Time-resolved spectroscopic measurements of shock-wave induced decomposition in cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) crystals: anisotropic response

Plate impact experiments on the (210), (100), and (111) planes were performed to examine the role of crystalline anisotropy on the shock-induced decomposition of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) crystals. Time-resolved emission spectroscopy was used to probe the decomposition of single crystals shocked to peak stresses ranging between 7 and 20 GPa. Emission produced by decomposition intermediates was analyzed in terms of induction time to emission, emission intensity, and the emission spectra shapes as a function of stress and time. Utilizing these features, we found that the shock-induced decomposition of RDX crystals exhibits considerable anisotropy. Crystals shocked on the (210) and (100) planes were more sensitive to decomposition than crystals shocked on the (111) plane. The possible sources of the observed anisotropy are discussed with regard to the inelastic deformation mechanisms of shocked RDX. Our results suggest that, despite the anisotropy observed for shock initiation, decomposition pathways for all three orientations are similar.     

Effects of liquid crystalline and shear alignment on the optical properties of cellulose nanocrystal films

Rheo-optics, microspectrophotometry, and optical contrast measurements were used to gain new insights into the interrelated effects of liquid crystalline phase behavior, flow alignment, and microstructural relaxation on cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films’ alignment and optical properties. Optical contrast measurements were found to be an effective and facile way of determining changes in anisotropy directly from cross-polarized microscopy images. This method was used to continuously measure microstructural relaxation after the cessation of shear as well as the anisotropy of dried CNC films. Aqueous liquid crystalline CNC dispersions showed greater alignment after shear than isotropic or biphasic dispersions. However, CNC gels exhibited lower alignment at equivalent shear rates. The combination of greater initial alignment and slower relaxation of sheared liquid crystalline dispersions resulted in the most optically anisotropic films. Depending on their thickness, the CNC films were optically transparent in the visible regime or exhibited tunable interference colors. The results of this work highlight the tunability of CNC dispersion processing for producing color filters and other optical materials with controlled properties.     

Sample size determination for comparing two therapies taking both the α (type I or false positive) error and the β (type II or false negative) error into consideration

The sample size required for determination of a given degree of difference between two therapies or modalities A and B being compared with each other, supposing that the sample sizes are equal, is given by Here C_α/2 is the upper α/2 percentile point of the standard normal distribution, C_1?β is the abscissa cutting off the proportion 1?β in its upper tail and β in its lower tail; p_A and p_B are the probabilities of favorable response to A and B; if p?_A and p?_B are the corresponding measured proportions, then $\text{p}$ = $\text{1}\text{2}$(p?_A + p?_B); and the Q's are 1 minus the p's. When it is desirable to use unequal size groups, the sample sizes n₁     

Comparable Photoreactivity of Hair Melanosomes,Eu‐ and Pheomelanins at Low Concentrations: Low Melanin a Risk Factor for UVA Damage and Melanoma?†

Melanin is known to be photoreactive and photoprotective, but its function in skin in vivo is still debated. Data is lacking of the effects of UVA irradiation on human skin melanosomes of different pigmentation, which have not been extensively degraded by isolation procedures. We have shown previously that melanosomes isolated from human oriental and black cat hair, and synthetic eumelanins, are photoreactive producing superoxide at low concentrations when exposed to UVA irradiation comparable to UK levels of sunlight. Here we investigated the UVA-irradiation of melanosomes, isolated from different colored human hair samples, using electron spin resonance spectroscopy and spin trapping. Comparable irradiation of synthetic pheomelanins synthesized from L-dopa and L-cysteine was also studied. An alkali method (5 min NaOH at 90 degrees C) could be used to isolate oriental hair melanosomes but was not suitable for auburn and blonde hair. Dithiothreitol and proteinase K resulted in melanin release from possible over-digestion of melanosomes; however, dithiothreitol and papain resulted in no melanin release and good melanosome yields with separation from residual keratin for brown, auburn and blonde hair. Melanosomes isolated by the latter method and synthetic pheomelanins were similar in UVA-photoreactivity at low concentrations, independent of hair color, and broadly comparable to synthetic melanins. Melanosome concentration at constant fluence may be more significant with respect to photodamage and UVA photocarcinogenesis (melanoma) via superoxide radical production than pigment type.     

Impact detection in an aircraft composite panel—A neural-network approach

This paper presents the latest results from a programme of work aiming to design impact detectors for structures. The results are from an aircraft component which is substantially more complex than the structures previously investigated by the authors. The paper also illustrates three different approaches to the impact location problem, namely, regression, classification and a combination of both.     

Chlorination of isothiocyanates. V . 5-imino-1,2,4-thiadiazolidin-3-ones

S-[N'- (Chlorocarbonyl)amino]isothiocarbamoyl chlorides (II), obtained from S-chloroisothiocarbamoyl chlorides (I) and isocyanates, react with primary aliphatic and aromatic amines to form the unknown class of 5-imino-1,2,4-thiadiazolidin-3-ones. The structures were confirmed by chemical means and by spectroscopic methods.