Numerical Study of a Modified Time-Stepping θ-Scheme for Incompressible Flow Simulations

In [Turek (1996). Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids 22, 987–1011], we had performed numerical comparisons for different time stepping schemes for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. In this paper, we present the numerical analysis in the context of the Navier–Stokes equations for a modified time-stepping θ-scheme which has been recently proposed by Glowinski [Glowinski (2003). In: Ciarlet, P. G., and Lions, J. L. (eds.), Handbook of Numerical Analysis, Vol. IX, North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp. 3–1176]. Like the well-known classical Fractional-Step-θ-scheme which had been introduced by Glowinski [Glowinski (1985). In Murman, E. M. and Abarbanel, S. S. (eds.), Progress and Supercomputing in Computational Fluid Dynamics, Birkh?user, Boston MA; Bristeau et al. (1987). Comput. Phys. Rep. 6, 73–187], too, and which is still one of the most popular time stepping schemes, with or without operator splitting techniques, this new scheme consists of 3 substeps with nonequidistant substepping to build one macro time step. However, in contrast to the Fractional-Step-θ-scheme, the second substep can be formulated as an extrapolation step for previously computed data only, and the two remaining substeps look like a Backward Euler step so that no expensive operator evaluations for the right hand side vector with older solutions, as for instance in the Crank–Nicolson scheme, have to be performed. This modified scheme is implicit, strongly A-stable and second order accurate, too, which promises some advantageous behavior, particularly in implicit CFD simulations for the nonstationary Navier–Stokes equations. Representative numerical results, based on the software package FEATFLOW [Turek (2000). FEATFLOW Finite element software for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations: User Manual, Release 1.2, University of Dortmund] are obtained for typical flow problems with benchmark character which provide a fair rating of the solution schemes, particularly in long time simulations.Dedicated to David Gottlieb on the occasion of his 60th anniversary     

An attempt to compare the performance of bioscrubbers and biotrickling filters for degradation of ethyl acetate in gas streams

This study presents a comparison of the efficiency of a bioscrubber and a biotrickling filter (BTF) for the removal of ethyl acetate (EA) vapour from a waste gas stream, under the same operating conditions. The maximum EA elimination capacity achieved in the bioscrubber was 550 g m^?3 h^?1 with removal efficiency higher than 96%. For higher EA loadings the bioscrubber was oxygen limited, which caused incomplete EA biodegradation. When pure oxygen was fed to the bioscrubber at a rate of 0.02 L min^?1, the bioscrubber recovered and could treat higher EA loadings without any oxygen limitation. The BTF achieved EA elimination capacity of 600 g m^?3 h^?1 with removal efficiency higher than 97% and the dissolved oxygen concentration remained substantially higher than in the bioscrubber. However, severe channelling and blockage of the spray nozzle occurred due to the excessive biomass growth. Overall, the bioscrubber system was easier to operate and control than the BTF, while an enhancement of the oxygen mass transfer in the bioscrubber could potentially increase its performance by up to three times. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermodynamic state of reinforced interpenetrating polymer networks

The free energies of mixing of two networks in the interpenetrating polymer network based on crosslinked polyurethane and poly(ester acrylate) have been determined by the vapour sorption method. It was established that the constituent networks in the IPN are not miscible. The introduction of fillers of different chemical nature increases the compatibility. The thermodynamic affinity of the fillers to the individual networks and IPN was estimated. It was established that when the free energy of interaction of one or both components of the IPN with the filler is negative, reinforcement leads to the formation of a compatible and equilibrium system. For fillers having no affinity to the polymers, compatibilization is observed, which is connected with slowing down of phase separation in the system in the presence of filler.     

Evaluating reactivity to ecological momentary assessment during smoking cessation.

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) consists of assessing phenomena in real time in the natural environment. EMA allows for more fine-grained analyses of addictive behavior and minimizes threats to internal validity, such as recall biases and errors. However, because of the intensive monitoring involved in EMA, measurement reactivity is a concern. To test whether EMA with palmtop personal computers induces reactivity, the authors compared smoking-related outcomes between smokers using EMA and those not using EMA during a quit attempt. The use of no-EMA control groups has been rare in reactivity investigations to date. The EMA protocol included event-contingent assessments (smoking episodes, urge episodes) and random assessments. Outcomes included biologically confirmed abstinence and self-report measures of withdrawal, self-efficacy, motivation, affect, and temptations. Participants were smokers motivated to quit (N = 96). They were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: EMA for the week preceding a planned quit date, EMA for the week following the quit date, and no EMA. Abstinence rates did not differ between the groups at Day 7 or at Day 28 postcessation. For the 20 subscales assessed at each of 3 assessment times, there were significant differences between participants with and without EMA experience for 3 subscales at the 1st of 3 assessment times, and significant differences for 3 different subscales at the 3rd assessment time. These differences suggest some reactivity to EMA, although the inconsistent pattern across time indicates that further research is needed to definitively conclude that EMA induces reactivity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formation of Porous SiC Ceramics by Pyrolysis of Wood Impregnated with Silica

Biomorphous β-SiC ceramics were produced at 1400°C from pine wood impregnated with silica. This one-step carbothermal reduction process decreases the cost of manufacturing of SiC ceramics compared with siliconization of carbonized wood in silicon vapor. The synthesized sample exhibits a 14 m²/g surface area and has a hybrid pore structure with large 5–20 μm tubular macropores and small (<50 nm) slit-shaped mesopores. SiC whiskers of 20–400 nm in diameter and 5–20 μm in length formed within the tubular pores. These whiskers are expected to improve the filtration by removing dust particles that could otherwise penetrate through large pores. After ultrasonic milling, the powdered sample showed an average particle size of ∼30 nm. The SiC nanopowder produced in this process may be used for manufacturing SiC ceramics for structural, tribological, and other applications.     

