Nuclear stopping power in αα anddd collisions

Inelasticαα anddd collisions were studied at a centre-of-mass energy √S _NN=31.2 GeV per nucleon-nucleon collision, using the Split-Field Magnet (SFM) detector at the CERN ISR. In this paper we show the inclusive and semi-inclusive rapidity distributions of protons, compare them with predictions of the Lund model, and calculate the average rapidity loss for participant protons. From the negative particles we calculate the inelasticity of the interaction, the average energy per particle, and the degree of isotropy of the produced hadrons.     

The hydrogen molecule for a two-dimensional system

The two-dimensional (2D) energy of the hydrogen molecule is carried out by the Heitler-London method. The 2D integrals (which are more localized compared to 3D ones) are performed in the light of the 3D Slater integrals. A discussion of such 2D systems is briefly outlined for doped semiconductors.     

The Phase-Field Method in the Sharp-Interface Limit: A Comparison between Model Potentials

The phase-field (PF) method for solidification phenomena is an open formulation based on a free-energy functional. Two common choices for the PF potential, here referred to briefly as the Caginalp and Kobayashi models, are compared with respect to their numeric results within the classical sharp-interface limit. Both qualitative and quantitative behavior are addressed, and an assessment of the computational effort required to approximate a sharp-interface problem is made. It is shown that the specific form of the free-energy potential does have a strong influence on the convergence of the PF results to their sharp-interface limit. Compliance of the PF solutions with the linear kinetic model for the interface temperature is also investigated. A simple one-dimensional solidification problem in the presence of kinetic undercooling is solved by the PF model and also by a deforming grid method. Our results support the view that, if care is exercised in formulating the phase–temperature coupling, there is a high degree of confidence in using the PF method for the numerical modeling of general solidification phenomena.     

Cysteine-reactive polymers synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization for conjugation to proteins

In this communication we report a strategy for the synthesis of semitelechelic polymers reactive to cysteines. An initiator modified with a pyridyl disulfide was prepared and used for the CuBr/2,2'-bipyridine-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Polydispersity indices (M(w)/M(n)) of the polymers with different molecular weights were 1.25 or less. The pyridyl disulfide end group was preserved during the polymerization and allowed direct conjugation of the polymer to cysteine residues of bovine serum albumin. The described method provides a general way for the preparation of protein-polymer conjugates through a reversible disulfide bond without the need for postsynthesis modification of the polymers.     

Perfluoropolyether-Silica Hybrids: Preparation and Surface Characterization

,-Triethoxysilane terminated perfluoropolyether-polycaprolactone block copolymers, TXCL(x)Si, were synthesised, characterised and subsequently reacted with tetraethoxysilane to prepare transparent organic-inorganic hybrid materials by using the sol–gel process. Surface characterization was carried out through contact angle measurements. All the materials investigated (independently on both the reaction time of the sol–gel reaction before coating application and the bulk organic-inorganic ratio) showed a strong hydrophobic character when compared with non-fluorinated and fully inorganic control materials. The highest water contact angles were obtained when TXCL(x)Si oligomer used for the preparation of the hybrid contained short hydrogenated polycaprolactone segments. In all cases, the surface tension values indicated that the very surface at the air-coating interface showed almost completely perfluoropolyether segments.