634 research outputs found
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
Site-specific management units in a commercial maize plot delineated using very high resolution remote sensing and soil properties mapping
14 Pags. The definitive version, with tabls. and figs., is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01681699The joint use of satellite imagery and digital soil maps derived from soil sampling is investigated in the present paper with the goal of proposing site-specific management units (SSMU) within a commercial field plot. Very high resolution Quickbird imagery has been used to derive leaf area index (LAI) maps in maize canopies in two different years. Soil properties maps were obtained from the interpolation of ion concentrations (Na, Mg, Ca, K and P) and texture determined in soil samples and also from automatic readings of electromagnetic induction (EMI) readings taken with a mobile sensor.
Links between the image-derived LAI and soil properties were established, making it possible to differentiate units within fields subject to abiotic stress associated with soil sodicity, a small water-holding capacity or flooding constraints. In accordance with the previous findings, the delineation of SSMUs is proposed, describing those field areas susceptible of variable-rate management for agricultural inputs such as water or fertilizing, or soil limitation correctors such as gypsum application in the case of sodicity problems. This demonstrates the suitability of spatial information technologies such as remote sensing and digital soil mapping in the context of precision agriculture.The Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) funded the PhD grant of the first author. This work is a result of the project RTA2005-00230, funded by INIA. The contribution of the project AGL2009-08931/AGR is also recognized.Peer reviewe
Effective interactions between star polymers and colloidal particles
Using monomer-resolved Molecular Dynamics simulations and theoretical
arguments based on the radial dependence of the osmotic pressure in the
interior of a star, we systematically investigate the effective interactions
between hard, colloidal particles and star polymers in a good solvent. The
relevant parameters are the size ratio q between the stars and the colloids, as
well as the number of polymeric arms f (functionality) attached to the common
center of the star. By covering a wide range of q's ranging from zero (star
against a flat wall) up to about 0.75, we establish analytical forms for the
star-colloid interaction which are in excellent agreement with simulation
results. A modified expression for the star-star interaction for low
functionalities, f < 10 is also introduced.Comment: 37 pages, 14 figures, preprint-versio
Contribution of microstructural parameters to strengthening in an ultrafine-grained Al-7%Si alloy processed by severe deformation
An Al-7%Si alloy was severely deformed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) to study the refinement of the microstructure and associated changes of mechanical properties. The initial coarse dendritic structure was broken into an elongated sub-micron grain/subgrain structure, with high dislocation density, and distributed fine Si particles. The Si particles in the composite are seen to induce a high dislocation density during deformation and lead to faster structural refinement than in a monolithic alloy with the same composition as the matrix. The additional strengthening of the composite relative to the monolithic alloy is due to both the finer grain size and the high retained dislocation density. Severe plastic deformation leads also to an improvement of the ductility of the strong material due to the refinement of both matrix microstructure and the Si particlesWe should like to acknowledge financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science under project number MAT2003-01540, as well as the award of a Juan de la Cierva post-doctoral fellowship for one of the authors (I.G.)Peer reviewe
Research of the Additional Losses Occurring in Optical Fiber at its Multiple Bends in the Range Waves 1310nm, 1550nm and 1625nm Long
Article is devoted to research of the additional losses occurring in the optical fiber at its multiple bends in the range waves of 1310 nanometers, 1550 nanometers and 1625 nanometers long. Article is directed on creation of the external factors methods which allow to estimate and eliminate negative influence. The automated way of calculation of losses at a bend is developed. Results of scientific researches are used by engineers of "Kazaktelekom" AS for practical definition of losses service conditions. For modeling the Wolfram|Alpha environment - the knowledge base and a set of computing algorithms was chosen. The greatest losses are noted on wavelength 1310nm and 1625nm. All dependences are nonlinear. Losses with each following excess are multiplicative
Polydisperse star polymer solutions
We analyze the effect of polydispersity in the arm number on the effective
interactions, structural correlations and the phase behavior of star polymers
in a good solvent. The effective interaction potential between two star
polymers with different arm numbers is derived using scaling theory. The
resulting expression is tested against monomer-resolved molecular dynamics
simulations. We find that the theoretical pair potential is in agreement with
the simulation data in a much wider polydispersity range than other proposed
potentials. We then use this pair potential as an input in a many-body theory
to investigate polydispersity effects on the structural correlations and the
phase diagram of dense star polymer solutions. In particular we find that a
polydispersity of 10%, which is typical in experimental samples, does not
significantly alter previous findings for the phase diagram of monodisperse
solutions.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure
Soft Interaction Between Dissolved Dendrimers: Theory and Experiment
Using small-angle neutron scattering and liquid integral equation theory, we
relate the structure factor of flexible dendrimers of 4th generation to their
average shape. The shape is measured as a radial density profile of monomers
belonging to a single dendrimer. From that, we derive an effective interaction
of Gaussian form between pairs of dendrimers and compute the structure factor
using the hypernetted chain approximation. Excellent agreement with the
corresponding experimental results is obtained, without the use of adjustable
parameters. The present analysis thus strongly supports the previous finding
that flexible dendrimers of low generation present fluctuating structures akin
to star polymers.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Macromolecules on July 24, 200
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