Local effect of electric and magnetic fields on the position of an attached shock in a supersonic diffuser

Effective ways for controlling shock wave configurations by means of external actions are sought. One such way is a local effect of electric and magnetic fields. In this paper, the local effect of external fields is implemented by current localization in a limited region of a diffuser. The experiment is carried out in a diffuser providing the complete internal compression of the gas with a Mach number at the inlet M=4.3. As a working medium, a xenon plasma is used. The plasma flow is formed in a shock tube equipped with an accelerating nozzle. Two ways of current localization are tested. In the first one, the diffuser inlet is a short channel of Faraday generator type. In this case, the ponderomotive force basically decelerates or accelerates the flow depending on the direction of the electric field. In the second way, the current flows through a narrow near-wall region between adjacent electrodes. In this case, the ponderomotive force compresses or expands the gas. In both cases, it is shown that the angle of an attached shock due to MHD interaction can be both decreased and increased. The central problem with the MHD control of shock waves is near-electrode and near-wall phenomena.     

Loniceroside C,an antiinflammatory saponin from Lonicera japonica

A new triterpenoid saponin, loniceroside C was isolated from the aerial parts of Lonicera japonica. Its structure was established to be 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester by spectroscopic techniques and chemical transformations. Loniceroside C showed in vivo antiinflammatory activity against mouse ear edema provoked by croton oil.     

Estimation of radon and thoron caused dose at exraction and processing sites of mineral sand mining area in Vietnam (HA TINH province)

Mineral sands are mined in several countries to supply to the titanium and zircon producing industries. Coastal black mineral sands usually contain, besides ilmenite (FeTiO₃) and rutile (TiO₂), radioactive minerals such as zircon (ZrSiO₄) and monazite (RePO₄). Radon and thoron activity concentration originated from natural radioactive contents of the black mineral sand was monitored at the extraction and processing for black minerals in the coastal areas of Ha Tinh Province, one of the around 40 coastal mineral sand deposits in Vietnam. The survey was carried out with the Raduet chambers made by Radosys Ltd—Hungary. The obtained results for 25 investigated points show that the measured values are not high in the residential houses and in case of the sand extraction site as well. At the titanium processing plant the measured values were higher than outside the facility (Radon: 18–55 Bq/m³ with average of 34 Bq/³ and Thoron 33–118 Bq/m³ with average of 58 Bq/m³) but still comparable to the average concentration of the world published by UNSCEAR. The typical outdoor levels of radon and thoron gas are each of the order of 10 Bq/m³. Although the radon concentrations were low in the zircon and titanium processing plants, the thoron concentrations in the houses for separating rutile and zircon were very high. At zircon processing factory, the thoron concentration could reach 2,931 Bq/m³ and the estimated annual effective dose would be 21.4 mSv/a. Intervention has to be taken in order to reduce the thoron level in this factory since the level of thoron and its progenies corresponding to an annual occupational effective dose is beyond the action level of 6 mSv/a.     

类升力体外形高超声速粘性绕流拓扑结构分析

采用交替方向隐式分解的隐式NND格式求解全N-S方程模拟“类升力体”外形在高超声速下的大攻角流动,给出了“类升力体”外形表面极限流线随攻角变化的拓扑结构及40°攻角下垂直于体轴的横截面流线拓扑结构。结果表明:类升力体外形三维流场结构十分复杂,攻角从0°～40°变化时,背风面表面极限流线依次由不分离、开式分离向起始于鞍、结点组合的高阶奇点的分离方式转化,翼面横向分离亦随攻角增大而增大;垂直于体轴的横截面流动拓扑结构与文献[2]给出的理论分析一致。     

Investigation of factors affecting the adsorption of functional molecules onto gel silicas. 1. Flow microcalorimetry and infrared spectroscopy

