Thermal separation: interplay between the Soret effect and entropic force gradient

Thermophoresis, the Soret effect, depletes a high concentration of a polyethylene glycol polymer solution from the hot region and builds a concentration gradient. In such a solution, solutes of small concentration experience thermophoresis and polyethylene glycol concentration-dependent restoring forces. We report that by using focused laser heating and varying the polyethylene glycol concentration one observes geometrical localizations of solutes like DNA and RNA into patterns such as a ring. For DNA up to 5.6?kbp, the ring size decreases following a behavior analogous to a gel electrophoresis separation. Above 5.6?kbp, the ring diameter increases with the DNA length. Mixtures of DNA and RNA can be separated as well as different RNA lengths. Separation of colloids is also observed. The experiments might be relevant for the separation of small RNA ribozymes in an early stage of life.     

Dynamics of photosensitized singlet oxygen generation and photophysical characteristics of chlorin <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Subscript>6</Subscript> in photolon ointment

We have used luminescence and absorption spectroscopy to study the dynamics of photosensitized singlet oxygen generation and the photophysical characteristics of chlorin e ₆ in Photolon ointment. We have shown that dimethylsulfoxide and polyethylene glycol 400, in concentrations comparable with their content in the ointment form of the drug Photolon, do not lead to appreciable changes in the spectral characteristics of chlorin e ₆. Substantial changes in the photophysical characteristics of the photosensitizer are observed at significantly higher concentrations of the excipients in the ointment. We have shown that in buffer solution, chlorin e ₆ forms a complex with polyethylene glycol 1500. For the first time, we have detected luminescence of singlet oxygen from the surface of biological tissue treated with Photolon ointment.     

Viscosity,Ultrasonic, and Refractometric Studies of Chitosan/Polyethylene Glycol Blend in Solution at 30, 40, and 50°C

Measurements of viscosity, ultrasonic velocity, refractive index, and density of chitosan (CS)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blends in buffer solution (0.1 M acetic acid+0.2 M sodium acetate) were carried out for different blend compositions at 30, 40, and 50°C. Using the viscosity data, interaction parameters μ and α were computed to determine miscibility. These values revealed that the blend was miscible when the chitosan content was more than 60% of the blend. The results were further confirmed by ultrasonic velocity, density, and refractive index measurements. Further, the results revealed that the change in temperature has no significant effect on the miscibility of CS/PEG polymer blends.     

Anomalous temperature dependence of speed of sound of bulk poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels near the phase transition

Bulk Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogels are thermally responsive polymers that undergo a sharp volumetric phase transition around its lower critical solution temperature of 33 °C. The physical characteristics of bulk, micro-, and nano-form PNIPAm hydrogel have been well-studied, and have applications ranging from biomedical devices to mechanical actuators. An important physical characteristics which reveals lack of available information is speed of sound. Prior studies have utilized Brillouin scattering, multi-echo reflection ultrasound spectroscopy, the sing-around method, and others in measuring the speed of sound. We use a planar resonant cavity with bulk PNIPAm hydrogel in aqueous solution to determine the temperature dependent speed of sound around the lower critical solution temperature. The results show sharp nonmonotonic behavior of the sound velocity in vicinity of the phase transition.     

Formation of microcapsules containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles by pulse expansion of a supercritical solution into a background gas

The formation of microcapsules with a core of TiO₂ nanoparticles in a shell of polyethylene glycol by pulse expansion (pulse duration of 400 µs) of a supersonic jet of TiO₂-suspension in a supercritical solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG 8000) in CO₂ into a background gas (He) is studied. It is shown that the size of capsules and the content of TiO₂ in them depend on the pressure of the background gas in the inlet chamber in the range from 0.125 to 3 atm. The upper (1.5 atm) and the lower (0.25 atm) limits of the pressure range, in which microcapsules with a relatively high content of titanium dioxide are formed, are determined.     

