Strength vs. toughness optimization of microstructured composites

Aim of this paper is to present a new fractal approach linking the macroscopic mechanical properties of micro- and nano-structured materials with the main parameters: composition, grain size and structural dimension, as well as contiguity and mean free path. Assuming the key role played by the interfaces, the proposed fractal energy approach unifies the influences of all the above parameters, through the introduction of a fractal structural parameter (FSP), which represents an extension of the Gurland’s structural parameter. This modeling approach is assessed through an extensive comparison with experimental data on poly crystalline diamond (PCD) and WC–Co alloys. The results clearly show that the theoretical fractal predictions are in a fairly good agreement with the experiments on both hardness and toughness. This new synthetic parameter is thus proposed to investigate, design and optimize new micro- and nano-grained materials. Eventually, FSP-based optimization maps are developed, that allow to design new materials with high hardness and toughness.     

Nitric oxide and singlet oxygen photo-generation by light irradiation in the phototherapeutic window of a nitrosyl ruthenium conjugated with a phthalocyanine rare earth complex

The photochemical, photophysical and photobiological studies of a mixture containing cis-[Ru(H-dcbpy⁻)₂(Cl)(NO)] (H₂-dcbpy = 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine) and Na₄[Tb(TsPc)(acac)] (TsPc = tetrasulfonated phthalocyanines; acac = acetylacetone), a system capable of improving photodynamic therapy (PDT), were accomplished. cis-[Ru(H-dcbpy⁻)₂(Cl)(NO)] was obtained from cis-[Ru(H₂-dcbpy)₂Cl₂]·2H₂O, whereas Na₄[Tb(TsPc)(acac)] was obtained by reacting phthalocyanine with terbium acetylacetonate. The UV–Vis spectrum of cis-[Ru(H-dcbpy⁻)₂(Cl)(NO)] displays a band in the region of 305 nm (λ_max in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HCl)(π–π*) and a shoulder at 323 nm (MLCT), while the UV–Vis spectrum of Na₄[Tb(TsPc)(acac)] presents the typical phthalocyanine bands at 342 nm (Soret λ_max in H₂O) and 642, 682 (Q bands). The cis-[Ru(H-dcbpy⁻)₂(Cl)(NO)] FTIR spectrum displays a band at 1932 cm⁻¹ (Ru–NO⁺). The cyclic voltammogram of the cis-[Ru(H-dcbpy⁻)₂(Cl)(NO)] complex in aqueous solution presented peaks at E = 0.10 V (NO^+/0) and E = −0.50 V (NO^0/−) versus Ag/AgCl. The NO concentration and ¹O₂ quantum yield for light irradiation in the λ > 550 nm region were measured as [NO] = 1.21 ± 0.14 μmol L⁻¹ and ø_OS = 0.41, respectively. The amount of released NO seems to be dependent on oxygen concentration, once the NO concentration measured in aerated condition was 1.51 ± 0.11 μmol L⁻¹ The photochemical pathway of the cis-[Ru(H-dcbpy⁻)₂(Cl)(NO)]/Na₄[Tb(TsPc)(acac)] mixture could be attributed to a photoinduced electron transfer process. The cytotoxic assays of cis-[Ru(H-dcbpy^-)₂(Cl)(NO)] and of the mixture carried out with B16F10 cells show a decrease in cell viability to 80% in the dark and to 20% under light irradiation. Our results document that the simultaneous production of NO and ¹O₂ could improve PDT and be useful in cancer treatment.     

NMR,RP-HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn,and RP-HPLC-FD Characterization of Green and Oolong Teas (Camellia sinensis L.)

Untargeted (NMR) and targeted (RP-HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSⁿ, RP-HPLC-FD) analytical methodologies were used to determine the bioactive components of 19 tea samples, characterized by different production processes (common tea and GABA tea), degrees of fermentation (green and oolong teas), and harvesting season (autumn and spring). The combination of NMR data and a multivariate statistical approach led to a statistical model able to discriminate between GABA and non-GABA teas and green and oolong teas. Targeted analyses showed that green and GABA green teas had similar polyphenol and caffeine contents, but the GABA level was higher in GABA green teas than in regular green tea samples. GABA oolong teas showed lower contents of polyphenols, caffeine, and amino acids, and a higher content of GABA, in comparison with non-GABA oolong teas. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the healthy properties of teas, especially GABA teas, have to be evaluated via comprehensive metabolic profiling rather than only the GABA content.     

Some new results on orthogonal polynomials for Laguerre type exponential weights

We prove some results on the root-distances and the weighted Lebesgue function corresponding to orthogonal polynomials for Laguerre type exponential weights.     

Comparison of liquid-liquid partition, HS-SPME and static HS GC/MS analysis for the quantification of (-)-linalool in human whole blood samples

The aim of this investigation was to develop a fast and convenient method for the determination of (-)-linalool in human whole blood to facilitate pharmacokinetic studies. Analytical protocols were elaborated for three different GC/MS sampling techniques, i.e., static headspace (s-HS), headspace solid phase micro extraction (HS-SPME), and liquid-liquid partition. In principle, all tested methods were feasible, but s-HS had the greatest benefit because of the easy handling of the blood samples and its short analysis time. For s-HS two different incubation temperatures were tested (40 degrees C and 60 degrees C). The limit of detection was slightly lower when samples were incubated at 60 degrees C, but the same quantitative results were achieved using alpha-terpineol as internal standard. An accurate and sensitive method for the quantification of (-)-linalool in blood samples after either inhalation or percutaneous application, as well as pharmacokinetic data are presented.     

