A TEMPO-catalyzed oxidation–reduction method to probe surface and anhydrous crystalline-core domains of cellulose microfibril bundles

Cellulose - A modified TEMPO-catalyzed oxidation of the solvent-exposed glucosyl units of cellulose to uronic acids, followed by carboxyl reduction with NaBD4 to 6-deutero- and...     

Bubble growth predictions by the hyperbolic and parabolic heat conduction equations

A model for bubble growth in a uniformly superheated liquid is presented which is valid for both inertia and heat diffusion controlled growth. Two different heat transfer equations are considered: The Fourier (parabolic) equation and the hyperbolic heat conduction equation. It is shown that for short times, bubble growth prediction based on the Fourier equation, differs considerably from that based on the hyperbolic heat conduction equation. For long times, both predictions coincide. Using the hyperbolic heat conduction equation is important for bubble growth prediction in fluids like Helium II, in which thermal disturbances have a low speed of propagation. In such liquids the second sound effects must be considered long after the inertia and dynamic effects become unimportant.The validity of using a semi-infinite approximation to the heat conduction problem during the bubble growth period is investigated. An analytical solution in spherical coordinates reveals that the ratio between the spherical and semi-infinite solutions is a function of the Jakob number. Results of the present model, using the Fourier equation, are shown to be in better agreement with data for bubble growth in water, than other published solutions.

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Beschreibung des Blasenwachstums durch Wärmeleitungs-Gleichungen von hyperbolischer und parabolischer Form

Zusammenfassung Es wird ein Modell für Blasenwachstum in überhitzter Flüssigkeit vorgestellt, das sowohl bei durch Trägheit als auch bei durch Wärmediffusion kontrolliertem Blasenwachstum verwendbar ist. Zwei unterschiedliche Wärmeübertragungsbeziehungen werden in Betracht gezogen: Die Fourier-Gleichung (parabolisch) und eine Wärmeleitungs-Gleichung in hyperbolischer Form.Es wird gezeigt, daß die Modellergebnisse basierend auf der Fourier-Gleichung für schnelle Blasenwachstumszeiten signifikant von vergleichbaren Ergebnissen basierend auf der hyperbolischen Gleichung abweichen, während sie für langsames Wachstum mehr oder weniger identisch sind. Die Verwendung der hyperbolischen Wärmeleitungsgleichung in Blasenwachstumsmodellen ist vor allem in Fluiden wie Helium II von Bedeutung, wo thermische Störungen eine geringe Ausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit haben. Hier müssen die second sound-Effekte noch berücksichtigt werden, wenn die dynamischen und die Einflüsse der Trägheit schon vernachlässigbar sind.Es wurde untersucht, ob die Benutzung einer semi-unendlichen Approximation des Wärmeleitungsproblems während des Blasenwachstums zulässig ist. Eine analytische Lösung in Kugelkoordinaten zeigt, daß das Verhältnis zwischen letzteren und semi-unendlichen Ergebnissen eine Funktion der Jakob-Zahl ist.Schließlich wird gezeigt, daß die Resultate des vorgestellten Modells bei Benutzung der Fourier-Gleichung experimentelle Ergebnisse von Blasenwachstum in Wasser besser wiedergeben als andere bekannte Lösungen.

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Nomenclature a thermal diffusivity - B _s sphericity correction factor - b temperature decay coefficient - c propagation speed of thermal disturbances - E parameter, Eq. (37) - f function of the dimensionless time and bubble radius, Eq. (34) - h _v heat of evaporation - Ja Jakob number, Eq. (35) - k thermal conductivity - N /T - P pressure - P _i initial system pressure - P _v vapour pressure - Q* dimensionless heat flux (Stanton number) - q heat flux - transformed heat flux - q _wL heat flux into the liquid at the bubble boundary - R bubble radius - R* dimensionless bubble radius, Eq. (16) - R ₀ initial (critical) bubble radius - r radial coordinate - s the Laplace transform parameter - T temperature - T _i initial liquid temperature - T _s saturation temperature - T _v instantaneous bubble temperature - T ₀ initial saturation temperature,T _s (0) - T temperature difference,T _i–T _s (0) - t time - t* dimensionless time, Eq. (16) - y dimensionless distance from the bubble surface - Z constant of integration, Appendix A - a proportionality constant - temperature function, Eq. (8) - transformed temperature function - _v vapour density - _L liquid density - _vi initial vapour density - relaxation time,a/c ² - normalized temperature distribution, Eq. (15)     

Structural evolution of ball-milled permalloy

Two series of Fe_19.8Ni_80.2 samples obtained by ball milling and differing in the form of starting material were investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy. In the case of milled elemental powder, strong structural evolution was stated: both α and γ phases arise and a small amount of pure iron is present as well. The annealing of as-milled powder at 490°C causes faster forming of γ-(Ni–Fe) phase. Only slight changes in atomic order were stated in the series of milled polycrystalline ribbon.     

