Laser-induced breakdown threshold and fracture versus the nanostructure of two-phase glass

The radiation hardness and mechanical strength of single-and two-phase glasses are studied for the case when nanosecond laser pulses (λ= 1.06 μm, τ_0.5 ≈ 12.5 ns) are focused inside the material. Laser interferometry is applied to measure the displacement of the free surface, find optical breakage thresholds, and carry out the fractographic analysis of damaged regions. It is shown that breakdown channels and damage regions develop in a nonlinear manner according to optical breakdown mechanisms, changing each other with an increase in the laser energy. The strength of the two-phase glass is found to be more than four times that of the single-phase glass, although their elastic properties differ insignificantly. Such a considerable difference in the hardness of these materials with chemically similar constitutents is attributed to the presence of the double-lattice nanometer-scale structure of the two-phase glass.     

Heats of solution and neutralization ofLewis acids and bases in acetic anhydride

Heats solution of someLewis acids and bases in acetic anhydride have been determined and the following order of their relative strengths is proposed: SbCl₅>SO₃>SnCl₄>TiCl₄>AsCl₃ and piperidine> n-butylamine>potassium acetate>sodium acetate -picoline>quinoline. Heats neutralization of theseLewis acids and bases in acetic anhydride suggest that the major enthalpy change in these neutralization reactions is due to the combination of a proton and the (CH₂COOCOCH₃)-ion, resulting in the formation of acetic anhydride.

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Lösungs- und Neutralisationswärmen von Lewis-Säuren und-Basen in Essigsäureanhydrid

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die Lösungswärmen einigerLewis-Säuren in Essigsäureanhydrid bestimmt und folgende Reihung nach ihrer relativen Stärke vorgeschlagen: SbCl₅>SO₃>SnCl₄>TiCl₄>AsCl₃ und Piperidin> n-Butylamin>KAc>NaAc-Picolin>Chinolin. Die Neutralisationswärmen dieserLewis-Säuren und-Basen legen nahe, daß der Hauptanteil daran auf die Reaktion eines Protons mit (CH₂–COOCOCH₃)-zurückzuführen ist.

     

Effects on the bifurcation and chaos in forced Duffing oscillator due to nonlinear damping

In this communication, the two-well Duffing oscillator with non-linear damping term proportional to the power of velocity is considered. We mainly focus our attention on how the damping exponent affects the global dynamical behaviour of the oscillator. In particular, we obtain analytically the threshold condition for the occurrence of homoclinic bifurcation using Melnikov technique and compare the results with the computational results. We also identify the major route to chaos and the regions of the 2D parameter space (consists of external forcing amplitude and damping coefficient) corresponding to the various types of asymptotic dynamics under linear (viscous or friction like) and nonlinear (drag like) damping. We also attempt to analyze how the basins of attraction patterns change with the introduction of nonlinear damping. We also present our analysis for the physically less-interesting cases where damping is proportional to the 3rd and 4th power of velocity for the sake of generalizing our findings and establishing firm conclusion.     

An improved turbidimetric procedure for the determination of sulphate in plants and soils

A rapid turbidimetric procedure for the determination of sulphate in soils and plants has been developed with sorbitol as stabilizing agent. When used in a concentration of 20% in the final volume, the sorbitol regulates the size of the BaSO(4) particles formed and stabilizes them against sedimentation, growth and aggregation for long periods of time. The conditions of precipitation are not rigorous, as they are in similar procedures. Linearity of the calibration curve up to 50 ppm of sulphate and good reproducibility are special attributes of the procedure.     

Triple differential cross section of potassium for doubly symmetric ionization

We report the results of our modified distorted wave Born approximation calculation of triple differential cross section in the coplanar symmetric single ionization of potassium atom. We have included correlation-polarization potential as a function of electron density parameter and also studied the effect of post-collision interaction. The present attempt significantly improves the agreement between theoretical and experimental results.     

Study of the excitation functions of27Al(n, α)24Na,27Al(n,p)27Mg and28Si(n,p)28Al reactions

Cross sections for the reactions²⁷Al(n, p)²⁷Mg and²⁸Si(n,p)²⁸Al were measured by activation method between 13.40 and 14.83 MeV neutron energy. An accuracy of about 4% was achieved using the²⁷Al(n, α)²⁴Na reaction as a reference at 14.1 MeV where the relative excitation function has also been measured. Results obtained were compared to a recent compilation and that calculated by the Hauser-Feshbach model. Using the back-shifted level density formula and taking into account the contribution of the separated levels, the calculations were extended to the energy range from the threshold to 18 MeV. A structure was observed in the²⁷Al(n, α)²⁴Na reaction cross section curve around 14 MeV neutron energy.     

Synthesis and characterization of L‐leucine containing chiral vinyl monomer and its polymer,poly(2‐(methacryloyloxyamino)‐4‐methyl pentanoic acid)

A chiral monomer containing L ‐leucine as a pendant group was synthesized from methacryloyl chloride and L ‐leucine in presence of sodium hydroxide at 4 °C. The monomer was polymerized by free radical polymerization in propan‐2‐ol at 60 °C using 2,2′‐azobis isobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator under nitrogen atmosphere. The polymer, poly(2‐(Methacryloyloxyamino)‐4‐methyl pentanoic acid) is thus obtained. The molecular weight of the polymer was determined to be: M_w is 6.9 × 10³ and M_n is 5.6 × 10³. The optical rotation of both chiral monomer and its polymer varies with the solvent polarity. The amplification of optical rotation due to transformation of monomer to polymer is associated with the ordered conformation of chiral monomer unit in the polymeric chain due to some secondary interactions like H‐bonding. The synthesized monomer and polymer exhibit intense Cotton effect at 220 nm. The conformation of the chain segments is sensitive to external stimuli, particularly the pH of the medium. In alkaline medium, the ordered chain conformation is destroyed resulting disordered random coils. The ordered coiling conformation is more firmly present on addition of HCl. The polymer exhibits swelling‐deswelling characteristics with the change of pH of the medium, which is reversible. The Cotton effect decreases linearly with the increase of temperature which is reversible on cooling. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2228–2242, 2009     

Interphotoreceptor Retinoid‐Binding Protein Protects Retinoids from Photodegradation

Retinol degrades rapidly in light into a variety of photoproducts. It is remarkable that visual cycle retinoids can evade photodegradation as they are exchanged between the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium and Müller glia. Within the interphotoreceptor matrix, all‐trans retinol, 11‐cis retinol and retinal are bound by interphotoreceptor retinoid‐binding protein (IRBP). Apart from its role in retinoid trafficking and targeting, could IRBP have a photoprotective function? HPLC was used to evaluate the ability of IRBP to protect all‐trans and 11‐cis retinols from photodegradation when exposed to incandescent light (0 to 8842 μW cm^?2); time periods of 0–60 min, and bIRBP: retinol molar ratios of 1:1 to 1:5. bIRBP afforded a significant prevention of both all‐trans and 11‐cis retinol to rapid photodegradation. The effect was significant over the entire light intensity range tested, and extended to the bIRBP: retinol ratio 1:5. In view of the continual exposure of the retina to light, and the high oxidative stress in the outer retina, our results suggest IRBP may have an important protective role in the visual cycle by reducing photodegradation of all‐trans and 11‐cis retinols. This role of IRBP is particularly relevant in the high flux conditions of the cone visual cycle.