Modulation on the electrical and optical properties of Na and Rh co-doped Ruddlesden-Popper layered Ca3Ti2O7

Layered perovskite Ca_2.91Na_0.09Ti_2-xRh_xO₇ (x?=?0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction. Room temperature ferroelectricity has been confirmed. The remanent polarization increases with an increase of Rh content, which is due to a larger oxygen octahedral distortion by Rh doping. The coercive field increases with Rh doping as the pinning effect of oxygen vacancies reduce the mobility of domain wall. Remanent polarization and coercive field are caused by different mechanisms, so it is possible to modulate them independently to meet the requirement of application in ferroelectric field. The concentration of oxygen vacancy increased with Rh doping, leading to the significant increase of leakage current density. The bandgap of samples doped with Rh drastically decrease and the visible light response of the sample was improved by Rh doping due to the formation of impurity energy levels within the band gap.

     

Enzymatic Synthesis of Glucose- and Xylose Laurate Esters Using Different Acyl Donors,Higher Substrate Concentrations,and Membrane Assisted Solvent Recovery

Glucose- and xylose laurate esters are enzymatically synthesized using equimolar substrate concentrations in 2-methyl-2-butanol, comparing free lauric acid with methyl- and vinyl-laurate as acyl donors. All reactions result in ≥70% acyl donor conversions after 72 h but the activated donors are also partially hydrolyzed to lauric acid, highlighting the difficulty in controlling water presence in this particular reaction system. The esterification of xylose generates a complex product profile, with several regioisomers of monoesters and diesters. The esterification of glucose is quite selective, forming mainly the 6-O monoester (≥96%) with a small presence of two diester isomers (4%). Increasing substrate concentration up to 800 millimoles kg⁻¹ results in lower conversion values (down to 58%) but shows that the reaction proceeds successfully even in the presence of high amounts of insoluble glucose. However, the reaction is less selective and the proportion of diester increases, becoming up to 46% (molar fraction) of the final product. Solvent recovery after esterification can be achieved by organic solvent nanofiltration through a polymeric membrane able to retain ≥80% of all reaction substrates and products. Practical Applications: The use of high substrate concentrations during the enzymatic synthesis of sugar ester biosurfactants leads to product titers that are more industrially appealing, without the need to find a solvent that can solubilize all initial substrate. The sustainability of the enzymatic conversion at mild temperatures can be enhanced by recycling of the reaction solvent through organic solvent nanofiltration, an energy efficient alternative to other traditional methods like distillation.     

Electrostatic force microscopy of self-assembled peptide structures

In this report electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) is used to study different peptide self-assembled structures such as tubes and particles. It is shown that not only geometrical information can be obtained using EFM, but also information about the composition of different structures. In particular we use EFM to investigate the structures of diphenylalanine peptide tubes, particles, and CSGAITIG peptide particles placed on pre-fabricated SiO(2) surfaces with a backgate. We show that the cavity in the peptide tubes could be due to the presence of water residues. Additionally we show that self-assembled amyloid peptides form spherical solid structures containing the same self-assembled peptide in its interior. In both cases transmission electron microscopy is used to verify these structures. Further, the limitations of the EFM technique are discussed, especially when the observed structures become small compared with the radius of the AFM tip used. Finally, an agreement between the detected signal and the structure of the hollow peptide tubes is demonstrated.     

Melting and Vaporization of the 1223 Phase in the System (Tl-Pb-Ba-Sr-Ca-Cu-O)

The melting and vaporization of the 1223 [(Tl,Pb):(Ba,Sr):Ca:Cu] oxide phase in the system (Tl-Pb-Ba-Sr-Ca-Cu-O) have been investigated using a combination of dynamic methods (differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry, effusion) and post-quenching characterization techniques (powder x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry). Vaporization rates, thermal events, and melt compositions were followed as a function of thallia loss from a 1223 stoichiometry. Melting and vaporization equilibria of the 1223 phase are complex, with as many as seven phases participating simultaneously. At a total pressure of 0.1 MPa the 1223 phase was found to melt completely at (980 ± 5) °C in oxygen, at a thallia partial pressure (p_Tl2O) of (4.6 ± 0.5) kPa, where the quoted uncertainties are standard uncertainties, i.e., 1 estimated standard deviation. The melting reaction involves five other solids and a liquid, nominally as follows: 1223→1212+(Ca,Sr)2CuO3+(Sr,Ca)CuO2+BaPbO3+(Ca,Sr)O+LiquidStoichiometries of the participating phases have been determined from microchemical analysis, and substantial elemental substitution on the 1212 and 1223 crystallographic sites is indicated. The 1223 phase occurs in equilibrium with liquids from its melting point down to at least 935 °C. The composition of the lowest melting liquid detected for the bulk compositions of this study has been measured using microchemical analysis. Applications to the processing of superconducting wires and tapes are discussed.     

