Self- and mutual-diffusion coefficients measurements by 31P NMR 1D profiling and PFG-SE in dextran gels

31P NMR 1D profiling was successfully introduced to measure macroscale mutual-diffusion coefficients (D(m)) of phosphate ions in dextran gels. Series of 1D profiles describing the phosphate concentration along cylindrical dextran gels were acquired at different times. These profiles that included over 600 points could be fitted using equations derived from Fick's law, with D(m) as the single fitting parameter. Release and penetration profiles were recorded providing two alternative approaches for allowing the determination of D(m). The D(m) values were compared with microscale self-diffusion coefficients (D(s)) measured by pulsed field gradient spin echo (PFG-SE) technique. D(m) values, measured between 25 and 45 degrees C, were systematically lower than D(s). The experimental diffusion time and the associated diffusion length of D(s) (60 ms, 10 microm) are short compared to those of D(m) (up to 18 h, 50 mm). These scale differences are considered to be the origin of different D(s) and D(m) and provide information relative to the network in these gels.     

溶胶-凝胶工艺制备香豆素掺杂SiO_2凝胶及其荧光特性研究

本文用溶胶－凝胶工艺制备了有机染料香豆素（ｃｏｕｍａｒｉｎ）掺杂ＳｉＯ２凝胶。观察分析了水解过程中的分相与凝胶干燥过程的开裂现象。通过改变反应条件以及引入添加剂，避免了分相与开裂现象，制备出尺寸约为２０×２０×１０ｍｍ完整透明的香豆素掺杂ＳｉＯ２凝胶。用差热分析和红外光谱研究了凝胶的结构和热性能。测定了凝胶的荧光激发光谱和发射光谱     

Evolution of energy density fluctuations in A + A collisions

Two-particle angular correlation for charged particles emitted in Au + Au collisions at the center-of-mass of 200 MeV measured at RHIC energies revealed novel structures commonly referred to as a nearside ridge. The ridge phenomenon in relativistic A + A collisions is rooted probably in the initial conditions of the thermal evolution of the system. In this study we analyze the evolution of the bumping transverse structure of the energy density distribution caused by fluctuations of the initial density distributions that could lead to the ridge structures. We suppose that at very initial stage of collisions the typical one-event structure of the initial energy density profile can be presented as the set of longitudinal tubes, which are boost invariant in some space-rapidity region and are rather thin. These tubes have very high energy density comparing to smooth background density distribution. The transverse velocity and energy density profiles at different times of the evolution till the chemical freeze-out (at the temperature T = 165 MeV) will be reached by the system are calculated for sundry initial scenarios.     

Structure transformations and hydrogen storage properties of co-sputtered MgNi films

The quantity of accommodated and distribution profiles of hydrogen in 1.5-μm thick co-sputtered MgNi films after uptake of hydrogen at 800 kPa pressure within the temperature range 200-250 °C during 1 h, 3 h, 6 h and 72 h are measured. The occurring phase changes are followed by X-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature. We conclude that the hydrogenation process involves two stages: (i) the fast nucleation of the initial Mg₂NiH₄ layer near the substrate interface and (ii) the slow random nucleation of the same phase within the remaining part of the film. The growth of the initial hydride layer may be blocked by the surface oxide barrier layer formed during hydrogenation. We find that hydrogen-induced structural transformations are correlated with oxygen contamination and modify hydrogen storage properties.     

Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on the rheology and structure of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) protein emulsion gels induced by transglutaminase

In this study, emulsion gels were prepared by sonicated grass pea protein isolates (GPPI) at different ultrasonic amplitudes (25, 50 and 75 %) and times (5, 10 and 20 min). Formation of emulsion gels was induced by transglutaminase. Enzymatic gelation of emulsions stabilized by sonicated GPPI occurred in two stages. A relatively fast stage led to the formation of a weak gel which was followed by a slow stage that strongly reinforced the gel structure. Emulsion gels fabricated by sonicated GPPIs showed a homogeneous and uniform droplet distribution with higher elastic modulus compared to the native protein. A stiffer emulsion gel with a higher G' was formed after the protein was treated at 75 % amplitude for 10 min. After sonication of GPPI, the water holding capacity (WHC) of emulsion gels increased in accordance with the mechanical properties. Higher intermolecular cross-linking within the gel network increased the thermal stability of emulsion gels fabricated by sonicated GPPI. Although sonicated-GPPI emulsion gels clearly displayed homogenous microstructure in comparison to that made with native GPPI, the microstructures of these gels were nearly identical for all sonication amplitudes and times.     

