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Sample records for simultaneous sub-second hyperpolarization

  1. Simultaneous Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate MRI and 18F-FDG PET (HyperPET) in 10 Dogs with Cancer

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Gutte, Henrik; Hansen, Adam E; Larsen, Majbrit M E

    2015-01-01

    with biopsy-verified spontaneous malignant tumors were included for imaging. All dogs underwent a protocol of simultaneous (18)F-FDG PET, anatomic MR, and hyperpolarized dynamic nuclear polarization with (13)C-pyruvate imaging. The data were acquired using a combined clinical PET/MR imaging scanner. We found...... that combined (18)F-FDG PET and (13)C-pyruvate MRS imaging was possible in a single session of approximately 2 h. A continuous workflow was obtained with the injection of (18)F-FDG when the dogs was placed in the PET/MR scanner. (13)C-MRS dynamic acquisition demonstrated in an axial slab increased (13)C......With the introduction of combined PET/MR spectroscopic (MRS) imaging, it is now possible to directly and indirectly image the Warburg effect with hyperpolarized (13)C-pyruvate and (18)F-FDG PET imaging, respectively, via a technique we have named hyperPET. The main purpose of this present study...

  2. Transportable hyperpolarized metabolites

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ji, Xiao; Bornet, Aurélien; Vuichoud, Basile; Milani, Jonas; Gajan, David; Rossini, Aaron J.; Emsley, Lyndon; Bodenhausen, Geoffrey; Jannin, Sami

    2017-01-01

    Nuclear spin hyperpolarization of 13C-labelled metabolites by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization can enhance the NMR signals of metabolites by several orders of magnitude, which has enabled in vivo metabolic imaging by MRI. However, because of the short lifetime of the hyperpolarized magnetization (typically <1 min), the polarization process must be carried out close to the point of use. Here we introduce a concept that markedly extends hyperpolarization lifetimes and enables the transportation of hyperpolarized metabolites. The hyperpolarized sample can thus be removed from the polarizer and stored or transported for use at remote MRI or NMR sites. We show that hyperpolarization in alanine and glycine survives 16 h storage and transport, maintaining overall polarization enhancements of up to three orders of magnitude. PMID:28072398

  3. Bradykinin-activated transmembrane signals are coupled via N/sub o/ or N/sub i/ to production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, a second messenger in NG108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Higashida, H.; Streaty, R.A.; Klee, W.; Nirenberg, M.

    1986-01-01

    The addition of bradykinin to NG108-15 cells results in a transient hyperpolarization followed by prolonged cell depolarization. Injection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate or Ca 2+ into the cytoplasm of NG108-15 cells also elicits cell hyperpolarization followed by depolarization. Tetraethylammonium ions inhibit the hyperpolarizing response of cells to bradykinin or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Thus, the hyperpolarizing phase of the cell response may be due to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent release of stored 45 Ca-labelled Ca 2+ into the cytoplasm, which activates Ca 2+ -dependent K + channels. The depolarizing phase of the cell response to bradykinin is due largely to inhibition of M channels, thereby decreasing the rate of K + efflux from cells and, to a lesser extent, to activation of Ca 2+ -dependent ion channels and Ca 2+ channels. In contrast, injection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate or Ca 2+ into the cytosol did not alter M channel activity. Incubation of NG108-15 cells with pertussis toxin inhibits bradykinin-dependent cell hyperpolarization and depolarization. Bradykinin stimulates low K/sub m/ GTPase activity and inhibits adenylate cyclase in NG108-15 membrane preparations but not in membranes prepared from cells treated with pertussis toxin. These results show that [bradykinin-receptor] complexes interact with N/sub o/ or N/sub i/ and suggest that N/sub o/ and/or N/sub i/ mediate the transduction of signals from bradykinin receptors to phospholipase C and adenylate cyclase

  4. Sub-second pulsations simultaneously observed at microwaves and hard X-rays in a solar burst

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Takakura, T.; Degaonkar, S.S.; Nitta, N.; Ohki, N.

    1982-11-01

    Sub-second time structures have been found in the emissions during solar bursts in mm-waves and, independently, in hard X-rays. However, simultaneous observations of such fast time structure in mm radio and X-ray ranges has not been available so far. Accordingly, coordinated observations of solar bursts in November 1981 with a high time resolution of a few milliseconds were planned. The hard X-rays (30-40 KeV were observed with hard X-ray monitor (HXM) aboard the Hinotori Satellite with a time resolution of 7.81 ms and the radio emissions were observed on the ground with 45ft dish at Itapetinga Radio Observatory with a high time resolution (1 ms) and high sensitivities at 22 GHz and 44 GHz, supplemented by a patrol observation at 7 GHz with time resolution of 100 ms. The pulsations repeated with a period of about 300 ms. The physical implication of the good correlation is not clear at this stage, but it may give a clue to the understanding of the high energy phenomena occuring during the solar flares. (Author) [pt

  5. Simultaneous hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate MRI and 18F-FDG-PET in cancer (hyperPET)

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Gutte, Henrik; Hansen, Adam E.; Henriksen, Sarah T.

    2015-01-01

    named this concept hyper PET. Intravenous injection of the hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate results in an increase of 13C-lactate, 13C-alanine and 13CCO2 (13C-HCO3) resonance peaks relative to the tissue, disease and the metabolic state probed. Accordingly, with dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) and use......In this paper we demonstrate, for the first time, the feasibility of a new imaging concept - combined hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and 18F-FDG-PET imaging. This procedure was performed in a clinical PET/MRI scanner with a canine cancer patient. We have...... of 13C-pyruvate it is now possible to directly study the Warburg Effect through the rate of conversion of 13C-pyruvate to 13C-lactate. In this study, we combined it with 18F-FDG-PET that studies uptake of glucose in the cells. A canine cancer patient with a histology verified local recurrence...

  6. Magnetic Resonance Angiography in the Pig using Hyperpolarized Water

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Lipsø, Hans Kasper Wigh; Bowen, Sean; Laustsen, Christoffer

    , the magnetization achievable with hyperpolarized water is superior to other nuclei. Methods A 1 mL sample of 50% water and 50% glycerol with 30 mM TEMPO is polarized in a Spinlab (GE Healthcare) at 5 T, 0.9 K, 139.9 GHz for an hour. The sample is rapidly dissolved in 16 mL deoxygenized dissolution medium (DM......Introduction Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) is an important tool in diagnostics of medical conditions such as emboli, stenosis and aneurysms. Sub-millimetre resolution can be obtained with proton imaging, and further optimization can be obtained with Gd-based blood pool agents1. However......, the acquisition time is several minutes, and conventional MRA methods thus fail to image within a single respiration or heartbeat and therefore suffers from motion artefacts. We demonstrate that hyperpolarized (HP) water can be used as an imaging agent to provide subsecond angiographies in pigs. Previous work...

  7. Hyperpolarized Nanodiamond Surfaces.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rej, Ewa; Gaebel, Torsten; Waddington, David E J; Reilly, David J

    2017-01-11

    The widespread use of nanodiamond as a biomedical platform for drug-delivery, imaging, and subcellular tracking applications stems from its nontoxicity and unique quantum mechanical properties. Here, we extend this functionality to the domain of magnetic resonance, by demonstrating that the intrinsic electron spins on the nanodiamond surface can be used to hyperpolarize adsorbed liquid compounds at low fields and room temperature. By combining relaxation measurements with hyperpolarization, spins on the surface of the nanodiamond can be distinguished from those in the bulk liquid. These results are likely of use in signaling the controlled release of pharmaceutical payloads.

  8. Renal MR angiography and perfusion in the pig using hyperpolarized water.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wigh Lipsø, Kasper; Hansen, Esben Søvsø Szocska; Tougaard, Rasmus Stilling; Laustsen, Christoffer; Ardenkjaer-Larsen, Jan Henrik

    2017-09-01

    To study hyperpolarized water as an angiography and perfusion tracer in a large animal model. Protons dissolved in deuterium oxide (D 2 O) were hyperpolarized in a SPINlab dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (dDNP) polarizer and subsequently investigated in vivo in a pig model at 3 Tesla (T). Approximately 15 mL of hyperpolarized water was injected in the renal artery by hand over 4-5 s. A liquid state polarization of 5.3 ± 0.9% of 3.8 M protons in 15 mL of deuterium oxide was achieved with a T 1 of 24 ± 1 s. This allowed injection through an arterial catheter into the renal artery and subsequently high-contrast imaging of the entire kidney parenchyma over several seconds. The dynamic images allow quantification of tissue perfusion, with a mean cortical perfusion of 504 ± 123 mL/100 mL/min. Hyperpolarized water MR imaging was successfully demonstrated as a renal angiography and perfusion method. Quantitative perfusion maps of the kidney were obtained in agreement with literature and control experiments with gadolinium contrast. Magn Reson Med 78:1131-1135, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  9. Hyperpolarized NMR Probes for Biological Assays

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sebastian Meier

    2014-01-01

    Full Text Available During the last decade, the development of nuclear spin polarization enhanced (hyperpolarized molecular probes has opened up new opportunities for studying the inner workings of living cells in real time. The hyperpolarized probes are produced ex situ, introduced into biological systems and detected with high sensitivity and contrast against background signals using high resolution NMR spectroscopy. A variety of natural, derivatized and designed hyperpolarized probes has emerged for diverse biological studies including assays of intracellular reaction progression, pathway kinetics, probe uptake and export, pH, redox state, reactive oxygen species, ion concentrations, drug efficacy or oncogenic signaling. These probes are readily used directly under natural conditions in biofluids and are often directly developed and optimized for cellular assays, thus leaving little doubt about their specificity and utility under biologically relevant conditions. Hyperpolarized molecular probes for biological NMR spectroscopy enable the unbiased detection of complex processes by virtue of the high spectral resolution, structural specificity and quantifiability of NMR signals. Here, we provide a survey of strategies used for the selection, design and use of hyperpolarized NMR probes in biological assays, and describe current limitations and developments.

  10. Hyperpolarized nanodiamond with long spin-relaxation times

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rej, Ewa; Gaebel, Torsten; Boele, Thomas; Waddington, David E. J.; Reilly, David J.

    2015-10-01

    The use of hyperpolarized agents in magnetic resonance, such as 13C-labelled compounds, enables powerful new imaging and detection modalities that stem from a 10,000-fold boost in signal. A major challenge for the future of the hyperpolarization technique is the inherently short spin-relaxation times, typically nanodiamond can be hyperpolarized at cryogenic and room temperature without the use of free radicals, and, owing to their solid-state environment, exhibit relaxation times exceeding 1 h. Combined with the already established applications of nanodiamonds in the life sciences as inexpensive fluorescent markers and non-cytotoxic substrates for gene and drug delivery, these results extend the theranostic capabilities of nanoscale diamonds into the domain of hyperpolarized magnetic resonance.

  11. Measuring glucose cerebral metabolism in the healthy mouse using hyperpolarized C-13 magnetic resonance

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Mishkovsky, Mor; Anderson, Brian; Karlsson, Magnus

    2017-01-01

    The mammalian brain relies primarily on glucose as a fuel to meet its high metabolic demand. Among the various techniques used to study cerebral metabolism, C-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows following the fate of C-13-enriched substrates through metabolic pathways. We herein...... glucose is split into 3-carbon intermediates by aldolase. This unique method allows direct detection of glycolysis in vivo in the healthy brain in a noninvasive manner....... demonstrate that it is possible to measure cerebral glucose metabolism in vivo with sub-second time resolution using hyperpolarized C-13 MRS. In particular, the dynamic C-13-labeling of pyruvate and lactate formed from C-13-glucose was observed in real time. An ad-hoc synthesis to produce [2,3,4,6,6-H-2(5), 3...

  12. Characterization of Chemical Exchange Using Relaxation Dispersion of Hyperpolarized Nuclear Spins.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Liu, Mengxiao; Kim, Yaewon; Hilty, Christian

    2017-09-05

    Chemical exchange phenomena are ubiquitous in macromolecules, which undergo conformational change or ligand complexation. NMR relaxation dispersion (RD) spectroscopy based on a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill pulse sequence is widely applied to identify the exchange and measure the lifetime of intermediate states on the millisecond time scale. Advances in hyperpolarization methods improve the applicability of NMR spectroscopy when rapid acquisitions or low concentrations are required, through an increase in signal strength by several orders of magnitude. Here, we demonstrate the measurement of chemical exchange from a single aliquot of a ligand hyperpolarized by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP). Transverse relaxation rates are measured simultaneously at different pulsing delays by dual-channel 19 F NMR spectroscopy. This two-point measurement is shown to allow the determination of the exchange term in the relaxation rate expression. For the ligand 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene-1-carboximidamide binding to the protein trypsin, the exchange term is found to be equal within error limits in neutral and acidic environments from D-DNP NMR spectroscopy, corresponding to a pre-equilibrium of trypsin deprotonation. This finding illustrates the capability for determination of binding mechanisms using D-DNP RD. Taking advantage of hyperpolarization, the ligand concentration in the exchange measurements can reach on the order of tens of μM and protein concentration can be below 1 μM, i.e., conditions typically accessible in drug discovery.

  13. Probing cardiac metabolism by hyperpolarized 13C MR using an exclusively endogenous substrate mixture and photo-induced nonpersistent radicals

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Bastiaansen, Jessica A M; Yoshihara, Hikari A I; Capozzi, Andrea

    2018-01-01

    dissolved, and the radical-free hyperpolarized solution was rapidly transferred into an injection pump located inside a 9.4T scanner. The hyperpolarized solution was injected in healthy rats to measure cardiac metabolism in vivo. Ultraviolet irradiation created nonpersistent radicals in a mixture containing......To probe the cardiac metabolism of carbohydrates and short chain fatty acids simultaneously in vivo following the injection of a hyperpolarized 13 C-labeled substrate mixture prepared using photo-induced nonpersistent radicals. Droplets of mixed [1-13 C]pyruvic and [1-13 C]butyric acids were frozen...... into glassy beads in liquid nitrogen. Ethanol addition was investigated as a means to increase the polarization level. The beads were irradiated with ultraviolet light and the radical concentration was measured by ESR spectroscopy. Following dynamic nuclear polarization in a 7T polarizer, the beads were...

  14. Simultaneous PET/MRI with (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (hyperPET): phantom-based evaluation of PET quantification.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hansen, Adam E; Andersen, Flemming L; Henriksen, Sarah T; Vignaud, Alexandre; Ardenkjaer-Larsen, Jan H; Højgaard, Liselotte; Kjaer, Andreas; Klausen, Thomas L

    2016-12-01

    Integrated PET/MRI with hyperpolarized (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ((13)C-MRSI) offers simultaneous, dual-modality metabolic imaging. A prerequisite for the use of simultaneous imaging is the absence of interference between the two modalities. This has been documented for a clinical whole-body system using simultaneous (1)H-MRI and PET but never for (13)C-MRSI and PET. Here, the feasibility of simultaneous PET and (13)C-MRSI as well as hyperpolarized (13)C-MRSI in an integrated whole-body PET/MRI hybrid scanner is evaluated using phantom experiments. Combined PET and (13)C-MRSI phantoms including a NEMA [(18)F]-FDG phantom, (13)C-acetate and (13)C-urea sources, and hyperpolarized (13)C-pyruvate were imaged repeatedly with PET and/or (13)C-MRSI. Measurements evaluated for interference effects included PET activity values in the largest sphere and a background region; total number of PET trues; and (13)C-MRSI signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for urea and acetate phantoms. Differences between measurement conditions were evaluated using t tests. PET and (13)C-MRSI data acquisition could be performed simultaneously without any discernible artifacts. The average difference in PET activity between acquisitions with and without simultaneous (13)C-MRSI was 0.83 (largest sphere) and -0.76 % (background). The average difference in net trues was -0.01 %. The average difference in (13)C-MRSI SNR between acquisitions with and without simultaneous PET ranged from -2.28 to 1.21 % for all phantoms and measurement conditions. No differences were significant. The system was capable of (13)C-MRSI of hyperpolarized (13)C-pyruvate. Simultaneous PET and (13)C-MRSI in an integrated whole-body PET/MRI hybrid scanner is feasible. Phantom experiments showed that possible interference effects introduced by acquiring data from the two modalities simultaneously are small and non-significant. Further experiments can now investigate the benefits of simultaneous PET and

  15. Metabolic Imaging of Patients with Prostate Cancer Using Hyperpolarized [1-13C]Pyruvate

    Science.gov (United States)

    Nelson, Sarah J.; Kurhanewicz, John; Vigneron, Daniel B.; Larson, Peder E. Z.; Harzstark, Andrea L.; Ferrone, Marcus; van Criekinge, Mark; Chang, Jose W.; Bok, Robert; Park, Ilwoo; Reed, Galen; Carvajal, Lucas; Small, Eric J.; Munster, Pamela; Weinberg, Vivian K.; Ardenkjaer-Larsen, Jan Henrik; Chen, Albert P.; Hurd, Ralph E.; Odegardstuen, Liv-Ingrid; Robb, Fraser J.; Tropp, James; Murray, Jonathan A.

    2014-01-01

    This first-in-man imaging study evaluated the safety and feasibility of hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate as an agent for noninvasively characterizing alterations in tumor metabolism for patients with prostate cancer. Imaging living systems with hyperpolarized agents can result in more than 10,000-fold enhancement in signal relative to conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. When combined with the rapid acquisition of in vivo 13C MR data, it is possible to evaluate the distribution of agents such as [1-13C]pyruvate and its metabolic products lactate, alanine, and bicarbonate in a matter of seconds. Preclinical studies in cancer models have detected elevated levels of hyperpolarized [1-13C]lactate in tumor, with the ratio of [1-13C]lactate/[1-13C]pyruvate being increased in high-grade tumors and decreased after successful treatment. Translation of this technology into humans was achieved by modifying the instrument that generates the hyperpolarized agent, constructing specialized radio frequency coils to detect 13C nuclei, and developing new pulse sequences to efficiently capture the signal. The study population comprised patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer, with 31 subjects being injected with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate. The median time to deliver the agent was 66 s, and uptake was observed about 20 s after injection. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed, and the highest dose (0.43 ml/kg of 230 mM agent) gave the best signal-to-noise ratio for hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate. The results were extremely promising in not only confirming the safety of the agent but also showing elevated [1-13C]lactate/[1-13C]pyruvate in regions of biopsy-proven cancer. These findings will be valuable for noninvasive cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring in future clinical trials. PMID:23946197

  16. Axonal and glial currents activated during the post-tetanic hyperpolarization in non-myelinated nerve.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Robert, A; Jirounek, P

    1998-07-01

    Changes in membrane potential and potassium concentration in the extracellular space ([K+]e) of rabbit vagus nerve were measured simultaneously during electrical activity and during the period of recovery using a modified sucrose-gap method and potassium-sensitive microelectrodes. After stimulation for 15 s at 15 Hz the main activity-induced increase in [K+]e reached 16.9 mM. This increase in [K+]e was paralleled by a depolarization of the preparation. The period of activity was followed by a post-tetanic hyperpolarization (PTH) lasting tens of seconds, generated by the axonal electrogenic Na+-K+ pump and to a lesser extent by the pump of the surrounding Schwann cells. The amplitude of the PTH dramatically increased in experiments in which inward currents were blocked by removal of Cl– or after application of Cs+ or Ba2+, indicating that under normal conditions the current generated by the Na+-K+ pump is strongly short-circuited. A pharmacological and kinetic study showed that these currents are: (1) the hyperpolarization-activated current I h, and (2) the inwardly rectifying I KIR current. The results show that the latter originates from Schwann cells. Our data indicate that in non-myelinated nerves there is a subtle association of inward ionic channels which (1) helps the cell to maintain an optimal membrane potential after a period of activity, and (2) contributes to the removal of excess K+ from the extracellular space.

  17. A magnetic tunnel to shelter hyperpolarized fluids

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Milani, Jonas; Vuichoud, Basile; Bornet, Aurélien; Miéville, Pascal; Mottier, Roger; Jannin, Sami; Bodenhausen, Geoffrey

    2015-01-01

    To shield solutions carrying hyperpolarized nuclear magnetization from rapid relaxation during transfer through low fields, the transfer duct can be threaded through an array of permanent magnets. The advantages are illustrated for solutions containing hyperpolarized 1 H and 13 C nuclei in a variety of molecules

  18. A magnetic tunnel to shelter hyperpolarized fluids

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Milani, Jonas, E-mail: jonas.milani@epfl.ch; Vuichoud, Basile; Bornet, Aurélien; Miéville, Pascal; Mottier, Roger [Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Batochime, CH-1015 Lausanne (Switzerland); Jannin, Sami [Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Batochime, CH-1015 Lausanne (Switzerland); Bruker BioSpin AG, Industriestrasse 26, CH-8117 Fällanden (Switzerland); Bodenhausen, Geoffrey [Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Batochime, CH-1015 Lausanne (Switzerland); Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, 24 rue Lhomond, F-75005 Paris (France); Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, LBM, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris (France); CNRS, UMR 7203 LBM, F-75005 Paris (France)

    2015-02-15

    To shield solutions carrying hyperpolarized nuclear magnetization from rapid relaxation during transfer through low fields, the transfer duct can be threaded through an array of permanent magnets. The advantages are illustrated for solutions containing hyperpolarized {sup 1}H and {sup 13}C nuclei in a variety of molecules.

  19. Volumetric spiral chemical shift imaging of hyperpolarized [2-(13) c]pyruvate in a rat c6 glioma model.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Park, Jae Mo; Josan, Sonal; Jang, Taichang; Merchant, Milton; Watkins, Ron; Hurd, Ralph E; Recht, Lawrence D; Mayer, Dirk; Spielman, Daniel M

    2016-03-01

    MRS of hyperpolarized [2-(13)C]pyruvate can be used to assess multiple metabolic pathways within mitochondria as the (13)C label is not lost with the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. This study presents the first MR spectroscopic imaging of hyperpolarized [2-(13)C]pyruvate in glioma-bearing brain. Spiral chemical shift imaging with spectrally undersampling scheme (1042 Hz) and a hard-pulse excitation was exploited to simultaneously image [2-(13)C]pyruvate, [2-(13)C]lactate, and [5-(13)C]glutamate, the metabolites known to be produced in brain after an injection of hyperpolarized [2-(13)C]pyruvate, without chemical shift displacement artifacts. A separate undersampling scheme (890 Hz) was also used to image [1-(13)C]acetyl-carnitine. Healthy and C6 glioma-implanted rat brains were imaged at baseline and after dichloroacetate administration, a drug that modulates pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activity. The baseline metabolite maps showed higher lactate and lower glutamate in tumor as compared to normal-appearing brain. Dichloroacetate led to an increase in glutamate in both tumor and normal-appearing brain. Dichloroacetate-induced %-decrease of lactate/glutamate was comparable to the lactate/bicarbonate decrease from hyperpolarized [1-(13)C]pyruvate studies. Acetyl-carnitine was observed in the muscle/fat tissue surrounding the brain. Robust volumetric imaging with hyperpolarized [2-(13)C]pyruvate and downstream products was performed in glioma-bearing rat brains, demonstrating changes in mitochondrial metabolism with dichloroacetate. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  20. Simultaneous PET/MRI with 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (hyperPET): phantom-based evaluation of PET quantification

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Hansen, Adam E.; Andersen, Flemming L.; Henriksen, Sarah T.

    2016-01-01

    Background: Integrated PET/MRI with hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (13C-MRSI) offers simultaneous, dual-modality metabolic imaging. A prerequisite for the use of simultaneous imaging is the absence of interference between the two modalities. This has been documented...... for a clinical whole-body system using simultaneous 1 H-MRI and PET but never for 13C-MRSI and PET. Here, the feasibility of simultaneous PET and 13C-MRSI as well as hyperpolarized 13C-MRSI in an integrated whole-body PET/MRI hybrid scanner is evaluated using phantom experiments. Methods: Combined PET and 13C......-MRSI phantoms including a NEMA [18F]-FDG phantom, 13C-acetate and 13C-urea sources, and hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate were imaged repeatedly with PET and/or 13C-MRSI. Measurements evaluated for interference effects included PET activity values in the largest sphere and a background region; total number of PET...

  1. Duration Adaptation Occurs Across the Sub- and Supra-Second Systems.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Shima, Shuhei; Murai, Yuki; Hashimoto, Yuki; Yotsumoto, Yuko

    2016-01-01

    After repetitive exposure to a stimulus of relatively short duration, a subsequent stimulus of long duration is perceived as being even longer, and after repetitive exposure to a stimulus of relatively long duration, a subsequent stimulus of short duration is perceived as being even shorter. This phenomenon is called duration adaptation, and has been reported only for sub-second durations. We examined whether duration adaptation also occurs for supra-second durations (Experiment 1) and whether duration adaptation occurs across sub- and supra-second durations (Experiment 2). Duration adaptation occurred not only for sub-second durations, but also for supra-second durations and across sub- and supra-second durations. These results suggest that duration adaptation involves an interval-independent system or two functionally related systems that are associated with both the sub- and supra-second durations.

  2. Simultaneous removal of SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} by microwave with potassium permanganate over zeolite

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wei, Zai-shan; Niu, He-jingying; Ji, Yong-feng [School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275 (China)

    2009-02-15

    Simultaneous sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) and nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}) removal from flue gas can be achieved with high efficiency by microwave with potassium permanganate (KMnO{sub 4}) over zeolite. The experimental results showed that the microwave reactor could be used to oxidation of SO{sub 2} to sulfate with the best desulfurization efficiency of 96.8% and oxidize NO{sub x} to nitrates with the best NO{sub x} removal efficiency of 98.4%. Microwave accentuates catalytic oxidation treatment, and microwave addition can increase the SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} removal efficiency by 7.2% and 12.2% separately. The addition of zeolite to microwave potassium permanganate increases from 16.5% to 43.5% the microwave removal efficiency for SO{sub 2}, and the NO{sub x} removal efficiency from 85.6% to 98.2%. The additional use of potassium permanganate to the microwave zeolite leads to the enhancement of SO{sub 2} removal efficiency up from 53.9% to 95%, and denitrification efficiency up from 85.6% to 98.2%. The optimal microwave power and empty bed residence time (EBRT) on simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification are 259 W and 0.357 s, respectively. SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} were rapidly oxidized in microwave induced catalytic oxidation reaction using potassium permanganate with zeolite being the catalyst and microwave absorbent. (author)

  3. Simultaneous hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate MRI and 18F-FDG-PET in cancer (hyperPET)

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Borgwardt, Henrik Gutte; Hansen, Adam Espe; Henriksen, Sarah T.

    2015-01-01

    have named this concept hyper PET. Intravenous injection of the hyperpolarized (13)C-pyruvate results in an increase of (13)C-lactate, (13)C-alanine and (13)C-CO2 ((13)C-HCO3) resonance peaks relative to the tissue, disease and the metabolic state probed. Accordingly, with dynamic nuclear polarization......In this paper we demonstrate, for the first time, the feasibility of a new imaging concept - combined hyperpolarized (13)C-pyruvate magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and (18)F-FDG-PET imaging. This procedure was performed in a clinical PET/MRI scanner with a canine cancer patient. We...... (DNP) and use of (13)C-pyruvate it is now possible to directly study the Warburg Effect through the rate of conversion of (13)C-pyruvate to (13)C-lactate. In this study, we combined it with (18)F-FDG-PET that studies uptake of glucose in the cells. A canine cancer patient with a histology verified...

  4. Investigating tumor perfusion and metabolism using multiple hyperpolarized 13C compounds: HP001, pyruvate and urea

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    von Morze, Cornelius; Larson, Peder E.Z.; Hu, Simon

    2012-01-01

    The metabolically inactive hyperpolarized agents HP001 (bis-1,1-(hydroxymethyl)-[1-13C]cyclopropane-d8) and urea enable a new type of perfusion magnetic resonance imaging based on a direct signal source that is background-free. The addition of perfusion information to metabolic information obtained...... (T1=95 s ex vivo, 32 s in vivo at 3 T) using a pulse sequence with balanced steady-state free precession and ramped flip angle over time for efficient utilization of the hyperpolarized magnetization and three-dimensional echo-planar spectroscopic imaging of urea copolarized with [1-13C...... of separate dynamic HP001 imaging and copolarized pyruvate/urea imaging were compared. A strong and significant correlation (R=0.73, P=.02) detected between the urea and HP001 data confirmed the value of copolarizing urea with pyruvate for simultaneous assessment of perfusion and metabolism....

  5. Hyperpolarized 129Xe as an NMR probe for functional studies

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Wolber, J.

    2000-01-01

    The nuclear spin polarization of 129 Xe can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude using optical pumping techniques, resulting in a dramatic enhancement of the 129 Xe Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) signal. The 'hyperpolarized' gas can be used for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the void spaces of the lungs after introduction of the gas into the respiratory system. Furthermore, the high solubility of xenon in blood and lipids suggests the use of 129 Xe NMR for studying blood flow, permeability, perfusion and blood volume. Hyperpolarized 129 Xe MRI has the potential of combining the high sensitivity and functional information of radioactive tracer studies with the high spatial and temporal resolution of MRI. The spin-lattice relaxation time T 1 of 129 Xe in blood determines the loss of polarization during transit from the lungs to the tissue of interest. A difference in the relaxation times of xenon in oxygenated and deoxygenated blood could be used as a contrast mechanism in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). In this thesis, the hyperpolarized 129 Xe T 1 in human blood is measured in vitro as a function of blood oxygenation, and the relevant relaxation mechanisms are discussed. A new and unexpected finding is that the hyperpolarized 129 Xe NMR spectrum in blood is highly sensitive to blood oxygenation. Therefore, hyperpolarized 129 Xe NMR provides a powerful means of measuring blood oxygenation quantitatively and non-invasively. The interaction of xenon with hemoglobin is responsible for an oxygen-dependent shift of the 129 Xe NMR resonance of xenon in red blood cells. Injection delivery of hyperpolarized 129 Xe in solution could be a more efficient method of administrating the gas for functional NMR studies. For this purpose, suitable biocompatible carrier media have been studied. In particular, the use of perfluorocarbon emulsions, which are already in use as blood substitutes, as delivery media for hyperpolarized 129 Xe has been investigates

  6. Anomalous second ferromagnetic phase transition in Co{sub 0.08}Bi{sub 1.92}Se{sub 3} topological insulator

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang, Min, E-mail: zmzmi1987@163.com; Liu, Ligang; Yang, Hui

    2016-09-05

    We report the observation of ferromagnetism in topological insulator Co{sub 0.08}Bi{sub 1.92}Se{sub 3} single crystal. The structural, magnetic, and microstructure properties of Co{sub 0.08}Bi{sub 1.92}Se{sub 3} are investigated. The existence of complicated ferromagnetic ordering, indicates the anomalous second ferromagnetic phase transition below 30 K. Well-defined ferromagnetic hysteresis in the magnetization was found in the sample. The origin of bulk ferromagnetism in Co{sub 0.08}Bi{sub 1.92}Se{sub 3} is concerned with three aspects: Co cluster, RKKY interactions, and the spin texture of Co impurities. - Highlights: • The bulk ferromagnetism have been found in the C{sub o0.08}Bi{sub 1.92}Se{sub 3} single crystal. • The anomalous second ferromagnetic phase transition is found below 30 K. • The origin of bulk ferromagnetism in Co{sub 0.08}Bi{sub 1.92}Se{sub 3} is concerned with three aspects.

  7. Hyperpolarized [1-(13) C]pyruvate MRI for noninvasive examination of placental metabolism and nutrient transport: A feasibility study in pregnant guinea pigs.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Friesen-Waldner, Lanette J; Sinclair, Kevin J; Wade, Trevor P; Michael, Banoub; Chen, Albert P; de Vrijer, Barbra; Regnault, Timothy R H; McKenzie, Charles A

    2016-03-01

    To test the feasibility of hyperpolarized [1-(13) C]pyruvate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for noninvasive examination of guinea pig fetoplacental metabolism and nutrient transport. Seven pregnant guinea pigs with a total of 30 placentae and fetuses were anesthetized and scanned at 3T. T1 -weighted (1) H images were obtained from the maternal abdomen. An 80 mM solution of hyperpolarized [1-(13) C]pyruvate (hereafter referred to as pyruvate) was injected into a vein in the maternal foot. Time-resolved 3D (13) C images were acquired starting 10 seconds after the beginning of bolus injection and every 10 seconds after to 50 seconds. The pregnant guinea pigs were recovered after imaging. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn around the maternal heart and each placenta and fetal liver in all slices in the (1) H images. These ROIs were copied to the (13) C images and were used to calculate the sum of the pyruvate and lactate signal intensities for each organ. The signal intensities were normalized by the volume of the organ and the maximum signal in the maternal heart. No adverse events were observed in the pregnant guinea pigs and natural pupping occurred at term (∼68 days). Pyruvate signal was observed in all 30 placentae, and lactate, a by-product of pyruvate metabolism, was also observed in all placentae. The maximum pyruvate and lactate signals in placentae occurred at 20 seconds. In addition to the observation of pyruvate and lactate signals in the placentae, both pyruvate and lactate signals were observed in all fetal livers. The maximum pyruvate and lactate signals in the fetal livers occurred at 10 seconds and 20 seconds, respectively. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using hyperpolarized [1-(13) C]pyruvate MRI to noninvasively examine fetoplacental metabolism and transport of pyruvate in guinea pigs. Hyperpolarized (13) C MRI may provide a novel method for longitudinal studies of fetoplacental abnormalities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  8. Molecular MRI based on hyper-polarized xenon

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Tassali, Nawal

    2012-01-01

    Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has a high importance in medicine as it enables the observation of the organs inside the body without the use of radiative or invasive techniques. However it is known to suffer from poor sensitivity. To circumvent this limitation, a key solution resides in the use of hyper-polarized species. Among the entities with which we can drastically increase nuclear polarization, xenon has very specific properties through its interactions with its close environment that lead to a wide chemical shift bandwidth. The goal is thus to use it as a tracer. This PhD thesis focuses on the concept of 129 Xe MRI-based sensors for the detection of biological events. In this approach, hyper-polarized xenon is vectorized to biological targets via functionalized host systems, and then localized thanks to fast dedicated MRI sequences. The conception and set-up of a spin-exchange optical pumping device is first described. Then studies about the interaction of the hyper-polarized noble gas with new cryptophanes susceptible to constitute powerful host molecules are detailed. Also the implementation of recent MRI sequences optimized for the transient character of the hyper-polarization and taking profit of the xenon in-out exchange is described. Applications of this approach for the detection of metallic ions and cellular receptors are studied. Finally, our first in vivo results on a small animal model are presented. (author) [fr

  9. Hyperpolarized singlet NMR on a small animal imaging system

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Laustsen, Christoffer; Pileio, Giuseppe; Tayler, Michael C. D.

    2012-01-01

    Nuclear spin hyperpolarization makes a significant advance toward overcoming the sensitivity limitations of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging, particularly in the case of low-gamma nuclei. The sensitivity may be improved further by storing the hyperpolarization in slowly relaxing singlet...... populations of spin- 1/2 pairs. Here, we report hyperpolarized 13C spin order transferred into and retrieved from singlet spin order using a small animal magnetic resonance imaging scanner. For spins in sites with very similar chemical shifts, singlet spin order is sustained in high magnetic field without...... requiring strong radiofrequency irradiation. The demonstration of robust singlet-to-magnetization conversion, and vice versa, on a small animal scanner, is promising for future in vivo and clinical deployments....

  10. The role of level anti-crossings in nuclear spin hyperpolarization

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Ivanov, Konstantin L.; Pravdivtsev, Andrey N.; Yurkovskaya, Alexandra V.; Vieth, Hans Martin; Kaptein, R

    2014-01-01

    Nuclear spin hyperpolarization is an important resource for increasing the sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy and MRI. Signal enhancements can be as large as 3-4 orders of magnitude. In hyperpolarization experiments, it is often desirable to transfer the initial polarization to other nuclei of choice,

  11. Hyperpolarized metabolic MR in the study of cardiac function and disease

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Lauritzen, M. H.; Søgaard, L. V.; Madsen, Pia Lisbeth

    2014-01-01

    Several diseases of the heart have been linked to an insufficient ability to generate enough energy (ATP) to sustain proper heart function. Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance (MR) is a novel technique that can visualize and quantify myocardial energy metabolism. Hyperpolarization enhances the MR...... signal from a biological molecule of interest by more than 10,000 times, making it possible to measure its cellular uptake and conversion in specific enzymatic pathways in real time. We review the role of hyperpolarized MR in identifying changes in cardiac metabolism in vivo, and present the extensive...... literature on hyperpolarized pyruvate that has been used to characterize cardiac disease in various in vivo models, such as myocardial ischemia, hypertension, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and heart failure. The technical aspects of the technique are presented as well as the challenges of translating...

  12. Lanthanum-promoted copper-based hydrotalcites derived mixed oxides for NO{sub x} adsorption, soot combustion and simultaneous NO{sub x}-soot removal

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, Zhongpeng [School of Resources and Environment, University of Jinan, 106 Jiwei Road, Jinan 250022 (China); Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR (United Kingdom); Yan, Xiaotong; Bi, Xinlin; Wang, Liguo [School of Resources and Environment, University of Jinan, 106 Jiwei Road, Jinan 250022 (China); Zhang, Zhaoliang, E-mail: chm_zhangzl@ujn.edu.cn [School of Resources and Environment, University of Jinan, 106 Jiwei Road, Jinan 250022 (China); Jiang, Zheng; Xiao, Tiancun [Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR (United Kingdom); Umar, Ahmad [Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Arts, Najran University, P.O. Box 1988, Najran 11001 (Saudi Arabia); Promising Centre for Sensors and Electronic Devices (PCSED), Najran University, P.O. Box 1988, Najran 11001 (Saudi Arabia); Wang, Qiang, E-mail: qiang.wang.ox@gmail.com [College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, 35 Tsinghua East Road, Beijing 100083 (China)

    2014-03-01

    Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • The addition of La in Cu-based oxides increased the types of active oxygen. • NO{sub x} adsorption, soot oxidation and simultaneous NO{sub x}-soot removal were enhanced. • The possible catalytic mechanism was studied via in situ FTIR analysis. • Soot oxidation was promoted by the NO{sub 2} intermediate. - Abstract: La-promoted Cu-based hydrotalcites derived mixed oxides were prepared and their catalytic activities for NO{sub x} adsorption, soot oxidation, and simultaneous NO{sub x}-soot removal were investigated. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, DTG, BET, FTIR, H2-TPR, TPD and TPO techniques. The oxides catalysts exhibited mesoporous properties with specific surface area of 45–160 m{sup 2}/g. The incorporation of La and Cu decreased the amount of basic sites due to the large decrease in surface areas. Under O{sub 2} atmosphere, La incorporation is dominant for soot oxidation activity, while Cu favors high selectivity to CO{sub 2} formation. A synergetic effect between La and Cu for catalyzed soot oxidation lies in the improved redox property and suitable basicity. The presence of NO in O{sub 2} significantly promoted soot oxidation on the catalysts with the ignition temperature decreased to about 300 °C. In O{sub 2}/NO atmosphere, NO{sub 2} acts as an intermediate which oxidizes soot to CO{sub 2} at a lower temperature with itself reduced to NO or N{sub 2}, contributing to the high catalytic performance in simultaneous removal of NO{sub x} and soot.

  13. Capacitive properties of PANI/MnO{sub 2} synthesized via simultaneous-oxidation route

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang Jie [School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006 (China); Shu Dong, E-mail: dshu@scnu.edu.cn [School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006 (China); Tianneng Group, Changxing 313100, Zhejiang Province (China); Base of Production, Education and Research on Energy Storage and Power Battery of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou 510006 (China); Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Technology on Energy Storage and Power Generation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006 (China); Zhang Tianren [Tianneng Group, Changxing 313100, Zhejiang Province (China); Chen Hongyu [School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006 (China); Base of Production, Education and Research on Energy Storage and Power Battery of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou 510006 (China); Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Technology on Energy Storage and Power Generation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006 (China); Zhao Haimin; Wang Yongsheng [Tianneng Group, Changxing 313100, Zhejiang Province (China); Sun Zhenjie; Tang Shaoqing [School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006 (China); Fang Xueming [Tianneng Group, Changxing 313100, Zhejiang Province (China); Cao Xiufang [School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006 (China)

    2012-08-15

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer PANI/MnO{sub 2} composite was synthesized by the simultaneous-oxidation route. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Good contact in inter-molecule level between PANI and MnO{sub 2} improves the conductivity. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The separation between PANI and MnO{sub 2} prevents the aggregation of nano-composite. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The maximum specific capacitance of the PANI/MnO{sub 2} electrode is 320 F/g. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The as-prepared PANI/MnO{sub 2} exhibits excellent cycle stability of 84% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. - Abstract: Polyaniline (PANI) and manganese dioxide (MnO{sub 2}) composite (PANI/MnO{sub 2}) was synthesized via a simultaneous-oxidation route. In this route, all reactants were dispersed homogenously in precursor solution and existed as ions and molecules, and involved reactions of ions and molecules generating PANI and MnO{sub 2} simultaneously. In this way, PANI molecule and MnO{sub 2} molecule contact each other and arrange alternately in the composite. The inter-molecule contact improves the conductivity of the composite. The alternative arrangement of PANI molecules and MnO{sub 2} molecules separating each other, and prevents the aggregation of PANI and cluster of MnO{sub 2} so as to decrease the particle size of the composite. The morphology, structure, porous and capacitive properties are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Branauer-Emmett-Teller test, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, charge-discharge test and the electrochemical impedance measurements. The results show that MnO{sub 2} is predominant in the PANI/MnO{sub 2} composite and the composite exhibits larger specific surface area than pure MnO{sub 2}. The maximum specific capacitance of the composite electrode reaches up to 320 F/g by charge-discharge test, 1.56 times

  14. Dynamic coronary MR angiography in a pig model with hyperpolarized water

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Lipsø, Hans Kasper Wigh; Hansen, Esben Søvsø Szocska; Tougaard, Rasmus Stilling

    2018-01-01

    To investigate dynamic coronary MR angiography using hyperpolarized water as a positive contrast agent. Hyperpolarization can increase the signal by several orders of magnitude, and has recently been translated to human cardiac application. The aim was to achieve large 1 H signal enhancement...... to allow high-resolution imaging of the coronary arteries. Protons in D2 O were hyperpolarized by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization. A total of 18 mL of hyperpolarized water was injected into the coronary arteries of healthy pigs (N = 9; 3 injections in 3 animals). The MRI images were acquired...... with a gradient-echo sequence in an oblique slab covering the main left coronary arteries with 0.55 mm in-plane resolution. The acquisition time was 870 ms per frame. A more than 200-fold signal enhancement compared with thermally polarized water at 3 T was obtained. Coronary angiographic images with a signal...

  15. Simultaneous absorption of NO and SO{sub 2} into hexamminecobalt(II)/iodide solution

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Long, X.L.; Xiao, W.D.; Yuan, W.K. [East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai (China)

    2005-05-01

    An innovative catalyst system has been developed to simultaneously remove NO and SO{sub 2} from combustion flue gas. Such catalyst system may be introduced to the scrubbing solution using ammonia solution to accomplish sequential absorption and catalytic oxidation of both NO and SO{sub 2} in the same reactor. When the catalyst system is utilized for removing NO and SO{sub 2} from the flue gas, Co(NH{sub 3}){sub 6}{sup 2+} ions act as the catalyst and I{sup -} as the co-catalyst. Dissolved oxygen, in equilibrium with the residual oxygen in the flue gas, is the oxidant. The overall removal process is further enhanced by UV irradiation at 365 nm. More than 95% of NO is removed at a feed concentration of 250-900 ppm, and nearly 100% of SO{sub 2} is removed at a feed concentration of 800-2500 ppm. The sulfur dioxide co-existing in the flue gas is beneficial to NO absorption into hexamminecobalt(II)/iodide solution. NO and SO{sub 2} can be converted to ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate that can be used as fertilizer materials. The process described here demonstrates the feasibility of removing SO{sub 2} and NO simultaneously only by retrofitting the existing wet ammonia flue-gas-desulfurization (FGD) scrubbers.

  16. Field dependence of T1 for hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Chattergoon, N.; Martnez-Santiesteban, F.; Handler, W. B.

    2013-01-01

    conformation and properties of the dissolution media such as buffer composition, solution pH, temperature and magnetic field. We have measured the magnetic field dependence of the spin–lattice relaxation time of hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate using field-cycled relaxometry. [1-13C]pyruvate was hyperpolarized...

  17. Achieving simultaneous CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}S conversion via a coupled solar-driven electrochemical approach on non-precious-metal catalysts

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ma, Weiguang; Yu, Wei; Zong, Xu; Li, Can [State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), Dalian (China); Wang, Hong; Wang, Xiaomei; Xu, Zhiqiang [State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), Dalian (China); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China)

    2018-03-19

    Carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) and hydrogen sulfide (H{sub 2}S) are generally concomitant with methane (CH{sub 4}) in natural gas and traditionally deemed useless or even harmful. Developing strategies that can simultaneously convert both CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}S into value-added products is attractive; however it has not received enough attention. A solar-driven electrochemical process is demonstrated using graphene-encapsulated zinc oxide catalyst for CO{sub 2} reduction and graphene catalyst for H{sub 2}S oxidation mediated by EDTA-Fe{sup 2+}/EDTA-Fe{sup 3+} redox couples. The as-prepared solar-driven electrochemical system can realize the simultaneous conversion of CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}S into carbon monoxide and elemental sulfur at near neutral conditions with high stability and selectivity. This conceptually provides an alternative avenue for the purification of natural gas with added economic and environmental benefits. (copyright 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  18. A novel MR contrast agent for angiography and perfusion: Hyperpolarized water

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Lipsø, Hans Kasper Wigh

    , hyperpolarized by dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (d-DNP), can be applied as an MRI contrast agent for angiography and perfusion. The first part of the project focuses on development of a protocol for production of large samples of hyperpolarized protons in D2O. The samples are polarized and dissolved...

  19. HP-CsB{sub 5}O{sub 8}. Synthesis and characterization of an outstanding borate exhibiting the simultaneous linkage of all structural units of borates

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sohr, Gerhard; Huppertz, Hubert [Institut fuer Allgemeine, Anorganische und Theoretische Chemie, Leopold-Franzens-Universitaet Innsbruck (Austria); Toebbens, Daniel M. [Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie GmbH, Berlin (Germany); Schmedt auf der Guenne, Joern [Department fuer Chemie/Biologie, Universitaet Siegen (Germany)

    2014-12-15

    The new cesium pentaborate HP-CsB{sub 5}O{sub 8} is synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions of 6 GPa and 900 C in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (Z=4) with the parameters a=789.7(1), b=961.2(1), c=836.3(1) pm, V=0.6348(1) nm{sup 3}, R{sub 1}=0.0359 and wR{sub 2}=0.0440 (all data). The new structure type of HP-CsB{sub 5}O{sub 8} exhibits the simultaneous linkage of trigonal BO{sub 3} groups, corner-sharing BO{sub 4} tetrahedra, and edge-sharing BO{sub 4} tetrahedra including the presence of threefold-coordinated oxygen atoms. With respect to the rich structural chemistry of borates, HP-CsB{sub 5}O{sub 8} is the second structure type possessing this outstanding combination of the main structural units of borates in one compound. The structure consists of corrugated chains of corner- and edge-sharing BO{sub 4} tetrahedra interconnected through BO{sub 3} groups forming octagonal channels. Inside these channels, cesium is 13+3-fold coordinated by oxygen atoms. {sup 11}B MQMAS NMR spectra are analyzed to estimate the isotropic chemical shift values and quadrupolar parameters. IR and Raman spectra are obtained and compared to the calculated vibrational frequencies at the Γ-point. The high-temperature behavior is examined by means of temperature-programmed powder diffraction. (copyright 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  20. Phase transformation during simultaneous chalcogenization of CuIn(S,Se){sub 2} thin films using metalorganic sources

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Shoji, Ryuki; Kayama, Yoshiki; Sugiyama, Mutsumi [Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510 (Japan); Chichibu, Shigefusa F. [Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, Sendai 980-8577 (Japan)

    2017-06-15

    Simultaneous chalcogenization of CuIn(S{sub y},Se{sub 1-y}){sub 2} (CISSe) thin films has been demonstrated using organometallic sources such as diethylselenide [(C{sub 2}H{sub 5}){sub 2}Se] and ditertiarybutylsulfide [(t-C{sub 4}H{sub 9}){sub 2}S] to obtain homogeneous CISSe pseudobinary alloys with controlled amounts of Se and S species. Low-temperature chalcogenization at 300 C resulted in the formation of Cu-SSe and In-SSe alloys diffused into the Cu{sub 11}In{sub 9} metallic precursor. On the other hand, high-temperature chalcogenization produced CISSe thin films without additional phases. The obtained results can be used for elucidating the mechanism of simultaneous chalcogenization and development of high-performance and cost-effective commercial applications. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  1. Simultaneous oxidative conversion and co/sub 2/ reforming of methane to syngas over modified Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ catalysts

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Eli, W.

    2013-01-01

    A series of Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and modified Ni-M/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ (MLa, Na, K, Ca and Ba) catalysts have been prepared and characterized by XRD, BET, XPS, TGA, TEM and SEM. The performance of these catalysts for simultaneous oxidative conversion and CO/sub 2/ reforming of methane to syngas was evaluated using a fixed-bed reactor. The results indicated that the catalytic activity of Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ increased with Ni loading, and reached maximum at 12% Ni loading. The La-modified Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ exhibited an excellent catalytic activity and stability within 20 h as compared with unmodified and Na-modified ones. It was found that the addition of La decreased the particle size of nickel, thus increased the Ni dispersion accordingly as indicated by the characterization data. The catalytic activity of Na-modified Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ decreased obviously only after 6 h of reaction due to aggregation of metallic Ni particles. Hence, it was suggested that the sintering of Ni particles dominated the catalyst deactivation during the catalytic reaction process. (author)

  2. 3D Hyperpolarized C-13 EPI with Calibrationless Parallel Imaging

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Gordon, Jeremy W.; Hansen, Rie Beck; Shin, Peter J.

    2018-01-01

    With the translation of metabolic MRI with hyperpolarized 13C agents into the clinic, imaging approaches will require large volumetric FOVs to support clinical applications. Parallel imaging techniques will be crucial to increasing volumetric scan coverage while minimizing RF requirements and tem...... strategies to accelerate and undersample hyperpolarized 13C data using 3D blipped EPI acquisitions and multichannel receive coils, and demonstrated its application in a human study of [1-13C]pyruvate metabolism....

  3. Renal MR angiography and perfusion in the pig using hyperpolarized water

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Lipsø, Hans Kasper Wigh; Hansen, Esben Søvsø Szocska; Tougaard, Rasmus Stilling

    2016-01-01

    at 3 Tesla (T). Approximately 15 mL of hyperpolar-ized water was injected in the renal artery by hand over 4–5 s.Results: A liquid state polarization of 5.3 6 0.9% of 3.8 M pro-tons in 15 mL of deuterium oxide was achieved with a T1of24 6 1 s. This allowed injection through an arterial catheterinto...

  4. Optical rectification in a strained GaAs{sub 0.9}P{sub 0.1}/GaAs{sub 0.6}P{sub 0.4} quantum dot: Simultaneous effects of electric and magnetic fields

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Vinolin, Ada [Dept. of Physics, Madurai Kamaraj University College, Alagarkoil Road, Madurai-625002 (India); Peter, A. John, E-mail: a.john.peter@gmail.com [Dept. of Physics, Government Arts College, Melur-625106, Tamilnadu (India)

    2014-04-24

    Simultaneous effects of electric field and magnetic field on exciton binding energy as a function of dot radius in a cylindrical GaAs{sub 0.9}P{sub 0.1}/GaAs{sub 0.6}P{sub 0.4} strained quantum dot are investigated. The strain contribution includes the strong built-in electric field induced by the spontaneous and piezoelectric polarizations. Numerical calculations are performed using variational procedure within the single band effective mass approximation. Optical rectification in the GaAs{sub 0.9}P{sub 0.1}/GaAs{sub 0.6}P{sub 0.4} quantum dot is computed in the presence of electric and magnetic fields.

  5. Design of a 15N Molecular Unit to Achieve Long Retention of Hyperpolarized Spin State

    Science.gov (United States)

    Nonaka, Hiroshi; Hirano, Masashi; Imakura, Yuki; Takakusagi, Yoichi; Ichikawa, Kazuhiro; Sando, Shinsuke

    2017-01-01

    Nuclear hyperpolarization is a phenomenon that can be used to improve the sensitivity of magnetic resonance molecular sensors. However, such sensors typically suffer from short hyperpolarization lifetime. Herein we report that [15N, D14]trimethylphenylammonium (TMPA) has a remarkably long spin-lattice relaxation time (1128 s, 14.1 T, 30 °C, D2O) on its 15N nuclei and achieves a long retention of the hyperpolarized state. [15N, D14]TMPA-based hyperpolarized sensor for carboxylesterase allowed the highly sensitive analysis of enzymatic reaction by 15N NMR for over 40 min in phophate-buffered saline (H2O, pH 7.4, 37 °C).

  6. Magnetic and optical properties of Ag@SiO{sub 2}-FITC-Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} hybrid nanoparticles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sui, Ning [Université de Lyon, Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon–INL, UMR CNRS 5270, Site Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, F-69134 Ecully Cedex (France); College of Material Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042 (China); Monnier, Virginie, E-mail: virginie.monnier@ec-lyon.fr [Université de Lyon, Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon–INL, UMR CNRS 5270, Site Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, F-69134 Ecully Cedex (France); Salvia, Marie-Virginie; Chevolot, Yann; Souteyrand, Eliane [Université de Lyon, Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon–INL, UMR CNRS 5270, Site Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, F-69134 Ecully Cedex (France)

    2014-03-15

    Highlights: • New magnetic/fluorescent nanoparticles were synthesized. • The silver core led to a maximum 4-fold enhanced fluorescence of fluorophore. • Maximum enhancement factor was obtained when metal-fluorophore distance is 5 nm. • Magnetism and fluorescence appeared simultaneously for nanoparticles in solution. -- Abstract: Nanoparticles composed of a silver core coated with a silica shell (Ag@SiO{sub 2}) were prepared. A dye, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), was further encapsulated during the growth of a second silica shell onto Ag@SiO{sub 2} nanoparticles. The proximity of silver nanoparticles led to a 4-fold maximal enhancement in the fluorescence of FITC when the first silica shell thickness was set at 5 nm. After amino-functionalization of Ag@SiO{sub 2}-FITC nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles were bonded to their surface. The magnetic and metal-enhanced fluorescence properties appeared simultaneously when Ag@SiO{sub 2}-FITC-Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} hybrid nanoparticles were dispersed in a solution.

  7. Hyperpolarized Water Perfusion in the Porcine Brain – a Pilot Study

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Søvsø Szocska Hansen, Esben; Lipsø, Hans Kasper Wigh; Tougaard, Rasmus Stilling

    2017-01-01

    Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR (DCE-MR) perfusion assessment with gadolinium contrast agents is currently the most widely used cerebral perfusion MR method. Hyperpolarized water has recently been shown to succeed 13C probes as angiography probe. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility...... of hyperpolarized water for visualizing the brain vasculature of a large animal in a clinically relevant setting. In detail, reference perfusion values were obtained and large to small arteries could be identified....

  8. Cerebellar Roles in Self-Timing for Sub- and Supra-Second Intervals.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ohmae, Shogo; Kunimatsu, Jun; Tanaka, Masaki

    2017-03-29

    Previous studies suggest that the cerebellum and basal ganglia are involved in sub-second and supra-second timing, respectively. To test this hypothesis at the cellular level, we examined the activity of single neurons in the cerebellar dentate nucleus in monkeys performing the oculomotor version of the self-timing task. Animals were trained to report the passage of time of 400, 600, 1200, or 2400 ms following a visual cue by making self-initiated memory-guided saccades. We found a sizeable preparatory neuronal activity before self-timed saccades across delay intervals, while the time course of activity correlated with the trial-by-trial variation of saccade latency in different ways depending on the length of the delay intervals. For the shorter delay intervals, the ramping up of neuronal firing rate started just after the visual cue and the rate of rise of neuronal activity correlated with saccade timing. In contrast, for the longest delay (2400 ms), the preparatory activity started late during the delay period, and its onset time correlated with self-timed saccade latency. Because electrical microstimulation applied to the recording sites during saccade preparation advanced self-timed but not reactive saccades, regardless of their directions, the signals in the cerebellum may have a causal role in self-timing. We suggest that the cerebellum may regulate timing in both sub-second and supra-second ranges, although its relative contribution might be greater for sub-second than for supra-second time intervals. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT How we decide the timing of self-initiated movement is a fundamental question. According to the prevailing hypothesis, the cerebellum plays a role in monitoring sub-second timing, whereas the basal ganglia are important for supra-second timing. To verify this, we explored neuronal signals in the monkey cerebellum while animals reported the passage of time in the range 400-2400 ms by making eye movements. Contrary to our expectations, we

  9. Continuous hyperpolarization with parahydrogen in a membrane reactor

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lehmkuhl, Sören; Wiese, Martin; Schubert, Lukas; Held, Mathias; Küppers, Markus; Wessling, Matthias; Blümich, Bernhard

    2018-06-01

    Hyperpolarization methods entail a high potential to boost the sensitivity of NMR. Even though the "Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange" (SABRE) approach uses para-enriched hydrogen, p-H2, to repeatedly achieve high polarization levels on target molecules without altering their chemical structure, such studies are often limited to batch experiments in NMR tubes. Alternatively, this work introduces a continuous flow setup including a membrane reactor for the p-H2, supply and consecutive detection in a 1 T NMR spectrometer. Two SABRE substrates pyridine and nicotinamide were hyperpolarized, and more than 1000-fold signal enhancement was found. Our strategy combines low-field NMR spectrometry and a membrane flow reactor. This enables precise control of the experimental conditions such as liquid and gas pressures, and volume flow for ensuring repeatable maximum polarization.

