Crystal Network Structure Research Articles

Pressure-sensitive characteristics of high-pour-point live oil and quantitative analysis of composition change

Previous studies on high-pour-point (PPT) oil have focused on the effects of temperature. There has been no systematic investigation of the pressure-sensitivity of crude oil, the deposition composition change of solid phases, and the effects of asphaltene deposition on wax precipitation. In the development of a high-PPT oil field, experiments using dead oil instead of live oil will exaggerate the effect of wax precipitation. In this paper, the wax appearance temperature (WAT), PPT, and asphaltene deposition pressure were obtained by the laser transmittance method. Subsequently, a new set of experimental devices and methods were developed to analyze the solid-phase components in live oil under various conditions. Finally, the viscosity of crude oil at various shear rates was measured with a capillary viscometer, and the wax network structure was evaluated. The experimental results showed that the WAT and PPT decrease with decreased pressure, and their fast decreasing ranges were 12–18 MPa and 15–18 MPa, respectively. The oil pressure-sensitivity not only includes the influence of wax; the appearance of the platform stage and trough pattern phenomenon proves that there is also the influence of asphaltenes. The main component of the deposition is C27+, and the amount of wax precipitated can reach 2.72%. For crude oil with a pressure lower than 15.83 MPa, the amount of asphaltene deposition reaches 0.04% at temperatures above WAT. Asphaltene can inhibit the aggregation and growth of wax crystal molecules, leading to a decrease in WAT and an increase in the viscosity at temperatures above WAT; however, the inhibition may be advanced or delayed with decreased pressure. Asphaltene also enhanced the strength of the wax crystal network structure, leading to an increase in the viscosity of crude oil at the critical shear stress under low pressure. When wax precipitation is dominant, there is a positive correlation between asphaltene deposition and wax, and the growth rate of wax is higher than that of nucleation in the early stage. This study improves the understanding of the effect of pressure on the physical properties of high-PTT live oil, provides reliable parameters for numerical simulations and the adjustment of the injection scheme, and lays the foundation for future evaluation experiments on wax removal chemicals.

A viscoelastic model and structural properties of Sasobit-modified asphalt

Sasobit is an additive to produce asphalt mixes suitable for the use at lower construction temperatures without sacrificing the mix properties. However, Sasobit damages the time–temperature superposition principle (TTSP) of asphalt. Therefore, it is difficult to characterize the constitutive equation of Sasobit-modified asphalt. This study has modeled the rheological response of Sasobit-modified bitumen (two types) using a combination of two different models that describe gel-asphalt and sol-asphalt, respectively. Sasobit-modified asphalt is cooled after heating, the wax forms a crystal network structure, and gel-asphalt is obtained. The creep process of Sasobit-modified asphalt can be described by a nonlinear model, which is accompanied by the damage of the network structure, and thus, sol-asphalt is obtained. The network structure change of the wax in the asphalt may explain the mechanism of deviation from TTSP, and the structural characteristics of Sasobit-modified asphalt could be clearly described by the combined model. This will provide a foundation for accurately acquiring the rheological properties of Sasobit-modified asphalt.

Face-on orientation and vertical phase separation of p-DTS(FBTTh2)2/PC70BM induced by epitaxial crystallization of polymer interface layer

Abstract It is important to arrange the donor and acceptor phases and molecules within those phases in a way that optimizes relevant optoelectronic processes required for efficient operation of bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs). 7,7′-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-silolo[3,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl)bis(6-fluoro-4(5′-hexyl-[2,2′-bithiophen]-5-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole) (p-DTS(FBTTh2)2) tends to adopt edge-on orientation with respect to PEDOT/PSS substrate, which is adverse to charge and exciton transport in the vertical direction. Besides, [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) tends to deposit on PEDOT/PSS substrate, while p-DTS(FBTTh2)2 is inclined to accumulate at surface, which blocks charge transport and increases injection barrier of charge. Here, we tried to optimize both the molecular orientation and vertical phase separation of p-DTS(FBTTh2)2/PC70BM with proper crystal size and bicontinuous network structure. Poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-co-3-fluorothieno[3,4-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate], (PTB7-Th) was used as the interfacial layer to induce p-DTS(FBTTh2)2 to adopt face-on orientation because of epitaxial crystallization. At the same time, vertical phase separation can be improved due to that p-DTS(FBTTh2)2 tends to deposit on PTB7-Th. Consequently, the efficiency of exciton separation of devices with PTB7-Th as the interfacial layer is improved and both the hole and electron mobility were increased and became more balanced. As a result, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) increased from 5.47% to 6.74%.

