Role of particle size and composition in metal adsorption by solids deposited on urban road surfaces.

PubMed

Gunawardana, Chandima; Egodawatta, Prasanna; Goonetilleke, Ashantha

2014-01-01

Despite common knowledge that the metal content adsorbed by fine particles is relatively higher compared to coarser particles, the reasons for this phenomenon have gained little research attention. The research study discussed in the paper investigated the variations in metal content for different particle sizes of solids associated with pollutant build-up on urban road surfaces. Data analysis confirmed that parameters favourable for metal adsorption to solids such as specific surface area, organic carbon content, effective cation exchange capacity and clay forming minerals content decrease with the increase in particle size. Furthermore, the mineralogical composition of solids was found to be the governing factor influencing the specific surface area and effective cation exchange capacity. There is high quartz content in particles >150 μm compared to particles <150 μm. As particle size reduces below 150 μm, the clay forming minerals content increases, providing favourable physical and chemical properties that influence adsorption. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spin-1 Particles and Perturbative QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Melo, J. P. B. C.; Frederico, T.; Ji, Chueng-Ryong

2018-07-01

Due to the angular condition in the light-front dynamics (LFD), the extraction of the electromagnetic form factors for spin-1 particles can be uniquely determined taking into account implicitly non-valence and/or the zero-mode contributions to the matrix elements of the electromagnetic current. No matter which matrix elements of the electromagnetic current is used to extract the electromagnetic form factors, the same unique result is obtained. As physical observables, the electromagnetic form factors obtained from matrix elements of the current in LFD must be equal to those obtained in the instant form calculations. Recently, the Babar collaboration (Phys Rev D 78:071103, 2008) has analyzed the reaction e^+ + e^-→ ρ ^+ + ρ ^- at √{s}=10.58 GeV to measure the cross section as well as the ratios of the helicity amplitudes F_{λ 'λ }. We present our recent analysis of the Babar data for the rho meson considering the angular condition in LFD to put a stringent test on the onset of asymptotic perturbative QCD and predict the energy regime where the subleading contributions are still considerable.

Hygroscopic properties of ultrafine particles at an urban site in northern Japan during the summer of 2011

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Jinsang; Kawamura, Kimitaka

2013-04-01

To investigate the hygroscopic property of ultrafine particles, hygroscopic growth factors [g(RH)] of size-segregated atmospheric particles were measured at an urban site in Sapporo, northern Japan, during the summer of 2011. Hygroscopic growth factors at 85% RH [g(85%)] of freshly formed nucleation mode particles ranged from 1.11 to 1.28 with an average of 1.16 ± 0.06. These values are similar to those of secondary organic aerosols, suggesting that low volatile organic vapors are important to the growth of nucleated clusters into quasi-stable aerosol particles larger than 3 nm. Higher g(85%) values (range: 1.21-1.31, AVG: 1.27 ± 0.04) were obtained for grown Aitken mode nucleated particles. This result may indicate that the growth of freshly formed nucleation mode particles to the Aitken mode particles at the urban site can be attributed to condensation not only of low volatility organic vapors but also of highly water-soluble inorganic compounds like sulfuric acid. Diel variations in the number concentrations of less-hygroscopic particles [g(85%) <1.05] were similar to those in NO concentrations, suggesting that less-hygroscopic particles are mainly produced by local anthropogenic emissions such as traffic. Higher g(85%) values (1.27 ± 0.05) were obtained at a dry particle diameter of 120 nm when the air masses originated from downwind areas of the Asian continent, whereas lower g(85%) values (1.19 ± 0.06) were obtained when clean marine air masses arrived in the urban site. These results indicate that the hygroscopic property of large Aitken and small accumulation mode particles (80-165 nm) are highly influenced by the long-range transport of atmospheric particles.

Competition of coagulation sink and source rate: New particle formation in the Pearl River Delta of China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Youguo; Hu, Min; Cheng, Yafang; Su, Hang; Yue, Dingli; Liu, Feng; Wiedensohler, A.; Wang, Zhibin; Kalesse, H.; Liu, Shang; Wu, Zhijun; Xiao, Kaitao; Mi, Puchun; Zhang, Yuanhang

The coagulation sink and its role in new particle formation are investigated based on data obtained during the PRIDE-PRD2004 campaign at Xinken of Pearl River Delta, China. Analysis of size distributions and mode contributions of the coagulation sink show that the observed higher load of accumulation mode particles impose a significant effect on the coagulation sink and result in higher coagulation sinks at Xinken despite of the lower total particle number compared with other areas. Hence it is concluded that the higher coagulation sink may depress the occurrence frequency of new particle formation events. The strategies targeting at controlling accumulation mode particles may have influences on the frequency of new particle formation events at this area. The factors affecting the coagulation sink are evaluated. The relatively lower ambient relative humidities may weaken the coagulation sink and facilitate the occurrence of new particle formation events during noontime, while the surmise of nucleation and growth involving organic matter may imply an actually higher coagulation sink than expected. These factors have a significant influence on the ultimate fate of the newly formed nuclei and new particle formation. A comparison of event and non-event days indicates that the coagulation sink is not the only decisive factor affecting new particle formation, other factors including the precursor vapors and photochemical activity are none the less important either. Competition of coagulation sink and high source rate leads to the occurrence of new particle formation events at Xinken.

On the fate of particles liberated from hydroxyapatite coatings in vivo.

PubMed

Dunne, C F; Gibbons, J; FitzPatrick, D P; Mulhall, K J; Stanton, K T

2015-03-01

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been used as a coating for orthopaedic implants for over 30 years to help promote the fixation of orthopaedic implants into the surrounding bone. However, concerns exist about the fate of the hydroxyapatite coating and hydroxyapatite particles in vivo, especially in the wake of recent concerns about particulates from metal-on-metal bearings. Here, we assess the mechanisms of particle detachment from coated orthopaedic devices as well as the safety and performance concerns and biomedical implications arising from the liberation of the particles by review of the literature. The mechanisms that can result in the detachment of the HA coating from the implant can be mechanical or biochemical, or both. Mechanical mechanisms include implant insertion, abrasion, fatigue and micro-motion. Biochemical mechanisms that contribute to the liberation of HA particles include dissolution into extra-cellular fluid, cell-mediated processes and crystallisation of amorphous phases. The form the particles take once liberated is influenced by a number of factors such as coating method, the raw powder morphology, processing parameters, coating thickness and coating structure. This review summarises and discusses each of these factors and concludes that HA is a safe biomimetic material to use as a coating and does not cause any problems in particulate form if liberated as debris from an orthopaedic implant.

REGIONAL DEPOSITION DOSE OF INHALED NANO-SIZE PARTICLES IN HUMAN LUNGS DURING CONTROLLED NORMAL BREATHING

EPA Science Inventory

INTRODUCTION

One of the key factors for affecting respiratory

deposition of particles is the breathing pattern of

individual subjects. Although idealized breathing

patterns (square or sine wave form) are frequently used

for studying lung deposit...

Electroexcitation of Low-Lying Particle-Hole RPA States of 16O with WBP Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, H. Taqi; R. A., Radhi; Adil, M. Hussein

2014-12-01

The nuclear structure of 16O is studied in the framework of the particle-hole random phase approximation (ph RPA). The Hamiltonian is diagonalized within a model space with particle orbits {1d5/2,1d3/2, and 2s1/2} and the hole orbits {1p3/2 and 1p1/2} using Warburton and Brown interaction WBP. The ph RPA calculations are tested, by comparing the electron scattering form factors with the available experimental data. The results of electron scattering form factors and reduced transition strength for the states: 1-, T = 0 (7.116 MeV); 2-, T = 1 (12.968 MeV); 2-, T = 1 (20.412 MeV); and 3-, T = 0 (6.129 MeV) are interpreted in terms of the harmonic-oscillator (HO) wave functions of size parameter b. The occupation probabilities of the single particle and hole orbits are calculated. The spurious states are removed by adding the center of mass (CM) correction to the nuclear Hamiltonian. A comparison with the available experiments data is presented.

Evidence for transverse momentum and pseudorapidity dependent event plane fluctuations in PbPb and pPb collisions

DOE PAGES

Khachatryan, Vardan

2015-09-22

A systematic study of the factorization of long-range azimuthal two-particle correlations into a product of single-particle anisotropies is presented as a function of p T and η of both particles and as a function of the particle multiplicity in PbPb and pPb collisions. The data were taken with the CMS detector for PbPb collisions at √s NN=2.76 TeV and pPb collisions at √s NN=5.02 TeV, covering a very wide range of multiplicity. Factorization is observed to be broken as a function of both particle p T and η. When measured with particles of different p T, the magnitude of themore » factorization breakdown for the second Fourier harmonic reaches 20% for very central PbPb collisions but decreases rapidly as the multiplicity decreases. The data are consistent with viscous hydrodynamic predictions, which suggest that the effect of factorization breaking is mainly sensitive to the initial-state conditions rather than to the transport properties (e.g., shear viscosity) of the medium. The factorization breakdown is also computed with particles of different η. The effect is found to be weakest for mid-central PbPb events but becomes larger for more central or peripheral PbPb collisions, and also for very-high-multiplicity pPb collisions. The η-dependent factorization data provide new insights to the longitudinal evolution of the medium formed in heavy ion collisions.« less

Radiation response of oxide-dispersion-strengthened alloy MA956 after self-ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Tianyi; Kim, Hyosim; Gigax, Jonathan G.; Chen, Di; Wei, Chao-Chen; Garner, F. A.; Shao, Lin

2017-10-01

We studied the radiation-induced microstructural evolution of an oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) ferritic alloy, MA956, to 180 dpa using 3.5 MeV Fe2+ ions. Post-irradiation examination showed that voids formed rather early and almost exclusively at the particle-matrix interfaces. Surprisingly, voids formed even in the injected interstitial zone. Comparisons with studies on other ODS alloys with smaller and largely coherent dispersoids irradiated at similar conditions revealed that the larger and not completely coherent oxide particles in MA956 serve as defect collectors which promote nucleation of voids at their interface. The interface configuration, which is related to particle type, crystal structure and size, is one of the important factors determining the defect-sink properties of particle-matrix interfaces.

Particle bed reactor modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sapyta, Joe; Reid, Hank; Walton, Lew

1993-01-01

The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: particle bed reactor (PBR) core cross section; PBR bleed cycle; fuel and moderator flow paths; PBR modeling requirements; characteristics of PBR and nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) modeling; challenges for PBR and NTP modeling; thermal hydraulic computer codes; capabilities for PBR/reactor application; thermal/hydralic codes; limitations; physical correlations; comparison of predicted friction factor and experimental data; frit pressure drop testing; cold frit mask factor; decay heat flow rate; startup transient simulation; and philosophy of systems modeling.

Renormalization group analysis of B →π form factors with B -meson light-cone sum rules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Yue-Long; Wei, Yan-Bing; Lü, Cai-Dian

2018-03-01

Within the framework of the B -meson light-cone sum rules, we review the calculation of radiative corrections to the three B →π transition form factors at leading power in Λ /mb. To resum large logarithmic terms, we perform the complete renormalization group evolution of the correlation function. We employ the integral transformation which diagonalizes evolution equations of the jet function and the B -meson light-cone distribution amplitude to solve these evolution equations and obtain renormalization group improved sum rules for the B →π form factors. Results of the form factors are extrapolated to the whole physical q2 region and are compared with that of other approaches. The effect of B -meson three-particle light-cone distribution amplitudes, which will contribute to the form factors at next-to-leading power in Λ /mb at tree level, is not considered in this paper.

Absorptive corrections for vector mesons: matching to complex mass scheme and longitudinal corrections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiménez Pérez, L. A.; Toledo Sánchez, G.

2017-12-01

Unstable spin-1 particles are properly described by including absorptive corrections to the electromagnetic vertex and propagator, without breaking the electromagnetic gauge invariance. We show that the modified propagator can be set in a complex mass form, provided the mass and width parameters, which are properly defined at the pole, are replaced by energy dependent functions fulfilling the same requirements at the pole. We exemplify the case for the {K}* (892) vector meson, and find that the mass function deviates around 2 MeV from the Kπ threshold to the pole, and that the width function exhibits a different behavior compared to the uncorrected energy dependent width. Considering the {τ }-\\to {K}{{S}}{π }-{ν }τ decay as dominated by the {K}* (892) and {K}{\\prime * }(1410) vectors and one scalar particle, we exhibit the role of the transversal and longitudinal corrections to the vector propagator by obtaining the modified vector and scalar form factors. The modified vector form factor is found to be the same as in the complex mass form, while the scalar form factor receives a modification from the longitudinal correction to the vector propagator. A fit to the experimental Kπ spectrum shows that the phase induced by the presence of this new contribution in the scalar sector improves the description of the experimental data in the troublesome region around 0.7 GeV. Besides that, the correction to the scalar form factor is found to be negligible.

Pattern formation in a monolayer of magnetic spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stambaugh, Justin; Lathrop, Daniel P.; Ott, Edward; Losert, Wolfgang

2003-08-01

Pattern formation is investigated for a vertically vibrated monolayer of magnetic spheres. The spheres of diameter D encase cylindrical magnetic cores of length l. For large D/l, we find that the particles form a hexagonal-close-packed pattern in which the particles’ dipole vectors assume a macroscopic circulating vortical pattern. For smaller D/l, the particles form concentric rings. The static configurational magnetic energy (which depends on D/l) appears to be a determining factor in pattern selection even though the experimental system is driven and dissipative.

Inverse Photonic Glasses by Packing Bidisperse Hollow Microspheres with Uniform Cores.

PubMed

Kim, Seung-Hyun; Magkiriadou, Sofia; Rhee, Do Kyung; Lee, Doo Sung; Yoo, Pil J; Manoharan, Vinothan N; Yi, Gi-Ra

2017-07-19

A major fabrication challenge is producing disordered photonic materials with an angle-independent structural red color. Theoretical work has shown that such a color can be produced by fabricating inverse photonic glasses with monodisperse, nontouching voids in a silica matrix. Here, we demonstrate a route toward such materials and show that they have an angle-independent red color. We first synthesize monodisperse hollow silica particles with precisely controlled shell thickness and then make glassy colloidal structures by mixing two types of hollow particles with the same core size and different shell thicknesses. We then infiltrate the interstices with index-matched polymers, producing disordered porous materials with uniform, nontouching air voids. This procedure allows us to control the light-scattering form factor and structure factor of these porous materials independently, which is not possible to do in photonic glasses consisting of packed solid particles. The structure factor can be controlled by the shell thickness, which sets the distance between pores, whereas the pore size determines the peak wave vector of the form factor, which can be set below the visible range to keep the main structural color pure. By using a binary mixture of 246 and 268 nm hollow silica particles with 180 nm cores in an index-matched polymer matrix, we achieve angle-independent red color that can be tuned by controlling the shell thickness. Importantly, the width of the reflection peak can be kept constant, even for larger interparticle distances.

Hexagonalization of correlation functions II: two-particle contributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleury, Thiago; Komatsu, Shota

2018-02-01

In this work, we compute one-loop planar five-point functions in N=4 super-Yang-Mills using integrability. As in the previous work, we decompose the correlation functions into hexagon form factors and glue them using the weight factors which depend on the cross-ratios. The main new ingredient in the computation, as compared to the four-point functions studied in the previous paper, is the two-particle mirror contribution. We develop techniques to evaluate it and find agreement with the perturbative results in all the cases we analyzed. In addition, we consider next-to-extremal four-point functions, which are known to be protected, and show that the sum of one-particle and two-particle contributions at one loop adds up to zero as expected. The tools developed in this work would be useful for computing higher-particle contributions which would be relevant for more complicated quantities such as higher-loop corrections and non-planar correlators.

Multiple assembly chaperones govern biogenesis of the proteasome regulatory particle base.

PubMed

Funakoshi, Minoru; Tomko, Robert J; Kobayashi, Hideki; Hochstrasser, Mark

2009-05-29

The central protease of eukaryotes, the 26S proteasome, has a 20S proteolytic core particle (CP) and an attached 19S regulatory particle (RP). The RP is further subdivided into lid and base subcomplexes. Little is known about RP assembly. Here, we show that four conserved assembly factors govern biogenesis of the yeast RP base. Nas2 forms a complex with the Rpt4 and Rpt5 ATPases and enhances 26S proteasome formation in vivo and in vitro. Other RP subcomplexes contain Hsm3, which is related to mammalian proteasome subunit S5b. Hsm3 also contributes to base assembly. Larger Hsm3-containing complexes include two additional proteins, Nas6 and Rpn14, which function as assembly chaperones as well. Specific deletion combinations affecting these four factors cause severe perturbations to RP assembly. Our results demonstrate that proteasomal RP biogenesis requires multiple, functionally overlapping chaperones and suggest a model in which subunits form specific subcomplexes that then assemble into the base.

Aerosol chemical composition in cloud events by high resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Hao, Liqing; Romakkaniemi, Sami; Kortelainen, Aki; Jaatinen, Antti; Portin, Harri; Miettinen, Pasi; Komppula, Mika; Leskinen, Ari; Virtanen, Annele; Smith, James N; Sueper, Donna; Worsnop, Douglas R; Lehtinen, Kari E J; Laaksonen, Ari

2013-03-19

This study presents results of direct observations of aerosol chemical composition in clouds. A high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer was used to make measurements of cloud interstitial particles (INT) and mixed cloud interstitial and droplet residual particles (TOT). The differences between these two are the cloud droplet residuals (RES). Positive matrix factorization analysis of high-resolution mass spectral data sets and theoretical calculations were performed to yield distributions of chemical composition of the INT and RES particles. We observed that less oxidized hydrocarbon-like organic aerosols (HOA) were mainly distributed into the INT particles, whereas more oxidized low-volatile oxygenated OA (LVOOA) mainly in the RES particles. Nitrates existed as organic nitrate and in chemical form of NH(4)NO(3). Organic nitrates accounted for 45% of total nitrates in the INT particles, in clear contrast to 26% in the RES particles. Meanwhile, sulfates coexist in forms of acidic NH(4)HSO(4) and neutralized (NH(4))(2)SO(4). Acidic sulfate made up 64.8% of total sulfates in the INT particles, much higher than 10.7% in the RES particles. The results indicate a possible joint effect of activation ability of aerosol particles, cloud processing, and particle size effects on cloud formation.

Not just fractal surfaces, but surface fractal aggregates: Derivation of the expression for the structure factor and its applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Besselink, R.; Stawski, T. M.; Van Driessche, A. E. S.; Benning, L. G.

2016-12-01

Densely packed surface fractal aggregates form in systems with high local volume fractions of particles with very short diffusion lengths, which effectively means that particles have little space to move. However, there are no prior mathematical models, which would describe scattering from such surface fractal aggregates and which would allow the subdivision between inter- and intraparticle interferences of such aggregates. Here, we show that by including a form factor function of the primary particles building the aggregate, a finite size of the surface fractal interfacial sub-surfaces can be derived from a structure factor term. This formalism allows us to define both a finite specific surface area for fractal aggregates and the fraction of particle interfacial sub-surfaces at the perimeter of an aggregate. The derived surface fractal model is validated by comparing it with an ab initio approach that involves the generation of a "brick-in-a-wall" von Koch type contour fractals. Moreover, we show that this approach explains observed scattering intensities from in situ experiments that followed gypsum (CaSO4 ṡ 2H2O) precipitation from highly supersaturated solutions. Our model of densely packed "brick-in-a-wall" surface fractal aggregates may well be the key precursor step in the formation of several types of mosaic- and meso-crystals.

Void forming pyrolytic carbon coating process

DOEpatents

Beatty, Ronald L.; Cook, Jackie L.

2000-01-01

A pyrolytic carbon coated nuclear fuel particle and method of making it. The fuel particle has a core composed of a refractory compound of an actinide metal. The pyrolytic carbon coating surrounds the core so as to provide a void volume therebetween. The coating has an initial density of no greater than 1.45 grams/cm.sup.3 and an anisotropy factor than 3.0 and a final density upon heat treatment above about 2000.degree. C. of greater than 1.7 grams/cm.sup.3 and an anisotropy factor greater than 5.

Fourier spectra of resonant nuclear forward scattering: lineshape dependence on absorber thickness distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rykov, A. I.; Nomura, K.; Wang, J.

2013-08-01

We report on recent developments in the analysis of nuclear forward scattering (NFS) using the Fourier transformation of measured time spectra. In the frequency domain, it is shown that the lineshape is generally described by the convolution of two intensity factors. One of them is Lorentzian related to free decay. We derived the expressions for the second factor related to the Frenkel exciton polariton formed in Mössbauer media. For stray particles of a powder spread over a 2D surface the particle size distribution can be derived from Mössbauer thickness distribution. The thickness-related lineshape is deconvolved through sharpening the Fourier NFS spectra. The lineshapes in these sharpened spectra are theoretically expressed via the parameters of the particle size distributions. Through fitting the lineshapes with our theoretical expressions the particle size distribution parameters were determined.

Structural Color Tuning: Mixing Melanin-Like Particles with Different Diameters to Create Neutral Colors.

PubMed

Kawamura, Ayaka; Kohri, Michinari; Yoshioka, Shinya; Taniguchi, Tatsuo; Kishikawa, Keiki

2017-04-18

We present the ability to tune structural colors by mixing colloidal particles. To produce high-visibility structural colors, melanin-like core-shell particles composed of a polystyrene (PSt) core and a polydopamine (PDA) shell, were used as components. The results indicated that neutral structural colors could be successfully obtained by simply mixing two differently sized melanin-like PSt@PDA core-shell particles. In addition, the arrangements of the particles, which were important factors when forming structural colors, were investigated by mathematical processing using a 2D Fourier transform technique and Voronoi diagrams. These findings provide new insights for the development of structural color-based ink applications.

Characterization of wood dust from furniture by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis.

PubMed

Gómez Yepes, Milena Elizabeth; Cremades, Lázaro V

2011-01-01

Study characterized and analyzed form factor, elementary composition and particle size of wood dust, in order to understand its harmful health effects on carpenters in Quindío (Colombia). Once particle characteristics (size distributions, aerodynamic equivalent diameter (D(α)), elemental composition and shape factors) were analyzed, particles were then characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXRA). SEM analysis of particulate matter showed: 1) cone-shaped particle ranged from 2.09 to 48.79 µm D(α); 2) rectangular prism-shaped particle from 2.47 to 72.9 µm D(α); 3) cylindrically-shaped particle from 2.5 to 48.79 µm D(α); and 4) spherically-shaped particle from 2.61 to 51.93 µm D(α). EDXRA reveals presence of chemical elements from paints and varnishes such as Ca, K, Na and Cr. SEM/EDXRA contributes in a significant manner to the morphological characterization of wood dust. It is obvious that the type of particles sampled is a complex function of shapes and sizes of particles. Thus, it is important to investigate the influence of particles characteristics, morphology, shapes and D(α) that may affect the health of carpenters in Quindío.

Co-expression of HIV-1 virus-like particles and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor by GEO-D03 DNA vaccine.

PubMed

Hellerstein, Michael; Xu, Yongxian; Marino, Tracie; Lu, Shan; Yi, Hong; Wright, Elizabeth R; Robinson, Harriet L

2012-11-01

Here, we report on GEO-D03, a DNA vaccine that co-expresses non-infectious HIV-1 virus-like particles (VLPs) and the human cytokine, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The virus-like particles display the native gp160 form of the HIV-1 Envelope glycoprotein (Env) and are designed to elicit antibody against the natural form of Env on virus and virus-infected cells. The DNA-expressed HIV Gag, Pol and Env proteins also have the potential to elicit virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells. The purpose of the co-expressed GM-CSF is to target a cytokine that recruits, expands and differentiates macrophages and dendritic cells to the site of VLP expression. The GEO-D03 DNA vaccine is currently entered into human trials as a prime for a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) boost. In preclinical studies in macaques using an SIV prototype vaccine, this vaccination regimen elicited both anti-viral T cells and antibody, and provided 70% protection against acquisition during 12 weekly rectal exposures with a heterologous SIV. Higher avidity of the Env-specific Ab for the native form of the Env in the challenge virus correlated with lower likelihood of SIV infection.

Factors controlling the evaporation of secondary organic aerosol from α‐pinene ozonolysis

PubMed Central

Pajunoja, Aki; Tikkanen, Olli‐Pekka; Buchholz, Angela; Faiola, Celia; Väisänen, Olli; Hao, Liqing; Kari, Eetu; Peräkylä, Otso; Garmash, Olga; Shiraiwa, Manabu; Ehn, Mikael; Lehtinen, Kari; Virtanen, Annele

2017-01-01

Abstract Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) forms a major fraction of organic aerosols in the atmosphere. Knowledge of SOA properties that affect their dynamics in the atmosphere is needed for improving climate models. By combining experimental and modeling techniques, we investigated the factors controlling SOA evaporation under different humidity conditions. Our experiments support the conclusion of particle phase diffusivity limiting the evaporation under dry conditions. Viscosity of particles at dry conditions was estimated to increase several orders of magnitude during evaporation, up to 109 Pa s. However, at atmospherically relevant relative humidity and time scales, our results show that diffusion limitations may have a minor effect on evaporation of the studied α‐pinene SOA particles. Based on previous studies and our model simulations, we suggest that, in warm environments dominated by biogenic emissions, the major uncertainty in models describing the SOA particle evaporation is related to the volatility of SOA constituents. PMID:28503004

Fuzzy forecasting based on two-factors second-order fuzzy-trend logical relationship groups and particle swarm optimization techniques.

PubMed

Chen, Shyi-Ming; Manalu, Gandhi Maruli Tua; Pan, Jeng-Shyang; Liu, Hsiang-Chuan

2013-06-01

In this paper, we present a new method for fuzzy forecasting based on two-factors second-order fuzzy-trend logical relationship groups and particle swarm optimization (PSO) techniques. First, we fuzzify the historical training data of the main factor and the secondary factor, respectively, to form two-factors second-order fuzzy logical relationships. Then, we group the two-factors second-order fuzzy logical relationships into two-factors second-order fuzzy-trend logical relationship groups. Then, we obtain the optimal weighting vector for each fuzzy-trend logical relationship group by using PSO techniques to perform the forecasting. We also apply the proposed method to forecast the Taiwan Stock Exchange Capitalization Weighted Stock Index and the NTD/USD exchange rates. The experimental results show that the proposed method gets better forecasting performance than the existing methods.

Solubility of iron from combustion source particles in acidic media linked to iron speciation.

PubMed

Fu, Hongbo; Lin, Jun; Shang, Guangfeng; Dong, Wenbo; Grassian, Vichi H; Carmichael, Gregory R; Li, Yan; Chen, Jianmin

2012-10-16

In this study, iron solubility from six combustion source particles was investigated in acidic media. For comparison, a Chinese loess (CL) dust was also included. The solubility experiments confirmed that iron solubility was highly variable and dependent on particle sources. Under dark and light conditions, the combustion source particles dissolved faster and to a greater extent relative to CL. Oil fly ash (FA) yielded the highest soluble iron as compared to the other samples. Total iron solubility fractions measured in the dark after 12 h ranged between 2.9 and 74.1% of the initial iron content for the combustion-derived particles (Oil FA > biomass burning particles (BP) > coal FA). Ferrous iron represented the dominant soluble form of Fe in the suspensions of straw BP and corn BP, while total dissolved Fe presented mainly as ferric iron in the cases of oil FA, coal FA, and CL. Mössbauer measurements and TEM analysis revealed that Fe in oil FA was commonly presented as nanosized Fe(3)O(4) aggregates and Fe/S-rich particles. Highly labile source of Fe in corn BP could be originated from amorphous Fe form mixed internally with K-rich particles. However, Fe in coal FA was dominated by the more insoluble forms of both Fe-bearing aluminosilicate glass and Fe oxides. The data presented herein showed that iron speciation varies by source and is an important factor controlling iron solubility from these anthropogenic emissions in acidic solutions, suggesting that the variability of iron solubility from combustion-derived particles is related to the inherent character and origin of the aerosols themselves. Such information can be useful in improving our understanding on iron solubility from combustion aerosols when they undergo acidic processing during atmospheric transport.

System for forming janus particles

DOEpatents

Hong, Liang [Midland, MI; Jiang, Shan [Champaign, IL; Granick, Steve [Champaign, IL

2011-01-25

The invention is a method of forming Janus particles, that includes forming an emulsion that contains initial particles, a first liquid, and a second liquid; solidifying the first liquid to form a solid that contains at least a portion of the initial particles on a surface of the solid; and treating the exposed particle sides with a first surface modifying agent, to form the Janus particles. Each of the initial particles on the surface has an exposed particle side and a blocked particle side.

Electromagnetic Transition Form Factor of the η meson with WASA-at-COSY

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goswami, A.

2016-11-01

In this work we present a study of the Dalitz decay η → γe+e-. The aim of this work is to measure the transition form factor of the η meson. The transition form factor of the η meson describes the electromagnetic structure of the meson. The study of the Dalitz decay helps to calculate the transition form factor of the η meson. When a particle is point-like it's decay rate can be calculated within QED. However, the complex structure of the meson modifies its decay rate. The transition form factor is determined by comparing the lepton-antilepton invariant mass distribution with QED. For this study data on proton-proton reaction at a beam energy of 1.4 GeV has been collected with WASA-at-COSY detector at Forschungszentrum Juelich, Germany. In the higher invariant mass region recent theoretical calculations slightly deviate from the fit to the data. We expect better results in the higher invariant mass region than previous measurements. The preliminary results of the analysis will be presented.

Viscous Particle Breakup within a Cooling Nuclear Fireball

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilkinson, J. T.; Knight, K. B.; Dai, Z.

2016-10-04

Following the surface detonation of a nuclear weapon, the Earth’s crust and immediate surroundings are drawn into the fireball and form melts. Fallout is formed as these melts incorporate radioactive material from the bomb vapor and cool rapidly. The resultant fallout plume and dispersion of radioactive contamination is a function of several factors including weather patterns and fallout particle shapes and size distributions. Accurate modeling of the size distributions of fallout forms an important data point for dispersion codes that calculate the aerial distribution of fallout. While morphological evidence for aggregation of molten droplets is well documented in fallout glassmore » populations, the breakup of these molten droplets has not been similarly studied. This study documents evidence that quenched fallout populations preserve evidence of molten breakup mechanisms.« less

Indomethacin nanocrystals prepared by different laboratory scale methods: effect on crystalline form and dissolution behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martena, Valentina; Censi, Roberta; Hoti, Ela; Malaj, Ledjan; Di Martino, Piera

2012-12-01

The objective of this study is to select very simple and well-known laboratory scale methods able to reduce particle size of indomethacin until the nanometric scale. The effect on the crystalline form and the dissolution behavior of the different samples was deliberately evaluated in absence of any surfactants as stabilizers. Nanocrystals of indomethacin (native crystals are in the γ form) (IDM) were obtained by three laboratory scale methods: A (Batch A: crystallization by solvent evaporation in a nano-spray dryer), B (Batch B-15 and B-30: wet milling and lyophilization), and C (Batch C-20-N and C-40-N: Cryo-milling in the presence of liquid nitrogen). Nanocrystals obtained by the method A (Batch A) crystallized into a mixture of α and γ polymorphic forms. IDM obtained by the two other methods remained in the γ form and a different attitude to the crystallinity decrease were observed, with a more considerable decrease in crystalline degree for IDM milled for 40 min in the presence of liquid nitrogen. The intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) revealed a higher dissolution rate for Batches A and C-40-N, due to the higher IDR of α form than γ form for the Batch A, and the lower crystallinity degree for both the Batches A and C-40-N. These factors, as well as the decrease in particle size, influenced the IDM dissolution rate from the particle samples. Modifications in the solid physical state that may occur using different particle size reduction treatments have to be taken into consideration during the scale up and industrial development of new solid dosage forms.

Acoustic filtration and sedimentation of soot particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, K. M.; Ezekoye, O. A.

Removal of soot particles from a static chamber by an intense acoustic field is investigated. Combustion of a solid fuel fills a rectangular chamber with small soot particles, which sediment very slowly. The chamber is then irradiated by an intense acoustic source to produce a three dimensional standing wave field in the chamber. The acoustic excitation causes the soot particles to agglomerate, forming larger particles which sediment faster from the system. The soot also forms 1-2 cm disks, with axes parallel to the axis of the acoustic source, which are levitated by the sound field at half-wavelength spacing within the chamber. Laser extinction measurements are made to determine soot volume fractions as a function of exposure time within the chamber. The volume fraction is reduced over time by sedimentation and by particle migration to the disks. The soot disks are considered to be a novel mechanism for particle removal from the air stream, and this mechanism has been dubbed acoustic filtration. An experimental method is developed for comparing the rate of soot removal by sedimentation alone with the rate of soot removal by sedimentation and acoustic filtration. Results show that acoustic filtration increases the rate of soot removal by a factor of two over acoustically-induced sedimentation alone.

Size exclusion deep bed filtration: Experimental and modelling uncertainties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Badalyan, Alexander, E-mail: alexander.badalyan@adelaide.edu.au; You, Zhenjiang; Aji, Kaiser

A detailed uncertainty analysis associated with carboxyl-modified latex particle capture in glass bead-formed porous media enabled verification of the two theoretical stochastic models for prediction of particle retention due to size exclusion. At the beginning of this analysis it is established that size exclusion is a dominant particle capture mechanism in the present study: calculated significant repulsive Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek potential between latex particles and glass beads is an indication of their mutual repulsion, thus, fulfilling the necessary condition for size exclusion. Applying linear uncertainty propagation method in the form of truncated Taylor's series expansion, combined standard uncertainties (CSUs) in normalised suspendedmore » particle concentrations are calculated using CSUs in experimentally determined parameters such as: an inlet volumetric flowrate of suspension, particle number in suspensions, particle concentrations in inlet and outlet streams, particle and pore throat size distributions. Weathering of glass beads in high alkaline solutions does not appreciably change particle size distribution, and, therefore, is not considered as an additional contributor to the weighted mean particle radius and corresponded weighted mean standard deviation. Weighted mean particle radius and LogNormal mean pore throat radius are characterised by the highest CSUs among all experimental parameters translating to high CSU in the jamming ratio factor (dimensionless particle size). Normalised suspended particle concentrations calculated via two theoretical models are characterised by higher CSUs than those for experimental data. The model accounting the fraction of inaccessible flow as a function of latex particle radius excellently predicts normalised suspended particle concentrations for the whole range of jamming ratios. The presented uncertainty analysis can be also used for comparison of intra- and inter-laboratory particle size exclusion data.« less

Quartetting in Nuclear Matter and α Particle Condensation in Nuclear Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Röpke, G.; Schuck, P.; Horiuchi, H.; Tohsaki, A.; Funaki, Y.; Yamada, T.

2008-02-01

Alternatively to pairing, four-particle correlations may become of importance for the formation of quantum condensates in nuclear matter. With increasing density, four-particle correlations are suppressed because of Pauli blocking. Signatures of α-like clusters are expected to occur in low-density nuclear systems. The famous Hoyle state (02+ at 7.654 MeV in 12C) is identified as being an almost ideal condensate of three α-particles, hold together only by the Coulomb barrier. It, therefore, has a 8Be-α structure of low density. Transition probability and inelastic form factor together with position and other physical quantities are correctly reproduced without any adjustable parameter from our two parameter wave function of α-particle condensate type. The possibility of the existence of α-particle condensed states in heavier nα nuclei is also discussed.

Transverse momentum, rapidity, and centrality dependence of inclusive charged-particle production in √{sNN} = 5.02 TeVp + Pb collisions measured by the ATLAS experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.; Abdinov, O.; Abeloos, B.; Aben, R.; Abouzeid, O. S.; Abraham, N. L.; Abramowicz, H.; Abreu, H.; Abreu, R.; Abulaiti, Y.; Acharya, B. S.; Adamczyk, L.; Adams, D. L.; Adelman, J.; Adomeit, S.; Adye, T.; Affolder, A. A.; Agatonovic-Jovin, T.; Agricola, J.; Aguilar-Saavedra, J. A.; Ahlen, S. P.; Ahmadov, F.; Aielli, G.; Akerstedt, H.; Åkesson, T. P. A.; Akimov, A. V.; Alberghi, G. L.; Albert, J.; Albrand, S.; Alconada Verzini, M. J.; Aleksa, M.; Aleksandrov, I. N.; Alexa, C.; Alexander, G.; Alexopoulos, T.; Alhroob, M.; Aliev, M.; Alimonti, G.; Alison, J.; Alkire, S. P.; Allbrooke, B. M. M.; Allen, B. W.; Allport, P. P.; Aloisio, A.; Alonso, A.; Alonso, F.; Alpigiani, C.; Alstaty, M.; Alvarez Gonzalez, B.; Álvarez Piqueras, D.; Alviggi, M. G.; Amadio, B. T.; Amako, K.; Amaral Coutinho, Y.; Amelung, C.; Amidei, D.; Amor Dos Santos, S. P.; Amorim, A.; Amoroso, S.; Amundsen, G.; Anastopoulos, C.; Ancu, L. S.; Andari, N.; Andeen, T.; Anders, C. F.; Anders, G.; Anders, J. K.; Anderson, K. J.; Andreazza, A.; Andrei, V.; Angelidakis, S.; Angelozzi, I.; Anger, P.; Angerami, A.; Anghinolfi, F.; Anisenkov, A. V.; Anjos, N.; Annovi, A.; Antonelli, M.; Antonov, A.; Anulli, F.; Aoki, M.; Aperio Bella, L.; Arabidze, G.; Arai, Y.; Araque, J. P.; Arce, A. T. H.; Arduh, F. A.; Arguin, J.-F.; Argyropoulos, S.; Arik, M.; Armbruster, A. J.; Armitage, L. J.; Arnaez, O.; Arnold, H.; Arratia, M.; Arslan, O.; Artamonov, A.; Artoni, G.; Artz, S.; Asai, S.; Asbah, N.; Ashkenazi, A.; Åsman, B.; Asquith, L.; Assamagan, K.; Astalos, R.; Atkinson, M.; Atlay, N. B.; Augsten, K.; Avolio, G.; Axen, B.; Ayoub, M. K.; Azuelos, G.; Baak, M. A.; Baas, A. E.; Baca, M. J.; Bachacou, H.; Bachas, K.; Backes, M.; Backhaus, M.; Bagiacchi, P.; Bagnaia, P.; Bai, Y.; Baines, J. T.; Baker, O. K.; Baldin, E. M.; Balek, P.; Balestri, T.; Balli, F.; Balunas, W. K.; Banas, E.; Banerjee, Sw.; Bannoura, A. A. E.; Barak, L.; Barberio, E. L.; Barberis, D.; Barbero, M.; Barillari, T.; Barklow, T.; Barlow, N.; Barnes, S. L.; Barnett, B. M.; Barnett, R. M.; Barnovska, Z.; Baroncelli, A.; Barone, G.; Barr, A. J.; Barranco Navarro, L.; Barreiro, F.; Barreiro Guimarães da Costa, J.; Bartoldus, R.; Barton, A. E.; Bartos, P.; Basalaev, A.; Bassalat, A.; Bates, R. L.; Batista, S. J.; Batley, J. R.; Battaglia, M.; Bauce, M.; Bauer, F.; Bawa, H. S.; Beacham, J. B.; Beattie, M. D.; Beau, T.; Beauchemin, P. H.; Bechtle, P.; Beck, H. P.; Becker, K.; Becker, M.; Beckingham, M.; Becot, C.; Beddall, A. J.; Beddall, A.; Bednyakov, V. A.; Bedognetti, M.; Bee, C. P.; Beemster, L. J.; Beermann, T. A.; Begel, M.; Behr, J. K.; Belanger-Champagne, C.; Bell, A. S.; Bella, G.; Bellagamba, L.; Bellerive, A.; Bellomo, M.; Belotskiy, K.; Beltramello, O.; Belyaev, N. L.; Benary, O.; Benchekroun, D.; Bender, M.; Bendtz, K.; Benekos, N.; Benhammou, Y.; Benhar Noccioli, E.; Benitez, J.; Benjamin, D. P.; Bensinger, J. R.; Bentvelsen, S.; Beresford, L.; Beretta, M.; Berge, D.; Bergeaas Kuutmann, E.; Berger, N.; Beringer, J.; Berlendis, S.; Bernard, N. R.; Bernius, C.; Bernlochner, F. U.; Berry, T.; Berta, P.; Bertella, C.; Bertoli, G.; Bertolucci, F.; Bertram, I. A.; Bertsche, C.; Bertsche, D.; Besjes, G. J.; Bessidskaia Bylund, O.; Bessner, M.; Besson, N.; Betancourt, C.; Bethke, S.; Bevan, A. J.; Bhimji, W.; Bianchi, R. M.; Bianchini, L.; Bianco, M.; Biebel, O.; Biedermann, D.; Bielski, R.; Biesuz, N. V.; Biglietti, M.; Bilbao de Mendizabal, J.; Bilokon, H.; Bindi, M.; Binet, S.; Bingul, A.; Bini, C.; Biondi, S.; Bjergaard, D. M.; Black, C. W.; Black, J. E.; Black, K. M.; Blackburn, D.; Blair, R. E.; Blanchard, J.-B.; Blanco, J. E.; Blazek, T.; Bloch, I.; Blocker, C.; Blum, W.; Blumenschein, U.; Blunier, S.; Bobbink, G. J.; Bobrovnikov, V. S.; Bocchetta, S. S.; Bocci, A.; Bock, C.; Boehler, M.; Boerner, D.; Bogaerts, J. A.; Bogavac, D.; Bogdanchikov, A. G.; Bohm, C.; Boisvert, V.; Bokan, P.; Bold, T.; Boldyrev, A. S.; Bomben, M.; Bona, M.; Boonekamp, M.; Borisov, A.; Borissov, G.; Bortfeldt, J.; Bortoletto, D.; Bortolotto, V.; Bos, K.; Boscherini, D.; Bosman, M.; Bossio Sola, J. D.; Boudreau, J.; Bouffard, J.; Bouhova-Thacker, E. V.; Boumediene, D.; Bourdarios, C.; Boutle, S. K.; Boveia, A.; Boyd, J.; Boyko, I. R.; Bracinik, J.; Brandt, A.; Brandt, G.; Brandt, O.; Bratzler, U.; Brau, B.; Brau, J. E.; Braun, H. M.; Breaden Madden, W. D.; Brendlinger, K.; Brennan, A. J.; Brenner, L.; Brenner, R.; Bressler, S.; Bristow, T. M.; Britton, D.; Britzger, D.; Brochu, F. M.; Brock, I.; Brock, R.; Brooijmans, G.; Brooks, T.; Brooks, W. K.; Brosamer, J.; Brost, E.; Broughton, J. H.; Bruckman de Renstrom, P. A.; Bruncko, D.; Bruneliere, R.; Bruni, A.; Bruni, G.; Brunt, Bh; Bruschi, M.; Bruscino, N.; Bryant, P.; Bryngemark, L.; Buanes, T.; Buat, Q.; Buchholz, P.; Buckley, A. G.; Budagov, I. A.; Buehrer, F.; Bugge, M. K.; Bulekov, O.; Bullock, D.; Burckhart, H.; Burdin, S.; Burgard, C. D.; Burghgrave, B.; Burka, K.; Burke, S.; Burmeister, I.; Busato, E.; Büscher, D.; Büscher, V.; Bussey, P.; Butler, J. M.; Buttar, C. M.; Butterworth, J. M.; Butti, P.; Buttinger, W.; Buzatu, A.; Buzykaev, A. R.; Cabrera Urbán, S.; Caforio, D.; Cairo, V. M.; Cakir, O.; Calace, N.; Calafiura, P.; Calandri, A.; Calderini, G.; Calfayan, P.; Caloba, L. P.; Calvet, D.; Calvet, S.; Calvet, T. P.; Camacho Toro, R.; Camarda, S.; Camarri, P.; Cameron, D.; Caminal Armadans, R.; Camincher, C.; Campana, S.; Campanelli, M.; Camplani, A.; Campoverde, A.; Canale, V.; Canepa, A.; Cano Bret, M.; Cantero, J.; Cantrill, R.; Cao, T.; Capeans Garrido, M. D. M.; Caprini, I.; Caprini, M.; Capua, M.; Caputo, R.; Carbone, R. M.; Cardarelli, R.; Cardillo, F.; Carli, I.; Carli, T.; Carlino, G.; Carminati, L.; Caron, S.; Carquin, E.; Carrillo-Montoya, G. D.; Carter, J. R.; Carvalho, J.; Casadei, D.; Casado, M. P.; Casolino, M.; Casper, D. W.; Castaneda-Miranda, E.; Castelijn, R.; Castelli, A.; Castillo Gimenez, V.; Castro, N. F.; Catinaccio, A.; Catmore, J. R.; Cattai, A.; Caudron, J.; Cavaliere, V.; Cavallaro, E.; Cavalli, D.; Cavalli-Sforza, M.; Cavasinni, V.; Ceradini, F.; Cerda Alberich, L.; Cerio, B. C.; Cerqueira, A. S.; Cerri, A.; Cerrito, L.; Cerutti, F.; Cerv, M.; Cervelli, A.; Cetin, S. A.; Chafaq, A.; Chakraborty, D.; Chan, S. K.; Chan, Y. L.; Chang, P.; Chapman, J. D.; Charlton, D. G.; Chatterjee, A.; Chau, C. C.; Chavez Barajas, C. A.; Che, S.; Cheatham, S.; Chegwidden, A.; Chekanov, S.; Chekulaev, S. V.; Chelkov, G. A.; Chelstowska, M. A.; Chen, C.; Chen, H.; Chen, K.; Chen, S.; Chen, S.; Chen, X.; Chen, Y.; Cheng, H. C.; Cheng, H. J.; Cheng, Y.; Cheplakov, A.; Cheremushkina, E.; Cherkaoui El Moursli, R.; Chernyatin, V.; Cheu, E.; Chevalier, L.; Chiarella, V.; Chiarelli, G.; Chiodini, G.; Chisholm, A. S.; Chitan, A.; Chizhov, M. V.; Choi, K.; Chomont, A. R.; Chouridou, S.; Chow, B. K. B.; Christodoulou, V.; Chromek-Burckhart, D.; Chudoba, J.; Chuinard, A. J.; Chwastowski, J. J.; Chytka, L.; Ciapetti, G.; Ciftci, A. K.; Cinca, D.; Cindro, V.; Cioara, I. A.; Ciocio, A.; Cirotto, F.; Citron, Z. H.; Citterio, M.; Ciubancan, M.; Clark, A.; Clark, B. L.; Clark, M. R.; Clark, P. J.; Clarke, R. N.; Clement, C.; Coadou, Y.; Cobal, M.; Coccaro, A.; Cochran, J.; Coffey, L.; Colasurdo, L.; Cole, B.; Colijn, A. P.; Collot, J.; Colombo, T.; Compostella, G.; Conde Muiño, P.; Coniavitis, E.; Connell, S. H.; Connelly, I. A.; Consorti, V.; Constantinescu, S.; Conti, G.; Conventi, F.; Cooke, M.; Cooper, B. D.; Cooper-Sarkar, A. M.; Cormier, K. J. R.; Cornelissen, T.; Corradi, M.; Corriveau, F.; Corso-Radu, A.; Cortes-Gonzalez, A.; Cortiana, G.; Costa, G.; Costa, M. J.; Costanzo, D.; Cottin, G.; Cowan, G.; Cox, B. E.; Cranmer, K.; Crawley, S. J.; Cree, G.; Crépé-Renaudin, S.; Crescioli, F.; Cribbs, W. A.; Crispin Ortuzar, M.; Cristinziani, M.; Croft, V.; Crosetti, G.; Cuhadar Donszelmann, T.; Cummings, J.; Curatolo, M.; Cúth, J.; Cuthbert, C.; Czirr, H.; Czodrowski, P.; D'Amen, G.; D'Auria, S.; D'Onofrio, M.; da Cunha Sargedas de Sousa, M. J.; da Via, C.; Dabrowski, W.; Dado, T.; Dai, T.; Dale, O.; Dallaire, F.; Dallapiccola, C.; Dam, M.; Dandoy, J. R.; Dang, N. P.; Daniells, A. C.; Dann, N. S.; Danninger, M.; Dano Hoffmann, M.; Dao, V.; Darbo, G.; Darmora, S.; Dassoulas, J.; Dattagupta, A.; Davey, W.; David, C.; Davidek, T.; Davies, M.; Davison, P.; Dawe, E.; Dawson, I.; Daya-Ishmukhametova, R. K.; de, K.; de Asmundis, R.; de Benedetti, A.; de Castro, S.; de Cecco, S.; de Groot, N.; de Jong, P.; de la Torre, H.; de Lorenzi, F.; de Maria, A.; de Pedis, D.; de Salvo, A.; de Sanctis, U.; de Santo, A.; de Vivie de Regie, J. B.; Dearnaley, W. J.; Debbe, R.; Debenedetti, C.; Dedovich, D. V.; Dehghanian, N.; Deigaard, I.; Del Gaudio, M.; Del Peso, J.; Del Prete, T.; Delgove, D.; Deliot, F.; Delitzsch, C. M.; Deliyergiyev, M.; Dell'Acqua, A.; Dell'Asta, L.; Dell'Orso, M.; Della Pietra, M.; Della Volpe, D.; Delmastro, M.; Delsart, P. A.; Deluca, C.; Demarco, D. A.; Demers, S.; Demichev, M.; Demilly, A.; Denisov, S. P.; Denysiuk, D.; Derendarz, D.; Derkaoui, J. E.; Derue, F.; Dervan, P.; Desch, K.; Deterre, C.; Dette, K.; Deviveiros, P. O.; Dewhurst, A.; Dhaliwal, S.; di Ciaccio, A.; di Ciaccio, L.; di Clemente, W. K.; di Donato, C.; di Girolamo, A.; di Girolamo, B.; di Micco, B.; di Nardo, R.; di Simone, A.; di Sipio, R.; di Valentino, D.; Diaconu, C.; Diamond, M.; Dias, F. A.; Diaz, M. A.; Diehl, E. B.; Dietrich, J.; Diglio, S.; Dimitrievska, A.; Dingfelder, J.; Dita, P.; Dita, S.; Dittus, F.; Djama, F.; Djobava, T.; Djuvsland, J. I.; Do Vale, M. A. B.; Dobos, D.; Dobre, M.; Doglioni, C.; Dohmae, T.; Dolejsi, J.; Dolezal, Z.; Dolgoshein, B. A.; Donadelli, M.; Donati, S.; Dondero, P.; Donini, J.; Dopke, J.; Doria, A.; Dova, M. T.; Doyle, A. T.; Drechsler, E.; Dris, M.; Du, Y.; Duarte-Campderros, J.; Duchovni, E.; Duckeck, G.; Ducu, O. A.; Duda, D.; Dudarev, A.; Duffield, E. M.; Duflot, L.; Duguid, L.; Dührssen, M.; Dumancic, M.; Dunford, M.; Duran Yildiz, H.; Düren, M.; Durglishvili, A.; Duschinger, D.; Dutta, B.; Dyndal, M.; Eckardt, C.; Ecker, K. M.; Edgar, R. C.; Edwards, N. C.; Eifert, T.; Eigen, G.; Einsweiler, K.; Ekelof, T.; El Kacimi, M.; Ellajosyula, V.; Ellert, M.; Elles, S.; Ellinghaus, F.; Elliot, A. A.; Ellis, N.; Elmsheuser, J.; Elsing, M.; Emeliyanov, D.; Enari, Y.; Endner, O. C.; Endo, M.; Ennis, J. S.; Erdmann, J.; Ereditato, A.; Ernis, G.; Ernst, J.; Ernst, M.; Errede, S.; Ertel, E.; Escalier, M.; Esch, H.; Escobar, C.; Esposito, B.; Etienvre, A. I.; Etzion, E.; Evans, H.; Ezhilov, A.; Fabbri, F.; Fabbri, L.; Facini, G.; Fakhrutdinov, R. M.; Falciano, S.; Falla, R. J.; Faltova, J.; Fang, Y.; Fanti, M.; Farbin, A.; Farilla, A.; Farina, C.; Farooque, T.; Farrell, S.; Farrington, S. M.; Farthouat, P.; Fassi, F.; Fassnacht, P.; Fassouliotis, D.; Faucci Giannelli, M.; Favareto, A.; Fawcett, W. J.; Fayard, L.; Fedin, O. L.; Fedorko, W.; Feigl, S.; Feligioni, L.; Feng, C.; Feng, E. J.; Feng, H.; Fenyuk, A. B.; Feremenga, L.; Fernandez Martinez, P.; Fernandez Perez, S.; Ferrando, J.; Ferrari, A.; Ferrari, P.; Ferrari, R.; Ferreira de Lima, D. E.; Ferrer, A.; Ferrere, D.; Ferretti, C.; Ferretto Parodi, A.; Fiedler, F.; Filipčič, A.; Filipuzzi, M.; Filthaut, F.; Fincke-Keeler, M.; Finelli, K. D.; Fiolhais, M. C. N.; Fiorini, L.; Firan, A.; Fischer, A.; Fischer, C.; Fischer, J.; Fisher, W. C.; Flaschel, N.; Fleck, I.; Fleischmann, P.; Fletcher, G. T.; Fletcher, R. R. M.; Flick, T.; Floderus, A.; Flores Castillo, L. R.; Flowerdew, M. J.; Forcolin, G. T.; Formica, A.; Forti, A.; Foster, A. G.; Fournier, D.; Fox, H.; Fracchia, S.; Francavilla, P.; Franchini, M.; Francis, D.; Franconi, L.; Franklin, M.; Frate, M.; Fraternali, M.; Freeborn, D.; Fressard-Batraneanu, S. M.; Friedrich, F.; Froidevaux, D.; Frost, J. A.; Fukunaga, C.; Fullana Torregrosa, E.; Fusayasu, T.; Fuster, J.; Gabaldon, C.; Gabizon, O.; Gabrielli, A.; Gabrielli, A.; Gach, G. P.; Gadatsch, S.; Gadomski, S.; Gagliardi, G.; Gagnon, L. G.; Gagnon, P.; Galea, C.; Galhardo, B.; Gallas, E. J.; Gallop, B. J.; Gallus, P.; Galster, G.; Gan, K. K.; Gao, J.; Gao, Y.; Gao, Y. S.; Garay Walls, F. M.; García, C.; García Navarro, J. E.; Garcia-Sciveres, M.; Gardner, R. W.; Garelli, N.; Garonne, V.; Gascon Bravo, A.; Gatti, C.; Gaudiello, A.; Gaudio, G.; Gaur, B.; Gauthier, L.; Gavrilenko, I. L.; Gay, C.; Gaycken, G.; Gazis, E. N.; Gecse, Z.; Gee, C. N. P.; Geich-Gimbel, Ch.; Geisler, M. P.; Gemme, C.; Genest, M. H.; Geng, C.; Gentile, S.; George, S.; Gerbaudo, D.; Gershon, A.; Ghasemi, S.; Ghazlane, H.; Ghneimat, M.; Giacobbe, B.; Giagu, S.; Giannetti, P.; Gibbard, B.; Gibson, S. M.; Gignac, M.; Gilchriese, M.; Gillam, T. P. S.; Gillberg, D.; Gilles, G.; Gingrich, D. M.; Giokaris, N.; Giordani, M. P.; Giorgi, F. M.; Giorgi, F. M.; Giraud, P. F.; Giromini, P.; Giugni, D.; Giuli, F.; Giuliani, C.; Giulini, M.; Gjelsten, B. K.; Gkaitatzis, S.; Gkialas, I.; Gkougkousis, E. L.; Gladilin, L. K.; Glasman, C.; Glatzer, J.; Glaysher, P. C. F.; Glazov, A.; Goblirsch-Kolb, M.; Godlewski, J.; Goldfarb, S.; Golling, T.; Golubkov, D.; Gomes, A.; Gonçalo, R.; Goncalves Pinto Firmino da Costa, J.; Gonella, L.; Gongadze, A.; González de La Hoz, S.; Gonzalez Parra, G.; Gonzalez-Sevilla, S.; Goossens, L.; Gorbounov, P. A.; Gordon, H. A.; Gorelov, I.; Gorini, B.; Gorini, E.; Gorišek, A.; Gornicki, E.; Goshaw, A. T.; Gössling, C.; Gostkin, M. I.; Goudet, C. R.; Goujdami, D.; Goussiou, A. G.; Govender, N.; Gozani, E.; Graber, L.; Grabowska-Bold, I.; Gradin, P. O. J.; Grafström, P.; Gramling, J.; Gramstad, E.; Grancagnolo, S.; Gratchev, V.; Gravila, P. M.; Gray, H. M.; Graziani, E.; Greenwood, Z. D.; Grefe, C.; Gregersen, K.; Gregor, I. M.; Grenier, P.; Grevtsov, K.; Griffiths, J.; Grillo, A. A.; Grimm, K.; Grinstein, S.; Gris, Ph.; Grivaz, J.-F.; Groh, S.; Grohs, J. P.; Gross, E.; Grosse-Knetter, J.; Grossi, G. C.; Grout, Z. J.; Guan, L.; Guan, W.; Guenther, J.; Guescini, F.; Guest, D.; Gueta, O.; Guido, E.; Guillemin, T.; Guindon, S.; Gul, U.; Gumpert, C.; Guo, J.; Guo, Y.; Gupta, S.; Gustavino, G.; Gutierrez, P.; Gutierrez Ortiz, N. G.; Gutschow, C.; Guyot, C.; Gwenlan, C.; Gwilliam, C. B.; Haas, A.; Haber, C.; Hadavand, H. K.; Haddad, N.; Hadef, A.; Haefner, P.; Hageböck, S.; Hajduk, Z.; Hakobyan, H.; Haleem, M.; Haley, J.; Halladjian, G.; Hallewell, G. D.; Hamacher, K.; Hamal, P.; Hamano, K.; Hamilton, A.; Hamity, G. N.; Hamnett, P. G.; Han, L.; Hanagaki, K.; Hanawa, K.; Hance, M.; Haney, B.; Hanke, P.; Hanna, R.; Hansen, J. B.; Hansen, J. D.; Hansen, M. C.; Hansen, P. H.; Hara, K.; Hard, A. S.; Harenberg, T.; Hariri, F.; Harkusha, S.; Harrington, R. D.; Harrison, P. F.; Hartjes, F.; Hartmann, N. M.; Hasegawa, M.; Hasegawa, Y.; Hasib, A.; Hassani, S.; Haug, S.; Hauser, R.; Hauswald, L.; Havranek, M.; Hawkes, C. M.; Hawkings, R. J.; Hayden, D.; Hays, C. P.; Hays, J. M.; Hayward, H. S.; Haywood, S. J.; Head, S. J.; Heck, T.; Hedberg, V.; Heelan, L.; Heim, S.; Heim, T.; Heinemann, B.; Heinrich, J. J.; Heinrich, L.; Heinz, C.; Hejbal, J.; Helary, L.; Hellman, S.; Helsens, C.; Henderson, J.; Henderson, R. C. W.; Heng, Y.; Henkelmann, S.; Henriques Correia, A. M.; Henrot-Versille, S.; Herbert, G. H.; Hernández Jiménez, Y.; Herten, G.; Hertenberger, R.; Hervas, L.; Hesketh, G. G.; Hessey, N. P.; Hetherly, J. W.; Hickling, R.; Higón-Rodriguez, E.; Hill, E.; Hill, J. C.; Hiller, K. H.; Hillier, S. 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M.; Romero Adam, E.; Rompotis, N.; Ronzani, M.; Roos, L.; Ros, E.; Rosati, S.; Rosbach, K.; Rose, P.; Rosenthal, O.; Rosien, N.-A.; Rossetti, V.; Rossi, E.; Rossi, L. P.; Rosten, J. H. N.; Rosten, R.; Rotaru, M.; Roth, I.; Rothberg, J.; Rousseau, D.; Royon, C. R.; Rozanov, A.; Rozen, Y.; Ruan, X.; Rubbo, F.; Rudolph, M. S.; Rühr, F.; Ruiz-Martinez, A.; Rurikova, Z.; Rusakovich, N. A.; Ruschke, A.; Russell, H. L.; Rutherfoord, J. P.; Ruthmann, N.; Ryabov, Y. F.; Rybar, M.; Rybkin, G.; Ryu, S.; Ryzhov, A.; Rzehorz, G. F.; Saavedra, A. F.; Sabato, G.; Sacerdoti, S.; Sadrozinski, H. F.-W.; Sadykov, R.; Safai Tehrani, F.; Saha, P.; Sahinsoy, M.; Saimpert, M.; Saito, T.; Sakamoto, H.; Sakurai, Y.; Salamanna, G.; Salamon, A.; Salazar Loyola, J. E.; Salek, D.; Sales de Bruin, P. H.; Salihagic, D.; Salnikov, A.; Salt, J.; Salvatore, D.; Salvatore, F.; Salvucci, A.; Salzburger, A.; Sammel, D.; Sampsonidis, D.; Sanchez, A.; Sánchez, J.; Sanchez Martinez, V.; Sandaker, H.; Sandbach, R. L.; Sander, H. G.; Sandhoff, M.; Sandoval, C.; Sandstroem, R.; Sankey, D. P. C.; Sannino, M.; Sansoni, A.; Santoni, C.; Santonico, R.; Santos, H.; Santoyo Castillo, I.; Sapp, K.; Sapronov, A.; Saraiva, J. G.; Sarrazin, B.; Sasaki, O.; Sasaki, Y.; Sato, K.; Sauvage, G.; Sauvan, E.; Savage, G.; Savard, P.; Sawyer, C.; Sawyer, L.; Saxon, J.; Sbarra, C.; Sbrizzi, A.; Scanlon, T.; Scannicchio, D. A.; Scarcella, M.; Scarfone, V.; Schaarschmidt, J.; Schacht, P.; Schachtner, B. M.; Schaefer, D.; Schaefer, R.; Schaeffer, J.; Schaepe, S.; Schaetzel, S.; Schäfer, U.; Schaffer, A. C.; Schaile, D.; Schamberger, R. D.; Scharf, V.; Schegelsky, V. A.; Scheirich, D.; Schernau, M.; Schiavi, C.; Schier, S.; Schillo, C.; Schioppa, M.; Schlenker, S.; Schmidt-Sommerfeld, K. R.; Schmieden, K.; Schmitt, C.; Schmitt, S.; Schmitz, S.; Schneider, B.; Schnoor, U.; Schoeffel, L.; Schoening, A.; Schoenrock, B. D.; Schopf, E.; Schott, M.; Schovancova, J.; Schramm, S.; Schreyer, M.; Schuh, N.; Schultens, M. J.; Schultz-Coulon, H.-C.; Schulz, H.; Schumacher, M.; Schumm, B. A.; Schune, Ph.; Schwartzman, A.; Schwarz, T. A.; Schwegler, Ph.; Schweiger, H.; Schwemling, Ph.; Schwienhorst, R.; Schwindling, J.; Schwindt, T.; Sciolla, G.; Scuri, F.; Scutti, F.; Searcy, J.; Seema, P.; Seidel, S. C.; Seiden, A.; Seifert, F.; Seixas, J. M.; Sekhniaidze, G.; Sekhon, K.; Sekula, S. J.; Seliverstov, D. M.; Semprini-Cesari, N.; Serfon, C.; Serin, L.; Serkin, L.; Sessa, M.; Seuster, R.; Severini, H.; Sfiligoj, T.; Sforza, F.; Sfyrla, A.; Shabalina, E.; Shaikh, N. W.; Shan, L. Y.; Shang, R.; Shank, J. T.; Shapiro, M.; Shatalov, P. B.; Shaw, K.; Shaw, S. M.; Shcherbakova, A.; Shehu, C. Y.; Sherwood, P.; Shi, L.; Shimizu, S.; Shimmin, C. O.; Shimojima, M.; Shiyakova, M.; Shmeleva, A.; Shoaleh Saadi, D.; Shochet, M. J.; Shojaii, S.; Shrestha, S.; Shulga, E.; Shupe, M. A.; Sicho, P.; Sickles, A. M.; Sidebo, P. E.; Sidiropoulou, O.; Sidorov, D.; Sidoti, A.; Siegert, F.; Sijacki, Dj.; Silva, J.; Silverstein, S. B.; Simak, V.; Simard, O.; Simic, Lj.; Simion, S.; Simioni, E.; Simmons, B.; Simon, D.; Simon, M.; Sinervo, P.; Sinev, N. B.; Sioli, M.; Siragusa, G.; Sivoklokov, S. Yu.; Sjölin, J.; Sjursen, T. B.; Skinner, M. B.; Skottowe, H. P.; Skubic, P.; Slater, M.; Slavicek, T.; Slawinska, M.; Sliwa, K.; Slovak, R.; Smakhtin, V.; Smart, B. H.; Smestad, L.; Smiesko, J.; Smirnov, S. Yu.; Smirnov, Y.; Smirnova, L. N.; Smirnova, O.; Smith, M. N. K.; Smith, R. W.; Smizanska, M.; Smolek, K.; Snesarev, A. A.; Snyder, S.; Sobie, R.; Socher, F.; Soffer, A.; Soh, D. A.; Sokhrannyi, G.; Solans Sanchez, C. A.; Solar, M.; Soldatov, E. Yu.; Soldevila, U.; Solodkov, A. A.; Soloshenko, A.; Solovyanov, O. V.; Solovyev, V.; Sommer, P.; Son, H.; Song, H. Y.; Sood, A.; Sopczak, A.; Sopko, V.; Sorin, V.; Sosa, D.; Sotiropoulou, C. L.; Soualah, R.; Soukharev, A. M.; South, D.; Sowden, B. C.; Spagnolo, S.; Spalla, M.; Spangenberg, M.; Spanò, F.; Sperlich, D.; Spettel, F.; Spighi, R.; Spigo, G.; Spiller, L. A.; Spousta, M.; St. Denis, R. D.; Stabile, A.; Stamen, R.; Stamm, S.; Stanecka, E.; Stanek, R. W.; Stanescu, C.; Stanescu-Bellu, M.; Stanitzki, M. M.; Stapnes, S.; Starchenko, E. A.; Stark, G. H.; Stark, J.; Staroba, P.; Starovoitov, P.; Stärz, S.; Staszewski, R.; Steinberg, P.; Stelzer, B.; Stelzer, H. J.; Stelzer-Chilton, O.; Stenzel, H.; Stewart, G. A.; Stillings, J. A.; Stockton, M. C.; Stoebe, M.; Stoicea, G.; Stolte, P.; Stonjek, S.; Stradling, A. R.; Straessner, A.; Stramaglia, M. E.; Strandberg, J.; Strandberg, S.; Strandlie, A.; Strauss, M.; Strizenec, P.; Ströhmer, R.; Strom, D. M.; Stroynowski, R.; Strubig, A.; Stucci, S. A.; Stugu, B.; Styles, N. A.; Su, D.; Su, J.; Subramaniam, R.; Suchek, S.; Sugaya, Y.; Suk, M.; Sulin, V. V.; Sultansoy, S.; Sumida, T.; Sun, S.; Sun, X.; Sundermann, J. E.; Suruliz, K.; Susinno, G.; Sutton, M. R.; Suzuki, S.; Svatos, M.; Swiatlowski, M.; Sykora, I.; Sykora, T.; Ta, D.; Taccini, C.; Tackmann, K.; Taenzer, J.; Taffard, A.; Tafirout, R.; Taiblum, N.; Takai, H.; Takashima, R.; Takeshita, T.; Takubo, Y.; Talby, M.; Talyshev, A. A.; Tan, K. G.; Tanaka, J.; Tanaka, R.; Tanaka, S.; Tannenwald, B. B.; Tapia Araya, S.; Tapprogge, S.; Tarem, S.; Tartarelli, G. F.; Tas, P.; Tasevsky, M.; Tashiro, T.; Tassi, E.; Tavares Delgado, A.; Tayalati, Y.; Taylor, A. C.; Taylor, G. N.; Taylor, P. T. E.; Taylor, W.; Teischinger, F. A.; Teixeira-Dias, P.; Temming, K. K.; Temple, D.; Ten Kate, H.; Teng, P. K.; Teoh, J. J.; Tepel, F.; Terada, S.; Terashi, K.; Terron, J.; Terzo, S.; Testa, M.; Teuscher, R. J.; Theveneaux-Pelzer, T.; Thomas, J. P.; Thomas-Wilsker, J.; Thompson, E. N.; Thompson, P. D.; Thompson, A. S.; Thomsen, L. A.; Thomson, E.; Thomson, M.; Tibbetts, M. J.; Ticse Torres, R. E.; Tikhomirov, V. O.; Tikhonov, Yu. A.; Timoshenko, S.; Tipton, P.; Tisserant, S.; Todome, K.; Todorov, T.; Todorova-Nova, S.; Tojo, J.; Tokár, S.; Tokushuku, K.; Tolley, E.; Tomlinson, L.; Tomoto, M.; Tompkins, L.; Toms, K.; Tong, B.; Torrence, E.; Torres, H.; Torró Pastor, E.; Toth, J.; Touchard, F.; Tovey, D. R.; Trefzger, T.; Tricoli, A.; Trigger, I. M.; Trincaz-Duvoid, S.; Tripiana, M. F.; Trischuk, W.; Trocmé, B.; Trofymov, A.; Troncon, C.; Trottier-McDonald, M.; Trovatelli, M.; Truong, L.; Trzebinski, M.; Trzupek, A.; Tseng, J. C.-L.; Tsiareshka, P. V.; Tsipolitis, G.; Tsirintanis, N.; Tsiskaridze, S.; Tsiskaridze, V.; Tskhadadze, E. G.; Tsui, K. M.; Tsukerman, I. I.; Tsulaia, V.; Tsuno, S.; Tsybychev, D.; Tudorache, A.; Tudorache, V.; Tuna, A. N.; Tupputi, S. A.; Turchikhin, S.; Turecek, D.; Turgeman, D.; Turra, R.; Turvey, A. J.; Tuts, P. M.; Tyndel, M.; Ucchielli, G.; Ueda, I.; Ueno, R.; Ughetto, M.; Ukegawa, F.; Unal, G.; Undrus, A.; Unel, G.; Ungaro, F. C.; Unno, Y.; Unverdorben, C.; Urban, J.; Urquijo, P.; Urrejola, P.; Usai, G.; Usanova, A.; Vacavant, L.; Vacek, V.; Vachon, B.; Valderanis, C.; Valdes Santurio, E.; Valencic, N.; Valentinetti, S.; Valero, A.; Valery, L.; Valkar, S.; Vallecorsa, S.; Valls Ferrer, J. A.; van den Wollenberg, W.; van der Deijl, P. C.; van der Geer, R.; van der Graaf, H.; van Eldik, N.; van Gemmeren, P.; van Nieuwkoop, J.; van Vulpen, I.; van Woerden, M. C.; Vanadia, M.; Vandelli, W.; Vanguri, R.; Vaniachine, A.; Vankov, P.; Vardanyan, G.; Vari, R.; Varnes, E. W.; Varol, T.; Varouchas, D.; Vartapetian, A.; Varvell, K. E.; Vasquez, J. G.; Vazeille, F.; Vazquez Schroeder, T.; Veatch, J.; Veloce, L. M.; Veloso, F.; Veneziano, S.; Ventura, A.; Venturi, M.; Venturi, N.; Venturini, A.; Vercesi, V.; Verducci, M.; Verkerke, W.; Vermeulen, J. C.; Vest, A.; Vetterli, M. C.; Viazlo, O.; Vichou, I.; Vickey, T.; Vickey Boeriu, O. E.; Viehhauser, G. H. A.; Viel, S.; Vigani, L.; Vigne, R.; Villa, M.; Villaplana Perez, M.; Vilucchi, E.; Vincter, M. G.; Vinogradov, V. B.; Vittori, C.; Vivarelli, I.; Vlachos, S.; Vlasak, M.; Vogel, M.; Vokac, P.; Volpi, G.; Volpi, M.; von der Schmitt, H.; von Toerne, E.; Vorobel, V.; Vorobev, K.; Vos, M.; Voss, R.; Vossebeld, J. H.; Vranjes, N.; Vranjes Milosavljevic, M.; Vrba, V.; Vreeswijk, M.; Vuillermet, R.; Vukotic, I.; Vykydal, Z.; Wagner, P.; Wagner, W.; Wahlberg, H.; Wahrmund, S.; Wakabayashi, J.; Walder, J.; Walker, R.; Walkowiak, W.; Wallangen, V.; Wang, C.; Wang, C.; Wang, F.; Wang, H.; Wang, H.; Wang, J.; Wang, J.; Wang, K.; Wang, R.; Wang, S. M.; Wang, T.; Wang, T.; Wang, W.; Wang, X.; Wanotayaroj, C.; Warburton, A.; Ward, C. P.; Wardrope, D. R.; Washbrook, A.; Watkins, P. M.; Watson, A. T.; Watson, M. F.; Watts, G.; Watts, S.; Waugh, B. M.; Webb, S.; Weber, M. S.; Weber, S. W.; Webster, J. S.; Weidberg, A. R.; Weinert, B.; Weingarten, J.; Weiser, C.; Weits, H.; Wells, P. S.; Wenaus, T.; Wengler, T.; Wenig, S.; Wermes, N.; Werner, M.; Werner, P.; Wessels, M.; Wetter, J.; Whalen, K.; Whallon, N. L.; Wharton, A. M.; White, A.; White, M. J.; White, R.; Whiteson, D.; Wickens, F. J.; Wiedenmann, W.; Wielers, M.; Wienemann, P.; Wiglesworth, C.; Wiik-Fuchs, L. A. M.; Wildauer, A.; Wilk, F.; Wilkens, H. G.; Williams, H. H.; Williams, S.; Willis, C.; Willocq, S.; Wilson, J. A.; Wingerter-Seez, I.; Winklmeier, F.; Winston, O. J.; Winter, B. T.; Wittgen, M.; Wittkowski, J.; Wollstadt, S. J.; Wolter, M. W.; Wolters, H.; Wosiek, B. K.; Wotschack, J.; Woudstra, M. J.; Wozniak, K. W.; Wu, M.; Wu, M.; Wu, S. L.; Wu, X.; Wu, Y.; Wyatt, T. R.; Wynne, B. M.; Xella, S.; Xu, D.; Xu, L.; Yabsley, B.; Yacoob, S.; Yakabe, R.; Yamaguchi, D.; Yamaguchi, Y.; Yamamoto, A.; Yamamoto, S.; Yamanaka, T.; Yamauchi, K.; Yamazaki, Y.; Yan, Z.; Yang, H.; Yang, H.; Yang, Y.; Yang, Z.; Yao, W.-M.; Yap, Y. C.; Yasu, Y.; Yatsenko, E.; Yau Wong, K. H.; Ye, J.; Ye, S.; Yeletskikh, I.; Yen, A. L.; Yildirim, E.; Yorita, K.; Yoshida, R.; Yoshihara, K.; Young, C.; Young, C. J. S.; Youssef, S.; Yu, D. R.; Yu, J.; Yu, J. M.; Yu, J.; Yuan, L.; Yuen, S. P. Y.; Yusuff, I.; Zabinski, B.; Zaidan, R.; Zaitsev, A. M.; Zakharchuk, N.; Zalieckas, J.; Zaman, A.; Zambito, S.; Zanello, L.; Zanzi, D.; Zeitnitz, C.; Zeman, M.; Zemla, A.; Zeng, J. C.; Zeng, Q.; Zengel, K.; Zenin, O.; Ženiš, T.; Zerwas, D.; Zhang, D.; Zhang, F.; Zhang, G.; Zhang, H.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, R.; Zhang, R.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, Z.; Zhao, X.; Zhao, Y.; Zhao, Z.; Zhemchugov, A.; Zhong, J.; Zhou, B.; Zhou, C.; Zhou, L.; Zhou, L.; Zhou, M.; Zhou, N.; Zhu, C. G.; Zhu, H.; Zhu, J.; Zhu, Y.; Zhuang, X.; Zhukov, K.; Zibell, A.; Zieminska, D.; Zimine, N. I.; Zimmermann, C.; Zimmermann, S.; Zinonos, Z.; Zinser, M.; Ziolkowski, M.; Živković, L.; Zobernig, G.; Zoccoli, A.; Zur Nedden, M.; Zurzolo, G.; Zwalinski, L.; Atlas Collaboration

2016-12-01

Measurements of the per-event charged-particle yield as a function of the charged-particle transverse momentum and rapidity are performed using p + Pb collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of √{sNN} = 5.02TeV. Charged particles are reconstructed over pseudorapidity | η | < 2.3 and transverse momentum between 0.1 GeV and 22 GeV in a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 μb-1. The results are presented in the form of charged-particle nuclear modification factors, where the p + Pb charged-particle multiplicities are compared between central and peripheral p + Pb collisions as well as to charged-particle cross sections measured in pp collisions. The p + Pb collision centrality is characterized by the total transverse energy measured in - 4.9 < η < - 3.1, which is in the direction of the outgoing lead beam. Three different estimations of the number of nucleons participating in the p + Pb collision are carried out using the Glauber model and two Glauber-Gribov colour-fluctuation extensions to the Glauber model. The values of the nuclear modification factors are found to vary significantly as a function of rapidity and transverse momentum. A broad peak is observed for all centralities and rapidities in the nuclear modification factors for charged-particle transverse momentum values around 3 GeV. The magnitude of the peak increases for more central collisions as well as rapidity ranges closer to the direction of the outgoing lead nucleus.

