Importance of the Correlation between Width and Length in the Shape Analysis of Nanorods: Use of a 2D Size Plot To Probe Such a Correlation

Analysis of nanoparticle size through a simple 2D plot is proposed in order to extract the correlation between length and width in a collection or a mixture of anisotropic particles. Compared to the usual statistics on the length associated with a second and independent statistical analysis of the width, this simple plot easily points out the various types of nanoparticles and their (an)isotropy. For each class of nano‐objects, the relationship between width and length (i.e., the strong or weak correlations between these two parameters) may suggest information concerning the nucleation/growth processes. It allows one to follow the effect on the shape and size distribution of physical or chemical processes such as simple ripening. Various electron microscopy pictures from the literature or from the authors′ own syntheses are used as examples to demonstrate the efficiency and simplicity of the proposed 2D plot combined with a multivariate analysis.     

ELECTRO-OPTICAL DETERMINATION OF α-FeOOH PARTICLE SIZES

Electric light scattering method is used for revealing the presence of aggregates in very diluted aqueous α-FeOOH suspensions. Three theoretical models are used for the geometrical form of aggregates. The comparison between the electro-optical results -theoretical and experimental - shows that even in the most diluted suspensions exist aggregates with irregular form. Using the comparison between electron microscopy and electro-optical results the geometric shape of the aggregates is determined.     

Coherence resonance in a noise-driven gene network regulated by small RNA

Small RNA has recently drawn more and more attention. In this paper, we concentrate on the influence of noises on gene network regulated by small RNA using chemical Langevin equation. It shows that the noise can cause oscillation when the oscillate does not occur in the corresponding deterministic system. The coherence of the noise induced oscillation reaches a maximum for an optimal intensity of noise, and the coherence resonance appears accordingly. The findings imply probably omnipresent importance of noise in the functioning process of living organism.     

Isobaric expansion coefficient and isothermal compressibility for a finite-size ideal Fermi gas system

Due to quantum size effects (QSEs), the isobaric thermal expansion coefficient and isothermal compressibility well defined for macroscopic systems are invalid for finite-size systems. The two parameters are redefined and calculated for a finite-size ideal Fermi gas confined in a rectangular container. It is found that the isobaric thermal expansion coefficient and isothermal compressibility are generally anisotropic, i.e., they are generally different in different directions. Moreover, it is found the thermal expansion coefficient may be negative in some directions under the condition that the pressures in all directions are kept constant.     

Measuring powder flowability with a modified Warren Spring cohesion tester

The measurement of powder flowability is a major concern for most industrial processes that deal with the handling of bulk solids as raw materials,intermediates,or products.The development of devices that measure the flowability of non-aerated powders has not progressed as rapidly as might have been hoped since most research activities have been based on various types of shear testers intended to aid the design of hoppers.A new flowability indicator named as weighted cohesion (WS) is established using newly...     

High‐throughput data dimension reduction via seeded canonical correlation analysis

Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is one of popular statistical methodologies in multivariate analysis, especially, in studying relation of two sets of variables. However, if sample sizes are smaller than the maximum of the dimensions of two sets of variables, it is not plausible to construct canonical coefficient matrices due to failure of inverting sample covariance matrices. In this article, we develop a two step procedure of CCA implemented in such situation. For this, seeded dimension reduction is adapted into CCA. Numerical studies confirm the approach, and two real data analyses are presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Search for a Steric Penultimate Effect: Copolymerization of 2,3,4-Trimethyl-3-pentyl Methacrylate with Styrene

The hindered monomer, 2,3,4-trimethyl-3-pentyl methacrylate (I), was synthesized for penultimate effect studies. Since it readily homopoiymerized (km¹¹¹≠ 0) and readily copolymerized with styrene, copolymerizations of I with styrene were carried out at 60°C in benzene with AIBN as initiator. The conversion to copolymer and the copolymer composition were determined by using GLC techniques. Composition-conversion data was analyzed by performing a computerized nonlinear least-squares fitting to the integrated form of the penultimate model equation. The experimental design included the use of optimized M¹°/M²° ratios. The penultimate reactivity ratios calculated from these data were r¹′ = 0.23, r¹′= 0.59, r² = 0.59, r²′ = 1.34. Thus, when I is the penultimate unit, a terminal styryl radical prefers to add styrene, whereas when styrene is the penultimate unit, terminal styryl radicals prefer to add I. These results constitute the best evidence for a steric penultimate effect yet available in the literature from composition-conversion studies. However, the case is not yet proved. Further studies to strengthen this conclusion are proposed.     

Polymerization of Acrylonitrile Initiated by the System Tetramethyl-2-tetrazene and p-Toluenesulfonic Acid

The polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) initiated by tetramethyl-2-tetrazene (TMT) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (TSA) in dimethylformamide (DMF) was studied. The polymerization was confirmed to proceed through a radical mechanism. The initial rate of polymerization R was expressed by the equation: R_p = k[TMT]^0.6 [TSA]^0.46 [AN]^1.35. The overall activation energy for the polymerization was estimated as 20.7 kcal/mole. In the absence of monomer, the reaction of TMT with TSA was also studied kinetically by measuring the evolution of nitrogen. From these results and ESR measurement of the TMT/TSA system, a possible initiation mechanism is proposed.