UV-enhanced conductive and dielectric properties in KTN crystal

We observe enhancements of both conductive and dielectric properties under UV illumination by using a ferroelectric absorber, potassium tantalate niobate (KTa_1-xNb_xO₃, KTN). The UV-generated electron-hole pairs weaken the intrinsic ferroelectric polarization while enhance the conductive property. The UV-induced heat effect causes the enhancement of the dielectric property. The results are further confirmed by the maximal rectification ratio which shows an opposite trend between the direct heating process and the UV illumination. Our results are useful for better understanding of ferroelectric properties under UV illumination and the development of new optoelectronic devices.     

Oxygen vacancy-induced short-range ordering as a sole mechanism for enhanced magnetism of spinel ZnFe2O4 prepared via a one-step treatment

Despite being difficult to identify, extremely dilute oxygen vacancies have been widely reported to play an important role in enhancing magnetism in ZnFe₂O₄. The mechanisms underlying this enhanced magnetism have not been well understood for a long time and remain controversial because the formation of oxygen vacancy-rich ZnFe₂O₄ can be accompanied by changes in the chemical/physical characteristics, especially the composition, particle size, surface morphology and cation distribution, which can significantly affect the magnetization. An open and important question is whether and to what extent the enhanced magnetization can be attributed only to oxygen vacancies. In this study, the relationship between the magnetization and oxygen vacancies in ZnFe₂O₄ was definitively determined by using a carefully designed “shake-and-heat” treatment to prepare vacancy-rich samples while keeping the other crystal/surface parameters constant. Compared to the nearly vacancy-free paramagnetism samples, the vacancy-rich samples exhibited a higher magnetization of approximately 5 emu/g at both 300 K and 2 K. The Fe³⁺-O^2--Fe³⁺ superexchange paths broken by oxygen vacancies then resulting in the Fe³⁺-Fe³⁺ ferromagnetism configuration. Meanwhile, the oxygen vacancy is highly diluted then the ferromagnetism configuration is confined in a single super-cell, favoring a short-range magnetic ordering at room temperature. The concentration of oxygen vacancies was calculated to be 0.68% by magnetization measurement. Our results may shed a light on how oxygen vacancies affect magnetism.     

Cell-Permeable Succinate Rescues Mitochondrial Respiration in Cellular Models of Statin Toxicity

Statins are the cornerstone of lipid-lowering therapy. Although generally well tolerated, statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) represent the main reason for treatment discontinuation. Mitochondrial dysfunction of complex I has been implicated in the pathophysiology of SAMS. The present study proposed to assess the concentration-dependent ex vivo effects of three statins on mitochondrial respiration in viable human platelets and to investigate whether a cell-permeable prodrug of succinate (complex II substrate) can compensate for statin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial respiration was assessed by high-resolution respirometry in human platelets, acutely exposed to statins in the presence/absence of the prodrug NV118. Statins concentration-dependently inhibited mitochondrial respiration in both intact and permeabilized cells. Further, statins caused an increase in non-ATP generating oxygen consumption (uncoupling), severely limiting the OXPHOS coupling efficiency, a measure of the ATP generating capacity. Cerivastatin (commercially withdrawn due to muscle toxicity) displayed a similar inhibitory capacity compared with the widely prescribed and tolerable atorvastatin, but did not elicit direct complex I inhibition. NV118 increased succinate-supported mitochondrial oxygen consumption in atorvastatin/cerivastatin-exposed platelets leading to normalization of coupled (ATP generating) respiration. The results acquired in isolated human platelets were validated in a limited set of experiments using atorvastatin in HepG2 cells, reinforcing the generalizability of the findings.     

Synthesis of Precursors of Complex Oxide Systems Using Electrogenerated Reagents

Glass Physics and Chemistry - The scientific foundations for the synthesis of precursors of nanostructured oxide systems Al2O3–ZrO2–MxOy (M = Mg, Y) are developed. The processes...     