  10. Metabolic imaging of patients with prostate cancer using hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]pyruvate

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Nelson, Sarah J; Kurhanewicz, John; Vigneron, Daniel B

    2013-01-01

    This first-in-man imaging study evaluated the safety and feasibility of hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]pyruvate as an agent for noninvasively characterizing alterations in tumor metabolism for patients with prostate cancer. Imaging living systems with hyperpolarized agents can result in more than 10,000-f...

  11. Solvothermal synthesis, crystal structure, and second-order nonlinear optical properties of a new noncentrosymmetric gallium-organic framework material, [N(C{sub 3}H{sub 7}){sub 4}]{sub 3}Ga{sub 3}[C{sub 6}H{sub 3}(CO{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lee, Dong Woo; Jo, Vinna [Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 156-756 (Korea, Republic of); Ok, Kang Min, E-mail: kmok@cau.ac.kr [Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 156-756 (Korea, Republic of)

    2012-10-15

    A novel noncentrosymmetric (NCS) gallium-organic framework material, [N(C{sub 3}H{sub 7}){sub 4}]{sub 3}Ga{sub 3}[C{sub 6}H{sub 3}(CO{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sub 4} (CAUMOF-11) has been synthesized by a solvothermal reaction using Ga(NO{sub 3}){sub 3}{center_dot}xH{sub 2}O, 1,3,5-C{sub 6}H{sub 3}(CO{sub 2}H){sub 3}, N(C{sub 3}H{sub 7}){sub 4}Cl, HNO{sub 3}, and HCON(CH{sub 3}){sub 2} at 180 Degree-Sign C. The structure of the reported material has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. CAUMOF-11 has an anionic three-dimensional framework with aligned four-coordinate GaO{sub 4} tetrahedra and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate groups. Tetrapropylammonim cations reside within the channel and maintain the charge balance. Detailed structural analyses with full characterization including infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, ion-exchange reactions, topotactic decomposition, and gas adsorption experiments are reported. Powder second-harmonic generating (SHG) measurements on CAUMOF-11, using 1064 nm radiation, exhibit SHG efficiency of 15 times that of {alpha}-SiO{sub 2} and the material is phase-matchable (type-1). - Graphical Abstract: Second-order nonlinear optical measurements on CAUMOF-11 reveal that the material is phase-matchable (type-1) with SHG efficiency of 15 times that of {alpha}-SiO{sub 2}. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A new NCS Ga-organic framework was solvothermally synthesized. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer CAUMOF-11 exhibits SHG efficiency of 15 times that of {alpha}-SiO{sub 2}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Thermal decomposition of CAUMOF-11 crystal maintains the original morphology.

  12. Simultaneous removal of NO and Hg{sup 0} over Ce-Cu modified V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/TiO{sub 2} based commercial SCR catalysts

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Chi, Guilong [School of Energy & Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401 (China); College of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350 (China); Shen, Boxiong, E-mail: shenbx@nankai.edu.cn [School of Energy & Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401 (China); Yu, Ranran [School of Energy & Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401 (China); He, Chuan; Zhang, Xiao [College of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350 (China)

    2017-05-15

    Highlights: • Simultaneous removal of NO and Hg{sup 0} over the novel modified commercial SCR catalysts. • 7% Ce-1% Cu/SCR catalyst exhibited excellent activity of NO conversion and Hg{sup 0} oxidation. • 7% Ce-1% Cu/SCR catalyst showed higher resistance to SO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}O than other catalysts. • The synergistic interaction between Ce and Cu in the catalyst improved the activity greatly. - Abstract: A series of novel Ce-Cu modified V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/TiO{sub 2} based commercial SCR catalysts were prepared via ultrasonic-assisted impregnation method for simultaneous removal of NO and elemental mercury (Hg{sup 0}). Nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction of H{sub 2} (H{sub 2}-TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the catalysts. 7% Ce-1% Cu/SCR catalyst exhibited the highest NO conversion efficiency (>97%) at 200–400 °C, as well as the best Hg{sup 0} oxidation activity (>75%) at 150–350 °C among all the catalysts. The XPS and H{sub 2}-TPR results indicated that 7% Ce-1% Cu/SCR possess abundant chemisorbed oxygen and good redox ability, which was due to the strong synergy between Ce and Cu in the catalyst. The existence of the redox cycle of Ce{sup 4+} + Cu{sup 1+} ↔ Ce{sup 3+} + Cu{sup 2+} could greatly improve the catalytic activity. 7% Ce-1% Cu/SCR showed higher resistance to SO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}O than other catalysts. NO has a promoting effect on Hg{sup 0} oxidation. The Hg{sup 0} oxidation activity was inhibited by the injection of NH{sub 3}, which was due to the competitive adsorption and oxidized mercury could be reduced by ammonia at temperatures greater than 325 °C. Therefore, Hg{sup 0} oxidation could easily occurred at the outlet of SCR catalyst layer due to the consumption of NH{sub 3}.

  13. Studies to enhance the hyperpolarization level in PHIP-SAH-produced C13-pyruvate

    Science.gov (United States)

    Cavallari, Eleonora; Carrera, Carla; Aime, Silvio; Reineri, Francesca

    2018-04-01

    The use of [1-13C]pyruvate, hyperpolarized by dissolution-Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (d-DNP), in in vivo metabolic studies has developed quickly, thanks to the imaging probe's diagnostic relevance. Nevertheless, the cost of a d-DNP polarizer is quite high and the speed of hyperpolarization process is relatively slow, meaning that its use is limited to few research laboratories. ParaHydrogen Induced Polarization Side Arm Hydrogenation (PHIP-SAH) (Reineri et al., 2015) is a cost effective and easy-to-handle method that produces 13C-MR hyperpolarization in [1-13C]pyruvate and other metabolites. This work aims to identify the main determinants of the hyperpolarization levels observed in C13-pyruvate using this method. By dissecting the various steps of the PHIP-SAH procedure, it has been possible to assess the role of several experimental parameters whose optimization must be pursued if this method is to be made suitable for future translational steps. The search for possible solutions has led to improvements in the polarization of sodium [1-13C]pyruvate from 2% to 5%. Moreover, these results suggest that observed polarization levels could be increased considerably by an automatized procedure which would reduce the time required for the work-up passages that are currently carried out manually. The results reported herein mean that the attainment of polarization levels suitable for the metabolic imaging applications of these hyperpolarized substrates show significant promise.

  14. Simultaneous removal of SO{sub 2} and NOx by microwave with potassium permanganate over zeolite

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zai-shan Wei; He-jingying Niu; Yong-feng Ji [Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou (China). School of Environmental Science and Engineering

    2009-02-15

    Simultaneous sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) removal from flue gas can be achieved with high efficiency by microwave with potassium permanganate (KMnO{sub 4}) over zeolite. The experimental results showed that the microwave reactor could be used to oxidation of SO{sub 2} to sulfate with the best desulfurization efficiency of 96.8% and oxidize NOx to nitrates with the best NOx removal efficiency of 98.4%. Microwave accentuates catalytic oxidation treatment, and microwave addition can increase the SO{sub 2} and NOx removal efficiency by 7.2% and 12.2% separately. The addition of zeolite to microwave potassium permanganate increases from 16.5% to 43.5% the microwave removal efficiency for SO{sub 2}, and the NOx removal efficiency from 85.6% to 98.2%. The additional use of potassium permanganate to the microwave zeolite leads to the enhancement of SO{sub 2} removal efficiency up from 53.9% to 95%, and denitrification efficiency up from 85.6% to 98.2%. The optimal microwave power and empty bed residence time (EBRT) on simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification are 259 W and 0.357 s, respectively. SO{sub 2} and NOx were rapidly oxidized in microwave induced catalytic oxidation reaction using potassium permanganate with zeolite being the catalyst and microwave absorbent. 13 refs., 6 figs.

  15. The functionalities of Pt/{gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts in simultaneous HDS and HDA reactions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    V.G. Baldovino-Medrano; Sonia A. Giraldo; Aristobulo Centeno [Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), Bucaramanga (Colombia). Centro de Investigaciones en Catalisis (CICAT)

    2008-08-15

    A Pt/{gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst was tested in simultaneous hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene and hydrodearomatization (HDA) of naphthalene reactions. Samples of it were subjected to different pretreatments: reduction, reduction-sulfidation, sulfidation with pure H{sub 2}S and non-activation. The reduced catalyst presented the best performance, even comparable to that of Co(Ni)Mo catalysts. All catalyst samples were selective to the HDS reaction over HDA, and to the direct desulfurization pathway of dibenzothiophene HDS over the hydrogenation reaction pathway of HDS. The effect of H{sub 2}S partial pressure on the functionalities of the reduced Pt/{gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst was studied. The results showed that an increase in H{sub 2}S partial pressure does not cause poisoning, but an inhibition effect, without changing the catalyst selectivity. Accordingly, the activity trends were ascribed to adsorption differences between the different reactive molecules over the same catalytic active site. TPR characterization along with a thermodynamics analysis showed that the active phase of reduced Pt/{gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is constituted by Pt{sup 0} particles. However, presulfidation of the catalyst leads to a mixture of PtS and Pt{sup 0}which has a negative effect on the catalytic performance without changing catalyst functionalities. 61 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

  16. First and second harmonic generation of the XAl{sub 2}Se{sub 4} (X=Zn,Cd,Hg) defect chalcopyrite compounds

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ouahrani, Tarik, E-mail: tarik_ouahrani@yahoo.fr [Laboratoire de Physique Theorique, Universite de Tlemcen, B.P.230,13000 Tlemcen (Algeria); Ecole Preparatoire en Sciences et Techniques, Depertement de Physique EPST-T, Tlemcen 13000 (Algeria); Khenata, R. [Laboratoire de Physique Quantique et de Modelisation Mathematique (LPQ3M), Universite de Mascara, 29000 Mascara (Algeria); Lasri, B. [Laboratoire de Physique Theorique, Universite de Tlemcen, B.P.230,13000 Tlemcen (Algeria); Universite Dr Tahar Moulay de Saida, B.P. 138, Cite el Nasr, Saida 20000 (Algeria); Reshak, Ali H. [School of Complex systems, FFPW- South Bohemia University, Nove Hrady 37333 (Czech Republic); School of Material Engineering, Malaysia University of Perlis, P.O Box 77, d/a Pejabat Pos Besar, 01007 Kangar, Perlis (Malaysia); Bouhemadou, A. [Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Setif, 19000 Setif (Algeria); Bin-Omran, S. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451 (Saudi Arabia)

    2012-09-15

    The chemical bonding of the ZnAl{sub 2}Se{sub 4}, CdAl{sub 2}Se{sub 4} and HgAl{sub 2}Se{sub 4} defect chalcopyrites has been studied in the framework of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (AIM). The GW quasi-particle approximation is used to correct the DFT-underestimation of energy gap, and as a consequence the linear and nonlinear optical properties are significantly enhanced. The second harmonic generation (SHG) displays certain dependence with the ionicity degree decrease through the dependency of the SHG on the band gap. The occurrence of the AIM saddle point is characterized and some clarifying features in relationship with the density topology are exposed, which enable to understand the relation with the second harmonic generation effect.

  17. Kinetics of two simultaneous second-order reactions occurring in different zones

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Dole, M.; Hsu, C.S.; Patel, V.M.; Patel, G.N.

    1975-01-01

    Equations have been derived for the case of free radicals recombining according to the second-order kinetics with or without diffusion control under the conditions that there are two simultaneous spatially separated recombination reactions but that only the overall free-radical concentration can be observed. The properties of these equations are discussed and methods for determining the three independent parameters in the first case and five in the second developed. The resulting equations have been applied to the interpretation of data obtained in studying the decay of allyl chain free radicals in irradiated extended chain crystalline polyethylene

  18. MR imaging of the stomach and relaxation measurement with intraluminal hyperpolarized 129Xenon gas

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Yanagawa, Yasuhiro; Kimura, Atsuomi; Fujiwara, Hideaki; Kinoshita, Yoshimasa; Hattori, Mineyuki; Hiraga, Takashi; Iida, Hidehiro

    2001-01-01

    Using laser optical pumping, the nuclear spin polarization of noble gases can be strongly enhanced. The purpose of this study was to make a simple apparatus that can provide hyperpolarized 129 Xe gas, which can then be used in an attempt to obtain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We would also like to study the relaxation behavior of hyperpolarized 129 Xe gas through the measurement of the relaxation time. First, we demonstrated that hyperpolarized 129 Xe gas can be applied to magnetic resonance imaging of the stomach, by using a rat as a model. This was performed under a 4.7 T magnet field using the following imaging parameters for the hyperpolarized 129 Xe gas: TR=50 ms, TE=15 ms, FOV=10 x 10 cm 2 , matrix size 64 x 64, THK=2.54 cm. By using these parameters, we were able to obtain a hyperpolarized image of the stomach in rats for the first time. Next, we measured the relaxation times of the hyperpolarized 129 Xe gas enclosed in cavities such as the stomach of rats as well as in phantoms created by glass and gelatin bulbs. The cavity size dependency of the relaxation time was analyzed on the basis of the kinetic theory of gases. This analysis showed a linear relationship between the relaxation rate (1/T 1 ) and a square inverse of the cavity diameter (1/d 2 ). From this relationship, the wall effect on the 129 Xe relaxation can be estimated in the novel parameter t 1 , wall . This shows drastic dependency on the material of the wall, suggesting a potential use of the relaxation experiment as a diagnostic tool for organ surfaces in the future. (author)

  19. Hyperpolarized H2O MR angiography

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Ardenkjær-Larsen, Jan Henrik; Laustsen, Christoffer; Bowen, Sean

    2014-01-01

    polarization followed by dissolution in D2O. A water 1H signal enhancement of 77 times compared with 4.7 Tesla was obtained. This corresponds to a polarization of 3.5% for the 3.9 mol/L 1H in D2O . Moreover, a T1 in excess of 20 s was achieved. The use of hyperpolarized water as a contrast agent presents a new...

  20. Growth response in radish to sequential and simultaneous exposures of NO/sub 2/ and SO/sub 2/. [Raphanus sativus L. cv. Cherry Belle

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hogsett, W.E.; Holman, S.R.; Gumpertz, M.L.; Tingey, D.T.

    1984-01-01

    Sequential and simultaneous exposures of radish Raphanus sativus L. cv. Cherry Belle to 0.8 ..mu..l liter/sup -1/ nitrogen dioxide (NO/sub 2/) and 0.8 ..mu..l liter/sup -1/ sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/) were conducted under both day- and night-time conditions to examine the effects on growth and development. Plants were exposed for 2 h per week over the four-week growing period. Frequent harvests at regular intervals were utilized for determination of the growth analysis functions. Sequential exposure to the two pollutants had no effect on growth compared with the charcoal-filtered air controls. Simultaneous exposure to the gases significantly reduced plant growth. The relative growth rate was reduced throughout the growing period apparently influenced by a reduced net assimilation rate. The partitioning of the available assimilate was altered to favor leaf growth at the expense of hypocotyl development. Night-time simultaneous exposures also altered growth progress but to a lesser degree than exposures during the day.

  1. Optical hyperpolarization of 13C nuclear spins in nanodiamond ensembles

    Science.gov (United States)

    Chen, Q.; Schwarz, I.; Jelezko, F.; Retzker, A.; Plenio, M. B.

    2015-11-01

    Dynamical nuclear polarization holds the key for orders of magnitude enhancements of nuclear magnetic resonance signals which, in turn, would enable a wide range of novel applications in biomedical sciences. However, current implementations of DNP require cryogenic temperatures and long times for achieving high polarization. Here we propose and analyze in detail protocols that can achieve rapid hyperpolarization of 13C nuclear spins in randomly oriented ensembles of nanodiamonds at room temperature. Our protocols exploit a combination of optical polarization of electron spins in nitrogen-vacancy centers and the transfer of this polarization to 13C nuclei by means of microwave control to overcome the severe challenges that are posed by the random orientation of the nanodiamonds and their nitrogen-vacancy centers. Specifically, these random orientations result in exceedingly large energy variations of the electron spin levels that render the polarization and coherent control of the nitrogen-vacancy center electron spins as well as the control of their coherent interaction with the surrounding 13C nuclear spins highly inefficient. We address these challenges by a combination of an off-resonant microwave double resonance scheme in conjunction with a realization of the integrated solid effect which, together with adiabatic rotations of external magnetic fields or rotations of nanodiamonds, leads to a protocol that achieves high levels of hyperpolarization of the entire nuclear-spin bath in a randomly oriented ensemble of nanodiamonds even at room temperature. This hyperpolarization together with the long nuclear-spin polarization lifetimes in nanodiamonds and the relatively high density of 13C nuclei has the potential to result in a major signal enhancement in 13C nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and suggests functionalized and hyperpolarized nanodiamonds as a unique probe for molecular imaging both in vitro and in vivo.

  2. NH{sub 3} decomposition and simultaneous H{sub 2} separation with a commercial Pd-Cu-Ag/V membrane

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Skodras, G.; Sakelleropoulos, G. [Centre for Research and Technology, Hellas, Ptolemaidas-Kozanis, Ptolemaida (Greece). Inst. for Solid Fuel Technolgy and Applications]|[Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki (Greece). Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering Lab]|[Centre for Research and Technology, Hellas, Thermis, Thessaloniki (Greece). Chemical Process Research Inst.; Kaldis, S. [Centre for Research and Technology, Hellas, Thermis, Thessaloniki (Greece). Chemical Process Research Inst.; Topis, S. [Centre for Research and Technology, Hellas, Ptolemaidas-Kozanis, Ptolemaida (Greece). Inst. for Solid Fuel Technolgy and Applications]|[Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki (Greece). Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering Lab; Koutsonikolas, D. [Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki (Greece). Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering Lab; Grammelis, P. [Centre for Research and Technology, Hellas, Ptolemaidas-Kozanis, Ptolemaida (Greece). Inst. for Solid Fuel Technolgy and Applications

    2006-07-01

    The potential for integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology to emerge as an efficient and environmentally clean technology for power generation from coal gas was discussed. Ammonia (NH{sub 3}) is formed during gasification of coal. The concentration in coal gas depends on temperature, pressure, residence time and coal rank. In the gas turbine as much as 50 per cent of the NH{sub 3} in the fuel gas can be converted to NOx when the gas is combusted to produce power. A catalyst is required to bring NH{sub 3} levels down to acceptable levels for a gas turbine. This study examined the simultaneous ammonia (NH{sub 3}) decomposition and hydrogen (H{sub 2}) separation via a commercial Pd-Cu-Ag/V catalytic membrane reactor with 100 per cent H{sub 2} selectivity. A 16 per cent Ni/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst was prepared and 88 per cent NH{sub 3} conversion was achieved with 20 per cent H{sub 2} in the feed stream. Increase of temperature and prolongation of residence time resulted in higher conversions. However, pressure increase lowered the decomposition due to the high H{sub 2} partial pressure. In order to develop kinetic equations, experiments at differential conversions were also performed. H{sub 2} diffusion was found to be the rate limiting step of H{sub 2} transport through the membrane. As such, H{sub 2} permeance increased exponentially with temperature. Mathematical model were then developed to describe the operation of the catalytic membrane reactor and to compare its performance with the conventional reactor. It was concluded that the conversion of NH{sub 3} can be increased significantly using the Pd-Cu-Ag/V membrane. 14 refs., 3 tabs., 7 figs.

  3. Reduction and Simultaneous Removal of 99 Tc and Cr by Fe(OH) <sub>2sub> (s) Mineral Transformation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Saslow, Sarah A. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States; Um, Wooyong [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States; Pearce, Carolyn I. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States; Engelhard, Mark H. [Environmental; Bowden, Mark E. [Environmental; Lukens, Wayne [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States; Leavy, Ian I. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States; Riley, Brian J. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States; Kim, Dong-Sang [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States; Schweiger, Michael J. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States; Kruger, Albert A. [United

    2017-07-17

    Technetium (Tc) remains a priority remediation concern due to persistent challenges, including rapid re-oxidation of immobilized Tc, and competing contaminants, e.g. Cr(VI), that inhibit targeted Tc reduction and incorporation into stable mineral phases. Here Fe(OH)<sub>2sub>(s) is investigated as a comprehensive solution for overcoming these challenges, by serving as both the reductant, (Fe(II)), and immobilization agent to form Tc-incorporated magnetite (Fe<sub>3sub>O>4sub>). Trace metal analysis suggests removal of Tc(VII) and Cr(VI) from solution occurs simultaneously; however, complete removal and reduction of Cr(VI) is achieved earlier than the removal/reduction of co-mingled Tc(VII). Bulk oxidation state analysis of the magnetite solid phase by XANES confirms that the majority of Tc is Tc(IV), which is corroborated by XPS. Furthermore, EXAFS results show successful Tc(IV) incorporation into magnetite octahedral sites without additional substitution of Cr or Tc into neighboring Fe octahedral sites. XPS analysis of Cr confirms reduction to Cr(III) and the formation of a Cr-incorporated spinel, Cr2O<sub>3sub>, and Cr(OH)3 phases. Spinel (modeled as Fe<sub>3sub>O>4sub>), goethite, and feroxyhyte are detected in all reacted solid phase samples analyzed by XRD, where Tc(IV) incorporation has little effect on the spinel lattice structure. In the presence of Cr(III) a spinel phase along the magnetite-chromite (Fe<sub>3sub>O>4sub>-FeCr>2sub>O>4sub>) solid-solution line is formed.

  4. Selection of best impregnated palm shell activated carbon (PSAC) for simultaneous removal of SO{sub 2} and NOx

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sumathi, S.; Bhatia, S.; Lee, K.T. [School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang (Malaysia); Mohamed, A.R., E-mail: chrahman@eng.usm.my [School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang (Malaysia)

    2010-04-15

    This work examines the impregnated carbon-based sorbents for simultaneous removal of SO{sub 2} and NOx from simulated flue gas. The carbon-based sorbents were prepared using palm shell activated carbon (PSAC) impregnated with several metal oxides (Ni, V, Fe and Ce). The removal of SO{sub 2} and NOx from the simulated flue gas was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. The results showed that PSAC impregnated with CeO{sub 2} (PSAC-Ce) reported the highest sorption capacity among other impregnated metal oxides for the simultaneous removal of SO{sub 2} and NOx. PSAC-Ce showed the longest breakthrough time of 165 and 115 min for SO{sub 2} and NOx, respectively. The properties of the pure and impregnated PSAC were analyzed by BET, FTIR and XRF. The physical-chemical features of the PSAC-Ce sorbent indicated a catalytic activity in both the sorption of SO{sub 2} and NOx. The formation of both sulfate (SO{sub 4}{sup 2-}) and nitrate (NO{sup 3-}) species on spent PSAC-Ce further prove the catalytic role played by CeO{sub 2}.

  5. Second order magnetic phase transition and scaling analysis in iron doped manganite La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Fe{sub x}O{sub 3} compounds

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ginting, Dianta [Department of Applied Physics and Institute of Natural Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yong-in 446-701 (Korea, Republic of); Nanto, Dwi [Physics Education, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta 15412 (Indonesia); Denny, Yus Rama [Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Banten 42435 (Indonesia); Tarigan, Kontan [Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mercu Buana University, Jakarta-Barat, Jakarta 11650 (Indonesia); Hadi, Syamsul [Department of Mechanical Engineering, State Polytechnic of Malang, East Java 65100 (Indonesia); Ihsan, Mohammad [PSTBM-BATAN, Kawasan Puspiptek Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Banten 15314 (Indonesia); Institute of Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW 2522 (Australia); Rhyee, Jong-Soo, E-mail: jsrhyee@khu.ac.kr [Department of Applied Physics and Institute of Natural Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yong-in 446-701 (Korea, Republic of)

    2015-12-01

    We investigated magnetic properties of La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Fe{sub x}O{sub 3} (x=0.09 and 0.11) compounds in terms of isothermal magnetization analysis and scaling behavior with various critical exponents. From the Landau theory of magnetic phase transition, we found that the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition in La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Fe{sub x}O{sub 3} (x=0.09 and 0.11) compounds is the type of second order magnetic transition (SOMT), which contrary to the first order magnetic transition (FOMT) for low Fe-doped compounds (x<0.09) in previous reports. When we investigate the critical behavior of the compounds near T=T{sub c} by the modified Arrott plot, Kouvel–Fisher plots, and critical isothermal analysis, the estimated critical exponents β, γ, and δ are in between the theoretically predicted values for three-dimensional Heisenberg and mean-field interaction models. It is noteworthy that the scaling relations are obeyed in terms of renormalization magnetization m=ε{sup −β}M(H,ε) and renormalized field h=|ε|{sup β+γ}H. Temperature-dependent effective exponents β{sub eff} and γ{sub eff} correspond to the ones of disordered ferromagnets. It is shown that the magnetic state of the compounds is not fully described by the conventional localized-spin interaction model because the ferromagnetic interaction has itinerant character by increasing Fe-doping concentration. - Highlights: • The ferromagnetic phase transition is of second order in La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Fe{sub x}O{sub 3}. • The critical exponents are in between the 3D Heisenberg and mean-field models. • The ferromagnetic interaction becomes more itinerant by Fe-doping.

  6. First Simultaneous Visualization of SO{sub 2} and NO{sub 2} Plume Dispersions using Imaging Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lee, Hanlim; Hong, Hyunkee; Han, Kyungsoo [Pukyong National Univ., Busan (Korea, Republic of); Noh, Youngmin [Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju (Korea, Republic of); Kwon, Soonchul [Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (United States)

    2014-04-15

    Imaging Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (Imaging-DOAS) has been utilized in recent years to provide slant column density (SCD) distributions of several trace gas species in the plume. The present study introduces a new method using Imaging-DOAS data to determine two-dimensional plume structure from the plume emissions of power plant in conditions of negligible aerosol effects on radiative transfer within the plume. We demonstrates for the first time that two-dimensional distributions of sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) and nitrogen dioxide (NO{sub 2}) in power plant emissions can be determined simultaneously in terms of SCD distribution. The SO{sub 2} SCD values generally decreased with increasing distance from the stack and with distance from the center of the plume. Meanwhile, high NO{sub 2} SCD was observed at locations several hundred meters away from the first stack due to the ratio change of NO to NO{sub 2} in NOx concentration, attributed to the NO oxidation by O{sub 3}. The results of this study show the capability of the Imaging-DOAS technique as a tool to estimate plume dimensions in power plant emissions.

  7. Experimental evidence for simultaneous relaxation processes in super spin glass γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticle system

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nikolic, V.; Perovic, M., E-mail: mara.perovic@vinca.rs; Kusigerski, V.; Boskovic, M.; Mrakovic, A.; Blanusa, J.; Spasojevic, V. [University of Belgrade, Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca (Serbia)

    2015-03-15

    Spherical γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles with the narrow size distribution of (5 ± 1) nm were synthesized by the method of thermal decomposition from iron acetyl acetonate precursor. The existence of super spin-glass state at low temperatures and in low applied magnetic fields was confirmed by DC magnetization measurements on a SQUID magnetometer. The comprehensive investigation of magnetic relaxation dynamics in low-temperature region was conducted through the measurements of single-stop and multiple stop ZFC memory effects, ZFC magnetization relaxation, and AC susceptibility measurements. The experimental findings revealed the peculiar change of magnetic relaxation dynamics at T ≈ 10 K, which arose as a consequence of simultaneous existence of different relaxation processes in Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticle system. Complementarity of the applied measurements was utilized in order to single out distinct relaxation processes as well as to elucidate complex relaxation mechanisms in the investigated interacting nanoparticle system.

  8. Ion permeabilities in mouse sperm reveal an external trigger for SLO3-dependent hyperpolarization.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Julio C Chávez

    Full Text Available Unlike most cells of the body which function in an ionic environment controlled within narrow limits, spermatozoa must function in a less controlled external environment. In order to better understand how sperm control their membrane potential in different ionic conditions, we measured mouse sperm membrane potentials under a variety of conditions and at different external K(+ concentrations, both before and after capacitation. Experiments were undertaken using both wild-type, and mutant mouse sperm from the knock-out strain of the sperm-specific, pH-sensitive, SLO3 K(+ channel. Membrane voltage data were fit to the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. Our study revealed a significant membrane permeability to both K(+ and Cl(- before capacitation, as well as Na(+. The permeability to both K(+ and Cl(- has the effect of preventing large changes in membrane potential when the extracellular concentration of either ion is changed. Such a mechanism may protect against undesired shifts in membrane potential in changing ionic environments. We found that a significant portion of resting membrane potassium permeability in wild-type sperm was contributed by SLO3 K(+ channels. We also found that further activation of SLO3 channels was the essential mechanism producing membrane hyperpolarization under two separate conditions, 1 elevation of external pH prior to capacitation and 2 capacitating conditions. Both conditions produced a significant membrane hyperpolarization in wild-type which was absent in SLO3 mutant sperm. Hyperpolarization in both conditions may result from activation of SLO3 channels by raising intracellular pH; however, demonstrating that SLO3-dependent hyperpolarization is achieved by an alkaline environment alone shows that SLO3 channel activation might occur independently of other events associated with capacitation. For example sperm may undergo stages of membrane hyperpolarization when reaching alkaline regions of the female genital tract

  9. Modeling non-linear kinetics of hyperpolarized [1-(13)C] pyruvate in the crystalloid-perfused rat heart

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Mariotti, E.; Orton, M. R.; Eerbeek, O.; Ashruf, J. F.; Zuurbier, C. J.; Southworth, R.; Eykyn, T. R.

    2016-01-01

    Hyperpolarized (13)C MR measurements have the potential to display non-linear kinetics. We have developed an approach to describe possible non-first-order kinetics of hyperpolarized [1-(13)C] pyruvate employing a system of differential equations that agrees with the principle of conservation of mass

  10. Dysfunctional Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-gated Ion Channels in Cardiac Diseases

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Xiaoqi Zhao

    Full Text Available Abstract Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN channels are reverse voltage-dependent, and their activation depends on the hyperpolarization of the membrane and may be directly or indirectly regulated by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP or other signal-transduction cascades. The distribution, quantity and activation states of HCN channels differ in tissues throughout the body. Evidence exhibits that HCN channels play critical roles in the generation and conduction of the electrical impulse and the physiopathological process of some cardiac diseases. They may constitute promising drug targets in the treatment of these cardiac diseases. Pharmacological treatment targeting HCN channels is of benefit to these cardiac conditions.

  11. Feasibility, tolerability and safety of pediatric hyperpolarized {sup 129}Xe magnetic resonance imaging in healthy volunteers and children with cystic fibrosis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Walkup, Laura L.; Watters, Erin; Ruppert, Kai [Cincinnati Children' s Hospital Medical Center, Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Department of Radiology, Cincinnati, OH (United States); Thomen, Robert P.; Woods, Jason C. [Cincinnati Children' s Hospital Medical Center, Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Department of Radiology, Cincinnati, OH (United States); Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Physics, St. Louis, MO (United States); Akinyi, Teckla G.; Cleveland, Zackary I. [Cincinnati Children' s Hospital Medical Center, Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Department of Radiology, Cincinnati, OH (United States); University of Cincinnati, Biomedical Engineering Program, Cincinnati, OH (United States); Clancy, John P. [Cincinnati Children' s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati, OH (United States)

    2016-11-15

    Hyperpolarized {sup 129}Xe is a promising contrast agent for MRI of pediatric lung function, but its safety and tolerability in children have not been rigorously assessed. To assess the feasibility, safety and tolerability of hyperpolarized {sup 129}Xe gas as an inhaled contrast agent for pediatric pulmonary MRI in healthy control subjects and in children with cystic fibrosis. Seventeen healthy control subjects (ages 6-15 years, 11 boys) and 11 children with cystic fibrosis (ages 8-16 years, 4 boys) underwent {sup 129}Xe MRI, receiving up to three doses of {sup 129}Xe gas prepared by either a commercially available or a homebuilt {sup 129}Xe polarizer. Subject heart rate and SpO{sub 2} were monitored for 2 min post inhalation and compared to resting baseline values. Adverse events were reported via follow-up phone call at days 1 and 30 (range ±7 days) post-MRI. All children tolerated multiple doses of {sup 129}Xe, and no children withdrew from the study. Relative to baseline, most children who received a full dose of gas for imaging (10 of 12 controls and 8 of 11 children with cystic fibrosis) experienced a nadir in SpO{sub 2} (mean -6.0 ± standard deviation 7.2%, P≤0.001); however within 2 min post inhalation SpO{sub 2} values showed no significant difference from baseline (P=0.11). There was a slight elevation in heart rate (mean +6.6 ± 13.9 beats per minute [bpm], P=0.021), which returned from baseline within 2 min post inhalation (P=0.35). Brief side effects related to the anesthetic properties of xenon were mild and quickly resolved without intervention. No serious or severe adverse events were observed; in total, four minor adverse events (14.3%) were reported following {sup 129}Xe MRI, but all were deemed unrelated to the study. The feasibility, safety and tolerability of {sup 129}Xe MRI has been assessed in a small group of children as young as 6 years. SpO{sub 2} changes were consistent with the expected physiological effects of a short anoxic breath

  12. Nano/micro Sr{sub 2}Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 18} crystallites: Size dependent structural, second harmonic and piezoelectric properties

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tukaram, Shet; Bhimireddi, Rajasekhar; Varma, K.B.R., E-mail: kbrvarma@mrc.iisc.ernet.in

    2016-09-15

    Graphical abstract: Synthesis of Sr{sub 2}Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 18} nano/micro crystallites and their size dependent non-linear optical and piezoelectric responses. - Highlights: • Nano/microcrystallites of Sr{sub 2}Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 18} were synthesized via sol-gel route. • Crystallite size dependent structural and physical properties were studied. • SHG intensity (1.4 times that of KDP powder) from these crystallites was recorded. • PFM studies on isolated crystallite of 480 nm exhibited d{sub 33} as high as 27 pm/V. • Single domain nature of the crystallites below 160 nm was observed. - Abstract: Strontium bismuth titanate (Sr{sub 2}Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 18}) powders comprising crystallites of average sizes in the range of 94–1400 nm were prepared via citrate-assisted sol-gel route. With an increase in the average crystallite size there was a change in the lattice parameters and shift in the Raman vibration modes. Second harmonic signal (532 nm) intensity of the Sr{sub 2}Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 18} powders increased with the increase in the average crystallite size and the maximum intensity obtained in the reflection mode was 1.4 times as high as that of the powdered KH{sub 2}PO{sub 4}. Piezo Force Microscopic analyses carried out on isolated crystallite of size 74 nm, established a single domain nature with the coercive field as high as 347 kV/cm. There was a systematic increase in the d{sub 33} value with an increase in the size of the isolated crystallites and a high piezoelectric coefficient of ∼27 pm/V was obtained from an isolated crystallite of size 480 nm.

  13. Acute hypertensive stress imaged by cardiac hyperpolarized [1-C]pyruvate magnetic resonance

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Tougaard, Rasmus Stilling; Hansen, Esben Søvsø Szocska; Laustsen, Christoffer

    2018-01-01

    PURPOSE: Deranged metabolism is now recognized as a key causal factor in a variety of heart diseases, and is being studied extensively. However, invasive methods may alter metabolism, and conventional imaging techniques measure tracer uptake but not downstream metabolism. These challenges may...... be overcome by hyperpolarized MR, a noninvasive technique currently crossing the threshold into human trials. The aim of this study was to image metabolic changes in the heart in response to endogastric glucose bolus and to acute hypertension. METHODS: Five postprandial pigs were scanned with hyperpolarized.......008) and ejection fraction decreased from 54 ± 2% to 47 ± 6% (P = 0.03) The hemodynamic changes were accompanied by increases in the hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate MR derived ratios of lactate/alanine (from 0.58 ± 0.13 to 0.78 ± 0.06, P = 0.03) and bicarbonate/alanine (from 0.55 ± 0.12 to 0.91 ± 0.14, P = 0...

  14. X-radiation effect on the hyperpolarization of cells, the adeninenucleotide content and the distribution of sodium and potassium ions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Frol' kis, V V [Akademiya Meditsinskikh Nauk Ukrainskoj SSR, Kiev. Inst. Gerontologii

    1975-03-01

    X-radiation prevents the progress of hyperpolarization of muscle and liver cells caused by hormones (estradioldipropyonate, deoxycorticosteron-acetate and insulin) and by the loss of blood. X-radiation offsets the redistribution of K/sup +/ and Na/sup +/ ions caused by hyperpolarization and does not change the level of ATP, ADP, CP and Pi. X-radiation is suggested to affect the hyperpolarization and the ionic shifts via the system of protein biosynthesis.

  15. Hyperpolarized 2-oxoglutarate as metabolic agent in mr

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    2015-01-01

    Hyperpolarized 1-13C-2-oxoglutarate as contrast agent in13C Magnetic Resonance diagnostic technique (13C-MRI) for use in the diagnosis of cancer. In particular, upon administration of said 1-13C-2-oxoglutarate, signals of 1-13C-glutamate are detected. More in particular, different MR signals from13...

  16. Ionic channels and membrane hyperpolarization in human macrophages

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Ince, C.; van Duijn, B.; Ypey, D. L.; van Bavel, E.; Weidema, F.; Leijh, P. C.

    1987-01-01

    Microelectrode impalement of human macrophages evokes a transient hyperpolarizing response (HR) of the membrane potential. This HR was found to be dependent on the extracellular concentration of K+ but not on that of Na+ or Cl-. It was not influenced by low temperature (12 degrees C) or by 0.2 mM

  17. Simultaneous determination of uranium and thorium with Arsenazo III by second-derivative spectrophotometry

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Kuroda, Rokuro; Kurosaki, Mayumi; Hayashibe, Yutaka; Ishimaru, Satomi

    1990-01-01

    A derivative spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of microgram quantities of uranium and thorium with Arsenazo III in hydrochloric acid medium. The second-derivative absorbances of the uranium and thorium Arsenazo III complexes at 679.5 and 684.4 nm are used for their quantification. Uranium and thorium, both in the range 0.1-0.7 μg/ml have been determined simultaneously with good precision. The procedure does not require separation of uranium and thorium, and allows the determination of both metals in the presence of alkaline-earth metals and zirconium, but lanthanides interfere. (author)

  18. Simultaneous explanation of the R{sub K} and R{sub D{sup (}{sup ∗}{sup )}} puzzles: a model analysis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bhattacharya, Bhubanjyoti [Physique des Particules, Université de Montréal,C.P. 6128, succ. centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7 (Canada); Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University,Detroit, MI 48201 (United States); Datta, Alakabha [Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi,108 Lewis Hall, Oxford, MS 38677-1848 (United States); Guévin, Jean-Pascal; London, David [Physique des Particules, Université de Montréal,C.P. 6128, succ. centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7 (Canada); Watanabe, Ryoutaro [Physique des Particules, Université de Montréal,C.P. 6128, succ. centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7 (Canada); Center for Theoretical Physics of the Universe, Institute for Basic Science (IBS),Daejeon 305-811 (Korea, Republic of)

    2017-01-04

    R{sub K} and R{sub D{sup (}{sup ∗}{sup )}} are two B-decay measurements that presently exhibit discrepancies with the SM. Recently, using an effective field theory approach, it was demonstrated that a new-physics model can simultaneously explain both the R{sub K} and R{sub D{sup (}{sup ∗}{sup )}} puzzles. There are two UV completions that can give rise to the effective Lagrangian: (i) VB: a vector boson that transforms as an SU(2){sub L} triplet, as in the SM, (ii) U{sub 1}: an SU(2){sub L}-singlet vector leptoquark. In this paper, we examine these models individually. A key point is that VB contributes to B{sub s}{sup 0}-B̄{sub s}{sup 0} mixing and τ→3μ, while U{sub 1} does not. We show that, when constraints from these processes are taken into account, the VB model is just barely viable. It predicts B(τ{sup −}→μ{sup −}μ{sup +}μ{sup −})≃2.1×10{sup −8}. This is measurable at Belle II and LHCb, and therefore constitutes a smoking-gun signal of VB. For U{sub 1}, there are several observables that may point to this model. Perhaps the most interesting is the lepton-flavor-violating decay υ(3S)→μτ, which has previously been overlooked in the literature. U{sub 1} predicts B(υ(3S)→μτ)|{sub max}=8.0×10{sup −7}. Thus, if a large value of B(υ(3S)→μτ) is observed — and this should be measurable at Belle II — the U{sub 1} model would be indicated.

  19. Nanomolar simultaneous determination of tryptophan and melatonin by a new ionic liquid carbon paste electrode modified with SnO{sub 2}-Co{sub 3}O{sub 4}@rGO nanocomposite

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zeinali, Homa [Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, Qazvin (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Bagheri, Hasan, E-mail: h.bagheri82@gmail.com [Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Monsef-Khoshhesab, Zahra [Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, Qazvin (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Khoshsafar, Hosein [Department of Internal Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Hajian, Ali [Laboratory for Sensors, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges Köhler Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg (Germany)

    2017-02-01

    This work describes the development of a new sensor for simultaneous determination of tryptophan and melatonin. The proposed sensor was an ionic liquid carbon paste electrode modified with reduced graphene oxides decorated with SnO{sub 2}-Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles. The voltammetric oxidation of the analytes by the proposed sensor confirmed that the electrooxidation process undergoes a two-electron/one-proton reaction for melatonin and a two-electron/two-proton reaction for tryptophan in diffusion-controlled processes. Moreover, based on the excellent electrochemical properties of the modified electrode, a sensitive voltammetric method was used for individual and simultaneous determination of melatonin and tryptophan in the aqueous solutions. Under the optimized experimental conditions, a linear response obtained in the range of 0.02 to 6.00 μmol L{sup −1} with detection limits of 4.1 and 3.2 nmol L{sup −1} for melatonin and tryptophan, respectively. The prepared sensor possessed accurate and rapid response toward melatonin and tryptophan with a good sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and repeatability. Finally, the applicability of the proposed sensor was verified by evaluation of melatonin and tryptophan in various real samples including human serum and tablet samples. - Highlights: • Ionic liquid-SnO{sub 2}-Co{sub 3}O{sub 4}@rGO nanocomposite as electrode material • This modifier can promote the electrochemical properties of carbon paste electrode. • Determination of tryptophan and melatonin was investigated.

  20. Hyperpolarized 13C MR Markers of Renal Tumor Aggressiveness

    Science.gov (United States)

    2015-12-01

    production in the presence of oxygen (11, 12). Increased glycolysis facilitates the uptake and incorporation of nutrients and biomass needed for cell... shell coil; (d) Hyperpolarized lactate images overlaid on T2 weighted anatomical images, clearly depicting the tumor voxels (Figure 5). As shown in

  1. Hyperpolarized C-13 MRS Cardiac Metabolism Studies in Pigs

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Giovannetti, G.; Hartwig, V.; Frijia, F.

    2012-01-01

    Cardiac metabolism assessment with hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pig models requires the design of dedicated coils capable of providing large field of view with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data. This work presents a comparison between a commercial 13C quadrature...

  2. Surface and interface states of Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} thin films investigated by optical second-harmonic generation and terahertz emission

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hamh, S. Y.; Park, S.-H.; Lee, J. S., E-mail: jsl@gist.ac.kr [Department of Physics and Photon Science, School of Physics and Chemistry, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712 (Korea, Republic of); Jerng, S.-K.; Jeon, J. H.; Chun, S. H. [Department of Physics and Graphene Research Institute, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747 (Korea, Republic of); Jeon, J. H.; Kahng, S. J. [Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul 136-701 (Korea, Republic of); Yu, K.; Choi, E. J. [Department of Physics, University or Seoul, Seoul 130-743 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, S.; Choi, S.-H. [Department of Applied Physics, College of Applied Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 446-701 (Korea, Republic of); Bansal, N. [Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers, The state University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 (United States); Oh, S. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, The state University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 (United States); Park, Joonbum; Kho, Byung-Woo; Kim, Jun Sung [Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784 (Korea, Republic of)

    2016-02-01

    We investigate the surface and interface states of Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} thin films by using the second-harmonic generation technique. Distinct from the surface of bulk crystals, the film surface and interface show the isotropic azimuth dependence of second-harmonic intensity, which is attributed to the formation of randomly oriented domains on the in-plane. Based on the nonlinear susceptibility deduced from the model fitting, we determine that the surface band bending induced in a space charge region occurs more strongly at the film interface facing the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} substrate or capping layer compared with the interface facing the air. We demonstrate that distinct behavior of the terahertz electric field emitted from the samples can provide further information about the surface electronic state of Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3}.

  3. Imaging Human Brain Perfusion with Inhaled Hyperpolarized 129Xe MR Imaging.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rao, Madhwesha R; Stewart, Neil J; Griffiths, Paul D; Norquay, Graham; Wild, Jim M

    2018-02-01

    Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of directly imaging perfusion of human brain tissue by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with inhaled hyperpolarized xenon 129 ( 129 Xe). Materials and Methods In vivo imaging with 129 Xe was performed in three healthy participants. The combination of a high-yield spin-exchange optical pumping 129 Xe polarizer, custom-built radiofrequency coils, and an optimized gradient-echo MR imaging protocol was used to achieve signal sensitivity sufficient to directly image hyperpolarized 129 Xe dissolved in the human brain. Conventional T1-weighted proton (hydrogen 1 [ 1 H]) images and perfusion images by using arterial spin labeling were obtained for comparison. Results Images of 129 Xe uptake were obtained with a signal-to-noise ratio of 31 ± 9 and demonstrated structural similarities to the gray matter distribution on conventional T1-weighted 1 H images and to perfusion images from arterial spin labeling. Conclusion Hyperpolarized 129 Xe MR imaging is an injection-free means of imaging the perfusion of cerebral tissue. The proposed method images the uptake of inhaled xenon gas to the extravascular brain tissue compartment across the intact blood-brain barrier. This level of sensitivity is not readily available with contemporary MR imaging methods. © RSNA, 2017.

  4. Biochemical and structural analysis of the hyperpolarization-activated K(+) channel MVP.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Randich, Amelia M; Cuello, Luis G; Wanderling, Sherry S; Perozo, Eduardo

    2014-03-18

    In contrast to the majority of voltage-gated ion channels, hyperpolarization-activated channels remain closed at depolarizing potentials and are activated at hyperpolarizing potentials. The basis for this reverse polarity is thought to be a result of differences in the way the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) couples to the pore domain. In the absence of structural data, the molecular mechanism of this reverse polarity coupling remains poorly characterized. Here we report the characterization of the structure and local dynamics of the closed activation gate (lower S6 region) of MVP, a hyperpolarization-activated potassium channel from Methanococcus jannaschii, by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. We show that a codon-optimized version of MVP has high expression levels in Escherichia coli, is purified as a stable tetramer, and exhibits expected voltage-dependent activity when reconstituted in liposomes. EPR analysis of the mid to lower S6 region revealed positions exhibiting strong spin-spin coupling, indicating that the activation gate of MVP is closed at 0 mV. A comparison of local environmental parameters along the activation gate for MVP and KcsA indicates that MVP adopts a different closed conformation. These structural details set the stage for future evaluations of reverse electromechanical coupling in MVP.

  5. Biochemical and Structural Analysis of the Hyperpolarization-Activated K+ Channel MVP

    Science.gov (United States)

    2015-01-01

    In contrast to the majority of voltage-gated ion channels, hyperpolarization-activated channels remain closed at depolarizing potentials and are activated at hyperpolarizing potentials. The basis for this reverse polarity is thought to be a result of differences in the way the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) couples to the pore domain. In the absence of structural data, the molecular mechanism of this reverse polarity coupling remains poorly characterized. Here we report the characterization of the structure and local dynamics of the closed activation gate (lower S6 region) of MVP, a hyperpolarization-activated potassium channel from Methanococcus jannaschii, by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. We show that a codon-optimized version of MVP has high expression levels in Escherichia coli, is purified as a stable tetramer, and exhibits expected voltage-dependent activity when reconstituted in liposomes. EPR analysis of the mid to lower S6 region revealed positions exhibiting strong spin–spin coupling, indicating that the activation gate of MVP is closed at 0 mV. A comparison of local environmental parameters along the activation gate for MVP and KcsA indicates that MVP adopts a different closed conformation. These structural details set the stage for future evaluations of reverse electromechanical coupling in MVP. PMID:24490868

  6. SIMULTANEOUS OBSERVATIONS OF SiO AND H{sub 2}O MASERS TOWARD KNOWN STELLAR H{sub 2}O MASER SOURCES

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kim, Jaeheon [Yonsei University Observatory, Seongsan-ro 262, Seodaemun, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of); Cho, Se-Hyung [Korean VLBI Network Yonsei Radio Astronomy Observatory, Yonsei University, Seongsan-ro 262, Seodaemun, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Sang Joon, E-mail: jhkim@kasi.re.kr, E-mail: cho@kasi.re.kr, E-mail: sjkim1@khu.ac.kr [Department of Astronomy and Space Science, Kyung Hee University, Seocheon-Dong, Giheung-Gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-Do 446-701 (Korea, Republic of)

    2013-01-01

    We present the results of simultaneous observations of SiO v = 1, 2, {sup 29}SiO v = 0, J = 1-0, and H{sub 2}O 6{sub 16}-5{sub 23} maser lines toward 152 known stellar H{sub 2}O maser sources using the Yonsei 21 m radio telescope of the Korean VLBI Network from 2009 June to 2011 January. Both SiO and H{sub 2}O masers were detected from 62 sources with a detection rate of 40.8%. The SiO-only maser emission without H{sub 2}O maser detection was detected from 27 sources, while the H{sub 2}O-only maser without SiO maser detection was detected from 22 sources. Therefore, the overall SiO maser emission was detected from 89 sources, resulting in a detection rate of 58.6%. We have identified 70 new detections of the SiO maser emission. For both H{sub 2}O and SiO maser detected sources, the peak and integrated antenna temperatures of SiO masers are stronger than those of H{sub 2}O masers in both Mira variables and OH/IR stars and the relative intensity ratios of H{sub 2}O to SiO masers in OH/IR stars are larger than those in Mira variables. In addition, distributions of 152 observed sources were investigated in the IRAS two-color diagram.

  7. Hyperpolarized Porous Silicon Nanoparticles: Potential Theragnostic Material for ²⁹Si Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Seo, Hyeonglim; Choi, Ikjang; Whiting, Nicholas; Hu, Jingzhe; Luu, Quy Son; Pudakalakatti, Shivanand; McCowan, Caitlin; Kim, Yaewon; Zacharias, Niki; Lee, Seunghyun; Bhattacharya, Pratip; Lee, Youngbok

    2018-05-20

    Porous silicon nanoparticles have recently garnered attention as potentially-promising biomedical platforms for drug delivery and medical diagnostics. Here, we demonstrate porous silicon nanoparticles as contrast agents for ²⁹Si magnetic resonance imaging. Size-controlled porous silicon nanoparticles were synthesized by magnesiothermic reduction of silica nanoparticles and were surface activated for further functionalization. Particles were hyperpolarized via dynamic nuclear polarization to enhance their ²⁹Si MR signals; the particles demonstrated long ²⁹Si spin-lattice relaxation (T₁) times (~ 25 mins), which suggests potential applicability for medical imaging. Furthermore, ²⁹Si hyperpolarization levels were sufficient to allow ²⁹Si MRI in phantoms. These results underscore the potential of porous silicon nanoparticles that, when combined with hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging, can be a powerful theragnostic deep tissue imaging platform to interrogate various biomolecular processes in vivo. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  8. Genealogical series method. Hyperpolar points screen effect

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Gorbatov, A.M.

    1991-01-01

    The fundamental values of the genealogical series method -the genealogical integrals (sandwiches) have been investigated. The hyperpolar points screen effect has been found. It allows one to calculate the sandwiches for the Fermion systems with large number of particles and to ascertain the validity of the iterated-potential method as well. For the first time the genealogical-series method has been realized numerically for the central spin-independent potential

  9. Progress in KNbO/sub 3/ crystal growth and its use in second harmonic generation with a cw-Ga/sub 1-x/Al/sub x/As laser

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Looser, H.; Gunter, P.; Wu, X.; Arend, H.

    1987-01-01

    KNbO/sub 3/ is especially well suited for second harmonic generation of dye and Ga/sub 1-x/Al/sub x/As lasers with wavelength λ ≅ 860 nm. Using its high nonlinear optical coefficient, d/sub 32/ = 20.3 pm/V, noncritical type l phase matching is possible for fundamental wavelengths of 840-990 nm with crystal temperatures between -40 and 210 0 C. With a pulsed laser diode the authors previously reported 0.35-mW second harmonic peak power from 0.8-W fundamental frequency distributed among eight modes. In this paper, this work is extended to high-power monomode cw laser diodes. Other device parameters such as temperature stability and influence of the crystal homogeneity on the efficiency are discussed

  10. Simultaneous treatment of NO and SO{sub 2} with aqueous NaClO{sub 2} solution in a wet scrubber combined with a plasma electrostatic precipitator

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Park, Hyun-Woo [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Regional Innovation Center for Environmental Technology of Thermal Plasma (RIC-ETTP), INHA University, 100 Inha-ro, Nam-gu, Incheon 402-751 (Korea, Republic of); Choi, Sooseok, E-mail: sooseok@jejunu.ac.kr [Department of Nuclear and Energy Engineering, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehak-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, 690-756 (Korea, Republic of); Park, Dong-Wha, E-mail: dwpark@inha.ac.kr [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Regional Innovation Center for Environmental Technology of Thermal Plasma (RIC-ETTP), INHA University, 100 Inha-ro, Nam-gu, Incheon 402-751 (Korea, Republic of)

    2015-03-21

    Highlights: • This study was conducted to investigate simultaneous removal of NO and SO{sub 2}. • Proposed process consists of wet chemical reactor and non-thermal plasma reactor. • In the wet chemical reactor, NO and SO{sub 2} were absorbed and oxidized by NaClO{sub 2}. • In the non-thermal plasma reactor, aerosol particles were collected on anode surface. • NO and SO{sub 2} were removed more efficiently by proposed process than other methods. - Abstract: NO and SO{sub 2} gases that are generally produced in thermal power plants and incinerators were simultaneously removed by using a wet scrubber combined with a plasma electrostatic precipitator. The wet scrubber was used for the absorption and oxidation of NO and SO{sub 2}, and non-thermal plasma was employed for the electrostatic precipitation of aerosol particles. NO and SO{sub 2} gases were absorbed and oxidized by aerosol particles of NaClO{sub 2} solution in the wet scrubber. NO and SO{sub 2} reacted with the generated NaClO{sub 2} aerosol particles, NO{sub 2} gas, and aqueous ions such as NO{sub 2}{sup −}, NO{sub 3}{sup −}, HSO{sub 3}{sup −}, and SO{sub 4}{sup 2−}. The aerosol particles were negatively charged and collected on the surface of grounded anode in the plasma electrostatic precipitator. The NO and SO{sub 2} removal efficiencies of the proposed system were 94.4% and 100% for gas concentrations of 500 mg/m{sup 3} and a total gas flow rate of 60 Nm{sup 3}/h, when the molar flow rate of NaClO{sub 2} and the gas–liquid contact time were 50 mmol/min and 1.25 s, respectively. The total amount and number of aerosol particles in the exhaust gas were reduced to 7.553 μg/m{sup 3} and 210 /cm{sup 3} at the maximum plasma input power of 68.8 W, which are similar to the values for clean air.

  11. A catalyzing phantom for reproducible dynamic conversion of hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]-pyruvate.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Walker, Christopher M; Lee, Jaehyuk; Ramirez, Marc S; Schellingerhout, Dawid; Millward, Steven; Bankson, James A

    2013-01-01

    In vivo real time spectroscopic imaging of hyperpolarized ¹³C labeled metabolites shows substantial promise for the assessment of physiological processes that were previously inaccessible. However, reliable and reproducible methods of measurement are necessary to maximize the effectiveness of imaging biomarkers that may one day guide personalized care for diseases such as cancer. Animal models of human disease serve as poor reference standards due to the complexity, heterogeneity, and transient nature of advancing disease. In this study, we describe the reproducible conversion of hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]-pyruvate to [1-¹³C]-lactate using a novel synthetic enzyme phantom system. The rate of reaction can be controlled and tuned to mimic normal or pathologic conditions of varying degree. Variations observed in the use of this phantom compare favorably against within-group variations observed in recent animal studies. This novel phantom system provides crucial capabilities as a reference standard for the optimization, comparison, and certification of quantitative imaging strategies for hyperpolarized tracers.

  12. A catalyzing phantom for reproducible dynamic conversion of hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]-pyruvate.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Christopher M Walker

    Full Text Available In vivo real time spectroscopic imaging of hyperpolarized ¹³C labeled metabolites shows substantial promise for the assessment of physiological processes that were previously inaccessible. However, reliable and reproducible methods of measurement are necessary to maximize the effectiveness of imaging biomarkers that may one day guide personalized care for diseases such as cancer. Animal models of human disease serve as poor reference standards due to the complexity, heterogeneity, and transient nature of advancing disease. In this study, we describe the reproducible conversion of hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]-pyruvate to [1-¹³C]-lactate using a novel synthetic enzyme phantom system. The rate of reaction can be controlled and tuned to mimic normal or pathologic conditions of varying degree. Variations observed in the use of this phantom compare favorably against within-group variations observed in recent animal studies. This novel phantom system provides crucial capabilities as a reference standard for the optimization, comparison, and certification of quantitative imaging strategies for hyperpolarized tracers.

