High sensitive optode for selective determination of Ni based on the covalently immobilized thionine in agarose membrane

A novel Ni²⁺ optode was prepared by covalent immobilization of thionine, 3,7-diamine-5-phenothiazoniom thionineacetate, in a transparent agarose membrane. Influences of various experimental parameters on Ni²⁺ sensing, including the reaction time, the solution pH and the concentration of reagents were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, a linear response was obtained for Ni²⁺ concentrations ranging from 1.00 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1.00 × 10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ with an R² value of 0.9985. The detection limit (3σ) of the method for Ni²⁺ was 9.30 × 10⁻¹¹ mol l⁻¹. The influence of several potentially interfering ions such as Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co³⁺, Cr³⁺, Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the determination of Ni²⁺ was studied and no significant interference was observed. The membrane showed a good durability and short response time with no evidence of reagent leaching. The membrane was successfully applied for the determination of Ni²⁺ in environmental water samples.     

Red emitting MTiO3 (M = Ca or Sr) phosphors doped with Eu3+ or Pr3+ with some cations as co-dopants

Ca (or Sr)TiO₃:Eu³⁺, M (Li⁺ or Na⁺ or K⁺) and CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺, M (Li⁺ or Na⁺ or Ag⁺ or K⁺ or Gd³⁺ or La³⁺) powders were prepared by combustion synthesis method and the samples were further heated to ～1000 °C to improve the crystallinity. The structure and morphology of materials were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The morphologies of SrTiO₃:Eu³⁺, CaTiO₃:Eu³⁺ or CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺ powders co-doped with other metal ions were very similar. Small and coagulated particles of nearly cubical shapes with small size distribution having smooth and regular surface were formed. Photo-luminescence spectra of CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺ and co-doped either with Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ag⁺, La³⁺ or Gd³⁺ ions showed red emissions at 613 nm due to the ¹D₂ → ³H₄ transition of Pr³⁺. The variation of intensity of emission peak with different co-doping follows the order: K⁺ > Ag⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺ > La³⁺ > Gd³⁺. The characteristic emissions of CaTiO₃:Eu³⁺ lattices had strong emission at 614 and 620 nm for ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ with other weak transitions observed at 580, 592, 654, 705 nm for ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_n transitions where n = 0, 1, 3, 4 respectively in all host lattices. Photoluminescence intensity in SrTiO₃:Eu³⁺ is more than CaTiO₃:Eu³⁺ lattices. A remarkable increase of photoluminescence intensity (in ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition) was observed if co-doped with Li⁺ ions in CaTiO₃:Eu³⁺ and SrTiO3:Eu³⁺.     

Accuracy of ab initio methods in predicting the crystal structures of metals: A review of 80 binary alloys

Predicting and characterizing the crystal structure of materials is a key problem in materials research and development. We report the results of ab initio LDA/GGA computations for the following systems: AgAu, AgCd, AgMg, AgMo¹, AgNa, AgNb¹, AgPd, AgRh¹, AgRu¹, AgTc¹, AgTi, AgY, AgZr, AlSc, AuCd, AuMo¹, AuNb, AuPd, AuPt¹, AuRh¹, AuRu¹, AuSc, AuTc¹, AuTi, AuY, AuZr, CdMo¹, CdNb¹, CdPd, CdPt, CdRh, CdRu¹, CdTc¹, CdTi, CdY, CdZr, CrMg¹, MoNb, MoPd, MoPt, MoRh, MoRu, MoTc¹, MoTi, MoY ¹, MoZr, NbPd, NbPt, NbRh, NbRu, NbTc, NbY ¹, NbZr¹, PdPt, PdRh¹, PdRu¹, PdTc, PdTi, PdY, PdZr, PtRh, PtRu, PtY, PtTc, PtTi, PtZr, RhRu, RhTc, RhTi, RhY, RhZr, RuTi, RuTc, RuY, RuZr, TcTi, TcY, TcZr, TiZr¹, Y Zr¹ (¹= systems in which the ab initio method predicts that no compounds are stable). A detailed comparison to experimental data confirms the high accuracy with which ab initio methods can predict ground states.     

