Mass distribution in a dynamic sample zone inside a flow injection manifold: modelling integrated conductimetric profiles

A mathematical model for fitting the experimental ICM (integrated conductimetric method) curves developed by the authors in a previous work, is presented for the first time in this study. The proposed model fits the experimental curves with great precision and allows to predict physical dispersion for single-line flow injection system. The correlation of the model’s parameters with typical reactionless FIA peak parameters is also assessed. The IDQ coefficient—a novel dispersion estimator previously reported by the authors—can also be predicted when operational FIA variables are changed. Experimental and modelled profiles are compared as a function of the system’s variables, showing an excellent agreement.     

Surface composition and property of film prepared with aqueous dispersion of polyurethaneurea-acrylate including fluorinated block copolymer

The aqueous dispersion of polyurethaneurea-acrylate (PUA) including small amount of fluorinated block copolymers containing carboxyl groups (PATF), which can be dissolved in water, was used to make films and the surface properties of these films were examined. The experimental data show that the modified PUA film exhibits a hydrophobic surface property, although the original surface of PUA film is hydrophilic. The surface composition of the modified PUA film was measured by ATR and XPS. The results indicate that there is a concentration gradient of the fluorine groups along the lines of thickness of the modified film and towards the outmost surface layer, resulting from the migration of fluorinated blocks to the air side surface of the modified PUA film during the film formation process. However, the PUA film can not be modified effectively by adding the sodium salt of PATF, since the urethane groups in the system are easy to occupy on the surface of the film.     

Thermal techniques to study complex elastomer/filler systems

The transfer of heat through an elastomeric matrix is important for both the processing of the material and its subsequent lifetime. Thermal conductivity can be used to evaluate the influence of different polymers and fillers on heat transfer. Additionally, the dispersion of the filler has an effect on heat transfer and thermal conductivity measurements can be used to provide semi-quantitative estimations of filler dispersion. The degradation of sulfur-crosslinked elastomer systems has been studied for many years. The degradation of the crosslinks (changes in sulfur rank) and degradation of the polymer backbone by thermal and/or oxidative processes have been studied extensively using many techniques including thermal analysis (references). However, the degradation of the crosslinked-polymer 'network' is less well understood. The relationship of the crosslink network to this degradation process is a key to both the long term and higher temperature performance of the sulfur-crosslinked elastomer. The changes in physical properties observed upon exposure of sulfur-crosslinked elastomers can be monitored using dynamic mechanical analysis. Subsequently, other thermal techniques can be used to monitor the chemistry that is occurring during these degradations. Thermal desorption/mass spectroscopy and dynamic scanning calorimetry are used to complete the picture of the degradation processes taking place. Examples of these techniques will be provided to illustrate the utility of the analytical approach, the chemistry involved in these degradation processes and the effect of changes in the polymer, cure package and other ingredients. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Co-monotone allocations,Bickel-Lehmann dispersion and the Arrow-Pratt measure of risk aversion

For every integrable allocation (X ₁,X ₂, ...,X _n ) of a random endowmentY= _i ^=1/n X _i amongn agents, there is another allocation (X ₁*,X ₂*, ...,X _n *) such that for every 1in,X _i * is a nondecreasing function ofY (or, (X ₁*,X ₂*, ...,X _n *) areco-monotone) andX _i * dominatesX _i by Second Degree Dominance.If (X ₁*,X ₂*, ...,X _n *) is a co-monotone allocation ofY= _i ^=1/n X _i *, then for every 1in, Y is more dispersed thanX _i * in the sense of the Bickel and Lehmann stochastic order.To illustrate the potential use of this concept in economics, consider insurance markets. It follows that unless the uninsured position is Bickel and Lehmann more dispersed than the insured position, the existing contract can be improved so as to raise the expected utility of both parties, regardless of their (concave) utility functions.     

A class of nonlinear relativistic partial differential equations in elementary particle theory

In mathematical approaches to elementary particle theory, the equation [² - ²/t²]=m² ;+g ³ has been of interest [1,2]; it describes a quartically self-coupled neutral scalar meson field. This paper applies the decomposition method [3-6] to obtain accurate non-perturbative timedevelopment of the field for this equation, or variations involving other nonlinear interactions, without the use of cutoff functions or truncations.     

