Heat transfer in boundary layer stagnation-point flow towards a shrinking sheet with non-uniform heat flux

In this paper, the effect of non-uniform heat flux on heat transfer in boundary layer stagnation-point flow over a shrinking sheet is studied. The variable boundary heat fluxes are considered of two types: direct power-law variation with the distance along the sheet and inverse power-law variation with the distance. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into non linear self-similar ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by similarity transformations, and then those are solved using very efficient shooting method. The direct variation and inverse variation of heat flux along the sheet have completely different effects on the temperature distribution. Moreover, the heat transfer characteristics in the presence of non-uniform heat flux for several values of physical parameters are also found to be interesting.     

When almost Cohen–Macaulay algebras map into big Cohen–Macaulay modules

In this article, we show that almost Cohen–Macaulay algebras are solid. Moreover, we seek for the conditions when (a) an almost Cohen–Macaulay algebra is a phantom extension and (b) when it maps into a balanced big Cohen–Macaulay module.     

Spectroscopic ellipsometric characterization of TiAlN/TiAlON/Si3N4 tandem absorber for solar selective applications

Sputter deposited TiAlN/TiAlON/Si₃N₄ tandem absorber has been characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the wavelength range of 450-1200 nm. Each layer of the tandem absorber viz., TiAlN, TiAlON and Si₃N₄ has been deposited separately on copper substrate (Cu) and ellipsometric measurements have been carried out on each of these layers. The measured ellipsometric spectra were fitted with theoretically simulated spectra and the sample structure and wavelength dispersion of optical constants of each layers have been determined. The ellipsometric measurements have also been carried out on the three-layer tandem absorber deposited on Cu substrate. By analyzing the ellipsometric data, depth profiling of the tandem absorber has been carried out using the derived optical constants of the individual layers.     

Size-dependent linear and non-linear optical response of single carrier two-dimensional quantum dots

We explore the pattern of size dependence of linear and non-linear optical (NLO) responses of one-electron quantum dots in two dimensions with or without anharmonicity in the confinement potential. For some fixed values of transverse magnetic field strength (ω_c) and harmonic confinement potential (ω₀), the influence of the size of the dot on the linear (), the first (β) and the second (γ) NLO responses of the system computed through a finite field linear variational route is analysed. Size-dependent maximization is predicted to be feasible for the quadratic hyperpolarizability.     

Crystal and molecular structure of disarcosine hydrobromide

Disarcosine hydrobromide, C₆H₁₅N₂O₄ ⁺Br^–, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space groupPca2₁ with eight formula entities per unit cell of dimensionsa = 23.79,b = 6.18, andc = 15.40 Å, that is, two disarcosine molecules in the asymmetric unit. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method using three-dimensional visually estimated X-ray data, and refined by the block-diagonal least-squares method to a finalR value of 0.11. The molecules are held together by a network of hydrogen bonds of the types N-H Br, N-H O, and O-H O.     

Crystal and molecular structure of sarcosine hydrochloride

Sarcosine hydrochloride (C₃H₈NO₂ ⁺·C1^–) crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupP2₁ with two molecules per unit cell of dimensionsa = 9.00,b = 5.93,c = 5.41 Å, and = 96.0 °. The structure has been solved by the heavy-atom method, using intensities estimated visually from X-ray photographs. The structure has been refined by full-matrix least squares, the finalR value being 0.10. The sarcosine molecule does not occur in zwitterion form. The molecules are planar and maximally extended, and are held together by a network of hydrogen bonds of the types N-HCl^– and O-HCl^–, and by van der Waals' forces. The amino nitrogen forms two hydrogen bonds with two chloride ions and assumes a tetrahedral configuration.     

Nature of biological water: a femtosecond study

The quasi-bound biological or structured water molecules in a protein play a key role in many biological processes. The dynamics of the biological water has been studied by femtosecond spectroscopy and large-scale computer simulations. Solvation dynamics of biological water displays an almost bulk-water like ultrafast component (approximately 1 ps) and a surprising slow component at the 100-1000 ps time scale. In this article, we discuss several examples of the ultraslow component, its possible origin and implications in biology. We show that the ultrafast (approximately 1 ps) component arises from an extended hydrogen bond network while the ultraslow component originates from binding of a water molecule to a biological macromolecule.     

Ultrafast fluorescence resonance energy transfer in a bile salt aggregate: Excitation wavelength dependence

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from Coumarin 153 (C153) to Rhodamine 6G (R6G) in a secondary aggregate of a bile salt (sodium deoxycholate, NaDC) is studied by femtosecond up-conversion. The emission spectrum of C153 in NaDC is analysed in terms of two spectra-one with emission maximum at 480 nm which corresponds to a non-polar and hydrophobic site and another with maximum at ∼530 nm which arises from a polar hydrophilic site. The time constants of FRET were obtained from the rise time of the emission of the acceptor (R6G). In the NaDC aggregate, FRET occurs in multiple time scales — 4 ps and 3700 ps. The 4 ps component is assigned to FRET from a donor (D) to an acceptor (A) held at a close distance (R _DA ∼ 17 ?) inside the bile salt aggregate. The 3700 ps component corresponds to a donor-acceptor distance ∼48 ?. The long (3700 ps) component may involve diffusion of the donor. With increase in the excitation wavelength (λ _ex) from 375 to 435 nm, the relative contribution of the ultrafast component of FRET (∼4 ps) increases from 3 to 40% with a concomitant decrease in the contribution of the ultraslow component (∼3700 ps) from 97 to 60%. The λ _ex dependence is attributed to the presence of donors at different locations. At a long λ _ex (435 nm) donors in the highly polar peripheral region are excited. A short λ _ex (375 nm) ‘selects’ donor at a hydrophobic location.     

Species and density of implant surface chemistry affect the extent of foreign body reactions

Implant-associated fibrotic capsule formation presents a major challenge for the development of long-term drug release microspheres and implantable sensors. Since material properties have been shown to affect in vitro cellular responses and also to influence short-term in vivo tissue responses, we have thus assumed that the type and density of surface chemical groups would affect the degree of tissue responses to microsphere implants. To test this hypothesis, polypropylene particles with different surface densities of -OH and -COOH groups, along with the polypropylene control (-CH2 groups) were utilized. The influence of functional groups and their surface densities on fibrotic reactions were analyzed using a mice subcutaneous implantation model. Our comparative studies included determination and correlation of the extents of fibrotic capsule formation, cell infiltration into the particles, and recruitment of CD11b+ inflammatory cells for all of the substrates employed. We have observed major differences among microspheres coated with different surface functionalities. Surfaces with -OH surface groups trigger the strongest responses, while -COOH-rich surfaces prompt the least tissue reactions. However, variation of the surface density of either functional group has a relatively minor influence on the extent of fibrotic tissue reactions. The present results show that surface functionality can be used as a powerful tool to alter implant-associated fibrotic reactions and, potentially, to improve the efficacy and function of drug-delivery microspheres, implantable sensors, and tissue-engineering scaffolds.