Features of radiation of the surface Stoneley wave by a harmonic force acting at the gas-solid interface

The solution is found for the problem of radiation of the surface Stoneley wave by a point harmonic force acting normally to the interface between uniform solid and gaseous half-spaces. We consider the case where the sound velocity in the gas is less than the Rayleigh-wave velocity on the surface of the solid. Expressions for the partial powers of the Stoneley wave radiated into the solid and the gas are obtained. The dependences of these powers on the parameters of the contacting media are analyzed. It is shown that if the velocities of the compressional and shear waves in the solid are significantly greater than the sound velocity in the gas, then almost all power of the Stoneley wave is concentrated in the gas. If the velocity of the Rayleigh wave in the solid half-space is close to the sound velocity in the gas, then the Stoneley-wave power radiated into the solid can be greater than the power radiated in the gas. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 304–313, April 2008.     

The possibility of reconstructing the seasonal variability of the ocean using acoustic tomography methods

The possibility of reconstructing by acoustic methods the typical annual variations of the sound velocity profile in different regions of the ocean is investigated. The effect of local seasonal variations of the sound velocity profile on the field received by a system of vertical arrays is simulated for an acceptable number of such systems. The latter is attained by using a mosaic basis, which considerably simplifies the solution of the direct problem, the construction of the perturbation matrix, and the subsequent solution of the inverse problem, as well as by describing the vertical structure of the sound velocity profile within the Karhunen-Loéve basis. The field representation in the vertical modes-horizontal rays approximation is used.     

聚乙二醇/二氧化钛一维光子晶体的制备及其性质研究

采用旋涂法制备了多层聚乙二醇/二氧化钛(PEG/TiO₂)一维光子晶体膜,通过控制旋涂时间、旋涂速度和聚乙二醇溶液质量浓度,制备出具有不同光子禁带的PEG/TiO₂一维光子晶体膜。制备的PEG/TiO₂膜对有机溶剂二甲亚砜(DMSO)和强碱溶液有双重响应。     

铽配合物荧光及在农用光波长转换塑料薄膜中的应用

选择荧光效应强的稀土元素铽,以磺基水杨酸作为第一配体,以聚乙烯醇、聚乙二醇2000等为协配体,对乙醇溶液和水溶液两个体系中形成的配合物荧光进行了研究。试验确定了铽、磺基水杨酸以及聚乙烯醇、聚乙二醇2000为优良协配体的最佳用量。进一步研究发现,表面活性剂的加入对不同配合物的荧光均会产生增强效果,十二烷基磺酸钠效果最好;同时探索了酸度对体系荧光强度的影响。对于获得的铽-磺基水杨酸-聚乙烯醇配合物,其荧光激发波长为342 nm,而荧光发射波长为545 nm,将该配合物以适当比例掺加到农用塑料薄膜中,制备出可以使太阳光的紫外部分转换为作物光合作用需要的绿光的稀土光转换膜。     

Sound velocity dispersion in a solution with two critical points

The dispersion of the sound velocity in a solution with a region of stratification has been investigated experimentally in the frequency range from 2.6 MHz to 12 GHz. It is found that the dispersion of the sound velocity below the lower critical temperature of stratification reaches 22% and depends linearly to the temperature above the upper critical temperature of separation, the dispersion of the sound velocity is much smaller and has a different linear dependence on the temperature. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 3, 166–168 (10 August 1996)     

The use of a polymer film to estimate AFM probe profile

During our investigation of the surface morphology of various polyethylene glycol methacrylate copolymers we found that the rapid drying of a chloroform solution of a poly(methyl methacrylate-co-polyethylene glycol methacrylate) polymer resulted in the generation of a surface characterised by many sharp sided holes in a flat polymer matrix, which lead to extensive tip self imaging. By measuring the profiles of these holes (which are of variable size ranging from tens of nanometres to microns in depth), it is possible to estimate the gross tip profile over a wide vertical range in a totally non-destructive manner.     

