Preparation and characterization of waterborne poly(urethane urea) with well‐defined hard segments

A series of polyester‐based poly(urethane urea) (PUU) aqueous dispersions with well‐defined hard segments were prepared from polyester polyol, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate, dimethylolpropionic acid, 1,4‐butanediol, isophorone diisocyanate, and ethylenediamine. These anionic‐type aqueous dispersions had good dispersity in water and were stable at the ambient temperature for more than 1 year. For these aqueous dispersions, the particle size decreased as the hard‐segment content increased, and the polydispersity index was very narrow (<1.10). Films prepared with the PUU aqueous dispersions exhibited excellent waterproof performance: the amount of water absorption was as low as 5.0 wt %, and the contact angle of water on the surface of this kind of film was as high as 103° (this led to a hydrophobic surface). The water‐resistant property of these waterborne PUU films could be well correlated with some crystallites and ordered structures of the well‐defined hard segments formed by hydrogen bonding between the urethane/urethane groups and urethane/ester groups, as well as the degree of microphase separation between the hard and soft segments in the PUU systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2606–2614, 2005     

Deuterium isotope effects on iron core formation in ferritin

We present comparative Mössbauer investigations of nanosized FeOOH and FeOOD biomineral phases nucleated within the 7-nm diameter cavity of horse-spleen apoferritin in order to assess deuterium isotopic effects on nanoscale, bioinorganic lattice structures with extended hydrogen bond networks. Differences in magnetic anisotropy energy, packing density and degree of crystallinity in the resulting iron oxo-hydroxide nanophases obtained via D₂O (heavy water) vs. H₂O (light water) solution chemistry are noted. These observations point to the possibility of stabilizing new thermodynamic states in the solid-state by utilizing isotope effects, with important implications for new synthetic pathways to novel nano materials.     

Colloidal microstructure of binary systems and model creams stabilized with an alkylpolyglucoside non-ionic emulsifier

The aim of this study was to examine the lyotropic potential of an alkylpolyglucoside mixed emulsifier (Cetearyl glucoside&Cetearyl alcohol), which belongs to the new generation of natural (sugar) surfactants, and to elaborate the potential stabilization mechanism and relation between the colloid microstructure and water distribution within the systems. Polarization and ordinary light as well as transmission electron microscopy, wide and small-angle X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and rheological measurement were employed for the systems characterization.It was suggested that Cetearyl glucoside&Cetearyl alcohol stabilizes the o/w creams by synergistic effects of viscoelastic hydrophilic gel of lamellar type and lipophilic gel network built up from cetostearyl alcohol semi-hydrates as well as by lamellar liquid crystalline bilayers surrounding the oil droplets. The hydrophilic gel consists of mixed cetearyl glucoside/cetearyl alcohol crystalline bilayers entrapping the water interlamellarly by hydrogen bonding. It is also showed that oil addition into the chosen binary system influences the creams microstructure significantly, which particularly reflects onto the mode of water distribution within the creams and consequently their potential of skin hydration.     

DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL WATER ALLOCATION DECISION TOOL FOR THE MAJOR CROPS DURING THE WATER DEFICIT PERIOD IN THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES

ABSTRACT. We developed a dynamic economic model to optimize irrigation water allocations during water deficit periods for three major crops grown in the humid southeastern United States. Analysis involved the use of crop simulation models to capture (a) the yield water relationship and (b) soil moisture dynamics from one week to another week. A hy‐drological model was used to find the water supply; combinations of hydrological and simulation models were used to find the optimal water allocation during each week in corn, cotton and peanuts. Results indicated that farmers should irrigate the most valuable crop first (peanuts) before applying water to other crops (corn and cotton). Results also showed that, because of restriction on total water supply, an increase in crop acreage did not increase the net revenue of the farm in a proportionate amount. Results should provide guidelines to water managers, engineers, policy makers, and farmers regarding an optimal amount of water allocation that will maximize net returns when water shortage is a serious concern.     

浅水域中多船编队航行时的船波干涉

以Green-Naghdi(GN)方程为基础,采用波动方程和运动网格的有限元法研究多船在浅水域中集体航行时的波浪干涉特性。把运动船舶对水面的扰动作为移动压强直接加在GN方程里,以描述运动船体和水面的相互作用。GN方程合理地考虑非线性和频率散射对浅水船波的影响。以Series60 CB=0.6船体为算例,给出两船并行、前后跟随、三船品字形编队航行时的波浪干涉图形,波浪阻力及侧向力的数值分析结果。计算结果表明:1)当两船并行时,两船承受侧向吸引力,同时波浪阻力稍有增加。2)当两船前后跟随时,两船的波浪阻力都减小。3)当三船品字形航行时,前船的阻力减小,后船的阻力增加,同时后面两船的吸力减小。     

Detection of functional states by the ‘LAMDA’ classification technique: application to a coagulation process in drinking water treatment

The present Note proposes a learning classification methodology to identify functional states on a coagulation process involved in drinking water treatment. In this work, we chose to carry out the supervised control of this process while using the LAMDA (Learning Algorithm for Multivariate Data Analysis) classification technique. The LAMDA classification technique proposes the interactive participation of the expert operator during the learning phase and in the optimisation of the classification. In this work, all information stemming from the environment process as well as expert knowledge has been aggregated and exploited. The application chosen for state identification is the Rocade drinking water treatment plant located at Marrakech, Morocco. To cite this article: B. Lamrini et al., C. R. Physique 6 (2005).     

Effect of substituent distribution on water solubility of O-methylcellulose

The effect of substituent distribution on the water solubility of O-methylcellulose (MC) was re-examined to elucidate the lower limit of the degree of substitution (DS) in water-soluble MC. To this end, a series of 2,3-MCs which are regioselectively substituted at the C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups were prepared by homogeneous methylation. It was found that the lower limit for the DS value of water-soluble 2,3-MC was almost the same as that for MCs having even distributions of substituents along the cellulose chain as well as in the anhydroglucose units. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.