/LANL2DZ//B3LYP/LANL2DZ) and density functional theory methods (B3LYP/LANL2DZ, B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗ and B3PW91/6-31G^∗∗). The investigation includes a variety of theoretical analyses, which include interaction energy, many body analyses, electron density analysis, topological analysis, Mulliken atomic charges, natural atomic charges and harmonic vibrational analysis. The geometrical parameters and vibrational frequencies of dmax (the mono anion of 1,3-dimethyl-8-azaxanthine), [M²⁺(H₂O)₆] (M = Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Cd), [M²⁺(H₂O)₄·(py)₂] (M = Mn, Co, Zn, Cd) and the complexes, calculated by the theoretical methods, were compared with the recent X-ray crystallographic results and it was observed that the results are found to agree well with the crystallographic results. The present calculations provide an important physicochemical insight into metal cations with 1,3-dimethyl-8-azaxanthine. The results also reveal the active role of coordinated water molecules in modulating the binding of the cation through a specific network of hydrogen bonds. The topology of the motifs generated by these hydrogen bonds has been characterized, adapting to the second coordination sphere concepts usually applied to the first (monodentate, chelate, and bridge) coordination sphere. The optimized structures of the Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ complexes further interact among themselves in a less tight fashion to generate three dimensional structures (a tape-like hydrogen bond network). Finally these tape-like hydrogen bond network were optimized using the B3LYP/LANL2DZ basis set.     

Accurate double many‐body expansion potential energy surface by extrapolation to the complete basis set limit and dynamics calculations for ground state of NH2

An accurate single‐sheeted double many‐body expansion potential energy surface is reported for the title system. A switching function formalism has been used to warrant the correct behavior at the and dissociation channels involving nitrogen in the ground and first excited states. The topographical features of the novel global potential energy surface are examined in detail, and found to be in good agreement with those calculated directly from the raw ab initio energies, as well as previous calculations available in the literature. The novel surface can be using to treat well the Renner–Teller degeneracy of the and states of . Such a work can both be recommended for dynamics studies of the reaction and as building blocks for constructing the double many‐body expansion potential energy surface of larger nitrogen/hydrogen‐containing systems. In turn, a test theoretical study of the reaction has been carried out with the method of quantum wave packet on the new potential energy surface. Reaction probabilities, integral cross sections, and differential cross sections have been calculated. Threshold exists because of the energy barrier (68.5 meV) along the minimum energy path. On the curve of reaction probability for total angular momentum J = 0, there are two sharp peaks just above threshold. The value of integral cross section increases quickly from zero to maximum with the increase of collision energy, and then stays stable with small oscillations. The differential cross section result shows that the reaction is a typical forward and backward scatter in agreement with experimental measurement result. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.