On the intersubject generalization ability in extracting kinematic information from afferent nervous signals

In the recent past, many efforts have been carried out in order to evaluate the feasibility of implementing closed-loop controlled neuroprostheses based on the processing of sensory electroneurographic (ENG) signals. The success of these techniques mostly relies on the development of processing algorithms capable of extracting the necessary kinematic information from these signals. Soft-computing algorithms can be very useful when dealing with the complexity of the neuromuscular system because of their generalization ability and model-free structure. In this paper, these techniques were used to extract angular position information from the ENG signals recorded from muscle afferents in animal model using cuff electrodes. Specifically, a genetic algorithm-based dynamic nonsingleton fuzzy logic system (named GA-DNSFLS) was developed and tested on different types of angular trajectories (characterized by small or large angular excursions). In particular, two different Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK)-like structures were used in the consequent part of the neuro-fuzzy model in order to verify which one could improve the generalization abilities (intrasubject and intersubject). The results showed that the GA-DNSFLS was able to reconstruct the trajectories giving interesting results in terms of correlation between the actual and the predicted trajectories for small excursion movements during intrasubject and intersubject tests. Particularly, one of the TSK models showed better results in terms of intersubject generalization. The simulations conducted with the large excursion movements led in some cases to interesting results but further experiments are necessary in order to analyze this point more in deep.     

Robust dimensions of anxiety sensitivity: Development and initial validation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3.

Accumulating evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity (fear of arousal-related sensations) plays an important role in many clinical conditions, particularly anxiety disorders. Research has increasingly focused on how the basic dimensions of anxiety sensitivity are related to various forms of psychopathology. Such work has been hampered because the original measure--the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)--was not designed to be multidimensional. Subsequently developed multidimensional measures have unstable factor structures or measure only a subset of the most widely replicated factors. Therefore, the authors developed, via factor analysis of responses from U.S. and Canadian nonclinical participants (n = 2,361), an 18-item measure, the ASI-3, which assesses the 3 factors best replicated in previous research: Physical, Cognitive, and Social Concerns. Factorial validity of the ASI-3 was supported by confirmatory factor analyses of 6 replication samples, including nonclinical samples from the United States and Canada, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Spain (n = 4,494) and a clinical sample from the United States and Canada (n = 390). The ASI-3 displayed generally good performance on other indices of reliability and validity, along with evidence of improved psychometric properties over the original ASI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

JCPDS-ICDD Research Associateship (Cooperative Program with NBS/NIST)

The Research Associateship program of the Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction-International Centre for Diffraction Data (JCPDS-ICDD, now known as the ICDD) at NBS/NIST was a long standing (over 35 years) successful industry-government cooperation. The main mission of the Associateship was to publish high quality x-ray reference patterns to be included in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF). The PDF is a continuing compilation of patterns gathered from many sources, compiled and published by the ICDD. As a result of this collaboration, more than 1500 high quality powder diffraction patterns, which have had a significant impact on the scientific community, were reported. In addition, various research collaborations with NBS/NIST also led to the development of several standard reference materials (SRMs) for instrument calibration and quantitative analyses, and computer software for data collection, calibration, reduction, for the editorial process of powder pattern publication, analysis of powder data, and for quantitative analyses. This article summarizes information concerning the JCPDS-ICDD organization, the Powder Diffraction File (PDF), history and accomplishments of the JCPDS-ICDD Research Associateship.     

Phase Equilibria and Crystallography of Ceramic Oxides

Research in phase equilibria and crystallography has been a tradition in the Ceramics Division at National Bureau of Standards/National Institute of Standatrds and Technology (NBS/NIST) since the early thirties. In the early years, effort was concentrated in areas of Portland cement, ceramic glazes and glasses, instrument bearings, and battery materials. In the past 40 years, a large portion of the work was related to electronic materials, including ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics, ionic conductors, dielectrics, microwave dielectrics, and high-temperature superconductors. As a result of the phase equilibria studies, many new compounds have been discovered. Some of these discoveries have had a significant impact on US industry. Structure determinations of these new phases have often been carried out as a joint effort among NBS/NIST colleagues and also with outside collaborators using both single crystal and neutron and x-ray powder diffraction techniques. All phase equilibria diagrams were included in Phase Diagrams for Ceramists, which are collaborative publications between The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) and NBS/NIST. All x-ray powder diffraction patterns have been included in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF). This article gives a brief account of the history of the development of the phase equilibria and crystallographic research on ceramic oxides in the Ceramics Division. Represented systems, particularly electronic materials, are highlighted.     

Pommery香槟——我为艺术而痴狂

行走在Pommery香槟酒行的地下酒窖,犹如步入一座历史陈列馆,更像置身于一座艺术博物馆。香槟与艺术,从外在到内涵,从视觉到感觉,从感官到感知,在此完美结合并升华。让你不知道是艺术的酒窖,还是酒窖的艺术;是香槟因艺术而美妙,还是艺术因香槟而动人。成就这一切的渊源是Pommery酒行与艺术的不解之缘,更是Pommery过去和现在的主人的艺术情怀。