Lines meeting four tangents of a curve of order three in 3-space

Let C be a directly differentiable curve of order 3 in real projective 3-spaceP ³; cf. 3. It is known that there exist 4 tangents of C which are met by a line; cf. 3. The purpose of this paper is to show that, in fact, any 4 tangents of C are met by exactly 2 lines; cf. Theorem 3.3.     

AFM imaging of immobilized fibronectin: does the surface conjugation scheme affect the protein orientation/conformation?

Covalent grafting of biomolecules could potentially improve the biocompatibility of materials. However, these molecules have to be grafted in an active conformation to play their biological roles. The present work aims at verifying if the surface conjugation scheme of fibronectin (FN) affects the protein orientation/conformation and activity. FN was grafted onto plasma-treated fused silica using two different crosslinkers, glutaric anhydride (GA) or sulfosuccinimidyl 4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrate (SMPB). Fused silica was chosen as a model surface material because it presents a roughness well below the dimensions of FN, therefore allowing AFM analyses with appropriate depth resolution. Cell adhesion assays were performed to evaluate the bioactivity of grafted FN. Cell adhesion was found to be higher on GA-FN than on SMPB-FN. Since FN-radiolabeling assays allowed us to rule out a surface concentration effect (approximately 80 ng/cm2 of FN on both crosslinkers), it was hypothesized that FN adopted a more active conformation when grafted via GA. In this context, the FN conformation on both crosslinkers was investigated through AFM and contact angle analyses. Before FN grafting, GA- and SMPB-modified surfaces had a similar water contact angle, topography, and roughness. However, water contact angles of GA-FN and SMPB-FN surfaces clearly show differences in surface hydrophilicity, therefore indicating a dependence of protein organization toward the conjugation strategy. Furthermore, AFM results demonstrated that surface topography and roughness of both FN-conjugated surfaces were significantly different. Distribution analysis of FN height and diameter confirmed this observation as the protein dimensions were significantly larger on GA than SMPB. This study confirmed that the covalent immobilization scheme of biomolecules influences their conformation and, hence, their activity. Consequently, selecting the appropriate conjugation strategy is of paramount importance in retaining molecule bioactivity.     

An adaptive finite element method for forced convection

This paper presents an adaptive finite element method to solve forced convective heat transfer. Solutions are obtained in primitive variables using a high-order finite element approximation on unstructured grids. Two general-purpose error estimators are developed to analyse finite element solutions and to determine the characteristics of an improved mesh which is adaptively regenerated by the advancing front method. The adaptive methodology is validated on a problem with a known analytical solution. The methodology is then applied to heat transfer predictions for two cases of practical interest. Predictions of the Nusselt number compare well with measurements and constitute an improvement over previous results. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Verification and validation of impinging round jet simulations using an adaptive FEM

This paper illustrates the use of an adaptive finite element method as a means of achieving verification of codes and simulations of impinging round jets, that is obtaining numerical predictions with controlled accuracy. Validation of these grid‐independent solution is then performed by comparing predictions to measurements. We adopt the standard and accepted definitions of verification and validation (Technical Report AIAA‐G‐077‐1998, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1998; Verification and Validation in Computational Science and Engineering. Hermosa Publishers: Albuquerque, NM, 1998). Mesh adaptation is used to perform the systematic and rigorous grid refinement studies required for both verification and validation in CFD. This ensures that discrepancies observed between predictions and measurements are due to deficiencies in the mathematical model of the flow. Issues in verification and validation are discussed. The paper presents an example of code verification by the method of manufactured solution. Examples of successful and unsuccessful validation for laminar and turbulent impinging jets show that agreement with experiments is achieved only with a good mathematical model of the flow physics combined with accurate numerical solution of the differential equations. The paper emphasizes good CFD practice to systematically achieve verification so that validation studies are always performed on solid grounds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Protein/polysaccharide complexes and coacervates in food systems

