Phase-shifted Bragg microstructured optical fiber gratings utilizing infiltrated ferrofluids

Results are presented on the efficient spectral manipulation of uniform and chirped Bragg reflectors inscribed in microstructured optical fibers utilizing short lengths of ferrofluids infiltrated in their capillaries. The infiltrated ferrofluidic defects can generate either parasitic reflection notch features in uniform Bragg reflectors of up to 80% visibility and ~0.1 nm spectral shift or tunability of the bandwidth and strength reflection up to 100% when introduced into chirped gratings. Spectra are presented for different spatial positions and optical characteristics of the ferrofluidic section.     

Rheological aspects of dense lignite–water suspensions; structure development on consecutive flow loops

Aspects of dense lignite–water slurries (LWS) rheology were investigated using controlled stress and controlled strain rheometers with parallel disks and Couette geometries. During the preparation of the slurries, the achieved solids volume fractions were up to 0.425 and the particle size distributions were polydispersed with sizes up to 300 μm. In the ascending parts of consecutive flow loops, a slope transition of the flow curve was observed and studied in relation to the solids volume fraction. The obtained results with the different geometries and rheometers were qualitatively the same. By following the model proposed by Cheng (Rheol Acta 42:372–382, 2003) for thixotropic fluids, and taking into account the yield stress appearance, a suitable correlation for LWS is proposed, which is consistent with the experimental flow curves.     

Rheological aspects of dense lignite-water suspensions; time dependence, preshear and solids loading effects

An investigation of the rheological properties of dense lignite-water suspensions is reported here in order to evaluate the parameters that affect the rheology of these suspensions. Different types of particle size distributions were achieved via wet grinding with particle sizes down to 1 μm. Polyelectrolytes and surfactants were used to improve the stability and rheology of suspensions. The achieved solid volume fraction, φ, with acceptable rheological behavior was 0.45, while the ratio of φ/φ _m was close to 0.85; φ _m is the maximum solid volume fraction. Various types of flow tests were performed on lignite-water suspensions with various preshear times and stress levels. Typical shear rates varied in the range between 10^–2 to 10² s^–1. The low shear behavior was found to be quite different from the high shear behavior for the most concentrated suspensions, with a plateau value at low shear rates indicating the appearance of a yield stress. These plateau values, however, depend on shear history, which is responsible for the development of different structures in the sample. The viscosity curves corresponding to the ascending and descending parts of the flow curve were found to be different; these flow curve parts can be described either by well established models or by modified ones. The non-Newtonian time dependent behavior of the lignite-water suspensions is attributed to the high value of the ratio φ/φ _m , the polydispersity of the particle size distribution, and the non-spherical shape of the lignite particles.     

Responsive Copolymer Brushes of Poly[(2‐(Methacryloyloxy)Ethyl) Trimethylammonium Chloride] (PMETAC) and Poly(1H,1H,2H,2H‐Perfluorodecyl acrylate) (PPFDA) to Modulate Surface Wetting Properties

Polymer brushes have a large potential for controlling properties such as surface lubrication or wetting through facile functionalization. Polymer chemistry, chain density, and length impact on the wetting properties of brushes. This study explores the use of diblock copolymer brushes with different block length and spatial arrangement of the blocks to tune surface wettability. Block copolymer brushes of the polyelectrolyte [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (PMETAC) with a contact angle of 17° and a hydrophobic block of ¹H, ¹H, ²H, ²H‐perfluorodecyl Acrylate (PPFDA) with a contact angle of 130° are synthesized by RAFT polymerization. By changing the sequence of polymerization either block is synthesized as top or bottom block. By varying the concentration of initiator the length of the blocks is varied. Contact angle values with intermediate values between 17° and 130° are measured. In addition, by changing solvent pH and in presence of a different salt the contact angle of the copolymer brushes can be fine tuned. Brushes are characterized by atomic force microscopy, Raman confocal microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

     

A Simple Linear-Time Recognition Algorithm for Weakly Quasi-Threshold Graphs

Weakly quasi-threshold graphs form a proper subclass of the well-known class of cographs by restricting the join operation. In this paper we characterize weakly quasi-threshold graphs by a finite set of forbidden subgraphs: the class of weakly quasi-threshold graphs coincides with the class of {P ₄, co-(2P ₃)}-free graphs. Moreover we give the first linear-time algorithm to decide whether a given graph belongs to the class of weakly quasi-threshold graphs, improving the previously known running time. Based on the simplicity of our recognition algorithm, we can provide certificates of membership (a structure that characterizes weakly quasi-threshold graphs) or non-membership (forbidden induced subgraphs) in additional ${{\mathcal O}(n)}$ time. Furthermore we give a linear-time algorithm for finding the largest induced weakly quasi-threshold subgraph in a cograph.     

Zur Kenntnis der Kjeldahl-Reaktion III

Zusammenfassung Chromatographische Versuche zeigen, daß die Zwischenprodukte der Kjeldahlisierung des Anilins mit denen der Anilinschwarz-Bildung verwandt sind. Die Elementaranalyse von Polymerisationsprodukten dieser Zwischenstoffe weist darauf hin, daß es sich um sulfonierte Oxyemeraldine handelt. Kinetische Versuche und Überlegungen führen zu dem Ergebnis, daß alle diese Zwischenstufen erst durchlaufen werden, nachdem Anilin zu Sulfanilsäure sulfoniert worden ist, wobei ein der weiteren Oxydation vorgelagertes Gleichgewicht erreicht wird. Emil Abel zum 80. Geburtstag zugeeignet.     

A non-commutative formula for the colored Jones function

The colored Jones function of a knot is a sequence of Laurent polynomials that encodes the Jones polynomial of a knot and its parallels. It has been understood in terms of representations of quantum groups and Witten gave an intrinsic quantum field theory interpretation of the colored Jones function as the expectation value of Wilson loops of a 3-dimensional gauge theory, the Chern–Simons theory. We present the colored Jones function as an evaluation of the inverse of a non-commutative fermionic partition function. This result is in the form familiar in quantum field theory, namely the inverse of a generalized determinant. Our formula also reveals a direct relation between the Alexander polynomial and the colored Jones function of a knot and immediately implies the extensively studied Melvin–Morton–Rozansky conjecture, first proved by Bar–Natan and the first author about 10 years ago. Our results complement recent work of Huynh and Le, who also give a non-commutative formulae for the colored Jones function of a knot, starting from a non-commutative formula for the R matrix of the quantum group ; see Huynh and Le (in math.GT/0503296).