The tensile strength or the negative pressure required to induce cavitation in a pure liquid has been a puzzling subject. On one hand, the classical nucleation theory has met great success in predicting the nucleation rates of superheated liquids. On the other hand, most of reported experimental values of the tensile strength for different liquids are far below the prediction from the classical nucleation theory. In this study, homogeneous nucleation in liquid nitrogen and its tensile strength have been investigated. In order to carry out the measurement of the tensile strength of liquid nitrogen, different approaches for determining the pressure amplitude were studied carefully. It is shown that Raman-Nath theory, as modified by the introduction of an effective interaction length, can be used to determine the pressure amplitude in the focal plane of a focusing ultrasonic transducer. The results obtained from different diffraction orders are consistent and in good agreement with other approaches including Debye's theory and solving the KZK (Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov) equation. The results from experiments in water demonstrated that as long as the nonlinearity is not too large, the experimentally determined pressure follows closely the calculated results using either Debye's theory or the KZK equation. In addition, the light diffraction contains enough information to calculate the second-order harmonic in the sound wave. In principle, it is possible that the contribution to the acoustic wave of the higher than the second-order harmonic can be obtained. The measurement of the tensile strength was carried out in a high pressure stainless steel dewar. A High intensity ultrasonic wave was focused into a small volume of liquid nitrogen in a short time period. A probe laser beam passes through the focal region of a concave spherical transducer with small aperture angle and the transmitted light is detected with a photodiode. When the voltage on the transducer reaches a critical point, nucleation in the focal region occurs and a characteristic signal associated with the nucleation was obtained. At this moment, the pressure amplitude at the focus is calculated based on the acoustic power radiated into the liquid. In the experiment, the electrical signal on the transducer is gated at its resonance frequency with gate widths of 20 ~s to 0.2 ms and temperature range from 77 K to near 100 K. The calculated pressure amplitude is in agreement with the prediction of classical nucleation theory for the nucleation rates from 106 to lOll (bubbles/cm3 sec). This work enhances our understanding of the nucleation process in liquids. It provides the direct experimental support that the validity of the classical nucleation theory can be extended to the region of the negative pressure up to 90 atm. This is only the second cryogenic liquid to reach the tensile strength predicted from the classical nucleation theory.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Steven W. Van Sciver, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 22, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

With the advent of the new" high Tc superconductors as well as the increasing use of cryo-cooled conventional electronics, liquid nitrogen will be one of the preferred cryogens used to cool these materials. Consequently, a more thorough understanding of the heat transfer characteristics of liquid nitrogen is required. In these investigations the transient heating characteristics of liquid nitrogen to states of nucleate and film boiling under different liquid flow conditions are examined. Using a metal hot wire/plate technique, it is verified that there is a premature transition to film boiling in the transient case at power levels as much as 30 percent lower than under steady state nucleate boiling conditions. It is also shown that the premature transition can be reduced or eliminated depending on the flow velocity The second part of this research analyses the nucleation (boiling) process from a dynamical systems point of view. By observing how the boiling system variables evolve and fluctuate over time, it is hoped that physical insight and predictive information can be gained. One goal is to discover some indicator or signature in the data that anticipates the transition from nucleate boiling to film/boiling. Some of the important variables that make up the boiling system are the temperature of the heater and the heat flux through the heater surface into the liquid nitrogen. Results, gained by plotting the system’s trajectory in the heat flux-temperature plane, are that on average the system follows a counterclockwise trajectory. A physical model is constructed that explains this behavior. Also, as the applied heater power approaches levels at which the transition to film is known to occur, the area per unit time swept out in the heat flux-temperature plane is seen to reach a maximum. This could be of practical interest as the threshold to film boiling can be anticipated and possibly prevented.

No description available.

No description available.

A dual, double-acting propulsion system is analyzed to determine how efficiently it can convert the potential energy available from liquid nitrogen into useful work. The two double-acting pistons (high- and low-pressure) were analyzed by using a Matlab-Simulink computer simulation to determine their respective mechanical efficiencies. The flow circuit for the entire system was analyzed by using flow circuit analysis software to determine pressure losses throughout the system at the required mass flow rates. The results of the piston simulation indicate that the two pistons analyzed are very efficient at transferring energy into useful work. The flow circuit analysis shows that the system can adequately maintain the mass flow rate requirements of the pistons but also identifies components that have a significant impact on the performance of the system. The results of the analysis indicate that the nitrogen propulsion system meets the intended goals of its designers.

We were unable to verify the existence of ion mobility discontinuities in either superfluid helium at 1 K or liquid nitrogen. The velocity-field dependence in helium was described by an increased interaction with the normal fluid, due to an increase in the roton number density close to the ion surface. The mobility results in nitrogen were interpreted as being due to liquid motion, following a theory by Kopylov. The D.C. results showed that the effect of a grid on the transmission of an ion beam could be described by a field dependent grid transmission coefficient, independent of the ion velocity. The vortex ring transmission through a grid was a complex function of vorticity being captured by the grid, the capture and escape probabilities of the bare ions by vorticity, and the onset for vorticity propagating throughout the ion cell.