Since the pioneering work of Bungenberg de Jong and co-workers on gelatin-acacia gum complex coacervation in the 1920-40s, protein/polysaccharide complexes and coacervates have received increasing research interest in order to broaden the possible food applications. This review focuses on the main research streams followed in this field during the last 12 years regarding: i) the parameters influencing the formation of complexes and coacervates in protein-polysaccharide systems; ii) the characterization of the kinetics of phase separation and multi-scale structure of the complexes and coacervates; and iii) the investigation of the functional properties of complexes and coacervates in food applications. This latter section encompasses various technological aspects, namely: the viscosifying and gelling ability, the foaming and emulsifying ability and finally, the stabilization and release of bioactives or sensitive compounds.     

Efficient and Rapid Synthesis of Radioactive Gold Nanoparticles by Dielectric Barrier Discharge

A compact bench‐top system based on a dielectric barrier plasma discharge (DBD), enables the rapid, automatable, and continuous‐flow synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and radioactive gold nanoparticles (¹⁹⁸AuNPs). AuNPs are used as radiosensitizers in oncology, and ¹⁹⁸AuNPs (half‐life: 2.7 d) have been suggested as potential cancer brachytherapy sources. Plasma applied at the surface of a liquid containing gold ions (AuCl₄^?) and dextran induces the production of AuNPs directly in water. This synthesis is monitored in real time by UV–visible spectrometry: the change of absorbance of the solution provides new insights on the growth dynamics of AuNPs by plasma synthesis. By balancing gold ions and surfactant molecules, particles with a diameter lying in the optimal range for radiosensitizing applications (28 ± 9 nm) are produced. The method yields a reduction of more than 99% of the gold ions within only 30 min of plasma treatment. A postsynthesis ripening of the AuNPs is revealed, monitored by UV–visible spectrometry, and quantified within the first few hours following plasma treatment. Radioactive ¹⁹⁸AuNPs are also produced by DBD synthesis and characterized by electron microscopy and single‐photon emission computed tomography imaging. The results confirm the efficiency of DBD reactors for AuNPs synthesis in oncology applications.     

Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for encainide and its metabolites in human body fluids

Methods reported previously for the determination of encainide and its metabolites in biological fluids have not been extensively described and evaluated. We report an improved high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the quantification of these compounds in plasma and urine with complete estimation of the accuracy and reproducibility of the analytical method. The major improvements consist of: (1) the use of ethaverine as an appropriate internal standard; (2) the use of the salting-out technique which improves the extraction recovery for the metabolites of encainide and the sensitivity of the assay; and (3) a shift of the ultraviolet absorption wavelength from 254 to 270 nm to increase the selectivity of the detection.     

An Experimental Study of a Radial Coaxial Gaseous Discharge

Experimental measurements of a radial coaxial gaseous discharge were made using an adjustable Langmuir probe and a microwave interferometer. Excellent agreement of these results is observed when inhomogeneities of both the electron number density and temperature are accounted for and the electronneutral collisions are assumed to be "hard-sphere" collisions.     

X-ray photoelectron emission microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis of ultrathin fluoropolymer coatings for stent applications

Fluoropolymer plasma coatings have been investigated for application as stent coatings due to their chemical stability, conformability, and hydrophobic properties. The challenge resides in the capacity for these coatings to remain adherent, stable, and cohesive after the in vivo stent expansion, which can generate local plastic deformation of up to 25%. Plasma-coated samples have been prepared by a multistep process on 316L stainless steel substrates, and some coated samples were plastically deformed to mimic a stent expansion. Analyses were then performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray photoelectron emission microscopy (X-PEEM), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) to determine the chemical and physical effects of such a deformation on both the coating and the interfacial region. While XPS analyses always showed a continuous coating with no significant effect of the deformation, TOF-SIMS and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (derived from X-PEEM) data indicated the presence of a certain density of porosity and pinholes in all coatings as well as sparse fissures and molecular fragmentation in the deformed ones. The smallness of the area fraction affected by the defects and the subtlety of the chemical changes could only be evidenced through the higher chemical sensitivity of these latter techniques.