New polymorphs of 9-nitro-camptothecin prepared using a supercritical anti-solvent process.

PubMed

Huang, Yinxia; Wang, Hongdi; Liu, Guijin; Jiang, Yanbin

2015-12-30

Recrystallization and micronization of 9-nitro-camptothecin (9-NC) has been investigated using the supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) technology in this study. Five operating factors, i.e., the type of organic solvent, the concentration of 9-NC in the solution, the flow rate of 9-NC solution, the precipitation pressure and the temperature, were optimized using a selected OA16 (4(5)) orthogonal array design and a series of characterizations were performed for all samples. The results showed that the processed 9-NC particles exhibited smaller particle size and narrower particle size distribution as compared with 9-NC raw material (Form I), and the optimum micronization conditions for preparing 9-NC with minimum particle size were determined by variance analysis, where the solvent plays the most important role in the formation and transformation of polymorphs. Three new polymorphic forms (Form II, III and IV) of 9-NC, which present different physicochemical properties, were generated after the SAS process. The predicted structures of the 9-NC crystals, which were consistent with the experiments, were performed from their experimental XRD data by the direct space approach using the Reflex module of Materials Studio. Meanwhile, the optimal sample (Form III) was proved to have higher cytotoxicity against the cancer cells, which suggested the therapeutic efficacy of 9-NC is polymorph-dependent. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Generalized power-spectrum Larmor formula for an extended charged particle embedded in a harmonic oscillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marengo, Edwin A.; Khodja, Mohamed R.

2006-09-01

The nonrelativistic Larmor radiation formula, giving the power radiated by an accelerated charged point particle, is generalized for a spatially extended particle in the context of the classical charged harmonic oscillator. The particle is modeled as a spherically symmetric rigid charge distribution that possesses both translational and spinning degrees of freedom. The power spectrum obtained exhibits a structure that depends on the form factor of the particle, but reduces, in the limit of an infinitesimally small particle and for the charge distributions considered, to Larmor’s familiar result. It is found that for finite-duration small-enough accelerations as well as perpetual uniform accelerations the power spectrum of the spatially extended particle reduces to that of a point particle. It is also found that when the acceleration is violent or the size parameter of the particle is very large compared to the wavelength of the emitted radiation the power spectrum is highly suppressed. Possible applications are discussed.

Dispersion Modeling in Complex Urban Systems

EPA Science Inventory

Models are used to represent real systems in an understandable way. They take many forms. A conceptual model explains the way a system works. In environmental studies, for example, a conceptual model may delineate all the factors and parameters for determining how a particle move...

Thomas precession, Wigner rotations and gauge transformations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Han, D.; Kim, Y. S.; Son, D.

1987-01-01

The exact Lorentz kinematics of the Thomas precession is discussed in terms of Wigner's O(3)-like little group which describes rotations in the Lorentz frame in which the particle is at rest. A Lorentz-covariant form for the Thomas factor is derived. It is shown that this factor is a Lorentz-boosted rotation matrix, which becomes a gauge transformation in the infinite-momentum or zero-mass limit.

Determination of Transverse Charge Density from Kaon Form Factor Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mejia-Ott, Johann; Horn, Tanja; Pegg, Ian; Mecholski, Nicholas; Carmignotto, Marco; Ali, Salina

2016-09-01

At the level of nucleons making up atomic nuclei, among subatomic particles made up of quarks, K-mesons or kaons represent the most simple hadronic system including the heavier strange quark, having a relatively elementary bound state of a quark and an anti-quark as its valence structure. Its electromagnetic structure is then parametrized by a single, dimensionless quantity known as the form factor, the two-dimensional Fourier transform of which yields the quantity of transverse charge density. Transverse charge density, in turn, provides a needed framework for the interpretation of form factors in terms of physical charge and magnetization, both with respect to the propagation of a fast-moving nucleon. To this is added the value of strange quarks in ultimately presenting a universal, process-independent description of nucleons, further augmenting the importance of studying the kaon's internal structure. The pressing character of such research questions directs the present paper, describing the first extraction of transverse charge density from electromagnetic kaon form factor data. The extraction is notably extended to form factor data at recently acquired higher energy levels, whose evaluation could permit more complete phenomenological models for kaon behavior to be proposed. This work was supported in part by NSF Grant PHY-1306227.

QEEN Workshop: "Quantifying Exposure to Engineered Nano ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The measurement and characterization of nanomaterials in biological tissues is complicated by a number of factors including: the sensitivity of the assay to small sized particles or low concentrations of materials; the ability to distinguish different forms and transformations of the materials related to the biological matrix; distinguishing exogenous nanomaterials, which may be composed of biologically common elements such as carbon,from normal biological tissues; differentiating particle from ionic phases for materials that dissolve; localization of sparsely distributed materials in a complex substrate (the

New Instrumentation for Phase Partitioning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, J. M.

1985-01-01

Cells and molecules can be purified by partitioning between the two immiscible liquid phases formed by aqueous solutions of poly/ethylene glycol and dextran. Such purification can be more selective, higher yielding, and less destructive to sensitive biological materials than other available techniques. Earth's gravitational field is a hindering factor as it causes sedimentation of particles to be purified and shear-induced particle randomization. The present proposal is directed toward developing new instrumentation for performing phase partitioning both on Earth and in microgravity.

Methods for forming particles from single source precursors

DOEpatents

Fox, Robert V [Idaho Falls, ID; Rodriguez, Rene G [Pocatello, ID; Pak, Joshua [Pocatello, ID

2011-08-23

Single source precursors are subjected to carbon dioxide to form particles of material. The carbon dioxide may be in a supercritical state. Single source precursors also may be subjected to supercritical fluids other than supercritical carbon dioxide to form particles of material. The methods may be used to form nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the methods are used to form chalcopyrite materials. Devices such as, for example, semiconductor devices may be fabricated that include such particles. Methods of forming semiconductor devices include subjecting single source precursors to carbon dioxide to form particles of semiconductor material, and establishing electrical contact between the particles and an electrode.

EFFECTS OF QUARTZ PARTICLE SIZE AND SUCROSE ADDITION ON MELTING BEHAVIOR OF A MELTER FEED FOR HIGH-LEVEL GLASS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

MARCIAL J; KRUGER AA; HRMA PR

2010-07-28

The behavior of melter feed (a mixture of nuclear waste and glass-forming additives) during waste-glass processing has a significant impact on the rate of the vitrification process. We studied the effects of silica particle size and sucrose addition on the volumetric expansion (foaming) of a high-alumina feed and the rate of dissolution of silica particles in feed samples heated at 5 C/min up to 1200 C. The initial size of quartz particles in feed ranged from 5 to 195 {micro}m. The fraction of the sucrose added ranged from 0 to 0.20 g per g glass. Extensive foaming occurred only inmore » feeds with 5-{micro}m quartz particles; particles {ge}150 {micro}m formed clusters. Particles of 5 {micro}m completely dissolved by 900 C whereas particles {ge}150 {micro}m did not fully dissolve even when the temperature reached 1200 C. Sucrose addition had virtually zero impact on both foaming and the dissolution of silica particles. Over 100 sites in the United States are currently tasked with the storage of nuclear waste. The largest is the Hanford Site located in southeastern Washington State with 177 subterranean tanks containing over fifty-million gallons of nuclear waste from plutonium production from 1944 through 1987. This waste will be vitrified at the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. In the vitrification process, feed is charged into a melter and converted into glass to be ultimately stored in a permanent repository. The duration of waste-site cleanups by the vitrification process depends on the rate of melting, i.e., on the rate of the feed-to-glass conversion. Foaming associated with the melting process and the rate of dissolution of quartz particles (silica being the major glass-forming additive) are assumed to be important factors that influence the rate of melting. Previous studies on foaming of high-alumina feed demonstrated that varying the makeup of a melter feed has a significant impact on foaming. The volume of feeds that contained 5-{micro}m quartz particles substantially increased because of foaming. The extent of foaming decreased as the particle size of quartz increased. Moreover, samples containing quartz particles 195 {micro}m formed agglomerates at temperatures above 900 C that only slowly dissolved in the melt. This study continues previous work on the feed-melting process, specifically on the effects of the size of silica particles on the formation of nuclear-waste glasses to determine a suitable range of silica particle sizes that causes neither excessive foaming nor undesirable agglomeration. Apart from varying the silica-particle size, carbon was added in the form of sucrose. Sucrose has been used to accelerate the rate of melting. In this study, we have observed its impact on feed foaming and quartz dissolution.« less

Calcium-Phosphate-Osteopontin Particles Reduce Biofilm Formation and pH Drops in in situ Grown Dental Biofilms.

PubMed

Schlafer, Sebastian; Ibsen, Casper J S; Birkedal, Henrik; Nyvad, Bente

2017-01-01

This 2-period crossover study investigated the effect of calcium-phosphate-osteopontin particles on biofilm formation and pH in 48-h biofilms grown in situ. Bovine milk osteopontin is a highly phosphorylated glycoprotein that has been shown to interfere with bacterial adhesion to salivary-coated surfaces. Calcium-phosphate-osteopontin particles have been shown to reduce biofilm formation and pH drops in a 5-species laboratory model of dental biofilm without affecting bacterial viability. Here, smooth surface biofilms from 10 individuals were treated ex vivo 6 times/day for 30 min with either calcium-phosphate-osteopontin particles or sterile saline. After growth, the amount of biofilm formed was determined by confocal microscopy, and pH drops upon exposure to glucose were monitored using confocal-microscopy-based pH ratiometry. A total of 160 biofilms were analysed. No adverse effects of repeated ex vivo treatment with calcium-phosphate-osteopontin particles were observed. Particle treatment resulted in a 32% lower amount of biofilm formed (p < 0.05), but large inter-individual differences could be observed. Biofilm pH was significantly higher upon particle treatment, both shortly after the addition of glucose and after 30 min of incubation with glucose (p < 0.05). Calcium-phosphate-osteopontin particles may represent a new therapeutic approach to caries control and aim at directly targeting virulence factors involved in the caries process. Further studies are required to determine the effect of particle treatment on more acidogenic/aciduric biofilms as well as the remineralizing potential of the particles. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Structure of the Nucleon and its Excitations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamleh, Waseem; Leinweber, Derek; Liu, Zhan-wei; Stokes, Finn; Thomas, Anthony; Thomas, Samuel; Wu, Jia-jun

2018-03-01

The structure of the ground state nucleon and its finite-volume excitations are examined from three different perspectives. Using new techniques to extract the relativistic components of the nucleon wave function, the node structure of both the upper and lower components of the nucleon wave function are illustrated. A non-trivial role for gluonic components is manifest. In the second approach, the parity-expanded variational analysis (PEVA) technique is utilised to isolate states at finite momenta, enabling a novel examination of the electric and magnetic form factors of nucleon excitations. Here the magnetic form factors of low-lying odd-parity nucleons are particularly interesting. Finally, the structure of the nucleon spectrum is examined in a Hamiltonian effective field theory analysis incorporating recent lattice-QCD determinations of low-lying two-particle scattering-state energies in the finite volume. The Roper resonance of Nature is observed to originate from multi-particle coupled-channel interactions while the first radial excitation of the nucleon sits much higher at approximately 1.9 GeV.

Properties of the Products Formed by the Activity of Serum Opacity Factor against Human Plasma High Density Lipoproteins

PubMed Central

Pownall, Henry J.; Courtney, Harry S.; Gillard, Baiba K.; Massey, John B.

2010-01-01

Serum opacity factor from Streptococcus pyogenes transfers the cholesteryl esters (CE) of ~100,000 plasma high density lipoprotein particles (HDL) to a CE-rich microemulsion (CERM) while forming neo HDL, a cholesterol-poor HDL-like particle. HDL, neo HDL, and CERM are distinct. Neo HDL is lower in free cholesterol and has lower surface and total microviscosities than HDL; the surface polarity of neo HDL and HDL are similar. CERM is much larger than HDL and richer in cholesterol and CE. Although the surface microviscosity of HDL is higher than that of CERM, they have similar total microviscosities because cholesterol partitions into the neutral lipid core. Because of its unique surface properties apo E preferentially associates with the CERM. In contrast, the composition and properties of neo HDL make it a potential acceptor of cellular cholesterol and its esterification. Thus, neo HDL and CERM are possible vehicles for improving cholesterol transport to the liver. PMID:18838065

Influence of moisture content, particle size and forming temperature on productivity and quality of rice straw pellets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ishii, Kazuei, E-mail: k-ishii@eng.hokudai.ac.jp; Furuichi, Toru

Highlights: • Optimized conditions were determined for the production of rice straw pellets. • The moisture content and forming temperature are key factors. • High quality rice pellets in the lower heating value and durability were produced. - Abstract: A large amount of rice straw is generated and left as much in paddy fields, which causes greenhouse gas emissions as methane. Rice straw can be used as bioenergy. Rice straw pellets are a promising technology because pelletization of rice straw is a form of mass and energy densification, which leads to a product that is easy to handle, transport, storemore » and utilize because of the increase in the bulk density. The operational conditions required to produce high quality rice straw pellets have not been determined. This study determined the optimal moisture content range required to produce rice straw pellets with high yield ratio and high heating value, and also determined the influence of particle size and the forming temperature on the yield ratio and durability of rice straw pellets. The optimal moisture content range was between 13% and 20% under a forming temperature of 60 or 80 °C. The optimal particle size was between 10 and 20 mm, considering the time and energy required for shredding, although the particle size did not significantly affect the yield ratio and durability of the pellets. The optimized conditions provided high quality rice straw pellets with nearly 90% yield ratio, ⩾12 MJ/kg for the lower heating value, and >95% durability.« less

Transverse momentum, rapidity, and centrality dependence of inclusive charged-particle production in s NN = 5.02   TeV p+Pb collisions measured by the ATLAS experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.

Measurements of the per-event charged-particle yield as a function of the charged-particle transverse momentum and rapidity are performed using p+Pb collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of √s NN =5.02TeV. Charged particles are reconstructed over pseudorapidity |η| < 2.3 and transverse momentum between 0.1 GeV and 22 GeV in a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 μb -1 . The results are presented in the form of charged-particle nuclear modification factors, where the p+Pb charged-particle multiplicities are compared between central and peripheral p+Pb collisions as well as to charged-particle crossmore » sections measured in pp collisions. The p+Pb collision centrality is characterized by the total transverse energy measured in -4.9 < η < -3.1, which is in the direction of the outgoing lead beam. Three different estimations of the number of nucleons participating in the p+Pb collision are carried out using the Glauber model and two Glauber–Gribov colour-fluctuation extensions to the Glauber model. The values of the nuclear modification factors are found to vary significantly as a function of rapidity and transverse momentum. A broad peak is observed for all centralities and rapidities in the nuclear modification factors for charged-particle transverse momentum values around 3 GeV. The magnitude of the peak increases for more central collisions as well as rapidity ranges closer to the direction of the outgoing lead nucleus.« less

Transverse momentum, rapidity, and centrality dependence of inclusive charged-particle production in s NN = 5.02   TeV p+Pb collisions measured by the ATLAS experiment

DOE PAGES

Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.; ...

2016-10-29

Measurements of the per-event charged-particle yield as a function of the charged-particle transverse momentum and rapidity are performed using p+Pb collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of √s NN =5.02TeV. Charged particles are reconstructed over pseudorapidity |η| < 2.3 and transverse momentum between 0.1 GeV and 22 GeV in a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 μb -1 . The results are presented in the form of charged-particle nuclear modification factors, where the p+Pb charged-particle multiplicities are compared between central and peripheral p+Pb collisions as well as to charged-particle crossmore » sections measured in pp collisions. The p+Pb collision centrality is characterized by the total transverse energy measured in -4.9 < η < -3.1, which is in the direction of the outgoing lead beam. Three different estimations of the number of nucleons participating in the p+Pb collision are carried out using the Glauber model and two Glauber–Gribov colour-fluctuation extensions to the Glauber model. The values of the nuclear modification factors are found to vary significantly as a function of rapidity and transverse momentum. A broad peak is observed for all centralities and rapidities in the nuclear modification factors for charged-particle transverse momentum values around 3 GeV. The magnitude of the peak increases for more central collisions as well as rapidity ranges closer to the direction of the outgoing lead nucleus.« less

Modelling sheet-flow sediment transport in wave-bottom boundary layers using discrete-element modelling.

PubMed

Calantoni, Joseph; Holland, K Todd; Drake, Thomas G

2004-09-15

Sediment transport in oscillatory boundary layers is a process that drives coastal geomorphological change. Most formulae for bed-load transport in nearshore regions subsume the smallest-scale physics of the phenomena by parametrizing interactions amongst particles. In contrast, we directly simulate granular physics in the wave-bottom boundary layer using a discrete-element model comprised of a three-dimensional particle phase coupled to a one-dimensional fluid phase via Newton's third law through forces of buoyancy, drag and added mass. The particulate sediment phase is modelled using discrete particles formed to approximate natural grains by overlapping two spheres. Both the size of each sphere and the degree of overlap can be varied for these composite particles to generate a range of non-spherical grains. Simulations of particles having a range of shapes showed that the critical angle--the angle at which a grain pile will fail when tilted slowly from rest--increases from approximately 26 degrees for spherical particles to nearly 39 degrees for highly non-spherical composite particles having a dumbbell shape. Simulations of oscillatory sheet flow were conducted using composite particles with an angle of repose of approximately 33 degrees and a Corey shape factor greater than about 0.8, similar to the properties of beach sand. The results from the sheet-flow simulations with composite particles agreed more closely with laboratory measurements than similar simulations conducted using spherical particles. The findings suggest that particle shape may be an important factor for determining bed-load flux, particularly for larger bed slopes.

Convergence of moment expansions for expectation values with embedded random matrix ensembles and quantum chaos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kota, V. K. B.

2003-07-01

Smoothed forms for expectation values < K> E of positive definite operators K follow from the K-density moments either directly or in many other ways each giving a series expansion (involving polynomials in E). In large spectroscopic spaces one has to partition the many particle spaces into subspaces. Partitioning leads to new expansions for expectation values. It is shown that all the expansions converge to compact forms depending on the nature of the operator K and the operation of embedded random matrix ensembles and quantum chaos in many particle spaces. Explicit results are given for occupancies < ni> E, spin-cutoff factors < JZ2> E and strength sums < O†O> E, where O is a one-body transition operator.

Preparation of Salicylic Acid Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Using Box-Behnken Design: Optimization, Characterization and Physicochemical Stability.

PubMed

Pantub, Ketrawee; Wongtrakul, Paveena; Janwitayanuchit, Wicharn

2017-01-01

Nanostructured lipid carriers loaded salicylic acid (NLCs-SA) were developed and optimized by using the design of experiment (DOE). Box-Behnken experimental design of 3-factor, 3-level was applied for optimization of nanostructured lipid carriers prepared by emulsification method. The independent variables were total lipid concentration (X 1 ), stearic acid to Lexol ® GT-865 ratio (X 2 ) and Tween ® 80 concentration (X 3 ) while the particle size was a dependent variable (Y). Box-Behnken design could create 15 runs by setting response optimizer as minimum particle size. The optimized formulation consists of 10% of total lipid, a mixture of stearic acid and capric/caprylic triglyceride at a 4:1 ratio, and 25% of Tween ® 80 which the formulation was applied in order to prepare in both loaded and unloaded salicylic acid. After preparation for 24 hours, the particle size of loaded and unloaded salicylic acid was 189.62±1.82 nm and 369.00±3.37 nm, respectively. Response surface analysis revealed that the amount of total lipid is a main factor which could affect the particle size of lipid carriers. In addition, the stability studies showed a significant change in particle size by time. Compared to unloaded nanoparticles, the addition of salicylic acid into the particles resulted in physically stable dispersion. After 30 days, sedimentation of unloaded lipid carriers was clearly observed. Absolute values of zeta potential of both systems were in the range of 3 to 18 mV since non-ionic surfactant, Tween ® 80, providing steric barrier was used. Differential thermograms indicated a shift of endothermic peak from 55°C for α-crystal form in freshly prepared samples to 60°C for β´-crystal form in storage samples. It was found that the presence of capric/caprylic triglyceride oil could enhance encapsulation efficiency up to 80% and facilitate stability of the particles.

Aeolian bedforms, yardangs, and indurated surfaces in the Tharsis Montes as seen by the HiRISE Camera: Evidence for dust aggregates

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bridges, N.T.; Banks, M.E.; Beyer, R.A.; Chuang, F.C.; Noe Dobrea, E.Z.; Herkenhoff, K. E.; Keszthelyi, L.P.; Fishbaugh, K.E.; McEwen, A.S.; Michaels, T.I.; Thomson, B.J.; Wray, J.J.

2010-01-01

HiRISE images of Mars with ground sampling down to 25 cm/pixel show that the dust-rich mantle covering the surfaces of the Tharsis Montes is organized into ridges whose form and distribution are consistent with formation by aeolian saltation. Other dusty areas near the volcanoes and elsewhere on the planet exhibit a similar morphology. The material composing these "reticulate" bedforms is constrained by their remote sensing properties and the threshold curve combined with the saltation/suspension boundary, both of which vary as a function of elevation (atmospheric pressure), particle size, and particle composition. Considering all of these factors, dust aggregates are the most likely material composing these bedforms. We propose that airfall dust on and near the volcanoes aggregates in situ over time, maybe due to electrostatic charging followed by cementation by salts. The aggregates eventually reach a particle size at which saltation is possible. Aggregates on the flanks are transported downslope by katabatic winds and form linear and "accordion" morphologies. Materials within the calderas and other depressions remain trapped and are subjected to multidirectional winds, forming an interlinked "honeycomb" texture. In many places on and near the volcanoes, light-toned, low thermal inertia yardangs and indurated surfaces are present. These may represent "duststone" formed when aggregates reach a particle size below the threshold curve, such that they become stabilized and subsequently undergo cementation. ?? 2009 Elsevier Inc.

[Particle Size Distribution and Pollutant Speciation Analyses of Stormwater Runoff in the Ancient Town of Suzhou].

PubMed

Li, Huai; Wu, Wei; Tian, Yong-jing; Huang, Tian-yin

2016-02-15

The particle size distribution (PSD) and its transformation processes in the stormwater runoffs in the ancient town of Suzhou were studied based on the particles size analyses, the water-quality monitoring data and the parameters of the rainfall-runoff models. The commercial districts, the modern residential area, the old residential area, the traffic area and the landscape tourist area were selected as the five functional example areas in the ancient town of Suzhou. The effects of antecedent dry period, the rainfall intensity and the amount of runoffs on the particle size distributions were studied, and the existing forms of the main pollutants in different functional areas and their possible relations were analyzed as well. The results showed that the particle size distribution, the migration processes and the output characteristics in the stormwater runoffs were greatly different in these five functional areas, which indicated different control measures for the pollution of the runoffs should be taken in the design process. The antecedent dry period, the rainfall intensity and the amount of runoffs showed significant correlations with the particle size distribution, showing these were the important factors. The output of the particles was greatly influenced by the flow scouring in the early period of the rainfall, and the correlations between the amount of runoffs and the particle migration ability presented significant difference in 30% (early period) and 70% (later period) of the runoff volume. The major existence form of the output pollutants was particle, and the correlation analyses of different diameter particles showed that the particles smaller than 150 microm were the dominant carrier of the pollutants via adsorption and accumulation processes.

Modeling and Predicting Pesticide Exposures

EPA Science Inventory

Models provide a means for representing a real system in an understandable way. They take many forms, beginning with conceptual models that explain the way a system works, such as delineation of all the factors and parameters of how a pesticide particle moves in the air after a s...

Measurements of orientation, sedimentation, and dispersal of ramified particles in isotropic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voth, Greg A.; Kramel, Stefan; Menon, Udayshankar K.; Koch, Donald L.

2017-11-01

We experimentally measure the sedimentation of non-spherical particles in isotropic turbulence. We obtain time-resolved 3D orientations of the particles along with the fluid velocity field around them in a vertical water tunnel. An active jet array with 40 individually controllable jets enables us to adjust the turbulence intensity and observe the transition from strongly aligned to randomized particle orientations. We focus on the orientation statistics of ramified particles formed from several slender arms, including fibers and particles with three arms in planar symmetry (triads), which allows us to study alignment of both fibers and disk-like particles. We can predict the turbulent intensity at which the transition from aligned to randomized particle orientations occurs using a non-dimensional settling factor given by the ratio of rotation timescale of the turbulence at the scale of the particle to the rotation timescale of a particles in quiescent flow due to inertial torques. A model of ramified particle motion based on slender body theory provides accurate predictions of the vertical and horizontal particle velocities relative to the turbulent fluid. Supported by Army Research Office Grant W911NF1510205.

Methods of forming semiconductor devices and devices formed using such methods

DOEpatents

Fox, Robert V; Rodriguez, Rene G; Pak, Joshua

2013-05-21

Single source precursors are subjected to carbon dioxide to form particles of material. The carbon dioxide may be in a supercritical state. Single source precursors also may be subjected to supercritical fluids other than supercritical carbon dioxide to form particles of material. The methods may be used to form nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the methods are used to form chalcopyrite materials. Devices such as, for example, semiconductor devices may be fabricated that include such particles. Methods of forming semiconductor devices include subjecting single source precursors to carbon dioxide to form particles of semiconductor material, and establishing electrical contact between the particles and an electrode.

Method for forming ammonia

DOEpatents

Kong, Peter C.; Pink, Robert J.; Zuck, Larry D.

2008-08-19

A method for forming ammonia is disclosed and which includes the steps of forming a plasma; providing a source of metal particles, and supplying the metal particles to the plasma to form metal nitride particles; and providing a substance, and reacting the metal nitride particles with the substance to produce ammonia, and an oxide byproduct.

Size distributions of ambient air particles and enrichment factor analyses of metallic elements at Taichung Harbor near the Taiwan Strait

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Guor-Cheng; Wu, Yuh-Shen; Chang, Shih-Yu; Huang, Shih-Han; Rau, Jui-Yeh

2006-10-01

This work attempts to characterize metallic elements associated with atmospheric particulate matter on a dry deposition plate, a TE-PUF high-volume air sampler and a universal air sampler. Dry deposition fluxes of particulates and concentrations of total suspended particulate, fine (PM 2.5) and coarse (PM 2.5-10) particulate matters were collected at Taichung harbor sampling sites from August 2004 to January 2005. Chemical analyses of metallic elements were made using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer coupled with hollow cathode lamps. Concentrations of metal elements in the forms of coarse particles and fine particles as well as the coarse/fine particulate ratios were presented. Statistical methods such as correlation analysis, principal component analysis and enrichment factor analysis were performed to compare the chemical components and identify possible emission sources at the sampling sites. Metallic elements of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni and Mg had higher EF crust ratios in winter and spring than in summer and autumn. Diurnal and nocturnal variations of metallic element concentrations in fine and coarse particles were also discussed.

Polymorph selection: the role of nucleation, crystal growth and molecular modeling.

PubMed

Erdemir, Deniz; Lee, Alfred Y; Myerson, Allan S

2007-11-01

Solution crystallization is an important separation and purification process used in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries. The quality of a crystalline product is generally judged by four main criteria: purity, crystal habit, particle size and solid form. Consistent production of the desired polymorph is crucial as the unanticipated emergence of a different crystal form may have severe consequences. Thus, the selection of a solid-state form for a crystalline product is vital and is ultimately based on knowledge of the properties of the other polymorphs. This review discusses the role of nucleation, crystal growth and molecular modeling on polymorphism in molecular crystals. Examples are presented demonstrating how the first two factors can govern the appearance of a particular crystalline form, and how the latter factor can be used as a tool for understanding polymorphism.

Optical factors determined by the T-matrix method in turbidity measurement of absolute coagulation rate constants.

PubMed

Xu, Shenghua; Liu, Jie; Sun, Zhiwei

2006-12-01

Turbidity measurement for the absolute coagulation rate constants of suspensions has been extensively adopted because of its simplicity and easy implementation. A key factor in deriving the rate constant from experimental data is how to theoretically evaluate the so-called optical factor involved in calculating the extinction cross section of doublets formed during aggregation. In a previous paper, we have shown that compared with other theoretical approaches, the T-matrix method provides a robust solution to this problem and is effective in extending the applicability range of the turbidity methodology, as well as increasing measurement accuracy. This paper will provide a more comprehensive discussion of the physical insight for using the T-matrix method in turbidity measurement and associated technical details. In particular, the importance of ensuring the correct value for the refractive indices for colloidal particles and the surrounding medium used in the calculation is addressed, because the indices generally vary with the wavelength of the incident light. The comparison of calculated results with experiments shows that the T-matrix method can correctly calculate optical factors even for large particles, whereas other existing theories cannot. In addition, the data of the optical factor calculated by the T-matrix method for a range of particle radii and incident light wavelengths are listed.

Impact of organic coating on optical growth of ammonium sulfate particles.

PubMed

Robinson, Carly B; Schill, Gregory P; Zarzana, Kyle J; Tolbert, Margaret A

2013-01-01

Light extinction by particles in Earth's atmosphere is strongly dependent on particle size, chemical composition, hygroscopic growth properties, and particle mixing state. Here, the influence of an organic coating on particle optical growth was studied. The particle optical growth factor, fRHext, was measured using cavity ring-down aerosol extinction spectroscopy at 532 nm. The particles were composed of ammonium sulfate (AS), 1,2,6-hexanetriol, and mixed particles containing a wet or dry ammonium sulfate core and a 1,2,6-hexanetriol coating. Dry, coated particles were generated by atomization followed by drying. Wet, coated particles were formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). LLPS was achieved by deliquescing and then drying the particles to a relative humidity (RH) between the phase separation RH and the efflorescence RH. For the LLPS particles, the fRHext at each RH was between the fRHext of ammonium sulfate and that of 1,2,6-hexanetriol. In contrast, for the mixed dry, coated particles, the fRHext was the same as 1,2,6-hexanetriol particles. At room temperature, the water uptake properties of AS coated with 1,2,6-hexanetriol are largely dictated by the phase of the AS. Thus, the total water uptake depends on the RH history of the particle and the resulting phase of AS.

QEEN Workshop: "Quantifying Exposure to Engineered Nano-materials from Manufactured Products": Write Up Biological Tissues and Media

EPA Science Inventory

The measurement and characterization of nanomaterials in biological tissues is complicated by a number of factors including: the sensitivity of the assay to small sized particles or low concentrations of materials; the ability to distinguish different forms and transformations of...

Linking Load, Fuel, and Emission Controls to Photochemical Production of Secondary Organic Aerosol from a Diesel Engine.

PubMed

Jathar, Shantanu H; Friedman, Beth; Galang, Abril A; Link, Michael F; Brophy, Patrick; Volckens, John; Eluri, Sailaja; Farmer, Delphine K

2017-02-07

Diesel engines are important sources of fine particle pollution in urban environments, but their contribution to the atmospheric formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is not well constrained. We investigated direct emissions of primary organic aerosol (POA) and photochemical production of SOA from a diesel engine using an oxidation flow reactor (OFR). In less than a day of simulated atmospheric aging, SOA production exceeded POA emissions by an order of magnitude or more. Efficient combustion at higher engine loads coupled to the removal of SOA precursors and particle emissions by aftertreatment systems reduced POA emission factors by an order of magnitude and SOA production factors by factors of 2-10. The only exception was that the retrofitted aftertreatment did not reduce SOA production at idle loads where exhaust temperatures were low enough to limit removal of SOA precursors in the oxidation catalyst. Use of biodiesel resulted in nearly identical POA and SOA compared to diesel. The effective SOA yield of diesel exhaust was similar to that of unburned diesel fuel. While OFRs can help study the multiday evolution, at low particle concentrations OFRs may not allow for complete gas/particle partitioning and bias the potential of precursors to form SOA.

Porous metal oxide particles and their methods of synthesis

DOEpatents

Chen, Fanglin; Liu, Qiang

2013-03-12

Methods are generally disclosed for synthesis of porous particles from a solution formed from a leaving agent, a surfactant, and a soluble metal salt in a solvent. The surfactant congregates to form a nanoparticle core such that the metal salt forms about the nanoparticle core to form a plurality of nanoparticles. The solution is heated such that the leaving agent forms gas bubbles in the solution, and the plurality of nanoparticles congregate about the gas bubbles to form a porous particle. The porous particles are also generally disclosed and can include a particle shell formed about a core to define an average diameter from about 0.5 .mu.m to about 50 .mu.m. The particle shell can be formed from a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter of from about 1 nm to about 50 nm and defined by a metal salt formed about a surfactant core.

Warming ancient Mars with water clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartwick, V.; Toon, B.

2017-12-01

High clouds in the present day Mars atmosphere nucleate on interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) that burn up on entry into the Mars atmosphere. Clouds form when superstaturated water vapor condenses on suspended aerosols. Radiatively active water ice clouds may play a crucial role in warming the early Mars climate. Urata and Toon (2011) simulate a stable warm paleo-climate for Mars if clouds form high in the atmosphere and if particles are sufficiently large (r > 10 μm). The annual fluence of micrometeoroids at Mars was larger early on in the evolution of our solar system. Additionally, the water vapor budget throughout the middle and high atmosphere was likely heightened . Both factors should contribute to enhanced nucleation and growth of water ice cloud particles at high altitudes. Here, we use the MarsCAM-CARMA general circulation model (GCM) to examine the radiative impact of high altitude water ice clouds on the early Mars climate and as a possible solution to the faint young sun problem for Mars.

Generalized localization model of relaxation in glass-forming liquids

PubMed Central

Cicerone, Marcus T.; Zhong, Qin; Tyagi, Madhusudan

2012-01-01

Glassy solidification is characterized by two essential phenomena: localization of the solidifying material’s constituent particles and a precipitous increase in its structural relaxation time τ. Determining how these two phenomena relate is key to understanding glass formation. Leporini and coworkers have recently argued that τ universally depends on a localization length-scale (the Debye-Waller factor) in a way that depends only upon the value of at the glass transition. Here we find that this ‘universal’ model does not accurately describe τ in several simulated and experimental glass-forming materials. We develop a new localization model of solidification, building upon the classical Hall-Wolynes and free volume models of glass formation, that accurately relates τ to in all systems considered. This new relationship is based on a consideration of the the anisotropic nature of particle localization. The model also indicates the presence of a particle delocalization transition at high temperatures associated with the onset of glass formation. PMID:23393495

Safety Testing of Ammonium Nitrate Based Mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phillips, Jason; Lappo, Karmen; Phelan, James; Peterson, Nathan; Gilbert, Don

2013-06-01

Ammonium nitrate (AN)/ammonium nitrate based explosives have a lengthy documented history of use by adversaries in acts of terror. While historical research has been conducted on AN-based explosive mixtures, it has primarily focused on detonation performance while varying the oxygen balance between the oxidizer and fuel components. Similarly, historical safety data on these materials is often lacking in pertinent details such as specific fuel type, particle size parameters, oxidizer form, etc. A variety of AN-based fuel-oxidizer mixtures were tested for small-scale sensitivity in preparation for large-scale testing. Current efforts focus on maintaining a zero oxygen-balance (a stoichiometric ratio for active chemical participants) while varying factors such as charge geometry, oxidizer form, particle size, and inert diluent ratios. Small-scale safety testing was conducted on various mixtures and fuels. It was found that ESD sensitivity is significantly affected by particle size, while this is less so for impact and friction. Thermal testing is in progress to evaluate hazards that may be experienced during large-scale testing.

Impact of the Formulation Pathway on the Colloidal State and Crystallinity of Poly-ε-caprolactone Particles Prepared by Solvent Displacement.

PubMed

Pucci, Carlotta; Cousin, Fabrice; Dole, François; Chapel, Jean-Paul; Schatz, Christophe

2018-02-20

The formulation pathway and/or the mixing method are known to be relevant in many out-of-equilibrium processes. In this work, we studied the effect of the mixing conditions on the physicochemical properties of poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) particles prepared by solvent displacement. More specifically, water was added in one shot (fast addition) or drop by drop to PCL solution in tetrahydrofuran (THF) to study the impact of the mixing process on particle properties including size, stability, and crystallinity. Two distinct composition maps representing the Ouzo domain characteristic of the presence of metastable nanoparticles have been established for each mixing method. Polymer nanoparticles are formed in the Ouzo domain according to a nucleation and growth (or aggregation) mechanism. The fast addition promotes a larger nucleation rate, thus favoring the formation of small and uniform particles. For the drop-by-drop addition, for which the polymer solubility gradually decreases, the composition trajectories systematically cross an intermediate unstable region between the solubility limit of the polymer and the Ouzo domain. This leads to heterogeneous nucleation as shown by the formation of larger and less stable particles. Particles formed in the Ouzo domain have semi-crystalline properties. The PCL melting point is decreased with the THF fraction trapped in particles in accordance with Flory's theory for melt crystallization. On the other hand, the degree of crystallinity is constant, around 20% regardless of the THF fraction. No difference between fast and slow addition could be detected on the semi-crystalline properties of the particles which emphasize that thermodynamic rather than kinetic factors drive the polymer crystallization in particles. The recovery of bulk PCL crystallinity after the removal of THF from particles tends to confirm this hypothesis.

Splicing Factor 2-Associated Protein p32 Participates in Ribosome Biogenesis by Regulating the Binding of Nop52 and Fibrillarin to Preribosome Particles*

PubMed Central

Yoshikawa, Harunori; Komatsu, Wataru; Hayano, Toshiya; Miura, Yutaka; Homma, Keiichi; Izumikawa, Keiichi; Ishikawa, Hideaki; Miyazawa, Naoki; Tachikawa, Hiroyuki; Yamauchi, Yoshio; Isobe, Toshiaki; Takahashi, Nobuhiro

2011-01-01

Ribosome biogenesis starts with transcription of the large ribosomal RNA precursor (47S pre-rRNA), which soon combines with numerous factors to form the 90S pre-ribosome in the nucleolus. Although the subsequent separation of the pre-90S particle into pre-40S and pre-60S particles is critical for the production process of mature small and large ribosomal subunits, its molecular mechanisms remain undetermined. Here, we present evidence that p32, fibrillarin (FBL), and Nop52 play key roles in this separation step. Mass-based analyses combined with immunoblotting showed that p32 associated with 155 proteins including 31 rRNA-processing factors (of which nine were components of small subunit processome, and six were those of RIX1 complex), 13 chromatin remodeling components, and six general transcription factors required for RNA polymerase III-mediated transcription. Of these, a late rRNA-processing factor Nop52 interacted directly with p32. Immunocytochemical analyses demonstrated that p32 colocalized with an early rRNA-processing factor FBL or Nop52 in the nucleolus and Cajal bodies, but was excluded from the nucleolus after actinomycin D treatment. p32 was present in the pre-ribosomal fractions prepared by cell fractionation or separated by ultracentrifugation of the nuclear extract. p32 also associated with pre-rRNAs including 47S/45S and 32S pre-rRNAs. Furthermore, knockdown of p32 with a small interfering RNA slowed the early processing from 47S/45S pre-rRNAs to 18S rRNA and 32S pre-rRNA. Finally, Nop52 was found to compete with FBL for binding to p32 probably in the nucleolus. Given the fact that FBL and Nop52 are associated with pre-ribosome particles distinctly different from each other, we suggest that p32 is a new rRNA maturation factor involved in the remodeling from pre-90S particles to pre-40S and pre-60S particles that requires the exchange of FBL for Nop52. PMID:21536856

Calcium alginate particles for the combined delivery of platelet lysate and vancomycin hydrochloride in chronic skin ulcers.

PubMed

Mori, Michela; Rossi, Silvia; Bonferoni, Maria Cristina; Ferrari, Franca; Sandri, Giuseppina; Riva, Federica; Del Fante, Claudia; Perotti, Cesare; Caramella, Carla

2014-01-30

The aim of the present work was the development of a powder formulation for the combined delivery of platelet lysate and of a model antibiotic drug, vancomycin hydrochloride (VCM), in chronic skin ulcers. Calcium alginate particles were prepared by freeze-drying beads obtained by ionic gelation method. The experimental conditions adopted permitted the complete loading of VCM and of PDGF AB, the growth factor chosen as representative of those contained in PL. Such particles where able to absorb PBS (mimicking wound exudate), to form a gel and to modulate the release of VCM and of PDGF AB. They are characterized by enhancement properties of human fibroblast proliferation due to PL presence. In particular, PL, when loaded in alginate particles, was able not only to increase the number of viable cells, but also the number of cells in proliferative phase. Such properties were comparable to those of fresh PL indicating the capability of calcium alginate particles to load PL bioactive substances without altering their activity. The formulation developed is characterized by an easier and a less painful administration with respect to traditional gauzes and semisolid preparations and permits the loading in the same dosage form of active substances of different nature avoiding eventual incompatibility problems. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In situ observations of snow particle size distributions over a cold frontal rainband within an extratropical cyclone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jiefan; Lei, Hengchi

2016-02-01

Cloud microphysical properties of a mixed phase cloud generated by a typical extratropical cyclone in the Tongliao area, Inner Mongolia on 3 May 2014, are analyzed primarily using in situ flight observation data. This study is mainly focused on ice crystal concentration, supercooled cloud water content, and vertical distributions of fit parameters of snow particle size distributions (PSDs). The results showed several discrepancies of microphysical properties obtained during two penetrations. During penetration within precipitating cloud, the maximum ice particle concentration, liquid water content, and ice water content were increased by a factor of 2-3 compared with their counterpart obtained during penetration of a nonprecipitating cloud. The heavy rimed and irregular ice crystals obtained by 2D imagery probe as well as vertical distributions of fitting parameters within precipitating cloud show that the ice particles grow during falling via riming and aggregation process, whereas the lightly rimed and pristine ice particles as well as fitting parameters within non-precipitating cloud indicate the domination of sublimation process. During the two cloud penetrations, the PSDs were generally better represented by gamma distributions than the exponential form in terms of the determining coefficient ( R 2). The correlations between parameters of exponential /gamma form within two penetrations showed no obvious differences compared with previous studies.

Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis for Chemical and Morphological Characterisation of the Inorganic Component of Gunshot Residue: Selected Problems

PubMed Central

Brożek-Mucha, Zuzanna

2014-01-01

Chosen aspects of examinations of inorganic gunshot particles by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry technique are presented. The research methodology of particles was worked out, which included a precise and repeatable procedure of the automatic detection and identification of particles as well as the representation of the obtained analytical data in the form of the frequencies of occurrence of particles of certain chemical or morphological class within the whole population of particles revealed in a specimen. On this basis, there were established relationships between the chemical and morphological properties of populations of particles and factors, such as the type of ammunition, the distance from the gun muzzle to the target, the type of a substrate the particles sediment on, and the time between shooting and collecting the specimens. Each of these aspects of examinations of particles revealed a great potential of being utilised in casework, while establishing various circumstances of shooting incidents leads to the reconstruction of the course of the studied incident. PMID:25025050

Circular, confined distribution for charged particle beams

DOEpatents

Garnett, Robert W.; Dobelbower, M. Christian

1995-01-01

A charged particle beam line is formed with magnetic optics that manipulate the charged particle beam to form the beam having a generally rectangular configuration to a circular beam cross-section having a uniform particle distribution at a predetermined location. First magnetic optics form a charged particle beam to a generally uniform particle distribution over a square planar area at a known first location. Second magnetic optics receive the charged particle beam with the generally square configuration and affect the charged particle beam to output the charged particle beam with a phase-space distribution effective to fold corner portions of the beam toward the core region of the beam. The beam forms a circular configuration having a generally uniform spatial particle distribution over a target area at a predetermined second location.

Circular, confined distribution for charged particle beams

DOEpatents

Garnett, R.W.; Dobelbower, M.C.

1995-11-21

A charged particle beam line is formed with magnetic optics that manipulate the charged particle beam to form the beam having a generally rectangular configuration to a circular beam cross-section having a uniform particle distribution at a predetermined location. First magnetic optics form a charged particle beam to a generally uniform particle distribution over a square planar area at a known first location. Second magnetic optics receive the charged particle beam with the generally square configuration and affect the charged particle beam to output the charged particle beam with a phase-space distribution effective to fold corner portions of the beam toward the core region of the beam. The beam forms a circular configuration having a generally uniform spatial particle distribution over a target area at a predetermined second location. 26 figs.

Wear forms of heterogeneous electro-rheological fluids working in a hydraulic clutch system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziabska, E.; Duchowski, J.; Olszak, A.; Osowski, K.; Kesy, A.; Kesy, Z.; Choi, S. B.

2017-09-01

The paper presents experimental results concerning the wear of heterogeneous electro-rheological (ER) fluids operating as working fluids in a complex clutch system consisting of a hydrodynamic clutch and a cylinder viscous clutch. The change of electric field intensity in the clutches results in change of sheer stress values in working fluids what causes the change of transmitted torque. This work shows that the most important factors affecting the wear of the ER fluid are the electric field of high intensity, the accompanying electrical breakdown, and the high temperature of the silicone oil. In addition, the water from the humid air absorbed mainly by hygroscopic particles influences a significant impact on the wear of the working fluid. Various forms of wear particles of the fluid depending on the prevailing conditions such as working mode are observed from the microscopic aspects. It is observed that the particles are flattened, rolled out or smashed into smaller fragments, partially melted, wrinkled and glued or caked. In addition, it is identified that the partial destruction of silicone oil is occurred due to the damage of the hydrocarbon chains, as evidenced by the decrease in its viscosity and the presence of the particle matter newly containing silicon.

The chemical composition of cirrus forming aerosol: Lessons from the MACPEX field study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cziczo, D. J.; Froyd, K. D.; Murphy, D. M.

2012-12-01

Cirrus clouds are an important factor in the Earth's climate system. These clouds exert a large radiative forcing due to their extensive global coverage and high altitude despite minimal physical and optical thickness. During the Mid-latitude Aerosol and Cloud Properties EXperiment (MACPEX) we measured chemical and physical properties of the aerosols on which cirrus ice crystals formed in situ and in real time using a laser ablation single particle mass spectrometry technique deployed aboard the NASA WB-57 research aircraft. Ice residual particles were also collected for off-line laboratory investigation including electron microscopy. Flights spanned from the Gulf of Mexico to the mid-latitudes over the United States. In most cases heterogeneous freezing was the inferred mechanism of cloud formation and aerosol composition had a significant impact on the nucleation of the ice phase. Mineral dust and some metallic particles were highly enhanced in the ice phase when compared to their abundance outside of cloud. Particles such as soot and biological material, previously suggested as ice nuclei, were not found either due to an inability to nucleate ice or low abundance. Atmospheric implications of these measurements and more advanced future analyses will be discussed.

Epithelial stem cells are formed by small-particles released from particle-producing cells

PubMed Central

Kong, Wuyi; Zhu, Xiao Ping; Han, Xiu Juan; Nuo, Mu; Wang, Hong

2017-01-01

Recent spatiotemporal report demonstrated that epidermal stem cells have equal potential to divide or differentiate, with no asymmetric cell division observed. Therefore, how epithelial stem cells maintain lifelong stem-cell support still needs to be elucidated. In mouse blood and bone marrow, we found a group of large cells stained strongly for eosin and containing coiled-tubing-like structures. Many were tightly attached to each other to form large cellular clumps. After sectioning, these large cell-clumps were composed of not cells but numerous small particles, however with few small “naked” nuclei. The small particles were about 2 to 3 μm in diameter and stained dense red for eosin, so they may be rich in proteins. Besides the clumps composed of small particles, we identified clumps formed by fusion of the small particles and clumps of newly formed nucleated cells. These observations suggest that these small particles further fused and underwent cellularization. E-cadherin was expressed in particle-fusion areas, some “naked” nuclei and the newly formed nucleated cells, which suggests that these particles can form epithelial cells via fusion and nuclear remodeling. In addition, we observed similar-particle fusion before epithelial cellularization in mouse kidney ducts after kidney ischemia, which suggests that these particles can be released in the blood and carried to the target tissues for epithelial-cell regeneration. Oct4 and E-cadherin expressed in the cytoplasmic areas in cells that were rich in protein and mainly located in the center of the cellular clumps, suggesting that these newly formed cells have become tissue-specific epithelial stem cells. Our data provide evidence that these large particle-producing cells are the origin of epithelial stem cells. The epithelial stem cells are newly formed by particle fusion. PMID:28253358

Can nuclear physics explain the anomaly observed in the internal pair production in the Beryllium-8 nucleus?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xilin; Miller, Gerald A.

2017-10-01

Recently the experimentalists in Krasznahorkay (2016) [1] announced observing an unexpected enhancement of the e+-e- pair production signal in one of the 8Be nuclear transitions. The subsequent studies have been focused on possible explanations based on introducing new types of particle. In this work, we improve the nuclear physics modeling of the reaction by studying the pair emission anisotropy and the interferences between different multipoles in an effective field theory inspired framework, and examine their possible relevance to the anomaly. The connection between the previously measured on-shell photon production and the pair production in the same nuclear transitions is established. These improvements, absent in the original experimental analysis, should be included in extracting new particle's properties from the experiment of this type. However, the improvements can not explain the anomaly. We then explore the nuclear transition form factor as a possible origin of the anomaly, and find the required form factor to be unrealistic for the 8Be nucleus. The reduction of the anomaly's significance by simply rescaling our predicted event count is also investigated.

Factors controlling crystallization of miserite glass-ceramic.

PubMed

Muhammed, Fenik K; Moorehead, Robert; van Noort, Richard; Pollington, Sarah

2015-12-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate a range of variables affecting the synthesis of a miserite glass-ceramic (GC). Miserite glass was synthesized by the melt quench technique. The crystallization kinetics of the glass were determined using Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). The glasses were ground with dry ball-milling and then sieved to different particle sizes prior to sintering. These particle sizes were submitted to heat treatment regimes in a high temperature furnace to form the GC. The crystal phases of the GC were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the microstructure of the cerammed glass. XRD analysis confirmed that the predominant crystalline phase of the GC was miserite along with a minor crystalline phase of cristobalite only when the particle size is <20 μm and the heat treatment at 1000°C was carried out for 4h and slowly cooled at the furnace rate. For larger particle sizes and faster cooling rates, a pseudowollastonite crystalline phase was produced. Short sintering times produced either a pseudowollastonite or xonotolite crystalline phase. The current study has shown that particle size and heat treatment schedules are major factors in controlling the synthesis of miserite GC. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Size-controlled fabrication of zein nano/microparticles by modified anti-solvent precipitation with/without sodium caseinate

PubMed Central

Li, Feng; Chen, Yan; Liu, Shubo; Qi, Jian; Wang, Weiying; Wang, Chenhua; Zhong, Ruiyue; Chen, Zhijun; Li, Xiaoming; Guan, Yuanzhou; Kong, Wei; Zhang, Yong

2017-01-01

Zein-based nano/microparticles have been demonstrated to be promising carrier systems for both the food industry and biomedical applications. However, the fabrication of size-controlled zein particles has been a challenging issue. In this study, a modified anti-solvent precipitation method was developed, and the effects of various factors, such as mixing method, solvent/anti-solvent ratio, temperature, zein concentrations and the presence of sodium caseinate (SC) on properties of zein particles were investigated. Evidence is presented that, among the previously mentioned factors, the mixing method, especially mixing rate, could be used as an effective parameter to control the size of zein particles without changing other parameters. Moreover, through fine-tuning the mixing rate together with zein concentration, particles with sizes ranging from nanometers to micrometers and low polydispersity index values could be easily obtained. Based on the size-controlled fabrication method, SC-coated zein nanoparticles could also be obtained in a size-controlled manner by incubation of the coating material with the already-formed zein particles. The resultant nanoparticles showed better performance in both drug loading and controlled release, compared with zein/SC hybrid nanoparticles fabricated by adding aqueous ethanol solution to SC solution. The possible mechanisms of the nanoprecipitation process and self-assembly formation of these nanoparticles are discussed. PMID:29184408

Size-controlled fabrication of zein nano/microparticles by modified anti-solvent precipitation with/without sodium caseinate.

PubMed

Li, Feng; Chen, Yan; Liu, Shubo; Qi, Jian; Wang, Weiying; Wang, Chenhua; Zhong, Ruiyue; Chen, Zhijun; Li, Xiaoming; Guan, Yuanzhou; Kong, Wei; Zhang, Yong

2017-01-01

Zein-based nano/microparticles have been demonstrated to be promising carrier systems for both the food industry and biomedical applications. However, the fabrication of size-controlled zein particles has been a challenging issue. In this study, a modified anti-solvent precipitation method was developed, and the effects of various factors, such as mixing method, solvent/anti-solvent ratio, temperature, zein concentrations and the presence of sodium caseinate (SC) on properties of zein particles were investigated. Evidence is presented that, among the previously mentioned factors, the mixing method, especially mixing rate, could be used as an effective parameter to control the size of zein particles without changing other parameters. Moreover, through fine-tuning the mixing rate together with zein concentration, particles with sizes ranging from nanometers to micrometers and low polydispersity index values could be easily obtained. Based on the size-controlled fabrication method, SC-coated zein nanoparticles could also be obtained in a size-controlled manner by incubation of the coating material with the already-formed zein particles. The resultant nanoparticles showed better performance in both drug loading and controlled release, compared with zein/SC hybrid nanoparticles fabricated by adding aqueous ethanol solution to SC solution. The possible mechanisms of the nanoprecipitation process and self-assembly formation of these nanoparticles are discussed.

Aerosol fabrication methods for monodisperse nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Jiang, Xingmao; Brinker, C Jeffrey

2014-10-21

Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for forming monodisperse particles. In one embodiment, the monodisperse particles can be formed by first spraying a nanoparticle-containing dispersion into aerosol droplets and then heating the aerosol droplets in the presence of a shell precursor to form core-shell particles. By removing either the shell layer or the nanoparticle core of the core-shell particles, monodisperse nanoparticles can be formed.

Nonlinear dynamics of resonant electrons interacting with coherent Langmuir waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tobita, Miwa; Omura, Yoshiharu

2018-03-01

We study the nonlinear dynamics of resonant particles interacting with coherent waves in space plasmas. Magnetospheric plasma waves such as whistler-mode chorus, electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves, and hiss emissions contain coherent wave structures with various discrete frequencies. Although these waves are electromagnetic, their interaction with resonant particles can be approximated by equations of motion for a charged particle in a one-dimensional electrostatic wave. The equations are expressed in the form of nonlinear pendulum equations. We perform test particle simulations of electrons in an electrostatic model with Langmuir waves and a non-oscillatory electric field. We solve equations of motion and study the dynamics of particles with different values of inhomogeneity factor S defined as a ratio of the non-oscillatory electric field intensity to the wave amplitude. The simulation results demonstrate deceleration/acceleration, thermalization, and trapping of particles through resonance with a single wave, two waves, and multiple waves. For two-wave and multiple-wave cases, we describe the wave-particle interaction as either coherent or incoherent based on the probability of nonlinear trapping.

A trans-Dominant Form of Gag Restricts Ty1 Retrotransposition and Mediates Copy Number Control

PubMed Central

Saha, Agniva; Mitchell, Jessica A.; Nishida, Yuri; Hildreth, Jonathan E.; Ariberre, Joshua A.; Gilbert, Wendy V.

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces paradoxus lack the conserved RNA interference pathway and utilize a novel form of copy number control (CNC) to inhibit Ty1 retrotransposition. Although noncoding transcripts have been implicated in CNC, here we present evidence that a truncated form of the Gag capsid protein (p22) or its processed form (p18) is necessary and sufficient for CNC and likely encoded by Ty1 internal transcripts. Coexpression of p22/p18 and Ty1 decreases mobility more than 30,000-fold. p22/p18 cofractionates with Ty1 virus-like particles (VLPs) and affects VLP yield, protein composition, and morphology. Although p22/p18 and Gag colocalize in the cytoplasm, p22/p18 disrupts sites used for VLP assembly. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) affinity pulldowns also suggest that p18 and Gag interact. Therefore, this intrinsic Gag-like restriction factor confers CNC by interfering with VLP assembly and function and expands the strategies used to limit retroelement propagation. IMPORTANCE Retrotransposons dominate the chromosomal landscape in many eukaryotes, can cause mutations by insertion or genome rearrangement, and are evolutionarily related to retroviruses such as HIV. Thus, understanding factors that limit transposition and retroviral replication is fundamentally important. The present work describes a retrotransposon-encoded restriction protein derived from the capsid gene of the yeast Ty1 element that disrupts virus-like particle assembly in a dose-dependent manner. This form of copy number control acts as a molecular rheostat, allowing high levels of retrotransposition when few Ty1 elements are present and inhibiting transposition as copy number increases. Thus, yeast and Ty1 have coevolved a form of copy number control that is beneficial to both “host and parasite.” To our knowledge, this is the first Gag-like retrotransposon restriction factor described in the literature and expands the ways in which restriction proteins modulate retroelement replication. PMID:25609815

Effect of particle size on in-die and out-of-die compaction behavior of ranitidine hydrochloride polymorphs.

PubMed

Khomane, Kailas S; Bansal, Arvind K

2013-09-01

The present study investigates the effect of particle size on compaction behavior of forms I and II of ranitidine hydrochloride. Compaction studies were performed using three particle size ranges [450-600 (A), 300-400 (B), and 150-180 (C) μm] of both the forms, using a fully instrumented rotary tableting machine. Compaction data were analyzed for out-of-die compressibility, tabletability, and compactibility profiles and in-die Heckel and Kawakita analysis. Tabletability of the studied size fractions followed the order; IB > IA > > IIC > IIB > IIA at all the compaction pressures. In both the polymorphs, decrease in particle size improved the tabletability. Form I showed greater tabletability over form II at a given compaction pressure and sized fraction. Compressibility plot and Heckel and Kawakita analysis revealed greater compressibility and deformation behavior of form II over form I at a given compaction pressure and sized fraction. Decrease in particle size increased the compressibility and plastic deformation of both the forms. For a given polymorph, improved tabletability of smaller sized particles was attributed to their increased compressibility. However, IA and IB, despite poor compressibility and deformation, showed increased tabletability over IIA, IIB, and IIC by virtue of their greater compactibility. Microtensile testing also revealed higher nominal fracture strength of form I particles over form II, thus, supporting greater compactibility of form I. Taken as a whole, though particle size exhibited a trend on tabletability of individual forms, better compactibility of form I over form II has an overwhelming impact on tabletability.

Dispersoid reinforced alloy powder and method of making

DOEpatents

Anderson, Iver E [Ames, IA; Terpstra, Robert L [Ames, IA

2012-06-12

A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomized particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. The atomized alloy particles are solidified as solidified alloy particles or as a solidified deposit of alloy particles. Bodies made from the dispersion strengthened alloy particles, deposit thereof, exhibit enhanced fatigue and creep resistance and reduced wear as well as enhanced corrosion and/or oxidation resistance at high temperatures by virtue of the presence of the corrosion and/or oxidation resistance imparting alloying element in solid solution in the particle alloy matrix.

Dispersoid reinforced alloy powder and method of making

DOEpatents

Anderson, Iver E.; Terpstra, Robert L.

2010-04-20

A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomized particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. The atomized alloy particles are solidified as solidified alloy particles or as a solidified deposit of alloy particles. Bodies made from the dispersion strengthened alloy particles, deposit thereof, exhibit enhanced fatigue and creep resistance and reduced wear as well as enhanced corrosion and/or oxidation resistance at high temperatures by virtue of the presence of the corrosion and/or oxidation resistance imparting alloying element in solid solution in the particle alloy matrix.

Interconnected Porous Polymers with Tunable Pore Throat Size Prepared via Pickering High Internal Phase Emulsions.

PubMed

Xu, Hongyun; Zheng, Xianhua; Huang, Yifei; Wang, Haitao; Du, Qiangguo

2016-01-12

Interconnected macroporous polymers were prepared by copolymerizing methyl acrylate (MA) via Pickering high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templates with modified silica particles. The pore structure of the obtained polymer foams was observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Gas permeability was characterized to evaluate the interconnectivity of macroporous polymers. The polymerization shrinkage of continuous phase tends to form open pores while the solid particles surrounding the droplets act as barriers to produce closed pores. These two conflicting factors are crucial in determining the interconnectivity of macroporous polymers. Thus, poly-Pickering HIPEs with high permeability and well-defined pore structure can be achieved by tuning the MA content, the internal phase fraction, and the content of modified silica particles.

D term and the structure of pointlike and composed spin-0 particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hudson, Jonathan; Schweitzer, Peter

2017-12-01

This work deals with form factors of the energy-momentum tensor (EMT) of spin-0 particles and the unknown particle property D term related to the EMT, and it is divided into three parts. The first part explores free, weakly and strongly interacting theories to study EMT form factors with the following findings. (i) The free Klein-Gordon theory predicts for the D term D =-1 . (ii) Even infinitesimally small interactions can drastically impact D . (iii) In strongly interacting theories one can encounter large negative D though notable exceptions exist, which include Goldstone bosons of chiral symmetry breaking. (iv) Contrary to common belief one cannot arbitrarily add "total derivatives" to the EMT. Rather the EMT must be defined in an unambiguous way. The second part deals with the interpretation of the information content of EMT form factors in terms of 3D densities with the following results. (i) The 3D-density formalism is internally consistent. (ii) The description is subject to relativistic corrections but those are acceptably small in phenomenologically relevant situations including nucleons and nuclei. (iii) The free-field result D =-1 persists when a spin-0 boson is not pointlike but "heuristically given some internal structure." The third part investigates the question of whether such "giving of an extended structure" can be implemented dynamically, and it has the following insights. (i) We construct a consistent microscopic theory which, in a certain parametric limit, interpolates between extended and pointlike solutions. (ii) This theory is exactly solvable which is rare in 3 +1 dimensions, admits nontopological solitons of Q -ball type, and has a Gaussian field amplitude. (iii) The interaction of this theory belongs to a class of logarithmic potentials which were discussed in the literature, albeit in different contexts including beyond-standard-model phenomenology, cosmology, and Higgs physics.

Sizes of particles formed during municipal wastewater treatment.

PubMed

Lech, Smoczynski; Marta, Kosobucka; Michal, Smoczynski; Harsha, Ratnaweera; Krystyna, Pieczulis-Smoczynska

2017-02-01

Volumetric diameters Dv and specific surface area SpS of sludge particles formed during chemical coagulation and electrocoagulation of sewage were determined. The obtained aggregate-flocs differed substantially in both Dv and SpS values. The differences in Dv and SpS values of the analyzed particles were interpreted based on theoretical models for expanding aggregates. The most uniform particles were formed under exposure to: (a) optimal and maximal doses of PIX, (b) optimal doses of PAX, (c) maximal doses of the Al electro-coagulant. The lowest PIX dose produced the least uniform particles. Sludge aggregates-particles produced under exposure to minimal doses of PIX and the Al electro-coagulant were characterized by the lowest SpS values. Sludge particles coagulated by PAX and the particles formed at higher doses of PIX and the Al electro-coagulant had higher SpS values. The particles formed at all doses of the applied coagulants and electro-coagulants were generally classified into two size ranges: the main range and the secondary range. Most particles belonged to the main size range. An increase in the percentage of colloidal hydroxide particles in sewage sludge increased SpS.

Optimization and characterization of condensation nucleation light scattering detection coupled with supercritical fluid chromatography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shaoping

This dissertation is an investigation of two aspects of coupling condensation nucleation light scattering detection (CNLSD) with supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). In the first part, it was demonstrated that CNLSD was compatible with packed column SFC using either pure CO2 or organic solvent modified CO2 as mobile phases. Factors which were expected to affect the interface between SFC and CNLSD were optimized for the detector to reach low detection limits. With SFC using pure CO2 as mobile phase, the detection limit of CNLSD with SFC was observed to be at low nanogram levels, which was at the same level of flame ionization detection (FID) coupled with SFC. For SFC using modified CO2 as mobile phase, detection limits at the picogram level were observed for CNLSD at optimal conditions, which were at least ten times lower than those reached by evaporative light scattering detection. In the second part, particle size distributions of aerosols produced from rapid expansion of supercritical solutions were measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer. The effect of the factors, which were investigated in the first part for their effects on signal intensities and signal to noise ratios (S/N), on particle size distributions (PSDs) of both analyte and background were investigated. Whenever possible, both particle sizes and particle number obtained from PSDs were used to explain the optimization results. In general, PSD data support the observations made in the first part. The detection limits of CNLSD obtained were much higher than predicted. PSDs did not provide direct explanation of this problem. The amount of analyte deposited in the transport tubing, evaporated to gas phase, and condensed to form particles was determined experimentally. Almost no analyte was found in the gas phase. Less than 3% was found in the particle forms. The vast majority of analyte was lost in the transport tubing, especially in the short distance after supercritical fluid expansion. A mechanism was proposed to explain the loss of analyte in the transport tubing.

Fabrication and characterization of homogeneous surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates by single pulse UV-laser treatment of gold and silver films.

PubMed

Christou, Konstantin; Knorr, Inga; Ihlemann, Jürgen; Wackerbarth, Hainer; Beushausen, Volker

2010-12-07

The fabrication of SERS-active substrates, which offer high enhancement factors as well as spatially homogeneous distribution of the enhancement, plays an important role in the expansion of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to a powerful, quantitative, and noninvasive measurement technique for analytical applications. In this paper, a novel method for the fabrication of SERS-active substrates by laser treatment of 20, 40, and 60 nm thick gold and of 40 nm thick silver films supported on quartz glass is presented. Single 308 nm UV-laser pulses were applied to melt the thin gold and silver films. During the cooling process of the noble metal, particles were formed. The particle size and density were imaged by atomic force microscopy. By varying the fluence, the size of the particles can be controlled. The enhancement factors of the nanostructures were determined by recording self-assembled monolayers of benzenethiol. The intensity of the SERS signal from benzenethiol is correlated to the mean particle size and thus to the fluence. Enhancement factors up to 10(6) with a high reproducibility were reached. Finally we have analyzed the temperature dependence of the SERS effect by recording the intensity of benzenethiol vibrations from 300 to 120 K. The temperature dependence of the SERS effect is discussed with regard to the metal properties.

The improved z-scan technique: potentialities of the additional right-angle scattering channel and the input polarization control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volchkov, S. S.; Yuvchenko, S. A.; Zimnyakov, D. A.

2018-04-01

The theoretical possibility of retrieving the additional information on the dielectric properties of the nanoparticles material by single scattering in suspensions was studied. We have demonstrated a method of recreating the dielectric function of the material in the fundamental absorption band using the closed aperture z-scanning with the simultaneous Rayleigh scattering intensity measurements and the polarization control of an input laser beam. A possibility to recreate the form factor of the non-spherical particles or anisotropic nonlinear sensitivity for the sphere-like particles was also observed.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles and monocytes: Impact of size, charge and solubility on activation status

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prach, Morag; Stone, Vicki; Proudfoot, Lorna, E-mail: l.proudfoot@napier.ac.uk

2013-01-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) particle induced cytotoxicity was dependent on size, charge and solubility, factors which at sublethal concentrations may influence the activation of the human monocytic cell line THP1. ZnO nanoparticles (NP; average diameter 70 nm) were more toxic than the bulk form (< 44 μm mesh) and a positive charge enhanced cytotoxicity of the NP despite their relatively high dissolution. A positive charge of the particles has been shown in other studies to have an influence on cell viability. Centrifugal filtration using a cut off of 5 kDa and Zn element analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy confirmed that exposuremore » of the ZnO particles and NP to 10% foetal bovine serum resulted in a strong association of the Zn{sup 2+} ion with protein. This association with protein may influence interaction of the ZnO particles and NP with THP1 cells. After 24 h exposure to the ZnO particles and NP at sublethal concentrations there was little effect on immunological markers of inflammation such as HLA DR and CD14, although they may induce a modest increase in the adhesion molecule CD11b. The cytokine TNFα is normally associated with proinflammatory immune responses but was not induced by the ZnO particles and NP. There was also no effect on LPS stimulated TNFα production. These results suggest that ZnO particles and NP do not have a classical proinflammatory effect on THP1 cells. -- Highlights: ► ZnO is cytotoxic to THP-1 monocytes. ► ZnO nanoparticles are more toxic than the bulk form. ► Positive charge enhances ZnO nanoparticle cytotoxicity. ► Sublethal doses of ZnO particles do not induce classical proinflammatory markers.« less

Shaped nanocrystal particles and methods for making the same

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A Paul [Oakland, CA; Scher, Erik C [Menlo Park, CA; Manna, Liberato [Berkeley, CA

2011-11-22

Shaped nanocrystal particles and methods for making shaped nanocrystal particles are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method for forming a branched, nanocrystal particle. It includes (a) forming a core having a first crystal structure in a solution, (b) forming a first arm extending from the core having a second crystal structure in the solution, and (c) forming a second arm extending from the core having the second crystal structure in the solution.

Shaped nanocrystal particles and methods for making the same

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A. Paul; Scher, Erik C; Manna, Liberato

2013-12-17

Shaped nanocrystal particles and methods for making shaped nanocrystal particles are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method for forming a branched, nanocrystal particle. It includes (a) forming a core having a first crystal structure in a solution, (b) forming a first arm extending from the core having a second crystal structure in the solution, and (c) forming a second arm extending from the core having the second crystal structure in the solution.

Shaped nanocrystal particles and methods for working the same

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A. Paul; Sher, Eric C.; Manna, Liberato

2007-12-25

Shaped nanocrystal particles and methods for making shaped nanocrystal particles are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method for forming a branched, nanocrystal particle. It includes (a) forming a core having a first crystal structure in a solution, (b) forming a first arm extending from the core having a second crystal structure in the solution, and (c) forming a second arm extending from the core having the second crystal structure in the solution.

Shaped Nonocrystal Particles And Methods For Making The Same

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A. Paul; Scher, Erik C.; Manna, Liberato

2005-02-15

Shaped nanocrystal particles and methods for making shaped nanocrystal particles are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method for forming a branched, nanocrystal particle. It includes (a) forming a core having a first crystal structure in a solution, (b) forming a first arm extending from the core having a second crystal structure in the solution, and (c) forming a second arm extending from the core having the second crystal structure in the solution.

Contribution of Arctic seabird-colony ammonia to atmospheric particles and cloud-albedo radiative effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croft, B.; Wentworth, G. R.; Martin, R. V.; Leaitch, W. R.; Murphy, J. G.; Murphy, B. N.; Kodros, J. K.; Abbatt, J. P. D.; Pierce, J. R.

2016-11-01

The Arctic region is vulnerable to climate change and able to affect global climate. The summertime Arctic atmosphere is pristine and strongly influenced by natural regional emissions, which have poorly understood climate impacts related to atmospheric particles and clouds. Here we show that ammonia from seabird-colony guano is a key factor contributing to bursts of newly formed particles, which are observed every summer in the near-surface atmosphere at Alert, Nunavut, Canada. Our chemical-transport model simulations indicate that the pan-Arctic seabird-influenced particles can grow by sulfuric acid and organic vapour condensation to diameters sufficiently large to promote pan-Arctic cloud-droplet formation in the clean Arctic summertime. We calculate that the resultant cooling tendencies could be large (about -0.5 W m-2 pan-Arctic-mean cooling), exceeding -1 W m-2 near the largest seabird colonies due to the effects of seabird-influenced particles on cloud albedo. These coupled ecological-chemical processes may be susceptible to Arctic warming and industrialization.

Contribution of Arctic seabird-colony ammonia to atmospheric particles and cloud-albedo radiative effect.

PubMed

Croft, B; Wentworth, G R; Martin, R V; Leaitch, W R; Murphy, J G; Murphy, B N; Kodros, J K; Abbatt, J P D; Pierce, J R

2016-11-15

The Arctic region is vulnerable to climate change and able to affect global climate. The summertime Arctic atmosphere is pristine and strongly influenced by natural regional emissions, which have poorly understood climate impacts related to atmospheric particles and clouds. Here we show that ammonia from seabird-colony guano is a key factor contributing to bursts of newly formed particles, which are observed every summer in the near-surface atmosphere at Alert, Nunavut, Canada. Our chemical-transport model simulations indicate that the pan-Arctic seabird-influenced particles can grow by sulfuric acid and organic vapour condensation to diameters sufficiently large to promote pan-Arctic cloud-droplet formation in the clean Arctic summertime. We calculate that the resultant cooling tendencies could be large (about -0.5 W m -2 pan-Arctic-mean cooling), exceeding -1 W m -2 near the largest seabird colonies due to the effects of seabird-influenced particles on cloud albedo. These coupled ecological-chemical processes may be susceptible to Arctic warming and industrialization.

Variance of laser-beam intensity fluctuations during snowfall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhukov, A. F.; Kabanov, M. F.; Tsvyk, R. Sh.

1985-02-01

The results of an experimental study of the factors affecting the variance of laser-beam intensity fluctuations during snowfall are analyzed. The investigation covered short (L = 130 m) and long (390, 650, and 1310 m) beam paths, and used narrow diverging and wide collimated beams with Omega = 0.075 and 54, respectively, produced by the same laser. The dimensions of snow particles varied from 0.1 to 3.0 cm. It is shown that a distance l exists, such that when L is much less than l a geometric shadow of a snow particle is formed, whereas for L much greater than l a complex interference pattern can be seen. In both cases, the motion of a particle leads to intensity fluctuations. Furthermore, it was found that the proportionality coefficient for Omega = 54 is near 1 and depends insignificantly on the particle size; for a diverging beam, however, it changes from 0.3 to 0.8 as the maximum particle diameter increases from 0.1 to 3 cm.

Dispersoid reinforced alloy powder and method of making

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anderson, Iver E.; Terpstra, Robert L.

A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomizedmore » particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. The atomized alloy particles are solidified as solidified alloy particles or as a solidified deposit of alloy particles. Bodies made from the dispersion strengthened alloy particles, deposit thereof, exhibit enhanced fatigue and creep resistance and reduced wear as well as enhanced corrosion and/or oxidation resistance at high temperatures by virtue of the presence of the corrosion and/or oxidation resistance imparting alloying element in solid solution in the particle alloy matrix.« less

Dispersoid reinforced alloy powder and method of making

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anderson, Iver E.; Terpstra, Robert L.

2017-10-10

A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomizedmore » particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. The atomized alloy particles are solidified as solidified alloy particles or as a solidified deposit of alloy particles. Bodies made from the dispersion strengthened alloy particles, deposit thereof, exhibit enhanced fatigue and creep resistance and reduced wear as well as enhanced corrosion and/or oxidation resistance at high temperatures by virtue of the presence of the corrosion and/or oxidation resistance imparting alloying element in solid solution in the particle alloy matrix.« less

Electromagnetic Charge Radius of the Pion at High Precision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ananthanarayan, B.; Caprini, Irinel; Das, Diganta

2017-09-01

We present a determination of the pion charge radius from high precision data on the pion vector form factor from both timelike and spacelike regions, using a novel formalism based on analyticity and unitarity. At low energies, instead of the poorly known modulus of the form factor, we use its phase, known with high accuracy from Roy equations for π π elastic scattering via the Fermi-Watson theorem. We use also the values of the modulus at several higher timelike energies, where the data from e+e- annihilation and τ decay are mutually consistent, as well as the most recent measurements at spacelike momenta. The experimental uncertainties are implemented by Monte Carlo simulations. The results, which do not rely on a specific parametrization, are optimal for the given input information and do not depend on the unknown phase of the form factor above the first inelastic threshold. Our prediction for the charge radius of the pion is rπ=(0.657 ±0.003 ) fm , which amounts to an increase in precision by a factor of about 2.7 compared to the Particle Data Group average.

Methods for producing films using supercritical fluid

DOEpatents

Yonker, Clement R.; Fulton, John L.

2004-06-15

A method for forming a continuous film on a substrate surface that involves depositing particles onto a substrate surface and contacting the particle-deposited substrate surface with a supercritical fluid under conditions sufficient for forming a continuous film from the deposited particles. The particles may have a mean particle size of less 1 micron. The method may be performed by providing a pressure vessel that can contain a compressible fluid. A particle-deposited substrate is provided in the pressure vessel and the compressible fluid is maintained at a supercritical or sub-critical state sufficient for forming a film from the deposited particles. The T.sub.g of particles may be reduced by subjecting the particles to the methods detailed in the present disclosure.

Method for preparing hydrous titanium oxide spherules and other gel forms thereof

DOEpatents

Collins, J.L.

