Exponential vs Algebraic Growth and Transition Prediction in Boundary Layer Flow

For applications regarding transition prediction, wing design andcontrol of boundary layers, the fundamental understanding of disturbancegrowth in the flat-plate boundary layer is an important issue. In thepresent work we investigate the energy growth of eigenmodes andnon-modal optimal disturbances. We present a set of linear governingequations for the parabolic evolution of wavelike disturbances validboth for the exponential and algebraic growth scenario. The base flow istaken as the Falkner–Skan similarity solution with favorable, adverseand zero pressure gradients. The optimization is carried out over theinitial streamwise position as well as the spanwise wave number andfrequency. The exponential growth is maximized in the sense that theenvelope of the most amplified eigenmode is calculated. In the case ofalgebraic growth, an adjoint-based optimization technique is used. Wefind that the optimal algebraic disturbance introduced at a certaindownstream position gives rise to a larger growth than for the optimaldisturbance introduced at the leading edge. The exponential andalgebraic growth is compared and a unified transition-predictionmethod based on available experimental data is suggested.     

Effect of PPy/PEG conducting polymer film on electrochemical performance of LiFePO4 cathode material for Li-ion batteries

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been the most commonly used batteries in the portable electronics market for many years. Polypyrrole (PPy) was now investigated as a conducting addition agent to enhance the cathode and anode materials performance in LIBs. Actual development in the synthesis and modification of the most promising cathode materials, LiFePO₄, is described in this mini-review. The main aim of this mini-review is to highlight the effect of PPy based conducting polymer films on the electrochemical efficiency of LiFePO₄ based cathode materials for LIBs summarizing our own research. Influence of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) additive in the PPy coating layer was evaluated. The improved electrochemical performance can be attributed to the enhanced electronic conductivity, higher solubility of ions originating from the electrolyte, higher movability of dissolved Li⁺ ions, and improved structural flexibility resulting from the incorporation of the PPy or PPy/PEG conducting polymer layer. The stabilizing effect of PEG in PPy was reflected in lowered cross-linking and reduced structural defects and, in consequence, in higher specific capacity of PPy/PEG-LiFePO₄ cathodes compared to that of PPy-LiFePO₄ cathodes and bare LiFePO₄ cathodes.     

Nanoscopic Imaging of meso‐Tetraalkylporphyrins Prepared in High Yields Enabled by Montmorrilonite K10 and 3 Å Molecular Sieves

We have developed a high‐yielding synthesis of meso‐tetraalkylporphyrins, which previously have been obtained only in lower yields. By employing Montmorrilonite K10 as the acid catalyst and 3 Å molecular sieves as the dehydrating agent, yields that reached 70 % could be achieved with some aliphatic aldehydes. The free‐base porphyrins with decyl ( C10 ) or longer chains were imaged at the single‐molecule level at the solvent/surface interface. Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was used as a π‐stacking surface, whereas 1‐phenyloctane and 1‐phenylnonane were used as solvents. An odd–even effect was observed from C13 to C16 . For C13 a single‐crystal X‐ray structure allowed an unprecedented insight into how packing from two dimensions is expanded into a three‐dimensional crystal lattice.     

α‐Oligofurans: An Emerging Class of Conjugated Oligomers for Organic Electronics

While the field of organic electronics has developed extensively in recent years, it remains limited by number of materials available. Further expansion requires the innovation of new types of π‐conjugated backbones, but suitable candidates are discovered only very rarely. The recent introduction of a new class of conjugated materials, long α‐oligofurans, was therefore greeted with considerable interest. α‐Oligofurans possess many of the properties required to excel in applications as organic electronic materials, can be manufactured from renewable resources, and are expected to be biodegradable. This Minireview provides an account of long oligofurans from the perspectives of their synthesis, molecular properties, chemical reactivity, and use in electronic devices.     

Surfactant protein C metabolism in human infants and adult patients by stable isotope tracer and mass spectrometry

Surfactant protein C (SP-C) is deemed as the surfactant protein most specifically expressed in type II alveolar epithelial cells and plays an important role in surfactant function. SP-C turnover in humans and its meaning in the clinical context have never been approached. In this study, we used mass spectrometry to investigate SP-C turnover in humans. We studied four infants and eight adults requiring mechanical ventilation. All patients had no lung disease. Patients received a 24-h continuous infusion of ¹³C-leucine as precursor of SP-C, and serial tracheal aspirates and plasma samples were obtained every 6 h till 48 h. SP-C was isolated from tracheal aspirates by sorbent-phase chromatography. ¹³C-leucine SP-C enrichment could be successfully measured in three infant and in four adult samples by using mass spectrometry coupled with a gas chromatographer. Median SP-C fractional synthesis rate, secretion time, and peak time were 15.7 (14.1–27.5) %/day, 6.0 (4.7–11.5) h, and 24 (20–27) h. In conclusion, this study shows that it is feasible to accurately determine SP-C turnover in humans by stable isotopes.     

Long radiative lifetimes of SO2 in a collision-free supersonic molecular beam

Radiative lifetimes and delayed laser-induced fluorescence spectra of cold SO₂ were measured in the range 3000–3150 Å in a differentially pumped collision-free supersonic beam. Lifetimes between 9 and 300 μs were obtained. We show the existence of high-density, low-intensity, and long-lifetime states in the vicinity of the strong spectral transitions.     

When is the mean self-consistent?

We study the conditions under which the sample mean is self-consistent, and therefore an optimal predictor, for an arbitrary observation in the sample.     

Straight nearness spaces

Straight spaces are spaces for which a continuous map defined on the space which is uniformly continuous on each set of a finite closed cover is then uniformly continuous on the whole space. Previously, straight spaces have been studied in the setting of metric spaces. In this paper, we present a study of straight spaces in the more general setting of nearness spaces. In a subcategory of nearness spaces somewhat more general than uniform spaces, we relate straightness to uniform local connectedness. We investigate category theoretic situations involving straight spaces. We prove that straightness is preserved by final sinks, in particular by sums and by quotients, and also by completions.