Improved deterministic algorithms for weighted matching and packing problems

Based on the method of (n,k)-universal sets, we present a deterministic parameterized algorithm for the weighted rd-matching problem with time complexity O^∗(4^{(r−1)k+o(k)}), improving the previous best upper bound O^∗(4^rk+o(k)). In particular, the algorithm applied to the unweighted 3d-matching problem results in a deterministic algorithm with time O^∗(16^k+o(k)), improving the previous best result O^∗(21.26^k). For the weighted r-set packing problem, we present a deterministic parameterized algorithm with time complexity O^∗(2^{(2r−1)k+o(k)}), improving the previous best result O^∗(2^2rk+o(k)). The algorithm, when applied to the unweighted 3-set packing problem, has running time O^∗(32^k+o(k)), improving the previous best result O^∗(43.62^k+o(k)). Moreover, for the weighted r-set packing and weighted rd-matching problems, we give a kernel of size O(k^r), which is the first kernelization algorithm for the problems on weighted versions.     

A dual K-Na selective Prussian blue nanotubes sensor

A strategy for dual sensing of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions using Prussian blue nanotubes via selective inter/deintercalation of K⁺ ion and competitive inhibition by Na⁺ ion, is reported. The analytical signal is derived from the cyclic voltammetry cathodic peak position E_pc of Prussian blue nanotubes. Na⁺ and K⁺ levels in a sample solution can be determined conveniently using one Prussian blue nanotubes sensor. In addition, this versatile method can be applied for the analysis of single type of either Na⁺ or K⁺ ions. The dual-ion sensor response towards Na⁺ and K⁺ can be described using a model based on the competitive inhibition effects of Na⁺ on K⁺ inter/deintercalation in Prussian blue nanotubes. Successful application of the Prussian blue nanotubes sensor for Na⁺ and K⁺ determination is demonstrated in artificial saliva.     

Low‐temperature sputtered mixtures of high‐κ and high bandgap dielectrics for GIZO TFTs

Abstract— This paper discusses the properties of sputtered multicomponent amorphous dielectrics based on mixtures of high‐κ and high‐bandgap materials and their integration in oxide TFTs, with processing temperatures not exceeding 150°C. Even if Ta²O⁵ films are already amorphous, multicomponent materials such as Ta²O⁵—SiO² and Ta²O⁵—Al²O³ allow an increase in the bandgap and the smoothness of the films, reducing their leakage current and improving (in the case of Ta²O⁵—SiO²) the dielectric/semiconductor interface properties when these dielectrics are integrated in TFTs. For HfO²‐ based dielectrics, the advantages of multicomponent materials are even clearer: while HfO² films present a polycrystalline structure and a rough surface, HfO²—SiO² films exhibit an amorphous structure and a very smooth surface. The integration of the multicomponent dielectrics in GIZO TFTs allows remarkable performance, comparable with that of GIZO TFTs using SiO² deposited at 400°C by PECVD. For instance, with Ta²O⁵—SiO² as the dielectric layer, field‐effect mobility of 35 cm²/(V‐sec), close to 0 V turn‐on voltage, an on/off ratio higher than 10⁶, a subthreshold slope of 0.24 V/dec, and a small/recoverable threshold voltage shifts under constant current (I^D= 10 μA) stress during 24 hours are achieved. Initial results with multilayers of SiO²/HfO²—SiO²/SiO² are also shown, allowing a lower leakage current with lower thickness and excellent device performance.     

