ADSORPTION AND DESORPTION KINETICS FOR NONLINEAR ADSORPTION ISOTHERMS

The theoretical calculations of the mass transfer rate are based on a model which considers a nonlinear adsorption isotherms and simultaneous resistance to mass transfer in The pore adsorbent and the convective mass transfer. Numerical solutions to the diffusive-convective-controlled adsorption and desorption processes are calculated for the Langmuir and rectangular adsorption isotherms. It is shown that for the rectangular adsorption isotherm the adsorption kinetics is governed by the diffusive-convective mass transfer over a wide range of times and the desorption kinetics is irreversible process. The equations are derived to calculate from the experimental kinetics data: (a) the coefficient diffusion in the pore adsorbent, (b) the relaxation times characterizing the adsorption and desorption processes, and (c) the times needed to reach the quasiequilibrium state for the adsorption and desorption processes.     

Physical mechanism of "slow light" in stimulated Brillouin scattering

We show from analytical analysis of the basic stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) equations in the time domain that the SBS amplification process does not amplify an external Stokes pulse and therefore cannot induce group delay of the Stokes pulse as claimed in the literature. Rather, the delayed output Stokes pulse is the pump radiation reflected by the induced acoustic wave, the amplitude of which determines the rate of the amplification process and time delay of the pulse. The latter is predominantly a consequence of the SBS buildup process determined by the inertia of the acoustic wave excitation. Analytical solutions of the SBS equations in the frequency domain show that spectral broadening of the pump radiation leads to only negligible broadening of the SBS spectral bandwidth and so does not provide an effective means to achieve broadband pulse delay.     

Entropy generation due to natural convection of a nanofluid in a partially open triangular cavity

A numerical analysis of laminar natural convection with entropy generation in a partially heated open triangular cavity filled with a Cu-water nanofluid has been carried out. Mathematical model including partial differential equations and boundary conditions has been solved by using finite difference method. Particular efforts have been focused on the effects of Rayleigh number, nanoparticles volume fraction and position of the local heater on streamlines, isotherms, local entropy generation as well as local and average Nusselt number, average Bejan number, average entropy generation and fluid flow rate. Obtained results have demonstrated that the heat transfer enhancement and fluid flow attenuation with nanoparticles volume fraction, mainly for high values of Rayleigh number.     

西伯利亚布鲁斯地下水溢流积冰的边坡水热过程模拟

俄罗斯萨哈(雅库特)共和国属于典型高纬度寒区,是世界地下水溢流积冰问题最严重的地区之一,布鲁斯位于萨哈共和国汉加拉斯基区东部,是地下水溢流积冰现象的代表性区域。在实地勘测的基础上,采用Geo-studio软件结合气象数据对不同时期山谷边坡的温度场、渗流场的分布特征进行耦合模拟并分析其对地下水溢流积冰发育的影响。结果表明:(1)研究区长达192 d稳定的负温环境,使得边坡内部过水通道温度环境维持地下水接近冻结-未冻结的临界状态,有效地提高了其溢流到地表(或积冰体表面)后的冻结效率。坡体外部最低可达-43℃的超低温度,也为其冻结提供了足够的冷量。(2)寒武纪碳酸盐岩的强风化带是坡体内为溢流积冰供水的主要过水通道,其地下水渗流速度最高可达1.23 m/d,较其他岩层水流速率(一般不超过0.05 m/d)明显加快。(3)同时充足的地下水补给为地下水溢流积冰的形成提供物质条件,形成较高的地下水水位为地下水渗流提供驱动力。本研究可为中国及其他国家和地区的地下水溢流积冰相关研究提供科学参考。     

Designing Red-Shifted Molecular Emitters Based on the Annulated Locked GFP Chromophore Derivatives

Bioimaging techniques require development of a wide variety of fluorescent probes that absorb and emit red light. One way to shift absorption and emission of a chromophore to longer wavelengths is to modify its chemical structure by adding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fragments, thus increasing the conjugation length of a molecule while maintaining its rigidity. Here, we consider four novel classes of conformationally locked Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) chromophore derivatives obtained by extending their aromatic systems in different directions. Using high-level ab initio quantum chemistry calculations, we show that the alteration of their electronic structure upon annulation may unexpectedly result in a drastic change of their fluorescent properties. A flip of optically bright and dark electronic states is most prominent in the symmetric fluorene-based derivative. The presence of a completely dark lowest-lying excited state is supported by the experimentally measured extremely low fluorescence quantum yield of the newly synthesized compound. Importantly, one of the asymmetric modes of annulation provides a very promising strategy for developing red-shifted molecular emitters with an absorption wavelength of ∼600 nm, having no significant impact on the character of the bright S-S₁ transition.     

Antimicrobial peptides as new recognition molecules for screening challenging species

The goal of this study was to evaluate binding of four targets of biodefense interest to immobilized antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in biosensor assays. Polymyxins B and E, melittin, cecropins A, B, and P, parasin, bactenecin and magainin-1, as well as control antibodies, were used as capture molecules for detection of Cy3-labeled Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE), vaccinia virus, C. burnetti and B. melitensis. Although VEE, vaccinia virus and C. burnetti did not show any binding activity to their corresponding capture antibodies, B. melitensis bound to immobilized anti-Brucella monoclonal antibodies. The majority of the immobilized AMPs included in this study bound labeled VEE, vaccinia virus and C. burnetti in a concentration-dependent manner, and B. melitensis bound to polymyxin B, polymyxin E, and bactenecin. No binding was observed on immobilized magainin-1. In contrast to all bacterial targets tested to date, VEE and vaccinia virus demonstrated similar patterns of binding to all peptides. While the direct assay is generally replaced by a sandwich assay for analysis of real-world samples, direct binding experiments are commonly used to characterize specificity and sensitivity of binding molecules. In this case, they clearly demonstrate the capability of AMPs as recognition molecules for four biothreat agents.     

A new synthesis approach for proton exchange membranes based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene

A new approach for gas-phase modification of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) film for synthesis of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) has been successfully realized. First, the membrane precursors have been prepared by soaking the films in a monomers/AIBN solution followed by their modification with polystyrene (PS) in styrene vapor at 110°C. The developed method is characterized by high efficiency, simplicity, and ecological purity. The modified UHMWPE films containing up to 60 wt% of PS have been obtained. Then, PEMs were prepared by sulfonation of these precursors. According to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of the sulfonated samples, almost uniform distribution of PS through the film thickness was observed. The membranes with an ion exchange capacity up to 2.7 mmol/g and proton conductivity up to 60 mS/cm (water, 25°C) were obtained. Comparative tests of the obtained UHMWPE-sulfonated PS and commercial Nafion-115 membranes in a hydrogen–air fuel cell have been carried out. It has been shown that the cell with the synthesized membranes exhibits better performance than that with Nafion-115.