Experimental and numerical investigation of shock wave-loaded plates

In the present paper measured and simulated vibrations of viscoplastic plates under impulsive loadings are compared to each other. The aim is to determine how accurately the measured deformations can be calculated by the chosen constitutive and structural theories. The damage growth in the plate specimens until failure is predicted by finite element simulations and compared to shock tube experiments. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Polypeptide‐Shelled Poly(propylene imine) Dendrimers and Their Complexing Properties towards Copper(II) Ions

Summary: Polypeptide‐shelled poly(propylene imine) dendrimers were realized by ring‐opening polymerization of α‐amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides, initiated by dendrimers as core molecules. Polypeptides with 2nd generation core were used as model compounds to investigate interior complexes between metal ion and surface‐modified dendrimers. Micro‐calorimetric measurements outlined the formation of approximate 1:1 complexes between Cu^II and polypeptide‐shelled dendrimers and the influence of polypeptide chain compositions on differential molar heats of complexation.

Composition of one of the polypeptides synthesized.     

The application of Stille cross-coupling reactions with multiple nitrogen containing heterocycles

Substituted imidazoles and purine bioisosteres have been widely studied in the literature. We endeavored to combine these heterocyclic core structures into precursors, especially 7-azaindoles, of previously unknown pharmacologically relevant lead structures. A highly flexible synthetic procedure was developed, derived from investigations of the influence of the substrates, solvents, ligand systems, and side reactions.     

Shell-and-tube type latent heat thermal energy storage: numerical analysis and comparison with experiments

The melting process of industrial grade paraffin wax inside a shell-and-tube storage is analyzed by means of numerical simulation and experimental results. For this purpose, the enthalpy porosity method is extended by a continuous liquid fraction function. The extended method is tested using results gained from a gallium melt test inside a rectangular enclosure.     

Characterization and functionalization of cellulose microbeads for extracorporeal blood purification

In the frame of this work, cellulose microbeads with an average particle size of 2.3 μm were characterized with respect to porosity using a batch solute exclusion method and two groups of model substances, namely proteins and polystyrene sulfonates. The pores of the microbeads were almost completely accessible to proteins with Stokes radii below 2.5 nm. More than 60% of the pores were accessible to albumin, which is relevant for the application in blood purification, since many target substances are albumin bound. Activation of the microbeads with increasing amounts of sodium metaperiodate yielded matrices with dialdehyde contents between 100 and 1,000 μmol/g. The activated beads were well suited for the covalent attachment of functional ligands, such as antibodies. Immobilization of antibodies against the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α resulted in efficient TNF-α adsorbents which possess application potential in extracorporeal blood purification, e.g. for the modulation of cytokine levels as supportive therapy for sepsis and other inflammatory disorders.