Drag Reduction in Wall Bounded Flows: The Effect of Polymers on the Dynamics of Turbulence

Experiments in a refractive index matched pipe flow facility were conducted using state-of-the-art laser-Doppler anemometry to study turbulent drag reduction by dilute addition of high polymers. The results were analyzed employing the invariant theory of turbulence. It was thus possible to confirm the major conclusion of preceding theoretical work, namely that the mechanism of drag reduction by long-chain polymers is associated with an increase in anisotropy of turbulence at the wall. Furthermore, theoretical considerations based on the elastic behavior of a polymer and spatial intermittency of turbulence at small scales enabled quantitative estimates to be made for the relaxation time of a polymer and its concentration that ensures maximum drag reduction. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Temperature-Dependent Surface Enrichment Effects in Binary Mixtures of Fluorinated and Non-Fluorinated Ionic Liquids

Using angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS), we investigate the topmost nanometers of various binary ionic liquid (IL) mixtures at different temperatures in the liquid state. The mixtures consist of ILs with the same [PF₆]⁻ anion but two different cations, namely 3-methyl-1-(3,3,4,4,4-pentafluorobutyl)imidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [PFBMIm][PF₆], and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C₄C₁Im][PF₆], with 10, 25, 50 and 75 mol % content of [PFBMIm][PF₆]. We observe a preferential enrichment of the fluorinated chain in the topmost layer, relative to the bulk composition, which is most pronounced for the lowest content of [PFBMIm][PF₆]. Upon cooling the mixtures stepwise from 95 °C until surface charging effects in XPS indicate solidification, we observe a pronounced increase in surface enrichment of the fluorinated chain with decreasing temperature in the liquid state. In contrast to the mixtures with lower [PFBMIm][PF₆] contents, cooling the 75 mol % mixture additionally shows an abrupt decrease of the fluorinated chain signal before complete solidification occurs, which is assigned to partial precipitation effects.     

The converse of a theorem of W. Gaschütz on Frattini subgroups

Dedicated to W. Gaschütz on the occasion of his 75th birthday Received 26 January 1995; in final form 2 May 1995     

Direct fluorometric analysis of a newly synthesised fluorescein-labelled marker for glomerular filtration rate

There is an obvious and growing medical need for an accurate determination of kidney function in the diagnosis and management of renal diseases. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the accepted gold standard measurement of kidney function. Several approaches to estimate the GFR are available, but most of them are inconvenient and, therefore, of limited acceptance. A new method of quantification with fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC) sinistrin (FS), a novel GFR marker, has been evaluated. The method is based on the fluorescence label of FS and can be performed with a standard fluorometer. To control the interference of protein with the fluorescence signal, a calibration function was developed. The accuracy of the fluorometric method established is comparable to the so-called gold standard of enzymatic determination of polyfructosan. Moreover, FS is easy to handle and requires low-cost instruments. Our results demonstrate the potential of the direct fluorometric analysis of the new FITC-labelled marker of being a precise, simple, rapid and cost-effective method for diagnosing disturbed kidney function and monitoring its treatment efficacy. The dramatic decrease in analytical effort will result in a significantly higher acceptability of GFR determination.     

Mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin films prepared from hydrothermally treated precursor powder sols

Two series of TiO₂ thin films were prepared based on soluble precursor powders: The first run originated directly from an alcohol-based coating solution whereas for the second batch the aqueous precursor powder sol had previously undergone a hydrothermal treatment. The respective microstructures were characterized by electron microscopy, the phase evolution was monitored by X-ray diffraction. Ellipsometric porosimetry (EP) was employed to reveal changes of porosity and pore size induced by thermal treatment of the films.

