Endothelial shear stress from large-scale blood flow simulations

We discuss the optimal evaluation of endothelial shear stress for real-life case studies based on anatomic data acquisition. The fluid dynamic simulations require smoothing of the geometric dataset to avoid major artefacts in the flow patterns, especially in the proximity of bifurcations. A systematic series of simulations at different corrugation levels shows that, below a smoothing length of about 0.5 mm, the numerical data are insensitive to further smoothing.     

Electroluminescence from a single nanotube-molecule-nanotube junction

The positioning of single molecules between nanoscale electrodes has allowed their use as functional units in electronic devices. Although the electrical transport in such devices has been widely explored, optical measurements have been restricted to the observation of electroluminescence from nanocrystals and nanoclusters and from molecules in a scanning tunnelling microscope setup. In this Letter, we report the observation of electroluminescence from the core of a rod-like molecule between two metallic single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes forming a rigid solid-state device. We also develop a simple model to explain the onset voltage for electroluminescence. These results suggest new characterization and functional possibilities, and demonstrate the potential of carbon nanotubes for use in molecular electronics.     

Generation of entangled photon pairs using small-coherence-time continuous wave pump lasers

We address the generation of entangled photon pairs by parametric downconversion from solid state cw lasers with small coherence time. We consider a compact and low-cost setup based on a two-crystal scheme with type-I phase matching. We reconstruct the full density matrix by quantum tomography and analyze in detail the entanglement properties of the generated state as a function of the crystal's length and the coherence time of the pump. We verify the possibility to improve the visibility using a purification protocol based on a compensation crystal.     

Benzo[d]isothiazol-3-yl-benzamidines: a class of protective agents on culture of human cartilage and chondrocytes stimulated by IL-1beta

New derivatives of N-benzo[d]isothiazol-3-yl-benzamidine 6 a were synthesized as nonacidic anti-inflammatory/antidegenerative agents. We investigated the influence of the amidines 6 a-j on the production of NO, PGE(2), MMP-3, COX-2, ROS, and GAGs, key molecules involved in cartilage destruction in osteoarthritic diseases. The antidegenerative properties of the novel designed derivatives 6 b-j were improved with respect to N-benzo[d]isothiazol-3-yl-benzamidine 6 a. All of the compounds 6 a-j promoted the reduction of most of the IL-1beta-induced harmful effects. Derivatives 6 d, 6 h, and 6 j were the most potent of all the tested compounds, particularly in the human chondrocyte culture model.     

Melatonin and Myo-Inositol: Supporting Reproduction from the Oocyte to Birth

Human pregnancy is a sequence of events finely tuned by several molecular interactions that come with a new birth. The precise interlocking of these events affecting the reproductive system guarantees safe embryo formation and fetal development. In this scenario, melatonin and myo-inositol seem to be pivotal not only in the physiology of the reproduction process, but also in the promotion of positive gestational outcomes. Evidence demonstrates that melatonin, beyond the role of circadian rhythm management, is a key controller of human reproductive functions. Similarly, as the most representative member of the inositol’s family, myo-inositol is essential in ensuring correct advancing of reproductive cellular events. The molecular crosstalk mediated by these two species is directly regulated by their availability in the human body. To date, biological implications of unbalanced amounts of melatonin and myo-inositol in each pregnancy step are growing the idea that these molecules actively contribute to reduce negative outcomes and improve the fertilization rate. Clinical data suggest that melatonin and myo-inositol may constitute an optimal dietary supplementation to sustain safe human gestation and a new potential way to prevent pregnancy-associated pathologies.     

