An electron microscopic and diffraction study of Cu-9 wt pct Al alloy

An electron microscopic investigation of Cu-9 wt pct Al alloy low thermal treated at 250°C for 30 min was performed in the deformed and non-deformed condition. For this composition and ordering treatment the alloy exhibits the higher increase in strength. It was found that the images formed in the non-deformed alloy, reveal the presence of ordered domains of an average size of 80Å, being the amount of order dependent of whether or not quenched-in vacancies are present. It is probable that the domains nucleate preferentially at stacking faults in the deformed condition. A periodic antiphase structure was determined from computations and comparison with electron diffraction data. The superlattice cell is based on the LI₂ type, tetragonal face centered with a period approximately three times the lattice parameter of the matrix, having three variants of orientation within an ordered region.     

Simple lens axicon

We present the design of a cemented doublet-lens axicon made from spherical surfaces only. Compared with diffractive axicons, refractive cone axicons, and earlier lens axicons with aspheric surfaces, this element is inexpensive and easy to manufacture even with large apertures. The lens axicon is based on the deliberate use of the spherical aberration of the surfaces. The design principles of the element and its characterization, numerically and experimentally, are presented in detail. Although performance was traded for simplicity and robustness, the results show that the lens axicon has the main axicon properties: a narrow, extended line focus of relatively constant width.     

Stability of the inner polyaniline solid contact layer in all-solid-state K+-selective electrodes based on plasticized poly(vinyl chloride)

A simple and powerful method based on UV-visible spectroscopy is presented for studying the stability of the inner electrically conducting polyaniline (PANI) solid contact (SC) layer in all-solid-state ion-selective electrodes (ISE). The influence of the plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane (ISM) composition and the pH of the sample solution on the stability of the solid contact is reported. PANI is used as a model compound in this study, but the method presented is universal and can be applied to different types and combinations of SCs and ISMs. It provides a tool for finding the best combination of conducting polymer and ISM for solid contact ISEs. PANI is deposited electrochemically either on glassy carbon or quartz glass covered with a thin layer of tin oxide, and a K+-selective ISM is deposited on top of the PANI layer. The short-term stability of the inner PANI layer is good for all membrane types in buffer solutions with pH 2, 6, and 9, indicating that the outer plasticized PVC membrane hinders the emeraldine salt-emeraldine base transition of the highly pH sensitive PANI layer. The solid contact K+-selective electrodes studied showed a Nernstian response of 58.2 +/- 0.1 mV/log aK. Significant differences are observed in the long-term stability of the inner PANI layer between the different membrane types. This indicates that water uptake of the PVC membrane and its permeability to OH- ions are critical parameters affecting the stability of the PANI layer. The solid contact electrodes based on PANI may require a composition of the PVC membrane different from those typically used in conventional ISEs with an inner solution.     

Characterization of diesel particles: effects of fuel reformulation, exhaust aftertreatment, and engine operation on particle carbon composition and volatility

Diesel exhaust particles are the major constituent of urban carbonaceous aerosol being linked to a large range of adverse environmental and health effects. In this work, the effects of fuel reformulation, oxidation catalyst, engine type, and engine operation parameters on diesel particle emission characteristics were investigated. Particle emissions from an indirect injection (IDI) and a direct injection (DI) engine car operating under steady-state conditions with a reformulated low-sulfur, low-aromatic fuel and a standard-grade fuel were analyzed. Organic (OC) and elemental (EC) carbon fractions of the particles were quantified by a thermal-optical transmission analysis method and particle size distributions measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). The particle volatility characteristics were studied with a configuration that consisted of a thermal desorption unit and an SMPS. In addition, the volatility of size-selected particles was determined with a tandem differential mobility analyzer technique. The reformulated fuel was found to produce 10-40% less particulate carbon mass compared to the standard fuel. On the basis of the carbon analysis, the organic carbon contributed 27-61% to the carbon mass of the IDI engine particle emissions, depending on the fuel and engine operation parameters. The fuel reformulation reduced the particulate organic carbon emissions by 10-55%. In the particles of the DI engine, the organic carbon contributed 14-26% to the total carbon emissions, the advanced engine technology, and the oxidation catalyst, thus reducing the OC/EC ratio of particles considerably. A relatively good consistency between the particulate organic fraction quantified with the thermal optical method and the volatile fraction measured with the thermal desorption unit and SMPS was found.     