  13. Characterization and optimization of the visualization performance of continuous flow overhauser DNP hyperpolarized water MRI: Inversion recovery approach.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Terekhov, Maxim; Krummenacker, Jan; Denysenkov, Vasyl; Gerz, Kathrin; Prisner, Thomas; Schreiber, Laura Maria

    2016-03-01

    Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) allows the production of liquid hyperpolarized substrate inside the MRI magnet bore as well as its administration in continuous flow mode to acquire MR images with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. We implemented inversion recovery preparation in order to improve contrast-to-noise ratio and to quantify the overall imaging performance of Overhauser DNP-enhanced MRI. The negative enhancement created by DNP in combination with inversion recovery (IR) preparation allows canceling selectively the signal originated from Boltzmann magnetization and visualizing only hyperpolarized fluid. The theoretical model describing gain of MR image intensity produced by steady-state continuous flow DNP hyperpolarized magnetization was established and proved experimentally. A precise quantification of signal originated purely from DNP hyperpolarization was achieved. A temperature effect on longitudinal relaxation had to be taken into account to fit experimental results with numerical prediction. Using properly adjusted IR preparation, the complete zeroing of thermal background magnetization was achieved, providing an essential increase of contrast-to-noise ratio of DNP-hyperpolarized water images. To quantify and optimize the steady-state conditions for MRI with continuous flow DNP, an approach similar to that incorporating transient-state thermal magnetization equilibrium in spoiled fast field echo imaging sequences can be used. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  14. Relaxor ferroelectricity, ferromagnetic and optical second harmonic properties in lanthanum lithium niobate (La{sub 0.05}Li{sub 0.85}NbO{sub 3}) nanoparticles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Díaz-Moreno, Carlos A., E-mail: cdiazmoreno@utep.edu [Department of Physics of University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968 (United States); Ding, Yu; Li, Chunqiang [Department of Physics of University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968 (United States); Portelles, Jorge [Facultad de Física, Universidad de La Habana, San lázaro y L, 10400 (Cuba); Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, km 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, B.C. 22860 (Mexico); Heiras, J. [Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, km 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, B.C. 22860 (Mexico); Hurtado-Macias, A. [Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados S.C., Miguel de Cervantes #120, Complejo Industrial Chihuahua, Chihuahua, C.P. 31109 (Mexico); Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 (United States); Farias, J.R. [Instituto de Ingeniería y Tecnología, UACJ, Avenida del Charro #450 N. Cd. Juárez, Chihuahua, C.P. 32310 (Mexico); González-Hernández, J. [Centro de Ingeniería y Desarrollo Industrial, Santiago de Querétaro 76130, Qro (Mexico); Yacamán, M.J. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 (United States); and others

    2017-07-01

    Relaxor ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism and Second Harmonic Generation properties were founded and studied as a function of a reduction heat treatment at 650 °C in a Ar-5%H{sub 2} atmosphere in stoichiometric La{sub 0.05}Li{sub 0.85}NbO{sub 3} nanoparticles of 40 nm. A diffuse dielectric anomaly related with relaxor behavior from 25 °C to 800 °C in a frequency range from 100 Hz to 1 MHz was founded. It also shows ferromagnetic anhysterestic type and ferroelectric hysteresis loops at room temperature with a magnetic spin remnant of 2.5 × 10{sup −3} emu/g and polarization saturation of 0.235 μC/cm{sup 2}, remnant polarization of 0.141 μC/cm{sup 2}, coercive field of 1.35 kV/cm, respectively. It shows very good second harmonic generation signal at 450 nm and 500 nm. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, indicate an ABO{sub 3} perovskite structure, new electronic binding energy structure for La (5s, 4d), Li (1s), Nb (4s, 3d, 4p) and oxygen (1s, 2s) and new vibrations modes on octahedron NbO{sub 6} related to multiferroic single phase nanoparticles, respectively.

  15. Fluconazole treatment hyperpolarizes the plasma membrane of Candida cells

    Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

    Elicharová, Hana; Sychrová, Hana

    2013-01-01

    Roč. 51, č. 8 (2013), s. 785-798 ISSN 1369-3786 R&D Projects: GA ČR GAP302/12/1151 Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50110509 Institutional support: RVO:67985823 Keywords : drug resistance * fluconazol * yeast * hyperpolarization Subject RIV: EE - Microbiology, Virology Impact factor: 2.261, year: 2013

  16. Apparent rate constant mapping using hyperpolarized [1-(13) C]pyruvate

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Khegai, O.; Schulte, R. F.; Janich, M. A.

    2014-01-01

    Hyperpolarization of [1-13C]pyruvate in solution allows real-time measurement of uptake and metabolism using MR spectroscopic methods. After injection and perfusion, pyruvate is taken up by the cells and enzymatically metabolized into downstream metabolites such as lactate, alanine, and bicarbona...

  17. Analysis of Cancer Metabolism by Imaging Hyperpolarized Nuclei: Prospects for Translation to Clinical Research

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    John Kurhanewicz

    2011-02-01

    Full Text Available A major challenge in cancer biology is to monitor and understand cancer metabolism in vivo with the goal of improved diagnosis and perhaps therapy. Because of the complexity of biochemical pathways, tracer methods are required for detecting specific enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Stable isotopes such as 13C or 15N with detection by nuclear magnetic resonance provide the necessary information about tissue biochemistry, but the crucial metabolites are present in low concentration and therefore are beyond the detection threshold of traditional magnetic resonance methods. A solution is to improve sensitivity by a factor of 10,000 or more by temporarily redistributing the populations of nuclear spins in a magnetic field, a process termed hyperpolarization. Although this effect is short-lived, hyperpolarized molecules can be generated in an aqueous solution and infused in vivo where metabolism generates products that can be imaged. This discovery lifts the primary constraint on magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring metabolism—poor sensitivity—while preserving the advantage of biochemical information. The purpose of this report was to briefly summarize the known abnormalities in cancer metabolism, the value and limitations of current imaging methods for metabolism, and the principles of hyperpolarization. Recent preclinical applications are described. Hyperpolarization technology is still in its infancy, and current polarizer equipment and methods are suboptimal. Nevertheless, there are no fundamental barriers to rapid translation of this exciting technology to clinical research and perhaps clinical care.

  18. A Bacterial Toxin with Analgesic Properties: Hyperpolarization of DRG Neurons by Mycolactone.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Song, Ok-Ryul; Kim, Han-Byul; Jouny, Samuel; Ricard, Isabelle; Vandeputte, Alexandre; Deboosere, Nathalie; Marion, Estelle; Queval, Christophe J; Lesport, Pierre; Bourinet, Emmanuel; Henrion, Daniel; Oh, Seog Bae; Lebon, Guillaume; Sandoz, Guillaume; Yeramian, Edouard; Marsollier, Laurent; Brodin, Priscille

    2017-07-18

    Mycolactone, a polyketide molecule produced by Mycobacterium ulcerans , is the etiological agent of Buruli ulcer. This lipid toxin is endowed with pleiotropic effects, presents cytotoxic effects at high doses, and notably plays a pivotal role in host response upon colonization by the bacillus. Most remarkably, mycolactone displays intriguing analgesic capabilities: the toxin suppresses or alleviates the pain of the skin lesions it inflicts. We demonstrated that the analgesic capability of mycolactone was not attributable to nerve damage, but instead resulted from the triggering of a cellular pathway targeting AT₂ receptors (angiotensin II type 2 receptors; AT₂R), and leading to potassium-dependent hyperpolarization. This demonstration paves the way to new nature-inspired analgesic protocols. In this direction, we assess here the hyperpolarizing properties of mycolactone on nociceptive neurons. We developed a dedicated medium-throughput assay based on membrane potential changes, and visualized by confocal microscopy of bis-oxonol-loaded Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) neurons. We demonstrate that mycolactone at non-cytotoxic doses triggers the hyperpolarization of DRG neurons through AT₂R, with this action being not affected by known ligands of AT₂R. This result points towards novel AT₂R-dependent signaling pathways in DRG neurons underlying the analgesic effect of mycolactone, with the perspective for the development of new types of nature-inspired analgesics.

  19. Echo-planar MR imaging of dissolved hyperpolarized 129Xe. Potential for M angiography

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Maansson, S.

    2002-01-01

    Purpose: The feasibility of hyperpolarized 129 Xe for fast MR angiography (MRA) was evaluated using the echo-planar imaging (EPI) technique. Material and Methods: Hyperpolarized Xe gas was dissolved in ethanol; a carrier agent with high solubility for Xe (Ostwald solubility coefficient 2.5) and long relaxation times. The dissolved Xe was injected as a bolus into a flow phantom where the mean flow velocity was 15 cm/s. Ultrafast EPI images with 44 ms scan time were acquired of the flowing bolus and the signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) were measured. Results: The relaxation times of hyperpolarized Xe in ethanol were measured to T1=160±11 s and T2 ≅ 20 s. The resulting images of the flowing liquid were of reasonable quality and had an SNR of about 70. Conclusion: Based on the SNR of the obtained Xe EPI images; it was estimated that rapid in vivo MRA with 129 Xe may be feasible; provided that an efficient; biologically acceptable carrier for Xe can be found and polarization levels of more than 25% can be achieved in isotopically enriched 129 Xe

  20. Hyperpolarized 3-helium MR imaging of the lungs: testing the concept of a central production facility

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Beek, E.J.R. van; Schmiedeskamp, J.; Filbir, F.; Heil, W.; Wolf, M.; Otten, E.; Wild, J.M.; Paley, M.N.J.; Fichele, S.; Woodhouse, N.; Swift, A.; Knitz, F.; Mills, G.H.

    2003-01-01

    The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of a central production facility with distribution network for implementation of hyperpolarized 3-helium MRI. The 3-helium was hyperpolarized to 50-65% using a large-scale production facility based at a university in Germany. Using a specially designed transport box, containing a permanent low-field shielded magnet and dedicated iron-free glass cells, the hyperpolarized 3-helium gas was transported via airfreight to a university in the UK. At this location, the gas was used to perform in vivo MR experiments in normal volunteers and patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases. Following initial tests, the transport (road-air-road cargo) was successfully arranged on six occasions (approximately once per month). The duration of transport to imaging averaged 18 h (range 16-20 h), which was due mainly to organizational issues such as working times and flight connections. During the course of the project, polarization at imaging increased from 20% to more than 30%. A total of 4 healthy volunteers and 8 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were imaged. The feasibility of a central production facility for hyperpolarized 3-helium was demonstrated. This should enable a wider distribution of gas for this novel technology without the need for local start-up costs. (orig.)

  1. Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3−x}Na{sub x}MnO{sub 3} exhibiting first-order and second-order magnetic phase transitions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ho, T.A. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713 (Korea, Republic of); Dang, N.T. [Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang (Viet Nam); Phan, The-Long [Department of Physics and Oxide Research Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 449-791 (Korea, Republic of); Yang, D.S. [Physics Division, School of Science Education, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, B.W. [Department of Physics and Oxide Research Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 449-791 (Korea, Republic of); Yu, S.C., E-mail: scyu@chungbuk.ac.kr [Department of Physics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763 (Korea, Republic of)

    2016-08-15

    Polycrystalline orthorhombic samples La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3−x}Na{sub x}MnO{sub 3} (x = 0–0.09) were prepared by solid-state reaction. The study of magnetic properties revealed that the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic (FM-PM) transition temperature (T{sub C}) increases from 255 to about 271 K with increasing Na-doping content (x) from 0 to 0.09, respectively. Around the T{sub C}, we have found the samples showing a large magnetocaloric (MC) effect with maximum values of magnetic entropy change (|ΔS{sub max}|) of 7–8 J kg{sup −1} K{sup −1} and relative cooling power RCP = 232–236 J/kg for the samples x = 0.03–0.09 in a magnetic-field interval ΔH = 40 kOe. Detailed analyses of isothermal magnetization data M(T, H) based on Banerjee's criteria indicated a first-to-second-order magnetic-phase transformation taking place at a threshold Na-doping concentration x{sub c} ≈ 0.06. This could also be observed clearly from the feature of entropy universal curves. An assessment of the magnetic-ordering exponent N = dLn|ΔS{sub m}|/dLnH demonstrates an existence of short-range magnetic order in the samples. We believe that the changes of the magnetic properties and MC effect in La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3−x}Na{sub x}MnO{sub 3} caused by Na doping are related to the changes in the structural parameters and Mn{sup 4+}/Mn{sup 3+} ratio, which are confirmed by the geometrical and electronic analyses based on X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure. - Highlights: • Geometrical and electronic structures of La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3−x}Na{sub x}MnO{sub 3}. • Threshold of first-to-second-order phase transformation in La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3−x}Na{sub x}MnO{sub 3}. • Large magneto-caloric effect with |ΔS{sub max}| ≈ 7–8 J kg{sup −1} K{sup −1}, and RCP = 232–236 J/kg. • Universal curve of magnetic-entropy change.

  2. Impact of delayed information in sub-second complex systems

    Science.gov (United States)

    Manrique, Pedro D.; Zheng, Minzhang; Johnson Restrepo, D. Dylan; Hui, Pak Ming; Johnson, Neil F.

    What happens when you slow down the delivery of information in large-scale complex systems that operate faster than the blink of an eye? This question just adopted immediate commercial, legal and political importance following U.S. regulators' decision to allow an intentional 350 microsecond delay to be added in the ultrafast network of financial exchanges. However there is still no scientific understanding available to policymakers of the potential system-wide impact of such delays. Here we take a first step in addressing this question using a minimal model of a population of competing, heterogeneous, adaptive agents which has previously been shown to produce similar statistical features to real markets. We find that while certain extreme system-level behaviors can be prevented by such delays, the duration of others is increased. This leads to a highly non-trivial relationship between delays and system-wide instabilities which warrants deeper empirical investigation. The generic nature of our model suggests there should be a fairly wide class of complex systems where such delay-driven extreme behaviors can arise, e.g. sub-second delays in brain function possibly impacting individuals' behavior, and sub-second delays in navigational systems potentially impacting the safety of driverless vehicles.

  3. Impact of delayed information in sub-second complex systems

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pedro D. Manrique

    Full Text Available What happens when you slow down the delivery of information in large-scale complex systems that operate faster than the blink of an eye? This question just adopted immediate commercial, legal and political importance following U.S. regulators’ decision to allow an intentional 350 microsecond delay to be added in the ultrafast network of financial exchanges. However there is still no scientific understanding available to policymakers of the potential system-wide impact of such delays. Here we take a first step in addressing this question using a minimal model of a population of competing, heterogeneous, adaptive agents which has previously been shown to produce similar statistical features to real markets. We find that while certain extreme system-level behaviors can be prevented by such delays, the duration of others is increased. This leads to a highly non-trivial relationship between delays and system-wide instabilities which warrants deeper empirical investigation. The generic nature of our model suggests there should be a fairly wide class of complex systems where such delay-driven extreme behaviors can arise, e.g. sub-second delays in brain function possibly impacting individuals’ behavior, and sub-second delays in navigational systems potentially impacting the safety of driverless vehicles. Keywords: Ultra-fast networks, Temporal perturbation, Competition, Modeling

  4. Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI: A viable functional lung imaging modality?

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Patz, Samuel; Hersman, F. William; Muradian, Iga; Hrovat, Mirko I.; Ruset, Iulian C.; Ketel, Stephen; Jacobson, Francine; Topulos, George P.; Hatabu, Hiroto; Butler, James P.

    2007-01-01

    The majority of researchers investigating hyperpolarized gas MRI as a candidate functional lung imaging modality have used 3 He as their imaging agent of choice rather than 129 Xe. This preference has been predominantly due to, 3 He providing stronger signals due to higher levels of polarization and higher gyromagnetic ratio, as well as its being easily available to more researchers due to availability of polarizers (USA) or ease of gas transport (Europe). Most researchers agree, however, that hyperpolarized 129 Xe will ultimately emerge as the imaging agent of choice due to its unlimited supply in nature and its falling cost. Our recent polarizer technology delivers vast improvements in hyperpolarized 129 Xe output. Using this polarizer, we have demonstrated the unique property of xenon to measure alveolar surface area noninvasively. In this article, we describe our human protocols and their safety, and our results for the measurement of the partial pressure of pulmonary oxygen (pO 2 ) by observation of 129 Xe signal decay. We note that the measurement of pO 2 by observation of 129 Xe signal decay is more complex than that for 3 He because of an additional signal loss mechanism due to interphase diffusion of 129 Xe from alveolar gas spaces to septal tissue. This results in measurements of an equivalent pO 2 that accounts for both traditional T 1 decay from pO 2 and that from interphase diffusion. We also provide an update on new technological advancements that form the foundation for an improved compact design polarizer as well as improvements that provide another order-of-magnitude scale-up in xenon polarizer output

  5. Astrocytic mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization following extended oxygen and glucose deprivation.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andrej Korenić

    Full Text Available Astrocytes can tolerate longer periods of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD as compared to neurons. The reasons for this reduced vulnerability are not well understood. Particularly, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ(m in astrocytes, an indicator of the cellular redox state, have not been investigated during reperfusion after extended OGD exposure. Here, we subjected primary mouse astrocytes to glucose deprivation (GD, OGD and combinations of both conditions varying in duration and sequence. Changes in Δψ(m, visualized by change in the fluorescence of JC-1, were investigated within one hour after reconstitution of oxygen and glucose supply, intended to model in vivo reperfusion. In all experiments, astrocytes showed resilience to extended periods of OGD, which had little effect on Δψ(m during reperfusion, whereas GD caused a robust Δψ(m negativation. In case no Δψ(m negativation was observed after OGD, subsequent chemical oxygen deprivation (OD induced by sodium azide caused depolarization, which, however, was significantly delayed as compared to normoxic group. When GD preceded OD for 12 h, Δψ(m hyperpolarization was induced by both GD and subsequent OD, but significant interaction between these conditions was not detected. However, when GD was extended to 48 h preceding OGD, hyperpolarization enhanced during reperfusion. This implicates synergistic effects of both conditions in that sequence. These findings provide novel information regarding the role of the two main substrates of electron transport chain (glucose and oxygen and their hyperpolarizing effect on Δψ(m during substrate deprivation, thus shedding new light on mechanisms of astrocyte resilience to prolonged ischemic injury.

  6. The role of hyperpolarized 129xenon in MR imaging of pulmonary function

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Ebner, Lukas; Kammerman, Jeff; Driehuys, Bastiaan; Schiebler, Mark L.; Cadman, Robert V.; Fain, Sean B.

    2017-01-01

    Highlights: • Recent advances in hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI are reviewed. • Xenon MRI allows for functional imaging of ventilation, diffusion, and gas exchange. • Xenon’s unique gas exchange imaging capabilities are highlighted. • Applications to obstructive and restrictive lung diseases are presented. • These advances are ready for translation to clinical applications. - Abstract: In the last two decades, functional imaging of the lungs using hyperpolarized noble gases has entered the clinical stage. Both helium ( 3 He) and xenon ( 129 Xe) gas have been thoroughly investigated for their ability to assess both the global and regional patterns of lung ventilation. With advances in polarizer technology and the current transition towards the widely available 129 Xe gas, this method is ready for translation to the clinic. Currently, hyperpolarized (HP) noble gas lung MRI is limited to selected academic institutions; yet, the promising results from initial clinical trials have drawn the attention of the pulmonary medicine community. HP 129 Xe MRI provides not only 3-dimensional ventilation imaging, but also unique capabilities for probing regional lung physiology. In this review article, we aim to (1) provide a brief overview of current ventilation MR imaging techniques, (2) emphasize the role of HP 129 Xe MRI within the array of different imaging strategies, (3) discuss the unique imaging possibilities with HP 129 Xe MRI, and (4) propose clinical applications.

  7. Hyperpolarized {sup 3}helium magnetic resonance ventilation imaging of the lung in cystic fibrosis: comparison with high resolution CT and spirometry

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    McMahon, Colm J.; Dodd, Jonathan D.; Skehan, Stephen J.; Masterson, James B. [St. Vincent' s University Hospital, Department of Radiology, Dublin (Ireland); Hill, Catherine; Woodhouse, Neil; Wild, Jim M.; Fichele, Stan [Royal Hallamshire Hospital, The Unit of Academic Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield (United Kingdom); Gallagher, Charles G. [St. Vincent' s University Hospital, Department of National Referral Centre for Adult Cystic Fibrosis, Dublin (Ireland); Beek, Edwin J.R. van [Royal Hallamshire Hospital, The Unit of Academic Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield (United Kingdom); University of Iowa, Department of Radiology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA (United States)

    2006-11-15

    The purpose of this study was to compare hyperpolarized {sup 3}helium magnetic resonance imaging ({sup 3}He MRI) of the lungs in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and spirometry. Eight patients with stable CF prospectively underwent {sup 3}He MRI, HRCT, and spirometry within 1 week. Three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo sequence was used during an 18-s breath-hold following inhalation of hyperpolarized {sup 3}He. Each lung was divided into six zones; {sup 3}He MRI was scored as percentage ventilation per lung zone. HRCT was scored using a modified Bhalla scoring system. Univariate (Spearman rank) and multivariate correlations were performed between {sup 3}He MRI, HRCT, and spirometry. Results are expressed as mean{+-}SD (range). Spirometry is expressed as percent predicted. There were four men and four women, mean age=31.9{+-}9 (20-46). Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV){sub 1}=52%{+-}29 (27-93). Mean {sup 3}He MRI score=74%{+-}25 (55-100). Mean HRCT score=48.8{+-}24 (13.5-83). The correlation between {sup 3}He MRI and HRCT was strong (R={+-}0.89, p<0.001). Bronchiectasis was the only independent predictor of {sup 3}He MRI; {sup 3}He MRI correlated better with FEV{sub 1} and forced vital capacity (FVC) (R=0.86 and 0.93, p<0.01, respectively) than HRCT (R={+-}0.72 and {+-}0.81, p<0.05, respectively). This study showed that {sup 3}He MRI correlates strongly with structural HRCT abnormalities and is a stronger correlate of spirometry than HRCT in CF. (orig.)

  8. Real-time deep-tissue thermal sensing with sub-degree resolution by thermally improved Nd{sup 3+}:LaF{sub 3} multifunctional nanoparticles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rocha, Uéslen, E-mail: ueslen.silva@fis.ufal.br [Fluorescence Imaging Group, Departamento de Física de Materiales C-04, Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain); Jacinto, Carlos; Kumar, Kagola Upendra [Grupo de Fotônica e Fluidos Complexos, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, 57072-970 Maceió, Alagoas (Brazil); López, Fernando J.; Bravo, David; Solé, José García [Fluorescence Imaging Group, Departamento de Física de Materiales C-04, Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain); Jaque, Daniel, E-mail: daniel.jaque@uam.es [Fluorescence Imaging Group, Departamento de Física de Materiales C-04, Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain); Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Madrid 28034 (Spain)

    2016-07-15

    Nd{sup 3+} ion doped LaF{sub 3} dielectric nanoparticles have recently emerged as very attractive multifunctional nanoparticles capable of simultaneous sub-tissue heating and thermal sensing. Although they have been already used for selective photothermal treatment of cancer tumors in animal models, their real application as self-monitored photothermal agents require further optimization and development. Dynamic adjustment of the therapy parameters is mandatory for non-selective damage minimization. It would require real-time (sub-second) thermal sensing with a sub-degree thermal resolution. In this work we demonstrate that meeting this challenge is, indeed, possible by performing controlled thermal treatment on as-synthesized Nd{sup 3+} doped LaF{sub 3} nanoparticles. Temperature induced lattice ordering and defect re-combination have been concluded to induce, simultaneously, a line fluorescence narrowing, fluorescence brightness enhancement and a remarkable increment in thermal sensitivity. Ex-vivo experiments have demonstrated that, thanks to this multi-parameter optimization, Neodymium doped LaF{sub 3} nanoparticles are capable of real time sub-tissue thermal reading with a temperature resolution as low as 0.7 °C.

  9. Diffusion of hyperpolarized {sup 129}Xe in the lung: a simplified model of {sup 129}Xe septal uptake and experimental results

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Patz, Samuel; Muradyan, Iga; Dabaghyan, Mikayel; Washko, George R; Hatabu, Hiroto; Butler, James P [Center for Pulmonary Functional Imaging, Departments of Radiology and Pulmonary Medicine, Brigham and Women' s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 (United States); Hrovat, Mirko I, E-mail: patz@bwh.harvard.edu [Mirtech, Inc., Brockton, MA 02301 (United States)

    2011-01-15

    We used hyperpolarized {sup 129}Xe NMR to measure pulmonary alveolar surface area per unit gas volume S{sub A}/V{sub gas}, alveolar septal thickness h and capillary transit time {tau}, three critical determinants of the lung's primary role as a gas exchange organ. An analytical solution for a simplified diffusion model is described, together with a modification of the xenon transfer contrast imaging technique utilizing 90{sup 0} radio-frequency pulses applied to the dissolved phase, rather than traditional 180{sup 0} pulses. With this approach, three-dimensional (3D) maps of S{sub A}/V{sub gas} were obtained. We measured global S{sub A}/V{sub gas}, h and {tau} in four normal subjects, two subjects with mild interstitial lung disease (ILD) and two subjects with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In normals, S{sub A}/V{sub gas} decreased with increasing lung volume from {approx}320 to 80 cm{sup -1}; both h{approx}13 {mu}m and {tau}{approx}1.5 s were relatively constant. For the two ILD subjects, h was, respectively, 36 and 97% larger than normal, quantifying an increased gas/blood tissue barrier; S{sub A}/V{sub gas} and {tau} were normal. The two COPD subjects had S{sub A}/V{sub gas} values {approx}25% that of normals, quantifying septal surface loss in emphysema; h and {tau} were normal. These are the first noninvasive, non-radiation-based, quantitative measurements of h and {tau} in patients with pulmonary disease.

  10. Large dose hyperpolarized water with dissolution-DNP at high magnetic field

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Lipsø, Hans Kasper Wigh; Bowen, Sean; Rybalko, Oleksandr

    2016-01-01

    was polarized and dissolved in a fluid path compatible with clinical polarizers. The volume of hyperpolarized water produced by this method enables angiography and perfusion measurements in large animals, as well as NMR experiments for studies of e.g. proton exchange and polarization transfer to other nuclei....

  11. Hyperpolarized Amino Acid Derivatives as Multivalent Magnetic Resonance pH Sensor Molecules

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Christian Hundshammer

    2018-02-01

    Full Text Available pH is a tightly regulated physiological parameter that is often altered in diseased states like cancer. The development of biosensors that can be used to non-invasively image pH with hyperpolarized (HP magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging has therefore recently gained tremendous interest. However, most of the known HP-sensors have only individually and not comprehensively been analyzed for their biocompatibility, their pH sensitivity under physiological conditions, and the effects of chemical derivatization on their logarithmic acid dissociation constant (pKa. Proteinogenic amino acids are biocompatible, can be hyperpolarized and have at least two pH sensitive moieties. However, they do not exhibit a pH sensitivity in the physiologically relevant pH range. Here, we developed a systematic approach to tailor the pKa of molecules using modifications of carbon chain length and derivatization rendering these molecules interesting for pH biosensing. Notably, we identified several derivatives such as [1-13C]serine amide and [1-13C]-2,3-diaminopropionic acid as novel pH sensors. They bear several spin-1/2 nuclei (13C, 15N, 31P with high sensitivity up to 4.8 ppm/pH and we show that 13C spins can be hyperpolarized with dissolution dynamic polarization (DNP. Our findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms of chemical shift pH sensors that might help to design tailored probes for specific pH in vivo imaging applications.

  12. Hyperpolarized Amino Acid Derivatives as Multivalent Magnetic Resonance pH Sensor Molecules.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hundshammer, Christian; Düwel, Stephan; Ruseckas, David; Topping, Geoffrey; Dzien, Piotr; Müller, Christoph; Feuerecker, Benedikt; Hövener, Jan B; Haase, Axel; Schwaiger, Markus; Glaser, Steffen J; Schilling, Franz

    2018-02-15

    pH is a tightly regulated physiological parameter that is often altered in diseased states like cancer. The development of biosensors that can be used to non-invasively image pH with hyperpolarized (HP) magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging has therefore recently gained tremendous interest. However, most of the known HP-sensors have only individually and not comprehensively been analyzed for their biocompatibility, their pH sensitivity under physiological conditions, and the effects of chemical derivatization on their logarithmic acid dissociation constant (p K a ). Proteinogenic amino acids are biocompatible, can be hyperpolarized and have at least two pH sensitive moieties. However, they do not exhibit a pH sensitivity in the physiologically relevant pH range. Here, we developed a systematic approach to tailor the p K a of molecules using modifications of carbon chain length and derivatization rendering these molecules interesting for pH biosensing. Notably, we identified several derivatives such as [1- 13 C]serine amide and [1- 13 C]-2,3-diaminopropionic acid as novel pH sensors. They bear several spin-1/2 nuclei ( 13 C, 15 N, 31 P) with high sensitivity up to 4.8 ppm/pH and we show that 13 C spins can be hyperpolarized with dissolution dynamic polarization (DNP). Our findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms of chemical shift pH sensors that might help to design tailored probes for specific pH in vivo imaging applications.

  13. New quaternary oxides with both families of second-order Jahn–Teller (SOJT) distortive cations: Solid-state synthesis, structure determination, and characterization of YNbTe{sub 2}O{sub 8} and YNbSe{sub 2}O{sub 8}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kim, Yeong Hun [Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756 (Korea, Republic of); Jeon, Beom-Yong; You, Tae-Soo [Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763 (Korea, Republic of); Ok, Kang Min, E-mail: kmok@cau.ac.kr [Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756 (Korea, Republic of)

    2015-07-15

    Graphical abstract: Ball-and-stick representation of YNbTe{sub 2}O{sub 8} composed of polyhedra of SOJT distortive cations, i.e., NbO{sub 6} and TeO{sub 3}, in the ac-plane. - Highlights: • Two novel tellurite and selenite (YNbQ{sub 2}O{sub 8}; Q = Te and Se) are synthesized. • YNbQ{sub 2}O{sub 8} possess both families of second-order Jahn–Teller distortive cations. • The distortive environments and bonding nature are supported by electronic structure calculations. - Abstract: Two novel quaternary mixed metal tellurite and selenite, YNbTe{sub 2}O{sub 8} and YNbSe{sub 2}O{sub 8}, respectively, have been synthesized through standard solid-state reactions using Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5}, TeO{sub 2} or SeO{sub 2} as reagents. Single crystal X-ray and powder neutron diffraction analyses have been utilized to determine the structures of the reported materials. YNbTe{sub 2}O{sub 8} and YNbSe{sub 2}O{sub 8} are isostructural to each other and crystallize in the monoclinic centrosymmetric space group, C2/m (No. 12). Due to the two families of constituent second-order Jahn–Teller (SOJT) distortive cations, i.e., Nb{sup 5+} and Te{sup 4+}/Se{sup 4+}, local asymmetric environments occur from the three-dimensional frameworks. Intra-octahedral distortions along the local C{sub 4} direction and asymmetric trigonal pyramidal coordination moieties generated by stereoactive lone pairs are observed from the NbO{sub 6} octahedra and TeO{sub 3} (or SeO{sub 3}) polyhedra, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis, infrared and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, elemental analysis, out-of-center distortions, dipole moment calculations, and electronic structure calculations for the reported materials are presented.

  14. Multi-octave analog photonic link with improved second- and third-order SFDRs

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tan, Qinggui; Gao, Yongsheng; Fan, Yangyu; He, You

    2018-03-01

    The second- and third-order spurious free dynamic ranges (SFDRs) are two key performance indicators for a multi-octave analogy photonic link (APL). The linearization methods for either second- or third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD2 or IMD3) have been intensively studied, but the simultaneous suppression for the both were merely reported. In this paper, we propose an APL with improved second- and third-order SFDRs for multi-octave applications based on two parallel DPMZM-based sub-APLs. The IMD3 in each sub-APL is suppressed by properly biasing the DPMZM, and the IMD2 is suppressed by balanced detecting the two sub-APLs. The experiment demonstrates significant suppression ratios for both the IMD2 and IMD3 after linearization in the proposed link, and the measured second- and third-order SFDRs with the operating frequency from 6 to 40 GHz are above 91 dB ṡHz 1 / 2 and 116 dB ṡHz 2 / 3, respectively.

  15. Role of endothelium-derived hyperpolarization in the vasodilatation of rat intrarenal arteries

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Pinilla, Estéfano; Sánchez-Pina, Ana; Muñoz Picos, Mercedes

    2016-01-01

    Background and purpose: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation plays an important role in the regulation of vascular tone in different vascular beds. Besides the release of prostacyclin (PGI2) and nitric oxide (NO), the endothelium mediates vasodilation through endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (...

  16. Uniform second Li ion intercalation in solid state ϵ-LiVOPO{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wangoh, Linda W.; Quackenbush, Nicholas F. [Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902 (United States); Sallis, Shawn [Materials Science and Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902 (United States); Wiaderek, Kamila M.; Ma, Lu; Wu, Tianpin; Chapman, Karena W. [X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States); Lin, Yuh-Chieh; Ong, Shyue Ping [Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0448, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States); Wen, Bohua; Chernova, Natasha A.; Whittingham, M. Stanley [NECCES, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902 (United States); Guo, Jinghua [Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States); Lee, Tien-Lin; Schlueter, Christoph [Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE (United Kingdom); Piper, Louis F. J., E-mail: lpiper@binghamton.edu [Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902 (United States); Materials Science and Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902 (United States)

    2016-08-01

    Full, reversible intercalation of two Li{sup +} has not yet been achieved in promising VOPO{sub 4} electrodes. A pronounced Li{sup +} gradient has been reported in the low voltage window (i.e., second lithium reaction) that is thought to originate from disrupted kinetics in the high voltage regime (i.e., first lithium reaction). Here, we employ a combination of hard and soft x–ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy techniques to depth profile solid state synthesized LiVOPO{sub 4} cycled within the low voltage window only. Analysis of the vanadium environment revealed no evidence of a Li{sup +} gradient, which combined with almost full theoretical capacity confirms that disrupted kinetics in the high voltage window are responsible for hindering full two lithium insertion. Furthermore, we argue that the uniform Li{sup +} intercalation is a prerequisite for the formation of intermediate phases Li{sub 1.50}VOPO{sub 4} and Li{sub 1.75}VOPO{sub 4}. The evolution from LiVOPO{sub 4} to Li{sub 2}VOPO{sub 4} via the intermediate phases is confirmed by direct comparison between O K–edge absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory.

  17. Pulmonary hyperpolarized (129) Xe morphometry for mapping xenon gas concentrations and alveolar oxygen partial pressure: Proof-of-concept demonstration in healthy and COPD subjects.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ouriadov, A; Farag, A; Kirby, M; McCormack, D G; Parraga, G; Santyr, G E

    2015-12-01

    Diffusion-weighted (DW) hyperpolarized (129) Xe morphometry magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to map regional differences in lung tissue micro-structure. We aimed to generate absolute xenon concentration ([Xe]) and alveolar oxygen partial pressure (pA O2 ) maps by extracting the unrestricted diffusion coefficient (D0 ) of xenon as a morphometric parameter. In this proof-of-concept demonstration, morphometry was performed using multi b-value (0, 12, 20, 30 s/cm(2) ) DW hyperpolarized (129) Xe images obtained in four never-smokers and four COPD ex-smokers. Morphometric parameters and D0 maps were computed and the latter used to generate [Xe] and pA O2 maps. Xenon concentration phantoms estimating a range of values mimicking those observed in vivo were also investigated. Xenon D0 was significantly increased (P = 0.035) in COPD (0.14 ± 0.03 cm(2) /s) compared with never-smokers (0.12 ± 0.02 cm(2) /s). COPD ex-smokers also had significantly decreased [Xe] (COPD = 8 ± 7% versus never-smokers = 13 ± 8%, P = 0.012) and increased pA O2 (COPD = 18 ± 3% versus never-smokers = 15 ± 3%, P = 0.009) compared with never-smokers. Phantom measurements showed the expected dependence of D0 on [Xe] over the range of concentrations anticipated in vivo. DW hyperpolarized (129) Xe MRI morphometry can be used to simultaneously map [Xe] and pA O2 in addition to providing micro-structural biomarkers of emphysematous destruction in COPD. Phantom measurements of D0 ([Xe]) supported the hypotheses that differences in subjects may reflect differences in functional residual capacity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  18. Transmit-Only/Receive-Only Radiofrequency System for Hyperpolarized 13C MRS Cardiac Metabolism Studies in Pigs

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Giovannetti, G.; Frijia, F.; Hartwig, V.

    2013-01-01

    Hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pig models enables metabolic activity mapping, providing a powerful tool for the study of the heart physiology, but requires the development of dedicated radiofrequency coils, capable of providing large field of view with high signal......-to-noise ratio (SNR) data. This work describes the simulations and the tests of a transmit-only (TX) volume coil/receive-only (RX) surface coil both designed for hyperpolarized studies of pig heart with a clinical 3T scanner. The coil characterization is performed by developing an SNR model for coil performance...

  19. Ex vivo hyperpolarized MR spectroscopy on isolated renal tubular cells: A novel technique for cell energy phenotyping.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Juul, Troels; Palm, Fredrik; Nielsen, Per Mose; Bertelsen, Lotte Bonde; Laustsen, Christoffer

    2017-08-01

    It has been demonstrated that hyperpolarized 13 C MR is a useful tool to study cultured cells. However, cells in culture can alter phenotype, which raises concerns regarding the in vivo significance of such findings. Here we investigate if metabolic phenotyping using hyperpolarized 13 C MR is suitable for cells isolated from kidney tissue, without prior cell culture. Isolation of tubular cells from freshly excised kidney tissue and treatment with either ouabain or antimycin A was investigated with hyperpolarized MR spectroscopy on a 9.4 Tesla preclinical imaging system. Isolation of tubular cells from less than 2 g of kidney tissue generally resulted in more than 10 million live tubular cells. This amount of cells was enough to yield robust signals from the conversion of 13 C-pyruvate to lactate, bicarbonate and alanine, demonstrating that metabolic flux by means of both anaerobic and aerobic pathways can be quantified using this technique. Ex vivo metabolic phenotyping using hyperpolarized 13 C MR in a preclinical system is a useful technique to study energy metabolism in freshly isolated renal tubular cells. This technique has the potential to advance our understanding of both normal cell physiology as well as pathological processes contributing to kidney disease. Magn Reson Med 78:457-461, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  20. Hyperpolarized 13C MR imaging detects no lactate production in mutant IDH1 gliomas: Implications for diagnosis and response monitoring

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Myriam M. Chaumeil

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Metabolic imaging of brain tumors using 13C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS of hyperpolarized [1-13C] pyruvate is a promising neuroimaging strategy which, after a decade of preclinical success in glioblastoma (GBM models, is now entering clinical trials in multiple centers. Typically, the presence of GBM has been associated with elevated hyperpolarized [1-13C] lactate produced from [1-13C] pyruvate, and response to therapy has been associated with a drop in hyperpolarized [1-13C] lactate. However, to date, lower grade gliomas had not been investigated using this approach. The most prevalent mutation in lower grade gliomas is the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1 mutation, which, in addition to initiating tumor development, also induces metabolic reprogramming. In particular, mutant IDH1 gliomas are associated with low levels of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA and monocarboxylate transporters 1 and 4 (MCT1, MCT4, three proteins involved in pyruvate metabolism to lactate. We therefore investigated the potential of 13C MRS of hyperpolarized [1-13C] pyruvate for detection of mutant IDH1 gliomas and for monitoring of their therapeutic response. We studied patient-derived mutant IDH1 glioma cells that underexpress LDHA, MCT1 and MCT4, and wild-type IDH1 GBM cells that express high levels of these proteins. Mutant IDH1 cells and tumors produced significantly less hyperpolarized [1-13C] lactate compared to GBM, consistent with their metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, hyperpolarized [1-13C] lactate production was not affected by chemotherapeutic treatment with temozolomide (TMZ in mutant IDH1 tumors, in contrast to previous reports in GBM. Our results demonstrate the unusual metabolic imaging profile of mutant IDH1 gliomas, which, when combined with other clinically available imaging methods, could be used to detect the presence of the IDH1 mutation in vivo.

  1. Lipopolysaccharide hyperpolarizes guinea pig airway epithelium by increasing the activities of the epithelial Na(+) channel and the Na(+)-K(+) pump.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dodrill, Michael W; Fedan, Jeffrey S

    2010-10-01

    Earlier, we found that systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 4 mg/kg) hyperpolarized the transepithelial potential difference (V(t)) of tracheal epithelium in the isolated, perfused trachea (IPT) of the guinea pig 18 h after injection. As well, LPS increased the hyperpolarization component of the response to basolateral methacholine, and potentiated the epithelium-derived relaxing factor-mediated relaxation responses to hyperosmolar solutions applied to the apical membrane. We hypothesized that LPS stimulates the transepithelial movement of Na(+) via the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)/Na(+)-K(+) pump axis, leading to hyperpolarization of V(t). LPS increased the V(t)-depolarizing response to amiloride (10 μM), i.e., offset the effect of LPS, indicating that Na(+) transport activity was increased. The functional activity of ENaC was measured in the IPT after short-circuiting the Na(+)-K(+) pump with basolateral amphotericin B (7.5 μM). LPS had no effect on the hyperpolarization response to apical trypsin (100 U/ml) in the Ussing chamber, indicating that channel-activating proteases are not involved in the LPS-induced activation of ENaC. To assess Na(+)-K(+) pump activity in the IPT, ENaC was short-circuited with apical amphotericin B. The greater V(t) in the presence of amphotericin B in tracheas from LPS-treated animals compared with controls revealed that LPS increased Na(+)-K(+) pump activity. This finding was confirmed in the Ussing chamber by inhibiting the Na(+)-K(+) pump via extracellular K(+) removal, loading the epithelium with Na(+), and observing a greater hyperpolarization response to K(+) restoration. Together, the findings of this study reveal that LPS hyperpolarizes the airway epithelium by increasing the activities of ENaC and the Na(+)-K(+) pump.

  2. Reaction monitoring using hyperpolarized NMR with scaling of heteronuclear couplings by optimal tracking

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zhang, Guannan; Schilling, Franz; Glaser, Steffen J.; Hilty, Christian

    2016-11-01

    Off-resonance decoupling using the method of Scaling of Heteronuclear Couplings by Optimal Tracking (SHOT) enables determination of heteronuclear correlations of chemical shifts in single scan NMR spectra. Through modulation of J-coupling evolution by shaped radio frequency pulses, off resonance decoupling using SHOT pulses causes a user-defined dependence of the observed J-splitting, such as the splitting of 13C peaks, on the chemical shift offset of coupled nuclei, such as 1H. Because a decoupling experiment requires only a single scan, this method is suitable for characterizing on-going chemical reactions using hyperpolarization by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP). We demonstrate the calculation of [13C, 1H] chemical shift correlations of the carbanionic active sites from hyperpolarized styrene polymerized using sodium naphthalene as an initiator. While off resonance decoupling by SHOT pulses does not enhance the resolution in the same way as a 2D NMR spectrum would, the ability to obtain the correlations in single scans makes this method ideal for determination of chemical shifts in on-going reactions on the second time scale. In addition, we present a novel SHOT pulse that allows to scale J-splittings 50% larger than the respective J-coupling constant. This feature can be used to enhance the resolution of the indirectly detected chemical shift and reduce peak overlap, as demonstrated in a model reaction between p-anisaldehyde and isobutylamine. For both pulses, the accuracy is evaluated under changing signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) of the peaks from reactants and reaction products, with an overall standard deviation of chemical shift differences compared to reference spectra of 0.02 ppm when measured on a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. Notably, the appearance of decoupling side-bands, which scale with peak intensity, appears to be of secondary importance.

  3. Hyperpolarization moves S4 sensors inward to open MVP, a methanococcal voltage-gated potassium channel.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sesti, Federico; Rajan, Sindhu; Gonzalez-Colaso, Rosana; Nikolaeva, Natalia; Goldstein, Steve A N

    2003-04-01

    MVP, a Methanococcus jannaschii voltage-gated potassium channel, was cloned and shown to operate in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Like pacemaker channels, MVP opens on hyperpolarization using S4 voltage sensors like those in classical channels activated by depolarization. The MVP S4 span resembles classical sensors in sequence, charge, topology and movement, traveling inward on hyperpolarization and outward on depolarization (via canaliculi in the protein that bring the extracellular and internal solutions into proximity across a short barrier). Thus, MVP opens with sensors inward indicating a reversal of S4 position and pore state compared to classical channels. Homologous channels in mammals and plants are expected to function similarly.

  4. First-principles prediction of optical second-order harmonic generation in the endohedral N-C{sub 60} compound

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang, G. P.; Strubbe, David A.; Louie, Steven G.; George, Thomas F. [Department of Physics, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 47809 (United States); Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States) and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Office of the Chancellor and Center for Nanoscience, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63121 (United States)

    2011-08-15

    Non-linear-optical properties in C{sub 60} have attracted enormous attention for over two decades. The endohedral complex N-C{sub 60}, with its remarkable thermal stability and spin-quartet ground state, is a candidate for future room-temperature quantum computing, but there has been no investigation of its non-linear-optical properties. Here, a first-principles calculation shows that N-C{sub 60} is a promising material for nanoscale and ultrafast modulations. Excitation by a pump laser pulse of the nitrogen-atom vibration inside the C{sub 60} cage transiently breaks inversion symmetry and can enable second-harmonic generation (SHG) from a probe pulse. Unlike the SHG observed in C{sub 60} thin films, this harmonic signal is switched on and off periodically every 345 fs. For an fcc crystal of N-C{sub 60}, the second-order susceptibility {chi}{sup (2)} is on the order of 10{sup -8} esu, similar to commercially used nonlinear materials.

  5. Use of a Combined SpO<sub>2sub>/PtcCO>2sub> Sensor in the Delivery Room

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Costantino Romagnoli

    2012-08-01

    Full Text Available Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO<sub>2sub> and partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO<sub>2sub> are important respiratory parameters in critically ill neonates. A sensor combining a pulse oximeter with the Stow-Severinghaus electrode, required for the measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO<sub>2sub> and transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PtcCO<sub>2sub>, respectively, has been recently used in neonatal clinical practice (TOSCA500ÒRadiometer. We evaluated TOSCA usability and reliability in the delivery room (DR, throughout three different periods, on term, late-preterm, and preterm neonates. During the first period (period A, 30 healthy term neonates were simultaneously monitored with both TOSCA and a MASIMO pulse oximeter. During the second period (period B, 10 healthy late-preterm neonates were monitored with both TOSCA and a transcutaneous device measuring PtcCO<sub>2sub> (TINAÒ TCM3, Radiometer. During the third period (period C, 15 preterm neonates were monitored with TOSCA and MASIMO after birth, during stabilization, and during transport to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU. Blood gas analyses were performed to compare transcutaneous and blood gas values. TOSCA resulted easily and safely usable in the DR, allowing reliable noninvasive SaO<sub>2sub> estimation. Since PtcCO<sub>2sub> measurements with TOSCA required at least 10 min to be stable and reliable, this parameter was not useful during the early resuscitation immediately after birth. Moreover, PtcCO<sub>2sub> levels were less precise if compared to the conventional transcutaneous monitoring. However, PtcCO<sub>2sub> measurement by TOSCA was useful as trend-monitoring after stabilization and during transport to NICU.

  6. Nernst effect of Ni-doped NdBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} and transport properties in UPt{sub 2}Si{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Johannsen, Niko

    2008-05-15

    In this thesis, the Nernst effect in high-temperature superconductors is investigated. Large Nernst voltages were found to survive up to temperatures that reach far out of the superconducting phase. This was extensively studied thereafter in wide doping range of the high-T{sub c}'s. We were able to significantly expand these studies by tuning T{sup *} and T{sup {nu}} independently. This was done by inducing Ni ions into the CuO planes of NdBa{sub 2}{l_brace}Cu{sub 1-y}Ni{sub y}{r_brace}{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} which allowed to study the Nernst effect in a wide parameter range. This is done on one hand in dependence of the oxygen content which varies the charge carrier concentration. On the other hand, the Ni concentration is varied from 0% to 12%, thereby enhancing T{sup *} and simultaneously suppressing T{sub c} with increasing concentrations. The temperatures to which the anomalous Nernst signal is detectable is the onset temperature T{sup {nu}}. The goal of this work was to find out whether T{sup {nu}} follows T{sub c} or T{sup *}. The onset temperatures of the anomalous Nernst signals are determined as the slightest detectable deviation from the quasiparticle background above T{sub c}. In the second part of this work, the Nernst effect and other transport properties of UPt{sub 2}Si{sub 2}, including electrical ones such as the resistivity and the Hall effect and thermal ones, as the thermal conductivity, the thermopower and the Righi-Leduc effect were investigated. (orig.)

  7. The role of hyperpolarized {sup 129}xenon in MR imaging of pulmonary function

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ebner, Lukas [Cardiothoracic Imaging, Duke University Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC (United States); Kammerman, Jeff [Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Driehuys, Bastiaan [Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Duke University, Durham, NC (United States); Schiebler, Mark L. [Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Cadman, Robert V. [Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Fain, Sean B., E-mail: sfain@wisc.edu [Departments of Medical Physics, Radiology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

    2017-01-15

    Highlights: • Recent advances in hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI are reviewed. • Xenon MRI allows for functional imaging of ventilation, diffusion, and gas exchange. • Xenon’s unique gas exchange imaging capabilities are highlighted. • Applications to obstructive and restrictive lung diseases are presented. • These advances are ready for translation to clinical applications. - Abstract: In the last two decades, functional imaging of the lungs using hyperpolarized noble gases has entered the clinical stage. Both helium ({sup 3}He) and xenon ({sup 129}Xe) gas have been thoroughly investigated for their ability to assess both the global and regional patterns of lung ventilation. With advances in polarizer technology and the current transition towards the widely available {sup 129}Xe gas, this method is ready for translation to the clinic. Currently, hyperpolarized (HP) noble gas lung MRI is limited to selected academic institutions; yet, the promising results from initial clinical trials have drawn the attention of the pulmonary medicine community. HP {sup 129}Xe MRI provides not only 3-dimensional ventilation imaging, but also unique capabilities for probing regional lung physiology. In this review article, we aim to (1) provide a brief overview of current ventilation MR imaging techniques, (2) emphasize the role of HP {sup 129}Xe MRI within the array of different imaging strategies, (3) discuss the unique imaging possibilities with HP {sup 129}Xe MRI, and (4) propose clinical applications.

  8. The large second-harmonic generation of LiCs{sub 2}PO{sub 4} is caused by the metal-cation-centered groups

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cheng, Xiyue; Guo, Guo-Cong; Hong, Maochun; Deng, Shuiquan [State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (FJIRSM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Fuzhou (China); Whangbo, Myung-Hwan [State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (FJIRSM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Fuzhou (China); Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)

    2018-04-03

    We evaluated the individual atom contributions to the second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficients of LiCs{sub 2}PO{sub 4} (LCPO) by introducing the partial response functionals on the basis of first principles calculations. The SHG response of LCPO is dominated by the metal-cation-centered groups CsO{sub 6} and LiO{sub 4}, not by the nonmetal-cation-centered groups PO{sub 4} expected from the existing models and theories. The SHG coefficients of LCPO are determined mainly by the occupied orbitals O 2p and Cs 5p as well as by the unoccupied orbitals Cs 5d and Li 2p. For the SHG response of a material, the polarizable atomic orbitals of the occupied and the unoccupied states are both important. (copyright 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  9. Imaging regional metabolic changes in the ischemic rat heart in vivo using hyperpolarized(1-13C)Pyruvate

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Lauritzen, Mette Hauge; Magnusson, Peter; Laustsen, Christoffer

    2017-01-01

    in the in vivo rat heart in an open-chest model of ischemia reperfusion. Hyperpolarized MRI enables new possibilities for evaluating changes in cardiac metabolism noninvasively and in real time, which potentially could be used for research to evaluate new treatments and metabolic interventions for myocardial......We evaluated the use of hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an open-chest rat model of myocardial infarction to image regional changes in myocardial metabolism. In total, 10 rats were examined before and after 30 minutes of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary...

  10. Synthesis of long T silicon nanoparticles for hyperpolarized Si magnetic resonance imaging

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Atkins, T.M.; Ganguly, S.; Kauzlarich, S.M.

    2013-01-01

    silicide (Na Si) and silicon tetrachloride (SiCl) and were surface functionalized with a variety of passivating ligands. The synthesis scheme results in particles of diameter ~10 nm with long size-adjusted Si spin-lattice relaxation (T) times (>600 s), which are retained after hyperpolarization by low...

  11. Simultaneous high crystallinity and sub-bandgap optical absorptance in hyperdoped black silicon using nanosecond laser annealing

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Franta, Benjamin, E-mail: bafranta@gmail.com; Pastor, David; Gandhi, Hemi H.; Aziz, Michael J.; Mazur, Eric [School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States); Rekemeyer, Paul H.; Gradečak, Silvija [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

    2015-12-14

    Hyperdoped black silicon fabricated with femtosecond laser irradiation has attracted interest for applications in infrared photodetectors and intermediate band photovoltaics due to its sub-bandgap optical absorptance and light-trapping surface. However, hyperdoped black silicon typically has an amorphous and polyphasic polycrystalline surface that can interfere with carrier transport, electrical rectification, and intermediate band formation. Past studies have used thermal annealing to obtain high crystallinity in hyperdoped black silicon, but thermal annealing causes a deactivation of the sub-bandgap optical absorptance. In this study, nanosecond laser annealing is used to obtain high crystallinity and remove pressure-induced phases in hyperdoped black silicon while maintaining high sub-bandgap optical absorptance and a light-trapping surface morphology. Furthermore, it is shown that nanosecond laser annealing reactivates the sub-bandgap optical absorptance of hyperdoped black silicon after deactivation by thermal annealing. Thermal annealing and nanosecond laser annealing can be combined in sequence to fabricate hyperdoped black silicon that simultaneously shows high crystallinity, high above-bandgap and sub-bandgap absorptance, and a rectifying electrical homojunction. Such nanosecond laser annealing could potentially be applied to non-equilibrium material systems beyond hyperdoped black silicon.

  12. Specific features of the domain structure of (Gd sub 1-x Nd sub x ) sub 2 (MoO sub 4 ) sub 3 crystals. Osobennosti domennoj struktury kristallov (Gd sub 1-x Nd sub x ) sub 2 (MoO sub 4 ) sub 3

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bryzgalov, A N; Slepchenko, B M; Virachev, B P [Cherepovetskij Gosudarstvennyj Pedagogicheskij Inst., Cherepovets (USSR)

    1989-11-01

    Formation of the domain structures by sample transfer into thermodynamically metastable state using a simultaneous effect of electric field and temperature change is investigated in Gd{sub 1.7}Nd{sub 0.3}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} monocrystals (GMO). Some new results obtained under investigations into GMO domain structure using neodymium by means of hydrothermal etching and polarization-optical method are presented.

  13. T1 nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion of hyperpolarized sodium and cesium hydrogencarbonate-13 C.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Martínez-Santiesteban, Francisco M; Dang, Thien Phuoc; Lim, Heeseung; Chen, Albert P; Scholl, Timothy J

    2017-09-01

    In vivo pH mapping in tissue using hyperpolarized hydrogencarbonate- 13 C has been proposed as a method to study tumor growth and treatment and other pathological conditions related to pH changes. The finite spin-lattice relaxation times (T 1 ) of hyperpolarized media are a significant limiting factor for in vivo imaging. Relaxation times can be measured at standard magnetic fields (1.5 T, 3.0 T etc.), but no such data are available at low fields, where T 1 values can be significantly shorter. This information is required to determine the potential loss of polarization as the agent is dispensed and transported from the polarizer to the MRI scanner. The purpose of this study is to measure T 1 dispersion from low to clinical magnetic fields (0.4 mT to 3.0 T) of different hyperpolarized hydrogencarbonate formulations previously proposed in the literature for in vivo pH measurements. 13 C-enriched cesium and sodium hydrogencarbonate preparations were hyperpolarized using dynamic nuclear polarization, and the T 1 values of different samples were measured at different magnetic field strengths using a fast field-cycling relaxometer and a 3.0 T clinical MRI system. The effects of deuterium oxide as a dissolution medium for sodium hydrogencarbonate were also analyzed. This study finds that the cesium formulation has slightly shorter T 1 values compared with the sodium preparation. However, the higher solubility of cesium hydrogencarbonate- 13 C means it can be polarized at greater concentration, using less trityl radical than sodium hydrogencarbonate- 13 C. This study also establishes that the preparation and handling of sodium hydrogencarbonate formulations in relation to cesium hydrogencarbonate is more difficult, due to the higher viscosity and lower achievable concentrations, and that deuterium oxide significantly increases the T 1 of sodium hydrogencarbonate solutions. Finally, this work also investigates the influence of pH on the spin-lattice relaxation of cesium

  14. Quantified pH imaging with hyperpolarized (13) C-bicarbonate.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Scholz, David Johannes; Janich, Martin A; Köllisch, Ulrich; Schulte, Rolf F; Ardenkjaer-Larsen, Jan H; Frank, Annette; Haase, Axel; Schwaiger, Markus; Menzel, Marion I

    2015-06-01

    Because pH plays a crucial role in several diseases, it is desirable to measure pH in vivo noninvasively and in a spatially localized manner. Spatial maps of pH were quantified in vitro, with a focus on method-based errors, and applied in vivo. In vitro and in vivo (13) C mapping were performed for various flip angles for bicarbonate (BiC) and CO2 with spectral-spatial excitation and spiral readout in healthy Lewis rats in five slices. Acute subcutaneous sterile inflammation was induced with Concanavalin A in the right leg of Buffalo rats. pH and proton images were measured 2 h after induction. After optimizing the signal to noise ratio of the hyperpolarized (13) C-bicarbonate, error estimation of the spectral-spatial excited spectrum reveals that the method covers the biologically relevant pH range of 6 to 8 with low pH error (< 0.2). Quantification of pH maps shows negligible impact of the residual bicarbonate signal. pH maps reflect the induction of acute metabolic alkalosis. Inflamed, infected regions exhibit lower pH. Hyperpolarized (13) C-bicarbonate pH mapping was shown to be sensitive in the biologically relevant pH range. The mapping of pH was applied to healthy in vivo organs and interpreted within inflammation and acute metabolic alkalosis models. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Assessment of lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis using hyperpolarized 3-Helium MRI: comparison with Shwachman score, Chrispin-Norman score and spirometry

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Beek, Edwin J.R. van; Hill, Catherine; Woodhouse, Neil; Fichele, Stanislao; Fleming, Sally; Wild, Jim M.; Howe, Bridget; Bott, Sandra; Taylor, Christopher J.

