Contact angle and adsorption behavior of carboxylic acids on α-Al2O3 surfaces

There is good correlation of contact angle measurements and contact angles calculated from surfactant adsorption density data for an electrically neutral surface, as reported in a previous paper for the system hematite-aqueous solution-ketone, with surfactant hexadecyl sulfonic acid. The same method is not sufficient when the hematite surface is electrically charged. Data was collected to develop the appropriate form of an electrostatic term for the analysis. Acid-base titration was used to evaluate surface electrical properties versus pH for the hematite used in the study. Surfactant adsorption isotherms were measured at pH of 4.5, 5.5, 6, and 7 to use in developing an equation for effect of surface potential on contact angle. After adding a term for the contribution of the electric field, the contact angles calculated from adsorption data follow the measured contact angles well.     

Controlling phase distributions in macroporous composite materials through particle-stabilized foams

Aqueous foams stabilized by ceramic and thermoplastic polymeric particles provide a general method for producing novel porous materials because their extraordinary stability against disproportionation and drainage allows them to be dried and sintered into solid materials. Here, we report the different microstructures that can be obtained from liquid foams stabilized by binary mixtures of particles when the interfacial energies between the particles and the air-liquid interfaces are manipulated to promote either preferential or competitive self-assembly of the particles at the foam interface. Modification of the interfacial energies was accomplished through surface modification of the particles or by decreasing the surface tension of the aqueous phase. Materials derived from liquid foams stabilized by poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and alumina (Al(2)O(3)) particles are investigated. However, as is shown, the method can be extended to other polymeric and ceramic particles and provides the possibility to manufacture a wide range of porous composite materials.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water with iron carbonyl phosphine complexes: improved water reduction catalysts and mechanistic insights

An extended study of a novel visible-light-driven water reduction system containing an iridium photosensitizer, an in situ iron(0) phosphine water reduction catalyst (WRC), and triethylamine as sacrificial reductant is described. The influences of solvent composition, ligand, ligand-to-metal ratio, and pH were studied. The use of monodentate phosphine ligands led to improved activity of the WRC. By applying a WRC generated in situ from Fe(3) (CO)(12) and tris[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphine (P[C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)](3), Fe(3)(CO)(12)/PR(3)=1:1.5), a catalyst turnover number of more than 1500 was obtained, which constitutes the highest activity reported for any Fe WRC. The maximum incident photon to hydrogen efficiency obtained was 13.4% (440 nm). It is demonstrated that the evolved H(2) flow (0.23 mmol H(2) h(-1) mg(-1) Fe(3)(CO)(12)) is sufficient to be used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, which generate electricity directly from water with visible light. Mechanistic studies by NMR spectroscopy, in situ IR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations allow for an improved understanding of the mechanism. With respect to the Fe WRC, the complex [HNEt(3)](+)[HFe(3)(CO)(11)](-) was identified as the key intermediate during the catalytic cycle, which led to light-driven hydrogen generation from water.     

Can the usual validation standard series for quantitative methods,ISO 5725, be also applied for qualitative methods?

Repeatability standard deviation, laboratory standard deviation, and reproducibility standard deviation for quantitative methods according to ISO 5725 series were recently proposed to estimate the precision of qualitative measurements, giving a presence/absence response. In this paper, it is shown that for qualitative methods, the reproducibility standard deviation across laboratories does not reflect the performance of the method as suggested. It is demonstrated that the benefit of the respective laboratory standard deviation is very limited. Alternative performance measures are introduced which are based on another approach also directly linked to ISO 5725. Thereby, meaningful information about the precision of qualitative test methods can be achieved.     

Electromigration Studies of Carrier-Free 239Np(V) in Aqueos Solutions

Ion mobilities of carrier-free ²³⁹Np(V) have been measured in aqueous solutions, T = 298.1 (1) K. Ion mobilities of ²³⁹NpO₂ ⁺ and its dependencies on pH of acidic inert electrolytes have been measured. In alkaline solutions the stoichimetric hydrolysis constants of NpO₂(OH) as well as NpO₂(OH)₂ ^? have been obtained. Complex formations of ²³⁹Np(V) with oxalate, tartrate, sulphate, acetate and citrate ligands have been studied in neutral solutions.     

