On critical parameters in homogenization of perforated domains by thin tubes with nonlinear flux and related spectral problems

Let u_? be the solution of the Poisson equation in a domain perforated by thin tubes with a nonlinear Robin‐type boundary condition on the boundary of the tubes (the flux here being β(?)σ(x,u_?)), and with a Dirichlet condition on the rest of the boundary of Ω. ? is a small parameter that we shall make to go to zero; it denotes the period of a grid on a plane where the tubes/cylinders have their bases; the size of the transversal section of the tubes is O(a_?) with a_???. A certain nonperiodicity is allowed for the distribution of the thin tubes, although the perimeter is a fixed number a. Here, is a strictly monotonic function of the second argument, and the adsorption parameter β(?) > 0 can converge toward infinity. Depending on the relations between the three parameters ?, a_?, and β(?), the effective equations in volume are obtained. Among the multiple possible relations, we provide critical relations, which imply different averages of the process ranging from linear to nonlinear. All this allows us to derive spectral convergence as ?→0 for the associated spectral problems in the case of σ a linear function of u_?. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Albumin-mediated asymmetric nitroaldol reaction of aromatic aldehydes with nitromethane in water

We succeeded in the asymmetric nitroaldol (Henry) reaction of aromatic aldehydes with nitromethane using human serum albumin (HSA) in water at neutral pH. The reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde smoothly proceeded for 24 h at 30 °C to afford the corresponding (R)-2-nitro-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol (27% ee). Lowering the reaction temperature to 0 °C improved the enantioselectivity (53% ee). Although the denatured HSA also catalyzed the coupling reaction, no enantioselectivity was observed. The reaction was also applicable to other substrates bearing various substitutions on the benzene ring, and the ee of (R)-1-(biphenyl-4-yl)-2-nitroethanol was up to 79% ee.     

Nanofluid in Hydrophilic State for EOR Implication Through Carbonate Reservoir

More than 50% of oil is trapped in petroleum reservoirs after applying primary and secondary recovery methods for removal. Thus, to produce more crude oils from these reservoirs, different enhanced oil recovery (EOR) approaches should be performed. In this research, the effect of hydrophilic nanoparticles of SiO₂ at 12 nm size, in (EOR) from carbonate reservoir is systematically investigated. Using this nanoparticle, we can increase viscosity of the injection fluid and then lower the mobility ratio between oil and nanofluid in carbonate reservoirs. To this end, a core flooding apparatus was used to determine the effectiveness and robustness of nanosilica for EOR from carbonate reservoirs. These experiments are applied on the reservoir carbonate core samples, which are saturated with brine and oil that was injected with nanoparticles of SiO₂ at various concentrations. The output results depict that, with increasing nanoparticle concentration, the viscosity of the injection fluid increases and results in decreased mobility ratio between oil and nanofluid. The results confirm that using the nanoparticle increases the recovery. Also, increasing the nanoparticle concentration up to 0.6% increases the ultimate recovery (%OOIP), but a further increase to 1.0 does not have a significant effect.     

Study of the retention behavior of iodinated X‐ray contrast agents in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography,comparing bare silica and zwitterionic stationary phases

Iodinated X‐ray contrast media are the most widely used pharmaceuticals for intravascular administration in X‐ray diagnostic procedures. The increasing concern of the fate of these compounds into the environment has led to the development of analytical methods to determine them. However, these methods present problems due to the polar character of these analytes. In this paper, hydrophilic interaction LC is presented as an alternative technique. The retention of iodinated X‐ray contrast media was studied in two bare silica phases with different particle designs (i.e. porous and Fused Core?) and a zwitterionic sulfoalkylbetaine phase. The effect of the most important parameters of the mobile phase was studied for each stationary phase. It was observed that optimal mobile phase conditions included buffers with a high buffering capacity. Additionally, the retention mechanisms involved were studied in order to provide some insight into the possible occurring interactions. The contributions of partition and adsorption and the effect of the temperature on the retention of analytes were evaluated on all of the stationary phases.     

