Phase separation dynamics in driven diffusive systems

We study phase separation dynamics in a driven diffusive system. Our simulations are based on the Cahn-Hilliard equation with an additional flux term due to an external field. We study the dynamical scaling parallel and perpendicular to the field. A crossover is observed from isotropic domains at early times to extremely anisotropic domains at later times. We find that the inverse interfacial density (an isotropic measure of the domain size) increases ast , with =1/3, from early times independent of the field strength, even though we do not observe dynamical scaling during these times. Our results indicate that a growth exponent =1/3 may be more universal than previously expected. We analyze the dynamics in terms of surface driven instabilities and one-dimensional solitary waves.     

Finite-size scaling study of a first-order temperature-driven symmetry-breaking structural phase transition

We present a study of finite-size effects in a model exhibiting a first-order temperature-driven symmetry-breaking structural phase transition in theL × cylindrical geometry in theL limit. Exact studies demonstrate the applicability of our scaling ansatz even in the one-dimensional limit, making this model ideal for studying finite-size effects. The scaling ansatz, similar to the previously developed ansatz for field-driven transitions, demonstrates that latent heat is crucial in driving these transitions. This ansatz is supported by a 2×2 phenomenological transfer matrix based upon the symmetries of the system; this produces an analytic free energy which has the scaling form. Order parameter probability distributions show that the high- and low-temperature phases coexist only in a small finite-size-affected regime near the bulk transition temperature; this regime vanishes exponentially fast asL diverges.     

Quantum qualitative dynamics

We describe our work on qualitative methods for visualizing the quantum eigenstates of systems with nonlinear classical dynamics. For two-degree-of-freedom systems, our approach is based on the use of generalized coherent states, and allows systems with nonoscillator kinematics to be investigated. The general approach is illustrated with two examples involving vibration-rotation interaction in polyatomic molecules. We apply the coherent states of the Lie groupH ₄SU(2) to define quantum surfaces of section for a model involving centrifugal coupling of a harmonic bend with molecular rotation, andSU(2)SU(2) coherent states to study two harmonic normal modes coupled to overall molecular rotation through coriolis interaction. In both systems, quantum states are visualized on the rotational surface of section and compared with the corresponding classical phase space structure. Striking classical-quantum correspondence is observed. We then describe recent results on the quantum states of (N 3)-dimensional systems of coupled nonlinear oscillators, which reveal a quantum delocalization that is reminiscent of classical Arnold diffusion.     

Redox polymerization of methyl methacrylate with allyl alcohol 1,2-butoxylate-block-ethoxylate initiated by Ce(IV)/HNO3 redox system

Redox initiated free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with allyl alcohol 1,2-butoxylate-block-ethoxylate (AABE) was carried out using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate/nitric acid (HNO₃) redox system to yield AABE-b-PMMA copolymers. The effects of MMA, AABE, Ce(IV) and HNO₃ concentrations on the polymerization rate and polymer yield were investigated. The effect of temperature on the rate of polymerization and polymer yield was also investigated in the temperature range of 25-70 °C. Copolymers were characterized using GPC, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and viscometry methods.     

Synthesis of marine guanidine alkaloids and their application as chemical/biological tools

Ptilomycalin A and crambescidins, novel marine guanidine alkaloids, have a unique pentacyclic guanidine structure, and exhibit a considerable array of biological activities. The first method developed for the synthesis of the pentacyclic guanidine core structure involved successive 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions and resulted in the first total synthesis of crambescidin 359. The synthesis of other pentacyclic guanidine derivatives has been based on this methodology and applied as tools for studying biological activities, and as chemical reaction catalysts.     

Fractionation and purification of antioxidant peptides from Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) protein hydrolysates prepared using papain and alcalase 2.4L

Protein hydrolysates have the potential to be natural and safer sources of bioactive peptides. In this study, two proteases were used to hydrolyze Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) protein, and the hydrolysates were then purified to yield antioxidant peptides. The degree of hydrolysis of 23.56 % and 18.14 % was obtained using papain and alcalase 2.4L, respectivly, and hydrolysates had 96.80 % and 87.24 % total amino acid content, respectivly. The papain hydrolysate (PH) and alcalase 2.4L hydrolysate (AH) showed good antioxidant activity against DPPH^? (IC₅₀ of 3.64 and 3.15 mg/mL) and ABTS^?+ (IC₅₀ of 1.92 and 1.58 mg/mL), respectively. The low-molecular-weight (<1000 Da) fraction of both hydrolysates demonstrated the highest antiradical activity (IC₅₀ of 2.59 and 2.31 mg/mL, DPPH) and (IC₅₀ of 1.54 and 1.36 mg/mL, ABTS), respectively. Nine peptides were separated from both hydrolysates using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The IC₅₀ for ABTS^?+ scavenging activity of peptide P5 with valine, glycine and asparagine (MW of 282.13 Da) from PH, and peptide P3 with histidine, glycine and alanine (MW of 302.74 Da) from AH was 0.89 and 0.72 mg/mL, respectively. The fractions and purified peptides obtained from Chinese sturgeon hydrolysates could be utilized as natural antioxidant substitutes in pharmaceuticals and food products.     