Optimal Speed-Up Parallel Image Template Matching Algorithms on Processor Arrays with a Reconfigurable Bus System,

The image template matching problem is one of the fundamental problems of and has many practical applications in image processing, pattern recognition, and computer vision. It is a useful operation for filtering, edge detection, image registration, and object detection [13]. In this paper, we first design twoO[(M²/p²)log logM] andO[(M²/p²)+(M/p)log logp] time parallel image template matching algorithms on a 3-D processor array with a reconfigurable bus system usingp²N²processors with each processor containingO(1) andO(M/p) restricted memory for 1 ≤p≤M≤N, respectively, for anN×Ndigital image and anM×Mtemplate. By increasing the number of processors, these two proposed algorithms can be run inO(M²/p²) time for speeding up the time complexity usingp²M^1/cN²andp^2+1/cN²processors, respectively, wherecis a constant andc≥1. Furthermore, anO(1) time can be also obtained from these two proposed algorithms by usingM²+1^/cN²processors. These results improve the best known bounds and achieve both optimal and optimal speed-up in their time and processor complexities.     

Red shift of the PSL spectra by Al3+ doping in BaFBr:Eu2+

Abstract— Photostimulated luminescent (PSL) materials are currently used for digital storage and display in radiography. The phosphor BaFBr:Eu²⁺ doped with Al³⁺ is shown to have a very high PSL intensity, and the peak of the PSL spectrum shifts to a longer wavelength. Compared with BaFBr:Eu²⁺ doped with Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, or Mg²⁺, BaAlFBr:Eu²⁺ is better suited to the stimulated light wavelength emitted by a semiconductor laser. The red‐shift mechanism is considered to be a FAcenter for BaFBr:Eu²⁺ doped with Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, or Mg²⁺ and a F^Z1 center for BaFBr:Eu²⁺ doped with Al³⁺.     

A fast algorithm for determining the linear complexity of a binary sequence with period 2 n p m

An efficient algorithm for determining the linear complexity and the minimal polynomial of a binary sequence with period 2 ⁿ p ^m is proposed and proved, where 2 is a primitive root modulop ². The new algorithm generalizes the algorithm for computing the linear complexity of a binary sequence with period 2 ⁿ and the algorithm for computing the linear complexity of a binary sequence with periodp ⁿ , where 2 is a primitive root modulop ².     

Detection of Redundant Code Using R 2 D 2

We present the R ² D ² redundancy detector. R ² D ² identifies redundant code fragments in large software systems written in Lisp. For each pair of code fragments, R ² D ² uses a combination of techniques ranging from syntax-based analysis to semantics-based analysis, that detects positive and negative evidences regarding the redundancy of the analyzed code fragments. These evidences are combined according to a well-defined model and sufficiently redundant fragments are reported to the user. R ² D ² explores several techniques and heuristics to operate within reasonable time and space bounds and is designed to be extensible.     

RacoonWW1.3: A Monte Carlo program for four-fermion production at ee colliders

We present the Monte Carlo generator RacoonWW that computes cross sections to all processes e⁺e⁻→4f and e⁺e⁻→4fγ and calculates the complete electroweak radiative corrections to e⁺e⁻→WW→4f in the electroweak Standard Model in double-pole approximation. The calculation of the tree-level processes e⁺e⁻→4f and e⁺e⁻→4fγ is based on the full matrix elements for massless (polarized) fermions. When calculating radiative corrections to e⁺e⁻→WW→4f, the complete virtual doubly-resonant electroweak corrections are included, i.e. the factorizable and non-factorizable virtual corrections in double-pole approximation, and the real corrections are based on the full matrix elements for e⁺e⁻→4fγ. The matching of soft and collinear singularities between virtual and real corrections is done alternatively in two different ways, namely by using a subtraction method or by applying phase-space slicing. Higher-order initial-state photon radiation and naive QCD corrections are taken into account. RacoonWW also provides anomalous triple gauge-boson couplings for all processes e⁺e⁻→4f and anomalous quartic gauge-boson couplings for all processes e⁺e⁻→4fγ.     

