A DYNAMIC,ADAPTIVE, LOCALLY CONSERVATIVE,AND NONCONFORMING SOLUTION STRATEGY FOR TRANSPORT PHENOMENA IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

A family of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods are formulated and applied to chemical engineering problems. They are the four primal discontinuous Galerkin schemes for space discretization: symmetric interior penalty Galerkin, Oden-Babu?ka-Baumann DG formulation, nonsymmetric interior penalty Galerkin, and incomplete interior penalty Galerkin. Numerical examples of DG to solve typical chemical engineering problems, including a diffusion-convection-reaction system in a catalytic particle, a problem of heat transfer in a fixed bed, and flow and contaminant transport simulations in porous media, are presented. This article highlights the substantial advantages of DG on adaptive mesh modification over traditional methods. In particular, we propose and investigate the dynamic mesh modification strategy for DG guided by mathematically sound a posteriori error estimators.     

Particleboard from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a cheap agro by-product and a renewable resource, which consists mainly of substituted phenols. A CNSL-based reactive resin was used in this study as binder for particleboards. The resin was prepared by heating a mixture of CNSL, phenol, and hexamethylenetetramine. Properties of the board, viz. water absorption, tensile strength parallel to the surface, tensile strength perpendicular to the surface, and compressibility are determined. The effect of the resin content, P:F ratio of resin, and CNSL:P ratio of resin on the properties of particleboard are also studied. It is found that about 15% resin in the molding formulation is essential to give a board of acceptable quality. It is possible to include up to 20% CNSL without any deterioration in the properties of the board. This is significant from the conservation viewpoint.     

The Identification of Cyclopenta-Fused and Ethynyl-Substituted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Benzene Droplet Combustion Products

In order to investigate new aspects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) growth and soot formation, we have synthesized special reference standards of cyclopenta-fused PAH (CP-PAH) and ethynyl-substituted PAH. We have identified several of these CP-PAH and ethynyl-PAH in benzene droplet combustion products, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible (UV) absorption spectroscopy. Although one CP-PAH identified in these products - acenaphthylene - has previously been identified as a product of a variety of combustion systems, we have identified six additional CP-PAH and two ethynyl-PAH which have never before been unequivocally identified as the products of benzene pyrolysis or combustion: acephenanthrylene, aceanthrylene, cyclopent[hi]acephenanthrylene, cyclopenta[cd]fluoranthene, cyclopenta[cd] pyrene, dicyclopenta[cd, jk]pyrene, 2-ethynylnaphthalene, and 1-ethynylacenaphthylene. We present the corresponding UV absorption spectra obtained from the HPLC analysis of benzene droplet combustion products, and compare them to the UV absorption     

Nutrition education: a questionnaire for assessment and teaching

It is generally recognized that there is a need for improved teaching of nutrition in medical schools and for increased education of the general population. A questionnaire, derived in part from a study of physician knowledge, was administered to first year medical students in order to assess their knowledge of various aspects of nutrition and metabolism, and as a teaching tool to transmit information about the subject. The performance of first year students was consistent with a generally educated population but there were surprising deficits in some fundamental areas of nutrition. Results of the questionnaire are informative about student knowledge, and immediate reinforcement from a questionnaire may provide a useful teaching tool. In addition, some of the subject matter can serve as a springboard for discussion of critical issues in nutrition such as obesity and markers for cardiovascular disease. A major barrier to improved teaching of nutrition is the lack of agreement on some of these critical issues and there are apparent inconsistencies in recommendations of government and health agencies. It seems reasonable that improved teaching should address the lack of knowledge of nutrition, rather than knowledge of official guidelines. Student awareness of factual information should be the primary goal.     