制备方法对WO_3/ZrO_2结构的影响

用XRD、比表面测定、LRS定性和定量的方法对用Zr（OH）4和已晶化的ZrO2作载体制得的两类WO3／ZrO2催化剂进行了表征．揭示了样品比表面、载体物相、活性组分的存在状态与制备方法、WO3含量、焙烧温度之间的关系．结果表明，WO3能单层分散在ZrO2上；单层覆盖在Zr（OH）4上的WO3使载体在焙烧时晶粒生长受阻，形成介稳的四方ZrO2，并阻止载体微粒间的烧结，使从Zr（OH）4出发制得的WO3／ZrO2比表面明显增大，在WO3含量达到单层分散容量时以上作用表现得最充分；WO3与Zr（OH）4（或四方ZrO2）在高温（～800℃）可能发生了某种化学结合，开创出超强酸位．用以上观点可对文献中已报导的主要实验事实作出较满意的解释.     

Three-body interactions,rotational invariance and the elastic consistency of lattice dynamical models for face-centred tetragonal indium

The origin of the elastic inconsistency ofdaf, mas andgtf models for non-cubic solids and the failure of their force constants to comply with all the rotational invariance conditions are analysed by resolving the atomic displacements of face-centred tetragonal indium along three mutually perpendicular directions. It is shown that a lattice dynamical model suffers from these deficiencies as a consequence of its neglect of three-body interactions as well as the mixed neighbour interactions associated with the angular forces, while thecgw model which incorporates both these interactions is elastically consistent and its potential energy rotationally invariant. The degree of equivalence that exists among the force constants ofdaf, mas, gtf andcgw models, the distortions introduced by the elastic inconsistency into the phonon dispersion curves of fct indium as well as the consequences of imposing the rotational invariance conditions on the force constants of a lattice dynamical model are discussed.     

Stopped-flow injection analysis. The influence of diffusion on dispersion of normal and reverse flow injection

A relationship is derived to enable the comparison of the dispersion heights of normal and reverse flow injection analysis (FIA). A single channel flow system is employed in the absence of a chemical reaction. The stopped-flow injection method is used to probe the influence of molecular diffusion on the overall dispersion of normal and reverse FIA, which appeared to demonstrate fundamentally different diffusion behaviors. Small discrepancies are observed between the dispersion heights, which are enhanced by the stopped-flow period, especially when unmatched matrix ionic compositions of the indicator and counter solutions were involved. For these conditions, the diffusion flux rate is enhanced considerably, displaying a peak, in addition to the transient, for both methods. The influence of diffusion on the dispersion characteristics of normal and reverse FIA is discussed theoretically. Diffusion in the proposed model is postulated to oppose dispersion by convection. The latter initiates concentration gradients in the injection zone and propagates it with flow time over the dispersion zone profile. The diffusion flux then reacts in order to confine the indicator dispersion for normal FIA and to enhance it for reverse FIA. This model is consistent with the experimental results and accounts for most of the phenomena encountered. Probably owing to the influence of secondary flow phenomena, the use of coiled tubes has suppressed the effects of diffusion on the overall dispersion behavior.Part of the experimental work was performed at IMI Institute for Research and Development, Haifa, Israel.     

A family of multiderivative methods for the numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation

A family of multiderivative methods with minimal phase-lag are introduced in this paper, for the numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation. The methods are called multiderivative since uses derivatives of order two, four or six. Numerical application of the new obtained methods to the Schrödinger equation shows their efficiency compared with other similar well known methods of the literature.Active Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts     

Unusual features of micellar diffusion

Diffusion coefficients of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide in aqueous solutions have been determined at 25, 95 and 135 °C using the Taylor dispersion technique. The diffusion coefficient exhibits a minimum at a surfactant concentration above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The results are interpreted in terms of electrostatic coupling and rapid exchange between micelle, surfactant monomer and counterions.