O armazenamento de saliva para avaliação da microbiota bucal muitas vezes é necessário, principalmente em estudos epidemiológicos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a viabilidade e a variabilidade da microbiota bucal, de amostras de saliva armazenadas em temperaturas de -20ºC e em nitrogênio liquido (N2L), após 3 e 10 meses. Uma alíquota de cada amostra de saliva estimulada, usando goma de mascar sem açúcar, foi processada em até 45 minutos após a sua coleta. As amostras foram armazenadas seguindo três métodos diferentes: no primeiro método, as amostras de saliva foram preparadas com glicerol 10% (G) e mantidas a -20ºC durante 8 horas e então armazenadas em botijão com N2L; no segundo foi utilizado o mesmo protocolo, porém, sem glicerol; no terceiro método as alíquotas foram preparadas com glicerol 10% e mantidas a -20ºC. Após semeadura das amostras e incubação o número de unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC) foi determinado e uma média de 30 colônias de cada amostra foi identificada por meio de provas bioquímicas. Não houve diferença significativa na contagem de UFC/mL das amostras processadas imediatamente após a coleta (2,1 x 107 UFC/mL) e após 3 meses de armazenamento em N2L (G) (4,5 x 106 UFC/mL), N2L (1,6 x 106 UFC/mL), e -20ºC (2,2 x 106 UFC/mL). Porém, após 10 meses de preservação em N2L (G) (4,5 x 105 UFC/mL), e N2L (2,3 x 105 UFC/mL), observou-se uma redução (p=0.0183) do número de UFC/mL em comparação com a avaliação inicial. Não houve diferença significativa no número de UFC nas amostras armazenadas com e sem crioprotetor. A determinação da variabilidade da microbiota bucal mostrou que as bactérias presentes nas amostras frescas dos gêneros Streptococcus, Staphylococcus e Bacillus mantiveram-se nos diferentes tempos de avaliação, mesmo que em diferentes concentrações. Baseado nos resultados obtidos pode-se sugerir que preservação de saliva a -20ºC e a -196ºC, são métodos de armazenamento eficazes, para avaliação da microbiota bucal, por um período de 3 e 10 meses. / Saliva storage for oral microbiota evaluation often is required, especially in epidemiologic studies. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of different storage methods upon viability and the variability of the oral microbiota in saliva samples. One aliquot of each saliva sample was processed until 45 minutes after collection. Saliva was stimulated using chewing gum sugar free. The samples were storage following three different methods: in the first method, aliquots of saliva were mixed with glycerol 10% (G) and maintained at -20ºC for 8 hours and then stored in N2L; the second followed the same protocol without glycerol; and in the third method aliquots were prepared with glycerol 10% and maintained at -20ºC. From each sample the number as the colony-forming units (CFU/mL) was determined and 30 colonies were chosen and cells were identified by biochemical assays. There was not statistically significant difference on the number of CFU/mL of samples processed immediately after de collection and after 3 months as storage. However, after 10 months of storage in N2L, there was a decrease in the number of CFU/mL (p=0.0183) in comparison with the initial evaluation, and the number of CFU/mL in the samples stored with and without glycerol did not showed statistically significant difference. Although in different percentages of cell number, the oral microbiota variability evaluation showed that Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Bacillus were maintained in the different times of evaluation. Based on our results, it is possible to suggest that the preservation of saliva in -20ºC and -196ºC are efficient storage methods for oral microbiota evaluation for a period of 3 and 10 months.

O armazenamento de saliva para avaliação da microbiota bucal muitas vezes é necessário, principalmente em estudos epidemiológicos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a viabilidade e a variabilidade da microbiota bucal, de amostras de saliva armazenadas em temperaturas de -20ºC e em nitrogênio liquido (N2L), após 3 e 10 meses. Uma alíquota de cada amostra de saliva estimulada, usando goma de mascar sem açúcar, foi processada em até 45 minutos após a sua coleta. As amostras foram armazenadas seguindo três métodos diferentes: no primeiro método, as amostras de saliva foram preparadas com glicerol 10% (G) e mantidas a -20ºC durante 8 horas e então armazenadas em botijão com N2L; no segundo foi utilizado o mesmo protocolo, porém, sem glicerol; no terceiro método as alíquotas foram preparadas com glicerol 10% e mantidas a -20ºC. Após semeadura das amostras e incubação o número de unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC) foi determinado e uma média de 30 colônias de cada amostra foi identificada por meio de provas bioquímicas. Não houve diferença significativa na contagem de UFC/mL das amostras processadas imediatamente após a coleta (2,1 x 107 UFC/mL) e após 3 meses de armazenamento em N2L (G) (4,5 x 106 UFC/mL), N2L (1,6 x 106 UFC/mL), e -20ºC (2,2 x 106 UFC/mL). Porém, após 10 meses de preservação em N2L (G) (4,5 x 105 UFC/mL), e N2L (2,3 x 105 UFC/mL), observou-se uma redução (p=0.0183) do número de UFC/mL em comparação com a avaliação inicial. Não houve diferença significativa no número de UFC nas amostras armazenadas com e sem crioprotetor. A determinação da variabilidade da microbiota bucal mostrou que as bactérias presentes nas amostras frescas dos gêneros Streptococcus, Staphylococcus e Bacillus mantiveram-se nos diferentes tempos de avaliação, mesmo que em diferentes concentrações. Baseado nos resultados obtidos pode-se sugerir que preservação de saliva a -20ºC e a -196ºC, são métodos de armazenamento eficazes, para avaliação da microbiota bucal, por um período de 3 e 10 meses. / Saliva storage for oral microbiota evaluation often is required, especially in epidemiologic studies. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of different storage methods upon viability and the variability of the oral microbiota in saliva samples. One aliquot of each saliva sample was processed until 45 minutes after collection. Saliva was stimulated using chewing gum sugar free. The samples were storage following three different methods: in the first method, aliquots of saliva were mixed with glycerol 10% (G) and maintained at -20ºC for 8 hours and then stored in N2L; the second followed the same protocol without glycerol; and in the third method aliquots were prepared with glycerol 10% and maintained at -20ºC. From each sample the number as the colony-forming units (CFU/mL) was determined and 30 colonies were chosen and cells were identified by biochemical assays. There was not statistically significant difference on the number of CFU/mL of samples processed immediately after de collection and after 3 months as storage. However, after 10 months of storage in N2L, there was a decrease in the number of CFU/mL (p=0.0183) in comparison with the initial evaluation, and the number of CFU/mL in the samples stored with and without glycerol did not showed statistically significant difference. Although in different percentages of cell number, the oral microbiota variability evaluation showed that Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Bacillus were maintained in the different times of evaluation. Based on our results, it is possible to suggest that the preservation of saliva in -20ºC and -196ºC are efficient storage methods for oral microbiota evaluation for a period of 3 and 10 months.