基于压缩感知的动态散射成像

利用基于压缩感知的成像系统可以透过静态的散射介质获得高质量的重建图像. 但是当散射介质动态变化时, 因为采样所得的测量值受到散射介质衰减系数非线性变化的影响, 重建图像质量会大大下降. 针对上述情况, 本文提出基于压缩感知成像系统的测量值线性拉伸算法, 该算法能够对所得到的非线性测量值进行分析, 根据测量值大小的不同将测量值划分成数个区域并计算补偿系数, 从而根据补偿系数进行测量值线性拉伸变换, 使测量值线性化. 最后再对变换后的测量值进行压缩感知重建计算. 通过理论分析、计算机仿真和实验证明了所提算法能够有效地应对动态的散射介质, 提高基于压缩感知成像系统在透过动态散射介质时的图像重建质量.     

Correcting saturation effects of the arterial input function in dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI: a Monte Carlo simulation

To prevent systematic errors in quantitative brain perfusion studies using dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI), a reliable determination of the arterial input function (AIF) is essential. We propose a novel algorithm for correcting distortions of the AIF caused by saturation of the peak amplitude and discuss its relevance for longitudinal studies. The algorithm is based on the assumption that the AIF can be separated into a reliable part at low contrast agent concentrations and an unreliable part at high concentrations. This unreliable part is reconstructed, applying a theoretical framework based on a transport-diffusion theory and using the bolus-shape in the tissue. A validation of the correction scheme is tested by a Monte Carlo simulation. The input of the simulation was a wide range of perfusion, and the main aim was to compare this input to the determined perfusion parameters. Another input of the simulation was an AIF template derived from in vivo measurements. The distortions of this template was modeled via a Rician distribution for image intensities. As for a real DSC-MRI experiment, the simulation returned the AIF and the tracer concentration-dependent signal in the tissue. The novel correction scheme was tested by deriving perfusion parameters from the simulated data for the corrected and the uncorrected case. For this analysis, a common truncated singular value decomposition approach was applied. We find that the saturation effect caused by Rician-distributed noise leads to an overestimation of regional cerebral blood flow and regional cerebral blood volume, as compared to the input parameter. The aberration can be amplified by a decreasing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or an increasing tracer concentration. We also find that the overestimation can be successfully eliminated by the proposed saturation-correction scheme. In summary, the correction scheme will allow DSC-MRI to be expanded towards higher tracer concentrations and lower SNR and will help to increase the measurement to measurement reproducibility for longitudinal studies.     

The heterogeneous distribution of the liquid phase in partially filled porous glasses and its effect on self-diffusion

The spatial distribution of the liquid phase in a typical, partially filled, porous glass (VitraPor #5) has been examined with the aid of magnetic resonance microscopy and field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance diffusometry techniques. The correlation length of the material turned out to be long enough to permit the visualization of the microscopic heterogeneity of the material by magnetic resonance imaging. Contrasts are dominated by transverse relaxation depending on local filling degree, which in turn depends on local microstructure. The bimodal heterogeneity of the latter was also visualized by scanning electron microscopy. The effect of heterogeneity on an effective diffusion coefficient has been examined for polar (water) and nonpolar (cyclohexane) molecules.     

激光通过散射介质的聚焦

基于角谱衍射公式和散射介质的圆形高斯分布模型,数值模拟光通过散射介质的聚焦.通过反馈优化算法实现散射光束的波前整形,在目标位置处形成一个很亮的聚焦光斑.改变聚焦目标位置后,可实现任意位置处的单点或多点聚焦.讨论了空间光调制器上的总调制单元个数、每个调制单元相位准确度与光强增长因子的关系.结果表明:目标位置处的光强随着总像素单元数的增加而线性地增强,并且随着调制单元的相位准确度的增加而增强.     

A study of the gasification of carbon black with molten salt of Li2CO3 and K2CO3 for application in the external anode media of a direct carbon fuel cell

The characteristics of gasification reactions for carbon–carbonate mixtures were experimentally investigated at high temperatures up to 900 °C, considering the application of the mixtures to the external anode media of a direct carbon fuel cell. A thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted in either a nitrogen or carbon dioxide ambient environment for Li₂CO₃, K₂CO₃ and a mixture of these two substances with carbon black. Changes in the exit gas composition were also monitored during the heating process. It was shown that gasification in the mixture media occurs much more rapidly than carbonate decomposition at elevated temperatures, even for low concentrations of CO₂. It was also shown that the loading of carbonates to carbon significantly affects the global gasification reaction; it increased the reaction rate by an order of magnitude and decreased its activation energy. Based on the experimental observations, a simplified reaction model of gasification was suggested for the anode media of a DCFC, regarding carbonate-catalysed and metal-catalysed pathways of Boudouard reactions.