A simple three‐wave approximate Riemann solver for the Saint‐Venant‐Exner equations

Erosion and sediments transport processes have a great impact on industrial structures and on water quality. Despite its limitations, the Saint‐Venant‐Exner system is still (and for sure for some years) widely used in industrial codes to model the bedload sediment transport. In practice, its numerical resolution is mostly handled by a splitting technique that allows a weak coupling between hydraulic and morphodynamic distinct softwares but may suffer from important stability issues. In recent works, many authors proposed alternative methods based on a strong coupling that cure this problem but are not so trivial to implement in an industrial context. In this work, we then pursue 2 objectives. First, we propose a very simple scheme based on an approximate Riemann solver, respecting the strong coupling framework, and we demonstrate its stability and accuracy through a number of numerical test cases. However, second, we reinterpret our scheme as a splitting technique and we extend the purpose to propose what should be the minimal coupling that ensures the stability of the global numerical process in industrial codes, at least, when dealing with collocated finite volume method. The resulting splitting method is, up to our knowledge, the only one for which stability properties are fully demonstrated.     

Rapid DNA hybridization analysis using a PDMS microfluidic sensor and a molecular beacon.

A rapid DNA analysis has been developed based on a fluorescence intensity change of a molecular beacon in a PDMS microfluidic channel. Recently, we reported a new analytical method of DNA hybridization involving a PDMS microfluidic sensor using fluorescence energy transfer (FRET). However, there are some limitations in its application to real DNA samples because the target DNA must be labelled with a suitable fluorescent dye. To resolve this problem, we have developed a new DNA microfluidic sensor using a molecular beacon. By monitoring the change in the restored fluorescence intensity along the channel length, it is possible to rapidly detect any hybridization of the molecular beacon to the target DNA. In this case, the target DNA does not need to be labelled. Our experimental results demonstrate that this microfluidic sensor using a molecular beacon is a promising diagnostic tool for rapid DNA hybridization analysis.     

高速色散补偿系统中喇曼放大器性能研究

利用喇曼放大器的非线性偏微分耦合方程组,对带喇曼放大器的色散补偿系统进行了仿真,并与传统的仿真方法进行了比较.结果表明:在色散完全补偿系统中,当传输速率较高时,忽略色散后的传统仿真方法的结果,与采用色散补偿技术后使整个系统色散为零的仿真结果有一定偏差,此时不能忽略色散的作用.还对前补偿系统和后补偿系统进行了研究,利用Q值性能判别法,分别得到了信号光脉冲的最佳占空比和最佳脉冲阶数.     

A discontinuous Galerkin method for the Cahn-Hilliard equation

The Cahn-Hilliard equation is modeled to describe the dynamics of phase separation in glass and polymer systems. A priori error estimates for the Cahn-Hilliard equation have been studied by the authors. In order to control accuracy of approximate solutions, a posteriori error estimation of the Cahn-Hilliard equation is obtained by discontinuous Galerkin method.     

Total surface areas of Group IVA organometallic compounds: Predictors of toxicity to algae and bacteria

There is a high correlation between molecular surface area (TSA) of triorganotin and triorganolead compounds and their toxicity towards a bacterium (Escherichia coli) and an alga (Selenastrum capricornutum). Parallel attempts to correlate other Group IVA organometals incorporating silicon or germanium were unsuccessful. It was further demonstrated, however, that a high correlation was obtainable between certain series of compounds with the same organic substituent but different metal centers involving all Group IVA elements. In both instances, the inability to obtain a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) for all systems studied appears to be a function of the solubility of the compounds. While organotin TSA values have been found to correlate well with their toxicities toward various organisms, this study clearly suggests that this type of QSAR can be readily extended to include other organometal systems, provided that there is no solubility problem and the toxicity is a function of the hydrophobicity of the organometal compounds.     

R?ntgenspektrometrische Elementbestimmung in Abwasser: Probenvorbereitung und Matrixkorrekturverfahren

Zusammenfassung Für Elementbestimmungen in Abwasser wird ein Röntgenfluorescenzverfahren beschrieben. Zur Probenvorbereitung werden die Elemente durch Gefriertrocknung auf einem inerten Träger angereichert. Diese Anreicherung ist nicht selektiv und erfaßt praktisch alle in Abwasser gelösten und suspendierten Verunreinigungen. Für die Berechnung der Elementkonzentrationen aus den gemessenen Fluorescenzintensitäten wird ein Matrixkorrekturverfahren angegeben, welches dem unterschiedlichen Absorptionsverhalten der Probenmatrix Rechnung trägt. Die Massenabsorptionskoeffizienten werden durch Messung der diffus gestreuten Bremsstrahlung bzw. der Comptonstreustrahlung ermittelt. Die Selbstabsorption des zu bestimmenden Elementes wird rechnerisch berücksichtigt. Das Korrekturverfahren kann auf alle mit Röntgenfluorescenzanalyse bestimmbaren Elemente angewendet werden.

---

Determination of elements in waste water by x-ray fluorescence analysis: Sample preparation and matrix correction method

Summary For sample preparation the elements are enriched upon an inert carrier by freeze-drying. This enriching procedure is not selective and collects all dissolved and suspended contaminations from the waste water. In order to calculate the element concentrations from the measured fluorescence intensities a matrix correction method is given which considers the different absorption behaviour of the matrix. The mass absorption coefficients are obtained by measuring the scattered X-ray tube spectrum or a Compton scattered X-ray tube line, respectively. The self-absorption of the element to be determined is taken into account. The correction method is applicable to all elements detectable by X-ray fluorescence.

Herrn Dr. H. Wagner danken wir für das stete Interesse, die zahlreichen konstruktiven Diskussionen und die Hilfe beim Abfassen des Manuskripts.     

Pressurized hot water extraction of berberine, baicalein and glycyrrhizin in medicinal plants

Pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) using a laboratory made system was applied for the extraction of thermally labile and reasonably polar components such as berberine in coptidis rhizoma, glycyrrhizin in radix glycyrrhizae/liquorice and baicalein in scutellariae radix. PHWE was carried out dynamically at a flow of 1 ml/min, temperature between 95 and 140 °C, an applied pressure of 10-20 bar and extraction time of 40 min. Extraction by PHWE was found to give efficiencies comparable to Soxhlet extraction for baicalein in scutellariae radix and sonication for berberine in coptidis rhizoma, and glycyrrhizin in radix glycyrrhizae. Effects of ethanol added into the water used in PHWE were explored. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with methanol as solvent was used for extraction of baicalein in scutellariae radix. The marker compounds present in the various medicinal plant extracts were determined by gradient elution HPLC.