A new mechanoluminescence phosphor Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Eu2+: Phase transition-assisted defect formation in a polymorphic composition

A new mechanoluminescent phosphor was developed from a sodium (Na) superionic conductor (NASICON)-structured Na₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃:Eu²⁺ phosphor that is known for its self-healing properties. The compound that crystalized assuming monoclinic C2/c symmetry was found to be blue-emitting, with no noticeable persistent luminescence. Thermoluminescence analysis showed that the phosphor had two prominent distinct thermal emission bands corresponding to the high-temperature β- and γ-phases of the composition. The mechanoluminescence properties of the material that does not have any persistent luminescence at room temperature were investigated by imparting impulsive strain. The compound on charging with 365 nm radiation was found to have significant mechanoluminescent emission originating from shallow defects present in the β-phase of composition that formed by the stress-induced phase transition process. Its emission characteristics and temporal behavior were investigated by varying the impact velocity.     

Extending SSD Lifespan with Comprehensive Non-Volatile Memory-Based Write Buffers

Journal of Computer Science and Technology - New non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies are expected to replace main memory DRAM (dynamic random access memory) in the near future. NAND flash...     

How do different warning signs compare with the guideline daily amount and traffic-light system?

Nutritional warnings are rapidly gaining relevance, particularly in the region of the Americas, as a front-of-package nutrition labelling scheme that facilitate the identification of products with high content of nutrients associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Several graphic designs are being developed as countries discuss the implementation of nutritional warnings, which makes it necessary to develop research to evaluate their efficacy. In this context, the aim of the present work was to compare the efficacy of a series of nutritional warnings that are being considered by Brazilian national authorities for the country with two of the most studied schemes: the guidelines daily amounts (GDA) and the traffic light system. Two studies were conducted. In the first one, visual search was conducted with 62 participants to evaluate the time needed by them to identify the schemes on food labels and to identify whether a product had high nutrient content. In the second study, an online survey with 1932 participants was used to evaluate their ability to use FOP nutrition labelling schemes to correctly identify the most healthful product in a set, as well as high nutrient content in a product. In addition, the influence of FOP nutrition labelling schemes on perceived healthfulness was evaluated. Finally, consumers’ perception of the schemes was gathered using an open-ended question. Results confirmed the advantages of nutritional warnings compared to the GDA and the traffic-light system to facilitate the identification of products with high content of nutrients associated with NCDs. In addition, the use of familiar signs frequently used to convey a ‘warning message’ outperformed other unfamiliar signs in terms of their ability to facilitate the interpretation of nutrition information. Regarding colour, black signs tended to required significantly less time to be detected when included on colour food labels compared to red signs.     

How to accelerate green technology diffusion? Directed technological change in the presence of coevolving absorptive capacity

The time window for effective climate change mitigation is closing. Technological change needs to be accelerated to limit global warming to a manageable level. Path dependence of technological change is one explanation for sluggish diffusion of green technologies. Firms acquire capital that differs by technology type and build up type-specific technological know-how needed to use capital efficiently. Path dependence emerges from cumulative knowledge stocks manifested in the productivity of supplied capital and firms’ capabilities. Increasing returns arise from induced innovation feedbacks and learning by doing. Relatively lower endowments with technological knowledge are a barrier to diffusion for new technologies. This paper shows how the evolution of relative stocks of technological knowledge explains different shapes of diffusion curves. Using an eco-technology extension of the macroeconomic agent-based model Eurace@unibi, it is shown how the effectiveness of different climate policies depends on the type and strength of diffusion barriers. Environmental taxes can outweigh lower productivity and subsidies perform better if lacking capabilities hinder firms to adopt a sufficiently mature technology.     