Structural evolution of self-ordered alumina tapered nanopores with 100 nm interpore distance

We in-detail investigated the profile evolution processes of highly ordered alumina under the cyclic treatment of mild anodizing of aluminum foils in oxalic acid followed by etching in phosphoric acid. With the cyclic times increasing, the profiles of nanopores were gradually evolved into the parabola-like, trumpet-like and conical shape. Although the inserted etching itself nearly had no impact on the growth rate of the nanopores due to the rapid recovering of thinned barrier layer at the initial stage of next anodizing, overmuch etching could bring apparent side effects such as wall-breaking, thinning and taper-removing from the top down. The anodizing and etching kinetics and their synergetic effects in modulating different aspect ratios and open sizes of conical pores were studied systematically. These findings are helpful to tailor high-quality anodic alumina taper-pores with tunable profiles.     

Influence of fluorination of xerogels on the intensity of photoluminescence of gamma-irradiated sol-gel quartz glasses

We investigated the influence of fluorination of xerogel on the intensity of luminescence with a maximum at 1.9 eV attributable to nonbridging oxygen atoms in gamma-quanta irradiated sol-gel quartzglasses. It is established that in samples with a high content of hydroxyl groups (more than 8 ppm) the intensity of this luminescence correlates with the content of hydroxyl in the initial samples. Fluorination of gels at the technological stage before sintering substantially reduces the number of silanol groups, improves the quality of glass, and increases their radiative-optical stability. Translated from Zhurnal Priklandoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 266–268, March–April, 2000. This work was carried out with financial support from the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research, project F98-139.     

Agglomeration,sedimentation, and cellular toxicity of alumina nanoparticles in cell culture medium

The cytotoxicity of alumina nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated for a wide range of concentration (25–200 μg/mL) and incubation time (0–72 h) using floating cells (THP-1) and adherent cells (J774A.1, A549, and 293). Alumina NPs were gradually agglomerated over time although a significant portion of sedimentation occurred at the early stage within 6 h. A decrease of the viability was found in floating (THP-1) and adherent (J774A.1 and A549) cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, the time-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed only in adherent cells (J774A.1 and A549), which is predominantly related with the sedimentation of alumina NPs in cell culture medium. The uptake of alumina NPs in macrophages and an increased cell-to-cell adhesion in adherent cells were observed. There was no significant change in the viability of 293 cells. This in vitro test suggests that the agglomeration and sedimentation of alumina NPs affected cellular viability depending on cell types such as monocytes (THP-1), macrophages (J774A.1), lung carcinoma cells (A549), and embryonic kidney cells (293).     

L曲线方法在地基红外高光谱反演温度廓线中的应用

利用地基红外高光谱辐射数据可以反演得到高时间分辨率的边界层大气温度廓线。目前的AERIoe最优化反演算法相比于传统的“剥洋葱”算法有较大的改进,且对初值的依赖程度较低。但AERIoe算法中正则化算子的选择对反演结果的稳定性和反演时间有重要影响。目前主要采用经验的方法选择正则化算子,迭代步数较多,耗费大量的计算时间。提出了利用L曲线方法代替经验法选取正则化算子的改进方案,以提高AERIoe方法的反演速度。改进后的算法通过绘制解范数和残余范数的二维曲线图,取其拐点作为最优的正则化参数,相比于传统的经验法有着更好的理论基础。采用2011年美国大气辐射测量计划中SGP站点的晴空大气红外辐射数据进行反演实验。结果表明,利用该方法得到的反演结果具有很好的稳定性、收敛性和精度。相比于经验的方法,利用L曲线方法获得的正则化算子反演温度廓线时的收敛速度更快,迭代步数较少,可以节约大量的计算时间;在反演精度方面,L曲线方法在边界层中上层的反演精度更高,1～3 km高度上温度廓线的RMSE值提高了大约0.2 K。     

