Testing of a constitutive equation with free volume dependent relaxation spectrum

Summary A model of non-linear viscoelasticity with relaxation times dependent upon free volume is here proposed. The free volume is related to the isotropic part of the stress tensor by means of a simple differential equation.The model predictions are compared with a large amount of experimental results taken on polymeric melts or concentrated solutions and reported in the literature. The single parameter of the model is determined, within each set of data, by fitting of the viscosity curve. A satisfactory agreement is obtained with data taken under both elongation and shear for which also the relaxation behavior after single and double strain steps is considered.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird das Modell einer nicht-linear viskoelastischen Flüssigkeit vorgeschlagen, bei dem die Relaxationszeiten vom freien Volumen abhängen. Das freie Volumen wird dabei durch eine einfache Differentialgleichung mit dem isotropen Teil des Spannungstensors verknüpft.Die Voraussagen des Modells werden mit einer großen Anzahl von experimentellen Ergebnissen an Polymerschmelzen und konzentrierten Lösungen verglichen, die in der Literatur mitgeteilt sind. Der einzige Parameter des Modells wird für jeden Datensatz durch Anpassung der Viskositätskurve bestimmt. Man erhält eine befriedigende Übereinstimmung für die Meßwerte sowohl von Dehn- als auch von Scherversuchen, wobei ebenfalls das Relaxationsverhalten nach dem Aufprägen einfacher und doppelter Dehnungsstufen betrachtet wird.

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With 16 figures and 1 table     

A comprehensive experimental study of the rheological behaviour of HDPE.

Extensional properties of four high density polyethylenes with different molecular weights and molecular weight distributions are presented. The samples have already been well characterized in shear and non-isothermal extensional flow. The data were collected at 180 °C for elongational rates between 3 · 10^–1 and 10^–4s^–1. Some qualitative and quantitative generalizations of the results are given.     

Abraham model correlations for transfer of neutral molecules and ions to sulfolane

Data have been compiled from the published literature on the partition coefficients of solutes and vapors into anhydrous sulfolane. The logarithms of the water-to-sulfolane partition coefficients, log P, and gas-to-sulfolane partition coefficients, log K, were correlated with the Abraham solvation parameter model. The derived correlations described the observed log P and log K values for solutes dissolved in sulfolane to within average standard deviations of 0.14 log units or less. The log P correlation was extended to include the partition of ions by inclusion of a cation-solvent and an anion-solvent term.     

The inorganic perspective of nerve growth factor: interactions of Cu2+ and Zn2+ with the N-terminus fragment of nerve growth factor encompassing the recognition domain of the TrkA receptor

There is a significant overlap between brain areas with Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) pathological dys-homeostasis and those in which the nerve growth factor (NGF) performs its biological role. The protein NGF is necessary for the development and maintenance of the sympathetic and sensory nervous systems. Its flexible N-terminal region has been shown to be a critical domain for TrkA receptor binding and activation. Computational analyses show that Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) form pentacoordinate complexes involving both the His4 and His8 residues of the N-terminal domain of one monomeric unit and the His84 and Asp105 residues of the other monomeric unit of the NGF active dimer. To date, neither experimental data on the coordination features have been reported, nor has one of the hypotheses according to which Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) may have different binding environments or the Ser1 α-amino group could be involved in coordination been supported. The peptide fragment, encompassing the 1-14 sequence of the human NGF amino-terminal domain (NGF(1-14)), blocked at the C terminus, was synthesised and its Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) complexes characterized by means of potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV/Vis, CD, NMR, and EPR) techniques. The N-terminus-acetylated form of NGF(1-14) was also investigated to evaluate the involvement of the Ser1 α-amino group in metal-ion coordination. Our results demonstrate that the amino group is the first anchoring site for Cu(2+) and is involved in Zn(2+) coordination at physiological pH. Finally, a synergic proliferative activity of both NGF(1-14) and the whole protein on SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cell line was found after treatment in the presence of Cu(2+). This effect was not observed after treatment with the N-acetylated peptide fragment, demonstrating a functional involvement of the N-terminal amino group in metal binding and peptide activity.     

A-type cranberry proanthocyanidins inhibit the RANKL-dependent differentiation and function of human osteoclasts

This study investigated the effect of A-type cranberry proanthocyanidins (AC-PACs) on osteoclast formation and bone resorption activity. The differentiation of human pre-osteoclastic cells was assessed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, while the secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was measured by ELISA. Bone resorption activity was investigated by using a human bone plate coupled with an immunoassay that detected the release of collagen helical peptides. AC-PACs up to 100 μg/mL were atoxic for osteoclastic cells. TRAP staining evidenced a dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. More specifically, AC-PACs at 50 μg/mL caused a 95% inhibition of RANKL-dependent osteoclast differentiation. This concentration of AC-PACs also significantly increased the secretion of IL-8 (6-fold) and inhibited the secretion of both MMP-2 and MMP-9. Lastly, AC-PACs (10, 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml) affected bone degradation mediated by mature osteoclasts by significantly decreasing the release of collagen helical peptides. This study suggests that AC-PACs can interfere with osteoclastic cell maturation and physiology as well as prevent bone resorption. These compounds may be considered as therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis.     