1998-10-13

The present invention are methods for preparing hydrous titanium oxide spherules, hydrous titanium oxide gels such as gel slabs, films, capillary and electrophoresis gels, titanium monohydrogen phosphate spherules, hydrous titanium oxide spherules having suspendible particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite sorbent, titanium monohydrogen phosphate spherules having suspendible particles of at least one different sorbent homogeneously embedded within to form a composite sorbent having a desired crystallinity, titanium oxide spherules in the form of anatase, brookite or rutile, titanium oxide spherules having suspendible particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, hydrous titanium oxide fiber materials, titanium oxide fiber materials, hydrous titanium oxide fiber materials having suspendible particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, titanium oxide fiber materials having suspendible particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite and spherules of barium titanate. These variations of hydrous titanium oxide spherules and gel forms prepared by the gel-sphere, internal gelation process offer more useful forms of inorganic ion exchangers, catalysts, getters and ceramics. 6 figs.

Method for preparing hydrous titanium oxide spherules and other gel forms thereof

DOEpatents

Collins, Jack L.

1998-01-01

The present invention are methods for preparing hydrous titanium oxide spherules, hydrous titanium oxide gels such as gel slabs, films, capillary and electrophoresis gels, titanium monohydrogen phosphate spherules, hydrous titanium oxide spherules having suspendible particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite sorbent, titanium monohydrogen phosphate spherules having suspendible particles of at least one different sorbent homogeneously embedded within to form a composite sorbent having a desired crystallinity, titanium oxide spherules in the form of anatase, brookite or rutile, titanium oxide spherules having suspendible particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, hydrous titanium oxide fiber materials, titanium oxide fiber materials, hydrous titanium oxide fiber materials having suspendible particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, titanium oxide fiber materials having suspendible particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite and spherules of barium titanate. These variations of hydrous titanium oxide spherules and gel forms prepared by the gel-sphere, internal gelation process offer more useful forms of inorganic ion exchangers, catalysts, getters and ceramics.

Chemo-Mechanical Characteristics of Mud Formed from Environmental Dust Particles in Humid Ambient Air

PubMed Central

Hassan, Ghassan; Yilbas, B. S.; Said, Syed A. M.; Al-Aqeeli, N.; Matin, Asif

2016-01-01

Mud formed from environmental dust particles in humid ambient air significantly influences the performance of solar harvesting devices. This study examines the characterization of environmental dust particles and the chemo-mechanics of dry mud formed from dust particles. Analytical tools, including scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, particle sizing, and X-ray diffraction, are used to characterize dry mud and dust particles. A micro/nano tribometer is used to measure the tangential force and friction coefficient while tensile tests are carried out to assess the binding forces of dry mud pellets. After dry mud is removed, mud residuals on the glass surface are examined and the optical transmittance of the glass is measured. Dust particles include alkaline compounds, which dissolve in water condensate and form a mud solution with high pH (pH = 7.5). The mud solution forms a thin liquid film at the interface of dust particles and surface. Crystals form as the mud solution dries, thus, increasing the adhesion work required to remove dry mud from the surface. Optical transmittance of the glass is reduced after dry mud is removed due to the dry mud residue on the surface. PMID:27445272

Chemo-Mechanical Characteristics of Mud Formed from Environmental Dust Particles in Humid Ambient Air.

PubMed

Hassan, Ghassan; Yilbas, B S; Said, Syed A M; Al-Aqeeli, N; Matin, Asif

2016-07-22

Mud formed from environmental dust particles in humid ambient air significantly influences the performance of solar harvesting devices. This study examines the characterization of environmental dust particles and the chemo-mechanics of dry mud formed from dust particles. Analytical tools, including scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, particle sizing, and X-ray diffraction, are used to characterize dry mud and dust particles. A micro/nano tribometer is used to measure the tangential force and friction coefficient while tensile tests are carried out to assess the binding forces of dry mud pellets. After dry mud is removed, mud residuals on the glass surface are examined and the optical transmittance of the glass is measured. Dust particles include alkaline compounds, which dissolve in water condensate and form a mud solution with high pH (pH = 7.5). The mud solution forms a thin liquid film at the interface of dust particles and surface. Crystals form as the mud solution dries, thus, increasing the adhesion work required to remove dry mud from the surface. Optical transmittance of the glass is reduced after dry mud is removed due to the dry mud residue on the surface.

Organic condensation: A vital link connecting aerosol formation to climate forcing (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riipinen, I.; Pierce, J. R.; Yli-Juuti, T.; Nieminen, T.; Häkkinen, S.; Ehn, M.; Junninen, H.; Lehtipalo, K.; Petdjd, T. T.; Slowik, J. G.; Chang, R. Y.; Shantz, N. C.; Abbatt, J.; Leaitch, W. R.; Kerminen, V.; Worsnop, D. R.; Pandis, S. N.; Donahue, N. M.; Kulmala, M. T.

2010-12-01

Aerosol-cloud interactions represent the largest uncertainty in calculations of Earth’s radiative forcing. Number concentrations of atmospheric aerosol particles are in the core of this uncertainty, as they govern the numbers of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and influence the albedo and lifetime of clouds. Aerosols also impair air quality through their adverse effects on atmospheric visibility and human health. The ultrafine fraction (<100 nm) of atmospheric aerosol particles often dominates the total aerosol numbers, and nucleation of atmospheric vapours is one of the most important sources of these particles. To have climatic relevance, however, the freshly-nucleated particles need to grow in size, and consequently their climatic importance remains to be quantified (see Fig. 1). We combine observations from two continental sites (Egbert, Canada and Hyytiälä, Finland) to show that condensation of organic vapours is a crucial factor governing the lifetimes and climatic importance of the smallest atmospheric particles. We demonstrate that state-of-the-science organic gas-particle partitioning models fail to reproduce the observations; we propose a new modelling approach that is consistent with the measurements. Finally, we demonstrate the large sensitivity of climatic forcing of atmospheric aerosols to these interactions between organic vapours and the smallest atmospheric nanoparticles - highlighting the need for representing this process in global climate models. Figure 1. Organic emissions and the dynamic processes governing the climatic importance of ultrafine aerosol. Condensable vapours are produced upon oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and can 1) nucleate to form new small particles; 2) grow freshly formed particles to larger sizes and increase their probability to serve as CCN; 3) condense on the background aerosol (> 100 nm) and enhance the loss of ultrafine particles. Primary organic aerosol (POA) contributes to the large end of the aerosol size distribution, enhancing the scavenging of the ultrafine particles.

Factors affecting the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-Al3Ti core-shell-structured particle-reinforced Al matrix composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Baisong; Yi, Jianhong; Ni, Song; Shen, Rujuan; Song, Min

2016-04-01

This work studied the effects of matrix powder and sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of in situ formed Ti-Al3Ti core-shell-structured particle-reinforced pure Al-based composites. It has been shown that both factors have significant effects on the morphology of the reinforcements and densification behaviour of the composites. Due to the strong interfacial bonding and the limitation of the crack propagation in the intermetallic shell during deformation by soft Al matrix and Ti core, the composite fabricated using fine spherical-shaped Al powder and sintered at 570 °C for 5 h has the optimal combination of the overall mechanical properties. The study provides a direction for the optimum combination of high strength and ductility of the composites by adjusting the fabrication parameters.

Structural phase composition and effectiveness of gas-dynamic spraying of hybrid coatings based on AlMg2 nanocrystalline matrix reinforced with graphene-like structures and micro-size corundum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aborkin, A. V.; Sobol'kov, A. V.; Elkin, A. I.; Arkhipov, V. E.

2018-01-01

The method of cold gas-dynamic spraying of mechanically synthesized powders based on a nanocrystalline AlMg2 matrix reinforced with graphene-like structures and micro-sized corundum particles was used for obtaining hybrid coatings. A feature of the formed coatings is the presence of a two-level micro- and nanocomposite structure. It was found that an increase in the content of corundum microdimensional particles in the mixture from 10 to 30% by weight contributes to an increase in the thickness of the coating obtained at the same time by a factor of 2 from 140 to 310 μm. Further increase in the content of a mixture of micron-sized corundum particles to 50% by weight leads to a decrease in the thickness of the coating formed to 40 μm. The resulting coatings correspond to a high microhardness, varying depending on the composition in the range from 1.7 GPa to 3.2 GPa. The high hardness of the coatings is due to the increase in the hardness of the matrix material due to the creation of a nanocomposite structure, which increases the strength of fixing micro-sized corundum particles therein, improving the characteristics of the heterogeneous coating as a whole.

Biological framework for soil aggregation: Implications for ecological functions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghezzehei, Teamrat; Or, Dani

2016-04-01

Soil aggregation is heuristically understood as agglomeration of primary particles bound together by biotic and abiotic cementing agents. The organization of aggregates is believed to be hierarchical in nature; whereby primary particles bond together to form secondary particles and subsequently merge to form larger aggregates. Soil aggregates are not permanent structures, they continuously change in response to internal and external forces and other drivers, including moisture, capillary pressure, temperature, biological activity, and human disturbances. Soil aggregation processes and the resulting functionality span multiple spatial and temporal scales. The intertwined biological and physical nature of soil aggregation, and the time scales involved precluded a universally applicable and quantifiable framework for characterizing the nature and function of soil aggregation. We introduce a biophysical framework of soil aggregation that considers the various modes and factors of the genesis, maturation and degradation of soil aggregates including wetting/drying cycles, soil mechanical processes, biological activity and the nature of primary soil particles. The framework attempts to disentangle mechanical (compaction and soil fragmentation) from in-situ biophysical aggregation and provides a consistent description of aggregate size, hierarchical organization, and life time. It also enables quantitative description of biotic and abiotic functions of soil aggregates including diffusion and storage of mass and energy as well as role of aggregates as hot spots of nutrient accumulation, biodiversity, and biogeochemical cycles.

Online and offline mass spectrometric study of the impact of oxidation and ageing on glyoxal chemistry and uptake onto ammonium sulfate aerosols.

PubMed

Hamilton, Jacqueline F; Baeza-Romero, M Teresa; Finessi, Emanuela; Rickard, Andrew R; Healy, Robert M; Peppe, Salvatore; Adams, Thomas J; Daniels, Mark J S; Ball, Stephen M; Goodall, Iain C A; Monks, Paul S; Borrás, Esther; Muñoz, Amalia

2013-01-01

Recent laboratory and modelling studies have shown that reactive uptake of low molecular weight alpha-dicarbonyls such as glyoxal (GLY) by aerosols is a potentially significant source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). However, previous studies disagree in the magnitude of the uptake of GLY, the mechanism involved and the physicochemical factors affecting particle formation. In this study, the chemistry of GLY with ammonium sulfate (AS) in both bulk laboratory solutions and in aerosol particles is investigated. For the first time, Aerosol Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (ATOFMS), a single particle technique, is used together with offline (ESI-MS and LC-MS2) mass spectrometric techniques to investigate the change in composition of bulk solutions of GLY and AS resulting from aqueous photooxidation by OH and from ageing of the solutions in the dark. The mass spectral ions obtained in these laboratory studies were used as tracers of GLY uptake and chemistry in AS seed particles in a series of experiments carried out under dark and natural irradiated conditions at the outdoor European Photo-reactor (EUPHORE). Glyoxal oligomers formed were not detected by the ATOFMS, perhaps due to inefficient absorption at the laser wavelength. However, the presence of organic nitrogen compounds, formed by reaction of GLY with ammonia was confirmed, resulting in an increase in the absorption efficiency of the aerosol, and this increased the number of particles successfully ionised by the ATOFMS. A number of light absorbing organic nitrogen species, including 1H-imidazole, 1H-imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde, 2,2'-bis-imidazole and a glyoxal substituted 2,2'-bisimidazole, previously identified in aqueous laboratory solutions, were also identified in chamber aerosol and formed on atmospherically relevant timescales. An additional compound, predicted to be 1,2,5-oxadiazole, had an enhanced formation rate when the chamber was open and is predicted to be formed via a light activated pathway involving radical oxidation of ammonia to hydroxylamine, followed by subsequent reaction with glyoxal to form an intermediate glyoxime.

Biopersistence and Brain Translocation of Aluminum Adjuvants of Vaccines

PubMed Central

Gherardi, Romain Kroum; Eidi, Housam; Crépeaux, Guillemette; Authier, François Jerome; Cadusseau, Josette

2015-01-01

Aluminum oxyhydroxide (alum) is a crystalline compound widely used as an immunological adjuvant of vaccines. Concerns linked to the use of alum particles emerged following recognition of their causative role in the so-called macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) lesion detected in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue/syndrome. MMF revealed an unexpectedly long-lasting biopersistence of alum within immune cells in presumably susceptible individuals, stressing the previous fundamental misconception of its biodisposition. We previously showed that poorly biodegradable aluminum-coated particles injected into muscle are promptly phagocytosed in muscle and the draining lymph nodes, and can disseminate within phagocytic cells throughout the body and slowly accumulate in brain. This strongly suggests that long-term adjuvant biopersistence within phagocytic cells is a prerequisite for slow brain translocation and delayed neurotoxicity. The understanding of basic mechanisms of particle biopersistence and brain translocation represents a major health challenge, since it could help to define susceptibility factors to develop chronic neurotoxic damage. Biopersistence of alum may be linked to its lysosome-destabilizing effect, which is likely due to direct crystal-induced rupture of phagolysosomal membranes. Macrophages that continuously perceive foreign particles in their cytosol will likely reiterate, with variable interindividual efficiency, a dedicated form of autophagy (xenophagy) until they dispose of alien materials. Successful compartmentalization of particles within double membrane autophagosomes and subsequent fusion with repaired and re-acidified lysosomes will expose alum to lysosomal acidic pH, the sole factor that can solubilize alum particles. Brain translocation of alum particles is linked to a Trojan horse mechanism previously described for infectious particles (HIV, HCV), that obeys to CCL2, signaling the major inflammatory monocyte chemoattractant. PMID:25699008

Detailed characterization of particulate matter emitted by lean-burn gasoline direct injection engine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zelenyuk, Alla; Wilson, Jacqueline; Imre, Dan

This study presents detailed characterization of the chemical and physical properties of PM emitted by a 2.0L BMW lean-burn turbocharged GDI engine operated under a number of combustion strategies that include lean homogeneous, lean stratified, stoichiometric, and fuel rich conditions. We characterized PM number concentrations, size distributions, and the size, mass, compositions, and effective density of fractal and compact individual exhaust particles. For the fractal particles, these measurements yielded fractal dimension, average diameter of primary spherules, and number of spherules, void fraction, and dynamic shape factors as function of particle size. Overall, the PM properties were shown to vary significantlymore » with engine operation condition. Lean stratified operation yielded the most diesel-like size distribution and the largest PM number and mass concentrations, with nearly all particles being fractal agglomerates composed of elemental carbon with small amounts of ash and organics. In contrast, stoichiometric operation yielded a larger fraction of ash particles, especially at low speed and low load. Three distinct forms of ash particles were observed, with their fractions strongly dependent on engine operating conditions: sub-50 nm ash particles, abundant at low speed and low load, ash-containing fractal particles, and large compact ash particles that significantly contribute to PM mass loadings« less

Cyclic hydrostatic pressure and particles increase synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by human macrophages in vitro.

PubMed

Evans, C E; Mylchreest, S; Mee, A P; Berry, J L; Andrew, J G

2006-01-01

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) has a pivotal role in bone resorption and osteoclast activity. As activated macrophages are known to synthesise 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), this study examined whether pressure modulated its synthesis. Pressure and particles have been shown to increase synthesis of pro-resorptive cytokines and other factors by cultured macrophages. Human peripheral blood macrophages were isolated, cultured and exposed to pressure (similar to that found in the human joint) and/or particles. Synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) by macrophages was assayed using high pressure liquid chromatography and in situ hybridization. Synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) but not 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) was increased in macrophages under pressure. In situ hybridization demonstrated an increase in 1alpha-hydroxylase expression in response to pressure or particles and simultaneous exposure to both stimuli generated higher expression of 1alpha-hydroxylase. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate that mechanical loading, in the form of pressure, stimulates 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) synthesis in human macrophages. These findings have implications for the in vivo situation, as they suggest that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) could be one factor stimulating osteoclastic bone resorption in pathologies, such as arthritis or implant loosening, where intra-articular or intra-osseous pressure is raised or where wear particles interact with macrophages.

APOBEC3G ubiquitination by Nedd4-1 favors its packaging into HIV-1 particles.

PubMed

Dussart, Sylvie; Douaisi, Marc; Courcoul, Marianne; Bessou, Gilles; Vigne, Robert; Decroly, Etienne

2005-01-21

APOBEC3G is a cytidine deaminase that limits the replication of many retroviruses. This antiviral host factor is packaged into retrovirus particles, where it targets single-stranded DNA generated during reverse transcription and induces up to 2% of G-to-A mutations, which are lethal for the HIV-1 provirus. Vif protein counteracts this antiviral factor by decreasing its packaging into lentivirus particles. Here, we demonstrate that Nedd4-1, an HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase, interacts with APOBEC3G, through its WW2 and WW3 domains. As a result of this interaction, APOBEC3G undergoes post-translational modification by addition of ubiquitin moieties. Accordingly, we demonstrate that the dominant negative Nedd4-1 C/S form prevents APOBEC3G ubiquitination. Moreover, the packaging of APOBEC3G into Pr55 Gag virus-like particles and into HIV-1 virions is reduced when Nedd4-1 C/S is expressed. During HIV-1 viral production in the presence of APOBEC3G, Nedd4-1 C/S restores partially the infectivity of Deltavif HIV-1. We conclude that the ubiquitination of APOBEC3G by Nedd4-1 favors its targeting to the virus assembly site where APOBEC3G interacts with Gag and is packaged into HIV-1 particles in the absence of Vif.

The influence of marine microbial activities on aerosol production: A laboratory mesocosm study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alpert, Peter A.; Kilthau, Wendy P.; Bothe, Dylan W.; Radway, JoAnn C.; Aller, Josephine Y.; Knopf, Daniel A.

2015-09-01

The oceans cover most of the Earth's surface, contain nearly half the total global primary biomass productivity, and are a major source of atmospheric aerosol particles. Here we experimentally investigate links between biological activity in seawater and sea spray aerosol (SSA) flux, a relationship of potential significance for organic aerosol loading and cloud formation over the oceans and thus for climate globally. Bubbles were generated in laboratory mesocosm experiments either by recirculating impinging water jets or glass frits. Experiments were conducted with Atlantic Ocean seawater collected off the eastern end of Long Island, NY, and with artificial seawater containing cultures of bacteria and phytoplankton Thalassiosira pseudonana, Emiliania huxleyi, and Nannochloris atomus. Changes in SSA size distributions occurred during all phases of bacterial and phytoplankton growth, as characterized by cell concentrations, dissolved organic carbon, total particulate carbon, and transparent exopolymer particles (gel-forming polysaccharides representing a major component of biogenic exudate material). Over a 2 week growth period, SSA particle concentrations increased by a factor of less than 2 when only bacteria were present and by a factor of about 3 when bacteria and phytoplankton were present. Production of jet-generated SSA particles of diameter less than 200 nm increased with time, while production of all particle diameters increased with time when frits were used. The implications of a marine biological activity dependent SSA flux are discussed.

Methods for forming particles

DOEpatents

Fox, Robert V.; Zhang, Fengyan; Rodriguez, Rene G.; Pak, Joshua J.; Sun, Chivin

2016-06-21

Single source precursors or pre-copolymers of single source precursors are subjected to microwave radiation to form particles of a I-III-VI.sub.2 material. Such particles may be formed in a wurtzite phase and may be converted to a chalcopyrite phase by, for example, exposure to heat. The particles in the wurtzite phase may have a substantially hexagonal shape that enables stacking into ordered layers. The particles in the wurtzite phase may be mixed with particles in the chalcopyrite phase (i.e., chalcopyrite nanoparticles) that may fill voids within the ordered layers of the particles in the wurtzite phase thus produce films with good coverage. In some embodiments, the methods are used to form layers of semiconductor materials comprising a I-III-VI.sub.2 material. Devices such as, for example, thin-film solar cells may be fabricated using such methods.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Butt, Y M; Romero, G E; Torres, D F

We suggest that ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) and some of the variable low latitude EGRET gamma-ray sources may be two different manifestations of the same underlying phenomena: high-mass microquasars with relativistic jets forming a small angle with the line of sight (i.e. microblazars). Microblazars with jets formed by relatively cool plasma (Lorentz factors for the leptons up to a few hundreds) naturally lead to ULXs. If the jet contains very energetic particles (high-energy cutoff above Lorentz factors of several thousands) the result is a relatively strong gamma-ray source. As pointed out by Kaufman Bernads, Romero & Mirabel (2002), a gamma-raymore » microblazar will always have an X-ray counterpart (although it might be relatively weak), whereas X-ray microblazars might have no gamma-ray counterparts.« less

Dispersoid reinforced alloy powder and method of making

DOEpatents

Anderson, Iver E; Terpstra, Robert L

2014-10-21

A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomized particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. Bodies made from the dispersion strengthened solidified particles exhibit enhanced fatigue and creep resistance and reduced wear as well as enhanced corrosion and/or oxidation resistance at high temperatures.

Effects of inorganic seeds on secondary organic aerosol formation from photochemical oxidation of acetone in a chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Shuangshuang; Xu, Yongfu; Jia, Long

2017-12-01

Photochemical oxidations of acetone were studied under different inorganic seed (NaCl, (NH4)2SO4 and NaNO3) conditions in a self-made chamber. The results show that no secondary organic aerosol (SOA) can be formed in the experiments either in the absence of artificially added seed particles or in the presence of solid status of the added particles. Liquid water content is the key factor for the formation of SOA in the experiments with seeds. The amount of SOA was only about 4-7 μg m-3 in the experiments with the initial acetone of ∼15 ppm under different seed conditions. The analysis of SOA compositions by Exactive-Orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with electro-spray interface (ESI-MS) shows that chlorine-containing and sulfur-containing compounds were detected in SOA formed from the experiments with NaCl and (NH4)2SO4 seeds, respectively, which were not identified in SOA from those with NaNO3. The compositions of SOA were mainly esters, organonitrates, hydroperoxides, etc. It is concluded that inorganic seed particles participated into the formation of SOA. Acetone SOA was mainly formed in the aqueous phase in which dissolved SOA precursors underwent further oxidation reactions, esterification reactions and/or radical-radical reactions. Our experiments further demonstrate that low-molecular-weight VOCs, such as acetone, can form SOA under certain conditions in the atmosphere, although their contributions to SOA may not be large.

Size Segregation and Number Density Enhancement of Particles in Accretion Disk Eddies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klahr, H. H.; Henning, Th.

1996-01-01

We investigate the conditions for trapping solid dust particles in eddies and discuss the behavior of particles in a non-laminar protoplanetary accretion disk. We considered particle sizes from small dust grains to larger objects, 10(exp -4) cm less than a(sub p) less than 10(exp 2) cm. Independent of the source of turbulence, one can expect eddies to exist in the gas flow of a accretion disk, in the form of randomly occurring turbulent features or as convective cells. Due to the centrifugal force, solid particles are driven out of an eddy. It will be shown that this process is inhibited by the gravitational force induced by the protostar. Because of the mass dependence of the friction time, a given eddy becomes a trap for particles of a characteristic size and causes a local change in the dust density. Thus, the size distribution of the grains is no longer spatially homogeneous on small scales. Our general estimates do not depend on special turbulence or convection models. We calculate the maximal inhomogeneity due to this process. The strongest effect was observed for mm-sized particles, which can be concentrated by a factor of 100 within only 100 years.

Vertically reciprocating auger

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Etheridge, Mark; Morgan, Scott; Fain, Robert; Pearson, Jonathan; Weldi, Kevin; Woodrough, Stephen B., Jr.

1988-01-01

The mathematical model and test results developed for the Vertically Reciprocating Auger (VRA) are summarized. The VRA is a device capable of transporting cuttings that result from below surface drilling. It was developed chiefly for the lunar surface, where conventional fluid flushing while drilling would not be practical. The VRA uses only reciprocating motion and transports material through reflections with the surface above. Particles are reflected forward and land ahead of radially placed fences, which prevent the particles from rolling back down the auger. Three input wave forms are considered to drive the auger. A modified sawtooth wave form was chosen for testing, over a modified square wave or sine wave, due to its simplicity and effectiveness. The three-dimensional mathematical model predicted a sand throughput rate of 0.2667 pounds/stroke, while the actual test setup transported 0.075 pounds/stroke. Based on this result, a correction factor of 0.281 is suggested for a modified sawtooth input.

Matrix-mediated synthesis of nanocrystalline gamma-Fe2O3 - A new optically transparent magnetic material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziolo, Ronald F.; Giannelis, Emmanuel P.; Weinstein, Bernard A.; O'Horo, Michael P.; Ganguly, Bishwanath N.; Mehrotra, Vivek; Russell, Michael W.; Huffman, Donald R.

1992-07-01

A magnetic material with appreciable optical transmission in the visible region at room temperature is isolated as a gamma-Fe2O3/polymer nanocomposite. The synthesis is carried out in an ion-exchange resin at 60 C. Magnetization and susceptibility data demonstrate loading-dependent saturation moments as high as 46 electromagnetic units per gram and superparamagnetism for lower loadings where particle sizes are less than 100 angstroms. Optical absorption studies show that the small-particle form of gamma-Fe2O3 is considerably more transparent to visible light than the single-crystal form. The difference in absorption ranges from nearly an order of magnitude in the 'red' spectral region to a factor of 3 at 5400 angstroms. The magnetization of the nanocomposite is greater by more than an order of magnitude than those of the strongest room-temperature transparent magnets, FeBO3 and FeF3.

A study of MRI gradient echo signals from discrete magnetic particles with considerations of several parameters in simulations.

PubMed

Kokeny, Paul; Cheng, Yu-Chung N; Xie, He

2018-05-01

Modeling MRI signal behaviors in the presence of discrete magnetic particles is important, as magnetic particles appear in nanoparticle labeled cells, contrast agents, and other biological forms of iron. Currently, many models that take into account the discrete particle nature in a system have been used to predict magnitude signal decays in the form of R2* or R2' from one single voxel. Little work has been done for predicting phase signals. In addition, most calculations of phase signals rely on the assumption that a system containing discrete particles behaves as a continuous medium. In this work, numerical simulations are used to investigate MRI magnitude and phase signals from discrete particles, without diffusion effects. Factors such as particle size, number density, susceptibility, volume fraction, particle arrangements for their randomness, and field of view have been considered in simulations. The results are compared to either a ground truth model, theoretical work based on continuous mediums, or previous literature. Suitable parameters used to model particles in several voxels that lead to acceptable magnetic field distributions around particle surfaces and accurate MR signals are identified. The phase values as a function of echo time from a central voxel filled by particles can be significantly different from those of a continuous cubic medium. However, a completely random distribution of particles can lead to an R2' value which agrees with the prediction from the static dephasing theory. A sphere with a radius of at least 4 grid points used in simulations is found to be acceptable to generate MR signals equivalent from a larger sphere. Increasing number of particles with a fixed volume fraction in simulations reduces the resulting variance in the phase behavior, and converges to almost the same phase value for different particle numbers at each echo time. The variance of phase values is also reduced when increasing the number of particles in a fixed voxel. These results indicate that MRI signals from voxels containing discrete particles, even with a sufficient number of particles per voxel, cannot be properly modeled by a continuous medium with an equivalent susceptibility value in the voxel. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The heavy metal partition in size-fractions of the fine particles in agricultural soils contaminated by waste water and smelter dust.

PubMed

Zhang, Haibo; Luo, Yongming; Makino, Tomoyuki; Wu, Longhua; Nanzyo, Masami

2013-03-15

The partitioning of pollutant in the size-fractions of fine particles is particularly important to its migration and bioavailability in soil environment. However, the impact of pollution sources on the partitioning was seldom addressed in the previous studies. In this study, the method of continuous flow ultra-centrifugation was developed to separate three size fractions (<1 μm, <0.6 μm and <0.2 μm) of the submicron particles from the soil polluted by wastewater and smelter dust respectively. The mineralogy and physicochemical properties of each size-fraction were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope etc. Total content of the polluted metals and their chemical speciation were measured. A higher enrichment factor of the metals in the fractions of <1 μm or less were observed in the soil contaminated by wastewater than by smelter dust. The organic substance in the wastewater and calcite from lime application were assumed to play an important role in the metal accumulation in the fine particles of the wastewater polluted soil. While the metal accumulation in the fine particles of the smelter dust polluted soil is mainly associated with Mn oxides. Cadmium speciation in both soils is dominated by dilute acid soluble form and lead speciation in the smelter dust polluted soil is dominated by reducible form in all particles. This implied that the polluted soils might be a high risk to human health and ecosystem due to the high bioaccessibility of the metals as well as the mobility of the fine particles in soil. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of feed intake, forage physical form, and forage fiber content on particle size of masticated forage, ruminal digesta, and feces of dairy cows.

PubMed

Shaver, R D; Nytes, A J; Satter, L D; Jorgensen, N A

1988-06-01

Two trials were conducted to determine particle size of masticates, ruminal digesta, and feces of dairy cows. In Trial 1, three Holstein cows with ruminal cannulae were fed prebloom alfalfa hay in long, chopped, or pelleted form in a Latin square design (21-d periods) conducted in early lactation (wk 3 to 11) and again during the dry period to attain high (3.75) and low (1.95% of BW) feed consumption. In trial 2, prebloom, midbloom, and full bloom alfalfa hay, mature bromegrass hay, and corn silage were fed to early lactation (wk 5 to 15) Holsteins in a 5 X 5 Latin square design (15-d periods). All diets (Trials 1 and 2) were formulated to 17% CP and contained forage:grain in a 60:40 ratio (DM basis). Similar particle distributions of digesta from long and chopped hay diets suggest little influence of chopping forage on particle size reduction when high quality forage is fed. The large proportion of DM in the small particle (less than .6 mm) pool in the rumen in both trials suggests that rate of escape of small particles from the rumen is an important factor influencing ruminal retention time. Increased proportion of coarse (greater than or equal to 2.36-mm screen) fecal particles at high intake and with fine grinding appears related to a reduction in chewing per unit feed consumed. Soluble DM and particulate matter passing a .063-mm screen made up a significant portion (30 to 50%) of the total DM sieved from all sampling sites in both trials.

Formation of correlated states and tunneling for a low energy and controlled pulsed action on particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vysotskii, V. I.; Vysotskyy, M. V.

2017-08-01

We consider a method for optimizing the tunnel effect for low-energy particles by using coherent correlated states formed under controllable pulsed action on these particles. Typical examples of such actions are the effect of a pulsed magnetic field on charged particles in a gas or plasma. Coherent correlated states are characterized most comprehensively by the correlation coefficient r( t); an increase of this factor elevates the probability of particle tunneling through a high potential barrier by several orders of magnitude without an appreciable increase in their energy. It is shown for the first time that the formation of coherent correlated states, as well as maximal | r( t)|max and time-averaged 〈| r( t)|〉 amplitudes of the correlation coefficient and the corresponding tunneling probability are characterized by a nonmonotonic (oscillating) dependence on the forming pulse duration and amplitude. This result makes it possible to optimize experiments on the realization of low-energy nuclear fusion and demonstrates the incorrectness of the intuitive idea that the tunneling probability always increases with the amplitude of an external action on a particle. Our conclusions can be used, in particular, for explaining random (unpredictable and low-repeatability) experimental results on optimization of energy release from nuclear reactions occurring under a pulsed action with fluctuations of the amplitude and duration. We also consider physical premises for the observed dependences and obtain optimal relations between the aforementioned parameters, which ensure the formation of an optimal coherent correlated state and optimal low-energy tunneling in various physical systems with allowance for the dephasing action of a random force. The results of theoretical analysis are compared with the data of successful experiments on the generation of neutrons and alpha particles in an electric discharge in air and gaseous deuterium.

Probalistic Assessment of Radiation Risk for Solar Particle Events

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Myung-Hee Y.; Cucinotta, Francis A.

2008-01-01

For long duration missions outside of the protection of the Earth's magnetic field, exposure to solar particle events (SPEs) is a major safety concern for crew members during extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) on the lunar surface or Earth-to-moon or Earth-to-Mars transit. The large majority (90%) of SPEs have small or no health consequences because the doses are low and the particles do not penetrate to organ depths. However, there is an operational challenge to respond to events of unknown size and duration. We have developed a probabilistic approach to SPE risk assessment in support of mission design and operational planning. Using the historical database of proton measurements during the past 5 solar cycles, the functional form of hazard function of SPE occurrence per cycle was found for nonhomogeneous Poisson model. A typical hazard function was defined as a function of time within a non-specific future solar cycle of 4000 days duration. Distributions of particle fluences for a specified mission period were simulated ranging from its 5th to 95th percentile. Organ doses from large SPEs were assessed using NASA's Baryon transport model, BRYNTRN. The SPE risk was analyzed with the organ dose distribution for the given particle fluences during a mission period. In addition to the total particle fluences of SPEs, the detailed energy spectra of protons, especially at high energy levels, were recognized as extremely important for assessing the cancer risk associated with energetic particles for large events. The probability of exceeding the NASA 30-day limit of blood forming organ (BFO) dose inside a typical spacecraft was calculated for various SPE sizes. This probabilistic approach to SPE protection will be combined with a probabilistic approach to the radiobiological factors that contribute to the uncertainties in projecting cancer risks in future work.

Transition-state theory predicts clogging at the microscale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laar, T. Van De; Klooster, S. Ten; Schroën, K.; Sprakel, J.

2016-06-01

Clogging is one of the main failure mechanisms encountered in industrial processes such as membrane filtration. Our understanding of the factors that govern the build-up of fouling layers and the emergence of clogs is largely incomplete, so that prevention of clogging remains an immense and costly challenge. In this paper we use a microfluidic model combined with quantitative real-time imaging to explore the influence of pore geometry and particle interactions on suspension clogging in constrictions, two crucial factors which remain relatively unexplored. We find a distinct dependence of the clogging rate on the entrance angle to a membrane pore which we explain quantitatively by deriving a model, based on transition-state theory, which describes the effect of viscous forces on the rate with which particles accumulate at the channel walls. With the same model we can also predict the effect of the particle interaction potential on the clogging rate. In both cases we find excellent agreement between our experimental data and theory. A better understanding of these clogging mechanisms and the influence of design parameters could form a stepping stone to delay or prevent clogging by rational membrane design.

Primary particulate emissions and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from idling diesel vehicle exhaust in China.

PubMed

Deng, Wei; Hu, Qihou; Liu, Tengyu; Wang, Xinming; Zhang, Yanli; Song, Wei; Sun, Yele; Bi, Xinhui; Yu, Jianzhen; Yang, Weiqiang; Huang, Xinyu; Zhang, Zhou; Huang, Zhonghui; He, Quanfu; Mellouki, Abdelwahid; George, Christian

2017-09-01

In China diesel vehicles dominate the primary emission of particulate matters from on-road vehicles, and they might also contribute substantially to the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA). In this study tailpipe exhaust of three typical in-use diesel vehicles under warm idling conditions was introduced directly into an indoor smog chamber with a 30m 3 Teflon reactor to characterize primary emissions and SOA formation during photo-oxidation. The emission factors of primary organic aerosol (POA) and black carbon (BC) for the three types of Chinese diesel vehicles ranged 0.18-0.91 and 0.15-0.51gkg-fuel -1 , respectively; and the SOA production factors ranged 0.50-1.8gkg-fuel -1 and SOA/POA ratios ranged 0.7-3.7 with an average of 2.2. The fuel-based POA emission factors and SOA production factors from this study for idling diesel vehicle exhaust were 1-3 orders of magnitude higher than those reported in previous studies for idling gasoline vehicle exhaust. The emission factors for total particle numbers were 0.65-4.0×10 15 particleskg-fuel -1 , and particles with diameters less than 50nm dominated in total particle numbers. Traditional C 2 -C 12 precursor non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) could only explain less than 3% of the SOA formed during aging and contribution from other precursors including intermediate volatile organic compounds (IVOC) needs further investigation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

How to form planetesimals from mm-sized chondrules and chondrule aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrera, Daniel; Johansen, Anders; Davies, Melvyn B.

2015-07-01

The size distribution of asteroids and Kuiper belt objects in the solar system is difficult to reconcile with a bottom-up formation scenario due to the observed scarcity of objects smaller than ~100 km in size. Instead, planetesimals appear to form top-down, with large 100-1000 km bodies forming from the rapid gravitational collapse of dense clumps of small solid particles. In this paper we investigate the conditions under which solid particles can form dense clumps in a protoplanetary disk. We used a hydrodynamic code to model the interaction between solid particles and the gas inside a shearing box inside the disk, considering particle sizes from submillimeter-sized chondrules to meter-sized rocks. We found that particles down to millimeter sizes can form dense particle clouds through the run-away convergence of radial drift known as the streaming instability. We made a map of the range of conditions (strength of turbulence, particle mass-loading, disk mass, and distance to the star) that are prone to producing dense particle clumps. Finally, we estimate the distribution of collision speeds between mm-sized particles. We calculated the rate of sticking collisions and obtain a robust upper limit on the particle growth timescale of ~105 years. This means that mm-sized chondrule aggregates can grow on a timescale much smaller than the disk accretion timescale (~106-107 years). Our results suggest a pathway from the mm-sized grains found in primitive meteorites to fully formed asteroids. We speculate that asteroids may form from a positive feedback loop in which coagualation leads to particle clumping driven by the streaming instability. This clumping, in turn, reduces collision speeds and enhances coagulation. Future simulations should model coagulation and the streaming instability together to explore this feedback loop further. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Integrating laboratory and field data to quantify the immersion freezing ice nucleation activity of mineral dust particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeMott, P. J.; Prenni, A. J.; McMeeking, G. R.; Sullivan, R. C.; Petters, M. D.; Tobo, Y.; Niemand, M.; Möhler, O.; Snider, J. R.; Wang, Z.; Kreidenweis, S. M.

2014-06-01

Data from both laboratory studies and atmospheric measurements are used to develop a simple parametric description for the immersion freezing activity of natural mineral dust particles. Measurements made with the Colorado State University (CSU) continuous flow diffusion chamber (CFDC) when processing mineral dust aerosols at a nominal 105% relative humidity with respect to water (RHw) are taken to approximate the immersion freezing nucleation activity of particles. Ice active frozen fractions vs. temperature for dusts representative of Saharan and Asian desert sources were consistent with similar measurements in atmospheric dust plumes for a limited set of comparisons available. The parameterization developed follows the form of one suggested previously for atmospheric particles of non-specific composition in quantifying ice nucleating particle concentrations as functions of temperature and the total number concentration of particles larger than 0.5 μm diameter. Such an approach does not explicitly account for surface area and time dependencies for ice nucleation, but sufficiently encapsulates the activation properties for potential use in regional and global modeling simulations, and possible application in developing remote sensing retrievals for ice nucleating particles. A correction factor is introduced to account for the apparent underestimate (by approximately 3, on average) of the immersion freezing fraction of mineral dust particles for CSU CFDC data processed at an RHw of 105% vs. maximum fractions active at higher RHw. Instrumental factors that affect activation behavior vs. RHw in CFDC instruments remain to be fully explored in future studies. Nevertheless, the use of this correction factor is supported by comparison to ice activation data obtained for the same aerosols from Aerosol Interactions and Dynamics of the Atmosphere (AIDA) expansion chamber cloud parcel experiments. Further comparison of the new parameterization to the immersion freezing surface active site density parameterization for mineral dust particles, developed separately from AIDA experimental data alone, shows excellent agreement for data collected in a descent through a Saharan aerosol layer. These studies support the utility of laboratory measurements to obtain atmospherically-relevant data on the ice nucleation properties of dust and other particle types, and suggest the suitability of considering all mineral dust as a single type of ice nucleating particle as a useful first order approximation in numerical modeling investigations.

Integrating laboratory and field data to quantify the immersion freezing ice nucleation activity of mineral dust particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeMott, P. J.; Prenni, A. J.; McMeeking, G. R.; Sullivan, R. C.; Petters, M. D.; Tobo, Y.; Niemand, M.; Möhler, O.; Snider, J. R.; Wang, Z.; Kreidenweis, S. M.

2015-01-01

Data from both laboratory studies and atmospheric measurements are used to develop an empirical parameterization for the immersion freezing activity of natural mineral dust particles. Measurements made with the Colorado State University (CSU) continuous flow diffusion chamber (CFDC) when processing mineral dust aerosols at a nominal 105% relative humidity with respect to water (RHw) are taken as a measure of the immersion freezing nucleation activity of particles. Ice active frozen fractions vs. temperature for dusts representative of Saharan and Asian desert sources were consistent with similar measurements in atmospheric dust plumes for a limited set of comparisons available. The parameterization developed follows the form of one suggested previously for atmospheric particles of non-specific composition in quantifying ice nucleating particle concentrations as functions of temperature and the total number concentration of particles larger than 0.5 μm diameter. Such an approach does not explicitly account for surface area and time dependencies for ice nucleation, but sufficiently encapsulates the activation properties for potential use in regional and global modeling simulations, and possible application in developing remote sensing retrievals for ice nucleating particles. A calibration factor is introduced to account for the apparent underestimate (by approximately 3, on average) of the immersion freezing fraction of mineral dust particles for CSU CFDC data processed at an RHw of 105% vs. maximum fractions active at higher RHw. Instrumental factors that affect activation behavior vs. RHw in CFDC instruments remain to be fully explored in future studies. Nevertheless, the use of this calibration factor is supported by comparison to ice activation data obtained for the same aerosols from Aerosol Interactions and Dynamics of the Atmosphere (AIDA) expansion chamber cloud parcel experiments. Further comparison of the new parameterization, including calibration correction, to predictions of the immersion freezing surface active site density parameterization for mineral dust particles, developed separately from AIDA experimental data alone, shows excellent agreement for data collected in a descent through a Saharan aerosol layer. These studies support the utility of laboratory measurements to obtain atmospherically relevant data on the ice nucleation properties of dust and other particle types, and suggest the suitability of considering all mineral dust as a single type of ice nucleating particle as a useful first-order approximation in numerical modeling investigations.

Integrating laboratory and field data to quantify the immersion freezing ice nucleation activity of mineral dust particles

DOE PAGES

DeMott, P. J.; Prenni, A. J.; McMeeking, G. R.; ...

2014-06-27

Data from both laboratory studies and atmospheric measurements are used to develop a simple parametric description for the immersion freezing activity of natural mineral dust particles. Measurements made with the Colorado State University (CSU) continuous flow diffusion chamber (CFDC) when processing mineral dust aerosols at a nominal 105% relative humidity with respect to water (RH w) are taken to approximate the immersion freezing nucleation activity of particles. Ice active frozen fractions vs. temperature for dusts representative of Saharan and Asian desert sources were consistent with similar measurements in atmospheric dust plumes for a limited set of comparisons available. The parameterizationmore » developed follows the form of one suggested previously for atmospheric particles of non-specific composition in quantifying ice nucleating particle concentrations as functions of temperature and the total number concentration of particles larger than 0.5 μm diameter. Such an approach does not explicitly account for surface area and time dependencies for ice nucleation, but sufficiently encapsulates the activation properties for potential use in regional and global modeling simulations, and possible application in developing remote sensing retrievals for ice nucleating particles. A correction factor is introduced to account for the apparent underestimate (by approximately 3, on average) of the immersion freezing fraction of mineral dust particles for CSU CFDC data processed at an RH w of 105% vs. maximum fractions active at higher RH w. Instrumental factors that affect activation behavior vs. RH w in CFDC instruments remain to be fully explored in future studies. Nevertheless, the use of this correction factor is supported by comparison to ice activation data obtained for the same aerosols from Aerosol Interactions and Dynamics of the Atmosphere (AIDA) expansion chamber cloud parcel experiments. Further comparison of the new parameterization to the immersion freezing surface active site density parameterization for mineral dust particles, developed separately from AIDA experimental data alone, shows excellent agreement for data collected in a descent through a Saharan aerosol layer. These studies support the utility of laboratory measurements to obtain atmospherically-relevant data on the ice nucleation properties of dust and other particle types, and suggest the suitability of considering all mineral dust as a single type of ice nucleating particle as a useful first order approximation in numerical modeling investigations.« less

Integrating laboratory and field data to quantify the immersion freezing ice nucleation activity of mineral dust particles

DOE PAGES

DeMott, P. J.; Prenni, A. J.; McMeeking, G. R.; ...

2015-01-13

Data from both laboratory studies and atmospheric measurements are used to develop an empirical parameterization for the immersion freezing activity of natural mineral dust particles. Measurements made with the Colorado State University (CSU) continuous flow diffusion chamber (CFDC) when processing mineral dust aerosols at a nominal 105% relative humidity with respect to water (RH w) are taken as a measure of the immersion freezing nucleation activity of particles. Ice active frozen fractions vs. temperature for dusts representative of Saharan and Asian desert sources were consistent with similar measurements in atmospheric dust plumes for a limited set of comparisons available. Themore » parameterization developed follows the form of one suggested previously for atmospheric particles of non-specific composition in quantifying ice nucleating particle concentrations as functions of temperature and the total number concentration of particles larger than 0.5 μm diameter. Such an approach does not explicitly account for surface area and time dependencies for ice nucleation, but sufficiently encapsulates the activation properties for potential use in regional and global modeling simulations, and possible application in developing remote sensing retrievals for ice nucleating particles. A calibration factor is introduced to account for the apparent underestimate (by approximately 3, on average) of the immersion freezing fraction of mineral dust particles for CSU CFDC data processed at an RH w of 105% vs. maximum fractions active at higher RH w. Instrumental factors that affect activation behavior vs. RH w in CFDC instruments remain to be fully explored in future studies. Nevertheless, the use of this calibration factor is supported by comparison to ice activation data obtained for the same aerosols from Aerosol Interactions and Dynamics of the Atmosphere (AIDA) expansion chamber cloud parcel experiments. Further comparison of the new parameterization, including calibration correction, to predictions of the immersion freezing surface active site density parameterization for mineral dust particles, developed separately from AIDA experimental data alone, shows excellent agreement for data collected in a descent through a Saharan aerosol layer. These studies support the utility of laboratory measurements to obtain atmospherically relevant data on the ice nucleation properties of dust and other particle types, and suggest the suitability of considering all mineral dust as a single type of ice nucleating particle as a useful first-order approximation in numerical modeling investigations.« less

Dependence of the form factor of ganglioside micelles on a conformational change with temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corti, Mario; Boretta, Marco; Cantù, Laura; Del Favero, Elena; Lesieur, Pierre

1996-09-01

The gangliosides GM2, GM1 and GD1b, biological amphiphiles with a double tail hydrophobic part and an oligosaccharide chain headgroup, form micelles in solution. Light scattering experiments have shown that ganglioside micelles which have gone through a temperature cycle have a smaller molecular mass and hydrodynamic radius than those which have been kept at room temperature. This fact has been interpreted with the hypothesis that, with temperature, the ganglioside molecules undergo a conformational change which affects their micellar properties appreciably. Careful small angle X-ray experiments, aimed to confirm the light scattering data and to evidence differences in the micellar internal structure are presented. Ganglioside micelles are quite inhomogeneous particles with respect to X-ray scattering, since there is a large contrast variation between the inner lipid part and the external hydrated sugar layer. Experimental form factors are fitted with a double-shell oblate-ellipsoid model.

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics

DOE PAGES

Aoki, S.; Aoki, Y.; Bernard, C.; ...

2014-09-01

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D- and B-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor f+(0), arising in semileptonic K -> pi transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio fK/fpi of decay constants and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements Vus and Vud. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of SU(2)LxSU(2)R and SU(3)LxSU(3)R Chiral Perturbation Theory and review the determination ofmore » the BK parameter of neutral kaon mixing. The inclusion of heavy-quark quantities significantly expands the FLAG scope with respect to the previous review. Therefore, for this review, we focus on D- and B-meson decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters, since these are most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. In addition we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant alpha_s.« less

Flash evaporation of liquid monomer particle mixture

DOEpatents

Affinito, John D.; Darab, John G.; Gross, Mark E.

1999-01-01

The present invention is a method of making a first solid composite polymer layer. The method has the steps of (a) mixing a liquid monomer with particles substantially insoluble in the liquid monomer forming a monomer particle mixture; (b) flash evaporating the particle mixture and forming a composite vapor; and (c) continuously cryocondensing said composite vapor on a cool substrate and cross-linking the cryocondensed film thereby forming the polymer layer.

Perturbative corrections to B → D form factors in QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yu-Ming; Wei, Yan-Bing; Shen, Yue-Long; Lü, Cai-Dian

2017-06-01

We compute perturbative QCD corrections to B → D form factors at leading power in Λ/ m b , at large hadronic recoil, from the light-cone sum rules (LCSR) with B-meson distribution amplitudes in HQET. QCD factorization for the vacuum-to- B-meson correlation function with an interpolating current for the D-meson is demonstrated explicitly at one loop with the power counting scheme {m}_c˜ O(√{Λ {m}_b}) . The jet functions encoding information of the hard-collinear dynamics in the above-mentioned correlation function are complicated by the appearance of an additional hard-collinear scale m c , compared to the counterparts entering the factorization formula of the vacuum-to- B-meson correction function for the construction of B → π from factors. Inspecting the next-to-leading-logarithmic sum rules for the form factors of B → Dℓν indicates that perturbative corrections to the hard-collinear functions are more profound than that for the hard functions, with the default theory inputs, in the physical kinematic region. We further compute the subleading power correction induced by the three-particle quark-gluon distribution amplitudes of the B-meson at tree level employing the background gluon field approach. The LCSR predictions for the semileptonic B → Dℓν form factors are then extrapolated to the entire kinematic region with the z-series parametrization. Phenomenological implications of our determinations for the form factors f BD +,0 ( q 2) are explored by investigating the (differential) branching fractions and the R( D) ratio of B → Dℓν and by determining the CKM matrix element |V cb | from the total decay rate of B → Dμν μ .

Transport and Deposition of Welding Fume Agglomerates in a Realistic Human Nasal Airway.

PubMed

Tian, Lin; Inthavong, Kiao; Lidén, Göran; Shang, Yidan; Tu, Jiyuan

2016-07-01

Welding fume is a complex mixture containing ultra-fine particles in the nanometer range. Rather than being in the form of a singular sphere, due to the high particle concentration, welding fume particles agglomerate into long straight chains, branches, or other forms of compact shapes. Understanding the transport and deposition of these nano-agglomerates in human respiratory systems is of great interest as welding fumes are a known health hazard. The neurotoxin manganese (Mn) is a common element in welding fumes. Particulate Mn, either as soluble salts or oxides, that has deposited on the olfactory mucosa in human nasal airway is transported along the olfactory nerve to the olfactory bulb within the brain. If this Mn is further transported to the basal ganglia of the brain, it could accumulate at the part of the brain that is the focal point of its neurotoxicity. Accounting for various dynamic shape factors due to particle agglomeration, the current computational study is focused on the exposure route, the deposition pattern, and the deposition efficiency of the inhaled welding fume particles in a realistic human nasal cavity. Particular attention is given to the deposition pattern and deposition efficiency of inhaled welding fume agglomerates in the nasal olfactory region. For particles in the nanoscale, molecular diffusion is the dominant transport mechanism. Therefore, Brownian diffusion, hydrodynamic drag, Saffman lift force, and gravitational force are included in the model study. The deposition efficiencies for single spherical particles, two kinds of agglomerates of primary particles, two-dimensional planar and straight chains, are investigated for a range of primary particle sizes and a range of number of primary particles per agglomerate. A small fraction of the inhaled welding fume agglomerates is deposited on the olfactory mucosa, approximately in the range 0.1-1%, and depends on particle size and morphology. The strong size dependence of the deposition in olfactory mucosa on particle size implies that the occupation deposition of welding fume manganese can be expected to vary with welding method. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.

Method for preparing hydrous zirconium oxide gels and spherules

DOEpatents

Collins, Jack L.

2003-08-05

Methods for preparing hydrous zirconium oxide spherules, hydrous zirconium oxide gels such as gel slabs, films, capillary and electrophoresis gels, zirconium monohydrogen phosphate spherules, hydrous zirconium oxide spherules having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite sorbent, zirconium monohydrogen phosphate spherules having suspendable particles of at least one different sorbent homogeneously embedded within to form a composite sorbent having a desired crystallinity, zirconium oxide spherules having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, hydrous zirconium oxide fiber materials, zirconium oxide fiber materials, hydrous zirconium oxide fiber materials having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, zirconium oxide fiber materials having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite and spherules of barium zirconate. The hydrous zirconium oxide spherules and gel forms prepared by the gel-sphere, internal gelation process are useful as inorganic ion exchangers, catalysts, getters and ceramics.

Methods of forming a fluidized bed of circulating particles

DOEpatents

Marshall, Douglas W [Blackfoot, ID

2011-05-24

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming a fluidized bed of circulating particles. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a bottom portion having a sidewall, the sidewall defining a curvilinear profile, and the bottom portion configured to contain a bed of particles; and a gas inlet configured to produce a column of gas to carry entrained particles therein. There is disclosed a method of forming a fluidized bed of circulating particles. In an embodiment, the method includes positioning particles within a bottom portion having a sidewall, the sidewall defining a curvilinear profile; producing a column of gas directed upwardly through a gas inlet; carrying entrained particles in the column of gas to produce a fountain of particles over the fluidized bed of circulating particles and subside in the particle bed until being directed inwardly into the column of gas within the curvilinear profile.

Method for forming solar cell materials from particulars

DOEpatents

Eberspacher, Chris; Pauls, Karen Lea

2001-01-01

Materials in bulk and film forms are prepared from fine particulate precursors such as single-phase, mixed-metal oxides; multi-phase, mixed-metal particles comprising a metal oxide; multinary metal particles; mixtures of such particles with other particles; and particulate materials intercalated with other materials.

Environmentally benign formation of polymeric microspheres by rapid expansion of supercritical carbon dioxide solution with a nonsolvent.

PubMed

Matsuyama, K; Mishima, K; Umemoto, H; Yamaguchi, S

2001-10-15

A novel method is reported for forming polymer microparticles, which reduce atmospheric emissions of environmentally harmful volatile organic compounds such as toluene and xylene used as paint solvent in paint industry. The polymer microparticles have formed through rapid expansion from supercritical solution with a nonsolvent (RESS-N). Solubilization of poly(styrene)-b-(poly(methyl methacrylate)-co-poly (glycidyl methacrylate)) copolymer(PS-b-(PMMA-co-PGMA), MW = 5000, PS/PMMA/PGMA = 2/5/3), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, M. W = 4000), bisphenol A type epoxy resin (EP, MW = 3000), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA; MW = 15000, 75000, 120000), and poly(oxyalkylene) alkylphenyl ether (MW = 4000) in carbon dioxide (CO2) was achieved with the use of small alcohols as cosolvents. The solubility of the PS-b-(PMMA-co-PGMA) is extremely low in either CO2 or ethanol but becomes 20 wt % in a mixture of the two. Because ethanol is a nonsolvent for the polymer, it can be used as a cosolvent in rapid expansion from supercritical solution to produce 1-3 microm particles that do not agglomerate. Obtained polymer particles by RESS-N were applied as powder coatings. The resulting coatings have a smooth and coherent film. The particle size distribution of microspheres was controlled by changing the polymer concentration, preexpansion pressure, temperature, and injection distance. The feed compositions were more effective than the other factors in controlling the particle size. The polymeric microparticles formed by RESS-N method can be utilized to make the thin coating film without anytoxic organic solvents and/or surfactants.

An experimental study of microneedle-assisted microparticle delivery.

PubMed

Zhang, Dongwei; Das, Diganta B; Rielly, Chris D

2013-10-01

A set of well-defined experiments has been carried out to explore whether microneedles (MNs) can enhance the penetration depths of microparticles moving at high velocity such as those expected in gene guns for delivery of gene-loaded microparticles into target tissues. These experiments are based on applying solid MNs that are used to reduce the effect of mechanical barrier function of the target so as to allow delivery of microparticles at less imposed pressure as compared with most typical gene guns. Further, a low-cost material, namely, biomedical-grade stainless steel microparticle with size ranging between 1 and 20 μm, has been used in this study. The microparticles are compressed and bound in the form of a cylindrical pellet and mounted on a ground slide, which are then accelerated together by compressed air through a barrel. When the ground slide reaches the end of the barrel, the pellet is separated from the ground slide and is broken down into particle form by a mesh that is placed at the end of the barrel. Subsequently, these particles penetrate into the target. This paper investigates the implications of velocity of the pellet along with various other important factors that affect the particle delivery into the target. Our results suggest that the particle passage increases with an increase in pressure, mesh pore size, and decreases with increase in polyvinylpyrrolidone concentration. Most importantly, it is shown that MNs increase the penetration depths of the particles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

Analysis of nanoparticle–protein coronas formed in vitro between nanosized welding particles and nasal lavage proteins

PubMed Central

Ali, Neserin; Mattsson, Karin; Rissler, Jenny; Karlsson, Helen Marg; Svensson, Christian R.; Gudmundsson, Anders; Lindh, Christian H.; Jönsson, Bo A. G.; Cedervall, Tommy; Kåredal, Monica

2016-01-01

Abstract Welding fumes include agglomerated particles built up of primary nanoparticles. Particles inhaled through the nose will to some extent be deposited in the protein-rich nasal mucosa, and a protein corona will be formed around the particles. The aim was to identify the protein corona formed between nasal lavage proteins and four types of particles with different parameters. Two of the particles were formed and collected during welding and two were manufactured iron oxides. When nasal lavage proteins were added to the particles, differences were observed in the sizes of the aggregates that were formed. Measurements showed that the amount of protein bound to particles correlated with the relative size increase of the aggregates, suggesting that the surface area was associated with the binding capacity. However, differences in aggregate sizes were detected when nasal proteins were added to UFWF and Fe2O3 particles (having similar agglomerated size) suggesting that yet parameters other than size determine the binding. Relative quantitative mass spectrometric and gel-based analyses showed differences in the protein content of the coronas. High-affinity proteins were further assessed for network interactions. Additional experiments showed that the inhibitory function of secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor, a highly abundant nasal protein, was influenced by particle binding suggesting that an understanding of protein function following particle binding is necessary to properly evaluate pathophysiological events. Our results underscore the importance of including particles collected from real working environments when studying the toxic effects of particles because these effects might be mediated by the protein corona. PMID:26186033

Conditions for Destabilizing Pickering emulsions using external electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Kyuho; Singh, Pushpendra; Aubry, Nadine

2009-11-01

Fine particles are readily adsorbed at fluid-fluid interfaces, and can be used as stabilizers in emulsion technology by preventing adjacent drops from coalescing with each other. We investigate a new technique to destabilize such emulsions, or Pickering emulsions, by applying an external electric field. Experiments show that the latter has two effects: (i) the drops elongate in the direction of the electric field, (ii) the local particle density varies on the drop surface due to the dielectrophoretic (DEP) force acting on the particles. It is shown that the latter is the dominant factor in the destabilization process. Particularly, the success of the method depends on the values of certain dimensionless parameters; specifically, the ratio of the work done by the dielectrophoretic force must be larger than the work done by the buoyant force. Moreover, drops do not coalesce through the regions where the particles locally cluster, whether those are gathered at the poles or at the equator of the drops. As particles move, particle-free openings form on the drop's surface, which allow for adjacent drops to merge. This process takes place even if the particles are fully packed on the drops' surfaces as particles get ejected from the clustering areas due to a buckling phenomenon.

Magnetically tunable elasticity for magnetic hydrogels consisting of carrageenan and carbonyl iron particles.

PubMed

Mitsumata, Tetsu; Honda, Atomu; Kanazawa, Hiroki; Kawai, Mika

2012-10-11

A new class of magnetoelastic gel that demonstrates drastic and reversible changes in storage modulus without using strong magnetic fields was obtained. The magnetic gel consists of carrageenan and carbonyl iron particles. The magnetic gel with a volume fraction of magnetic particles of 0.30 exhibited a reversible increase by a factor of 1400 of the storage modulus upon a magnetic field of 500 mT, which is the highest value in the past for magnetorheological soft materials. It is considered that the giant magnetoelastic behavior is caused by both high dispersibility and high mobility of magnetic particles in the carrageenan gel. The off-field storage modulus of the magnetic gel at volume fractions below 0.30 obeyed the Krieger-Dougherty equation, indicating random dispersion of magnetic particles. At 500 mT, the storage modulus was higher than 4.0 MPa, which is equal to that of magnetic fluids, indicating that the magnetic particles move and form a chain structure by magnetic fields. Morphological study revealed the evidence that the magnetic particles embedded in the gel were aligned in the direction of magnetic fields, accompanied by stretching of the gel network. We conclude that the giant magnetoelastic phenomenon originates from the chain structure consisting of magnetic particles similar to magnetic fluids.

Electrophoresis in ice surface grooves for probing protein affinity to a specific plane of ice crystal.

PubMed

Inagawa, Arinori; Okada, Yusuke; Okada, Tetsuo

2018-06-01

Channel-like grooves are formed on the surface of frozen aqueous sucrose. They are filled with a freeze concentrated solution (FCS) and act as an efficient size-tunable separation field for micro and nanoparticles. The width of the channel can be easily varied by changing the temperature. Because the channel width decreases with decreasing temperature, particles become immobilized due to physical interference from the ice wall when the temperature reaches a threshold point specific to the particle size. Surface modification of particles can add a factor of chemical interaction between the particles and ice walls. In this study, anti-freeze proteins (AFPs) are anchored on 1µm-polystyrene (PS) particles, and their behavior in the surface grooves on the ice is studied. The threshold temperature is an effective criterion for evaluating chemical interactions between particles and ice walls. The AFP binding on 1µm PS particles lowers the threshold temperature by 2.5°C, indicating interactions between AFPs on the PS particles and the ice wall. Because the AFPs studied here show selectivity towards the prism plane, it is critical that the prism plane of the ice crystal is in contact with the FCS in the surface grooves. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The pion: an enigma within the Standard Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horn, Tanja; Roberts, Craig D.

2016-05-27

Almost 50 years after the discovery of gluons & quarks, we are only just beginning to understand how QCD builds the basic bricks for nuclei: neutrons, protons, and the pions that bind them. QCD is characterised by two emergent phenomena: confinement & dynamical chiral symmetry breaking (DCSB). They are expressed with great force in the character of the pion. In turn, pion properties suggest that confinement & DCSB are closely connected. As both a Nambu-Goldstone boson and a quark-antiquark bound-state, the pion is unique in Nature. Developing an understanding of its properties is thus critical to revealing basic features ofmore » the Standard Model. We describe experimental progress in this direction, made using electromagnetic probes, highlighting both improvements in the precision of charged-pion form factor data, achieved in the past decade, and new results on the neutral-pion transition form factor. Both challenge existing notions of pion structure. We also provide a theoretical context for these empirical advances, first explaining how DCSB works to guarantee that the pion is unnaturally light; but also, nevertheless, ensures the pion is key to revealing the mechanisms that generate nearly all the mass of hadrons. Our discussion unifies the charged-pion elastic and neutral-pion transition form factors, and the pion's twist-2 parton distribution amplitude. It also indicates how studies of the charged-kaon form factor can provide significant contributions. Importantly, recent predictions for the large-$Q^2$ behaviour of the pion form factor can be tested by experiments planned at JLab 12. Those experiments will extend precise charged-pion form factor data to momenta that can potentially serve in validating factorisation theorems in QCD, exposing the transition between the nonperturbative and perturbative domains, and thereby reaching a goal that has long driven hadro-particle physics.« less

Flash evaporation of liquid monomer particle mixture

DOEpatents

Affinito, J.D.; Darab, J.G.; Gross, M.E.

1999-05-11

The present invention is a method of making a first solid composite polymer layer. The method has the steps of (a) mixing a liquid monomer with particles substantially insoluble in the liquid monomer forming a monomer particle mixture; (b) flash evaporating the particle mixture and forming a composite vapor; and (c) continuously cryocondensing said composite vapor on a cool substrate and cross-linking the cryocondensed film thereby forming the polymer layer. 3 figs.

Matrix product representation of the stationary state of the open zero range process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertin, Eric; Vanicat, Matthieu

2018-06-01

Many one-dimensional lattice particle models with open boundaries, like the paradigmatic asymmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP), have their stationary states represented in the form of a matrix product, with matrices that do not explicitly depend on the lattice site. In contrast, the stationary state of the open 1D zero-range process (ZRP) takes an inhomogeneous factorized form, with site-dependent probability weights. We show that in spite of the absence of correlations, the stationary state of the open ZRP can also be represented in a matrix product form, where the matrices are site-independent, non-commuting and determined from algebraic relations resulting from the master equation. We recover the known distribution of the open ZRP in two different ways: first, using an explicit representation of the matrices and boundary vectors; second, from the sole knowledge of the algebraic relations satisfied by these matrices and vectors. Finally, an interpretation of the relation between the matrix product form and the inhomogeneous factorized form is proposed within the framework of hidden Markov chains.

Measurement of Size-dependent Dynamic Shape Factors of Quartz Particles in Two Flow Regimes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alexander, Jennifer M.; Bell, David M.; Imre, D.

2016-08-02

Understanding and modeling the behavior of quartz dust particles, commonly found in the atmosphere, requires knowledge of many relevant particles properties, including particle shape. This study uses a single particle mass spectrometer, a differential mobility analyzer, and an aerosol particle mass analyzer to measure quartz aerosol particles mobility, aerodynamic, and volume equivalent diameters, mass, composition, effective density, and dynamic shape factor as a function of particle size, in both the free molecular and transition flow regimes. The results clearly demonstrate that dynamic shape factors can vary significantly as a function of particle size. For the quartz samples studied here, themore » dynamic shape factors increase with size, indicating that larger particles are significantly more aspherical than smaller particles. In addition, dynamic shape factors measured in the free-molecular (χv) and transition (χt) flow regimes can be significantly different, and these differences vary with the size of the quartz particles. For quartz, χv of small (d < 200 nm) particles is 1.25, while χv of larger particles (d ~ 440 nm) is 1.6, with a continuously increasing trend with particle size. In contrast χt, of small particles starts at 1.1 increasing slowly to 1.34 for 550 nm diameter particles. The multidimensional particle characterization approach used here goes beyond determination of average properties for each size, to provide additional information about how the particle dynamic shape factor may vary even for particles with the same mass and volume equivalent diameter.« less

Dissolution and coarsening of polydisperse, polymorph drug particles liberated from a disintegrating finished dosage form: Theoretical considerations.

PubMed

Horkovics-Kovats, Stefan

2016-08-25

In order to improve the bioavailability of substances with limited water-solubility, they are often formulated as nanoparticles. Nanoparticles show enhanced dissolution properties when compared to large particles. In this paper a dissolution theory is presented that comprehensively describes the dissolution properties of both large- and nanoparticles. It comprises non-sink conditions and arbitrary shaped isometrically dissolving particles, considering particle-size-independent dissolution layer thickness and several polymorphic drug forms. The known root-laws of dissolution kinetics happen to be special cases that depend on particle-size in relation to the diffusion layer thickness i.e. whether the particles are much larger, comparable, or much smaller than the diffusion layer thickness. The presented theory explains the improved dissolution properties of nanoparticles, such as their increased solubility, almost immediate dissolution, and the dissolution kinetics which is independent from hydrodynamic conditions. For polydisperse, polymorphic particles of arbitrary shapes that are liberated from a disintegrating finished dosage form, the Ostwald ripening (coarsening of particles and transition of metastable polymorphic forms into a more stable crystalline form) is described as water mediated mass transport. The presented theory points to certain limitations of the Ostwald-Freundlich equation for nanoparticles and provides their better characterization. This way it may contribute to a more specifically targeted development of finished dosage forms and may help to reduce the bias of toxicological and environmental assessments especially for drugs that are formed as nanoparticles. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isotopic composition of cosmic ray nitrogen at 1.5 GeV/amu

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dwyer, R.; Meyer, P.

1975-01-01

For any location, the earth's magnetic field acts as a filter for incoming cosmic rays, allowing only particles above a certain rigidity. The relative isotopic composition of abundant elements can be measured with a detector sensitive to the velocity of particles in the penumbra of the earth's magnetic field. In this paper, the nitrogen velocity spectrum is compared with that of carbon plus oxygen as a reference, since in this case Z-dependent effects are minimal. The form of the energy spectrum of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, needed for proper correction, was measured in the same experiment. The results were obtained using a scintillator-Cerenkov counter telescope with a geometric factor of 0.25 sq in sr, flown twice on high-altitude balloons from Palestine, Texas, obtaining an exposure factor of 20 sq m sr hr. Results are presented on the isotopic composition of nitrogen at about 1.5GeV/amu.

Spherical boron nitride particles and method for preparing them

DOEpatents

Phillips, Jonathan; Gleiman, Seth S.; Chen, Chun-Ku

2003-11-25

Spherical and polyhedral particles of boron nitride and method of preparing them. Spherical and polyhedral particles of boron nitride are produced from precursor particles of hexagonal phase boron nitride suspended in an aerosol gas. The aerosol is directed to a microwave plasma torch. The torch generates plasma at atmospheric pressure that includes nitrogen atoms. The presence of nitrogen atoms is critical in allowing boron nitride to melt at atmospheric pressure while avoiding or at least minimizing decomposition. The plasma includes a plasma hot zone, which is a portion of the plasma that has a temperature sufficiently high to melt hexagonal phase boron nitride. In the hot zone, the precursor particles melt to form molten particles that acquire spherical and polyhedral shapes. These molten particles exit the hot zone, cool, and solidify to form solid particles of boron nitride with spherical and polyhedral shapes. The molten particles can also collide and join to form larger molten particles that lead to larger spherical and polyhedral particles.

Multiple pickering emulsions stabilized by microbowls.

PubMed

Nonomura, Yoshimune; Kobayashi, Naoto; Nakagawa, Naoki

2011-04-19

Some researchers have focused on the adsorption of solid particles at fluid-fluid interfaces and prepared emulsions and foams called "Pickering emulsions/foams". However, while several reports exist on simple spherical emulsions, few reports are available on the formation of more complex structures. Here, we show that holes on particle surfaces are a key factor in establishing the variety and complexity of mesoscale structures. Microbowls, which are hollow particles with holes on their surfaces, form multiple emulsions (water-in-oil-in-water and oil-in-water-in-oil emulsions) by simply mixing them with water and oil. Furthermore, stable potato-like or coffee-bean-like emulsions are also obtained, although nonspherical emulsions are usually unstable because of their larger interfacial energies. These findings are useful in designing the building blocks of complex supracolloidal systems for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic products. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Lattice Gauge Theories Within and Beyond the Standard Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gelzer, Zechariah John

The Standard Model of particle physics has been very successful in describing fundamental interactions up to the highest energies currently probed in particle accelerator experiments. However, the Standard Model is incomplete and currently exhibits tension with experimental data for interactions involvingmore » $B$~mesons. Consequently, $B$-meson physics is of great interest to both experimentalists and theorists. Experimentalists worldwide are studying the decay and mixing processes of $B$~mesons in particle accelerators. Theorists are working to understand the data by employing lattice gauge theories within and beyond the Standard Model. This work addresses the theoretical effort and is divided into two main parts. In the first part, I present a lattice-QCD calculation of form factors for exclusive semileptonic decays of $B$~mesons that are mediated by both charged currents ($$B \\to \\pi \\ell \

Factors influencing particle number concentrations, size distributions and modal parameters at a roof-level and roadside site in Leicester, UK.

PubMed

Agus, Emily L; Young, David T; Lingard, Justin J N; Smalley, Robert J; Tate, James E; Goodman, Paul S; Tomlin, Alison S

2007-11-01

Measurements of urban particle number concentrations and size distributions in the range 5-1000 nm were taken at elevated (roof-level) and roadside sampling sites on Narborough Road in Leicester, UK, along with simultaneous measurements of traffic, NO(x), CO and 1,3-butadiene concentrations and meteorological parameters. A fitting program was used to determine the characteristics of up to five modal groups present in the particle size distributions. All particle modal concentrations peaked during the morning and evening rush hours. Additional events associated with the smallest mode, that were not observed to be connected to primary emissions, were also present suggesting that this mode consisted of newly formed secondary particles. These events included peaks in concentration which coincided with peaks in solar radiation, and lower concentrations of the larger modes. Investigation into the relationships between traffic flow and occupancy indicated three flow regimes; free-flow, unstable and congested. During free-flow conditions, positive linear relationships existed between traffic flow and particle modal number concentrations. However, during unstable and congested periods, this relationship was shown to break-down. Similar trends were observed for concentrations of the gas phase pollutants NO(x), CO and 1,3-butadiene. Strong linear relationships existed between NO(x), CO, 1,3-butadiene concentrations, nucleation and Aitken mode concentrations at both sampling locations, indicating a local traffic related emission source. At the roadside, both nucleation and Aitken mode are best represented by a decreasing exponential function with wind speed, whereas at the roof-level this relationship only occurred for Aitken mode particles. The differing relationships at the two sampling locations are most likely due to a combination of meteorological factors and distance from the local emission source.

Contribution of Arctic seabird-colony ammonia to atmospheric particles and cloud-albedo radiative effect

PubMed Central

Croft, B.; Wentworth, G. R.; Martin, R. V.; Leaitch, W. R.; Murphy, J. G.; Murphy, B. N.; Kodros, J. K.; Abbatt, J. P. D.; Pierce, J. R.

2016-01-01

The Arctic region is vulnerable to climate change and able to affect global climate. The summertime Arctic atmosphere is pristine and strongly influenced by natural regional emissions, which have poorly understood climate impacts related to atmospheric particles and clouds. Here we show that ammonia from seabird-colony guano is a key factor contributing to bursts of newly formed particles, which are observed every summer in the near-surface atmosphere at Alert, Nunavut, Canada. Our chemical-transport model simulations indicate that the pan-Arctic seabird-influenced particles can grow by sulfuric acid and organic vapour condensation to diameters sufficiently large to promote pan-Arctic cloud-droplet formation in the clean Arctic summertime. We calculate that the resultant cooling tendencies could be large (about −0.5 W m−2 pan-Arctic-mean cooling), exceeding −1 W m−2 near the largest seabird colonies due to the effects of seabird-influenced particles on cloud albedo. These coupled ecological–chemical processes may be susceptible to Arctic warming and industrialization. PMID:27845764

Quantification of Spore-forming Bacteria Carried by Dust Particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Ying; Cholakian, Tanya; Gao, Wenming; Osman, Shariff; Barengoltz, Jack

2006-01-01

In order to establish a biological contamination transport model for predicting the cross contamination risk during spacecraft assembly and upon landing on Mars, it is important to understand the relationship between spore-forming bacteria and their carrier particles. We conducted air and surface sampling in indoor, outdoor, and cleanroom environments to determine the ratio of spore forming bacteria to their dust particle carriers of different sizes. The number of spore forming bacteria was determined from various size groups of particles in a given environment. Our data also confirms the existence of multiple spores on a single particle and spore clumps. This study will help in developing a better bio-contamination transport model, which in turn will help in determining forward contamination risks for future missions.

Evaluation of correlation between dissolution rates of loxoprofen tablets and their surface morphology observed by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope.

PubMed

Yoshikawa, Shinichi; Murata, Ryo; Shida, Shigenari; Uwai, Koji; Suzuki, Tsuneyoshi; Katsumata, Shunji; Takeshita, Mitsuhiro

2010-01-01

We observed the surface morphological structures of 60 mg tablets of Loxonin, Loxot, and Lobu using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) to evaluate the dissolution rates. We found a significant difference among the initial dissolution rates of the three kinds of loxoprofen sodium tablets. Petal forms of different sizes were commonly observed on the surface of the Loxonin and Loxot tablets in which loxoprofen sodium was confirmed by measuring the energy-dispersible X-ray (EDX) spectrum of NaKalpha using SEM. However, a petal form was not observed on the surface of the Lobu tablet, indicating differences among the drug production processes. Surface area and particle size of the principal ingredient in tablets are important factors for dissolution rate. The mean size of the smallest fine particles constituting each tablet was also determined with AFM. There was a correlation between the initial dissolution rate and the mean size of the smallest particles in each tablet. Visualizing tablet surface morphology using SEM and AFM provides information on the drug production processes and initial dissolution rate, and is associated with the time course of pharmacological activities after tablet administration.

FLRW Cosmology from Yang-Mills Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katz, Daniel

2013-04-01

We extend to basic cosmology the subject of Yang-Mills gravity - a theory of gravity based on local translational gauge invariance in flat spacetime. It has been shown that this particular gauge invariance leads to tensor factors in the macroscopic limit of the equations of motion of particles which plays the same role as the metric tensor of General Relativity. The assumption that this ``effective metric" tensor takes on the standard FLRW form is our starting point. Equations analogous to the Friedman equations are derived and then solved in closed form for the three special cases of a universe dominated by 1) matter, 2) radiation, and 3) dark energy. We find that the solutions for the scale factor are similar to, but distinct from, those found in the corresponding GR based treatment.

Automatic lung lobe segmentation using particles, thin plate splines, and maximum a posteriori estimation.

