3,313 research outputs found
Instructional Leadership, Teaching Quality, and Student Achievement: Suggestive Evidence from Three Urban School Districts
Does providing instruction-related professional development to school principals set in motion a chain of events that can improve teaching and learning in their schools? This report examines professional development efforts by the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Learning in elementary schools in Austin, St. Paul, and New York City
Star-Like Micelles with Star-Like Interactions: A quantitative Evaluation of Structure Factor and Phase Diagram
PEP-PEO block copolymer micelles offer the possibility to investigate phase
behaviour and interactions of star polymers (ultra-soft colloids). A star-like
architecture is achieved by an extremely asymmetric block ratio (1:20).
Micellar functionality f can be smoothly varied by changing solvent composition
(interfacial tension). Structure factors obtained by SANS can be quantitatively
described in terms of an effective potential developed for star polymers. The
experimental phase diagram reproduces to a high level of accuracy the predicted
liquid/solid transition. Whereas for intermediate f a bcc phase is observed,
for high f the formation of a fcc phase is preempted by glass formation.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, PRL in pres
Dynamic Response of Block Copolymer Wormlike Micelles to Shear Flow
The linear and non-linear dynamic response to an oscillatory shear flow of
giant wormlike micelles consisting of Pb-Peo block copolymers is studied by
means of Fourier transform rheology. Experiments are performed in the vicinity
of the isotropic-nematic phase transition concentration, where the location of
isotropic-nematic phase transition lines is determined independently. Strong
shear-thinning behaviour is observed due to critical slowing down of
orientational diffusion as a result of the vicinity of the isotropic- nematic
spinodal. This severe shear-thinning behaviour is shown to result in gradient
shear banding. Time-resolved Small angle neutron scattering experiments are
used to obtain insight in the microscopic phenomena that underly the observed
rheological response. An equation of motion for the order-parameter tensor and
an expression of the stress tensor in terms of the order-parameter tensor are
used to interpret the experimental data, both in the linear and non-linear
regime. Scaling of the dynamic behaviour of the orientational order parameter
and the stress is found when critical slowing down due to the vicinity of the
isotropic-nematic spinodal is accounted for.Comment: Accepted by J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, CODEF II Special Issue. 20
pages, 9 figure
Dynamic Response of Block Copolymer Wormlike Micelles to Shear Flow
The linear and non-linear dynamic response to an oscillatory shear flow of
giant wormlike micelles consisting of Pb-Peo block copolymers is studied by
means of Fourier transform rheology. Experiments are performed in the vicinity
of the isotropic-nematic phase transition concentration, where the location of
isotropic-nematic phase transition lines is determined independently. Strong
shear-thinning behaviour is observed due to critical slowing down of
orientational diffusion as a result of the vicinity of the isotropic- nematic
spinodal. This severe shear-thinning behaviour is shown to result in gradient
shear banding. Time-resolved Small angle neutron scattering experiments are
used to obtain insight in the microscopic phenomena that underly the observed
rheological response. An equation of motion for the order-parameter tensor and
an expression of the stress tensor in terms of the order-parameter tensor are
used to interpret the experimental data, both in the linear and non-linear
regime. Scaling of the dynamic behaviour of the orientational order parameter
and the stress is found when critical slowing down due to the vicinity of the
isotropic-nematic spinodal is accounted for.Comment: Accepted by J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, CODEF II Special Issue. 20
pages, 9 figure
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