Kinetic investigation of the sorption of water by barium chloride monohydrate

Using thermogravimetry under controlled water vapour pressure, the kinetics for the rehydration reaction BaCl₂·H₂O(s) + H₂O(g) → BaCl₂ · 2 H₂O(s) was investigated as a function of various parameters of relevance in chemical heat pumps, i.e. the number of cycles, storage time, extent of dehydration, and particle size. The effect of cycling is interpreted in terms of a fragmentation process, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy studies. Reaction rate isotherms were determined at four different temperatures (34.5, 40.3, 44.5 and 50.5°C), in the pressure range 18–66 torr. An inhibition pressure domain is observed. This effect is assumed to result from the formation of capillary condensed water. The presence of adsorbed water is clearly evidenced by wide-line NMR measurements.     

Simulating turbulent Dean flow in Cartesian coordinates

A simplified approach to simulate turbulent flows in curved channels is proposed. A set of governing equations of motion in Cartesian coordinates is derived from the full Navier–Stokes equations in cylindrical coordinates. Terms to first order in the dimensionless curvature parameter are retained, whereas higher‐order terms are neglected. The curvature terms are implemented in a conventional Navier–Stokes code using Cartesian coordinates. Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent flow in weakly curved channels are performed. The pronounced asymmetries in the mean flow and the turbulence statistics observed in earlier DNS studies are faithfully reproduced by the present simplified Navier–Stokes model. It is particularly rewarding that also distinct pairs of counter‐rotating streamwise‐oriented vortices are embedded in the simulated flow field. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical Properties of Biopolymers Assessed by Optical Tweezers: Analysis of Folding and Refolding of Bacterial Pili

Bacterial adhesion to surfaces mediated by specific adhesion organelles that promote infections, as exemplified by the pili of uropathogenic E. coli, is studied mostly at the level of cell–cell interactions and thereby reflects the averaged behavior of multiple pili. The role of pilus rod structure has therefore only been estimated from the outcome of experiments involving large numbers of organelles at the same time. It has, however, lately become clear that the biomechanical behavior of the pilus shafts play an important, albeit hitherto rather unrecognized, role in the adhesion process. For example, it has been observed that shafts from two different strains, even though they are similar in structure, result in large differences in the ability of the bacteria to adhere to their host tissue. However, in order to identify all properties of pilus structures that are of importance in the adhesion process, the biomechanical properties of pili must be assessed at the single‐molecule level. Due to the low range of forces of these structures, until recently it was not possible to obtain such information. However, with the development of force‐measuring optical tweezers (FMOT) with force resolution in the low piconewton range, it has lately become possible to assess forces mediated by individual pili on single living bacteria in real time. FMOT allows for a more or less detailed mapping of the biomechanical properties of individual pilus shafts, in particular those that are associated with their elongation and contraction under stress. This Mi‐ nireview presents the FMOT technique, the biological model system, and results from assessment of the biomechanical properties of bacterial pili. The information retrieved is also compared with that obtained by atomic force microscopy.     

Thermodynamics and structure of liquid surfaces investigated directly with surface analytical tools**

Measuring directly the composition, the distribution of constituents as function of the depth and the orientation of molecules at liquid surfaces is essential for determining physicochemical properties of liquid surfaces. While the experimental tools that have been developed for analyzing solid surfaces can in principal be applied to liquid surfaces, it turned out that they had to be adjusted to the particular challenges imposed by liquid samples, e.g. by the unavoidable vapor pressure and by the mobility of the constituting atoms/molecules. In the present work it is shown, how electron spectroscopy and ion scattering spectroscopy have been used for analyzing liquid surfaces. The emphasis of this review is on using the structural information gained for determining the physicochemical properties of liquid surfaces.     

Cavitation: a contributory factor in the transition from symmetric to asymmetric jets in cross-flow nozzles

The structure and evolution of cavitation and its influence on jet patterns from two transparent cross-flow nozzles with holes inclined at 90 degrees (nozzle A) and 80 degrees (nozzle B) to the nozzle axis have been investigated using high-speed motion pictures, flash photography and stroboscopic visualization. At the onset, cavitation inception was in the form of travelling bubbles, which were transported along the flow and clearly detached from the wall. As the flow was increased the bubbles grew and merged into a dense group of bubbles (cloud cavitation), partly unsteady and shedding. Further increasing the flow caused the cavitation at the entrance to transform mainly into a glassy appearance and at this stage the cavitation was well inside the hole and the spray appeared symmetric. When the flow was increased beyond this stage, cavitation extended to the exit of the hole, occupying a significant part of the hole on one side, resulting in a jet that atomized on the side where cavitation was most extensive and a non-atomizing jet on the side with less cavitation. The distribution of cavitation in the hole is very sensitive to the nozzle geometry and it substantially influences the spray dispersion.     

Properties of Si δ-layers embedded in GaAs

An ultrathin, a few monolayers (MLs) thick Si δ-layer, has been embedded in GaAs. The Si δ-layer properties have been electrically and structurally characterized. A conductivity transition has been observed, when going from free carrier transport in thin (1 ML) ordered δ-layers to the disordered conditions for Si δ-layers thicker than 4 MLs. Two novel emission bands are observed in photoluminescence (PL) for Si δ-layers in the width range 1–4 MLs, but solely at below bandgap excitation. The pronounced 2D properties of these δ-layers have been clearly demonstrated by an observed blue shift of the PL characterization as the thickness of the Si δ-layer is reduced. The so-derived results on the transition energies and the electronic structure are in good agreement with theoretical predictions obtained by a self-consistent approach.     

Particle motion measured at an operational wind turbine in relation to hearing sensitivity in fish

The effect of sound pressure on the hearing of fish has been extensively investigated in laboratory studies as well as in field trials in contrast to particle motion where few studies have been carried out. To improve this dearth of knowledge, an instrument for measuring particle motion was developed and used in a field trial. The particle motion is measured using a neutrally buoyant sphere, which co-oscillates with the fluid motion. The unit was deployed in close vicinity to a wind turbine foundation at Utgrunden wind farm in the Baltic Sea. Measurements of particle motion were undertaken at different distances from the turbine as well as at varying wind speeds. Levels of particle motion were compared to audiograms for cod (Gadus morhua L.) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.).     

Rational approximation to functions likex α in integral norms

Основной результат р аботы касается поряд ков рациональных прибли жений вН ^p функций типа Маркова—Стилть еса с некоторыми спец иальными условиями на меры. Как следствие, получено распростра нение на случай иррац иональных показателей а тех оце нок порядка рациональных прибли жений функцийx ^α вL ^p [0,1], 1<р <∞, которые ранее были из вестны для рациональных а.