Melting at the Limit of Superheating

Theories on superheating-melting mostly involve vibrational and mechanical instabilities, catastrophes of entropy, volume and rigidity, and nucleation-based kinetic models. The maximum achievable superheating is dictated by nucleation process of melt in crystals, which in turn depends on material properties and heating rates. We have established the systematics for maximum superheating by incorporating a dimensionless nucleation barrier parameter and heating rate, with which systematic molecular dynamics simulations and dynamic experiments are consistent. Detailed microscopic investigation with large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of the superheating-melting process, and structure-resolved ultrafast dynamic experiments are necessary to establish the connection between the kinetic limit of superheating and vibrational and mechanical instabilities, and catastrophe theories

Chemical industry activity as a leading indicator of the business cycle

Activity in the chemical industry has been found to lead that in the overall economy. The author constructs a Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) that is a leading indicator which can be used to anticipate the peaks and troughs in the US economy’s business cycle. This article discusses the construction of the CAB and its performance. The results were robust and since 1919, the CAB was found to lead National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) business cycle peaks by an average of eight months and troughs by an average of four months. In this time of such uncertainty, the CAB could be an important tool for economists, business analysts and anyone else trying to follow the US economy

The global business of chemistry:prospects and challenges

The global business of chemistry has faced numerous challenges in recent years. This article addresses the near-term business environment in which the industry will operate as well as the implications for the global business of chemistry during 2006 and 2007

A theoretical investigation of electromagnetic waves obliquely incident upon a plasma slab

Electromagnetic wave obliquely incident upon plasma slab considered as boundary value proble

Embracing the Demons Within: Spiritual Possession and Mental Health Support in Madagascar

Possession, and the systems of mental health support existing under the same spiritual paradigm, inherently address and serve to instigate a change in the entirety of one’s life. The two traditional systems of mental health support in Madagascar, tromba spirit healers and Protestent exorcisms, appear to differ in doctine and tradition and have been proposed to be fundementally incompatible because of “conflicting or alternative epistemological realities” (Sharp, 525). The goals of this research, however, will be to identify the contextual and functional trends of the two systems that exist to support and ameliorate the mental health of the Malagasy people. For Malagasy women in particular, the impetus to change manifests in possession or a dream calling them to spiritual work. It is in rejecting that calling that the internal force requiring change, whether it is one’s psyche or spiritual counterpart, will sanction the individual in a form of mental illness. Inherent in following the calling of God’s work as mpiandry or one’s ancestors as a tromba medium, life becomes structured by the regulations of the system, is positively reinforced by the respect and needs of the community, and is ensured of continued mental health support through a profound and lifelong connection with the “spirits” within

Poly(acrylic acid) interpolymer complexation: use of a fluorescence time resolved anisotropy as a poly(acrylamide) probe

YesA low concentration poly(acrylamide) sensor has been developed which uses the segmental mobility of another polymer probe with a covalently attached fluorescent marker. Interpolymer complexation with poly(acrylic acid) leads to reduced segmental mobility which can be used to determine the concentration of polymer in solution. This technique could be useful in detecting the runoff of polymer dispersants and flocculants in fresh water supplies following water purification processes.Funding for the research was kindly provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Highly-branched poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)s with core-shell morphology below the lower critical solution temperature

YesHighly-branched poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)s in water pass through coil-to-globule transitions. Using calorimetry and the colour change of a solvatochromic dye within the polymer, we show that some compositions have biphasic core–shell morphologies, with globular cores and open coil shells. The two-phase structure is favoured by increased branching and arises because the chain ends penetrate only to a limited degree into the polymer coil

Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction Investigation of Superheating-Melting of Crystals under Ultrafast Heating

The maximum superheating of a solid prior to melting depends on the effective dimensionless nucleation energy barrier, heterogeneities such as free surfaces and defects, and heating rates. Superheating is rarely achieved with conventional slow heating due to the dominant effect of heterogeneous nucleation. In present work, we investigate the superheating-melting behavior of crystals utilizing ultrafast heating techniques such as exploding wire and laser irradiation, and diagnostics such as time-resolved X-ray diffraction combined with simultaneous measurements on voltage and current (for exploding wire) and particle velocity (for laser irradiation). Experimental designs and preliminary results are presented