Außenwandkonstruktionen für Schwimmhallen

Die kontinuierlich steigenden Anforderungen an die allgemeinen Komfortbedingungen in Verbindung mit einer immer weiter wachsenden Nachfrage nach den unterschiedlichsten Wellness‐Angeboten führen sowohl im Hotel‐ und Touristikgewerbe als auch im privaten Bereich zu umfangreichen Neu‐ und Umbaumaßnahmen. Bei öffentlichen Schwimmhallen liegt das Hauptaugenmerk dabei auf geeigneten Maßnahmen zur Steigerung der Energie‐Effizienz bei gleichzeitiger Modernisierung und Attraktivierung der entsprechenden Gebäudeteile. Nun handelt es sich bei diesen Gebäuden oder Gebäudeteilen um bauliche Einrichtungen, deren Nutzung beispielsweise als Schwimmhalle, als Whirlpoolraum oder als Saunavorraum eine gegenüber den konventionellen Randbedingungen von Aufenthaltsräumen deutlich erhöhte Feuchtebelastung bedingt: Es liegen hier nicht nur gegenüber Wohngebäuden deutlich erhöhte Temperaturen und Luftfeuchten – und damit eine völlig andere Größenordnung der Wasserdampfpartialdrücke der Raumluft – sondern auch grundsätzlich andere Nutzungs‐ und Betriebszeiten vor. Damit ergibt sich dann, dass der dauerhaft schaden‐ und mängelfreie Betrieb einer solchen Einrichtung eine entsprechend angepasste Baukonstruktion der umgebenden Bauteile und somit eine spezielle fachliche Betrachtung der bauphysikalischen Randbedingungen erfordert. Während für die konventionelle Wohn‐ oder Büronutzung eines Gebäudes die bauklimatisch anzusetzenden Randbedingungen (sowie die korrespondierenden Nachweisverfahren) normativ geregelt sind und die Auswirkungen auf die entsprechende bauliche Realisierung damit mehr oder weniger geläufig sind, fehlen diese Erkenntnisse im Bereich der Feuchträume im Allgemeinen und der Schwimmhallen im Besonderen weitestgehend. External wall constructions for indoor swimming pools. The continually increasing requirements for general comfort conditions combined with an ever growing demand for the widest range of wellness facilities result in numerous new‐build and extension projects in the hotel and tourist trade as well as in private homes (example see fig. 1). With public swimming pools the focus of attention is on suitable measures to increase the energy efficiency of the relevant parts of buildings and to modernise and make them more attractive at the same time. With these buildings or parts of buildings we are dealing with buildings used as swimming pools, jacuzzis or saunas and much more exposed to the effects of moisture compared to the normal boundary conditions of recreational areas: Not only are the temperatures and humidity content much higher and therefore the partial pressures of the water vapour in the air indoors on a completely different scale, but they are generally open and used at different times. This means that the long‐term operation of such a building free of damage and shortcomings requires a correspondingly suitable construction of the surrounding components and thus a special expert assessment of the building physics boundary conditions. Whereas the boundary conditions relating to the temperature and moisture in the building (and the corresponding methods) to be applied to residential or office buildings are regulated by standards and the effects on the corresponding construction of the building in practice are therefore more or less familiar, there is a general lack of this information for indoor areas with high humidity in general and swimming pools in particular.     

Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry and the unambiguous real-time detection of 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene

Fears of terrorist attacks have led to the development of various technologies for the real-time detection of explosives, but all suffer from potential ambiguities in the assignment of threat agents. Using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), an unusual bias dependence in the detection sensitivity of 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene (TNT) on the reduced electric field (E/N) has been observed. For protonated TNT, rather than decreasing signal intensity with increasing E/N, which is the more usual sensitivity pattern observed in PTR-MS studies, an anomalous behavior is first observed, whereby the signal intensity initially rises with increasing E/N. We relate this to unexpected ion-molecule chemistry based upon comparisons of measurements taken with related nitroaromatic compounds (1,3,5 trinitrobenzene, 1,3 dinitrobenzene, and 2,4 dinitrotoluene) and electronic structure calculations. This dependence provides an easily measurable signature that can be used to provide a rapid highly selective analytical procedure to minimize false positives for the detection of TNT. This has major implications for Homeland Security and, in addition, has the potential of making instrumentation cost-effective for use in security areas. This study shows that an understanding of fundamental ion-molecule chemistry occurring in low-pressure drift tubes is needed to exploit selectivity and sensitivity for analytical purposes.