Thickness induced structural changes in polystyrene films

Changes to the structure of polystyrene melt films as measured through the spectrum of density fluctuations have been observed as a function of film thickness down to the polymer radius of gyration (Rg). Films thicker than 4Rg show bulklike density fluctuations. Thinner films exhibit a peak in S(q) near q=0 which grows with decreasing thickness. This peak is attributed to a decreased interpenetration of chains resulting in an enhanced compressibility. Measurements were made using small angle x-ray scattering in a standing wave geometry designed to enhance scattering from the interior of the film compared to interface scattering.     

Harmonic maps with fixed singular sets

Suppose Ω is a smooth domain in R^m,N is a compact smooth Riemannian manifold, andZ is a fixed compact subset of Ω having finite (m − 3)-dimensional Minkowski content (e.g.,Z ism − 3 rectifiable). We consider various spaces of harmonic mapsu: Ω →N that have a singular setZ and controlled behavior nearZ. We study the structure of such spacesH and questions of existence, uniqueness, stability, and minimality under perturbation. In caseZ = 0,H is a Banach manifold locally diffeomorphic to a submanifold of the product of the boundary data space with a finite-dimensional space of Jacobi fields with controlled singular behavior. In this smooth case, the projection ofu εH tou |ϖΩ is Fredholm of index 0. R. H.’s research partially supported by the National Science Foundation.     

Mbekhta's subspaces and a spectral theory of compact operators

Let be an operator on an infinite-dimensional complex Banach space. By means of Mbekhta's subspaces and , we give a spectral theory of compact operators. The main results are: Let be compact. . The following assertions are all equivalent: (1) 0 is an isolated point in the spectrum of (2) is closed; (3) is of finite dimension; (4) is closed; (5) is of finite dimension; . sufficient conditions for to be an isolated point in ; . sufficient and necessary conditions for to be a pole of the resolvent of .

     

Thermoplastic Elastomers Based on Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Copolymer and Waste Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Powder Blends Compatibilized by Chlorinated Polyethylene

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) based on ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)/waste nitrile butadiene rubber powder (WNBRP) blends compatibilized by chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) were prepared by melt-compounding. The tensile strength and the elongation at break of the EVA/CPE/WNBRP blends were increased significantly compared with those of the EVA/WNBRP blends. The fracture surfaces of the EVA/CPE/WNBRP blends were smooth; moreover, the WNBRP in the etched EVA/CPE/WNBRP blends were inserted in the EVA matrix tightly. DMA results revealed that when the CPE dosage was 5 phr in the EVA/CPE/WNBRP blend, the Payne effect was weakened significantly.     

Tissue-specific δ13C in ancient and modern tropical seabirds and flying fish in the Xisha Islands,South China Sea

We analyzed ¹³C characteristics in samples of bird bones, feathers, eggshell carbonate and membrane from modern specimens of red-footed booby (Sula sula) as well as fish muscle, scales, and bones from its predominant food source, flying fish (Exocoetus volitans), and muscle from its secondary food source squid (Loligo chinensis), as well as in ancient sub-fossil samples of seabird and flying fish at the Xisha Islands, South China Sea. δ¹³C is tissue-specific in both seabirds and flying fish due to the variance in turn-over among the tissues and differences in the type and content of amino acids across a diverse range of tissues. The δ¹³C discrimination factors also differed significantly among the various tissues between tropical seabirds and their prey. A Suess effect, caused by fossil fuel combustion and the emission of carbon with fewer ¹³C isotopes, was observed in the bird and fish tissue from ancient to modern time. Our study provides a multiple variability index for δ¹³C in organisms along a food chain, and verifies that tissue-specific ¹³C analysis is essential to identify diet and species and thus is a valuable tool for research on tropical seabird ecology.     

The sloshing of stratified liquid in a two-dimensional rectangular tank

The sloshing of inviscid liquid of stratified density in a rectangular tank is analyzed.As the flow is no longer irrotional,the governing equation is found to be quite different from the Laplace equation used for the liquid of constant density.In particular it contains terms of mixed temporal and spatial derivatives.The problem is solved based on the variable separation method and Laplace transform for the constant Vaisala-Brunt frequency.It is found that the stratification of density may have small effects...     

Designing and Characterization of Biodegradable Multiblock Poly(L-Lactic Acid)/Polybutadiene Elastomers

A series of poly(L-lactic acid)/polybutadiene (PLA/PB) biodegradable multiblock elastomers was synthesized and characterized. A two-step process to prepare PLA/PB multiblock elastomers was applied. Melt polymerization was used to prepare poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) terminated with hydroxyl groups and, at the same time, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) were employed to synthesize diisocyanate-terminated polybutadiene (ITPB). Then, PLA and ITPB were reacted with different PLA/PB weight ratios. Consequently, a series of PLA/PB biodegradable poly(ester-urethane)s with crosslinked chains was obtained. Swelling characteristics and crosslink density of the crosslinked elastomer were investigated. DMA was applied to characterize its thermal properties. The measurement of mechanical properties showed that a PLA/PB elastomer with adjustable mechanical properties was synthesized. Micromorphology, hydrophobicity, and degradability of the material were also characterized.     

The system design and assemble for the high resolution telescope system with segmented aperture

A design method along with its results, for a space optical system with high resolution and wide field of view, is described. Such optical systems can be used in the infrared as well as visible configurations. The proposed design is based on an on-axis Ritchey-Chrétien system with corrected lens element while the primary mirror is a segmented aperture. Here the on-axis concept allows wide-field enabling a variety of observations designed for the multi-object spectrometer instruments, optimized for low scattering and low emission of light. The use of segmented mirrors in the optical system allows adopting any method for its fabrication purposes. Segment results are discussed and the image quality of the design based on these results is evaluated in this paper.     

Geometric Phase in a Generalized Jaynes-Cummings Model with Double Mode Operators and Phase Operators

By using of the invariant theory, we have studied the geometric phase of quantum dots in the time-dependent isotropic magnetic field, the dynamical and geometric phases are given, respectively.