Note: Simultaneous electrical and optical detection of expanding dense partially ionized vapour clouds

The scheme and construction of an electro-optical probe able to collect charge and detect optical emission from expanding dense partially ionized vapour clouds are reported. The instrument can be applied to phenomena such as dust impact ionization and solid target laser ablation. First, results of measurements of expanding plasma cloud formed upon ablating W target are presented. Use of the instrument in different experimental facilities, including tokamak, is discussed.     

Convergence in Networks With Counterclockwise Neural Dynamics

The notion of counterclockwise (ccw) input-output (I-O) dynamics, introduced by Angeli (2006) to deal with questions of multistability in interconnected dynamical systems, is applied and further developed in order to analyze convergence and stability of neural networks. By pursuing a modular approach, we interpret a cellular nonlinear network (CNN) as a positive feedback of a parallel block of single-input-single-output (SISO) dynamical systems, the neurons, and a static multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system that couples them (typically the so-called interconnection matrix). The analysis extends previously known results by enlarging the class of allowed neural dynamics to higher order neurons.     

Introducing realistic tire–pavement contact stresses into Pavement Analysis using Nonlinear Damage Approach (PANDA)

Realistic tire–pavement interface contact areas and stresses were incorporated into the Pavement Analysis using Nonlinear Damage Approach (PANDA) user interface (PUI). PANDA is a software library developed to simulate the complex thermo-viscoelastic–viscoplastic–viscodamage responses of the pavement to mechanical and environmental loads. The PUI is an interface generating a finite element representation of the pavement within PANDA. The application of realistic tire loading is necessary to calculate accurate pavement responses. The PUI incorporates a database of tire contact areas and stresses obtained from tire finite element simulations. The database includes tire interface characteristics with pavements for various applied loads, tire inflation pressures, vehicle speeds and scenarios of different rolling simulations. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the effect of simulations of tire contact stresses that match field measurements on viscoelastic and viscoplastic pavement responses. Pavement responses are greatly affected using realistic tire loading contact stresses and contact geometry as compared to simplified contact models. The impact on rutting and damage predictions cannot be ignored if reliable projections of pavement performance are to be made. This study confirms the importance of considering realistic three-dimensional contact stresses to design and analyse pavements.     

A Model-Based Method for an Online Diagnostic Knowledge-Based System

Fault diagnosis is very important for modern production technology and has received increasing theoretical and practical attention during the last few years. This paper presents a model-based diagnostic method for industrial systems. An online, real-time, deep knowledge based fault detection system has been developed by combining different development environments and tools. The system diagnoses, predicts and compensates faults by coupling symbolic and numerical data in a new environment suitable for the interaction of different sources of knowledge and has been successfully implemented and tested on a real hydraulic system.     

Micromachined scaffolds as primers for cartilage cell growth

Research on the growth and monitoring of cartilage cells in a controlled microstructured environment is important because of the consideration of how the microenvironment affects the cells involved in cartilage regeneration has been neglected to date. An experimental realisation has been demonstrated of biocompatible microstructured surfaces of controlled topography, which have been formed in biocompatible polyimide (Kapton) and in synthetic bioresorbable, epsiv-polycaprolactone (PCL). Bovine cartilage cell growth has been achieved in vitro on the microstructured surfaces and the retention of chondrocytic morphology has been investigated. The results demonstrate that PCL and Kapton microgrooved surfaces can act as primers for cartilage regeneration and repair in vitro or potentially in vivo, by retaining chondrocytic phenotype and enhancing cartilage formation     

CFD-Simulation eines direkt befeuerten Ofens zur Vorbehandlung feuerverzinkter Stahlbänder

For the production of high-quality goods in industrial furnaces using minimal expenditure of energy, optimization of the process parameters is required. One tool for improving the processes economically is the simulation of the furnaces by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The pre-heating process of a steel strip in a section of an annealing furnace for surface treatment in a hot-dip galvanizing process was simulated using the commercial CFD software Ansys Fluent 15.0. For combustion, the Equilibrium model is used, turbulence is modeled by the realizable-k-ε model, and radiation is taken into account by using the Discrete Ordinate Method (DOM).     