A new impossible differential attack on SAFER ciphers

This paper presents an improved impossible differential cryptanalysis of SAFER ciphers, which uses the miss-in-the-middle technique developed by Biham et al. We analyze 3.75-round SAFER SK-64,¹ using 2⁴⁵ chosen plaintexts, 2³⁸ bytes memory and 2⁴² half round computations. Furthermore, the new impossible differential attack on 3.75-round SAFER+/128 uses 2⁷⁸ chosen plaintexts, 2⁷⁵ half round computations and 2⁶⁸ bytes memory. And attack on 3.75-round SAFER++/128 uses 2⁷⁸ data, 2⁶⁶ time, and 2⁶² memory.     

A new approach to evaluate the MODIS annual NPP product (MOD17A3) using forest field data from Turkey

In this study, we present the first evaluation of the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) annual net primary production (NPP) for Turkey’s forest ecosystems using field measurements. Due to lack of country scale field measurements (i.e. flux tower for forest ecosystems), tree DBH (diameter at breast height) data set provided by Ministry of Forest and Water Affairs (MFWA) of Turkey is used to calculate NPP of Turkey’s forest ecosystems. The lack of a reliable NPP data set leads the researchers to use global NPP models such as MODIS annual NPP product. The MODIS MOD17A3 product of vegetation NPP is one of the most highly used data sources for studies of global carbon cycle. However, it is still necessary to test its predictions in multiple biomes, especially for heterogeneous areas in terms of its accuracy and potential bias. Here, we studied a new approach to evaluate coarse scale NPP estimates from the MODIS NPP-MOD17A3 data product, using 2008–2013 field measurements of tree growth throughout Turkey. Three different methods were used to calculate field NPP, including standardized growth coefficients (ministry coefficients [MC]), growth coefficients from North America (Jenkins coefficients [JC]), and annual expected increment (AEI). The average NPP values for all the country is calculated as 2.06 kgC m^–1/5 years (0.412 kgC m^–2 year^–1) (SD = 1.15 kgC m^–1/5 years) from MOD17A3, 0.90 kgC m^–1/5 years (0.18 kgC m^–2 year^–1) (SD = 0.57 kgC m^–1/5 years) with MC, 0.63 kgC m^–1/5 years (0.126 kgC m^–2 year^–1) (SD = 0.37 kgC m^–1/5 years) with JC and 0.58 kgC m^–2 year^–1 (SD = 0.29 kgC m^–1/5 years) with AEI for the studied plots. We found that the MODIS NPP product has a clear relation with both the NPP estimates obtained by using MC (R² = 0.34, root mean square error (RMSE) = 1.51 kgC m^–1/5 years) and JC (R² = 0.32, RMSE = 1.73 kgC m^–1/5 years). In addition to that, the relation between MOD17A3 product and AEI-derived NPP is relatively strong (R² = 0.48, RMSE = 0.26 kgC m^–2 year^–1). We discuss possible reasons for these trade-offs among different methods. This study lays out a new approach to validate coarse scale MODIS product using field data directly, including for highly heterogeneous areas.     

Piccolo算法的相关密钥-不可能差分攻击

现有的对于Piccolo算法的安全性分析结果中,除Biclique分析外,以低于穷举搜索的复杂度最长仅攻击至14轮Piccolo-80和18轮Piccolo-128算法.通过分析Piccolo算法密钥扩展的信息泄漏规律,结合算法等效结构,利用相关密钥-不可能差分分析方法,基于分割攻击思想,分别给出了15轮Piccolo-80和21轮Piccolo-128含前向白化密钥的攻击结果.当选择相关密钥量为2⁸时,攻击所需的数据复杂度分别为2^58.6和2^62.3,存储复杂度分别为2^60.6和2^64.3,计算复杂度分别为2⁷⁸和2^82.5;在选择相关密钥量为2⁴时,攻击所需的数据复杂度均为2^62.6和2^62.3,存储复杂度分别为2^64.6和2^64.3,计算复杂度分别为2^77.93和2^124.45.分析结果表明,仅含前向白化密钥的15轮Piccolo-80算法和21轮Piccolo-128算法在相关密钥-不可能差分攻击下是不安全的.     