Flow microcalorimetry and infrared spectroscopy were used to study the surface structure and adsorptive properties of a series of calcined and uncalcined porous silicas. The adsorbates DL-menthol, (R)-(+)-limonene, (+/-)-citronellal and carvone were selected for their functionality, that included carbonyl, vinylic and hydroxyl groups. The amounts of probe retained by the silicas together with the energy exchange involved in the adsorption/desorption process were determined by flow microcalorimetry. The functional groups involved in these interactions were studied by means of infrared spectroscopy. It was observed that the strongest interactions with the silica surface took place through hydrogen bonding onto the surface silanol. The most retentive probes were found to be those with a carbonyl group in their structure. Adsorption onto calcined silicas was found to be less energetic than onto the equivalent calcined samples. The adsorption densities were compared with theoretical predictions based on molecular models. In all cases apart from citronellal monolayer coverage were not observed due to steric effects.     

Static and cyclic behaviours of multistorey infilled frames with different interface conditions

Results are presented from a study aimed at a deeper understanding of the static and cyclic behaviours of non-integral, partially integral and integral infilled frames. In the first part of the study the load-deflection behaviour, stress distribution and collapse modes under static loads are examined and in the second part the hysteretic characteristics, energy dissipation capacities and degradation properties under cyclic loads are evaluated.     

The resistance of single atomic steps in ultrathin Pb nanowires on Si(557)

We studied the local electronic transport properties of a monolayer thick Pb wire by local potentiometry with the tip of a tunneling microscope. 50-nm-wide wires on bare Si(557) were generated by direct writing with an electron beam in an ultrathin film of SiO₂ using the process of electron-beam-induced selective stimulated thermal desorption of oxygen (EBSTD) in combination with a shadow-mask technique and macroscopic TiSi₂ contacts. The resistivity of this wire agrees well with expectations derived from anisotropic monolayer thick Pb films on Si(557). Although small Pb clusters nucleated during annealing and desorption of excess Pb, they had a negligible effect on the local resistive properties of the wire. Steps in the substrate of atomic height apparently do not interrupt the conducting path, but due to local scattering at step edge states increase the local resistivity by more than one order of magnitude.     

Interfacial interactions in polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites

Interactions between sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) and a variety of probes, some of which are intended to model components of a polyurethane system, have been studied. Particular attention was given to the effect of preadsorbed water on the adsorption behavior of the probes. Flow microcalorimetry (FMC), diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) were used to monitor the adsorption process. The probe set included alcohols, amines, ethers, poly(propylene glycol) monobutyl ethers (PPG), and 4-ethylphenyl isocyanate (4-EPI). FMC revealed that the preadsorbed water molecules on undried Na-MMT hindered the adsorption of alcohol and ether probes, but had little effect on the adsorption of amines. Drying of Na-MMT to less than 0.3% w/w H2O led to an increase in heat of adsorption and generally greater retention of the probes. PPG showed strong interaction with Na-MMT due to multipoint adsorption. With dried Na-MMT, WAXS revealed that PPG of molecular weight (MW) 1000 was partly intercalated into the gallery while lower molecular weight PPG (MW 340) did not intercalate the Na-MMT. DRIFTS spectra of 4-EPI adsorbed on undried Na-MMT revealed urea linkages, indicating formation of N,N'-bis(4-ethylphenyl) urea. In contrast, with dried Na-MMT the 4-EPI formed a urethane linkage with hydroxyl groups present at the edges of the silicate platelets.     

Property tailoring of particulate polymer composites by reactive processing

This study explores reactive processing aimed at improving the mechanical properties of polyolefin/inorganic particulate filler based composites. Three different polymer matrix materials have been studied in combination with the nine inorganic particulate fillers with different particle size and of varying pH. The reactive modifier 1,3‐phenylene dimaleimide (BMI) has been shown in all cases to be very effective in terms of improving composite properties beyond those of the respective unmodified composites and in some cases beyond those of the unfilled matrix materials. The detrimental effect of BMI on melt viscosity can be overcome via judicious use of a suitable lubricant, and together with response surface methods, followed by optimization procedures, composite properties can be tailored for specific end use applications.