(1 + 1) dimensional hydrodynamics for high-energy heavy-ion collisions

A (1 + 1)-dimensional hydrodynamical model in the light-cone coordinates is used to describe central heavy-ion collisions at ultrarelativistic bombarding energies. Deviations from Bjorken scaling are taken into account by choosing finite-size profiles for the initial energy density. The sensitivity of fluid-dynamical evolution to the equation of state and the parameters of initial state are investigated. Experimental constraints on the total energy of produced particles are used to reduce the number of model parameters. Spectra of secondary particles are calculated under the assumption that the transition from the hydrodynamical stage to the collisionless expansion of matter occurs at a certain freeze-out temperature. An important role of resonances in the formation of observed hadronic spectra is demonstrated. The calculated rapidity distributions of pions, kaons, and antiprotons in central Au + Au collisions at √^s NN = 200 GeV are compared with experimental data of the BRAHMS Collaboration. Parameters of the initial state are reconstructed for different choices of the equation of state. The best fit of these data is obtained for a soft equation of state and Gaussian-like initial profiles of the energy density, intermediate between the Landau and Bjorken limits. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

沉降对带电胶体粒子结晶过程的影响

采用密度匹配法(重水与水按一定比例混合),以及反射光谱法,研究了重力沉降作用对直径为98 nm的带电胶体粒子结晶过程的影响. 结果表明,重力沉降在晶体生长的初期提高了晶体生长速率,而后期降低了晶体生长速率,这是由于在晶体生长初期,沉降作用可使更多的粒子结合到晶体结构中,而当晶体尺寸进一步增加,其沉降速率也相应地增大,晶相与液相间的摩擦阻力导致一部分颗粒从胶体晶体上脱落. 总的来说,重力沉降在初期加剧了晶体的生长,后期阻碍了晶体的生长. 另外,在微重力环境下形成的胶体晶体比在重力环境下形成的胶体晶体更加完整紧密.     

The CaCO3 profiles of deep and shallow Mediterranean sea cores as indicators of past solar-terrestrial relationships

Summary We study the total carbonate profiles of three coastal cores extracted from the continental shelf in the Ionian Sea and of two deep-sea cores extracted from the Tyrrhenian abissal plane. An overall similarity between the two deep-sea profiles and among the three coastal profiles is observed, indicating the complete reproductibility of this type of experimental measurements. In the case of the coastal cores, a constant sedimentation rates=(0.0646±0.0007) cm/y has been determined by radiometric methods and by tephroanalysis. For the deep-sea cores, the spectra of the upper and lower halves of the carbonate depth profiles display the same periodic components, suggesting that the sedimentation rate is nearly the same along the entire deep cores as well. The use of a careful tephroanalysis, the recognition of the Ignimbrite layers of Campanian origin at the expected depths and the similarity between the upper part (5000y) of the carbonate profile of the deep-sea core with that of the coastal cores provide the indication that, on the average, 1 cm of sediment is deposited in about 100 y. We show that the trend of the carbonate record in the deep-sea core is well approximated by a signal obtained by linearly superposing the obliquity and the precession parameters of the Earth rotation axis. Since these astronomical factors contribute to the temporal variations of the Earth insolation, and since the CaCO₃ content of the sediment is presumably affected by climatic factors, this result supports the evidence of astronomical control on the Earth's climate, as already pointed out by several authors who analysed the power spectra of δ¹⁸O, δD and CO₂ temporal series from sediment and ice cores. After removal of the ?astronomical? trend, the carbonate record displays a dominant periodicity at approximately 12000 y. The 12000 y wave, taken with the opposite sign, corresponds to the trend of the radiocarbon record in tree-rings. This result becomes particularly relevant in view of the existence of common periodicities of about 200 y waves (Suess wiggles) which have already been detected in the carbonate profiles of the coastal cores and in tree-ring radiocarbon data.     