    2007-01-01

    This study assesses the feasibility of hyperpolarized 3-Helium MRI in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and correlates the findings with standard clinical parameters based on chest radiograph (CXR) and pulmonary function tests (PFT). An uncontrolled, observational study in eighteen children with cystic fibrosis aged 5 - 17 years (median 12.1 years), with different severity of disease was carried out. All subjects underwent routine clinical assessment including PFT and standard auxology; CXR was obtained and Shwachman and Chrispin-Norman scores calculated. Hyperpolarized 3-He magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out using a spin-exchange polarizer and a whole body 1.5 T scanner. Ventilation distribution images were obtained during a 21-second breath-hold and scored according to previously defined criteria. Spearman's non-parametric correlations test was performed to assess for statistical significance at the p<0.05 level. The children tolerated the procedure well. No desaturation events were observed during 3-He MRI. A significant, albeit moderate, correlation was found between MRI score and FEV1% predicted (r=-0.41; p=0.047) and FVC% predicted (r=-0.42; p=0.04), while there were trends of correlations between Shwachman score and MRI score (r=-0.38; p=0.06) and Shwachman score and FEV1% predicted (r=0.39; p=0.055). The feasibility of hyperpolarized 3-He MRI in children with CF was demonstrated. MRI appears to be able to demonstrate functional lung changes, although correlations with routine clinical tests are only moderate to poor. This non-ionising radiation technique could be useful for monitoring lung disease and assessing therapy in this patient population. (orig.)

  16. Assessment of lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis using hyperpolarized 3-Helium MRI: comparison with Shwachman score, Chrispin-Norman score and spirometry

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Beek, Edwin J.R. van [University of Sheffield, Unit of Academic Radiology, Sheffield (United Kingdom); University of Iowa, Department of Radiology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City (United States); University of Iowa, Department of Radiology, Iowa City, IA (United States); Hill, Catherine; Woodhouse, Neil; Fichele, Stanislao; Fleming, Sally; Wild, Jim M. [University of Sheffield, Unit of Academic Radiology, Sheffield (United Kingdom); Howe, Bridget; Bott, Sandra; Taylor, Christopher J. [University of Sheffield, Academic Unit of Child Health, Sheffield (United Kingdom)

    2007-04-15

    This study assesses the feasibility of hyperpolarized 3-Helium MRI in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and correlates the findings with standard clinical parameters based on chest radiograph (CXR) and pulmonary function tests (PFT). An uncontrolled, observational study in eighteen children with cystic fibrosis aged 5 - 17 years (median 12.1 years), with different severity of disease was carried out. All subjects underwent routine clinical assessment including PFT and standard auxology; CXR was obtained and Shwachman and Chrispin-Norman scores calculated. Hyperpolarized 3-He magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out using a spin-exchange polarizer and a whole body 1.5 T scanner. Ventilation distribution images were obtained during a 21-second breath-hold and scored according to previously defined criteria. Spearman's non-parametric correlations test was performed to assess for statistical significance at the p<0.05 level. The children tolerated the procedure well. No desaturation events were observed during 3-He MRI. A significant, albeit moderate, correlation was found between MRI score and FEV1% predicted (r=-0.41; p=0.047) and FVC% predicted (r=-0.42; p=0.04), while there were trends of correlations between Shwachman score and MRI score (r=-0.38; p=0.06) and Shwachman score and FEV1% predicted (r=0.39; p=0.055). The feasibility of hyperpolarized 3-He MRI in children with CF was demonstrated. MRI appears to be able to demonstrate functional lung changes, although correlations with routine clinical tests are only moderate to poor. This non-ionising radiation technique could be useful for monitoring lung disease and assessing therapy in this patient population. (orig.)

  17. Simultaneous synthesis of anatase colloidal and multiple-branched rutile TiO{sub 2} nanostructures

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nguyen, Trong Tung; Duong, Ngoc Huyen [School of Engineering Physics, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi (Viet Nam); Mai, Xuan Dung [Dept. of Chemistry, Hanoi Pedagogical University No2, Vinh Phuc (Viet Nam)

    2017-03-15

    Facile synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO{sub 2} ) nanostructures with controllability over their cystallinity, dimensions, and shape is in demand for diverse optoelectronic applications. Anatase colloidal particles and precipitates of rutile bundles were synthesized simultaneously using HCl catalyzed sol–gel process with titanium tetrachloride as Ti precursor. The crystallinity and the morphology of these two separable TiO{sub 2} phases were studied by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that by varying HCl concentration during synthesis, dimensions of colloidal anatase can be tuned from spherical particles with a diameter of 2–5 nm to nanorods of dimension of 4 nm (width) × 14 nm (length). The rutile bundles whose size increased with aging time consisted of multiple branches with elongation along c-axis. Both anatase nanorods and rutile bundles can be applied as highly efficient photocatalysts or electron conduits.

  18. Scrubbing water treatment for simultaneous SO/sub 2/ and NO/sub x/ removal from gases, with an integrated stage for reducing Fe-III to Fe-II in the washing liquid circuit by lowering the pH and circulation of SO/sub 2/. Waschwasseraufbereitung fuer die simultane SO/sub 2/- und NO/sub x/-Gasreinigung mit integrierter Stufe zur Reduktion von Eisen-III zu Eisen-II im Waschfluessigkeitskreislauf

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Anon.

    1987-01-08

    In the patent application P 3519681.5 a method for washing water treatment and recovery of valuable material in the simultaneous removal of SO/sub 2/ and NO/sub x/ from flue gas is described. In this method sulphuric acid and air are supplied in the oxidation chamber so that after filtration marketable gypsum is produced as a final product. Surprisingly, it was found out that with a sufficiently high reduction of the pH value to the strongly basic range by addition of sulphuric acid in the range of pH less than 3, iron-III is reduced to iron-II.

  19. Modification of palygorskite surface by organofunctionalization for application in immobilization of H{sub 3}PW{sub 12}O{sub 40}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang Lixia; Jin Qingzhe; Huang Jianhua; Liu Yuanfa; Shan Liang [State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu Province (China); Wang Xingguo, E-mail: wxg1002@hotmail.com [State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu Province (China)

    2010-08-01

    Modified palygorskite with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) and N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (KH792) were used as adsorbent supports for adsorption of 12-phosphotungstic acid (H{sub 3}PW{sub 12}O{sub 40}, HPW). The effect of some factors, such as adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial HPW concentration and temperature, was investigated. The experimental data were well fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model at all studied temperatures. The physicochemical properties of the solids were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis-simultaneous differential thermal analysis (TGA-SDTA), and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy analysis techniques. The characteristic results indicated that silylated-Pa was a suitable support for adsorption of HPW; and HPW was finely and effectively distributed on silylated-Pa and retained partly strong Bronsted acidity.

  20. Dynamically Decoupled 13C Spins in Hyperpolarized Nanodiamond

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rej, Ewa; Gaebel, Torsten; Boele, Thomas; Waddington, David; Reilly, David

    The spin-spin relaxation time, T2, which determines how long a quantum state remains coherent, is an important factor for many applications ranging from MRI to quantum computing. A common technique used in quantum information technology to extend the T2, involves averaging out certain noise spectra via dynamical decoupling sequences. Depending on the nature of the noise in the system, specific sequences, such as CPMG, UDD or KDD, can be tailored to optimize T2. Here we combine hyperpolarization techniques and dynamical decoupling sequences to extend the T2 of 13C nuclear spins in nanodiamond by three orders of magnitude.

  1. Diuresis renography; A simultaneous comparison between sup 131 I-hippuran and sup 99 Tc sup m -MAG sub 3

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hvid-Jacobsen, K.; Thomsen, H.S.; Nielsen, S.L. (Koebenhavns Amts Sygehus, Herlev (Denmark). Dept. of Nuclear Medicine)

    1990-01-01

    In 20 patients investigated for unilateral upper urinary tract obstruction diuresis renography was performed simultaneously with {sup 131}I-hippuran and {sup 99}Tc{sup m}-MAG{sub 3} using a gamma camera with dual isotope facilities. Furosemide was administered routinely 20 min after radionuclide injection. No significant differences were found in fractional share between the two kidneys, time to maximal activity, residual activity at 20 and 30 min, or rate of emptying after furosemide administration. The MAG{sub 3} curves showed, however, better counting statistics and on scintigrams with MAG{sub 3} more anatomic details (extent of dilation and site of obstruction) could be seen. It is concluded, that MAG{sub 3} is superior to hippuran in the evaluation of patients with possible unilateral upper urinary tract obstruction by diuresis renography. (orig.).

  2. 16-Channel surface coil for 13C-hyperpolarized spectroscopic imaging of cardiac metabolism in pig heart

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Frijia, Francesca; Santarelli, Maria Filomena; Koellisch, Ulrich

    2016-01-01

    Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate and its metabolites in large animal models is a powerful tool for assessing cardiac metabolism in patho-physiological conditions. In 13C studies, a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is crucial to overcome the intrinsic data quality...... both targets. In this study, a 16-channel receive surface coil was designed for 13C hyperpolarized studies of the pig heart with a clinical 3-T scanner. The coil performance was characterized by phantom experiments and compared with that of a birdcage coil used in transmit/receive mode. Segmental...... of the 16-channel coil is recommended for studies of septal and anterior LV walls....

  3. MO-DE-206-03: Quantifying Metabolism with Hyperpolarized MR

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bankson, J. [The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (United States)

    2016-06-15

    In this symposium jointly sponsored by the World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) and the AAPM, luminary speakers on imaging metabolism will discuss three impactful topics. The first presentation on Cellular Metabolism of FDG will be given by Guillem Pratx (Stanford). This presentation will detail new work on looking at how the most common molecular imaging agent, fluoro-deoxy-glucose is metabolized at a cellular level. This will be followed by a talk on an improved approach to whole-body PET imaging by Simon Cherry (UC Davis). Simon’s work on a new whole-body PET imaging system promises to have dramatic improvement in our ability to detect and characterize cancer using PET. Finally, Jim Bankson (MD Anderson) will discuss extremely sophisticated approaches to quantifying hyperpolarized-13-C pyruvate metabolism using MR imaging. This technology promises to compliment the exquisite sensitivity of PET with an ability to measure not just uptake, but tumor metabolism. Learning Objectives: Understand the metabolism of FDG at a cellular level. Appreciate the engineering related to a novel new high-sensitivity whole-body PET imaging system. Understand the process of hyperpolarization, how pyruvate relates to metabolism and how advanced modeling can be used to better quantify this data. G. Pratx, Funding: 5R01CA186275, 1R21CA193001, and Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation. S. Cherry, National Institutes of Health; University of California, Davis; Siemens Medical SolutionsJ. Bankson, GE Healthcare; NCI P30-CA016672; CPRIT PR140021-P5.

  4. μ opioid receptor activation hyperpolarizes respiratory-controlling Kölliker-Fuse neurons and suppresses post-inspiratory drive.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Levitt, Erica S; Abdala, Ana P; Paton, Julian F R; Bissonnette, John M; Williams, John T

    2015-10-01

    In addition to reductions in respiratory rate, opioids also cause aspiration and difficulty swallowing, indicating impairment of the upper airways. The Kölliker-Fuse (KF) maintains upper airway patency and a normal respiratory pattern. In this study, activation of μ opioid receptors in the KF reduced respiratory frequency and tidal volume in anaesthetized rats. Nerve recordings in an in situ preparation showed that activation of μ opioid receptors in the KF eliminated the post-inspiration phase of the respiratory cycle. In brain slices, μ opioid agonists hyperpolarized a distinct population (61%) of KF neurons by activation of an inwardly rectifying potassium conductance. These results suggest that KF neurons that are hyperpolarized by opioids could contribute to opioid-induced respiratory disturbances, particularly the impairment of upper airways. Opioid-induced respiratory effects include aspiration and difficulty swallowing, suggesting impairment of the upper airways. The pontine Kölliker-Fuse nucleus (KF) controls upper airway patency and regulates respiration, in particular the inspiratory/expiratory phase transition. Given the importance of the KF in coordinating respiratory pattern, the mechanisms of μ opioid receptor activation in this nucleus were investigated at the systems and cellular level. In anaesthetized, vagi-intact rats, injection of opioid agonists DAMGO or [Met(5) ]enkephalin (ME) into the KF reduced respiratory frequency and amplitude. The μ opioid agonist DAMGO applied directly into the KF of the in situ arterially perfused working heart-brainstem preparation of rat resulted in robust apneusis (lengthened low amplitude inspiration due to loss of post-inspiratory drive) that was rapidly reversed by the opioid antagonist naloxone. In brain slice preparations, activation of μ opioid receptors on KF neurons hyperpolarized a distinct population (61%) of neurons. As expected, the opioid-induced hyperpolarization reduced the excitability of

  5. Formation of 1D hierarchical structures composed of Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} nanosheets on CNTs backbone for supercapacitors and photocatalytic H{sub 2} production

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhu, Ting; Wu, Hao Bin; Wang, Yabo; Xu, Rong; Lou, Xiong Wen [David] [School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637457 (Singapore)

    2012-12-15

    One-dimensional (1D) hierarchical structures composed of Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} nanosheets grown on carbon nanotube (CNT) backbone (denoted as CNT rate at Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2}) are fabricated by a rational multi-step transformation route. The first step involves coating the CNT backbone with a layer of silica to form CNT rate at SiO{sub 2}, which serves as the substrate for the growth of nickel silicate (NiSilicate) nanosheets in the second step to form CNT rate at SiO{sub 2} rate at NiSilicate core-double shell 1D structures. Finally the as-formed CNT rate at SiO{sub 2} rate at NiSilicate 1D structures are converted into CNT-supported Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} nanosheets via hydrothermal treatment in the presence of Na{sub 2}S. Simultaneously the intermediate silica layer is eliminated during the hydrothermal treatment, leading to the formation of CNT rate at Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} nanostructures. Because of the unique hybrid nano-architecture, the as-prepared 1D hierarchical structure is shown to exhibit excellent performance in both supercapacitors and photocatalytic H{sub 2} production. (Copyright copyright 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  6. Brain Imaging Using Hyperpolarized 129Xe Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Chahal, Simrun; Prete, Braedan R J; Wade, Alanna; Hane, Francis T; Albert, Mitchell S

    2018-01-01

    Hyperpolarized (HP) 129 Xe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a novel iteration of traditional MRI that relies on detecting the spins of 1 H. Since 129 Xe is a gaseous signal source, it can be used for lung imaging. Additionally, 129 Xe dissolves in the blood stream and can therefore be detectable in the brain parenchyma and vasculature. In this work, we provide detailed information on the protocols that we have developed to image 129 Xe within the brains of both rodents and human subjects. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Hyperpolarization-activated current (In is reduced in hippocampal neurons from Gabra5-/- mice.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Robert P Bonin

    Full Text Available Changes in the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA receptors can either drive or mediate homeostatic alterations in neuronal excitability. A homeostatic relationship between α5 subunit-containing GABAA (α5GABAA receptors that generate a tonic inhibitory conductance, and HCN channels that generate a hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih was recently described for cortical neurons, where a reduction in Ih was accompanied by a reciprocal increase in the expression of α5GABAA receptors resulting in the preservation of dendritosomatic synaptic function. Here, we report that in mice that lack the α5 subunit gene (Gabra5-/-, cultured embryonic hippocampal pyramidal neurons and ex vivo CA1 hippocampal neurons unexpectedly exhibited a decrease in Ih current density (by 40% and 28%, respectively, compared with neurons from wild-type (WT mice. The resting membrane potential and membrane hyperpolarization induced by blockade of Ih with ZD-7288 were similar in cultured WT and Gabra5-/- neurons. In contrast, membrane hyperpolarization measured after a train of action potentials was lower in Gabra5-/- neurons than in WT neurons. Also, membrane impedance measured in response to low frequency stimulation was greater in cultured Gabra5-/- neurons. Finally, the expression of HCN1 protein that generates Ih was reduced by 41% in the hippocampus of Gabra5-/- mice. These data indicate that loss of a tonic GABAergic inhibitory conductance was followed by a compensatory reduction in Ih. The results further suggest that the maintenance of resting membrane potential is preferentially maintained in mature and immature hippocampal neurons through the homeostatic co-regulation of structurally and biophysically distinct cation and anion channels.

  8. Ovariectomy increases the participation of hyperpolarizing mechanisms in the relaxation of rat aorta.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Sagredo

    Full Text Available This study examines the downstream NO release pathway and the contribution of different vasodilator mediators in the acetylcholine-induced response in rat aorta 5-months after the loss of ovarian function. Aortic segments from ovariectomized and control female Sprague-Dawley rats were used to measure: the levels of superoxide anion, the superoxide dismutases (SODs activity, the cGMP formation, the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG activity and the involvement of NO, cGMP, hydrogen peroxide and hyperpolarizing mechanisms in the ACh-induced relaxation. The results showed that ovariectomy did not alter ACh-induced relaxation; incubation with L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor, decreased the ACh-induced response to a lesser extent in aorta from ovariectomized than from control rats, while ODQ, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, decreased that response to a similar extent; the blockade of hyperpolarizing mechanisms, by precontracting arteries with KCl, decreased the ACh-induced response to a greater extent in aortas from ovariectomized than those from control rats; catalase, that decomposes hydrogen peroxide, decreased the ACh-induced response only in aorta from ovariectomized rats. In addition, ovariectomy increased superoxide anion levels and SODs activity, decreased cGMP formation and increased PKG activity. Despite the increased superoxide anion and decreased cGMP in aorta from ovariectomized rats, ACh-induced relaxation is maintained by the existence of hyperpolarizing mechanisms in which hydrogen peroxide participates. The greater contribution of hydrogen peroxide in ACh-induced relaxation is due to increased SOD activity, in an attempt to compensate for increased superoxide anion formation. Increased PKG activity could represent a redundant mechanism to ensure vasodilator function in the aorta of ovariectomized rats.

  9. Critical Behavior of Thermal Expansion and Magnetostriction in the Vicinity of the First order transition at the Curie Point of Gd<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub>

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Han, Mangui [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

    2004-01-01

    Thermal expansion (TE) and magnetostriction (MS) measurements have been conducted for Gd<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> with a series of x values to study its critical behavior in the vicinity of transition temperatures. It was found that the Curie temperature of Gd<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> for x 0 ~ 0.5 is dependent on magnetic field, direction of change of temperature (Tc on cooling was lower than Tc on heating), purity of Gd starting material, compositions, material preparation methods, and also can be triggered by the external magnetic field with a different dT/dB rate for different x values. For Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>1.95sub>Ge>2.05sub>), Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>2sub>Ge>2sub>), Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>2.09sub>Ge>1.91sub>), it was also found that the transition is a first order magneto-structural transition, which means the magnetic transition and crystalline structure transition occur simultaneously, and completely reversible. Temperature hysteresis and phase coexistence have been found to confirm that it is a first order transformation. While for Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>0.15sub>Ge>3.85sub>), it is partially reversible at some temperature range between the antiferromagnetic and the ferromagnetic state. For Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>2.3sub>Ge>1.7sub>) and Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>3sub>Ge>1sub>), it was a second order transformation between the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic state, because no ΔT have been found. Giant magnetostriction was only found on Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>1.95sub>Ge>2.05sub>), Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>2sub>Ge>2sub>), Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>2.09sub>Ge>1.91sub>) in their vicinity of first order transformation. MFM images have also been taken on polycrystal sample Gd<sub>5sub>(Si>2.09sub>Ge>1.91sub>) to investigate the transformation process. The results also indicates that the Curie temperature was lower and the thermally

  10. Formation of Self-Assembled Ba<sub>2sub>YNbO>6sub> Nanocolumns and their Contribution to Flux-Pinning and J<sub>c> in Nb-doped YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7- sub> Films

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wee, Sung Hun [ORNL; Goyal, Amit [ORNL; Zuev, Yuri L [ORNL; Cantoni, Claudia [ORNL; Selvamanickam, V. [SuperPower Incorporated, Schenectady, New York; Specht, Eliot D [ORNL

    2010-01-01

    Ba{sub 2}RENbO{sub 6} (RE = rare earth elements including Y) compounds are considered new additives for superior flux-pinning in YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} (YBCO) films due to their excellent chemical inertness to and large lattice mismatches with YBCO. Simultaneous laser ablation of a YBCO target and a Nb metal foil attached to the surface of the target resulted in epitaxial growth of YBCO films having columnar defects comprised of self-aligned Ba{sub 2}YNbO{sub 6} (BYNO) nanorods parallel to the c-axis of the film. Compared to pure YBCO, YBCO+BYNO films exhibited no T{sub c} reduction as well as superior J{sub c} performance with higher self- and in-field J{sub c} by a factor of 1.5-7 and also exhibited a strong J{sub c} peak for H {parallel} c indicative of strong c-axis correlated flux-pinning.

  11. An ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for simultaneous determination of xanthine, hypoxanthine and uric acid based on Co doped CeO{sub 2} nanoparticles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lavanya, N. [Department of Bioelectronics and Biosensors, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, Tamilnadu (India); Sekar, C., E-mail: Sekar2025@gmail.com [Department of Bioelectronics and Biosensors, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, Tamilnadu (India); Murugan, R.; Ravi, G. [Department of Physics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, Tamilnadu (India)

    2016-08-01

    A novel electrochemical sensor has been fabricated using Co doped CeO{sub 2} nanoparticles for selective and simultaneous determination of xanthine (XA), hypoxanthine (HXA) and uric acid (UA) in a phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 5.0) for the first time. The Co-CeO{sub 2} NPs have been prepared by microwave irradiation method and characterized by Powder XRD, Raman spectroscopy, HRTEM and VSM measurements. The electrochemical behaviours of XA, HXA and UA at the Co-CeO{sub 2} NPs modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) were studied by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry methods. The modified electrode exhibited remarkably well-separated anodic peaks corresponding to the oxidation of XA, HXA and UA over the concentration range of 0.1–1000, 1–600 and 1–2200 μM with detection limits of 0.096, 0.36, and 0.12 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. For simultaneous detection by synchronous change of the concentrations of XA, HXA and UA, the linear responses were in the range of 1–400 μM each with the detection limits of 0.47, 0.26, and 0.43 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. The fabricated sensor was further applied to the detection of XA, HXA and UA in human urine samples with good selectivity and high reproducibility. - Highlights: • A novel electrochemical sensor has been fabricated for simultaneous determination of purine metabolites xanthine, hypoxanthine, and uric acid based on Co doped CeO{sub 2} nanoparticles. • The Co-CeO{sub 2} modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited wide linear range towards the detection of XA, HXA and UA than ever reported in the literature. • The fabricated sensor was successfully applied for the analysis of human urine samples with satisfactory results.

  12. Comparing three methods of simultaneous synthesis and stabilization of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles: Changing physicochemical properties of products to improve kinetic and thermodynamic of dye adsorption

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rakhshaee, Roohan, E-mail: roohan_rakhshaee@guilan.ac.ir; Noorani, Yasaman

    2017-01-15

    Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles (FNPs) were synthesized by conventional heating (CH), co-precipitation (CP) and microwave heating (MH) methods in presence of pectin crosslinked by β-isopropylglutaric acid (-CP) to stabilize nanoparticles. The role of the cross-linked pectin and kinds of synthesis methods was appeared to increase the effective total surface of FNPs both simultaneously as the synergistic effects and separately. The effective role of the microwave irradiation to decrease FNPs mean size was seen, so that its size in FMH was smaller 21.5% and 38.2% than that of FCP and FCH, and in FMH-CP was smaller 27.2% and 58.9% than that of FCP-CP and FCH-CP, respectively. The various experiments were done on the structures, functional groups, and connection quantities of -CP to FNPs synthesized by CH, CP and MH methods. The different physical properties of the obtained composites containing magnetization, zeta potential and thermal analyses were determined. To study the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from the aqueous and alkali solution, the role Fe–O{sup −} groups of FNPs was evaluated more effective than the role of –COO{sup −} and –O{sup −} of -CP in the stabilized nanoparticles. Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} NPs stabilized by -CP using microwave heating showed the highest capacity of MB adsorption due to having the most suitable thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. - Highlights: • Studying simultaneous synergistic effects to reduce Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles size. • Quantity and quality study of particles stabilization by cross linked pectin. • Comparing abilities of new products for methylene blue adsorption. • Microwave heating as the most effective factor to reach desired results.

  13. Test-retest measurements of dopamine D{sub 1}-type receptors using simultaneous PET/MRI imaging

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kaller, Simon; Patt, Marianne; Becker, Georg-Alexander; Luthardt, Julia; Meyer, Philipp M.; Werner, Peter; Barthel, Henryk; Bresch, Anke; Sabri, Osama [University of Leipzig, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Leipzig (Germany); Rullmann, Michael [University of Leipzig, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Leipzig (Germany); Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig (Germany); Girbardt, Johanna [Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig (Germany); Fritz, Thomas H. [Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig (Germany); University of Gent, Institute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music (IPEM), Ghent (Belgium); Hesse, Swen [University of Leipzig, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Leipzig (Germany); Leipzig University Medical Centre, Integrated Research and Treatment Centre (IFB) Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig (Germany)

    2017-06-15

    The role of dopamine D{sub 1}-type receptor (D{sub 1}R)-expressing neurons in the regulation of motivated behavior and reward prediction has not yet been fully established. As a prerequisite for future research assessing D{sub 1}-mediated neuronal network regulation using simultaneous PET/MRI and D{sub 1}R-selective [{sup 11}C]SCH23390, this study investigated the stability of central D{sub 1}R measurements between two independent PET/MRI sessions under baseline conditions. Thirteen healthy volunteers (7 female, age 33 ± 13 yrs) underwent 90-min emission scans, each after 90-s bolus injection of 486 ± 16 MBq [{sup 11}C]SCH23390, on two separate days within 2-4 weeks using a PET/MRI system. Parametric images of D{sub 1}R distribution volume ratio (DVR) and binding potential (BP{sub ND}) were generated by a multi-linear reference tissue model with two parameters and the cerebellar cortex as receptor-free reference region. Volume-of-interest (VOI) analysis was performed with manual VOIs drawn on consecutive transverse MRI slices for brain regions with high and low D{sub 1}R density. The DVR varied from 2.5 ± 0.3 to 2.9 ± 0.5 in regions with high D{sub 1}R density (e.g. the head of the caudate) and from 1.2 ± 0.1 to 1.6 ± 0.2 in regions with low D{sub 1}R density (e.g. the prefrontal cortex). The absolute variability of the DVR ranged from 2.4% ± 1.3% to 5.1% ± 5.3%, while Bland-Altman analyses revealed very low differences in mean DVR (e.g. 0.013 ± 0.17 for the nucleus accumbens). Intraclass correlation (one-way, random) indicated very high agreement (0.93 in average) for both DVR and BP{sub ND} values. Accordingly, the absolute variability of BP{sub ND} ranged from 7.0% ± 4.7% to 12.5% ± 10.6%; however, there were regions with very low D{sub 1}R content, such as the occipital cortex, with higher mean variability. The test-retest reliability of D{sub 1}R measurements in this study was very high. This was the case not only for D{sub 1}R-rich brain areas, but

  14. Hollow fiber contractors for simultaneous SO{sub x}/NO{sub x} removal

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bhown, A.S.; Pakala, N.R.; Riggs, T. [SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)] [and others

    1995-11-01

    Control of SO{sub x} and NO{sub x} emissions from coal-fired utility and industrial boilers is a topic of growing national and international importance. Whereas a host of commercial and semicommercial processes exist, increasingly stringent emission standards mandate that processes be low cost, highly efficient, and, ideally, produce marketable byproducts. Although a wide range of site-specific economic factors dictate the best choice of SO{sub x} and NO{sub x} control, removal of SO{sub 2} by wet limestone scrubbing and removal of NO{sub x} by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) are regarded as the best commercialized technologies for this application. A typical wet limestone plant requires approximately $100 to $120 of capital investment per kilowatt of electric power generating capacity and has power and miscellaneous operating costs in the range of 5 to 6 mils per kilowatt hour (kWh). The SCR process requires approximately $70 to $100 of capital investment per kilowatt of electric power generating capacity. Its operating costs, including ammonia consumption, is in the range of 1.8 to 2.2 mils per kWh. These costs can add approximately 20% to the final cost of generated electricity, a significant burden on rate payers.

  15. Quantification of human lung structure and physiology using hyperpolarized 129Xe.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Chang, Yulin V; Quirk, James D; Ruset, Iulian C; Atkinson, Jeffrey J; Hersman, F William; Woods, Jason C

    2014-01-01

    To present in vivo, human validation of a previously proposed method to measure key pulmonary parameters related to lung microstructure and physiology. Some parameters, such as blood-air barrier thickness, cannot be measured readily by any other noninvasive modality. Healthy volunteers (n = 12) were studied in 1.5T and 3T whole body human scanners using hyperpolarized xenon. Xenon uptake by lung parenchyma and blood was measured using a chemical shift saturation recovery sequence. Both dissolved-xenon peaks at 197 ppm and 217-218 ppm were fitted against a model of xenon exchange (MOXE) as functions of exchange time. Parameters related to lung function and structure can be obtained by fitting to this model. The following results were obtained from xenon uptake (averaged over all healthy volunteers): surface-area-to-volume ratio = 210 ± 50 cm(-1) ; total septal wall thickness = 9.2 ± 6.5 μm; blood-air barrier thickness = 1.0 ± 0.3 μm; hematocrit = 27 ± 4%; pulmonary capillary blood transit time = 1.3 ± 0.3 s, in good agreement with literature values from invasive experiments. More detailed fitting results are listed in the text. The initial in vivo human results demonstrate that our proposed methods can be used to noninvasively determine lung physiology by simultaneous quantification of a few important pulmonary parameters. This method is highly promising to become a versatile screening method for lung diseases. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. Hyperpolarized 1-13C Pyruvate Imaging of Porcine Cardiac Metabolism shift by GIK Intervention

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Søvsø Szocska Hansen, Esben; Tougaard, Rasmus Stilling; Mikkelsen, Emmeli

    to evaluate the general feasibility to detect an imposed shift in metabolic substrate utilization during metabolic modulation with glucose, insulin and potassium (GIK) infusion. This study demonstrates that hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate, in a large animal, is a feasible method for cardiac studies, and...

  17. Characterization and flip angle calibration of 13C surface coils for hyperpolarization studies

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Hansen, Rie Beck; Gutte, Henrik; Larsen, Majbrit M E

    The aim of the present work is to address the challenge of optimal The aim of the present work is to address the challenge of optimal flflip angle calibration of ip angle calibration of C surface coils in C surface coils in hyperpolarization studies. To this end, we characterize the spatial pro h...

  18. A continuous-flow, high-throughput, high-pressure parahydrogen converter for hyperpolarization in a clinical setting.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hövener, Jan-Bernd; Bär, Sébastien; Leupold, Jochen; Jenne, Klaus; Leibfritz, Dieter; Hennig, Jürgen; Duckett, Simon B; von Elverfeldt, Dominik

    2013-02-01

    Pure parahydrogen (pH(2) ) is the prerequisite for optimal pH(2) -based hyperpolarization experiments, promising approaches to access the hidden orders of magnitude of MR signals. pH(2) production on-site in medical research centers is vital for the proliferation of these technologies in the life sciences. However, previously suggested designs do not meet our requirements for safety or production performance (flow rate, pressure or enrichment). In this article, we present the safety concept, design and installation of a pH(2) converter, operated in a clinical setting. The apparatus produces a continuous flow of four standard liters per minute of ≈98% enriched pH(2) at a pressure maximum of 50 bar. The entire production cycle, including cleaning and cooling to 25 K, takes less than 5 h, only ≈45 min of which are required for actual pH(2) conversion. A fast and simple quantification procedure is described. The lifetimes of pH(2) in a glass vial and aluminum storage cylinder are measured to be T(1C) (glass vial) =822 ± 29 min and T(1C) (Al cylinder) =129 ± 36 days, thus providing sufficiently long storage intervals and allowing the application of pH(2) on demand. A dependence of line width on pH(2) enrichment is observed. As examples, (1) H hyperpolarization of pyridine and (13) C hyperpolarization of hydroxyethylpropionate are presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  19. Quantification of regional early stage gas exchange changes using hyperpolarized {sup 129}Xe MRI in a rat model of radiation-induced lung injury

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Doganay, Ozkan, E-mail: ozkan.doganay@oncology.ox.ac.uk [Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario N6A5C1 (Canada); Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario N6A5C1 (Canada); Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ (United Kingdom); Stirrat, Elaine [Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8 (Canada); McKenzie, Charles [Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario N6A5C1 (Canada); Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario N6A5C1 (Canada); Schulte, Rolf F. [General Electric Global Research, Munich 85748 (Germany); Santyr, Giles E. [Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario N6A5C1 (Canada); Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario N6A5C1 (Canada); Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8 (Canada); Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G1L7 (Canada)

    2016-05-15

    Purpose: To assess the feasibility of hyperpolarized (HP) {sup 129}Xe MRI for detection of early stage radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) in a rat model involving unilateral irradiation by assessing differences in gas exchange dynamics between irradiated and unirradiated lungs. Methods: The dynamics of gas exchange between alveolar air space and pulmonary tissue (PT), PT and red blood cells (RBCs) was measured using single-shot spiral iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation images of the right and left lungs of two age-matched cohorts of Sprague Dawley rats. The first cohort (n = 5) received 18 Gy irradiation to the right lung using a {sup 60}Co source and the second cohort (n = 5) was not irradiated and served as the healthy control. Both groups were imaged two weeks following irradiation when radiation pneumonitis (RP) was expected to be present. The gas exchange data were fit to a theoretical gas exchange model to extract measurements of pulmonary tissue thickness (L{sub PT}) and relative blood volume (V{sub RBC}) from each of the right and left lungs of both cohorts. Following imaging, lung specimens were retrieved and percent tissue area (PTA) was assessed histologically to confirm RP and correlate with MRI measurements. Results: Statistically significant differences in L{sub PT} and V{sub RBC} were observed between the irradiated and non-irradiated cohorts. In particular, L{sub PT} of the right and left lungs was increased approximately 8.2% and 5.0% respectively in the irradiated cohort. Additionally, V{sub RBC} of the right and left lungs was decreased approximately 36.1% and 11.7% respectively for the irradiated cohort compared to the non-irradiated cohort. PTA measurements in both right and left lungs were increased in the irradiated group compared to the non-irradiated cohort for both the left (P < 0.05) and right lungs (P < 0.01) confirming the presence of RP. PTA measurements also correlated with the

  20. Atrial fibrillation driven by micro-anatomic intramural re-entry revealed by simultaneous sub-epicardial and sub-endocardial optical mapping in explanted human hearts.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hansen, Brian J; Zhao, Jichao; Csepe, Thomas A; Moore, Brandon T; Li, Ning; Jayne, Laura A; Kalyanasundaram, Anuradha; Lim, Praise; Bratasz, Anna; Powell, Kimerly A; Simonetti, Orlando P; Higgins, Robert S D; Kilic, Ahmet; Mohler, Peter J; Janssen, Paul M L; Weiss, Raul; Hummel, John D; Fedorov, Vadim V

    2015-09-14

    The complex architecture of the human atria may create physical substrates for sustained re-entry to drive atrial fibrillation (AF). The existence of sustained, anatomically defined AF drivers in humans has been challenged partly due to the lack of simultaneous endocardial-epicardial (Endo-Epi) mapping coupled with high-resolution 3D structural imaging. Coronary-perfused human right atria from explanted diseased hearts (n = 8, 43-72 years old) were optically mapped simultaneously by three high-resolution CMOS cameras (two aligned Endo-Epi views (330 µm2 resolution) and one panoramic view). 3D gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (GE-MRI, 80 µm3 resolution) revealed the atrial wall structure varied in thickness (1.0 ± 0.7-6.8 ± 2.4 mm), transmural fiber angle differences, and interstitial fibrosis causing transmural activation delay from 23 ± 11 to 43 ± 22 ms at increased pacing rates. Sustained AF (>90 min) was induced by burst pacing during pinacidil (30-100 µM) perfusion. Dual-sided sub-Endo-sub-Epi optical mapping revealed that AF was driven by spatially and temporally stable intramural re-entry with 107 ± 50 ms cycle length and transmural activation delay of 67 ± 31 ms. Intramural re-entrant drivers were captured primarily by sub-Endo mapping, while sub-Epi mapping visualized re-entry or 'breakthrough' patterns. Re-entrant drivers were anchored on 3D micro-anatomic tracks (15.4 ± 2.2 × 6.0 ± 2.3 mm2, 2.9 ± 0.9 mm depth) formed by atrial musculature characterized by increased transmural fiber angle differences and interstitial fibrosis. Targeted radiofrequency ablation of the tracks verified these re-entries as drivers of AF. Integrated 3D structural-functional mapping of diseased human right atria ex vivo revealed that the complex atrial microstructure caused significant differences between Endo vs. Epi activation during pacing and sustained AF driven by intramural re-entry anchored to fibrosis-insulated atrial bundles. Published on

  1. Effect of simultaneous cooling on microwave-assisted wet digestion of biological samples with diluted nitric acid and O{sub 2} pressure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bizzi, Cezar A. [Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900 (Brazil); Nóbrega, Joaquim A. [Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo 13565-905 (Brazil); Barin, Juliano S. [Departamento de Tecnologia e Ciência dos Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900 (Brazil); Oliveira, Jussiane S.S.; Schmidt, Lucas; Mello, Paola A. [Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900 (Brazil); Flores, Erico M.M., E-mail: ericommf@gmail.br [Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900 (Brazil)

    2014-07-21

    Highlights: • Simultaneously cooling during microwave heating for improving digestion efficiency. • Maximum MW power delivered into cavity, improving the temperature in liquid phase. • Temperature gradient increases regeneration reaction of HNO{sub 3} in O{sub 2} rich atmosphere. • Digestion of several matrices using diluted HNO{sub 3} combined with O{sub 2} pressure. - Abstract: The present work evaluates the influence of vessel cooling simultaneously to microwave-assisted digestion performed in a closed system with diluted HNO{sub 3} under O{sub 2} pressure. The effect of outside air flow-rates (60–190 m{sup 3} h{sup −1}) used for cooling of digestion vessels was evaluated. An improvement in digestion efficiency caused by the reduction of HNO{sub 3} partial pressure was observed when using higher air flow-rate (190 m{sup 3} h{sup −1}), decreasing the residual carbon content for whole milk powder from 21.7 to 9.3% (lowest and highest air flow-rate, respectively). The use of high air flow-rate outside the digestion vessel resulted in a higher temperature gradient between liquid and gas phases inside the digestion vessel and improved the efficiency of sample digestion. Since a more pronounced temperature gradient was obtained, it contributed for increasing the condensation rate and thus allowed a reduction in the HNO{sub 3} partial pressure of the digestion vessel, which improved the regeneration of HNO{sub 3}. An air flow-rate of 190 m{sup 3} h{sup −1} was selected for digestion of animal fat, bovine liver, ground soybean, non fat milk powder, oregano leaves, potato starch and whole milk powder samples, and a standard reference material of apple leaves (NIST 1515), bovine liver (NIST 1577) and whole milk powder (NIST 8435) for further metals determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results were in agreement with certified values and no interferences caused by matrix effects during the determination step

  2. A comparison of quantitative methods for clinical imaging with hyperpolarized (13)C-pyruvate.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Daniels, Charlie J; McLean, Mary A; Schulte, Rolf F; Robb, Fraser J; Gill, Andrew B; McGlashan, Nicholas; Graves, Martin J; Schwaiger, Markus; Lomas, David J; Brindle, Kevin M; Gallagher, Ferdia A

    2016-04-01

    Dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enables the metabolism of hyperpolarized (13)C-labelled molecules, such as the conversion of [1-(13)C]pyruvate to [1-(13)C]lactate, to be dynamically and non-invasively imaged in tissue. Imaging of this exchange reaction in animal models has been shown to detect early treatment response and correlate with tumour grade. The first human DNP study has recently been completed, and, for widespread clinical translation, simple and reliable methods are necessary to accurately probe the reaction in patients. However, there is currently no consensus on the most appropriate method to quantify this exchange reaction. In this study, an in vitro system was used to compare several kinetic models, as well as simple model-free methods. Experiments were performed using a clinical hyperpolarizer, a human 3 T MR system, and spectroscopic imaging sequences. The quantitative methods were compared in vivo by using subcutaneous breast tumours in rats to examine the effect of pyruvate inflow. The two-way kinetic model was the most accurate method for characterizing the exchange reaction in vitro, and the incorporation of a Heaviside step inflow profile was best able to describe the in vivo data. The lactate time-to-peak and the lactate-to-pyruvate area under the curve ratio were simple model-free approaches that accurately represented the full reaction, with the time-to-peak method performing indistinguishably from the best kinetic model. Finally, extracting data from a single pixel was a robust and reliable surrogate of the whole region of interest. This work has identified appropriate quantitative methods for future work in the analysis of human hyperpolarized (13)C data. © 2016 The Authors. NMR in Biomedicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  3. Porous p-NiO/n-Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanocomposites prepared by an EISA route with enhanced photocatalytic activity in simultaneous Cr(VI) reduction and methyl orange decolorization under visible light irradiation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hashemzadeh, Fatemeh, E-mail: Fa.hashemzadeh@gmail.com [Young Researchers and Elite Clube, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marand (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Gaffarinejad, Ali, E-mail: Ghaffarinejad@iust.ac.ir [Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran 16846-13114 (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Rahimi, Rahmatollah, E-mail: Rahimi_Rah@iust.ac.ir [Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran 16846-13114 (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

    2015-04-09

    Highlights: • EISA synthesis of NiO/Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} composites (NiNbx; x = Ni/Nb = 0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2). • 200–400 nm extension in absorption edge to visible region compared to NiNb0.0. • Simultaneous Cr(VI)–MO redox photoreactions on NiNbx in visible light at pH 2. • NiNb0.4, the most active sample, due to low E{sub g} & e{sup −}–h{sup +} separation by p–n junction. • More efficiency of Cr(VI)–MO system than that of single ones, showing synergism effect. - Abstract: Porous NiO/Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanocomposites with Ni/Nb molar ratio of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 have been obtained via the EISA route using P123 copolymer as organic template, and are assigned as NiNb0.4, NiNb0.8 and NiNb1.2, respectively. For comparison, pure Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} sample assigned as NiNb0.0 was also synthesized by the same method. Structural and textural features of the as prepared samples were investigated by XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, EDX, UV–vis DRS and BET techniques. The results indicated that the porous p-NiO/n-Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} junction nanocomposites were formed and coupling of NiO with Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} resulted a remarkable red shift in the optical response of the nanocomposite samples. The photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposite samples, and also synthesized pure Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} (NiNb0.0) and commercial Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} as reference catalysts were evaluated for the first time by simultaneous Cr(VI) reduction and MO decolorization in aqueous suspension under visible light irradiation at pH 2. NiNb0.4 was found to be the most active photocatalyst, which might be attributed to the extended absorption in the visible light region and the effective photogenerated electron–hole separation by the photosynergistic effects of the p-NiO/n-Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} composite powder. The photocatalytic efficiency of the most active photocatalyst, NiNb0.4, was found to be rather low for either single Cr(VI) solution or single MO solution. However, the photocatalytic reduction of

  4. Combined Hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate MRS and 18F-FDG PET (HyperPET) Estimates of Glycolysis in Canine Cancer Patients

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Hansen, Adam E.; Gutte, Henrik; Holst, Pernille

    2018-01-01

    13C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) using hyperpolarized 13C-labeled pyruvate as a substrate offers a measure of pyruvate-lactate interconversion and is thereby a marker of the elevated aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) generally exhibited by cancer cells. Here, we aim to compare hyperpol......13C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) using hyperpolarized 13C-labeled pyruvate as a substrate offers a measure of pyruvate-lactate interconversion and is thereby a marker of the elevated aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) generally exhibited by cancer cells. Here, we aim to compare...

  5. Characterization of the Infrared/X-ray sub-second variability for the black-hole transient GX 339-4

    Science.gov (United States)

    Vincentelli, F. M.; Casella, P.; Maccarone, T. J.; Uttley, P.; Gandhi, P.; Belloni, T.; De Marco, B.; Russell, D. M.; Stella, L.; O'Brien, K.

    2018-03-01

    We present a detailed analysis of the X-ray/IR fast variability of the Black-Hole Transient GX 339-4 during its low/hard state in August 2008. Thanks to simultaneous high time-resolution observations made with the VLT and RXTE, we performed the first characterisation of the sub-second variability in the near-infrared band - and of its correlation with the X-rays - for a low-mass X-ray binary, using both time- and frequency-domain techniques. We found a power-law correlation between the X-ray and infrared fluxes when measured on timescales of 16 seconds, with a marginally variable slope, steeper than the one found on timescales of days at similar flux levels. We suggest the variable slope - if confirmed - could be due to the infrared flux being a non-constant combination of both optically thin and optically thick synchrotron emission from the jet, as a result of a variable self-absorption break. From cross spectral analysis we found an approximately constant infrared time lag of ≈0.1s, and a very high coherence of ˜90 per cent on timescales of tens of seconds, slowly decreasing toward higher frequencies. Finally, we report on the first detection of a linear rms-flux relation in the emission from a low-mass X-ray binary jet, on timescales where little correlation is found between the X-rays and the jet emission itself. This suggests that either the inflow variations and jet IR emission are coupled by a non-linear or time-variable transform, or that the IR rms-flux relation is not transferred from the inflow to the jet, but is an intrinsic property of emission processes in the jet.

  6. Phase dependency of electrotonic spread of hyperpolarizing current pulses in the rabbit sinoatrial node

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Duivenvoorden, J. J.; Bouman, L. N.; Bukauskas, F. F.; Opthof, T.; Jongsma, H. J.

    1990-01-01

    Electrotonic current spread in the SA node of the rabbit was measured by means of hyperpolarizing current pulses (1 to 10 microA, 60 ms), which were injected intracellularly through a K(+)-perfused suction electrode. The pulses were applied at the beginning, middle or end of the diastolic

  7. Acute afterload-imposed change in porcine cardiac metabolism imaged by hyperpolarized [1-13C]Pyruvate

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Tougaard, Rasmus Stilling; Søvsø Szocska Hansen, Esben; Laustsen, Christoffer

    Deranged metabolism is now considered a key causal factor in heart failure and has therefore gained considerable scientific interest. The novel technique hyperpolarized MR has emerged as a leading methodological candidate to study these derangements. We employed a clinically relevant, large animal...

  8. The need for second-line antiretroviral therapy in adults in sub-Saharan Africa up to 2030: a mathematical modelling study.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Estill, Janne; Ford, Nathan; Salazar-Vizcaya, Luisa; Haas, Andreas D; Blaser, Nello; Habiyambere, Vincent; Keiser, Olivia

    2016-03-01

    The number of patients in need of second-line antiretroviral drugs is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to project the need of second-line antiretroviral therapy in adults in sub-Saharan Africa up to 2030. We developed a simulation model for HIV and applied it to each sub-Saharan African country. We used the WHO country intelligence database to estimate the number of adult patients receiving antiretroviral therapy from 2005 to 2014. We fitted the number of adult patients receiving antiretroviral therapy to observed estimates, and predicted first-line and second-line needs between 2015 and 2030. We present results for sub-Saharan Africa, and eight selected countries. We present 18 scenarios, combining the availability of viral load monitoring, speed of antiretroviral scale-up, and rates of retention and switching to second-line. HIV transmission was not included. Depending on the scenario, 8·7-25·6 million people are expected to receive antiretroviral therapy in 2020, of whom 0·5-3·0 million will be receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy. The proportion of patients on treatment receiving second-line therapy was highest (15·6%) in the scenario with perfect retention and immediate switching, no further scale-up, and universal routine viral load monitoring. In 2030, the estimated range of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy will remain constant, but the number of patients receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy will increase to 0·8-4·6 million (6·6-19·6%). The need for second-line antiretroviral therapy was two to three times higher if routine viral load monitoring was implemented throughout the region, compared with a scenario of no further viral load monitoring scale-up. For each monitoring strategy, the future proportion of patients receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy differed only minimally between countries. Donors and countries in sub-Saharan Africa should prepare for a substantial increase in the need for second

  9. Cold white light generation through the simultaneous emission from Ce{sup 3+}, Dy{sup 3+} and Mn{sup 2+} in 90Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}{center_dot}2CeCl{sub 3}{center_dot}3DyCl{sub 3}{center_dot}5MnCl{sub 2} thin film

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gonzalez, W. [Departamento de Fisica, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, P.O. Box 55-534, Mexico, D.F. 09340 (Mexico); Alvarez, E. [Departamento de Fisica, Universidad de Sonora (UNISON), Boulevard Luis Encinas y Rosales s/n, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000 (Mexico); Martinez-Martinez, R.; Yescas-Mendoza, E. [Instituto de Fisica y Matematicas, Universidad Tecnologica de la Mixteca, Carretera a Acatlima Km. 2.5, Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca 69000 (Mexico); Camarillo, I. [Departamento de Fisica, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, P.O. Box 55-534, Mexico, D.F. 09340 (Mexico); Caldino, U., E-mail: cald@xanum.uam.mx [Departamento de Fisica, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, P.O. Box 55-534, Mexico, D.F. 09340 (Mexico)

    2012-08-15

    The photoluminescence of a CeCl{sub 3}, DyCl{sub 3} and MnCl{sub 2} doped aluminum oxide film deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis was characterized by excitation, emission and decay time spectroscopy. A nonradiative energy transfer from Ce{sup 3+} to Dy{sup 3+} and Mn{sup 2+} is observed upon UV excitation at 278 nm (peak emission wavelength of AlGaN-based LEDs). Such energy transfer leads to a simultaneous emission of these ions in the blue, green, yellow and red regions, resulting in white light emission with CIE1931 chromaticity coordinates, x=0.34 and y=0.23, which correspond to cold white light with a color temperature of 4900 K. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer 90Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}{center_dot}2CeCl{sub 3}{center_dot}3DyCl{sub 3}{center_dot}5MnCl{sub 2} thin film (AOCDM) could be prepared by spray pyrolysis. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Non-radiative energy transfer from Ce{sup 3+} to Dy{sup 3+} and Mn{sup 2+} takes place in AOCDM. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer AOCDM (pumped with 278 nm-UV light) can generate 4900 K cold white light.

  10. Mechanisms of hyperpolarization in regenerated mature motor axons in cat

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Moldovan, Mihai; Krarup, Christian

    2004-01-01

    We found persistent abnormalities in the recovery of membrane excitability in long-term regenerated motor nerve fibres in the cat as indicated in the companion paper. These abnormalities could partly be explained by membrane hyperpolarization. To further investigate this possibility, we compared...... the changes in excitability in control nerves and long-term regenerated cat nerves (3-5 years after tibial nerve crush) during manoeuvres known to alter axonal membrane Na(+)-K(+) pump function: polarization, cooling to 20 degrees C, reperfusion after 10 min ischaemia, and up to 60 s of repetitive stimulation...

  11. Technique development of 3D dynamic CS-EPSI for hyperpolarized 13 C pyruvate MR molecular imaging of human prostate cancer.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Chen, Hsin-Yu; Larson, Peder E Z; Gordon, Jeremy W; Bok, Robert A; Ferrone, Marcus; van Criekinge, Mark; Carvajal, Lucas; Cao, Peng; Pauly, John M; Kerr, Adam B; Park, Ilwoo; Slater, James B; Nelson, Sarah J; Munster, Pamela N; Aggarwal, Rahul; Kurhanewicz, John; Vigneron, Daniel B

    2018-03-25

    The purpose of this study was to develop a new 3D dynamic carbon-13 compressed sensing echoplanar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) MR sequence and test it in phantoms, animal models, and then in prostate cancer patients to image the metabolic conversion of hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]pyruvate to [1- 13 C]lactate with whole gland coverage at high spatial and temporal resolution. A 3D dynamic compressed sensing (CS)-EPSI sequence with spectral-spatial excitation was designed to meet the required spatial coverage, time and spatial resolution, and RF limitations of the 3T MR scanner for its clinical translation for prostate cancer patient imaging. After phantom testing, animal studies were performed in rats and transgenic mice with prostate cancers. For patient studies, a GE SPINlab polarizer (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI) was used to produce hyperpolarized sterile GMP [1- 13 C]pyruvate. 3D dynamic 13 C CS-EPSI data were acquired starting 5 s after injection throughout the gland with a spatial resolution of 0.5 cm 3 , 18 time frames, 2-s temporal resolution, and 36 s total acquisition time. Through preclinical testing, the 3D CS-EPSI sequence developed in this project was shown to provide the desired spectral, temporal, and spatial 5D HP 13 C MR data. In human studies, the 3D dynamic HP CS-EPSI approach provided first-ever simultaneously volumetric and dynamic images of the LDH-catalyzed conversion of [1- 13 C]pyruvate to [1- 13 C]lactate in a biopsy-proven prostate cancer patient with full gland coverage. The results demonstrate the feasibility to characterize prostate cancer metabolism in animals, and now patients using this new 3D dynamic HP MR technique to measure k PL , the kinetic rate constant of [1- 13 C]pyruvate to [1- 13 C]lactate conversion. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  12. Probing early tumor response to radiation therapy using hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]pyruvate in MDA-MB-231 xenografts.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Albert P Chen

    Full Text Available Following radiation therapy (RT, tumor morphology may remain unchanged for days and sometimes weeks, rendering anatomical imaging methods inadequate for early detection of therapeutic response. Changes in the hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]lactate signals observed in vivo following injection of pre-polarized [1-¹³C]pyruvate has recently been shown to be a marker for tumor progression or early treatment response. In this study, the feasibility of using ¹³C metabolic imaging with [1-¹³C]pyruvate to detect early radiation treatment response in a breast cancer xenograft model was demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. Significant decreases in hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]lactate relative to [1-¹³C]pyruvate were observed in MDA-MB-231 tumors 96 hrs following a single dose of ionizing radiation. Histopathologic data from the treated tumors showed higher cellular apoptosis and senescence; and changes in the expression of membrane monocarboxylate transporters and lactate dehydrogenase B were also observed. Hyperpolarized ¹³C metabolic imaging may be a promising new tool to develop novel and adaptive therapeutic regimens for patients undergoing RT.

  13. Effect of membrane hyperpolarization induced by a K+ channel opener on histamine-induced Ca2+ mobilization in rabbit arterial smooth muscle.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Watanabe, Y; Suzuki, A; Suzuki, H; Itoh, T

    1996-03-01

    1. The role of membrane hyperpolarization on agonist-induced contraction was investigated in intact and alpha-toxin-skinned smooth muscles of rabbit mesenteric artery by use of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener, (-)-(3S,4R)-4-(N-acetyl-N-hydroxyamino)-6-cyano-3,4-dihydro-2,2- dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3-ol (Y-26763), and either histamine (Hist) or noradrenaline (NA). 2. Hist (3 microM) and NA (10 microM) both produced a phasic, followed by a tonic increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and force. Y-26763 (10 microM) potently inhibited the NA-induced phasic and tonic increase in [Ca2+]i and force. In contrast, Y-26763 attenuated the Hist-induced phasic increase in [Ca2+]i and force but had almost no effect on the tonic response. However, ryanodine-treatment of muscles in order to inhibit the function of intracellular Ca2+ storage sites altered the action of Y-26763 which now attenuated the Hist-induced tonic increase in [Ca2+]i and force in a concentration-dependent manner (at concentrations > 1 microM). Glibenclamide (10 microM) attenuated the inhibitory action of Y-26763. 3. Hist (3 microM) depolarized the smooth muscle cells to the same extent as NA (10 microM). In the absence of either agonist, Y-26763 (over 30 nM) hyperpolarized the membrane and glibenclamide inhibited this hyperpolarization. Y-26763 (10 microM) almost abolished the NA-induced membrane depolarization, but only slightly attenuated the Hist-induced membrane depolarization in which the delta (delta) value (the difference before and after application of Hist) was not modified by any concentration of Y-26763. In ryanodine-treated smooth muscle cells, Y-26763 hyperpolarized the membrane and potently inhibited the membrane depolarization induced by Hist. 4. In ryanodine-treated muscle, Y-26763 had no measurable effect on the Hist-induced [Ca2+]i-force relationship. Y-26763 also had no apparent effect on the myofilament Ca(2+)-sensitivity in the presence of Hist in alpha

  14. Simultaneous measurements of reactive scalar and velocity in a planar liquid jet with a second-order chemical reaction

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Watanabe, Tomoaki; Sakai, Yasuhiko; Nagata, Kouji; Terashima, Osamu [Nagoya University, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Nagoya (Japan); Kubo, Takashi [Meijo University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Nagoya (Japan)

    2012-11-15

    This paper presents a new experimental approach for simultaneous measurements of velocity and concentration in a turbulent liquid flow with a chemical reaction. For the simultaneous measurements, we developed a combined probe consisting of an I-type hot-film probe and an optical fiber probe based on the light absorption spectrometric method. In a turbulent planar liquid jet with a second-order chemical reaction (A+B{yields}R), streamwise velocity and concentrations of all reactive species are measured by the combined probe. The turbulent mass fluxes of the reactive species are estimated from the simultaneous measurements. The results show that the influence of the chemical reaction on the turbulent mass flux of the reactant species near the jet exit is different from its influence in other regions, and the turbulent mass flux of the product species has a negative value near the jet exit and a positive value in other regions. (orig.)