PubMed

Ross, James C; San José Estépar, Rail; Kindlmann, Gordon; Díaz, Alejandro; Westin, Carl-Fredrik; Silverman, Edwin K; Washko, George R

2010-01-01

We present a fully automatic lung lobe segmentation algorithm that is effective in high resolution computed tomography (CT) datasets in the presence of confounding factors such as incomplete fissures (anatomical structures indicating lobe boundaries), advanced disease states, high body mass index (BMI), and low-dose scanning protocols. In contrast to other algorithms that leverage segmentations of auxiliary structures (esp. vessels and airways), we rely only upon image features indicating fissure locations. We employ a particle system that samples the image domain and provides a set of candidate fissure locations. We follow this stage with maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation to eliminate poor candidates and then perform a post-processing operation to remove remaining noise particles. We then fit a thin plate spline (TPS) interpolating surface to the fissure particles to form the final lung lobe segmentation. Results indicate that our algorithm performs comparably to pulmonologist-generated lung lobe segmentations on a set of challenging cases.

Automatic Lung Lobe Segmentation Using Particles, Thin Plate Splines, and Maximum a Posteriori Estimation

PubMed Central

Ross, James C.; Estépar, Raúl San José; Kindlmann, Gordon; Díaz, Alejandro; Westin, Carl-Fredrik; Silverman, Edwin K.; Washko, George R.

2011-01-01

We present a fully automatic lung lobe segmentation algorithm that is effective in high resolution computed tomography (CT) datasets in the presence of confounding factors such as incomplete fissures (anatomical structures indicating lobe boundaries), advanced disease states, high body mass index (BMI), and low-dose scanning protocols. In contrast to other algorithms that leverage segmentations of auxiliary structures (esp. vessels and airways), we rely only upon image features indicating fissure locations. We employ a particle system that samples the image domain and provides a set of candidate fissure locations. We follow this stage with maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation to eliminate poor candidates and then perform a post-processing operation to remove remaining noise particles. We then fit a thin plate spline (TPS) interpolating surface to the fissure particles to form the final lung lobe segmentation. Results indicate that our algorithm performs comparably to pulmonologist-generated lung lobe segmentations on a set of challenging cases. PMID:20879396

A Swarm Optimization Genetic Algorithm Based on Quantum-Behaved Particle Swarm Optimization.

PubMed

Sun, Tao; Xu, Ming-Hai

2017-01-01

Quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization (QPSO) algorithm is a variant of the traditional particle swarm optimization (PSO). The QPSO that was originally developed for continuous search spaces outperforms the traditional PSO in search ability. This paper analyzes the main factors that impact the search ability of QPSO and converts the particle movement formula to the mutation condition by introducing the rejection region, thus proposing a new binary algorithm, named swarm optimization genetic algorithm (SOGA), because it is more like genetic algorithm (GA) than PSO in form. SOGA has crossover and mutation operator as GA but does not need to set the crossover and mutation probability, so it has fewer parameters to control. The proposed algorithm was tested with several nonlinear high-dimension functions in the binary search space, and the results were compared with those from BPSO, BQPSO, and GA. The experimental results show that SOGA is distinctly superior to the other three algorithms in terms of solution accuracy and convergence.

The Role of Fine Sediment Content on Soil Consolidation and Debris Flows Development after Earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyu, L.; Xu, M., III; Wang, Z.

2017-12-01

Fine sediment has been identified as an important factor determining the critical runoff that initiates debris flows because its contribution to shear strength through consolidation. Especially, owing to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China enormous of loose sediment with different fractions of fine particles was eroded and supplied as materials for debris flows. The loose materials are gradually consolidated along with time, and therefore stronger rainfall is required to overcome the shear strength and to initiate debris flows. In this study, flume experiments were performed to explore soil consolidation and shear strength on mass failure and debris flow initiation under the conditions that different fractions of fine sediment were contained in the materials. Under the low content of fine sediment conditions (mass percentages: 0-10%), the debris flows formed with large pores and low shear strength and thus fine particles were too few to fill up the pores among the coarse particles. The consolidation rate was mostly influenced by the content of the fine particles. Consolidation of fine particles caused an increase of the shear strength and decrease of the rainfall infiltration, and therefore, debris flow initiation required stronger rainfall as the consolidation of the fine particles developed.

IMPACT OF PARTICLE AGGLOMERATION ON ACCUMULATION RATES IN THE GLASS DISCHARGE RISER OF HLW MELTER

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matyas, Josef; Jansik, Danielle P.; Owen, Antionette T.

2013-08-05

The major factor limiting waste loading in continuous high-level radioactive waste (HLW) melters is an accumulation of particles in the glass discharge riser during a frequent and periodic idling of more than 20 days. An excessive accumulation can produce robust layers a few centimeters thick, which may clog the riser, preventing molten glass from being poured into canisters. Since the accumulation rate is driven by the size of particles we investigated with X-ray microtomography, scanning electron microscopy, and image analysis the impact of spinel forming components, noble metals, and alumina on the size, concentration, and spatial distribution of particles, andmore » on the accumulation rate. Increased concentrations of Fe and Ni in the baseline glass resulted in the formation of large agglomerates that grew over the time to an average size of ~185±155 µm, and produced >3 mm thick layer after 120 h at 850 °C. The noble metals decreased the particle size, and therefore significantly slowed down the accumulation rate. Addition of alumina resulted in the formation of a network of spinel dendrites which prevented accumulation of particles into compact layers.« less

Impact Of Particle Agglomeration On Accumulation Rates In The Glass Discharge Riser Of HLW Melter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kruger, A. A.; Rodriguez, C. A.; Matyas, J.

2012-11-12

The major factor limiting waste loading in continuous high-level radioactive waste (HLW) melters is an accumulation of particles in the glass discharge riser during a frequent and periodic idling of more than 20 days. An excessive accumulation can produce robust layers a few centimeters thick, which may clog the riser, preventing molten glass from being poured into canisters. Since the accumulation rate is driven by the size of particles we investigated with x-ray microtomography, scanning electron microscopy, and image analysis the impact of spinel forming components, noble metals, and alumina on the size, concentration, and spatial distribution of particles, andmore » on the accumulation rate. Increased concentrations of Fe and Ni in the baseline glass resulted in the formation of large agglomerates that grew over the time to an average size of ~185+-155 {mu}m, and produced >3 mm thick layer after 120 h at 850 deg C. The noble metals decreased the particle size, and therefore significantly slowed down the accumulation rate. Addition of alumina resulted in the formation of a network of spinel dendrites which prevented accumulation of particles into compact layers.« less

Morphology of diesel soot residuals from supercooled water droplets and ice crystals: Implications for optical properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

China, Swarup; Kulkarni, Gourihar; Scarnato, Barbara V.

Freshly emitted soot particles are fractal-like aggregates, but atmospheric processing often transforms their morphology. Morphology of soot particles plays an important role in determining their optical properties, life cycle and hence their effect on Earth’s radiative balance. However, little is known about the morphology of soot particles that participated in cold cloud processes. Here we report results from laboratory experiments that simulate cold cloud processing of diesel soot particles by allowing them to form supercooled droplets and ice crystals at -20 and -40°C, respectively. Electron microscopy revealed that soot residuals from ice crystals were more compact (roundness~0.55) than those frommore » supercooled droplets (roundness ~0.45), while nascent soot particles were the least compact (roundness~0.41). Optical simulations using the discrete dipole approximation showed that the more compact structure enhances soot single scattering albedo by a factor up to 1.4, thereby reducing the top-of-the-atmosphere direct radiative forcing by ~63%. Lastly, these results underscore that climate models should consider the morphological evolution of soot particles due to cold cloud processing to improve the estimate of direct radiative forcing of soot.« less

Morphology of diesel soot residuals from supercooled water droplets and ice crystals: Implications for optical properties

DOE PAGES

China, Swarup; Kulkarni, Gourihar; Scarnato, Barbara V.; ...

2015-11-01

Freshly emitted soot particles are fractal-like aggregates, but atmospheric processing often transforms their morphology. Morphology of soot particles plays an important role in determining their optical properties, life cycle and hence their effect on Earth’s radiative balance. However, little is known about the morphology of soot particles that participated in cold cloud processes. Here we report results from laboratory experiments that simulate cold cloud processing of diesel soot particles by allowing them to form supercooled droplets and ice crystals at -20 and -40°C, respectively. Electron microscopy revealed that soot residuals from ice crystals were more compact (roundness~0.55) than those frommore » supercooled droplets (roundness ~0.45), while nascent soot particles were the least compact (roundness~0.41). Optical simulations using the discrete dipole approximation showed that the more compact structure enhances soot single scattering albedo by a factor up to 1.4, thereby reducing the top-of-the-atmosphere direct radiative forcing by ~63%. Lastly, these results underscore that climate models should consider the morphological evolution of soot particles due to cold cloud processing to improve the estimate of direct radiative forcing of soot.« less

International Workshop on Comparing Ice Nucleation Measuring Systems 2014

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cziczo, Daniel

The relationship of ambient aerosol particles to the formation of ice-containing clouds is one of the largest uncertainties in understanding the Earth’s climate. The uncertainty is due to several poorly understood processes and measurements including, but not limited to: (1) the microphysics of how particles nucleate ice, (2) the number of ice forming particles as a function of atmospheric properties such as temperature and relative humidity, (3) the atmospheric distribution of ice forming particles and (4) the role of anthropogenic activities in producing or changing the behavior of ice forming particles. The ways in which ice forming particles can impactmore » climate is also multi-faceted. More ice forming particles can lead to clouds with more ice crystals and different optical properties than clouds with less ice forming particles. More effective ice forming particles can lead to ice at higher temperature and/or lower saturation, resulting in clouds at lower altitude or latitude which also changes the Earth’s radiative balance. Ice nucleation also initiates most of the Earth’s precipitation, even in the mid- and low-latitudes, since cloud-top temperatures are often below freezing. The limited measurements and lack of understanding directly translates to restrictions in our ability to model atmospheric ice formation and project changes into the future. The importance of ice nucleation research is further exemplified by Figure 1 which shows the publications per decade and citations per year on the topic of ice nucleation [DeMott et al., 2011]. After a lull at the end of the last century, there has been a dramatic increase in both publications and citations related to ice nucleation; this directly corresponds to the importance of ice nucleation on the Earth’s climate and the uncertainty in this area noted by the Solomon [2007].« less

Dechlorination of disinfection by-product monochloroacetic acid in drinking water by nanoscale palladized iron bimetallic particle.

PubMed

Chen, Chao; Wang, Xiangyu; Chang, Ying; Liu, Huiling

2008-01-01

Nanoscale palladized iron (Pd/Fe) bimetallic particles were prepared by reductive deposition method. The particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-nitrogen (BET-N2) method. Data obtained from those methods indicated that nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles contained alpha-Fe0. Detected Pd to Fe ratio by weight (Pd/Fe ratio) was close to theoretical value. Spherical granules with diameter of 47 +/- 11.5 nm connected with one another to form chains and the chains composed nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles. Specific surface area of particles was 51 m2/g. The factors, such as species of reductants, Pd/Fe ratio, dose of nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles added into solutions, solution initial pH, and a variety of solvents were studied. Dechlorination effect of monochloroacetic acid by different reductants followed the trend: nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles of 0.182% Pd/Fe > nanoscale Fe > reductive Fe. When the Pd/Fe ratio was lower than 0.083%, increasing Pd/Fe ratio would increase dechlorination efficiency (DE) of MCAA. When the Pd/Fe ratio was higher than 0.083%, increasing Pd/Fe ratio caused a decrease in DE. Adding more nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles to solution would enhance DE. The DE of MCAA decreased as initial pH of solution increased.

Towards a Resolution of the Proton Form Factor Problem: New Electron and Positron Scattering Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adikaram, D.; Rimal, D.; Weinstein, L. B.; Raue, B.; Khetarpal, P.; Bennett, R. P.; Arrington, J.; Brooks, W. K.; Adhikari, K. P.; Afanasev, A. V.; Amaryan, M. J.; Anderson, M. D.; Anefalos Pereira, S.; Avakian, H.; Ball, J.; Battaglieri, M.; Bedlinskiy, I.; Biselli, A. S.; Bono, J.; Boiarinov, S.; Briscoe, W. J.; Burkert, V. D.; Carman, D. S.; Careccia, S.; Celentano, A.; Chandavar, S.; Charles, G.; Colaneri, L.; Cole, P. L.; Contalbrigo, M.; Crede, V.; D'Angelo, A.; Dashyan, N.; De Vita, R.; De Sanctis, E.; Deur, A.; Djalali, C.; Dodge, G. E.; Dupre, R.; Egiyan, H.; El Alaoui, A.; El Fassi, L.; Elouadrhiri, L.; Eugenio, P.; Fedotov, G.; Fegan, S.; Filippi, A.; Fleming, J. A.; Fradi, A.; Garillon, B.; Gilfoyle, G. P.; Giovanetti, K. L.; Girod, F. X.; Goetz, J. T.; Gohn, W.; Golovatch, E.; Gothe, R. W.; Griffioen, K. A.; Guegan, B.; Guidal, M.; Guo, L.; Hafidi, K.; Hakobyan, H.; Hanretty, C.; Harrison, N.; Hattawy, M.; Hicks, K.; Holtrop, M.; Hughes, S. M.; Hyde, C. E.; Ilieva, Y.; Ireland, D. G.; Ishkhanov, B. S.; Jenkins, D.; Jiang, H.; Jo, H. S.; Joo, K.; Joosten, S.; Kalantarians, N.; Keller, D.; Khandaker, M.; Kim, A.; Kim, W.; Klein, A.; Klein, F. J.; Koirala, S.; Kubarovsky, V.; Kuhn, S. E.; Livingston, K.; Lu, H. Y.; MacGregor, I. J. D.; Markov, N.; Mattione, P.; Mayer, M.; McKinnon, B.; Mestayer, M. D.; Meyer, C. A.; Mirazita, M.; Mokeev, V.; Montgomery, R. A.; Moody, C. I.; Moutarde, H.; Movsisyan, A.; Camacho, C. Munoz; Nadel-Turonski, P.; Niccolai, S.; Niculescu, G.; Osipenko, M.; Ostrovidov, A. I.; Park, K.; Pasyuk, E.; Peña, C.; Pisano, S.; Pogorelko, O.; Price, J. W.; Procureur, S.; Prok, Y.; Protopopescu, D.; Puckett, A. J. R.; Ripani, M.; Rizzo, A.; Rosner, G.; Rossi, P.; Roy, P.; Sabatié, F.; Salgado, C.; Schott, D.; Schumacher, R. A.; Seder, E.; Sharabian, Y. G.; Simonyan, A.; Skorodumina, I.; Smith, E. S.; Smith, G. D.; Sober, D. I.; Sokhan, D.; Sparveris, N.; Stepanyan, S.; Stoler, P.; Strauch, S.; Sytnik, V.; Taiuti, M.; Tian, Ye; Trivedi, A.; Ungaro, M.; Voskanyan, H.; Voutier, E.; Walford, N. K.; Watts, D. P.; Wei, X.; Wood, M. H.; Zachariou, N.; Zana, L.; Zhang, J.; Zhao, Z. W.; Zonta, I.; CLAS Collaboration

2015-02-01

There is a significant discrepancy between the values of the proton electric form factor, GEp, extracted using unpolarized and polarized electron scattering. Calculations predict that small two-photon exchange (TPE) contributions can significantly affect the extraction of GEp from the unpolarized electron-proton cross sections. We determined the TPE contribution by measuring the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic scattering cross sections using a simultaneous, tertiary electron-positron beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target and detecting the scattered particles in the Jefferson Lab CLAS detector. This novel technique allowed us to cover a wide range in virtual photon polarization (ɛ ) and momentum transfer (Q2) simultaneously, as well as to cancel luminosity-related systematic errors. The cross section ratio increases with decreasing ɛ at Q2=1.45 GeV2 . This measurement is consistent with the size of the form factor discrepancy at Q2≈1.75 GeV2 and with hadronic calculations including nucleon and Δ intermediate states, which have been shown to resolve the discrepancy up to 2 - 3 GeV2 .

Radiation equivalent dose simulations for long-term interplanetary flights

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobynde, M. I.; Drozdov, A.; Shprits, Y. Y.

2016-12-01

Cosmic particle radiation is a limiting factor for the human interplanetary flights. The unmanned flights inside heliosphere and human flights inside of magnetosphere tend to become a routine procedure, whereas there have been only few shot term human flights out of it (Apollo missions 1969-1972) with maximum duration less than a month. Long-term human flights set much higher requirements to the radiation shielding, primarily because of long exposition to cosmic radiation. Inside the helosphere there are two main sources of cosmic radiation: galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and soalr particle events (SPE). GCR come from the outside of heliosphere forming a background of overall radiation that affects the spacecraft. The intensity of GCR is varied according to solar activity, increasing with solar activity decrease and backward, with the modulation time (time between nearest maxima) of 11 yeas. SPE are shot term events, comparing to GCR modulation time, but particle fluxes are much more higher. The probability of SPE increases with the increase of solar activity. Time dependences of the intensity of these two components encourage looking for a time window of flight, when intensity and effect of GCR and SPE would be minimized. Combining GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations with time dependent model of GCR spectra and data on SPE spectra we show the time dependence of the radiation dose in an anthropomorphic human phantom inside the shielding capsule. Different types of particles affect differently on the human providing more or less harm to the tissues. We use quality factors to recalculate absorbed dose into biological equivalent dose, which give more information about risks for astronaut's health. Incident particles provide a large amount of secondary particles while propagating through the shielding capsule. We try to find an optimal combination of shielding material and thickness, that will effectively decrease the incident particle energy, at the same time minimizing flow of secondary induced particles and minimizing most harmful particle types flows.

Factorization and resummation: A new paradigm to improve gravitational wave amplitudes. II. The higher multipolar modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Messina, Francesco; Maldarella, Alberto; Nagar, Alessandro

2018-04-01

The factorization and resummation approach of Nagar and Shah [Phys. Rev. D 94, 104017 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevD.94.104017], designed to improve the strong-field behavior of the post-Newtonian (PN) residual waveform amplitudes fℓm's entering the effective-one-body, circularized, gravitational waveform for spinning coalescing binaries, is improved and generalized here to all multipoles up to ℓ=6 . For a test particle orbiting a Kerr black hole, each multipolar amplitude is truncated at relative 6 PN order, both for the orbital (nonspinning) and spin factors. By taking a certain Padé approximant (typically the P24 one) of the orbital factor in conjunction with the inverse Taylor (iResum) representation of the spin factor, it is possible to push the analytical/numerical agreement of the energy flux at the level of 5% at the last-stable orbit for a quasimaximally spinning black hole with dimensionless spin parameter +0.99 . When the procedure is generalized to comparable-mass binaries, each orbital factor is kept at relative 3+3 PN order; i.e., the globally 3 PN-accurate comparable-mass terms are hybridized with higher-PN test-particle terms up to 6 PN relative order in each mode. The same Padé resummation is used for continuity. By contrast, the spin factor is only kept at the highest comparable-mass PN order currently available. We illustrate that the consistency between different truncations in the spin content of the waveform amplitudes is more marked in the resummed case than when using the standard Taylor-expanded form of Pan et al. [Phys. Rev. D 83, 064003 (2011), 10.1103/PhysRevD.83.064003]. We finally introduce a method to consistently hybridize comparable-mass and test-particle information also in the presence of spin (including the spin of the particle), discussing it explicitly for the ℓ=m =2 spin-orbit and spin-square terms. The improved, factorized and resummed, multipolar waveform amplitudes presented here are expected to set a new standard for effective one body-based gravitational waveform models.

The lasting effect of limonene-induced particle formation on air quality in a genuine indoor environment.

PubMed

Rösch, Carolin; Wissenbach, Dirk K; von Bergen, Martin; Franck, Ulrich; Wendisch, Manfred; Schlink, Uwe

2015-09-01

Atmospheric ozone-terpene reactions, which form secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles, can affect indoor air quality when outdoor air mixes with indoor air during ventilation. This study, conducted in Leipzig, Germany, focused on limonene-induced particle formation in a genuine indoor environment (24 m(3)). Particle number, limonene and ozone concentrations were monitored during the whole experimental period. After manual ventilation for 30 min, during which indoor ozone levels reached up to 22.7 ppb, limonene was introduced into the room at concentrations of approximately 180 to 250 μg m(-3). We observed strong particle formation and growth within a diameter range of 9 to 50 nm under real-room conditions. Larger particles with diameters above 100 nm were less affected by limonene introduction. The total particle number concentrations (TPNCs) after limonene introduction clearly exceed outdoor values by a factor of 4.5 to 41 reaching maximum concentrations of up to 267,000 particles cm(-3). The formation strength was influenced by background particles, which attenuated the formation of new SOA with increasing concentration, and by ozone levels, an increase of which by 10 ppb will result in a six times higher TPNC. This study emphasizes indoor environments to be preferred locations for particle formation and growth after ventilation events. As a consequence, SOA formation can produce significantly higher amounts of particles than transported by ventilation into the indoor air.

Preparation of novel film-forming armoured latexes using silica nanoparticles as a pickering emulsion stabiliser.

PubMed

Shiraz, Hana; Peake, Simon J; Davey, Tim; Cameron, Neil R; Tabor, Rico F

2018-05-15

Film-forming polymer latex particles of diameter <300 nm can be prepared in the complete absence of surfactants, stabilised in part by silica nanoparticles through a Pickering type emulsion polymerisation. Control of the silica wettability through modulation of reaction pH or by reaction of the nanoparticles with a hydrophobic silane results in silica-covered latex particles. The oil-in-water polymerisation process used methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (BA) as co-monomers, potassium persulphate (KPS) as an initiator and a commercially available colloidal nano-silica (Ludox®-TM40). It was found that pH control before polymerisation using methacrylic acid (MAA) facilitated the formation of armoured latexes, and mechanistic features of this process are discussed. An alternative, more robust protocol was developed whereby addition of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) to control wettability resulted in latexes completely armoured in colloidal nano-silica. The latexes were characterised using SEM, cryo-TEM and AFM imaging techniques. The mechanism behind the adsorption was investigated through surface pressure and contact angle measurements to understand the factors that influence this irreversible adsorption. Results indicate that nanoparticle attachment (but intriguingly not latex size) is dependent on particle wettability, providing new insight into the formation of nanoparticle-armoured latexes, along with opportunities for further development of diversely functionalized inorganic/organic polymer composite particles. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Magnetic-Island Contraction and Particle Acceleration in Simulated Eruptive Solar Flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guidoni, S. E.; Devore, C. R.; Karpen, J. T.; Lynch, B. J.

2016-01-01

The mechanism that accelerates particles to the energies required to produce the observed high-energy impulsive emission in solar flares is not well understood. Drake et al. proposed a mechanism for accelerating electrons in contracting magnetic islands formed by kinetic reconnection in multi-layered current sheets (CSs). We apply these ideas to sunward-moving flux ropes (2.5D magnetic islands) formed during fast reconnection in a simulated eruptive flare. A simple analytic model is used to calculate the energy gain of particles orbiting the field lines of the contracting magnetic islands in our ultrahigh-resolution 2.5D numerical simulation. We find that the estimated energy gains in a single island range up to a factor of five. This is higher than that found by Drake et al. for islands in the terrestrial magnetosphere and at the heliopause, due to strong plasma compression that occurs at the flare CS. In order to increase their energy by two orders of magnitude and plausibly account for the observed high-energy flare emission, the electrons must visit multiple contracting islands. This mechanism should produce sporadic emission because island formation is intermittent. Moreover, a large number of particles could be accelerated in each magneto hydro dynamic-scale island, which may explain the inferred rates of energetic-electron production in flares. We conclude that island contraction in the flare CS is a promising candidate for electron acceleration in solar eruptions.

Method of forming supported doped palladium containing oxidation catalysts

DOEpatents

Mohajeri, Nahid

2014-04-22

A method of forming a supported oxidation catalyst includes providing a support comprising a metal oxide or a metal salt, and depositing first palladium compound particles and second precious metal group (PMG) metal particles on the support while in a liquid phase including at least one solvent to form mixed metal comprising particles on the support. The PMG metal is not palladium. The mixed metal particles on the support are separated from the liquid phase to provide the supported oxidation catalyst.

Generalized parastatistical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Satriawan, Mirza

2002-01-01

In the first chapter we consider systems of n-identical particles whose Hilbert spaces are invariant under the "particle permutation group" Sn, and which obey cluster decomposition. The classification of such systems by Hartle, Stolt, and Taylor in terms of state symmetry types is used, together with an additional classification based on the allowed observables in the system. We have indistinguishable (p, q)- statistics, indistinguishable infinite statistics, distinguishable (p, q)-statistics, and distinguishable infinite statistics. We refer to all of these as generalized parastatistical systems. We obtain a closed form for the grand canonical partition function (GCPF) for a non-interacting gas of particles obeying indistinguishable ( p, q)-statistics (for any p and q). As a special case we have the GCPF for the usual parabose statistics of order p, solving a 50 year old problem. Except for indistinguishable (1,1)-statistics, our results are not suitable for calculating the GCPF in the continuum energy limit. However, for indistinguishable (1,1)-statistics we calculate the continuum limit and obtain some simple thermodynamic results. In particular, we show that a system of free particles in any spatial dimension d ≥ 2 that obeys indistinguishable (1,1)-statistics will exhibit Bose-like condensation. In the second chapter we consider systems similar to those in the first chapter, but now assuming that the GCPF factorizes so that we obtain an extensive system. It turns out that having such an extensive GCPF is equivalent to the factorization of the counting function, and also to the factorization of the cluster coefficients and to the strong cluster condition on the counting coefficients. We calculate several simple thermodynamic quantities for such systems, where the results are given in terms of the cluster coefficients. In the third chapter, we give a second quantized realization of generalized parastatistical systems in the form of scalar product requirements on the Fock space F . We also give realizations of these scalar product requirements in terms of creation and annihilation operator algebras, and find that the Govorkov algebra and Greenberg's q-mutator algebra for q = 0 are the only ones from the literature that correspond to special cases of our systems.

Method for preparing hydrous iron oxide gels and spherules

DOEpatents

Collins, Jack L.; Lauf, Robert J.; Anderson, Kimberly K.

2003-07-29

The present invention is directed to methods for preparing hydrous iron oxide spherules, hydrous iron oxide gels such as gel slabs, films, capillary and electrophoresis gels, iron monohydrogen phosphate spherules, hydrous iron oxide spherules having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form composite sorbents and catalysts, iron monohydrogen phosphate spherules having suspendable particles of at least one different sorbent homogeneously embedded within to form a composite sorbent, iron oxide spherules having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite of hydrous iron oxide fiber materials, iron oxide fiber materials, hydrous iron oxide fiber materials having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, iron oxide fiber materials having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, dielectric spherules of barium, strontium, and lead ferrites and mixtures thereof, and composite catalytic spherules of barium or strontium ferrite embedded with oxides of Mg, Zn, Pb, Ce and mixtures thereof. These variations of hydrous iron oxide spherules and gel forms prepared by the gel-sphere, internal gelation process offer more useful forms of inorganic ion exchangers, catalysts, getters, dielectrics, and ceramics.

Far-infrared and dust properties of present-day galaxies in the EAGLE simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camps, Peter; Trayford, James W.; Baes, Maarten; Theuns, Tom; Schaller, Matthieu; Schaye, Joop

2016-10-01

The Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments (EAGLE) cosmological simulations reproduce the observed galaxy stellar mass function and many galaxy properties. In this work, we study the dust-related properties of present-day EAGLE galaxies through mock observations in the far-infrared and submm wavelength ranges obtained with the 3D dust radiative transfer code SKIRT. To prepare an EAGLE galaxy for radiative transfer processing, we derive a diffuse dust distribution from the gas particles and we re-sample the star-forming gas particles and the youngest star particles into star-forming regions that are assigned dedicated emission templates. We select a set of redshift-zero EAGLE galaxies that matches the K-band luminosity distribution of the galaxies in the Herschel Reference Survey (HRS), a volume-limited sample of about 300 normal galaxies in the Local Universe. We find overall agreement of the EAGLE dust scaling relations with those observed in the HRS, such as the dust-to-stellar mass ratio versus stellar mass and versus NUV-r colour relations. A discrepancy in the f250/f350 versus f350/f500 submm colour-colour relation implies that part of the simulated dust is insufficiently heated, likely because of limitations in our sub-grid model for star-forming regions. We also investigate the effect of adjusting the metal-to-dust ratio and the covering factor of the photodissociation regions surrounding the star-forming cores. We are able to constrain the important dust-related parameters in our method, informing the calculation of dust attenuation for EAGLE galaxies in the UV and optical domain.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF ABSORPTION OF TRACER MATERIALS BY TOAD URINARY BLADDER EPITHELIUM

PubMed Central

Choi, Jae Kwon

1965-01-01

The absorption of Thorotrast and saccharated iron oxide by the epithelium of the toad urinary bladder was studied by electron microscopy. Whether the toads were hydrated, dehydrated, or given Pitressin, no significant differences in transport of colloidal particles by epithelial cells were observed. This implies that these physiological factors had little effect on the transport of the tracer particles. Tracer particles were encountered in three types of epithelial cells which line the bladder lumen, but most frequently in the mitochondria-rich cells. Tracer materials were incorporated into the cytoplasm of epithelial cells after being adsorbed to the coating layer covering the luminal surface of the cells. In the intermediate stage (1 to 3 hours after introducing tracer) particles were present in small vesicles, tubules, and multivesicular bodies. In the later stages (up to 65 hours), the particles were more commonly seen to be densely packed within large membrane-bounded bodies which were often found near the Golgi region. These large bodies probably were formed by the fusion of small vesicles. Irrespective of the stages of absorption, no particles were found in the intercellular spaces or in the submucosa. Particles apparently did not penetrate the intercellular spaces of the epithelium beyond the level of the tight junction. PMID:14287173

An Unaccounted Fraction of Marine Biogenic CaCO3 Particles

PubMed Central

Heldal, Mikal; Norland, Svein; Erichsen, Egil S.; Thingstad, T. Frede; Bratbak, Gunnar

2012-01-01

Biogenic production and sedimentation of calcium carbonate in the ocean, referred to as the carbonate pump, has profound implications for the ocean carbon cycle, and relate both to global climate, ocean acidification and the geological past. In marine pelagic environments coccolithophores, foraminifera and pteropods have been considered the main calcifying organisms. Here, we document the presence of an abundant, previously unaccounted fraction of marine calcium carbonate particles in seawater, presumably formed by bacteria or in relation to extracellular polymeric substances. The particles occur in a variety of different morphologies, in a size range from <1 to >100 µm, and in a typical concentration of 104–105 particles L−1 (size range counted 1–100 µm). Quantitative estimates of annual averages suggests that the pure calcium particles we counted in the 1–100 µm size range account for 2–4 times more CaCO3 than the dominating coccolithophoride Emiliania huxleyi and for 21% of the total concentration of particulate calcium. Due to their high density, we hypothesize that the particles sediment rapidly, and therefore contribute significantly to the export of carbon and alkalinity from surface waters. The biological and environmental factors affecting the formation of these particles and possible impact of this process on global atmospheric CO2 remains to be investigated. PMID:23110119

Factor VIII organisation on nanodiscs with different lipid composition.

PubMed

Grushin, Kirill; Miller, Jaimy; Dalm, Daniela; Stoilova-McPhie, Svetla

2015-04-01

Nanodiscs (ND) are lipid bilayer membrane patches held by amphiphilic scaffolding proteins (MSP) of ~10 nm in diameter. Nanodiscs have been developed as lipid nanoplatforms for structural and functional studies of membrane and membrane associated proteins. Their size and monodispersity have rendered them unique for electron microscopy (EM) and single particle analysis studies of proteins and complexes either spanning or associated to the ND membrane. Binding of blood coagulation factors and complexes, such as the Factor VIII (FVIII) and the Factor VIIIa - Factor IXa (intrinsic tenase) complex to the negatively charged activated platelet membrane is required for normal haemostasis. In this study we present our work on optimising ND, specifically designed to bind FVIII at close to physiological conditions. The binding of FVIII to the negatively charged ND rich in phosphatidylserine (PS) was followed by electron microscopy at three different PS compositions and two different membrane scaffolding protein (MSP1D1) to lipid ratios. Our results show that the ND with highest PS content (80 %) and lowest MSP1D1 to lipid ratio (1:47) are the most suitable for structure determination of the membrane-bound FVIII by single particle EM. Our preliminary FVIII 3D reconstruction as bound to PS containing ND demonstrates the suitability of the optimised ND for structural studies by EM. Further assembly of the activated FVIII form (FVIIIa) and the whole FVIIIa-FIXa complex on ND, followed by EM and single particle reconstruction will help to identify the protein-protein and protein-membrane interfaces critical for the intrinsic tenase complex assembly and function.

Process for the enhanced capture of heavy metal emissions

DOEpatents

Biswas, Pratim; Wu, Chang-Yu

2001-01-01

This invention is directed to a process for forming a sorbent-metal complex. The process includes oxidizing a sorbent precursor and contacting the sorbent precursor with a metallic species. The process further includes chemically reacting the sorbent precursor and the metallic species, thereby forming a sorbent-metal complex. In one particular aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the sorbent precursor is transformed into sorbent particles during the oxidation step. These sorbent particles then are contacted with the metallic species and chemically reacted with the metallic species, thereby forming a sorbent-metal complex. Another aspect of the invention is directed to a process for forming a sorbent metal complex in a combustion system. The process includes introducing a sorbent precursor into a combustion system and subjecting the sorbent precursor to an elevated temperature sufficient to oxidize the sorbent precursor and transform the sorbent precursor into sorbent particles. The process further includes contacting the sorbent particles with a metallic species and exposing the sorbent particles and the metallic species to a complex-forming temperature whereby the metallic species reacts with the sorbent particles thereby forming a sorbent-metal complex under UV irradiation.

Methods of electrophoretic deposition for functionally graded porous nanostructures and systems thereof

DOEpatents

Worsley, Marcus A; Baumann, Theodore F; Satcher, Joe H; Olson, Tammy Y; Kuntz, Joshua D; Rose, Klint A

2015-03-03

In one embodiment, an aerogel includes a layer of shaped particles having a particle packing density gradient in a thickness direction of the layer, wherein the shaped particles are characterized by being formed in an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process using an impurity. In another embodiment, a method for forming a functionally graded porous nanostructure includes adding particles of an impurity and a solution to an EPD chamber, applying a voltage difference across the two electrodes of the EPD chamber to create an electric field in the EPD chamber, and depositing the material onto surfaces of the particles of the impurity to form shaped particles of the material. Other functionally graded materials and methods are described according to more embodiments.

Method of fabricating a rocket engine combustion chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holmes, Richard R. (Inventor); Mckechnie, Timothy N. (Inventor); Power, Christopher A. (Inventor); Daniel, Ronald L., Jr. (Inventor); Saxelby, Robert M. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A process for making a combustion chamber for a rocket engine wherein a copper alloy in particle form is injected into a stream of heated carrier gas in plasma form which is then projected onto the inner surface of a hollow metal jacket having the configuration of a rocket engine combustion chamber is described. The particles are in the plasma stream for a sufficient length of time to heat the particles to a temperature such that the particles will flatten and adhere to previously deposited particles but will not spatter or vaporize. After a layer is formed, cooling channels are cut in the layer, then the channels are filled with a temporary filler and another layer of particles is deposited.

Structures of ribonucleoprotein particle modification enzymes

PubMed Central

Liang, Bo; Li, Hong

2016-01-01

Small nucleolar and Cajal body ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) are required for the maturation of ribosomes and spliceosomes. They consist of small nucleolar RNA or Cajal body RNA combined with partner proteins and represent the most complex RNA modification enzymes. Recent advances in structure and function studies have revealed detailed information regarding ribonucleoprotein assembly and substrate binding. These enzymes form intertwined RNA–protein assemblies that facilitate reversible binding of the large ribosomal RNA or small nuclear RNA. These revelations explain the specificity among the components in enzyme assembly and substrate modification. The multiple conformations of individual components and those of complete RNPs suggest a dynamic assembly process and justify the requirement of many assembly factors in vivo. PMID:21108865

Nanoscale morphogenesis of nylon-sputtered plasma polymer particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choukourov, Andrei; Shelemin, Artem; Pleskunov, Pavel; Nikitin, Daniil; Khalakhan, Ivan; Hanuš, Jan

2018-05-01

Sub-micron polymer particles are highly important in various fields including astrophysics, thermonuclear fusion and nanomedicine. Plasma polymerization offers the possibility to produce particles with tailor-made size, crosslink density and chemical composition to meet the requirements of a particular application. However, the mechanism of nucleation and growth of plasma polymer particles as well as diversity of their morphology remain far from being clear. Here, we prepared nitrogen-containing plasma polymer particles by rf magnetron sputtering of nylon in a gas aggregation cluster source with variable length. The method allowed the production of particles with roughly constant chemical composition and number density but with the mean size changing from 80 to 320 nm. Atomic Force Microscopy with super-sharp probes was applied to study the evolution of the particle surface topography as they grow in size. Height–height correlation and power spectral density functions were obtained to quantify the roughness exponent α  =  0.78, the growth exponent β  =  0.35, and the dynamic exponent 1/z  =  0.50. The set of critical exponents indicates that the particle surface evolves in a self-affine mode and the overall particle growth is caused by the accretion of polymer-forming species from the gas phase and not by coagulation. Redistribution of the incoming material over the surface coupled with the inhomogeneous distribution of inner stress is suggested as the main factor that determines the morphogenesis of the plasma polymer particles.

Complex patchy colloids shaped from deformable seed particles through capillary interactions.

PubMed

Meester, V; Kraft, D J

2018-02-14

We investigate the mechanisms underlying the reconfiguration of random aggregates of spheres through capillary interactions, the so-called "colloidal recycling" method, to fabricate a wide variety of patchy particles. We explore the influence of capillary forces on clusters of deformable seed particles by systematically varying the crosslink density of the spherical seeds. Spheres with a poorly crosslinked polymer network strongly deform due to capillary forces and merge into large spheres. With increasing crosslink density and therefore rigidity, the shape of the spheres is increasingly preserved during reconfiguration, yielding patchy particles of well-defined shape for up to five spheres. In particular, we find that the aspect ratio between the length and width of dumbbells, L/W, increases with the crosslink density (cd) as L/W = B - A·exp(-cd/C). For clusters consisting of more than five spheres, the particle deformability furthermore determines the patch arrangement of the resulting particles. The reconfiguration pathway of clusters of six densely or poorly crosslinked seeds leads to octahedral and polytetrahedral shaped patchy particles, respectively. For seven particles several geometries were obtained with a preference for pentagonal dipyramids by the rigid spheres, while the soft spheres do rarely arrive in these structures. Even larger clusters of over 15 particles form non-uniform often aspherical shapes. We discuss that the reconfiguration pathway is largely influenced by confinement and geometric constraints. The key factor which dominates during reconfiguration depends on the deformability of the spherical seed particles.

The Nucleon Axial Form Factor and Staggered Lattice QCD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meyer, Aaron Scott

The study of neutrino oscillation physics is a major research goal of the worldwide particle physics program over the upcoming decade. Many new experiments are being built to study the properties of neutrinos and to answer questions about the phenomenon of neutrino oscillation. These experiments need precise theoretical cross sections in order to access fundamental neutrino properties. Neutrino oscillation experiments often use large atomic nuclei as scattering targets, which are challenging for theorists to model. Nuclear models rely on free-nucleon amplitudes as inputs. These amplitudes are constrained by scattering experiments with large nuclear targets that rely on the very samemore » nuclear models. The work in this dissertation is the rst step of a new initiative to isolate and compute elementary amplitudes with theoretical calculations to support the neutrino oscillation experimental program. Here, the eort focuses on computing the axial form factor, which is the largest contributor of systematic error in the primary signal measurement process for neutrino oscillation studies, quasielastic scattering. Two approaches are taken. First, neutrino scattering data on a deuterium target are reanalyzed with a model-independent parametrization of the axial form factor to quantify the present uncertainty in the free-nucleon amplitudes. The uncertainties on the free-nucleon cross section are found to be underestimated by about an order of magnitude compared to the ubiquitous dipole model parametrization. The second approach uses lattice QCD to perform a rst-principles computation of the nucleon axial form factor. The Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) action is employed for both valence and sea quarks. The results presented in this dissertation are computed at physical pion mass for one lattice spacing. This work presents a computation of the axial form factor at zero momentum transfer, and forms the basis for a computation of the axial form factor momentum dependence with an extrapolation to the continuum limit and a full systematic error budget.« less

A mathematical model of reservoir sediment quality prediction based on land-use and erosion processes in watershed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junakova, N.; Balintova, M.; Junak, J.

2017-10-01

The aim of this paper is to propose a mathematical model for determining of total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in eroded soil particles with emphasis on prediction of bottom sediment quality in reservoirs. The adsorbed nutrient concentrations are calculated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) extended by the determination of the average soil nutrient concentration in top soils. The average annual vegetation and management factor is divided into five periods of the cropping cycle. For selected plants, the average plant nutrient uptake divided into five cropping periods is also proposed. The average nutrient concentrations in eroded soil particles in adsorbed form are modified by sediment enrichment ratio to obtain the total nutrient content in transported soil particles. The model was designed for the conditions of north-eastern Slovakia. The study was carried out in the agricultural basin of the small water reservoir Klusov.

Microdunes and other aeolian bedforms on Venus - Wind Tunnel simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greeley, R.; Marshall, J. R.; Leach, R. N.

1984-01-01

The development of aeolian bedforms in the simulated Venusian environment has been experimentally studied in the Venus Wind Tunnel. It is found that the development of specific bedforms, including ripples, dunes, and 'waves', as well as their geometry, are controlled by a combination of factors including particle size, wind speed, and atmospheric density. Microdunes are formed which are analogous to full-size terrestrial dunes and are characterized by the development of slip faces, internal cross-bedding, a low ratio of saltation path length to dune length, and a lack of particle-size sorting. They begin to develop at wind speeds just above saltation threshold and evolve into waves at higher velocities. At wind speeds of about 1.5 m/sec and higher, the bed is flat and featureless. This evolution is explained by a model based on the interaction of alternating zones of erosion and deposition and particle saltation distances.

Microdunes and Other Aeolian Bedforms on Venus: Wind Tunnel Simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greeley, R.; Marshall, J. R.; Leach, R. N.

1985-01-01

The development of aeolian bedforms in the simulated Venusian environment has been experimentally studied in the Venus Wind tunnel. It is found that the development of specific bedforms, including ripples, dunes, and waves, as well as their geometry, are controlled by a combination of factors including particle size, wind speed, and atmospheric density. Microdunes are formed which are analogous to full-size terrestrial dunes and are characterized by the development of slip faces, internal cross-bedding, a low ratio of saltation path length to dune length, and a lack of particle-size sorting. They begin to develop at wind speeds just above saltation threshold and evolve into waves at higher velocities. At wind speeds of about 1.5 m/sec and higher, the bed is flat and featureless. This evolution is explained by a model based on the interaction of alternating zones of erosion and deposition and particle saltation distances.

Solar wind and high energy particle effects in the middle atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lastovicka, Jan

1989-01-01

The solar wind variability and high energy particle effects in the neutral middle atmosphere are not much known. These factors are important in the high latitude upper mesosphere, lower thermosphere energy budget. They influence temperature, composition (minor constituents of nitric oxide, ozone), circulation (wind system) and airflow. The vertical and latitudinal structures of such effects, mechanisms of downward penetration of energy and questions of energy abundance are largely to be solved. The most important recent finding seems to be the discovery of the role of highly relativistic electrons in the middle atmosphere at L = 3 - 8 (Baker et al., 1987). The solar wind and high energy particle flux variability appear to form a part of the chain of possible Sun-weather (climate) relationships. The importance of such studies in the nineties is emphasized by their role in big international programs STEP and IGBP - Global Change.

On thermal corrections to near-threshold annihilation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Seyong; Laine, M., E-mail: skim@sejong.ac.kr, E-mail: laine@itp.unibe.ch

2017-01-01

We consider non-relativistic ''dark'' particles interacting through gauge boson exchange. At finite temperature, gauge exchange is modified in many ways: virtual corrections lead to Debye screening; real corrections amount to frequent scatterings of the heavy particles on light plasma constituents; mixing angles change. In a certain temperature and energy range, these effects are of order unity. Taking them into account in a resummed form, we estimate the near-threshold spectrum of kinetically equilibrated annihilating TeV scale particles. Weakly bound states are shown to 'melt' below freeze-out, whereas with attractive strong interactions, relevant e.g. for gluinos, bound states boost the annihilation ratemore » by a factor 4 ... 80 with respect to the Sommerfeld estimate, thereby perhaps helping to avoid overclosure of the universe. Modestly non-degenerate dark sector masses and a way to combine the contributions of channels with different gauge and spin structures are also discussed.« less

Electrodisintegration of Li 6

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bishop, G. R.; Bernheim, M.

1963-06-01

For the ( γ,n) reaction in Li 6 a model in which Li 6 splits into a deuteron and an alpha particle that separately absorb the photon energy was recently proposed. The model was tested by studying the inelastic scattering of 101.4-Mev electrons from Li 6. Expressions for the cross sections were obtained, and values calculated for a form factor in the cross sections confirm the validity of the model.

Cluster shell model: I. Structure of 9Be, 9B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Della Rocca, V.; Iachello, F.

2018-05-01

We calculate energy spectra, electromagnetic transition rates, longitudinal and transverse electron scattering form factors and log ft values for beta decay in 9Be, 9B, within the framework of a cluster shell model. By comparing with experimental data, we find strong evidence for the structure of these nuclei to be two α-particles in a dumbbell configuration with Z2 symmetry, plus an additional nucleon.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Padaki, S.; Drzal, L.T.

The consolidation process in composites made out of powder impregnated tapes differs from that of other material forms because of the distribution of fiber and matrix in the unconsolidated state. A number of factors (e.g. time, pressure, particle size, volume fraction and viscosity) affect the efficiency of the consolidation of these tapes. This paper describes the development of a mathematical process model that describes the best set of parameters required for the consolidation of a given prepreg tape.

Grazing of particle-associated bacteria-an elimination of the non-viable fraction.

PubMed

Gonsalves, Maria-Judith; Fernandes, Sheryl Oliveira; Priya, Madasamy Lakshmi; LokaBharathi, Ponnapakkam Adikesavan

Quantification of bacteria being grazed by microzooplankton is gaining importance since they serve as energy subsidies for higher trophic levels which consequently influence fish production. Hence, grazing pressure on viable and non-viable fraction of free and particle-associated bacteria in a tropical estuary controlled mainly by protist grazers was estimated using the seawater dilution technique. In vitro incubations over a period of 42h showed that at the end of 24h, growth coefficient (k) of particle-associated bacteria was 9 times higher at 0.546 than that of free forms. Further, 'k' value of viable cells on particles was double that of free forms at 0.016 and 0.007, respectively. While bacteria associated with particles were grazed (coefficient of removal (g)=0.564), the free forms were relatively less grazed indicating that particle-associated bacteria were exposed to grazers in these waters. Among the viable and non-viable forms, 'g' of non-viable fraction (particle-associated bacteria=0.615, Free=0.0086) was much greater than the viable fraction (particle-associated bacteria=0.056, Free=0.068). Thus, grazing on viable cells was relatively low in both the free and attached states. These observations suggest that non-viable forms of particle-associated bacteria were more prone to grazing and were weeded out leaving the viable cells to replenish the bacterial standing stock. Particle colonization could thus be a temporary refuge for the "persistent variants" where the viable fraction multiply and release their progeny. Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of Janus particles composed of poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid and hard fat using a solvent evaporation method.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Akihiro; Murao, Satoshi; Matsumoto, Michiko; Watanabe, Chie; Murakami, Masahiro

The feasibility of fabricating Janus particles based on phase separation between a hard fat and a biocompatible polymer was investigated. The solvent evaporation method used involved preparing an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion with a mixture of poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), hard fat, and an organic solvent as the oil phase and a polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution as the water phase. The Janus particles were formed when the solvent was evaporated to obtain certain concentrations of PLGA and hard fat in the oil phase, at which phase separation was estimated to occur based on the phase diagram analysis. The hard fat hemisphere was proven to be the oil phase using a lipophilic dye Oil Red O. When the solvent evaporation process was performed maintaining a specific volume during the emulsification process; Janus particles were formed within 1.5 h. However, the formed Janus particles were destroyed by stirring for over 6 h. In contrast, a few Janus particles were formed when enough water to dissolve the oil phase solvent was added to the emulsion immediately after the emulsification process. The optimized volume of the solvent evaporation medium dominantly formed Janus particles and maintained the conformation for over 6 h with stirring. These results indicate that the formation and stability of Janus particles depend on the rate of solvent evaporation. Therefore, optimization of the solvent evaporation rate is critical to obtaining stable PLGA and hard fat Janus particles.

Spread the word: MMN brain response reveals whole-form access of discontinuous particle verbs.

PubMed

Hanna, Jeff; Cappelle, Bert; Pulvermüller, Friedemann

2017-12-01

The status of particle verbs such as rise (…) up as either lexically stored or combinatorially assembled is an issue which so far has not been settled decisively. In this study, we use the mismatch negativity (MMN) brain response to observe neurophysiological responses to discontinuous particle verbs. The MMN can be used to distinguish between whole-form storage and combinatorial processes, as it is enhanced to stored words compared to unknown pseudowords, whereas combinatorially legal strings elicit a reduced MMN relative to ungrammatical ones. Earlier work had found larger MMNs to congruent than to incongruent verb-particle combinations when particle and verb appeared as adjacent elements, thus suggesting whole-form storage at least in this case. However, it is still possible that particle verbs discontinuously spread out across a sentence would elicit the combinatorial, grammar-violation response pattern instead. Here, we tested the brain signatures of discontinuous verb-particle combinations, orthogonally varying congruence and semantic transparency. The results show for the first time brain indices of whole-form storage for discontinuous constituents, thus arguing in favour of access to whole-form-stored lexical elements in the processing of particle verbs, irrespective of their semantic opacity. Results are discussed in the context of linguistic debates about the status of particle verbs as words, lexical elements or syntactically generated combinations. The explanation of the pattern of results within a neurobiological language model is highlighted. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Method for fabricating ceramic filaments and high density tape casting method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Collins, Jr., Earl R. (Inventor)

1990-01-01

An apparatus and method is disclosed for fabricating mats of ceramic material comprising preparing a slurry of ceramic particles in a binder/solvent, charging the slurry into a vessel, forcing the slurry from the vessel into spinneret nozzles, discharging the slurry from the nozzles into the path of airjets to enhance the sinuous character of the slurry exudate and to dry it, collecting the filaments on a moving belt so that the filaments overlap each other thereby forming a mat, curing the binder therein, compressing and sintering the mat to form a sintered mat, and crushing the sintered mat to produce filament shaped fragments. A process is also disclosed for producing a tape of densely packed, bonded ceramic particles comprising forming a slurry of ceramic particles and a binder/solvent, applying the slurry to a rotating internal molding surface, applying a large centrifugal force to the slurry to compress it and force excess binder/solvent from the particles, evaporating solvent and curing the binder thereby forming layers of bonded ceramic particles and cured binder, and separating the binder layer from the layer of particles. Multilayers of ceramic particles are cast in an analogous manner on top of previously formed layers. When all of the desired layers have been cast the tape is fired to produce a sintered tape. For example, a three-layer tape is produced having outer layers of highly compressed filament shaped fragments of strontium doped lanthanum (LSM) particles and a center layer of yttria stabilized zicronia (YSZ) particles.

On geometric factors for neutral particle analyzers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stagner, L.; Heidbrink, W. W.

2014-11-15

Neutral particle analyzers (NPA) detect neutralized energetic particles that escape from plasmas. Geometric factors relate the counting rate of the detectors to the intensity of the particle source. Accurate geometric factors enable quick simulation of geometric effects without the need to resort to slower Monte Carlo methods. Previously derived expressions [G. R. Thomas and D. M. Willis, “Analytical derivation of the geometric factor of a particle detector having circular or rectangular geometry,” J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum. 5(3), 260 (1972); J. D. Sullivan, “Geometric factor and directional response of single and multi-element particle telescopes,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods 95(1), 5–11 (1971)]more » for the geometric factor implicitly assume that the particle source is very far away from the detector (far-field); this excludes applications close to the detector (near-field). The far-field assumption does not hold in most fusion applications of NPA detectors. We derive, from probability theory, a generalized framework for deriving geometric factors that are valid for both near and far-field applications as well as for non-isotropic sources and nonlinear particle trajectories.« less

Dynein-Dependent Transport of nanos RNA in Drosophila Sensory Neurons Requires Rumpelstiltskin and the Germ Plasm Organizer Oskar

PubMed Central

Xu, Xin; Brechbiel, Jillian L.

2013-01-01

Intracellular mRNA localization is a conserved mechanism for spatially regulating protein production in polarized cells, such as neurons. The mRNA encoding the translational repressor Nanos (Nos) forms ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles that are dendritically localized in Drosophila larval class IV dendritic arborization (da) neurons. In nos mutants, class IV da neurons exhibit reduced dendritic branching complexity, which is rescued by transgenic expression of wild-type nos mRNA but not by a localization-compromised nos derivative. While localization is essential for nos function in dendrite morphogenesis, the mechanism underlying the transport of nos RNP particles was unknown. We investigated the mechanism of dendritic nos mRNA localization by analyzing requirements for nos RNP particle motility in class IV da neuron dendrites through live imaging of fluorescently labeled nos mRNA. We show that dynein motor machinery components mediate transport of nos mRNA in proximal dendrites. Two factors, the RNA-binding protein Rumpelstiltskin and the germ plasm protein Oskar, which are required for diffusion/entrapment-mediated localization of nos during oogenesis, also function in da neurons for formation and transport of nos RNP particles. Additionally, we show that nos regulates neuronal function, most likely independent of its dendritic localization and function in morphogenesis. Our results reveal adaptability of localization factors for regulation of a target transcript in different cellular contexts. PMID:24027279

Dynein-dependent transport of nanos RNA in Drosophila sensory neurons requires Rumpelstiltskin and the germ plasm organizer Oskar.

PubMed

Xu, Xin; Brechbiel, Jillian L; Gavis, Elizabeth R

2013-09-11

Intracellular mRNA localization is a conserved mechanism for spatially regulating protein production in polarized cells, such as neurons. The mRNA encoding the translational repressor Nanos (Nos) forms ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles that are dendritically localized in Drosophila larval class IV dendritic arborization (da) neurons. In nos mutants, class IV da neurons exhibit reduced dendritic branching complexity, which is rescued by transgenic expression of wild-type nos mRNA but not by a localization-compromised nos derivative. While localization is essential for nos function in dendrite morphogenesis, the mechanism underlying the transport of nos RNP particles was unknown. We investigated the mechanism of dendritic nos mRNA localization by analyzing requirements for nos RNP particle motility in class IV da neuron dendrites through live imaging of fluorescently labeled nos mRNA. We show that dynein motor machinery components mediate transport of nos mRNA in proximal dendrites. Two factors, the RNA-binding protein Rumpelstiltskin and the germ plasm protein Oskar, which are required for diffusion/entrapment-mediated localization of nos during oogenesis, also function in da neurons for formation and transport of nos RNP particles. Additionally, we show that nos regulates neuronal function, most likely independent of its dendritic localization and function in morphogenesis. Our results reveal adaptability of localization factors for regulation of a target transcript in different cellular contexts.

Coated particles for lithium battery cathodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Mohit; Eitouni, Hany Basam; Pratt, Russell Clayton

Particles of cathodic materials are coated with polymer to prevent direct contact between the particles and the surrounding electrolyte. The polymers are held in place either by a) growing the polymers from initiators covalently bound to the particle, b) attachment of the already-formed polymers by covalently linking to functional groups attached to the particle, or c) electrostatic interactions resulting from incorporation of cationic or anionic groups in the polymer chain. Carbon or ceramic coatings may first be formed on the surfaces of the particles before the particles are coated with polymer. The polymer coating is both electronically and ionically conductive.

Magnetorheological materials, method for making, and applications thereof

DOEpatents

Shen, Rui; Yang, Hong; Shafrir, Shai N.; Miao, Chunlin; Wang, Mimi; Mici, Joni; Lambropoulos, John C.; Jacobs, Stephen D.

2014-08-19

A magnetorheological material comprises a magnetic particle and a ceramic material, wherein the magnetorheological material is in a dried form and further wherein a portion of the ceramic material is in the form of a nanocrystalline coating over the entire exterior surface of the magnetic particle and another portion of the ceramic material is in the form of a free nanocrystal. A magnetorheological material comprises a magnetic particle having a ceramic material coating over an external surface thereof as a result of a coating process, and a free nanocrystal of the ceramic material in the form of a residual by-product of the coating process. A sol-gel process for making a magnetorheological product comprises providing a sol of a desired ceramic coating material; combining a desired quantity of carbonyl iron (CI) particles with the sol to coat the CI particles with the ceramic coating material; creating a resulting quantity of nanocrystalline ceramic material-coated CI particles and a quantity of free nanocrystals of the ceramic material; and, drying the resulting quantity of coated CI particles and free nanocrystals to a moisture content equal to or less than 2 wt %.

Characteristics of Submicron Aerosols in 2013 summer of Beijing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Song; Hu, Min; Shang, Dongjie; Zheng, Jing; Du, Zhuofei; Wu, Yusheng; Lu, Sihua; Zeng, Limin; Zhang, Renyi

2016-04-01

To characterize the air pollution of North China Plain of China, CAREBEIJING-2013 field campaign (Campaigns of Air quality REsearch in BEIJING and surrounding region) was conducted in summer of 2013. Submicron aerosols were measured at an urban site PKU (Peking University, 39° 59'21"N, 116° 18'25"E) from July 28th to September 31st 2013. A suite of integrated instruments was used to measure the size distribution, effective density and hygroscopicity of ambient particles. The chemical composition of submicron particles were measured by using an Aerodyne High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) (Billerica, MA, USA). The average PM2.5 concentration was 73.0±70.7 μg m-3 during the measurement. The particulate pollution showed distinct 4-7 days cycles controlled by the meteorological conditions. Each cycle started with low PM2.5 mass concentrations (<20 μg m-3), since the air mass was from relatively clean mountainous area. The particle number concentrations were high, but and the sizes were small (<30 nm) at this stage, which can be explained by the new particle formation. In the succeeding days, both the particle mass and size continuously increased. The PM2.5concentration increased rapidly by >60 μg day-1, and the particle mean diameter grew to >100 nm. It is interesting to note that the mean diameters showed similar trend to PM2.5 mass concentrations, indicating the particle pollution attributed to the growth of the newly formed small particles. During the measurement, the average particle densities are between 1.3-1.5 g cm-3, indicating organics and sulfate were dominant in the particles. The densities of smaller particles, i.e. 46 nm, 81nm, showed single peak at 1.3-1.5 g cm-3, indicating the particles are internal mixed sulfate and organics. While the 150nm and 240 nm particle densities exhibited bimodal distribution with an additional small peak at ˜1.1 g cm-3, which is considered as external mixed organic particles or aged soot particles. The particle hygroscopic growth factor for all the measured sizes at RH of 90% showed bimodal distribution, attributing to external mixed organics (or aged soot) and internal mixed organics and sulfate. Both the density and HGF were higher than Tijuana, but similar to Houston. PMF (Positive Matrix Factorization) model was deployed to quantify the contributions of different mixing state particles. Internal mixed organics and sulfate were dominant in the ambient particles in Beijing.

Dynamic properties of polydisperse colloidal particles in the presence of thermal gradient studied by a modified Brownian dynamic model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Dongxing; Jin, Hui; Jing, Dengwei; Wang, Xin

2018-03-01

Aggregation and migration of colloidal particles under the thermal gradient widely exists in nature and many industrial processes. In this study, dynamic properties of polydisperse colloidal particles in the presence of thermal gradient were studied by a modified Brownian dynamic model. Other than the traditional forces on colloidal particles, including Brownian force, hydrodynamic force, and electrostatic force from other particles, the electrostatic force from the asymmetric ionic diffusion layer under a thermal gradient has been considered and introduced into the Brownian dynamic model. The aggregation ratio of particles (R A), the balance time (t B) indicating the time threshold when {{R}A} becomes constant, the porosity ({{P}BA} ), fractal dimension (D f) and distributions of concentration (DISC) and aggregation (DISA) for the aggregated particles were discussed based on this model. The aggregated structures formed by polydisperse particles are less dense and the particles therein are loosely bonded. Also it showed a quite large compressibility as the increases of concentration and interparticle potential can significantly increase the fractal dimension. The thermal gradient can induce two competitive factors leading to a two-stage migration of particles. When t<{{t}B} , the unsynchronized aggregation is dominant and the particles slightly migrate along the thermal gradient. When t>{{t}B} , the thermophoresis becomes dominant thus the migrations of particles are against the thermal gradient. The effect of thermophoresis on the aggregate structures was found to be similar to the effect of increasing particle concentration. This study demonstrates how the thermal gradient affects the aggregation of monodisperse and polydisperse particles and can be a guide for the biomimetics and precise control of colloid system under the thermal gradient. Moreover, our model can be easily extended to other more complex colloidal systems considering shear, temperature fluctuation, surfactant, etc.

Solid sand particle addition can enhance the production of resting cysts in dinoflagellates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Aoao; Hu, Zhangxi; Tang, Yingzhong

2018-03-01

Resting cysts are an important part of the life cycle for many harmful algal bloom-forming dinoflagellates, and play vital roles in the recurrence and geographical spread of harmful algal blooms. Numerous factors have been suggested to regulate the formation of resting cysts, although only a few have been proven to be significant. Cyst formation can be induced by adverse environmental conditions such as drastic changes in temperature, light, salinity, and nutrient levels, and by biological interactions. In this study, we evaluated the ability of an artificial factor (fine sand particles) to enhance the formation of resting cysts. Fine sand particles were added to cultures of dinoflagellates that are known to produce cysts. The addition of fine sand particles significantly increased both the production rate and final yield of cysts in cultures of Scrippsiella trochoidea, Biecheleria brevisulcata, and Levanderina fissa (= Gymnodinium fissum, Gyrodinium instriatum, Gyrodinium uncatenum). The largest increase in the final yield (107-fold) of cysts as a result of sand addition was in S. trochoidea. However, addition of fine sand particles did not induce cyst formation, or barely affected cyst formation, in Akashiwo sanguinea, Cochlodinium polykrikoides and Pheopolykrikos hartmannii, which are also known to be cyst-producing species. We speculated that addition of sand significantly increased the chances of cell collision, which triggered cyst formation. However, further research is required to test this idea. Importantly, our findings indicate that the addition of fine sand particles is a useful method to obtain a large quantity of cysts in a short time for laboratory studies or tests; for example, if a cyst viability test is being used to assess the effectiveness of ships' ballast water treatment.

Fetuin-A/Albumin-Mineral Complexes Resembling Serum Calcium Granules and Putative Nanobacteria: Demonstration of a Dual Inhibition-Seeding Concept

PubMed Central

Young, David; Young, John D.

2009-01-01

Serum-derived granulations and purported nanobacteria (NB) are pleomorphic apatite structures shown to resemble calcium granules widely distributed in nature. They appear to be assembled through a dual inhibitory-seeding mechanism involving proteinaceous factors, as determined by protease (trypsin and chymotrypsin) and heat inactivation studies. When inoculated into cell culture medium, the purified proteins fetuin-A and albumin fail to induce mineralization, but they will readily combine with exogenously added calcium and phosphate, even in submillimolar amounts, to form complexes that will undergo morphological transitions from nanoparticles to spindles, films, and aggregates. As a mineralization inhibitor, fetuin-A is much more potent than albumin, and it will only seed particles at higher mineral-to-protein concentrations. Both proteins display a bell-shaped, dose-dependent relationship, indicative of the same dual inhibitory-seeding mechanism seen with whole serum. As ascertained by both seeding experiments and gel electrophoresis, fetuin-A is not only more dominant but it appears to compete avidly for nanoparticle binding at the expense of albumin. The nanoparticles formed in the presence of fetuin-A are smaller than their albumin counterparts, and they have a greater tendency to display a multi-layered ring morphology. In comparison, the particles seeded by albumin appear mostly incomplete, with single walls. Chemically, spectroscopically, and morphologically, the protein-mineral particles resemble closely serum granules and NB. These particles are thus seen to undergo an amorphous to crystalline transformation, the kinetics and completeness of which depend on the protein-to-mineral ratios, with low ratios favoring faster conversion to crystals. Our results point to a dual inhibitory-seeding, de-repression model for the assembly of particles in supersaturated solutions like serum. The presence of proteins and other inhibitory factors tend to block apatite nuclei formation or to stabilize the nascent nuclei as amorphous or semi-crystalline spherical nanoparticles, until the same inhibitory influences are overwhelmed or de-repressed, whereby the apatite nuclei grow in size to coalesce into crystalline spindles and films—a mechanism that may explain not only the formation of calcium granules in nature but also normal or ectopic calcification in the body. PMID:19956594

Lignin nanoparticle synthesis

DOEpatents

Dirk, Shawn M.; Cicotte, Kirsten Nicole; Wheeler, David R.; Benko, David A.

2015-08-11

A method including reducing a particle size of lignin particles to an average particle size less than 40 nanometers; after reducing the particle size, combining the lignin particles with a polymeric material; and forming a structure of the combination. A method including exposing lignin to a diazonium precursor including a functional group; modifying the lignin by introducing the functional group to the lignin; and combining the modified lignin with a polymeric material to form a composite. An apparatus including a composite of a polymer and lignin wherein the lignin has an average particle size less than 100 micrometers.

Understanding the role of hydrogen bonding in the aggregation of fumed silica particles in triglyceride solvents.

PubMed

Whitby, Catherine P; Krebsz, Melinda; Booty, Samuel J

2018-10-01

Fumed silica particles are thought to thicken organic solvents into gels by aggregating to form networks. Hydrogen bonding between silanol groups on different particle surfaces causes the aggregation. The gel structure and hence flow behaviour is altered by varying the proportion of silanol groups on the particle surfaces. However, characterising the gel using rheology measurements alone is not sufficient to optimise the aggregation. We have used confocal microscopy to characterise the changes in the network microstructure caused by altering the particle surface chemistry. Organogels were formed by dispersing fumed silica nanoparticles in a triglyceride solvent. The particle surface chemistry was systematically varied from oleophobic to oleophilic by functionalisation with hydrocarbons. We directly visualised the particle networks using confocal scanning laser microscopy and investigated the correlations between the network structure and the shear response of the organogels. Our key finding is that the sizes of the pore spaces in the networks depend on the fraction of silanol groups available to form hydrogen bonds. The reduction in the network elasticity of gels formed by methylated particles can be accounted for by the increasing pore size and tenuous nature of the networks. This is the first report that characterises the changes in the microstructure of fumed silica particle networks in non-polar solvents caused by manipulating the particle surface chemistry. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Experimental study on pore structure and performance of sintered porous wick

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Da; Wang, Shufan; Liu, Rutie; Wang, Zhubo; Xiong, Xiang; Zou, Jianpeng

2018-02-01

Porous wicks were prepared via powder metallurgy using NH4HCO3 powders as pore-forming agent. The pore-forming agent particle size was varied to control the pore structure and equivalent pore size distribution feature of porous wick. The effect of pore-forming agent particle size on the porosity, pore structures, equivalent pore size distribution and capillary pumping performance were investigated. Results show that with the particle size of pore-forming agent decrease, the green density and the volume shrinkage of the porous wicks gradually increase and the porosity reduces slightly. There are two types of pores inside the porous wick, large-sized prefabricated pores and small-sized gap pores. With the particle size of pore-forming agent decrease, the size of the prefabricated pores becomes smaller and the distribution tends to be uniform. Gap pores and prefabricated pores inside the wick can make up different types of pore channels. The equivalent pore size of wick is closely related to the structure of pore channels. Furthermore, the equivalent pore size distribution of wick shows an obvious double-peak feature when the pore-forming agent particle size is large. With the particle size of pore-forming agent decrease, the two peaks of equivalent pore size distribution approach gradually to each other, resulting in a single-peak feature. Porous wick with single-peak feature equivalent pore size distribution possesses the better capillary pumping performances.

Charge interaction between particle-laden fluid interfaces.

PubMed

Xu, Hui; Kirkwood, John; Lask, Mauricio; Fuller, Gerald

2010-03-02

Experiments are described where two oil/water interfaces laden with charged particles move at close proximity relative to one another. The particles on one of the interfaces were observed to be attracted toward the point of closest approach, forming a denser particle monolayer, while the particles on the opposite interface were repelled away from this point, forming a particle depletion zone. Such particle attraction/repulsion was observed even if one of the interfaces was free of particles. This phenomenon can be explained by the electrostatic interaction between the two interfaces, which causes surface charges (charged particles and ions) to redistribute in order to satisfy surface electric equipotential at each interface. In a forced particle oscillation experiment, we demonstrated the control of charged particle positions on the interface by manipulating charge interaction between interfaces.

FLRW Cosmology from Yang-Mills Gravity with Translational Gauge Symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katz, Daniel

2013-03-01

We extend to basic cosmology the subject of Yang-Mills gravity — a theory of gravity based on local translational gauge invariance in flat space-time. It has been shown that this particular gauge invariance leads to tensor factors in the macroscopic limit of the equations of motion of particles which plays the same role as the metric tensor of general relativity (GR). The assumption that this "effective metric" tensor takes on the standard FLRW form is our starting point. Equations analogous to the Friedmann equations are derived and then solved in closed form for the three special cases of a universe dominated by (1) matter, (2) radiation and (3) dark energy. We find that the solutions for the scale factor are similar to, but distinct from, those found in the corresponding GR based treatment.

Use of an Open Port Sampling Interface Coupled to Electrospray Ionization for the On-Line Analysis of Organic Aerosol Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swanson, Kenneth D.; Worth, Anne L.; Glish, Gary L.

2018-02-01

A simple design for an open port sampling interface coupled to electrospray ionization (OPSI-ESI) is presented for the analysis of organic aerosols. The design uses minimal modifications to a Bruker electrospray (ESI) emitter to create a continuous flow, self-aspirating open port sampling interface. Considerations are presented for introducing aerosol to the open port sampling interface including aerosol gas flow and solvent flow rates. The device has been demonstrated for use with an aerosol of nicotine as well as aerosol formed in the pyrolysis of biomass. Upon comparison with extractive electrospray ionization (EESI), this device has similar sensitivity with increased reproducibility by nearly a factor of three. The device has the form factor of a standard Bruker/Agilent ESI emitter and can be used without any further instrument modifications.

Angiogenic Type I Collagen Extracellular Matrix Integrated with Recombinant Bacteriophages Displaying Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors.

PubMed

Yoon, Junghyo; Korkmaz Zirpel, Nuriye; Park, Hyun-Ji; Han, Sewoon; Hwang, Kyung Hoon; Shin, Jisoo; Cho, Seung-Woo; Nam, Chang-Hoon; Chung, Seok

2016-01-21

Here, a growth-factor-integrated natural extracellular matrix of type I collagen is presented that induces angiogenesis. The developed matrix adapts type I collagen nanofibers integrated with synthetic colloidal particles of recombinant bacteriophages that display vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The integration is achieved during or after gelation of the type I collagen and the matrix enables spatial delivery of VEGF into a desired region. Endothelial cells that contact the VEGF are found to invade into the matrix to form tube-like structures both in vitro and in vivo, proving the angiogenic potential of the matrix. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Soluble Proteins Form Film by the Treatment of Low Temperature Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikehara, Sanae; Sakakita, Hajime; Ishikawa, Kenji; Akimoto, Yoshihiro; Nakanishi, Hayao; Shimizu, Nobuyuki; Hori, Masaru; Ikehara, Yuzuru

2015-09-01

It has been pointed out that low temperature plasma in atmosphere was feasible to use for hemostasis without heat injury. Indeed, earlier studies demonstrated that low temperature plasma played an important role to stimulate platelets to aggregate and turned on the proteolytic activities of coagulation factors, resulting in the acceleration of the natural blood coagulation process. On the other hands, our developed equips could immediately form clots upon the contact with plasma flair, while the histological appearance was different from natural coagulation. Based on these findings in formed clots, we sought to determine if plasma flair supplied by our devices was capable of forming film using a series of soluble proteins Following plasma treatment, films were formed from bovine serum albumin, and the other plasma proteins at physiological concentration. Analysis of trans-electron microscope demonstrated that plasma treatment generated small protein particles and made them fuse to be larger aggregations The combined results demonstrated that plasma are capable of aggregating soluble proteins and that platelets and coagulation factors are not necessary for plasma induced blood coagulation. Supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Area (21590454, 24590498, and 24108006 to Y. I.).

On the radiative properties of soot aggregates - Part 2: Effects of coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Fengshan; Yon, Jérôme; Bescond, Alexandre

2016-03-01

The effects of weakly absorbing material coating on soot have attracted considerable research attention in recent years due to the significant influence of such coating on soot radiative properties and the large differences predicted by different numerical models. Soot aggregates were first numerically generated using the diffusion limited cluster aggregation algorithm to produce fractal aggregates formed by log-normally distributed polydisperse spherical primary particles in point-touch. These aggregates were then processed by adding a certain amount of primary particle overlapping and necking to simulate the soot morphology observed from transmission electron microscopy images. After this process, a layer of WAM coating of different thicknesses was added to these more realistic soot aggregates. The radiative properties of these coated soot aggregates over the spectral range of 266-1064 nm were calculated by the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) using the spectrally dependent refractive index of soot for four aggregates containing Np=1, 20, 51 and 96 primary particles. The considered coating thicknesses range from 0% (no coating) up to 100% coating in terms of the primary particle diameter. Coating enhances both the particle absorption and scattering cross sections, with much stronger enhancement to the scattering one, as well as the asymmetry factor and the single scattering albedo. The absorption enhancement is stronger in the UV than in the visible and the near infrared. The simple corrections to the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans fractal aggregates theory for uncoated soot aggregates are found not working for coated soot aggregates. The core-shell model significantly overestimates the absorption enhancement by coating in the visible and the near infrared compared to the DDA results of the coated soot particle. Treating an externally coated soot aggregate as an aggregate formed by individually coated primary particles significantly underestimates the absorption enhancement by coating in the visible and the near infrared.

Structural characterization of a magnetic granular system under a time-dependent magnetic field: Voronoi tessellation and multifractal analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moctezuma, R. E.; Arauz-Lara, J. L.; Donado, F.

2018-04-01

The structure of a two-dimensional magnetic granular system was determined by multifractal and Voronoi polygon analysis for a wide range of particle concentrations. Randomizing of the particle motions are produced by applying to the system a time-dependent sinusoidal magnetic field directed along the vertical direction. Both repulsive and attractive short-range interactions between the particles are induced. A direct observation of such system shows qualitatively that, as particle concentration increases, the structure evolves from being liquid-like at low particle concentrations to solid-like at high concentrations. We observe the formation of clusters which are small and weakly bonded and short-lived at low concentrations. Above a threshold particle concentration, clusters grow larger and are more strongly attached. In the system, one can distinguish the mobile particles from the immobile particles belonging to clusters, they can be considered separately as two different phases, a fluid and a solid. We determined the information entropy of the system as a whole and separately from each phase as particle concentration increases. The distribution of the Voronoi polygon areas are well fitted by a two-parameter gamma distribution and we have found that the regularity factor shows a notable change when pieces of the solid phase start to form. The methods we use here show that they can use even when the system is heterogeneous and they provide information when changes start.

Cloud Imagers Offer New Details on Earth's Health

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

A stunning red sunset or purple sunrise is an aesthetic treat with a scientific explanation: The colors are a direct result of the absorption or reflectance of solar radiation by atmospheric aerosols, minute particles (either solid or liquid) in the Earth s atmosphere that occur both naturally and because of human activity. At the beginning or end of the day, the Sun s rays travel farther through the atmosphere to reach an observer s eyes and more green and yellow light is scattered, making the Sun appear red. Sunset and sunrise are especially colorful when the concentration of atmospheric particles is high. This ability of aerosols to absorb and reflect sunlight is not just pretty; it also determines the amount of radiation and heat that reaches the Earth s surface, and can profoundly affect climate. In the atmosphere, aerosols are also important as nuclei for the condensation of water droplets and ice crystals. Clouds with fewer aerosols cannot form as many water droplets (called cloud particles), and consequently, do not scatter light well. In this case, more sunlight reaches the Earth s surface. When aerosol levels in clouds are high, however, more nucleation points can form small liquid water droplets. These smaller cloud particles can reflect up to 90 percent of visible radiation to space, keeping the heat from ever reaching Earth s surface. The tendency for these particles to absorb or reflect the Sun s energy - called extinction by astronomers - depends on a number of factors, including chemical composition and the humidity and temperature in the surrounding air; because cloud particles are so small, they are affected quickly by minute changes in the atmosphere. Because of this sensitivity, atmospheric scientists study cloud particles to anticipate patterns and shifts in climate. Until recently, NASA s study of atmospheric aerosols and cloud particles has been focused primarily on satellite images, which, while granting large-scale atmospheric analysis, limited scientists ability to acquire detailed information about individual particles. Now, experiments with specialized equipment can be flown on standard jets, making it possible for researchers to monitor and more accurately anticipate changes in Earth s atmosphere and weather patterns.