Supramolecular gels and mesoscopic structure

From the perspective of mesoscale, the formation mechanism of crystal network structure of supramolecular gel, the influence of structure on macroscopic properties, and the design and control of supramolecular gels are reviewed. Crystal network is a key character of the hierarchical structure of the gel, the formations of the basic and multi-level crystal networks are based on the crystal nucleation and growth. The engineering and controlling of the gel structure can be implemented by various stimuli, such as additives, sonication, seeding and thermodynamic driving force, which leads to a controllable performance of the gel. In addition, the methods of characterizing supramolecular gels are systematically summarized, such as rheology, atomic force microscope, scanning tunnel microscope, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, polarizing optical microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering, small angle neutron scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), etc. Supramolecular gel performance is determined by the hierarchy mesoscopic structures, which can significantly improve the properties of the material. Four factors can be correlated to the structure and performance of material: topology, correlation length, symmetry/ordering and strength of association of crystal networks. According to the more in-depth understanding of mesoscopic supramolecular gels, the research and development of such a material will be pushed to a new stage.

Novel Flaxseed Gum Nanocomposites Are Slow Release Iron Supplements.

Nanocomposites, based on iron salts and soluble flaxseed gum (FG), were prepared as potential treatments of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). FG was extracted, characterized, and formulated into iron-loading nanocomposites via ion-exchange against FeCl3, Fe2(SO4)3, FeCl2, and FeSO4·7H2O. FG-iron nanocomposites preparation condition was optimized, and physicochemical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. In vitro release kinetics of iron in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) was also evaluated. FG heteropolysaccharide, consisting of rhamnose (33.73%), arabinose (24.35%), xylose (14.23%), glucose (4.54%), and galactose (23.15%) monosaccharides, linked together via varieties of glycosidic bonds, was a good recipient for both ferric and ferrous irons under screened conditions (i.e., 80 °C, 2 h, I/G = 1:2). Iron loaded contents in the nanocomposites prepared from FG-FeCl3, FG-Fe2(SO4)3, FG-FeCl2, and FG-FeSO4·7H2O were 25.51%, 10.36%, 5.83%, and 22.83%, respectively. Iron in these nanocomposites was mostly in a bound state, especially in FG-FeCl3, due to chelation forming bonds between iron and polysaccharide hydroxyl or carboxyl groups and formed stable polysaccharide-iron crystal network structures. Free iron ions were effectively removed by ethanol treatments. Because of chelation, the nanocomposites delayed iron release in SGF and the release kinetics were consistent with Korsmeyer-Peppas model. This indicates that such complexes might reduce side effects of free iron in human stomach. Altogether, this study indicates that these synthetic FG-iron nanocomposites might be developed as novel iron supplements for iron deficiency, in which FG-FeCl3 is considered as the best option.

Influence of adding a commercial phytosterol ester mixture on the ‘equilibrium’ crystallization behavior of palm oil

Abstract The objective of this study was to in depth investigate the ‘equilibrium’ state morphology and properties of crystals obtained after long-term isothermal crystallization and annealing of palm oil (PO) in the presence of different concentrations of phytosterol esters (PEs). A commercially available mixture of PEs was added to PO (0–100% PEs, 10% increment) and the effect of PE addition was analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, polarized light microscopy and texture analysis. It was observed that PE addition had a major influence on each level of the crystalline structural hierarchy of PO in the ‘equilibrium’ state. The PE-PO binary system showed eutectic behavior. In case of a low PE concentration PEs itself did not crystallize but acted as a liquid oil diluting PO, while when added in a high concentration, PEs crystallized separately from PO. From a concentration of 40% PEs next to the β’ crystals of PO also PEx crystals were observed in the blends and from a concentration of 80% PEs additionally also the PEy liquid crystals were formed. The amount of PEy in the blends with 80% and 90% PEs was however too low for the formation of the dense crystal structure as seen in pure PE. The crystal network structure of pure PO was lost after PE addition leading to a drop in the hardness.