Twostep-by-twostep continuous PIRKN-type PC methods for nonstiff IVPs

In this paper, we start with the consideration of direct collocation-based Runge-Kutta-Nyström (RKN) methods with continuous output formulas for solving nonstiff initial-value problems (IVPs) for systems of special second-order differential equations y″(t) = f(t, y(t)). At nth step, the continuous output formulas can be used for calculating the step values at (n + 2)th step and the integration processes can be proceeded twostep-by-twostep. In this case, we obtain twostep-by-twostep RKN methods with continuous output formulas (continuous TBTRKN methods). Furthermore, we consider a parallel predictor-corrector (PC) iteration scheme using the continuous TBTRKN methods as corrector methods with predictor methods defined by the continuous output formulas. The resulting twostep-by-twostep parallel-iterated RKN-type PC methods with continuous output formulas (twostep-by-twostep continuous PIRKN-type PC methods or TBTCPIRKN methods) give us a faster integration processes. Numerical comparisons based on the solution of a few widely-used test problems show that the new TBTCPIRKN methods are much more efficient than the well-known PIRKN methods, the famous nonstiff sequential ODEX2, DOP853 codes and comparable with the CPIRKN methods.     

Effect of the wing shape on the thrust of flapping wing

Simulations of harmonically oscillating wings were performed using two-dimensional and three-dimensional boundary element method computer programs: the corresponding hydrodynamic forces were obtained by assuming potential flow. The maximum thickness of symmetric 4-digit NACA airfoils was varied in order to assess the effect of changing the foil shape on the generated thrust. It was found that the thrust coefficient per unit of wing mass decreases in magnitude when the thickness increases. The result indicates that, if the wing mass is fixed, its thickness has to be minimised in order to maximise the generated thrust. Another important finding is the dependence on the motion frequency, i.e. for a fixed foil thickness the thrust coefficient per unit of wing mass increases with the motion frequency. However, when the foil thickness becomes larger, the motion frequency effect on the generated thrust becomes less pertinent, i.e. the thrust range for a slender foil is larger than that of a thicker one over the same motion frequency range. The three-dimensional effect due to the wing spanwise shape was also investigated by changing the wing sweep angle and the influence on the generated thrust was insignificant within the range of investigated parameters. The outcome reinforces the idea that the function of swept wings for low-speed flyers, such as birds, is mainly structural as the sweep angle can be related to a desired aeroelastic response of the oscillating wing.     

An easily accessible Re-based catalyst for the selective conversion of methanol: evidence for an unprecedented active site structure through combined operando techniques

Heterogeneous Re/SiO(2) catalysts prepared using a one pot sol-gel synthesis were found to display high activity in the direct, selective methanol conversion to methylal, which is correlated to an unprecedented rhenium oxide structure.     

A structure-based analysis of the vibrational spectra of nitrosyl ligands in transition-metal coordination complexes and clusters

