Photoluminescence studies of p-type chalcopyrite AgInS2:Sn

Chalcopyrite AgInS₂:Sn thin films were prepared by spray pyrolysis technique for a constant ratio of [Ag]/[In]=1.5 and different SnCl₄ concentrations (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 ml) in the spray solution obtaining x=[SnCl₄]/[Ag]+[In]=0.01, 0.02, 0.04. All films were deposited at substrate temperature of 375 °C. The deposited film for which x=0.02 exhibited p-type conductivity, having band-gap energies of 1.87 and 2.01 eV. Photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal several PL bands located at 1.45, 1.68, 1.70, 1.80 and 1.88 eV at 10 K. Each one of these PL structures are related to different defects, the 1.45 eV emission is related to indium vacancies, 1.80 eV emission to interstitial silver (Ag_in) or Indium in sites of silver (Ag_In), whereas, the other emissions (1.70 and 1.88 eV) are related with a donor–acceptor pair recombination and free to bound transition, respectively, due to sulphur vacancies. Sn in excess modifies the emission bands located at 1.70 and 1.88 eV; we found that Sn reduces sulphur vacancies and PL spectra are dominated by acceptor impurities.     

发动机油非磷抗氧、抗磨、减摩添加剂协同研究

降低发动机油的磷含量,提高燃料经济性,延长使用寿命,已是润滑油升级换代大势所趋。为了降低磷的含量,必须减少二烷基二硫代磷酸锌（ZnDDP）的使用,而二烷基二硫代氨基甲酸锌（ZnDDC）是ZnDDP最理想的替代物。为了提高油品的燃料经济性,需要加入有机钼摩擦改进剂,其中,不含硫磷的钼酸酯添加剂,因其良好的减摩保持性,其应用更为突出。为了满足更苛刻的油品高温性能要求,还必须加入烷基化二苯胺类抗氧剂（ADPA）。因此有必要对非活性钼、ZnDDC和ADPA之间相互作用进行考察。研究表明,在非活性有机钼、ZnDDC、ADPA的三元添加剂体系中,存在着三种相互配合的协同作用：ZnDDC与非活性有机钼的抗磨协同。非活性有机钼与ADPA的抗氧化协同,以及ZnDDC与ADPA的抗氧化协同。利用非活性有机钼、ZnDDC、ADPA的三元非磷协同复合体系（OD0401）,可以大幅度提高油品的抗氧化性能、减摩性能和抗磨性能,这对发展低磷含量的GF-4和GF-5发动机润滑油具有十分积极的意义。利用该协同复合添加剂OD0401,还可以有效地提高低档发动机油的抗氧化和抗磨性能。     

Optimization of interval type-2 fuzzy logic controllers for a perturbed autonomous wheeled mobile robot using genetic algorithms

We describe a tracking controller for the dynamic model of a unicycle mobile robot by integrating a kinematic and a torque controller based on type-2 fuzzy logic theory and genetic algorithms. Computer simulations are presented confirming the performance of the tracking controller and its application to different navigation problems.     

A limit set stabilization by means of the Port Hamiltonian system approach

A solution to the stabilization problem of a compact set by means of the Interconnection and Damping Assignment Passivity‐Based Control methodology, for an affine nonlinear system, was introduced. To this end, we expressed the closed‐loop system as a Port Hamiltonian system, having the property of almost all their trajectories asymptotically converge to a convenient limit set, except for a set of measure zero. It was carried out by solving a partial differential equation (PDE) or single matching condition, which allows the desired energy level or limit set E to be shaped explicitly. The control strategy was tested using the magnetic beam balance system and the pendulum actuated by a direct current motor (DC‐motor), having obtained satisfactory results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adherence rates to ferric citrate as compared to active control in patients with end stage kidney disease on dialysis

Introduction: Oral phosphate binders are the main stay of treatment of hyperphosphatemia. Adherence rates to ferric citrate, a recently approved phosphate binder, are unknown. Methods: We conducted a post‐hoc analysis to evaluate whether adherence rates were different for ferric citrate vs. active control in 412 subjects with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) who were randomized to ferric citrate vs. active control (sevelamer carbonate and/or calcium acetate). Adherence was defined as percent of actual number of pills taken to total number of pills prescribed. Findings: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics including gender, race/ethnicity, and age between the ferric citrate and active control groups. Baseline phosphorus, calcium, and parathyroid hormone levels were similar. Mean (SD) adherence was 81.4% (17.4) and 81.7% (15.9) in the ferric citrate and active control groups, respectively (P = 0.88). Adherence remained similar between both groups after adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, age, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetic nephropathy (mean [95% CI]: 81.4% [78.2, 84.6] and 81.5% [77.7, 85.2] for ferric citrate and active control, respectively). Gender, race/ethnicity, age, and diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy did not influence adherence to the prescribed phosphate binder. Subjects with CVD had lower adherence rates to phosphate binder; this was significant only in the active control group. Discussion: Adherence rates to the phosphate binder, ferric citrate, were similar to adherence rates to active control. Similar adherence rates to ferric citrate are notable since tolerance to active control was an entry criteria and the study was open label. Gender, race/ethnicity, nor age influenced adherence.     