Morphology-controlled synthesis of polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) microsphere and its applications in enhancing the thermal properties and flow improving ability of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer

Here, we reported that by adjusting the stirring speed, condensation pH value, precursor concentration and reaction temperature, the morphologies of the polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) microsphere could be well controlled through the two-step sol-gel synthesis. Because of the specific structural property and strong hydrophobicity, the obtained PMSQ microsphere dispersed well in the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) matrix to form EVA/PMSQ hybrid. Subsequently, the thermal properties of both EVA and EVA/PMSQ hybrid were investigated through the TGA and DSC tests. The presence of PMSQ microsphere generates a significant delay in the thermal degradation processes of EVA, thus improving the thermal stability of EVA. The PMSQ microsphere also obviously increases the onset crystallization temperature and the crystallization rate of EVA, meaning that adding PMSQ microsphere enhances the crystallization ability of EVA. Finally, by applying rheological tests and microscopic observation, EVA/PMSQ hybrid was found to further improve the flow behavior of Qinghai waxy crude oil than the neat EVA did. The EVA/PMSQ hybrid can act as heterogeneous nucleation templates of wax crystals, and favor the formation of wax crystal flocs with increased size and compactness, thus inhibiting the continuous wax crystal network structure and further improving the flow behavior of the waxy crude oil.

Modification of palm oil crystallization by phytosterol addition as a tool for structuring a low saturated lipid blend

Abstract Fat structural modifications promoted by phytosterol addition ( a hypocholesterolemic component ( to palm oil and a mixture of palm oil and canola oilwere evaluated in order to develop fats with reduced saturated fatty acids. Palm oil added with free or esterified phytosterols was investigated in terms of triacylglycerol composition, microstructure, solid fat content, and crystallization behavior before and after chemical interesterification. The addition of 10% of free phytosterols to samples before interesterification built up a denser crystal fat network structure. After interesterification, the free phytosterols lost their structuring ability and behaved as the esterified form. Free phytosterols were subsequently added to blends of palm oil and canola oil (50:50 w/w%) at different concentrations. Consistency measurements and microscopic observation confirmed that, at concentrations of 6, 8, and 10%, the free phytosterols upgraded the fat structure forming a strongly cohesivefat crystal network.

Rice bran wax oleogel: A potential margarine replacement and its digestibility effect in rats fed a high-fat diet

Rice bran wax (RBW)–rice bran oil (RBO) oleogel is an alternative structured fat used to replace saturated and trans fats. Our study investigated the effects of the RBW crystal network structure of oleogel on lipid digestibility compared with margarine (MG) and beef tallow. After high-fat diet feeding for 4 weeks, the RBW–RBO oleogel group showed a decrease in adipose tissue accumulation, triacylglycerol (TAG) levels in serum and liver and total cholesterol (TC) in liver, an increase in excreted TAG, TC and bile acid contents in faeces, and reduced alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels compared with the control and MG groups. Oleogel decreased TAG levels by around 30% in serum and liver and increased excreted TAG levels by 30% in faeces compared with rats fed the individual components (RBW and RBO). These results suggest that the gel network is a key contributor to the decrease in lipid digestibility.

Oil dispersible polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) microspheres improve the flow behavior of waxy crude oil through spacial hindrance effect

