Experimental Investigations on the Role of Structure in Turbulent Mixing of Initially Isolated Scalars

Structured stirring and mixing play a dominate role in turbulent mixing and are important processes across a wide range of applications. The mixing of two scalars that share an interface has the same topology of a single scalar problem, and therefore has dominated the literature. The mixing of two scalars separated by a third, ambient fluid has received much less attention. This topology is of particular interest in that stirring may not always increase mixing between the two scalars, and some stirring protocols may further segregate the two scalars. This topology is common in many biological, environmental, chemical, industrial, and scientific applications.The present thesis begins by developing an experimental framework with which two scalars separated by a third ambient fluid can be studied. The technique presented, referred to herein as two-channel PLIF, simultaneously quantifies two scalar fields using a pair of independently operated single-color PLIF systems that synchronously image a common region.The two-channel technique is used to investigate how stirring and mixing bring together initially isolated scalars in a variety of flows. Flows examined include laminar vortex shedding in the cylinder wake, plumes in grid turbulence, and low Reynolds number parallel turbulent jets. It is found that the turbulence properties and flow geometry are important in determining the effect of instantaneous processes. When the separation distance of the scalars is small compared to the largest turbulence length-scales, instantaneous mixing processes are responsible for over 80% of the coalescence between the two. Further analysis using joint probabilities of the two scalars indicates that turbulent structure brings scalar filaments near to each other in attracting regions of the flow before diffusive flux brings the two scalars into coalescence. This is the first study to show in a variety of flows that turbulent structure imparts spatial correlations on initially distant scalars

THE INFLUENCE OF A HALLOYSITE ADDITIVE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE

This paper presents the results from the tests of autoclaved aerated concrete with halloysite as a cement additive. Good pozzolanic properties make it a suitable material to be used as a partial replacement of a portion of cement. Basic physical and mechanical properties of the composites with various mineral content are discussed. The compressive strength test results indicate an increase in strength of the AAC containing 2.5 % and 5 % halloysite relative to the reference specimen. Thermal conductivity and density values remained at the same level. Observations of the microstructure in the scanning electron microscope confirmed the results from the XRD tests. Anhydrite was observed in addition to tobermorite. The results from the tests of the autoclaved aerated concretes in which halloysite was incorporated as 7.5 % and 10 % cement replacement showed an increase in compressive strength, density and thermal conductivity values

Role of the exchange and correlation potential into calculating the x-ray absorption spectra of half-metallic alloys: the case of Mn and Cu K-edge XANES in Cu2_2MnM (M = Al, Sn, In) Heusler alloys

This work reports a theoretical study of the x-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra at both the Cu and the Mn K-edge in several Cu$_2$MnM (M= Al, Sn and In) Heusler alloys. Our results show that {\it ab-initio} single-channel multiple-scattering calculations are able of reproducing the experimental spectra. Moreover, an extensive discussion is presented concerning the role of the final state potential needed to reproduce the experimental data of these half-metallic alloys. In particular, the effects of the cluster-size and of the exchange and correlation potential needed in reproducing all the experimental XANES features are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Polarization-interference mapping of biological fluids polycrystalline films in differentiation of weak changes of optical anisotropy

The theoretical background of the azimuthally stable method of polarization-interference mapping of the histological sections of the biopsy of the prostate tissue on the basis of the spatial frequency selection of the mechanisms of linear and circular birefringence is presented. The diagnostic application of a new correlation parameter – complex degree of mutual anisotropy – is analytically substantiated. The method of measuring coordinate distributions of complex degree of mutual anisotropy with further spatial filtration of their highand low-frequency components is developed. The interconnections of such distributions with parameters of linear and circular birefringence of prostate tissue histological sections are found. The objective criteria of differentiation of benign and malignant conditions of prostate tissue are determined

Preparation and structural properties of thin films and multilayers of the Heusler compounds Cu2MnAl, Co2MnSn, Co2MnSi and Co2MnGe

We report on the preparation of thin films and multilayers of the intermetallic Heusler compound CuMnAl, Co2MnSn, Co2MnSi and Co2MnGe by rf-sputtering on MgO and Al2O3 substrates. Cu2MnAl can be grown epitaxially with (100)-orientation on MgO (100) and in (110)-orientation on Al2O3 a-plane. The Co based Heusler alloys need metallic seedlayers to induce high quality textured growth. We also have prepared multilayers with smooth interfaces by combining the Heusler compounds with Au and V. An analysis of the ferromagnetic saturation magnetization of the films indicates that the Cu2MnAl-compound tends to grow in the disordered B2-type structure whereas the Co-based Heusler alloy thin films grow in the ordered L21 structure. All multilayers with thin layers of the Heusler compounds exhibit a definitely reduced ferromagnetic magnetization indicating substantial disorder and intermixing at the interfaces.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure

Fundamental Pyrolysis Studies

Progress on the direct mass spectrometric sampling of pyrolysis products from wood and its constituents is described for the period from June 1982 to February 1983. A brief summary and references to detailed reports, of the qualitative demonstration of our approach to the study of the separated processes of primary and secondary pyrolysis is presented. Improvements and additions to the pyrolysis and data acquisition systems are discussed and typical results shown. Chief of these are a heated-grid pyrolysis system for controlled primary pyrolysis and a sheathed flame arrangement for secondary cracking studies. Qualitative results of the secondary cracking of cellulose, lignin, and wood are shown as are comparisons with the literature for the pyrolysis spectra of cellulose, lignin, and levoglucosan. 'Fingerprints' for a number of materials are shown, with spectra taken under carefully controlled conditions so that sensitivity calibrations for different compounds, now being determined, can be applied

Upwelling events, coastal offshore exchange, links to biogeochemical processes - Highlights from the Baltic Sea Sciences Congress at Rostock University, Germany, 19-22 March 2007

The Baltic Sea Science Congress was held at Rostock University, Germany, from 19 to 22 March 2007. In the session entitled"Upwelling events, coastal offshore exchange, links to biogeochemical processes" 20 presentations were given,including 7 talks and 13 posters related to the theme of the session.This paper summarises new findings of the upwelling-related studies reported in the session. It deals with investigationsbased on the use of in situ and remote sensing measurements as well as numerical modelling tools. The biogeochemicalimplications of upwelling are also discussed.Our knowledge of the fine structure and dynamic considerations of upwelling has increased in recent decades with the advent ofhigh-resolution modern measurement techniques and modelling studies. The forcing and the overall structure, duration and intensity ofupwelling events are understood quite well. However, the quantification of related transports and the contribution to the overall mixingof upwelling requires further research. Furthermore, our knowledge of the links between upwelling and biogeochemical processes is stillincomplete. Numerical modelling has advanced to the extent that horizontal resolutions of c. 0.5 nautical miles can now be applied,which allows the complete spectrum of meso-scale features to be described. Even the development of filaments can be describedrealistically in comparison with high-resolution satellite data.But the effect of upwelling at a basin scale and possible changes under changing climatic conditions remain open questions

Studies of viomycin, an anti-tuberculosis antibiotic: Copper(II) coordination, DNA degradation and the impact on delta ribozyme cleavage activity

Viomycin is a basic peptide antibiotic, which is among the most effective agents against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. In this paper we provide the characteristics of its acid base properties, coordination preferences towards the Cu(II) ions, as well as the reactivity of the resulting complexes against plasmid DNA and HDV ribozyme. Careful coordination studies throughout the wide pH range allow for the characterisation of all the Cu(II)-viomycin complex species. The assignment of proton chemical shifts was achieved by NMR experiments, while the DTF level of theory was applied to support molecular structures of the studied complexes. The experiments with the plasmid DNA reveal that at the physiological levels of hydrogen peroxide the Cu(II)-viomycin complex is more aggressive against DNA than uncomplexed metal ions. Moreover, the degradation of DNA by viomycin can be carried out without the presence of transition metal ions. In the studies of antigenomic delta ribozyme catalytic activity, viomycin and its complex are shown to modulate the ribozyme functioning. The molecular modelling approach allows the indication of two different locations of viomycin binding sites to the ribozyme

Magnetic phase separation in ordered alloys

We present a lattice model to study the equilibrium phase diagram of ordered alloys with one magnetic component that exhibits a low temperature phase separation between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases. The model is constructed from the experimental facts observed in Cu$_{3-x}$AlMn$_{x}$ and it includes coupling between configurational and magnetic degrees of freedom which are appropriated for reproducing the low temperature miscibility gap. The essential ingredient for the occurrence of such a coexistence region is the development of ferromagnetic order induced by the long-range atomic order of the magnetic component. A comparative study of both mean-field and Monte Carlo solutions is presented. Moreover, the model may enable the study of the structure of the ferromagnetic domains embedded in the non-magnetic matrix. This is relevant in relation to phenomena such as magnetoresistance and paramagnetism.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.