Membrane-electrode assemblies for electrochemical cells

DOEpatents

Swathirajan, Sundararajan; Mikhail, Youssef M.

1993-01-01

A combination, unitary, membrane and electrode assembly with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and first and second electrodes at least partially embedded in opposed surfaces of the membrane. The electrodes each comprise a respective group of finely divided carbon particles, very finely divided catalytic particles supported on internal and external surfaces of the carbon particles and a proton conductive material intermingled with the catalytic and carbon particles. A first group of finely divided carbon particles forming the first electrode has greater water attraction and retention properties, and is more hydrophilic than a second group of carbon particles forming the second electrode. In a preferred method, the membrane electrode assembly of the invention is prepared by forming a slurry of proton conductive material and at least one group of the carbon and catalyst particles. The slurry is applied to the opposed surfaces of the membrane and heated while being pressed to the membrane for a time and at a temperature and compressive load sufficient to embed at least a portion of the particles into the membrane.

Using portable particle sizing instrumentation to rapidly measure the penetration of fine and ultrafine particles in unoccupied residences.

PubMed

Zhao, H; Stephens, B

2017-01-01

Much of human exposure to particulate matter of outdoor origin occurs inside buildings, particularly in residences. The particle penetration factor through leaks in a building's exterior enclosure assembly is a key parameter that governs the infiltration of outdoor particles. However, experimental data for size-resolved particle penetration factors in real buildings, as well as penetration factors for fine particles less than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) and ultrafine particles less than 100 nm (UFPs), remain limited, in part because of previous limitations in instrumentation and experimental methods. Here, we report on the development and application of a modified test method that utilizes portable particle sizing instrumentation to measure size-resolved infiltration factors and envelope penetration factors for 0.01-2.5 μm particles, which are then used to estimate penetration factors for integral measures of UFPs and PM 2.5 . Eleven replicate measurements were made in an unoccupied apartment unit in Chicago, IL to evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of the test procedure and solution methods. Mean estimates of size-resolved penetration factors ranged from 0.41 ± 0.14 to 0.73 ± 0.05 across the range of measured particle sizes, while mean estimates of penetration factors for integral measures of UFPs and PM 2.5 were 0.67 ± 0.05 and 0.73 ± 0.05, respectively. Average relative uncertainties for all particle sizes/classes were less than 20%. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Microfluidic Examination of the "Hard" Biomolecular Corona Formed on Engineered Particles in Different Biological Milieu.

PubMed

Weiss, Alessia C G; Kempe, Kristian; Förster, Stephan; Caruso, Frank

2018-04-18

The formation of a biomolecular corona around engineered particles determines, in large part, their biological behavior in vitro and in vivo. To gain a fundamental understanding of how particle design and the biological milieu influence the formation of the "hard" biomolecular corona, we conduct a series of in vitro studies using microfluidics. This setup allows the generation of a dynamic incubation environment with precise control over the applied flow rate, stream orientation, and channel dimensions, thus allowing accurate control of the fluid flow and the shear applied to the proteins and particles. We used mesoporous silica particles, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine) (PMPC)-coated silica hybrid particles, and PMPC replica particles (obtained by removal of the silica particle templates), representing high-, intermediate-, and low-fouling particle systems, respectively. The protein source used in the experiments was either human serum or human full blood. The effects of flow, particle surface properties, incubation medium, and incubation time on the formation of the biomolecular corona formation are examined. Our data show that protein adhesion on particles is enhanced after incubation in human blood compared to human serum and that dynamic incubation leads to a more complex corona. By varying the incubation time from 2 s to 15 min, we demonstrate that the "hard" biomolecular corona is kinetically subdivided into two phases comprising a tightly bound layer of proteins interacting directly with the particle surface and a loosely associated protein layer. Understanding the influence of particle design parameters and biological factors on the corona composition, as well as its dynamic assembly, may facilitate more accurate prediction of corona formation and therefore assist in the design of advanced drug delivery vehicles.

Ceramic nanostructures and methods of fabrication

DOEpatents

Ripley, Edward B [Knoxville, TN; Seals, Roland D [Oak Ridge, TN; Morrell, Jonathan S [Knoxville, TN

2009-11-24

Structures and methods for the fabrication of ceramic nanostructures. Structures include metal particles, preferably comprising copper, disposed on a ceramic substrate. The structures are heated, preferably in the presence of microwaves, to a temperature that softens the metal particles and preferably forms a pool of molten ceramic under the softened metal particle. A nano-generator is created wherein ceramic material diffuses through the molten particle and forms ceramic nanostructures on a polar site of the metal particle. The nanostructures may comprise silica, alumina, titania, or compounds or mixtures thereof.

Plastic fluctuations in empty crystals formed by cubic wireframe particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McBride, John M.; Avendaño, Carlos

2018-05-01

We present a computer simulation study of the phase behavior of colloidal hard cubic frames, i.e., particles with nonconvex cubic wireframe geometry interacting purely by excluded volume. Despite the propensity of cubic wireframe particles to form cubic phases akin to their convex counterparts, these particles exhibit unusual plastic fluctuations in which a random and dynamic fraction of particles rotate around their lattice positions in the crystal lattice while the remainder of the particles remains fully ordered. We argue that this unexpected effect stems from the nonconvex geometry of the particles in which the faces of a particle can be penetrated by the vertices of the nearest neighbors even at high number densities.

Simulations to Predict the Phase Behavior and Structure of Multipolar Colloidal Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rutkowski, David Matthew

Colloidal particles with anisotropic charge distributions can assemble into a number of interesting structures including chains, lattices and micelles that could be useful in biotechnology, optics and electronics. The goal of this work is to understand how the properties of the colloidal particles, such as their charge distribution or shape, affect the selfassembly and phase behavior of collections of such particles. The specific aim of this work is to understand how the separation between a pair of oppositely signed charges affects the phase behavior and structure of assemblies of colloidal particles. To examine these particles, we have used both discontinuous molecular dynamics (DMD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation techniques. In our first study of colloidal particles with finite charge separation, we simulate systems of 2-D colloidal rods with four possible charge separations. Our simulations show that the charge separation does indeed have a large effect on the phase behavior as can be seen in the phase diagrams we construct for these four systems in the area fraction-reduced temperature plane. The phase diagrams delineate the boundaries between isotropic fluid, string-fluid and percolated fluid for all systems considered. In particular, we find that coarse gel-like structures tend to form at large charge separations while denser aggregates form at small charge separations, suggesting a route to forming low volume gels by focusing on systems with large charge separations. Next we examine systems of circular particles with four embedded charges of alternating sign fixed to a triangular lattice. This system is found to form a limit periodic structure, a theoretical structure with an infinite number of phase transitions, under specific conditions. The limit-periodic structure only forms when the rotation of the particles in the system is restricted to increments of pi/3. When the rotation is restricted to increments of th/6 or the rotation is continuous, related structures form including a striped phase and a phase with nematic order. Neither the distance from the point charges to the center of the particle nor the angle between the charges influences whether the system forms a limit-periodic structure, suggesting that point quadrupoles may also be able to form limit-periodic structures. Results from these simulations will likely aid in the quest to find an experimental realization of a limit-periodic structure. Next we examine the effect of charge separation on the self-assembly of systems of 2-D colloidal particles with off-center extended dipoles. We simulate systems with both small and large charge separations for a set of displacements of the dipole from the particle center. Upon cooling, these particles self-assemble into closed, cyclic structures at large displacements including dimers, triangular shapes and square shapes, and chain-like structures at small displacements. At extremely low temperatures, the cyclic structures form interesting lattices with particles of similar chirality grouped together. Results from this work could aid in the experimental construction of open lattice-like structures that could find use in photonic applications. Finally, we present work in collaboration with Drs. Bhuvnesh Bharti and Orlin Velev in which we investigate how the surface coverage affects the self-assembly of systems of Janus particles coated with both an iron oxide and fatty acid chain layer. We model these particles by decorating a sphere with evenly dispersed points that interact with points on other spheres through square-well interactions. The interactions are designed to mimic specific coverage values for the iron oxide/fatty acid chain layer. Structures similar to those found in experiment form readily in the simulations. The number of clusters formed as a function of surface coverage agrees well with experiment. The aggregation behavior of these novel particles can therefore, be described by a relatively simple model.

Neutron absorbers and methods of forming at least a portion of a neutron absorber

DOEpatents

Guillen, Donna P; Porter, Douglas L; Swank, W David; Erickson, Arnold W

2014-12-02

Methods of forming at least a portion of a neutron absorber include combining a first material and a second material to form a compound, reducing the compound into a plurality of particles, mixing the plurality of particles with a third material, and pressing the mixture of the plurality of particles and the third material. One or more components of neutron absorbers may be formed by such methods. Neutron absorbers may include a composite material including an intermetallic compound comprising hafnium aluminide and a matrix material comprising pure aluminum.

Theoretical model of x-ray scattering as a dense matter probe.

PubMed

Gregori, G; Glenzer, S H; Rozmus, W; Lee, R W; Landen, O L

2003-02-01

We present analytical expressions for the dynamic structure factor, or form factor S(k,omega), which is the quantity describing the x-ray cross section from a dense plasma or a simple liquid. Our results, based on the random phase approximation for the treatment on the charged particle coupling, can be applied to describe scattering from either weakly coupled classical plasmas or degenerate electron liquids. Our form factor correctly reproduces the Compton energy down-shift and the known Fermi-Dirac electron velocity distribution for S(k,omega) in the case of a cold degenerate plasma. The usual concept of scattering parameter is also reinterpreted for the degenerate case in order to include the effect of the Thomas-Fermi screening. The results shown in this work can be applied to interpreting x-ray scattering in warm dense plasmas occurring in inertial confinement fusion experiments or for the modeling of solid density matter found in the interior of planets.

A Study of the Stability Mechanism of the Dispersed Particle Gel Three-Phase Foam Using the Interfacial Dilational Rheology Method.

PubMed

Yao, Xue; Yi, Ping; Zhao, Guang; Sun, Xin; Dai, Caili

2018-04-28

The dispersed particle gel (DPG) three-phase foam is a novel profile control and flooding system. The stability mechanism of the DPG three-phase foam was studied using an interfacial dilational rheology method. The results show that the elastic modulus of the DPG three-phase foam is up to 14 mN/m, which is much higher than the traditional foam. The increase in interface elasticity produces significantly positive effects on foam stability. Emphasis is given to the influences of frequency, temperature, pressure, and concentration on the viscoelasticity and interfacial adsorption of DPG particles, which change the modules of the foam interface and have a significant effect on foam stability. In addition, the microstructure of the DPG three-phase foam was observed. A viscoelastic shell is formed by the aggregation of the DPG particles on the interface. The irreversible adsorption gives the interface high elasticity and mechanical strength. The electrostatic repulsion between particles increases the spacing between bubbles. The combined effects of these factors give the interface higher mechanical strength, slow down the film drainage, effectively prevent gas permeation, and significantly improve the foam stability.

A Study of the Stability Mechanism of the Dispersed Particle Gel Three-Phase Foam Using the Interfacial Dilational Rheology Method

PubMed Central

Yi, Ping; Zhao, Guang; Sun, Xin; Dai, Caili

2018-01-01

The dispersed particle gel (DPG) three-phase foam is a novel profile control and flooding system. The stability mechanism of the DPG three-phase foam was studied using an interfacial dilational rheology method. The results show that the elastic modulus of the DPG three-phase foam is up to 14 mN/m, which is much higher than the traditional foam. The increase in interface elasticity produces significantly positive effects on foam stability. Emphasis is given to the influences of frequency, temperature, pressure, and concentration on the viscoelasticity and interfacial adsorption of DPG particles, which change the modules of the foam interface and have a significant effect on foam stability. In addition, the microstructure of the DPG three-phase foam was observed. A viscoelastic shell is formed by the aggregation of the DPG particles on the interface. The irreversible adsorption gives the interface high elasticity and mechanical strength. The electrostatic repulsion between particles increases the spacing between bubbles. The combined effects of these factors give the interface higher mechanical strength, slow down the film drainage, effectively prevent gas permeation, and significantly improve the foam stability. PMID:29710805

Soil mechanics on the Moon, Mars, and Mulberry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carrier, W. D., III

1988-01-01

From a soil mechanics point of view, the Moon is a relatively simple place. Without any water, organics, or clay minerals, the geotechnical properties of the lunar soil are confined to a fairly limited range. Furthermore, the major soil-forming agent is meteorite impact, which breaks the big particles into little particles; and simultaneously, cements the little particles back together again with molten glass. After about a hundred million years of exposure to meteorite impact, the distribution of particle sizes in the soil achieves a sort of steady state. The majority of the returned lunar soil samples have been found to be well-graded silty-sand to sandy-silt (SM in the Unified Soil Classification System). Each of the particle size distributions plots within a relatively narrow band, which appears to be uniform over the entire lunar surface. This further restricts the range of physical properties of the lunar surface. In contrast, Martian soils should exhibit an extremely wide range of properties. We already know that there is a small amount of water in the soil, greater than in the Martian atmosphere. Furthermore, the soil is suspected to be smectitic clay. That makes two out of the three factors that greatly affect the properties of terrestrial soils.

Limits on the Efficiency of Event-Based Algorithms for Monte Carlo Neutron Transport

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Romano, Paul K.; Siegel, Andrew R.

The traditional form of parallelism in Monte Carlo particle transport simulations, wherein each individual particle history is considered a unit of work, does not lend itself well to data-level parallelism. Event-based algorithms, which were originally used for simulations on vector processors, may offer a path toward better utilizing data-level parallelism in modern computer architectures. In this study, a simple model is developed for estimating the efficiency of the event-based particle transport algorithm under two sets of assumptions. Data collected from simulations of four reactor problems using OpenMC was then used in conjunction with the models to calculate the speedup duemore » to vectorization as a function of two parameters: the size of the particle bank and the vector width. When each event type is assumed to have constant execution time, the achievable speedup is directly related to the particle bank size. We observed that the bank size generally needs to be at least 20 times greater than vector size in order to achieve vector efficiency greater than 90%. When the execution times for events are allowed to vary, however, the vector speedup is also limited by differences in execution time for events being carried out in a single event-iteration. For some problems, this implies that vector effciencies over 50% may not be attainable. While there are many factors impacting performance of an event-based algorithm that are not captured by our model, it nevertheless provides insights into factors that may be limiting in a real implementation.« less

Electrohydrodynamic controlled assembly and fracturing of thin colloidal particle films confined at drop interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rozynek, Z.; Dommersnes, P.; Mikkelsen, A.; Michels, L.; Fossum, J. O.

2014-09-01

Particles can adsorb strongly at liquid interfaces due to capillary forces, which in practice can confine the particles to the interface. Here we investigate the electrohydrodynamic flow driven packing and deformation of colloidal particle layers confined at the surface of liquid drops. The electrohydrodynamic flow has a stagnation point at the drop equator, leading to assembly of particles in a ribbon shaped film. The flow is entirely controlled by the electric field, and we demonstrate that AC fields can be used to induce hydrodynamic "shaking" of the colloidal particle film. We find that the mechanical properties of the film is highly dependent on the particles: monodisperse polystyrene beads form packed granular monolayers which "liquefies" upon shaking, whereas clay mineral particles form cohesive films that fracture upon shaking. The results are expected to be relevant for understanding the mechanics and rheology of particle stabilized emulsions. Supplementary material in the form of a pdf file available from the Journal web page at http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2014-02231-x

Elucidating determinants of aerosol composition through particle-type-based receptor modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuire, M. L.; Jeong, C.-H.; Slowik, J. G.; Chang, R. Y.-W.; Corbin, J. C.; Lu, G.; Mihele, C.; Rehbein, P. J. G.; Sills, D. M. L.; Abbatt, J. P. D.; Brook, J. R.; Evans, G. J.

2011-03-01

An aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS) was deployed at a semi-rural site in Southern Ontario to characterize the size and chemical composition of individual particles. Particle-type-based receptor modelling of these data was used to investigate the determinants of aerosol chemical composition in this region. Individual particles were classified into particle-types and positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to their temporal trends to separate and cross-apportion particle-types to factors. The extent of chemical processing for each factor was assessed by evaluating the internal and external mixing state of the characteristic particle-types. The nine factors identified helped to elucidate the coupled interactions of these determinants. Nitrate-laden dust was found to be the dominant type of locally emitted particles measured by ATOFMS. Several factors associated with aerosol transported to the site from intermediate local-to-regional distances were identified: the Organic factor was associated with a combustion source to the north-west; the ECOC Day factor was characterized by nearby local-to-regional carbonaceous emissions transported from the south-west during the daytime; and the Fireworks factor consisted of pyrotechnic particles from the Detroit region following holiday fireworks displays. Regional aerosol from farther emissions sources were reflected through three factors: two biomass burning factors and a highly chemically processed long range transport factor. The biomass burning factors were separated by PMF due to differences in chemical processing which were caused in part by the passage of two thunderstorm gust fronts with different air mass histories. The remaining two factors, ECOC Night and Nitrate Background, represented the night-time partitioning of nitrate to pre-existing particles of different origins. The distinct meteorological conditions observed during this month-long study in the summer of 2007 provided a unique range of temporal variability, enabling the elucidation of the determinants of aerosol chemical composition, including source emissions, chemical processing, and transport, at the Canada-US border. This paper presents the first study to characterize the coupled influences of these determinants on temporal variability in aerosol chemical composition using single particle-type-based receptor modelling.

Elucidating determinants of aerosol composition through particle-type-based receptor modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuire, M. L.; Jeong, C.-H.; Slowik, J. G.; Chang, R. Y.-W.; Corbin, J. C.; Lu, G.; Mihele, C.; Rehbein, P. J. G.; Sills, D. M. L.; Abbatt, J. P. D.; Brook, J. R.; Evans, G. J.

2011-08-01

An aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS) was deployed at a semi-rural site in southern Ontario to characterize the size and chemical composition of individual particles. Particle-type-based receptor modelling of these data was used to investigate the determinants of aerosol chemical composition in this region. Individual particles were classified into particle-types and positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to their temporal trends to separate and cross-apportion particle-types to factors. The extent of chemical processing for each factor was assessed by evaluating the internal and external mixing state of the characteristic particle-types. The nine factors identified helped to elucidate the coupled interactions of these determinants. Nitrate-laden dust was found to be the dominant type of locally emitted particles measured by ATOFMS. Several factors associated with aerosol transported to the site from intermediate local-to-regional distances were identified: the Organic factor was associated with a combustion source to the north-west; the ECOC Day factor was characterized by nearby local-to-regional carbonaceous emissions transported from the south-west during the daytime; and the Fireworks factor consisted of pyrotechnic particles from the Detroit region following holiday fireworks displays. Regional aerosol from farther emissions sources was reflected through three factors: two Biomass Burning factors and a highly chemically processed Long Range Transport factor. The Biomass Burning factors were separated by PMF due to differences in chemical processing which were in part elucidated by the passage of two thunderstorm gust fronts with different air mass histories. The remaining two factors, ECOC Night and Nitrate Background, represented the night-time partitioning of nitrate to pre-existing particles of different origins. The distinct meteorological conditions observed during this month-long study in the summer of 2007 provided a unique range of temporal variability, enabling the elucidation of the determinants of aerosol chemical composition, including source emissions, chemical processing, and transport, at the Canada-US border. This paper presents the first study to elucidate the coupled influences of these determinants on temporal variability in aerosol chemical composition using single particle-type-based receptor modelling.

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-04-15

These are images of CGEL-2 samples taken during STS-95. They show binary colloidal suspensions that have formed ordered crystalline structures in microgravity. In sample 5, there are more particles therefore, many, many crystallites (small crystals) form. In sample 6, there are less particles therefore, the particles are far apart and few, much larger crystallites form. The white object in the right corner of sample 5 is the stir bar used to mix the sample at the begirning of the mission.

MAGNETIC-ISLAND CONTRACTION AND PARTICLE ACCELERATION IN SIMULATED ERUPTIVE SOLAR FLARES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guidoni, S. E.; DeVore, C. R.; Karpen, J. T.

The mechanism that accelerates particles to the energies required to produce the observed high-energy impulsive emission in solar flares is not well understood. Drake et al. proposed a mechanism for accelerating electrons in contracting magnetic islands formed by kinetic reconnection in multi-layered current sheets (CSs). We apply these ideas to sunward-moving flux ropes (2.5D magnetic islands) formed during fast reconnection in a simulated eruptive flare. A simple analytic model is used to calculate the energy gain of particles orbiting the field lines of the contracting magnetic islands in our ultrahigh-resolution 2.5D numerical simulation. We find that the estimated energy gainsmore » in a single island range up to a factor of five. This is higher than that found by Drake et al. for islands in the terrestrial magnetosphere and at the heliopause, due to strong plasma compression that occurs at the flare CS. In order to increase their energy by two orders of magnitude and plausibly account for the observed high-energy flare emission, the electrons must visit multiple contracting islands. This mechanism should produce sporadic emission because island formation is intermittent. Moreover, a large number of particles could be accelerated in each magnetohydrodynamic-scale island, which may explain the inferred rates of energetic-electron production in flares. We conclude that island contraction in the flare CS is a promising candidate for electron acceleration in solar eruptions.« less

Effect of polymer matrix on structure of Se particles formed in aqueous solutions during redox process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Suvorova, E. I., E-mail: suvorova@ns.crys.ras.ru; Klechkovskaya, V. V.

2010-12-15

Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray energy dispersive microanalysis study of the structure of particles formed during the reduction of Se(IV) to Se(0) in aqueous solutions in the presence of amphiphilic polymers showed the formation of Se/polymer composite particles. The content of carbon inside the particles can be as large as 80 at %. Polymers deeply influence the structure of particles. Depending on polymers, the composite particles may be unstable with time and they spontaneously evolve from Se/polymer composite particles to crystalline particles of monoclinic Se. For the stable ones, addition of bacterial cellulose Acetobacter xylinum gel-film can induce crystallization inmore » the particles which expel the polymeric material. The Se/polymer composite particles and Se crystalline particles exhibit different sensitivity to electron irradiation and stiffness.« less

Investigations of the effects of particle properties on the wear resistance of the particle reinforced composites using a novel wear model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prabhu, T. Ram

2016-08-01

A wear model is developed based on the discrete lattice spring-mass approach to study the effects of particle volume fraction, size, and stiffness on the wear resistance of particle reinforced composites. To study these effects, we have considered three volume fractions (10%, 20% and 30%), two sizes (10 × 10 and 4 × 4 sites), and two different stiffness of particles embedded in the matrix in a regular pattern. In this model, we have discretized the composite system (400 × 100 sites) into the lumped masses connected with interaction spring elements in two dimensions. The interaction elements are assumed as linear elastic and ideal plastic under applied forces. Each mass is connected to its first and second nearest neighbors by springs. The matrix and particles sites are differentiated by choosing the different stiffness values. The counter surface is simulated as a rigid body that moves on the composite material at a constant sliding speed along the horizontal direction. The governing equations are formed by equating the spring force between the pair of sites given by Hooke’s law plus external contact forces and the force due to the motion of the site given by the equation of motion. The equations are solved for the plastic strain accumulated in the springs using an explicit time stepping procedure based on a finite difference form of the above equations. If the total strain accumulated in the spring elements connected to a lump mass site exceeds the failure strain, the springs are considered to be broken, and the mass site is removed or worn away from the lattice and accounts as a wear loss. The model predicts that (i) increasing volume fraction, reducing particle size and increasing particle stiffness enhance the wear resistance of the particle reinforced composites, (ii) the particle stiffness is the most significant factor affecting the wear resistance of the composites, and (iii) the wear resistance reduced above the critical volume fraction (Vc), and Vc increases with increasing particle size. Finally, we have qualitatively compared the model results with our previously published experimental results to prove the effectiveness of the model to analysis the complex wear systems.

Formation mechanisms of metal colloids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halaciuga, Ionel

Highly dispersed uniform metallic particles are widely used in various areas of technology and medicine and are likely to be incorporated into many other applications in the future. It is commonly accepted that size, shape and composition of the particles represent critical factors in most applications. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of formation of metal particles and the ways to control the physical (e.g. shape, size) and chemical (e.g. composition) properties is of great importance. In the current research, the formation of uniform silver spheres is investigated experimentally. The parameters that influence the formation of silver particles when concentrated iso-ascorbic acid and silver-polyamine complex solutions are rapidly mixed were studied in the absence of dispersants. We found that by varying the nature of the amine, temperature, concentration of reactants, silver/amine molar ratio, and the nature of the silver salt, the size of the resulting silver particles can be varied in a wide range (0.08--1.5 microm). The silver particles were formed by aggregation of nanosize subunits as substantiated by both electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques and by the vivid rapid color changes during the chemical precipitation process. From the practical standpoint, the goal of this research was to prepare well dispersed spherical silver particles having a relatively smooth surface and a diameter of about 1 microm to satisfy the demands of the current electronic materials market. A two stage particle growth model previously developed to explain the narrow size distribution occurring in synthesis of gold spheres was applied to the present experimental system, and the parameters that control the size distribution characteristics were identified. The kinetic parameter required to match the final particle size was found to be in agreement with the one used previously in modeling formation of gold spheres, suggesting that similar kinetics governs the aggregation process. Furthermore, the two-stage particle growth model was used to account for the effects of solvent viscosity and temperature on the particle properties, particularly their size. As an application of the above mentioned study, the aggregation process that led to the formation of large silver spheres was used to deposit in a controlled manner layers of silver and other metals (Ni, Au) onto various metallic and non-metallic substrates. In the final section of this thesis methods to form nanosized primary particle strictly through diffusional growth are described. The highly crystalline metallic particles of various sizes and composition prepared provide performance characteristics that are complementary to the polycrystalline metallic particles described in the preceding sections.

Polymer adhesion predictions for oral dosage forms to enhance drug administration safety. Part 1: In vitro approach using particle interaction methods.

PubMed

Drumond, Nélio; Stegemann, Sven

2018-05-01

Solid oral dosage forms (SODF) are drug vehicles commonly prescribed by physicists in primary and secondary cares, as they are the most convenient for the patient and facilitate therapy management. Concerns regarding unintended adhesion of SODF during oro-esophageal transit remain, especially in multimorbid patients, bedridden patients and patients suffering from dysphagia. Hence, this factor should be considered during the development of SODF, and more attention should be given on the design of appropriate surface conditions considering patients with swallowing problems. The aim of this work was to estimate the low mucoadhesion strength of different pharmaceutical polymers frequently used in coating technologies, since this property is thought to have impact on the mucoadhesive profile of SODF during oro-esophageal transit. In an approach using in vitro methods based on particle interactions, polyethylene glycol grades (PEG) showed the lowest interaction forces suggesting a more favorable in vivo performance than hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), which was found to have the highest particle interaction. Preference should be given to coating formulations with lower concentrations of polymer and grades with low molecular weight. In addition, rheological measurements should be adopted when targeting poor mucoadhesive polymers. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seeded Reaction Waves in Composites: Fast Structure Transforming Materials that Respond to Energetic Stimuli

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-21

grafting density is a key factor in the design of self - healing composite materials. There were two hypotheses that might help explain how the grafting...its physical properties. Herein we report several mechanisms by which autonomic material self -protection may be real ized. The incorporation of...network rapidly forms an endoskeletal structure within a flexible rubber , stiffening it up to 18x. Polymer seed particles have also been developed

Synthesis of macroporous structures

DOEpatents

Stein, Andreas; Holland, Brian T.; Blanford, Christopher F.; Yan, Hongwei

2004-01-20

The present application discloses a method of forming an inorganic macroporous material. In some embodiments, the method includes: providing a sample of organic polymer particles having a particle size distribution of no greater than about 10%; forming a colloidal crystal template of the sample of organic polymer particles, the colloidal crystal template including a plurality of organic polymer particles and interstitial spaces therebetween; adding an inorganic precursor composition including a noncolloidal inorganic precursor to the colloidal crystal template such that the precursor composition permeates the interstitial spaces between the organic polymer particles; converting the noncolloidal inorganic precursor to a hardened inorganic framework; and removing the colloidal crystal template from the hardened inorganic framework to form a macroporous material. Inorganic macroporous materials are also disclosed.

Method for closing a drift between adjacent in situ oil shale retorts

DOEpatents

Hines, Alex E.

1984-01-01

A row of horizontally spaced-apart in situ oil shale retorts is formed in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. Each row of retorts is formed by excavating development drifts at different elevations through opposite side boundaries of a plurality of retorts in the row of retorts. Each retort is formed by explosively expanding formation toward one or more voids within the boundaries of the retort site to form a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in each retort. Following formation of each retort, the retort development drifts on the advancing side of the retort are closed off by covering formation particles within the development drift with a layer of crushed oil shale particles having a particle size smaller than the average particle size of oil shale particles in the adjacent retort. In one embodiment, the crushed oil shale particles are pneumatically loaded into the development drift to pack the particles tightly all the way to the top of the drift and throughout the entire cross section of the drift. The closure between adjacent retorts provided by the finely divided oil shale provides sufficient resistance to gas flow through the development drift to effectively inhibit gas flow through the drift during subsequent retorting operations.

Effect of crumb-rubber particle size on mechanical response of polyurethane foam composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanjay, Omer Sheik

The compression properties of foam are governed by by three factors: i) cell edge bending ii) compression of cell fluid iii) membrane stresses in the cell faces. The effect of reinforcement, granular form of scrap tire rubber on contribution of each of these effects along with the physical properties of polyurethane foam is investigated. It is seen that the addition of crumb-rubber hinders the formation of cell membranes during the foaming process. Four different sizes of particles were chosen to closely study the effect of particle size on the physical properties of the foam composite. There is a definite pattern seen in each of the physical property of the composite with change in the particle size. Addition of crumb-rubber decreases the compressive strength but in turn increases the elastic modulus of the composite. The rubber particles act as the sites for stress concentration and hence the inclusion of rubber particles induces the capability to transfer the axial load laterally along the surface of the foam. Also, the filler material induces porosity into the foam, which is seen in the SEM images, and hence the addition of rubber particles induces brittleness, which makes the foam composites extensively applicable for structural application in sandwich components. The lightweight composite therefore is a potential substitute to the heavier metal foams and honeycombs as a protective layer.

Design and synthesis of a novel multifunctional stabilizer for highly stable uc(dl)-tetrahydropalmatine nanosuspensions and in vitro study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Beibei; Wang, Yancai; Wang, Lulu; Zhou, Yuqi; Shang, Xueyun; Zhao, Juan; Liu, Yangyang; Du, Juan

2018-05-01

The present study aimed to prepare stable uc(dl)-tetrahydropalmatine (uc(dl)-THP) nanosuspensions of optimized formulation with PEGylated chitosan as a multifunctional stabilizer using the antisolvent precipitation method. A central composite design project of three factors and five-level full factorial (53) was applied to design the experimental program, and response surface methodology analysis was used to optimize the experimental conditions. The effects of critical influencing factors such as PEGylated chitosan concentration, operational temperature, and ultrasonic energy on particle size and zeta potential were investigated. Under the optimization nanosuspension formulation, the particle size was 269 nm and zeta potential was at 37.4 mV. Also, the uc(dl)-THP nanosuspensions maintained good physical stability after 2 months, indicating the potential ability of the multifunctional stabilizer for stable nanosuspension formulation. Hence, the present findings indicated that PEGylated chitosan could be used as the ideal stabilizer to form a physically stable nanosuspension formulation.

Evaluation of emerging factors blocking filtration of high-adjunct-ratio wort.

PubMed

Ma, Ting; Zhu, Linjiang; Zheng, Feiyun; Li, Yongxian; Li, Qi

2014-08-20

Corn starch has become a common adjunct for beer brewing in Chinese breweries. However, with increasing ratio of corn starch, problems like poor wort filtration performance arise, which will decrease production capacity of breweries. To solve this problem, factors affecting wort filtration were evaluated, such as the size of corn starch particle, special yellow floats formed during liquefaction of corn starch, and residual substance after liquefaction. The effects of different enzyme preparations including β-amylase and β-glucanase on filtration rate were also evaluated. The results indicate that the emerging yellow floats do not severely block filtration, while the fine and uniform-shape corn starch particle and its incompletely hydrolyzed residue after liquefaction are responsible for filtration blocking. Application of β-amylase preparation increased the filtration rate of liquefied corn starch. This study is useful for our insight into the filtration blocking problem arising in the process of high-adjunct-ratio beer brewing and also provides a feasible solution using enzyme preparations.

Contamination of the transformer oil of power transformers and shunting reactors by metal-containing colloidal particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

L'vov, S. Yu.; Komarov, V. B.; Bondareva, V. N.

The results of a measurement of the contamination of the oil in 66 transformers by metal-containing colloidal particles, formed as a result of the interaction of the oil with the structural materials (the copper of the windings, the iron of the tank and core etc.), and also the results of measurements of the optical turbidity of the oil in 136 transformers when they were examined at the Power Engineering Research and Development Center Company are presented. Methods of determining the concentration of copper and iron in transformer oil are considered. The limiting values of the optical turbidity factors, the coppermore » and iron content are determined. These can serve as a basis for taking decisions on whether to replace the silica gel of the filters for continuously purifying the oil of power transformers and the shunting reactors in addition to the standardized oil contamination factors, namely, the dielectric loss tangent and the acidity number of the oil.« less

Preparation and application of hollow molecularly imprinted polymers with a super-high selectivity to the template protein.

PubMed

Chen, Yang; He, Xi-Wen; Mao, Jie; Li, Wen-You; Zhang, Yu-Kui

2013-10-01

Protein-imprinted polymers with hollow cores that have a super-high imprinting factor were prepared by etching the core of the surface-imprinted polymers that used silica particles as the support. Lysozyme as template was modified onto the surface of silica particles by a covalent method, and after polymerization and the removal of template molecules, channels through the polymer layer were formed, which allowed a single-protein molecule to come into the hollow core and attach to the binding sites inside the polymer layer. The adsorption experiments demonstrated that the hollow imprinted polymers had an extremely high binding capacity and selectivity, and thus a super-high imprinting factor was obtained. The as-prepared imprinted polymers were used to separate the template lysozyme from egg white successfully, indicating its high selectivity and potential application in the field of separation of protein from real samples. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Phenomenological study of exclusive binary light particle production from antiproton-proton annihilation at FAIR/PANDA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ying, Wang

2016-08-01

Exclusive binary annihilation reactions induced by antiprotons of momentum from 1.5 to 15 GeV/c can be extensively investigated at FAIR/PANDA [1]. We are especially interested in the channel of charged pion pairs. Whereas this very probable channel constitutes the major background for other processes of interest in the PANDA experiment, it carries unique physical information on the quark content of proton, allowing to test different models (quark counting rules, statistical models,..). To study the binary reactions of light meson formation, we are developing an effective Lagrangian model based on Feynman diagrams which takes into account the virtuality of the exchanged particles. Regge factors [2] and form factors are introduced with parameters which may be adjusted on the existing data. We present preliminary results of our formalism for different reactions of light meson production leading to reliable predictions of cross sections, energy and angular dependencies in the PANDA kinematical range.

Towards a Resolution of the Proton Form Factor Problem: New Electron and Positron Scattering Data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adikaram, D.; Rimal, D.; Weinstein, L. B.

There is a significant discrepancy between the values of the proton electric form factor, GpE, extracted using unpolarized and polarized electron scattering. Calculations predict that small two-photon exchange (TPE) contributions can significantly affect the extraction of GpE from the unpolarized electron-proton cross sections. We determined the TPE contribution by measuring the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic scattering cross sections using a simultaneous, tertiary electron-positron beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target and detecting the scattered particles in the Jefferson Lab CLAS detector. This novel technique allowed us to cover a wide range in virtual photon polarization (epsilon) and momentummore » transfer (Q2) simultaneously, as well as to cancel luminosity-related systematic errors. The cross section ratio increases with decreasing ε at Q2=1.45 GeV2. This measurement is consistent with the size of the form factor discrepancy at Q2≈1.75 GeV2 and with hadronic calculations including nucleon and Delta intermediate states, which have been shown to resolve the discrepancy up to 2-3 GeV2.« less

Towards a Resolution of the Proton Form Factor Problem: New Electron and Positron Scattering Data

DOE PAGES

Adikaram, D.; Rimal, D.; Weinstein, L. B.; ...

2015-02-10

There is a significant discrepancy between the values of the proton electric form factor, GpE, extracted using unpolarized and polarized electron scattering. Calculations predict that small two-photon exchange (TPE) contributions can significantly affect the extraction of GpE from the unpolarized electron-proton cross sections. We determined the TPE contribution by measuring the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic scattering cross sections using a simultaneous, tertiary electron-positron beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target and detecting the scattered particles in the Jefferson Lab CLAS detector. This novel technique allowed us to cover a wide range in virtual photon polarization (epsilon) and momentummore » transfer (Q2) simultaneously, as well as to cancel luminosity-related systematic errors. The cross section ratio increases with decreasing ε at Q2=1.45 GeV2. This measurement is consistent with the size of the form factor discrepancy at Q2≈1.75 GeV2 and with hadronic calculations including nucleon and Delta intermediate states, which have been shown to resolve the discrepancy up to 2-3 GeV2.« less

Towards a resolution of the proton form factor problem: new electron and positron scattering data.

PubMed

Adikaram, D; Rimal, D; Weinstein, L B; Raue, B; Khetarpal, P; Bennett, R P; Arrington, J; Brooks, W K; Adhikari, K P; Afanasev, A V; Amaryan, M J; Anderson, M D; Anefalos Pereira, S; Avakian, H; Ball, J; Battaglieri, M; Bedlinskiy, I; Biselli, A S; Bono, J; Boiarinov, S; Briscoe, W J; Burkert, V D; Carman, D S; Careccia, S; Celentano, A; Chandavar, S; Charles, G; Colaneri, L; Cole, P L; Contalbrigo, M; Crede, V; D'Angelo, A; Dashyan, N; De Vita, R; De Sanctis, E; Deur, A; Djalali, C; Dodge, G E; Dupre, R; Egiyan, H; El Alaoui, A; El Fassi, L; Elouadrhiri, L; Eugenio, P; Fedotov, G; Fegan, S; Filippi, A; Fleming, J A; Fradi, A; Garillon, B; Gilfoyle, G P; Giovanetti, K L; Girod, F X; Goetz, J T; Gohn, W; Golovatch, E; Gothe, R W; Griffioen, K A; Guegan, B; Guidal, M; Guo, L; Hafidi, K; Hakobyan, H; Hanretty, C; Harrison, N; Hattawy, M; Hicks, K; Holtrop, M; Hughes, S M; Hyde, C E; Ilieva, Y; Ireland, D G; Ishkhanov, B S; Jenkins, D; Jiang, H; Jo, H S; Joo, K; Joosten, S; Kalantarians, N; Keller, D; Khandaker, M; Kim, A; Kim, W; Klein, A; Klein, F J; Koirala, S; Kubarovsky, V; Kuhn, S E; Livingston, K; Lu, H Y; MacGregor, I J D; Markov, N; Mattione, P; Mayer, M; McKinnon, B; Mestayer, M D; Meyer, C A; Mirazita, M; Mokeev, V; Montgomery, R A; Moody, C I; Moutarde, H; Movsisyan, A; Camacho, C Munoz; Nadel-Turonski, P; Niccolai, S; Niculescu, G; Osipenko, M; Ostrovidov, A I; Park, K; Pasyuk, E; Peña, C; Pisano, S; Pogorelko, O; Price, J W; Procureur, S; Prok, Y; Protopopescu, D; Puckett, A J R; Ripani, M; Rizzo, A; Rosner, G; Rossi, P; Roy, P; Sabatié, F; Salgado, C; Schott, D; Schumacher, R A; Seder, E; Sharabian, Y G; Simonyan, A; Skorodumina, I; Smith, E S; Smith, G D; Sober, D I; Sokhan, D; Sparveris, N; Stepanyan, S; Stoler, P; Strauch, S; Sytnik, V; Taiuti, M; Tian, Ye; Trivedi, A; Ungaro, M; Voskanyan, H; Voutier, E; Walford, N K; Watts, D P; Wei, X; Wood, M H; Zachariou, N; Zana, L; Zhang, J; Zhao, Z W; Zonta, I

2015-02-13

There is a significant discrepancy between the values of the proton electric form factor, G(E)(p), extracted using unpolarized and polarized electron scattering. Calculations predict that small two-photon exchange (TPE) contributions can significantly affect the extraction of G(E)(p) from the unpolarized electron-proton cross sections. We determined the TPE contribution by measuring the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic scattering cross sections using a simultaneous, tertiary electron-positron beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target and detecting the scattered particles in the Jefferson Lab CLAS detector. This novel technique allowed us to cover a wide range in virtual photon polarization (ϵ) and momentum transfer (Q(2)) simultaneously, as well as to cancel luminosity-related systematic errors. The cross section ratio increases with decreasing ϵ at Q(2)=1.45  GeV(2). This measurement is consistent with the size of the form factor discrepancy at Q(2)≈1.75  GeV(2) and with hadronic calculations including nucleon and Δ intermediate states, which have been shown to resolve the discrepancy up to 2-3  GeV(2).

Thermophoretic motion behavior of submicron particles in boundary-layer-separation flow around a droplet.

PubMed

Wang, Ao; Song, Qiang; Ji, Bingqiang; Yao, Qiang

2015-12-01

As a key mechanism of submicron particle capture in wet deposition and wet scrubbing processes, thermophoresis is influenced by the flow and temperature fields. Three-dimensional direct numerical simulations were conducted to quantify the characteristics of the flow and temperature fields around a droplet at three droplet Reynolds numbers (Re) that correspond to three typical boundary-layer-separation flows (steady axisymmetric, steady plane-symmetric, and unsteady plane-symmetric flows). The thermophoretic motion of submicron particles was simulated in these cases. Numerical results show that the motion of submicron particles around the droplet and the deposition distribution exhibit different characteristics under three typical flow forms. The motion patterns of particles are dependent on their initial positions in the upstream and flow forms. The patterns of particle motion and deposition are diversified as Re increases. The particle motion pattern, initial position of captured particles, and capture efficiency change periodically, especially during periodic vortex shedding. The key effects of flow forms on particle motion are the shape and stability of the wake behind the droplet. The drag force of fluid and the thermophoretic force in the wake contribute jointly to the deposition of submicron particles after the boundary-layer separation around a droplet.

Spontaneous formation of nanostructures inside inkjet-printed colloidal drops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Xin; Thorne, Nathaniel; Sun, Ying

2013-11-01

Nanostructures formed in inkjet-printed colloidal drops are systematically examined with different substrates and ink formulations. Various deposition patterns from multi-ring, radial spoke, firework to spider web, foam and island structures are observed. With a high particle loading, deposition transitions from multi-ring near the drop edge to spider web and finally to foam and islands in the center of the drop with 20 nm sulfate-modified polystyrene particles. At the same particle loading, 200 nm particles self-assemble into radial spokes at the drop edge and islands in the center, due to reduced contact line pinning resulted from less particles. In drops with a low particle concentration, due to fingering instability of the contact line, 20 nm particles form radial spokes enclosed by a ring, while 200 nm particles assemble into firework-like structures without a ring. Moreover, at a high particle loading, ruptures are observed on the multi-ring structure formed by 20 nm carboxylic-modified particles, due to stronger capillary forces from the contact line. Furthermore, for a drop printed on a less hydrophilic substrate, the interparticle interactions enable a more uniform deposition rather than complex nanostructures.

Method for the preparation of metal colloids in inverse micelles and product preferred by the method

DOEpatents

Wilcoxon, Jess P.

1992-01-01

A method is provided for preparing catalytic elemental metal colloidal particles (e.g. gold, palladium, silver, rhodium, iridium, nickel, iron, platinum, molybdenum) or colloidal alloy particles (silver/iridium or platinum/gold). A homogeneous inverse micelle solution of a metal salt is first formed in a metal-salt solvent comprised of a surfactant (e.g. a nonionic or cationic surfactant) and an organic solvent. The size and number of inverse micelles is controlled by the proportions of the surfactant and the solvent. Then, the metal salt is reduced (by chemical reduction or by a pulsed or continuous wave UV laser) to colloidal particles of elemental metal. After their formation, the colloidal metal particles can be stabilized by reaction with materials that permanently add surface stabilizing groups to the surface of the colloidal metal particles. The sizes of the colloidal elemental metal particles and their size distribution is determined by the size and number of the inverse micelles. A second salt can be added with further reduction to form the colloidal alloy particles. After the colloidal elemental metal particles are formed, the homogeneous solution distributes to two phases, one phase rich in colloidal elemental metal particles and the other phase rich in surfactant. The colloidal elemental metal particles from one phase can be dried to form a powder useful as a catalyst. Surfactant can be recovered and recycled from the phase rich in surfactant.

Processes of conversion of a hot metal particle into aerogel through clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smirnov, B. M.

2015-10-01

Processes are considered for conversion into a fractal structure of a hot metal micron-size particle that is located in a buffer gas or a gas flow and is heated by an external electric or electromagnetic source or by a plasma. The parameter of this heating is the particle temperature, which is the same in the entire particle volume because of its small size and high conductivity. Three processes determine the particle heat balance: particle radiation, evaporation of metal atoms from the particle surface, and heat transport to the surrounding gas due to its thermal conductivity. The particle heat balance is analyzed based on these processes, which are analogous to those for bulk metals with the small particle size, and its high temperature taken into account. Outside the particle, where the gas temperature is lower than on its surface, the formed metal vapor in a buffer gas flow is converted into clusters. Clusters grow as a result of coagulation until they become liquid, and then clusters form fractal aggregates if they are removed form the gas flow. Subsequently, associations of fractal aggregates join into a fractal structure. The rate of this process increases in medium electric fields, and the formed fractal structure has features of aerogels and fractal fibers. As a result of a chain of the above processes, a porous metal film may be manufactured for use as a filter or catalyst for gas flows.

Space Shuttle ice nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turco, R. P.; Toon, O. B.; Whitten, R. C.; Cicerone, R. J.

1982-08-01

Estimates are made showing that, as a consequence of rocket activity in the earth's upper atmosphere in the Shuttle era, average ice nuclei concentrations in the upper atmosphere could increase by a factor of two, and that an aluminum dust layer weighing up to 1000 tons might eventually form in the lower atmosphere. The concentrations of Space Shuttle ice nuclei (SSIN) in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere were estimated by taking into account the composition of the particles, the extent of surface poisoning, and the size of the particles. Calculated stratospheric size distributions at 20 km with Space Shuttle particulate injection, calculated SSIN concentrations at 10 and 20 km altitude corresponding to different water vapor/ice supersaturations, and predicted SSIN concentrations in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere are shown.

Non-linear photochemical pathways in laser-induced atmospheric aerosol formation

PubMed Central

Mongin, Denis; Slowik, Jay G.; Schubert, Elise; Brisset, Jean-Gabriel; Berti, Nicolas; Moret, Michel; Prévôt, André S. H.; Baltensperger, Urs; Kasparian, Jérôme; Wolf, Jean-Pierre

2015-01-01

We measured the chemical composition and the size distribution of aerosols generated by femtosecond-Terawatt laser pulses in the atmosphere using an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). We show that nitric acid condenses in the form of ammonium nitrate, and that oxidized volatile organics also contribute to particle growth. These two components account for two thirds and one third, respectively, of the dry laser-condensed mass. They appear in two different modes centred at 380 nm and 150 nm. The number concentration of particles between 25 and 300 nm increases by a factor of 15. Pre-existing water droplets strongly increase the oxidative properties of the laser-activated atmosphere, substantially enhancing the condensation of organics under laser illumination. PMID:26450172

Pesticide occurrence and distribution in fog collected near Monterey, California

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schomburg, C.J.; Glotfelty, D.E.; Seiber, J.N.

The authors analyzed pesticides in air and fog in several fog events sampled near Monterey, CA, to determine whether the uptake of pesticides in advected oceanic fog was different from uptake in fog forming under stagnant inversion conditions in California's Central Valley in the winter. Data for several pesticides common to both ares showed that the pesticide content and distribution were remarkable similar in the two locations. The conversion of organophosphorus insecticides to their corresponding oxons, and aqueous-phase enrichment factors, were also very similar. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that enhanced pesticide concentration in fogwater is caused bymore » strongly sorptive nonfilterable particles and colloids in the fog liquid that are derived from atmospheric particles.« less

Magnetic Nanoparticles Embedded in a Silicon Matrix

PubMed Central

Granitzer, Petra; Rumpf, Klemens

2011-01-01

This paper represents a short overview of nanocomposites consisting of magnetic nanoparticles incorporated into the pores of a porous silicon matrix by two different methods. On the one hand, nickel is electrochemically deposited whereas the nanoparticles are precipitated on the pore walls. The size of these particles is between 2 and 6 nm. These particles cover the pore walls and form a tube-like arrangement. On the other hand, rather well monodispersed iron oxide nanoparticles, of 5 and 8 nm respectively, are infiltrated into the pores. From their size the particles would be superparamagnetic if isolated but due to magnetic interactions between them, ordering of magnetic moments occurs below a blocking temperature and thus the composite system displays a ferromagnetic behavior. This transition temperature of the nanocomposite can be varied by changing the filling factor of the particles within the pores. Thus samples with magnetic properties which are variable in a broad range can be achieved, which renders this composite system interesting not only for basic research but also for applications, especially because of the silicon base material which makes it possible for today’s process technology. PMID:28879957

Generation of scaffoldless hyaline cartilaginous tissue from human iPSCs.

PubMed

Yamashita, Akihiro; Morioka, Miho; Yahara, Yasuhito; Okada, Minoru; Kobayashi, Tomohito; Kuriyama, Shinichi; Matsuda, Shuichi; Tsumaki, Noriyuki

2015-03-10

Defects in articular cartilage ultimately result in loss of joint function. Repairing cartilage defects requires cell sources. We developed an approach to generate scaffoldless hyaline cartilage from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We initially generated an hiPSC line that specifically expressed GFP in cartilage when teratoma was formed. We optimized the culture conditions and found BMP2, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and GDF5 critical for GFP expression and thus chondrogenic differentiation of the hiPSCs. The subsequent use of scaffoldless suspension culture contributed to purification, producing homogenous cartilaginous particles. Subcutaneous transplantation of the hiPSC-derived particles generated hyaline cartilage that expressed type II collagen, but not type I collagen, in immunodeficiency mice. Transplantation of the particles into joint surface defects in immunodeficiency rats and immunosuppressed mini-pigs indicated that neocartilage survived and had potential for integration into native cartilage. The immunodeficiency mice and rats suffered from neither tumors nor ectopic tissue formation. The hiPSC-derived cartilaginous particles constitute a viable cell source for regenerating cartilage defects. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Generation of Scaffoldless Hyaline Cartilaginous Tissue from Human iPSCs

PubMed Central

Yamashita, Akihiro; Morioka, Miho; Yahara, Yasuhito; Okada, Minoru; Kobayashi, Tomohito; Kuriyama, Shinichi; Matsuda, Shuichi; Tsumaki, Noriyuki

2015-01-01

Summary Defects in articular cartilage ultimately result in loss of joint function. Repairing cartilage defects requires cell sources. We developed an approach to generate scaffoldless hyaline cartilage from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We initially generated an hiPSC line that specifically expressed GFP in cartilage when teratoma was formed. We optimized the culture conditions and found BMP2, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and GDF5 critical for GFP expression and thus chondrogenic differentiation of the hiPSCs. The subsequent use of scaffoldless suspension culture contributed to purification, producing homogenous cartilaginous particles. Subcutaneous transplantation of the hiPSC-derived particles generated hyaline cartilage that expressed type II collagen, but not type I collagen, in immunodeficiency mice. Transplantation of the particles into joint surface defects in immunodeficiency rats and immunosuppressed mini-pigs indicated that neocartilage survived and had potential for integration into native cartilage. The immunodeficiency mice and rats suffered from neither tumors nor ectopic tissue formation. The hiPSC-derived cartilaginous particles constitute a viable cell source for regenerating cartilage defects. PMID:25733017

Eddy diffusivity of quasi-neutrally-buoyant inertial particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martins Afonso, Marco; Muratore-Ginanneschi, Paolo; Gama, Sílvio M. A.; Mazzino, Andrea

2018-04-01

We investigate the large-scale transport properties of quasi-neutrally-buoyant inertial particles carried by incompressible zero-mean periodic or steady ergodic flows. We show how to compute large-scale indicators such as the inertial-particle terminal velocity and eddy diffusivity from first principles in a perturbative expansion around the limit of added-mass factor close to unity. Physically, this limit corresponds to the case where the mass density of the particles is constant and close in value to the mass density of the fluid, which is also constant. Our approach differs from the usual over-damped expansion inasmuch as we do not assume a separation of time scales between thermalization and small-scale convection effects. For a general flow in the class of incompressible zero-mean periodic velocity fields, we derive closed-form cell equations for the auxiliary quantities determining the terminal velocity and effective diffusivity. In the special case of parallel flows these equations admit explicit analytic solution. We use parallel flows to show that our approach sheds light onto the behavior of terminal velocity and effective diffusivity for Stokes numbers of the order of unity.

Positive matrix factorization of PM2.5 - eliminating the effects of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds.

PubMed

Xie, M; Barsanti, K C; Hannigan, M P; Dutton, S J; Vedal, S

2013-01-01

Gas-phase concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) were calculated from gas/particle (G/P) partitioning theory using their measured particle-phase concentrations. The particle-phase data were obtained from an existing filter measurement campaign (27 January 2003-2 October 2005) as a part of the Denver Aerosol Sources and Health (DASH) study, including 970 observations of 71 SVOCs (Xie et al., 2013). In each compound class of SVOCs, the lighter species (e.g. docosane in n alkanes, fluoranthene in PAHs) had higher total concentrations (gas + particle phase) and lower particle-phase fractions. The total SVOC concentrations were analyzed using positive matrix factorization (PMF). Then the results were compared with source apportionment results where only particle-phase SVOC concentrations were used (particle only-based study; Xie et al., 2013). For the particle only-based PMF analysis, the factors primarily associated with primary or secondary sources ( n alkane, EC/sterane and inorganic ion factors) exhibit similar contribution time series ( r = 0.92-0.98) with their corresponding factors ( n alkane, sterane and nitrate+sulfate factors) in the current work. Three other factors (light n alkane/PAH, PAH and summer/odd n alkane factors) are linked with pollution sources influenced by atmospheric processes (e.g. G/P partitioning, photochemical reaction), and were less correlated ( r = 0.69-0.84) with their corresponding factors (light SVOC, PAH and bulk carbon factors) in the current work, suggesting that the source apportionment results derived from particle-only SVOC data could be affected by atmospheric processes. PMF analysis was also performed on three temperature-stratified subsets of the total SVOC data, representing ambient sampling during cold (daily average temperature < 10 °C), warm (≥ 10 °C and ≤ 20 °C) and hot (> 20 °C) periods. Unlike the particle only-based study, in this work the factor characterized by the low molecular weight (MW) compounds (light SVOC factor) exhibited strong correlations ( r = 0.82-0.98) between the full data set and each sub-data set solution, indicating that the impacts of G/P partitioning on receptor-based source apportionment could be eliminated by using total SVOC concentrations.

Physical Compatibility of Calcium Acetate and Potassium Phosphates in Parenteral Nutrition Solutions Containing Aminosyn II.

PubMed

Zhang, Y; Xu, Q; Trissel, L A; Baker, M B

1999-01-01

Numerous factors have been identified that influence the amount of calcium and phosphates that can remain in solution or will precipitate from parenteral nutrition solutions. Two of the most important such factors are the specific formulation of the amino acid source and the salt form of the calcium source. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical compatibility of calcium (as acetate) and potassium phophates in Aminosyn II-based parenteral nutrition solutions. Five representative core parenteral nutrition formulations containing Aminosyn II 2% to 5% were evaluated. Varying amounts of calcium acetate and potassium phosphates were added to samples of the core formulations to identify the concentrations at which precipitation just began to occur. A total of five series of concentrations was tested wiht maxima of calcium 40 mEq/L and phosphates 40 mM/L. The samples were evaluated by visual observation with the unaided eye and by use of a Tyndall beam to accentuate the visibility of small particles and low-level turbidity. For samples not exhibiting visible particles or haze, the turbidity and particle content were measured electronically. Evaluations were performed initially during the first 15 minutes after mixing and after 48 hours of storage at 23 deg and 37 deg C. The precipitation potential of calcium and phosphates in the five representative parenteral nutrition solutions containing Aminosyn II at a a variety of concentrations has been evaluated over a broad range of concentrations has been evaluated over a broad rage of concentrations. The results are presented in tabular form and were used to determine the boundary between compatibility and incompatibility in each of the five core parenteral nutrtion formulations. The boundary lines or compatibility curves were constructed for each of the formulations and are presented graphically.

Traffic emission factors of ultrafine particles: effects from ambient air.

PubMed

Janhäll, Sara; Molnar, Peter; Hallquist, Mattias

2012-09-01

Ultrafine particles have a significant detrimental effect on both human health and climate. In order to abate this problem, it is necessary to identify the sources of ultrafine particles. A parameterisation method is presented for estimating the levels of traffic-emitted ultrafine particles in terms of variables describing the ambient conditions. The method is versatile and could easily be applied to similar datasets in other environments. The data used were collected during a four-week period in February 2005, in Gothenburg, as part of the Göte-2005 campaign. The specific variables tested were temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), carbon monoxide concentration (CO), and the concentration of particles up to 10 μm diameter (PM(10)); all indicators are of importance for aerosol processes such as coagulation and gas-particle partitioning. These variables were selected because of their direct effect on aerosol processes (T and RH) or as proxies for aerosol surface area (CO and PM(10)) and because of their availability in local monitoring programmes, increasing the usability of the parameterization. Emission factors are presented for 10-100 nm particles (ultrafine particles; EF(ufp)), for 10-40 nm particles (EF(10-40)), and for 40-100 nm particles (EF(40-100)). For EF(40-100) no effect of ambient conditions was found. The emission factor equations are calculated based on an emission factor for NO(x) of 1 g km(-1), thus the particle emission factors are easily expressed in units of particles per gram of NO(x) emitted. For 10-100 nm particles the emission factor is EF(ufp) = 1.8 × 10(15) × (1 - 0.095 × CO - 3.2 × 10(-3) × T) particles km(-1). Alternative equations for the EFs in terms of T and PM(10) concentration are also presented.

ALD coating of nuclear fuel actinides materials

DOEpatents

Yacout, A. M.; Pellin, Michael J.; Yun, Di; Billone, Mike

2017-09-05

The invention provides a method of forming a nuclear fuel pellet of a uranium containing fuel alternative to UO.sub.2, with the steps of obtaining a fuel form in a powdered state; coating the fuel form in a powdered state with at least one layer of a material; and sintering the powdered fuel form into a fuel pellet. Also provided is a sintered nuclear fuel pellet of a uranium containing fuel alternative to UO.sub.2, wherein the pellet is made from particles of fuel, wherein the particles of fuel are particles of a uranium containing moiety, and wherein the fuel particles are coated with at least one layer between about 1 nm to about 4 nm thick of a material using atomic layer deposition, and wherein the at least one layer of the material substantially surrounds each interfacial grain barrier after the powdered fuel form has been sintered.

Method to produce large, uniform hollow spherical shells

DOEpatents

Hendricks, C.D.

1983-09-26

The invention is a method to produce large uniform hollow spherical shells by (1) forming uniform size drops of heat decomposable or vaporizable material, (2) evaporating the drops to form dried particles, (3) coating the dried particles with a layer of shell forming material and (4) heating the composite particles to melt the outer layer and to decompose or vaporize the inner particle to form an expanding inner gas bubble. The expanding gas bubble forms the molten outer layer into a shell of relatively large diameter. By cycling the temperature and pressure on the molten shell, nonuniformities in wall thickness can be reduced. The method of the invention is utilized to produce large uniform spherical shells, in the millimeter to centimeter diameter size range, from a variety of materials and of high quality, including sphericity, concentricity and surface smoothness, for use as laser fusion or other inertial confinement fusion targets as well as other applications.

Second Harmonic Generation Guided Raman Spectroscopy for Sensitive Detection of Polymorph Transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chowdhury, Azhad U.; Ye, Dong Hye; Song, Zhengtian

Second harmonic generation (SHG) was integrated with Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of pharmaceutical materials. Particulate formulations of clopidogrel bisulfate were prepared in two crystal forms (Form I and Form II). Image analysis approaches enable automated identification of particles by bright field imaging, followed by classification by SHG. Quantitative SHG microscopy enabled discrimination of crystal form on a per particle basis with 99.95% confidence in a total measurement time of ~10 ms per particle. Complementary measurements by Raman and synchrotron XRD are in excellent agreement with the classifications made by SHG, with measurement times of ~1 min and several secondsmore » per particle, respectively. Coupling these capabilities with at-line monitoring may enable real-time feedback for reaction monitoring during pharmaceutical production to favor the more bioavailable but metastable Form I with limits of detection in the ppm regime.« less

Composition for forming an optically transparent, superhydrophobic coating

DOEpatents

Simpson, John T.; Lewis, Linda A.

2015-12-29

A composition for producing an optically clear, well bonded superhydrophobic coating includes a plurality of hydrophobic particles comprising an average particle size of about 200 nm or less, a binder at a binder concentration of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 0.5 wt. %, and a solvent. The hydrophobic particles may be present in the composition at a particle concentration of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 1 wt. %. An optically transparent, superhydrophobic surface includes a substrate, a plurality of hydrophobic particles having an average particle size of about 200 nm or less dispersed over the substrate, and a discontinuous binder layer bonding the hydrophobic particles to the substrate, where the hydrophobic particles and the binder layer form an optically transparent, superhydrophobic coating.

On a quantum particle in laser channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dik, A. V.; Frolov, E. N.; Dabagov, S. B.

2018-02-01

In this paper the effective potential describing interaction of a scalar quantum particle with arbitrary nonuniform laser field is derived for a wide spectrum of the particle energies. The presented method allows to take into account all the features of the effective potential for a scalar particle. The derived expression for effective potential for quantum particle has the same form as the one presented earlier for a classical particle. A special case for channeling of a quantum particle as well as accompanying channeling radiation in a field formed by two crossed plane laser waves is considered. It is shown that relativistic particles moving near the laser channel bottom should be examined as quantum ones at both arbitrarily large longitudinal energies and laser fields of accessible intensities.

Nonperturbative study of the four gluon vertex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Binosi, D.; Ibañez, D.; Papavassiliou, J.

2014-09-01

In this paper we study the nonperturbative structure of the SU(3) four-gluon vertex in the Landau gauge, concentrating on contributions quadratic in the metric. We employ an approximation scheme where "one-loop" diagrams are computed using fully dressed gluon and ghost propagators, and tree-level vertices. When a suitable kinematical configuration depending on a single momentum scale p is chosen, only two structures emerge: the tree-level four-gluon vertex, and a tensor orthogonal to it. A detailed numerical analysis reveals that the form factor associated with this latter tensor displays a change of sign (zero-crossing) in the deep infrared, and finally diverges logarithmically. The origin of this characteristic behavior is proven to be entirely due to the masslessness of the ghost propagators forming the corresponding ghost-loop diagram, in close analogy to a similar effect established for the three-gluon vertex. However, in the case at hand, and under the approximations employed, this particular divergence does not affect the form factor proportional to the tree-level tensor, which remains finite in the entire range of momenta, and deviates moderately from its naive tree-level value. It turns out that the kinematic configuration chosen is ideal for carrying out lattice simulations, because it eliminates from the connected Green's function all one-particle reducible contributions, projecting out the genuine one-particle irreducible vertex. Motivated by this possibility, we discuss in detail how a hypothetical lattice measurement of this quantity would compare to the results presented here, and the potential interference from an additional tensorial structure, allowed by Bose symmetry, but not encountered within our scheme.

Review of relationship between indoor and outdoor particles: I/O ratio, infiltration factor and penetration factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chun; Zhao, Bin

2011-01-01

Epidemiologic evidence indicates a relationship between outdoor particle exposure and adverse health effects, while most people spend 85-90% of their time indoors, thus understanding the relationship between indoor and outdoor particles is quite important. This paper aims to provide an up-to-date revision for both experiment and modeling on relationship between indoor and outdoor particles. The use of three different parameters: indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio, infiltration factor and penetration factor, to assess the relationship between indoor and outdoor particles were reviewed. The experimental data of the three parameters measured both in real houses and laboratories were summarized and analyzed. The I/O ratios vary considerably due to the difference in size-dependent indoor particle emission rates, the geometry of the cracks in building envelopes, and the air exchange rates. Thus, it is difficult to draw uniform conclusions as detailed information, which make I/O ratio hardly helpful for understanding the indoor/outdoor relationship. Infiltration factor represents the equilibrium fraction of ambient particles that penetrates indoors and remains suspended, which avoids the mixture with indoor particle sources. Penetration factor is the most relevant parameter for the particle penetration mechanism through cracks and leaks in the building envelope. We investigate the methods used in previously published studies to both measure and model the infiltration and penetration factors. We also discuss the application of the penetration factor models and provide recommendations for improvement.

Effect of drift on the temporal asymptotic form of the particle survival probability in media with absorbing traps

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arkhincheev, V. E., E-mail: varkhin@mail.ru

A new asymptotic form of the particle survival probability in media with absorbing traps has been established. It is shown that this drift mechanism determines a new temporal behavior of the probability of particle survival in media with absorbing traps over long time intervals.

Walker occupancy has an impact on changing airborne bacterial communities in an underground pedestrian space, as small-dust particles increased with raising both temperature and humidity.

PubMed

Okubo, Torahiko; Osaki, Takako; Nozaki, Eriko; Uemura, Akira; Sakai, Kouhei; Matushita, Mizue; Matsuo, Junji; Nakamura, Shinji; Kamiya, Shigeru; Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki

2017-01-01

Although human occupancy is a source of airborne bacteria, the role of walkers on bacterial communities in built environments is poorly understood. Therefore, we visualized the impact of walker occupancy combined with other factors (temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, dust particles) on airborne bacterial features in the Sapporo underground pedestrian space in Sapporo, Japan. Air samples (n = 18; 4,800L/each sample) were collected at 8:00 h to 20:00 h on 3 days (regular sampling) and at early morning / late night (5:50 h to 7:50 h / 22:15 h to 24:45 h) on a day (baseline sampling), and the number of CFUs (colony forming units) OTUs (operational taxonomic units) and other factors were determined. The results revealed that temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure changed with weather. The number of walkers increased greatly in the morning and evening on each regular sampling day, although total walker numbers did not differ significantly among regular sampling days. A slight increase in small dust particles (0.3-0.5μm) was observed on the days with higher temperature regardless of regular or baseline sampling. At the period on regular sampling, CFU levels varied irregularly among days, and the OTUs of 22-phylum types were observed, with the majority being from Firmicutes or Proteobacteria (γ-), including Staphylococcus sp. derived from human individuals. The data obtained from regular samplings reveled that although no direct interaction of walker occupancy and airborne CFU and OTU features was observed upon Pearson's correlation analysis, cluster analysis indicated an obvious lineage consisting of walker occupancy, CFU numbers, OTU types, small dust particles, and seasonal factors (including temperature and humidity). Meanwhile, at the period on baseline sampling both walker and CFU numbers were similarly minimal. Taken together, the results revealed a positive correlation of walker occupancy with airborne bacteria that increased with increases in temperature and humidity in the presence of airborne small particles. Moreover, the results indicated that small dust particles at high temperature and humidity may be a crucial factor responsible for stabilizing the bacteria released from walkers in built environments. The findings presented herein advance our knowledge and understanding of the relationship between humans and bacterial communities in built environments, and will help improve public health in urban communities.

Walker occupancy has an impact on changing airborne bacterial communities in an underground pedestrian space, as small-dust particles increased with raising both temperature and humidity

PubMed Central

Okubo, Torahiko; Osaki, Takako; Nozaki, Eriko; Uemura, Akira; Sakai, Kouhei; Matushita, Mizue; Matsuo, Junji; Nakamura, Shinji; Kamiya, Shigeru

2017-01-01

Although human occupancy is a source of airborne bacteria, the role of walkers on bacterial communities in built environments is poorly understood. Therefore, we visualized the impact of walker occupancy combined with other factors (temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, dust particles) on airborne bacterial features in the Sapporo underground pedestrian space in Sapporo, Japan. Air samples (n = 18; 4,800L/each sample) were collected at 8:00 h to 20:00 h on 3 days (regular sampling) and at early morning / late night (5:50 h to 7:50 h / 22:15 h to 24:45 h) on a day (baseline sampling), and the number of CFUs (colony forming units) OTUs (operational taxonomic units) and other factors were determined. The results revealed that temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure changed with weather. The number of walkers increased greatly in the morning and evening on each regular sampling day, although total walker numbers did not differ significantly among regular sampling days. A slight increase in small dust particles (0.3–0.5μm) was observed on the days with higher temperature regardless of regular or baseline sampling. At the period on regular sampling, CFU levels varied irregularly among days, and the OTUs of 22-phylum types were observed, with the majority being from Firmicutes or Proteobacteria (γ-), including Staphylococcus sp. derived from human individuals. The data obtained from regular samplings reveled that although no direct interaction of walker occupancy and airborne CFU and OTU features was observed upon Pearson's correlation analysis, cluster analysis indicated an obvious lineage consisting of walker occupancy, CFU numbers, OTU types, small dust particles, and seasonal factors (including temperature and humidity). Meanwhile, at the period on baseline sampling both walker and CFU numbers were similarly minimal. Taken together, the results revealed a positive correlation of walker occupancy with airborne bacteria that increased with increases in temperature and humidity in the presence of airborne small particles. Moreover, the results indicated that small dust particles at high temperature and humidity may be a crucial factor responsible for stabilizing the bacteria released from walkers in built environments. The findings presented herein advance our knowledge and understanding of the relationship between humans and bacterial communities in built environments, and will help improve public health in urban communities. PMID:28922412

High-resolution structure, interactions, and dynamics of self-assembled virus-like partilces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raviv, Uri; Asor, R.; Ben-Shaul, O.; Oppenheim, A.; Schlicksup, L. C.; Seltzer, L.; Jarrold, M. F.; Zlotnick, A.

Using SAXS, in combination with Monte Carlo simulations, and our unique solution x-ray scattering data analysis program, we resolved at high spatial resolution, the manner by which wtSV40 packages its 5.2kb circular DNA about 20 histone octamers in the virus capsid (Figure 1). This structure, known as a mini-chromosome, is highly dynamic and could not be resolved by microscopy methods. Using time-resolved solution SAXS, stopped-flow, and flow-through setups the assembly process of VP1, the major caspid protein of the SV40 virus, with RNA or DNA to form virus-like particles (VLPs) was studied in msec temporal resolution. By mixing the nucleotides and the capsid protein, virus-like particles formed within 35 msec, in the case of RNA that formed T =1 particles, and within 15 seconds in the case of DNA that formed T =7 particles, similar to wt SV40. The structural changes leading to the particle formation were followed in detail. More recently, we have extended this work to study the assembly of HBV virus-like particles.

Formation of cage-like particles by poly(amino acid)-based block copolymers in aqueous solution.

PubMed Central

Cudd, A; Bhogal, M; O'Mullane, J; Goddard, P

1991-01-01

When dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide and then dialyzed against phosphate-buffered saline, A-B-A block copolymers composed of poly [N5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-glutamine]-block-poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate)- block-poly [N5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-glutamine] form particles. The particles are cage-like structures with average diameters of 300 nm (average polydispersity, 0.3-0.5). They are stable in aqueous solution at 4 degrees C for up to 3 weeks, at which time flocculation becomes apparent. Negative staining and freeze-fracture electron microscopy suggest that cage-like particles are formed by selective association of segregated micelle populations. A model of particle formation is presented in which B blocks form micelles in dimethylformamide. On dialysis against an aqueous solution, the extended A blocks then associate intermolecularly to form rod-shaped micelles, which connect the B block micelles. The result is a meshed cage-like particle. The implications of these observations on the aggregation behavior of polymeric surfactants in dilute solution are discussed. Images PMID:11607245

Nucleation and growth of sub-3 nm particles in the polluted urban atmosphere of a megacity in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Huan; Zhou, Luyu; Dai, Liang; Shen, Wenchao; Dai, Wei; Zheng, Jun; Ma, Yan; Chen, Mindong

2016-03-01

Particle size distribution down to 1.4 nm was measured in the urban atmosphere of Nanjing, China, in spring, summer, and winter during 2014-2015. Sub-3 nm particle event, which is equivalent to nucleation event, occurred on 42 out of total 90 observation days, but new particles could grow to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)-active sizes on only 9 days. In summer, infrequent nucleation was limited by both unfavorable meteorological conditions (high temperature and relative humidity - RH) and reduced anthropogenic precursor availability due to strict emission control measures during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. The limiting factors for nucleation in winter and spring were meteorological conditions (radiation, temperature, and RH) and condensation sink, but for the further growth of sub-3 nm particles to CCN-active sizes, anthropogenic precursors again became limiting factors. Nucleation events were strong in the polluted urban atmosphere. Initial J1.4 at the onset and peak J1.4 at the noontime could be up to 2.1 × 102 and 2.5 × 103 cm-3 s-1, respectively, during the eight nucleation events selected from different seasons. Time-dependent J1.4 usually showed good linear correlations with a sulfuric acid proxy for every single event (R2 = 0.56-0.86, excluding a day with significant nocturnal nucleation), but the correlation among all eight events deteriorated (R2 = 0.17) due to temperature or season change. We observed that new particle growth rate (GR) did not increase monotonically with particle size, but had a local maximum up to 25 nm h-1 between 1 and 3 nm. The existence of local maxima GR in sub-3 nm size range, though sensitive to measurement uncertainties, gives new insight into cluster dynamics in polluted environments. In this study such growth rate behavior was interpreted as the solvation effect of organic activating vapor in newly formed inorganic nuclei.

Asymmetrical Polyhedral Configuration of Giant Vesicles Induced by Orderly Array of Encapsulated Colloidal Particles

PubMed Central

Natsume, Yuno; Toyota, Taro

2016-01-01

Giant vesicles (GVs) encapsulating colloidal particles by a specific volume fraction show a characteristic configuration under a hypertonic condition. Several flat faces were formed in GV membrane with orderly array of inner particles. GV shape changed from the spherical to the asymmetrical polyhedral configuration. This shape deformation was derived by entropic interaction between inner particles and GV membrane. Because a part of inner particles became to form an ordered phase in the region neighboring the GV membrane, free volume for the other part of particles increased. Giant vesicles encapsulating colloidal particles were useful for the model of “crowding effect” which is the entropic interaction in the cell. PMID:26752650

Asymmetrical Polyhedral Configuration of Giant Vesicles Induced by Orderly Array of Encapsulated Colloidal Particles.

PubMed

Natsume, Yuno; Toyota, Taro

2016-01-01

Giant vesicles (GVs) encapsulating colloidal particles by a specific volume fraction show a characteristic configuration under a hypertonic condition. Several flat faces were formed in GV membrane with orderly array of inner particles. GV shape changed from the spherical to the asymmetrical polyhedral configuration. This shape deformation was derived by entropic interaction between inner particles and GV membrane. Because a part of inner particles became to form an ordered phase in the region neighboring the GV membrane, free volume for the other part of particles increased. Giant vesicles encapsulating colloidal particles were useful for the model of "crowding effect" which is the entropic interaction in the cell.

Materials and methods for autonomous restoration of electrical conductivity

DOEpatents

Blaiszik, Benjamin J; Odom, Susan A; Caruso, Mary M; Jackson, Aaron C; Baginska, Marta B; Ritchey, Joshua A; Finke, Aaron D; White, Scott R; Moore, Jeffrey S; Sottos, Nancy R; Braun, Paul V; Amine, Khalil

2014-03-25

An autonomic conductivity restoration system includes a solid conductor and a plurality of particles. The particles include a conductive fluid, a plurality of conductive microparticles, and/or a conductive material forming agent. The solid conductor has a first end, a second end, and a first conductivity between the first and second ends. When a crack forms between the first and second ends of the conductor, the contents of at least a portion of the particles are released into the crack. The cracked conductor and the released contents of the particles form a restored conductor having a second conductivity, which may be at least 90% of the first conductivity.

High performance cermet electrodes

DOEpatents

Isenberg, Arnold O.; Zymboly, Gregory E.