Mechanical squeezing of an elastomeric nanochannel device: numerical simulations and ionic current characterization

Peculiar transport phenomena appear at nanoscale, since surface effects strongly affect the behaviour of fluids. Electrostatic and steric interactions, capillary forces and entropic effects play a key role in the behaviour of fluids and biomolecules. Since these effects strongly depend on the size of the nanofluidic system, a careful characterization of the fluidic environment is necessary. Moreover, the possibility to dynamically modulate the size of nanochannels is very appealing in the field of biomolecule manipulation. Recently, we have developed a lab-on-chip made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). This polymeric device is based on a tuneable nanochannel able to dynamically change its dimension in order to fit the application of interest. In fact, a mechanical compression applied on the top of the elastomeric device squeezes the nanochannel, reducing the channel cross section and allowing a dynamical optimization of the nanostructures. In this paper, this squeezing process is fully characterized both numerically and experimentally. This analysis provides information on the reduction of the nanochannel dimensions induced by compression as a function of the work of adhesion and of the stiffness of the materials composing the device. Moreover, calculations demonstrate the possibility to predict the change of the nanochannel size and shape induced by the compression. The possibility to dynamically tune the channel size opens up new opportunities in biomolecular sensing or sieving and in the study of new hydrodynamics effects.     

Selenocarbamates As a Prodrug-Based Approach to Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition

A study on the activity of selenocarbamates as a novel chemotype acting as carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors is reported. Undergoing CA-mediated hydrolysis, selenocarbamates release selenolates behaving as zinc binding groups and effectively inhibiting CAs. A series of selenocarbamates characterised by high molecular diversity and complexity have been studied against different human CA isoforms such as hCA I, II, IX and XII. Selenocarbamates behave as masked selenols with potential biological applications as prodrugs for CAs inhibition-based strategies. X-ray studies provided insights into the binding mode of this novel class of CA inhibitors.     

Genetic Profiles and Risk Stratification in Adult De Novo Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in Relation to Age,Gender, and Ethnicity: A Study from Malaysia

Hitherto, no data describing the heterogeneity of genetic profiles and risk stratifications of adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in Southeast Asia are reported. This study assessed genetic profiles, Moorman’s hierarchical classification, and ELN 2017-based risk stratifications in relation to age, gender, and ethnicity in Malaysian adult AML patients. A total of 854 AML patients: male (52%), female (48%) were recruited comprising three main ethnic groups: Malays (59%), Chinese (32%) and Indians (8%). Of 307 patients with abnormal karyotypes: 36% exhibited translocations; 10% deletions and 5% trisomies. The commonest genotype was FLT3-ITD-NPM1wt (276/414; 66.7%). ELN 2017 risk stratification was performed on 494 patients, and 41% were classified as favourable, 39% as intermediate and 20% as adverse groups. More females (47%) were in the favourable risk group compared to males (37%), whereas adverse risk was higher in patients above 60 (24%) of age compared to below 60 (18%) patients. We observed heterogeneity in the distribution of genetic profiles and risk stratifications between the age groups and gender, but not among the ethnic groups. Our study elucidated the diversity of adult AML genetic profiles between Southeast Asians and other regions worldwide.     

Novel 1,3,5-Triazinyl Aminobenzenesulfonamides Incorporating Aminoalcohol,Aminochalcone and Aminostilbene Structural Motifs as Potent Anti-VRE Agents,and Carbonic Anhydrases I,II, VII,IX, and XII Inhibitors

A series of 1,3,5-triazinyl aminobenzenesulfonamides substituted by aminoalcohol, aminostilbene, and aminochalcone structural motifs was synthesized as potential human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) inhibitors. The compounds were evaluated on their inhibition of tumor-associated hCA IX and hCA XII, hCA VII isoenzyme present in the brain, and physiologically important hCA I and hCA II. While the test compounds had only a negligible effect on physiologically important isoenzymes, many of the studied compounds significantly affected the hCA IX isoenzyme. Several compounds showed activity against hCA XII; (E)-4-{2-[(4-[(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)amino]-6-[(4-styrylphenyl)amino]-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]ethyl}benzenesulfonamide (31) and (E)-4-{2-[(4-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)amino]-6-[(4-styrylphenyl)amino]-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]ethyl}benzenesulfonamide (32) were the most effective inhibitors with K_Is = 4.4 and 5.9 nM, respectively. In addition, the compounds were tested against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) isolates. (E)-4-[2-({4-[(4-cinnamoylphenyl)amino]-6-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)amino]-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl}amino)ethyl]benzenesulfonamide (21) (MIC = 26.33 µM) and derivative 32 (MIC range 13.80–55.20 µM) demonstrated the highest activity against all tested strains. The most active compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against the Human Colorectal Tumor Cell Line (HCT116 p53 +/+). Only 4,4’-[(6-chloro-1,3,5-triazin-2,4-diyl)bis(iminomethylene)]dibenzenesulfonamide (7) and compound 32 demonstrated an IC₅₀ of ca. 6.5 μM; otherwise, the other selected derivatives did not show toxicity at concentrations up to 50 µM. The molecular modeling and docking of active compounds into various hCA isoenzymes, including bacterial carbonic anhydrase, specifically α-CA present in VRE, was performed to try to outline a possible mechanism of selective anti-VRE activity.