The thermal expansion and thermophysical properties of an aluminum and Al/B 4 C composite

The paper presents results of experimental studies of the thermal expansion and thermophysical properties of an Al/B 4 C composite with a boron carbide content of 20 wt% and technically pure aluminum in the temperature range from 100 to 600°C to evaluate the possible use of this composite as a neutron-protective material in the nuclear industry. © 2017 Author(s).We would like to appreciate the assistance of S. M. Zadvorkin, S. V. Lepikhin and L. S. Goruleva in conducting the investigations. Investigation was supported by Act 211 of the Government of the Russian Federation (agreement No. 02.A03.21.0006)

Polarimetric radar observations and interpretation of co-cross-polar correlation coefficients

Includes bibliographical references (page 354).Preliminary analysis of all components of the polarimetric radar covariance matrix for precipitation measured with the NCAR S-band dual-polarization Doppler radar (S-Pol) and the Colorado State University-University of Chicago-Illinois State Water Survey (CSU-CHILL) radars is presented. Radar reflectivity at horizontal polarization Zh, differential reflectivity ZDR, linear depolarization ratio LDR, specific differential phase KDP, crosscorrelation coefficient | ρhv | , and two co-cross-polar correlation coefficients, ρxh and ρxv, have been measured and examined for two rain events: the 14 August 1998 case in Florida and the 8 August 1998 case in Colorado. Examination of the coefficients ρxh and ρxv is the major focus of the study. It is shown that hydrometeors with different types of orientation can be better delineated if the coefficients ρxv and ρxv are used. Rough estimates of the raindrop mean canting angles and the rms width of the canting angle distribution are obtained from the co-cross-polar correlation coefficients in combination with other polarimetric variables. Analysis of the two cases indicates that the raindrop net canting angles averaged over the propagation paths near the ground in typical convective cells do not exceed 2.5°. Nonetheless, the mean canting angles in individual radar resolution volumes in rain can be noticeably higher. Although the net canting angle for individual convective cells can deviate by a few degrees from zero, the average over a long propagation path along several cells is close to zero, likely because canting angles in different cells vary in sign. The rms width of the canting angle distribution in rain is estimated to vary mainly between 5° and 15° with the median value slightly below 10°

Development of low-temperature thermochemical conversion reactors for coal power engineering

The main principles applied in developing a technology for low-temperature thermochemical conversion of brown coals to obtain fuel gas and semicoke intended for being fired in two-fuel power installations are considered on the basis of a set of experimental and calculated investigations. The obtained results are compared with the experimental data obtained using other methods and with the results of previous industrial tests. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Inc

Induced-Charge Enhancement of the Diffusion Potential in Membranes with Polarizable Nanopores

When a charged membrane separates two salt solutions of different concentrations, a potential difference appears due to interfacial Donnan equilibrium and the diffusion junction. Here, we report a new mechanism for the generation of a membrane potential in polarizable conductive membranes via an induced surface charge. It results from an electric field generated by the diffusion of ions with different mobilities. For uncharged membranes, this effect strongly enhances the diffusion potential and makes it highly sensitive to the ion mobilities ratio, electrolyte concentration, and pore size. Theoretical predictions on the basis of the space-charge model extended to polarizable nanopores fully agree with experimental measurements in KCl and NaCl aqueous solutions. © 2017 American Physical Society

On the origin of membrane potential in membranes with polarizable nanopores

We report a new mechanism for the generation of membrane potential in polarizable nanoporous membranes separating electrolytes with different concentrations. The electric field generated by diffusion of ions with different mobilities induces a non–uniform surface charge, which results in charge separation inside the nanopore. The corresponding Donnan potentials appear at the pore entrance and exit leading to a dramatic enhancement of membrane potential in comparison with an uncharged non–polarizable membrane. At high concentration contrast, the interaction between electric field and uncompensated charge at a low concentration side results in the development of electrokinetic vortices. The theoretical predictions are based on the Space–Charge model, which is extended to nanopores with polarizable conductive surface for the first time. This model is validated against full Navier–Stokes, Nernst–Planck, and Poisson equations, which are solved in a high aspect ratio nanopore connecting two reservoirs. The experimental measurements of membrane potential of dielectric and conductive membranes in KCl and NaCl aqueous solutions confirm the theoretical results. The membranes are prepared from Nafen nanofibers with ∼10nm in diameter and modified by depositing a conductive carbon layer. It is shown theoretically that the membrane potential enhancement becomes greater with decreasing the electrolyte concentration and pore radius. A high sensitivity of membrane potential to the ratio of ion diffusion coefficients is demonstrated. The described phenomenon may find applications in precise determination of ion mobilities, electrochemical and bio–sensing, as well as design of nanofluidic and bioelectronic devices. © 2017 Elsevier B.V

Morphology and Function of Myocardium and Skin Microcirculation 24 Hours after Clozapine Poisoning

Aim of the study: to evaluate the effect of sublethal dose of clozapine on the rat cardiovascular system 24 hours after administration of the drug.Materials and methods. The experiments were carried out on 17 male Wistar rats weighing 220-270 g. Under general anesthesia with sevoflurane, the animals of Group I were enterally given 0.9% NaCl solution, Group II animals received clozapine in a dose of 150 mg/kg diluted in 2.0 ml of NaCl solution 0.9%, Group III animals were given clozapine in a dose of 150 mg/kg diluted in 2.0 ml of 40% ethanol. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), skin microcirculation using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), NADH and FAD+ fluorescence were estimated 24 hours after the drug administration. After euthanasia, autopsy with sampling of internal organs for morphological study was done. Then paraffin heart sections with subsequent H&E staining were made, which were studied using the Nikon Eclipse Ni-U light microscope.Results. Spectral analysis of local skin blood flow fluctuations showed that clozapine reduced Amax and amplitude in all frequency ranges of active microcirculation regulatory system in comparison with the controls. No differences in blood gases and acid-base status were seen between the groups of animals 24 hours after administration of the drugs. However, the animals from clozapine groups (II and III) had lower hemoglobin and hematocrit than in the control group.Histological examination of rat hearts in groups II and III revealed congested venules, haemorrhages by dia-pedeses, perivascular and interstitial edema. The signs of blood stasis and marginalization of granulocytes were noted in the vascular lumen. Irregular staining of myocardium due to cardiomyocytes with hypereosinophilic and occasionally homogeneous cytoplasm, fragmentation and deformations of cardiac cells were revealed. Car-diomyocytic nuclei were polymorphic and irregularly stained, and perinuclear edema was observed.Conclusions. The results of the study demonstrate the toxic effect of clozapine manifesting as progressive myocardial alteration and disordered central and peripheral circulation. However, control of bradycardia, restored skin perfusion and metabolic improvement (diagnosed by NADH fluorescence and blood acid-base status) after 24 hours may be due to the activation of compensatory mechanisms, particularly through changes in neurogenic and humoral regulation of homeostasis