1986-01-01

Disclosed is a method of increasing the operating cell voltage of a solid oxide electrochemical cell having metal electrode particles in contact with an oxygen-transporting ceramic electrolyte. The metal electrode is heated with the cell, and oxygen is passed through the oxygen-transporting ceramic electrolyte to the surface of the metal electrode particles so that the metal electrode particles are oxidized to form a metal oxide layer between the metal electrode particles and the electrolyte. The metal oxide layer is then reduced to form porous metal between the metal electrode particles and the ceramic electrolyte.

Formation of alcohol conversion catalysts

DOEpatents

Wachs, Israel E.; Cai, Yeping

2001-01-01

The method of the present invention involves a composition containing an intimate mixture of (a) metal oxide support particles and (b) a catalytically active metal oxide from Groups VA, VIA, or VIIA, its method of manufacture, and its method of use for converting alcohols to aldehydes. During the conversion process, catalytically active metal oxide from the discrete catalytic metal oxide particles migrates to the oxide support particles and forms a monolayer of catalytically active metal oxide on the oxide support particle to form a catalyst composition having a higher specific activity than the admixed particle composition.

New weight factor for Brownian force exerted on micro/nano-particles in air flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Peijie; Lin, Jianzhong; Ku, Xiaoke

2018-05-01

In order to effectively describe the effect of Brownian force exerted on the micro/nano-particles in air flow, a new weight factor, which is defined as the ratio of the characteristic velocity of the Brownian motion to the macroscopic velocity, is proposed and applied to the particle settlement under gravity. Results show that the weight factor can quantitatively evaluate the effect of Brownian force on the particle motion. Moreover, the value of the weight factor can also be used to judge the particle motion pattern and determine whether the Brownian force should be taken into account.

Ion composition of coarse and fine particles in Iasi, north-eastern Romania: Implications for aerosols chemistry in the area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arsene, Cecilia; Olariu, Romeo Iulian; Zarmpas, Pavlos; Kanakidou, Maria; Mihalopoulos, Nikolaos

2011-02-01

Atmospheric loadings of the aerosols coarse (particles of AED > 1.5 μm) and fine fractions (particles of AED < 1.5 μm) were determined in Iasi, north-eastern Romania from January 2007 to March 2008. Concentrations of water soluble ions (SO 42-, NO 3-, Cl -, C 2O 42-, NH 4+, K +, Na +, Ca 2+ and Mg 2+) were measured using ion chromatography (IC). In the coarse particles, calcium and carbonate are the main ionic constituents (˜65%), whereas in the fine particles SO 42-, NO 3-, Cl - and NH 4+ are the most abundant. Temperature and relative humidity (RH) associated with increased concentrations of specific ions might be the main factors controlling the aerosol chemistry at the investigated site. From August 2007 to March 2008 high RH (as high as 80% for about 82% of the investigated period) was prevailing in Iasi and the collected particles were expected to have deliquesced and form an internal mixture. We found that in fine particles ammonium nitrate (NH 4NO 3) is important especially under conditions of NH 4+/SO 42- ratio higher than 1.5 and high RH (RH above deliquescence of NH 4Cl, NH 4NO 3 and (NH 4) 2SO 4). At the investigated site large ammonium artifacts may occur due to inter-particle interaction especially under favorable meteorological conditions. A methodology for estimating the artifact free ambient ammonium concentration is proposed for filter pack sampling data of deliquesced particles. Nitrate and sulfate ions in coarse particles are probably formed via reactions of nitric and sulfuric acid with calcium carbonate and sodium chloride which during specific seasons are abundant at the investigated site. In the fine mode sulfate concentration maximized during summer (due to enhanced photochemistry) and winter (due to high concentration of SO 2 emitted from coal burning). Natural contributions, dust or sea-salt related, prevail mainly in the coarse particles. From May 2007 to August 2007, when air masses originated mainly from Black Sea, in the coarse particles an nss-Cl/Na ratio of 1.11 was measured. Elevated levels of chloride in fine particles have been attributed to waste burning in the proximity of the investigated site or to NaCl salt widely spread on roads during winter. Considering the importance of atmospheric aerosols, this study may constitute a reference point for Eastern Europe.

Method of making membrane-electrode assemblies for electrochemical cells and assemblies made thereby

DOEpatents

Swathirajan, Sundararajan; Mikhail, Youssef M.

1994-01-01

A method of making a combination, unitary, membrane and electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and first and second electrodes at least partially embedded in opposed surfaces of the membrane. The electrodes each comprise a respective group of finely divided carbon particles, very finely divided catalytic particles supported on internal and external surfaces of the carbon particles and a proton conductive material intermingled with the catalytic and carbon particles. A first group of finely divided carbon particles forming the first electrode has greater water attraction and retention properties, and is more hydrophilic than a second group of carbon particles forming the second electrode. In a preferred method, the membrane electrode assembly of the invention is prepared by forming a slurry of proton conductive material and at least one group of the carbon and catalyst particles. The slurry is applied to the opposed surfaces of the membrane and heated while being pressed to the membrane for a time and at a temperature and compressive load sufficient to embed at least a portion of the particles into the membrane.

Method of making membrane-electrode assemblies for electrochemical cells and assemblies made thereby

DOEpatents

Swathirajan, S.; Mikhail, Y.M.

1994-05-31

A method is described for making a combination, unitary, membrane and electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and first and second electrodes at least partially embedded in opposed surfaces of the membrane. The electrodes each comprise a respective group of finely divided carbon particles, very finely divided catalytic particles supported on internal and external surfaces of the carbon particles and a proton conductive material intermingled with the catalytic and carbon particles. A first group of finely divided carbon particles forming the first electrode has greater water attraction and retention properties, and is more hydrophilic than a second group of carbon particles forming the second electrode. In a preferred method, the membrane electrode assembly of the invention is prepared by forming a slurry of proton conductive material and at least one group of the carbon and catalyst particles. The slurry is applied to the opposed surfaces of the membrane and heated while being pressed to the membrane for a time and at a temperature and compressive load sufficient to embed at least a portion of the particles into the membrane. 10 figs.

Transcription factor FoxA (HNF3) on a nucleosome at an enhancer complex in liver chromatin.

PubMed

Chaya, D; Hayamizu, T; Bustin, M; Zaret, K S

2001-11-30

Nucleosome-like particles and acetylated histones occur near active promoters and enhancers, and certain transcription factors can recognize their target sites on the surface of a nucleosome in vitro; yet it has been unclear whether transcription factors can occupy target sites on nucleosomes in native chromatin. We developed a method for sequential chromatin immunoprecipitation of distinct nuclear proteins that are simultaneously cross-linked to nucleosome-sized genomic DNA segments. We find that core histone H2A co-occupies, along with the FoxA (hepatocyte nuclear factor-3) transcription factor, DNA for the albumin transcriptional enhancer in native liver chromatin, where the enhancer is active. Because histone H2A on nuclear DNA is only known to exist in nucleosomes, we conclude that transcription factors can form a stable complex on nucleosomes at an active enhancer element in vivo.

A murine retrovirus co-Opts YB-1, a translational regulator and stress granule-associated protein, to facilitate virus assembly.

PubMed

Bann, Darrin V; Beyer, Andrea R; Parent, Leslie J

2014-04-01

The Gag protein of the murine retrovirus mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) orchestrates the assembly of immature virus particles in the cytoplasm which are subsequently transported to the plasma membrane for release from the cell. The morphogenetic pathway of MMTV assembly is similar to that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae retrotransposons Ty1 and Ty3, which assemble virus-like particles (VLPs) in intracytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. Assembly of Ty1 and Ty3 VLPs depends upon cellular mRNA processing factors, prompting us to examine whether MMTV utilizes a similar set of host proteins to facilitate viral capsid assembly. Our data revealed that MMTV Gag colocalized with YB-1, a translational regulator found in stress granules and P bodies, in intracytoplasmic foci. The association of MMTV Gag and YB-1 in cytoplasmic granules was not disrupted by cycloheximide treatment, suggesting that these sites were not typical stress granules. However, the association of MMTV Gag and YB-1 was RNA dependent, and an MMTV RNA reporter construct colocalized with Gag and YB-1 in cytoplasmic RNP complexes. Knockdown of YB-1 resulted in a significant decrease in MMTV particle production, indicating that YB-1 plays a role in MMTV capsid formation. Analysis by live-cell imaging with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) revealed that the population of Gag proteins localized within YB-1 complexes was relatively immobile, suggesting that Gag forms stable complexes in association with YB-1. Together, our data imply that the formation of intracytoplasmic Gag-RNA complexes is facilitated by YB-1, which promotes MMTV virus assembly. Cellular mRNA processing factors regulate the posttranscriptional fates of mRNAs, affecting localization and utilization of mRNAs under normal conditions and in response to stress. RNA viruses such as retroviruses interact with cellular mRNA processing factors that accumulate in ribonucleoprotein complexes known as P bodies and stress granules. This report shows for the first time that mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), a mammalian retrovirus that assembles intracytoplasmic virus particles, commandeers the cellular factor YB-1, a key regulator of translation involved in the cellular stress response. YB-1 is essential for the efficient production of MMTV particles, a process directed by the viral Gag protein. We found that Gag and YB-1 localize together in cytoplasmic granules. Functional studies of Gag/YB-1 granules suggest that they may be sites where virus particles assemble. These studies provide significant insights into the interplay between mRNA processing factors and retroviruses.

Form Factor Measurements at BESIII for an Improved Standard Model Prediction of the Muon g-2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Destefanis, Marco

The anomalous part of the magnetic moment of the muon, (g-2)μ, allows for one of the most precise tests of the Standard Model of particle physics. We report on recent results by the BESIII Collaboration of exclusive hadronic cross section channels, such as the 2π, 3π, and 4π final states. These measurements are of utmost importance for an improved calculation of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution of (g-2)μ, which currenty is limiting the overall Standard Model prediction of this quantity. BESIII has furthermore also intiatated a programme of spacelike transition form factor measurements, which can be used for a determination of the hadronic light-by-light contribution of (g-2)μ in a data-driven approach. These results are of relevance in view of the new and direct measurements of (g-2)μ as foreseen at Fermilab/USA and J-PARC/Japan.

Reduction of glycine particle size by impinging jet crystallization.

PubMed

Tari, Tímea; Fekete, Zoltán; Szabó-Révész, Piroska; Aigner, Zoltán

2015-01-15

The parameters of crystallization processes determine the habit and particle size distribution of the products. A narrow particle size distribution and a small average particle size are crucial for the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble pharmacons. Thus, particle size reduction is often required during crystallization processes. Impinging jet crystallization is a method that results in a product with a reduced particle size due to the homogeneous and high degree of supersaturation at the impingement point. In this work, the applicability of the impinging jet technique as a new approach in crystallization was investigated for the antisolvent crystallization of glycine. A factorial design was applied to choose the relevant crystallization factors. The results were analysed by means of a statistical program. The particle size distribution of the crystallized products was investigated with a laser diffraction particle size analyser. The roundness and morphology were determined with the use of a light microscopic image analysis system and a scanning electron microscope. Polymorphism was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction. Headspace gas chromatography was utilized to determine the residual solvent content. Impinging jet crystallization proved to reduce the particle size of glycine. The particle size distribution was appropriate, and the average particle size was an order of magnitude smaller (d(0.5)=8-35 μm) than that achieved with conventional crystallization (d(0.5)=82-680 μm). The polymorphic forms of the products were influenced by the solvent ratio. The quantity of residual solvent in the crystallized products was in compliance with the requirements of the International Conference on Harmonization. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Direct observation of new particle formation during ozonolysis of isoprene and ethene competing against the growth of preexisting particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inomata, Satoshi; Sato, Kei; Sakamoto, Yosuke; Hirokawa, Jun

2017-12-01

Secondary organic aerosol formation during the ozonolysis of isoprene and ethene in the presence of ammonium nitrate seed particles (surface area concentrations = (0.8-3) × 107 nm2 cm-3) was investigated using a 1 nm scanning mobility particle sizer. Based on the size distribution of formed particles, particles with a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter of the seed particles (less than ∼6 nm) formed under dry conditions, but the formation of such particles was substantially suppressed during isoprene ozonolysis and was not observed during ethane ozonolysis under humid conditions. We propose that oligomeric hydroperoxides generated by stabilized Criegee intermediates (sCIs), including C1-sCI (CH2OO), contribute to new particle formation while competing to be taken up onto preexisting particles. The OH reaction products of isoprene and ethene seem to not contribute to new particle formation; however, they are taken up onto preexisting particles and contribute to particle growth.

Relationships between particle precipitation and auroral forms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burch, J. L.; Winningham, J. D.

1978-01-01

The paper discusses recent measurements pertaining to the relationship between high-latitude particle (electron) precipitation and auroras. The discussion covers three topics: the large-scale relationships between auroral forms and the particle populations of the magnetosphere as determined from satellite measurements; (2) the relationship between satellite and sounding-rocket observations, particularly field-aligned pitch-angle distributions and upward field-aligned currents measured in the vicinity of auroral forms; and (3) recent results on the interaction of auroral electrons with the atmosphere.

Clustering of low-valence particles: structure and kinetics.

PubMed

Markova, Olga; Alberts, Jonathan; Munro, Edwin; Lenne, Pierre-François

2014-08-01

We compute the structure and kinetics of two systems of low-valence particles with three or six freely oriented bonds in two dimensions. The structure of clusters formed by trivalent particles is complex with loops and holes, while hexavalent particles self-organize into regular and compact structures. We identify the elementary structures which compose the clusters of trivalent particles. At initial stages of clustering, the clusters of trivalent particles grow with a power-law time dependence. Yet at longer times fusion and fission of clusters equilibrates and clusters form a heterogeneous phase with polydispersed sizes. These results emphasize the role of valence in the kinetics and stability of finite-size clusters.

Magnetic field drift shell splitting - Cause of unusual dayside particle pitch angle distributions during storms and substorms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sibeck, D. G.; Mcentire, R. W.; Lui, A. T. Y.; Lopez, R. E.; Krimigis, S. M.

1987-01-01

This paper presents a magnetic field drift shell-splitting model for the unusual butterfly and head-and-shoulder energetic (E greater than 25 keV) particle pitch angle distributions (PADs) which appear deep within the dayside magnetosphere during the course of storms and substorms. Drift shell splitting separates the high and low pitch angle particles in nightside injections as they move to the dayside magnetosphere, so that the higher pitch angle particles move radially away from earth. Consequently, butterfly PADs with a surplus of low pitch angle particles form on the inner edge of the injection, but head-and-shoulder PADs with a surplus of high pitch angle particles form on the outer edge. A similar process removes high pitch angle particles from the inner dayside magnetosphere during storms, leaving the remaining lower pitch angle particles to form butterfly PADs on the inner edge of the ring current. A detailed case and statistical study of Charge Composition Explorer/Medium-energy Particle Analyzer observations, as well as a review of previous work, shows most examples of unusual PADs to be consistent with the model.

Deposition of bi-dispersed particles in inkjet-printed evaporating colloidal drops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ying; Joshi, Abhijit; Chhasatia, Viral

2010-11-01

In this study, the deposition behaviors of inkjet-printed evaporating colloidal drops consisting of bi-dispersed micro and nano-sized particles are investigated by fluorescence microscopy and SEM. The results on hydrophilic glass substrates show that, evaporatively-driven outward flow drives the nanoparticles to deposit close to the pinned contact line while an inner ring deposition is formed by microparticles. This size-induced particle separation is consistent with the existence of a wedge-shaped drop edge near the contact line region of an evaporating drop on a hydrophilic substrate. The replenishing evaporatively-driven flow assembles nanoparticles closer to the pinned contact line forming an outer ring of nanoparticles and this particle jamming further enhances the contact line pinning. Microparticles are observed to form an inner ring inside the nano-sized deposits. This size-induced particle separation presents a new challenge to the uniformity of functional materials in bioprinting applications where nanoparticles and micro-sized cells are mixed together. On the other hand, particle self-assembly based on their sizes provides enables easy and well-controlled pattern formation. The effects of particle size contrast, particle volume fraction, substrate surface energy, and relative humidity of the printing environment on particle separation are examined in detail.

Precipitation-lyophilization-homogenization (PLH) for preparation of clarithromycin nanocrystals: influencing factors on physicochemical properties and stability.

PubMed

Morakul, Boontida; Suksiriworapong, Jiraphong; Leanpolchareanchai, Jiraporn; Junyaprasert, Varaporn Buraphacheep

2013-11-30

Nanocrystals is one of effective technologies used to improve solubility and dissolution behavior of poorly soluble drugs. Clarithromycin is classified in BCS class II having low bioavailability due to very low dissolution behavior. The main purpose of this study was to investigate an efficiency of clarithromycin nanocrystals preparation by precipitation-lyophilization-homogenization (PLH) combination method in comparison with high pressure homogenization (HPH) method. The factors influencing particle size reduction and physical stability were assessed. The results showed that the PLH technique provided an effective and rapid reduction of particle size of nanocrystals to 460 ± 10 nm with homogeneity size distribution after only the fifth cycle of homogenization, whereas the same size was attained after 30 cycles by the HPH method. The smallest nanocrystals were achieved by using the combination of poloxamer 407 (2%, w/v) and SLS (0.1%, w/v) as stabilizers. This combination could prevent the particle aggregation over 3-month storage at 4 °C. The results from SEM showed that the clarithromycin nanocrystals were in cubic-shaped similar to its initial particle morphology. The DSC thermogram and X-ray diffraction pattern of nanocrystals were not different from the original drug except for intensity of peaks which indicated the presenting of nanocrystals in the crystalline state and/or partial amorphous form. In addition, the dissolution of the clarithromycin nanocrystals was dramatically increased as compared to the coarse clarithromycin. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Immersion Freezing of Aluminas: The Effect of Crystallographic Properties on Ice Nucleation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, M.; Chong, E.; Freedman, M. A.

2017-12-01

Atmospheric aerosol particles serve as the nuclei for heterogeneous ice nucleation, a process that allows for ice to form at higher temperatures and lower supersaturations with respect to ice. This process is essential to the formation of ice in cirrus clouds. Heterogeneous ice nucleation is affected by many factors including the composition, crystal structure, porosity, and surface area of the particles. However, these factors are not well understood and, as such, are difficult to account for in climate models. To test the effects of crystal structure on ice nucleation, a system of transition aluminas (Al2O3) that differ only in their crystal structure, despite being compositionally similar, were tested using immersion freezing. Particles were immersed in water and placed into a temperature controlled chamber. Freezing events were then recorded as the chamber was cooled to negative 30 °. Alpha-alumina, which is a member of the hexagonal crystal system, showed a significantly higher temperature at which all particles froze in comparison to other samples. This supports the hypothesis that, since a hexagonal crystal structure is the lowest energy state for ice, hexagonal surface structures would best facilitate ice nucleation. However, a similar sample of hexagonal chi-alumina did not show the same results. Further analysis of the samples will be done to characterize surface structures and composition. These conflicting data sets raise interesting questions about the effect of other surface features, such as surface area and porosity, on ice nucleation.

Janus and Strawberry-like Particles from Azo Molecular Glass and Polydimethylsiloxane Oligomer.

PubMed

Hsu, Chungen; Du, Yi; Wang, Xiaogong

2017-10-10

This study investigated Janus and strawberry-like particles composed of azo molecular glass and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oligomer, focusing on controllable fabrication and formation mechanism of these unique structures and morphologies. Two materials, the azo molecular glass (IA-Chol) and PDMS oligomer (H 2 pdca-PDMS), were prepared for this purpose. The Janus and strawberry-like particles were obtained from the droplets of a dichloromethane (DCM) solution containing both IA-Chol and H 2 pdca-PDMS, dispersed in water and stabilized by poly(vinyl alcohol). Results show that the structured particles are formed through segregation between the two components induced by gradual evaporation of DCM from the droplets, which is controlled by adding ethylene glycol (EG) into the above dispersion. Without the addition of EG, Janus particles are formed through the full segregation of the two components in the droplets. On the other hand, with the existence of EG in the dispersion, strawberry-like particles instead of Janus particles are formed in the phase separation process. The diffusion of EG molecules from the dispersion medium into the droplets causes the PDMS phase deswelling in the interfacial area due to the poor solvent effect. Caused by the surface coagulation, the coalescence of the isolated IA-Chol domains is jammed in the shell region, which results in the formation of the strawberry-like particles. For the particles separated from the dispersion and dried, the PDMS oligomer phase of the Janus particles can adhere and spread on the substrate to form unique "particle-on-pad" morphology due to its low surface energy and swelling ability, while the strawberry-like particles exist as "standstill" objects on the substrates. Upon irradiation with a linearly polarized laser beam at 488 nm, the azo molecular glass parts in the particles are significantly deformed along the light polarization direction, which show unique and distinct morphologies for these two types of the particles.

Effect of Grinding on the Solid-State Stability and Particle Dissolution of Acyclovir Polymorphs.

PubMed

Magnoni, Federico; Gigliobianco, Maria Rosa; Vargas Peregrina, Dolores; Censi, Roberta; Di Martino, Piera

2017-10-01

The present work investigated the solid state change of 4 acyclovir polymorphs when ground at room temperature (Method A) and under cryo-grinding in the presence of liquid nitrogen (Method B). Modifications in particle size and shape (evaluated by scanning electron microscopy) and in the water content (evaluated by thermal analysis) were related to transitions at the solid state, as confirmed by X-ray powder diffractometry. Anhydrous Form I was stable under grinding by both Methods A and B. The anhydrous Form II was stable during grinding under Method A, whereas it was progressively converted to the hydrate Form V during grinding under Method B. The hydrate Form V was stable under Method A, whereas it was converted to the anhydrous Form I after 15 min and then to the hydrate Form VI after 45 min of grinding. The hydrate Form VI proved to be stable under grinding by both Methods A and B. Thus, Form I and VI were the only forms that yielded a sizeable decrease in particle size under grinding, with a consequent increase in particle dissolution rate, while maintaining solid state physicochemical stability. Form I treated under Method B grinding gave the best dissolution rate. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A novel mathematical model considering change of diffusion coefficient for predicting dissolution behavior of acetaminophen from wax matrix dosage form.

PubMed

Nitanai, Yuta; Agata, Yasuyoshi; Iwao, Yasunori; Itai, Shigeru

2012-05-30

From wax matrix dosage forms, drug and water-soluble polymer are released into the external solvent over time. As a consequence, the pore volume inside the wax matrix particles is increased and the diffusion coefficient of the drug is altered. In the present study, we attempted to derive a novel empirical mathematical model, namely, a time-dependent diffusivity (TDD) model, that assumes the change in the drug's diffusion coefficient can be used to predict the drug release from spherical wax matrix particles. Wax matrix particles were prepared by using acetaminophen (APAP), a model drug; glyceryl monostearate (GM), a wax base; and aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E (AMCE), a functional polymer that dissolves below pH 5.0 and swells over pH 5.0. A three-factor, three-level (3(3)) Box-Behnken design was used to evaluate the effects of several of the variables in the model formulation, and the release of APAP from wax matrix particles was evaluated by the paddle method at pH 4.0 and pH 6.5. When comparing the goodness of fit to the experimental data between the proposed TDD model and the conventional pure diffusion model, a better correspondence was observed for the TDD model in all cases. Multiple regression analysis revealed that an increase in AMCE loading enhanced the diffusion coefficient with time, and that this increase also had a significant effect on drug release behavior. Furthermore, from the results of the multiple regression analysis, a formulation with desired drug release behavior was found to satisfy the criteria of the bitter taste masking of APAP without lowering the bioavailability. That is to say, the amount of APAP released remains below 15% for 10 min at pH 6.5 and exceeds 90% within 30 min at pH 4.0. The predicted formulation was 15% APAP loading, 8.25% AMCE loading, and 400 μm mean particle diameter. When wax matrix dosage forms were prepared accordingly, the predicted drug release behavior agreed well with experimental values at each pH level. Therefore, the proposed model is feasible as a useful tool for predicting drug release behavior, as well as for designing the formulation of wax matrix dosage forms. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Histomorphometric evaluation of ridge preservation after molar tooth extraction].

PubMed

Zhan, Y L; Hu, W J; Xu, T; Zhen, M; Lu, R F

2017-02-18

To evaluate bone formation in human extraction sockets with absorbed surrounding walls augmented with Bio-Oss and Bio-Gide after a 6-month healing period by histologic and histomorphometric analyses. Six fresh molar tooth extraction sockets in 6 patients who required periodontally compromised moral tooth extraction were included in this study. The six fresh extraction sockets were grafted with Bio-Oss particle covered with Bio-Gide. The 2.8 mm×6.0 mm cylindric bone specimens were taken from the graft sites with aid of stent 6 months after the surgery. Histologic and histomorphometric analyses were performed. The histological results showed Bio-Oss particles were easily distinguished from the newly formed bone, small amounts of new bone were formed among the Bio-Oss particles, large amounts of connective tissue were found. Intimate contact between the newly formed bone and the small part of Bio-Oss particles was present. All the biopsy cylinders measurement demonstrated a high inter-individual variability in the percentage of the bone, connective tissues and Bio-Oss particles. The new bone occupied 11.54% (0-28.40%) of the total area; the connective tissues were 53.42% (34.08%-74.59%) and the Bio-Oss particles were 35.04% (13.92%-50.87%). The percentage of the particles, which were in contact with bone tissues, amounted to 20.13% (0-48.50%). Sites grafted with Bio-Oss particles covered with Bio-Gide were comprised of connective tissues and small amounts of newly formed bone surrounding the graft particles.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dabbs, Daniel M.; Ramachandran, Usha; Lu, Sang

Citric acid has been shown to act as an agent for increasing the solubility of aluminum oxyhydroxides in aqueous solutions of high (>2.47 mol/mol) hydroxide-to-aluminum ratios. Conversely, citric acid also colloidally stabilizes particles in aqueous suspensions of aluminum-containing particles. Solutions of aluminum chloride, with and without citric acid added, were titrated with NaO(aq). The presence and size of particles were determined using quasi-elastic light scattering. In solutions that contained no citric acid, particles formed instantaneously when NaOH(aq) was added but these were observed to rapidly diminish in size, disappearing at OH/Al ratios below 2.5 mol/mol. When the OH/Al ratio wasmore » raised beyond 2.5 by addingmoreNaOH(aq), suspensions of colloidally stable particles formed. Large polycations containing 13 aluminum atoms were detected by 27Al solution NMR in citric-acid-free solutions with OH/Al ratios slightly lower than 2.5. In comparison, adding citric acid to solutions of aluminum chloride inhibited the formation of large aluminum-containing polycations. The absence of the polycations prevents or retards the subsequent formation of particles, indicating that the polycations, when present, act as seeds to the formation of new particles. Particles did not form in solutions with a citric acid/aluminum ratio of 0.8 until sufficient NaOH(aq) was added to raise the OH/Al ratio to 3.29. By comparison, lower amounts of citric acid did not prevent particles from forming but did retard the rate of growth.« less

Microbial community variation in cryoconite granules on Qaanaaq Glacier, NW Greenland.

PubMed

Uetake, Jun; Tanaka, Sota; Segawa, Takahiro; Takeuchi, Nozomu; Nagatsuka, Naoko; Motoyama, Hideaki; Aoki, Teruo

2016-09-01

Cryoconite granules are aggregations of microorganisms with mineral particles that form on glacier surfaces. To understand the processes by which the granules develop, this study focused on the altitudinal distribution of the granules and photosynthetic microorganisms on the glacier, bacterial community variation with granules size and environmental factors affecting the growth of the granules. Size-sorted cryoconite granules collected from five different sites on Qaanaaq Glacier were analyzed. C and N contents were significantly higher in large (diameter greater than 250 μm) granules than in smaller (diameter 30-249 μm) granules. Bacterial community structures, based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, were different between the smaller and larger granules. The filamentous cyanobacterium Phormidesmis priestleyi was the dominant bacterial species in larger granules. Multivariate analysis suggests that the abundance of mineral particles on the glacier surface is the main factor controlling growth of these cyanobacteria. These results show that the supply of mineral particles on the glacier enhances granule development, that P. priestleyi is likely the key species for primary production and the formation of the granules and that the bacterial community in the granules changes over the course of the granule development. © FEMS 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Remediation of metal-contaminated urban soil using flotation technique.

PubMed

Dermont, G; Bergeron, M; Richer-Laflèche, M; Mercier, G

2010-02-01

A soil washing process using froth flotation technique was evaluated for the removal of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc from a highly contaminated urban soil (brownfield) after crushing of the particle-size fractions >250microm. The metal contaminants were in particulate forms and distributed in all the particle-size fractions. The particle-by-particle study with SEM-EDS showed that Zn was mainly present as sphalerite (ZnS), whereas Cu and Pb were mainly speciated as various oxide/carbonate compounds. The influence of surfactant collector type (non-ionic and anionic), collector dosage, pulp pH, a chemical activation step (sulfidization), particle size, and process time on metal removal efficiency and flotation selectivity was studied. Satisfactory results in metal recovery (42-52%), flotation selectivity (concentration factor>2.5), and volume reduction (>80%) were obtained with anionic collector (potassium amyl xanthate). The transportation mechanisms involved in the separation process (i.e., the true flotation and the mechanical entrainment) were evaluated by the pulp chemistry, the metal speciation, the metal distribution in the particle-size fractions, and the separation selectivity indices of Zn/Ca and Zn/Fe. The investigations showed that a great proportion of metal-containing particles were recovered in the froth layer by entrainment mechanism rather than by true flotation process. The non-selective entrainment mechanism of the fine particles (<20 microm) caused a flotation selectivity drop, especially with a long flotation time (>5 min) and when a high collector dose is used. The intermediate particle-size fraction (20-125 microm) showed the best flotation selectivity. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The role of jet and film drops in controlling the mixing state of submicron sea spray aerosol particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Xiaofei; Deane, Grant B.; Moore, Kathryn A.

Covering 71% of the Earth’s surface, oceans represent a significant global source of atmospheric aerosols. The size and composition of sea spray aerosols (SSA) affect their ability to serve as cloud seeds and thus understanding the factors controlling their composition is critical to predicting their impact on clouds and climate. SSA particles have been shown to be an external mixture of particles with different compositions. Film and jet drop production mechanisms ultimately determine the individual particle compositions which are comprised of an array of salt/organic mixtures ranging from pure sea salt to nearly pure organic particles. It is often assumedmore » that the majority of submicron SSA are formed by film drops produced from bursting hydrophobic organic-rich bubble film caps at the sea surface, and in contrast, jet drops are postulated to produce larger supermicron particles from underlying seawater comprised largely of salts and water soluble organic species. However, here we show that jet drops produced by bursting sub-100 m bubbles account for up to 40 % of all submicron particles. They have distinct chemical compositions, organic volume fractions and ice nucleating activities from submicron film drops. Thus a substantial fraction of submicron particles will not necessarily be controlled by the composition of the sea surface microlayer as has been assumed in many studies. This finding has significant ramifications for the size-resolved mixing states of SSA particles which must be taken into consideration when accessing SSA impacts on clouds.« less

Influence of forage species and diet particle size on the passage of digesta and nylon particles from the reticulorumen of steers.

PubMed

Prigge, E C; Fox, J T; Jacquemet, N A; Russell, R W

1993-10-01

To assess factors that influence the passage of digesta from the reticulorumen, ruminally fistulated steers (387 kg) were fed to appetite in a 4 x 4 Latin square design either orchardgrass (OG) (Dactylis glomerata L.) or switchgrass (SG) (Panicum virgatum L.) hays. The two hays were fed in either the long form or ground to pass a 2-cm screen. Steers fed OG diets had greater DMI (P < .05) than steers fed SG diets (11.7 vs 10.4 kg/d respectively). Particle size of ruminal digesta and feces determined by wet sieving was greater (P < .05) for the OG and long hay diets than for the SG and ground diets. Particle size of digesta collected from the anterior dorsal sac and anterior ventral sac of the rumen and from the reticulum did not vary (P > .25) with site. Conversely, ruminal concentrations of 1-mm nylon particles tended (P = .11) to be greater in the lower strata of the reticulorumen at 12 and 24 h after dosing. Neither a site effect nor a site x time-after-dosing interaction (P > .75) was observed for the 3- or 5-mm nylon particles, suggesting that a sorting process independent of specific gravity occurs in the rumen for smaller particles (before the reticulomasal orifice). Passage rate of the 1-mm nylon particles from the reticulorumen was greater (P < .01) for animals fed the SG than for those fed the OG diets, whereas for the 5-mm particles, passage rate was greater for the OG diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

IgG particle formation during filling pump operation: a case study of heterogeneous nucleation on stainless steel nanoparticles.

PubMed

Tyagi, Anil K; Randolph, Theodore W; Dong, Aichun; Maloney, Kevin M; Hitscherich, Carl; Carpenter, John F

2009-01-01

This study investigated factors associated with vial filling with a positive displacement piston pump leading to formation of protein particles in a formulation of an IgG. We hypothesized that nanoparticles shed from the pump's solution-contact surfaces nucleated protein aggregation and particle formation. Vials of IgG formulation filled at a clinical manufacturing site contained a few visible particles and about 100,000 particles (1.5-3 microm) per mL. In laboratory studies with the same model (National Instruments FUS-10) of pump, pumping of 20 mg/mL IgG formulation resulted in about 300,000 particles (1.5-3 microm) per mL. Pumping of protein-free formulation resulted in 13,000 particles (1.5-15 microm) per mL. More than 99% of the particles were 0.25-0.95 microm in size. Mixing of protein-free pumped solution with an equal volume of 40 mg/mL IgG resulted in 300,000 particles (1.5-15 microm) per mL. Also, mixing IgG formulation with 30,000/mL stainless steel nanoparticles resulted in formation of 30,000 protein microparticles (1.5-15 microm) per mL. Infrared spectroscopy showed that secondary structure of IgG in microparticles formed by pumping or mixing with steel nanoparticles was minimally perturbed. Our results document that nanoparticles of foreign materials shed by pumps can serve as heterogeneous nuclei for formation of protein microparticles. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association

The role of jet and film drops in controlling the mixing state of submicron sea spray aerosol particles

DOE PAGES

Wang, Xiaofei; Deane, Grant B.; Moore, Kathryn A.; ...

2017-06-19

Covering 71% of the Earth’s surface, oceans represent a significant global source of atmospheric aerosols. The size and composition of sea spray aerosols (SSA) affect their ability to serve as cloud seeds and thus understanding the factors controlling their composition is critical to predicting their impact on clouds and climate. SSA particles have been shown to be an external mixture of particles with different compositions. Film and jet drop production mechanisms ultimately determine the individual particle compositions which are comprised of an array of salt/organic mixtures ranging from pure sea salt to nearly pure organic particles. It is often assumedmore » that the majority of submicron SSA are formed by film drops produced from bursting hydrophobic organic-rich bubble film caps at the sea surface, and in contrast, jet drops are postulated to produce larger supermicron particles from underlying seawater comprised largely of salts and water soluble organic species. However, here we show that jet drops produced by bursting sub-100 m bubbles account for up to 40 % of all submicron particles. They have distinct chemical compositions, organic volume fractions and ice nucleating activities from submicron film drops. Thus a substantial fraction of submicron particles will not necessarily be controlled by the composition of the sea surface microlayer as has been assumed in many studies. This finding has significant ramifications for the size-resolved mixing states of SSA particles which must be taken into consideration when accessing SSA impacts on clouds.« less

Method of forming a relatively stable slip of silicon metal particles and yttrium containing particles

DOEpatents

Dickie, Ray A.; Mangels, John A.

1984-01-01

The method concerns forming a relatively stable slip of silicon metal particles and yttrium containing particles. In one embodiment, a casting slip of silicon metal particles is formed in water. Particles of a yttrium containing sintering aid are added to the casting slip. The yttrium containing sintering aid is a compound which has at least some solubility in water to form Y.sup.+3 ions which have a high potential for totally flocculating the silicon metal particles into a semiporous solid. A small amount of a fluoride salt is added to the casting slip which contains the yttrium containing sintering aid. The fluoride salt is one which will produce fluoride anions when dissolved in water. The small amount of the fluoride anions produced are effective to suppress the flocculation of the silicon metal particles by the Y.sup.+3 ions so that all particles remain in suspension in the casting slip and the casting slip has both an increased shelf life and can be used to cast articles having a relatively thick cross-section. The pH of the casting slip is maintained in a range from 7.5 to 9. Preferably, the fluoride salt used is one which is based on a monovalent cation such as sodium or ammonia. The steps of adding the yttrium containing sintering aid and the fluoride salt may be interchanged if desired, and the salt may be added to a solution containing the sintering aid prior to addition of the silicon metal particles.

Cinematographic investigations of the explosively driven dispersion and ignition of solid particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grégoire, Y.; Sturtzer, M.-O.; Khasainov, B. A.; Veyssière, B.

2014-07-01

We present results of an experimental study of blast wave propagation and particle dispersion induced by a free-field detonation of spherical charges made of a 125 g C-4 explosive surrounded by inert or reactive particles. Visualization of the flow was performed with a high-frame-rate video camera. Background oriented Schlieren (BOS) methods were adapted to process the images that allowed the detection of the shock waves. BOS analysis also revealed that particles form agglomerates, which may generate precursor perturbations on the recorded pressure signals. While inert glass particles notably delay the shock, the combustion of aluminium particles can accelerate it, especially if they are small atomized or flaked particles. When a mixture of inert glass particles with reactive particles is dispersed, the agglomerates are formed by coalescence of both materials.

A Cost Benefit Analysis of Emerging LED Water Purification Systems in Expeditionary Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-23

the initial contingency response phase, ROWPUs are powered by large generators which require relatively large amounts of fossil fuels. The amount of...they attract and cling together forming a larger particle (Chem Treat, 2016). Flocculation is the addition of a polymer to water that clumps...smaller particles together to form larger particles. The idea for both methods is that larger particles will either settle out of or be removed from the

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics: Flavour Lattice Averaging Group (FLAG).

PubMed

Aoki, S; Aoki, Y; Bečirević, D; Bernard, C; Blum, T; Colangelo, G; Della Morte, M; Dimopoulos, P; Dürr, S; Fukaya, H; Golterman, M; Gottlieb, Steven; Hashimoto, S; Heller, U M; Horsley, R; Jüttner, A; Kaneko, T; Lellouch, L; Leutwyler, H; Lin, C-J D; Lubicz, V; Lunghi, E; Mawhinney, R; Onogi, T; Pena, C; Sachrajda, C T; Sharpe, S R; Simula, S; Sommer, R; Vladikas, A; Wenger, U; Wittig, H

2017-01-01

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D - and B -meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in the semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio [Formula: see text] and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory. We review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four B parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. The latter quantities are an addition compared to the previous review. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (also new compared to the previous review), as well as those for D - and B -meson-decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. Finally, we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].

Characterization and preparation of p(U-MMA-An) interpenetrating polymer network damping and absorbing material.

PubMed

Liu, Jun; Li, Qingshan; Zhuo, Yuguo; Hong, Wei; Lv, Wenfeng; Xing, Guangzhong

2014-06-01

P(U-MMA-ANI) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) damping and absorbing material is successfully synthesized by PANI particles served as an absorbing agent with the microemulsion polymerization and P(U-MMA) foam IPN network structure for substrate materials with foaming way. P(U-MMA-ANI) IPN is characterized by the compression mechanical performance testing, TG-DSC, and DSC. The results verify that the P(U-MMA) IPN foam damping material has a good compressive strength and compaction cycle property, and the optimum content of PMMA was 40% (mass) with which the SEM graphs do not present the phase separation on the macro level between PMMA and PU, while the phase separation was observed on the micro level. The DTG curve indicates that because of the formation of P(U-MMA) IPN, the decomposition temperature of PMMA and the carbamate in PU increases, while that of the polyol segment in PU has almost no change. P(U-MMA-ANI) IPN foam damping and absorbing material is obtained by PANI particles served as absorbing agent in the form of filler, and PMMA in the form of micro area in substrate material. When the content of PANI was up to 2.0% (mass), the dissipation factor of composites increased, and with the increasing of frequency the dissipation factor increased in a straight line.

Impact of Microcystis aeruginosa Exudate on the Formation and Reactivity of Iron Oxide Particles Following Fe(II) and Fe(III) Addition.

PubMed

Garg, Shikha; Wang, Kai; Waite, T David

2017-05-16

Impact of the organic exudate secreted by a toxic strain of Microcystis aeruginosa on the formation, aggregation, and reactivity of iron oxides that are formed on addition of Fe(II) and Fe(III) salts to a solution of the exudate is investigated in this study. The exudate has a stabilizing effect on the particles formed with decreased aggregation rate and increased critical coagulant concentration required for diffusion-limited aggregation to occur. These results suggest that the presence of algal exudates from Microcystis aeruginosa may significantly influence particle aggregation both in natural water bodies where Fe(II) oxidation results in oxide formation and in water treatment where Fe(III) salts are commonly added to aid particle growth and contaminant capture. The exudate also affects the reactivity of iron oxide particles formed with exudate coated particles undergoing faster dissolution than bare iron oxide particles. This has implications to iron availability, especially where algae procure iron via dissolution of iron oxide particles as a result of either reaction with reducing moieties, light-mediated ligand to metal charge transfer and/or reaction with siderophores. The increased reactivity of exudate coated particles is attributed, for the most part, to the smaller size of these particles, higher surface area and increased accessibility of surface sites.

Small-angle neutron scattering study of the short-range organization of dispersed CsNi[Cr(CN){sub 6}] nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ridier, Karl; Gillon, Béatrice; André, Gilles

2015-09-21

Prussian blue analogues magnetic nanoparticles (of radius R{sub 0} = 2.4–8.6 nm) embedded in PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) or CTA{sup +} (cetyltrimethylammonium) matrices have been studied using neutron diffraction and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) at several concentrations. For the most diluted particles in neutral PVP, the SANS signal is fully accounted for by a “single-particle” spherical form factor with no structural correlations between the nanoparticles and with radii comparable to those inferred from neutron diffraction. For higher concentration in PVP, structural correlations modify the SANS signal with the appearance of a structure factor peak, which is described using an effective “mean-field” model. A newmore » length scale R{sup * }≈ 3R{sub 0}, corresponding to an effective repulsive interaction radius, is evidenced in PVP samples. In CTA{sup +}, electrostatic interactions play a crucial role and lead to a dense layer of CTA{sup +} around the nanoparticles, which considerably alter the SANS patterns as compared to PVP. The SANS data of nanoparticles in CTA{sup +} are best described by a core-shell model without visible inter-particle structure factor.« less

The effect of the processing and formulation parameters on the size of nanoparticles based on block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with and without hydrolytically sensitive groups.

PubMed

Neradovic, D; Soga, O; Van Nostrum, C F; Hennink, W E

2004-05-01

Block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a hydrophilic block and N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) or poly (NIPAAm-co-N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide-dilactate) (poly(NIPAAm-co-HPMAm-dilactate)) as a thermosensitive block, are able to self-assemble in water into nanoparticles above the cloud point (CP) of the thermosensitive block. The influence of processing and the formulation parameters on the size of the nanoparticles was studied using dynamic light scattering. PNIPAAm-b-PEG 2000 polymers were not suitable for the formation of small and stable particles. Block copolymers with PEG 5000 and 10000 formed relatively small and stable particles in aqueous solutions at temperatures above the CP of the thermosensitive block. Their size decreased with increasing molecular weight of the thermosensitive block, decreasing polymer concentration and using water instead of phosphate buffered saline as solvent. Extrusion and ultrasonication were inefficient methods to size down the polymeric nanoparticles. The heating rate of the polymer solutions was a dominant factor for the size of the nanoparticles. When an aqueous polymer solution was slowly heated through the CP, rather large particles (> or = 200 nm) were formed. Regardless the polymer composition, small nanoparticles (50-70 nm) with a narrow size distribution were formed, when a small volume of an aqueous polymer solution below the CP was added to a large volume of heated water. In this way the thermosensitive block copolymers rapidly pass their CP ('heat shock' procedure), resulting in small and stable nanoparticles.

The effect of TNFα secreted from macrophages activated by titanium particles on osteogenic activity regulated by WNT/BMP signaling in osteoprogenitor cells.

PubMed

Lee, Sang-Soo; Sharma, Ashish R; Choi, Byung-Soo; Jung, Jun-Sub; Chang, Jun-Dong; Park, Seonghun; Salvati, Eduardo A; Purdue, Edward P; Song, Dong-Keun; Nam, Ju-Suk

2012-06-01

Wear particles are the major cause of osteolysis associated with failure of implant following total joint replacement. During this pathologic process, activated macrophages mediate inflammatory responses to increase osteoclastogenesis, leading to enhanced bone resorption. In osteolysis caused by wear particles, osteoprogenitors present along with macrophages at the implant interface may play significant roles in bone regeneration and implant osteointegration. Although the direct effects of wear particles on osteoblasts have been addressed recently, the role of activated macrophages in regulation of osteogenic activity of osteoblasts has scarcely been studied. In the present study, we examined the molecular communication between macrophages and osteoprogenitor cells that may explain the effect of wear particles on impaired bone forming activity in inflammatory bone diseases. It has been demonstrated that conditioned medium of macrophages challenged with titanium particles (Ti CM) suppresses early and late differentiation markers of osteoprogenitors, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen synthesis, matrix mineralization and expression of osteocalcin and Runx2. Moreover, bone forming signals such as WNT and BMP signaling pathways were inhibited by Ti CM. Interestingly, TNFα was identified as a predominant factor in Ti CM to suppress osteogenic activity as well as WNT and BMP signaling activity. Furthermore, Ti CM or TNFα induces the expression of sclerostin (SOST) which is able to inhibit WNT and BMP signaling pathways. It was determined that over-expression of SOST suppressed ALP activity, whereas the inhibition of SOST by siRNA partially restored the effect of Ti CM on ALP activity. This study highlights the role of activated macrophages in regulation of impaired osteogenic activity seen in inflammatory conditions and provides a potential mechanism for autocrine regulation of WNT and BMP signaling mediated by TNFα via induction of SOST in osteprogenitor cells. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Specifically Formed Corona on Silica Nanoparticles Enhances Transforming Growth Factor β1 Activity in Triggering Lung Fibrosis.

PubMed

Wang, Zhenzhen; Wang, Chunming; Liu, Shang; He, Wei; Wang, Lintao; Gan, JingJing; Huang, Zhen; Wang, Zhenheng; Wei, Haoyang; Zhang, Junfeng; Dong, Lei

2017-02-28

A corona is a layer of macromolecules formed on a nanoparticle surface in vivo. It can substantially change the biological identity of nanomaterials and possibly trigger adverse responses from the body tissues. Dissecting the role of the corona in the development of a particular disease may provide profound insights for understanding toxicity of nanomaterials in general. In our present study, we explored the capability of different silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) to induce silicosis in the mouse lung and analyzed the composition of coronas formed on these particles. We found that SiNPs of certain size and surface chemistry could specifically recruit transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) into their corona, which subsequently induces the development of lung fibrosis. Once embedded into the corona on SiNPs, TGF-β1 was remarkably more stable than in its free form, and its fibrosis-triggering activity was significantly prolonged. Our study meaningfully demonstrates that a specific corona component on a certain nanoparticle could initiate a particular pathogenic process in a clinically relevant disease model. Our findings may shed light on the understanding of molecular mechanisms of human health risks correlated with exposure to small-scale substances.

Rice Starch Particle Interactions at Air/Aqueous Interfaces—Effect of Particle Hydrophobicity and Solution Ionic Strength

PubMed Central

McNamee, Cathy E.; Sato, Yu; Wiege, Berthold; Furikado, Ippei; Marefati, Ali; Nylander, Tommy; Kappl, Michael; Rayner, Marilyn

2018-01-01

Starch particles modified by esterification with dicarboxylic acids to give octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch is an approved food additive that can be used to stabilize oil in water emulsions used in foods and drinks. However, the effects of the OSA modification of the starch particle on the interfacial interactions are not fully understood. Here, we directly measured the packing of films of rice starch granules, i.e., the natural particle found inside the plant, at air/aqueous interfaces, and the interaction forces in that system as a function of the particle hydrophobicity and ionic strength, in order to gain insight on how starch particles can stabilize emulsions. This was achieved by using a combined Langmuir trough and optical microscope system, and the Monolayer Interaction Particle Apparatus. Native rice starch particles were seen to form large aggregates at air/water interfaces, causing films with large voids to be formed at the interface. The OSA modification of the rice starches particles decreased this aggregation. Increasing the degree of modification improved the particle packing within the film of particles at the air/water interface, due to the introduction of inter-particle electrostatic interactions within the film. The introduction of salt to the water phase caused the particles to aggregate and form holes within the film, due to the screening of the charged groups on the starch particles by the salt. The presence of these holes in the film decreased the stiffness of the films. The effect of the OSA modification was concluded to decrease the aggregation of the particles at an air/water interface. The presence of salts, however, caused the particles to aggregate, thereby reducing the strength of the interfacial film. PMID:29868551

Rice Starch Particle Interactions at Air/Aqueous Interfaces-Effect of Particle Hydrophobicity and Solution Ionic Strength.

PubMed

McNamee, Cathy E; Sato, Yu; Wiege, Berthold; Furikado, Ippei; Marefati, Ali; Nylander, Tommy; Kappl, Michael; Rayner, Marilyn

2018-01-01

Starch particles modified by esterification with dicarboxylic acids to give octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch is an approved food additive that can be used to stabilize oil in water emulsions used in foods and drinks. However, the effects of the OSA modification of the starch particle on the interfacial interactions are not fully understood. Here, we directly measured the packing of films of rice starch granules, i.e., the natural particle found inside the plant, at air/aqueous interfaces, and the interaction forces in that system as a function of the particle hydrophobicity and ionic strength, in order to gain insight on how starch particles can stabilize emulsions. This was achieved by using a combined Langmuir trough and optical microscope system, and the Monolayer Interaction Particle Apparatus. Native rice starch particles were seen to form large aggregates at air/water interfaces, causing films with large voids to be formed at the interface. The OSA modification of the rice starches particles decreased this aggregation. Increasing the degree of modification improved the particle packing within the film of particles at the air/water interface, due to the introduction of inter-particle electrostatic interactions within the film. The introduction of salt to the water phase caused the particles to aggregate and form holes within the film, due to the screening of the charged groups on the starch particles by the salt. The presence of these holes in the film decreased the stiffness of the films. The effect of the OSA modification was concluded to decrease the aggregation of the particles at an air/water interface. The presence of salts, however, caused the particles to aggregate, thereby reducing the strength of the interfacial film.

Rice starch particle interactions at air/aqueous interfaces– effect of particle hydrophobicity and solution ionic strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNamee, Cathy E.; Sato, Yu; Wiege, Berthold; Furikado, Ippei; Marefati, Ali; Nylander, Tommy; Kappl, Michael; Rayner, Marilyn

2018-05-01

Starch particles modified by esterification with dicarboxylic acids to give octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch is an approved food additive that can be used to stabilize oil in water emulsions used in foods and drinks. However, the effects of the OSA modification of the starch particle on the interfacial interactions are not fully understood. Here, we directly measured the packing of films of rice starch granules, i.e. the natural particle found inside the plant, at air/aqueous interfaces and the interaction forces in that system as a function of the particle hydrophobicity and ionic strength, in order to gain insight on how starch particles can stabilize emulsions. This was achieved by using a combined Langmuir trough and optical microscope system, and the Monolayer Interaction Particle Apparatus. Native rice starch particles were seen to form large aggregates at air/water interfaces, causing films with large voids to be formed at the interface. The OSA modification of the rice starches particles decreased this aggregation. Increasing the degree of modification improved the particle packing within the film of particles at the air/water interface, due to the introduction of inter-particle electrostatic interactions within the film. The introduction of salt to the water phase caused the particles to aggregate and form holes within the film, due to the screening of the charged groups on the starch particles by the salt. The presence of these holes in the film decreased the stiffness of the films. The effect of the OSA modification was concluded to decrease the aggregation of the particles at an air/water interface. The presence of salts, however, caused the particles to aggregate, thereby reducing the strength of the interfacial film.

Glass formation and unusual hygroscopic growth of iodic acid solution droplets with relevance for iodine oxide particles in the coastal marine boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murray, B. J.; Haddrell, A. E.; Peppe, S.; Davies, J. F.; Reid, J. P.; O'Sullivan, D.; Price, H. C.; Kumar, R.; Saunders, R. W.; Plane, J. M. C.; Umo, N. S.; Wilson, T. W.

2012-03-01

Iodine oxide particles are known to nucleate in the marine boundary layer where gas phase molecular iodine and organoiodine species are produced by macroalgae. There has been some debate over the chemical identity of these particles. Hygroscopic measurements have been used to infer that they are composed of insoluble I2O4, while elemental analysis of laboratory generated particles suggests soluble I2O5 or its hydrated form iodic acid, HIO3 (I2O5 · H2O). In this paper we explore the response of super-micron sized aqueous iodic acid solution droplets to varying humidity using both Raman microscopy and single particle electrodynamic traps. These measurements reveal that the propensity of an iodic acid solution droplet to crystallise is negligible on drying to ~0% relative humidity (RH). On applying mechanical pressure to these droplets they shatter in a manner consistent with an ultra-viscous liquid or a brittle glass, but subsequent water uptake between 10 and 20% RH causes their viscosity to reduce sufficiently that the cracked droplets flow and merge. The persistence of iodic acid solution in an amorphous state, rather than a crystalline state, suggests they will more readily accommodate other condensable material and are therefore more likely to grow to sizes where they may serve as cloud condensation nuclei. On increasing the humidity to ~90% the mass of the droplets only increases by ~20% with a corresponding increase in radius of only ~6 %, which is remarkably small for a highly soluble material. We suggest that the small growth factor of aqueous iodic acid solution droplets is consistent with the small aerosol growth factors observed in field experiments.

Proton induced target fragmentation studies on solid state nuclear track detectors using Carbon radiators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szabó, J.; Pálfalvi, J. K.; Strádi, A.; Bilski, P.; Swakoń, J.; Stolarczyk, L.

2018-04-01

One of the limiting factors of an astronaut's career is the dose received from space radiation. High energy protons, being the main components of the complex radiation field present on a spacecraft, give a significant contribution to the dose. To investigate the behavior of solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) if they are irradiated by such particles, SSNTD stacks containing carbon blocks were exposed to high energy proton beams (70, 100, 150 and 230 MeV) at the Proteus cyclotron, IFJ PAN -Krakow. The incident protons cannot be detected directly; however, tracks of secondary particles, recoils and fragments of the constituent atoms of the detector material and of the carbon radiator are formed. It was found that as the proton energy increases, the number of tracks induced in the PADC material by secondary particles decreases. From the measured geometrical parameters of the tracks the linear energy transfer (LET) spectrum and the dosimetric quantities were determined, applying appropriate calibration. In the LET spectra the LET range of the most important secondary particles could be identified and their abundance showed differences in the spectra if the detectors were short or long etched. The LET spectra obtained on the SSNTDs irradiated by protons were compared to LET spectra of detectors flown on the International Space Station (ISS): they were quite similar, resulting in a quality factor difference of only 5%. Thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) were applied in each case to measure the dose from primary protons and other lower LET particles present in space. Comparing and analyzing the results of the TLD and SSNTD measurements, it was obtained that proton induced target fragments contributed to the total absorbed dose in 3.2% and to the dose equivalent in 14.2% in this particular space experiment.

Factor analysis of submicron particle size distributions near a major United States-Canada trade bridge.

PubMed

Ogulei, David; Hopke, Philip K; Ferro, Andrea R; Jaques, Peter A

2007-02-01

A factor analytic model has been applied to resolve and apportion particles based on submicron particle size distributions downwind of a United States-Canada bridge in Buffalo, NY. The sites chosen for this study were located at gradually increasing distances downwind of the bridge complex. Seven independent factors were resolved, including four factors that were common to all of the five sites considered. The common factors were generally characterized by the existence of two or more number and surface area modes. The seven factors resolved were identified as follows: fresh tail-pipe diesel exhaust, local/street diesel traffic, aged/evolved diesel particles, spark-ignition gasoline emissions, background urban emissions, heavy-duty diesel agglomerates, and secondary/transported material. Submicron (<0.5 microm) and ultrafine (<0.1 microm) particle emissions downwind of the bridge were dominated by commercial diesel truck emissions. Thus, this study obtained size distinction between fresh versus aged vehicle exhaust and spark-ignition versus diesel emissions based on the measured high time-resolution particle number concentrations. Because this study mainly used particles <300 nm in diameter, some sources that would usually exhibit number modes >100 nm were not resolved. Also, the resolved profiles suggested that the major number mode for fresh tailpipe diesel exhaust might exist below the detection limit of the spectrometer used. The average particle number contributions from the resolved factors were highest closest to the bridge.

Inertial floaters in stratified turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sozza, A.; De Lillo, F.; Boffetta, G.

2018-01-01

We investigate numerically the dynamics and statistics of inertial particles transported by stratified turbulence, in the case of particle density intermediate in the average density profile of the fluid. Under these conditions, particles tend to form a thin layer around the corresponding fluid isopycnal. The thickness of the resulting layer is determined by a balance between buoyancy (which attracts the particle to the isopycnal) and inertia (which prevents them from following it exactly). By means of extensive numerical simulations, we explore the parameter space of the system and we find that in a range of parameters particles form fractal clusters within the layer.

Plasmonic particles of colloidal silver in high-resolution recording media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreeva, O. V.; Andreeva, N. V.; Kuzmina, T. B.

2017-01-01

The optical properties of colloidal silver particles formed photographically in high-resolution silver halide photographic materials have been considered. The conditions that allow one to obtain exposed and developed light-sensitive silver halide particles in the form of colloidal particles of metallic silver having the properties of localized plasmons have been described. The results of the studies of the developed silver particles in traditional photographic materials for image holography and in nanoporous silver halide photographic materials for volume holography have been presented. The perspectives of using plasmonic silver nanoparticles produced photographically have been discussed.

Galvanostatic Intermittent Titration and Performance Based Analysis of LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 Cathode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Verma, Ankit; Smith, Kandler; Santhanagopalan, Shriram

Galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) - a popular method for characterizing kinetic and transport properties of battery electrodes - is predicated on the proper evaluation of electrode active area. LiNi 0.5044Co 0.1986Mn 0.2970O 2 (NCM523) material exhibits a complex morphology in which sub-micron primary particles aggregate to form secondary particle agglomerates. Our work proposes a new active area formulation for primary/secondary particle agglomerate materials to better mimic the morphology of NCM532 electrodes. Furthermore, this formulation is then coupled with macro-homogeneous models to simulate GITT and half-cell performance of NCM523 electrodes. Subsequently, the model results are compared against the experimental resultsmore » to refine the area formulation. A single parameter, the surface roughness factor, is proposed to mimic the change in interfacial area, diffusivity and exchange current density simultaneously and detailed modeling results are presented to provide valuable insights into the efficacy of the formulation.« less

Galvanostatic Intermittent Titration and Performance Based Analysis of LiNi 0.5Co 0.2 Mn 0.3O 2Cathode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Verma, Ankit; Smith, Kandler; Santhanagopalan, Shriram

Galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) – a popular method for characterizing kinetic and transport properties of battery electrodes – is predicated on the proper evaluation of electrode active area. LiNi0.5044Co0.1986Mn0.2970O2 (NCM523) material exhibits a complex morphology in which sub-micron primary particles aggregate to form secondary particle agglomerates. This work proposes a new active area formulation for primary/secondary particle agglomerate materials to better mimic the morphology of NCM532 electrodes. This formulation is then coupled with macro-homogeneous models to simulate GITT and half-cell performance of NCM523 electrodes. Subsequently, the model results are compared against the experimental results to refine the area formulation.more » A single parameter, the surface roughness factor, is proposed to mimic the change in interfacial area, diffusivity and exchange current density simultaneously and detailed modeling results are presented to provide valuable insights into the efficacy of the formulation.« less

Kinetic vaporization of heavy metals during fluidized bed thermal treatment of municipal solid waste.

PubMed

Yu, Jie; Sun, Lushi; Xiang, Jun; Hu, Song; Su, Sheng

2013-02-01

Heavy metals volatilization during thermal treatment of model solid waste was theoretically and experimentally investigated in a fluidized bed reactor. Lead, cadmium, zinc and copper, the most four conventional heavy metals were investigated. Particle temperature model and metal diffusion model were established to simulate the volatilization of CdCl(2) evaporation and investigate the possible influencing factors. The diffusion coefficient, porosity and particle size had significant effects on metal volatilization. The higher diffusion coefficient and porosity resulted in the higher metal evaporation. The influence of redox conditions, HCl, water and mineral matrice were also investigated experimentally. The metal volatilization can be promoted by the injection of HCl, while oxygen played a negative role. The diffusion process of heavy metals within particles also had a significant influence on kinetics of their vaporization. The interaction between heavy metals and mineral matter can decrease metal evaporation amount by forming stable metallic species. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Galvanostatic Intermittent Titration and Performance Based Analysis of LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 Cathode

DOE PAGES

Verma, Ankit; Smith, Kandler; Santhanagopalan, Shriram; ...

2017-11-03

Galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) - a popular method for characterizing kinetic and transport properties of battery electrodes - is predicated on the proper evaluation of electrode active area. LiNi 0.5044Co 0.1986Mn 0.2970O 2 (NCM523) material exhibits a complex morphology in which sub-micron primary particles aggregate to form secondary particle agglomerates. Our work proposes a new active area formulation for primary/secondary particle agglomerate materials to better mimic the morphology of NCM532 electrodes. Furthermore, this formulation is then coupled with macro-homogeneous models to simulate GITT and half-cell performance of NCM523 electrodes. Subsequently, the model results are compared against the experimental resultsmore » to refine the area formulation. A single parameter, the surface roughness factor, is proposed to mimic the change in interfacial area, diffusivity and exchange current density simultaneously and detailed modeling results are presented to provide valuable insights into the efficacy of the formulation.« less

Asymmetric van der Waals Forces Drive Orientation of Compositionally Anisotropic Nanocylinders within Smectic Arrays: Experiment and Simulation

PubMed Central

Smith, Benjamin D.; Fichthorn, Kristen A.; Kirby, David J.; Quimby, Lisa M.; Triplett, Derek A.; González, Pedro; Hernández, Darimar; Keating, Christine D.

2014-01-01

Understanding how micro- and nanoparticles interact is important for achieving bottom-up assembly of desired structures. Here, we examine the self-assembly of two-component, compositionally asymmetric nanocylinders that sediment from solution onto a solid surface. These particles spontaneously formed smectic arrays. Within the rows of an array, nanocylinders tended to assemble such that neighboring particles had the same orientation of their segments. As a probe of interparticle interactions, we classified nanocylinder alignments by measuring the segment orientations of many sets of neighboring particles. Monte Carlo simulations incorporating an exact expression for the van der Waals (vdW) energy indicate that differences in the vdW interactions, even when small, are the key factor in producing observed segment alignment. These results point to asymmetrical vdW interactions as a potentially powerful means of controlling orientation in multicomponent cylinder arrays, and suggest that designing for these interactions could yield new ways to control self-assembly. PMID:24308771

Process for separating and recovering an anionic dye from an aqueous solution

DOEpatents

Rogers, Robin; Horwitz, E. Philip; Bond, Andrew H.

1998-01-01

A solid/liquid phase process for the separation and recovery of an anionic dye from an aqueous solution is disclosed. The solid phase comprises separation particles having surface-bonded poly(ethylene glycol) groups, whereas the aqueous solution from which the anionic dye molecules are separated contains a poly(ethylene glycol) liquid/liquid biphase-forming amount of a dissolved lyotropic salt. After contact between the aqueous solution and separation particles, the anionic dye is bound to the particles. The bound anionic dye molecules are freed from the separation particles by contacting the anionic dye-bound particles with an aqueous solution that does not contain a poly(ethylene glycol) liquid/liquid biphase-forming amount of a dissolved lyotropic salt to form an aqueous anionic dye solution whose anionic dye concentration is preferably higher than that of the initial dye-containing solution.

Experimental study of the form of "hot" steel particles on the ignition characteristics of liquid fuels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakharevich, Arkadiy V.

2015-01-01

The results of an experimental study of laws governing the ignition of liquid propellants (kerosene, diesel fuel and petroleum residue) by the single spherical steel particle heated to high temperatures are presented. Is carried out the comparison of the ignition delay times of the investigated flammable substances by the particles in the sphere and disk forms. It is established that the particle shape does not exert a substantial influence on the ignition process characteristics.

Destructions of {sup 7}Be and {sup 7}Li in Big Bang nucleosynthesis through reactions with exotic long-lived sub-strongly interacting massive particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kusakabe, Motohiko; Kawasaki, Masahiro; Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8582, Japan and Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8582

An observed plateau abundance of {sup 7}Li in metal-poor halo stars indicates its primordial origin. The {sup 7}Li abundances are about a factor of three smaller than that predicted in standard big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) model. In addition, some of the stars possibly contain {sup 6}Li in abundances larger than standard BBN prediction. Particle models sometimes include heavy longlived colored particles which are confined in exotic strongly interacting massive particles (SIMPs). We have found reactions which destroy {sup 7}Be and {sup 7}Li during BBN in the scenario of BBN affected by a long-lived sub-strongly interactingmassive particle (sub-SIMP, X). The reactionsmore » are non radiative X captures of {sup 7}Be and {sup 7}Li which can operate if the X particle interacts with nuclei strongly enough to drive {sup 7}Be destruction but not strongly enough to form a bound state with {sup 4}He of relative angular momentum L = 1. The processes can be a cause of the {sup 7}Li problem. In this paper we suggest new possible reactions for {sup 6}Li production. Especially, a {sup 6}Li production through the deuteron capture of {sup 4}He bound to X can operate in the parameter region solving the {sup 7}Li problem.« less

The area-to-mass ratio and fractal dimension of marine flocs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowers, D. G.; McKee, D.; Jago, C. F.; Nimmo-Smith, W. A. M.

2017-04-01

Optical instruments have proved invaluable in the study of suspended matter in the sea but the measurements they provide are more closely related to the cross-sectional area of the particles in suspension than the mass measured by filtration or predicted by theory. In this paper, we examine the factors controlling the relationship between particle area and mass, using the fractal model of particle structure as a theoretical framework. Both theory and observation agree that the area-to-mass ratio of particles (symbol A*) decreases with increasing fractal dimension (symbol Nf) as particles hide behind each other in compact flocs. The equation A* = 0.253-0.081Nf, in which A* is in m2 g-1 explains 81% of the variance in the area:mass ratio at 151 stations in coastal waters. In contrast, the effect of floc size on A* is small. Three optical parameters - beam attenuation, diffuse attenuation and remote sensing reflectance, expressed per unit mass of suspended material, all decrease with increasing Nf. As our understanding of the flocculation process grows and it becomes possible to predict the fractal dimension of particles as a function of the environmental conditions in which the flocs form, these results will lead to improved calibration of optical instruments in terms of the mass concentration of suspended materials and to better models of sediment suspension and transport.

Total Particle Number Emissions from Modern Diesel, Natural Gas, and Hybrid Heavy-Duty Vehicles During On-Road Operation.

PubMed

Wang, Tianyang; Quiros, David C; Thiruvengadam, Arvind; Pradhan, Saroj; Hu, Shaohua; Huai, Tao; Lee, Eon S; Zhu, Yifang

2017-06-20

Particle emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) have significant environmental and public health impacts. This study measured total particle number emission factors (PNEFs) from six newly certified HDVs powered by diesel and compressed natural gas totaling over 6800 miles of on-road operation in California. Distance-, fuel- and work-based PNEFs were calculated for each vehicle. Distance-based PNEFs of vehicles equipped with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) diesel particulate filters (DPFs) in this study have decreased by 355-3200 times compared to a previous retrofit DPF dynamometer study. Fuel-based PNEFs were consistent with previous studies measuring plume exhaust in the ambient air. Meanwhile, on-road PNEF shows route and technology dependence. For vehicles with OEM DPFs and Selective Catalytic Reduction Systems, PNEFs under highway driving (i.e., 3.34 × 10 12 to 2.29 × 10 13 particles/mile) were larger than those measured on urban and drayage routes (i.e., 5.06 × 10 11 to 1.31 × 10 13 particles/mile). This is likely because a significant amount of nucleation mode volatile particles were formed when the DPF outlet temperature reached a critical value, usually over 310 °C, which was commonly achieved when vehicle speed sustained over 45 mph. A model year 2013 diesel HDV produced approximately 10 times higher PNEFs during DPF active regeneration events than nonactive regeneration.

Strange hadron production in pp, pPb, and PbPb collisions at LHC energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Hong

2018-02-01

Identified particle spectra provide an important tool for understanding the particle production mechanism and the dynamical evolution of the medium created in relativistic heavy ion collisions. Studies involving strange and multi-strange hadrons, such as K0S, Λ, and Ξ-, carry additional information since there is no net strangeness content in the initial colliding system. Strangeness enhancement in AA collisions with respect to pp and pA collisions has long been considered as one of the signatures for quark-gluon plasma (QGP) formation. Recent observations of collective effects in high-multiplicity pp and pA collisions raise the question of whether QGP can also be formed in the smaller systems. Systematic studies of strange particle abundance, particle ratios, and nuclear modification factors can shed light on this issue. The CMS experiment has excellent strange-particle reconstruction capabilities over a broad kinematic range, and dedicated high-multiplicity triggers in pp and pPb collisions. The spectra of K0S, Λ, and Ξ- hadrons have been measured in various multiplicity and rapidity regions as a function of pT in pp, pPb, and PbPb collisions for several collision energies. The spectral shapes and particle ratios are compared in the different collision systems for events that have the same multiplicity and interpreted in the context of hydrodynamics models.

Apparatus and methods for storing and releasing hydrogen

DOEpatents

Heung, Leung K.

2001-01-01

A rechargeable device that stores and discharges hydrogen is described. The device stores hydrogen in a solid form and supplies hydrogen as a gas when needed. The solid storage medium may be metal hydride in a ground particle form that avoids the need for compaction or other treatment. Dividers partition a container into separate chambers, each provided with a matrix, formed from an appropriate material like a thermally-conductive aluminum foam, which forms a number of cells. For proper chamber size, the ratio of chamber length to container diameter should be between about 0.5 and 2. Metal hydride particles (or other hydrogen storage medium) may be placed within the cells, which help prevent excessive particle settling. The container is provided with a hydrogen transfer port through which hydrogen gas passes upon either discharging from or charging of the metal hydride particles. A filter may be placed within the port to allow hydrogen to flow but prevent particles from escaping. A heat transferring surface is formed by, for instance, a channel that is thermally coupled with the aluminum foam. Fluid flows through the channel to deliver or remove heat during the respective hydrogen discharging or charging processes.

Apparatus and methods for storing and releasing hydrogen

DOEpatents

Heung, Leung K.

2000-01-01

A rechargeable device that stores and discharges hydrogen is described. The device stores hydrogen in a solid form and supplies hydrogen as a gas when needed. The solid storage medium may be metal hydride in a ground particle form that avoids the need for compaction or other treatment. Dividers partition a container into separate chambers, each provided with a matrix, formed from an appropriate material like a thermally-conductive aluminum foam, which forms a number of cells. For proper chamber size, the ratio of chamber length to container diameter should be between about 0.5 and 2. Metal hydride particles (or other hydrogen storage medium) may be placed within the cells, which help prevent excessive particle settling. The container is provided with a hydrogen transfer port through which hydrogen gas passes upon either discharging from or charging of the metal hydride particles. A filter may be placed within the port to allow hydrogen to flow but prevent particles from escaping. A heat transferring surface is formed by, for instance, a channel that is thermally coupled with the aluminum foam. Fluid flows through the channel to deliver or remove heat during the respective hydrogen discharging or charging processes.

Structural analysis of the dodecameric proteasome activator PafE in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bai, Lin; Hu, Kuan; Wang, Tong

Here, the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb) requires a proteasome system to cause lethal infections in mice. We recently found that proteasome accessory factor E (PafE, Rv3780) activates proteolysis by the Mtb proteasome independently of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Moreover, PafE contributes to the heat-shock response and virulence of Mtb. Here, we show that PafE subunits formed four-helix bundles similar to those of the eukaryotic ATP-independent proteasome activator subunits of PA26 and PA28. However, unlike any other known proteasome activator, PafE formed dodecamers with 12-fold symmetry, which required a glycine-XXX-glycine-XXX-glycine motif that is not found in previously described activators. Intriguingly,more » the truncation of the PafE carboxyl-terminus resulted in the robust binding of PafE rings to native proteasome core particles and substantially increased proteasomal activity, suggesting that the extended carboxyl-terminus of this cofactor confers suboptimal binding to the proteasome core particle. Collectively, our data show that proteasomal activation is not limited to hexameric ATPases in bacteria.« less

Structural analysis of the dodecameric proteasome activator PafE in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

DOE PAGES

Bai, Lin; Hu, Kuan; Wang, Tong; ...

2016-03-21

Here, the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb) requires a proteasome system to cause lethal infections in mice. We recently found that proteasome accessory factor E (PafE, Rv3780) activates proteolysis by the Mtb proteasome independently of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Moreover, PafE contributes to the heat-shock response and virulence of Mtb. Here, we show that PafE subunits formed four-helix bundles similar to those of the eukaryotic ATP-independent proteasome activator subunits of PA26 and PA28. However, unlike any other known proteasome activator, PafE formed dodecamers with 12-fold symmetry, which required a glycine-XXX-glycine-XXX-glycine motif that is not found in previously described activators. Intriguingly,more » the truncation of the PafE carboxyl-terminus resulted in the robust binding of PafE rings to native proteasome core particles and substantially increased proteasomal activity, suggesting that the extended carboxyl-terminus of this cofactor confers suboptimal binding to the proteasome core particle. Collectively, our data show that proteasomal activation is not limited to hexameric ATPases in bacteria.« less

Composite material reinforced with atomized quasicrystalline particles and method of making same

DOEpatents

Biner, Suleyman B.; Sordelet, Daniel J.; Lograsso, Barbara K.; Anderson, Iver E.

1998-12-22

A composite material comprises an aluminum or aluminum alloy matrix having generally spherical, atomized quasicrystalline aluminum-transition metal alloy reinforcement particles disposed in the matrix to improve mechanical properties. A composite article can be made by consolidating generally spherical, atomized quaiscrystalline aluminum-transition metal alloy particles and aluminum or aluminum alloy particles to form a body that is cold and/or hot reduced to form composite products, such as composite plate or sheet, with interfacial bonding between the quasicrystalline particles and the aluminum or aluminum alloy matrix without damage (e.g. cracking or shape change) of the reinforcement particles. The cold and/or hot worked compositehibits substantially improved yield strength, tensile strength, Young's modulus (stiffness).

Effect of aspect ratio on the mechanical behavior of packings of spheroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parafiniuk, Piotr; Bańda, Maciej; Stasiak, Mateusz; Horabik, Józef; Wiącek, Joanna; Molenda, Marek

2018-07-01

This paper presents measurements of the mechanical response of assemblages formed by spheroid particles. Sets of such particles in the form of thin, cylindrical samples were subjected to uniaxial confined compression. The particles were flattened and elongated, with aspect ratios ranging from 0.5 to 2.5. All particles were fabricated using a 3D printer and each had the same volume. Because the particles had well-defined shapes, it was possible to experimentally observe how the mechanical response of the anisotropic and highly constrained samples depended on the elongation of the particles. In particular, we showed how the sample density, lateral pressure ratio, and work done to compact a sample of elongated or flattened particles changed with change in particle aspect ratio. Furthermore, we found that the evolution of packing density in subsequent loading-unloading cycles followed a stretched exponential law regardless of particle aspect ratio.

Possibilities of Particle Finite Element Methods in Industrial Forming Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliver, J.; Cante, J. C.; Weyler, R.; Hernandez, J.

2007-04-01

The work investigates the possibilities offered by the particle finite element method (PFEM) in the simulation of forming problems involving large deformations, multiple contacts, and new boundaries generation. The description of the most distinguishing aspects of the PFEM, and its application to simulation of representative forming processes, illustrate the proposed methodology.

Treated and untreated rock dust: Quartz content and physical characterization.

PubMed

Soo, Jhy-Charm; Lee, Taekhee; Chisholm, William P; Farcas, Daniel; Schwegler-Berry, Diane; Harper, Martin

2016-11-01

Rock dusting is used to prevent secondary explosions in coal mines, but inhalation of rock dusts can be hazardous if the crystalline silica (e.g., quartz) content in the respirable fraction is high. The objective of this study is to assess the quartz content and physical characteristics of four selected rock dusts, consisting of limestone or marble in both treated (such as treatment with stearic acid or stearates) and untreated forms. Four selected rock dusts (an untreated and treated limestone and an untreated and treated marble) were aerosolized in an aerosol chamber. Respirable size-selective sampling was conducted along with particle size-segregated sampling using a Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analyses were used to determine quartz mass and particle morphology, respectively. Quartz percentage in the respirable dust fraction of untreated and treated forms of the limestone dust was significantly higher than in bulk samples, but since the bulk percentage was low the enrichment factor would not have resulted in any major change to conclusions regarding the contribution of respirable rock dust to the overall airborne quartz concentration. The quartz percentage in the marble dust (untreated and treated) was very low and the respirable fractions showed no enrichment. The spectra from SEM-EDX analysis for all materials were predominantly from calcium carbonate, clay, and gypsum particles. No free quartz particles were observed. The four rock dusts used in this study are representative of those presented for use in rock dusting, but the conclusions may not be applicable to all available materials.