Application of nanocomposite pour point depressants to improve the rheology of waxy crude oil is a novel and efficient technique and receives much attention. However, the effects of nano and microparticles alone on the rheology of waxy crude oil are unclear up to now. In this paper, monodispersed PMSQ microspheres with different sizes (200nm–10µm) were successfully synthesized through a two-step sol-gel route. Then the effect of the PMSQ microspheres on the flow behavior of two typical waxy crude oils was studied. The results showed that the PMSQ microspheres disperse well in oil phase as single spheres. A small dosage of the PMSQ microspheres significantly decreases the gelation point, elastic modulus G′, viscous modulus G″, apparent viscosity and yield stress of the two oil samples, indicating that the PMSQ microspheres improve the flow behavior of waxy crude oil at temperatures below the wax appearance temperature. The flow improving efficiency of the PMSQ microspheres is greatly influenced by the size and dosage of the microspheres. Moreover, adding PMSQ microspheres in the oil samples also inhibits asphaltenes precipitation because the PMSQ microspheres are capable of adsorbing part of the asphaltenes. However, the PMSQ microspheres have little influence on the exothermic character and microstructure of the two oil samples. Similar tests on a model waxy oil further confirmed that the PMSQ microspheres cannot participate in wax precipitation process and change the morphology of precipitated wax crystals, but can impede the interactions of the precipitated wax crystals through spacial hindrance effect, which inhibits the development of wax crystal network structure and thus improves the flow behavior of the oil. This mechanism brings a new way to improve the flow behavior of waxy crude oil and favors the development of new-generation flow improvers based on nano or microparticles.

Supramolecular gels and mesoscopic structure

From the perspective of mesoscale, the formation mechanism of crystal network structure of supramolecular gel, the influence of structure on macroscopic properties, and the design and control of supramolecular gels are reviewed Crystal network is a key character of the hierarchical structure of the gel, the formations of the basic and multi-level crystal networks are based on the crystal nucleation and growth. The engineering and controlling of the gel structure can be implemented by various stimuli, such as additives, sonication, seeding, and thermodynamic driving force, which leads to a controllable performance of the gel In addition, the methods of characterizing supramolecular gels are systematically summarized, such as, rheology, atomic force microscope, scanning tunnel microscope, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, polarizing optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering etc. Supramolecular gel performance is determined by the hierarchy mesoscopic structures, which can significantly improve the properties of the material. Four factors can be correlated to the structure and performance of material: topology, correlation length, symmetry/ordering, and strength of association of crystal networks. According to the more in-depth understanding of mesoscopic supramolecular gels, the research and development of such a material will be pushed to a new stage.

Fat crystal network structures have a strong influence on properties of fat‐based barrier layers

Mixtures of low and high melting fats (fractions of palm fat, palm kernel fat, and milk fat) were characterized after solidification with respect to solid fat content (SFC), firmness, barrier properties against moisture transport, and fat crystal network structure (FCNS). The method of detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) was applied to quantify FCNS which was visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). A broad range of firmness of solidified fat mixtures could be observed for comparable SFC confirming the influence of FCNS. Smooth FCNS without dense crystals indicate firmer networks and vice versa. A correlation between the scaling exponent from DFA and firmness was found. Moisture barrier properties of the fat mixtures differed for similar SFC, too. In this case, FCNS with dense crystals and larger areas of interconnected liquid fat resulted in the best barrier effect. Smooth FCNS were found in fat blends possessing only low resistance against moisture transport. For SFC > 35% at 20°C, a linear correlation between scaling exponent and moisture barrier effect was detectable.Practical applications: These results can be used to optimize fat mixtures with respect to their performance and define the fat crystal network structures which are required to obtain either high mechanical firmness of the solidified mixture or an efficient prevention of moisture transfer.Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images reveal very different fat crystal network structures of solidified fat blends possessing similar solid fat contents. Smooth structures on the left hand side result in blends with a high firmness, whereas structures with many dense crystals (black spots) and interconnected areas of liquid fat (light red regions) on the right hand side indicate networks with lower firmness.

Correlation between hierarchical structure of crystal networks and macroscopic performance of mesoscopic soft materials and engineering principles.

