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We introduce an event-by-event pQCD + saturation + hydro (”EKRT”) framework for high-energy heavy-ion collisions, where we compute the produced fluctuating QCD-matter energy densities from next-to-leading order (NLO) perturbative QCD (pQCD) using saturation to control soft particle production, and describe the space-time evolution of the QCD matter with viscous hydrodynamics, event by event (EbyE). We compare the computed centrality dependence of hadronic multiplicities, pTspectra and flow coefficients vnagainst LHC and RHIC data. We compare also the computed EbyE probability distributions of relative fluctuations of vn, as well as correlations of 2 and 3 event-plane angles, with LHC data. Our systematic multi-energy and -observable analysis not only tests the initial state calculation and applicability of hydrodynamics, but also makes it possible to constrain the temperature dependence of the shear viscosity-to-entropy ratio, η/s(T), of QCD matter in its different phases. Remarkably, we can describe all these different flow observables and correlations consistently with η/s(T)that is independent of the collision energy.

Separation of organic and inorganic compounds from black liquor was investigated. Black liquor from the pulp and paper industry contains hundreds of different compounds and several high‐value organic chemicals are formed during alkaline pulping. These organic compounds can be used in the fine chemicals, pharmaceutical and food industries. The main aim of this study was to recover and purify high value‐added organic compounds (organic acids) from lignin and inorganic compounds by combining membrane filtration, acid precipitation and cooling crystallization. The effect of membrane filtration on the efficiency of precipitation and crystallization was also studied. A number of separation methods were studied under a variety of operating conditions. The results showed that a combination of membrane separation and crystallization is an efficient method for recovering and purifying valuable organic compounds in black liquor. The amount of major impurities in black liquor could be reduced significantly.

We present a calculation of thermal photon production, i.e. photons from secondary interactions among particles produced in heavy ion collisions at collider energies. This is done within the framework of hydrodynamics. We take into account the lack of chemical equilibrium in QGP. It turns out that the main effects from the chemical non-equilibrium composition of QGP, reduction of particle number and increase in temperature, nearly cancel in the photon spectrum.

Atomic force microscopy was used to study the surfaces of oxygen-plasma-treated polypropylene (PP), kraft pulp, filter paper, and wood. The effect of plasma treatment on the adhesion properties between PP film and wood was evaluated by means of a peel test. The highest adhesion to wood resulted from the shortest treatment times used. The effects of plasma on the adhesion properties were more pronounced when both the PP film and the wood surface were treated. Oxygen plasma caused changes in the morphology of the materials:  the treated PP surface was covered by a nodular structure, which was not seen on the untreated film. A similar nodular structure was also seen on the lignocellulosic materials. These nodules seemed to have poor interaction with the PP surface, resulting in a weak interface between the plastic film and wood.

To clarify the mechanism of mercury adsorption on gold surfaces thin epitaxial gold films have been exposed to trace amounts of gaseous mercury under laboratory conditions for different periods of time. The changes in the surface morphology of the thin films caused by the exposure have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The evolution of the surface structures with time has been also investigated, in the course of a few days after the exposure. The adsorption of mercury on the gold surfaces has caused drastic changes in the morphology of the surfaces. Pits and islands of 2 to 30 nm in diameter have appeared on the surface, their size and density per unit area depending on the amount of exposure to mercury. The formation of pits and islands followed a certain path of events.

There is increasing evidence suggesting that symptoms of depression and anxiety may also be associated with serotonergic dysfunction in schizophrenic patients. The effect of the adjuvant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram was assessed regarding the symptom dimensions of schizophrenia measured with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Citalopram alleviated symptoms of the depression/anxiety dimension of the PANSS, but not the symptoms of the four other PANSS domains or depressive symptoms measured with the HRSD. The results support the hypothesis of a serotonergic dimension in schizophrenia.

Necessary and sufficient conditions for a sampled (resp. aggregated) stationary ARMA process to be invertible are derived. It is shown that a sampled (resp. aggregated) invertible stationary ARMA process is always invertible.

Steady-state plasma concentrations of commonly used neuroleptic drugs were measured in 90 schizophrenic patients before and after adding placebo or citalopram (40 mg/day) to their treatment regimen. Plasma concentrations of citalopram and its main metabolite, desmethylcitalopram, were also measured. In addition, patients with exceptionally high neuroleptic levels or an increase in adverse effects during the 12-week study period were evaluated for their debrisoquine/sparteine hydroxylase (CYP2D6) genotype, an enzyme responsible for oxidative metabolism of several neuroleptics and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. There were no significant changes in plasma concentrations of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, zuclopenthixol, levomepromazine, thioridazine or perphenazine during the study. Plasma concentrations of citalopram and desmethylcitalopram were well within the levels reported previously with monotherapy, and remained stable throughout the study. None of the 15 patients analysed for the CYP2D6 genotype was a poor metabolizer. It is concluded that clinically important pharmacokinetic drug interactions do not play a crucial role when citalopram is used as an augmentation therapy in neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients.

We have characterized electrically conductive polymer, polypyrrole (Ppy), films on mild steel with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Ppy films were polymerized electrochemically from sodium p‐toluene sulphonate (ToS) water–ethanol solution. A very good corrosion protective effect of those films on mild steel has been observed previously. After drying in air, thin Ppy films (∽200 nm) were highly adhesive, whereas thicker films (∽7.5 μm) could easily be peeled off from the metal. All films had a nodular surface structure. Thin films were very smooth and their roughness increased with their thickness. The AFM study of the interface between the metal and the polymer showed areas of different morphology, which suggests that adhesive and cohesive failure of the polymer film occurs. A strong variation of the chemical composition at the interfacial layer was observed. A sulphur‐rich layer was formed at the interface, indicating that the counter‐anions (ToS) were accumulated on the surface of the metal. High‐binding energy iron and imine‐type nitrogen were detected in a thin Ppy film. Moreover, thin films were substantially overoxidized. The number of anions incorporated into the Ppy matrix varied as a function of film thickness: the ‘doping level’ was about 30% for thicker films and only 12% for thin ones. Nitrate counter‐anion‐containing Ppy films were also studied in some cases for comparison. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We have characterized electrically conductive polymer, polypyrrole (Ppy), films on mild steel with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Ppy films were polymerized electrochemically from sodium p-toluene sulphonate (ToS) water–ethanol solution. A very good corrosion protective effect of those films on mild steel has been observed previously. After drying in air, thin Ppy films (∽200 nm) were highly adhesive, whereas thicker films (∽7.5 μm) could easily be peeled off from the metal. All films had a nodular surface structure. Thin films were very smooth and their roughness increased with their thickness. The AFM study of the interface between the metal and the polymer showed areas of different morphology, which suggests that adhesive and cohesive failure of the polymer film occurs. A strong variation of the chemical composition at the interfacial layer was observed. A sulphur-rich layer was formed at the interface, indicating that the counter-anions (ToS) were accumulated on the surface of the metal. High-binding energy iron and imine-type nitrogen were detected in a thin Ppy film. Moreover, thin films were substantially overoxidized. The number of anions incorporated into the Ppy matrix varied as a function of film thickness: the ‘doping level’ was about 30% for thicker films and only 12% for thin ones. Nitrate counter-anion-containing Ppy films were also studied in some cases for comparison. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Crystallization methods for proteins have been the subject of decades of development yet protein crystallization remains the limiting step in structural studies. We present here a new method for protein crystallization—based on the use of high pressure—that enabled us to accelerate dramatically the growth of glucose isomerase crystals. We think this method may have a more general utility.