Host emission from BaMgAl10O17 and SrMgAl10O17 phosphor: Effects of temperature and defect level

Abstract— Understanding the mechanism of blue‐light emission in Eu‐doped BAM phosphor as well as its sensitive degradation is required because this is a very important material in fluorescent lamps and plasma‐display panels. In this study, both theoretical and experimental investigations on the host emissions in BaMgAl¹⁰O¹⁷ and SrMgAl¹⁰O¹⁷ were performed. Host emissions from BaMgAl¹⁰O¹⁷ and SrMgAl¹⁰O¹⁷ by photoluminescence and thermoluminescence spectra were observed. Photoluminescence spectra suggested that the host emission from SrMgAl¹⁰O¹⁷ was easily quenched by thermal vibrations. The thermoluminescence spectra showed the existence of shallow and deep defect levels in BaMgAl¹⁰O¹⁷ and SrMgAl¹⁰O¹⁷ phosphors. It was shown that SrMgAl¹⁰O¹⁷ and its conduction plane could undergo degradation during irradiation of vacuum‐ultra‐violet (VUV) lights based on the calculated energy of formation of an oxygen vacancy. Moreover, the structural defects, such as oxygen vacancies, would cause localizing levels in the upper level in the valence band and in theconduction band. The results suggest the contribution of the host emission to the energy transfer to the Eu atoms would not be significant and the oxygen vacancies would act as the traps for excited carriers.     

Tension spline approach for the numerical solution of nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation

The nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation describes a variety of physical phenomena such as dislocations, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic domain walls, DNA dynamics, and Josephson junctions. We derive approximate expressions for the dispersion relation of the nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation in the case of strong nonlinearities using a method based on the tension spline function and finite difference approximations. The resulting spline difference schemes are analyzed for local truncation error, stability and convergence. It has been shown that by suitably choosing the parameters, we can obtain two schemes of O(k²+k²h²+h²) and O(k²+k²h²+h⁴). In the end, some numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.     

UNIQUENESS CONDITIONS OF CL-STRUCTURES IN GL-STRUCTURE EQUIVALENCE CLASSES OF SYSTEM RECONSTRUCTABILITY ANALYSIS

This paper first introduces the basic notions of overall systems with logical relations, their subsystems, structure representation graphs, sets of H-structures and G-structures with logical relations S _H ^L and S _G ^L, immediate refinement and aggregate with logical relations, structure-graph mappings r_V ^L, r_G ^L, etc., and the notions of inclusiveness with logical relations, upper bounding and lower bounding with logical relations. Then it proves the sufficient conditions under which representation graphs R ^L form a lattice. By defining the least upper bound and largest lower bound of (R^L, ) and recommending a lemma on distributivity, this paper proves the sufficient conditions under which G-structures with logical relations form Boolean lattices. Finally after defining the M-structures and C-structures with logical relations, i.e. M-structures and C-structures, this paper proposes the sufficient conditions for the uniqueness of C-structures in G-structure equivalence classes, and proves that the C ^L-structure is the least refined GL-structure in equivalence class S _G ^L/r _G ^L.     

Computational study for the circular redox reaction of N2O with CO catalyzed by fullerometallic cations C60Fe+ and C70Fe+

We applied density functional calculations to study the circular redox reaction mechanism of N₂O with CO catalyzed by fullerometallic cations C₆₀Fe⁺ and C₇₀Fe⁺. The on-top sites of six-membered rings (η⁶) of fullerene cages are the most preferred binding sites for Fe⁺ cation, and the hexagon to pentagon migration of Fe⁺ is unlikely under ambient thermodynamic conditions. The initial ion/molecule reaction, N₂O rearrangement and N₂ abstraction on the considered fullerometallic cations are easier than those on the bare Fe⁺ cation in the gas phase. Generally, our results indicate that fullerometallic ions, C₆₀Fe⁺ and C₇₀Fe⁺, are more favorable substrates for redox reaction of N₂O with CO in comparison to the other previously studied carbon nanostructures such as graphene and nanotubes.     