This review examines how the concepts and ideas of crystallization can be extended further and applied to the field of mesoscopic soft materials. It concerns the structural characteristics vs. the macroscopic performance, and the formation mechanism of crystal networks. Although this subject can be discussed in a broad sense across the area of mesoscopic soft materials, our main focus is on supramolecular materials, spider and silkworm silks, and biominerals. First, the occurrence of a hierarchical structure, i.e. crystal network and domain network structures, will facilitate the formation kinetics of mesoscopic phases and boost up the macroscopic performance of materials in some cases (i.e. spider silk fibres). Second, the structure and performance of materials can be correlated in some way by the four factors: topology, correlation length, symmetry/ordering, and strength of association of crystal networks. Moreover, four different kinetic paths of crystal network formation are identified, namely, one-step process of assembly, two-step process of assembly, mixed mode of assembly and foreign molecule mediated assembly. Based on the basic mechanisms of crystal nucleation and growth, the formation of crystal networks, such as crystallographic mismatch (or noncrystallographic) branching (tip branching and fibre side branching) and fibre/polymeric side merging, are reviewed. This facilitates the rational design and construction of crystal networks in supramolecular materials. In this context, the (re-)construction of a hierarchical crystal network structure can be implemented by thermal, precipitate, chemical, and sonication stimuli. As another important class of soft materials, the unusual mechanical performance of spider and silkworm silk fibres are reviewed in comparison with the regenerated silk protein derivatives. It follows that the considerably larger breaking stress and unusual breaking strain of spider silk fibres vs. silkworm silk fibres can be interpreted according to the synergistically correlated hierarchical structures of the domain and crystal networks, which can be quantified by the hierarchical structural correlation and the four structural parameters. Based on the concept of crystal networks, the new understanding acquired will transfer the research and engineering of mesoscopic materials, particularly, soft functional materials, to a new phase.

Crystal networks in supramolecular gels: formation kinetics and mesoscopic engineering principles

For many functional materials, the functionality that is critical to macroscopic behavior begins to manifest itself at the mesoscale. To control the macroscopic properties, knowledge of the structural characteristics in relation to the properties of the mesoscopic materials is crucial. To a large extent, the mesoscopic structure of the crystal networks in supramolecular materials determines the materials' macroscopic properties. This review therefore aims to provide a comprehensive survey of the structural characteristics of crystal networks in correlation with the macroscopic properties/performance and the formation mechanisms of supramolecular gels. In the mesoscopic engineering of soft materials, a strategy constituting a materials engineering triangle is typically adopted. This is applied to engineer soft materials based on a thorough understanding of the correlation between the structure and performance of the materials, as well as the formation kinetics. First, the hierarchy of the crystal network structures, such as the crystal network and domain network, determine the basic key features of crystal networks. Concerning the formation mechanism of the crystal networks, herein, the basic mechanisms of crystal nucleation and growth are first reviewed, and then the review is further extended to the formation of multi-level crystal networks. Consequently, the engineering of mesoscopic materials can be implemented by controlling the crystal network formation. Practical strategies include the application of various stimuli, such as additives, sonication, seeding, and thermodynamic driving force, which allow the tuning and reconstructing of the mesoscopic network structure of supramolecular gels, which leads to a controllable performance of the supramolecular materials. In general, gaining a comprehensive understanding of crystal networks will help in identifying new and robust approaches to engineer and functionalize supramolecular materials in the long term.

Mutual effect of fat and β-carotene on fat crystal network structure and carotenoid bleaching

In this study the mutual effect of fat type and β-carotene on fat crystallization behavior and carotenoid bleaching was investigated. To this aim, β-carotene was added to tripalmitin (PPP), tristearin (SSS) and saturated monoglycerides (MG). Phase transition properties of fats with and without β-carotene were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, synchrotron X-ray diffraction and polarized light microscopy. The color fading of β-carotene containing fat matrices was followed by measuring color changes during storage at 20°C.Structural information acquired at different length scales highlighted that the presence of β-carotene in fats greatly affected crystal morphology, crystal network structure and thermal properties of the lipid matrices. Depending on fats molecular characteristics, β-carotene participated (PPP and SSS) or withdrew (MG) from the fat crystallization. The presence of β-carotene probably altered the triacylglycerol crystal morphology through its incorporation into the solid phase. Contrarily, β-carotene formed clusters inside the solid matrix when added to MG. Results appear of considerable interest in the attempt to improve the stability of β-carotene in lipid containing foods as well as to design efficient delivery systems, for which the choice of the lipid carrier could be crucial. In fact, preliminary results showed that the kinetics of β-carotene bleaching were higher in PPP and SSS than in MG, suggesting that β-carotene location inside the crystal network as well as lipid structure organization might affect the carotenoid chemical stability.

