Ionic conductivity of Ln4Zr3O12 solid electrolytes synthesized by mechanochemistry

To explore their possible application as solid electrolytes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC), this contribution presents the synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of Ln₄Zr₃O₁₂ (Ln = Y, Ho, Er and Yb) zirconates. All samples were obtained by mechanical milling and their electrical properties were analyzed as a function of frequency and temperature, by using impedance spectroscopy. Our results show that defective fluorite-type zirconates might be successfully obtained after milling stoichiometric mixtures of the corresponding oxides, for 30–40 h in a planetary mill. Such structural form persists even after firing the as-prepared Y, Ho and Er zirconates, at very high temperatures (1500 °C); whereas, Yb₄Zr₃O₁₂ shows a transition to a rhombohedral δ-phase on firing. Ionic conductivity (σ) values obtained for all compositions at 700 °C (including fluorites and δ-phase), are comparable to those reported for similar ionic conductors, and within the 10^−3.82 to 10^−6.13 S cm⁻¹ range. Higher σ values were obtained for those zirconates preserving the disordered fluorite-type structure after firing.     

The influence of intergranular and interphase boundaries and δ-ferrite volume fraction on hydrogen embrittlement of high-nitrogen steel

We study the effect of grain size of austenitic and ferritic phases and volume fraction of δ-ferrite, which were obtained in different solution-treatment regimes (at 1050, 1100, 1150 and 1200 °C), on hydrogen embrittlement of high-nitrogen steel (HNS). The amount of dissolved hydrogen is similar for the specimens with different densities of interphase (γ-austenite/δ-ferrite) and intergranular (γ-austenite/γ-austenite, δ-ferrite/δ-ferrite) boundaries. Despite, the susceptibility of the specimens to hydrogen embrittlement, depth of the hydrogen-assisted surface layers, hydrogen transport during tensile tests and mechanisms of the hydrogen-induced brittle fracture all depend on grain size and ferrite content. The highest hydrogen embrittlement index I_H = 32%, the widest hydrogen-affected layer and a pronounced solid-solution hardening by hydrogen atoms is typical of the specimens with the lowest fraction of the boundaries. Even though fast hydrogen transport via coarse ferritic grains provides longer diffusion paths during H-changing, the width of the H-affected surface layer in the dual-phase structure of the HNS specimens is mainly determined by the hydrogen diffusivity in austenite. In tension, hydrogen transport with dislocations increases with the decrease in density of boundaries due to the longer dislocation free path, but stress-assisted diffusion transport does not depend on grain size and ferrite fraction. The contribution from intergranular fracture increases with an increase in the density of intergranular and interphase boundaries.     

溶胶凝胶法制备Ce_(0.8)Y_(0.15)M_(0.05)O_(2-δ)电解质材料及其性能研究

文章以Ce0.8Y0.15M0.05O2-δ(M=Fe、Co、Mg)为主要研究对象。通过红外、致密度分析、X射线衍射、扫描电镜、交流阻抗、热膨胀等测试方法对试样进行测试和分析,对实验得到的电解质粉及相应的电解质材料的性能进行表征。实验结果表明:溶胶-凝胶法经700℃煅烧成功制备出了单相立方萤石结构的超细粉末,具有良好的烧结活性。1300℃下烧结后相对密度达到97%以上。电导率的测试表明,电解质材料在中温范围有较高的电导率,其中,Ce0.8Y0.15Mg0.05O1.9在800℃时,电导率达到了0.0661 S/cm。     

Nonlinear control of the dissolved oxygen concentration integrated with a biomass estimator for production of Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins

Bacillus thuringiensis is a microorganism that allows the biosynthesis of δ-endotoxins with toxic properties against some insect larvae, being often used for the production of biological insecticides. A key issue for the bioprocess design consists in adequately tracking a pre-specified optimal profile of the dissolved oxygen concentration. To this effect, this paper aims at developing a novel control law based on a nonlinear dynamic inversion method. The closed-loop strategy includes an observer based on a Bayesian Regression with Gaussian Process, which is used for on-line estimating the biomass present in the bioreactor. Unlike other approaches, the proposed controller leads to an improved response time with effective disturbance rejection properties, while simultaneously prevents undesired oscillations of the dissolved oxygen concentration. Simulation results based on available experimental data were used to show the effectiveness of the proposal.     