Narrow-band emitters in LED backlights for liquid-crystal displays

Over the last decade, narrow-band emitters have been recognized as key enablers for light emitting diodes (LEDs) backlights in liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) by competing with other display technologies. Today, efforts have been devoted to the exploration of narrow-band green/red luminescent materials with high quantum efficiency and excellent stability to optimize the performance of LED backlights. This review first presents an overview of the significant progress made in the development of narrow-band emitters used in LED backlights for LCDs with the emphasis on the versatile materials databases from doped phosphors to luminescent II–VI, III-V semiconductor quantum dots, and the recent halide perovskites nanocrystals and bulk metal halides. Subsequently, the correlation of structure-luminescence properties, and the device performance optimization of these emitters have been analyzed. The focus is placed on summarizing and comparing the remarkable examples of outdated and new narrow-band luminescent materials as potential candidates in LED backlights. Finally, the outlooks and challenges in discovering new narrow-band emitters have been proposed.     

国有科研单位人才流失原因分析及对策

近年来,国有科研单位,尤其是地处经济不发达地区的国有科研单位,出现了较为严重的人才流失现象,一定程度上影响和制约了国有科研单位的发展。通过对国有科研单位人才流失原因的分析,提出了相应的对策。     

论四川盆地天然气勘探前景

中石油及其前身已在四川盆地从事天然气勘探开发工作50余年,截至2005年底累计探明天然气地质储量逾8400×10⁸m³,累计生产天然气超过2300×10⁸m³,年产量现已超过120×10⁸m³,已成为国内目前最大的产气区。对于该盆地进一步勘探前景如何的命题,从以下4个方面给予了论证：一是资源丰富、勘探成果持久不衰，近期仍有大发现；二是要辩证地认识盆地油气地质的复杂性，探索新规律，解放新领域；三是寻求地质认识和勘探技术进步是勘探突破的关键；四是继续以盆地两大地质体系（海相古隆起体系及陆相前陆盆地体系）和8套裂缝-孔隙性储集层（中上寒武统白云岩、石炭系白云岩、上二叠统长兴组生物礁白云岩、下三叠统飞仙关组鲕状白云岩、下三叠统嘉陵江组粒屑白云岩、中三叠统雷口坡组藻粒白云岩、上三叠统须家河组长石岩屑石英砂岩和中上侏罗统红层砂岩）为对象获取更多的天然气资源量及优质储量。据此得出结论：四川盆地天然气勘探前景是广阔的，但勘探难度会逐步加大。     

利用静电学和测量数据对碳纳米管膜场致发射规律的定量分析

碳纳米管膜的场致发射电流密度仅由它表面的宏观电场决定，无论其表面形状是平的还是半球状的。对于理想的平行板电极系统，其表面电场强度均匀（UId），发射电流密度、总电流与发射面积成正比：对于半球一平面电极系统半球形的阴极存在一个宏观场增强因子ks，一个与两极距离和球半径之比（d/r）相关的函数，其表面的平均场强为ks U/d。对于d/r=0，ks=1，d≥r的情况，ks接近于常数。对于10〈d／r〈100的情况，存在一个经验的表达式：ks=1＋0．15d/s=0．005（d／r）^2。在引入ks后，不同作者给出的平面电极系统和半球一平面电极系统碳纳米管膜的场致发射电流I与宏观表面电场强度E的关系都可以近似用-经验公式描述：I=a（E-Eo）^b，a，b为常数。该经验公式可为稳定生产的CNT膜片应用产品设计提供方便。     

Parameter Uncertainty and Policy Intensity: Some Extensions and Suggestions for Further Work

The effects of parameter uncertainty on optimal policy have been a matter of interest for academics, and even for some policymakers, for a long time. Two lines of literature have developed analytical results on this matter. The first line uses static models and the second dynamic models. In this dynamic line most of the results are confined to models with a single state and a single control variable. In this paper we want to encourage the analysis of more general dynamic cases. To do so, the results in the dynamic line are extended from one-state and one-control finite horizon models to models with a pair of control variables. We then discuss some of the hurdles which must be surmounted for the results to be made more general and suggests some lines for further research. JEL classification: C61; E61