  15. Imaging cerebral 2-ketoisocaproate metabolism with hyperpolarized (13)C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Butt, Sadia Asghar; Søgaard, Lise Vejby-Christensen; Magnusson, Peter O.

    2012-01-01

    The branched chain amino acid transaminase (BCAT) has an important role in nitrogen shuttling and glutamate metabolism in the brain. The purpose of this study was to describe the cerebral distribution and metabolism of hyperpolarized 2-keto[1-(13)C]isocaproate (KIC) in the normal rat using magnet...... & Metabolism advance online publication, 28 March 2012; doi:10.1038/jcbfm.2012.34....

  16. The electrically silent Kv6.4 subunit confers hyperpolarized gating charge movement in Kv2.1/Kv6.4 heterotetrameric channels.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Elke Bocksteins

    Full Text Available The voltage-gated K(+ (Kv channel subunit Kv6.4 does not form functional homotetrameric channels but co-assembles with Kv2.1 to form functional Kv2.1/Kv6.4 heterotetrameric channels. Compared to Kv2.1 homotetramers, Kv6.4 exerts a ~40 mV hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of Kv2.1/Kv6.4 channel inactivation, without a significant effect on activation gating. However, the underlying mechanism of this Kv6.4-induced modulation of Kv2.1 channel inactivation, and whether the Kv6.4 subunit participates in the voltage-dependent gating of heterotetrameric channels is not well understood. Here we report distinct gating charge movement of Kv2.1/Kv6.4 heterotetrameric channels, compared to Kv2.1 homotetramers, as revealed by gating current recordings from mammalian cells expressing these channels. The gating charge movement of Kv2.1/Kv6.4 heterotetrameric channels displayed an extra component around the physiological K(+ equilibrium potential, characterized by a second sigmoidal relationship of the voltage-dependence of gating charge movement. This distinct gating charge displacement reflects movement of the Kv6.4 voltage-sensing domain and has a voltage-dependency that matches the hyperpolarizing shift in Kv2.1/Kv6.4 channel inactivation. These results provide a mechanistic basis for the modulation of Kv2.1 channel inactivation gating kinetics by silent Kv6.4 subunits.

  17. Achieving Sub-Second Search in the CMR

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gilman, J.; Baynes, K.; Pilone, D.; Mitchell, A. E.; Murphy, K. J.

    2014-12-01

    The Common Metadata Repository (CMR) is the next generation Earth Science Metadata catalog for NASA's Earth Observing data. It joins together the holdings from the EOS Clearing House (ECHO) and the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD), creating a unified, authoritative source for EOSDIS metadata. The CMR allows ingest in many different formats while providing consistent search behavior and retrieval in any supported format. Performance is a critical component of the CMR, ensuring improved data discovery and client interactivity. The CMR delivers sub-second search performance for any of the common query conditions (including spatial) across hundreds of millions of metadata granules. It also allows the addition of new metadata concepts such as visualizations, parameter metadata, and documentation. The CMR's goals presented many challenges. This talk will describe the CMR architecture, design, and innovations that were made to achieve its goals. This includes: * Architectural features like immutability and backpressure. * Data management techniques such as caching and parallel loading that give big performance gains. * Open Source and COTS tools like Elasticsearch search engine. * Adoption of Clojure, a functional programming language for the Java Virtual Machine. * Development of a custom spatial search plugin for Elasticsearch and why it was necessary. * Introduction of a unified model for metadata that maps every supported metadata format to a consistent domain model.

  18. Incidentally diagnosed simultaneous second primary tumor of the sphenoid sinus in a patient with lung cancer

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Yigit, Ozgur; Taskin, Umit; Demir, Ahmet

    2009-01-01

    Synchronous tumors are described as multiple primary malignancies presenting within 6 months of diagnosis of index tumors. Synchronous tumors of the lung and the head and neck region is frequently seen. However, isolated sphenoid sinus and lung cancers are not reported yet. Here, we reported...... an incidentally diagnosed simultaneous second primary sphenoid sinus tumor in a patient with lung cancer. Radiological evaluation results demonstrated a significant contrast-enhanced mass in the sphenoid sinus extending through the nasopharynx because of the destruction of the sphenoid sinus. The decision...

  19. In vivo single-shot (13)C spectroscopic imaging of hyperpolarized metabolites by spatiotemporal encoding

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Schmidt, Rita; Laustsen, Christoffer; Dumez, Jean-Nicolas

    2014-01-01

    are necessary. Several approaches have been customized for hyperpolarized (13)C MRI, including CSI with a center-out k-space encoding, EPSI, and spectrally selective pulses in combination with spiral EPI acquisitions. Recent studies have described the potential of single-shot alternatives based...... temporal) data sets were obtained at 7T from a murine lymphoma tumor model....

  20. Nanodiamond-enhanced MRI via in situ hyperpolarization

    Science.gov (United States)

    Waddington, David E. J.; Sarracanie, Mathieu; Zhang, Huiliang; Salameh, Najat; Glenn, David R.; Rej, Ewa; Gaebel, Torsten; Boele, Thomas; Walsworth, Ronald L.; Reilly, David J.; Rosen, Matthew S.

    2017-04-01

    Nanodiamonds are of interest as nontoxic substrates for targeted drug delivery and as highly biostable fluorescent markers for cellular tracking. Beyond optical techniques, however, options for noninvasive imaging of nanodiamonds in vivo are severely limited. Here, we demonstrate that the Overhauser effect, a proton-electron polarization transfer technique, can enable high-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of nanodiamonds in water at room temperature and ultra-low magnetic field. The technique transfers spin polarization from paramagnetic impurities at nanodiamond surfaces to 1H spins in the surrounding water solution, creating MRI contrast on-demand. We examine the conditions required for maximum enhancement as well as the ultimate sensitivity of the technique. The ability to perform continuous in situ hyperpolarization via the Overhauser mechanism, in combination with the excellent in vivo stability of nanodiamond, raises the possibility of performing noninvasive in vivo tracking of nanodiamond over indefinitely long periods of time.

  1. Irreversible Catalyst Activation Enables Hyperpolarization and Water Solubility for NMR Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange

    Science.gov (United States)

    2016-09-12

    G. R.; Duckett, S. B.; Spiess , H. W.; Schreiber, L. M.; Münnemann, K. Continuous Proton Hyperpolarization Via SABRE and Hollow Fibre Membranes. Proc...M.; Kindervater, P.; Raich, H.-P.; Bargon, J.; Spiess , H. W.; Muennemann, K. Continuous H-1 and C-13 Signal Enhancement in NMR Spectroscopy and MRI

  2. Exploiting level anti-crossings for efficient and selective transfer of hyperpolarization in coupled nuclear spin systems

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Pravdivtsev, A.N.; Yurkovskaya, A.V.; Kaptein, R.; Miesel, K.; Vieth, H.-M.; Ivanov, K.L.

    2013-01-01

    Spin hyperpolarization can be coherently transferred to other nuclei in field-cycling NMR experiments. At low magnetic fields spin polarization is redistributed in a strongly coupled network of spins. Polarization transfer is most efficient at fields where level anti-crossings (LACs) occur for the

  3. Optically induced second-harmonic generation in CdI sub 2 -Cu layered nanocrystals

    CERN Document Server

    Voolless, F; Hydaradjan, W

    2003-01-01

    A large enhancement (up to 0.40 pm V sup - sup 1) of the second-order optical susceptibility was observed in CdI sub 2 -Cu single-layered nanocrystals for the Nd:YAG fundamental laser beam lambda = 1.06 mu m. The Cu impurity content and nanolayer thickness of the cleaved layers (about several nanometres) play a crucial role in the observed effect. The temperature dependence of the optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) together with its correlation with Raman spectra of low-frequency modes indicate a key role for the UV-induced anharmonic electron-phonon interactions in the observed effect. The maximal output UV-induced SHG was achieved for a Cu content of about 0.5% and at liquid helium temperatures.

  4. Structural and electrochemical properties of La{sub 0.8}Sr{sub 0.2}Ga{sub 1-x}Fe{sub x}O{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mori, Kazuhiro [Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 590-0494 (Japan)], E-mail: kmori@rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp; Onodera, Yohei [Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 590-0494 (Japan); Kiyanagi, Ryoji; Richardson, James W. [Intense Pulsed Neutron Source Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439 (United States); Itoh, Keiji; Sugiyama, Masaaki [Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 590-0494 (Japan); Kamiyama, Takashi [Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801 (Japan); Fukunaga, Toshiharu [Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 590-0494 (Japan)

    2009-02-21

    Mixed ionic-electronic conductor of Fe doped lanthanum gallate, La{sub 0.8}Sr{sub 0.2}Ga{sub 1-x}Fe{sub x}O{sub 3}, has been studied by the dc four-probe method and the neutron powder diffraction. In the electrical conductivity measurement at RT, insulator-metal transition-like phenomenon was observed at around x{approx}0.35; this suggests an existence of the percolation limit for the electronic conductivity. Simultaneously, a bond length between O atoms, l{sub O-O}, in a MO{sub 6} octahedron (M=Ga{sub 1-x}Fe{sub x}) drastically expands over x{approx}0.4, according to the result of crystal structure refinement based on the hexagonal phase. Such a drastic expansion in the l{sub O-O} would induce the decrease in the oxygen ionic conductivity.

  5. Up-regulation of K{sub ir}2.1 by ER stress facilitates cell death of brain capillary endothelial cells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kito, Hiroaki [Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (Japan); Yamazaki, Daiju [Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (Japan); Department of Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto (Japan); Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (Japan); Ohya, Susumu; Yamamura, Hisao [Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (Japan); Asai, Kiyofumi [Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (Japan); Imaizumi, Yuji, E-mail: yimaizum@phar.nagoya-cu.ac.jp [Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (Japan)

    2011-07-29

    Highlights: {yields} We found that application of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress with tunicamycin to brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) induced cell death. {yields} The ER stress facilitated the expression of inward rectifier K{sup +} channel (K{sub ir}2.1) and induced sustained membrane hyperpolarization. {yields} The membrane hyperpolarization induced sustained Ca{sup 2+} entry through voltage-independent nonspecific cation channels and consequently facilitated cell death. {yields} The K{sub ir}2.1 up-regulation by ER stress is, at least in part, responsible for cell death of BCECs under pathological conditions. -- Abstract: Brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) form blood brain barrier (BBB) to maintain brain homeostasis. Cell turnover of BCECs by the balance of cell proliferation and cell death is critical for maintaining the integrity of BBB. Here we found that stimuli with tunicamycin, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducer, up-regulated inward rectifier K{sup +} channel (K{sub ir}2.1) and facilitated cell death in t-BBEC117, a cell line derived from bovine BCECs. The activation of K{sub ir} channels contributed to the establishment of deeply negative resting membrane potential in t-BBEC117. The deep resting membrane potential increased the resting intracellular Ca{sup 2+} concentration due to Ca{sup 2+} influx through non-selective cation channels and thereby partly but significantly regulated cell death in t-BBEC117. The present results suggest that the up-regulation of K{sub ir}2.1 is, at least in part, responsible for cell death/cell turnover of BCECs induced by a variety of cellular stresses, particularly ER stress, under pathological conditions.

  6. Investigating tumor perfusion by hyperpolarized (13) C MRI with comparison to conventional gadolinium contrast-enhanced MRI and pathology in orthotopic human GBM xenografts

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Park, Ilwoo; von Morze, Cornelius; Lupo, Janine M

    2016-01-01

    glioblastoma (GBM) model for the characterization of tumor perfusion and compared with standard Gd-based dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI data and immunohistochemical analysis from resected brains. Distinct HMCP perfusion characteristics were observed within the GBM tumors compared with contralateral...... for tumor that exhibited high levels of hyperpolarized HMCP signal. The results from this study have demonstrated that hyperpolarized HMCP data can be used as an indicator of tumor perfusion in an orthotopic xenograft model for GBM. Magn Reson Med, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc....

  7. Diesel NO{sub x} reduction by plasma-regenerated absorbent beds

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wallman, P.H.; Vogtlin, G.E.

    1998-02-10

    Reduction of NO{sub x} from diesel engine exhaust by use of plasma-regenerated absorbent beds is described. This involves a process for the reduction of NO{sub x} and particulates from diesel engines by first absorbing NO{sub x} onto a solid absorbent bed that simultaneously acts as a physical trap for the particulate matter, and second regenerating said solid absorbent by pulsed plasma decomposition of absorbed NO{sub x} followed by air oxidation of trapped particulate matter. The absorbent bed may utilize all metal oxides, but the capacity and the kinetics of absorption and desorption vary between different materials, and thus the composition of the absorbent bed is preferably a material which enables the combination of NO{sub x} absorption capability with catalytic activity for oxidation of hydrocarbons. Thus, naturally occurring or synthetically prepared materials may be utilized, particularly those having NO{sub x} absorption properties up to temperatures around 400 C which is in the area of diesel engine exhaust temperatures. 1 fig.

  8. Complete active space second order perturbation theory (CASPT2) study of N({sup 2}D) + H{sub 2}O reaction paths on D{sub 1} and D{sub 0} potential energy surfaces: Direct and roaming pathways

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Isegawa, Miho; Liu, Fengyi [Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University, 34-4 Takano Nishihiraki-cho, Kyoto 606-8103 (Japan); Maeda, Satoshi [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810 (Japan); Morokuma, Keiji, E-mail: morokuma@fukui.kyoto-u.ac.jp [Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University, 34-4 Takano Nishihiraki-cho, Kyoto 606-8103 (Japan); Cherry L. Emerson Center for Scientific Computation and Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 (United States)

    2014-10-21

    We report reaction paths starting from N({sup 2}D) + H{sub 2}O for doublet spin states, D{sub 0} and D{sub 1}. The potential energy surfaces are explored in an automated fashion using the global reaction route mapping strategy. The critical points and reaction paths have been fully optimized at the complete active space second order perturbation theory level taking all valence electrons in the active space. In addition to direct dissociation pathways that would be dominant, three roaming processes, two roaming dissociation, and one roaming isomerization: (1) H{sub 2}ON → H–O(H)N → H–HON → NO({sup 2}Π) + H{sub 2}, (2) cis-HNOH → HNO–H → H–HNO → NO + H{sub 2}, (3) H{sub 2}NO → H–HNO → HNO–H → trans-HNOH, are confirmed on the D{sub 0} surface.

  9. Facilitated Anion Transport Induces Hyperpolarization of the Cell Membrane That Triggers Differentiation and Cell Death in Cancer Stem Cells.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Soto-Cerrato, Vanessa; Manuel-Manresa, Pilar; Hernando, Elsa; Calabuig-Fariñas, Silvia; Martínez-Romero, Alicia; Fernández-Dueñas, Víctor; Sahlholm, Kristoffer; Knöpfel, Thomas; García-Valverde, María; Rodilla, Ananda M; Jantus-Lewintre, Eloisa; Farràs, Rosa; Ciruela, Francisco; Pérez-Tomás, Ricardo; Quesada, Roberto

    2015-12-23

    Facilitated anion transport potentially represents a powerful tool to modulate various cellular functions. However, research into the biological effects of small molecule anionophores is still at an early stage. Here we have used two potent anionophore molecules inspired in the structure of marine metabolites tambjamines to gain insight into the effect induced by these compounds at the cellular level. We show how active anionophores, capable of facilitating the transmembrane transport of chloride and bicarbonate in model phospholipid liposomes, induce acidification of the cytosol and hyperpolarization of plasma cell membranes. We demonstrate how this combined effect can be used against cancer stem cells (CSCs). Hyperpolarization of cell membrane induces cell differentiation and loss of stemness of CSCs leading to effective elimination of this cancer cell subpopulation.

  10. NMR and MRI of continuously dissolved hyperpolarized {sup 129}Xe by means of hollow fibers

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Amor, Nadia; Kueppers, Markus; Bluemich, Bernhard [ITMC of RWTH Aachen University (Germany); Hamilton, Kathrin; Schmitz-Rode, Thomas; Steinseifer, Ulrich [HIA of RWTH Aachen University (Germany); Appelt, Stephan [Research Center Juelich (Germany)

    2011-07-01

    Various methods of hyperpolarizing (HP) spin systems have been developed during the last years to increase the intrinsically low sensitivity of NMR by several orders of magnitude. Among them is the hyperpolarization of {sup 129}Xe via Spin Exchange Optical Pumping (SEOP). NMR of HP {sup 129}Xe is of great interest because of its good solubility and its very sensitive chemical shift. The main obstacle for many applications is the efficient and continuous dissolution into carrier agents without formation of foams or bubbles. It has been overcome by the so-called ''xenonizer'' setups. They mainly consist of commercially available hollow fiber membranes typically used in clinical oxygenators. A purpose-built xenonizer setup has been developed and analyzed in detail by NMR spectroscopy and MRI for varying fiber materials as well as for different fluids, including bio-relevant fluids such as blood, plasma, and erythrocytes. As a result, the xenonizer technology could be further understood and improved, and new applications of HP {sup 129}Xe for medical NMR were explored.

  11. Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} based breeder ceramics with Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3}, LiAlO{sub 2} and Li{sub X}La{sub Y}TiO{sub 3} additions, part II: Pebble properties

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kolb, M.H.H., E-mail: Matthias.kolb@kit.edu [Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Materials, PO Box 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe (Germany); Knitter, R. [Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Materials, PO Box 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe (Germany); Hoshino, T. [Breeding Functional Materials Development Group, Department of Blanket Systems Research, Rokkasho Fusion Institute, Fusion Energy Research and Development Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST) (Japan)

    2017-02-15

    Highlights: • The mechanical strength of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4}-based breeder pebbles can be improved by adding either LMT, LAO or LLTO as second phase. • The increase in strength is closely linked to a reduction of the open porosity of the pebbles. • All fabricated pebbles show a highly homogenous microstructure with mostly low closed porosity. • Adding LLTO, although it decomposes during sintering, greatly improves the strength of the pebbles. - Abstract: The pebble properties of novel two-phase Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} pebbles of 1 mm diameter with additions of Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3}, LiAlO{sub 2} or Li{sub x}La{sub y}TiO{sub 3} are evaluated in this work as a function of the second phase concentration and the microstructure of the pebbles. The characterization focused on the mechanical strength, microstructure and open as well as closed porosity. Therefore crush load tests, SEM analyses as well as helium pycnometry and optical image analysis were performed, respectively. This work shows that generally additions of a second phase to Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} considerably improve the mechanical strength. It also shows that the fabrication processes have to be well-controlled to achieve high mechanical strengths. When Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} is added in different concentrations, the determinant for the crush load seems to be the open porosity of the pebbles. The strengthening effect of LiAlO{sub 2} compared to Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} is similar, while additions of Li{sub x}La{sub y}TiO{sub 3} increase the mechanical strength much more. Yet, Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} and Li{sub x}La{sub y}TiO{sub 3} react with each other to a number of different phases upon sintering. In general the pebble properties of all samples are favorable for use within a fusion breeder blanket.

  12. Hyperpolarized Xenon Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR of Building Stone Materials

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Michele Mauri

    2012-09-01

    Full Text Available We have investigated several building stone materials, including minerals and rocks, using continuous flow hyperpolarized xenon (CF-HP NMR spectroscopy to probe the surface composition and porosity. Chemical shift and line width values are consistent with petrographic information. Rare upfield shifts were measured and attributed to the presence of transition metal cations on the surface. The evolution of freshly cleaved rocks exposed to the atmosphere was also characterized. The CF-HP 129Xe NMR technique is non-destructive and it could complement currently used techniques, like porosimetry and microscopy, providing additional information on the chemical nature of the rock surface and its evolution.

  13. Assessing the transport rate of hyperpolarized pyruvate and lactate from the intra- to the extracellular space.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Reineri, Francesca; Daniele, Valeria; Cavallari, Eleonora; Aime, Silvio

    2016-08-01

    The use of [1-(13) C]pyruvate hyperpolarized by means of dynamic nuclear polarization provides a direct way to track the metabolic transformations of this metabolite in vivo and in cell cultures. The identification of the intra- and extracellular contributions to the (13) C NMR resonances is not straightforward. In order to obtain information about the rate of pyruvate and lactate transport through the cellular membrane, we set up a method that relies on the sudden 'quenching' of the extracellular metabolites' signal. The paramagnetic Gd-tetraazacyclododecane triacetic acid (Gd-DO3A) complex was used to dramatically decrease the longitudinal relaxation time constants of the (13) C-carboxylate resonances of both pyruvate and lactate. When Gd-DO3A was added to an MCF-7 cellular culture, which had previously received a dose of hyperpolarized [1-(13) C]pyruvate, the contributions of the extracellular pyruvate and lactate signals were deleted. From the analysis of the decay curves of the (13) C-carboxylate resonances of pyruvate and lactate it was possible to extract information about the exchange rate of the two metabolites across the cellular membrane. In particular, it was found that, in the reported experimental conditions, the lactate transport from the intra- to the extracellular space is not much lower than the rate of lactate formation. The method reported herein is non-destructive and it could be translated to in vivo studies. It opens a route for the use of hyperpolarized pyruvate to assess altered activity of carboxylate transporter proteins that may occur in pathological conditions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  14. 15N Hyperpolarization of Imidazole-15N2 for Magnetic Resonance pH Sensing via SABRE-SHEATH.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Shchepin, Roman V; Barskiy, Danila A; Coffey, Aaron M; Theis, Thomas; Shi, Fan; Warren, Warren S; Goodson, Boyd M; Chekmenev, Eduard Y

    2016-06-24

    15 N nuclear spins of imidazole- 15 N 2 were hyperpolarized using NMR signal amplification by reversible exchange in shield enables alignment transfer to heteronuclei (SABRE-SHEATH). A 15 N NMR signal enhancement of ∼2000-fold at 9.4 T is reported using parahydrogen gas (∼50% para-) and ∼0.1 M imidazole- 15 N 2 in methanol:aqueous buffer (∼1:1). Proton binding to a 15 N site of imidazole occurs at physiological pH (p K a ∼ 7.0), and the binding event changes the 15 N isotropic chemical shift by ∼30 ppm. These properties are ideal for in vivo pH sensing. Additionally, imidazoles have low toxicity and are readily incorporated into a wide range of biomolecules. 15 N-Imidazole SABRE-SHEATH hyperpolarization potentially enables pH sensing on scales ranging from peptide and protein molecules to living organisms.

  15. Lattice distortion and spontaneous {gamma}{sub 5g} ferro-quadrupole moment in phase IV of Ce{sub x}La{sub 1-x}B{sub 6}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nemoto, Yuichi [Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181 (Japan)]. E-mail: nemoto@phys.sc.niigata-u.ac.jp; Akatsu, Mitsuhiro [Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181 (Japan); Goto, Terutaka [Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181 (Japan); Suzuki, Osamu [National Institute for Materials Science, Tukuba 305-0003 (Japan); Nakamura, Shintaro [Center for Low Temperature Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577 (Japan); Kunii, Satoru [Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578 (Japan)

    2005-04-30

    We have performed low-temperature thermal expansion measurements to investigate lattice effect of the phase IV in Ce{sub x}La{sub 1-x}B{sub 6}, for x=0.75 and 0.70. In phase IV of both compounds, lattice length along the [111] direction shrinks notably, on the other hand length along the [001] direction expands. These results provide evidence that the spontaneous {gamma}{sub 5g} ferro-quadrupole moment sub yz}>=sub zx}>=sub xy}><>0 is relevant in phase IV because the trigonal lattice distortion is described by the symmetry strain <{epsilon}{sub yz}>=<{epsilon}{sub zx}>=<{epsilon}{sub xy}><>0 simultaneously.

  16. Hexagonal perovskites with cationic vacancies. 32. Photoluminescence of trivalent rare earth in the systems Ba/sub 2-y/Sr/sub y/La/sub 2-x/RE/sub x/MgW/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Lehrstuhl fuer Anorganische Chemie 2

    1982-06-01

    In the series Ba/sub 2-y/Sr/sub y/La/sub 2-x/RE/sub x/MgW/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/ the Ba/sup 2 +/ can be completely substituted by Sr/sup 2 +/. All compounds crystallize in the rhombohedral 12 L-type (space group R-3m; sequence (hhcc)/sub 3/). By doping the stacking polytypes with some of the trivalent rare earths efficient visible photoluminescence is obtained. The simultaneous incorporation of two different rare earth ions leads to two-color-phosphors, which, according to the excitation energy used, emit either mainly the typical spectrum from one or the other activator; the corresponding luminescence mechanism are discussed.

  17. Magnetic resonance butterfly coils: Design and application for hyperpolarized 13C studies

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Giovannetti, Giulio; Frijia, Francesca; Attanasio, Simona

    2013-01-01

    Hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pig models enables cardiac metabolism assessment and provides a powerful tool for heart physiology studies, although the low molar concentration of derivate metabolites gives rise to technological limitations in terms of data quality. The desi...... throughout the volume of interest for cardiac imaging in pig. Experimental SNR-vs-depth profiles, extracted from the [1-13C]acetate phantom chemical shift image (CSI), permitted to highlight the performance of the proposed coils configuration. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved....

  18. Pressure dependence of the elastic constants and vibrational anharmonicity of Pd sub 3 sub 9 Ni sub 1 sub 0 Cu sub 3 sub 0 P sub 2 sub 1 bulk metallic glass

    CERN Document Server

    Wang Li; Sun, L L; Wang, W H; Wang, W K

    2003-01-01

    The pressure dependence of the acoustic velocities of a Pd sub 3 sub 9 Ni sub 1 sub 0 Cu sub 3 sub 0 P sub 2 sub 1 bulk metallic glass have been investigated up to 0.5 GPa at room temperature with the pulse echo overlap method. Two independent second-order elastic coefficients C sub 1 sub 1 and C sub 4 sub 4 and their pressure derivatives are yielded. The vibrational anharmonicity is shown by calculating both the acoustic mode Grueneisen parameters in the long-wavelength limit and the thermal Grueneisen parameter, and this result is compared with that for the Pd sub 4 sub 0 Ni sub 4 sub 0 P sub 2 sub 0 bulk glass.

  19. Novel methods and applications of NMR and MRI. Low-power RF excitation and hyperpolarized Xenon-129

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Amor, Nadia

    2012-01-01

    Since their discovery in the middle of the last century, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have become an important and very versatile tool in industry, medicine, and basic research. The aim of this work is to explore possible improvements and new applications of NMR methods. First, a recently introduced excitation NMR pulse sequence, termed Frank sequence excitation, which allows for significant reduction of rf-excitation power, is systematically analyzed and compared to conventional NMR in detail. Furthermore, its feasibility for MRI is investigated and advantages as well as drawbacks in comparison to standard MRI are discussed. The second part focuses on new biomedical applications of hyperpolarized (HP) 129 Xe which not only offers a signal enhancement of several orders of magnitude but also provides new contrast mechanisms. A setup for continuous dissolution of HP 129 Xe gas into blood and other fluids is optimized and analyzed quantitatively by NMR and MRI. On the basis of these results, blood-dissolved HP 129 Xe is used to investigate blood-gas dynamics, as well as the rheological behavior of blood.

  20. Simultaneous negative refraction and focusing of fundamental frequency and second-harmonic fields by two-dimensional photonic crystals

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang, Jun [School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology and Beijing Key Laboratory of Fractional Signals and Systems, Beijing 100081 (China); College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Henan Normal University, 453007 Xinxiang, Henan (China); Zhang, Xiangdong, E-mail: zhangxd@bit.edu.cn [School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology and Beijing Key Laboratory of Fractional Signals and Systems, Beijing 100081 (China)

    2015-09-28

    Simultaneous negative refraction for both the fundamental frequency (FF) and second-harmonic (SH) fields in two-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystals have been found through both the physical analysis and exact numerical simulation. By combining such a property with the phase-matching condition and strong second-order susceptibility, we have designed a SH lens to realize focusing for both the FF and SH fields at the same time. Good-quality non-near field images for both FF and SH fields have been observed. The physical mechanism for such SH focusing phenomena has been disclosed, which is different from the backward SH generation as has been pointed out in the previous investigations. In addition, the effect of absorption losses on the phenomena has also been discussed. Thus, potential applications of these phenomena to biphotonic microscopy technique are anticipated.

  1. Thermoelectric power measurements in Fe doped La sub 0 sub . sub 6 sub 5 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub 5 MnO sub 3

    CERN Document Server

    Aslam, A; Zubair, M; Akhtar, M J; Nadeem, M

    2002-01-01

    We report measurements of the thermoelectric power (TEP) on the La sub 0 sub . sub 6 sub 5 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub 5 Mn sub 1 sub - sub x Fe sub x O sub 3 system for 0.00 <= x <= 0.07. The ferromagnetic and metallic transition temperatures are lowered and the TEP shows an increasingly positive trend with the addition of Fe. We also observe a clear magnetic contribution that manifests itself as a peak in the TEP close to the critical temperature. The activation energies determined from the TEP are seen to be insensitive to the Fe content. The data are interpreted firstly as showing a decrease in the density of active holes, i.e. holes that can participate in the hopping process, with increasing Fe content. Secondly the data suggest the role of magnetic scattering due to the clusters formed by the antiferromagnetically coupled Fe. Abrupt changes in the variation of the TEP are observed at the concentration region x approx 0.04 consistent with the hole density variation and with previously reported transp...

  2. Variation with temperature in thermophysical properties of D-Er/sub 2/Si/sub 2/O/sub 7/

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Maqsood, A.; Kamran, K.; Rehman, A.U.

    2007-01-01

    The first measurements of the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and volumetric heat capacity of polycrystalline D-Er/sub 2/Si/sub 2/O/sub 7/ have been made simultaneously in the temperature range 77-300K. Both the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity follow a modified Eucken's law in the temperature region mentioned here. The heat capacity at constant pressure (C/sub p/), determined from the volumetric heat capacity, agrees with the calculated one at room temperature. (author)

  3. Role of pyruvate dehydrogenase inhibition in the development of hypertrophy in the hyperthyroid rat heart: a combined magnetic resonance imaging and hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Atherton, Helen J; Dodd, Michael S; Heather, Lisa C; Schroeder, Marie A; Griffin, Julian L; Radda, George K; Clarke, Kieran; Tyler, Damian J

    2011-06-07

    Hyperthyroidism increases heart rate, contractility, cardiac output, and metabolic rate. It is also accompanied by alterations in the regulation of cardiac substrate use. Specifically, hyperthyroidism increases the ex vivo activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, thereby inhibiting glucose oxidation via pyruvate dehydrogenase. Cardiac hypertrophy is another effect of hyperthyroidism, with an increase in the abundance of mitochondria. Although the hypertrophy is initially beneficial, it can eventually lead to heart failure. The aim of this study was to use hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the rate and regulation of in vivo pyruvate dehydrogenase flux in the hyperthyroid heart and to establish whether modulation of flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase would alter cardiac hypertrophy. Hyperthyroidism was induced in 18 male Wistar rats with 7 daily intraperitoneal injections of freshly prepared triiodothyronine (0.2 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). In vivo pyruvate dehydrogenase flux, assessed with hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy, was reduced by 59% in hyperthyroid animals (0.0022 ± 0.0002 versus 0.0055 ± 0.0005 second(-1); P=0.0003), and this reduction was completely reversed by both short- and long-term delivery of dichloroacetic acid, a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitor. Hyperpolarized [2-(13)C]pyruvate was also used to evaluate Krebs cycle metabolism and demonstrated a unique marker of anaplerosis, the level of which was significantly increased in the hyperthyroid heart. Cine magnetic resonance imaging showed that long-term dichloroacetic acid treatment significantly reduced the hypertrophy observed in hyperthyroid animals (100 ± 20 versus 200 ± 30 mg; P=0.04) despite no change in the increase observed in cardiac output. This work has demonstrated that inhibition of glucose oxidation in the hyperthyroid heart in vivo is mediated by pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase. Relieving this inhibition can increase the metabolic

  4. Monitoring Cancer Response to Treatment with Hyperpolarized 13C MRS

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Eldirdiri, Abubakr

    , and the patient is exposed to ionizing radiation. The introduction of hyperpolarized 13C MRS has opened completely new possibilities to study the biochemical changes in disease processes. Numerous 13C-labeled compounds were proposed to interrogate various aspects of cancer cell metabolism. The aim of this study......Monitoring the cancer response to treatment, non-invasively, by medical imaging is a key element in the management of cancer. For patients undergoing treatment, it is crucial to determine responders from non-responders in order to guide treatment decisions. Currently, PET is the most widely used...

  5. Bacteriophage SP6 encodes a second tailspike protein that recognizes Salmonella enterica serogroups C{sub 2} and C{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gebhart, Dana; Williams, Steven R.; Scholl, Dean, E-mail: dean@avidbiotics.com

    2017-07-15

    SP6 is a salmonella phage closely related to coliphage K1-5. K1-5 is notable in that it encodes two polysaccharide-degrading tailspike proteins, an endosialidase that allows it to infect E. coli K1, and a lyase that enables it to infect K5 strains. SP6 is similar to K1-5 except that it encodes a P22-like endorhamnosidase tailspike, gp46, allowing it to infect group B Salmonella. We show here that SP6 can also infect Salmonella serogroups C{sub 2} and C{sub 3} and that a mutation in a putative second tailspike, gp47, eliminates this specificity. Gene 47 was fused to the coding region of the N-terminal portion of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa R2 pyocin tail fiber and expressed in trans such that the fusion protein becomes incorporated into pyocin particles. These pyocins, termed AvR2-SP47, killed serogroups C{sub 2} and C{sub 3}Salmonella. We conclude that SP6 encodes two tail proteins providing it a broad host range among Salmonella enterica. - Highlights: • SP6 is a “dual specificity” bacteriophage that encodes two different receptor binding proteins giving it a broad host range. • These receptor binding proteins can be used to re-target the spectrum of R-type bacteriocins to Salmonella enterica. • Both SP6 and the engineered R-type bacteriocins can kill the Salmonella serovars most associated with human disease making them attractive for development as antimicrobial agents.

  6. New insights into lung diseases using hyperpolarized gas MRI.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Flors, L; Altes, T A; Mugler, J P; de Lange, E E; Miller, G W; Mata, J F; Ruset, I C; Hersman, F W

    2015-01-01

    Hyperpolarized (HP) gases are a new class of contrast agents that permit to obtain high temporal and spatial resolution magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the lung airspaces. HP gas MRI has become important research tool not only for morphological and functional evaluation of normal pulmonary physiology but also for regional quantification of pathologic changes occurring in several lung diseases. The purpose of this work is to provide an introduction to MRI using HP noble gases, describing both the basic principles of the technique and the new information about lung disease provided by clinical studies with this method. The applications of the technique in normal subjects, smoking related lung disease, asthma, and cystic fibrosis are reviewed. Copyright © 2014 SERAM. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  7. Role of an inward rectifier K+ current and of hyperpolarization in human myoblast fusion

    Science.gov (United States)

    Liu, J-H; Bijlenga, P; Fischer-Lougheed, J; Occhiodoro, T; Kaelin, A; Bader, C R; Bernheim, L

    1998-01-01

    The role of K+ channels and membrane potential in myoblast fusion was evaluated by examining resting membrane potential and timing of expression of K+ currents at three stages of differentiation of human myogenic cells: undifferentiated myoblasts, fusion-competent myoblasts (FCMBs), and freshly formed myotubes. Two K+ currents contribute to a hyperpolarization of myoblasts prior to fusion: IK(NI), a non-inactivating delayed rectifier, and IK(IR), an inward rectifier. IK(NI) density is low in undifferentiated myoblasts, increases in FCMBs and declines in myotubes. On the other hand, IK(IR) is expressed in 28 % of the FCMBs and in all myotubes. IK(IR) is reversibly blocked by Ba2+ or Cs+. Cells expressing IK(IR) have resting membrane potentials of −65 mV. A block by Ba2+ or Cs+ induces a depolarization to a voltage determined by IK(NI) (−32 mV). Cs+ and Ba2+ ions reduce myoblast fusion. It is hypothesized that the IK(IR)-mediated hyperpolarization allows FCMBs to recruit Na+, K+ and T-type Ca2+ channels which are present in these cells and would otherwise be inactivated. FCMBs, rendered thereby capable of firing action potentials, could amplify depolarizing signals and may accelerate fusion. PMID:9705997

  8. Graded algebras of the second rank and integration of nonlinear equations Ysub(z)sub(z) = exp(2Y) - exp(-2Y), Ysub(z)sub(z) = 2 exp(Y) - exp(-2Y)

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Leznov, A.N.; Smirnov, V.G.

    1981-01-01

    In the terms of the notions of the theory of infinite-dimensional algebras of finite growth of the second rank, we have derived solutions to the equations Ysub(z)sub(z) = exp(2Y) - exp(-2Y); Ysub(z)sub(z) = 2 exp(Y) - exp(-2Y) dependent on two arbitrary functions. (orig.)

  9. Charge transfer-type fluorescence of Ti-doped Ca{sub 14}Al{sub 10}Zn{sub 6}O{sub 35}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Satoh, Yuta; Takemoto, Minoru, E-mail: takemoto@chem.kanagawa-it.ac.jp

    2017-05-15

    The calcium aluminum zincates Ca{sub 14}(Al{sub 1-2x}Ti{sub x}Zn{sub x}){sub 10}Zn{sub 6}O{sub 35}, in which Al{sup 3+} sites in the host material Ca{sub 14}Al{sub 10}Zn{sub 6}O{sub 35} are simultaneously substituted by Ti{sup 4+} and Zn{sup 2+}, were synthesized by a polymerized complex method. Al{sup 3+} ions could be replaced up to an x value of 0.1. The host material does not exhibit fluorescence, while the cation-substituted samples show an emission band centered at 383 nm under excitation by UV light at 243 nm. The emission intensity increases with x up to 0.1 and then gradually decreases as x is further increased. The emission wavelength also becomes longer with increasing temperature. Based on the properties of other Ti{sup 4+}-containing fluorescent materials, the emission of Ca{sub 14}(Al{sub 1-2x}Ti{sub x}Zn{sub x}){sub 10}Zn{sub 6}O{sub 35} is attributed to charge transfer-type fluorescence resulting from [TiO{sub 6}] octahedra.

  10. Second-opinion interpretations of gynecologic oncologic MRI examinations by sub-specialized radiologists influence patient care

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Lakhman, Yulia; Vargas, Hebert Alberto; Sosa, Ramon E.; Hricak, Hedvig; Sala, Evis; D'Anastasi, Melvin; Micco, Maura; Scelzo, Chiara; Nougaret, Stephanie; Chi, Dennis S.; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R.

    2016-01-01

    To determine if second-opinion review of gynaecologic oncologic (GynOnc) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by sub-specialized radiologists impacts patient care. 469 second-opinion MRI interpretations rendered by GynOnc radiologists were retrospectively compared to the initial outside reports. Two gynaecologic surgeons, blinded to the reports' origins, reviewed all cases with discrepancies between initial and second-opinion MRI reports and recorded whether these discrepancies would have led to a change in patient management defined as a change in treatment approach, counselling, or referral. Histopathology or minimum 6-month imaging follow-up were used to establish the diagnosis. Second-opinion review of GynOnc MRIs would theoretically have affected management in 94/469 (20 %) and 101/469 (21.5 %) patients for surgeons 1 and 2, respectively. Specifically, second-opinion review would have theoretically altered treatment approach in 71/469 (15.1 %) and 60/469 (12.8 %) patients for surgeons 1 and 2, respectively. According to surgeons 1 and 2, these treatment changes would have prevented unnecessary surgery in 35 (7.5 %) and 31 (6.6 %) patients, respectively, and changed surgical procedure type/extent in 19 (4.1 %) and 12 (2.5 %) patients, respectively. Second-opinion interpretations were correct in 103 (83 %) of 124 cases with clinically relevant discrepancies between initial and second-opinion reports. Expert second-opinion review of GynOnc MRI influences patient care. (orig.)

  11. Ground-Based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Compact Observation Data (1-second sampling, sub-hourly files) from NASA CDDIS

    Data.gov (United States)

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration — This dataset consists of ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Observation Data (1-second sampling, sub-hourly files) from the NASA Crustal Dynamics...

  12. Ratiometric analysis in hyperpolarized NMR (I): test of the two-site exchange model and the quantification of reaction rate constants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Li, Lin Z; Kadlececk, Stephen; Xu, He N; Daye, Dania; Pullinger, Benjamin; Profka, Harrilla; Chodosh, Lewis; Rizi, Rahim

    2013-10-01

    Conventional methods for the analysis of in vivo hyperpolarized (13) C NMR data from the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reaction usually make assumptions on the stability of rate constants and/or the validity of the two-site exchange model. In this study, we developed a framework to test the validity of the assumption of stable reaction rate constants and the two-site exchange model in vivo via ratiometric fitting of the time courses of the signal ratio L(t)/P(t). Our analysis provided evidence that the LDH enzymatic kinetics observed by hyperpolarized NMR are in near-equilibrium and satisfy the two-site exchange model for only a specific time window. In addition, we quantified both the forward and reverse exchange rate constants of the LDH reaction for the transgenic and mouse xenograft models of breast cancer using the ratio fitting method developed, which includes only two modeling parameters and is less sensitive to the influence of instrument settings/protocols, such as flip angles, degree of polarization and tracer dosage. We further compared the ratio fitting method with a conventional two-site exchange modeling method, i.e. the differential equation fitting method, using both the experimental and simulated hyperpolarized NMR data. The ratio fitting method appeared to fit better than the differential equation fitting method for the reverse rate constant on the mouse tumor data, with less relative errors on average, whereas the differential equation fitting method also resulted in a negative reverse rate constant for one tumor. The simulation results indicated that the accuracy of both methods depends on the width of the transport function, noise level and rate constant ratio; one method may be more accurate than the other based on the experimental/biological conditions aforementioned. We were able to categorize our tumor models into specific conditions of the computer simulation and to estimate the errors of rate quantification. We also discussed possible

  13. Phase evolution and aqueous durability of Zr{sub 1−x−y}Ce{sub x}Nd{sub y}O{sub 2−y/2} ceramics designed to immobilize actinides with multi-valences

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ding, Yi, E-mail: dingyi2279@126.com [Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621900 (China); Key Subject Laboratory of National Defense for Radioactive Waste and Environmental Security, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010 (China); Long, Xinggui, E-mail: xingguil@caep.cn [Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621900 (China); Peng, Shuming [Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621900 (China); Zhang, Dong, E-mail: zd0823@sina.com [Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621900 (China); Tan, Zhaoyi [Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621900 (China); Lu, Xirui [Key Subject Laboratory of National Defense for Radioactive Waste and Environmental Security, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010 (China)

    2017-04-15

    Zr{sub 1−x−y}Ce{sub x}Nd{sub y}O{sub 2−y/2} ceramics, which were designed as waste form materials, were obtained by simultaneous substitution of Ce{sup 4+} and Nd{sup 3+} for Zr{sup 4+} in ZrO{sub 2}. The influences of the simultaneous substitution of Ce and Nd on phase transformation of ZrO{sub 2} were investigated systematically. Also, the aqueous durability of the ceramics was evaluated. The results show that the phase transformation caused by the simultaneous substitution mainly relates to the total content of Ce and Nd. The ZrO{sub 2} ceramics containing Ce + Nd < 30 mol% exhibit both monoclinic and cubic phases, while the ceramics containing Ce + Nd ≥ 30 mol% are cubic phase. And the cubic phase can be stabilized by incorporating 30 mol% Ce + Nd. Moreover, LR{sub i} are modified by the incorporation of Ce and Nd, because of the presence of oxygen vacancies. The Nd and Ce co-doped zirconia waste form exhibit excellent aqueous durability (∼10{sup −5} g m{sup −2} d{sup −1}). - Highlights: •Zr{sub 1−x−y}Ce{sub x}Nd{sub y}O{sub 2−y/2} were obtained by substitution of Ce and Nd for Zr in ZrO{sub 2}. •Phase transformation mainly relates to the total content of Ce and Nd. •Samples with Ce + Nd < 30 mol% show monoclinic and cubic phases, while ≥30 mol% are cubic. •Stabilized cubic zirconia can be obtained by doping with 30 mol% Ce and Nd. •LR{sub Ce} and LR{sub Nd} (42 d) are ∼ 10{sup −5} g m{sup −2} d{sup −1}, exhibiting excellent aqueous durability.

  14. Effect of kinetic parameters on simultaneous ramp reactivity insertion plus beam tube flooding accident in a typical low enriched U{sub 3}Si{sub 2}-Al fuel-based material testing reactor-type research reactor

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nasir, Rubina; Mirza, Nasir M. [Dept. of, Physics, Air University, Islamabad (Pakistan); Mirza, Sikander M. [Dept. of, Physics and Applied Mathematics, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Post Office Nilore, Islamabad (Pakistan)

    2017-06-15

    This work looks at the effect of changes in kinetic parameters on simultaneous reactivity insertions and beam tube flooding in a typical material testing reactor-type research reactor with low enriched high density (U{sub 3}Si{sub 2}-Al) fuel. Using a modified PARET code, various ramp reactivity insertions (from $0.1/0.5 s to $1.3/0.5 s) plus beam tube flooding ($0.5/0.25 s) accidents under uncontrolled conditions were analyzed to find their effects on peak power, net reactivity, and temperature. Then, the effects of changes in kinetic parameters including the Doppler coefficient, prompt neutron lifetime, and delayed neutron fractions on simultaneous reactivity insertion and beam tube flooding accidents were analyzed. Results show that the power peak values are significantly sensitive to the Doppler coefficient of the system in coupled accidents. The material testing reactor-type system under such a coupled accident is not very sensitive to changes in the prompt neutron life time; the core under such a coupled transient is not very sensitive to changes in the effective delayed neutron fraction.

  15. [sup 57]Fe Moessbauer study of amorphous and nanocrystalline Fe[sub 73. 5]Nb[sub 3]Cu[sub 1]Si[sub 13. 5]B[sub 9] after neutron irradiation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Miglierini, M. (Dept. of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Slovak Technical Univ., Bratislava (Slovakia)); Sitek, J. (Dept. of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Slovak Technical Univ., Bratislava (Slovakia)); Szasz, Z. (Dept. of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Slovak Technical Univ., Bratislava (Slovakia)); Vitazek, K. (Dept. of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Slovak Technical Univ., Bratislava (Slovakia))

    1994-05-01

    [sup 57]Fe Moessbauer spectroscopy is used to study neutron irradiation induced changes in the short-range order of Fe[sub 73.5]Nb[sub 3]Cu[sub 1]Si[sub 13.5]B[sub 9] alloy. The samples are investigated in both amorphous and nanocrystalline states. Neutron irradiation leads to an increase of the standard deviation of a hyperfine field distribution (HFD), implying rearrangement of the atoms towards disordering. Simultaneously, changes in the average value of the hyperfine field and a net magnetic moment position occur as a consequence of a spin reorientation, atom mixing and microscopic stress centres which are introduced by neutron irradiation. (orig.)

  16. In situ transmission electron microscopy studies of microstructure evolution in Ba(Zr{sub 0.2}Ti{sub 0.8})O{sub 3}-x(Ba{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3})TiO{sub 3} piezoceramic

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zakhozheva, Marina

    2016-10-21

    The purpose of this work is to understand the microstructural features which contribute to the strong electromechanical properties of the lead-free Ba (Zr{sub 0.2}Ti{sub 0.8})O{sub 3}-x(Ba{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3})TiO{sub 3} (BZT-xBCT) piezoelectric ceramic. Detailed conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies on a broad variety of BZT - xBCT were performed in order to demonstrate the composition dependent structural changes. Moreover, several in situ TEM techniques, including in situ hot- and cold-stage, in situ electric field and in situ electric field with simultaneous cooling, were successfully applied in order to monitor the domain morphology evolution in real time. By means of in situ temperature dependent TEM experiments it was shown that during rhombohedral → orthorhombic → tetragonal phase transition the domain morphology changed according to the crystal structure present. During in situ electric field investigations the displacement of the domain walls and changes in the domain configuration during electrical poling were observed, which indicates a high extrinsic contribution to the piezoelectric response in all BZT - xBCT compositions studied. From the results of in situ electric field TEM experiments with simultaneous cooling, we obtained experimental evidence that the further the composition deviates from the polymorphic phase boundary, the higher the electric field required to fully pole the material.

  17. TH-A-19A-09: Towards Sub-Second Proton Dose Calculation On GPU

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Silva, J da [University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (United Kingdom)

    2014-06-15

    Purpose: To achieve sub-second dose calculation for clinically relevant proton therapy treatment plans. Rapid dose calculation is a key component of adaptive radiotherapy, necessary to take advantage of the better dose conformity offered by hadron therapy. Methods: To speed up proton dose calculation, the pencil beam algorithm (PBA; clinical standard) was parallelised and implemented to run on a graphics processing unit (GPU). The implementation constitutes the first PBA to run all steps on GPU, and each part of the algorithm was carefully adapted for efficiency. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations obtained using Fluka of individual beams of energies representative of the clinical range impinging on simple geometries were used to tune the PBA. For benchmarking, a typical skull base case with a spot scanning plan consisting of a total of 8872 spots divided between two beam directions of 49 energy layers each was provided by CNAO (Pavia, Italy). The calculations were carried out on an Nvidia Geforce GTX680 desktop GPU with 1536 cores running at 1006 MHz. Results: The PBA reproduced within ±3% of maximum dose results obtained from MC simulations for a range of pencil beams impinging on a water tank. Additional analysis of more complex slab geometries is currently under way to fine-tune the algorithm. Full calculation of the clinical test case took 0.9 seconds in total, with the majority of the time spent in the kernel superposition step. Conclusion: The PBA lends itself well to implementation on many-core systems such as GPUs. Using the presented implementation and current hardware, sub-second dose calculation for a clinical proton therapy plan was achieved, opening the door for adaptive treatment. The successful parallelisation of all steps of the calculation indicates that further speedups can be expected with new hardware, brightening the prospects for real-time dose calculation. This work was funded by ENTERVISION, European Commission FP7 grant 264552.

  18. TH-A-19A-09: Towards Sub-Second Proton Dose Calculation On GPU

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Silva, J da

    2014-01-01

    Purpose: To achieve sub-second dose calculation for clinically relevant proton therapy treatment plans. Rapid dose calculation is a key component of adaptive radiotherapy, necessary to take advantage of the better dose conformity offered by hadron therapy. Methods: To speed up proton dose calculation, the pencil beam algorithm (PBA; clinical standard) was parallelised and implemented to run on a graphics processing unit (GPU). The implementation constitutes the first PBA to run all steps on GPU, and each part of the algorithm was carefully adapted for efficiency. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations obtained using Fluka of individual beams of energies representative of the clinical range impinging on simple geometries were used to tune the PBA. For benchmarking, a typical skull base case with a spot scanning plan consisting of a total of 8872 spots divided between two beam directions of 49 energy layers each was provided by CNAO (Pavia, Italy). The calculations were carried out on an Nvidia Geforce GTX680 desktop GPU with 1536 cores running at 1006 MHz. Results: The PBA reproduced within ±3% of maximum dose results obtained from MC simulations for a range of pencil beams impinging on a water tank. Additional analysis of more complex slab geometries is currently under way to fine-tune the algorithm. Full calculation of the clinical test case took 0.9 seconds in total, with the majority of the time spent in the kernel superposition step. Conclusion: The PBA lends itself well to implementation on many-core systems such as GPUs. Using the presented implementation and current hardware, sub-second dose calculation for a clinical proton therapy plan was achieved, opening the door for adaptive treatment. The successful parallelisation of all steps of the calculation indicates that further speedups can be expected with new hardware, brightening the prospects for real-time dose calculation. This work was funded by ENTERVISION, European Commission FP7 grant 264552

  19. Development of a hyperpolarized 129Xe system on 3T for the rat lungs

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Sato, Hiroshi; Enmi, Jun-ichiro; Hayashi, Takuya

    2004-01-01

    MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) with 129 Xe has gained much attention as a diagnostic methodology because of its affinity for lipids and possible polarization. The quantitative estimation of net detectability and stability of hyperpolarized 129 Xe in the dissolved phase in vivo is valuable to the development of clinical applications. The goal of this study was to develop a stable hyperpolarized 129 Xe experimental 3T system to statistically analyze the dissolved-phase 129 Xe signal in the rat lungs. The polarization of 129 Xe with buffer gases at the optical pumping cell was measured under adiabatic fast passage against the temperature of an oven and laser absorption at the cell. The gases were insuffiated into the lungs of Sprague-Dawley rats (n=15, 400-550 g) through an endotracheal tube under spontaneous respiration. Frequency-selective spectroscopy was performed for the gas phase and dissolved phase. We analyzed the 129 Xe signal in the dissolved phase to measure the chemical shift, T 2 * , delay and its ratio in a rat lungs on 3T. The polarizer was able to produce polarized gas (1.1±0.47%, 120 cm 3 ) hundreds of times with the laser absorption ratio (25%) kept constant at the cell. The optimal buffer gas ratio of 25-50% rendered the maximum signal in the dissolved phase. Two dominant peaks of 211.8±0.9 and 201.1±0.6 ppm were observed with a delay of 0.4±0.9 and 0.9±1.0 s from the gas phase spectra. The ratios of their average signal to that of the gas phase were 5.6±5.2% and 4.4±4.7%, respectively. The T 2 * of the air space in the lungs was 2.5±0.5 ms, which was 3.8 times shorter than that in a syringe. We developed a hyperpolarized 129 Xe experimental system using a 3T MRI scanner that yields sufficient volume and polarization and quantitatively analyzed the dissolved-phase 129 Xe signal in the rat lungs. (author)

  20. A simple Cr(VI)–S(IV)–O{sub 2} system for rapid and simultaneous reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidative degradation of organic pollutants

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yuan, Yanan; Yang, Shaojie [Department of Environmental Science, Hubei Key Lab of Biomass Resource Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 430079 (China); Zhou, Danna, E-mail: zdncug@163.com [Faculty of Material Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074 (China); Wu, Feng [Department of Environmental Science, Hubei Key Lab of Biomass Resource Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 430079 (China)

    2016-04-15

    Highlights: • Rapid and simultaneous reduction of Cr(VI) and degradation of organic pollutants occur. • Oxysulfur radicals generated in Cr(VI)–S(IV)–O{sub 2} system oxidize the organic pollutants. • Acidic pH facilitates the reactions from both directions of reduction and oxidation. • Degradation potential of aromatic amines depends on the substituted groups. • Cr(VI)–S(IV)–O{sub 2} system is promising for “waste control by waste”. - Abstract: Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), a heavy-metal contaminant, can be easily reduced to less toxic trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) by sulfite ions (S(IV)). However, S(IV) has not drawn as much attention as the ferrous ion has. We report herein a novel Cr(VI)–S(IV)–O{sub 2} system containing sulfite ions that rapidly and simultaneously reduces Cr(VI) and oxidize organic pollutants in the presence of oxygen in aqueous solutions. This Cr(VI)–S(IV)-O{sub 2} system contains the initiator Cr(VI), the reductant S(IV), and the oxidant O{sub 2}, which produce oxysulfur radicals (mainly SO{sub 4}·{sup −} and SO{sub 5}·{sup −}) and hydroxyl radicals (OH·). The Cr(VI)/S(IV) molar ratio, pH, and oxygen content play important roles in the entire reaction system. Acidic conditions (pH 3.0) facilitated degradation of organic compounds and reduction of Cr(VI) as well. In addition, experiments of rapid degradation of several kinds of organic pollutants such as azo dye (acid orange 7, AO7), aniline, phenol, bisphenol A etc were also conducted. Preliminary results show that the removal rates of the analogs of phenols or aromatic amines in this Cr(VI)–S(IV)–O{sub 2} system have a relationship with the electronic parameters (Hammett constant, σ) of the substituted groups. Thus, the Cr(VI)–S(IV)–O{sub 2} system, provides an excellent strategy of “waste control by waste” for removing multiple industrial contaminants.

  1. Prices of second-line antiretroviral treatment for middle-income countries inside versus outside sub-Saharan Africa.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Simmons, Bryony; Hill, Andrew; Ford, Nathan; Ruxrungtham, Kiat; Ananworanich, Jintanat

    2014-01-01

    Antiretrovirals are available at low prices in sub-Saharan Africa, but these prices may not be consistently available for middle-income countries in other regions with large HIV epidemics. Over 30% of HIV infected people live in countries outside sub-Saharan Africa. Several key antiretrovirals are still on patent, with generic production restricted. We assessed price variations for key antiretroviral drugs inside versus outside sub-Saharan Africa. HIV drug prices used in national programmes (2010-2014) were extracted from the WHO Global Price Reporting Mechanism database for all reporting middle-income countries as classified by the World Bank. Treatment costs (branded and generic) were compared for countries inside sub-Saharan Africa versus those outside. Five key second-line antiretrovirals were analysed: abacavir, atazanavir, darunavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, raltegravir. Prices of branded antiretrovirals were significantly higher outside sub-Saharan Africa (psub-Saharan Africa versus $4689 (IQR $4075-5717) in non-African middle-income countries, an increase of 541%. However, when supplied by generic companies, most antiretrovirals were similarly priced between countries in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions. Pharmaceutical companies are selling antiretrovirals to non-African middle-income countries at prices 74-541% higher than African countries with similar gross national incomes. However, generic companies are selling most of these drugs at similar prices across regions. Mechanisms to ensure fair pricing for patented antiretrovirals across both African and non-African middle-income countries need to be improved, to ensure sustainable treatment access.

