Synthesis and characterization of oxidized cellulose

Samples of oxidized cellulose (OC) with various carboxyl contents and degrees of crystallinity were obtained by the oxidation of native and mercerized cellulose with a solution of nitrogen(IV) oxide in CCl₄. A detailed characterization of these OC samples was performed. The effect of oxidation conditions (concentration of N₂O₄ in the solution and oxidation time) and starting cellulose material on OC characteristics (carboxyl, carbonyl and nitrogen content, degree of crystallinity and polymerization, surface area and swelling, and acidic properties) was investigated. Reactivity in the oxidation process was higher in mercerized cellulose than in native cellulose. The action of dilute solutions (10–15%) of N₂O₄ did not affect the degree of crystallinity of cellulose samples. Under these conditions, the oxidation took place mainly in amorphous regions and on the surface of crystallites. Oxidation in a concentrated (40%) N₂O₄ solution led to the destruction of crystallites, which increased the surface area and swelling of cellulose in water. The surface area and the swelling of OC samples increased with a decrease in the index of crystallinity. The acidic properties of OC were shown to increase with an increase of swelling in water. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4785–4791, 2004     

Minimal expansions in redundant number systems: Fibonacci bases and Greedy algorithms

We study digit expansions with arbitrary integer digits in base q (q integer) and the Fibonacci base such that the sum of the absolute values of the digits is minimal. For the Fibonacci case, we describe a unique minimal expansion and give a greedy algorithm to compute it. Additionally, transducers to calculate minimal expansions from other expansions are given. For the case of even integer bases q, similar results are given which complement those given in [6].     

A note on the necessary conditions for the algebraic Riccati equation

We derive some useful and easily computable necessary conditionsfor the existence of a positive semi-definite solution to thealgebraic Ricatti equation (ARE). A motivating example is givento highlight the usefulness of the conditions for controllerand observer designs for nonlinear systems. Further, an upperbound on the trace of the solution to the ARE is also derived.     

Diffusive behavior of asymmetric zero-range processes

We investigate a new interpretation for the Navier-Stokes corrections to the hydrodynamic equation of asymmetric interacting particle systems. We consider a system that starts from a measure associated with a profile that is constant along the drift direction. We show that under diffusive scaling the macroscopic behavior of the process is described by a nonlinear parabolic equation whose diffusion coefficient coincides with the diffusion coefficient of the hydrodynamic equation of the symmetric version of the process.     

On weak spreadability of distributed-parameter systems and its achievement via linear--quadratic control techniques

In this paper, the concept of weak spreadability is introduced.It constitutes an extension of the idea developed by El Jai& Kassara. In the case of linear distributed systems weconsider quadratic control techniques with a conveniently penalizedcriterion which makes the system weakly spreadable. The approachis outlined for a convection—diffusion system, and theresults of a numerical study are also included to illustratethe main features of the considered problem.     

Novel pattern formation in the collapse process of floating monolayer at the air-water interface

We have observed a remarkable two-armed spiral in the collapse process of a floating monolayer at the air-water interface by phase contrast microscopy. This demonstrates that the floating monolayer as a form of soft condensed matter reorganizes itself due to a certain kind of macroscopic or collective behavior of molecules as it collapses. This pattern formation is caused by the breakdown of a critical dynamical balance between the deformation of solid domain and the applied surface pressure. The fragility as well as the flexibility of the floating monolayer can be associated with the observed pattern growth. There are also observed interesting, periodically arranged collections of molecules in numerous collapsed regions. Received: 8 July 1997 / Accepted: 4 November 1997     

Comparison of Thermodynamic Characteristics of a Potential Well under Quantum and Classical Approaches

The conjecture according to which the mean energy of an equilibrium system in quantum theory exceeds the mean energy of the corresponding classical system is considered. It is rigorously proved that the conjecture holds for the potential well. The estimates for the mean energy of the potential well at high and low temperatures are of special interest.     

Shell model interaction between proton holes and between proton holes and neutron particles around 208Pb

An effective residual interaction between particles and holes for shell model calculations around ²⁰⁸Pb, derived from the interaction between free nucleons, is compared with the measured properties of proton-hole neutron states in ²⁰⁸Tl and the interaction between proton holes is adjusted to newly measured level energies in ²⁰⁶Hg. These interaction elements are particularly relevant for neutron-rich nuclei. The adjustment of two mixing elements reproduces the known γ-decay data in ²⁰⁸Tl. Received: 2 April 2002 / Accepted: 2 May 2002     

Universality in some classical Coulomb systems of restricted dimension

Coulomb systems in which the particles interact through thed-dimensional Coulomb potential but are confined in a flat manifold of dimensiond–1 are considered. The actual Coulomb potential acting is defined by particular boundary conditions involving a characteristic macroscopic distanceW in the direction perpendicular to the manifold: either it is periodic of periodW in that direction, or it vanishes on one ideal conductor wall parallel to the manifold at a distanceW from it, or it vanishes on two parallel walls at a distanceW from each other with the manifold equidistant from them. Under the assumptions that classical equilibrium statistical mechanics is applicable and that the system has the macroscopic properties of a conductor, it is shown that the suitably smoothed charge correlation function is universal, and that the free energy and the grand potential have universal dependences onW (universal means independent of the microscopic detail). The casesd=2 are discussed in detail, and the generic results are checked on an exactly solvable model. The cased=3 of a plane parallel to an ideal conductor is also explicitly worked out.Laboratoire associé au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-URA D0063.     

Aqueous solution and solid state interactions of lanthanide ions with a methacrylic ester polymer bearing pendant 15‐crown‐5 moieties

The interaction between trivalent lanthanide ions and poly(1,4,7,10,13‐pentaoxacyclopentadecan‐2‐yl‐methyl methacrylate), PCR5, in aqueous solution and in the solid state have been studied. In aqueous solution, evidence of a weak interaction between the lanthanides and PCR5 comes from the small red shift of the Ce(III) emission spectra and the slight broadening of the Gd(III) EPR spectra. From the Tb(III) lifetimes in the presence of H₂O and D₂O the loss of one or two water coordinated molecules is confirmed when Tb(III) is bound to PCR5. An association constant of the order of 200 M^?1 was obtained for a 1:1 (lanthanide:15‐crown‐5) complex from the shift of the polymer NMR signals induced by Tb(III). A similar association constant is obtained from the differences of the molar conductivity of Ce(III) solution at various concentrations in presence and absence of PCR5. When Tb(III) is adsorbed on PCR5 membranes, lifetime experiments in H₂O and D₂O confirm the loss of 5 or 6 water coordinated molecules indicating that in solid state the lanthanide(III)‐PCR5 interaction is stronger than in solution. The adsorption of Ce(III) in PCR5 membranes shows a Langmuir type isotherm, from which an equilibrium constant of 39 M^?1 has been calculated. SEM shows that the membrane morphology is not much affected by lanthanide adsorption. Support for lanthanide ion–crown interactions comes from ab initio calculations on 15‐crown‐5/La(III) complex. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1788–1799, 2007