O armazenamento de saliva para avaliação da microbiota bucal muitas vezes é necessário, principalmente em estudos epidemiológicos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a viabilidade e a variabilidade da microbiota bucal, de amostras de saliva armazenadas em temperaturas de -20ºC e em nitrogênio liquido (N2L), após 3 e 10 meses. Uma alíquota de cada amostra de saliva estimulada, usando goma de mascar sem açúcar, foi processada em até 45 minutos após a sua coleta. As amostras foram armazenadas seguindo três métodos diferentes: no primeiro método, as amostras de saliva foram preparadas com glicerol 10% (G) e mantidas a -20ºC durante 8 horas e então armazenadas em botijão com N2L; no segundo foi utilizado o mesmo protocolo, porém, sem glicerol; no terceiro método as alíquotas foram preparadas com glicerol 10% e mantidas a -20ºC. Após semeadura das amostras e incubação o número de unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC) foi determinado e uma média de 30 colônias de cada amostra foi identificada por meio de provas bioquímicas. Não houve diferença significativa na contagem de UFC/mL das amostras processadas imediatamente após a coleta (2,1 x 107 UFC/mL) e após 3 meses de armazenamento em N2L (G) (4,5 x 106 UFC/mL), N2L (1,6 x 106 UFC/mL), e -20ºC (2,2 x 106 UFC/mL). Porém, após 10 meses de preservação em N2L (G) (4,5 x 105 UFC/mL), e N2L (2,3 x 105 UFC/mL), observou-se uma redução (p=0.0183) do número de UFC/mL em comparação com a avaliação inicial. Não houve diferença significativa no número de UFC nas amostras armazenadas com e sem crioprotetor. A determinação da variabilidade da microbiota bucal mostrou que as bactérias presentes nas amostras frescas dos gêneros Streptococcus, Staphylococcus e Bacillus mantiveram-se nos diferentes tempos de avaliação, mesmo que em diferentes concentrações. Baseado nos resultados obtidos pode-se sugerir que preservação de saliva a -20ºC e a -196ºC, são métodos de armazenamento eficazes, para avaliação da microbiota bucal, por um período de 3 e 10 meses. / Saliva storage for oral microbiota evaluation often is required, especially in epidemiologic studies. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of different storage methods upon viability and the variability of the oral microbiota in saliva samples. One aliquot of each saliva sample was processed until 45 minutes after collection. Saliva was stimulated using chewing gum sugar free. The samples were storage following three different methods: in the first method, aliquots of saliva were mixed with glycerol 10% (G) and maintained at -20ºC for 8 hours and then stored in N2L; the second followed the same protocol without glycerol; and in the third method aliquots were prepared with glycerol 10% and maintained at -20ºC. From each sample the number as the colony-forming units (CFU/mL) was determined and 30 colonies were chosen and cells were identified by biochemical assays. There was not statistically significant difference on the number of CFU/mL of samples processed immediately after de collection and after 3 months as storage. However, after 10 months of storage in N2L, there was a decrease in the number of CFU/mL (p=0.0183) in comparison with the initial evaluation, and the number of CFU/mL in the samples stored with and without glycerol did not showed statistically significant difference. Although in different percentages of cell number, the oral microbiota variability evaluation showed that Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Bacillus were maintained in the different times of evaluation. Based on our results, it is possible to suggest that the preservation of saliva in -20ºC and -196ºC are efficient storage methods for oral microbiota evaluation for a period of 3 and 10 months.