Orientation and relaxation of polymer–clay solutions studied by rheology and small-angle neutron scattering

The influence of shear on viscoelastic solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and clay [montmorillonite, i.e., Cloisite NA+ (CNA)] was investigated with rheology and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The steady-state viscosity and SANS were used to measure the shear-induced orientation and relaxation of the polymer and clay platelets. Anisotropic scattering patterns developed at much lower shear rates than in pure clay solutions. The scattering anisotropy saturated at low shear rates, and the CNA clay platelets aligned with the flow, with the surface normal parallel to the gradient direction. The cessation of shear led to partial and slow randomization of the CNA platelets, whereas extremely fast relaxation was observed for laponite (LRD) platelets. These PEO–CNA networklike solutions were compared with previously reported PEO–LRD networks, and the differences and similarities, with respect to the shear orientation, relaxation, and polymer–clay interactions, were examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3102–3112, 2004     

Mass transport in anharmonic potentials

We investigate the effect of nuclear shell structure on the mass transport in low-energy heavy-ion collisions. The shell-correction energy leads to anharmonic driving potentials and thus, to nonlinear drift coefficients in the Fokker-Planck equation. Results for²³⁸U (7.42 MeV/nucleon)+²³⁸U are presented. The drift towards the closed Pb-shell enhances the fluctuations in the mass transport and provides an explanation for the large variances found experimentally. Local maxima in the mass distribution at the shell minima disappear due to the temperature dependence of the driving potential.     

Thin-layer chromatography of radioactively labelled cholesterol and precursors from biological material

Summary The investigation methods of the action of xenobiotics on sterol biosynthesis from ¹⁴C-acetate in rat hepatocyte cultures can be developed, with regard to extraction using Extrelut and the separation of the sterol pattern by thin-layer chromatography, in such a way that they are suitable for wider application, e.g., screening. Good visualisation and recognition of changes in the sterol pattern are possible using autoradiography of the thin-layer chromatogram.

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Dünnschicht-Chromatographie von radioaktiv markiertem Cholesterin und Vorstufen aus biologischem Material. Eine einfache und empfindliche Methode zur Untersuchung einer Beeinflussung des Sterolbiosynthesewegs

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Dedicated to Dr. E. Roesch on occasion of his 65th birthday     

A new interpretation of quantum mechanics and its consequences in epistemology

A rather recent interpretation of quantum mechanics, known under the various names of consistent histories, decohering histories, or logical interpretation, has brought interpretation into a standard deductive theory and is now investigated in many places. A key difference with the Copenhagen interpretation is the status of classical physics, now derived completely from quantum principles in both its dynamical and logical aspects. After describing briefly this new interpretation in its essentials, leaving aside technical details, it is shown how its consequences in epistemology differ drastically from the familiar outcomes of the Copenhagen interpretation, leading in particular to a well-defined theory of knowledge. Some more speculative philosophical consequences associated with the unsolved problem of actuality are also mentioned.     

On the congruence lattice of a Scott-domain

We prove that the congruence lattice of a Scott-domain can be characterized as a complete lattice.Presented by V. Trnkova.The research of the first author was supported by the NSERC of Canada.The research of the second author was supported by the Hungarian National Foundation for Scientific Research, under Grant No. 1903.     

On theR-order of coupled sequences arising in single-step type methods

Summary As shown in preceding papers of the authors, the verification of anR-convergence order for sequences coupled by a system (1.1) of basic inequalities can be reduced to the positive solvability of system (3.3) of linear inequalities. Further, the bestR-order implied by (1.1) is equal to the minimal spectral radius of certain matrices composed from the exponents occuring in (1.1). Now, these results are proven in a unified and essentially simpler way. Moreover, they are somewhat extended in order to facilitate applications to concrete methods.     

Den Gehalt an leichtem Wasserstoff in schwerem Wasser

Ohne Zusammenfassung