Hybrid Laplace transform-finite element method to a generalized electromagneto-thermoelastic problem

A finite element method based on the Laplace transform technique is developed for a two-dimensional problem in electromagneto-thermoelasticity. The problem is in the context of the following generalized thermoelasticity theories: Lord–Shulman’s, Green–Lindsay’s, the Chandrasekharaiah–Tzou, as well as the dynamic coupled theory. The Laplace transform method is applied to the time domain and the resulting equations are discretized using the finite element method. The inversion process is carried out using a numerical method based on a Fourier series expansions. Numerical results compared with those given in literature prove the good performance of the used method. It is demonstrated that the Chandrasekharaiah–Tzou theory can be considered as an extension of Lord–Shulman’s, and the generalized heat conduction mechanism is completely different from the classical Fourier’s in essence.     

Selective alterations of the antibody response to HIV-1

HIV infection leads to progressive alterations of humoral immune functions, including B-cell hyperplasia, hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated autoantibody titers, a poor response to neoantigens and mitogens, polyclonal B-cell activation, monoclonal gammopathies, and a significant deterioration of the antigen-specific humoral response. There is also an important isotypic imbalance of the antibody (Ab) response in the systemic compartment and a profound modification of mucosal immune functions. These abnormalities may contribute to disease progression and development of opportunistic infections, despite the presence of serum-neutralizing anti-HIV Abs. Equally important are the abnormal selection mechanisms of the Ab repertoire that seem to be responsible for B-cell clonal deletions. The V_H3 gene family, which encodes for approx 50% of immunoglobulins expressed by peripheral B-cells from normal adults, is underrepresented in human monoclonal antibodies to HIV-1 and in the peripheral B-cells of AIDS patients. These abnormalities, together with features of germinal center alteration, could be responsible for the clonal elimination of a subset of B-cells, and could contribute to HIV pathogenesis.     

Factors controlling the regioselectivity of additions to α-enones—III: Reactions of 3-aryl α-enones with phosphorylated anions

Reaction of phosphonoester 2 and phosphononitrile 3 with chalcone and p-methoxychaleone in THF-t-BuOK at room temperature gives only the product resulting from CC double bond attack. The same reagents with benzalacetone lead to mixture of products resulting from CC double bond and carbonyl attack, though phosphine oxide 4 gives only the products of CC attack. Dypnone gives products of carbonyl attack with 3 and does not react with 2.These results are discussed in terms of perturbation theory: C₄ attack increases with delocalization of the reagent's negative charge and lowering of the α-enone LUMO level.     

A Very Short and Efficient Total Synthesis of Otanthus Maritima Amide.

A new total synthesis of Otanthus Maritima amide 1 was achieved from 6-trimetylsily N-tert-butyl sorbaldimine 6 in 76% global yield. The natural product 1 was obtained in three steps by condensation of 6 on thiophenal in the presence of catalytic amount of CsF (10%) in DMSO followed by oxidation and amidification of the corresponding intermediate.     

Prolongement d'un courant négatif plurisousharmonique avec condition sur les tranches

In this Note, we prove a theorem on the extension of a negative (or positive) plurisubharmonic current T (i.e. such that $d{d}^{c}T?0$) with condition on the slices with respect to some coordinates. This theorem generalizes a result proved by El Mir–Ben Messaoud relative to d-closed positive currents with a condition on slices. The method consists first of proving a Chern–Levine–Nirenberg inequality for a positive (or negative) psh current, which is a generalization of results obtained by Bedford–Taylor, Demailly and Sibony for d-closed positive currents. Also we prove an Oka type inequality for positive psh currents, thereby generalizing former results by Ben Messaoud–El Mir concerning positive currents with a negative $d{d}^c$. To cite this article: M. Toujani, H. Ben Messaoud, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 339 (2004).     

A Novel Serine Metallokeratinase from a Newly Isolated <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Bacillus pumilus</Emphasis> A1 Grown on Chicken Feather Meal: Biochemical and Molecular Characterization

A keratinolytic enzyme (KerA1) secreted by a newly isolated Bacillus pumilus strain A1 cultivated in medium containing chicken feather meal was purified and characterized, and the gene was isolated and sequenced. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 34,000 Da by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. The optimum pH and temperature for the purified keratinase were 9.0 and 60 °C, respectively, using keratin as a substrate. KerA1 showed a high stability towards nonionic surfactants. It was found to be relatively stable toward the strong anionic surfactant (SDS). The deduced amino acid sequence of the keratinase KerA1 differs from both the organic solvent tolerant protease of B. pumilus 115b and the dehairing protease of B. pumilus UN-31-C-42 by one and nine amino acids, respectively. These results suggest that this keratinase may be a useful alternative and ecofriendly route for handling the abundant amount of waste feathers and for applications in detergent formulations.     

Extraction and Characterization of Chitin,Chitosan, and Protein Hydrolysates Prepared from Shrimp Waste by Treatment with Crude Protease from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus cereus</Emphasis> SV1

Chitin is a polysaccharide found in abundance in the shell of crustaceans. In this study, the protease from Bacillus cereus SV1 was applied for chitin extraction from shrimp waste material of Metapenaeus monoceros. A high level of deproteinization 88.8% ± 0.4 was recorded with an E/S ratio of 20. The demineralization was completely achieved within 6 h at room temperature in HCl 1.25 M, and the residual content of calcium in chitin was below 0.01%. ¹³C CP/MAS-NMR spectral analysis of chitin prepared by the enzymatic deproteinization of shrimp wastes was found to be similar to that obtained by alkaline treatment and to the commercial α-chitin. The degree of N-acetylation, calculated from the spectrum, was 89.5%. Chitin obtained by treatment with crude protease from B. cereus was converted to chitosan by N-deacetylation, and the antibacterial activity of chitosan solution against different bacteria was investigated. Results showed that chitosan solution at 50 mg/mL markedly inhibited the growth of most Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria tested. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of the protein hydrolysates obtained during enzymatic isolation of chitin was evaluated using various in vitro assays. All the samples exerted remarkable antioxidant activities. These results suggest that enzymatic deproteinization of the shrimp shell wastes, using B. cereus SV1 protease, could be applicable to the chitin production process.     

On the Symmetric H q -Semiclassical Polynomial Sequences of Even Class. Some Examples from the Class Two

In the present work, we deal with the quadratic decomposition of symmetric H _q -semiclassical polynomial sequences of even class. Some examples from class two are settled. We give an integral and discrete measure representations for each of considered symmetric forms.     

Effect of transverse cracks on the mechanical properties of angle-ply composites laminates

A modified shear lag analysis, taking into account the notion of stress perturbation function, is employed to evaluate the effect of transverse cracks on the stiffness reduction in [±θ_n/90_m]_S angle-ply laminated composites. Effects of number of 90° layers and number of ±θ layers on the laminate stiffness have also been studied. The present results represent well the dependence of the degradation of mechanical properties on the fibre orientation angle of the outer layers, the number of cracked cross-ply layers and the number of uncracked outer ±θ layers in the laminate.