New optical ceramics: High-entropy sesquioxide X2O3 multi-wavelength emission phosphor transparent ceramics

Highly transparent X₂O₃ sesquioxide ceramics were obtained from a solid solution of five different oxides (Lu₂O₃, Y₂O₃, Yb₂O₃, Gd₂O₃, and Dy₂O₃), mixed in an equal molar ratio according to the principle of high-entropy. The fabricated (Lu, Y, Yb, Gd, Dy)₂O₃ ceramics achieved 99.97 % of the relative density and exhibited a high degree of optical transparency with the in-line transmittance of almost 80 % in the visible wavelength range. Emissions of Gd³⁺ (⁶P_J → ⁸S_7/2 at 312 nm), Dy³⁺ (⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2 at 492 nm and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2 at 572 nm), and Yb³⁺ (²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 at 1031 nm) suggested a potential application of the high-entropy ceramics as multi-wavelength emission phosphor transparent ceramics. High-entropy ceramics also exhibited lower specific heat and thermal conductivity compared to single-element sesquioxide ceramics. This work demonstrated that highly transparent oxide ceramics, with complex chemical compositions and good optical properties, could be obtained using the high-entropy principle.     

Evaluation of small-scale combustion of an insensitive high explosive formulation containing 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), and 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)

ABSTRACT

Energetic materials are often disposed by open-burning or open-detonation as it is a cost-effective and efficient means of destroying explosive material, and often minimizes the need to transport hazardous explosives to treatment facilities. This practice is often scrutinized for the negative environmental impact of the odorous and unsightly toxic gaseous emissions as well as the resulting deposition residues, which often contain unburned energetic materials. With the increasing use of Insensitive High Explosive compositions in munitions, it is essential that the potential environmental impact of their disposal is assessed before their extensive use to prevent the kind of contamination incidents experienced with legacy explosives. Therefore, the aim of this work was to develop a controlled laboratory experiment to identify the gaseous emissions and the energetic material residues that are generated through the combustion of the IHE components 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), and 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). A sealed vial containing small (mg) quantities of energetic material was heated until the energetic material combusted. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) was used to calculate the oxygen consumption and to identify the gases that were generated. The solid residues were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify unburned energetic material. Results showed that DNAN was the most resistant to burning, thus leaving significant quantities of unreacted starting material in the vial. An interesting observation for the IHE formulation was that DNAN also inhibited the combustion of NTO and RDX. The gases emitted during the open burning of IHE components and mixtures included CO, CO₂, and N₂O as expected, but the proportions differed when the components and mixture were compared, reflecting the influence of DNAN on the burning behavior. From our data, we concluded that open-burning DNAN-based formulations is an environmentally unfavorable waste-management practice for the disposal of IHEs mainly due to generation of solid residues as well as unburnt DNAN.     

基于魅力工学的传统器物设计评价应用研究

目的 在传统器物的创新设计中,最重要的环节是了解消费者对所使用产品的不同感受与意向并转换为具体的设计要素.研究消费者心理的感性因素与传统器物设计元素之间的联系,确定设计要素,从而对产品进行创新设计,为提升传统器物附加值作出贡献.方法 以中国传统器物茶宠为例,首先对8位相关的茶宠专家进行访谈,通过魅力工学中的评价构造法整理并提取魅力因子,设计出问卷调查表;然后以访谈内容为依据,使用问卷调查法得到大众对茶宠的魅力评价,共回收84份有效问卷;最后应用数量化一类分析茶宠魅力因子影响权重.结果 得到了数量化一类统计表,选取了其中影响因素较大的魅力因子作为茶宠设计前的风格定调考量.结论 通过茶宠的研究案例证明了该理论的可行性,为未来传统器物的设计提供了更多元且新颖的设计依据.     

氧化铝纤维束织造过程中摩擦磨损性能研究

运用往复线性摩擦试验方法,搭配自制的摩擦试验夹具,模拟织造过程中氧化铝纤维束-筘齿的摩擦行为,研究加载力、预加张力和摩擦频率对悬空状态下氧化铝纤维束摩擦磨损性能的影响.结果表明:随着加载力的增加,氧化铝纤维束所受摩擦力及长丝断裂根数增加,摩擦系数减小;在预加张力为0.40 N时,氧化铝纤维束所受摩擦力和摩擦系数出现最小值,磨损程度也最小;在摩擦稳定阶段,摩擦频率增加,则氧化铝纤维束所受摩擦力先下降,后略有上升,当摩擦频率增加至5 Hz时,氧化铝纤维束的摩擦系数较1 Hz时增加18.7％,磨损程度也最为严重.     

A multimode CMOS PA with a single propagation path

Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing - In this paper a four mode 130 nm RF CMOS power amplifier (PA) in a single propagation path topology is presented and evaluated with IEEE...