Autoradiographische und gammaspektrometrische Untersuchungen an AlSi 1-Mikrodraht

Die Untersuchungen dienten der Homogenitätsprüfung von 25 μm dicken Drähten. Aufgespulte Drahtprohen wurden 90 h bei einem Neutronenfluβ von\4 ? 10¹³ n/cm² ? 8 aktiviert. Zur Exposition auf ORWO-Makroautoradiographiefilm AF 3 wurden Drahtabschnitte auf Probenträger aufgeklebt. Die Identifizierung der aktivierten Verunreinigungen erfolgte gammaspektrometrisch und durch autoradiographische Exposition nach unterschiedlichen Abklingzeiten. Die Untersuchungen dienen der Qualitätserhöhung, insbesondere der Verbesserung der Ziehfähigekit von AlSi 1-Draht für die Verwendung als Bonddraht in der Mikroelektronik.     

Pressure inactivation of fungal spores in aqueous model solutions and in real food systems

Abstract

Conidiospores from Penicillium expansum and ascospores from Eurotium repens were exposed to high hydrostatic pressure in isotonic salt solution, apple and broccoli juice. Kinetic measurements were done at 4,25 and 40 or 45°C. The shape of the inactivation curves was strongly dependent on the temperature. Asco- and conidiospores were found to behave in a contrary way. The fastest reduction for conidiospores was found at 4°C, for ascospores best inactivation was achieved at 45°C. High pressure inactivation of spores in apple or broccoli juice was nearly the same as in isotonic salt solution.     

Measuring and visualizing the stability of biomarker selection techniques

Feature selection is an essential step when dealing with high-dimensional data. In a diagnostic setting, marker genes have to be selected for specialized low-dimensional gene expression assays. A meaningful biomarker selection is expected to produce stable results in different resampling settings. We define an index to quantify stability and introduce a statistical testing procedure for stability. We also present new methods of visualizing stability and associating it with the accuracy of a subsequent classification process.     

All-solid-state continuous-wave laser systems for ionization,cooling and quantum state manipulation of beryllium ions

We describe laser systems for photoionization, Doppler cooling, and quantum state manipulation of beryllium ions. For photoionization of neutral beryllium, we have developed a continuous-wave 235 nm source obtained by two stages of frequency doubling from a diode laser at 940 nm. The system delivers up to 400 mW at 470 nm and 28 mW at 235 nm. For control of the beryllium ion, three laser wavelengths at 313 nm are produced by sum-frequency generation and second-harmonic generation from four infrared fiber lasers. Up to 7.2 W at 626 nm and 1.9 W at 313 nm are obtained using two pump beams at 1051 and 1551 nm. Intensity drifts of around 0.5 % per hour have been measured over 8 h at a 313 nm power of 1 W. These systems have been used to load beryllium ions into a segmented ion trap.     

PROCRACK-A Software Tool for Finite Element Simulation of Three-Dimensional Fatigue Crack Growth

The lifetime of structural components is limited by fatigue cracks. After initiation from an existing defect the crack grows subcritically until it reaches a critical size. At this point it becomes unstable and the structural component fails. PROCRACK is a powerful tool that enables the commercial finite element software Abaqus to calculate the crack propagation in pre-cracked components. The complete capability of Abaqus can be used to simulate nearly arbitrary geometries. Abaqus/CAE is used for the three-dimensional modeling of the initial crack at a geometrical level by means of points, lines and triangles. The numerical analysis is performed by Abaqus/Standard. PROCRACK automatically generates a tube-shaped submodel around the crack front to calculate the stress intensity factors with high accuracy. The Paris law or the NASGRO equation can be used to calculate the incremental crack growth. The shape of the crack and the finite element mesh are updated in every crack growth step. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)