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Soluble TiO₂ precursor powders were hydrothermally treated to yield coating solutions. Films from these sols were compared with those directly obtained by dissolving the precursor powders. Results indicate that crystallization to anatase is induced under hydrothermal conditions and the resulting films mostly maintain their porosity throughout thermal treatment. In contrast to that coatings processed from as-dissolved precursor powders undergo more extensive densification

     

Fast Sodium‐Ion Conductivity in Supertetrahedral Phosphidosilicates

Fast sodium‐ion conductors are key components of Na‐based all‐solid‐state batteries which hold promise for large‐scale storage of electrical power. We report the synthesis, crystal‐structure determination, and Na⁺‐ion conductivities of six new Na‐ion conductors, the phosphidosilicates Na₁₉Si₁₃P₂₅, Na₂₃Si₁₉P₃₃, Na₂₃Si₂₈P₄₅, Na₂₃Si₃₇P₅₇, LT‐NaSi₂P₃ and HT‐NaSi₂P₃, based entirely on earth‐abundant elements. They have SiP₄ tetrahedra assembled interpenetrating networks of T3 to T5 supertetrahedral clusters and can be hierarchically assigned to sphalerite‐ or diamond‐type structures. ²³Na solid‐state NMR spectra and geometrical pathway analysis show Na⁺‐ion mobility between the supertetrahedral cluster networks. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows Na⁺‐ion conductivities up to σ (Na⁺)=4×10^?4 S cm^?1. The conductivities increase with the size of the supertetrahedral clusters through dilution of Na⁺‐ions as the charge density of the anionic networks decreases.     

Polymers of carbonic acid. XIV. High molecular weight poly(trimethylene carbonate) by ring-opening polymerization with butyltin chlorides as initiators

Numerous BuSnCl, Bu₂SnCl, and Bu₃SnCl-initiated polymerizations of cyclo(tri-methylene carbonate) (TMC) were conducted in bulk. In addition to the initiator, reaction time, temperature, and monomer/initiator (M/I) ratio were varied. Yields above 90% were obtained with all three initiators, but their reactivities decrease in the order BuSnCl₃ > Bu₂SnCl₂ > Bu₃SnCl. The maximum molecular weights decrease in the same order. With BuSnCl₃ M_ws up to 250,000 were obtained. These molecular weights were determined by GPC on the basis of the universal calibration method. In this connection Mark-Houwink equations for two solvents, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and CH₂Cl₂ were determined and compared with literature data. Furthermore, mechanistic aspects were studied. ¹H- and ¹³C- NMR spectra revealed that BuSnCl₃ forms complexes with the CO-group of TMC, whereas Bu₂SnCl₃ do not cause NMR spectroscopic effects. Kinetic studies in chloroform and nitrobenzene and a comparison with Bu₃SnOMe suggest that at least BuSnCl₃ initiates a cationic mechanism. However, in contrast to SnCl₄ (or SnBr₄), BuSnCl₃ does not cause decarboxylation. Regardless of the initiator ¹H-NMR spectroscopy revealed CH₂OH and CH₂CI endgroups in all cases. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

NMR probing of protein-protein interactions using reporter ligands and affinity tags

A novel method is proposed for the detection and quantification of protein-protein interactions in solution. In this approach, one protein binding partner is tagged with a ligand binding domain, and protein-protein interaction is monitored via changes in the NMR relaxation of a reporter ligand which reversibly binds to the ligand binding domain. The particular benefit of the method is that only minute amounts of protein material and no isotope labeling are required. Its ease of implementation and the high-throughput capabilities make the method an attractive complement to existing proteomic methodology.     

Enzymatic determination of l-lysine by flow-injection techniques

An enzymatic assay that is highly selective for l-lysine, based on flow-injection techniques combined with spectrophotometric detection, is presented. l-Lysine-α-oxidase (E.C. 1.4.3.14) from Trichoderma viride and horseradish peroxidase were used in a coupled enzyme assay. Peroxide produced in the first reaction was converted by peroxidase with phenol and 4-aminoantipyrine to a quinoneimine dye detectable at 500 nm. An analytical enzyme reactor filled with coimmobilized enzymes was incorporated in the flow-injection system. The assay has a measuring frequency of 30 samples h^?1 and a response time of less than 2 min. To adapt the assay to high concentrations of l-Lysine and to minimize interferences, the injected sample volume was reduced to 2 μ-l, resulting in a linearity range of 1–16 mM l-lysine with a sensitivity of 6–7 mV 1 mmol^?1, a limit of detection (3σ) of 1 mM and a reproducibility of 0.5% (repetitive injection of a 10 mM l-lysine sample). The enzyme cartridge is stable for several months and thousands of measurements.