体积速度匹配分布源边界点法的特解源位置优化方法研究

在分布源边界点法中,选择特解源及特解源位置对声场计算的精度具有很大的影响。为减小声场计算的误差,提出了一种确定特解源位置的优化方法。在该方法中,采用三极子作为特解源,以1%体积速度相对误差对结构声辐射计算的上限频率进行预测,然后在计算上限频率范围内通过体积速度匹配搜索,得到体积速度相对误差最小意义下的特解源优化位置,在该优化位置处构造声压与表面体积速度之间的传递矩阵来计算声场,以减小计算误差。数值仿真结果表明:在求取的计算上限频率范围内,特解源处于优化位置时,计算误差得以显著减小。当振速测量存在一定误差时,采用该方法仍可将计算误差控制在5%以内。      

Nonlinear theory of ionic sound waves in a hot quantum-degenerate electron-positron-ion plasma

A collisionless nonmagnetized e-p-i plasma consisting of quantum-degenerate gases of ions, electrons, and positrons at nonzero temperatures is considered. The dispersion equation for isothermal ionic sound waves is derived and analyzed, and an exact expression is obtained for the linear velocity of ionic sound. Analysis of the dispersion equation has made it possible to determine the ranges of parameters in which nonlinear solutions in the form of solitons should be sought. A nonlinear theory of isothermal ionic sound waves is developed and used for obtaining and analyzing the exact solution to the system of initial equations. Analysis has been carried out by the method of the Bernoulli pseudopotential. The ranges of phase velocities of periodic ionic sound waves and soliton velocities are determined. It is shown that in the plasma under investigation, these ranges do not overlap and that the soliton velocity cannot be lower than the linear velocity of ionic sound. The profiles of physical quantities in a periodic wave and in a soliton are constructed, as well as the dependences of the velocity of sound and the critical velocity on the ionic concentration in the plasma. It is shown that these velocities increase with the ion concentration.     

A comparison of effect of PEG and EC plasticizers on relaxation dynamics of PEO–PMMA–AgNO3 polymer blends

In the present study, Ag⁺-ion conducting polyethylene oxide–polymethyl methacrylate based polymer blend electrolyte systems plasticized using different plasticizers, i.e., ethylene carbonate and polyethylene glycol, are reported. The polymer films were synthesized using the solution cast technique and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry technique. Electrical properties of polymer films were investigated by impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range of 2 MHz–10 Hz at temperature range from 303 to 373 K. Discussion of electrical properties of polymer films in the terms of conductivity and relaxation times is made.     

On acoustic radiation by a rigid object in a fluid flow

A problem of sound radiation by an absolutely rigid object, moving with respect to the surrounding fluid, is considered on the basis of the Lighthill's equation for aerodynamic sound. An integral representation of the radiated acoustic field is utilized, where the field is characterized as the sum of three fields, generated by a volume distribution of monopoles and by distributions of monopoles and dipoles on the surface of the rigid object. It is shown that, due to a discontinuity of Lighthill's stress tensor on the rigid boundary, a layer of surface divergence of hydrodynamic stresses on the boundary must be taken into account when evaluating the volume integral over Lighthill's quadrupole sources. When the contribution of the surface divergence is included in the solution of Lighthill's equation, amplitudes of the monopole and dipole sound radiated by the rigid object are shown to depend on the potential components of the normal velocity and the pressure on the rigid surface. The obtained solution is compared with Curle's solution for this problem, which establishes that the sound radiation by a rigid object is determined by the force exerted by the object upon the fluid. Both solutions are applied to two known problems of sound scattering and radiation by a rigid sphere in variable pressure and velocity fields. It is shown that predictions based on the obtained solution are equivalent to the results known from literature, whereas Curle's solution gives predictions contradicting the known results. It is also shown that the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings equation, which coincides with Curle's equation for an immoveable rigid object, does not lead to the correct predictions as well.     

