Strong Mixing and Operator-Selfdecomposability

For nonstationary, strongly mixing sequences of random variables taking their values in a finite-dimensional Euclidean space, with the partial sums being normalized via matrix multiplication, with certain standard conditions being met (an “infinitesimality” assumption, and a restriction to “full” distributions), the possible limit distributions are precisely the operator-self-decomposable laws.     

Cargo Encapsulation in Photochromic Supramolecular Hydrogels Depends on Specific Guest-Gelator Supramolecular Interactions

Photochromic supramolecular hydrogels are prospective materials for light-triggered drug release and bionanotechnology. Here we present a structural analysis of peptide-derived photochromic supramolecular hydrogels, which were physically loaded with a selection of biologically related compounds, using advanced techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance. The results enable detailed and correct understanding of the loading process and will allow for correct design of pharmacologically relevant systems for phototriggered drug delivery.     

Hematite nanoparticle monolayers on mica preparation by controlled self-assembly

In this research, a simple, green and effective strategy was developed to produce long-term stable oil in water emulsion from soy protein and soy polysaccharide. Soy protein and soy polysaccharide formed dispersible complexes at pH around 3.25 aqueous solution through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. A high pressure homogenization produced the protein/polysaccharide complex emulsion having a droplet size about 250 nm. A heat treatment of the emulsion resulted in the protein denaturation, forming irreversible oil-water interfacial films composed of soy protein/soy polysaccharide complexes. The droplets of the emulsion were characterized by dynamic light scattering, ζ-potential, transmission electron microscopy, polysaccharide digestion via pectinase, and confocal laser scanning microscopy observation via dual fluorescence probes. As a result of the polysaccharide being fixed on the droplet surface, the emulsions exhibited long-term stability in the media containing pH values of 2-8 and 0.2 mol/L NaCl. The stable soy protein/soy polysaccharide complex emulsion is a suitable food-grade delivery system in which lipophilic bioactive compounds can be encapsulated.     

Experimental verification of heat transfer coefficient for nucleate boiling at sub-atmospheric pressure and small heat fluxes

In this paper we study the influence of sub-atmospheric pressure on nucleate boiling. Sixteen correlations for pool boiling available in literature are gathered and evaluated. Analysis is performed in the pressure range 1–10 kPa and for heat flux densities 10–45 kW/m². Superheats are set between 6.2 and 28.7 K. The results of calculations were compared with experimental values for the same parameters. The experiments were conducted using isolated glass cylinder and water boiling above the copper plate. Results show that low pressure adjust the character of boiling curve—the curve flattened and the natural convection region of boiling is shifted towards higher wall temperature superheats due to the influence of low pressure on the bubble creation and process of its departure. In result, 8 of 16 analyzed correlations were determined as completely invalid in subatmospheric conditions and the remaining set of equations was compared to experimental results. Experimentally obtained values of heat transfer coefficients are between 1 and 2 kW/m²K. With mean absolute deviation (MAD) we have found that the most accurate approximation of heat transfer coefficient is obtained using Mostinski reduced pressure correlation (0.13–0.35 MAD) and Labuntsov correlation (0.12–0.89 MAD).     

Critical load of an axially compressed sandwich cylindrical panel

The problem of critical load of an axially compressed open sandwich cylindrical shell with two straightlinear edges free is presented. Large angle of the shell sector, geometrical and physical symmetry of the facings are assumed. The simply formula for calculation critical stress in the shell is presented. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spectral Properties of Amphiflavins in Polymer Matrices

The parameters characterizing the absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence of 10-dodecylisoalloxazine (DIA), 10-octadecylisoalloxazine (OIA) 3-methyl-10-dodecylisoalloxazine (MDIA) embedded into polymeric matrices (polystyrene – PS, polymethacrylate methyl – PMM and poly(vinyl alcohol) – PVA) were studied. It was found that both the polarity of microenvironment and its structure influenced the changes of the spectral properties of the examined amphiflavins.     

Electron-stimulated desorption from ionic crystal surfaces

Inelastic interactions of electrons with surfaces of ionic crystals result in emission of various particles such as ions, atoms and molecules. We will review such electron-stimulated desorption processes for the particular class of ionic crystals, namely for alkali halides. In this case, a dominant fraction of the emission is in the form of halogen and alkali atoms characterized by a thermal (Maxwellian) spectrum of translational energies. For several alkali halides (potassium and rubidium chlorides, bromides, and iodides), however, a significant part of the halogen atoms is ejected with nonthermal energies, i.e. energies of the order of 0.1 eV. The results of recent systematic studies of angular-resolved kinetic energy distributions of the emitted particles will be reported and current views on the electronic mechanisms of desorption will be described. In particular, it will be shown that the ESD mechanism can be understood in terms of the model involving a surface localisation of the so called “hot-holes” created by electron bombardment of alkali halides. A role of hot holes in ESD processes will further be discussed in relation to very recent experimental results obtained for the KBr crystals doped with In impurities which act as efficient hole traps.