Stationary shapes of deformable particles moving at low Reynolds numbers

We introduce an iterative solution scheme in order to calculate stationary shapes of deformable elastic capsules which are steadily moving through a viscous fluid at low Reynolds numbers. The iterative solution scheme couples hydrodynamic boundary integral methods and elastic shape equations to find the stationary axisymmetric shape and the velocity of an elastic capsule moving in a viscous fluid governed by the Stokes equation. We use this approach to systematically study dynamical shape transitions of capsules with Hookean stretching and bending energies and spherical resting shape sedimenting under the influence of gravity or centrifugal forces. We find three types of possible axisymmetric stationary shapes for sedimenting capsules with fixed volume: a pseudospherical state, a pear-shaped state, and buckled shapes. Capsule shapes are controlled by two dimensionless parameters, the Föppl-von-Kármán number characterizing the elastic properties and a Bond number characterizing the driving force. For increasing gravitational force the spherical shape transforms into a pear shape. For very large bending rigidity (very small Föppl-von-Kármán number) this transition is discontinuous with shape hysteresis. The corresponding transition line terminates, however, in a critical point, such that the discontinuous transition is not present at typical Föppl-von-Kármán numbers of synthetic capsules. In an additional bifurcation, buckled shapes occur upon increasing the gravitational force.     

On the chiral anomaly in non-Riemannian spacetimes

Thetranslation Chern-Simons type three-formcoframe∧torsion on a Riemann-Cartan spacetime is related (by differentiation) to the Nieh-Yan fourform. Following Chandia and Zanelli, two spaces with nontrivial translational Chern-Simons forms are discussed. We then demonstrate, first within the classical Einstein-Cartan-Dirac theory and second in the quantum heat kernel approach to the Dirac operator, how the Nieh-Yan form surfaces in both contexts, in contrast to what has been assumed previously.     

Electroglottographic wavegrams: a technique for visualizing vocal fold dynamics noninvasively

A method for analyzing and displaying electroglottographic (EGG) signals (and their first derivative, DEGG) is introduced: the electroglottographic wavegram ("wavegram" hereafter). To construct a wavegram, the time-varying fundamental frequency is measured and consecutive individual glottal cycles are identified. Each cycle is locally normalized in duration and amplitude, the signal values are encoded by color intensity and the cycles are concatenated to display the entire voice sample in a single image, similar as in sound spectrography. The wavegram provides an intuitive means for quickly assessing vocal fold contact phenomena and their variation over time. Variations in vocal fold contact appear here as a sequence of events rather than single phenomena, taking place over a certain period of time, and changing with pitch, loudness and register. Multiple DEGG peaks are revealed in wavegrams to behave systematically, indicating subtle changes of vocal fold oscillatory regime. As such, EGG wavegrams promise to reveal more information on vocal fold contacting and de-contacting events than previous methods.     

The enthalpy of mixing of liquid NaF and NaMgF3 from drop calorimetry

The enthalpy of mixing of three liquid mixtures of NaF and NaMgF₃ has been measured by drop calorimetry and was found to be negative. This energy release is attributed to a change in the equilibrium

Mg_1/4[MgF²⁻₄]_3/4+f⁻ å MgF²⁻₄ to the formation of complex MgF²⁻₄-ions. A ΔH^M diagram for the system NaF-MgF₂ up to 50 mol % MgF₂ has been constructed.     

INDO calculations on the sigmatropic [1, 5] H-Shift in 1,3-cyclohexadiene and 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene A homo-cyclopentadienyl transition state model

INDO calculations have been performed for the activated complex of the [1, 5] H.-shift in 1,3-cyclohexadiene and 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene. During the migration in the cyclohexadiene system a homoconjugation was calculated between the carbon atoms C₁ and C₅. For cycloheptatriene it could be demonstrated that one double bond does not participate in the reaction. Activation enthalpies are related to (homo)conjugation in the transition state of the reaction for cyclic conjugated dienes and trienes. The electron density on the migrating hydrogen can be related to the electron affinity of the ring system in the transition state.[/p]     

Volumetric determination of Pt(IV) in the presence of Ir,Pd, and Rh with ferrous ammonium sulfate in alkaline mannitol medium

A potentiometric reductimetric method for the determination of platinum (Pt(IV)Pt(II)) with a standard Fe(II) solution in an alkaline medium of mannitol is described. The method, the error of which does not exceed 2%, can be used in the presence of palladium, iridium, and rhodium.