Pulse-echo measurement of longitudinal sound velocity in nanometer thin films

We propose a method to measure the longitudinal sound velocity in thin films of a few nanometer thickness using laser-based picosecond ultrasonics. In periodic multilayer structures, picosecond pulse-echo techniques were used to measure the effective sound velocity, which is related to the velocities of individual constituents through the superlattice phonon dispersion relation. The individual sound velocities can then be extracted, provided two or more effective velocities are obtained from multilayers of different thickness ratios. Longitudinal sound velocities in ion-beam sputtered Mo and amorphous Si films of 2 to 5 nm thickness have been determined to be 98 and 94% of the bulk speed, respectively. We believe this technique has general applicability to sound velocity measurement in ultra-thin films. PACS 68.60.Bs; 68.65.Ac; 78.47.+p     

Effects of organic modifiers on the size-controlled synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanorods

Size-controlled synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanorods were carried out by chemical precipitation method using polyethylene glycol (MW 600), Tween 20, trisodium citrate, and d-sorbitol as organic modifiers and starting from calcium nitrate, phosphoric acid, and ammonia solution. The influence of the organic modifiers on the sizes of the resultant HAP nanorods was investigated under different synthesis temperatures. It was found that polyethylene glycol was beneficial to the formation of HAP nanorods with a larger aspect ratio (average length/average diameter) at high synthesis temperature, Tween 20 and trisodium citrate favored the formation of small-sized HAP nanorods, and d-sorbitol helped the formation of HAP nanorods with long length at low synthesis temperatures.     

Position optimization of particular solution sources for distributed source boundary point method by volume velocity-matching

Choosing particular solution source and its position have great influence on accuracy of sound field prediction in distributed source boundary point method.An optimization method for determining the position of particular solution sources is proposed to get high accuracy prediction result.In this method,tripole is chosen as the particular solution.The upper limit frequency of calculation is predicted by setting 1%volume velocity relative error limit using vibration velocity of structure surface.Then,the optimal position of particular solution sources,in which the relative error of volume velocity is minimum,is determined within the range of upper limit frequency by searching algorithm using volume velocity matching.The transfer matrix between pressure and surface volume velocity is constructed in the optimal position.After that,the sound radiation of structure is calculated by the matrix.The results of numerical simulation show that the calculation error is significantly reduced by the proposed method.When there are vibration velocity measurement errors,the calculation errors can be controlled within 5% by the method.     

温度梯度场对电声脉冲法空间电荷测量波形的影响

电力设备运行中的温升现象严重影响绝缘的使用寿命,因此高温下的空间电荷测量引起了许多学者的关注.但温度升高时,聚合物材料的声阻抗、Young模量、密度、声波在其中传播的速度、衰减特性均发生变化,因此无法准确测量出介质中的空间电荷特性.而对于温度梯度场下的绝缘介质(如电缆发热场)的空间电荷测量,温度的梯度分布对介质的声阻抗、弹性模量、密度、声速及声波衰减的影响将更为复杂.本文基于电声脉冲测量方法中声波的传播特性和温度对聚乙烯材料特性的影响,分析了温度梯度场对空间电荷测量结果的影响并进行了波形恢复.     

Formation of two-dimensional crystals of icosahedral RNA viruses

The formation of 2D arrays of three small icosahedral RNA viruses with known 3D structures (tomato bushy stunt virus, turnip yellow mosaic virus and bromegrass mosaic virus) has been investigated to determine the role of each component of a negative staining solution containing ammonium molybdate and polyethylene glycol. Virion association was monitored by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and virus array formation was visualised by conventional transmission electron microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy after negative staining. The structural properties of viral arrays prepared in vitro were compared to those of microcrystals found in the leaves of infected plants. A novel form of macroscopic 3D crystals of turnip yellow mosaic virus has been grown in the negative staining solution. On the basis of the experimental results, the hypothesis is advanced that microscopic arrays might be planar crystallisation nuclei. The formation of 2D crystals and the enhancing effect of polyethylene glycol on the self-organisation of virions at the air/water interface are discussed. SYNOPSIS: The formation of 2D arrays of icosahedral viruses was investigated by spectroscopic and transmission electron microscopic methods.