On the fiber orientation in steady recirculating flows involving short fibers suspensions

In this work we present a new numerical strategy to treat the 3D Fokker–Planck equation in steady recirculating flows. This strategy combines some ideas of the method of particles, with a more original treatment of the periodicity condition, which characterizes the steady solution of the FP equation in steady recirculating flows, as usually encountered in some rheometric devices. Using this numerical technique the fiber orientation distribution can be computed accurately in any steady recirculating flow. The simulation results can be used to identify some rheological parameters of the suspension, using an inverse technique, as well as to analyze the validity of some simplified models widely used, which require a closure relation. Thus, in this paper several closure relations of the fourth-order orientation tensor will be discussed in the context of a numerical example involving a steady recirculating flow.     

On the essential spectra of some matrix of linear relations

In this paper, we investigate a detailed treatment of some subsets of essential spectra of a closed multivalued linear operator. On the following, we will establish some results on perturbation theory of 2 × 2 matrix of multivalued linear operators. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of nanotribological behavior of amorphous polystyrene: The macromolecular weight effect

Tribological testing of polymers is of prime importance in many industrial applications. Silicon nitride AFM tips have been used to mimic the contact between amorphous polystyrene surfaces and a hard asperity, which is useful in understanding of how a multitude of asperities behave in a macroscopic contact. In this study, the adhesion force and the friction force of four PS molecular weights were measured and the average contact pressure was calculated by using the JKR contact theory. The nanotribological behavior of polystyrene showed a dependence on macromolecular weight with varying applied normal force and sliding velocity. The study indicates that the length of polymer chains noticeably influences the tribological behavior of amorphous polystyrenes. Mechanisms governing such behavior differences were ascribed to energy dissipating modes.     

Magnetization of Fe‐oxide based nanocomposite tuned by surface charging

Aiming at a voltage‐control of magnetism, the magnetization of a porous γ‐Fe₂O₃–Pt nanocomposite is studied under the influence of charging the surfaces of the porous structure in an electrolyte. Reversible variations of the magnetization of up to 10.4% could be achieved upon charging in the regime where electrochemical adsorption and desorption occurs. The observed variation of the magnetization with electrochemical charging is assigned to the γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles whereas the conductive network of Pt nanoparticles is necessary for charging. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Preparation of water-soluble magnetic nanocrystals using aryl diazonium salt chemistry

A novel and facile methodology for the in situ surface functionalization of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles is proposed, based on the use of aryl diazonium salts chemistry. The grafting reaction involves the formation of diazoates in a basic medium. These species are unstable and dediazonize along a homolytic pathway to give aryl radicals which further react with the Fe(3)O(4) NPs during their formation and stop their growth. Advantages of the present approach rely not only on the simplicity, rapidity, and efficiency of the procedure but also on the formation of strong Fe(3)O(4)-aryl surface bonds, highly suitable for further applications.     

Isolation and characterization of novel antibacterial compound from an untapped plant,Stereospermum fimbriatum

Abstract

Stereospermum fimbriatum or locally known as “Chicha” is traditionally used for itchy skin, earache, stomachache and postpartum treatments. This study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of S. fimbriatum’s stem bark against 11 pathogens and isolate its bioactive compound. Successive soxhlet extraction was conducted using n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol. Disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration (MIC & MBC) assays were done to examine the antimicrobial activity. Bioassay-guided isolation was conducted on S. fimbriatum’s extract. The DCM extract of stem bark (DS) was the most potent extract followed by n-hexane extract of the stem bark (NS). A novel compound was isolated and coded as C1 which demonstrated potent antibacterial effects with the MIC values as low as 3.13?µg/mL to 6.25?µg/mL, against S. epidermidis, MRSA and S. aureus. Thus, S. fimbriatum could be a potential source of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of skin infections, specifically, MRSA.     

Chemical Composition,Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of Leaves of Ajuga Iva

The main objective of this research was to study the biological characteristics in terms of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Ajuga iva and determine the best analytical and extraction methods applicable to this specie and studied compounds. A short screening of its nutritional value in terms of chemical composition is also included. A. iva leaves were analyzed for crude protein (CP), cell wall [neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL)], minerals, fatty acids, essential oils, and phenolic compounds. Mature aerial parts of A. iva were randomly collected during the Spring season from Mograne-Zaghouan, Tunisia. Leaves of A. iva contained 13.4 ± 0.4% CP, 26.3 ± 0.35% NDF, 20.2 ± 0.42% ADF, and 5.13 ± 0.21% ADL. Mineral content (13.0 ± 0.45%) was mainly composed of potassium (4.5% g DM) and magnesium (4.25% DM). Leaves of A. iva had linolenic (26.29 ± 0.760%) and linoleic (37.66 ± 2.35%) acids as the main components of the acid profile. Thymol was found to be the most dominant (23.43%) essential oil, followed by 4-vinylguaiacol (14.27%) and linalool (13.66%). HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS analysis pointed out the presence of phytoecdysteroids. Phenolic acids and flavonoids, such as glycosylated derivatives of naringenin, eriodyctiol, and apigenin, were detected in the methanol extract of A. iva leaves. Our results underline the importance of choosing proper extraction methods and solvents to extract and characterize the described compounds profile of A. iva leaves. Results also show A. iva leaves as a potential source of functional ingredients with beneficial health-promoting properties. Overall, leaves of A. iva have low biological activities (antioxidant and antimicrobial activities) with a chemical composition suitable as a feed for ruminants in rangeland pasture. It also has low-grade antibacterial or medicinal characteristics when fed to ruminants.     

A molecular model for flow induced crystallization of polymers

We present in this paper a thermodynamic model for flow induced crystallization of a thermoplastic. The thermomechanical framework (generalized standard materials) allows us to couple in a very natural way the kinetics of crystallization with the mechanical history experienced by the thermoplastic^[1]. In describing the viscoelastic properties of the polymer with a molecular theory, we obtain a model for flow-induced crystallization that couples the chain conformation to the kinetics of crystallization. This model intends to be valid both for shearing and elongation. We present the equations for two cases: Maxwell and Pom-Pom constitutive equations. We finally illustrate our model with injection molding simulations achieved with a dedicated Finite Element code.