Modified Householder iterative method free from second derivatives for nonlinear equations

In this paper, we suggest and analyze a new two-step predictor–corrector type iterative method free from second derivatives for solving nonlinear equations of the type f(x)=0. This new method includes the two-step Newton method as a special case. We prove that the new iterative method is of fourth-order. Several examples are given to illustrate the efficiency of this new method and its comparison with other iterative methods. This method can be considered as a significant improvement of the Newton method and its variant forms.     

Iterative Schemes for Nonconvex Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we suggest and analyze some iterative methods for solving nonconvex variational inequalities using the auxiliary principle technique, the convergence of which requires either only pseudomonotonicity or partially relaxed strong monotonicity. Our proofs of convergence are very simple. As special cases, we obtain earlier results for solving general variational inequalities involving convex sets.     

The state of water in finely disperse hydrogels based on acrylamide and acrylic acid

The sorption capacity (upon water sorption from the bulk and vapor phases) of copolymeric hydrogels based on acrylamide and acrylic acid and the state of water in the hydrogels are studied. It is established that, for hydrogels prepared in the form of fine powders, pore sizes vary from 90 to 770 Å and the pore radius of hydrogels obtained as monolithic plates ranges from 27 to 200 Å. The acrylamide-to-acrylic acid unit ratio in the hydrogels is found to affect both the amount and the state of sorbed water. It is shown that the properties of water sorbed by hydrogels are governed by carboxyl group concentration rather than by the density of macromolecular chains.     

The influence of different reclamation agents and microorganisms on the aggregative stability of the colloidal fraction of meadow chernozem soil

The influence of various reclamation agents (montmorillonite, peat, activated sludge microbocenosis) on the stability of dispersions of the colloidal fraction of meadow chernozem soil is studied. It is established that biocolloids possess the strongest coagulating action in the aforementioned series of reclamation agents. It is shown that, in the process of microorganism growth involving glucose or polypeptides as a carbon source, exopolymers are synthesized that caused the coagulation of soil dispersions. Upon the growth of microorganisms on polypeptides (alkaligeneous metabolism), precipitates are formed that are denser and less peptized by water than those grown on glucose (acidogeneous metabolism). The addition of montmorillonite and peat intensifies the aggregation processes in soil-microbe heterodispersions. The inverse relationship between the content of an organic substance in a colloidal system and the stability of aggregates of soil colloids is revealed.     

Synthetic asymmetric lipid-like organosilanes for liposomal nanohybrid cerasomes toward potential medical applications

1. Download high-res image (223KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Safranal Induces Vasorelaxation by Inhibiting Ca2+ Influx and Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger in Isolated Rat Aortic Rings

Introduction: Safranal, which endows saffron its unique aroma, causes vasodilatation and has a hypotensive effect in animal studies, but the mechanisms of these effects are unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of safranal vasodilation. Methods: Isolated rat endothelium-intact or -denuded aortic rings were precontracted with phenylephrine and then relaxed with safranal. To further assess the involvement of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, guanylate cyclase, and phospholipase A₂ in safranal-induced vasodilation, aortic rings were preincubated with L-NAME, indomethacin, methylene blue, or quinacrine, respectively, then precontracted with phenylephrine, and safranal concentration–response curves were established. To explore the effects of safranal on Ca²⁺ influx, phenylephrine and CaCl₂ concentration–response curves were established in the presence of safranal. Furthermore, the effect of safranal on aortic rings in the presence of ouabain, a Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase inhibitor, was studied to explore the contribution of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger to this vasodilation. Results: Safranal caused vasodilation in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortic rings. The vasodilation was not eliminated by pretreatment with L-NAME, indomethacin, methylene blue, or quinacrine, indicating the lack of a role for NO/cGMP. Safranal significantly inhibited the maximum contractions induced by phenylephrine, or by CaCl₂ in Ca²⁺-free depolarizing buffer. Safranal also relaxed contractions induced by ouabain, but pretreatment with safranal totally abolished the development of ouabain contractions. Discussion/Conclusion: Inhibition of Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase by ouabain leads to the accumulation of Na⁺ intracellularly, forcing the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger to work in reverse mode, thus causing a contraction. Inhibition of the development of this contraction by preincubation with safranal indicates that safranal inhibited the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger. We conclude that safranal vasodilation is mediated by the inhibition of calcium influx from extracellular space through L-type Ca²⁺ channels and by the inhibition of the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger.     

Removal of oxygen from silicon by electron beam melting

Small amounts of multicrystalline silicon were melted in an electron beam furnace in different experimental conditions in order to investigate the oxygen evaporation behavior during the electron beam melting (EBM) process. The oxygen content level before and after EBM was determined by secondary ion mass spectroscopy. The oxygen content was reduced from 6.177 to 1.629 ppmw when silicon was melted completely at 15 kW with removal efficiency up to 73.6 %. After that, it decreased continually to <0.0517 ppmw when the refining time exceeded 600 s with a removal efficiency of more than 99.08 %. During the melting process, the evaporation rate of silicon is 1.10 × 10^?5 kg/s. The loss of silicon could be reduced up to 1.7 % during oxygen removal process to a desirable figure, indicating EBM is an effective method to remove oxygen from silicon and decrease the loss of silicon.     

Split-shell molecular orbital calculations on the diatomic alkali metal molecules

Absolute g-tensor calculations for planar hydrocarbon and for non-planar phenyl substituted hydrocarbon radicals are reported. The relevant interactions determining g are discussed. Calculations are performed on the basis of a second-order perturbation expansion. The electronic wavefunctions are obtained from a simplified version of Hoffmann's extended Hückel model (SEH), where all valence electrons are taken into account explicitly. For planar systems the observed linear dependence of g on the energy of the half filled π orbital is well reproduced. A qualitative analysis of this dependence, making restrictive assumptions about the σ electrons, was given earlier by Stone. The calculations for non-planar model systems reproduce the g-factor anomalies which are observed for highly twisted phenyl substituted hydrocarbon radicals. The results show the necessity of direct π-σ mixing and are consistent with recent investigations of the proton hyperfine couplings in such systems.     

Metamaterial absorber based on circular ring structure with and without copper lines

This paper presents the analysis of circular ring metamaterial absorber with the existing of copper lines. The structure is designed using lossy FR4 substrate with thin copper layers. The circular ring shape with copper lines is printed on the top surface of FR4 substrate, while at the bottom surface is printed with full copper ground plane. Parametric study is done to investigate the effect of copper lines on the resonance frequency. From the simulation, the circular ring metamaterial absorber with vertical copper lines can resonates at lower frequency, but this structure is polarized sensitive. This drawback can be improved by adding horizontal copper lines together with the vertical copper lines. The circular ring structure with vertical and horizontal copper lines is not only polarization insensitive, but it can works at wide operating angle of incident waves.