  2. Oleate induces KATP channel-dependent hyperpolarization in mouse hypothalamic glucose-excited neurons without altering cellular energy charge.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dadak, Selma; Beall, Craig; Vlachaki Walker, Julia M; Soutar, Marc P M; McCrimmon, Rory J; Ashford, Michael L J

    2017-03-27

    The unsaturated fatty acid, oleate exhibits anorexigenic properties reducing food intake and hepatic glucose output. However, its mechanism of action in the hypothalamus has not been fully determined. This study investigated the effects of oleate and glucose on GT1-7 mouse hypothalamic cells (a model of glucose-excited (GE) neurons) and mouse arcuate nucleus (ARC) neurons. Whole-cell and perforated patch-clamp recordings, immunoblotting and cell energy status measures were used to investigate oleate- and glucose-sensing properties of mouse hypothalamic neurons. Oleate or lowered glucose concentration caused hyperpolarization and inhibition of firing of GT1-7 cells by the activation of ATP-sensitive K + channels (K ATP ). This effect of oleate was not dependent on fatty acid oxidation or raised AMP-activated protein kinase activity or prevented by the presence of the UCP2 inhibitor genipin. Oleate did not alter intracellular calcium, indicating that CD36/fatty acid translocase may not play a role. However, oleate activation of K ATP may require ATP metabolism. The short-chain fatty acid octanoate was unable to replicate the actions of oleate on GT1-7 cells. Although oleate decreased GT1-7 cell mitochondrial membrane potential there was no change in total cellular ATP or ATP/ADP ratios. Perforated patch and whole-cell recordings from mouse hypothalamic slices demonstrated that oleate hyperpolarized a subpopulation of ARC GE neurons by K ATP activation. Additionally, in a separate small population of ARC neurons, oleate application or lowered glucose concentration caused membrane depolarization. In conclusion, oleate induces K ATP- dependent hyperpolarization and inhibition of firing of a subgroup of GE hypothalamic neurons without altering cellular energy charge. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  3. Study of the excitation mechanisms of the second positive system in the negative glow of a N{sub 2}-Ar discharge

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Isola, L; Lopez, M; Gomez, B J, E-mail: isola@ifir-conicet.gov.ar [Instituto de Fisica Rosario (CONICET-UNR) 27 Febrero 210 Bis. (S2000EZP) Rosario (Argentina)

    2011-09-21

    In an Ar-N{sub 2} discharge, the high excitation transfer from Ar({sup 3}P{sub 2,0}) to N{sub 2} produces an overpopulation of the high rotational levels of the bands of the second positive system (SPS), and so the spectra interpretation is not straightforward. This paper presents a fit function for the SPS bands measured in Ar-N{sub 2}, which allows us to study the excitation process contributions to the N{sub 2}(C) level. The procedure was tested in the negative glow of a pulsed Ar-N{sub 2} discharge at a pressure of 2.5 Torr, for different mixture concentrations. In this discharge, through the fitting, it was possible to calculate the variation of the N{sub 2}(C) densities produced by different excitation processes as well as the variation of Ar metastable density.

  4. Cation composition and oxygen content dependence of crystal structure and T sub c for Tl sub 2 sub - sub x Ba sub 2 Ca sub 2 Cu sub 3 sub + sub z O sub y

    CERN Document Server

    Idemoto, Y; Koura, N; Kamiyama, T; Oikawa, K; Izumi, F

    2003-01-01

    Tl sub 2 sub - sub x Ba sub 2 Ca sub 2 Cu sub 3 sub + sub z O sub y (Tl-2223 system) superconducting oxides with various Tl contents and Cu contents were prepared. We investigated the relation between crystal structure and superconducting property dependence of Tl and Cu content. First, we obtained an almost single-phase material at a Tl content 2-x = 1.7 and the Tl-2223 phase remained the main phase in the region of 2 - x >= 0.631 of Tl sub 2 sub - sub x Ba sub 2 Ca sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub y. T sub c was about 120 K for the Tl-2223 in a wide range of 0.631 <= 2 - x <= 1.761. Second, we obtained a single-phase at 2 - x = 1.777 and Cu content 3 + z = 3.284 of Tl sub 2 sub - sub x Ba sub 2 Ca sub 2 Cu sub 3 sub + sub z O sub y. The T sub c (zero) dependence of Cu/Tl ratio, showed a maximum value of 122 K at Cu/Tl ratio = 2.026. Based on results of crystal structure refinements by powder neutron diffraction, it was found that the change in bond length and angle dependence of average Cu valence were similar fo...

  5. Detection of radiation induced lung injury in rats using dynamic hyperpolarized {sup 129}Xe magnetic resonance spectroscopy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Fox, Matthew S. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada and Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 (Canada); Ouriadov, Alexei; Hegarty, Elaine [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 (Canada); Thind, Kundan [Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada and Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 (Canada); Wong, Eugene [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada and London Regional Cancer Program, London, Ontario, N6C 2R6 (Canada); Hope, Andrew [Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E2, Canada and Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2M9 (Canada); Santyr, Giles E., E-mail: gsantyr@robarts.ca [Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1 (Canada); Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 (Canada); Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 (Canada)

    2014-07-15

    Purpose: Radiation induced lung injury (RILI) is a common side effect for patients undergoing thoracic radiation therapy (RT). RILI can lead to temporary or permanent loss of lung function and in extreme cases, death. Combining functional lung imaging information with conventional radiation treatment plans may lead to more desirable treatment plans that reduce lung toxicity and improve the quality of life for lung cancer survivors. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the lung following inhalation of hyperpolarized{sup 129}Xe may provide a useful nonionizing approach for probing changes in lung function and structure associated with RILI before, during, or after RT (early and late time-points). Methods: In this study, dynamic{sup 129}Xe MR spectroscopy was used to measure whole-lung gas transfer time constants for lung tissue and red blood cells (RBC), respectively (T{sub Tr-tissue} and T{sub Tr-RBC}) in groups of rats at two weeks and six weeks following 14 Gy whole-lung exposure to radiation from a {sup 60}Co source. A separate group of six healthy age-matched rats served as a control group. Results: T{sub Tr-tissue} values at two weeks post-irradiation (51.6 ± 6.8 ms) were found to be significantly elevated (p < 0.05) with respect to the healthy control group (37.2 ± 4.8 ms). T{sub Tr-RBC} did not show any significant changes between groups. T{sub Tr-tissue} was strongly correlated with T{sub Tr-RBC} in the control group (r = 0.9601 p < 0.05) and uncorrelated in the irradiated groups. Measurements of arterial partial pressure of oxygen obtained by arterial blood sampling were found to be significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the two-week group (54.2 ± 12.3 mm Hg) compared to those from a representative control group (85.0 ± 10.0 mm Hg). Histology of a separate group of similarly irradiated animals confirmed the presence of inflammation due to radiation exposure with alveolar wall thicknesses that were significantly different (p < 0.05). At six weeks post

  6. Effects of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on the longitudinal and transverse relaxation of hyperpolarized xenon gas

    Science.gov (United States)

    Burant, Alex; Antonacci, Michael; McCallister, Drew; Zhang, Le; Branca, Rosa Tamara

    2018-06-01

    SuperParamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) are often used in magnetic resonance imaging experiments to enhance Magnetic Resonance (MR) sensitivity and specificity. While the effect of SPIONs on the longitudinal and transverse relaxation time of 1H spins has been well characterized, their effect on highly diffusive spins, like those of hyperpolarized gases, has not. For spins diffusing in linear magnetic field gradients, the behavior of the magnetization is characterized by the relative size of three length scales: the diffusion length, the structural length, and the dephasing length. However, for spins diffusing in non-linear gradients, such as those generated by iron oxide nanoparticles, that is no longer the case, particularly if the diffusing spins experience the non-linearity of the gradient. To this end, 3D Monte Carlo simulations are used to simulate the signal decay and the resulting image contrast of hyperpolarized xenon gas near SPIONs. These simulations reveal that signal loss near SPIONs is dominated by transverse relaxation, with little contribution from T1 relaxation, while simulated image contrast and experiments show that diffusion provides no appreciable sensitivity enhancement to SPIONs.

  7. Charge Density Wave in the New Polymorphs of RE <sub>2sub> Ru <sub>3sub> Ge <sub>5sub> ( RE = Pr, Sm, Dy)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bugaris, Daniel E.; Malliakas, Christos D.; Han, Fei; Calta, Nicholas P.; Sturza, Mihai; Krogstad, Matthew J.; Osborn, Raymond; Rosenkranz, Stephan; Ruff, Jacob P. C.; Trimarchi, Giancarlo; Bud’ko, Sergey L.; Balasubramanian, Mahalingam; Chung, Duck Young; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.

    2017-02-16

    A new polymorph of the RE<sub>2sub>Ru>3sub>Ge>5sub> (RE = Pr, Sm, Dy) compounds has been grown as single crystals via an indium flux. These compounds crystallize in tetragonal space group P4/mnc with the Sc<sub>2sub>Fe>3sub>Si>5sub>-type structure, having lattice parameters a = 11.020(2) Å and c = 5.853(1) Å for RE = Pr, a = 10.982(2) Å and c = 5.777(1) Å for RE = Sm, and a = 10.927(2) Å and c = 5.697(1) Å for RE = Dy. These materials exhibit a structural transition at low temperature, which is attributed to an apparent charge density wave (CDW). Both the high-temperature average crystal structure and the low-temperature incommensurately modulated crystal structure (for Sm<sub>2sub>Ru>3sub>Ge>5sub> as a representative) have been solved. The charge density wave order is manifested by periodic distortions of the onedimensional zigzag Ge chains. From X-ray diffraction, charge transport (electrical resistivity, Hall effect, magnetoresistance), magnetic measurements, and heat capacity, the ordering temperatures (T<sub>CDW>) observed in the Pr and Sm analogues are ~200 and ~175 K, respectively. The charge transport measurement results indicate an electronic state transition happening simultaneously with the CDW transition. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) and electronic band structure results are also reported.

  8. Novel methods and applications of NMR and MRI. Low-power RF excitation and hyperpolarized Xenon-129

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Amor, Nadia

    2012-07-01

    Since their discovery in the middle of the last century, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have become an important and very versatile tool in industry, medicine, and basic research. The aim of this work is to explore possible improvements and new applications of NMR methods. First, a recently introduced excitation NMR pulse sequence, termed Frank sequence excitation, which allows for significant reduction of rf-excitation power, is systematically analyzed and compared to conventional NMR in detail. Furthermore, its feasibility for MRI is investigated and advantages as well as drawbacks in comparison to standard MRI are discussed. The second part focuses on new biomedical applications of hyperpolarized (HP) {sup 129}Xe which not only offers a signal enhancement of several orders of magnitude but also provides new contrast mechanisms. A setup for continuous dissolution of HP {sup 129}Xe gas into blood and other fluids is optimized and analyzed quantitatively by NMR and MRI. On the basis of these results, blood-dissolved HP {sup 129}Xe is used to investigate blood-gas dynamics, as well as the rheological behavior of blood.

  9. Exchange spring magnetic behavior in BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19}/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanocomposites

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Remya, K.P. [Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046 (India); Prabhu, D. [Centre for Automotive Energy Materials, ARCI, Chennai 600 113 (India); Amirthapandian, S. [Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102 (India); Viswanathan, C.; Ponpandian, N. [Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046 (India)

    2016-05-15

    We report the investigation on exchange spring coupling behavior of BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19}/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanocomposite synthesized by simple mixing followed by heat treatment of individual ferrites. Morphologically tuned, well crystalline hard and soft ferrites were synthesized by simple chemical method and the phase composition, crystallinity, surface morphology and magnetic properties of the as prepared ferrites as well as the nanocomposites were studied by using XRD, FESEM and VSM respectively. Exchange coupling behavior is observed in the nanocomposite samples heated at 600 °C with simultaneous enhancements of (BH){sub max} and remanence. - Highlights: • Hard/Soft magnetic nanocomposite was prepared by simple mixing and heat treatment. • Simple chemical method was employed for the synthesis of pristine hard and soft magnetic nanostructures. • Microscopic studies show the presence of both phases. • Exchange-spring behavior was observed in BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19}/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanocomposite. • Evaluated using switching field distribution curve.

  10. Ultrasonic study of the charge mismatch effect in charge-ordered (Nd{sub 0.75}Na{sub 0.25}){sub x}(Nd{sub 0.5}Ca{sub 0.5}){sub 1-x}MnO{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jiang Liang; Su Jinrui; Kong Hui; Liu Yi; Zheng Shiyuan; Zhu Changfei [Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China)

    2006-09-20

    The resistivity, magnetization and ultrasonic properties of charge-ordered polycrystalline (Nd{sub 0.75}Na{sub 0.25}){sub x}(Nd{sub 0.5}Ca{sub 0.5}){sub 1-x}MnO{sub 3} have been investigated from 50 to 300 K. A considerable velocity softening accompanied by an attenuation peak was observed around the charge-ordering transition temperature (T{sub CO}) upon cooling. The simultaneous occurrence of the charge ordering (CO) and the ultrasonic anomaly implies strong electron-phonon coupling, which originates from the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect. At very low temperature, another broad attenuation peak was observed, which is attributed to the phase separation (PS) and gives a direct evidence of spin-phonon coupling in the compound. With increasing x, T{sub CO} shifts to lower temperature, the magnetization of the system is strengthened and the PS is enhanced. The temperature dependence of the longitudinal modulus shows that the Jahn-Teller coupling energy E{sub JT} decreases with increasing Na content. The analysis suggests that the charge mismatch effect may be the main reason for the suppression of the CO and enhancement of the PS.

  11. Scrubbing water treatment for simultaneous removal of SO/sub 2/ and NO/sub x/ from gases, with an integrated stage for reducing Fe-III to Fe-II by lowering the pH to the strongly acid region in the scrubbing liquid circuit. Waschwasseraufbereitung fuer die simultane SO/sub 2/- und NO/sub x/-Gasreinigung mit integrierter Stufe zur Reduktion von Eisen-III zu Eisen-II im Waschfluessigkeitskreislauf durch Absenkung des pH-Wertes in den stark sauren Bereich

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Anon.

    1987-01-08

    In the patent application P 3519681.5 a method for washing water treatment and recovery of valuable material in the simultaneous removal of SO/sub 2/ and NO/sub x/ from flue gas is described. In this method sulphuric acid and air are supplied in the oxidation chamber so that after filtration saleable gypsum is produced as a final product. Surprisingly, it was found out that with a sufficient lowering of the pH value to the strongly acid range by addition of sulphuric acid in the range of pH less than 3, iron-III is reduced to iron-II.

  12. Single flexible nanofiber to simultaneously realize electricity-magnetism bifunctionality

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yang, Ming; Sheng, Shujuan; Ma, Qianli; Lv, Nan; Yu, Wensheng; Wang, Jinxian; Dong, Xiangting; Liu, Guixia, E-mail: wenshengyu2009@sina.com, E-mail: dongxiangting888@163.com [Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Nanotechnology at Universities of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun (China)

    2016-03-15

    In order to develop new-typed multifunctional composite nanofibers, PANI/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/PVP flexible bifunctional composite nanofibers with simultaneous electrical conduction and magnetism have been successfully fabricated via a facile electrospinning technology. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is used as a matrix to construct composite nanofibers containing different amounts of polyaniline (PANI) and Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles (NPs). The bifunctional composite nanofibers simultaneously possess excellent electrical conductivity and magnetic properties. The electrical conductivity reaches up to the order of 10{sup -3} S·cm{sup -1}. The electrical conductivity and saturation magnetization of the composite nanofibers can be respectively tuned by adding various amounts of PANI and Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} NPs. The obtained electricity-magnetism bifunctional composite nanofibers are expected to possess many potential applications in areas such as electromagnetic interference shielding, special coating, microwave absorption, molecular electronics and future nanomechanics. More importantly, the design concept and construct technique are of universal significance to fabricate other bifunctional one-dimensional nanostructures. (author)

  13. Hyperpolarized 13C-Urea MRI for the assessment of the urea gradient in the porcine kidney

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Søvsø Szocska Hansen, Esben; Stewart, Neil James; Wild, Jim Michael

    Renal anatomical and pathophysiological alterations are directly associated with the fluid and electrolyte balance in the kidney, which is regulated by the extracellular corticomedullary osmolality gradient. We introduce a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach to monitor...... treatment resulted in an increased urea accumulation in the cortical space. This work demonstrates intra-renal functional assessment with hyperpolarized 13C-urea MRI in multi-papillary kidneys....

  14. WE-AB-202-07: Ventilation CT: Voxel-Level Comparison with Hyperpolarized Helium-3 & Xenon-129 MRI

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tahir, B; Marshall, H; Hughes, P; Stewart, N; Horn, F; Collier, G; Norquay, G; Hart, K; Swinscoe, J; Hatton, M; Wild, J; Ireland, R [University of Sheffield, Sheffield (United Kingdom)

    2016-06-15

    Purpose: To compare the spatial correlation of ventilation surrogates computed from inspiratory and expiratory breath-hold CT with hyperpolarized Helium-3 & Xenon-129 MRI in a cohort of lung cancer patients. Methods: 5 patients underwent expiration & inspiration breath-hold CT. Xenon-129 & {sup 1}H MRI were also acquired at the same inflation state as inspiratory CT. This was followed immediately by acquisition of Helium-3 & {sup 1}H MRI in the same breath and at the same inflation state as inspiratory CT. Expiration CT was deformably registered to inspiration CT for calculation of ventilation CT from voxel-wise differences in Hounsfield units. Inspiration CT and the Xenon-129’s corresponding anatomical {sup 1}H MRI were registered to Helium-3 MRI via the same-breath anatomical {sup 1}H MRI. This enabled direct comparison of CT ventilation with Helium-3 MRI & Xenon-129 MRI for the median values in corresponding regions of interest, ranging from finer to coarser in-plane dimensions of 10 by 10, 20 by 20, 30 by 30 and 40 by 40, located within the lungs as defined by the same-breath {sup 1}H MRI lung mask. Spearman coefficients were used to assess voxel-level correlation. Results: The median Spearman’s coefficients of ventilation CT with Helium-3 & Xenon-129 MRI for ROIs of 10 by 10, 20 by 20, 30 by 30 and 40 by 40 were 0.52, 0.56, 0.60 and 0.68 and 0.40, 0.42, 0.52 and 0.70, respectively. Conclusion: This work demonstrates a method of acquiring CT & hyperpolarized gas MRI (Helium-3 & Xenon-129 MRI) in similar breath-holds to enable direct spatial comparison of ventilation maps. Initial results show moderate correlation between ventilation CT & hyperpolarized gas MRI, improving for coarser regions which could be attributable to the inherent noise in CT intensity, non-ventilatory effects and registration errors at the voxel-level. Thus, it may be more beneficial to quantify ventilation at a more regional level.

  15. Hyperpolarization-activated current (I(h)) in vestibular calyx terminals: characterization and role in shaping postsynaptic events.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Meredith, Frances L; Benke, Tim A; Rennie, Katherine J

    2012-12-01

    Calyx afferent terminals engulf the basolateral region of type I vestibular hair cells, and synaptic transmission across the vestibular type I hair cell/calyx is not well understood. Calyces express several ionic conductances, which may shape postsynaptic potentials. These include previously described tetrodotoxin-sensitive inward Na(+) currents, voltage-dependent outward K(+) currents and a K(Ca) current. Here, we characterize an inwardly rectifying conductance in gerbil semicircular canal calyx terminals (postnatal days 3-45), sensitive to voltage and to cyclic nucleotides. Using whole-cell patch clamp, we recorded from isolated calyx terminals still attached to their type I hair cells. A slowly activating, noninactivating current (I(h)) was seen with hyperpolarizing voltage steps negative to the resting potential. External Cs(+) (1-5 mM) and ZD7288 (100 μM) blocked the inward current by 97 and 83 %, respectively, confirming that I(h) was carried by hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide gated channels. Mean half-activation voltage of I(h) was -123 mV, which shifted to -114 mV in the presence of cAMP. Activation of I(h) was well described with a third order exponential fit to the current (mean time constant of activation, τ, was 190 ms at -139 mV). Activation speeded up significantly (τ=136 and 127 ms, respectively) when intracellular cAMP and cGMP were present, suggesting that in vivo I(h) could be subject to efferent modulation via cyclic nucleotide-dependent mechanisms. In current clamp, hyperpolarizing current steps produced a time-dependent depolarizing sag followed by either a rebound afterdepolarization or an action potential. Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) became larger and wider when I(h) was blocked with ZD7288. In a three-dimensional mathematical model of the calyx terminal based on Hodgkin-Huxley type ionic conductances, removal of I(h) similarly increased the EPSP, whereas cAMP slightly decreased simulated EPSP size

  16. Optimizing Blue Persistent Luminescence in (Sr <sub>1-δsub> Ba <sub>δ> ) <sub>2sub> MgSi <sub>2sub> O <sub>7:sub> Eu 2+ ,Dy 3+ via Solid Solution for Use in Point-of-Care Diagnostics

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Finley, Erin; Cobb, Angelica; Duke, Anna; Paterson, Andrew; Brgoch, Jakoah (Luminostics); (Houston)

    2016-11-04

    Inorganic persistent luminescent phosphors are an excellent class of optical reporters for enabling sensitive point-of-care diagnostics, particularly with smartphone-based biosensing devices in testing formats such as the lateral flow assay (LFA). Here, the development of persistent phosphors for this application is focused on the solid solution (Sr<sub>1-δsub>Baδ)>2sub>MgSi>2sub>O>7sub>:Eu2+,Dy3+ (δ = 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375), which is prepared using a high-temperature solid-state reaction as confirmed by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. The substitution of barium for strontium enables control over the Eu2+ 5d-orbital crystal field splitting (CFS) as a tool for tuning the emission wavelength while maintaining luminescence lifetimes >9 min across the composition range. Thermoluminescence measurements of the solid solution provide evidence that trap states contribute to the persistent lifetimes with the trap depths also remaining constant as a function of composition. Time-gated luminescence images of these compounds are captured on a smartphone arranged in a layout to mimic a point-of-care test and demonstrate the viability of using these materials as optical reporters. Moreover, comparing the blue-emitting (Sr<sub>0.625sub>Ba>0.375sub>)>2sub>MgSi>2sub>O>7sub>:Eu2+,Dy3+ and the green-emitting SrAl<sub>2sub>O>4:sub>Eu2+,Dy3+ in a single LFA-type format shows these two compounds can be detected and resolved simultaneously, thereby permitting the development of a multiplexed LFA.

  17. Sub-second changes in accumbal dopamine during sexual behavior in male rats.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Robinson, D L; Phillips, P E; Budygin, E A; Trafton, B J; Garris, P A; Wightman, R M

    2001-08-08

    Transient (200--900 ms), high concentrations (200--500 nM) of dopamine, measured using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, occurred in the nucleus accumbens core of male rats at the presentation of a receptive female. Additional dopamine signals were observed during subsequent approach behavior. Background-subtracted cyclic voltammograms of the naturally-evoked signals matched those of electrically-evoked dopamine measured at the same recording sites. Administration of nomifensine amplified natural and evoked dopamine release, and increased the frequency of detectable signals. While gradual changes in dopamine concentration during sexual behavior have been well established, these findings dramatically improve the time resolution. The observed dopamine transients, probably resulting from neuronal burst firing, represent the first direct correlation of dopamine with sexual behavior on a sub-second time scale.

  18. Simultaneous Production of Hydrogen and Methane from Sugar Beet Molasses in a Two Phase Anaerobic Digestion System in UASB Reactors under Thermophilic Temperature (55 Deg C)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kongjan, P.; Villafa, S.; Beltran, P.; Min, B.; Angelidaki, I. (Dept. of Environmental Engineering, Technical Univ. of Denmark, DK-2800, Lyngby (Denmark)). e-mail: pak@env.dtu.dk

    2008-10-15

    Simultaneous production of hydrogen and methane in two sequential stages of acidogenic and methanogenic step was investigated in two serial operated up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors at thermophilic temperature (55 deg C). Hydrogen production from molasses was carried out in the first reactor at the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1 day. Molasses were converted into hydrogen with the yield of 1.3 mole-H{sub 2}/mole-hexose{sub added} or 82.7 ml- H{sub 2}/g-VS{sub added} of molasses, and the hydrogen productivity was 2696 ml-H{sub 2}/dxl{sub reactor}. The effluent (mainly butyrate, acetate and lactate) after the acidogenic process was subsequently fed to the second reactor for methane production at HRT of 3 days. Methane production yield of 255 ml-H{sub 2}/g-VS{sub added} of influent or 130.1 ml-H{sub 2}/g-VS{sub added} of molasses and methane production rate of 1056 ml/dxl{sub reactor} were obtained. Significant decrease of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) was also observed in the effluent of the second reactor. A two phase anaerobic digestion was successfully demonstrated for molasses as a potential substrate to produce hydrogen and subsequent methane in the UASB reactors

  19. Measurement of CP Violation in B0<sub>d> Mixing Using B0<sub>d> → D*-μ+(ν<sub>μ>)X Decays

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ross, Anthony [Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom)

    2012-09-10

    This thesis describes the measurement of the time-integrated semileptonic charge asymmetry in B0<sub>d> mixing, ad <sub>sl>, using the decay chain of B0<sub>d> ! D*-μ+(ν<sub>μ>), D*- ! D0π-, D0 ! K+π-. Decay candidates are reconstructed from 10.4 fb-1 of data recorded by the DØ detector at Fermilab’s Tevatron p$\\bar{p}$ collder during the 2002- 2011 ‘RunII’ data taking period. Yields are extracted using a 2 minimising simultaneous binned fit where 490k D candidates are reconstructed. The measurements presented in this thesis was made possible due to sophisticated online and offline reconstruction software, precise tracking systems, and the first-order background asymmetry negating magnet polarity reversal of the DØ detector.

  20. Self-Assembly of Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3sub>-Nanoplate/Graphene-Nanosheet Hybrid by One-Pot Route and Its Improved Li-Storage Properties

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Xinbing Zhao

    2012-07-01

    Full Text Available A sandwich structured Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3sub>-nanoplates/graphene-nanosheet (Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3sub>/G hybrid has been synthesized by a facile in situ solvothermal route and has been investigated as a potential anode material for Li-ion batteries. Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3sub> grows during the solvothermal process with the simultaneous reduction of graphite oxide into graphene. The in situ formation process of the hybrid has been investigated by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectra. The Li-storage mechanism and performance of Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3sub>/G and bare Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3 sub>have been studied by galvanostatic cycling and cyclic voltammetry. The Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3sub>/G sandwich exhibits an obviously improved cycling stability compared to bare Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3sub>. The enhancement in electrochemical performance can be attributed to the combined conducting, confining and dispersing effects of graphene for Bi<sub>2sub>Te>3sub> nanoplates and to the self-assembled sandwich structure.

  1. Magnetic circular dichroism of LaMn sub 1 sub - sub x Al sub x O sub 3 sub + subdelta series of samples

    CERN Document Server

    Banerjee, A; Krishnan, R V; Dasannacharya, B A; Muro, T; Saitoh, Y; Imada, S; Suga, S

    2003-01-01

    We report magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) studies on the polycrystalline LaMn sub 1 sub - sub x Al sub x O sub 3 sub + subdelta series with x=0-0.2. The Mn-2p MCD was recorded in the temperature range from 45 to 300 K for samples with x=0, 0.075, 0.1 and 0.15. It was seen that unlike ac-susceptibility no second transition in MCD was observed at lower temperatures in the samples with x>=0.075 indicating that it is not intrinsic to the samples but arise out of the dynamics of ferromagnetic clusters in the polycrystalline sample. More significantly, the MCD signal persists even 100 K above the ferromagnetic T sub C confirming that the observation of the magnetic correlation above T sub C in bulk measurement is intrinsic to this type of systems.

  2. HYPERDIRE. HYPERgeometric functions DIfferential REduction. MATHEMATICA based packages for differential reduction of generalized hypergeometric functions {sub p}F{sub p-1}, F{sub 1}, F{sub 2}, F{sub 3}, F{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bytev, Vladimir V.; Kalmykov, Mikhail Yu. [Hamburg Univ. (Germany). 2. Inst. fuer Theoretische Physik; Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna (Russian Federation); Kniehl, Bernd A. [Hamburg Univ. (Germany). 2. Inst. fuer Theoretische Physik

    2013-05-15

    HYPERDIRE is a project devoted to the creation of a set of Mathematica based programs for the differential reduction of hypergeometric functions. The current version includes two parts: one, pfq, is relevant for manipulations of hypergeometric functions {sub p+1}F{sub p}, and the second one, AppellF1F4, for manipulations with Appell hypergeometric functions F{sub 1}, F{sub 2}, F{sub 3}, F{sub 4} of two variables.

  3. Magnetism and superconductivity in Ru{sub 1-x}Sr{sub 2}RECu{sub 2+x}O{sub 8-d} (RE=Gd, Eu) and RuSr{sub 2}Gd{sub 1-y}Ce{sub y}Cu{sub 2}O{sub 8} compounds

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Klamut, P.W. [Dept. of Physics, Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb, IL (United States)]|[Inst. of Low Temperature and Structure Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw (Poland); Dabrowski, B.; Mini, S.M.; Kolesnik, S.; Maxwell, M.; Mais, J. [Dept. of Physics, Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb, IL (United States); Shengelaya, A.; Keller, H. [Physik-Inst., Univ. Zuerich, Zuerich (Switzerland); Khazanov, R. [Physik-Inst., Univ. Zuerich, Zuerich (Switzerland)]|[Lab. for Muon-Spin Spectroscopy, Paul Scherrer Inst., Villigen PSI (Switzerland); Savic, I. [Physik-Inst., Univ. Zuerich, Zuerich (Switzerland)]|[Faculty of Physics, Univ. of Belgrade, Belgrade (Yugoslavia); Sulkowski, C.; Wlosewicz, D.; Matusiak, M. [Inst. of Low Temperature and Structure Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw (Poland); Wisniewski, A.; Puzniak, R.; Fita, I. [Inst. of Physics of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa (Poland)

    2002-07-01

    We discuss the properties of new superconducting compositions of ruthenocuprates Ru{sub 1-x}Sr{sub 2}RECu{sub 2+x}O{sub 8-d} (RE=Gd, Eu) that were synthesized at 600 atm. of oxygen at 1080 C. By changing ratio between the Ru and Cu, the temperature of superconducting transition (T{sub C}) raises up to T{sub C}{sup max} = 72 K for x=0.3, 0.4. The hole doping achieved along the series increases with Cu{yields}Ru substitution. For x {ne} 0, T{sub C} can be subsequently tuned between T{sub C}{sup max} and 0 K by changing oxygen content in the compounds. The magnetic characteristics of the RE=Gd and Eu based compounds are interpreted as indicative of constrained dimensionality of the superconducting phase. Muon spin rotation experiments reveal the presence of the magnetic transitions at low temperatures (T{sub m}=14-2 K for x=0.1-0.4) that can originate in the response of Ru/Cu sublattice. RuSr{sub 2}Gd{sub 1-y}Ce{sub 1-y}Cu{sub 2}O{sub 8} (0 {<=} y {<=} 0.1) compounds show the simultaneous increase of T{sub N} and decrease of T{sub C} with y. The effect should be explained by the electron doping that occurs with Ce{yields}Gd substitution. Properties of these two series allow us to propose phase diagram for 1212-type ruthenocuprates that links their properties to the hole doping achieved in the systems. Non-superconducting single-phase RuSr{sub 2}GdCu{sub 2}O{sub 8} and RuSr{sub 2}EuCu{sub 2}O{sub 8} are reported and discussed in the context of the properties of substituted compounds. (orig.)

  4. Sub-minute kinetics of human red cell fumarase: 1 H spin-echo NMR spectroscopy and 13 C rapid-dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Shishmarev, Dmitry; Wright, Alan J; Rodrigues, Tiago B; Pileio, Giuseppe; Stevanato, Gabriele; Brindle, Kevin M; Kuchel, Philip W

    2018-03-01

    Fumarate is an important probe of metabolism in hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. It is used to detect the release of fumarase in cancer tissues, which is associated with necrosis and drug treatment. Nevertheless, there are limited reports describing the detailed kinetic studies of this enzyme in various cells and tissues. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the sub-minute kinetics of human red blood cell fumarase using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and to provide a quantitative description of the enzyme that is relevant to the use of fumarate as a probe of cell rupture. The fumarase reaction was studied using time courses of 1 H spin-echo and 13 C-NMR spectra. 1 H-NMR experiments showed that the fumarase reaction in hemolysates is sufficiently rapid to make its kinetics amenable to study in a period of approximately 3 min, a timescale characteristic of hyperpolarized 13 C-NMR spectroscopy. The rapid-dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (RD-DNP) technique was used to hyperpolarize [1,4- 13 C]fumarate, which was injected into concentrated hemolysates. The kinetic data were analyzed using recently developed FmR α analysis and modeling of the enzymatic reaction using Michaelis-Menten equations. In RD-DNP experiments, the decline in the 13 C-NMR signal from fumarate, and the concurrent rise and fall of that from malate, were captured with high spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio, which allowed the robust quantification of fumarase kinetics. The kinetic parameters obtained indicate the potential contribution of hemolysis to the overall rate of the fumarase reaction when 13 C-NMR RD-DNP is used to detect necrosis in animal models of implanted tumors. The analytical procedures developed will be applicable to studies of other rapid enzymatic reactions using conventional and hyperpolarized substrate NMR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  5. Energy storage systems having an electrode comprising Li.sub.xS.sub.y

    Science.gov (United States)

    Xiao, Jie; Zhang, Jiguang; Graff, Gordon L.; Liu, Jun; Wang, Wei; Zheng, Jianming; Xu, Wu; Shao, Yuyan; Yang, Zhenguo

    2016-08-02

    Improved lithium-sulfur energy storage systems can utilizes Li.sub.xS.sub.y as a component in an electrode of the system. For example, the energy storage system can include a first electrode current collector, a second electrode current collector, and an ion-permeable separator separating the first and second electrode current collectors. A second electrode is arranged between the second electrode current collector and the separator. A first electrode is arranged between the first electrode current collector and the separator and comprises a first condensed-phase fluid comprising Li.sub.xS.sub.y. The energy storage system can be arranged such that the first electrode functions as a positive or a negative electrode.

  6. Synthesis, crystal structure, and physical properties of the Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} phases

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Forbes, Scott; Yuan, Fang [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 (Canada); Kosuda, Kosuke; Kolodiazhnyi, Taras [Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044 (Japan); Mozharivskyj, Yurij, E-mail: mozhar@mcmaster.ca [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 (Canada)

    2016-01-15

    The second and third known rare-earth bismuthide oxides, Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8}, have been discovered via high temperature reactions at 1300 °C. Like its Gd–Sb–O counterparts, the Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} phases crystallize in the monoclinic C2/m space group, with the latter containing disordered Bi atoms along the b direction of the unit cell. Unlike the RE{sub 8}Sb{sub 3}O{sub 8} series, the formation of the Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} phase does not necessarily precede the formation of Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8}, which is likely due to the difficulty of accommodating bismuth in the RE–O framework due to its larger size. Physical property measurements performed on a pure Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} sample reveal semiconducting behavior. Although electronic structure calculations predict metallic behavior due to an unbalanced electron count, the semiconducting behavior originates from the Anderson localization of the Bi p states near the Fermi level as a result of atomic disorder. - Graphical abstract: Reaction of GdBi and Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} at high temperatures yields Gd–Bi–O phases. - Highlights: • Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8}, the second and third rare-earth bismuthide oxides, have been discovered. • Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} are isostructural with RE{sub 3}SbO{sub 3} and RE{sub 8}Sb{sub 3}O{sub 8}. • Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} displays semiconducting behavior despite an unbalanced electron count. • Anderson localization of Bi p states results in semiconducting behavior in Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8}.

  7. Low Cost, High-Throughput 3-D Pulmonary Imager Using Hyperpolarized Contrast Agents and Low-Field MRI

    Science.gov (United States)

    2017-10-01

    greater gas polarizations and production amounts/ throughputs- benefiting in particular from the advent of com- pact, high-power, relatively low- cost ...Award Number: W81XWH-15-1-0271 TITLE: Low- Cost , High-Throughput 3-D Pulmonary Imager Using Hyperpolarized Contrast Agents and Low-Field MRI...DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited The views, opinions and/or findings contained in this report are those of the

  8. Hyperpolarized [1-13C]Pyruvate MRI identifies metabolic differences pertaining to the fasted and fed state in porcine cardiac metabolism

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Tougaard, Rasmus Stilling; Søvsø Szocska Hansen, Esben; Laustsen, Christoffer

    Standardized large animal models for cardiac hyperpolarized MR metabolic studies are becoming increasingly important as translation into human trials progresses. We employed a porcine (n=17) model of fasting/feeding to study these two states and to examine normal feeding as a standardized model f...

  9. Facile fabrication of core–shell ZnO/Bi{sub 0.5}Sb{sub 1.5}Te{sub 3} nanorods: Enhanced photoluminescence through electron charge

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Shen, Shengfei; Gao, Hongli [School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191 (China); Deng, Yuan, E-mail: dengyuan@buaa.edu.cn [School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191 (China); Wang, Yao [School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191 (China); Qu, Shengchun, E-mail: qsc@semi.ac.cn [Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials Science, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083 (China)

    2016-01-15

    Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • The Bi{sub 0.5}Sb{sub 1.5}Te{sub 3}/ZnO core–shells prepared by combining a facile hydrothermal growth and magnetron sputtering approach. • The light absorption and photoluminescence emission of the ZnO and the Bi{sub 0.5}Sb{sub 1.5}Te{sub 3}/ZnO core–shells are investigated. • The core–shell structure reveals a simultaneous novelty enhancement of the photoluminescence emission in the UV and visible range. • The mechanism for the PL simultaneous enhancement is described. - Abstract: Surface decoration techniques are emerging as promising strategy to improve the optical properties of the ZnO based materials. The core–shell ZnO/Bi{sub 0.5}Sb{sub 1.5}Te{sub 3} nanorods were grown on a FTO substrate through a facile hydrothermal and magnetron sputtering combined approach. The microstructure of the core–shell nanorod arrays were investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), a field emission Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HTEM). The optical properties of the core–shell nanorod arrays were investigated through the diffuse reflectance absorption spectra and photoluminescence emission. The visible light absorption and especially the photoluminescence emission of the ZnO nanorods are enhanced markedly with the Bi{sub 0.5}Sb{sub 1.5}Te{sub 3} grains coating the ZnO nanorods through the electron charge.

  10. Effects of MnO{sub 2} doping on structure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 0.825NaNbO{sub 3}-0.175Ba{sub 0.6}(Bi{sub 0.5}K{sub 0.5}){sub 0.4}TiO{sub 3} lead-free ceramics

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Fan, Ximing; Lin, Dunmin; Zheng, Qiaoji; Sun, Hailing; Wan, Yang; Wu, Xiaochun [College of Chemistry and Materials Science, and Visual Computing and Virtual Reality Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066 (China); Wu, Lang [State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Nonmetal Composites and Functional Materials, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010 (China)

    2012-12-15

    Lead-free ceramics 0.825NaNbO{sub 3}-0.175Ba{sub 0.6}(Bi{sub 0.5}K{sub 0.5}){sub 0.4}TiO{sub 3} + xmol% MnO{sub 2} were prepared by an ordinary sintering technique and the effects of MnO{sub 2} doping on the structure, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics were studied. The ceramics with perovskite structure are transformed from tetragonal to pseudocubic phases by increasing the doping level of MnO{sub 2}. After the addition of MnO{sub 2}, the Curie temperature T{sub C} of the ceramics decreases and the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition at T{sub C} becomes more diffusive. Because of the donor and acceptor doping effects of Mn ions simultaneously, the piezoelectric constant d{sub 33}, electromechanical coupling coefficient k{sub p}, relative permittivity {epsilon}{sub r}, and mechanical quality factor Q{sub m} are enhanced considerably after the addition of 1 mol% MnO{sub 2}. The ceramic with 1 mol% MnO{sub 2} doping possesses the optimum piezoelectricity (d{sub 33} = 131 pC/N and k{sub p} = 21.8%) and relatively high Q{sub m} = 627. (Copyright copyright 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  11. Molecular MRI in the Earth's Magnetic Field Using Continuous Hyperpolarization of a Biomolecule in Water.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rovedo, Philipp; Knecht, Stephan; Bäumlisberger, Tim; Cremer, Anna Lena; Duckett, Simon B; Mewis, Ryan E; Green, Gary G R; Burns, Michael; Rayner, Peter J; Leibfritz, Dieter; Korvink, Jan G; Hennig, Jürgen; Pütz, Gerhard; von Elverfeldt, Dominik; Hövener, Jan-Bernd

    2016-06-30

    In this work, we illustrate a method to continuously hyperpolarize a biomolecule, nicotinamide, in water using parahydrogen and signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE). Building on the preparation procedure described recently by Truong et al. [ J. Phys. Chem. B , 2014 , 118 , 13882 - 13889 ], aqueous solutions of nicotinamide and an Ir-IMes catalyst were prepared for low-field NMR and MRI. The (1)H-polarization was continuously renewed and monitored by NMR experiments at 5.9 mT for more than 1000 s. The polarization achieved corresponds to that induced by a 46 T magnet (P = 1.6 × 10(-4)) or an enhancement of 10(4). The polarization persisted, although reduced, if cell culture medium (DPBS with Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)) or human cells (HL-60) were added, but was no longer observable after the addition of human blood. Using a portable MRI unit, fast (1)H-MRI was enabled by cycling the magnetic field between 5 mT and the Earth's field for hyperpolarization and imaging, respectively. A model describing the underlying spin physics was developed that revealed a polarization pattern depending on both contact time and magnetic field. Furthermore, the model predicts an opposite phase of the dihydrogen and substrate signal after one exchange, which is likely to result in the cancelation of some signal at low field.

  12. Simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification by microwave reactor with ammonium bicarbonate and zeolite

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wei Zaishan [School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275 (China)], E-mail: weizaishan98@163.com; Lin Zhehang; Niu Hejingying; He Haiming; Ji Yongfeng [School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275 (China)

    2009-03-15

    Microwave reactor with ammonium bicarbonate (NH{sub 4}HCO{sub 3}) and zeolite was set up to study the simultaneous removal of sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) and nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}) from flue gas. The results showed that the microwave reactor filled with NH{sub 4}HCO{sub 3} and zeolite could reduce SO{sub 2} to sulfur with the best desulfurization efficiency of 99.1% and reduce NO{sub x} to nitrogen with the best NO{sub x} purifying efficiency of 86.5%. Microwave desulfurization and denitrification effect of the experiment using ammonium bicarbonate and zeolite together is much higher than that using ammonium bicarbonate or zeolite only. NO{sub x} concentration has little effect on denitrification but has no influence on desulfurization, SO{sub 2} concentration has no effect on denitrification. The optimal microwave power and empty bed residence time (EBRT) on simultaneous desulfurization and dentrification are 211-280 W and 0.315 s, respectively. The mechanism for microwave reduced desulfurization and denitrification can be described as the microwave-induced catalytic reduction reaction between SO{sub 2}, NO{sub x} and ammonium bicarbonate with zeolite being the catalyst and microwave absorbent.

  13. Structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Nd{sub 4.5}Fe{sub 72}Co{sub 2}Cr{sub 3}Al{sub 1}B{sub 17.5} ribbons

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pampillo, L.G. [Laboratorio de Solidos Amorfos, Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Paseo Colon 850 (C1063ACV), Ciudad de, Buenos Aires (Argentina)]. E-mail: lpampillo@fi.uba.ar; Saccone, F.D. [Laboratorio de Solidos Amorfos, Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Paseo Colon 850 (C1063ACV), Ciudad de, Buenos Aires (Argentina); Sirkin, H.R.M. [Laboratorio de Solidos Amorfos, Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Paseo Colon 850 (C1063ACV), Ciudad de, Buenos Aires (Argentina)

    2007-02-01

    In this work, it was made a study on structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Nd{sub 4.5}Fe{sub 72}Co{sub 2}Cr{sub 3}Al{sub 1}B{sub 17.5} ribbons obtained from crystallisation of amorphous precursors. A complex two-step crystallisation process, was found by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC): a first crystallisation peak at around T=570 deg. C exhibiting the precipitation of {alpha}-Fe and t-Fe{sub 3}B phases and a diffusive stage ending in a second exothermic peak. Also, isothermal annealings of 10 min duration were performed at 605, 635, 650 and 685 deg. C . Hysteresis curves of isothermally annealed samples showed magnetic hardening, with coercive fields above 2 kOe and an optimised M {sub R}/M {sub S} ratio of around 0.6. Except for the highest treatment temperature used in this work, the demagnetizing curves of annealed ribbons exhibited a step near zero field. This fact suggests a low exchange coupling between hard and soft phases, which can be attributed to the grain border phases. Otherwise, Moessbauer effect spectroscopy allowed us to determine that the absence of step in the demagnetizing curve of ribbons annealed at 685 deg. C , may be attributed to the formation of a {alpha}-(Fe, Co) solid solution (with hyperfine parameters B {sub HF}=35.5 T and {delta}=-0.11 mm/s). The formation of this solid solution also explains the diffusive process in the second crystallisation stage observed by DSC experiment.

  14. Single-Shot-RARE for rapid 3D hyperpolarized metabolic ex vivo tissue imaging: RF-pulse design for semi-dense spectra

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Magnusson, P.O.; Jensen, Pernille Rose; Dyrby, Tim Bjørn

    MRS of hyperpolarized (HP) 13C-enriched compounds is a promising method for in vivo cancer diagnosis . Sentinel lymph node ex vivo tissue sample histology used in clinical routine for breast cancer metastasis diagnosis requires time consuming sample analysis. 3D-HP-MRSI can potentially speed up...

  15. Hyperpolarized 13C Urea Relaxation Mechanism Reveals Renal Changes in Diabetic Nephropathy

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Laustsen, Christoffer; Stokholm Nørlinger, Thomas; Christoffer Hansen, David

    2016-01-01

    Purpose: Our aim was to assess a novel 13C radial fast spin echo golden ratio single shot method for interrogating early renal changes in the diabetic kidney, using hyperpolarized (HP) [13C,15N2]urea as a T2 relaxation based contrast bio-probe. Methods: A novel HP 13C MR contrast experiment...... saturation level and the relaxation times were observed in the healthy controls. Conclusion: HP [13C,15N2]urea apparent T2 mapping may be a useful for interrogating local renal pO2 status and renal tissue alterations....

  16. Beryllium-free β-Rb{sub 2}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} as a possible deep-ultraviolet nonlinear optical material replacement for KBe{sub 2}BO{sub 3}F{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tran, T. Thao; Halasyamani, P. Shiv [Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, TX (United States); Koocher, Nathan Z.; Rondinelli, James M. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States)

    2017-03-06

    A new beryllium-free deep-ultraviolet (DUV) nonlinear optical (NLO) material, β-Rb{sub 2}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} (β-RABO), has been synthesized and characterized. The chiral nonpolar acentric material shows second-harmonic generation (SHG) activity at both 1064 and 532 nm with efficiencies of 2 x KH{sub 2}PO{sub 4} and 0.4 x β-BaB{sub 2}O{sub 4}, respectively, and exhibits a short absorption edge below 200 nm. β-Rb{sub 2}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} has a three-dimensional structure of corner-shared Al(BO{sub 3}){sub 3}O polyhedra. The discovery of β-RABO shows that through careful synthesis and characterization, replacement of KBe{sub 2}BO{sub 3}F{sub 2} (KBBF) by a Be-free DUV NLO material is possible. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  17. Perovskite-type La{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} mesoporous photocatalyst

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Onozuka, K.; Kawakami, Y.; Imai, H.; Yokoi, T.; Tatsumi, T. [Chemical Resources Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, R1-10, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503 (Japan); Kondo, J.N., E-mail: jnomura@res.titech.ac.jp [Chemical Resources Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, R1-10, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503 (Japan)

    2012-08-15

    Crystalline particles of mesoporous La{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7}, a perovskite-type material, were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis at 210 Degree-Sign C in the presence of structure directing agent. Crystallization and simultaneous sintering occurred in the time course of the hydrothermal treatment, resulting in the improvement in crystallinity with a sacrifice of the decrease in surface area. The photocatalytic property was evaluated by hydrogen evolution from water with methanol sacrificial agent. The increase and the decrease of the material in crystallinity and surface area were responsible for the photocatalytic activity: the activity was improved by crystallization but the concurrent decrease in surface area (increase in size) of crystalline particles was disadvantageous. - Graphical abstract: A homogeneous mixture of La and Ti oxide with amorphous inorganic network was hydrothermally crystallized at low temperatures to a perovskite-type La{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7}. The small La{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} particles with high crystallinity showed a potential as a photocatalyst for H{sub 2} evolution. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Crystalline mesopourous La{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} was prepared. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Hydrothermal treatment encouraged low temperature crystallization. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Small crystalline domain was advantageous to a photocatalytic reaction.

  18. Improved polycrystalline Ni{sub 54}Mn{sub 16}Fe{sub 9}Ga{sub 21} high-temperature shape memory alloy by γ phase distributing along grain boundaries

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yang, Shuiyuan; Zhang, Fan; Zhang, Kaixin; Huang, Yangyang; Wang, Cuiping; Liu, Xingjun [Xiamen Univ. (China). Fujian Key Laboratory of Materials Genome

    2016-09-15

    In this study, the shape recovery and mechanical properties of Ni{sub 54}Mn{sub 16}Fe{sub 9}Ga{sub 21} high-temperature shape memory alloy are improved simultaneously. This results from the low, about 4.4%, volume fraction of γ phase being almost completely distributed along grain boundaries. The recovery strain gradually increases with the increase in residual strain with a shape recovery rate of above 68%, up to a maximum value of 5.3%. The compressive fracture strain of Ni{sub 54}Mn{sub 16}Fe{sub 9}Ga{sub 21} alloy is about 35%. The results further reveal that when applying a high compression deformation two types of cracks form and propagate either within martensite grains (type I) or along the boundaries between martensite phase and γ phase (type II) in the present two-phase alloy.

  19. Quantification of in vivo metabolic kinetics of hyperpolarized pyruvate in rat kidneys using dynamic 13C MRSI.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Xu, Tao; Mayer, Dirk; Gu, Meng; Yen, Yi-Fen; Josan, Sonal; Tropp, James; Pfefferbaum, Adolf; Hurd, Ralph; Spielman, Daniel

    2011-10-01

    With signal-to-noise ratio enhancements on the order of 10,000-fold, hyperpolarized MRSI of metabolically active substrates allows the study of both the injected substrate and downstream metabolic products in vivo. Although hyperpolarized [1-(13)C]pyruvate, in particular, has been used to demonstrate metabolic activities in various animal models, robust quantification and metabolic modeling remain important areas of investigation. Enzyme saturation effects are routinely seen with commonly used doses of hyperpolarized [1-(13)C]pyruvate; however, most metrics proposed to date, including metabolite ratios, time-to-peak of metabolic products and single exchange rate constants, fail to capture these saturation effects. In addition, the widely used small-flip-angle excitation approach does not correctly model the inflow of fresh downstream metabolites generated proximal to the target slice, which is often a significant factor in vivo. In this work, we developed an efficient quantification framework employing a spiral-based dynamic spectroscopic imaging approach. The approach overcomes the aforementioned limitations and demonstrates that the in vivo (13)C labeling of lactate and alanine after a bolus injection of [1-(13)C]pyruvate is well approximated by saturatable kinetics, which can be mathematically modeled using a Michaelis-Menten-like formulation, with the resulting estimated apparent maximal reaction velocity V(max) and apparent Michaelis constant K(M) being unbiased with respect to critical experimental parameters, including the substrate dose, bolus shape and duration. Although the proposed saturatable model has a similar mathematical formulation to the original Michaelis-Menten kinetics, it is conceptually different. In this study, we focus on the (13)C labeling of lactate and alanine and do not differentiate the labeling mechanism (net flux or isotopic exchange) or the respective contribution of various factors (organ perfusion rate, substrate transport

  20. Low-Cost, High-Throughput 3-D Pulmonary Imager Using Hyperpolarized Contrast Agents and Low-Field MRI

    Science.gov (United States)

    2017-10-01

    low- cost and high-throughput was a key element proposed for this project, which we believe will be of significant benefit to the patients suffering...Award Number: W81XWH-15-1-0272 TITLE: Low- Cost , High-Throughput 3-D Pulmonary Imager Using Hyperpolarized Contrast Agents and Low-Field MRI...STATEMENT: Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited The views, opinions and/or findings contained in this report are those of the author(s

  1. Monitoring mammary tumor progression and effect of tamoxifen treatment in MMTV-PymT using MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Asghar Butt, Sadia; Søgaard, Lise V.; Ardenkjær-Larsen, Jan Henrik

    2015-01-01

    Purpose: To use dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate to follow the progress over time in vivo of breast cancer metabolism in the MMTV-PymT model, and to follow the response to the anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen. Methods: Tumor growth was monitored by anatomical...... significantly in the treated group. Conclusion: These hyperpolarized 13C MRS findings indicate that tumor metabolic changes affects kP. The measured kp did not relate to treatment response to the same extent as did tumor growth, histological evaluation, and in vitro determination of LDH activity. © 2014 Wiley...

  2. Effects of the β1 auxiliary subunit on modification of Rat Na{sub v}1.6 sodium channels expressed in HEK293 cells by the pyrethroid insecticides tefluthrin and deltamethrin

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    He, Bingjun [College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071 (China); Soderlund, David M., E-mail: dms6@cornell.edu [Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456 (United States)

    2016-01-15

    We expressed rat Na{sub v}1.6 sodium channels with or without the rat β1 subunit in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells and evaluated the effects of the pyrethroid insecticides tefluthrin and deltamethrin on whole-cell sodium currents. In assays with the Na{sub v}1.6 α subunit alone, both pyrethroids prolonged channel inactivation and deactivation and shifted the voltage dependence of channel activation and steady-state inactivation toward hyperpolarization. Maximal shifts in activation were ~ 18 mV for tefluthrin and ~ 24 mV for deltamethrin. These compounds also caused hyperpolarizing shifts of ~ 10–14 mV in the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation and increased in the fraction of sodium current that was resistant to inactivation. The effects of pyrethroids on the voltage-dependent gating greatly increased the size of sodium window currents compared to unmodified channels; modified channels exhibited increased probability of spontaneous opening at membrane potentials more negative than the normal threshold for channel activation and incomplete channel inactivation. Coexpression of Na{sub v}1.6 with the β1 subunit had no effect on the kinetic behavior of pyrethroid-modified channels but had divergent effects on the voltage-dependent gating of tefluthrin- or deltamethrin-modified channels, increasing the size of tefluthrin-induced window currents but decreasing the size of corresponding deltamethrin-induced currents. Unexpectedly, the β1 subunit did not confer sensitivity to use-dependent channel modification by either tefluthrin or deltamethrin. We conclude from these results that functional reconstitution of channels in vitro requires careful attention to the subunit composition of channel complexes to ensure that channels in vitro are faithful functional and pharmacological models of channels in neurons. - Highlights: • We expressed Na{sub v}1.6 sodium channels with or without β1 subunits in HEK293 cells. • Tefluthrin and deltamethrin

  3. Influence of calcium on transport properties, band spectrum and superconductivity of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y} and YBa{sub 1.5}La{sub 0.5}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y}{sup {center_dot}}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gasumyants, V.E.; Vladimirskaya, E.V. [State Technical Univ., St. Petersburg (Russian Federation); Patrina, I.B. [Institute of Silicate Chemistry, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation)

    1994-12-31

    The comparative investigation of transport phenomena in Y{sub 1-x}Ca{sub x}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y} (0y>6.87 and 6.73sub 1-x}Ca{sub x}Ba{sub 1.5}La{sub 0.5}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y} (0y>6.96) and YBa{sub 2-x}La{sub x}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y} (0simultaneously with the tendencies in oxygen content and critical temperature change we have confirmed the conclusion that the oxygen sublattice disordering has a determinant effect on band structure parameters and superconductive properties of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y}{sup {center_dot}}. The results obtained suggest that Ca gives rise to some peculiarities in band spectrum of this compound.

  4. Measurement of the First and Second Moments of the Hadronic Mass Distribution in Semileptonic B Decays

    CERN Document Server

    Flächer, H U

    2003-01-01

    We report a preliminary measurement of the first and second moments of the hadronic mass distributions in B -> X sub c (ell)nu decays. The measurements are based on UPSILON(4S) -> B(bar B) events where the hadronic decay of one of the B mesons is fully reconstructed and a charged lepton from the decay of the other B meson is identified. The moments are presented for threshold lepton momenta ranging from 0.9 to 1.6 GeV. From the moments we determine the non-perturbative Heavy Quark Expansion (HQE) parameters, (bar LAMBDA) and lambda sub 1. We combine the measured moments with earlier BABAR measurements of the semileptonic branching ratios and B lifetimes and perform a simultaneous fit to the HQE for the moments obtained for different threshold lepton momenta and the semileptonic decay width. This fit results in an improved value for the CKM matrix element |V sub c sub b |.

  5. Improvement of CO sub 2 flood performance

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Martin, D.F.; Heller, J.P.

    1991-06-01

    This is the final report of a six-year research project devoted to the study of processes of oil displacement using dense carbon dioxide. The topics studied have included phase behavior and physical properties of mixtures of crude oil with CO{sub 2}, the phenomena involved in the displacement of oil through reservoir rock under oilfield conditions, the influence of stabilized lamella or CO{sub 2}-foam on this displacement and the development of computer programs to simulate the displacement. In addition, the occurrence of nonuniformities in the displacement pattern has also been considered. The effect on displacement of permeability heterogeneities in the reservoir have been studied geostatistically and by direct numerical modelling. Displacement nonuniformities that are induced by viscosity and density differences between displaced and displacing fluids have also been considered, and efforts are described for the development of two different types of additive for purposes of mobility control of CO{sub 2} floods. One of these is the so-called CO{sub 2}-foam, formed by simultaneous flow through the formation of dense CO{sub 2} with a water solution of a special surfactant. The second type under development in the project is known as direct thickener, and consists of a polymer that is soluble in dense CO{sub 2} and able to viscosify it. Significant progress is reported on all of the topics mentioned above. 174 refs., 186 figs., 41 tabs.