Evaluation of nitrate source in groundwater of southern part of North China Plain based on multi-isotope

Nitrate pollution in groundwater is a serious water quality problem that increases the risk of developing various cancers.Groundwater is the most important water resource and supports a population of 5 million in Anyang area of the southern part of the North China Plain. Determining the source of nitrate pollution is the challenge in hydrology area due to the complex processes of migration and transformation. A new method is presented to determine the source of nitrogen pollution by combining the composition characteristics of stable carbon isotope in dissolved organic carbon in groundwater. The source of groundwater nitrate is dominated by agricultural fertilizers, as well as manure and wastewater. Mineralization, nitrification and mixing processes occur in the groundwater recharge area, whereas the confined groundwater area is dominated by denitrification processes.     

Activated PPARβ/δ Protects Pancreatic β Cells in Type 2 Diabetic Goto–Kakizaki Rats from Lipoapoptosis via GPR40

GW501516-activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) β/δ and G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 40 were shown to protect pancreatic β cells against lipoapoptosis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether activated PPARβ/δ could protect type 2 diabetic rats from lipoapoptosis through regulation of GPR40 and to compare the protective effects of activated PPARβ/δ and PPARγ. We made an animal model of type 2 diabetic lipoapoptosis by feeding spontaneously type 2 diabetic Goto–Kakizaki (GK) rats with a high-fat diet (HFD) to evaluate the effects of PPARβ/δ on islet β cell apoptosis. And, treated INS-1 cells with 0.5 mM palmitate (PAM) in the absence/presence of GW501516 (a specific agonist of PPAR β/δ) and with/without transfection of GPR40 siRNA to explore the underlying molecular mechanism. HFD aggravated GK rats' poorer INSR30, lower mass, greater apoptosis of β cells, lower mass, and lower expression of GPR40, which were similarly improved by GW501516 at 3 or 6 mg/kg day and pioglitazone. Compared with pioglitazone, GW501516 caused more weight loss and had no effect on insulin resistance. GW501516 protected INS-1 cells from PAM-induced apoptosis by upregulating GPR40 and activating Akt/Bcl-2/caspase-3. Activated extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) was relevant to the lipoapoptosis in INS-1 cells, but was not involved in the antilipoapoptotic effect of GW501516. These results showed that the PPARβ/δ agonist GW501516 protected β cells from lipoapoptosis and improved β cell mass by upregulating GPR40 and activating the Akt/Bcl-2/caspase-3 pathway, but not the ERK-signaling pathway.     

一种教学用脑波分析耳机的设计与实现

笔者阐述了一种教学环境中使用的脑波分析耳机的工作原理和设计方法,其核心是对EEG脑电波信号的采集、滤波,运用时频谱和复杂度分析的方法进行综合分析提取精神状态特征,设计神经网络多层分类器对精神状态进行分类和识别,最后完成精神状态的自动检测和识别,以提高学生上课的注意力。     

Infrared absorption spectroscopy and fluctuations induced conductivity (FIC) analysis of Be-doped TlBa2Ca2Cu3O10−δ superconductor

Be-doped TlBa₂(Ca_2−yBe_y)Cu₃O_10−δ (y=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0) superconductor bulk samples were synthesized by solid state reaction and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), dc-resistivity {ρ (Ω cm)}, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy. Fluctuations induced conductivity (FIC) analysis is carried out on temperature dependent dc-resistivity data of as-prepared and oxygen post-annealed TlBa₂(Ca_2−yBe_y)Cu₃O_10−δ superconductor samples by using Aslamazov–Larkin (AL) and Lawrence–Doniach (LD) models for excess conductivity. Different microscopic parameters such as zero temperature coherence length along c-axis {ξ_c(0)}, inter-layer coupling (J), inter-grain coupling (α), critical exponent (λ_D) and dimensionality of fluctuations are calculated for understanding the role of Be-doping on superconducting properties of TlBa₂(Ca_2−yBe_y)Cu₃O_10−δ samples. The cross-over temperature (T_o) is shifted towards higher temperature values with the increase of Be contents in TlBa₂(Ca_2−yBe_y)Cu₃O_10−δ samples. The increase in ξ_c(0) and J after Be-doping at Ca sites shows the improvement of inter-plane coupling in TlBa₂(Ca_2−yBe_y)Cu₃O_10−δ samples. The increase in zero resistivity critical temperature {T_c(R=0) (K)} up to y=0.5 and then decrease for y=0.75, 1.00 fixed the Be-doping level for optimum increase of superconducting properties of TlBa₂(Ca_2−yBe_y)Cu₃O_10−δ samples. The appreciable changes in all the microscopic parameters extracted from the FIC analysis and the increase in relative intensity of almost all the oxygen phonon modes indicate the oxygen diffusion in the unit cell after oxygen post-annealing the samples. The oxygen diffusion can take place at both inter-granular and intra-granular sites, which increase the superconducting volume fraction by improving the grains size, inter-grain connectivity and carrier density.