A method for measurements of the efficiency of immunogold labelling of epoxy-embedded proteins subjected to different retrieval techniques

The purpose of this study was to compare the level of immunogold labelling of both osmicated and non-osmicated epoxy sections when subjected to different antigen retrieval, etching and incubation temperature for the antibodies. Pure IgG protein gels were produced by glutaraldehyde fixation, eventually postfixed with 1% osmium tetroxide, and embedded in epoxy resin. Ultrathin sections were antigen retrieved in citrate solution at 95 or 144 degrees C and eventually etched with NaIO4. Immunogold labelling with anti-IgG was performed at 4 degrees C overnight or at 60 degrees C for 1 h. The level of labelling for osmicated gels was 140% higher when heated at 144 degrees C and incubated with primary antibodies at 60 degrees C than when heated at 95 degrees C, etched with NaIO4 and incubated with primary antibodies at 4 degrees C. Osmium-fixed IgG-gels antigen retrieved at 144 degrees C and incubated with anti-IgG at 60 degrees C showed more labelling than sections of non-osmicated gels heated at 95 degrees C. Non-osmicated gels gained significant intensity of immunolabelling when the antibody incubation occurred at 60 degrees C for 1 h than at 4 degrees C overnight. Resin embedding of pure protein gels was a useful tool for comparing different protocols for immunoelectron microscopy.     

A comparative in vitro study of the digestibility of heat- and high pressure-induced gels prepared from industrial milk whey proteins

We undertook this study to compare the digestibility of heat- and high pressure-induced gels produced from whey protein isolate (WPI). To simulate in vivo gastrointestinal digestion of WPI gels, a pepsin–trypsin digestion system was used. The in vitro protein digestibility of WPI gels induced by high pressure (400 MPa and 30 min; P-gel) and those induced by heat (80°C and 30 min; H-gel) was compared using a protein concentration of 0.14 g mL^?1. The in vitro protein digestibility of P-gels was significantly greater than that of H-gels (p<0.05). The size-exclusion chromatography profiles of the hydrolysates showed that the P-gel generated more and smaller peptides than natural WPI and H-gels. Furthermore, Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed some soluble disulfide-mediated aggregation in the P-gel, while there was more insoluble aggregation in the H-gel than the P-gel. The P-gel was more sensitive to proteinase than the H-gel, which was related to the content of S–S bonds, and this in turn could be attributed to the differences in the gelation mechanism between the H-gel and P-gel.     

双束等离子体尾波加速中的束流相对能散预测

针对空泡机制中的双束等离子体尾波电子加速设计,给出了能够快速得到被加速束流在最大加速距离下的相对能散的预测公式。通过加速初始时刻束流纵向分布以及束流所处位置的纵向尾波场可得到束流最终相对能散。该预测公式不仅可应用于驱动束流与被加速束流初始能量相同的情况,还可应用于两个束流初始能量不相同的情况。由该预测公式得到的束流相对能散与被加速束流和驱动束流的初始能量的比值有关,而与两个束流初始能量的数值无关。利用准静态近似的粒子网格模拟程序QuickPIC对理论进行了模拟验证,模拟结果与理论预期结果一致。     

Spectroscopic estimation of plasma parameters,in the 100–400 ns stage,of a laser-induced plasma in vacuum

This work is focused on the interpretation of the emission spectra in laser-induced plasma observed in the phase at 100–400?ns from after the laser pulse, when the discrete emission lines prevail on the continuum emission, can be important to retrieve the initial stage of expansion. A Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser has been used for the ablation of a lead sample in vacuum. The observed line profiles, corresponding to different species of lead, were analyzed in terms of delay time. Measurements of parameters of the produced plasmas are performed. The results obtained corroborate the importance of considering nonequilibrium effects in the initial stage of plasma expansion. Also, Stark width for two spectral lines of triply ionized lead is given.     

Finite-Time Universality in Nonequilibrium CFT

Recently, remarkably simple exact results were presented about the dynamics of heat transport in the local Luttinger model for nonequilibrium initial states defined by position-dependent temperature profiles. We present mathematical details on how these results were obtained. We also give an alternative derivation using only algebraic relations involving the energy-momentum tensor which hold true in any unitary conformal field theory (CFT). This establishes a simple universal correspondence between initial temperature profiles and the resulting heat-wave propagation in CFT. We extend these results to larger classes of nonequilibrium states. It is proposed that such universal CFT relations provide benchmarks to identify nonuniversal properties of nonequilibrium dynamics in other models.