The effect of heat setting on the dyeability of differentially dyeable polyester fibres

Apparent diffusion coefficients of two disperse dyes for so-called easily dyeable/cationic-dyeable polyester (ED-CDPET) and cationic-dyeable polyester (CDPET) fibres of identical linear density and sulphonic acid group content have been calculated. It was found that the diffusion coefficients of dyes for ED-CDPET were far greater than those of dyes for CDPET. The dyeability at the boil without carrier, using disperse and cationic dyes on various ED-CDPET and CDPET fibres, has been studied. ED-CDPET was found to have higher dyeability at all levels of heat setting (irrespective of the dye used). The finest ED-CDPET fibres showed maximum dye uptake as a result of increased surface area. Heat setting in the taut condition reduced dye uptake.     

Structure–Activity Relationship Study of Spider Polyamine Toxins as Inhibitors of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors

The spider polyamine toxins Joro spider toxin‐3 (JSTX‐3) and Nephila polyamine toxins‐1 and ‐8 (NPTX‐1 and NPTX‐8) are isolated from the venom of the orb‐weaver spider Nephila clavata (Joro spider). They share a high degree of structural resemblance, their aromatic head groups being the only difference, and were recently found to be very potent open‐channel blockers of ionotropic glutamate (iGlu) receptors. In this study we designed and synthesized a collection of 24 analogues of these toxins using a recently developed solid‐phase synthetic methodology. Systematic variation in two regions of the toxins and subsequent evaluation of biological activity at AMPA and NMDA subtypes of iGlu receptors provided succinct information on structure–activity relationships. In particular, one set of analogues were found to display exquisite selectivity and potency for AMPA receptors relative to the natural products. Thus, this systematic SAR study has provided new pharmacological tools for studies of iGlu receptors.     

White light emission from Eu co-activated Ca2Gd8Si6O26:Dy nanophosphors by solvothermalsynthesis

Ca₂Gd₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ (CGS) nanophosphors with different concentrations of single-doped Dy³⁺ ions and co-doped Dy³⁺/Eu³⁺ ions were prepared by a solvothermal synthesis. Very fine particles in the nanometer range could be achieved by this method, as evidenced by transmission electron microscope measurements. The hexagonal phase of the oxyapatite structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns. The energy transfer between Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ ions was investigated by photoluminescence excitation and emission properties. These phosphors had absorption bands in the UV and NUV region, which are suitable for the emission wavelength of UV or NUV light-emitting diodes (LEDs). With increasing the Eu³⁺ ion concentration, the emission peak intensity corresponding to the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition increased and the yellow (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2) emission intensity also increased compared to the blue (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2) emission intensity due to the increased energy transfer between Dy³⁺ to Eu³⁺ ions. Thus, the Eu³⁺ ions compensated the red emission component of the Dy³⁺ doped CGS nanophosphors. Such phosphors are expected to have potential applications for NUV based white LEDs.     

Phenomena of reverse momentum pulse and fluid leak after poison injection in the shut down system of PHWR

The primary function of the shut down system in a nuclear reactor is to terminate any reactivity transient occurring in the core during its entire design life. Normally there is more than one system, which are independent and diverse in its mode of operation. They consist of quick acting mechanisms like dropping of safety rods by gravity, poison injection, etc. Typically in liquid poison injection system wherein high flow velocities are involved, there is significant fluid structure interaction associated with cyclic shock transients in the system. One such phenomenon has been captured and analyzed to understand the dynamics involved in the loop. The trends of loop pressure and vibration indicated presence of more than two pressure transients after complete injection of poison. The first transient arrived after 1.44 s and the second after 0.75 s. The reverse pressure pulses that manifested in the loop as a result of fast injection of fluid has been mathematically characterized by solving basic fluid balance equations. Possibility of ball lifting due to momentum pulse is also discussed.     

A study on fluorescence properties of Eu3+ ions in alkali lead tellurofluoroborate glasses

Glasses with chemical composition of (in mol.%): 26 RF-20 PbO-10 TeO2-43 H3BO3-1 EuO3 (RLTB) were prepared by conventional melt quenching method. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ω2 and Ω6 were obtained from the absorption intensities of 7F0→5D2 and 7F0→5L6 transitions, respectively. In order to overcome the problem of applicability of Judd-Ofelt analysis at room temperature due to the overlapping of the transitions originating from 7F0 and 7F1 levels of Eu3+ ion, the effect of the thermalization on the population of energy levels was taken into account. The photoluminescence spectra contained five emission bands originating from the 5D0 metastable state to 7FJ (J=0, 1, 2, 3, 4) lower lying states. The decay profiles were found to be single exponential in all the three glasses. The measured lifetimes (τmes) were in good agreement with the calculated lifetimes (τcal) obtained by using the thermally corrected Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters.     

Effect of prior treatment on the low cycle fatigue behaviour of aluminium alloy RR58 at 423K

The effect of the quenching medium and of varying the microstructure on low cycle fatigue behaviour of aluminium alloy RR58 has been investigated at 423K. It is observed that fatigue resistance is significantly impaired if, following solutionizing, the alloy is quenched in water instead of in oil. Thermal as well as thermomechanical treatments were employed to produce different microstructures. The overaged microstructure displayed the highest fatigue life. It is shown with the help of fractographic observations that differences in fatigue resistance due to differences in severity in quenching or in microstructure arise mainly due to the influence of these variables on crack initiation and early crack propagation. It has also been demonstrated that as the rate of hardening or softening is increased, cyclic strength coefficient K′ and fatigue hardening exponent n′ increase; the fatigue ductility coefficient ?′_f decreases as a result of varying microstructures, and the fatigue resistance at 423K of the alloy is lowered. When compared with the behaviour at ambient temperature, the test temperature of 423K has been found to have no significant effect on the fatigue life/strain plot.     

Thermal instability in a micropolar fluid layer subject to a magnetic field

In the present paper we have considered thermal instability in a heat conducting micropolar fluid layer under the influence of a transverse magnetic field. Assuming the bounding surfaces to be rigid the eigenvalue problem is solved using finite-difference and Wilkinson's iteration techniques. Here it is seen that the instability sets in not only for adverse temperature gradient but also for positive temperature gradient. Both the microtation and the magnetic field are seen to stabilize the fluid layer. However, the stabilizing effect of microrotation becomes less significant when the strength of the magnetic field is large. In the case of heating from below, the critical wave number is seen to be insensitive to increase in the strength of the magnetic field, while it increases significantly when the fluid is heated from above.     

Kinetics of pyrolysis of pure and doped cobalt oxalate

The object of the present work was to illustrate the effect of impurities on the kinetics and energetics of the thermal decomposition of pure cobalt oxalate. Cationic impurities like Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zr⁴⁺ have been introduced into pure cobalt oxalate dihydrate and differential thermal analysis has been used to determine the enthalpy and energy of activation for the decomposition reaction of pure and doped samples.