Effect of the particle size distribution on the low shear viscosity of high‐solid‐content latexes

The production of high‐solid‐content, low‐viscosity latexes is an active field in both industry and academia. The viscosity of polymer dispersions has a clear dependence on the particle size distribution (PSD). An example is the rule of thumb that a bimodal PSD enables the reduction of the viscosity with respect to monomodal systems. Despite important progress in theoretical work, not much has been done to quantitatively predict the low shear viscosity of aqueous polymer dispersions as a function of the complex PSD. In this work, the capability of a low‐shear‐viscosity equation to quantitatively account for the influence of both the PSD and the physicochemical characteristics of the dispersions is experimentally assessed. An analysis, consistent with theoretical concepts, of the data with semiempirical correlations is proposed. Next, with values of the parameters of the viscosity equation obtained experimentally, the effect of a latex with a 70% solid content on the low shear viscosity is examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3936–3946, 2004     

Feedback stabilization of snap-through buckling in a preloaded two-bar linkage with hysteresis

We study a linearly damped preloaded two-bar linkage that exhibits hysteresis due to the presence of multiple attracting equilibria. The dynamics at the unstable equilibrium, through which a snap-through buckle occurs, are not linearizable due to a solution-dependent singularity. We stabilize the unstable equilibrium using two distinct non-linear controllers. The feedback-linearization controller requires knowledge of the linkage parameters, whereas the robust version of the intrinsic non-linear proportional-derivative controller requires only an upper bound on the stiffness.     

What if Ω ≠ 2q?

We discuss various possible scenarios where 2q, where stands for the density parameter andq for the deceleration parameter. We further estimate the corrections necessary when a variable cosmological constant is considered in the theory.     

Mathematical Models for Unstable Quantum Systems and Gamow States

We review some results in the theory of non-relativistic quantum unstable systems. We account for the most important definitions of quantum resonances that we identify with unstable quantum systems. Then, we recall the properties and construction of Gamow states as vectors in some extensions of Hilbert spaces, called Rigged Hilbert Spaces. Gamow states account for the purely exponential decaying part of a resonance; the experimental exponential decay for long periods of time physically characterizes a resonance. We briefly discuss one of the most usual models for resonances: the Friedrichs model. Using an algebraic formalism for states and observables, we show that Gamow states cannot be pure states or mixtures from a standard view point. We discuss some additional properties of Gamow states, such as the possibility of obtaining mean values of certain observables on Gamow states. A modification of the time evolution law for the linear space spanned by Gamow shows that some non-commuting observables on this space become commuting for large values of time. We apply Gamow states for a possible explanation of the Loschmidt echo.     

A New Supramolecular Tetraruthenated Cobalt (II) Porphyrazine Displaying Outstanding Electrocatalytical Performance in Oxygen Evolution Reaction

A new supramolecular electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) was synthesized from a central multibridging cobalt tetrapyridylporphyrazine (CoTPyPz) species by attaching four [Ru(bpy)₂Cl]⁺ groups. Both CoTPyPz and the tetraruthenated cobalt porphyrazine species, TRuCoTPyPz, form very homogenous molecular films just by dropcasting their methanol solutions onto GCE electrodes. Such films exhibited low overpotentials for O₂ evolution, e.g., 560 e 340 mV, respectively, displaying high stability, typically exceeding 15 h. The kinetic parameters obtained from the Tafel plots showed that the peripheral complexes are very important for the electrocatalytic activity. Hyperspectral Raman images taken along the electrochemical process demonstrated that the cobalt center is the primary active catalyst site, but its performance is enhanced by the ruthenium complexes, which act as electron-donating groups, in the supramolecular system.     

A correction algorithm for undersampled images using dynamic segmentation and entropy based focus criterion

A post-processing technique is presented for correcting images undersampled in k-space. The method works by taking advantage of the image's background zeros (dynamically segmented through the application of a threshold) to extrapolate the missing k-space samples. The algorithm can produce good quality images from a small set of k-space frequencies with only a few iterations of simple matrix operations, using the image entropy as the focus criterion. It does not require any special patient preparation, extra pulse sequences, complex gradient programming or specialized hardware. This makes it a good candidate for any application that requires short scan times or where only few frequencies can be sampled.     

Phase-object analysis with a speckle interferometer

We describe the characteristics of a double-exposure specklegram obtained through a double-aperture system, by introduction of a wedge in front of one aperture in one exposure. It is assumed that a uniform displacement of the diffuser is produced between exposures. The average intensity distribution and visibility of the interferometric fringes in the Fourier plane are analyzed. An alternative interferometric technique for phase-object detection is proposed.     

Large number hypothesis

Dirac's large number hypothesis (LNH) and the Whitrow-Randall-Sciama relation are related to some cosmological models. The LNH and Whitrow-Randall-Sciama relations are neither equivalent nor consistent in general relativity, but they may both be valid in the Brans-Dicke theory and in another theory considered in this paper.     

Potential energy landscape of monolayer-surface systems governed by repulsive lateral interactions: the case of (3 x 3)-I-Pt(111)

Combined density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo (MC) approach is applied to study the potential energy landscape of four iodine atoms adsorbed on the Pt(111) surface in a (3 x 3) unit cell. Three critical points were identified: (3 x 3)-sym and (3 x 3)-asym, corresponding to structures well known from experimental studies, while the third one (3 x 3)-zigzag is a new structure not reported before. An interaction model fitted to DFT calculations allows us to explain the difference between arrangements of iodine monolayer in vacuum, air, and solution environments as a result of different repulsion regimes.     

Geometric phase induced by a cyclically evolving squeezed vacuum reservoir

We propose a new way to generate an observable geometric phase by means of a completely incoherent phenomenon. We show how to imprint a geometric phase to a system by adiabatically manipulating the environment with which it interacts. As a specific scheme, we analyze a multilevel atom interacting with a broadband squeezed vacuum bosonic bath. As the squeezing parameters are smoothly changed in time along a closed loop, the ground state of the system acquires a geometric phase. We also propose a scheme to measure such a geometric phase by means of a suitable polarization detection.