Functional analysis of the Neurospora crassa PZL-1 protein phosphatase by expression in budding and fission yeast

The gene pzl-1 from the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa encodes a putative Ser/Thr protein phosphatase that is reminiscent of the Ppz1/Ppz2 and Pzh1 phosphatases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, respectively. The entire PZL-1 protein, as well as its carboxyl-terminal domain, have been expressed in Escherichia coli as active protein phosphatases. To characterize its cellular role, PZL-1 was also expressed in Sz. pombe and in S. cerevisiae. Expression of PZL-1 in S. cerevisiae from the PPZ1 promoter was able to rescue the altered sensitivity to caffeine and lithium ions of a ppz1 strain. Furthermore, high copy number expression of PZL-1 alleviated the lytic phenotype of a S. cerevisiae slt2/mpk1 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase mutant, similarly to that described for PPZ1, and mimicked the effects of high levels of Ppz1 on cell growth. Expression of PZL-1 in fission yeast from a weak version of the nmt1 promoter fully rescued the growth defect of a pzh1Delta strain in high potassium, but only partially complemented the sodium-hypertolerant phenotype. Strong overexpression of the N. crassa phosphatase in Sz. pombe affected cell growth and morphology. Therefore, PZL-1 appears to fulfil every known function carried out by its S. cerevisiae counterpart, despite the marked divergence in sequence within their NH(2)-terminal moieties.     

JAXA-GCF project - high-quality protein crystals grown under microgravity environment for better understanding of protein structure

Since 2003, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, former NASDA) has been conducting a project on a semi-annual basis (JAXA-GCF) to obtain high-quality protein crystals in the microgravity environment using the Russian transportation system. For this project, protein samples were mostly provided by Japanese users for whom JAXA provided technical and clerical support for crystallization experiments in microgravity. For the project, JAXA has constructed a user-friendly support service for microgravity experiments and provided regular and frequent flight opportunities. To simplify and improve technological matters, JAXA devised a gel-tube method crystallization device, which is effective both in space and on ground, based on the counter-diffusion technique. JAXA also provided ground-based techniques for efficient preliminary optimization of crystallization conditions using a 1-dimensional simulation and for harvesting and cryoprotecting crystals before X-ray diffraction experiments. These improvements have significantly increased the success rate of obtaining useful results. In conclusion, JAXA has developed technologies for growing, in microgravity, high-quality protein crystals, which may diffract up to atomic resolution, for a better understanding of 3-dimensional protein structures through X-ray diffraction experiments.     

Efficient linear-scaling quantum transport calculations on graphics processing units and applications on electron transport in graphene

We implement, optimize, and validate the linear-scaling Kubo–Greenwood quantum transport simulation on graphics processing units by examining resonant scattering in graphene. We consider two practical representations of the Kubo–Greenwood formula: a Green–Kubo formula based on the velocity auto-correlation and an Einstein formula based on the mean square displacement. The code is fully implemented on graphics processing units with a speedup factor of up to 16 (using double-precision) relative to our CPU implementation. We compare the kernel polynomial method and the Fourier transform method for the approximation of the Dirac delta function and conclude that the former is more efficient. In the ballistic regime, the Einstein formula can produce the correct quantized conductance of one-dimensional graphene nanoribbons except for an overshoot near the band edges. In the diffusive regime, the Green–Kubo and the Einstein formalisms are demonstrated to be equivalent. A comparison of the length-dependence of the conductance in the localization regime obtained by the Einstein formula with that obtained by the non-equilibrium Green’s function method reveals the challenges in defining the length in the Kubo–Greenwood formalism at the strongly localized regime.     

Enabling and hindering factors of diffusion of energy service companies in Finland—results of a Delphi study

Energy service companies (ESCOs) are often seen as a focal mechanism to improve energy efficiency. However, ESCOs have not met all the expectations which have been loaded on them and their diffusion has been slower than expected. This paper focuses on analysing the development of the ESCO sector in Finland and identifying the key factors—both drivers and barriers—that are influencing the diffusion of Finnish ESCO market. We will do this with the help of a qualitative Delphi study. The results indicate that ESCOs are still understood and known rather poorly among potential customers. Also, the current financial situation and high transaction costs in comparison to potential savings were seen as challenges among the panellists whereas active information sharing was seen as a factor that would foster the ESCO business. However, from the point of view of reaching the energy efficiency targets, the panellists did not emphasize the role of ESCOs over several other energy service providers.