Antioxidant activity of 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid isolated from Inula viscosa

Inula viscosa is a perennial herbaceous plant used topically in folk medicine as an anti-scabies, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing agent. We examined the antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of I. viscosa. We isolated and identified several polyphenolic antioxidants from I. viscosa leaves and focused on 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1,3-diCQA). Antioxidant activity was measured using ABTS and DPPH assays, which measure antioxidant activity. The concentrations of 1,3-diCQA required for the inhibition of oxidation were lower than those required by other known antioxidants. 1,3-diCQA inhibited oxidative damage caused by various factors, including FeSO₄ and AAPH (2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dehydrochloride). Antioxidant activity can also be detected by the ability of a compound to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). 1,3-diCQA was found to scavenge hydroxyl radical and superoxide radicals, as measured by electron spin resonance (ESR). These data demonstrate that 1,3-diCQA exhibits antioxidant properties, probably through the involvement of a direct scavenging effect on several free radicals.     

Reduced Collocation Methods: Reduced Basis Methods in the Collocation Framework

In this paper, we present the first reduced basis method well-suited for the collocation framework. Two fundamentally different algorithms are presented: the so-called Least Squares Reduced Collocation Method (LSRCM) and Empirical Reduced Collocation Method (ERCM). This work provides a reduced basis strategy to practitioners who prefer a collocation, rather than Galerkin, approach. Furthermore, the empirical reduced collocation method eliminates a potentially costly online procedure that is needed for non-affine problems with Galerkin approach. Numerical results demonstrate the high efficiency and accuracy of the reduced collocation methods, which match or exceed that of the traditional reduced basis method in the Galerkin framework.     

Optimisation of nitrogen fertilisation

The optimisation of nitrogen fertilisation for cereals in Mediterranean regions is very difficult, because yields and leaching losses are depending on winter rainfall. In this article five years of nitrogen fertilisation trials are analysed in order to get a model which relates winter rainfall, nitrogen fertilisation and wheat yields. A highly significant model obtained, in which soil type and the cultivar were taken into account. In order to improve nitrogen use efficiency and to avoid unnecessary nitrogen fertilisation, information on the minimum amount of nitrogen at seeding time and for how long the first top dressing can be delayed without yield losses will be necessary.     

Production-quality video over broadband networks: a systemdescription and two interactive applications

The Washington University MultiMedia eXplorer (MMX) is a complete, host-independent multimedia system capable of transmitting and receiving JPEG-compressed video, CD-quality audio, and high-resolution radiographic images over the Washington University broadband ATM network. If the host is equipped with an ATM interface card, normal network traffic can be supported via an ATM extension port on the MMX. The major components of the MMX are an ATMizer and three multimedia channels. The ATMizer implements the host interface, the interface to the ATM network, and the interface to the three multimedia channels. This paper describes the architecture of the MMX, the software used with the system, and two applications that have been developed to demonstrate the capability of broadband ATM networks for multimedia applications     

Parallel pseudospectral domain decomposition techniques

The influence of interface boundary conditions on the ability to parallelize pseudospectral multidomain algorithms is investigated. Using the properties of spectral expansions, a novel parallel two-domain procedure is generalized to an arbitrary number of domains each of which can be solved on a separate processor. This interface boundary condition considerably simplifies influence matrix techniques.