  6. Decoupling and tuning competing effects of different types of defects on flux creep in irradiated YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub> coated conductors

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Eley, S.; Leroux, M.; Rupich, M. W.; Miller, D. J.; Sheng, H.; Niraula, P. M.; Kayani, A.; Welp, U.; Kwok, W. -K.; Civale, L.

    2016-11-15

    YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub> coated conductors (CCs) have achieved high critical current densities (J <sub>c>) that can be further increased through the introduction of additional defects using particle irradiation. However, these gains are accompanied by increases in the flux creep rate, a manifestation of competition between the different types of defects. Here, we study this competition to better understand how to design pinning landscapes that simultaneously increase J c and reduce creep. CCs grown by metal organic deposition show non-monotonic changes in the temperature-dependent creep rate, S(T). Notably, in low fields, there is a conspicuous dip to low S as the temperature (T) increases from ~20 to ~65 K. Oxygen-, proton-, and Au-irradiation substantially increase S in this temperature range. Focusing on an oxygen-irradiated CC, we investigate the contribution of different types of irradiation-induced defects to the flux creep rate. Specifically, we study S(T) as we tune the relative density of point defects to larger defects by annealing both an as-grown and an irradiated CC in O<sub>2sub> at temperatures T <sub>A> = 250 °C–600 °C. We observe a steady decrease in S(T > 20 K) with increasing T <sub>A>, unveiling the role of pre-existing nanoparticle precipitates in creating the dip in S(T) and point defects and clusters in increasing S at intermediate temperatures.

  7. Comparison of ablation centration after bilateral sequential versus simultaneous LASIK.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lin, Jane-Ming; Tsai, Yi-Yu

    2005-01-01

    To compare ablation centration after bilateral sequential and simultaneous myopic LASIK. A retrospective randomized case series was performed of 670 eyes of 335 consecutive patients who had undergone either bilateral sequential (group 1) or simultaneous (group 2) myopic LASIK between July 2000 and July 2001 at the China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. The ablation centrations of the first and second eyes in the two groups were compared 3 months postoperatively. Of 670 eyes, 274 eyes (137 patients) comprised the sequential group and 396 eyes (198 patients) comprised the simultaneous group. Three months post-operatively, 220 eyes of 110 patients (80%) in the sequential group and 236 eyes of 118 patients (60%) in the simultaneous group provided topographic data for centration analysis. For the first eyes, mean decentration was 0.39 +/- 0.26 mm in the sequential group and 0.41 +/- 0.19 mm in the simultaneous group (P = .30). For the second eyes, mean decentration was 0.28 +/- 0.23 mm in the sequential group and 0.30 +/- 0.21 mm in the simultaneous group (P = .36). Decentration in the second eyes significantly improved in both groups (group 1, P = .02; group 2, P sequential group and 0.32 +/- 0.18 mm in the simultaneous group (P = .33). The difference of ablation center angles between the first and second eyes was 43.2 sequential group and 45.1 +/- 50.8 degrees in the simultaneous group (P = .42). Simultaneous bilateral LASIK is comparable to sequential surgery in ablation centration.

  8. Simultaneous absorption of NO and SO{sub 2} into Fe-II-EDTA solution coupled with the Fe-II-EDTA regeneration catalyzed by activated carbon

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhu, H.S.; Mao, Y.P.; Yang, X.J.; Chen, Y.; Long, X.L.; Yuan, W.K. [East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai (China)

    2010-07-30

    The simultaneous removal of NO and SO{sub 2} from flue gases can be realized with Fe(II)-ethylenediamineteraacetate (EDTA) solution. Activated carbon is used to catalyze the reduction of Fe-III-EDTA to Fe-II-EDTA to maintain the capability of removing NO of the Fe-EDTA solution. The reductant is the sulfite/bisulfite ions produced by SO{sub 2} dissolving into the aqueous solution. Experiments have been performed to determine the effects of activated carbon of coconut shell, Fe-II-EDTA concentration, Fe/EDTA molar ratio, SO{sub 2} partial pressure, NO partial pressure and SO{sub 4}{sup 2-} concentration on the combined elimination of NO and SO{sub 2} with Fe-II-EDTA solution coupled with the Fe-II-EDTA regeneration catalyzed by activated carbon. According to the experimental results, activated carbon not only catalyzes the reduction of Fe-III-EDTA by sulfite/bisulfite greatly but also avoids the release of N{sub 2}O. The NO removal efficiency increases with the initial Fe-II-EDTA concentration and SO{sub 2} partial pressure. The ratio of Fe/EDTA and the SO{sub 4}{sup 2-} concentration has little effect on the catalytic reduction of Fe-III-EDTA. The optimal initial NO concentration range is from 600 ppm to 900 ppm. The experimental results manifest that the Fe-II-EDTA solution coupled with catalytic regeneration of Fe-II-EDTA can maintain high nitric oxide removal efficiency for a long period of time.

  9. Ablation of (GeS{sub 2}){sub 0.3}(Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3}){sub 0.7} glass with an ultra-violet nano-second laser

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Knotek, P., E-mail: petr.knotek@upce.cz [University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Joint Laboratory of Solid State Chemistry of IMC and University of Pardubice, Studentska 573, 532 10 Pardubice (Czech Republic); University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Studentska 573, 532 10 Pardubice (Czech Republic); Navesnik, J.; Cernohorsky, T. [University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Institute of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Studentska 573, 532 10 Pardubice (Czech Republic); Kincl, M.; Vlcek, M.; Tichy, L. [Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, AS CR, Heyrovskeho sq. 2, 162 06 Prague (Czech Republic)

    2015-04-15

    Highlights: • The interaction of (GeS{sub 2}){sub 0.3}(Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3}){sub 0.7} bulk glass and film with UV nanosecond laser. • Ablation process, topography of crater and structure of the material were studied. • Ablation threshold fluencies changed with the spot diameter and number of pulses. • The photo-thermal expansion of the material occurred for low laser fluency. • Laser direct writing process applicable for fabrication of passive optical elements. - Abstract: The results of an experimental study of the laser ablation of bulk and thin films of a GeSbS chalcogenide glass using UV nanosecond pulses are reported. The response of the samples to illumination conditions was studied through the use of atomic force spectroscopy, digital holographic microscopy, Raman scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The multi-pulse ablation thresholds were determined for both the bulk and thin film samples for varying number of pulses and illuminated spot diameter. The possible application of direct laser writing into the bulk and thin films of this material is presented.

  10. Thermal capacity of ternary oxide YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7-y] in 300-1100 K interval. Teploemkost' trojnogo oksida YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7-y] v intervale 300-1100 K

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sharpataya, G A; Ozerova, Z P; Kolnovalova, I A; Lazarev, V B; Shaplygin, I S [AN SSSR, Moscow (Russian Federation). Inst. Obshchej i Neorganicheskoj Khimii

    1991-08-01

    Thermal capacity of YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7-y] samples with different thermal prehistory is measured using a differential scanning calorimeter within 300-1100 K interval. It is shown that the combination of thermal capacity temperature dependence curves in these samples demonstrates reversibility and temperature limits of oxygen absorption and release processes with the corresponding changes of the formular index by oxygen from 6.85-6.90 to 6.35 and vice versa. Thermal capacity anomaly, corresponding to the reversible structural transition from orthorhombic to tetragonal phase with the simultaneous oxygen loss is observed within 630-1000 K interval.

  11. Nonlinear acoustic properties of the ternary (La sub 2 O sub 3) sub x (Sm sub 2 O sub 3) sub y (P sub 2 O sub 5) sub (1-x-y) phosphate glasses

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Senin, H.B.; Sidek, H.A.A.; Saunders, G.A.

    1994-01-01

    From measurements of changes in transit time of 10 MHz of ultrasonic wave as a function of temperature and hydrostatic pressure, the linear and non-linear acoustic properties of the ternary (La sub 2 O sub 3) sub x (Sm sub 2 O sub 3) sub y (P sub 2 O sub 5) sub (1-x-y) glasses with compositions near to that corresponding to the metaphosphate have been determined. For each glass the second order elastic stiffness tensor components C sub ijs (SOEC) continue to increase down to 10K in a manner consistent with phonons interactions with two level systems. Measurements of the effects of hydrostatic pressure on the ultrasonic wave velocities have been used to determine the hydrostatic pressure derivatives (dC sub ij/dP) sub T,P=0 of the SOEC and (dB0 sup s)/dP) sub T,P=0 of the bulk modulus B0 sup s at room temperature (293K). For the ternary (La sub 2 O sub 3) sub x (Sm sub 2 O sub 3) sub y (P sub 2 O sub 5) sub (1-x-y) glasses, (dC sub 11/dP), (dC sub 44/dP), and (dBo/dP), are small but positives; these glasses stiffen under pressure. The elastic behaviour of these ternary glasses lies intermediate between those of (Sm sub 2 O sub 3)(P sub 2 O sub 5) sub (1-x) and (La sub 2 O sub 3) sub y (P sub 2 O sub 5) sub (1-x-y) glasses. Replacement of the Sm sup 3+ by La sup 3+ in the ternary phosphate glasses negates the acoustic mode softening. Possible sources of the different effects of La sub 3+ and Sm sub 3+ modifiers on the nonlinear acoustic properties of metaphosphate glasses are discussed

  12. Structural relaxation and embrittlement of Cu/sub 59/Zr/sub 41/ and Fe/sub 80/B/sub 20/ glasses

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Deng, D.; Argon, A.S.

    1986-01-01

    The effect of physical aging at 0.92 T/sub c/, on phase separation, crystallization, distributed shear relaxations, hardness, and strain to fracture was investigated in Cu/sub 59/Zr/sub 41/ and Fe/sub 80/B/sub 20/ glasses. In Cu/sub 59/Zr/sub 41/ glass, aging resulted in phase separation prior to crystallization, rather than the expected polymorphous crystallization. In Fe/sub 80/B/sub 20/ in the as-quenched alloys a prominent second-order Curie transition was found at 613K, which was recovered by aging. Apart from a nearly four-fold acceleration of the aging process in Fe/sub 80/B/sub 20/ over the Cu/sub 59/Zr/sub 41/ alloy, their mechanical responses to the aging were very similar in alterations of the internal friction spectrum, evolution of hardness, and strain to fracture

  13. Hyperpolarized krypton-83 as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pavlovskaya, Galina E; Cleveland, Zackary I; Stupic, Karl F; Basaraba, Randall J; Meersmann, Thomas

    2005-12-20

    For the first time, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with hyperpolarized (hp) krypton-83 (83Kr) has become available. The relaxation of the nuclear spin of 83Kr atoms (I = 9/2) is driven by quadrupolar interactions during brief adsorption periods on surrounding material interfaces. Experiments in model systems reveal that the longitudinal relaxation of hp 83Kr gas strongly depends on the chemical composition of the materials. The relaxation-weighted contrast in hp 83Kr MRI allows for the distinction between hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. The feasibility of hp 83Kr MRI of airways is tested in canine lung tissue by using krypton gas with natural abundance isotopic distribution. Additionally, the influence of magnetic field strength and the presence of a breathable concentration of molecular oxygen on longitudinal relaxation are investigated.

  14. Charge ordering, ferroelectric, and magnetic domains in LuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} observed by scanning probe microscopy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yang, I. K.; Jeong, Y. H., E-mail: yhj@postech.ac.kr [Department of Physics, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang 790-784 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Jeehoon [Department of Physics, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang 790-784 (Korea, Republic of); CALDES, Institute of Basic Science, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang 790-784 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, S. H. [YE Team, Samsung Electronics, 1 Samsungjeonja-Ro, Hwaseong 445-330 (Korea, Republic of); Cheong, S.-W. [Laboratory of Pohang Emergent Materials, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang 790-784 (Korea, Republic of); Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 (United States)

    2015-04-13

    LuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} is a multiferroic system which exhibits charge order, ferroelectricity, and ferrimagnetism simultaneously below ∼230 K. The ferroelectric/charge order domains of LuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} are imaged with both piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) and electrostatic force microscopy (EFM), while the magnetic domains are characterized by magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Comparison of PFM and EFM results suggests that the proposed ferroelectricity in LuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} is not of usual displacive type but of electronic origin. Simultaneous characterization of ferroelectric/charge order and magnetic domains by EFM and MFM, respectively, on the same surface of LuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} reveals that both domains have irregular patterns of similar shape, but the length scales are quite different. The domain size is approximately 100 nm for the ferroelectric domains, while the magnetic domain size is much larger and gets as large as 1 μm. We also demonstrate that the origin of the formation of irregular domains in LuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} is not extrinsic but intrinsic.

  15. Simultaneous Thermal Analysis of Remediated Nitrate Salt Surrogates

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wayne, David Matthew [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

    2016-05-13

    The actinide engineering and science group (MET-1) have completed simultaneous thermal analysis and offgas analysis by mass spectrometry (STA-MS) of remediated nitrate salt (RNS) surrogates formulated by the high explosives science and technology group (M-7). The 1.0 to 1.5g surrogate samples were first analyzed as received, then a new set was analyzed with 100-200mL 10M HNO<sub>3sub> +0.3 MHF added, and a third set was analyzed after 200 mL of a concentrated Pu-AM spike (in 10M HNO<sub>3sub> +0.3 MHF) was added. The acid and spike solutions were formulated by the actinide analytical chemistry group (C-AAC) using reagent-grade HNO<sub>3sub> and HF, which was also used to dissolve a small quantity of mixed, high-fired PuO<sub>2sub>/ AmO<sub>2sub> oxide.

  16. Hyperpolarized [U-(2) H, U-(13) C]Glucose reports on glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathway activity in EL4 tumors and glycolytic activity in yeast cells.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Timm, Kerstin N; Hartl, Johannes; Keller, Markus A; Hu, De-En; Kettunen, Mikko I; Rodrigues, Tiago B; Ralser, Markus; Brindle, Kevin M

    2015-12-01

    A resonance at ∼181 ppm in the (13) C spectra of tumors injected with hyperpolarized [U-(2) H, U-(13) C]glucose was assigned to 6-phosphogluconate (6PG), as in previous studies in yeast, whereas in breast cancer cells in vitro this resonance was assigned to 3-phosphoglycerate (3PG). These peak assignments were investigated here using measurements of 6PG and 3PG (13) C-labeling using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) METHODS: Tumor-bearing mice were injected with (13) C6 glucose and the (13) C-labeled and total 6PG and 3PG concentrations measured. (13) C MR spectra of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient (zwf1Δ) and wild-type yeast were acquired following addition of hyperpolarized [U-(2) H, U-(13) C]glucose and again (13) C-labeled and total 6PG and 3PG were measured by LC-MS/MS RESULTS: Tumor (13) C-6PG was more abundant than (13) C-2PG/3PG and the resonance at ∼181 ppm matched more closely that of 6PG. (13) C MR spectra of wild-type and zwf1Δ yeast cells showed a resonance at ∼181 ppm after labeling with hyperpolarized [U-(2) H, U-(13) C]glucose, however, there was no 6PG in zwf1Δ cells. In the wild-type cells 3PG was approximately four-fold more abundant than 6PG CONCLUSION: The resonance at ∼181 ppm in (13) C MR spectra following injection of hyperpolarized [U-(2) H, U-(13) C]glucose originates predominantly from 6PG in EL4 tumors and 3PG in yeast cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Polymorphism and second harmonic generation in a novel diamond-like semiconductor: Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Devlin, Kasey P. [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Glaid, Andrew J. [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Brant, Jacilynn A.; Zhang, Jian-Han [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Srnec, Matthew N. [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Clark, Daniel J. [Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902 (United States); Soo Kim, Yong [Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902 (United States); Department of Physics and Energy Harvest-Storage Research Center, University of Ulsan, 680-749 (Korea, Republic of); Jang, Joon I. [Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902 (United States); Daley, Kimberly R.; Moreau, Meghann A. [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Madura, Jeffry D. [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States); Aitken, Jennifer A., E-mail: aitkenj@duq.edu [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 (United States)

    2015-11-15

    High-temperature, solid-state synthesis in the Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4} system led to the discovery of two new polymorphic compounds that were analyzed using single crystal X-ray diffraction. The α-polymorph crystallizes in Pna2{sub 1} with the lithium cobalt (II) silicate, Li{sub 2}CoSiO{sub 4}, structure type, where Z=4, R1=0.0349 and wR2=0.0514 for all data. The β-polymorph possesses the wurtz-kesterite structure type, crystallizing in Pn with Z=2, R1=0.0423, and wR2=0.0901 for all data. Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction was utilized to quantify the phase fractions of the polymorphs in the reaction products. The α/β-Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4} mixture exhibits an absorption edge of ∼2.6–3.0 eV, a wide region of optical transparency in the mid- to far-IR, and moderate SHG activity over the fundamental range of 1.1–2.1 μm. Calculations using density functional theory indicate that the ground state energies and electronic structures for α- and β-Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4}, as well as the hypothetical polymorph, γ-Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4} with the wurtz-stannite structure type, are highly similar. - Graphical abstract: Two polymorphs, α- and β-Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4}, have been discovered using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data indicates the presence of both polymorphs in the samples that were analyzed. - Highlights: • Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4} exists as two polymorphs crystallizing in the Pna2{sub 1} and Pn space groups. • The α- and β-Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4} mixture exhibits a moderate SHG response over a broad range. • The α- and β-Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4} mixture exhibits an optical absorption edge of ∼2.6–3.0 eV. • Synchrotron powder diffraction data are necessary to distinguish α- and β-Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4.} • Electronic structure calculations show similar total energies for α- and β-Li{sub 2}MnSnS{sub 4}.

  18. Preparing high performance of LiFe{sub (1−x)}M{sub x}PO{sub 4} by using Fe{sub (1−x)}M{sub x}C{sub 2}O{sub 4} as raw material precipitated from ferrochrome alloy leaching solution

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hu, Guo-rong, E-mail: hgrhsj@263.net; Liu, Ji-jun; Du, Ke; Peng, Zhong-dong; Cao, Yan-bing; Wang, Wei-gang; Duan, Jian-guo

    2014-08-01

    To separate ferrum from chromium in the leaching sulfate solution of ferrochrome alloy, the oxalic acid was employed to precipitate the ferrum as the form of FeC{sub 2}O{sub 4} and Cr was left in the solution. In this route, small amount of nickel, cobalt and manganese exited in ferrochrome alloy were also precipitated simultaneously together with ferrous oxalate. Analysis from ICP shows that the molar percent of Fe in oxalic precipitate is 97.9% and the main doped elements are Ni (1.1%) and Mn (0.4%).The mixed metal oxalate Fe{sub (1−x)}M{sub x}C{sub 2}O{sub 4} was used as a raw material to prepare doped LiFePO{sub 4} cathode material of lithium ion batteries. The obtained LiFe{sub (1−x)}M{sub x}PO{sub 4}/C was a single olivine-type phase with higher crystallinity and presents the well-distributed fine particles. It shows an outstanding electrochemical performance with a discharge capacity of 162 mAh/g at the rate of 0.1 C, 136 mAh/g at 1 C and 103 mAh/g at 5 C. When cycled at 1 C for 50 times, the capacity retention is 98.2%.

  19. Simultaneous Multiple-Location Separation Control

    Science.gov (United States)

    Greenblatt, David (Inventor)

    2009-01-01

    A method of controlling a shear layer for a fluid dynamic body introduces first periodic disturbances into the fluid medium at a first flow separation location. Simultaneously, second periodic disturbances are introduced into the fluid medium at a second flow separation location. A phase difference between the first and second periodic disturbances is adjusted to control flow separation of the shear layer as the fluid medium moves over the fluid dynamic body.

  20. Microemulsion synthesis and magnetic properties of Fe{sub x}Ni{sub (1−x)} alloy nanoparticles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Beygi, H., E-mail: hossein.beygi@stu-mail.um.ac.ir; Babakhani, A.

    2017-01-01

    This paper investigates synthesis of Fe{sub x}Ni{sub (1−x)} bimetallic nanoparticles by microemulsion method. Through studying the mechanism of nanoparticles formation, it is indicated that synthesis of nanoparticles took placed by simultaneous reduction of metal ions and so nanoparticles structure is homogeneous alloy. Fe{sub x}Ni{sub (1−x)} nanoparticles with different sizes, morphologies and compositions were synthesized by changing the microemulsion parameters such as water/surfactant/oil ratio, presence of co-surfactant and NiCl{sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O to FeCl{sub 2}·4H{sub 2}O molar ratio. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption and thermogravimetric analyses. The results indicated that, presence of butanol as co-surfactant led to chain-like arrangement of nanoparticles. Also, finer nanoparticles were synthesized by decreasing the amount of oil and water and increasing the amount of CTAB. The results of vibrating sample magnetometer suggested that magnetic properties of Fe{sub x}Ni{sub (1−x)} alloy nanoparticles were affected by composition, size and morphology of the particles. Spherical and chain-like Fe{sub x}Ni{sub (1−x)} alloy nanoparticles were superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic, respectively. Furthermore, higher iron in the composition of nanoparticles increases the magnetic properties. - Highlights: • Fe{sub x}Ni{sub (1−x)} alloy NPs synthesized by simultaneous metal ions reduction in microemulsion. • Finer NPs synthesized at lower amount of oil and water and higher amount of CTAB. • Chain-like Fe{sub x}Ni{sub (1−x)} NPs are ferromagnetic; higher aspect ratio, more magnetization. • Spherical Fe{sub x}Ni({sub 1−x)} NPs with smaller size (7 nm) are superparamagnetic. • Spherical Fe{sub x}Ni{sub (1−x)} nanoparticles with higher x had increased magnetic properties.

  1. Pressure-induced phase transitions in acentric BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mączka, Mirosław, E-mail: m.maczka@int.pan.wroc.pl [Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 1410, 50-950 Wrocław 2 (Poland); Szymborska-Małek, Katarzyna [Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 1410, 50-950 Wrocław 2 (Poland); Sousa Pinheiro, Gardenia de [Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI 64049-550 (Brazil); Cavalcante Freire, Paulo Tarso [Departamento de Fisica, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Fortaleza CE-60455-970 (Brazil); Majchrowski, Andrzej [Institute of Applied Physics, Military University of Technology, 2 Kaliskiego Street, 00-908 Warszawa (Poland)

    2015-08-15

    High-pressure Raman scattering studies revealed that BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} is more compressible than calcite-type orthoborates and calcite, aragonite or dolomite carbonates. It undergoes a first-order reversible pressure-induced phase transition in the 3.9–4.4 GPa pressure range. Second structural change is observed at 9.2 GPa. The intermediate phase is most likely trigonal. However, Raman results suggest increase in the number of distinct BO{sub 3} groups from two in the ambient pressure phase to at least three in the intermediate phase. This intermediate phase is also strongly compressible and strong pressure dependence of the lattice modes proves that the main changes under pressure occur within the layers built from BaO{sub 6} and HfO{sub 6} octahedra. The second phase transition leads most likely to lowering of the trigonal symmetry, as evidenced by significant increase of the number of observed bands. The pressure coefficients of the Raman bands of the high-pressure phase are relatively small, suggesting more dense arrangement of the metal–oxygen polyhedra and BO{sub 3} groups in this phase. It is worth noting that the high-pressure phase was not reached in the second compression experiment up to 10 GPa. This behavior can be most likely attributed to worse hydrostatic conditions of the first experiment. - Graphical abstract: Raman spectra of BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} recorded at different pressures during compression showing onset of pressure-induced phase transitions. - Highlights: • High-pressure Raman spectra were measured for BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2.} • BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} undergoes a reversible first-order phase transition at 3.9–4.4 GPa into a trigonal phase. • The intermediate trigonal phase is strongly compressible second structural transformation is observed at 9.2 GPa under non-perfect hydrostatic conditions.

  2. Fe{sub 2} O{sub 3} addition influence on the Sn O{sub 2}.Co O.Nb{sub 2} O{sub 5} varistors system; Influencia da adicao de Fe{sub 2} O{sub 3} no sistema varistor Sn O{sub 2}.Co O.Nb{sub 2} O{sub 5}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Antunes, A.C.; Antunes, S.R.M. [Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, PR (Brazil). Dept. de Quimica; Castilhos, J.G.R.; Pianaro, S.R.; Zara, J.A. [Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, PR (Brazil). Dept. de Engenharia dos Materiais; Longo, E. [Sao Carlos Univ., SP (Brazil). Dept. de Quimica; Varela, J.A. [UNESP, Araraquara, SP (Brazil). Inst. de Quimica

    1997-12-31

    The effect 0.05 to 0.30 mol% Fe{sub 2} 0{sub 3} addition on the electrical and microstructural properties of ternary varistor system composed by tin oxide, niobium oxide and cobaltum oxide was studied in this work. The samples were sintered at 1300 deg C for two hours. The characterizations were performed by Vxi measurements, scanning electron microscopy and X - ray diffraction. The Fe{sub 2} O{sub 3} additions up to 0,10% increased the {alpha} values breakdown electric fields (E{sub r}) and it was observed that the barrier voltage (v{sub b}) depends on the chemical composition. The second phase had high concentration of iron that precipitated in the grain boundaries and inhibited the grain growth during sintering. Fe{sub 2} O{sub 3} concentrations upper 0,10 mol% were deleterious for electrical properties of the ceramics. (author) 7 refs., 3 figs., 4 tabs.

  3. Low-field magnetoresistance in La{sub 0.7}Sr{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3}/Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5} composites

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yang, X S; Yang, Y; He, W; Cheng, C H; Zhao, Y [Key Laboratory of Magnetic Levitation Technologies and Maglev Trains (Ministry of Education of China), Superconductivity R and D Center (SRDC), Mail Stop 165, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031 (China)], E-mail: yzhao@home.swjtu.edu.cn

    2008-06-07

    Two-phase composites La{sub 0.7}Sr{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3}/Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5} are synthesized and their magnetization and low-field magnetoresistance (LFMR) characteristics are investigated. It is found that a small amount of Ta ions enter into LSMO grains near the grain surface region, resulting in the reduction of the cell volume, and consequently, an extra reduction of the saturate magnetization. The paramagnetism-to-ferromagnetism transition temperature, T{sub C}, does not show significant change. The LFMR enhancement is observed over a wide range of temperature from 50 to 350 K when the second phase material (Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}) is introduced. The magnetic disorder caused by the secondary phase at grain boundaries and the Ta doping effect on the surface of LSMO grains are believed to contribute to the enhanced MR.

  4. Syntheses, crystal structures, and properties of the isotypic pair [Cr(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 2}[B{sub 12}H{sub 12}]{sub 3}.15H{sub 2}O and [In(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 2}[B{sub 12}H{sub 12}]{sub 3}.15H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Van, Nguyen-Duc; Kleeberg, Fabian M.; Schleid, Thomas [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart (Germany)

    2015-11-15

    Single crystals of [Cr(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 2}[B{sub 12}H{sub 12}]{sub 3}.15H{sub 2}O and [In(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 2}[B{sub 12}H{sub 12}]{sub 3}.15H{sub 2}O were obtained by reactions of aqueous solutions of the acid (H{sub 3}O){sub 2}[B{sub 12}H{sub 12}] with chromium(III) hydroxide and indium metal shot, respectively. The title compounds crystallize isotypically in the trigonal system with space group R anti 3c (a = 1157.62(3), c = 6730.48(9) pm for the chromium, a = 1171.71(3), c = 6740.04(9) pm for the indium compound, Z = 6). The arrangement of the quasi-icosahedral [B{sub 12}H{sub 12}]{sup 2-} dianions can be considered as stacking of two times nine layers with the sequence..ABCCABBCA.. and the metal trications arrange in a cubic closest packed..abc.. stacking sequence. The metal trications are octahedrally coordinated by six water molecules of hydration, while another fifteen H{sub 2}O molecules fill up the structures as zeolitic crystal water or second-sphere hydrating species. Between these free and the metal-bonded water molecules, bridging hydrogen bonds are found. Furthermore, there is also evidence of hydrogen bonding between the anionic [B{sub 12}H{sub 12}]{sup 2-} clusters and the free zeolitic water molecules according to B-H{sup δ-}..{sup δ+}H-O interactions. Vibrational spectroscopy studies prove the presence of these hydrogen bonds and also show slight distortions of the dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate anions from their ideal icosahedral symmetry (I{sub h}). Thermal decomposition studies for the example of [Cr(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 2}[B{sub 12}H{sub 12}]{sub 3}.15H{sub 2}O gave no hints for just a simple multi-stepwise dehydration process. (Copyright copyright 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  5. Regional alveolar partial pressure of oxygen measurement with parallel accelerated hyperpolarized gas MRI.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kadlecek, Stephen; Hamedani, Hooman; Xu, Yinan; Emami, Kiarash; Xin, Yi; Ishii, Masaru; Rizi, Rahim

    2013-10-01

    Alveolar oxygen tension (Pao2) is sensitive to the interplay between local ventilation, perfusion, and alveolar-capillary membrane permeability, and thus reflects physiologic heterogeneity of healthy and diseased lung function. Several hyperpolarized helium ((3)He) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based Pao2 mapping techniques have been reported, and considerable effort has gone toward reducing Pao2 measurement error. We present a new Pao2 imaging scheme, using parallel accelerated MRI, which significantly reduces measurement error. The proposed Pao2 mapping scheme was computer-simulated and was tested on both phantoms and five human subjects. Where possible, correspondence between actual local oxygen concentration and derived values was assessed for both bias (deviation from the true mean) and imaging artifact (deviation from the true spatial distribution). Phantom experiments demonstrated a significantly reduced coefficient of variation using the accelerated scheme. Simulation results support this observation and predict that correspondence between the true spatial distribution and the derived map is always superior using the accelerated scheme, although the improvement becomes less significant as the signal-to-noise ratio increases. Paired measurements in the human subjects, comparing accelerated and fully sampled schemes, show a reduced Pao2 distribution width for 41 of 46 slices. In contrast to proton MRI, acceleration of hyperpolarized imaging has no signal-to-noise penalty; its use in Pao2 measurement is therefore always beneficial. Comparison of multiple schemes shows that the benefit arises from a longer time-base during which oxygen-induced depolarization modifies the signal strength. Demonstration of the accelerated technique in human studies shows the feasibility of the method and suggests that measurement error is reduced here as well, particularly at low signal-to-noise levels. Copyright © 2013 AUR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Heavy fermion Ce{sub 3}Co{sub 4}Sn{sub 13} compound under pressure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Collave, J. R.; Borges, H. A. [Departamento de Física, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, 22453-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Brazil); Ramos, S. M.; Hering, E. N. [Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, 22290-180, Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Brazil); SPSMS, UMR-E CEA/UJF-Grenoble 1, INAC, 38054, Grenoble (France); Fontes, M. B.; Baggio-Saitovitch, E.; Bittar, E. M., E-mail: bittar@cbpf.br [Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, 22290-180, Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Brazil); Mendonça-Ferreira, L. [Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, 09210-170, Santo André, SP (Brazil); Pagliuso, P. G. [Instituto de Física “Gleb Wataghin,” UNICAMP, Campinas, SP 13083-859 (Brazil)

    2015-05-07

    The non-magnetic heavy fermion compound Ce{sub 3}Co{sub 4}Sn{sub 13} was studied under pressure. We report single crystalline measurements of electrical resistivity as a function of temperature ρ(T) under pressure. Some characteristic features related to a structural transition (T{sub S}), crystalline field effects (T{sub CEF}), and a low temperature maximum (T{sub max}), possibly connected simultaneously to the onset of Kondo lattice coherence and short range magnetic correlations, were identified in the ρ(T) data. A pressure-temperature phase diagram with T{sub S} and T{sub max} was constructed by mapping these features. Like for most Ce-based heavy fermion compounds, T{sub max} moves to higher temperatures with pressure, indicating that it is related to the Kondo energy scale, due to the increase of hybridization induced by pressure. On the other hand, T{sub S}, associated to a superlattice distortion and probably combined with a charge density wave transition, decreases as a function of pressure. However, differently from the Sr{sub 3−x}Ca{sub x}Ir{sub 4}Sn{sub 13} system, where a superlattice quantum phase transition is observed [L. E. Klintberg et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 237 008 (2012)], in Ce{sub 3}Co{sub 4}Sn{sub 13} T{sub S} ∼ 154 K, at ambient pressure (P = 0), seems to stabilize at around 143 K for P ≥ 19 kilobars. We also investigated ρ(T) in external magnetic fields, at P = 0. Negative magnetoresistance and increase of T{sub max} are observed, suggesting suppression of low temperature short range magnetic correlations.

  7. Integrated B1+ Mapping for Hyperpolarized 13C MRI in a Clinical Setup using Multi-Channel Receive Arrays

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Hansen, Rie Beck; Shin, Peter J.; Gordon, Jeremy W.

    inhomogeneous transmit coils, and because kinetic modeling based on incorrect flip angles can lead to incorrect rate constant estimations. This study demonstrates the feasibility of integrated B1+ mapping for large volume thermal and hyperpolarized phantoms in a clinical setup using a clamshell transmit coil...... and a 16-channel receive array, and a 3D stack-of-spirals sequence. Phase-sensitive coil-combination was achieved using ESPIRiT....

  8. Study of the magnetic properties of CeCu{sub 2}(Si{sub 1-x}Ge{sub x}){sub 2} by means of neutron scattering; Untersuchung der magnetischen Eigenschaften von CeCu{sub 2}(Si{sub 1-x}Ge{sub x}){sub 2} mittels Neutronenstreuung

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Faulhaber, Enrico

    2008-07-01

    In 1979 the first heavy-fermion superconductor CeCu{sub 2}Si{sub 2} was discovered by Steglich et al. The system is near a quantum critical point (QCP), where the magnetic order is just suppressed. The distance to the QCP can be varied with hydrostatic pressure as well as by germanium substitution on the silicon site. Next to the superconductivity in CeCu{sub 2}Si{sub 2} one finds distinct magnetic phases while increasing the germanium content. CeCu{sub 2}Si{sub 2} shows a magnetic order of a spin-density-type below T{sub N}-0.8 K, whereas the heavy fermion system CeCu{sub 2}Ge{sub 2} orders below T{sub N}=4.1 K as an antiferromagnet. The focus of this thesis is on neutron-diffraction in the system CeCu{sub 2}(Si{sub 1-x}Ge{sub x}){sub 2}. Starting with a sample with a high germanium content of x=0.45, the magnetic structures are investigated in detail. Following a step-by-step approach, samples with reduced x are investigated subsequently to figure out the properties of pure CeCu{sub 2}Si{sub 2}, which were not accessible before. Furthermore, the complex interaction between magnetism and superconductivity is investigated in detail. Using a specially designed setup, the ac-susceptibility could be recorded simultaneously during the neutron diffraction experiments. Due to the direct correlation between antiferromagnetic signals and diamagnetic features, the microscopic coexistence of superconductivity and magnetic order can be ruled out. Instead, a phase separation on the microscopic scale is found. (orig.)

  9. Direct hyperpolarization of micro- and nanodiamonds for bioimaging applications - Considerations on particle size, functionalization and polarization loss

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kwiatkowski, Grzegorz; Jähnig, Fabian; Steinhauser, Jonas; Wespi, Patrick; Ernst, Matthias; Kozerke, Sebastian

    2018-01-01

    Due to the inherently long relaxation time of 13C spins in diamond, the nuclear polarization enhancement obtained with dynamic nuclear polarization can be preserved for a time on the order of about one hour, opening up an opportunity to use diamonds as a new class of long-lived contrast agents. The present communication explores the feasibility of using 13C spins in directly hyperpolarized diamonds for MR imaging including considerations for potential in vivo applications.

  10. Enhancement of the secondary ion emission from Si by O/sub 2 and H/sub 2/O adsorption

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Huan, C.H.; Wee, A.T.S.; Tan, K.L.

    1992-01-01

    The positive and negative secondary ion emission of Si are examined as a function of O/sub 2 and H/sub 2/O surface coverage under conditions of simultaneous adsorption and Ar/sup+ ion bombardment. It is found that the ion-molecule mechanism accounts for the adsorbate-induced signals and that yield enhancement by H/sub 2/O adsorption is less effective than O/sub 2 adsorption. (authors)

  11. Evolution of magnetic and superconducting phases with doping and pressure in the underdoped iron-arsenide superconductor Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hassinger, Elena [Universite de Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada); Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario (Canada); Max Planck Institut fuer Chemische Physik fester Stoffe, Dresden (Germany); Gredat, Gregory; Valade, Fabrice; Rene de Cotret, Samuel; Juneau-Fecteau, Alexandre; Reid, Jean-Philippe; Doiron-Leyraud, Nicolas [Universite de Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada); Kim, H.; Tanatar, Makariy A.; Prozorov, Ruslan [Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa (United States); Shen, B.; Wen, H.H. [Nanjing University (China); Taillefer, Louis [Universite de Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada); Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

    2015-07-01

    The electrical resistivity ρ of the iron-arsenide superconductor Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} was measured in applied pressures up to 2.75 GPa for seven underdoped samples. Six of them are antiferromagnetic at P = 0 with 0.16 < x < 0.24 and one is non-magnetic with x = 0.26. The stripe-like antiferromagnetic ordering temperature T{sub N}, detected as a sharp anomaly in ρ(T), decreases linearly with pressure. For every magnetic sample a second phase appears with pressure at a lower temperature T{sub 0}, which rises with pressure. The critical pressure above which this phase appears decreases with doping going to zero for x = 0.24 just below the critical doping for the magnetic phase. This behaviour is reminiscent of the second magnetic phase appearing in Ba{sub 0.76}Na{sub 0.24}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} where the tetragonal symmetry is restored in favour of the scenario in which the nematic order in the iron pnictides is of magnetic origin.

  12. Inter-plane coupling in Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8+{delta}}: impact of disorder and of magnetic field; Couplage interplan dans Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8+{delta}}: effet du desordre et du champ magnetique

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Spathis, P

    2006-07-01

    The first part of this work is dedicated to the impact of structure disorder on the superconducting properties of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8+{delta}}. The quantity of disorder has been monitored through the irradiation with 2.5 MeV electrons. The Josephson plasma resonance has enabled us to study the impact of disorder on the inter-plan coupling. The second part is devoted to the properties of the mixed state of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8+{delta}}. When a magnetic field is applied transversely, it generates, for low inductions, a network of quantized flux lines called vortexes. The lamellar nature of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8+{delta}} implies that the vortexes generated are a piling up of low interacting magnetic dipoles. It is now well proved that inside the mixed phase, the solid vortex phase turns itself into a vortex liquid through a first order phase transformation. When the magnetic field is applied longitudinally to the CuO{sub 2} planes, a part of supra-currents are generated through Josephson effect. The consecutive vortexes are called Josephson vortexes and their cores are located between 2 superconducting planes. The first chapter recalls essential features of superconductivity and highlights the lamellar structure of cuprates. The second chapter describes the resonant cavity perturbation technique. The 2 last chapters deal respectively with the impact of energetic electron irradiation and with the impact of a slanting magnetic field on the phase coherence. (A.C.)

  13. Cell-Type Specific Development of the Hyperpolarization-Activated Current, Ih, in Prefrontal Cortical Neurons

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sha-Sha Yang

    2018-05-01

    Full Text Available H-current, also known as hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih, is an inward current generated by the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN cation channels. Ih plays an essential role in regulating neuronal properties, synaptic integration and plasticity, and synchronous activity in the brain. As these biological factors change across development, the brain undergoes varying levels of vulnerability to disorders like schizophrenia that disrupt prefrontal cortex (PFC-dependent function. However, developmental changes in Ih in PFC neurons remains untested. Here, we examine Ih in pyramidal neurons vs. gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic parvalbumin-expressing (PV+ interneurons in developing mouse PFC. Our findings show that the amplitudes of Ih in these cell types are identical during the juvenile period but differ at later time points. In pyramidal neurons, Ih amplitude significantly increases from juvenile to adolescence and follows a similar trend into adulthood. In contrast, the amplitude of Ih in PV+ interneurons decreases from juvenile to adolescence, and does not change from adolescence to adulthood. Moreover, the kinetics of HCN channels in pyramidal neurons is significantly slower than in PV+ interneurons, with a gradual decrease in pyramidal neurons and a gradual increase in PV+ cells across development. Our study reveals distinct developmental trajectories of Ih in pyramidal neurons and PV+ interneurons. The cell-type specific alteration of Ih during the critical period from juvenile to adolescence reflects the contribution of Ih to the maturation of the PFC and PFC-dependent function. These findings are essential for a better understanding of normal PFC function, and for elucidating Ih’s crucial role in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.

  14. Structural complexity and thermoelectric properties of quaternary and quinary tellurides (Ge{sub x}Sn{sub 1-x}){sub 0.8}(In{sub y}Sb{sub 1-y}){sub 0.13}Te with 0 ≤ x,y ≤ 1

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Neudert, Lukas; Scheel, Manuel [Department Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen (Germany); Schwarzmueller, Stefan; Welzmiller, Simon; Oeckler, Oliver [Institut fuer Mineralogie, Kristallographie und Materialwissenschaft, Fakultaet fuer Chemie und Mineralogie, Universitaet Leipzig (Germany)

    2017-12-13

    Starting from stoichiometric mixtures of the elements, quaternary and quinary solid solutions (Ge{sub x}Sn{sub 1-x}){sub 0.8}(In{sub y}Sb{sub 1-y}){sub 0.13}Te were obtained. Concerning the ratio Ge/Sn and Sb/In, respectively, lattice parameters of the metastable phases with rocksalt-type average structures approximately obey Vegard's law. Stable phases correspond to a disordered rocksalt type at high temperature and to trigonal layered structures with van der Waal gaps at lower temperature as shown by temperature-dependent powder X-ray diffraction combined with TEM, which reveals layer-like vacancy ordering, whose extent depends on composition and thermal treatment. In the long-periodically ordered model compounds 21R-Ge{sub 0.5}Sn{sub 0.5}InSbTe{sub 4} and 9P-GeSnInSbTe{sub 5} studied by resonant scattering data at K-absorption edges, Sb and Sn concentrate near the van der Waals gaps. Compared to Ge{sub 0.8}Sb{sub 0.13}Te and Sn{sub 0.8}Sb{sub 0.13}Te, the simultaneous presence of In and Sn combines increased electrical conductivity with low thermal conductivity and enhanced thermoelectric properties in certain temperature ranges. Phase transitions correlate with changes of the thermoelectric properties. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  15. Theoretical estimates of the anapole magnetizabilities of C{sub 4}H{sub 4}X{sub 2} cyclic molecules for X=O, S, Se, and Te

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pagola, G. I.; Ferraro, M. B. [Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, and IFIBA, CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. I, (1428) Buenos Aires (Argentina); Provasi, P. F. [Departamento de Física, Northeastern University, Av. Libertad 5500, W3400 AAS, Corrientes (Argentina); Pelloni, S.; Lazzeretti, P., E-mail: lazzeret@unimo.it [Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, via G. Campi 183, 41100 Modena (Italy)

    2014-09-07

    Calculations have been carried out for C{sub 4}H{sub 4}X{sub 2} cyclic molecules, with X=O, S, Se, and Te, characterized by the presence of magnetic-field induced toroidal electron currents and associated orbital anapole moments. The orbital anapole induced by a static nonuniform magnetic field B, with uniform curl C=∇×B, is rationalized via a second-rank anapole magnetizability tensor a{sub αβ}, defined as minus the second derivative of the second-order interaction energy with respect to the components C{sub α} and B{sub β}. The average anapole magnetizability a{sup ¯} equals −χ{sup ¯}, the pseudoscalar obtained by spatial averaging of the dipole-quadrupole magnetizability χ{sub α,βγ}. It has different sign for D and L enantiomeric systems and can therefore be used for chiral discrimination. Therefore, in an isotropic chiral medium, a homogeneous magnetic field induces an electronic anapole A{sub α}, having the same magnitude, but opposite sign, for two enantiomorphs.

  16. Microwave-assisted synthesis of Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles@reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for high performance supercapacitors

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    She, Xiao; Zhang, Xinmin; Liu, Jingya [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430073 (China); Li, Liang, E-mail: msell08@163.com [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430073 (China); Yu, Xianghua; Huang, Zhiliang [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430073 (China); Shang, Songmin, E-mail: shang.songmin@polyu.edu.hk [Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (China)

    2015-10-15

    Highlights: • Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4}@rGO nanocomposites were prepared by one-step microwave-assisted method. • The growth of Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4} and the reduction of graphene oxide occurred simultaneously. • Specific capacitance of the nanocomposite is higher than those of rGO and Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4}. • The nanocomposites have good rate capability and cycling stability. - ABSTRACT: One-step microwave-assisted synthetic route for the fabrication of Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles@reduced graphene oxide (Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4}@rGO) nanocomposites has been demonstrated. The morphological structures of the nanocomposites are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. All of the results indicate that the microwave-assisted synthesis results in the growth of Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4} and the reduction of graphene oxide simultaneously in ethylene glycol-water system. The specific capacitance of the as-prepared Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4}@rGO nanocomposite is higher than those of rGO and pure Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4}, which indicates the synergetic interaction between rGO and Mn{sub 3}O{sub 4}. The nanocomposites also have good rate capability and cycling stability in electrochemical experiments. This facile technique may be extended to the large scale and cost effective production of other composites based on graphene and metal oxide for many applications.

  17. Synthesis of Y{sub 1-x}Al{sub x}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} via combustion route: Effects of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles on superconducting properties

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mohd Suan, Mohd Shahadan, E-mail: mohdshahadan@utem.edu.my [Department of Engineering Materials, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka (Malaysia); Johan, Mohd Rafie [Nanomaterial Engineering Research Group, Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

    2017-02-01

    Combustion reaction was used to synthesis Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles embedded Y{sub 1-x}Al{sub x}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} simultaneously. The effects of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles with nominal molar mass (x{sub mol}) of 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10 towards the critical current density J{sub C} of Y{sub 1-x}Al{sub x}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} were verified by magnetic measurement. Resulted XRD patterns revealed that the calcined samples consist of pure Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Y{sub 1-x}Al{sub x}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} phases which had been confirmed by EDX results. The SEM images showed that Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles (~10 nm) were distributed in polycrystalline YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} grains and grain boundaries. The presence of higher concentration of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles has developed Al{sup 3+} rich spots which diffused within the YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} superconducting matrix to form Y{sub 1-x}Al{sub x}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} and was confirmed by EDX analysis. The samples were electrically superconducting at temperature above 85 K as measured by using standard four-probe technique. The magnetic field (H) dependent magnetization (M), M-H hysteresis loops measured at 77 K for x{sub mol}≤0.06 samples are significantly improved attributed to the increase of trapped fluxes in the samples. Remarkable increase of magnetic J{sub C} (H) in Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles added samples compared to the as prepared polycrystalline YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} sample indicating strong pinning effect. It is suggested that well-distributed Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles in the polycrystalline YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} matrix achieved via auto-combustion reaction has efficiently pin the magnetic vortex. The magnetic J{sub C} was optimized to ~6 kAcm{sup -2} in x{sub mol}=0.06 sample. On the other hand, insignificant magnetic J{sub C} improvement in x{sub mol}≥0.08 samples is probably resulted from the

  18. Mis-estimation and bias of hyperpolarized apparent diffusion coefficient measurements due to slice profile effects.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gordon, Jeremy W; Milshteyn, Eugene; Marco-Rius, Irene; Ohliger, Michael; Vigneron, Daniel B; Larson, Peder E Z

    2017-09-01

    The purpose of this work was to explore the impact of slice profile effects on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping of hyperpolarized (HP) substrates. Slice profile effects were simulated using a Gaussian radiofrequency (RF) pulse with a variety of flip angle schedules and b-value ordering schemes. A long T 1 water phantom was used to validate the simulation results, and ADC mapping of HP [ 13 C, 15 N 2 ]urea was performed on the murine liver to assess these effects in vivo. Slice profile effects result in excess signal after repeated RF pulses, causing bias in HP measurements. The largest error occurs for metabolites with small ADCs, resulting in up to 10-fold overestimation for metabolites that are in more-restricted environments. A mixed b-value scheme substantially reduces this bias, whereas scaling the slice-select gradient can mitigate it completely. In vivo, the liver ADC of hyperpolarized [ 13 C, 15 N 2 ]urea is nearly 70% lower (0.99 ± 0.22 vs 1.69 ± 0.21 × 10 -3 mm 2 /s) when slice-select gradient scaling is used. Slice profile effects can lead to bias in HP ADC measurements. A mixed b-value ordering scheme can reduce this bias compared to sequential b-value ordering. Slice-select gradient scaling can also correct for this deviation, minimizing bias and providing more-precise ADC measurements of HP substrates. Magn Reson Med 78:1087-1092, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  19. Study of vortex dynamics with local magnetic relaxation measurements in the superconducting compound Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8}; Etude de la dynamique des vortex par des mesures locales de relaxation magnetique dans le compose supraconducteur Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Berry, St

    2000-07-01

    This experimental study of the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram and of the vortex dynamics in high- T{sub c} superconductors focuses on Bismuth-based cuprates: Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8}. In type-II superconductors, mixed state characterized by the presence of vortices (quanta of magnetic flux) is divided by a transition line determined by two features of magnetization loops. For T > 40 K, magnetization loops vs applied field show a step evidence of a first order transition. From 20 to 40 K, a second peak replacing the step correspond to an abrupt increase of irreversibility interpreted as a bulk current. We want to understand the nature of the second peak (thermodynamic or nonequilibrium property) and separate phenomena contributing to irreversibility (flux pinning, geometrical or surface effects). Magnetic measurement techniques are nondestructive and have a resolution of few microns. Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8} single crystals are optimized by localizing defectives regions with a magneto-optic technique for flux imaging and elimination of these regions with a wire saw. Local magnetization loops and relaxation measurements performed with a microscopic Hall probe array allow to distinguish irreversibility sources. The shape of induction profiles indicates which current dominate between surface current and bulk pinning induced current. Two crossover with time and a direct observation of two phases coexistence in induction profiles enlighten phenomena in play. The measured electric field-current density characteristics lead to barrier energy U(j) controlling thermally activated flux motion. Three relations (U(j) (surface, bulk low and high field) explain second peak. (author)

  20. Surface desorption and bulk diffusion models of tritium release from Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} and Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} pebbles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Avila, R.E., E-mail: ravila@cchen.c [Departamento de Materiales Nucleares, Comision Chilena de Energia Nuclear, Cas. 188-D, Santiago (Chile); Pena, L.A.; Jimenez, J.C. [Departamento de Produccion y Servicios, Comision Chilena de Energia Nuclear, Cas. 188-D, Santiago (Chile)

    2010-10-30

    The release of tritium from Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} and Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} pebbles, in batch experiments, is studied by means of temperature programmed desorption. Data reduction focuses on the analysis of the non-oxidized and oxidized tritium components in terms of release limited by diffusion from the bulk of ceramic grains, or by first or second order surface desorption. By analytical and numerical methods the in-furnace tritium release is deconvoluted from the ionization chamber transfer functions, for which a semi-empirical form is established. The release from Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} follows second order desorption kinetics, requiring a temperature for a residence time of 1 day (T{sub 1dRes}) of 620 K, and 603 K, of the non-oxidized, and the oxidized components, respectively. The release from Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} appears as limited by either diffusion from the bulk of the ceramic grains, or by first order surface desorption, the first possibility being the more probable. The respective values of T{sub 1dRes} for the non-oxidized component are 661 K, according to the first order surface desorption model, and 735 K within the bulk diffusion limited model.

  1. In vivo assessment of intracellular redox state in rat liver using hyperpolarized [1-13 C]Alanine.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Park, Jae Mo; Khemtong, Chalermchai; Liu, Shie-Chau; Hurd, Ralph E; Spielman, Daniel M

    2017-05-01

    The intracellular lactate to pyruvate concentration ratio is a commonly used tissue assay biomarker of redox, being proportional to free cytosolic [NADH]/[NAD + ]. In this study, we assessed the use of hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]alanine and the subsequent detection of the intracellular products of [1- 13 C]pyruvate and [1- 13 C]lactate as a useful substrate for assessing redox levels in the liver in vivo. Animal experiments were conducted to measure in vivo metabolism at baseline and after ethanol infusion. A solution of 80-mM hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]alanine was injected intravenously at baseline (n = 8) and 45 min after ethanol infusion (n = 4), immediately followed by the dynamic acquisition of 13 C MRS spectra. In vivo rat liver spectra showed peaks from [1- 13 C] alanine and the products of [1- 13 C]lactate, [1- 13 C]pyruvate, and 13 C-bicarbonate. A significantly increased 13 C-lactate/ 13 C-pyruvate ratio was observed after ethanol infusion (8.46 ± 0.58 at baseline versus 13.58 ± 0.69 after ethanol infusion; P alanine is presented, with the validity of the proposed 13 C-pyruvate/ 13 C-lactate metric tested using an ethanol challenge to alter liver redox state. Magn Reson Med 77:1741-1748, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  2. Electron beam non-thermal plasma hybrid system for reduction of NO{sub x} and SO{sub x} emissions from power plants

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lazaroiu, Gh [Department of Power Plants, University Polytechnic of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei Street, 060042 Bucharest (Romania); Zissulescu, E [ICPET ECO SA Bucharest, 104 Berceni Street, 041912 Bucharest (Romania); Sandu, M [Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, 124 Lacul Tei Street, 020396 Bucharest (Romania); Roscia, M [University of Bergamo, 5 Marconi Street, 24044 Dalmine, Bergamo (Italy)

    2007-12-15

    In this paper an installation containing a negative corona discharge (DC) reactor, a pulse corona discharge reactor and a combined electron beam (EB) and microwave induced plasma reactor is presented. SO{sub 2} is removed up to 42% through spontaneous reaction with ammonia without EB or microwave irradiation at the temperature below 70{sup o}C. Considering the values of the removal efficiencies of 98% for SO{sub 2} and 80% for NO{sub x} applying separate EB irradiation with a dose of 40 kGy, when the simultaneous EB and microwave irradiation is applied, the required absorbed dose is about two times smaller. The SO{sub 2} removal efficiency of simultaneous DC or positive discharge and microwave discharge is higher than separate corona discharge, pulse and microwave discharge. Also, the applied voltage level at which the removal efficiency reaches the maximum value is less than that for the separate application of corona discharge or pulse discharge. The NO{sub x} removal efficiency of DC or pulse discharge suffers little change by additional use of the microwave energy. Based on this research and the results obtained by a pilot project built in collaboration with Electrostatica Bucharest, a project for an installation involving simultaneous SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} removal by irradiation with accelerated EBs and microwaves, has been proposed for Thermo-Power Plant CET-West-Bucharest of 550 MW. (author)

  3. Synthesis and optical properties of polycrystalline Li{sub 2}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} (LABO)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dagdale, S. R., E-mail: shiva.dagdale68@gmail.com; Muley, G. G., E-mail: gajananggm@yahoo.co.in [Department of Physics Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India-444602 (India)

    2016-05-06

    A polycrystalline lithium aluminum borate (Li{sub 2}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7}, LABO) has been synthesized by using simple solid-state technique. The obtained LABO polycrystalline was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction; Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency measurement. The functional groups were identified using the FT-IR spectroscopic data. The SHG efficiency of the polycrystalline material was obtained by the classic Kurtz powder technique using a fundamental wavelength 1064 nm of Nd:YAG laser and it is found to be 1.4 times that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP).

  4. Epitaxial growth of topological insulator Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} film on Si(111) with atomically sharp interface

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bansal, Namrata [Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 (United States); Kim, Yong Seung [Graphene Research Institute, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747 (Korea, Republic of); Edrey, Eliav; Brahlek, Matthew; Horibe, Yoichi [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 (United States); Iida, Keiko; Tanimura, Makoto [Research Department, Nissan Arc, Ltd. Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061 (Japan); Li Guohong; Feng Tian; Lee, Hang-Dong; Gustafsson, Torgny; Andrei, Eva [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 (United States); Oh, Seongshik, E-mail: ohsean@physics.rutgers.edu [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 (United States)

    2011-10-31

    Atomically sharp epitaxial growth of Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} films is achieved on Si(111) substrate with molecular beam epitaxy. Two-step growth process is found to be a key to achieve interfacial-layer-free epitaxial Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} films on Si substrates. With a single-step high temperature growth, second phase clusters are formed at an early stage. On the other hand, with low temperature growth, the film tends to be disordered even in the absence of a second phase. With a low temperature initial growth followed by a high temperature growth, second-phase-free atomically sharp interface is obtained between Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} and Si substrate, as verified by reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. The lattice constant of Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} is observed to relax to its bulk value during the first quintuple layer according to RHEED analysis, implying the absence of strain from the substrate. TEM shows a fully epitaxial structure of Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} film down to the first quintuple layer without any second phase or an amorphous layer.

  5. Structural order parameter in the pyrochlore superconductor Cd sub 2 Re sub 2 O sub 7

    CERN Document Server

    Sergienko, I A

    2003-01-01

    It is shown that both structural phase transitions in Cd sub 2 Re sub 2 O sub 7 , which occur at T sub s sub 1 = 200 K and T sub s sub 2 = 120 K, are due to an instability of the Re tetrahedral network with respect to the same doubly degenerate long-wavelength phonon mode. The primary structural order parameter transforms according to the irreducible representation E sub u of the point group O sub h. We argue that the transition at T sub s sub 1 may be of the second order, in accordance with experimental data. We obtain the phase diagram in the space of phenomenological parameters and propose a thermodynamic path that Cd sub 2 Re sub 2 O sub 7 follows upon cooling. Coupling of the itinerant electronic system and localized spin states in pyrochlores and spinels to atomic displacements are discussed. (author)

  6. Enhancing the [13C]bicarbonate signal in cardiac hyperpolarized [1‐13C]pyruvate MRS studies by infusion of glucose, insulin and potassium

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Lauritzen, Mette Hauge; Laustsen, Christoffer; Butt, Sadia Asghar

    2013-01-01

    A change in myocardial metabolism is a known effect of several diseases. MRS with hyperpolarized 13C‐labelled pyruvate is a technique capable of detecting changes in myocardial pyruvate metabolism, and has proven to be useful for the evaluation of myocardial ischaemia in vivo. However, during fas...