Modulating drug release from poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid microparticles by the addition of alginate and pectin

The aim of the present work is the characterization of PLGA microparticles including biopolymers for the controlled release of tilmicosin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Microparticles were prepared using the double-emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The effect of alginate and pectin incorporation over particle size and porosity, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and pH-responsive drug release was evaluated. Formulations presented a mean particle size of 5.5 μm approximately and a drug EE ranged from 22%–57%. PLGA-Alginate particles showed an increased porosity. Tilmicosin release profiles from PLGA and PLGA-biopolymer microparticles were affected by the particular combination of polymers and the pH of the release medium. The experimental data was simulated using a mathematical model, which takes into account the autocatalytic polymer degradation and the different mechanisms of drug transport. The combination of PLGA and biopolymers strongly influenced the morphology of the particles, offering the possibility of controlling the drug release profiles according to the therapy.     

Oxidative Damage in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer: Molecular Mapping of Base Excision Repair Glycosylases MUTYH and hOGG1 in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage and resulting mutations play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Impaired equilibrium between DNA damage formation, antioxidant status, and DNA repair capacity is responsible for the accumulation of genetic mutations and genomic instability. The lesion-specific DNA glycosylases, e.g., hOGG1 and MUTYH, initiate the repair of oxidative DNA damage. Hereditary syndromes (MUTYH-associated polyposis, NTHL1-associated tumor syndrome) with germline mutations causing a loss-of-function in base excision repair glycosylases, serve as straight forward evidence on the role of oxidative DNA damage and its repair. Altered or inhibited function of above glycosylases result in an accumulation of oxidative DNA damage and contribute to the adenoma-adenocarcinoma transition. Oxidative DNA damage, unless repaired, often gives rise G:C > T:A mutations in tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes with subsequent occurrence of chromosomal copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity. For instance, G>T transversions in position c.34 of a KRAS gene serves as a pre-screening tool for MUTYH-associated polyposis diagnosis. Since sporadic colorectal cancer represents more complex and heterogenous disease, the situation is more complicated. In the present study we focused on the roles of base excision repair glycosylases (hOGG1, MUTYH) in colorectal cancer patients by investigating tumor and adjacent mucosa tissues. Although we found downregulation of both glycosylases and significantly lower expression of hOGG1 in tumor tissues, accompanied with G>T mutations in KRAS gene, oxidative DNA damage and its repair cannot solely explain the onset of sporadic colorectal cancer. In this respect, other factors (especially microenvironment) per se or in combination with oxidative DNA damage warrant further attention. Base excision repair characteristics determined in colorectal cancer tissues and their association with disease prognosis have been discussed as well.     

Discovery of Long Non-Coding RNA MALAT1 Amplification in Precancerous Colorectal Lesions

A colorectal adenoma, an aberrantly growing tissue, arises from the intestinal epithelium and is considered as precursor of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we investigated structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in adenomas, hypothesizing that chromosomal instability (CIN) occurs early in adenomas. We applied array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) to fresh frozen colorectal adenomas and their adjacent mucosa from 16 patients who underwent colonoscopy examination. In our study, histologically similar colorectal adenomas showed wide variability in chromosomal instability. Based on the obtained results, we further stratified patients into four distinct groups. The first group showed the gain of MALAT1 and TALAM1, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The second group involved patients with numerous microdeletions. The third group consisted of patients with a disrupted karyotype. The fourth group of patients did not show any CIN in adenomas. Overall, we identified frequent losses in genes, such as TSC2, COL1A1, NOTCH1, MIR4673, and GNAS, and gene gain containing MALAT1 and TALAM1. Since long non-coding RNA MALAT1 is associated with cancer cell metastasis and migration, its gene amplification represents an important event for adenoma development.     

Naive random subspace ensemble with linear classifiers for real-time classification of fMRI data

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides a spatially accurate measure of brain activity. Real-time classification allows the use of fMRI in neurofeedback experiments. With limited labelled data available, a fixed pre-trained classifier may be inaccurate. We propose that streaming fMRI data may be classified using a classifier ensemble which is updated through naive labelling. Naive labelling is a protocol where in the absence of ground truth, updates are carried out using the label assigned by the classifier. We perform experiments on three fMRI datasets to demonstrate that naive labelling is able to improve upon a pre-trained initial classifier.     

Joint solubility of samarium and dysprosium in solid magnesium

The phase compositions of solid Mg–Sm–Dy alloys corresponding to the magnesium-corner region of the phase diagram are studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy, electrical resistivity measurements, and electron microprobe analysis. The obtained results allowed us to determine the joint solubility of samarium and dysprosium in solid magnesium at 500, 400, and 300°C; it decreases with decreasing temperature. The magnesium solid solution is found to be in equilibrium only with the Mg₄₁Sm₅ and Mg₂₄Dy₅ compounds, which are in equilibrium with the magnesium solid solution in the binary Mg–Sm and Mg–Dy systems.