Mercury Speciation in Fish by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Post-Column Ultraviolet (UV)-Photochemical Vapor Generation (PVG): Comparison of Conventional Line-Source and High-Resolution Continuum Source (HR-CS) Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)

An ultraviolet-photochemical generator (UV-PVG) capable of post-column on-line transformation of both organic and inorganic mercury species to cold vapor (Hg⁰) with subsequent detection by quartz tube-atomic absorption spectrometry (QT-AAS) was developed. Mercury(II), methylmercury(I), ethylmercury(I), and phenylmercury(I) were successfully detected after separation by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Two types of AAS detectors were compared. The first was a commonly used line-source instrument while the second was a high-resolution continuum source (HR-CS) AAS. The latter provided better limits of detection: 0.47?µg?L^?1 for Hg(II), 0.84?µg?L^?1 for methylmercury(I), 0.80?µg?L^?1 for ethylmercury(I), and 2.0?µg?L^?1 for phenylmercury(I). The repeatability at 30?μg?L^?1 was 3.6%, 4.1%, 6.2%, and 4.5% for these species (n?=?10). These figures of merit were comparable with those reported for more sensitive atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Nine sample extraction procedures were investigated. Extraction by tetramethylammonium hydroxide and HCl at 75?°C was selected as the only method compatible with the proposed separation and detection steps providing high extraction efficiency and no changes in mercury speciation. The applicability of the proposed high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet-photochemical vapor generation–quartz tube-atomic absorption spectrometry method was demonstrated using fish samples and certified reference materials (CRM) DOLT-4 (dogfish liver) and ERM-CE464 (tuna fish). The results were comparable to those obtained by a reference method based on L-cysteine extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICP-MS) determination.     

Middle-phase microemulsions of green surfactant alkyl polyglucosides

Microemulsions are important organized molecular assembles in surfactant solutions and are used in various fields such as tertiary oil recovery, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, nanoparticle synthe-sis and chemical engineering. The more commonly used nonionic surfactants to produce micro- emulsions are the ethylene oxide-based compounds (CiEj). In recent years alkyl polyglucosides have been received considerable attention in producing microemulsions[17]. Alkyl polyglucosides (APG), which are widely…     

The preparation and characterization of novel cocylic(arylene disulfide) oligomers

A series of homo‐ and cocyclic(arylene disulfide) oligomers were synthesized under high dilution conditions by the catalytic oxidation of arylenedithiols with oxygen in the presence of a copper‐amine catalyst in DMAc. The aryl groups contained moieties such as sulfone, ether, and ketone. The free radical ring‐opening polymerization of these cyclic(arylene disulfide) oligomers led to the formation of linear poly(thio arylene)s. The homo‐ and cocyclic(arylene disulfide) oligomers were characterized by gradient high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), get permeation chromatography (GPC), ¹H‐NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. These cocyclic(arylene disulfide) oligomers except those containing sulfone moiety had lower melt flow temperature as low as 140 °C and therefore could readily undergo free radical ring‐opening polymerization under mild conditions. The glass transition temperatures of these cocyclics ranged from 72.3 to 190.0 °C, while the glass transition temperatures of the polydisulfides derived from these cocyclics ranged from 78.4 to 194.5 °C. In this article, a new method of preparing arylene dithiols 4,4′‐oxybis(benzenethiol) and diphenylmethane‐4,4′‐dithiol is reported. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

紫外光引发LDPE膜接枝含氟丙烯酸酯的研究

通过紫外光引发表面接枝聚合反应的方法 ,把含氟丙烯酸酯单体R 5 6 1 0引到LDPE薄膜上 .对经丁酮抽提后的接枝膜进行FTIR、ESCA、SEM和DSC等表征 ,证实含氟聚合物以化学键的方式接枝在LDPE基体膜上 .在一定范围内 ,增加紫外光强、引发剂和单体浓度以及反应温度等均有利于提高接枝率 .经计算R 5 6 1 0的紫外光引发接枝聚合反应总活化能为 5 4 2kJ mol.接枝膜的接触角随着接枝率的提高逐步增大 ,直至趋于恒定 .作者提出接枝膜存在一个在接触角测定时影响基体膜与探测水滴相互作用过程的边界层 .当接枝率较低、接枝层厚度小于边界层临界厚度时 ,基体LDPE影响接触角的大小 ,但随着接枝率提高 ,接枝层逐渐变厚 ,氟聚合物层对接触角的贡献逐渐占优势 ,导致接触角随之增大 .当接枝率超过一定值以后 ,接枝层厚度超过边界层临界厚度 ,接枝层对接枝膜的接触角起全部贡献 ,接触角测定值随之稳定