Structure and Magnetic Properties of Powder Permalloy Fe-Ni

The aim of this work was to prepare powder samples of FeNi by long-time milling of microcrystalline ribbon Fe₁₉Ni₈₁ (sample A) and that of pure elements Fe and Ni (sample B) in low-energy vibratory mill for 1000 h and to investigate their magnetic properties. We found that the coercivity of sample A and sample B steeply increases up to 140 h of milling time and then slowly increases for sample A and decreases for sample B. The magnetic moment of both samples monotonously decreases during the milling. The sample A is solid solution Fe₁₉Ni₈₁ and its structure is stable during the milling. New phases with different Curie temperatures are found in sample B during the milling.     

Nanomechanical properties of silica-coated multiwall carbon nanotubes-poly(methyl methacrylate) composites

The mechanical properties of polymer composites, reinforced with silica-coated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), have been studied using the nanoindentation technique. The hardness and the Young's modulus have been found to increase strongly with the increasing content of these nanotubes in the polymer matrix. Similar experiments conducted on thin films containing MWNTs, but without a silica shell, revealed that the presence of these nanotubes does not affect the nanomechanical properties of the composites. While carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a very high tensile strength due to the nanotube stiffness, composites fabricated with CNTs may exhibit inferior toughness. The silica shell on the surface of a nanotube enhances its stiffness and rigidity. Our composites, at 4 wt % of the silica-coated MWNTs, display a maximum hardness of 120 +/- 20 MPa, and a Young's modulus of 9 +/- 1 GPa. These are respectively 2 and 3 times higher than those for the polymeric matrix. Here, we describe a method for the silica coating of MWNTs. This is a simple and efficient technique, adaptable to large-scale production, and might lead to new advanced polymer based materials, with very high axial and bending strength.     

Clinical Trials and Basic Research in Photodynamic Diagnostics and Therapies from the Center for Laser Diagnostics and Therapy in Poland

The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the development of photodiagnostic and photodynamic therapy (PDD and PDT) techniques in Poland. The paper discusses the principles of PDD, including fluorescent techniques in determining precancerous conditions and cancers of the skin, digestive tract, bladder and respiratory tract. Methods of PDT of cancer will be discussed and the current state of knowledge as well as future trends in the development of photodynamic techniques will be presented, including the possibility of using photodynamic antimicrobial therapy. Research pioneers in photodynamic medicine such as Thomas Dougherty are an inspiration for the development of methods of PDD and PDT in our Clinic. The Center for Laser Diagnostics and Therapy in Bytom, Poland, promotes the propagation of PDD and PDT through the training of clinicians and raising awareness among students in training and the general public. Physicians at the Center are engaged in photomedical research aimed at clinical implementation and exploration of new avenues in photomedicine while optimizing existing modalities. The Center promotes dissemination of clinical results from a wide range of topics in PDD and PDT and serving as representative authorities of photodynamic medicine in Poland and Europe.     

Quantum dot modified multiwall carbon nanotubes

A novel strategy for the fabrication of multiwall carbon nanotube-nanocrystal heterostructures is shown. Different quantum dots (QDs) with narrow size distributions were covalently coupled to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and silica-coated CNTs in a simple, uniform, and controllable manner. The structural and optical properties of CNT/QD heterostructures are characterized by electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Complete quenching of the PL bands in both QD core and core/shell heterostructures was observed after adsorption to the CNTs, presumably through either carrier ionization or energy transfer. The deposition of a silica shell around the CNTs preserves the fluorescence properties by insulating the QD from the surface of the CNT.     

Effects of the method of identification of the diffusion coefficient on accuracy of modeling bound water transfer in wood

An alternative approach to determining the bound water diffusion coefficient is proposed. It comprises a method for solving the inverse diffusion problem, an improved algorithm for the bound-constrained optimization as well as an alternative submodel for the diffusion coefficient’s dependency on the bound water content. Identification of the diffusion coefficient for Scots pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.) using the proposed inverse approach is presented. The accuracy of predicting the diffusion process with the use of the coefficient values determined by traditional sorption methods as well as by the inverse modeling approach is quantified. The similarity approach is used and the local and global relative errors are calculated. The results show that the inverse method provides valuable data on the bound water diffusion coefficient as well as on the boundary condition. The results of the identification can significantly improve the accuracy of mass transfer modeling as studied for drying processes in wood.