Disentanglement and micropore structure of UHMWPE in an athermal solvent

In this article, we studied the chain disentanglement process of UHMWPE by petrolatum. As a result of disentanglement of UHMWPE network, the G′/G″ crossover frequency increased, and the plateau modulus decreased. The plateau moduli were shown to exhibit a power law dependence on the polymer volume fraction with the power law exponent of 2.7. This is in agreement with the scaling relationship in polymer solutions where the solvent is slightly better than the θ solvent. To further verify the disentanglement effect induced by the presence of petrolatum, biaxial drawing of gel crystallized films was performed. Scanning electron microscopy analysis on the extracted films shows that the fibrous crystal network structures holding the micropores in the membrane were closely related to the entanglement density. Rheological measurements showed high repeatability of results and upheld the validity of models. We are among the first to provide a reasonably quantitative description for the disentanglement of UHMWPE. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1177–1186, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers

Effect of high pressure microfluidization on the crystallization behavior of palm stearin - palm olein blends.

Moderate and high microfluidization pressures (60 and 120 MPa) and different treatment times (once and twice) were used to investigate the effect of high-pressure microfluidization (HPM) treatment on the crystallization behavior and physical properties of binary mixtures of palm stearin (PS) and palm olein (PO). The polarized light microscopy (PLM), texture analyzer, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were applied to analyze the changes in crystal network structure, hardness, polymorphism and thermal property of the control and treated blends. PLM results showed that HPM caused significant reductions in maximum crystal diameter in all treated blends, and thus led to changes in the crystal network structure, and finally caused higher hardness in than the control blends. The XRD study demonstrated that HPM altered crystalline polymorphism. The HPM-treated blends showed a predominance of the more stable β' form, which is of more interest for food applications, while the control blend had more α- and β-form. This result was further confirmed by DSC observations. These changes in crystallization behavior indicated that HPM treatment was more likely to modify the crystallization processes and nucleation mechanisms.

Comparative Analysis of Thermal Behavior, Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics and Polymorphism of Palm Oil Fractions

Thermal behavior of palm stearin (PS) and palm olein (PO) was explored by monitoring peak temperature transitions by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The fatty acid composition (FAC), isothermal crystallization kinetics studied by pulsed Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (pNMR) and isothermal microstructure were also compared. The results indicated that the fatty acid composition had an important influence on the crystallization process. PS and PO both exhibited more multiple endotherms than exotherms which showed irregular peak shapes. An increasing in cooling rate, generally, was associated with an increase in peak size. Application of the Avaimi equation to isothermal crystallization of PS and PO revealed different nucleation and growth mechanisms based on the Avrami exponents. PS quickly reached the end of crystallization because of more saturated triacylglycerol (TAG). The Avrami index of PS were the same as PO under the same isothermal condition at lower temperatrue, indicating that the crystallization mechanism of the two samples based on super-cooling state were the same. According to the polarized light microscope (PLM) images, crystal morphology of PS and PO was different. With the temperature increased, the structure of crystal network of both PS and PO gradually loosened.

The Interconnection between the Coordinate Distribution of Mueller-Matrixes Images Characteristic Values of Biological Liquid Crystals Net and the Pathological Changes of Human Tissues

We have theoretically grounded conceptions of characteristic points observed in coordinate distributions of Mueller matrix elements for a network of human tissue biological crystals. The interrelation between polarization singularities of laser images inherent to these biological crystals and characteristic values of above matrix elements is found. We have determined the criteria for statistical diagnostics of pathological changes in the birefringent structure of biological crystal network by using myometrium tissue as an example.

On the Feasibilities of Using the Wavelet Analysis of Mueller Matrix Images of Biological Crystals

The efficiency of using the statistical and fractal analyses for distributions of wavelet coefficients for Mueller matrix images of biological crystal networks inherent to human tissues is theoretically grounded in this work. The authors found interrelations between statistical moments and power spectra for distributions of wavelet coefficients as well as orientation-phase changes in networks of biological crystals. Also determined are the criteria for statistical and fractal diagnostics of changes in the birefringent structure of biological crystal network, which corresponds to pathological changes in tissues.