The vibrational spectra of nitrogen monoxide or nitric oxide (NO) bonded to one or to several transition-metal (M) atom(s) in coordination and cluster compounds are analyzed in relation to the various types of such structures identified by diffraction methods. These structures are classified in: (a) terminal (linear and bent) nitrosyls, [M(σ-NO)] or [M(NO)]; (b) twofold nitrosyl bridges, [M₂(μ₂-NO)]; (c) threefold nitrosyl bridges, [M₃(μ₃-NO)]; (d) σ/π-dihaptonitrosyls or “side-on” nitrosyls; and (e) isonitrosyls (oxygen-bonded nitrosyls).Typical ranges for the values of internuclear N–O and M–N bond-distances and M–N–O bond-angles for linear nitrosyls are: 1.14–1.20 Å/1.60–1.90 Å/180–160° and for bent nitrosyls are 1.16–1.22 Å/1.80–2.00 Å/140–110°. The [M₂(μ₂-NO)] bridges have been divided into those that contain one or several metal–metal bonds and those without a formal metal/metal bond (M?M). Typical ranges for the M–M, N–O, M–N bond distances and M–N–M bond angles for the normal twofold NO bridges are: 2.30–3.00 Å/1.18–1.22 Å/1.80–2.00 Å/90–70°, whereas for the analogous ranges of the long twofold NO bridges these are 3.10–3.40 Å/1.20–1.24 Å/1.90–2.10 Å/130–110°. In both situations the N–O vector is approximately at right angle to the M–M (or M?M) vector within the experimental error; i.e. the NO group is symmetrical bonded to the two metal atoms. In contrast the threefold NO bridges can be symmetrically or unsymmetrically bonded to an M₃-plane of a cluster compound. Characteristic values for the N–O and M–N bond-distances of these NO bridges are: 1.24–1.28 Å/1.80–1.90 Å, respectively. As few dihaptonitrosyl and isonitrosyl complexes are known, the structural features of these are discussed on an individual basis.The very extensive vibrational spectroscopy literature considered gives emphasis to the data from linearly bonded NO ligands in stable closed-shell metal complexes; i.e. those which are consistent with the “effective atomic number (EAN)” or “18-electron” rule. In the paucity of enough vibrational spectroscopic data from complexes with only nitrosyl ligands, it turned out to be very advantageous to use wavenumbers from the spectra of uncharged and saturated nitrosyl/carbonyl metal complexes as references, because the presence of a carbonyl ligand was found to be neutral in its effect on the ν(NO)-values. The wide wavenumber range found for the ν(NO) values of linear MNO complexes are then presented in terms of the estimated effects of net ionic charges, or of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating ligands bonded to the same metal atom. Using this approach we have found that: (a) the effect for a unit positive charge is [plus 100 cm^?1] whereas for a unit negative charge it is [minus 145 cm^?1]. (b) For electron-withdrawing co-ligands the estimated effects are: terminal CN [plus 50 cm^?1]; terminal halogens [plus 30 cm^?1]; bridging or quasi-bridging halogens [plus 15 cm^?1]. (c) For electro donating co-ligands they are: PF₃ [plus 10 cm^?1]; P(OPh)₃ [?30 cm^?1]; P(OR)₃ (R = alkyl group) [?40 cm^?1]; PPh₃ [?55 cm^?1]; PR₃ (R = alkyl group) [?70 cm^?1]; and η⁵-C₅H₅ [?60 cm^?1]; η⁵-C₅H₄Me [?70 cm^?1]; η⁵-C₅Me₅ [?80 cm^?1]. These values were mostly derived from the spectra of nitrosyl complexes that have been corrected for the presence of only a single electronically-active co-ligand. After making allowance for ionic charges or strongly-perturbing ligands on the same metal atom, the adjusted ‘neutral-co-ligand’ ν(NO)*-values (in cm^?1) are for linear nitrosyl complexes with transition metals of Period 4 of the Periodic Table, i.e. those with atomic orbitals (…4s3d4p): [ca. 1750, Cr(NO)]; [1775,Mn(NO)]; [1796,Fe(NO)]; [1817,Co(NO)]; [ca. 1840, Ni(NO)]. Period 5 (…5s4d5p): [1730 Mo(NO)]; [—, Tc(NO)]; [1745,Ru(NO)]; [1790,Rh(NO)]; [ca. 1845, Pd(NO)]. Period 6 (…6s4f5d6p), [1720,W(NO)]; [1730,Re(NO)]; [1738,Os(NO)]; [1760,Ir(NO)]; [—, Pt] respectively. Environmental differences to these values, e.g. data taken in polar solutions or in the crystalline state, can cause ν(NO)* variations (mostly reductions) of up to ca. 30 cm^?1.Three spectroscopic criteria are used to distinguish between linear and bent NO groups. These are: (i) the values of ν(¹⁴NO) themselves, and (ii) the isotopic band shift – (IBS) – parameter which is defined as [ν(¹⁴NO)–ν(¹⁵NO)], and, (iii) the isotopic band ratio – (IBR) – given by [ν(¹⁵NO/ν¹⁴NO)]. The former is illustrated with the ν(¹⁴NO)-data from trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) and tetragonal pyramidal (TP) structures of [M(NO(L)₄] complexes (where M = Fe, Co, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir and L = ligand). These values indicate that linear (180–170°) and strongly bent (130–120°) NO groups in these compounds absorb over the 1862–1690 cm^?1 and 1720–1525 cm^?1-regions, respectively. As was explicitly demonstrated for the linear nitrosyls, these extensive regions reflect the presence in different complexes of a very wide range of co-ligands or ionic charges associated with the metal atom of the nitrosyl group. A plot of the IBS parameter against M–N–O bond-angle for compounds with general formulae [M(NO)(L)_y] (y = 4, 5, 6) reveals that the IBS-values are clustered between 45 and 30 cm^?1 or between 37 and 25 cm^?1 for linear or bent NO groups, respectively. A plot of IBR shows a less well defined pattern. Overall it is suggested that bent nitrosyls absorb ca. 60–100 cm^?1 below, and have smaller co-ligand band-shifts, than their linear counterparts.Spectroscopic ν(NO) data of the bridging or other types of NO ligands are comparatively few and therefore it has not been possible to give other than general ranges for ‘neutral co-ligand’ values. Moreover the bridging species data often depend on corrections for the effects of electronically-active co-ligands such as cyclopentadienyl-like groups. The derived neutral co-ligand estimates, ν(NO)*, are: (a) twofold bridged nitrosyls with a metal–metal bond order of one, or greater than one, absorb at ca. 1610–1490 cm^?1; (b) twofold bridged nitrosyl ligands with a longer non-bonding M?M distance, ca. 1520–1490 cm^?1; (c) threefold bridged nitrosyls, ca. 1470–1410 cm^?1; (d) σ/π dihaptonitrosyl, [M(η²-NO)], where M = Cr, Mn and Ni; ca. 1490–1440 cm^?1. Isonitrosyls, from few examples, appear to absorb below ca. 1100 cm^?1.To be published DFT calculations of the infrared and Raman spectra of complexes with formulae [M(NO)_4?n(CO)_n] (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively) are used as models for the assignments of the ν(MN) and δ(MNO) bands from more complex metal nitrosyls.