Birefringence of native cellulosic fibers. I. Untreated cotton and ramie

The Rayleigh-Gans theory of light scattering by a homogeneous cylinder has been applied to the case of scattering by a pad of fibers immersed in a liquid. The theory enables one to locate precisely the matching wavelength at which the mean refractive index of a sample of optically heterogeneous fibers coincides with that of an immersion medium. Thereby it offers a method of determining the mean refractive index. Besides, it facilitates a quantitative estimation of the variability of refractive index. The new technique has been used to study the birefringence of untreated cotton and ramie. The results are presented and discussed.     

An Efficient and Selective Deprotection of Tetrahydropyranyl Ethers by CeCl3.7H2O

Treatment of tetrahydropyranyl ethers with cerium (III) chloride heptahydrate in methanol provides a simple, convenient and selective method for detetrahydropyranylation, and the parent alcohols are obtained in high yields.     

Assessment of dual plane PIV measurements in wall turbulence using DNS data

Experimental dual plane particle image velocimetry (PIV) data are assessed using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data of a similar flow with the aim of studying the effect of averaging within the interrogation window. The primary reason for the use of dual plane PIV is that the entire velocity gradient tensor and hence the full vorticity vector can be obtained. One limitation of PIV is the limit on dynamic range, while DNS is typically limited by the Reynolds number of the flow. In this study, the DNS data are resolved more finely than the PIV data, and an averaging scheme is implemented on the DNS data of similar Reynolds number to compare the effects of averaging inherent to the present PIV technique. The effects of averaging on the RMS values of the velocity and vorticity are analyzed in order to estimate the percentage of turbulence intensity and enstrophy captured for a given PIV resolution in turbulent boundary layers. The focus is also to identify vortex core angle distributions, for which the two-dimensional and three-dimensional swirl strengths are used. The studies are performed in the logarithmic region of a turbulent boundary layer at z ⁺ = 110 from the wall. The dual plane PIV data are measured in a zero pressure gradient flow over a flat plate at Re _τ = 1,160, while the DNS data are extracted from a channel flow at Re _τ = 934. Representative plots at various wall-normal locations for the RMS values of velocity and vorticity indicate the attenuation of the variance with increasing filter size. Further, the effect of averaging on the vortex core angle statistics is negligible when compared with the raw DNS data. These results indicate that the present PIV technique is an accurate and reliable method for the purposes of statistical analysis and identification of vortex structures.     

Synthesis, spectral and thermal studies of some transition metal mixed ligand complexes: modeling of equilibrium composition and biological activity

Several mixed ligand Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine (AHP) and imidazoles viz., imidazole (him), benzimidazole (bim), histamine (hist) and L-histidine (his) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectral (vibrational, electronic, 1H NMR and EPR) data as well as by magnetic moment values. On the basis of elemental analysis and molar conductance values, all the complexes can be formulated as [MAB]Cl except histidine complexes as MAB. Thermogravimetric studies reveal the presence of coordinated water molecules in most of the complexes. From the magnetic measurements and electronic spectral data, octahedral structure was proposed for Ni(II) and Cu(II)-AHP-his, tetrahedral for Cu(II)-AHP-him/bim/hist, but square planar for the Cu(II)-AHP complex. The g∥/A∥ calculated supports tetrahedral environment around the Cu(II) in Cu(II)-AHP-him/bim/hist and distorted octahedral for Cu(II)-AHP-his complexes. The morphology of the reported metal complexes was investigated by scanning electron micrographs (SEM). The potentiometric study has been performed in aqueous solution at 37 °C and I=0.15 mol dm(-3) NaClO4. MABH, MAB and MAB2 species has been identified in the present systems. Proton dissociation constants of AHP and stability constants of metal complexes were determined using MINIQUAD-75. The most probable structure of the mixed ligand species is discussed based upon their stability constants. The in vitro biological activity of the complexes was tested against the Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, fungus and yeast. The oxidative DNA cleavage studies of the complexes were performed using gel electrophoresis method. Cu(II) complexes have been found to promote DNA cleavage in presence of biological reductant such as ascorbate and oxidant like hydrogen peroxide.     

Phase transitions of a feedback amplifier

The phase transition behaviour of an amplifier with positive feedback is experimentally studied. The results are interpreted using catastrophe theory language. Zero (in Gilmore’s classification), first and second-order transitions are demonstrated by driving the system along appropriate trajectories in control parameter space and the cusp and the spinodal are mapped. The fluctuations of the order parameter are investigated and their relationship to system response time established. Quench experiments analogous to those familiar in condensed matter have also been performed and with similar results.     

Nuclear disintegrations produced in nuclear emulsions by α-particles of great energy

A study of nuclear disintegrations caused by α-particles of primary cosmic radiation with energies > 5 BeV per nucleon, has been carried out. In a systematic survey in nuclear emulsions using ‘along the track’ scanning method, 479 α-particles with a total track length of 40·84 metres and 242 interactions were obtained. From the angular distribution of shower particles associated with these interactions, a procedure has been found for distinguishing protons, which originally formed part of the incident α-particle and which have not taken part in the interaction, from other charged particles. The mean free path for nuclear interaction in G-5 emulsion is found to be 17·5±1·1 cm. (68·9±4·3 gm./cm.²). Assigning both to the incident α-particle and to the target nuclei a radius R=r _oA^1/2, one obtains an effective nuclear radiusr _o=1·13±0·04 ×10^?13 cm. Using the number of protons emerging from disintegrations of heavy nuclei (Silver and Bromine) without having participated in the interaction (as can be deduced from the angular distribution) and assuming spherical nuclei of uniform density, the mean free path of nucleons in nuclear matter is calculated to be less than 3·2×10^?13 cm.