Peracetylated α‐d‐glucopyranosyl fluoride and peracetylated α‐maltosyl fluoride

The X‐ray analyses of 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranosyl fluoride, C₁₄H₁₉FO₉, (I), and the corresponding maltose derivative 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐2,3,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranosyl fluoride, C₂₆H₃₅FO₁₇, (II), are reported. These add to the series of published α‐glycosyl halide structures; those of the peracetylated α‐glucosyl chloride [James & Hall (1969). Acta Cryst. A 25 , S196] and bromide [Takai, Watanabe, Hayashi & Watanabe (1976). Bull. Fac. Eng. Hokkaido Univ. 79 , 101–109] have been reported already. In our structures, which have been determined at 140 K, the glycopyranosyl ring appears in a regular ⁴C₁ chair conformation with all the substituents, except for the anomeric fluoride (which adopts an axial orientation), in equatorial positions. The observed bond lengths are consistent with a strong anomeric effect, viz. the C1—O5 (carbohydrate numbering) bond lengths are 1.381 (2) and 1.381 (3) Å in (I) and (II), respectively, both significantly shorter than the C5—O5 bond lengths, viz. 1.448 (2) Å in (I) and 1.444 (3) Å in (II).     

3,4,5,6‐Tetrafluorophenylnitren‐2‐yl: A Ground‐State Quartet Triradical

The photochemistry of 2‐iodo‐3,4,5,6‐tetrafluorophenyl azide ( 7 d ) has been investigated in argon and neon matrices at 4 K, and the products characterized by IR and EPR spectroscopy. The primary photochemical step is loss of a nitrogen molecule and formation of phenyl nitrene 1 d . Further irradiation with UV or visible light results in mixtures of 1 d with azirine 5 d ′, ketenimine 6 d ′, nitreno radical 2 d , and azirinyl radical 9 . The relative amounts of these products strongly depend on the matrix and on the irradiation conditions. Nitreno radical 2 d with a quartet ground state was characterized by EPR spectroscopy. Electronic structure calculations in combination with the experimental results allow for a detailed understanding of the properties of this unusual new type of organic high‐spin molecules.     

An implanted spherical head model exposed to electromagnetic fields at a mobile communication frequency

Can cellular phones and personal communication systems base station antennas affect the active or passive implantable medical devices adversely? Concerns over the possible harmful effects of nonionizing irradiaton upon implanted medical devices have been present for many years. Key issues to address are the questions of whether mobile phones have a detrimental effect on implants, and how the interaction of the handset with the body can be minimized in order to both alleviate public fears and improve handset antenna performance and new implant designs. This paper presents a thorough investigation of the scattering of an electromagnetic (EM) wave from a perfectly conducting implant (a cylindrical wire and a very thin cylindrical disk) of electrically small radius (of resonant length), embedded eccentrically into a dielectric spherical head model by a dipole antenna (0.4 wavelength) at 900 MHz. The dyadic Green's function (DGF) for spherical vector wave functions is employed. Analytical expressions for the scattered fields of an implant embedded head model is obtained. Numerical results from analytical expressions are computed for this problem and then compared with the results from the same model using the finite-difference time-domain, EMU-FDTD electromagnetic simulator. Good agreement is observed between the analytical results on the proposed method in comparison with the FDTD method.     

The small core of the German corporate board network

We consider the bipartite graph of German corporate boards and identify a small core of directors who are highly central in the entire network while being densely connected among themselves. To identify the core, we compare the actual number of board memberships to a random benchmark, focusing on deviations from the benchmark that span several orders of magnitude. The board appointment decisions of largely capitalized companies appear to be the driving force behind the existence of a core in Germany’s corporate network.     

Quantitative measurement of temperature in oxygen enriched CH4/O2/N2 premixed flames using Laser Induced Thermal Grating Spectroscopy (LITGS) up to 1.0 MPa

The application of laser diagnostics to high pressure combustion phenomena is particularly challenging, especially in practical combustors such as rocket motors. In this study, temperature measurements using Laser Induced Thermal Grating Spectroscopy (LITGS) are demonstrated in oxygen enriched CH₄/O₂/N₂ premixed laminar flames at pressures up to 1.0?MPa. We use a previously developed OH absorption LITGS technique to determine product gas temperatures from 0.3 to 1.0?MPa, for both high temperature oxygen-enriched and pure-oxygen flames, for measurements up to 3000?K. Further, we demonstrate how it is necessary to correct the measurements for the local absorption of laser light to obtain accurate temperatures, and offer a technique for producing the correction by using different laser energies. Once the correction is applied, we demonstrate that the measurements at 0.5?MPa are within 1.6% of the adiabatic non-strained flame temperatures, with a standard deviation of about 160?K, thus offering a competitive method for the challenging conditions at high pressures and temperatures. The values obtained at derived temperatures at 1.0?MPa were lower than the adiabatic unstrained flame temperatures, which could possibly be attributed to loss mechanisms.