Incubation period in the 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy‐mediated thermal autopolymerization of styrene: Kinetics and simulations

Mechanisms and simulations of the induction period and the initial polymerization stages in the nitroxide‐mediated autopolymerization of styrene are discussed. At 120–125 °C and moderate 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) concentrations (0.02–0.08 M), the main source of radicals is the hydrogen abstraction of the Mayo dimer by TEMPO [with the kinetic constant of hydrogen abstraction (k_h)]. At higher TEMPO concentrations ([N?] > 0.1 M), this reaction is still dominant, but radical generation by the direct attack against styrene by TEMPO, with kinetic constant of addition k_ad, also becomes relevant. From previous experimental data and simulations, initial estimates of k_h ≈ 1 and k_ad ≈ 6 × 10^?7 L mol^?1 s^?1 are obtained at 125 °C. From the induction period to the polymerization regime, there is an abrupt change in the dominant mechanism generating radicals because of the sudden decrease in the nitroxide radicals. Under induction‐period conditions, the simulations confirm the validity of the quasi‐steady‐state assumption (QSSA) for the Mayo dimer in this regime; however, after the induction period, the QSSA for the dimer is not valid, and this brings into question the scientific basis of the well‐known expression k_th[M]³ (where [M] is the monomer concentration and k_th is the kinetic constant of autoinitiation) for the autoinitiation rate in styrene polymerization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6962‐6979, 2006     

Über die Reproduzierbarkeit der turbidimetrischen Bestimmung von Phosphorspuren mit Strychninmolybdostickstoff(V)säure

Microchimica Acta - Mit der turbidimetrischen Strychninnitrat-Methode für Phosphorspurenbestimmung nach der Version von Hegedüs und Dvorszky kann man nur dann ausgezeichnete...     

Polyselenide mit langkettigen Tetraalkylammoniumionen Die Kristallstruktur von Trimethyl-tetradecyl-ammonium-hexaselenid

Polyselenides with Long-chain Tetraalkylammonium Ions. Crystal Structure of Trimethyltetradecyl-ammonium Hexaselenide Na₂Se₂ and Na₂Se react with various tetraalkylammonium halides in ethanol and in presence of grey selenium and catalytic quantities of iodine forming different polyselenides Se_n^2? (n = 3, 5—9). In the solutions equilibria of polyselenides seem to occur; cooling of saturated solutions causes crystallization of polyselenides with a composition depending on the cation. Tri- and pentaselenide are dark green. The higher members form black crystals, all compounds are sensitive to oxygen. The i.r. spectra are reported. [(CH₃)₃N(CH₂)₁₃CH₃]₂Se₆ is characterized by a crystallographic structure determination with X-ray data: space group P2₁2₁2, Z = 4, a = 5043, b = 734.2, c = 600.3 pm (986 observed independent reflexions. R = 0.072). The compound consists of trimethyl tetradecylammonium ions and angular Se₆^2? chains of symmetry C₂ with Se? Se bond lengths of 227 and 235 pm.     

Optimization of molecular geometries in the PCILO and CNDO/2 formalism. The barrier to internal rotation in thioacetaldehyde

The barrier to internal rotation in thioacetaldehyde was investigated within the PCILO and CNDO/2 framework using standard and optimized geometries. The optimized geometries give for the barrier of PCILO a value closer to the experimental one (1.06 kcal mol^?1) whereas the CNDO/2 results yield a qualitatively wrong conformational behavior.     

Effect of sequence of combined loading on buckling of stiffened shells

The vibration-correlation technique, VCT for definition of real boundary conditions, and the method of repeated buckling were employed for nondestructive generation of improved interaction curves for buckling of stringer-stiffened circular-cylindrical shells subjected to a combined axial compression and external-pressure state of loading. Thirteen shells were tested, five on clamped boundary conditions and eight on norminal simple supports. The study also included an assessment of the influence of the order of loading on the behavior of the shells before and at buckling as a result of the nonlinear interaction. It has been shown that the VCT and repeated buckling approach are feasible for closely stiffened shells and are adequate tools for the derivation of more realistic buckling interaction curves. It appears that the sequence of loading, constant axial compression first and then increasing the external pressure until buckling occurs, or the reverse order of loading, does not influence the buckling loads.     

Automatic segmentation of cerebral white matter hyperintensities using only 3D FLAIR images

Magnetic Resonance (MR) white matter hyperintensities have been shown to predict an increased risk of developing cognitive decline. However, their actual role in the conversion to dementia is still not fully understood. Automatic segmentation methods can help in the screening and monitoring of Mild Cognitive Impairment patients who take part in large population-based studies. Most existing segmentation approaches use multimodal MR images. However, multiple acquisitions represent a limitation in terms of both patient comfort and computational complexity of the algorithms. In this work, we propose an automatic lesion segmentation method that uses only three-dimensional fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. We use a modified context-sensitive Gaussian mixture model to determine voxel class probabilities, followed by correction of FLAIR artifacts. We evaluate the method against the manual segmentation performed by an experienced neuroradiologist and compare the results with other unimodal segmentation approaches. Finally, we apply our method to the segmentation of multiple sclerosis lesions by using a publicly available benchmark dataset. Results show a similar performance to other state-of-the-art multimodal methods, as well as to the human rater.     

High‐Temperature Stable Zirconia Particles Doped with Yttrium,Lanthanum, and Gadolinium

Zirconia microspheres synthesized by a wet‐chemical sol–gel process are promising building blocks for various photonic applications considered for heat management and energy systems, including highly efficient reflective thermal barrier coatings and absorbers/emitters used in thermophotovoltaic systems. As previously shown, pure zirconia microparticles deteriorate at working temperatures of ≥1000 °C. While the addition of yttrium as a dopant has been shown to improve their phase stability, pronounced grain growth at temperatures of ≥1000 °C compromises the photonic structure of the assembled microspheres. Here, a new approach for the fabrication of highly stable ceramic microparticles by doping with lanthanum, gadolinium, and a combination of those with yttrium is introduced. The morphological changes of the particles are monitored by scanning electron microscopy, ex situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and in situ high‐energy XRD as a function of dopant concentration up to 1500 °C. While the addition of lanthanum or gadolinium has a strong grain growth attenuating effect, it alone is insufficient to avoid a destructive tetragonal‐to‐monoclinic phase transformation occurring after heating to >850 °C. However, combining lanthanum or gadolinium with yttrium leads to particles with both efficient phase stabilization and attenuated grain growth. Thus, ceramic microspheres are yielded that remain extremely stable after heating to 1200 °C.