Quantum chemical molecular dynamics simulation of single-walled carbon nanotube cap nucleation on an iron particle.

PubMed

Ohta, Yasuhito; Okamoto, Yoshiko; Page, Alister J; Irle, Stephan; Morokuma, Keiji

2009-11-24

The atomic scale details of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) nucleation on metal catalyst particles are elusive to experimental observations. Computer simulation of metal-catalyzed SWNT nucleation is a challenging topic but potentially of great importance to understand the factors affecting SWNT diameters, chirality, and growth efficiency. In this work, we use nonequilibrium density functional tight-binding molecular dynamics simulations and report nucleation of sp(2)-carbon cap structures on an iron particle consisting of 38 atoms. One C(2) molecule was placed every 1.0 ps around an Fe(38) cluster for 30 ps, after which a further 410 ps of annealing simulation without carbon supply was performed. We find that sp(2)-carbon network nucleation and annealing processes occur in three sequential and repetitive stages: (A) polyyne chains on the metal surface react with each other to evolve into a Y-shaped polyyne junction, which preferentially form a five-membered ring as a nucleus; (B) polyyne chains on the first five-membered ring form an additional fused five- or six-membered ring; and (C) pentagon-to-hexagon self-healing rearrangement takes place with the help of short-lived polyyne chains, stabilized by the mobile metal atoms. The observed nucleation process resembles the formation of a fullerene cage. However, the metal particle plays a key role in differentiating the nucleation process from fullerene cage formation, most importantly by keeping the growing cap structure from closing into a fullerene cage and by keeping the carbon edge "alive" for the addition of new carbon material.

KISS: Kinetics and Structure of Superagglomerates Produced by Silane and Acetylene

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mulholland, G. W.; Yang, J. C.; Scott, J. H.; Sivithanu, Y.

2001-01-01

The objective of this study is to understand the process of gas phase agglomeration leading to superagglomerates and a gel-like structure for microgravity (0-g) silane and acetylene flames. Ultimately one would apply this understanding to predicting flame conditions that could lead to the gas phase production of an aero-gel. The approach is to burn acetylene and silane and to analyze the evolution of the soot and silica agglomerates. Acetylene is chosen because it has one of the highest soot volume fractions and there is evidence of super agglomerates being formed in laminar acetylene flames. Silane has the advantage that silica particles are the major combustion product resulting in a particle volume fraction a factor of ten greater than that for a carbonaceous smoke.

Non-plaque-forming virions of Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara express viral genes.

PubMed

Lülf, Anna-Theresa; Freudenstein, Astrid; Marr, Lisa; Sutter, Gerd; Volz, Asisa

2016-12-01

In cell culture infections with vaccinia virus the number of counted virus particles is substantially higher than the number of plaques obtained by titration. We found that standard vaccine preparations of recombinant Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara produce only about 20-30% plaque-forming virions in fully permissive cell cultures. To evaluate the biological activity of the non-plaque-forming particles, we generated recombinant viruses expressing fluorescent reporter proteins under transcriptional control of specific viral early and late promoters. Live cell imaging and automated counting by fluorescent microscopy indicated that virtually all virus particles can enter cells and switch on viral gene expression. Although most of the non-plaque-forming infections are arrested at the level of viral early gene expression, we detected activation of late viral transcription in 10-20% of single infected cells. Thus, non-plaque-forming particles are biologically active, and likely contribute to the immunogenicity of vaccinia virus vaccines. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Formation of semisolid, oligomerized aqueous SOA: lab simulations of cloud processing.

PubMed

Hawkins, Lelia N; Baril, Molly J; Sedehi, Nahzaneen; Galloway, Melissa M; De Haan, David O; Schill, Gregory P; Tolbert, Margaret A

2014-02-18

Glyoxal, methylglyoxal, glycolaldehyde, and hydroxyacetone form N-containing and oligomeric compounds during simulated cloud processing with small amines. Using a novel hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analysis (HTDMA) system that allows varied humidification times, the hygroscopic growth (HG) of each of the resulting products of simulated cloud processing was measured. Continuous water uptake (gradual deliquescence) was observed beginning at ∼ 40% RH for all aldehyde-methylamine products. Particles containing ionic reaction products of either glyoxal or glycine were most hygroscopic, with HG between 1.16 and 1.20 at 80% RH. Longer humidification times (up to 20 min) produced an increase in growth factors for glyoxal-methylamine (19% by vol) and methylglyoxal-methylamine (8% by vol) aerosol, indicating that unusually long equilibration times can be required for HTDMA measurements of such particles. Glyoxal- and methylglyoxal-methylamine aerosol particles shattered in Raman microscopy impact-flow experiments, revealing that the particles were semisolid. Similar experiments on glycolaldehyde- and hydroxyacetone-methylamine aerosol found that the aerosol particles were liquid when dried for <1 h, but semisolid when dried for 20 h under ambient conditions. The RH required for flow (liquification) during humidification experiments followed the order methylglyoxal > glyoxal > glycolaldehyde = hydroxyacetone, likely caused by the speed of oligomer formation in each system.

The key particle and quark energy equality E W + E Z = E top

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mac Gregor, Malcolm H.

2017-11-01

Precision Tevatron and Linear Hadron Collider measurements at Fermilab and CERN have revealed the numerically accurate mass equality W + Z = t. This equality between two gauge bosons ( gb) and the top quark t is only valid if reinterpreted as an energy equality, where E = mc 2, since energy is a shared property of particles and quarks. The experimental data indicate that the LHC particle excitation energy is quantized in the form of gauge boson energy packets E gb , which are created by factor-of-137 proton-quark energy increases denoted as α- boosts, where α 1/137 is the fine structure constant. These α-boosts occur during the rare head-on quark-quark collisions in the proton beams. The α-boost energy quantization mechanism also occurs in low-energy electron-positron boson and fermion particle production channels, where it generates E b and E f energy packets. These α-boost energy channels link together coherently, as demonstrated by the accurate top quark energy equation E top = (18/α2) E electron. Particle production energy equations are derived which combine to create an overall energy pattern that accurately reproduces the energies of the ( u, d), s, c, b, t fermion constituent quarks, the µ and τ leptons, and the proton.

Furthering the investigation of eruption styles through quantitative shape analyses of volcanic ash particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurfiani, D.; Bouvet de Maisonneuve, C.

2018-04-01

Volcanic ash morphology has been quantitatively investigated for various aims such as studying the settling velocity of ash for modelling purposes and understanding the fragmentation processes at the origin of explosive eruptions. In an attempt to investigate the usefulness of ash morphometry for monitoring purposes, we analyzed the shape of volcanic ash particles through a combination of (1) traditional shape descriptors such as solidity, convexity, axial ratio and form factor and (2) fractal analysis using the Euclidean Distance transform (EDT) method. We compare ash samples from the hydrothermal eruptions of Iwodake (Japan) in 2013, Tangkuban Perahu (Indonesia) in 2013 and Marapi (Sumatra, Indonesia) in 2015, the dome explosions of Merapi (Java, Indonesia) in 2013, the Vulcanian eruptions of Merapi in 2010 and Tavurvur (Rabaul, Papaua New Guinea) in 2014, and the Plinian eruption of Kelud (Indonesia) in 2014. Particle size and shape measurements were acquired from a Particle Size Analyzer with a microscope camera attached to the instrument. Clear differences between dense/blocky particles from hydrothermal or dome explosions and vesicular particles produced by the fragmentation of gas-bearing molten magma are well highlighted by conventional shape descriptors and the fractal method. In addition, subtle differences between dense/blocky particles produced by hydrothermal explosions, dome explosions, or quench granulation during phreatomagmatic eruptions can be evidenced with the fractal method. The combination of shape descriptors and fractal analysis is therefore potentially able to distinguish between juvenile and non-juvenile magma, which is of importance for eruption monitoring.

A review on factors influencing bioaccessibility and bioefficacy of carotenoids.

PubMed

Priyadarshani, A M B

2017-05-24

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most prevalent deficiency disorders in the world. As shown by many studies plant food based approaches have a real potential on prevention of vitamin A deficiency in a sustainable way. Carotenoids are important as precursors of vitamin A as well as for prevention of cancers, coronary heart diseases, age-related macular degeneration, cataract etc. Bioaccessibility and bioefficacy of carotenoids are known to be influenced by numerous factors including dietary factors such as fat, fiber, dosage of carotenoid, location of carotenoid in the plant tissue, heat treatment, particle size of food, carotenoid species, interactions among carotenoids, isomeric form and molecular linkage and subject characteristics. Therefore even when carotenoids are found in high quantities in plant foods their utilization may be unsatisfactory because some factors are known to interfere as negative effectors.

A new mechanism for DNA alterations induced by alpha particles such as those emitted by radon and radon progeny.

PubMed Central

Lehnert, B E; Goodwin, E H

1997-01-01

The mechanism(s) by which alpha (alpha) particles like those emitted from inhaled radon and radon progeny cause their carcinogenic effects in the lung remains unclear. Although direct nuclear traversals by alpha-particles may be involved in mediating these outcomes, increasing evidence indicates that a particles can cause alterations in DNA in the absence of direct hits to cell nuclei. Using the occurrence of excessive sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) as an index of DNA damage in human lung fibroblasts, we investigated the hypothesis that alpha-particles may induce DNA damage through the generation of extracellular factors. We have found that a relatively low dose of alpha-particles can result in the generation of extracellular factors, which, upon transfer to unexposed normal human cells, can cause excessive SCE to an extent equivalent to that observed when the cells are directly irradiated with the same irradiation dose. A short-lived, SCE-inducing factor(s) is generated in alpha-irradiated culture medium containing serum in the absence of cells. A more persistent SCE-inducing factor(s), which can survive freeze-thaw and is heat labile is produced by fibroblasts after exposure to the alpha-particles. These results indicate that the initiating target for alpha-particle-induced genetic changes can be larger than a cell's nucleus or even a whole cell. How transmissible factors like those observed here in vitro may extend to the in vivo condition in the context of a-particle-induced carcinogenesis in the respiratory tract remains to be determined. PMID:9400706

Verification and Validation of Monte Carlo n-Particle Code 6 (MCNP6) with Neutron Protection Factor Measurements of an Iron Box

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-27

VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF MONTE CARLO N- PARTICLE CODE 6 (MCNP6) WITH NEUTRON PROTECTION FACTOR... PARTICLE CODE 6 (MCNP6) WITH NEUTRON PROTECTION FACTOR MEASUREMENTS OF AN IRON BOX THESIS Presented to the Faculty Department of Engineering...STATEMENT A. APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED iv AFIT-ENP-14-M-05 VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF MONTE CARLO N- PARTICLE CODE 6

Experimental investigation of aerosol composition and growth rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wimmer, Daniela; Winkler, Paul; Kulmala, Markku; Petäjä, Tuukka

2017-04-01

Atmospheric aerosol particles have relevant influence on human lives. Human health is affected, as by breathing in the aerosol particles, they deposit in the lungs causing various health problems. Also they interfere indirectly and directly with sunlight, which affects the climate on Earth. Primary aerosol particles originate for example from anthropogenic sources, such as Diesel cars or natural sources such as dessert dust. Secondary aerosol particles are formed via condensation of low volatile gas phase compounds. First, small clusters consisting of a few gas molecules only are formed, which can then grow to bigger aerosol particles. These then form seeds for cloud droplets. The chemical composition of the cloud particles determines whether the cloud absorbs or scatters sunlight more. Intensive experimental and theoretical work has been put into understanding the details of the initial processes leading to the natural formation of these secondary aerosol particles. According to modelling studies, aerosol particles formed via the nucleation process are responsible for about 50% of the global cloud condensation nuclei concentration. With currently used methods, the chemical composition of small molecular clusters (up to 2nm in diameter) can be resolved. Also standard methods to determine aerosol particle composition at sizes >10 nm are available. Within this project, the aerosol particle composition in the 2-4 nm size range will be investigated experimentally. The setup will consist of a combination of an electrical method that allows determine the electrical mobility of the particles which then can be converted to a diameter. By letting the charged particles travel through a changing electrical field, they travel at different speeds according to their mobility. That allows to particles with certain mobilities, which then can be converted to a diameter. After the size selection, the particles are counted by means of optical detection. Condensation particle counters (CPCs) grow the particles internally, after which they are detected optically. By changing the condensing liquid, depending on the aerosol particle composition, they are activated differently. By combining the electrical size selection with CPCs with different liquids, information about particle composition can be determined. The project includes laboratory studies and field measurements in different locations (one rural site and two urban sites). I wish to acknowledge the Austrian Science Fund (FWF; Grant No J3951 - N36).

Direct evidence for coastal iodine particles from Laminaria macroalgae - linkage to emissions of molecular iodine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McFiggans, G.; Coe, H.; Burgess, R.; Allan, J.; Cubison, M.; Alfarra, M. R.; Saunders, R.; Saiz-Lopez, A.; Plane, J. M. C.; Wevill, D.; Carpenter, L.; Rickard, A. R.; Monks, P. S.

2004-05-01

Renewal of ultrafine aerosols in the marine boundary layer may lead to repopulation of the marine distribution and ultimately determine the concentration of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Thus the formation of nanometre-scale particles can lead to enhanced scattering of incoming radiation and a net cooling of the atmosphere. The recent demonstration of the chamber formation of new particles from the photolytic production of condensable iodine-containing compounds from diiodomethane (CH2I2), (O'Dowd et al., 2002; Kolb, 2002; Jimenez et al., 2003a; Burkholder and Ravishankara, 2003), provides an additional mechanism to the gas-to-particle conversion of sulphuric acid formed in the photo-oxidation of dimethylsulphide for marine aerosol repopulation. CH2I2 is emitted from seaweeds (Carpenter et al., 1999, 2000) and has been suggested as an initiator of particle formation. We demonstrate here for the first time that ultrafine iodine-containing particles are produced by intertidal macroalgae exposed to ambient levels of ozone. The particle composition is very similar both to those formed in the chamber photo-oxidation of diiodomethane and in the oxidation of molecular iodine by ozone. The particles formed in all three systems are similarly aspherical. When small, those formed in the molecular iodine system swell only moderately when exposed to increased humidity environments, and swell progressively less with increasing size; this behaviour occurs whether they are formed in dry or humid environments, in contrast to those in the CH2I2 system. Direct coastal boundary layer observations of molecular iodine, ultrafine particle production and iodocarbons are reported. Using a newly measured molecular iodine photolysis rate, it is shown that, if atomic iodine is involved in the observed particle bursts, it is of the order of at least 1000 times more likely to result from molecular iodine photolysis than diiodomethane photolysis. A hypothesis for molecular iodine release from intertidal macroalgae is presented and the potential importance of macroalgal iodine particles in their contribution to CCN and global radiative forcing are discussed.

Source characterization of ambient fine aerosol in Singapore during a haze episode in 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hapsari Budisulistiorini, Sri; Riva, Matthieu; Williams, Michael; Miyakawa, Takuma; Komazaki, Yuichi; Chen, Jing; Surratt, Jason; Kuwata, Mikinori

2017-04-01

Recurring transboundary haze from Indonesia peatland fires in the previous decades has significantly elevated particulate matter (PM) concentration in Southeast Asia, particularly during the 2015 El Niño event. Previous studies have investigated chemical composition of particles emitted during haze episodes; however, they were limited to time-integrated samples and the number of identified compounds. Low time-resolution measurement results in co-variance of PM sources; therefore, higher time-resolution measurement is important in PM source apportionment. Between October 10-31, 2015, Aerodyne Time-of-Flight Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ToF-ACSM) was deployed for real-time chemical characterization of ambient submicron PM (NR-PM1) in Singapore. Simultaneously, PM2.5 filter samples were collected for molecular-level organic aerosol (OA) constituents, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and water-soluble OC (WSOC) analyses. OA constituents were quantified by gas chromatography interfaced to electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography interfaced to electrospray ionization high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer operated in the negative ion mode (UPLC/(-)ESI-HR-Q-TOFMS). OA and SO42- are dominant components of the haze particles, accounting for ˜77% and ˜12% of the total NR-PM1 mass, respectively. OC/EC ratio of 4.8 might indicate formation of secondary OA (SOA) and aerosols from biomass burning, including those from peat burning. OA fraction from ToF-ACSM measurements was analyzed for source apportionment using a bilinear model through multi-linear engine algorithm (ME-2) in graphical user interface SoFi (Source Finder). Five OA factors were identified: hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA), biomass burning OA (BBOA), peat burning OA (PBOA), low-volatility oxygenated OA (LV-OOA), and semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA). The HOA factor shows a distinct diurnal profile peaking in the morning and evening, suggesting traffic influences. The BBOA factor was identified based on factor profile of wood burning particles and correlated with known biomass burning tracers (i.e. levoglucosan and mannosan). The PBOA factor was identified based on factor profile of laboratory-generated peat burning particles. This factor would be further identified with OA constituents in peat burning particles, such as brown carbon constituents. The LV-OOA and SV-OOA factors peak in the afternoon indicating they were likely formed through photochemistry. The LV-OOA factor might be a product of biomass burning aerosol aging as indicated by temporal trend correlations with BBOA and PBOA factors (r2 = 0.7-0.8). Contributions of the HOA and SV-OOA factors to OA mass are ˜12% and ˜21%, respectively. The biomass burning-related factors (BBOA and PBOA) account for ˜29% of OA mass, which likely indicates a lower-bound estimate of the transboundary impacts of primary emissions from peatland fires. The transboundary impacts of secondary aerosol from peatland fires might be represented by the LV-OOA factor accounting for ˜37% of OA mass. Overall, the transboundary haze could contribute to ˜66% of OA concentration, suggesting the strong influence of Indonesia peatland fires on the air quality of Singapore.

High-Altitude Particle Acceleration and Radiation in Pulsar Slot Gaps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muslimov, Alex G.; Harding, Alice K.

2004-01-01

We explore the pulsar slot gap (SG) electrodynamics up to very high altitudes, where for most relatively rapidly rotating pulsars both the standard small-angle approximation and the assumption that the magnetic field lines are ideal stream lines break down. We address the importance of the electrodynamic conditions at the SG boundaries and the occurrence of a steady-state drift of charged particles across the SG field lines at very high altitudes. These boundary conditions and the cross-field particle motion determine the asymptotic behavior of the scalar potential at all radii from the polar cap (PC) to near the light cylinder. As a result, we demonstrate that the steady-state accelerating electric field, E(sub ll), must approach a small and constant value at high altitude above the PC. This E(sub ll) is capable of maintaining electrons moving with high Lorentz factors (approx. a few x 10(exp 7)) and emitting curvature gamma-ray photons up to nearly the light cylinder. By numerical simulations, we show that primary electrons accelerating from the PC surface to high altitude in the SG along the outer edge of the open field region will form caustic emission patterns on the trailing dipole field lines. Acceleration and emission in such an extended SG may form the physical basis of a model that can successfully reproduce some pulsar high-energy light curves.

Self-Sorting of Bidispersed Colloidal Particles Near Contact Line of an Evaporating Sessile Droplet.

PubMed

Patil, Nagesh D; Bhardwaj, Rajneesh; Sharma, Atul

2018-06-13

Here, we investigate deposit patterns and associated morphology formed after the evaporation of an aqueous droplet containing mono- and bidispersed colloidal particles. In particular, the combined effect of substrate heating and particle diameter is investigated. We employ high-speed visualization, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to characterize the evaporating droplets, particle motion, and deposit morphology, respectively. In the context of monodispersed colloidal particles, an inner deposit and a typical ring form for smaller and larger particles, respectively, on a nonheated surface. The formation of the inner deposit is attributed to early depinning of the contact line, explained by a mechanistic model based on the balance of several forces acting on a particle near the contact line. At larger substrate temperature, a thin ring with inner deposit forms, explained by the self-pinning of the contact line and advection of the particles from the contact line to the center of the droplet due to the Marangoni flow. In the context of bidispersed colloidal particles, self-sorting of the colloidal particles within the ring occurs at larger substrate temperature. The smaller particles deposit at the outermost edge compared to the larger particles, and this preferential deposition in a stagnation region near the contact line is due to the spatially varying height of the liquid-gas interface above the substrate. The sorting occurs at a smaller ratio of the diameters of the smaller and larger particles. At larger substrate temperature and larger ratio, the particles do not get sorted and mix into each other. Our measurements show that there exists a critical substrate temperature as well as a diameter ratio to achieve the sorting. We propose regime maps on substrate temperature-particle diameter and substrate temperature-diameter ratio plane for mono- and bidispersed solutions, respectively.

The role of electro-osmosis and dielectrophoresis in collection of micro/nano size particles in low frequency AC electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Chehung; Hsu, Che-Wei; Wang, Ching-Chieh

2007-09-01

The collecting and sorting micro size particles by electric force is easy to integrate with other bioassays. There are many forms of electric forces such as electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis and electroosmosis which can be used to manipulate particles. In an attempt to understand the role of electroosmosis and dielectrophoresis in the collection of micro size particles, a small device made of two parallel plates is used to study the particle movement under AC electric field. The device is fabricated by a top electrode and a bottom electrode separated by a spacer. The top electrode is made from an ITO glass where the bottom electrode is made of Corning 1737 glass sputtered with chromium. A dielectric layer is fabricated by spin coating a thin photo-resist (0.5~1μm) on the bottom electrode and a spacer made of curing PDMS is utilized to separate these electrodes. A 900μm × 900μm collecting chamber is fabricated on the bottom electrode via photolithography. The amine-modified polystyrene fluorescent particles whose average size is 1 μm were used for collection experiments. Different frequency and power were applied to generate the non-uniform electric field. It was found that frequency is the critical factor for electroosmotic velocity. There seems to be an optimum frequency that leads to largest particle velocity. The underlying mechanism is believed to the competing forces among dielectrophoresis and electroosmosis. This device demonstrates that the electroosmosis force is suitable for collecting bio-particles in AC electric field.

In-Plume Emission Test Stand 2: Emission Factors for 10- to 100-kW U.S. Military Generators

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-01

dards, local communities near military bases must con - form to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Mil- itary diesel generators are widely used...Strategic En- vironmental Research and Development Program ( con - tract CP-1336). The USMC provided extraordinary coop- eration and assistance in providing...Aerosol. Sci. 2006, 37, 63-87. 37. Maricq, M.M.; Xu, N. The Effective Density and Fractal Dimension of Soot Particles from Premixed Flames and Motor

Smog chamber study on aging of combustion soot in isoprene/SO2/NOx system: Changes of mass, size, effective density, morphology and mixing state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Kangwei; Chen, Linghong; Han, Ke; Lv, Biao; Bao, Kaiji; Wu, Xuecheng; Gao, Xiang; Cen, Kefa

2017-02-01

Atmospheric soot aging process is always accompanied by secondary particle formation, which is a comprehensive environmental issue that deserves great attention. On one hand, aging of primary soot could change its own physicochemical properties; on the other hand, complex air pollution caused by pollutant emission from various sources (e.g., vehicle exhausts, coal-fired flue gases and biogenic VOCs emission) may contribute to secondary particle formation onto primary particle surface. In this study, aging of combustion soot in isoprene/SO2/NOx system was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions in several smog chamber experiments. During the evolution of soot, several physical properties such as mass, size, effective density, morphology and mixing state were determined simultaneously by an integrated aerosol analytical system of Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS), Differential Mobility Analyzer-Aerosol Particle Mass Analyzer-Condensation Particle Counter (DMA-APM-CPC) and Transmission Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (TEM/EDX) techniques. Here, based on the experimental results of soot aging under different gas-phase composition and relative humidity (RH), we firstly proposed possible aging pathways of soot in isoprene/SO2/NOx system. A synergetic effect was speculated to exist between SO2 and isoprene on soot aging process, which led to more secondary particle formation. At the same time, TEM/EDX analysis showed that a competitive mechanism between H2SO4(g) and isoprene oxidation vapor may exist: H2SO4(g) firstly condensed onto fresh soot, then an acceleration of isoprene oxidation products formed onto H2SO4 pre-coated soot. In isoprene/SO2/NOx system, high RH conditions could contribute to soot aging and new particle formation. The changes of effective density and dynamic shape factor of soot also indicated that high RH conditions could accelerate soot aging process, and led chain-like soot into more spherical morphology, which was further confirmed from the STEM image. Moreover, it was found that volume equivalent coating thickness (Δrve) could also be applied to normalized characterize soot aging parameters like diameter growth factor (Gfd) and mass growth factor (Gfm) in a complex reaction system like isoprene/SO2/NOx. Our results revealed the dual mechanism (competitive effect&cooperative effect) of isoprene and SO2 on photochemical aging of soot, which is of significance for improving understanding of complex air pollution in China.

Evidence for ubiquitous preferential particle orientation in representative oceanic shear flows.

PubMed

Nayak, Aditya R; McFarland, Malcolm N; Sullivan, James M; Twardowski, Michael S

2018-01-01

In situ measurements were undertaken to characterize particle fields in undisturbed oceanic environments. Simultaneous, co-located depth profiles of particle fields and flow characteristics were recorded using a submersible holographic imaging system and an acoustic Doppler velocimeter, under different flow conditions and varying particle concentration loads, typical of those found in coastal oceans and lakes. Nearly one million particles with major axis lengths ranging from ∼14 μm to 11.6 mm, representing diverse shapes, sizes, and aspect ratios were characterized as part of this study. The particle field consisted of marine snow, detrital matter, and phytoplankton, including colonial diatoms, which sometimes formed "thin layers" of high particle abundance. Clear evidence of preferential alignment of particles was seen at all sampling stations, where the orientation probability density function (PDF) peaked at near horizontal angles and coincided with regions of low velocity shear and weak turbulent dissipation rates. Furthermore, PDF values increased with increasing particle aspect ratios, in excellent agreement with models of spheroidal particle motion in simple shear flows. To the best of our knowledge, although preferential particle orientation in the ocean has been reported in two prior cases, our findings represent the first comprehensive field study examining this phenomenon. Evidence of nonrandom particle alignment in aquatic systems has significant consequences to aquatic optics theory and remote sensing, where perfectly random particle orientation and thus isotropic symmetry in optical parameters is assumed. Ecologically, chain-forming phytoplankton may have evolved to form large aspect ratio chains as a strategy to optimize light harvesting.

Evidence for ubiquitous preferential particle orientation in representative oceanic shear flows

PubMed Central

McFarland, Malcolm N.; Sullivan, James M.; Twardowski, Michael S.

2017-01-01

Abstract In situ measurements were undertaken to characterize particle fields in undisturbed oceanic environments. Simultaneous, co‐located depth profiles of particle fields and flow characteristics were recorded using a submersible holographic imaging system and an acoustic Doppler velocimeter, under different flow conditions and varying particle concentration loads, typical of those found in coastal oceans and lakes. Nearly one million particles with major axis lengths ranging from ∼14 μm to 11.6 mm, representing diverse shapes, sizes, and aspect ratios were characterized as part of this study. The particle field consisted of marine snow, detrital matter, and phytoplankton, including colonial diatoms, which sometimes formed “thin layers” of high particle abundance. Clear evidence of preferential alignment of particles was seen at all sampling stations, where the orientation probability density function (PDF) peaked at near horizontal angles and coincided with regions of low velocity shear and weak turbulent dissipation rates. Furthermore, PDF values increased with increasing particle aspect ratios, in excellent agreement with models of spheroidal particle motion in simple shear flows. To the best of our knowledge, although preferential particle orientation in the ocean has been reported in two prior cases, our findings represent the first comprehensive field study examining this phenomenon. Evidence of nonrandom particle alignment in aquatic systems has significant consequences to aquatic optics theory and remote sensing, where perfectly random particle orientation and thus isotropic symmetry in optical parameters is assumed. Ecologically, chain‐forming phytoplankton may have evolved to form large aspect ratio chains as a strategy to optimize light harvesting. PMID:29456268

All about Solids, Liquids & Gases. Physical Science for Children[TM]. Schlessinger Science Library. [Videotape].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

2000

In All About Solids, Liquids and Gases, young students will be introduced to the three common forms of matter. They'll learn that all things are made up of tiny particles called atoms and that the movement of these particles determines the form that matter takes. In solids, the particles are packed tightly together and move very little. The…

Gas atomization synthesis of refractory or intermetallic compounds and supersaturated solid solutions

DOEpatents

Anderson, Iver E.; Lograsso, Barbara K.; Ellis, Timothy W.

1994-01-01

A metallic melt is atomized using a high pressure atomizing gas wherein the temperature of the melt and the composition of the atomizing gas are selected such that the gas and melt react in the atomization spray zone to form a refractory or intermetallic compound in the as-atomized powder particles. A metallic melt is also atomized using a high pressure atomizing gas mixture gas wherein the temperature of the melt and the ratio of a reactive gas to a carrier gas are selected to form powder particles comprising a supersaturated solid solution of the atomic species of the reactive gas in the particles. The powder particles are then heat treated to precipitate dispersoids in-situ therein to form a dispersion strengthened material.

Steady state, relaxation and first-passage properties of a run-and-tumble particle in one-dimension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malakar, Kanaya; Jemseena, V.; Kundu, Anupam; Vijay Kumar, K.; Sabhapandit, Sanjib; Majumdar, Satya N.; Redner, S.; Dhar, Abhishek

2018-04-01

We investigate the motion of a run-and-tumble particle (RTP) in one dimension. We find the exact probability distribution of the particle with and without diffusion on the infinite line, as well as in a finite interval. In the infinite domain, this probability distribution approaches a Gaussian form in the long-time limit, as in the case of a regular Brownian particle. At intermediate times, this distribution exhibits unexpected multi-modal forms. In a finite domain, the probability distribution reaches a steady-state form with peaks at the boundaries, in contrast to a Brownian particle. We also study the relaxation to the steady-state analytically. Finally we compute the survival probability of the RTP in a semi-infinite domain with an absorbing boundary condition at the origin. In the finite interval, we compute the exit probability and the associated exit times. We provide numerical verification of our analytical results.

Process for separating and recovering an anionic dye from an aqueous solution

DOEpatents

Rogers, R.; Horwitz, E.P.; Bond, A.H.

1998-01-13

A solid/liquid phase process for the separation and recovery of an anionic dye from an aqueous solution is disclosed. The solid phase comprises separation particles having surface-bonded poly(ethylene glycol) groups, whereas the aqueous solution from which the anionic dye molecules are separated contains a poly(ethylene glycol) liquid/liquid biphase-forming amount of a dissolved lyotropic salt. After contact between the aqueous solution and separation particles, the anionic dye is bound to the particles. The bound anionic dye molecules are freed from the separation particles by contacting the anionic dye-bound particles with an aqueous solution that does not contain a poly(ethylene glycol) liquid/liquid biphase-forming amount of a dissolved lyotropic salt to form an aqueous anionic dye solution whose anionic dye concentration is preferably higher than that of the initial dye-containing solution. 7 figs.

Determining size-specific emission factors for environmental tobacco smoke particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Klepeis, Neil E.; Apte, Michael G.; Gundel, Lara A.

Because size is a major controlling factor for indoor airborne particle behavior, human particle exposure assessments will benefit from improved knowledge of size-specific particle emissions. We report a method of inferring size-specific mass emission factors for indoor sources that makes use of an indoor aerosol dynamics model, measured particle concentration time series data, and an optimization routine. This approach provides--in addition to estimates of the emissions size distribution and integrated emission factors--estimates of deposition rate, an enhanced understanding of particle dynamics, and information about model performance. We applied the method to size-specific environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) particle concentrations measured everymore » minute with an 8-channel optical particle counter (PMS-LASAIR; 0.1-2+ micrometer diameters) and every 10 or 30 min with a 34-channel differential mobility particle sizer (TSI-DMPS; 0.01-1+ micrometer diameters) after a single cigarette or cigar was machine-smoked inside a low air-exchange-rate 20 m{sup 3} chamber. The aerosol dynamics model provided good fits to observed concentrations when using optimized values of mass emission rate and deposition rate for each particle size range as input. Small discrepancies observed in the first 1-2 hours after smoking are likely due to the effect of particle evaporation, a process neglected by the model. Size-specific ETS particle emission factors were fit with log-normal distributions, yielding an average mass median diameter of 0.2 micrometers and an average geometric standard deviation of 2.3 with no systematic differences between cigars and cigarettes. The equivalent total particle emission rate, obtained integrating each size distribution, was 0.2-0.7 mg/min for cigars and 0.7-0.9 mg/min for cigarettes.« less

Magnetic particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chang, Manchium (Inventor); Colvin, Michael S. (Inventor); Rembaum, Alan (Inventor); Richards, Gil F. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

Metal oxide containing polymers and particularly styrene, acrylic or protein polymers containing fine, magnetic iron oxide particles are formed by combining a NO.sub.2 -substituted polymer with an acid such as hydrochloric acid in the presence of metal, particularly iron particles. The iron is oxidized to fine, black Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 particles which deposit selectively on the polymer particles. Nitrated polymers are formed by reacting functionally substituted, nitrated organic compounds such as trinitrobenzene sulfonate or dinitrofluoro benzene with a functionally coreactive polymer such as an amine modified acrylic polymer or a protein. Other transition metals such as cobalt can also be incorporated into polymers using this method.

Light extinction method for diagnostics of particles sizes formed in magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myshkin, Vyacheslav; Izhoykin, Dmitry; Grigoriev, Alexander; Gamov, Denis; Leonteva, Daria

2018-03-01

The results of laser diagnostics of dispersed particles formed upon cooling of Zn vapor are presented. The radiation attenuation in the wavelength range 420-630 nm with a step of 0.3 nm was registered. The attenuation coefficients spectral dependence was processed using known algorithms for integral equation solving. The 10 groups of 8 attenuation coefficients were formed. Each group was processed taking with considering of previous decisions. After processing of the 10th group of data, calculations were repeated from the first one. Data of the particles sizes formed in a magnetic field of 0, 44 and 76 mT are given. A model of physical processes in a magnetic field is discussed.

Stability study of PbSe semiconductor nanocrystals over concentration, size, atmosphere, and light exposure.

PubMed

Dai, Quanqin; Wang, Yingnan; Zhang, Yu; Li, Xinbi; Li, Ruowang; Zou, Bo; Seo, JaeTae; Wang, Yiding; Liu, Manhong; Yu, William W

2009-10-20

Infrared-emitting PbSe nanocrystals are of increasing interest in both fundamental research and technical application. However, the practical applications are greatly limited by their poor stability. In this work, absorption and photoluminescence spectra of PbSe nanocrystals were utilized to observe the stability of PbSe nanocrystals over several conventional factors, that is, particle concentration, particle size, temperature, light exposure, contacting atmosphere, and storage forms (solution or solid powder). Both absorption and luminescence spectra of PbSe nanocrystals exposed to air showed dependence on particle concentration, size, and light exposure, which caused large and quick blue-shifts in the optical spectra. This air-contacted instability arising from the destructive oxidation and subsequent collision-induced decomposition was kinetically dominated and differed from the traditional thought that smaller particles with lower concentrations shrank fast. The photoluminescence emission intensity of the PbSe nanocrystal solution under ultraviolet (UV) exposure in air increased first and then decreased slowly; without UV irradiation, the emission intensity monotonously decreased over time. However, if stored under nitrogen, no obvious changes in absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the PbSe nanocrystals were observed even under UV exposure or upon being heated up to 100 degrees C.

Scattering from a quantum anapole at low energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitcomb, Kyle M.; Latimer, David C.

2017-12-01

In quantum field theory, the photon-fermion vertex can be described in terms of four form-factors that encode the static electromagnetic properties of the particle, namely, its charge, magnetic dipole moment, electric dipole moment, and anapole moment. For Majorana fermions, only the anapole moment can be nonzero, a consequence of the fact that these particles are their own antiparticles. Using the framework of quantum field theory, we perform a scattering calculation that probes the anapole moment with a spinless charged particle. In the limit of low momentum transfer, we confirm that the anapole can be classically likened to a point-like toroidal solenoid whose magnetic field is confined to the origin. Such a toroidal current distribution can be used to demonstrate the Aharonov-Bohm effect. We find that, in the non-relativistic limit, our scattering cross section agrees with a quantum mechanical computation of the cross section for a spinless current scattered by an infinitesimally thin toroidal solenoid. Our presentation is geared toward advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students. This work serves as an introduction to the anapole moment and also provides an example of how one can develop an understanding of a particle's electromagnetic properties in quantum field theory.

Paramyxovirus Assembly and Budding: Building Particles that Transmit Infections

PubMed Central

Harrison, Megan S.; Sakaguchi, Takemasa; Schmitt, Anthony P.

2010-01-01

The paramyxoviruses define a diverse group of enveloped RNA viruses that includes a number of important human and animal pathogens. Examples include human respiratory syncytial virus and the human parainfluenza viruses, which cause respiratory illnesses in young children and the elderly; measles and mumps viruses, which have caused recent resurgences of disease in developed countries; the zoonotic Hendra and Nipah viruses, which have caused several outbreaks of fatal disease in Australia and Asia; and Newcastle disease virus, which infects chickens and other avian species. Like other enveloped viruses, paramyxoviruses form particles that assemble and bud from cellular membranes, allowing the transmission of infections to new cells and hosts. Here, we review recent advances that have improved our understanding of events involved in paramyxovirus particle formation. Contributions of viral matrix proteins, glycoproteins, nucleocapsid proteins, and accessory proteins to particle formation are discussed, as well as the importance of host factor recruitment for efficient virus budding. Trafficking of viral structural components within infected cells is described, together with mechanisms that allow for the selection of specific sites on cellular membranes for the coalescence of viral proteins in preparation of bud formation and virion release. PMID:20398786

Morphological classification of bioaerosols from composting using scanning electron microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tamer Vestlund, A.; FIRA International Ltd., Maxwell Road, Stevenage, Herts SG1 2EW; Al-Ashaab, R.

2014-07-15

Highlights: • Bioaerosols were captured using the filter method. • Bioaerosols were analysed using scanning electron microscope. • Bioaerosols were classified on the basis of morphology. • Single small cells were found more frequently than aggregates and larger cells. • Smaller cells may disperse further than heavier aggregate structures. - Abstract: This research classifies the physical morphology (form and structure) of bioaerosols emitted from open windrow composting. Aggregation state, shape and size of the particles captured are reported alongside the implications for bioaerosol dispersal after release. Bioaerosol sampling took place at a composting facility using personal air filter samplers. Samplesmore » were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. Particles were released mainly as small (<1 μm) single, spherical cells, followed by larger (>1 μm) single cells, with aggregates occurring in smaller proportions. Most aggregates consisted of clusters of 2–3 particles as opposed to chains, and were <10 μm in size. No cells were attached to soil debris or wood particles. These small single cells or small aggregates are more likely to disperse further downwind from source, and cell viability may be reduced due to increased exposure to environmental factors.« less

Microstructure and thermal history of metal particles in CH chondrites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldstein, J. I.; Jones, R. H.; Kotula, P. G.; Michael, J. R.

2007-06-01

We have studied metal microstructures in four CH chondrites, Patuxent Range (PAT) 91546, Allan Hills (ALH) 85085, Acfer 214, and Northwest Africa (NWA) 739, to examine details of the thermal histories of individual particles. Four types of metal particles are common in all of these chondrites. Zoned and unzoned particles probably formed as condensates from a gas of chondritic composition in a monotonic cooling regime, as has been shown previously. We have demonstrated that these particles were cooled rapidly to temperatures below 500 K after they formed, and that condensation effectively closed around 700 K. Zoned and unzoned particles with exsolution precipitates, predominantly high-Ni taenite, have considerably more complex thermal histories. Precipitates grew in reheating episodes, but the details of the heating events vary among individual grains. Reheating temperatures are typically in the range 800-1000 K. Reheating could have been the result of impact events on the CH parent body. Some particles with precipitates may have been incorporated into chondrules, with further brief heating episodes taking place during chondrule formation. In addition to the four dominant types of metal particles, rare Ni-rich metal particles and Si-rich metal particles indicate that the metal assemblage in CH chondrites was a mixture of material that formed at different redox conditions. Metal in CH chondrites consists of a mechanical mixture of particles that underwent a variety of thermal histories prior to being assembled into the existing brecciated meteorites.

New metastable form of glibenclamide prepared by redispersion from ternary solid dispersions containing polyvinylpyrrolidone-K30 and sodium lauryl sulfate.

PubMed

Thongnopkoon, Thanu; Puttipipatkhachorn, Satit

2016-01-01

Modification of polymorphic forms of poorly water-soluble drugs is one way to achieve the desirable properties. In this study, glibenclamide (GBM) particles with different polymorphic forms, including a new metastable form, were obtained from redispersion of ternary solid dispersion systems. The ternary solid dispersion systems, consisting of GBM, polyvinylpyrrolidone-K30 (PVP-K30) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), were prepared by solvent evaporation method and subsequently redispersed in deionized water. The precipitated drug particles were then collected at a given time period. The drug particles with different polymorphic forms could be achieved depending on the polymer/surfactant ratio. Amorphous drug nanoparticles could be obtained by using a high polymer/surfactant ratio, whereas two different crystalline forms were obtained from the systems containing low polymer/surfactant ratios. Interestingly, a new metastable form IV of GBM with improved dissolution behavior could be obtained from the system of GBM:PVP-K30:SLS with the weight ratio of 2:2:4. This new polymorphic form IV of GBM was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD) and solid state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The molecular arrangement of the new polymorphic form IV of GBM was proposed. The GBM particles with polymorphic form IV also showed an improved dissolution behavior. In addition, it was found that the formation of the new polymorphic form IV of GBM by this process was reproducible.

Composite material reinforced with atomized quasicrystalline particles and method of making same

DOEpatents

Biner, S.B.; Sordelet, D.J.; Lograsso, B.K.; Anderson, I.E.

1998-12-22

A composite material comprises an aluminum or aluminum alloy matrix having generally spherical, atomized quasicrystalline aluminum-transition metal alloy reinforcement particles disposed in the matrix to improve mechanical properties. A composite article can be made by consolidating generally spherical, atomized quasicrystalline aluminum-transition metal alloy particles and aluminum or aluminum alloy particles to form a body that is cold and/or hot reduced to form composite products, such as composite plate or sheet, with interfacial bonding between the quasicrystalline particles and the aluminum or aluminum alloy matrix without damage (e.g. cracking or shape change) of the reinforcement particles. The cold and/or hot worked composite exhibits substantially improved yield strength, tensile strength, Young`s modulus (stiffness). 3 figs.

Nature of alpha and beta particles in glycogen using molecular size distributions.

PubMed

Sullivan, Mitchell A; Vilaplana, Francisco; Cave, Richard A; Stapleton, David; Gray-Weale, Angus A; Gilbert, Robert G

2010-04-12

Glycogen is a randomly hyperbranched glucose polymer. Complex branched polymers have two structural levels: individual branches and the way these branches are linked. Liver glycogen has a third level: supramolecular clusters of beta particles which form larger clusters of alpha particles. Size distributions of native glycogen were characterized using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to find the number and weight distributions and the size dependences of the number- and weight-average masses. These were fitted to two distinct randomly joined reference structures, constructed by random attachment of individual branches and as random aggregates of beta particles. The z-average size of the alpha particles in dimethylsulfoxide does not change significantly with high concentrations of LiBr, a solvent system that would disrupt hydrogen bonding. These data reveal that the beta particles are covalently bonded to form alpha particles through a hitherto unsuspected enzyme process, operative in the liver on particles above a certain size range.

Gunshot residue particles formed by using ammunitions that have mercury fulminate based primers.

PubMed

Zeichner, A; Levin, N; Dvorachek, M

1992-11-01

Ammunition having mercury fulminate-based primers are commonly manufactured by Eastern Bloc countries and used extensively in the Middle East. Gunshot residue (GSR) particles formed by firing these types of ammunition were examined. It was observed that much lower percentage of mercury-containing GSR particles were found in samples taken from a shooter as compared to the percentage of such particles in samples from cartridge cases. This fact must therefore be taken into account when interpreting case results. A plausible explanation for the results described is proposed.

Fractionation and characterization of particles simulating wear of total joint replacement (TJR) following ASTM standards.

PubMed

Saha, Subrata; Musib, Mrinal

2011-01-01

Reactions of bone cells to orthopedic wear debris produced by the articulating motion of total joint replacements (TJRs) are largely responsible for the long-term failure of such replacements. Metal and polyethylene (PE) wear particles isolated from fluids from total joint simulators, as well as particles that are fabricated by other methods, are widely used to study such in vitro cellular response. Prior investigations have revealed that cellular response to wear debris depends on the size, shape, and dose of the particles. Hence, to have a better understanding of the wear-mediated osteolytic process it is important that these particles are well characterized and clinically relevant, both qualitatively, and quantitatively. In this study we have fractionated both ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Ti particles, into micron (1.0-10.0 μm), submicron (0.2-1.0 μm), and nanoparticle (0.01-0.2 μm) fractions, and characterized them based on the following size-shape descriptors as put forth in ASTM F1877: i) equivalent circle diameter (ECD), ii) aspect ratio (AR), iii) elongation (E), iv) roundness (R), and v) form factor (FF). The mean (± SD) ECDs (in μm) for micron, submicron, and nanoparticles of UHMWPE were 1.652 ± 0.553, 0.270 ± 0.180, and 0.061 ± 0.035, respectively, and for Ti were 1.894 ± 0.667, 0.278 ± 0.180, and 0.055 ± 0.029, respectively. The values for other descriptors were similar (no statistically significant difference). The nanofraction particles were found to be more sphere-like (higher R and FF values, and lower E and AR values) as compared to larger particles. Future experiments will involve use of these well characterized particles for in vitro studies.

Temperature and magnetic field responsive hyaluronic acid particles with tunable physical and chemical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ekici, Sema; Ilgin, Pinar; Yilmaz, Selahattin; Aktas, Nahit; Sahiner, Nurettin

2011-01-01

We report the preparation and characterization of thiolated-temperature-responsive hyaluronic acid-cysteamine-N-isopropyl acrylamide (HA-CYs-NIPAm) particles and thiolated-magnetic-responsive hyaluronic acid (HA-Fe-CYs) particles. Linear hyaluronic acid (HA) crosslinked with divinyl sulfone as HA particles was prepared using a water-in-oil micro emulsion system which were then oxidized HA-O with NaIO4 to develop aldehyde groups on the particle surface. HA-O hydrogel particles were then reacted with cysteamine (CYs) which interacted with aldehydes on the HA surface to form HA particles with cysteamine (HA-CYs) functionality on the surface. HA-CYs particles were further exposed to radical polymerization with NIPAm to obtain temperature responsive HA-CYs-NIPAm hydrogel particles. To acquire magnetic field responsive HA composites, magnetic iron particles were included in HA to form HA-Fe during HA particle preparation. HA-Fe hydrogel particles were also chemically modified. The prepared HA-CYs-NIPAm demonstrated temperature dependent size variations and phase transition temperature. HA-CYs-NIPAm and HA-Fe-CYs particles can be used as drug delivery vehicles. Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), an antibacterial drug, was used as a model drug for temperature-induced release studies from these particles.

Ternary nucleation as a mechanism for the production of diesel nanoparticles: experimental analysis of the volatile and hygroscopic properties of diesel exhaust using the volatilization and humidification tandem differential mobility analyzer.

PubMed

Meyer, N K; Ristovski, Z D

2007-11-01

The volatile and hygroscopic properties of diesel nanoparticles were simultaneously determined under a range of engine loads using the volatilization and humidification tandem differential mobility analyzer (VH-TDMA). Additionally, the VH-TDMA was used to measure changes in the hygroscopic behavior of the heterogeneously nucleated diesel nanoparticles as one or more semivolatile species were removed via thermal evaporation or decomposition. Particles produced at high loads exhibited high, dual-step volatility, while those particles produced at low loads were less volatile and exhibited continuous volatilization curves. The hygroscopic growth factor of the particles was shown to be load dependent with high-load particles exhibiting growth factors similar to that of ammonium sulfate. At 85% relative humidity, particles produced at moderate loads exhibited growth factors of approximately 1.1 while low-load particles were shown to be hydrophobic. Growth factors and volatilization temperatures measured for high-load particles clearly indicate that ternary nucleation is involved in particle formation.

Convoluted Quasi Sturmian basis for the two-electron continuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ancarani, Lorenzo Ugo; Zaytsev, A. S.; Zaytsev, S. A.

2016-09-01

In the construction of solutions for the Coulomb three-body scattering problem one encounters a series of mathematical and numerical difficulties, one of which are the cumbersome boundary conditions the wave function should obey. We propose to describe a Coulomb three-body system continuum with a set of two-particle functions, named Convoluted Quasi Sturmian (CQS) in. They are built using recently introduced Quasi Sturmian (QS) functions which have the merit of possessing a closed form. Unlike a simple product of two one-particle functions, by construction, the CQS functions look asymptotically like a six-dimensional outgoing spherical wave. The proposed CQS basis is tested through the study of the double ionization of helium by high-energy electron impact in the framework of the Temkin-Poet model. An adequate logarithmic-like phase factor is further included in order to take into account the Coulomb interelectronic interaction and formally build the correct asymptotic behavior when all interparticle distances are large. With such a phase-factor (that can be easily extended to take into account higher partial waves) rapid convergence of the expansion can be obtained.

Biological Experiments in Microgravity Conditions Using Magnetic Micro- and Nano-Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nechitailo, Galina S.; Kuznetsov, Anatoli; Kuznetsov, Oleg

2016-07-01

Gravity affects all living organisms on Earth, and plays a role in multiple processes in them. In microgravity conditions (e.g., on board of a spacecraft) many of these processes are disturbed, e.g., spatial orientation is lost, mass and heat exchange is distorted, many adaptive mechanisms no longer function, etc. Negation of these adverse effects by creation of pseudo-gravity to by centrifugation is complicated, expensive and unpractical. We propose to use naturally occurring magnetic heterogeneity of all living cells and high gradient magnetic fields as an alternative approach to negating the adverse effects of microgravity on living systems. In non-uniform magnetic field, magnetically heterogeneous objects experience a system of ponderomotive forces. For a weak magnetic particle, the net ponderomotive magnetic force: Fm = Δχ•V•grad(H2/2), where Δχ is the difference of susceptibilities of the particle and the surrounding media, V is the volume of the particle, grad(H2/2) is the dynamic factor of the magnetic field. We studied magnetic heterogeneity of plant gravity receptor cells, prepared and conducted experiments on board of the space station "Mir" on providing a gravity-like stimulus for flax seedlings using high gradient magnetic field ("Magnetogravistat" experiment). Later, a more sophisticated version of this experiment was flown on STS-107. These experiments provided new data on the mechanisms of plant gravity reception and created a method for substituting gravity for a living organism by a force of a different physical nature, to negate the adverse effects of microgravity. Since the ponderomotive force is proportional to the dynamic factor of the field grad(H2/2), the stronger the field, and the faster it changes over distance, the higher is the dynamic factor and the stronger the ponderomotive force. Therefore, in the small vicinity of a small ferromagnetic particle (preferably metallic micro or nano-particles), the forces are very significant even for weak magnetic objects, and can have significant effects on multiple processes in living cells/organisms. It was reported, that such high gradient magnetic fields can affect cell differentiation and cell proliferation processes in ground-based experiments. To prevent oxidation of ultradisperse ferromagnetic particles in aqueous media, it is beneficial to coat their surface with carbon. Suitable protected metallic micro- and nano-particles can be produced by a variety of techniques (CVD, plasmachemistry, joint grinding, etc.). Ferro-carbon particles produced by plasmachemical technique have high sorption capacities for various organic and inorganic compounds (as well as for various cell metabolites), can be formed in rather stable aqueous suspensions, and be controlled (e.g., sedimented) by a magnetic field. This makes these particles a very interesting research tool. In our opinion, biological experiments with ferro-carbon nano-structured particles in microgravity will generate important scientific data and will allow creating new methods of negating the adverse effects of microgravity on living systems.

Source appointment of fine particle number and volume concentration during severe haze pollution in Beijing in January 2013.

PubMed

Liu, Zirui; Wang, Yuesi; Hu, Bo; Ji, Dongsheng; Zhang, Junke; Wu, Fangkun; Wan, Xin; Wang, Yonghong

2016-04-01

Extreme haze episodes repeatedly shrouded Beijing during the winter of 2012-2013, causing major environmental and health problems. To better understand these extreme events, particle number size distribution (PNSD) and particle chemical composition (PCC) data collected in an intensive winter campaign in an urban site of Beijing were used to investigate the sources of ambient fine particles. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis resolved a total of eight factors: two traffic factors, combustion factors, secondary aerosol, two accumulation mode aerosol factors, road dust, and long-range transported (LRT) dust. Traffic emissions (54%) and combustion aerosol (27%) were found to be the most important sources for particle number concentration, whereas combustion aerosol (33%) and accumulation mode aerosol (37%) dominated particle volume concentrations. Chemical compositions and sources of fine particles changed dynamically in the haze episodes. An enhanced role of secondary inorganic species was observed in the formation of haze pollution. Regional transport played an important role for high particles, contribution of which was on average up to 24-49% during the haze episodes. Secondary aerosols from urban background presented the largest contributions (45%) for the rapid increase of fine particles in the severest haze episode. In addition, the invasion of LRT dust aerosols further elevated the fine particles during the extreme haze episode. Our results showed a clear impact of regional transport on the local air pollution, suggesting the importance of regional-scale emission control measures in the local air quality management of Beijing.

Products and mechanism of secondary organic aerosol formation from reactions of n-alkanes with OH radicals in the presence of NOx.

PubMed

Lim, Yong Bin; Ziemann, Paul J

2005-12-01

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from reactions of n-alkanes with OH radicals in the presence of NOx was investigated in an environmental chamber using a thermal desorption particle beam mass spectrometer for particle analysis. SOA consisted of both first- and higher-generation products, all of which were nitrates. Major first-generation products were sigma-hydroxynitrates, while higher-generation products consisted of dinitrates, hydroxydinitrates, and substituted tetrahydrofurans containing nitrooxy, hydroxyl, and carbonyl groups. The substituted tetrahydrofurans are formed by a series of reactions in which sigma-hydroxycarbonyls isomerize to cyclic hemiacetals, which then dehydrate to form substituted dihydrofurans (unsaturated compounds) that quickly react with OH radicals to form lower volatility products. SOA yields ranged from approximately 0.5% for C8 to approximately 53% for C15, with a sharp increase from approximately 8% for C11 to approximately 50% for C13. This was probably due to an increase in the contribution of first-generation products, as well as other factors. For example, SOA formed from the C10 reaction contained no first-generation products, while for the C15 reaction SOA was approximately 40% first-generation and approximately 60% higher-generation products, respectively. First-generation sigma-hydroxycarbonyls are especially important in SOA formation, since their subsequent reactions can rapidly form low volatility compounds. In the atmosphere, substituted dihydrofurans created from sigma-hydroxycarbonyls will primarily react with O3 or NO3 radicals, thereby opening reaction pathways not normally accessible to saturated compounds.

Building a Buckyball Particle in Space Artist Concept

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-02-22

NASA Spitzer Space Telescope has detected the solid form of buckyballs in space for the first time. To form a solid particle, the buckyballs must stack together, as illustrated in this artist concept showing the very beginnings of the process.

Electrostatic formation of liquid marbles and agglomerates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liyanaarachchi, K. R.; Ireland, P. M.; Webber, G. B.; Galvin, K. P.

2013-07-01

We report observations of a sudden, explosive release of electrostatically charged 100 μm glass beads from a particle bed. These cross an air gap of several millimeters, are engulfed by an approaching pendant water drop, and form a metastable spherical agglomerate on the bed surface. The stability transition of the particle bed is explained by promotion of internal friction by in-plane electrostatic stresses. The novel agglomerates formed this way resemble the "liquid marbles" formed by coating a drop with hydrophobic particles. Complex multi-layered agglomerates may also be produced by this method, with potential industrial, pharmaceutical, environmental, and biological applications.

Amorphous calcium carbonate particles form coral skeletons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mass, Tali; Giuffre, Anthony J.; Sun, Chang-Yu; Stifler, Cayla A.; Frazier, Matthew J.; Neder, Maayan; Tamura, Nobumichi; Stan, Camelia V.; Marcus, Matthew A.; Gilbert, Pupa U. P. A.

2017-09-01

Do corals form their skeletons by precipitation from solution or by attachment of amorphous precursor particles as observed in other minerals and biominerals? The classical model assumes precipitation in contrast with observed “vital effects,” that is, deviations from elemental and isotopic compositions at thermodynamic equilibrium. Here, we show direct spectromicroscopy evidence in Stylophora pistillata corals that two amorphous precursors exist, one hydrated and one anhydrous amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC); that these are formed in the tissue as 400-nm particles; and that they attach to the surface of coral skeletons, remain amorphous for hours, and finally, crystallize into aragonite (CaCO3). We show in both coral and synthetic aragonite spherulites that crystal growth by attachment of ACC particles is more than 100 times faster than ion-by-ion growth from solution. Fast growth provides a distinct physiological advantage to corals in the rigors of the reef, a crowded and fiercely competitive ecosystem. Corals are affected by warming-induced bleaching and postmortem dissolution, but the finding here that ACC particles are formed inside tissue may make coral skeleton formation less susceptible to ocean acidification than previously assumed. If this is how other corals form their skeletons, perhaps this is how a few corals survived past CO2 increases, such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum that occurred 56 Mya.

Amorphous calcium carbonate particles form coral skeletons.

PubMed

Mass, Tali; Giuffre, Anthony J; Sun, Chang-Yu; Stifler, Cayla A; Frazier, Matthew J; Neder, Maayan; Tamura, Nobumichi; Stan, Camelia V; Marcus, Matthew A; Gilbert, Pupa U P A

2017-09-12

Do corals form their skeletons by precipitation from solution or by attachment of amorphous precursor particles as observed in other minerals and biominerals? The classical model assumes precipitation in contrast with observed "vital effects," that is, deviations from elemental and isotopic compositions at thermodynamic equilibrium. Here, we show direct spectromicroscopy evidence in Stylophora pistillata corals that two amorphous precursors exist, one hydrated and one anhydrous amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC); that these are formed in the tissue as 400-nm particles; and that they attach to the surface of coral skeletons, remain amorphous for hours, and finally, crystallize into aragonite (CaCO 3 ). We show in both coral and synthetic aragonite spherulites that crystal growth by attachment of ACC particles is more than 100 times faster than ion-by-ion growth from solution. Fast growth provides a distinct physiological advantage to corals in the rigors of the reef, a crowded and fiercely competitive ecosystem. Corals are affected by warming-induced bleaching and postmortem dissolution, but the finding here that ACC particles are formed inside tissue may make coral skeleton formation less susceptible to ocean acidification than previously assumed. If this is how other corals form their skeletons, perhaps this is how a few corals survived past CO 2 increases, such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum that occurred 56 Mya.

Amorphous calcium carbonate particles form coral skeletons

PubMed Central

Mass, Tali; Giuffre, Anthony J.; Sun, Chang-Yu; Stifler, Cayla A.; Frazier, Matthew J.; Neder, Maayan; Tamura, Nobumichi; Stan, Camelia V.; Marcus, Matthew A.

2017-01-01

Do corals form their skeletons by precipitation from solution or by attachment of amorphous precursor particles as observed in other minerals and biominerals? The classical model assumes precipitation in contrast with observed “vital effects,” that is, deviations from elemental and isotopic compositions at thermodynamic equilibrium. Here, we show direct spectromicroscopy evidence in Stylophora pistillata corals that two amorphous precursors exist, one hydrated and one anhydrous amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC); that these are formed in the tissue as 400-nm particles; and that they attach to the surface of coral skeletons, remain amorphous for hours, and finally, crystallize into aragonite (CaCO3). We show in both coral and synthetic aragonite spherulites that crystal growth by attachment of ACC particles is more than 100 times faster than ion-by-ion growth from solution. Fast growth provides a distinct physiological advantage to corals in the rigors of the reef, a crowded and fiercely competitive ecosystem. Corals are affected by warming-induced bleaching and postmortem dissolution, but the finding here that ACC particles are formed inside tissue may make coral skeleton formation less susceptible to ocean acidification than previously assumed. If this is how other corals form their skeletons, perhaps this is how a few corals survived past CO2 increases, such as the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum that occurred 56 Mya. PMID:28847944

Influence of air-particle deposition protocols on the surface topography and adhesion of resin cement to zirconia.

PubMed

Sarmento, Hugo R; Campos, Fernanda; Sousa, Rafael S; Machado, Joao P B; Souza, Rodrigo O A; Bottino, Marco A; Ozcan, Mutlu

2014-07-01

This study evaluated the influence of air-particle abrasion protocols on the surface roughness (SR) of zirconia and the shear bond strength (SBS) of dual-polymerized resin cement to this ceramic. Sintered zirconia blocks (n = 115) (Lava, 3M ESPE) were embedded in acrylic resin and polished. The specimens were divided according to the 'particle type' (Al: 110 µm Al2O3; Si: 110 µm SiO2) and 'pressure' factors (2.5 or 3.5 bar) (n = 3 per group): (a) Control (no air-abrasion); (b) Al2.5; (c) Si2.5; (d) Al3.5; (e) Si3.5. SR (Ra) was measured 3-times from each specimen after 20 s of air-abrasion (distance: 10 mm) using a digital optical profilometer. Surface topography was evaluated under SEM analyses. For the SBS test, 'particle type', 'pressure' and 'thermocycling' (TC) factors were considered (n = 10; n = 10 per group): Control (no air-abrasion); Al2.5; Si2.5; Al3.5; Si3.5; ControlTC; Al2.5TC; Si2.5TC; Al3.5TC; Si3.5TC. After silane application, resin cement (Panavia F2.0) was bonded and polymerized. Specimens were thermocycled (6.000 cycles, 5-55°C) and subjected to SBS (1 mm/min). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Tukey's and Dunnett tests (5%). 'Particle' (p = 0.0001) and 'pressure' (p = 0.0001) factors significantly affected the SR. All protocols significantly increased the SR (Al2.5: 0.45 ± 0.02; Si2.5: 0.39 ± 0.01; Al3.5: 0.80 ± 0.01; Si3.5: 0.64 ± 0.01 µm) compared to the control group (0.16 ± 0.01 µm). For SBS, only 'particle' factor significantly affected the results (p = 0.015). The SiO2 groups presented significantly higher SBS results than Al2O3 (Al2.5: 4.78 ± 1.86; Si2.5: 7.17 ± 2.62; Al3.5: 4.97 ± 3.74; Si3.5: 9.14 ± 4.09 MPa) and the control group (3.67 ± 3.0 MPa). All TC specimens presented spontaneous debondings. SEM analysis showed that Al2O3 created damage in zirconia in the form of grooves, different from those observed with SiO2 groups. Air-abrasion with 110 µm Al2O3 resulted in higher roughness, but air-abrasion protocols with SiO2 promoted better adhesion.

Effect of particle size on oral absorption of carvedilol nanosuspensions: in vitro and in vivo evaluation

PubMed Central

Liu, Dandan; Pan, Hao; He, Fengwei; Wang, Xiaoyu; Li, Jinyu; Yang, Xinggang; Pan, Weisan

2015-01-01

The purpose of this work was to explore the particle size reduction effect of carvedilol on dissolution and absorption. Three suspensions containing different sized particles were prepared by antisolvent precipitation method or in combination with an ultrasonication process. The suspensions were characterized for particle size, surface morphology, and crystalline state. The crystalline form of carvedilol was changed into amorphous form after antisolvent precipitation. The dissolution rate of carvedilol was significantly accelerated by a reduction in particle size. The intestinal absorption of carvedilol nanosuspensions was greatly improved in comparison with microsuspensions and solution in the in situ single-pass perfusion experiment. The in vivo evaluation demonstrated that carvedilol nanosuspensions and microsuspensions exhibited markedly increased Cmax (2.09- and 1.48-fold) and AUC0−t (2.11- and 1.51-fold), and decreased Tmax (0.34- and 0.48-fold) in contrast with carvedilol coarse suspensions. Moreover, carvedilol nanosuspensions showed good biocompatibility with the rat gastric mucosa in in vivo gastrointestinal irritation test. The entire results implicated that the dissolution rate and the oral absorption of carvedilol were significantly affected by the particle size. Particle size reduction to form nanosized particles was found to be an efficient method for improving the oral bioavailability of carvedilol. PMID:26508852

Electrical Field Guided Electrospray Deposition for Production of Gradient Particle Patterns.

PubMed

Yan, Wei-Cheng; Xie, Jingwei; Wang, Chi-Hwa

2018-06-06

Our previous work demonstrated the uniform particle pattern formation on the substrates using electrical field guided electrospray deposition. In this work, we reported for the first time the fabrication of gradient particle patterns on glass slides using an additional point, line, or bar electrode based on our previous electrospray deposition configuration. We also demonstrated that the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating could result in the formation of uniform particle patterns instead of gradient particle patterns on glass slides using the same experimental setup. Meanwhile, we investigated the effect of experimental configurations on the gradient particle pattern formation by computational simulation. The simulation results are in line with experimental observations. The formation of gradient particle patterns was ascribed to the gradient of electric field and the corresponding focusing effect. Cell patterns can be formed on the particle patterns deposited on PDMS-coated glass slides. The formed particle patterns hold great promise for high-throughput screening of biomaterial-cell interactions and sensing.

Different architectures in the assembly of infectious bursal disease virus capsid proteins expressed in insect cells.

PubMed

Martinez-Torrecuadrada, J L; Castón, J R; Castro, M; Carrascosa, J L; Rodriguez, J F; Casal, J I

2000-12-20

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) capsid is formed by the processing of a large polyprotein and subsequent assembly of VPX/VP2 and VP3. To learn more about the processing of the polyprotein and factors affecting the correct assembly of the viral capsid in vitro, different constructs were made using two baculovirus transfer vectors, pFastBac and pAcYM1. Surprisingly, the expression of the capsid proteins gave rise to different types of particles in each system, as observed by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. FastBac expression led to the production of only rigid tubular structures, similar to those described as type I in viral infection. Western blot analysis revealed that these rigid tubules are formed exclusively by VPX. These tubules revealed a hexagonal arrangement of units that are trimer clustered, similar to those observed in IBDV virions. In contrast, pAcYM1 expression led to the assembly of virus-like particles (VLPs), flexible tubules, and intermediate assembly products formed by icosahedral caps elongated in tubes, suggesting an aberrant morphogenesis. Processing of VPX to VP2 seems to be a crucial requirement for the proper morphogenesis and assembly of IBDV particles. After immunoelectron microscopy, VPX/VP2 was detected on the surface of tubules and VLPs. We also demonstrated that VP3 is found only on the inner surfaces of VLPs and caps of the tubular structures. In summary, assembly of VLPs requires the internal scaffolding of VP3, which seems to induce the closing of the tubular architecture into VLPs and, thereafter, the subsequent processing of VPX to VP2. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

A large source of low-volatility secondary organic aerosol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ehn, Mikael; Thornton, Joel A.; Kleist, Einhard; Sipilä, Mikko; Junninen, Heikki; Pullinen, Iida; Springer, Monika; Rubach, Florian; Tillmann, Ralf; Lee, Ben; Lopez-Hilfiker, Felipe; Andres, Stefanie; Acir, Ismail-Hakki; Rissanen, Matti; Jokinen, Tuija; Schobesberger, Siegfried; Kangasluoma, Juha; Kontkanen, Jenni; Nieminen, Tuomo; Kurtén, Theo; Nielsen, Lasse B.; Jørgensen, Solvejg; Kjaergaard, Henrik G.; Canagaratna, Manjula; Maso, Miikka Dal; Berndt, Torsten; Petäjä, Tuukka; Wahner, Andreas; Kerminen, Veli-Matti; Kulmala, Markku; Worsnop, Douglas R.; Wildt, Jürgen; Mentel, Thomas F.

2014-02-01

Forests emit large quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the atmosphere. Their condensable oxidation products can form secondary organic aerosol, a significant and ubiquitous component of atmospheric aerosol, which is known to affect the Earth's radiation balance by scattering solar radiation and by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. The quantitative assessment of such climate effects remains hampered by a number of factors, including an incomplete understanding of how biogenic VOCs contribute to the formation of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol. The growth of newly formed particles from sizes of less than three nanometres up to the sizes of cloud condensation nuclei (about one hundred nanometres) in many continental ecosystems requires abundant, essentially non-volatile organic vapours, but the sources and compositions of such vapours remain unknown. Here we investigate the oxidation of VOCs, in particular the terpene α-pinene, under atmospherically relevant conditions in chamber experiments. We find that a direct pathway leads from several biogenic VOCs, such as monoterpenes, to the formation of large amounts of extremely low-volatility vapours. These vapours form at significant mass yield in the gas phase and condense irreversibly onto aerosol surfaces to produce secondary organic aerosol, helping to explain the discrepancy between the observed atmospheric burden of secondary organic aerosol and that reported by many model studies. We further demonstrate how these low-volatility vapours can enhance, or even dominate, the formation and growth of aerosol particles over forested regions, providing a missing link between biogenic VOCs and their conversion to aerosol particles. Our findings could help to improve assessments of biosphere-aerosol-climate feedback mechanisms, and the air quality and climate effects of biogenic emissions generally.

A large source of low-volatility secondary organic aerosol.

PubMed

Ehn, Mikael; Thornton, Joel A; Kleist, Einhard; Sipilä, Mikko; Junninen, Heikki; Pullinen, Iida; Springer, Monika; Rubach, Florian; Tillmann, Ralf; Lee, Ben; Lopez-Hilfiker, Felipe; Andres, Stefanie; Acir, Ismail-Hakki; Rissanen, Matti; Jokinen, Tuija; Schobesberger, Siegfried; Kangasluoma, Juha; Kontkanen, Jenni; Nieminen, Tuomo; Kurtén, Theo; Nielsen, Lasse B; Jørgensen, Solvejg; Kjaergaard, Henrik G; Canagaratna, Manjula; Maso, Miikka Dal; Berndt, Torsten; Petäjä, Tuukka; Wahner, Andreas; Kerminen, Veli-Matti; Kulmala, Markku; Worsnop, Douglas R; Wildt, Jürgen; Mentel, Thomas F

2014-02-27

Forests emit large quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the atmosphere. Their condensable oxidation products can form secondary organic aerosol, a significant and ubiquitous component of atmospheric aerosol, which is known to affect the Earth's radiation balance by scattering solar radiation and by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. The quantitative assessment of such climate effects remains hampered by a number of factors, including an incomplete understanding of how biogenic VOCs contribute to the formation of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol. The growth of newly formed particles from sizes of less than three nanometres up to the sizes of cloud condensation nuclei (about one hundred nanometres) in many continental ecosystems requires abundant, essentially non-volatile organic vapours, but the sources and compositions of such vapours remain unknown. Here we investigate the oxidation of VOCs, in particular the terpene α-pinene, under atmospherically relevant conditions in chamber experiments. We find that a direct pathway leads from several biogenic VOCs, such as monoterpenes, to the formation of large amounts of extremely low-volatility vapours. These vapours form at significant mass yield in the gas phase and condense irreversibly onto aerosol surfaces to produce secondary organic aerosol, helping to explain the discrepancy between the observed atmospheric burden of secondary organic aerosol and that reported by many model studies. We further demonstrate how these low-volatility vapours can enhance, or even dominate, the formation and growth of aerosol particles over forested regions, providing a missing link between biogenic VOCs and their conversion to aerosol particles. Our findings could help to improve assessments of biosphere-aerosol-climate feedback mechanisms, and the air quality and climate effects of biogenic emissions generally.

Technology of Strengthening Steel Details by Surfacing Composite Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burov, V. G.; Bataev, A. A.; Rakhimyanov, Kh M.; Mul, D. O.

2016-04-01

The article considers the problem of forming wear resistant meal ceramic coatings on steel surfaces using the results of our own investigations and the analysis of achievements made in the country and abroad. Increasing the wear resistance of surface layers of steel details is achieved by surfacing composite coatings with carbides or borides of metals as disperse particles in the strengthening phase. The use of surfacing on wearing machine details and mechanisms has a history of more than 100 years. But still engineering investigations in this field are being conducted up to now. The use of heating sources which provide a high density of power allows ensuring temperature and time conditions of surfacing under which composites with peculiar service and functional properties are formed. High concentration of energy in the zone of melt, which is created from powder mixtures and the hardened surface layer, allows producing the transition zone between the main material and surfaced coating. Surfacing by the electron beam directed from vacuum to the atmosphere is of considerable technological advantages. They give the possibility of strengthening surface layers of large-sized details by surfacing powder mixtures without their preliminary compacting. A modified layer of the main metal with ceramic particles distributed in it is created as a result of heating surfaced powders and the detail surface layer by the electron beam. Technology of surfacing allows using powders of refractory metals and graphite in the composition of powder mixtures. They interact with one another and form the particles of the hardening phase of the composition coating. The chemical composition of the main and surfaced materials is considered to be the main factor which determines the character of metallurgical processes in local zones of melt as well as the structure and properties of surfaced composition.

The composition of nucleation and Aitken modes particles during coastal nucleation events: evidence for marine secondary organic contribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaattovaara, P.; Huttunen, P. E.; Yoon, Y. J.; Joutsensaari, J.; Lehtinen, K. E. J.; O'Dowd, C. D.; Laaksonen, A.

2006-04-01

Newly-formed nanometer-sized particles have been observed at coastal and marine environments worldwide. Interestingly, organic species have so far not been detected in those newly-formed nucleation mode particles. In this study, we applied the UFO-TDMA (ultrafine organic tandem differential mobility analyzer) method to study the possible existence of an organic fraction in recently formed coastal nucleation mode particles (d<20 nm) at the Mace Head research station. Furthermore, effects of those nucleation events to potential CCN (cloud condensation nuclei) were studied. The coastal events were typical for the Mace Head region and they occurred at low tide conditions during efficient solar radiation and high biological activity (HBA, i.e. a high mass concentration of chlorophyll a of the ocean) in spring 2002. Additionally, a PHA-UCPC (pulse height analyzer ultrafine condensation particle counter) technique was used to study the composition of newly-formed particles formed in low tide conditions during a lower biological activity (LBA, i.e. a lower mass concentration of chlorophyll a of the ocean) in October 2002. The overall results of the UFO-TDMA and the PHA-UCPC measurements indicate that those coastally/marinely formed nucleation mode particles include a remarkable fraction of secondary organic products, beside iodine oxides, which are likely to be responsible for the nucleation. During clean marine air mass conditions, the origin of those secondary organic oxidation compounds can be related to marine/coastal biota and thus a major fraction of the organics may originate from biosynthetic production of alkenes such as isoprene and their oxidation by iodine, hydroxyl radical, and ozone. During modified marine conditions, also anthropogenic secondary organic compounds may contribute to the nucleation mode organic mass, in addition to biogenic secondary organic compounds. Thus, the UFO-TDMA results suggest that the secondary organic compounds may, in addition to being significant contributors to the nucleation mode processes, accelerate the growth of freshly nucleated particles and increase their survival probability to CCN and even larger radiatively active particle sizes. The results give new insights to the coastal/marine particle formation, growth, and properties. The marine biota driven secondary organic contributions to coastal/marine particle formation and composition can be anticipated in other species specific biologically active oceans and fresh-waters areas around the world and thus, they may be significant also to the global radiative bugdet, atmosphere-biosphere feedbacks, and climate change.

Gas atomization synthesis of refractory or intermetallic compounds and supersaturated solid solutions

DOEpatents

Anderson, I.E.; Lograsso, B.K.; Ellis, T.W.

1994-11-29

A metallic melt is atomized using a high pressure atomizing gas wherein the temperature of the melt and the composition of the atomizing gas are selected such that the gas and melt react in the atomization spray zone to form a refractory or intermetallic compound in the as-atomized powder particles. A metallic melt is also atomized using a high pressure atomizing gas mixture gas wherein the temperature of the melt and the ratio of a reactive gas to a carrier gas are selected to form powder particles comprising a supersaturated solid solution of the atomic species of the reactive gas in the particles. The powder particles are then heat treated to precipitate dispersoids in-situ therein to form a dispersion strengthened material. 9 figures.

Coherence factors in a high-tc cuprate probed by quasi-particle scattering off vortices.

