Attenuation of sound in wide ducts with flow at elevated pressure and temperature

At ambient conditions the acoustic losses within the fluid are two orders of magnitude smaller than those occurring at a duct wall, so that they are commonly neglected in duct acoustics. Recent measurements revealed an increasing sound attenuation at elevated pressure and temperature, which cannot be justified by the viscothermal losses at the wall alone. In the first part, this paper compiles available models to pursue a comprehensive treatment of the sound attenuation in a duct at elevated pressure and temperature. The second part presents an experimental study of the attenuation. The measurements have been performed at the Hot Acoustic Test Rig, where pressure and temperature can be independently adjusted from their ambient values up to 1100 kPa and 823 K, respectively. The theoretical prediction of the total losses matches the experimental data, thus confirming that the losses within the fluid cannot be neglected in ducts at elevated pressure and temperature.     

Properties of the discotic-nematic to isotropic transition: influence of short range orientational order

The present investigation concerns the analysis of the influence of short range orientational correlation on the thermodynamic properties of discotic-nematic liquid crystals. Two-site cluster approximation is applied to the orientational molecular coordinates to include the short range orientational correlation. The role of short range orientational order, dispersion interaction, molecular length-to-width ratio and pressure on the thermodynamic and orientational behaviour of discotic nematogens close to the discotic-nematic to isotropic transition are analysed. It is observed that the short range orientational order has a strong influence on the thermodynamic properties and that the transition properties of both the calamitic and discotic mesogens exhibit quite similar behaviour.     

Separation of no-carrier-added 109Cd from natural silver target using RTIL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

The room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₄mim][PF₆] has various applications in the separation of a range of metal ions replacing volatile and toxic traditional organic solvents in liquid–liquid extraction systems. In this study, the RTIL [C₄mim][PF₆] was used to separate no-carrier-added (NCA) ¹⁰⁹Cd from α-particle irradiated Ag target. A natural Ag foil was bombarded by 30 MeV α-particles to produce ¹⁰⁹Cd. After the decay of all co-produced short-lived products, NCA ¹⁰⁹Cd was separated from the bulk Ag using [C₄mim][PF₆] as extractant from HNO₃ medium. Ammoniumpyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) was used as a complexing agent. At the optimum condition, 3 M HNO₃, 0.01 M APDC in presence of [C₄mim][PF₆], ~99 % bulk Ag was extracted to the IL phase, leaving NCA ¹⁰⁹Cd in the aqueous phase. The amount of Ag became negligibly small after re-extraction in the same condition. The ionic liquid was recovered by washing it with 1 M HCl.     

Electrodeposition of silicon from three different ionic liquids: possible influence of the anion on the deposition process

The electrodeposition of silicon was investigated from three different ionic liquids with the cation 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium ([Py_1,4]⁺) and three different anions, namely, trifluoromethylsulfonate (TfO^?), bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (TFSA^?) and tris(pentafluoroethyl)-trifluorophosphate (FAP^?) at room temperature and at 100 °C, respectively. The electrodeposition was performed on gold and on copper substrates. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the possible influence of anions on the deposition process. In situ STM studies were also carried out to examine the interfacial behaviour of the SiCl₄/[Py_1,4]TFSA and SiCl₄/[Py_1,4]FAP on Au(111) at room temperature. In situ STM measurements revealed that an underpotential deposition of Si in [Py_1,4]FAP occurred on Au (111) at ~ -0.5 V (vs. Fc/Fc⁺). In comparison, only adsorption of ionic liquid and gold surface reconstruction was found to occur in the potential regime between -0.3 and ?1.8 V (vs. Fc/Fc⁺), respectively, in the case of [Py_1,4]TFSA. In situ STM investigations reveal an effect of the anion on the interfacial processes. In situ I/U tunnelling spectroscopy shows that the band gap of the electrodeposits is ~1.1 eV, indicating that semiconducting silicon has been electrodeposited. Potentiostatic electrolysis was performed to deposit Si from the employed electrolytes at room temperature and at 100 °C. The deposits were characterised using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Thin films of Si could be obtained from the employed ionic liquids and the quality of the deposits was significantly improved at 100 °C.     

Synthesis, characterization and luminescence properties of copper(I) complexes containing 2-phenyl-3-(benzylamino)-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one and triphenylphosphine as ligands

Some copper(I) complexes of the formula [Cu(L)(PPh₃)₂]X (1-4) [where L = 2-phenyl-3-(benzylamino)-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one; PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine; X = Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, ClO₄⁻ and BF₄⁻] have been prepared and characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and ¹H NMR spectral studies. The representative complex of the series 4 has been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction which reveal that in the complex the central copper(I) ion assumes the irregular distorted-tetrahedral geometry. Cyclic voltammetry of the complexes indicate a quasireversible redox behavior corresponding to Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple. All the complexes exhibit intraligand (π → π^∗) fluorescence with high quantum yield in dichloromethane solution.     

