Chemical Analysis of the Gallium Surface in a Physiologic Buffer.

Gallium and its alloys have been regarded as one of the promising materials for flexible bioelectronics due to their liquid-like mechanical properties, excellent electrical property, and low toxicity. Although many studies have fabricated bioelectronics from gallium-based liquid metals, gallium surface chemistry in physiologic conditions is rarely investigated. Here, we investigated the chemical change of the gallium surface in a physiologic buffer at 37 °C over 45 days.

Recyclable Aggregates of Mesoporous Titania Synthesized by Thermal Treatment of Amorphous or Peptized Precursors.

Recyclable aggregates of mesoporous titania with different anatase-rutile ratios have been prepared by thermal treatments of either amorphous or peptized precursors. These last two have been obtained by hydrolysis of either Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ or of Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ in mixture with 5 mol % Zr(OC₃H₇)₄ at room temperature in the presence of NH₄OH as a catalyzing agent. The anatase-rutile ratio, the recyclable aggregates of the nano-sized particles, the mesoporosity, the surface area and the crystallinity of the resulting crystallized products of titania can be controlled by the synthesis parameters including: concentration of ammonia catalyst, stirring time and concentration of the peptizing HNO₃, drying method of peptized precursors, calcination temperature, and finally the ramp rate up to the titania crystallization temperature.

Three-dimensional combined pyrometric sizing and velocimetry of combusting coal particles. II: Pyrometry.

Knowledge of the in situ temperature, size, velocity, and number density of a population of burning coal particles yields insight into the chemical and aerodynamic behavior of a pulverized coal flame (e.g., through means of combustion model validation).

Growth kinetics of hexagonal sub-micrometric β-tricalcium phosphate particles in ethylene glycol.

Recently, uniform, non-agglomerated, hexagonal β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) platelets (diameter≈400-1700nm, h≈100-200nm) were obtained at fairly moderate temperatures (90-170°C) by precipitation in ethylene glycol. Unfortunately, the platelet aspect ratios (diameter/thickness) obtained in the latter study were too small to optimize the strength of polymer-β-TCP composites. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate β-TCP platelet crystallization kinetics, and based on this, to find ways to better control the β-TCP aspect ratio.

Room Temperature Co-Precipitation Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles in a Large pH Window with Different Bases.

Magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) represent the most promising materials in medical applications. To favor high-drug or enzyme loading on the nanoparticles, they are incorporated into mesoporous materials to form a hybrid support with the consequent reduction of magnetization saturation. The direct synthesis of mesoporous structures appears to be of interest.

Fiberoptic resonance Raman spectroscopy to measure carotenoid oxidative breakdown in live tissues.

Based on compelling epidemiologic and corroboratory in vitro studies, carotenoids are thought to have great potential as dietary prevention against cancer. Yet, carotenoid-based chemopreventive trials have found very contradictory results. Definitive conclusions from these trials are hampered by an inability to accurately and safely measure carotenoids in specific tissues at risk of cancer development.

Development and validation of an automated thawing and mixing workcell.

Background: Working toward a goal of total laboratory automation, we are automating manual activities in our highest volume laboratory section. Because half of all specimens arriving in this laboratory section are frozen, we began by developing an automated workcell for thawing frozen specimens and mixing the thawed specimens to remove concentration gradients resulting from freezing and thawing.

Methods: We developed an initial robotic workcell that removed specimens from the transport system's conveyor, blew high-velocity room temperature air at the tubes, mixed them, and replaced them on the conveyor.

Asphaltene aggregation in organic solvents.

Asphaltenic solids formed in the Rangely field in the course of a carbon dioxide flood and heptane insolubles in the oil from the same field were used in this study. Four different solvents were used to dissolve the asphaltenes. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was used to determine the onset of asphaltene precipitation by heptane titration.

LiBr. 2H(2)O Crystallization Inhibition in the Presence of Additives.

Experiments have been performed to measure the effect of additives on the crystallization temperature of concentrated LiBr solutions cooled at a rate of 20 degrees C/h. The measured crystallization temperatures correspond not to the temperatures of equilibrium solubility but to the critical temperature for heterogeneous nucleation of the hydrated LiBr salt on the glass wall of the test tube containing the sample solution. Various additives at concentrations from 250 to 1500 ppm have been investigated.

Ostwald-Meyers Metastable Region in LiBr Crystallization-Comparison of Measurements with Predictions.

Experiments have been performed to measure the Ostwald-Meyers metastable region during crystallization from concentrated LiBr solutions. Solution thermodynamics shows that several hydrated LiBr salts and ice can crystallize depending upon the concentration of LiBr in aqueous solution. The available solubility data were interpreted to give solubility products of several hydrated LiBr salts using the formulation of Helgeson, which accounts for the activity of water.