Solid-liquid interfacial energy of neopentylglycol

The grain boundary groove shapes for equilibrated solid neopentylglycol (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol) (NPG) with its melt were directly observed by using a horizontal temperature gradient stage. From the observed grain boundary groove shapes, the Gibbs-Thomson coefficient (Gamma), solid-liquid interfacial energy (sigma(SL)), and grain boundary energy (sigma(gb)) of NPG have been determined to be (7.4+/-0.7)x10(-8) Km, (7.9+/-1.2)x10(-3) Jm(-2), and (15.4+/-2.5)x10(-3) Jm(-2), respectively. The ratio of thermal conductivity of equilibrated liquid phase to solid phase for the NPG has also been measured to be 1.07 at the melting temperature.     

Folic‐Acid‐Modified Conducting Polymer: Electrochemical Detection of the Cell Attachment

Here, postfunctionalization and bioapplication of a π‐conjugated polymer named 4‐[4H‐dithieno(3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d)pyrrol‐4‐yl]aniline (DTP‐aryl‐NH₂) are reported, which is successfully synthesized via electropolymerization onto the glassy carbon electrode. Folic acid (FA) is used to modify the amino functional polymer via N‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐N′‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N‐hydroxysuccinimide chemistry for the further steps. The selective adhesion of folate receptor positive cells on the surface is followed by the electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been used to characterize stepwise modification of the electroactive surface. After optimization studies such as scan rate during the polymer deposition, FA amount for the efficient surface targeting, incubation time with the cells etc., analytical characterization is carried out. The surface morphologies at each step are imaged by using fluorescence microscopy.

     

MRI findings of intraosseous lipoma: case report

Intraosseous lipoma is one of the rarest benign bone tumors and usually presents in the fourth to fifth decades. Except for minor symptoms, they are usually asymptomatic. Metaphysis of long bones, especially proximal parts of femur and fibula, are involved in most cases. We present intraosseous lipoma to discuss the benefits of MRI and contrast-enhanced MRI findings for differential diagnosis.     

The role of grain boundaries on fatigue crack initiation - An energy approach

In this paper, we construct a model for prediction of fatigue crack initiation based on the material’s microstructure. In order to do so, the energy of a persistent slip band (PSB) is monitored and an energy balance approach is taken, in which cracks initiate and the material fails due to stress concentration from a PSB (with respect to dislocation motion). These PSBs are able to traverse low-angle grain boundaries (GB), thus belonging to clusters of grains. As a consequence of the ongoing cyclic slip process, the PSBs evolve and interact with high-angle GBs, the result of which leads to dislocation pile-ups, static extrusions in the form of ledges/steps at the GB, stress concentration, and ultimately crack initiation. Hence, this fatigue model is driven by the microstructure, i.e. grain orientations, widely distributed grain sizes, precipitates, PSB-GB interactions, as well as the affect of neighboring grains. The results predict that cracks initiate near twin boundaries from PSBs spanning a single large grain with a favorable orientation or multiple grains connected by low-angle GBs. Excellent agreement is shown between model predictions and experimental data.     

Pattern discrete and mixed Hit-and-Run for global optimization

We develop new Markov chain Monte Carlo samplers for neighborhood generation in global optimization algorithms based on Hit-and-Run. The success of Hit-and-Run as a sampler on continuous domains motivated Discrete Hit-and-Run with random biwalk for discrete domains. However, the potential for efficiencies in the implementation, which requires a randomization at each move to create the biwalk, lead us to a different approach that uses fixed patterns in generating the biwalks. We define Sphere and Box Biwalks that are pattern-based and easily implemented for discrete and mixed continuous/discrete domains. The pattern-based Hit-and-Run Markov chains preserve the convergence properties of Hit-and-Run to a target distribution. They also converge to continuous Hit-and-Run as the mesh of the discretized variables becomes finer, approaching a continuum. Moreover, we provide bounds on the finite time performance for the discrete cases of Sphere and Box Biwalks. We embed our samplers in an Improving Hit-and-Run global optimization algorithm and test their performance on a number of global optimization test problems.     

Isotherm,thermodynamic and kinetic studies of Sr<Superscript>2+</Superscript> adsorption on spherical TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/PAN composites

A spherical polyacrylonitrile–TiO₂ composite adsorbent was prepared and its strontium removal potential was investigated. The Langmuir equation fixed well the equilibrium data. The value of ∆H° = 8.943 kJ/mol and ∆G° = 6.291 kJ/mol at 298 K indicate that the adsorption of strontium onto TiO₂/PAN composite adsorbent is an endothermic and non-spontaneous reaction. The kinetic process was described by a pseudo-second-order rate model very well.     

Preparation of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles by sonochemical method,isotherm, thermodynamic and kinetic studies on the sorption of strontium

The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles which were prepared by novel sonochemical method as an ion exchange material for the removal of Sr from aqueous solution. The pH effect on the Sr²⁺ sorption was investigated. The data obtained have been correlated with Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters fort he sorption system have been determined at four temperatures. Simple kinetic models have been applied to the rate and isotherm sorption data and the relevant kinetic parameters were determined from the graphical presentation of these models at 298°K. Results explained that the pseudo second-order sorption mechanism is predominant and the overall rate constant of sorption process appears to be controlled by chemical sorption process. The value of sorption energy E = 13 kJ/mol at 298°K and the value of Gibbs free energy ∆G° = 3,222 kJ/mol at 298°K prove that the sorption of strontium on titanium dioxide nanoparticles is an endothermic and non-spontaneous process.     

On the mixed problem for quasilinear pseudoparabolic equation

In this paper the multidimensional mixed problem for the quasilinear pseudoparabolic equation u_t-L_xu-εL_xu_t=f(t,x,u) is considered. L_x is a differential operator, which composes (with boundary operator) a self adjoint operator. An existence, uniqueness and also continuous dependense on the small parameter ε>0 of generalized solution is proved. The estimation of the difference of exact and approximate solutions is obtained     

Numerical study of the asymptotics of the second Painlevé equation by a functional fitting method

The Painlevé equations arise as reductions of the soliton equations such as the Korteweg–de Vries equation, the nonlinear Schrödinger equation and so on. In this study, we are concerned with numerical approximation of the asymptotics of solutions of the second Painlevé equation on pole‐free intervals along the real axis. Classical integrators such as high order Runge–Kutta schemes might be expensive to simulate oscillation, decay and blow‐up behaviours depending on initial conditions. However, a lower order functional fitting method catches all kinds of solutions even for relatively large step sizes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Injection-seeded, gain-switched tunable Cr:ZnSe laser

We report a narrow-linewidth, tunable, gain-switched Cr:ZnSe laser operating between 2255 and 2455 nm. The spectral width of the laser was reduced from 125 nm to 0.3 nm by using injection seeding. Seeding was achieved with a second tunable CW Cr:ZnSe laser. The output wavelength was varied by tuning the wavelength of the seed laser. The seeded oscillator produced as high as 157 μJ pulses with 598 μJ incident pump pulse energy at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. The slope efficiency was determined to be 26%.