Efficient algorithms for regular expression constrained sequence alignment

Imposing constraints is an effective means to incorporate biological knowledge into alignment procedures. As in the PROSITE database, functional sites of proteins can be effectively described as regular expressions. In an alignment of protein sequences it is natural to expect that functional motifs should be aligned together. Due to this motivation, Arslan introduced the regular expression constrained sequence alignment problem and proposed an algorithm which, if implemented naïvely, can take time and space up to O(²|Σ|⁴|V|n²) and O(²|Σ|⁴|V|n), respectively, where Σ is the alphabet, n is the sequence length, and V is the set of states in an automaton equivalent to the input regular expression. In this paper we propose a more efficient algorithm solving this problem which takes O(³|V|n²) time and O(²|V|n) space in the worst case. If |V|=O(logn) we propose another algorithm with time complexity O(²|V|log|V|n²). The time complexity of our algorithms is independent of Σ, which is desirable in protein applications where the formulation of this problem originates; a factor of ²|Σ|=400 in the time complexity of the previously proposed algorithm would significantly affect the efficiency in practice.     

CONCH: A Visual Basic program for interactive processing of ion-microprobe analytical data

A Visual Basic program for flexible, interactive processing of ion-microprobe data acquired for quantitative trace element, ²⁶Al–²⁶Mg, ⁵³Mn–⁵³Cr, ⁶⁰Fe–⁶⁰Ni and U–Th–Pb geochronology applications is described. Default but editable run-tables enable software identification of secondary ion species analyzed and for characterization of the standard used. Counts obtained for each species may be displayed in plots against analysis time and edited interactively. Count outliers can be automatically identified via a set of editable count-rejection criteria and displayed for assessment. Standard analyses are distinguished from Unknowns by matching of the analysis label with a string specified in the Set-up dialog, and processed separately. A generalized routine writes background-corrected count rates, ratios and uncertainties, plus weighted means and uncertainties for Standards and Unknowns, to a spreadsheet that may be saved as a text-delimited file. Specialized routines process trace-element concentration, ²⁶Al–²⁶Mg, ⁵³Mn–⁵³Cr, ⁶⁰Fe–⁶⁰Ni, and Th–U disequilibrium analysis types, and U–Th–Pb isotopic data obtained for zircon, titanite, perovskite, monazite, xenotime and baddeleyite. Correction to measured Pb-isotopic, Pb/U and Pb/Th ratios for the presence of common Pb may be made using measured ²⁰⁴Pb counts, or the ²⁰⁷Pb or ²⁰⁸Pb counts following subtraction from these of the radiogenic component. Common-Pb corrections may be made automatically, using a (user-specified) common-Pb isotopic composition appropriate for that on the sample surface, or for that incorporated within the mineral at the time of its crystallization, depending on whether the ²⁰⁴Pb count rate determined for the Unknown is substantially higher than the average ²⁰⁴Pb count rate for all session standards. Pb/U inter-element fractionation corrections are determined using an interactive log_e–log_e plot of common-Pb corrected ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ratios against any nominated fractionation-sensitive species pair (commonly ²³⁸U¹⁶O⁺/²³⁸U⁺) for session standards. Also displayed with this plot are calculated Pb/U and Pb/Th calibration line regression slopes, y-intercepts, calibration uncertainties, standard ²⁰⁴Pb- and ²⁰⁸Pb-corrected ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb dates and other parameters useful for assessment of the calibration-line data. Calibrated data for Unknowns may be automatically grouped according to calculated date and displayed in color on interactive Wetherill Concordia, Tera–Wasserburg Concordia, Linearized Gaussian (“Probability Paper”) and Gaussian-summation probability density diagrams.