Fundamental aspects of initiated oxidation of tridecane and polyethylene in solutions

Specific features of the initiated oxidation of polyethylene and its low-molecular-weight analogue tridecane, associated with the occurrence of the process in the short-chain mode, were studied.     

Thermodynamic properties of ternary systems: Calculation of standard enthalpies of solvation of triols, diols, and a series of their ethers in water-methanol mixed solvent

An equation for the standard enthalpy of solvation of a compound in a binary solvent is derived. The enthalpies of solvation in water-methanol mixtures are estimated for 1,3-propane-and 1,6-hexanediols, 1,2,4-butane-and 1,3,5-pentanetriols, 2-methoxy-and 2-propoxyethanols, and diethylene glycol. The enthalpy of solvation of 1,2-dimethoxyethane in the water-methanol mixed solvent is determined experimentally.     

Influence of the counterion size on swelling and collapse of polyelectrolyte gel

A theory that predicts the effect of the counterion size on the swelling and collapse of a weakly charged polyelectrolyte gel was developed. In addition to excluded-volume interactions between monomer units of the gel, the theory involves the counterion-monomer unit and counterion-counterion interactions in terms of the virial approximation. The character of interactions between different units in the system varies from repulsion to attraction depending on the type of solvent, counterion, and dielectric permittivity of the solvent. For solvents with a low permittivity, the effect of condensation of counterions resulting in the formation of ion pairs is taken into account.     

Energy transfer from a flat uranium slab to a fine wire via fission fragments

Energy transfer from a flat fissile uranium slab to a fine wire via fission fragments is calculated. The rate of energy transfer versus the thicknesses of the slab and protecting aluminum film, as well as the wire-slab gap, is found. An expression for the absorption coefficient of the wire is derived, and the effect the thickness of the wire has on the energy transfer process is studied. The amount of the edge effect for a finite-size fissioner slab is demonstrated with calculations for vacuum conditions and for argon under a pressure of 0.25 atm.     

Coagulation in lipid- and protein-containing systems

The behavior of real disperse systems with organic impurities was examined under conditions of destabilization by inorganic coagulants. A number of physicochemical methods of analysis and a simulation method were used to identify the character and type of the complexes formed and to calculate their stability constants.     

Electro-optic pulse response of ferroelectric liquid crystals

The electro-optic response of ferroelectric smectic C* liquid crystals has been studied. Anomalous switching behaviour of such materials which possess a negative dielectric anisotropy has been reported. These materials show a minimum in response time at a sufficiently high field. We present results showing the dependency of this minimum upon spontaneous polarisation and the effect of AC bias. Calculations based upon the equation of motion of the director around the cone are presented which describe this effect and its dependence on the relative magnitudes of the spontaneous polarization and dielectric anisotropy of the material. Good agreement with the experimental results is found.     

Pseudo-Finsleroid standard model analysis of electroweak interactions

A standard model Lagrangian is constructed making the pseudo-Finsleroid generalization of the Yang-Mills field equation by the conformal method. The Higgs field potential is suggested that ensures generation of particle masses caused by the spontaneous symmetry breaking. After transition to the conformal coordinates, the expressions obtained assume the standard form that in many cases allows the results of pseudo-Euclidean theory to be used in calculations of the Feynman diagrams. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 44–51, April, 2006.