Numerical analysis of turbulent structure in compound meandering open channel by algebraic Reynolds stress model

The turbulent flow in a compound meandering channel with a rectangular cross section is one of the most complicated turbulent flows, because the flow behaviour is influenced by several kinds of forces, including centrifugal forces, pressure‐driven forces and shear stresses generated by momentum transfer between the main channel and the flood plain. Numerical analysis has been performed for the fully developed turbulent flow in a compound meandering open‐channel flow using an algebraic Reynolds stress model. The boundary‐fitted coordinate system is introduced as a method for coordinate transformation in order to set the boundary conditions along the complicated shape of the meandering open channel. The turbulence model consists of transport equations for turbulent energy and dissipation, in conjunction with an algebraic stress model based on the Reynolds stress transport equations. With reference to the pressure–strain term, we have made use of a modified pressure–strain term. The boundary condition of the fluctuating vertical velocity is set to zero not only for the free surface, but also for computational grid points next to the free surface, because experimental results have shown that the fluctuating vertical velocity approaches zero near the free surface. In order to examine the validity of the present numerical method and the turbulent model, the calculated results are compared with experimental data measured by laser Doppler anemometer. In addition, the compound meandering open channel is clarified somewhat based on the calculated results. As a result of the analysis, the present algebraic Reynolds stress model is shown to be able to reasonably predict the turbulent flow in a compound meandering open channel. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Applying a Mode Selector to Improve the Pulse-Compression Performance of Asymmetric-Coupled-Waveguide-Based Dispersion Compensators

An InGaAsP slab-type asymmetric-coupled-waveguide-based dispersion compensator with a mode selector has been designed and fabricated. The mode selector is necessary to select either a symmetric [with a positive group-velocity dispersion (GVD)] or antisymmetric (with a negative GVD) supermode. These supermodes exist simultaneously in the dispersion-compensation region of the device. Pulse-compression experiments were used to test the dispersion compensator, evaluating the function of the mode selector. A theoretical study of the experimental results shows that the mode selector obtains a very strong selectivity (nearly 100%) for the antisymmetric supermode.     

Difference in electrophoretic mobility and plasmic digestion profile between four recombinant fibrinogens, gamma 308K, gamma 308I, gamma 308A, and wild type (gamma 308N)

We have produced recombinant gamma-chain variant fibrinogens, gamma308K, gamma308I, and gamma308A simultaneously with wild-type fibrinogen, gamma-308N, by genetic protein engineering using Chinese hamster ovary cells. Although all three variant fibrinogens are a result of a single amino acid substitution, the aberrant gamma-chains of gamma308K and gamma308I fibrinogens migrated faster than gamma308N. Furthermore, plasmic digestion profiles were examined in the presence of 5 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) or 1 mM CaCl2. In the presence of EGTA, the three variant fibrinogens were digested into D1 and D2 fragments slightly faster than wild type. In addition, the D2 fragment derived from gamma308K was further digested into D3 by plasmin much faster than that from gamma308N. These data suggest that cleavage of gamma356Lys-gamma357Ala bond by plasmin in gamma308K, gamma308I, and gamma308A is slightly accelerated and the gamma302Lys-gamma303Phe bond is cleaved by plasmin rapidly in only the gamma308K variant. Furthermore, the substitution of Lys for gamma308Asn results in the generation of a new plasmin cleavage site between gamma308Lys and gamma309Gly in the presence of EGTA. In conclusion, a substitution at residue gamma308Asn may cause a conformational change in the gammachain of fragment D affecting polymerization and plasmin cleavage.     

Grafting of a bicycloorthoester onto polymers bearing sulfonium salt structures

Graft copolymerization of a bicycloorthoester (BOE) with polymer-supported sulfonium salts was studied. Several polymer-supported sulfonium salts were prepared by the homopolymerizations of p-vinylbenzyl tetramethylenesulfonium hexafluoroantimonate ( 2 ) and 4-(p-vinylphenyl)butyl tetramethylenesulfonium hexafluoroantimonate ( 3 ), and by the copolymerizations of 2 with some vinyl monomers (n-butyl vinyl ether, styrene, acrylonitrile, and p-styrenesulfonic acid potassium salt). These sulfonium salts could initiate the polymerization of BOE to give grafted polymers. Temperature dependences of the catalytic activity of them were not so dramatic as that of benzyl tetramethylenesulfonium hexafluoroantimonate ( 1 ), but the activities of them were higher than that of 1 at temperatures lower than 80°C. The conversion of BOE in the polymerizations with these polymer initiators was ca. 30–70% at 120°C for 7 h. An effect of the comonomer structure on the catalytic activity was observed and styrene was the best comonomer for 2 in terms of the reactivity of the copolymer. The spacer-modified sulfonium salt (homopolymer of 3 ) was slightly lower than polymer-supported benzyl type sulfonium salt (homopolymer of 2 ) in the catalytic activity.     

Synthesis of 4,6-disubstituted 2-methylpyridines and their 3-carboxamides

A new one-pot synthesis of title compounds by the reactions of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with β-aminocrotononitrile in the presence of sodium hydroxide is described.     

Noticeable facilitation of the bismuth-mediated Barbier-type allylation of aromatic carbonyl compounds under solvent-free conditions

When milled together with bismuth shot in the presence of allyl halide, aromatic aldehydes readily underwent a Barbier-type allylation to afford the corresponding homoallyl alcohols in good yield. In contrast to the failure in solution reaction, aromatic ketones also underwent allylic carbonyl addition under solvent-free conditions to give the expected tertiary homoallyl alcohols in moderate to good yield.     

Influence of amino acid side chain packing on Fe-methionine coordination in thermostable cytochrome C

Paramagnetic NMR and optical studies of the oxidized forms of mesophile Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c(551) and its quintuple mutant (F7A/V13M/F34Y/E43Y/V78I), and thermophile Hydrogenobacter thermophilus cytochrome c(552) demonstrated that the amino acid side chain packings in the protein interior influence the coordination bond between the heme iron and the axial methionine in the proteins. The strength of heme axial coordinations was found to correlate with the overall protein thermostability.     

Catalytic oxygenative degradation of 4-chlorocatechol by a nonheme iron(III) complex—Mechanism and prevention of catechol ester formation

We examined the oxygenative degradation of 4-chlorocatechol and 4-tert-butylcatechol catalyzed by iron(III)-tris(pyridin-2-yl)amine complex from the standpoint of repressing the formation of 4-chlorocatechol esters of the oxygenated products that causes the incomplete degradation of 4-chlorocatechol. Analysis of the products revealed that 4-chlorocatechol esters are formed by the reaction of muconic anhydride, which is the monooxygenated product, with catechols. It was found that the use of MeOH as the solvent instead of MeCN completely suppressed the catechol ester formation through the methanolysis of muconic anhydride, which greatly improves the degradation efficiency of 4-chlorocatechol.