Phase Stability and Optoelectronic Properties of the Bixbyite Phase in the Gallium–Indium–Tin–Oxide System

X‐ray diffraction techniques were used to determine the phase boundaries of the In₂O₃ solid solution phase in the Ga₂O₃–In₂O₃–SnO₂ ternary system. The effects of Ga and Sn content on the unit cell dimensions of the bixbyite phase were calculated by a linear regression fit, the results of which indicate the two substitutive cations have opposite and independent effects on the lattice parameter. These results suggest that the cations do not strongly interact with each other in the crystal. Measurements of optoelectronic properties were also taken on single‐phase bulk specimens within the solid solution to establish their dependence on composition. As anticipated, Sn doping yields corresponding increases in conductivity, reduction in the absolute value of Seebeck coefficient, and increase in optical band gap. In contrast, these properties are not significantly affected by varying Ga content, confirming that Ga behaves as an isovalent dopant at the low doping levels involved.     

Domain Wall Motion Across Various Grain Boundaries in Ferroelectric Thin Films

Domain wall movement at and near engineered 10°, 15°, and 24° tilt and 10° and 30° twist grain boundaries was measured by band excitation piezoresponse force microscopy for Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ films with Zr/Ti ratio of 45/55 and 52/48. A minimum in nonlinear response was observed at the grain boundary for the highest angle twist and tilt grain boundaries, while a maximum in nonlinear response was observed at the 10° tilt grain boundaries. The observed nonlinear response was correlated with the domain configurations imaged in cross section by transmission electron microscopy.     

Prejudicial Narratives: Building Tomorrow's World Today

Film production requires world building: the power to visualise and bring to life narrative through a film's total environment. This is often entirely speculative, imagining alternative or future worlds. Here, Alex McDowell , acclaimed British production designer, producer and Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) describes his world-building, narrative approach to production design, which he consolidated in the Steven Spielberg film Minority Report (2002) that envisioned Washington DC in the year 2050. The possibilities of this storytelling technique are demonstrated by its transference into real-life projects, such as the immersive model that his production company, 5D GlobalStudio, developed for Al Baydha, a Bedouin village in Saudi Arabia.     

Cardanol grafted natural rubber: A green substitute to natural rubber for enhancing silica filler dispersion

Natural rubber (NR) usage is wide‐spread from pencil erasers to aero tyres. Carbon black and silica are the most common reinforcing fillers in the rubber industries. Carbon black enhances the mechanical properties, while silica reduces the rolling resistance and enhances the wet grip characteristics. However, the dispersion of polar silica fillers in the nonpolar hydrocarbon rubbers like natural rubber is a serious issue to be resolved. In recent years, cardanol, an agricultural by‐product of the cashew industry is already established as a multifunctional additive in the rubber. The present study focuses on dispersion of silica filler in natural rubber grafted with cardanol (CGNR) and determination of its technical properties. The optimum cure time reduces and the cure rate increases for the CGNR vulcanizates as compared to that of the NR vulcanizates at all loadings of silica varying from 30 to 60 phr. The interaction between the phenolic moiety of cardanol and the siloxane as well as silanol functional groups present on the silica surface enhances the rubber–filler interaction which leads to better reinforcement. The crosslink density and bound rubber content are found to be higher for the silica reinforced CGNR vulcanizates. The physico‐mechanical properties of the silica reinforced CGNR vulcanizates are superior to those of the NR vulcanizates. The CGNR vulcanizates show lower compression set and lower abrasion loss. The dynamic‐mechanical properties exhibit less Payne effect for silica reinforced CGNR vulcanizates as compared to the NR vulcanizates. The transmission electron photomicrographs show uniform dispersion of silica filler in the CGNR matrix. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43057.     