PubMed

Hanaguri, T; Kohsaka, Y; Ono, M; Maltseva, M; Coleman, P; Yamada, I; Azuma, M; Takano, M; Ohishi, K; Takagi, H

2009-02-13

When electrons pair in a superconductor, quasi-particles develop an acute sensitivity to different types of scattering potential that is described by the appearance of coherence factors in the scattering amplitudes. Although the effects of coherence factors are well established in isotropic superconductors, they are much harder to detect in their anisotropic counterparts, such as high-superconducting-transition-temperature cuprates. We demonstrate an approach that highlights the momentum-dependent coherence factors in Ca2-xNaxCuO2Cl2. We used Fourier-transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy to reveal a magnetic-field dependence in quasi-particle scattering interference patterns that is sensitive to the sign of the anisotropic gap. This result is associated with the d-wave coherence factors and quasi-particle scattering off vortices. Our technique thus provides insights into the nature of electron pairing as well as quasi-particle scattering processes in unconventional superconductors.

Implementation of quality by design principles in the development of microsponges as drug delivery carriers: Identification and optimization of critical factors using multivariate statistical analyses and design of experiments studies.

PubMed

Simonoska Crcarevska, Maja; Dimitrovska, Aneta; Sibinovska, Nadica; Mladenovska, Kristina; Slavevska Raicki, Renata; Glavas Dodov, Marija

2015-07-15

Microsponges drug delivery system (MDDC) was prepared by double emulsion-solvent-diffusion technique using rotor-stator homogenization. Quality by design (QbD) concept was implemented for the development of MDDC with potential to be incorporated into semisolid dosage form (gel). Quality target product profile (QTPP) and critical quality attributes (CQA) were defined and identified, accordingly. Critical material attributes (CMA) and Critical process parameters (CPP) were identified using quality risk management (QRM) tool, failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA). CMA and CPP were identified based on results obtained from principal component analysis (PCA-X&Y) and partial least squares (PLS) statistical analysis along with literature data, product and process knowledge and understanding. FMECA identified amount of ethylcellulose, chitosan, acetone, dichloromethane, span 80, tween 80 and water ratio in primary/multiple emulsions as CMA and rotation speed and stirrer type used for organic solvent removal as CPP. The relationship between identified CPP and particle size as CQA was described in the design space using design of experiments - one-factor response surface method. Obtained results from statistically designed experiments enabled establishment of mathematical models and equations that were used for detailed characterization of influence of identified CPP upon MDDC particle size and particle size distribution and their subsequent optimization. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Electrochemical Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saville, D. A.

2005-01-01

Recent studies have established a new class of assembly processes with colloidal suspensions. Particles are driven together to form large crystalline structures in both dc and ac fields. The current work centers on this new class of flows in ac fields. In the research carried out under the current award, it was established that: (i) Small colloidal particles crystallize near an electrode due to electrohydrodynamic flows induced by an sinusoidally varying applied potential. (ii) These flows originate due to disturbances in the electrode polarization layer arising from the presence of the particles. Inasmuch as the charge and the field strength both scale on the applied field, the flows are proportional to the square of the applied voltage. (iii) Suspensions of two different sorts of particles can be crystallized and will form well-ordered binary crystals. (iv) At high frequencies the EHD flows die out. Thus, with a homogeneous system the particles become widely spaced due to dipolar repulsion. With a binary suspension, however, the particles may become attractive due to dipolar attraction arising from differences in electrokinetic dipoles. Consequently binary crystals form at both high and low frequencies.

Transparent ceramics and methods of preparation thereof

DOEpatents

Hollingsworth, Joel P [Oakland, CA; Kuntz, Joshua D [Livermore, CA; Seeley, Zachary M [Pullman, WA; Soules, Thomas F [Livermore, CA

2011-10-18

According to one embodiment, a method for forming a transparent ceramic preform includes forming a suspension of oxide particles in a solvent, adding the suspension to a mold of a desired shape, and uniformly curing the suspension in the mold for forming a preform. The suspension includes a dispersant but does not include a gelling agent. In another embodiment, a method includes creating a mixture without a gelling agent, the mixture including: inorganic particles, a solvent, and a dispersant. The inorganic particles have a mean diameter of less than about 2000 nm. The method also includes agitating the mixture, adding the mixture to a mold, and curing the mixture in the mold at a temperature of less than about 80.degree. C. for forming a preform. Other methods for forming a transparent ceramic preform are also described according to several embodiments.

Chemistry and stability of thiol based polyethylene glycol surface coatings on colloidal gold and their relationship to protein adsorption and clearance in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpinone, Paul

Nanomaterials have presented a wide range of novel biomedical applications, with particular emphasis placed on advances in imaging and treatment delivery. Of the many particulate nanomaterials researched for biomedical applications, gold is one of the most widely used. Colloidal gold has been of great interest due to its chemical inertness and its ability to perform multiple functions, such as drug delivery, localized heating of tissues (hyperthermia), and imaging (as a contrast agent). It is also readily functionalized through the use of thiols, which spontaneously form sulfur to gold bonds with the surface. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the most widely used coating material for these particles as it provides both steric stability to the suspension and protein resistance. These properties extend the circulation time of the particles in blood, and consequently the efficacy of the treatment. Despite widespread use of PEG coated gold particles, the coating chemistry and stability of these particles are largely unknown. The goal of this work was to identify the mechanisms leading to degradation and stability of thiol based polyethylene glycol coatings on gold particles and to relate this behavior to protein adsorption and clearance in vivo. The results indicate that the protective PEG coating is susceptible to sources of oxidation (including dissolved oxygen) and competing adsorbates, among other factors. The quality of commercially available thiolated PEG reagents was also found to play a key role in the quality and protein resistance of the final PEG coating. Analysis of the stability of these coatings indicated that they rapidly degrade under physiological conditions, leading to the onset of protein adsorption when exposed to plasma or blood. Paralleling the protein adsorption behavior and onset of coating degradation observed in vitro, blood clearance of parenterally administered PEG coated particles in mice began after approximately 2h of circulation time. Taken together, the data presented in this work indicates that the stability of the PEG coating and the many factors affecting it represent a fundamental limitation to the use of these particles.

Glass formation and unusual hygroscopic growth of iodic acid solution droplets with relevance for iodine mediated particle formation in the marine boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murray, B. J.; Haddrell, A. E.; Peppe, S.; Davies, J. F.; Reid, J. P.; O'Sullivan, D.; Price, H. C.; Kumar, R.; Saunders, R. W.; Plane, J. M. C.; Umo, N. S.; Wilson, T. W.

2012-09-01

Iodine oxide particles are known to nucleate in the marine boundary layer where gas phase molecular iodine and organoiodine species are produced by macroalgae. These ultra-fine particles may then grow through the condensation of other materials to sizes where they may serve as cloud condensation nuclei. There has been some debate over the chemical identity of the initially nucleated particles. In laboratory simulations, hygroscopic measurements have been used to infer that they are composed of insoluble I2O4, while elemental analysis of laboratory generated particles suggests soluble I2O5 or its hydrated form iodic acid, HIO3 (I2O5·H2O). In this paper we explore the response of super-micron sized aqueous iodic acid solution droplets to varying humidity using both Raman microscopy and single particle electrodynamic traps. These measurements reveal that the propensity of an iodic acid solution droplet to crystallise is negligible on drying to ~0% relative humidity (RH). On applying mechanical pressure to these droplets they shatter in a manner consistent with an ultra-viscous liquid or a brittle glass. Water retention in amorphous material at low RH is important for understanding the hygroscopic growth of aerosol particles and uptake of other condensable material. Subsequent water uptake between 10 and 20% RH causes their viscosity to reduce sufficiently that the cracked droplets flow and merge. The persistence of iodic acid solution in an amorphous state, rather than a crystalline state, suggests they will more readily accommodate other condensable material and are therefore more likely to grow to sizes where they may serve as cloud condensation nuclei. On increasing the humidity to ~90% the mass of the droplets only increases by ~20% with a corresponding increase in radius of only 6%, which is remarkably small for a highly soluble material. We suggest that the small growth factor of aqueous iodic acid solution droplets is consistent with the small aerosol growth factors observed in previous experiments.

The photocatalytic and cytotoxic effects of titanium dioxide particles used in sunscreen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rampaul, Ashti

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are used in sunscreens to reflect UV radiation from the skin. However, titanium dioxide as anatase and rutile crystal forms is a well-known photocatalyst. The nanoparticles are surface coated with inert inorganic oxides such as silica and alumina or organics such as organosilanes or silicone polymers and more recently, have been doped with manganese oxide. These modifications to the titanium dioxide particles are purported to prevent the production of harmful reactive oxygen species. A range of sunscreens was tested with crystal form and modification type identified via XRD, Raman Spectroscopy, XPS and SSNMR. The particle modification and crystal form determined whether the particles were inert or rapidly degraded methylene blue dye, and killed or protected cultured human epithelium cells. Novel solid state Electron Paramagnetic Resonance analysis showed that the greatest amount of superoxide anions was formed during UVA irradiation of the mixed anatase and rutile crystal forms coated with an organosilane. These particles also degraded methylene blue at a similar rate to Degussa P25, a standard uncoated titanium dioxide powder and produced an increase in UVA induced apoptosis of human keratinocytes. Double Stranded Breaks were observed extensively in cells exposed to UVA irradiated mixed anatase and rutile titanium dioxide with organosilane. A new apoptotic-like cell death mechanism may have been recognised during the UVA irradiation of animal and human cells in the presence of titanium dioxide. This research concludes that mixed anatase and rutile crystal forms of titanium dioxide coated with organosilane or dimethicone may not be safe to use in sunscreen lotions. A less harmful alternative for sunscreen formulations is the manganese doped rutile particles or the alumina coated rutile powders, both of which exhibited a protective effect on cultured epithelial cells.

Particle behavior simulation in thermophoresis phenomena by direct simulation Monte Carlo method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wada, Takao

2014-07-01

A particle motion considering thermophoretic force is simulated by using direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. Thermophoresis phenomena, which occur for a particle size of 1 μm, are treated in this paper. The problem of thermophoresis simulation is computation time which is proportional to the collision frequency. Note that the time step interval becomes much small for the simulation considering the motion of large size particle. Thermophoretic forces calculated by DSMC method were reported, but the particle motion was not computed because of the small time step interval. In this paper, the molecule-particle collision model, which computes the collision between a particle and multi molecules in a collision event, is considered. The momentum transfer to the particle is computed with a collision weight factor, where the collision weight factor means the number of molecules colliding with a particle in a collision event. The large time step interval is adopted by considering the collision weight factor. Furthermore, the large time step interval is about million times longer than the conventional time step interval of the DSMC method when a particle size is 1 μm. Therefore, the computation time becomes about one-millionth. We simulate the graphite particle motion considering thermophoretic force by DSMC-Neutrals (Particle-PLUS neutral module) with above the collision weight factor, where DSMC-Neutrals is commercial software adopting DSMC method. The size and the shape of the particle are 1 μm and a sphere, respectively. The particle-particle collision is ignored. We compute the thermophoretic forces in Ar and H2 gases of a pressure range from 0.1 to 100 mTorr. The results agree well with Gallis' analytical results. Note that Gallis' analytical result for continuum limit is the same as Waldmann's result.

Aerosol reduction/expansion synthesis (A-RES) for zero valent metal particles

DOEpatents

Leseman, Zayd; Luhrs, Claudia; Phillips, Jonathan; Soliman, Haytham

2016-04-12

Various embodiments provide methods of forming zero valent metal particles using an aerosol-reductive/expansion synthesis (A-RES) process. In one embodiment, an aerosol stream including metal precursor compound(s) and chemical agent(s) that produces reducing gases upon thermal decomposition can be introduced into a heated inert atmosphere of a RES reactor to form zero valent metal particles corresponding to metals used for the metal precursor compound(s).

Thin Metallic Films From Solvated Metal Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trivino, Galo C.; Klabunde, Kenneth J.; Dale, Brock

1988-02-01

Metals were evaporated under vacuum and the metal atoms solvated by excess organic solvents at low temperature. Upon warming stable colloidal metal particles were formed by controlled metal atom clustering. The particles were stabilized toward flocculation by solvation and electrostatic effects. Upon solvent removal the colloidal particles grew to form thin films that were metallic in appearance, but showed higher resistivities than pure metallic films. Gold, palladium, platinium, and especially indium are discussed.

Origin and heterogeneity of HDL subspecies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nichols, A.V.; Gong, E.L.; Blanche, P.J.

1987-09-01

A major determinant of mature HDL particle size and apolar core content, in the absence of remodeling factors, is most likely the size and apolipoprotein content of the precursor particle. Depending on the number of apoA-I molecules per analog particle, the LCAT-induced transformation follows either a fusion pathway (for precursors with 2 apoA-I per particle) or a pathway (for precursors with more than 2 apoA-I per particle) that conserves the apolipoprotein number. According to our analog results, small nascent HDL probably serve as precursors to the major (apoA-I without apoA-II)-subpopulation in the size interval. Our studies with the large discoidalmore » analog suggest that HDL/sub 2/ (apoA-I without apoA-II)-subpopulations probably originate from the large discoidal nascent HDL that contain a higher number of apolipoprotein molecules per particle than the small nascent HDL. Intermediate transformation products of the large discoidal analog, described in the present study, resemble deformable species found in human lymph and are characterized by a relatively high surface-to-core lipid ratio. Whether large discoidal precursors containing apoE transform in comparable manner but with eventual interchange of apoA-I for apoE (10,15) is under investigation in our laboratory. Likewise, detailed delineation of pathways whereby the (apoA-I with apoA-II)-HDL subpopulations are formed is yet to be accomplished. 23 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Comparison of FTIR and Particle Mass Spectrometry for the Measurement of Paticulate Organic Nitrates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bruns, Emily; Perraud, Veronique; Zelenyuk, Alla

2010-02-01

While multifunctional organic nitrates are formed during the atmospheric oxidation of volatile organic compounds, relatively little is known about their signatures in particle mass spectrometers. High resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry (HR-ToF-AMS) was applied to NH4NO3, NaNO3 and isosorbide 5-mononitrate (IMN) particles, and to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from NO3 radical reactions at 22 C and 1 atm in air with and pinene, 3-carene, limonene and isoprene. For comparison, single particle laser ablation mass spectra (SPLAT II) were also obtained for IMN and SOA from the pinene reaction. The mass spectra of all particles exhibit significant intensity at m/z 30,more » and for the SOA, weak peaks corresponding to various organic fragments containing nitrogen [CxHyNzOa]+ were identified using HR-ToF-AMS. The NO+/NO2+ ratios from HR-ToF-AMS were 10-15 for IMN and the SOA from the and pinene, 3-carene and limonene reactions, ~5 for the isoprene reaction, 2.4 for NH4NO3 and 80 for NaNO3. The N/H ratios from HR-ToF-AMS for the SOA were smaller by a factor of 2 to 4 than the -ONO2/C-H ratios measured using FTIR on particles impacted on ZnSe windows. While the NO+/NO2+ ratio may provide a generic indication of organic nitrates under some conditions, specific identification of particulate organic nitrates awaits further development of particle mass spectrometry techniques.« less

Characterization of the diffusion of epidermal growth factor receptor clusters by single particle tracking.

PubMed

Boggara, Mohan; Athmakuri, Krishna; Srivastava, Sunit; Cole, Richard; Kane, Ravi S

2013-02-01

A number of studies have shown that receptors of the epidermal growth factor receptor family (ErbBs) exist as higher-order oligomers (clusters) in cell membranes in addition to their monomeric and dimeric forms. Characterizing the lateral diffusion of such clusters may provide insights into their dynamics and help elucidate their functional relevance. To that end, we used single particle tracking to study the diffusion of clusters of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR; ErbB1) containing bound fluorescently-labeled ligand, EGF. EGFR clusters had a median diffusivity of 6.8×10(-11)cm(2)/s and were found to exhibit different modes of transport (immobile, simple, confined, and directed) similar to that previously reported for single EGFR molecules. Disruption of actin filaments increased the median diffusivity of EGFR clusters to 10.3×10(-11)cm(2)/s, while preserving the different modes of diffusion. Interestingly, disruption of microtubules rendered EGFR clusters nearly immobile. Our data suggests that microtubules may play an important role in the diffusion of EGFR clusters either directly or perhaps indirectly via other mechanisms. To our knowledge, this is the first report probing the effect of the cytoskeleton on the diffusion of EGFR clusters in the membranes of live cells. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Field-reversed configuration (FRC) experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siemon, R. E.; Chrien, R. E.; Hugrass, W. N.; Okada, S.; Rej, D. J.; Taggart, D. P.; Tuszewski, M.; Webster, R. B.; Wright, B. L.; Slough, J. T.

FRCs with equilibrium separatrix radii up to 0.18 m have been formed and studied in FRX-C/LSM. For best formation conditions at low fill pressure, the particle confinement exceeds the predictions of LHD transport calculations by up to a factor of two; however, the inferred flux confinement is more anomalous than in smaller FRCs. Higher bias field produces axial shocks and degradation in confinement, while higher fill pressure results in gross fluting during formation. FRCs have been formed in TRX with s from 2 to 6. These relatively collisional FRCs exhibit flux lifetimes of 10 yields 20 kinetic growth times for the internal tilt mode. The coaxial slow source has produced annular FRCs in a coaxial coil geometry on slow time scales using low voltages.

Process for preparing a stabilized coal-water slurry

DOEpatents

Givens, E.N.; Kang, D.

1987-06-23

A process is described for preparing a stabilized coal particle suspension which includes the steps of providing an aqueous media substantially free of coal oxidizing constituents, reducing, in a nonoxidizing atmosphere, the particle size of the coal to be suspended to a size sufficiently small to permit suspension thereof in the aqueous media and admixing the coal of reduced particle size with the aqueous media to release into the aqueous media coal stabilizing constituents indigenous to and carried by the reduced coal particles in order to form a stabilized coal particle suspension. The coal stabilizing constituents are effective in a nonoxidizing atmosphere to maintain the coal particle suspension at essentially a neutral or alkaline pH. The coal is ground in a nonoxidizing atmosphere such as an inert gaseous atmosphere to reduce the coal to a sufficient particle size and is admixed with an aqueous media that has been purged of oxygen and acid-forming gases. 2 figs.

Process for preparing a stabilized coal-water slurry

DOEpatents

Givens, Edwin N.; Kang, Doohee

1987-01-01

A process for preparing a stabilized coal particle suspension which includes the steps of providing an aqueous media substantially free of coal oxidizing constituents, reducing, in a nonoxidizing atmosphere, the particle size of the coal to be suspended to a size sufficiently small to permit suspension thereof in the aqueous media and admixing the coal of reduced particle size with the aqueous media to release into the aqueous media coal stabilizing constituents indigenous to and carried by the reduced coal particles in order to form a stabilized coal particle suspension. The coal stabilizing constituents are effective in a nonoxidizing atmosphere to maintain the coal particle suspension at essentially a neutral or alkaline pH. The coal is ground in a nonoxidizing atmosphere such as an inert gaseous atmosphere to reduce the coal to a sufficient particle size and is admixed with an aqueous media that has been purged of oxygen and acid-forming gases.

Rate Dependency of Silver Vanadium Phosphorous Oxide Reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Po-Jen

2011-12-01

The silver vanadium phosphorus oxide (Ag2VO2PO 4) is a high-capacity and good-compatibility material for the cathode in the battery. Due to their innovative properties, they are used as cathode in lithium batteries. Therefore, when the lithium batteries begin to discharge, the anodes of the cell perform an electrochemical oxidation and release electrons. In the mean time, the cathodes in the cells perform the electrochemical reduction and catch the electrons. For reduction of Ag2VO2PO 4, two silver ions (Ag+) catch two electrons to form silver particles, and the vanadium ions (V5+) catch two electrons to form V3+. It means that four electrons will be released by lithium anode. We call this four electrons discharge as 100% discharge. In my most of the projects, the Ag2VO2PO4 material is tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to check purity. My study is based on the discharge of batteries, and I focus on the morphology and the intensity of silver particles on the cathode after discharge. Depending on different adjustment of factors, such as discharge time, discharge rate, storage time, storage temperature, I try to investigate the silver intensity, conductivity as a function of DOD (Depth of Discharge). The silver particles could be examined by optical microscope, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Moreover, I do some x-ray diffraction analysis to quantify the silver particles after discharge. Also, I perform magnetic susceptibility measurement to check the mechanism of the reduction of vanadium ions. Under the research on silver ions and vanadium ions, I will know a big frame of reduction process on silver vanadium phosphorous oxide and the time effect on this cathode material.

Variation in aerosol nucleation and growth in coal-fired power plant plumes due to background aerosol, meteorology and emissions: sensitivity analysis and parameterization.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevens, R. G.; Lonsdale, C. L.; Brock, C. A.; Reed, M. K.; Crawford, J. H.; Holloway, J. S.; Ryerson, T. B.; Huey, L. G.; Nowak, J. B.; Pierce, J. R.

2012-04-01

New-particle formation in the plumes of coal-fired power plants and other anthropogenic sulphur sources may be an important source of particles in the atmosphere. It remains unclear, however, how best to reproduce this formation in global and regional aerosol models with grid-box lengths that are 10s of kilometres and larger. The predictive power of these models is thus limited by the resultant uncertainties in aerosol size distributions. In this presentation, we focus on sub-grid sulphate aerosol processes within coal-fired power plant plumes: the sub-grid oxidation of SO2 with condensation of H2SO4 onto newly-formed and pre-existing particles. Based on the results of the System for Atmospheric Modelling (SAM), a Large-Eddy Simulation/Cloud-Resolving Model (LES/CRM) with online TwO Moment Aerosol Sectional (TOMAS) microphysics, we develop a computationally efficient, but physically based, parameterization that predicts the characteristics of aerosol formed within coal-fired power plant plumes based on parameters commonly available in global and regional-scale models. Given large-scale mean meteorological parameters, emissions from the power plant, mean background condensation sink, and the desired distance from the source, the parameterization will predict the fraction of the emitted SO2 that is oxidized to H2SO4, the fraction of that H2SO4 that forms new particles instead of condensing onto preexisting particles, the median diameter of the newly-formed particles, and the number of newly-formed particles per kilogram SO2 emitted. We perform a sensitivity analysis of these characteristics of the aerosol size distribution to the meteorological parameters, the condensation sink, and the emissions. In general, new-particle formation and growth is greatly reduced during polluted conditions due to the large preexisting aerosol surface area for H2SO4 condensation and particle coagulation. The new-particle formation and growth rates are also a strong function of the amount of sunlight and NOx since both control OH concentrations. Decreases in NOx emissions without simultaneous decreases in SO2 emissions increase new-particle formation and growth due to increased oxidation of SO2. The parameterization we describe here should allow for more accurate predictions of aerosol size distributions and a greater confidence in the effects of aerosols in climate and health studies.

Particle Size-Selective Assessment of Protection of European Standard FFP Respirators and Surgical Masks against Particles-Tested with Human Subjects

PubMed Central

Hwang, Dong-Chir; Li, He-Yi; Tsai, Chieh-Fu; Chen, Chun-Wan; Chen, Jen-Kun

2016-01-01

This study was conducted to investigate the protection of disposable filtering half-facepiece respirators of different grades against particles between 0.093 and 1.61 μm. A personal sampling system was used to particle size-selectively assess the protection of respirators. The results show that about 10.9% of FFP2 respirators and 28.2% of FFP3 respirators demonstrate assigned protection factors (APFs) below 10 and 20, which are the levels assigned for these respirators by the British Standard. On average, the protection factors of FFP respirators were 11.5 to 15.9 times greater than those of surgical masks. The minimum protection factors (PFs) were observed for particles between 0.263 and 0.384 μm. No significant difference in PF results was found among FFP respirator categories and particle size. A strong association between fit factors and protection factors was found. The study indicates that FFP respirators may not achieve the expected protection level and the APFs may need to be revised for these classes of respirators. PMID:27195721

Conformal anomaly of generalized form factors and finite loop integrals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chicherin, Dmitry; Sokatchev, Emery

2018-04-01

We reveal a new mechanism of conformal symmetry breaking at Born level. It occurs in generalized form factors with several local operators and an on-shell state of massless particles. The effect is due to hidden singularities on collinear configurations of the momenta. This conformal anomaly is different from the holomorphic anomaly of amplitudes. We present a number of examples in four and six dimensions. We find an application of the new conformal anomaly to finite loop momentum integrals with one or more massless legs. The collinear region around a massless leg creates a contact anomaly, made visible by the loop integration. The anomalous conformal Ward identity for an ℓ-loop integral is a 2nd-order differential equation whose right-hand side is an (ℓ - 1)-loop integral. It could serve as a new useful tool to find/test analytic expressions for conformal integrals. We illustrate this point with several examples of known integrals. We propose a new differential equation for the four-dimensional scalar double box.

A versatile small form factor twisted-pair TFC FMC for MTCA AMCs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meder, L.; Lebedev, J.; Becker, J.

2017-03-01

In continuous readout systems of particle physics experiments, the provision of a common clock and time reference and the distribution of critical low latency messages to the processing and fronted layers of the readout are crucial tasks. In the context of the Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment, a versatile small form factor Timing and Fast-Control (TFC) interfacing FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) was developed, offering bidirectional twisted-pair (TP) links for the communication between TFC nodes. Also a versatile clocking including voltage controlled oscillators and a connection to the telecommunication clock lines of mTCA crates are available. Being designed for both TFC Master and Slaves, the card allows rapid system developments without additional Slave hardware circuits. Measurements show that it is possible to transmit over cable lengths of 25 m at a rate of 240 Mbit/s for all data channels simultaneously. A TFC Master-Slave system using two of these cards can be synchronized with a precision of ±10 ps to an user-defined phase setpoint.

Contrast variation by dynamic nuclear polarization and time-of-flight small-angle neutron scattering. I. Application to industrial multi-component nanocomposites.

PubMed

Noda, Yohei; Koizumi, Satoshi; Masui, Tomomi; Mashita, Ryo; Kishimoto, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Daisuke; Kumada, Takayuki; Takata, Shin-Ichi; Ohishi, Kazuki; Suzuki, Jun-Ichi

2016-12-01

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) at low temperature (1.2 K) and high magnetic field (3.3 T) was applied to a contrast variation study in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) focusing on industrial rubber materials. By varying the scattering contrast by DNP, time-of-flight SANS profiles were obtained at the pulsed neutron source of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). The concentration of a small organic molecule, (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-yl)oxy (TEMPO), was carefully controlled by a doping method using vapour sorption into the rubber specimens. With the assistance of microwave irradiation (94 GHz), almost full polarization of the paramagnetic electronic spin of TEMPO was transferred to the spin state of hydrogen (protons) in the rubber materials to obtain a high proton spin polarization ( P H ). The following samples were prepared: (i) a binary mixture of styrene-butadiene random copolymer (SBR) with silica particles (SBR/SP); and (ii) a ternary mixture of SBR with silica and carbon black particles (SBR/SP/CP). For the binary mixture (SBR/SP), the intensity of SANS significantly increased or decreased while keeping its q dependence for P H = -35% or P H = 40%, respectively. The q behaviour of SANS for the SBR/SP mixture can be reproduced using the form factor of a spherical particle. The intensity at low q (∼0.01 Å -1 ) varied as a quadratic function of P H and indicated a minimum value at P H = 30%, which can be explained by the scattering contrast between SP and SBR. The scattering intensity at high q (∼0.3 Å -1 ) decreased with increasing P H , which is attributed to the incoherent scattering from hydrogen. For the ternary mixture (SBR/SP/CP), the q behaviour of SANS was varied by changing P H . At P H = -35%, the scattering maxima originating from the form factor of SP prevailed, whereas at P H = 29% and P H = 38%, the scattering maxima disappeared. After decomposition of the total SANS according to inverse matrix calculations, the partial scattering functions were obtained. The partial scattering function obtained for SP was well reproduced by a spherical form factor and matched the SANS profile for the SBR/SP mixture. The partial scattering function for CP exhibited surface fractal behaviour according to q -3.6 , which is consistent with the results for the SBR/CP mixture.

Contrast variation by dynamic nuclear polarization and time-of-flight small-angle neutron scattering. I. Application to industrial multi-component nanocomposites1

PubMed Central

Noda, Yohei; Koizumi, Satoshi; Masui, Tomomi; Mashita, Ryo; Kishimoto, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Daisuke; Kumada, Takayuki; Takata, Shin-ichi; Ohishi, Kazuki; Suzuki, Jun-ichi

2016-01-01

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) at low temperature (1.2 K) and high magnetic field (3.3 T) was applied to a contrast variation study in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) focusing on industrial rubber materials. By varying the scattering contrast by DNP, time-of-flight SANS profiles were obtained at the pulsed neutron source of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). The concentration of a small organic molecule, (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-yl)oxy (TEMPO), was carefully controlled by a doping method using vapour sorption into the rubber specimens. With the assistance of microwave irradiation (94 GHz), almost full polarization of the paramagnetic electronic spin of TEMPO was transferred to the spin state of hydrogen (protons) in the rubber materials to obtain a high proton spin polarization (P H). The following samples were prepared: (i) a binary mixture of styrene–butadiene random copolymer (SBR) with silica particles (SBR/SP); and (ii) a ternary mixture of SBR with silica and carbon black particles (SBR/SP/CP). For the binary mixture (SBR/SP), the intensity of SANS significantly increased or decreased while keeping its q dependence for P H = −35% or P H = 40%, respectively. The q behaviour of SANS for the SBR/SP mixture can be reproduced using the form factor of a spherical particle. The intensity at low q (∼0.01 Å−1) varied as a quadratic function of P H and indicated a minimum value at P H = 30%, which can be explained by the scattering contrast between SP and SBR. The scattering intensity at high q (∼0.3 Å−1) decreased with increasing P H, which is attributed to the incoherent scattering from hydrogen. For the ternary mixture (SBR/SP/CP), the q behaviour of SANS was varied by changing P H. At P H = −35%, the scattering maxima originating from the form factor of SP prevailed, whereas at P H = 29% and P H = 38%, the scattering maxima disappeared. After decomposition of the total SANS according to inverse matrix calculations, the partial scattering functions were obtained. The partial scattering function obtained for SP was well reproduced by a spherical form factor and matched the SANS profile for the SBR/SP mixture. The partial scattering function for CP exhibited surface fractal behaviour according to q −3.6, which is consistent with the results for the SBR/CP mixture. PMID:27980510

Analysis of linear energy transfers and quality factors of charged particles produced by spontaneous fission neutrons from 252Cf and 244Pu in the human body.

PubMed

Endo, Akira; Sato, Tatsuhiko

2013-04-01

Absorbed doses, linear energy transfers (LETs) and quality factors of secondary charged particles in organs and tissues, generated via the interactions of the spontaneous fission neutrons from (252)Cf and (244)Pu within the human body, were studied using the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport Code System (PHITS) coupled with the ICRP Reference Phantom. Both the absorbed doses and the quality factors in target organs generally decrease with increasing distance from the source organ. The analysis of LET distributions of secondary charged particles led to the identification of the relationship between LET spectra and target-source organ locations. A comparison between human body-averaged mean quality factors and fluence-averaged radiation weighting factors showed that the current numerical conventions for the radiation weighting factors of neutrons, updated in ICRP103, and the quality factors for internal exposure are valid.

Phase-factor-dependent symmetries and quantum phases in a three-level cavity QED system.

PubMed

Fan, Jingtao; Yu, Lixian; Chen, Gang; Jia, Suotang

2016-05-03

Unlike conventional two-level particles, three-level particles may support some unitary-invariant phase factors when they interact coherently with a single-mode quantized light field. To gain a better understanding of light-matter interaction, it is thus necessary to explore the phase-factor-dependent physics in such a system. In this report, we consider the collective interaction between degenerate V-type three-level particles and a single-mode quantized light field, whose different components are labeled by different phase factors. We mainly establish an important relation between the phase factors and the symmetry or symmetry-broken physics. Specifically, we find that the phase factors affect dramatically the system symmetry. When these symmetries are breaking separately, rich quantum phases emerge. Finally, we propose a possible scheme to experimentally probe the predicted physics of our model. Our work provides a way to explore phase-factor-induced nontrivial physics by introducing additional particle levels.

Effects of feed form and feed particle size with dietary L- threonine supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens.

PubMed

Rezaeipour, Vahid; Gazani, Sepideh

2014-01-01

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of form and particle size of feed supplemented with L- threonine on growth performance, carcass characteristic and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating two feed forms (pellet or mash), two feed particle sizes (fine or course), and two inclusion rates of dietary L-threonine (with or without) which adopted from 7 to 42 days of age. In this experiment, 360 a day old chicks in two sexes were assigned in each treatment and each experimental unit was included 15 chicks. Feed consumption and weight gain were measured weekly. At 35 days of age, blood samples were taken to analysis blood biochemical parameters. At the end of the experimental period, two birds were slaughtered in each treatment and carcass analysis was carried out. The results showed that the effect of feed form on body weight gain and feed intake in whole of experimental period was significant (P < 0.05). Broilers fed pelleted diets had more weight gain than the mash group. Growth performance parameters were not affected by feed particle size and dietary L-threonine supplementation in whole of experimental period (P > 0.05). The results of carcass analysis showed that liver and gizzard relative weights were influenced by feed form (P < 0.05). However, pancreas and liver relative weights were affected by feed particle size and dietary L-threonine supplementation, respectively (P < 0.05). Triglyceride and VLDL levels were affected by feed form and dietary L-threonine supplementation (P < 0.05). The effect of feed particle size on blood biochemical parameters was not significant (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the experimental results indicated that feed form increased feed consumption and weight gain in whole of experimental period (1 to 42 days of age) while feed particle size and dietary L-threonine had no effect on broiler performance.

Airborne reduced nitrogen: ammonia emissions from agriculture and other sources.

PubMed

Anderson, Natalie; Strader, Ross; Davidson, Cliff

2003-06-01

Ammonia is a basic gas and one of the most abundant nitrogen-containing compounds in the atmosphere. When emitted, ammonia reacts with oxides of nitrogen and sulfur to form particles, typically in the fine particle size range. Roughly half of the PM(2.5) mass in eastern United States is ammonium sulfate, according to the US EPA. Results from recent studies of PM(2.5) show that these fine particles are typically deposited deep in the lungs and may lead to increased morbidity and/or mortality. Also, these particles are in the size range that will degrade visibility. Ammonia emission inventories are usually constructed by multiplying an activity level by an experimentally determined emission factor for each source category. Typical sources of ammonia include livestock, fertilizer, soils, forest fires and slash burning, industry, vehicles, the oceans, humans, pets, wild animals, and waste disposal and recycling activities. Livestock is the largest source category in the United States, with waste from livestock responsible for about 3x10(9) kg of ammonia in 1995. Volatilization of ammonia from livestock waste is dependent on many parameters, and thus emission factors are difficult to predict. Despite a seasonal variation in these values, the emission factors for general livestock categories are usually annually averaged in current inventories. Activity levels for livestock are from the USDA Census of Agriculture, which does not give information about animal raising practices such as housing types and grazing times, waste handling systems, and approximate animal slurry spreading times or methods. Ammonia emissions in the United States in 1995 from sources other than livestock are much lower; for example, annual emissions are roughly 8x10(8) kg from fertilizer, 7x10(7) kg from industry, 5x10(7) kg from vehicles and 1x10(8) kg from humans. There is considerable uncertainty in the emissions from soil and vegetation, although this category may also be significant. Recommendations for future directions in ammonia research include designing experiments to improve emission factors and their resolution in all significant source categories, developing mass balance models, and refining of the livestock activity level data by eliciting judgment from experts in this field.

Exposure to sub-10nm particles emitted from a biodiesel-fueled diesel engine: In vitro toxicity and inflammatory potential.

PubMed

Malorni, Livia; Guida, Vincenzo; Sirignano, Mariano; Genovese, Giuliana; Petrarca, Claudia; Pedata, Paola

2017-03-15

The inflammatory effects of organic sub-10nm particles generated and emitted from a diesel engine fueled with a biodiesel and a commercial diesel oil are analyzed in this paper. Diesel combustion is the major sources of ultrafine particles (UFP) in the environment, particularly in urbanized areas. In the last years, there is an increasing use of biomass-derived fuels because they are a renewable source of energy that may mitigate climate change through the reduction of net CO 2 with respect to conventional fossil fuels. Although there is a general agreement on biofuels ability to reduce conventional pollutants, new and potentially harmful pollutants can be formed during biofuel combustion. In particular, the emission of sub-10nm particles is strongly increased with respect to that of larger soot particles. Organic sub-10nm particles are separated from larger sizes particulate matter by collection in water suspension for toxicological and inflammatory tests. After exposure to sub-10nm particles, the effects on proliferation, apoptosis and secretion of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors networks production is analyzed in immortalized non-tumorigenic human dermal keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and human alveolar epithelial-like cells (A549). Nanoparticles exert different cytotoxic effects in the two cell lines, suggesting that the dermal way of exposure is more sensitive than the inhalant way. These differences are most evident in the secretion of pro-inflammatory, angiogenic and proliferative cytokines and chemokines whose expression is more finely modulated in HaCaT cells compared to A-549 cells. Considering the size of these particles, it is important to promote the culture of prevention also for the dermal way in particularly exposed workers. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of settling particles on the stability of a particle-laden flow in a vertical plane channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boronin, S. A.; Osiptsov, A. N.

2018-03-01

The stability of a viscous particle-laden flow in a vertical plane channel in the presence of the gravity force is studied. The flow is described using a two-fluid "dusty-gas" model with negligibly small volume fraction of fines and two-way coupling of the phases. Two different profiles of the particle number density in the main flow are considered: homogeneous and non-homogeneous in the form of two layers symmetric about the channel axis. The novel element of the linear-stability problem formulation is a particle velocity slip in the main flow caused by the gravity-induced settling of the dispersed phase. The eigenvalue problem for a linearized system of governing equations is solved using the orthonormalization and QZ algorithms. For a uniform particle number density distribution, it is found that there exists a domain in the plane of Froude and Stokes numbers, in which the two-phase flow in a vertical channel is stable for an arbitrary Reynolds number. This stability domain corresponds to relatively small-inertia particles and large velocity-slip in the main flow. In contrast to the flow with a uniform particle number density distribution, the stratified dusty-gas flow in a vertical channel is unstable over a wide range of governing parameters. The instability at small Reynolds numbers is determined by the gravitational mode characterized by small wavenumbers (long-wave instability), while at larger Reynolds numbers the instability is dominated by the shear mode with the time-amplification factor larger than that of the gravitational mode. The results of the study can be used for optimization of a large number of technological processes, including those in riser reactors, pneumatic conveying in pipeline systems, hydraulic fracturing, and well cementing.

[Study on transition metals in airborne particulate matter in Shanghai city's subway].

PubMed

Bao, Liang-Man; Lei, Qian-Tao; Tan, Ming-Guang; Li, Xiao-Lin; Zhang, Gui-Lin; Liu, Wei; Li, Yan

2014-06-01

PM10 and PM2.5 aerosol particle samples were collected at a subway station in Shanghai and their morphology, chemical composition and transition metal species were studied. The mass concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 inside the subway station were significantly higher than those measured in aboveground ambient air. The PM levels inside subway were much higher than the state control limit. The aerosol composition in the metro station was quite different from that of the aboveground urban particles. Concentrations of Fe, Mn and Cr were higher than the averages of aboveground urban air particles by factors of 8, 2, and 2, respectively, showing a substantial enrichment in subway. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that the subway particles had flat surfaces in combination with parallel scratches and sharp edges and looked like metal sheets or flakes. Furthermore, analysis of the atomic composition of typical subway particles by energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX) spectroscopy showed that oxygen and iron dominated the mass of the particles. The X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy results showed that a fraction (> 26%) of the total iron in the PM10 was in the form of pure Fe, while in the street particles Fe(III) was shown to be a significant fraction of the total iron. The work demonstrated that the underground subway stations in Shanghai were an important microenvironment for exposure to transition metal aerosol for the people taking subway train for commuting every day and those who work in the subway stations, and the metal particle exposure for people in the subway station should not be ignored.

Apparatus for electrohydrodynamically assembling patterned colloidal structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trau, Mathias (Inventor); Aksay, Ilhan A. (Inventor); Saville, Dudley A. (Inventor)

2000-01-01

A method apparatus is provided for electrophoretically depositing particles onto an electrode, and electrohydrodynamically assembling the particles into crystalline structures. Specifically, the present method and apparatus creates a current flowing through a solution to cause identically charged electrophoretically deposited colloidal particles to attract each other over very large distances (<5 particle diameters) on the surface of electrodes to form two-dimensional colloidal crystals. The attractive force can be created with both DC and AC fields and can modulated by adjusting either the field strength or frequency of the current. Modulating this lateral attraction between the particles causes the reversible formation of two-dimensional fluid and crystalline colloidal states on the electrode surface. Further manipulation allows for the formation of two or three-dimensional colloidal crystals, as well as more complex designed structures. Once the required structures are formed, these three-dimension colloidal crystals can be permanently frozen or glued by controlled coagulation induced by to the applied field to form a stable crystalline structure.

Method for electrohydrodynamically assembling patterned colloidal structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trau, Mathias (Inventor); Aksay, Ilhan A. (Inventor); Saville, Dudley A. (Inventor)

1999-01-01

A method apparatus is provided for electrophoretically depositing particles onto an electrode, and electrohydrodynamically assembling the particles into crystalline structures. Specifically, the present method and apparatus creates a current flowing through a solution to cause identically charged electrophoretically deposited colloidal particles to attract each other over very large distances (<5 particle diameters) on the surface of electrodes to form two-dimensional colloidal crystals. The attractive force can be created with both DC and AC fields and can modulated by adjusting either the field strength or frequency of the current. Modulating this lateral attraction between the particles causes the reversible formation of two-dimensional fluid and crystalline colloidal states on the electrode surface. Further manipulation allows for the formation of two or three-dimensional colloidal crystals, as well as more complex designed structures. Once the required structures are formed, these three-dimension colloidal crystals can be permanently frozen or glued by controlled coagulation induced by to the applied field to form a stable crystalline structure.

Slip Correction Measurements of Certified PSL Nanoparticles Using a Nanometer Differential Mobility Analyzer (Nano-DMA) for Knudsen Number From 0.5 to 83

PubMed Central

Kim, Jung Hyeun; Mulholland, George W.; Kukuck, Scott R.; Pui, David Y. H.

2005-01-01

The slip correction factor has been investigated at reduced pressures and high Knudsen number using polystyrene latex (PSL) particles. Nano-differential mobility analyzers (NDMA) were used in determining the slip correction factor by measuring the electrical mobility of 100.7 nm, 269 nm, and 19.90 nm particles as a function of pressure. The aerosol was generated via electrospray to avoid multiplets for the 19.90 nm particles and to reduce the contaminant residue on the particle surface. System pressure was varied down to 8.27 kPa, enabling slip correction measurements for Knudsen numbers as large as 83. A condensation particle counter was modified for low pressure application. The slip correction factor obtained for the three particle sizes is fitted well by the equation: C = 1 + Kn (α + β exp(−γ/Kn)), with α = 1.165, β = 0.483, and γ = 0.997. The first quantitative uncertainty analysis for slip correction measurements was carried out. The expanded relative uncertainty (95 % confidence interval) in measuring slip correction factor was about 2 % for the 100.7 nm SRM particles, about 3 % for the 19.90 nm PSL particles, and about 2.5 % for the 269 nm SRM particles. The major sources of uncertainty are the diameter of particles, the geometric constant associated with NDMA, and the voltage. PMID:27308102

Universal scaling of strange particle pT spectra in pp collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Liwen; Wang, Yanyun; Hao, Wenhui; Liu, Na; Du, Xiaoling; Zhang, Wenchao

2018-04-01

As a complementary study to that performed on the transverse momentum (pT) spectra of charged pions, kaons and protons in proton-proton (pp) collisions at LHC energies 0.9, 2.76 and 7TeV, we present a scaling behaviour in the pT spectra of strange particles (KS0, Λ, Ξ and φ) at these three energies. This scaling behaviour is exhibited when the spectra are expressed in a suitable scaling variable z=pT/K, where the scaling parameter K is determined by the quality factor method and increases with the center of mass energy (√{s}). The rates at which K increases with ln √{s} for these strange particles are found to be identical within errors. In the framework of the colour string percolation model, we argue that these strange particles are produced through the decay of clusters that are formed by the colour strings overlapping. We observe that the strange mesons and baryons are produced from clusters with different size distributions, while the strange mesons (baryons) KS0 and φ ( Λ and Ξ) originate from clusters with the same size distributions. The cluster's size distributions for strange mesons are more dispersed than those for strange baryons. The scaling behaviour of the pT spectra for these strange particles can be explained by the colour string percolation model in a quantitative way.

Modeling particle injections during magnetospheric substorm by a propagating earthward electromagnetic pulse.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalugin, G. A.; Kabin, K.; Donovan, E.; Spanswick, E.

2016-12-01

During substorm expansion phase the electrons and ions with energies of up to 100 keV appear in the near-Earth magnetotail. Often, this increase occurs simultaneously for a broad range of particle energies; such events are called dispersionless injections (DIs). Explanations of DIs usually relay on some form of an earthward propagating electromagnetic pulse, which is capable of effectively energizing an initial distribution of electrons and ions. Most of the previous models of such pulses were developed for the equatorial plane only. We propose a new model of an electromagnetic pulse which is two-dimensional in the meridional plane. Electric and magnetic fields in the pulse are calculated self-consistently and satisfy Maxwell's equations. We use realistic time-independent stretched magnetic field as the background. Our model has several adjustable parameters, such as the speed of the pulse propagation, its amplitude and spatial extent, which makes it versatile enough to investigate effects of the pulse characteristics on the particle energization. We present and discuss several examples of particle energization in our model and find that in some cases the energies of the seed electrons can increase by a factor of 10 or more. Two-dimensional nature of our model allows us to visualize the motion of the field lines in the meridional plane associated with the travelling electromagnetic pulse and to calculate the ionospheric footprints of the particle dynamics in the equatorial plane.

On the radiative properties of soot aggregates part 1: Necking and overlapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yon, J.; Bescond, A.; Liu, F.

2015-09-01

There is a strong interest in accurately modelling the radiative properties of soot aggregates (also known as black carbon particles) emitted from combustion systems and fires to gain improved understanding of the role of black carbon to global warming. This study conducted a systematic investigation of the effects of overlapping and necking between neighbouring primary particles on the radiative properties of soot aggregates using the discrete dipole approximation. The degrees of overlapping and necking are quantified by the overlapping and necking parameters. Realistic soot aggregates were generated numerically by constructing overlapping and necking to fractal aggregates formed by point-touch primary particles simulated using a diffusion-limited cluster aggregation algorithm. Radiative properties (differential scattering, absorption, total scattering, specific extinction, asymmetry factor and single scattering albedo) were calculated using the experimentally measured soot refractive index over the spectral range of 266-1064 nm for 9 combinations of the overlapping and necking parameters. Overlapping and necking affect significantly the absorption and scattering properties of soot aggregates, especially in the near UV spectrum due to the enhanced multiple scattering effects within an aggregate. By using correctly modified aggregate properties (fractal dimension, prefactor, primary particle radius, and the number of primary particle) and by accounting for the effects of multiple scattering, the simple Rayleigh-Debye-Gans theory for fractal aggregates can reproduce reasonably accurate radiative properties of realistic soot aggregates.

The Morphology of Emulsion Polymerized Latex Particles

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Wignall, G. D.; Ramakrishnan, V. R.; Linne, M. A.; Klein, A.; Sperling, L. H.; Wai, M. P.; Gelman, R. A.; Fatica, M. G.; Hoerl, R. H.; Fisher, L. W.

1987-11-01

Under monomer starved feed conditions, emulsion polymerization of perdeuterated methyl methacrylate and styrene in the presence of preformed polymethylmethacrylate latexes resulted in particles with a core-shell morphology, as determined by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) analysis for a hollow sphere. The locus of polymerization of the added deuterated monomer is therefore at the particle surface. In similar measurements a statistical copolymer of styrene and methyl methacrylate was used as seed particles for further polymerization of trideuteromethyl methacrylate. The resulting polymer latex was again shown to have a core-shell morphological structure as determined by SANS. SANS experiments were also undertaken on polystyrene latexes polymerized by equilibrium swelling methods, with deuterated polymer forming the first or second step. The experiments covered a molecular weight range of 6 x 10{sup 4} 10{sup 6} the molecular weights are consistent with the experimental errors, indicating that the deuterium labeled molecules are randomly distributed in the latex. These results led to the finding that the polymer chains were constrained in the latex particles by factors of 2 to 4 from the relaxed coil dimensions. For M < 10{sup 6} g/mol SANS gave zero angle scattering intensities much higher than expected on the basis of a random distribution of labeled molecules. Several models were examined, including the possible development of core-shell structures at lower molecular weights.

Group theoretical derivation of the minimal coupling principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nisticò, Giuseppe

2017-04-01

The group theoretical methods worked out by Bargmann, Mackey and Wigner, which deductively establish the Quantum Theory of a free particle for which Galileian transformations form a symmetry group, are extended to the case of an interacting particle. In doing so, the obstacles caused by loss of symmetry are overcome. In this approach, specific forms of the wave equation of an interacting particle, including the equation derived from the minimal coupling principle, are implied by particular first-order invariance properties that characterize the interaction with respect to specific subgroups of Galileian transformations; moreover, the possibility of yet unknown forms of the wave equation is left open.

DNA-guided nanoparticle assemblies

DOEpatents

Gang, Oleg; Nykypanchuk, Dmytro; Maye, Mathew; van der Lelie, Daniel

2013-07-16

In some embodiments, DNA-capped nanoparticles are used to define a degree of crystalline order in assemblies thereof. In some embodiments, thermodynamically reversible and stable body-centered cubic (bcc) structures, with particles occupying <.about.10% of the unit cell, are formed. Designs and pathways amenable to the crystallization of particle assemblies are identified. In some embodiments, a plasmonic crystal is provided. In some aspects, a method for controlling the properties of particle assemblages is provided. In some embodiments a catalyst is formed from nanoparticles linked by nucleic acid sequences and forming an open crystal structure with catalytically active agents attached to the crystal on its surface or in interstices.

Sox/Nox Sorbent And Process Of Use

DOEpatents

Ziebarth, Michael S.; Hager, Michael J.; Beeckman, Jean W.; Plecha, Stanislaw

1995-06-27

An alumina sorbent capable of adsorbing NOx and SOx from waste gases and being regenerated by heating above 650.degree. C. is made by incorporating an alumina stabilizing agent into the sorbent. A preferred method is to add the stabilizer when the alumina is precipitated. The precipitated powder is formed subsequently into a slurry, milled and spray dried to form the stabilized spheroidal alumina particles having a particle size of less than 500 microns. These particles are impregnated with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal to form the stabilized sorbent. Alumina stabilizers include one or more of silica, lanthana, other rare earths, titania, zirconia and alkaline earths.

Sox/Nox Sorbent And Process Of Use

DOEpatents

Ziebarth, Michael S.; Hager, Michael J.; Beeckman, Jean W.; Plecha, Stanislaw

1996-12-17

An alumina sorbent capable of adsorbing NOx and SOx from waste gases and being regenerated by heating above 650.degree. C. is made by incorporating an alumina stabilizing agent into the sorbent. A preferred method is to add the stabilizer when the alumina is precipitated. The precipitated powder is formed subsequently into a slurry, milled and spray dried to form the stabilized spheroidal alumina particles having a particle size of less than 500 microns. These particles are impregnated with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal to form the stabilized sorbent. Alumina stabilizers include one or more of silica, lanthana, other rare earths, titania, zirconia and alkaline earths.

Training manuals for nondestructive testing using magnetic particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1968-01-01

Training manuals containing the fundamentals of nondestructive testing using magnetic particle as detection media are used by metal parts inspectors and quality assurance specialists. Magnetic particle testing involves magnetization of the test specimen, application of the magnetic particle and interpretation of the patterns formed.

Influence of Benzene on the Optical Properties of Titan Haze Laboratory Analogs in the Mid-Visible

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yoon, Y. Heidi; Trainer, Melissa G.; Tolbert, Margaret A.

2012-01-01

The Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (Waite, Jr., et al., 2007) and the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (Coustenis, A., et al., 2007) have detected benzene in the upper atmosphere and stratosphere of Titan. Photochemical reactions involving benzene in Titan's atmosphere may influence polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon formation, aerosol formation, and the radiative balance of Titan's atmosphere. We measure the effect of benzene on the optical properties of Titan analog particles in the laboratory. Using cavity ring-down aerosol extinction spectroscopy, we determine the real and imaginary refractive index at 532 nm of particles formed by benzene photolysis and Titan analog particles formed with ppm-levels of benzene. These studies are compared to the previous study by Hasenkopf, et a1. (2010) of Titan analog particles formed by methane photolysis.

Association of fine particulate matter from different sources with daily mortality in six U.S. cities.

PubMed Central

Laden, F; Neas, L M; Dockery, D W; Schwartz, J

2000-01-01

Previously we reported that fine particle mass (particulate matter [less than and equal to] 2.5 microm; PM(2.5)), which is primarily from combustion sources, but not coarse particle mass, which is primarily from crustal sources, was associated with daily mortality in six eastern U.S. cities (1). In this study, we used the elemental composition of size-fractionated particles to identify several distinct source-related fractions of fine particles and examined the association of these fractions with daily mortality in each of the six cities. Using specific rotation factor analysis for each city, we identified a silicon factor classified as soil and crustal material, a lead factor classified as motor vehicle exhaust, a selenium factor representing coal combustion, and up to two additional factors. We extracted daily counts of deaths from National Center for Health Statistics records and estimated city-specific associations of mortality with each source factor by Poisson regression, adjusting for time trends, weather, and the other source factors. Combined effect estimates were calculated as the inverse variance weighted mean of the city-specific estimates. In the combined analysis, a 10 microg/m(3) increase in PM(2.5) from mobile sources accounted for a 3.4% increase in daily mortality [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7-5.2%], and the equivalent increase in fine particles from coal combustion sources accounted for a 1.1% increase [CI, 0.3-2.0%). PM(2.5) crustal particles were not associated with daily mortality. These results indicate that combustion particles in the fine fraction from mobile and coal combustion sources, but not fine crustal particles, are associated with increased mortality. PMID:11049813

Particle and gaseous emissions from compressed natural gas and ultralow sulphur diesel-fuelled buses at four steady engine loads.

PubMed

Jayaratne, E R; Ristovski, Z D; Meyer, N; Morawska, L

2009-04-01

Exhaust emissions from thirteen compressed natural gas (CNG) and nine ultralow sulphur diesel in-service transport buses were monitored on a chassis dynamometer. Measurements were carried out at idle and at three steady engine loads of 25%, 50% and 100% of maximum power at a fixed speed of 60 km h(-1). Emission factors were estimated for particle mass and number, carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen for two types of CNG buses (Scania and MAN, compatible with Euro 2 and 3 emission standards, respectively) and two types of diesel buses (Volvo Pre-Euro/Euro1 and Mercedez OC500 Euro3). All emission factors increased with load. The median particle mass emission factor for the CNG buses was less than 1% of that from the diesel buses at all loads. However, the particle number emission factors did not show a statistically significant difference between buses operating on the two types of fuel. In this paper, for the very first time, particle number emission factors are presented at four steady state engine loads for CNG buses. Median values ranged from the order of 10(12) particles min(-)(1) at idle to 10(15) particles km(-)(1) at full power. Most of the particles observed in the CNG emissions were in the nanoparticle size range and likely to be composed of volatile organic compounds The CO2 emission factors were about 20% to 30% greater for the diesel buses over the CNG buses, while the oxides of nitrogen emission factors did not show any difference due to the large variation between buses.

40 CFR 355.16 - How do I determine the quantity of extremely hazardous substances present for certain forms of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... quantity of extremely hazardous substance present: (a) Solid in powdered form with a particle size less than 100 microns. Multiply the weight percent of solid with a particle size less than 100 microns in a...

40 CFR 355.16 - How do I determine the quantity of extremely hazardous substances present for certain forms of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... quantity of extremely hazardous substance present: (a) Solid in powdered form with a particle size less than 100 microns. Multiply the weight percent of solid with a particle size less than 100 microns in a...

40 CFR 355.16 - How do I determine the quantity of extremely hazardous substances present for certain forms of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... quantity of extremely hazardous substance present: (a) Solid in powdered form with a particle size less than 100 microns. Multiply the weight percent of solid with a particle size less than 100 microns in a...

40 CFR 355.16 - How do I determine the quantity of extremely hazardous substances present for certain forms of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... quantity of extremely hazardous substance present: (a) Solid in powdered form with a particle size less than 100 microns. Multiply the weight percent of solid with a particle size less than 100 microns in a...

40 CFR 355.16 - How do I determine the quantity of extremely hazardous substances present for certain forms of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... quantity of extremely hazardous substance present: (a) Solid in powdered form with a particle size less than 100 microns. Multiply the weight percent of solid with a particle size less than 100 microns in a...

Enumerating Spore-Forming Bacteria Airborne with Particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Ying; Barengoltz, Jack

2006-01-01

A laboratory method has been conceived to enable the enumeration of (1) Cultivable bacteria and bacterial spores that are, variously, airborne by themselves or carried by, parts of, or otherwise associated with, other airborne particles; and (2) Spore-forming bacteria among all of the aforementioned cultivable microbes.

Three-dimensional boron particle loaded thermal neutron detector

DOEpatents

Nikolic, Rebecca J.; Conway, Adam M.; Graff, Robert T.; Kuntz, Joshua D.; Reinhardt, Catherine; Voss, Lars F.; Cheung, Chin Li; Heineck, Daniel

2014-09-09

Three-dimensional boron particle loaded thermal neutron detectors utilize neutron sensitive conversion materials in the form of nano-powders and micro-sized particles, as opposed to thin films, suspensions, paraffin, etc. More specifically, methods to infiltrate, intersperse and embed the neutron nano-powders to form two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional charge sensitive platforms are specified. The use of nano-powders enables conformal contact with the entire charge-collecting structure regardless of its shape or configuration.

Risk management and statistical multivariate analysis approach for design and optimization of satranidazole nanoparticles.

PubMed

Dhat, Shalaka; Pund, Swati; Kokare, Chandrakant; Sharma, Pankaj; Shrivastava, Birendra

2017-01-01

Rapidly evolving technical and regulatory landscapes of the pharmaceutical product development necessitates risk management with application of multivariate analysis using Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and Quality by Design (QbD). Poorly soluble, high dose drug, Satranidazole was optimally nanoprecipitated (SAT-NP) employing principles of Formulation by Design (FbD). The potential risk factors influencing the critical quality attributes (CQA) of SAT-NP were identified using Ishikawa diagram. Plackett-Burman screening design was adopted to screen the eight critical formulation and process parameters influencing the mean particle size, zeta potential and dissolution efficiency at 30min in pH7.4 dissolution medium. Pareto charts (individual and cumulative) revealed three most critical factors influencing CQA of SAT-NP viz. aqueous stabilizer (Polyvinyl alcohol), release modifier (Eudragit® S 100) and volume of aqueous phase. The levels of these three critical formulation attributes were optimized by FbD within established design space to minimize mean particle size, poly dispersity index, and maximize encapsulation efficiency of SAT-NP. Lenth's and Bayesian analysis along with mathematical modeling of results allowed identification and quantification of critical formulation attributes significantly active on the selected CQAs. The optimized SAT-NP exhibited mean particle size; 216nm, polydispersity index; 0.250, zeta potential; -3.75mV and encapsulation efficiency; 78.3%. The product was lyophilized using mannitol to form readily redispersible powder. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the conversion of crystalline SAT to amorphous form. In vitro release of SAT-NP in gradually pH changing media showed <20% release in pH1.2 and pH6.8 in 5h, while, complete release (>95%) in pH7.4 in next 3h, indicative of burst release after a lag time. This investigation demonstrated effective application of risk management and QbD tools in developing site-specific release SAT-NP by nanoprecipitation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Amorphous calcium carbonate particles form coral skeletons

DOE PAGES

Mass, Tali; Giuffre, Anthony J.; Sun, Chang -Yu; ...

2017-08-28

Do corals form their skeletons by precipitation from solution or by attachment of amorphous precursor particles as observed in other minerals and biominerals? The classical model assumes precipitation in contrast with observed “vital effects,” that is, deviations from elemental and isotopic compositions at thermodynamic equilibrium. Here, we show direct spectromicroscopy evidence in Stylophora pistillata corals that two amorphous precursors exist, one hydrated and one anhydrous amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC); that these are formed in the tissue as 400-nm particles; and that they attach to the surface of coral skeletons, remain amorphous for hours, and finally, crystallize into aragonite (CaCO 3).more » We show in both coral and synthetic aragonite spherulites that crystal growth by attachment of ACC particles is more than 100 times faster than ion-by-ion growth from solution. Fast growth provides a distinct physiological advantage to corals in the rigors of the reef, a crowded and fiercely competitive ecosystem. Corals are affected by warming-induced bleaching and postmortem dissolution, but the finding here that ACC particles are formed inside tissue may make coral skeleton formation less susceptible to ocean acidification than previously assumed. If this is how other corals form their skeletons, perhaps this is how a few corals survived past CO 2 increases, such as the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum that occurred 56 Mya.« less

Amorphous calcium carbonate particles form coral skeletons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mass, Tali; Giuffre, Anthony J.; Sun, Chang -Yu

Do corals form their skeletons by precipitation from solution or by attachment of amorphous precursor particles as observed in other minerals and biominerals? The classical model assumes precipitation in contrast with observed “vital effects,” that is, deviations from elemental and isotopic compositions at thermodynamic equilibrium. Here, we show direct spectromicroscopy evidence in Stylophora pistillata corals that two amorphous precursors exist, one hydrated and one anhydrous amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC); that these are formed in the tissue as 400-nm particles; and that they attach to the surface of coral skeletons, remain amorphous for hours, and finally, crystallize into aragonite (CaCO 3).more » We show in both coral and synthetic aragonite spherulites that crystal growth by attachment of ACC particles is more than 100 times faster than ion-by-ion growth from solution. Fast growth provides a distinct physiological advantage to corals in the rigors of the reef, a crowded and fiercely competitive ecosystem. Corals are affected by warming-induced bleaching and postmortem dissolution, but the finding here that ACC particles are formed inside tissue may make coral skeleton formation less susceptible to ocean acidification than previously assumed. If this is how other corals form their skeletons, perhaps this is how a few corals survived past CO 2 increases, such as the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum that occurred 56 Mya.« less

Recombinant Expression of Tandem-HBc Virus-Like Particles (VLPs).

PubMed

Stephen, Sam L; Beales, Lucy; Peyret, Hadrien; Roe, Amy; Stonehouse, Nicola J; Rowlands, David J

2018-01-01

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) has formed the building block for virus-like particle (VLP) production for more than 30 years. The ease of production of the protein, the robust ability of the core monomers to dimerize and assemble into intact core particles, and the strong immune responses they elicit when presenting antigenic epitopes all demonstrate its promise for vaccine development (reviewed in Pumpens and Grens (Intervirology 44: 98-114, 2001)). HBc has been modified in a number of ways in attempts to expand its potential as a novel vaccine platform. The HBc protein is predominantly α-helical in structure and folds to form an L-shaped molecule. The structural subunit of the HBc particle is a dimer of monomeric HBc proteins which together form an inverted T-shaped structure. In the assembled HBc particle the four-helix bundle formed at each dimer interface appears at the surface as a prominent "spike." The tips of the "spikes" are the preferred sites for the insertion of foreign sequences for vaccine purposes as they are the most highly exposed regions of the assembled particles. In the tandem-core modification two copies of the HBc protein are covalently linked by a flexible amino acid sequence which allows the fused dimer to fold correctly and assemble into HBc particles. The advantage of the modified structure is that the assembly of the dimeric subunits is defined and not formed by random association. This facilitates the introduction of single, larger sequences at the tip of each surface "spike," thus overcoming the conformational clashes contingent on insertion of large structures into monomeric HBc proteins.Differences in inserted sequences influence the assembly characteristics of the modified proteins, and it is important to optimize the design of each novel construct to maximize efficiency of assembly into regular VLPs. In addition to optimization of the construct, the expression system used can also influence the ability of recombinant structures to assemble into regular isometric particles. Here, we describe the production of recombinant tandem-core particles in bacterial, yeast and plant expression systems.

Procedure optimization for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by aqueous extract of Eucalyptus oleosa.

PubMed

Pourmortazavi, Seied Mahdi; Taghdiri, Mehdi; Makari, Vajihe; Rahimi-Nasrabadi, Mehdi

2015-02-05

The present study is dealing with the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of Eucalyptus oleosa as a green synthesis procedure without any catalyst, template or surfactant. Colloidal silver nanoparticles were synthesized by reacting aqueous AgNO3 with E. oleosa leaf extract at non-photomediated conditions. The significance of some synthesis conditions such as: silver nitrate concentration, concentration of the plant extract, time of synthesis reaction and temperature of plant extraction procedure on the particle size of synthesized silver particles was investigated and optimized. The participations of the studied factors in controlling the particle size of reduced silver were quantitatively evaluated via analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of this investigation showed that silver nanoparticles could be synthesized by tuning significant parameters, while performing the synthesis procedure at optimum conditions leads to form silver nanoparticles with 21nm as averaged size. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor the development of silver nanoparticles formation. Meanwhile, produced silver nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, and FT-IR techniques. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chitosan-silica complex membranes from sulfonic acid functionalized silica nanoparticles for pervaporation dehydration of ethanol-water solutions.

PubMed

Liu, Ying-Ling; Hsu, Chih-Yuan; Su, Yu-Huei; Lai, Juin-Yih

2005-01-01

Nanosized silica particles with sulfonic acid groups (ST-GPE-S) were utilized as a cross-linker for chitosan to form a chitosan-silica complex membranes, which were applied to pervaporation dehydration of ethanol-water solutions. ST-GPE-S was obtained from reacting nanoscale silica particles with glycidyl phenyl ether, and subsequent sulfonation onto the attached phenyl groups. The chemical structure of the functionalized silica was characterized with FTIR, (1)H NMR, and energy-dispersive X-ray. Homogeneous dispersion of the silica particles in chitosan was observed with electronic microscopies, and the membranes obtained were considered as nanocomposites. The silica nanoparticles in the membranes served as spacers for polymer chains to provide extra space for water permeation, so as to bring high permeation rates to the complex membranes. With addition of 5 parts per hundred of functionalized silica into chitosan, the resulting membrane exhibited a separation factor of 919 and permeation flux of 410 g/(m(2) h) in pervaporation dehydration of 90 wt % ethanol aqueous solution at 70 degrees C.

Dry powder inhalers: An overview of the in vitro dissolution methodologies and their correlation with the biopharmaceutical aspects of the drug products.

PubMed

Velaga, Sitaram P; Djuris, Jelena; Cvijic, Sandra; Rozou, Stavroula; Russo, Paola; Colombo, Gaia; Rossi, Alessandra

2018-02-15

In vitro dissolution testing is routinely used in the development of pharmaceutical products. Whilst the dissolution testing methods are well established and standardized for oral dosage forms, i.e. tablets and capsules, there are no pharmacopoeia methods or regulatory requirements for testing the dissolution of orally inhaled powders. Despite this, a wide variety of dissolution testing methods for orally inhaled powders has been developed and their bio-relevance has been evaluated. This review provides an overview of the in vitro dissolution methodologies for dry inhalation products, with particular emphasis on dry powder inhalers, where the dissolution behavior of the respirable particles can have a role on duration and absorption of the drug. Dissolution mechanisms of respirable particles as well as kinetic models have been presented. A more recent biorelevant dissolution set-ups and media for studying inhalation biopharmaceutics were also reviewed. In addition, factors affecting interplay between dissolution and absorption of deposited particles in the context of biopharmaceutical considerations of inhalation products were examined. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oxygen isotopes in crystalline silicates of comet Wild 2: A comparison of oxygen isotope systematics between Wild 2 particles and chondritic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakashima, Daisuke; Ushikubo, Takayuki; Joswiak, David J.; Brownlee, Donald E.; Matrajt, Graciela; Weisberg, Michael K.; Zolensky, Michael E.; Kita, Noriko T.

2012-12-01

Oxygen three-isotope ratios of nine crystalline silicate particles from comet Wild 2 were measured to investigate oxygen isotope systematics of cometary materials. We are able to analyze particles as small as 4 μm using an ion microprobe with a˜1×2 μm beam by locating the analysis spots with an accuracy of ±0.4 μm. Three particles of Mn-rich forsterite, known as low-iron, manganese-enriched (LIME) olivine, showed extremely 16O-rich signatures (δ18O, δ17O˜-50‰), similar to refractory inclusions in chondrites. The three Mn-rich forsterite particles may have formed by condensation from an 16O-rich solar nebula gas. Other particles consist of olivine and/or pyroxene with a wide range of Mg# [=molar MgO/(FeO+MgO) %] from 60 to 96. Their oxygen isotope ratios plot nearly along the carbonaceous chondrite anhydrous mineral (CCAM) and Young and Russell lines with Δ17O(=δ17O-0.52×δ18O) values of -3.0‰ to +2.5‰. These data are similar to the range observed from previous analyses of Wild 2 crystalline silicates and those of chondrules in carbonaceous chondrites. Six particles extracted from Stardust track 77 show diverse chemical compositions and isotope ratios; two Mn-rich forsterites, FeO-poor pigeonite, and three FeO-rich olivines with a wide range of Δ17O values from -24‰ to +1.6‰. These results confirmed that the original projectile that formed track 77 was an aggregate (>6 μm) of silicate particles that formed in various environments. The Δ17O values of ferromagnesian Wild 2 particles (including data from previous studies) increase from ˜-23‰ to+2.5‰ with decreasing Mg#: Δ17O values of Mn-rich forsterite particles (Mg#=98-99.8) cluster at -23‰, those of FeO-poor particles (Mg#=95-97) cluster at -2‰, and those of FeO-rich particles (Mg#≤90) scatter mainly from -1.5‰ to+2.5‰. Compared to chondrules in primitive chondrites, the systematic trend between Mg# and Δ17O among the Wild 2 particles is most similar to that reported for CR chondrite chondrules. We argue that CR chondrites and some cometary materials share multiple common chemical and isotope characteristics. We suggest that many of the crystalline silicate particles formed in the outer regions of the asteroid belt, or regions that share the common properties, and were transported to comet-forming regions and accreted into comet Wild 2.

Spectrally reconfigurable integrated multi-spot particle trap.

PubMed

Leake, Kaelyn D; Olson, Michael A B; Ozcelik, Damla; Hawkins, Aaron R; Schmidt, Holger

2015-12-01

Optical manipulation of small particles in the form of trapping, pushing, or sorting has developed into a vast field with applications in the life sciences, biophysics, and atomic physics. Recently, there has been increasing effort toward integration of particle manipulation techniques with integrated photonic structures on self-contained optofluidic chips. Here, we use the wavelength dependence of multi-spot pattern formation in multimode interference (MMI) waveguides to create a new type of reconfigurable, integrated optical particle trap. Interfering lateral MMI modes create multiple trapping spots in an intersecting fluidic channel. The number of trapping spots can be dynamically controlled by altering the trapping wavelength. This novel, spectral reconfigurability is utilized to deterministically move single and multiple particles between different trapping locations along the channel. This fully integrated multi-particle trap can form the basis of high throughput biophotonic assays on a chip.

GRAVITATIONAL ACCRETION OF PARTICLES ONTO MOONLETS EMBEDDED IN SATURN's RINGS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yasui, Yuki; Ohtsuki, Keiji; Daisaka, Hiroshi, E-mail: y.yasui@whale.kobe-u.ac.jp, E-mail: ohtsuki@tiger.kobe-u.ac.jp

2014-12-20

Using a local N-body simulation, we examine gravitational accretion of ring particles onto moonlet cores in Saturn's rings. We find that gravitational accretion of particles onto moonlet cores is unlikely to occur in the C ring and probably difficult in the inner B ring as well provided that the cores are rigid water ice. Dependence of particle accretion on ring thickness changes when the radial distance from the planet and/or the density of particles is varied: the former determines the size of the core's Hill radius relative to its physical size, while the latter changes the effect of self-gravity ofmore » accreted particles. We find that particle accretion onto high-latitude regions of the core surface can occur even if the rings' vertical thickness is much smaller than the core radius, although redistribution of particles onto the high-latitude regions would not be perfectly efficient in outer regions of the rings such as the outer A ring, where the size of the core's Hill sphere in the vertical direction is significantly larger than the core's physical radius. Our results suggest that large boulders recently inferred from observations of transparent holes in the C ring are not formed locally by gravitational accretion, while propeller moonlets in the A ring would be gravitational aggregates formed by particle accretion onto dense cores. Our results also imply that the main bodies of small satellites near the outer edge of Saturn's rings may have been formed in rather thin rings.« less

Electrode including porous particles with embedded active material for use in a secondary electrochemical cell

DOEpatents

Vissers, Donald R.; Nelson, Paul A.; Kaun, Thomas D.; Tomczuk, Zygmunt

1978-04-25

Particles of carbonaceous matrices containing embedded electrode active material are prepared for vibratory loading within a porous electrically conductive substrate. In preparing the particles, active materials such as metal chalcogenides, solid alloys of alkali or alkaline earth metals along with other metals and their oxides in powdered or particulate form are blended with a thermosetting resin and particles of a volatile to form a paste mixture. The paste is heated to a temperature at which the volatile transforms into vapor to impart porosity at about the same time as the resin begins to cure into a rigid, solid structure. The solid structure is then comminuted into porous, carbonaceous particles with the embedded active material.

A pulse-forming network for particle path visualization. [at Ames Aeromechanics Water Tunnel Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcalister, K. W.

1981-01-01

A procedure is described for visualizing nonsteady fluid flow patterns over a wide velocity range using discrete nonluminous particles. The paramount element responsible for this capability is a pulse-forming network with variable inductance that is used to modulate the discharge of a fixed amount of electrical energy through a xenon flashtube. The selectable duration of the resultant light emission functions as a variable shutter so that particle path images of constant length can be recorded. The particles employed as flow markers are hydrogen bubbles that are generated by electrolysis in a water tunnel. Data are presented which document the characteristics of the electrical circuit and establish the relation of particle velocity to both section inductance and film exposure.

Synthesis and characterization of nanomagnetite particles and their polymer coated forms.

PubMed

Utkan, Guldem Guven; Sayar, Filiz; Batat, Pinar; Ide, Semra; Kriechbaum, Manfred; Pişkin, Erhan

2011-01-15

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation of ferrous (Fe(2+)) and ferric (Fe(3+)) aqueous solution by a base. Nanomagnetite particles were coated with poly(St/PEG-EEM/DMAPM) and poly(St/PEG-MA/DMAPM) layer by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. Chemical structure of nanoparticles was characterized by both FTIR and (1)H NMR. Particle morphologies were determined by Zeta Sizer, DLS, XRD and SAXS. Structural analysis showed that after polymer coating nanomagnetite particles kept their superparamagnetic property. Besides the synthesized magnetites, polymer coated forms of these particles are more biocompatible, well dispersable and uniform. These properties make them a very strong candidate for bioengineering applications, such as bioseparation, gene transfer. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Friction factor and heat transfer of nanofluids containing cylindrical nanoparticles in laminar pipe flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Jianzhong; Xia, Yi; Ku, Xiaoke

2014-10-01

Numerical simulations of polyalphaolefins-Al2O3 nanofluids containing cylindrical nanoparticles in a laminar pipe flow are performed by solving the Navier-Stokes equation with term of cylindrical nanoparticles, the general dynamic equation for cylindrical nanoparticles, and equation for nanoparticle orientation. The distributions of particle number and volume concentration, the friction factor, and heat transfer are obtained and analyzed. The results show that distributions of nanoparticle number and volume concentration are non-uniform across the section, with larger and smaller values in the region near the pipe center and near the wall, respectively. The non-uniformity becomes significant with the increase in the axial distance from the inlet. The friction factor decreases with increasing Reynolds number. The relationships between the friction factor and the nanoparticle volume concentration as well as particle aspect ratio are dependent on the Reynolds number. The Nusselt number of nanofluids, directly proportional to the Reynolds number, particle volume concentration, and particle aspect ratio, is higher near the pipe entrance than at the downstream locations. The rate of increase in Nusselt number at lower particle volume concentration is more than that at higher concentration. Finally, the expressions of friction factor and Nusselt number as a function of particle volume concentration, particle aspect ratio, and Reynolds number are derived based on the numerical data.

Method and apparatus for forming ceramic oxide superconductors with ordered structure

DOEpatents

Nellis, W.J.; Maple, M.B.

1987-12-23

Disclosed are products and processes for making improved magnetic and superconducting articles from anisotropic starting materials by initially reducing the starting materials into a powdered form composed of particles of uniform directional crystal structures, forming a directionally uniform aggregate of particles by exposing the aggregate to a magnetic field of desired magnitude and direction, and then compacting the aggregate into an integral solid body. 2 Figs.