15‐Methylene‐Eburnamonine Kills Leukemic Stem Cells and Reduces Engraftment in a Humanized Bone Marrow Xenograft Mouse Model of Leukemia

Recent studies suggest that leukemia stem cells (LSCs) play a critical role in the initiation, propagation, and relapse of leukemia. Herein we show that (?)‐15‐methylene‐eburnamonine, a derivative of the alkaloid (?)‐eburnamonine, is cytotoxic against acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemias (ALL and CLL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The agent also decreases primary LSC frequency in vitro. The cytotoxic effects appear to be mediated via the oxidative stress pathways. Furthermore, we show that the compound kills AML, ALL, and CLL stem cells. By the use of a novel humanized bone marrow murine model of leukemia (huBM/NSG), it was found to decrease progenitor cell engraftment.     

Apparatus for the vertical orientation cone calorimeter testing of flexible polyurethane foams

Of concern to regulators and fire safety engineers is how flexible polyurethane foam drips and flows during burning. Specifically, flexible polyurethane foam forms a burning ‘pool’ of liquid as the foam decomposes, which can lead to accelerated flashover events. To fully study this phenomenon where the ‘pool fire’ accelerates heat release, large‐scale tests like the furniture calorimeter (American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) E1537) are used, and no small‐scale technique exists. In this paper, we present our work in developing a new sample holder that works with a bench‐scale heat release test, the cone calorimeter (ASTM E1354). The holder was built upon designs developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which placed the foam in a cage in a vertical orientation during cone calorimeter testing. In this paper, we show the schematics for this test apparatus, as well as results obtained with this apparatus on four different flexible foams (shape memory and high‐density foam, flame retarded and non‐flame retarded). We compare the results from the vertical testing with that obtained via traditional horizontal ASTM E1354 testing. The advantages and disadvantages of this new apparatus are discussed in this paper. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure-activity relationship for the first-in-class clinical steroid sulfatase inhibitor Irosustat (STX64, BN83495)

Structure–activity relationship studies were conducted on Irosustat (STX64, BN83495), the first steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitor to enter diverse clinical trials for patients with advanced hormone‐dependent cancer. The size of its aliphatic ring was expanded; its sulfamate group was N,N‐dimethylated, relocated to another position and flanked by an adjacent methoxy group; and series of quinolin‐2(1H)‐one and quinoline derivatives of Irosustat were explored. The STS inhibitory activities of the synthesised compounds were assessed in a preparation of JEG‐3 cells. Stepwise enlargement of the aliphatic ring from 7 to 11 members increases potency, although a further increase in ring size is detrimental. The best STS inhibitors in vitro had IC₅₀ values between 0.015 and 0.025 nM . Other modifications made to Irosustat were found to either abolish or significantly weaken its activity. An azomethine adduct of Irosustat with N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) was isolated, and crystal structures of Irosustat and this adduct were determined. Docking studies were conducted to explore the potential interactions between compounds and the active site of STS, and suggest a sulfamoyl group transfer to formylglycine 75 during the inactivation mechanism.     

Aromatase and dual aromatase-steroid sulfatase inhibitors from the letrozole and vorozole templates

Concurrent inhibition of aromatase and steroid sulfatase (STS) may provide a more effective treatment for hormone‐dependent breast cancer than monotherapy against individual enzymes, and several dual aromatase–sulfatase inhibitors (DASIs) have been reported. Three aromatase inhibitors with sub‐nanomolar potency, better than the benchmark agent letrozole, were designed. To further explore the DASI concept, a new series of letrozole‐derived sulfamates and a vorozole‐based sulfamate were designed and biologically evaluated in JEG‐3 cells to reveal structure–activity relationships. Amongst achiral and racemic compounds, 2‐bromo‐4‐(2‐(4‐cyanophenyl)‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)ethyl)phenyl sulfamate is the most potent DASI (aromatase: IC₅₀=0.87 nM ; STS: IC₅₀=593 nM ). The enantiomers of the phenolic precursor to this compound were separated by chiral HPLC and their absolute configuration determined by X‐ray crystallography. Following conversion to their corresponding sulfamates, the S‐(+)‐enantiomer was found to inhibit aromatase and sulfatase most potently (aromatase: IC₅₀=0.52 nM ; STS: IC₅₀=280 nM ). The docking of each enantiomer and other ligands into the aromatase and sulfatase active sites was also investigated.