Dimerization of native myosin LC2(RLC)-free subfragment 1 from adult rabbit skeletal muscle

We reinvestigated whether the native myosin LC2-free-subfragment 1 (S1) dimer exists by using viscometry, capillary electrophoresis, and laser light scattering. We found that the intrinsic viscosity of the monomer is [eta]m = 6.7 cm3/g and its translation diffusion coefficient is (c = 0) = 4.43 x 10(-)7 cm2/s. For the dimer, [eta]d = 19.8 cm3/g and (c = 0) = 2.54 x 10(-)7 cm2/s. Using the Svedberg equation and introducing the values of the sedimentation coefficients (5.05 S for the monomer and 6.05 S for the dimer), we find the following molecular weights: Mr,m = 108 000 Da and Mr,d = 213 000 Da, which agree well with previous determinations. Capillary electrophoresis successfully separated S1(A1) and S1(A2), in a monomer buffer, and S1(A1) and S1(A2) and a heterodimer S1(A1)-S1(A2), in a dimer buffer. An interesting feature of the monomer-dimer equilibrium is the presence of temperature transitions, whose positions and widths depend upon the buffer conditions. At low temperatures, a pure dimer was observed, whereas at high temperatures only the monomer was present. The dimerization site on both myosin and S1 is extremely labile.     

Anticardiolipin antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Anticardiolipin antibodies were studied in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from 32 consecutive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, admitted for the assessment of neuropsychiatric disease. Ten of the 16 patients with active neuropsychiatric complaints showed positive anticardiolipin antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid, including eight with the simultaneous presence of antibodies in their sera. By contrast, only 2 of the 16 patients with headaches, lacking further data of neurological disease, revealed anticardiolipin antibodies in their cerebrospinal fluid. The assessment of Q-albumin index showed abnormal values in a subset of patients with active neuropsychiatric changes who showed positive cerebrospinal anticardiolipin antibodies, suggesting that an impairment of the blood brain barrier function may lead to a leakage of intrathecal antiphospholipid antibodies from systemic circulation. Additionally, few patients revealed normal Q-albumin values with high IgG-cerebrospinal fluid index suggesting increased intrathecal synthesis of autoantibodies. The study of anticardiolipin antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid was useful to detect active neuropsychiatric disease in systemic lupus erythematosus.     

The failure analysis of a deep drawing die in the manufacturing of an automotive shock absorber cap

A deep drawing die, employed in the manufacturing of an automotive shock absorber endcap presented premature wear in a part of the region of contact with the blank. This led to unacceptable scratching and surface finish in the produced endcaps, resulting in an excessive scrap rate and undesirable finishing operations in order to repair the defects, when possible at all. Initially, the surfaces of parts produced in new and in worn dies were analyzed. The loads and strains in the endcap and in the dies were then evaluated, through a finite element analysis (FEA) utilizing the DEFORM 7.0 software. The validation of the simulation was performed comparing the experimental measurements of the part thickness with those supplied by the numerical simulation. The validated FEA model indicated an excessive pressure on the worn region, reaching unacceptable levels for the chosen die material. The solution to the failure would involve a change either in the die material, or in the process design, or in the die/blank lubrication.     

Monodisperse and Corrosion-Resistant Metallic Nanoparticles Embedded into Sepiolite Particles for Optical and Magnetic Applications

The preparation of large quantities of heterogeneous materials containing non-agglomerated and monodispersed nanoparticles is becoming one of the bottlenecks that hinders the development of commercial devices. Here we describe a method to prepare monodispersed metallic (Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Co, and Fe) nanoparticles in a silicate matrix (sepiolite) by means of a reduction process of metallic cations associated with a dehydration process of the matrix. This process is characterized by the huge amount of monodispersed metallic nanoparticles that it produces. Additionally, these nanoparticles have been revealed to be remarkably stable against oxidation because the transformed sepiolite matrix becomes a diffusion barrier for oxygen. Furthermore, the nanoparticles present suitable properties to be used for optical and magnetic applications.