Duration differences in the articulation and acoustics of Swiss German word-initial geminate and singleton stops

Stops in Swiss German contrast only in quantity in all word positions; aspiration and voicing play no role. As in most languages with consonant quantity contrast, geminate stops are produced with significantly longer closure duration (CD) than singletons in an intersonorant context. This holds word medially as well as phrase medially, e.g., [oni tto:s] "without roar" versus [oni to:s] "without can." Since the stops are voiceless, no CD cue distinguishes geminates from singletons phrase initially. Nevertheless, do speakers utilize articulatory means to maintain the contrast? By using electropalatography, the articulatory and acoustic properties of word-initial alveolar stops were investigated in phrase-initial and phrase-medial contexts. The results are threefold. First, as expected, CD and contact duration of the articulators mirror each other within a phrase: Geminates are longer than singletons. Second, phrase initially, the contact data unequivocally establish a quantity distinction. This means that-even without acoustic CD cues for perception-geminates are articulated with substantially longer oral closure than singletons. Third, stops are longer in phrase-initial than phrase-medial position, indicating articulatory strengthening. Nevertheless, the difference between geminates and singletons phrase initially is proportionately less than in phrase-medial position.     

Ruthenium nitrosyl complexes with 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane and 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) or 2-phenylazopyridine (pap) coligands. Electronic structure and reactivity aspects

The present article describes ruthenium nitrosyl complexes with the {RuNO}(6) and {RuNO}(7) notations in the selective molecular frameworks of [Ru(II)([9]aneS(3))(bpy)(NO(+))](3+) (4(3+)), [Ru(II)([9]aneS(3))(pap) (NO(+))](3+) (8(3+)) and [Ru(II)([9]aneS(3))(bpy)(NO˙)](2+) (4(2+)), [Ru(II)([9]aneS(3))(pap)(NO˙)](2+) (8(2+)) ([9]aneS(3) = 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, pap = 2-phenylazopyridine), respectively. The nitrosyl complexes have been synthesized by following a stepwise synthetic procedure: {Ru(II)-Cl} → {Ru(II)-CH(3)CN} → {Ru(II)-NO(2)} → {Ru(II)-NO(+)} → {Ru(II)-NO˙}. The single-crystal X-ray structure of 4(3+) and DFT optimised structures of 4(3+), 8(3+) and 4(2+), 8(2+) establish the localised linear and bent geometries for {Ru-NO(+)} and {Ru-NO˙} complexes, respectively. The crystal structures and (1)H/(13)C NMR suggest the [333] conformation of the coordinated macrocyclic ligand ([9]aneS(3)) in the complexes. The difference in π-accepting strength of the co-ligands, bpy in 4(3+) and pap in 8(3+) (bpy < pap) has been reflected in the ν(NO) frequencies of 1945 cm(-1) (DFT: 1943 cm(-1)) and 1964 cm(-1) (DFT: 1966 cm(-1)) and E°({Ru(II)-NO(+)}/{Ru(II)-NO˙}) of 0.49 and 0.67 V versus SCE, respectively. The ν(NO) frequency of the reduced {Ru-NO˙} state in 4(2+) or 8(2+) however decreases to 1632 cm(-1) (DFT: 1637 cm(-1)) or 1634 cm(-1) (DFT: 1632 cm(-1)), respectively, with the change of the linear {Ru(II)-NO(+)} geometry in 4(3+), 8(3+) to bent {Ru(II)-NO˙} geometry in 4(2+), 8(2+). The preferential stabilisation of the eclipsed conformation of the bent NO in 4(2+) and 8(2+) has been supported by the DFT calculations. The reduced {Ru(II)-NO˙} exhibits free-radical EPR with partial metal contribution revealing the resonance formulation of {Ru(II)-NO˙}(major)?{Ru(I)-NO(+)}(minor). The electronic transitions of the complexes have been assigned based on the TD-DFT calculations on their DFT optimised structures. The estimated second-order rate constant (k, M(-1) s(-1)) of the reaction of the nucleophile, OH(-) with the electrophilic {Ru(II)-NO(+)} for the bpy derivative (4(3+)) of 1.39 × 10(-1) is half of that determined for the pap derivative (8(3+)), 2.84 × 10(-1) in CH(3)CN at 298 K. The Ru-NO bond in 4(3+) or 8(3+) undergoes facile photolytic cleavage to form the corresponding solvent species {Ru(II)-CH(3)CN}, 2(2+) or 6(2+) with widely varying rate constant values, (k(NO), s(-1)) of 1.12 × 10(-1) (t(1/2) = 6.2 s) and 7.67 × 10(-3) (t(1/2) = 90.3 s), respectively. The photo-released NO can bind to the reduced myoglobin to yield the Mb-NO adduct.     

Application of radioisotopes in the field of nuclear medicine

A comprehensive review has been made to discuss the role of various radionuclides of lanthanide series elements in the field of nuclear medicine. The role of several pharmaceuticals labeled with radiolanthanides and used for investigative purposes like measurement of cerebral blood flow, bone density measurement, bone marrow imaging, etc., have been described. The role of lanthanide radionuclides in radiation synovectomy, radioimmunotherapy, etc., have also been discussed. Methods of preparation of some representative radiopharmaceuticals like¹⁵³Sm-EDTMP,¹⁵³Sm-HYP, have been presented. An outline on the production of carrier free radioisotopes of lanthanide series elements has been given.