Synthesis and characterization of MC nylon/modified yttrium hydroxide nanocomposites

In this article, monomer casting (MC) nylon is synthesized. MC nylon could replace nonferrous metals in certain applications, including gears, wheels, and other moving parts. However, compared with metals, MC nylon products have poor strength and stiffness, and crack easily, especially at low temperatures. In addition, the dimensional stability of MC nylon is poor, especially in the large casting nylon products, causing significant internal stresses due to shrinkage. Thus, MC nylon cracks easily when cast and molded. The yttrium hydroxide particles are modified by stearic acid and dispersed in the caprolactam. The polymerization time is short due to fast anionic polymerization. Copolymerization with different ratios of yttrium hydroxide particles can be used to prepare the copolymer. The effects of different amounts of yttrium hydroxide on the performance of the monomer casting nylon are studied. The products are characterized using X‐ray diffraction, impact, and tensile testing. When the percentage of modified yttrium hydroxide is 0.3 wt %, the composite exhibits the maximum impact strength, thus the 0.3 wt % of modified yttrium hydroxide is the suitable percentage to enhance the impact strength of MC nylon. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43356.     

Fabrication and characterization of anodic oxide nanotubes on TiNb alloys

Titanium and its alloys have been extensively used as implant materials owing to their high specific strength, good biocompatibility and excellent corrosion resistance. Oxide nanotubular array layer can be formed on Ti alloy surface by electrochemical anodization treatment. In this work, the morphology of nanotubes formed on Ti–Nb alloys(Nb content of 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt% and40 wt%) was investigated using an electrolyte containing ethylene glycol and NH_4 F. Oxide layers consisting of highly ordered nanotubes with a range of diameters(approximately40–55 nm for the inner diameter and 100–120 nm for the outer diameter) and lengths(approximately 10–20 lm) can be formed on alloys in the Ti–x Nb system, independent on the Nb content. The nanotubes formed on the Ti–Nb alloy surface were transformed from the anatase to rutile structure of titanium oxide. The oxide nanotubular surface is highly hydrophilic compared with the intact Ti Nb foil. The surface wettability varies with the nanotube diameter. As the nanotube diameter increases while the nanotube layer thickness remains constant, the capillary wetting of the nanotube surface decreases and the surface becomes less hydrophilic.Annealing changes the nanotubular surface wettability further and establishes less hydrophilic surface conditions due to the removal of hydroxyl groups and residue fluoridecontaining species. It is believed that the surface wettability is changed due to the decreasing content of hydroxyl groups in ambient atmosphere. This work can provide guidelines for improving structural and environmental conditions responsible for changing surface wettability of Ti Nb surfaces for biomedical applications.     

Serum lipid analysis and isotopic enrichment is suggestive of greater lipogenesis in young long-term cannabis users: A secondary analysis of a case–control study

Cannabis is now legal in many countries and while numerous studies have reported on its impact on cognition and appetite regulation, none have examined fatty acid metabolism in young cannabis users. We conducted an exploratory analysis to evaluate cannabis impact on fatty acid metabolism in cannabis users (n = 21) and non-cannabis users (n = 16). Serum levels of some saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, including palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids were higher in cannabis users compared to nonusers. As palmitic acid can be derived from diet or lipogenesis from sugars, we evaluated lipogenesis using a de novo lipogenesis index (palmitate/linoleic acid) and carbon-specific isotope analysis, which allows for the determination of fatty acid ¹³C signature. The significantly higher de novo lipogenesis index in the cannabis users group along with a more enriched ¹³C signature of palmitic acid suggested an increase in lipogenesis. In addition, while serum glucose concentration did not differ between groups, pyruvate and lactate were lower in the cannabis user group, with pyruvate negatively correlating with palmitic acid. Furthermore, the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol was elevated in cannabis users and could contribute to lipogenesis by activating the cannabinoid receptor 1. Because palmitic acid has been suggested to increase inflammation, we measured peripheral cytokines and observed no changes in inflammatory cytokines. Finally, an anti-inflammatory metabolite of palmitic acid, palmitoylethanolamide was elevated in cannabis users. Our results suggest that lipogenic activity is increased in cannabis users; however, future studies, including prospective studies that control dietary intake are required.