  7. Room temperature multiferroic properties of Pb(Fe{sub 0.5}Nb{sub 0.5})O{sub 3}–Co{sub 0.65}Zn{sub 0.35}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} composites

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pradhan, Dhiren K., E-mail: dhirenkumarp@gmail.com, E-mail: rkatiyar@hpcf.upr.edu; Katiyar, Ram S., E-mail: dhirenkumarp@gmail.com, E-mail: rkatiyar@hpcf.upr.edu [Department of Physics and Institute of Functional Nanomaterials, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936 (United States); Puli, Venkata S. [Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 (United States); Narayan Tripathy, Satya; Pradhan, Dillip K. [Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008 (India); Scott, J. F. [Department of Physics and Institute of Functional Nanomaterials, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936 (United States); Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (United Kingdom)

    2013-12-21

    We report the crystal structure, magnetic, ferroelectric, dielectric, and magneto-dielectric properties of [Pb(Fe{sub 0.5}Nb{sub 0.5})O{sub 3}]{sub (1−x)}[Co{sub 0.65}Zn{sub 0.35}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4}]{sub x}: (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) composites. Rietveld refinement results of X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of these composites for all x values. All the composites show well-saturated ferroelectric and ferromagnetic hysteresis (multiferroic-composite behavior) at room temperature. With increase in Co{sub 0.65}Zn{sub 0.35}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (CZFO) content an increase in saturation magnetization, and decrease in saturation polarization, remanent polarization, and dielectric constant are observed. The ferroelectric phase transition temperature increases with increase in CZFO content. All of the compositions undergo second-order ferroelectric phase transitions, which can be explained by Landau-Devonshire theory. The recoverable energy density (∼0.20 to 0.04 J/cm{sup 3}) and charge-curve energy density (∼0.84 to 0.11 J/cm{sup 3}) decrease with increase in the CZFO content. The room-temperature magneto-dielectric measurements provide direct evidence of magneto-electric coupling via strain at room temperature.

  8. Fabrication of FeSi and Fe{sub 3}Si compounds by electron beam induced mixing of [Fe/Si]{sub 2} and [Fe{sub 3}/Si]{sub 2} multilayers grown by focused electron beam induced deposition

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Porrati, F.; Sachser, R.; Huth, M. [Physikalisches Institut, Goethe-Universität, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main (Germany); Gazzadi, G. C. [S3 Center, Nanoscience Institute-CNR, Via Campi 213/a, 41125 Modena (Italy); Frabboni, S. [S3 Center, Nanoscience Institute-CNR, Via Campi 213/a, 41125 Modena (Italy); FIM Department, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/a, 41125 Modena (Italy)

    2016-06-21

    Fe-Si binary compounds have been fabricated by focused electron beam induced deposition by the alternating use of iron pentacarbonyl, Fe(CO){sub 5}, and neopentasilane, Si{sub 5}H{sub 12} as precursor gases. The fabrication procedure consisted in preparing multilayer structures which were treated by low-energy electron irradiation and annealing to induce atomic species intermixing. In this way, we are able to fabricate FeSi and Fe{sub 3}Si binary compounds from [Fe/Si]{sub 2} and [Fe{sub 3}/Si]{sub 2} multilayers, as shown by transmission electron microscopy investigations. This fabrication procedure is useful to obtain nanostructured binary alloys from precursors which compete for adsorption sites during growth and, therefore, cannot be used simultaneously.

  9. Acute renal metabolic effect of metformin treatment assessed with hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Qi, Haiyun; Nielsen, Per Mose; Schroeder, Marie

    2017-01-01

    Metformin is the primary anti-diabetic drug in type-2 diabetes patients. However, controversy exists on its use in patients with renal impairment. Here we investigated the acute metabolic effects of metformin treatment in rat kidneys, with hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate and Clark......-electrodes. A significantly altered metabolic phenotype was observed 30 min post metformin treatment. Anaerobic metabolism was elevated in the cytosol, indicated by increased lactate/pyruvate ratio, and mitochondrial aerobic metabolism was reduced, indicated by decreased bicarbonate/pyruvate ratio. Acute metformin treatment...... increased renal blood flow with higher O2 saturation and did not change tubular O2 consumption. These results indicate that metformin reduces mitochondrial respiration and enhances anaerobic metabolism, even with enough oxygen supply, within only 30 min of treatment....

  10. Astrometrically registered simultaneous observations of the 22 GHz H{sub 2}O and 43 GHz SiO masers toward R Leonis Minoris using KVN and source/frequency phase referencing

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dodson, Richard; Rioja, María J.; Jung, Tae-Hyun; Sohn, Bong-Won; Byun, Do-Young; Cho, Se-Hyung; Lee, Sang-Sung; Kim, Jongsoo; Kim, Kee-Tae; Oh, Chung-Sik; Han, Seog-Tae; Je, Do-Heung; Chung, Moon-Hee; Wi, Seog-Oh; Kang, Jiman; Lee, Jung-Won; Chung, Hyunsoo; Kim, Hyo-Ryoung; Kim, Hyun-Goo; Lee, Chang-Hoon, E-mail: rdodson@kasi.re.kr [Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daedeokdae-ro 776, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-348 (Korea, Republic of); and others

    2014-11-01

    Oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars can be intense emitters of SiO (v = 1 and 2, J = 1 → 0) and H{sub 2}O maser lines at 43 and 22 GHz, respectively. Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of the maser emission provide a unique tool to probe the innermost layers of the circumstellar envelopes in AGB stars. Nevertheless, the difficulties in achieving astrometrically aligned H{sub 2}O and v = 1 and v = 2 SiO maser maps have traditionally limited the physical constraints that can be placed on the SiO maser pumping mechanism. We present phase-referenced simultaneous spectral-line VLBI images for the SiO v = 1 and v = 2, J = 1 → 0, and H{sub 2}O maser emission around the AGB star R LMi, obtained from the Korean VLBI Network (KVN). The simultaneous multi-channel receivers of the KVN offer great possibilities for astrometry in the frequency domain. With this facility, we have produced images with bona fide absolute astrometric registration between high-frequency maser transitions of different species to provide the positions of the H{sub 2}O maser emission and the center of the SiO maser emission, hence reducing the uncertainty in the proper motions for R LMi by an order of magnitude over that from Hipparcos. This is the first successful demonstration of source frequency phase referencing for millimeter VLBI spectral-line observations and also where the ratio between the frequencies is not an integer.

  11. Magnetic and thermoelectric properties of electron doped Ca{sub 0.85}Pr{sub 0.15}MnO{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hossain Khan, Momin [Department of Physics, University of Kalyani, Kalyani 741235, West Bengal (India); Pal, Sudipta, E-mail: sudipta.pal@rediffmail.com [Department of Physics, University of Kalyani, Kalyani 741235, West Bengal (India); Bose, Esa [Department of Engineering Physics, B. P. P. I. M.T, Kolkata 700052, West Bengal (India)

    2015-10-01

    We have investigated temperature-dependent magnetization (M), magnetic susceptibility (χ) and thermoelectric (S) properties of the electron-doped Ca{sub 0.85}Pr{sub 0.15}MnO{sub 3}. With decrease of temperature, paramagnetic (PM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase transition occurs with a well-defined Néel temperature (T{sub N}=122 K). Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that the paramagnetic state involves modified Curie–Weiss paramagnetism. Field cooled and zero field cooled magnetization measurements indicate a signature of magnetic frustration. Ferromagnetic (FM) double-exchange interactions associated with doped e{sub g} electrons are favored over competing AFM interactions below T{sub irr}=112 K. Magnetization data also shows a second-order phase transition. The sign reversal in S(T) has been interpreted in terms of the change in the electronic structure relating to the orbital degrees of freedom of the doped e{sub g} electron. Low temperature (5–140 K) thermoelectric power, S (T) signifies the importance of electron–magnon scattering process. - Highlights: • Magnetic and thermoelectric properties have been investigated in Ca{sub 0.85}Pr{sub 0.15}MnO{sub 3}. • It shows a PM–AFM second order phase transition at T{sub N}=122 K. • PM state involves modified Curie–Weiss paramagnetism. • The electron–magnon scattering dominates temperature dependent thermoelectric power.

  12. On the studies of thermodynamics properties of fast neutron irradiated (Li{sub x}K{sub 1-x}){sub 2}SO{sub 4} crystals

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    El-Khatib, A.M.; Kassem, M.E.; Gomaa, N.G.; Mahmoud, S.A. [Alexandria Univ. (Egypt). Dept. of Physics

    1996-12-31

    The effect of fast neutron irradiation on the thermodynamic properties of (Li{sub x}K{sub 1-x}){sub 2}SO{sub 4}, (x = 0.1, 0.2,......0.5) has been studied. The measurements were carried out in the vicinity of phase transition. The study reveals that as the lithium content decreases the first high temperature phase T{sub c} 705K disappears, while the second one is shifted to lower temperature. It is observed also that the specific heat, C{sub p}, decreases sharply with neutron integrated fluence {phi} and increases once more. Both entropy and enthalpy changes increase with the increase of neutron integrated fluence. (Author).

  13. Lattice dynamics of ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} and ZnGa{sub 2}O{sub 4} under high pressure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lopez-Moreno, S.; Rodriguez-Hernandez, P.; Munoz, A. [Departamento de Fisica Fundamental II, MALTA Consolider Team, Instituto de Materiales y Nanotecnologia Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna 38205, Tenerife (Spain); Romero, A.H. [CINVESTAV-Queretaro Libramiento Norponiente No 2000 Real de Juriquilla 76230 Queretaro, Qro (Mexico); Manjon, F.J. [Instituto de Diseno para la Fabricacion y Produccion Automatizada, MALTA Consolider Team, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia (Spain); Errandonea, D. [Fundacion General de la Universidad de Valencia ICMUV, MALTA Consolider Team, Edificio de Investigacion, C/Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia (Spain); Rusu, E.; Ursaki, V.V. [Institute of Applied Physics, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 2028 Chisinau (Moldova)

    2011-01-15

    In this work we present a first-principles density functional study of the vibrational properties of ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} and ZnGa{sub 2}O{sub 4} as function of hydrostatic pressure. Based on our previous structural characterization of these two compounds under pressure, herewith, we report the pressure dependence on both systems of the vibrational modes for the cubic spinel structure, for the CaFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}-type structure (Pnma) in ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} and for marokite (Pbcm) ZnGa{sub 2}O{sub 4}. Additionally we report a second order phase transition in ZnGa{sub 2}O{sub 4} from the marokite towards the CaTi{sub 2}O{sub 4}-type structure (Cmcm), for which we also calculate the pressure dependence of the vibrational modes at the {gamma} point. Our calculations are complemented with Raman scattering measurements up to 12 GPa that show a good overall agreement between our calculated and measured mode frequencies. (Copyright copyright 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  14. Effects of partial Mn-substitution on magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in Pr{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 0.95}X{sub 0.05}O{sub 3} (Cr, Ni, Co and Fe) manganites

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Selmi, A. [Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Sfax University, B.P. 1171, 3000 Sfax (Tunisia); M’nassri, R., E-mail: rafik_mnassri@yahoo.fr [Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Kasserine, Kairouan University, B.P. 471, 1200 Kasserine (Tunisia); Cheikhrouhou-Koubaa, W. [Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Sfax University, B.P. 1171, 3000 Sfax (Tunisia); Chniba Boudjada, N. [Institut NEEL, B.P. 166, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9 (France); Cheikhrouhou, A. [Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Sfax University, B.P. 1171, 3000 Sfax (Tunisia)

    2015-01-15

    Highlights: • Pr{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 0.95}X{sub 0.05}O{sub 3}(X = Cr, Ni, Co and Fe) ceramics were prepared by solid state method. • The manganite phases crystallize in an orthorhombic (Pnma) structure. • The samples exhibit a second order paramagnetic (PM)–ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition at the Curie temperature T{sub C}. • Maximum RCP equal to 405 J/kg observed for Pr{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 0.95}Cr{sub 0.05}O{sub 3}. • Second order phase transition is confirmed by Arrott plots and universal curves of entropy change. • The experimental ΔS{sub M} are well predicted by the phenomenological universal curve. - Abstract: Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Pr{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 0.95}X{sub 0.05}O{sub 3}(X = Cr, Ni, Co and Fe) ceramics have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetic measurements. Powder samples have been elaborated using the solid state reaction method at high temperature. The Rietveld analysis of the powder X-ray diffraction shows that the samples crystallize in the orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. Magnetic measurements show that all our materials exhibit a paramagnetic–ferromagnetic transition with decreasing temperature. The Arrott plots of ours materials reveal the occurrence of a second-order phase transition. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change |ΔS{sub M}{sup max}| are 2.92, 2.96, 3.1, and 2.38 J kg{sup −1} K{sup −1} and the relative cooling power (RCP) values are 405.8, 378.2, 352.2 and 337.4 J kg{sup −1} for a magnetic-field change from 0 to 5 T for Cr, Ni, Co and Fe respectively. The large RCP found in our substituted samples will be interesting for magnetic refrigeration over a wide temperature range ∼130 K around its paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition temperature. With the scaling laws of ΔS{sub M}, the experimental ΔS{sub M} collapse onto a universal curve for several ceramics, where an average curve is obtained. With the

  15. Synthesis of Mn{sub 0.04}Cu{sub 0.05}Zn{sub 0.91}O nanorod and its application in optoelectronic switching device

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Layek, Animesh, E-mail: layekanimesh@gmail.com [Department of Physics, Bejoy Narayan Mahavidyalaya, Itachuna, Hooghly-712147 (India); Middya, Somnath [Department of Physics, Bankim Sardar College, Tangrakhali, South 24-paraganas, pin-743329 (India)

    2016-05-06

    The optical absorption of ZnO nanorod had been reduced by introducing Mn as doping element. In this present study the optical absorption of ZnO nanorod has been improved by simultaneous doping of the element Mn and Cu. The hydrothermal reaction was adopted for the synthesis. The electrical conductivity and the optical band gap of the Mn{sub 0.04}Cu{sub 0.05}Zn{sub 0.91}O were measured as 1.16 × 10{sup −3}Scm{sup −1} and 3.07eV respectively, assigned the semiconductor behavior. The light induced rectification in time dependent current response characteristic of Al/ Mn{sub 0.04}Cu{sub 0.05}Zn{sub 0.91}O/ITO was investigated to check the performance of the composite in opto-electronic switching device.

  16. Direct hyperpolarization of micro- and nanodiamonds for bioimaging applications - Considerations on particle size, functionalization and polarization loss.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kwiatkowski, Grzegorz; Jähnig, Fabian; Steinhauser, Jonas; Wespi, Patrick; Ernst, Matthias; Kozerke, Sebastian

    2018-01-01

    Due to the inherently long relaxation time of 13 C spins in diamond, the nuclear polarization enhancement obtained with dynamic nuclear polarization can be preserved for a time on the order of about one hour, opening up an opportunity to use diamonds as a new class of long-lived contrast agents. The present communication explores the feasibility of using 13 C spins in directly hyperpolarized diamonds for MR imaging including considerations for potential in vivo applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Stability of Sulphur Dimers (S{sub 2}) in Cometary Ices

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mousis, O.; Ronnet, T. [Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LAM (Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille) UMR 7326, F-13388, Marseille (France); Ozgurel, O.; Pauzat, F.; Markovits, A.; Ellinger, Y. [Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CNRS UMR 7616, F-75252 Paris CEDEX 05 (France); Lunine, J. I. [Department of Astronomy and Carl Sagan Institute, Space Sciences Building Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (United States); Luspay-Kuti, A., E-mail: olivier.mousis@lam.fr [Department of Space Research, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78228 (United States)

    2017-02-01

    S{sub 2} has been observed for decades in comets, including comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Despite the fact that this molecule appears ubiquitous in these bodies, the nature of its source remains unknown. In this study, we assume that S{sub 2} is formed by irradiation (photolysis and/or radiolysis) of S-bearing molecules embedded in the icy grain precursors of comets and that the cosmic ray flux simultaneously creates voids in ices within which the produced molecules can accumulate. We investigate the stability of S{sub 2} molecules in such cavities, assuming that the surrounding ice is made of H{sub 2}S or H{sub 2}O. We show that the stabilization energy of S{sub 2} molecules in such voids is close to that of the H{sub 2}O ice binding energy, implying that they can only leave the icy matrix when this latter sublimates. Because S{sub 2} has a short lifetime in the vapor phase, we derive that its formation in grains via irradiation must occur only in low-density environments such as the ISM or the upper layers of the protosolar nebula, where the local temperature is extremely low. In the first case, comets would have agglomerated from icy grains that remained pristine when entering the nebula. In the second case, comets would have agglomerated from icy grains condensed in the protosolar nebula and that would have been efficiently irradiated during their turbulent transport toward the upper layers of the disk. Both scenarios are found consistent with the presence of molecular oxygen in comets.

  18. Signal-to-noise ratio, T2 , and T2* for hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI of the human lung at three magnetic field strengths.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Komlosi, Peter; Altes, Talissa A; Qing, Kun; Mooney, Karen E; Miller, G Wilson; Mata, Jaime F; de Lange, Eduard E; Tobias, William A; Cates, Gordon D; Mugler, John P

    2017-10-01

    To evaluate T 2 , T2*, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for hyperpolarized helium-3 ( 3 He) MRI of the human lung at three magnetic field strengths ranging from 0.43T to 1.5T. Sixteen healthy volunteers were imaged using a commercial whole body scanner at 0.43T, 0.79T, and 1.5T. Whole-lung T 2 values were calculated from a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill spin-echo-train acquisition. T2* maps and SNR were determined from dual-echo and single-echo gradient-echo images, respectively. Mean whole-lung SNR values were normalized by ventilated lung volume and administered 3 He dose. As expected, T 2 and T2* values demonstrated a significant inverse relationship to field strength. Hyperpolarized 3 He images acquired at all three field strengths had comparable SNR values and thus appeared visually very similar. Nonetheless, the relatively small SNR differences among field strengths were statistically significant. Hyperpolarized 3 He images of the human lung with similar image quality were obtained at three field strengths ranging from 0.43T and 1.5T. The decrease in susceptibility effects at lower fields that are reflected in longer T 2 and T2* values may be advantageous for optimizing pulse sequences inherently sensitive to such effects. The three-fold increase in T2* at lower field strength would allow lower receiver bandwidths, providing a concomitant decrease in noise and relative increase in SNR. Magn Reson Med 78:1458-1463, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  19. Thermoluminescence and radioluminescence properties of tissue equivalent Cu-doped Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7} for radiation dosimetry

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cruz Z, E.; Furetta, C. [UNAM, Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Apdo. Postal 70543, 04510 Mexico D. F. (Mexico); Marcazzo, J.; Santiago, M. [Instituto de Fisica Arroyo Seco / UNICEN, Gral. Pinto 399, 7000 Tandil, Buenos Aires (Argentina); Guarneros, C. [IPN, Centro de Investigacion en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnologia Avanzada, Altamira Km 14.5, 896000 Altamira, Tamaulipas (Mexico); Pacio, M. [Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Instituto de Ciencias, Centro de Investigacion en Dispositivos Semiconductores, Av. 14 Sur, 72570 Puebla, Pue. (Mexico); Palomino, R., E-mail: ecruz@nucleares.unam.mx [Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Facultad de Ciencias Fisico-Matematicas, Av. San Claudio y 18 Sur, 72570 Puebla Pue. (Mexico)

    2015-10-15

    Thermoluminescence (Tl) and radioluminescence (Rl) properties of lithium tetraborate (Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}) doped with different concentration of copper (0.25, 0.5, 1 wt %) under gamma and beta irradiation has been investigated. The feasibility of using this borate in radiation dosimetry at low doses has been evaluated. Tissue equivalent Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7} was prepared by solid state reaction using mixing stoichiometric compositions of lithium carbonate (Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) and boric acid (H{sub 3}BO{sub 3}) and a solution of CuCl{sub 2} as dopant. The glow curve, of the most efficient copper doped borate (Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}:Cu 0.5 wt %), shows a main stable peak centered at 225 degrees C and a second low temperature peak centered at 80 degrees C. The low temperature peak disappears completely after 24 hours of storage in darkness and at room temperature or after an annealing at 120 degrees C for 10 seconds. The main peak of the Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}:Cu remains constant. The Tl response of Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}:Cu shows good linearity in the analyzed dose range. The stability and repeatability of Rl signals of the borate have been studied and the Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}:Cu (0.5 wt %) shown the higher Rl emission and a stable and repetitive response. Results show that Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}:Cu has prospects to be used in gamma and beta radiation dosimetry. (Author)

  20. Validating excised rodent lungs for functional hyperpolarized xenon-129 MRI.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    David M L Lilburn

    Full Text Available Ex vivo rodent lung models are explored for physiological measurements of respiratory function with hyperpolarized (hp (129Xe MRI. It is shown that excised lung models allow for simplification of the technical challenges involved and provide valuable physiological insights that are not feasible using in vivo MRI protocols. A custom designed breathing apparatus enables MR images of gas distribution on increasing ventilation volumes of actively inhaled hp (129Xe. Straightforward hp (129Xe MRI protocols provide residual lung volume (RV data and permit for spatially resolved tracking of small hp (129Xe probe volumes during the inhalation cycle. Hp (129Xe MRI of lung function in the excised organ demonstrates the persistence of post mortem airway responsiveness to intravenous methacholine challenges. The presented methodology enables physiology of lung function in health and disease without additional regulatory approval requirements and reduces the technical and logistical challenges with hp gas MRI experiments. The post mortem lung functional data can augment histological measurements and should be of interest for drug development studies.

  1. Effects of the addition of H{sub 2}O and NH{sub 4}OH in the electrical properties of thin films of Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} deposited by pyrolytic spray; Efectos de la adicion de H{sub 2}O y NH{sub 4}OH en las propiedades electricas de peliculas delgadas de Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} depositadas por rocio pirolitico

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Herrera S, H.J.; Alarcon F, G.; Aguilar F, M. [CICATA-IPN, Legaria 694, Col. Irrigacion, 11500 Mexico D.F. (Mexico); Falcony, C. [CINVESTAV-IPN, 07000 Mexico D.F. (Mexico); Garcia H, M.; Guzman M, J. [IIM-UNAM, A.P. 70-360, 04510 Mexico D.F. (Mexico); Araiza I, J.J. [UAZ, 98060 Zacatecas (Mexico)

    2005-07-01

    In this work we studied the electrical properties of yttrium oxide thin films obtained by spray pyrolysis from Y(acac){sub 3} and N,N-DMF. The films were deposited on Si(100) substrates at temperatures of 400, 450, 500 and 550 C. The electrical characteristic of the films was improved when a mist of H{sub 2}O and/or NH{sub 4}0H was simultaneously added to the deposition system. Current and capacitance versus voltage measurements were obtained when the Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} films were integrated in MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) structures. Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} films with a dielectric constant up to 15 were obtained. The films can stand electric fields up to 2 MV/cm. An interface state density in the range of 10{sup 10}-10{sup 11} cm{sup -2} eV{sup -1} was measured at midgap from the high and low frequency capacitance measurements. (Author)

  2. AOI [3] High-Temperature Nano-Derived Micro-H<sub>2sub> and - H<sub>2sub>S Sensors

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sabolsky, Edward M. [West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)

    2014-08-01

    Tech assisted in the testing of the sensors in syngas with contaminate levels of H<sub>2sub>S. The idea of including nanomaterials as the sensing material within resistive-type chemical sensor platforms was to increase the sensitivity (as shown for room temperature applications). Unfortunately, nanomaterials are not stable at high temperatures due to sintering and coarsening processes that are driven by their high surface to volume ratio. Therefore, new hydrogen and sulfur selective nanomaterial systems with high selectivity and stability properties in the proposed harsh environment were investigated. Different nano-morphologies of zirconate, molybdate, and tungstate compounds were investigated. The fabrication of the microsensors consisted of the deposition of the selective nanomaterial systems over metal based interconnects on an inert substrate. This work utilized the chemi-resistive (resistive- type) microsensor architecture where the chemically and structurally stable, high temperature compatible electrodes were sputtered onto a ceramic substrate. The nanomaterial sensing systems were deposited over the electrodes using a lost mold method patterned by conventional optical lithography. The microsensor configuration with optimized nanomaterial system was tested and compared to a millimeter-size sensor e outcomes of this research will contribute to the economical application of sensor arrays for simultaneous sensing of H<sub>2sub>, H<sub>2sub>S, and SO<sub>2sub>.

  3. Luminescence and paramagnetic centers in antigorite and Lizardite, two members of serpentine group: a comparative study;Estudo comparativo entre as propriedades dos centros luminescentes e paramagneticos da antigorita e da lizardita do grupo da SERPENTINA: Mg{sub 3} [Si{sub 2}O{sub 5}] (OH){sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rocca, Rene Rojas, E-mail: renerr@usp.b

    2008-07-01

    In this work, we are describing crystals luminescent properties of Antigorite (monoclinic, Mg{sub 3-x}[Si{sub 2}O{sub 5}](OH){sub 4-2x}) and Lizardite (triclinic, Mg{sub 3}[(Si,Fe){sub 2}O{sub 5}](OH){sub 4}). They were studied simultaneously applying several techniques, like: Thermoluminescence (TL), Optical Absorption (OA), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), X-rays diffraction and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). Using cold pressed elements and heating the samples to 350 deg C for TL measurements, we can observe reproductive peaks. Antigorita show well differentiated peaks and intensities, but Lizardite show overlapped and similar intensity peaks. Peaks of both samples occur around 150, 200, 250, 300 deg C, and all them grow linearly up to 2 kGy, saturating for high doses, except 250 deg C peak which continue growing with dose until 172 kGy. TL peaks trap parameters and lifetimes were calculated, the curves were fitted using the GCD method with second order kinetic. The EPR spectrum shows 6 hyperfine structure lines, characteristic of Manganese, besides lines due to Iron. It was possible also to observe two super hyperfine Mn{sup 2+} lines. The EPR signal does not change with irradiation dose in both crystals. These impurities were also detected in the ICP analysis. The OA spectrum of lizardite show bands from 370 to 470 nm which were not observed in antigorite samples probably related to Fe{sup 3+} and Mn{sup 2+}. In the infrared region several (OA) bands of Mg-OH combination were observed. Again the OA spectrum of these crystals does not change with irradiation dose. We conclude that TL samples peaks around 150, 200, 250, 300 deg C can be used for radiation ionizing dosimetry (y-rays and B- particle) for intermediate and high doses. (author)

  4. A hybrid multibreath wash-in wash-out lung function quantification scheme in human subjects using hyperpolarized 3 He MRI for simultaneous assessment of specific ventilation, alveolar oxygen tension, oxygen uptake, and air trapping.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hamedani, Hooman; Kadlecek, Stephen; Xin, Yi; Siddiqui, Sarmad; Gatens, Heather; Naji, Joseph; Ishii, Masaru; Cereda, Maurizio; Rossman, Milton; Rizi, Rahim

    2017-08-01

    To present a method for simultaneous acquisition of alveolar oxygen tension (P A O 2 ), specific ventilation (SV), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of hyperpolarized (HP) gas in the human lung, allowing reinterpretation of the P A O 2 and SV maps to produce a map of oxygen uptake (R). An imaging scheme was designed with a series of identical normoxic HP gas wash-in breaths to measure ADC, SV, P A O 2 , and R in less than 2 min. Signal dynamics were fit to an iterative recursive model that regionally solved for these parameters. This measurement was successfully performed in 12 subjects classified in three healthy, smoker, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cohorts. The overall whole lung ADC, SV, P A O 2 , and R in healthy, smoker, and COPD subjects was 0.20 ± 0.03 cm 2 /s, 0.39 ± 0.06,113 ± 2 Torr, and 1.55 ± 0.35 Torr/s, respectively, in healthy subjects; 0.21 ± 0.03 cm 2 /s, 0.33 ± 0.06, 115.9 ± 4 Torr, and 0.97 ± 0.2 Torr/s, respectively, in smokers; and 0.25 ± 0.06 cm 2 /s, 0.23 ± 0.08, 114.8 ± 6.0Torr, and 0.94 ± 0.12 Torr/s, respectively, in subjects with COPD. Hetrogeneity of SV, P A O 2 , and R were indicators of both smoking-related changes and disease, and the severity of the disease correlated with the degree of this heterogeneity. Subjects with symptoms showed reduced oxygen uptake and specific ventilation. High-resolution, nearly coregistered and quantitative measures of lung function and structure were obtained with less than 1 L of HP gas. This hybrid multibreath technique produced measures of lung function that revealed clear differences among the cohorts and subjects and were confirmed by correlations with global lung measurements. Magn Reson Med 78:611-624, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  5. Removal of As(V) and simultaneous production of copper powder from a Cu(II)-As(V)-H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} electrolyte by using reactive electrodialysis; Eliminacion de As (V) y produccion simultanea de polvo de cobre de un electrolito de Cu(II) - As(V) - H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} mediante electrodialisis reactiva

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ibanez, J. P.

    2012-11-01

    The removal of As(V) and the simultaneous generation of powder of copper from an electrolyte made of As(V) - Cu(II) - H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} was studied by using electro dialysis at several current densities, temperatures and aeration of the electrolyte. The removal of arsenic was proportional to the current density, temperature and aeration used. The removal of arsenic reached a value of 0.14 mmol/h at 500 A/m2, 25 degree centigrade and without aeration, this value increased to 0.31 mmol/h by increasing the aeration to 6.6 l/h. The Cu(II) was recovered in a 98 % as a fine arsenic free powder of metallic copper with oxides of copper. The arsenic was removed from the electrolyte by adsorption onto the anodic slimes generated from the lead anode oxidation. (Author) 24 refs.

  6. Determination of rare earth oxides in Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3} by x-ray fluorescence analysis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mengfu, Wei; Xinmian, Xu [Sichuan Inst. of Material and Technology (China)

    1994-07-01

    The mechanism of light elements incoherent scatter has been studied. By combining the incoherent scatter intensity with character line intensity to calculate the appearance concentration, the Lucas-Tooth and Pyne intensity correction model is corrected. By using this model and least-square method of regression of linear equations, the x-ray fluorescence analysis method is used for determining Sc{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}, La{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Tm{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Lu{sub 2}O{sub 3} in Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3} which are standard samples in the laboratory. The precision of the method is better than 4.0%, and the best is up to 1.4%. Advantages of the method are accurate, easy to control, fast and various elements can be simultaneously determined.

  7. The Lifetime of a beautiful and charming meson: B<sub>c> lifetime measured using the D0 detector

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Welty-Rieger, Leah Christine [Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)

    2008-09-01

    Using approximately 1.3 fb-1 of data collected by the D0 detector between 2002 and 2006, the lifetime of the B<sub>c>± meson is studied in the B<sub>c>± → J/Ψμ± + X final state. Using an unbinned likelihood simultaneous fit to J/Ψ + μ invariant mass and lifetime distributions, a signal of 810 ± 80(stat.) candidates is estimated and a lifetime measurement made of: τ(B<sub>c>±) = 0.448<sub>-0.036sub>+0.038(stat) ± 0.032(sys) ps.

  8. Simultaneous determination of aliphatic hydrocarbons, PCBs and PCTs in pork liver by gas chromatography

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gonzalez-Barros, C [Dept. de Quimica Analitica, Nutricion y Bromatologia, Area Nutricion y Bromatologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Santiago de Compostela (Spain); Alvarez Pineiro, M E [Inst. de Investigacion y Analisis Alimentarios, Lab. de Bromatologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Santiago de Compostela (Spain); Simal Lozano, J [Dept. de Quimica Analitica, Nutricion y Bromatologia, Area Nutricion y Bromatologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Santiago de Compostela (Spain); Lage Yusty, M A [Inst. de Investigacion y Analisis Alimentarios, Lab. de Bromatologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

    1996-10-01

    A multicomponent extraction/concentration procedure has been developed for the enrichment of PCBs, PCTs and aliphatic hydrocarbons (pristane, C{sub 18}, C{sub 19}, C{sub 20}, C{sub 22}, C{sub 24}, C{sub 28}, C{sub 32} and C{sub 36}) in pork liver. These components of the enriched extract were then simultaneously determined by gas chromatography. Mean recoveries ranged from 81.5% for pristane to 93% for PCBs; CV % (0.9-6.7) indicated the method to be both precise and reproducible. (orig.)

  9. Passive shimming of the fringe field of a superconducting magnet for ultra-low field hyperpolarized noble gas MRI.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Parra-Robles, Juan; Cross, Albert R; Santyr, Giles E

    2005-05-01

    Hyperpolarized noble gases (HNGs) provide exciting possibilities for MR imaging at ultra-low magnetic field strengths (superconductive magnets used in clinical MR imaging can provide a stable magnetic field for this purpose. In addition to offering the benefit of HNG MR imaging alongside conventional high field proton MRI, this approach offers the other useful advantage of providing different field strengths at different distances from the magnet. However, the extremely strong field gradients associated with the fringe field present a major challenge for imaging since impractically high active shim currents would be required to achieve the necessary homogeneity. In this work, a simple passive shimming method based on the placement of a small number of ferromagnetic pieces is proposed to reduce the fringe field inhomogeneities to a level that can be corrected using standard active shims. The method explicitly takes into account the strong variations of the field over the volume of the ferromagnetic pieces used to shim. The method is used to obtain spectra in the fringe field of a high-field (1.89 T) superconducting magnet from hyperpolarized 129Xe gas samples at two different ultra-low field strengths (8.5 and 17 mT). The linewidths of spectra measured from imaging phantoms (30 Hz) indicate a homogeneity sufficient for MRI of the rat lung.

  10. Process for analyzing CO{sub 2} in seawater

    Science.gov (United States)

    Atwater, J.E.; Akse, J.R.; DeHart, J.

    1997-07-01

    The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO{sub 2} into a first CO{sub 2} sample phase and a second CO{sub 2} analyte phase. CO{sub 2} is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO{sub 2} with the membrane into a first CO{sub 2} sample phase and a second CO{sub 2} analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO{sub 2} species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO{sub 2} species in the second CO{sub 2} analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO{sub 2} to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO{sub 2} in the first CO{sub 2} sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO{sub 2} species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO{sub 2} species are detected using the conductivity measuring instrument. 43 figs.

  11. Process for analyzing CO.sub.2 in seawater

    Science.gov (United States)

    Atwater, James E.; Akse, James R.; DeHart, Jeffrey

    1997-01-01

    The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO.sub.2 into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte phase. CO.sub.2 is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO.sub.2 with the membrane into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species in the second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO.sub.2 to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in the first CO.sub.2 sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species are detected using the conductivity measuring instrument.

  12. Reduced Hyperpolarization-Activated Current Contributes to Enhanced Intrinsic Excitability in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons from PrP(-/-) Mice.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Fan, Jing; Stemkowski, Patrick L; Gandini, Maria A; Black, Stefanie A; Zhang, Zizhen; Souza, Ivana A; Chen, Lina; Zamponi, Gerald W

    2016-01-01

    Genetic ablation of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) has been linked to increased neuronal excitability and synaptic activity in the hippocampus. We have previously shown that synaptic activity in hippocampi of PrP-null mice is increased due to enhanced N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) function. Here, we focused on the effect of PRNP gene knock-out (KO) on intrinsic neuronal excitability, and in particular, the underlying ionic mechanism in hippocampal neurons cultured from P0 mouse pups. We found that the absence of PrP(C) profoundly affected the firing properties of cultured hippocampal neurons in the presence of synaptic blockers. The membrane impedance was greater in PrP-null neurons, and this difference was abolished by the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel blocker ZD7288 (100 μM). HCN channel activity appeared to be functionally regulated by PrP(C). The amplitude of voltage sag, a characteristic of activating HCN channel current (I h), was decreased in null mice. Moreover, I h peak current was reduced, along with a hyperpolarizing shift in activation gating and slower kinetics. However, neither HCN1 nor HCN2 formed a biochemical complex with PrP(C). These results suggest that the absence of PrP downregulates the activity of HCN channels through activation of a cell signaling pathway rather than through direct interactions. This in turn contributes to an increase in membrane impedance to potentiate neuronal excitability.

  13. Introduction of artificial pinning centre in {open_quotes}Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8}{close_quotes} ceramics

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Majewski, P.; Aldinger, F. [Max-Planck-Institut fuer Metallforschung, Stuttgart (Germany); Elschner, S. [Hoechst AG, Frankfurt am Main (Germany)] [and others

    1994-12-31

    Considering the phase equilibrium diagram of the system Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SrO-CaO-CuO, single phase {open_quotes}Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8}{close_quotes} ceramics have been transformed by a simple annealing procedure into multi phase samples. The transformation results in the formation of second phases and in an increase of the intra grain critical current density at 1 T of five times. This increase is believed to express improved pinning properties of the superconducting crystals. The prepared pinning centres are believed to be e.g. coherent precipitates (Guinier-Preston-zones) within the superconducting crystals.

  14. Hyperpolarized 13C-MRSI and PET (hyperPET) in an Osteomyelitis Pig Model

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Rahbek, Sofie; Gutte, Henrik; Johannesen, Helle H

    2017-01-01

    -PET for imaging of infection. METHODS: Three pigs were inoculated with S. aureusbacteria in the right tibia and saline in the left tibial bone. FDG-PET, 1H-MRI and 13C-MRSI was performed using a clinical whole-body PET/MR system (Siemens Biograph mMR, Erlangen, Germany). Hyperpolarized13C-pyruvate was prepared...... was observed outside the right (infected bone) on 1H-MRI and confirmed by histopathology. In the abscess the 13C-lactate to 13C-pyruvate ratio was increased as compared to the inflammatory region of the control leg. 18F-FDG uptake showed no clear trend when comparing abscess versus inflammation, but showed...

  15. Simultaneous and Direct Determination of Vancomycin and Cephalexin in Human Plasma by Using HPLC-DAD Coupled with Second-Order Calibration Algorithms

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Le-Qian Hu

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available A simple, rapid, and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of vancomycin and cephalexin in human plasma was developed by using HPLC-DAD with second-order calibration algorithms. Instead of a completely chromatographic separation, mathematical separation was performed by using two trilinear decomposition algorithms, that is, PARAFAC-alternative least squares (PARAFAC-ALSs and self-weight-alternative-trilinear-decomposition- (SWATLD- coupled high-performance liquid chromatography with DAD detection. The average recoveries attained from PARAFAC-ALS and SWATLD with the factor number of 4 (N=4 were 101±5% and 102±4% for vancomycin, and 96±3% and 97±3% for cephalexininde in real human samples, respectively. The statistical comparison between PARAFAC-ALS and SWATLD is demonstrated to be similar. The results indicated that the combination of HPLC-DAD detection with second-order calibration algorithms is a powerful tool to quantify the analytes of interest from overlapped chromatographic profiles for complex analysis of drugs in plasma.

  16. ACh-induced hyperpolarization and decreased resistance in mammalian type II vestibular hair cells.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Poppi, Lauren A; Tabatabaee, Hessam; Drury, Hannah R; Jobling, Phillip; Callister, Robert J; Migliaccio, Americo A; Jordan, Paivi M; Holt, Joseph C; Rabbitt, Richard D; Lim, Rebecca; Brichta, Alan M

    2018-01-01

    In the mammalian vestibular periphery, electrical activation of the efferent vestibular system (EVS) has two effects on afferent activity: 1) it increases background afferent discharge and 2) decreases afferent sensitivity to rotational stimuli. Although the cellular mechanisms underlying these two contrasting afferent responses remain obscure, we postulated that the reduction in afferent sensitivity was attributed, in part, to the activation of α9- containing nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (α9*nAChRs) and small-conductance potassium channels (SK) in vestibular type II hair cells, as demonstrated in the peripheral vestibular system of other vertebrates. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of the predominant EVS neurotransmitter ACh on vestibular type II hair cells from wild-type (wt) and α9-subunit nAChR knockout (α9 -/- ) mice. Immunostaining for choline acetyltransferase revealed there were no obvious gross morphological differences in the peripheral EVS innervation among any of these strains. ACh application onto wt type II hair cells, at resting potentials, produced a fast inward current followed by a slower outward current, resulting in membrane hyperpolarization and decreased membrane resistance. Hyperpolarization and decreased resistance were due to gating of SK channels. Consistent with activation of α9*nAChRs and SK channels, these ACh-sensitive currents were antagonized by the α9*nAChR blocker strychnine and SK blockers apamin and tamapin. Type II hair cells from α9 -/- mice, however, failed to respond to ACh at all. These results confirm the critical importance of α9nAChRs in efferent modulation of mammalian type II vestibular hair cells. Application of exogenous ACh reduces electrical impedance, thereby decreasing type II hair cell sensitivity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Expression of α9 nicotinic subunit was crucial for fast cholinergic modulation of mammalian vestibular type II hair cells. These findings show a multifaceted

  17. How the signal‐to‐noise ratio influences hyperpolarized 13C dynamic MRS data fitting and parameter estimation

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Santarelli, Maria Filomena; Positano, Vincenzo; Giovannetti, Giulio

    2012-01-01

    signals with low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). The relationship between SNR and the precision of quantitative analysis for the evaluation of the in vivo kinetic behavior of metabolites is unknown. In this article, this topic is addressed by Monte Carlo simulations, covering the problem of MRS signal model......MRS of hyperpolarized 13C‐labeled compounds represents a promising technique for in vivo metabolic studies. However, robust quantification and metabolic modeling are still important areas of investigation. In particular, time and spatial resolution constraints may lead to the analysis of MRS...

  18. Electrodeposition of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} layer from solution of Fe{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} with addition ethylene glycol

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dahlan, Dahyunir, E-mail: dahyunir@yahoo.com; Asrar, Allan [Department of Physics, Andalas University, Limau Manih Padang 25163, West Sumatera (Indonesia)

    2016-03-11

    The electrodeposition of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} layer from the solution Fe{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} with the addition of ethylene glycol on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) substrate has been performed. The electrodeposition was carried out using a voltage of 5 volts for 120 seconds, with and without the addition of 2% wt ethylene glycol. Significant effects of temperature on the resulting the samples is observed when they are heated at 400 °C. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that all samples produce a layer of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} with particle size less than 50 nanometers. The addition of ethylene glycol and the heating of the sample causes a shrinkage in particle size. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization shows that Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} layer resulting from the process of electrodeposition of Fe{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} without ethylene glycol, independent of whether the sample is heated or not, is uneven and buildup. Layer produced by the addition of ethylene glycol without heating produces spherical particles. On contrary, when the layer is heated the spherical particles transform to irregularly-shaped particles with smaller size.

  19. A SECOND CASE OF BILATERAL RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENTS REPAIRED WITH SIMULTANEOUS BILATERAL PNEUMATIC RETINOPEXY.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rubin, Uriel; De Jager, Cornelis; Zakour, Moayed; Gonder, J Thomas

    2017-01-01

    To present a case of a patient with simultaneous bilateral retinal detachments treated successfully with bilateral pneumatic retinopexy. Case report. This is a case of an otherwise healthy 49-year-old woman with no remarkable ocular history that presented with simultaneous phakic superior bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. Treatment on the day of presentation included laser retinopexy of the inferior lattice degeneration in the left eye and bilateral intravitreal injection of 0.4 cc of 100% C3F8 gas preceded by topical anesthesia. After 48 hours, both retinas were completely reattached, and bilateral laser retinopexy was performed to the superior tears. After a review of the literature, the authors could find only two reported cases of simultaneous bilateral retinal detachments treated successfully with pneumatic retinopexy. This is not only a cost-effective procedure but also allows treatment when there is no immediate operating room availability or a when a quick referral for surgery is not possible.

  20. Simultaneous measurement of 3 fluctuating plasma parameters

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Carlson, A; Giannone, L. (Max-Planck-Institut fuer Plasmaphysik, Garching (Germany))

    1991-01-01

    Langmuir triple probes can provide simultaneous measurements of n[sub e], T[sub e] and V[sub pl] with good temporal and spatial resolution, and therefore are especially suited to detailed investigations of plasma turbulence in the scrape-off-layer. Unfortunately, the finite tip separation coupled with the fluctuating gradients prevents a simple interpretation of the results. We have developed a method using, essentially, two or more triple probes, which allows a good estimate of the three plasma parameters and their spatial derivatives at each point of time (assuming tip separation is much less than correlation length and dimensionless fluctuation levels are much less than unity). In particular, we can unambiguously measure the temperature fluctuations and the turbulent particle and heat flux. (author) 1 fig.

  1. Zintl-phases with layer anions: preparation and crystal structures of the isotypic compounds SrSn sub 2 As sub 2 and Sr sub 0. 87 Ba sub 0. 13 Sn sub 2 As sub 2 and a single crystal structure determination of KSnSb. Zintl-Phasen mit Schichtanionen: Darstellung und Kristallstrukturen der isotypen Verbindungen SrSn sub 2 As sub 2 und Sr sub 0,87 Ba sub 0,13 Sn sub 2 As sub 2 sowie eine Einkristallstrukturbestimmung von KSnSb

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Eisenmann, B; Klein, J [Abt. 2 fuer Anorganische Chemie, Technische Hochschule Darmstadt (Germany)

    1991-06-01

    The metallic reflecting compounds SrSn{sub 2}As{sub 2} and Sr{sub 0.87}Ba{sub 0.13}Sn{sub 2}As{sub 2} were prepared from the melt, they crystallize in the trigonal rhombohedral system (space group R3m, Z = 3) with lattice constants see ''Inhaltsuebersicht''. In the crystal structure of the isotypic compounds threebonded Sn atoms and threebonded As atoms together form puckered layers which are isostructural to grey As. The mean values of the bond lengths Sn -- As are 277.6 pm (SrSn{sub 2}As{sub 2}) and 279.1 pm (Sr{sub 0.87}Ba{sub 0.13}Sn{sub 2}As{sub 2}) resp. Along (001) the alkaline earth atoms occupy the octahedral interstices of As atoms between each second SnAs layer. The single crystal structure determination of KSnSb confirms the results of the X-ray powder analysis, but leads to slightly different values for the bond lengths.

  2. Remediation of organic and inorganic arsenic contaminated groundwater using a nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2}-based adsorbent

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jing Chuanyong, E-mail: cyjing@rcees.ac.c [State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085 (China); Center for Environmental Systems, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030 (United States); Meng Xiaoguang; Calvache, Edwin [Center for Environmental Systems, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030 (United States); Jiang Guibin [State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085 (China)

    2009-08-15

    A nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2}-based adsorbent was evaluated for the simultaneous removal of As(V), As(III), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in contaminated groundwater. Batch experimental results show that As adsorption followed pseudo-second order rate kinetics. The competitive adsorption was described with the charge distribution multi-site surface complexation model (CD-MUSIC). The groundwater containing an average of 329 mug L{sup -1} As(III), 246 mug L{sup -1} As(V), 151 mug L{sup -1} MMA, and 202 mug L{sup -1} DMA was continuously passed through a TiO{sub 2} filter at an empty bed contact time of 6 min for 4 months. Approximately 11 000, 14 000, and 9900 bed volumes of water had been treated before the As(III), As(V), and MMA concentration in the effluent increased to 10 mug L{sup -1}. However, very little DMA was removed. The EXAFS results demonstrate the existence of a bidentate binuclear As(V) surface complex on spent adsorbent, indicating the oxidation of adsorbed As(III). - A nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2}-based adsorbent could be used for the simultaneous removal of As(V), As(III), MMA, and DMA in contaminated groundwater.

  3. Theory of structural phase transition in MgTi{sub 2}O{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Talanov, V. M., E-mail: valtalanov@mail.ru [South Russian State Polytechnical University (Russian Federation); Shirokov, V. B. [Russian Academy of Sciences, South Science Centre (Russian Federation); Ivanov, V. V. [South Russian State Polytechnical University (Russian Federation); Talanov, M. V. [South Federal University (Russian Federation)

    2015-01-15

    A theory of phase transition in MgTi{sub 2}O{sub 4} is proposed based on a study of the order-parameter symmetry, thermodynamics, and mechanisms of formation of the atomic and orbital structure of the low-symmetry MgTi{sub 2}O{sub 4} phase. The critical order parameter (which induces a phase transition) is determined. It is shown that the calculated MgTi{sub 2}O{sub 4} tetragonal structure is a result of displacements of magnesium, titanium, and oxygen atoms; ordering of oxygen atoms; and the participation of d{sub xy}, d{sub xz}, and d{sub yz} orbitals. The contribution of noncritical representations to ion displacements is proven to be insignificant. The existence of various metal clusters in the tetragonal phase has been established by calculation in correspondence with experimental data. It is shown (within the Landau theory of phase transitions) that phase states can be changed as a result of both first- and second-order phase transitions: the high-symmetry phase borders two low-symmetry phases by second-order transition lines, while the border between low-symmetry phases is a first-order transition line.

  4. The tin-rich copper lithium stannides: Li{sub 3}Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 4} and Li{sub 2}CuSn{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Fuertauer, Siegfried; Flandorfer, Hans [Vienna Univ. (Austria). Inst. of Inorganic Chemistry (Materials Chemisrty); Effenberger, Herta S. [Vienna Univ. (Austria). Inst. of Mineralogy and Crystallography

    2015-05-01

    The Sn rich ternary intermetallic compounds Li{sub 3}Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 4} (CSD-427097) and Li{sub 2}CuSn{sub 2} (CSD-427098) were synthesized from the pure elements by induction melting and annealing at 400 C. Structural investigations were performed by powder- and single-crystal XRD. Li{sub 3}Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 4} crystallizes in space group P6/mmm; it is structurally related to but not isotypic with MgFe{sub 6}Ge{sub 6} (a = 5.095(2) Aa, c = 9.524(3) Aa; wR{sub 2} = 0.059; 239 unique F{sup 2}-values, 17 free variables). Li{sub 3}Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 4} is characterized by two sites with a mixed Cu:Sn occupation. In contrast to all other Cu-Li-Sn compounds known so far, any mixed occupation was found for Cu-Li pairs only. In addition, one Li site is only half occupied. The second Sn rich phase is Li{sub 2}CuSn{sub 2} (space group I4{sub 1}/amd, a = 4.4281(15) Aa, c = 19.416(4) Aa; wR{sub 2} = 0.033; 213 unique F{sup 2}-values, 12 atom free variables); it is the only phase in the Cu-Li-Sn system which is noted for full ordering. Both crystal structures exhibit 3D-networks which host Li atoms in channels. They are important for understanding the lithiation mechanism in Cu-Sn electrodes for Li-ion batteries.

  5. QCD factorizations in {gamma}*{gamma}*->{rho}{sub L}{sup 0}{rho}{sub L}{sup 0}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pire, B. [CPHT, Unite mixte 7644 du CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau (France)]. E-mail: pire@cpht.polytechnique.fr; Segond, M. [LPT, Unite mixte 8627 du CNRS, Universite Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay (France); Szymanowski, L. [LPT, Unite mixte 8627 du CNRS, Universite Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay (France); Universite de Liege, B-4000 Liege (Belgium); Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies, Hoza 69, 00-681 Warsaw (Poland); Wallon, S. [LPT, Unite mixte 8627 du CNRS. , Universite Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay (France)

    2006-08-24

    We calculate the lowest order QCD amplitude, i.e. the quark exchange contribution, to the forward production amplitude of a pair of longitudinally polarized {rho} mesons in the scattering of two virtual photons {gamma}*(Q{sub 1}){gamma}*(Q{sub 2})->{rho}{sub L}{sup 0}{rho}{sub L}{sup 0}. We show that the scattering amplitude simultaneously factorizes in two quite different ways: the part with transverse photons is described by the QCD factorization formula involving the generalized distribution amplitude of two final {rho} mesons, whereas the part with longitudinally polarized photons takes the QCD factorized form with the {gamma}{sub L}*->{rho}{sub L}{sup 0} transition distribution amplitude. Perturbative expressions for these, in general, non-perturbative functions are obtained in terms of the {rho}-meson distribution amplitude.

  6. Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of vanadium-doped manganites La{sub 0.65}Ca{sub 0.35}Mn{sub 1−x}V{sub x}O{sub 3} (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.5)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Marzouki-Ajmi, A., E-mail: espoir12.08.85@gmail.com [Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Sfax University, B.P. 1171, 3000 Sfax (Tunisia); Centre de Recherche en Numériques de Sfax, B.P 275, 3029 Sfax (Tunisia); Mansouri, M. [Center for Functionalized Magnetic Materials, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236041 Kaliningrad (Russian Federation); Cheikhrouhou-Koubaa, W. [Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Sfax University, B.P. 1171, 3000 Sfax (Tunisia); Centre de Recherche en Numériques de Sfax, B.P 275, 3029 Sfax (Tunisia); Koubaa, M. [Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Sfax University, B.P. 1171, 3000 Sfax (Tunisia); Cheikhrouhou, A. [Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Sfax University, B.P. 1171, 3000 Sfax (Tunisia); Centre de Recherche en Numériques de Sfax, B.P 275, 3029 Sfax (Tunisia)

    2017-07-01

    Highlights: • Our samples were prepared using solid state reaction method. • All samples crystallized in orthorhombic structure with Pbnm space group. • Presence of secondary phase LaVO{sub 4} in V-doped samples. • Our samples exhibit PM-FM transition at Curie temperature. • The Curie temperature decreases with V-doping (262 K for x = 0 to 206 K for x = 0.5). • The Magnetic transition was found to be of second order. - Abstract: Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of polycrystalline La{sub 0.65}Ca{sub 0.35}Mn{sub 1−x}V{sub x}O{sub 3} have been investigated. Our samples were prepared using the solid state reaction method at high temperatures. X-ray diffraction analysis show that all samples crystallized in the orthorhombic structure with Pbnm space group with presence of LaVO{sub 4} as secondary phase. The SEM micrographs reveal micrometric grains with bimodal size distribution. Magnetic Measurements indicate that our samples exhibit a PM–FM transition, with a Curie temperature (T{sub C}) decreasing from 262 K for x = 0 to 208 K for x = 0.5; in addition to the presence of the Griffiths phase in the paramagnetic region. Using the isothermal magnetization versus magnetic applied field, we have deduced that the occured magnetic transition is of second order. Moreover, we have calculated the magnetic entropy change, which reaches 5.25 J/kg K for La{sub 0.65}Ca{sub 0.35}Mn{sub 0.5}V{sub 0.5}O{sub 3} compound under 5T. This value is associated to a relative cooling power (RCP) of 207 J/kg.

  7. Silicon isotope separation utilizing infrared multiphoton dissociation of Si{sub 2}F{sub 6} irradiated with two-color CO{sub 2} laser light

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yokoyama, Atsushi; Ohba, Hironori; Hashimoto, Masashi [Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Tokai, Ibaraki (Japan). Tokai Research Establishment; Ishii, Takeshi; Ohya, Akio [Nuclear Development Corp., Tokai, Ibaraki (Japan); Arai, Shigeyoshi [Hill Research Co. Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)

    2002-08-01

    Silicon isotope separation has been done by utilizing the Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation (IRMPD) of Si{sub 2}F{sub 6} irradiated with two-color CO{sub 2} laser lights. The two-color excitation method improved the separation efficiency keeping the high enrichment factors. For example, 99.74% of {sup 28}Si was obtained at 49.63% dissociation of Si{sub 2}F{sub 6} after the simultaneous irradiation of 200 pulses with 966.23 cm{sup -1} photons (0.084 J/cm{sup 2}) and 954.55 cm{sup -1} photons (0.658 J/cm{sup 2}), while 2000 pulses were needed to obtain 99.35% of {sup 28}Si at 35.6% dissociation in the case of only one-color irradiation at 954.55 cm{sup -1} (0.97 J/cm{sup 2}). (author)

  8. Study on magnetic properties of (Nd{sub 0.8}Ce{sub 0.2}){sub 2−x}Fe{sub 12}Co{sub 2}B (x = 0–0.6) alloys

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tan, G.S.; Xu, H., E-mail: huixu8888@shu.edu.cn; Yu, L.Y.; Tan, X.H.; Zhang, Q.; Gu, Y.; Hou, X.L.

    2017-09-01

    Highlights: • (Nd{sub 0.8}Ce{sub 0.2}){sub 2−x}Fe{sub 12}Co{sub 2}B alloys are prepared by melt-spinning method with simultaneously decreasing of Nd, Ce concentration. • The magnetic properties B{sub r}, (BH){sub max} and squareness are all improved with an appropriate reduction of Nd, Ce concentration. • Magnetic field heat treatment offers a significant improvement in B{sub r}, (BH){sub max} and squareness. - Abstract: In the present work, (Nd{sub 0.8}Ce{sub 0.2}){sub 2−x}Fe{sub 12}Co{sub 2}B (x = 0–0.6) permanent alloys are prepared by melt-spinning method. The hard magnetic properties of (Nd{sub 0.8}Ce{sub 0.2}){sub 2−x}Fe{sub 12}Co{sub 2}B (x = 0–0.6) alloys annealed at optimum temperatures have been investigated systematically. Depending on the Nd, Ce concentration, the maximum energy product ((BH){sub max}) and remanence (B{sub r}) increase gradually with x in the range of 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4, whereas decrease gradually in the alloys with 0.4 < x ≤ 0.6. It is found that the optimum magnetic properties are obtained at x = 0.4: H{sub ci} = 4.9 kOe, B{sub r} = 10.1 kG, (BH){sub max} = 13.7 MGOe. Specifically, magnetic field heat treatment below the Curie temperature is applied for (Nd{sub 0.8}Ce{sub 0.2}){sub 1.6}Fe{sub 12}Co{sub 2}B (x = 0.4) annealed ribbons. The magnetic properties B{sub r}, (BH){sub max} and squareness are all enhanced after the magnetic field heat treatment. The (BH){sub max} shows a substantial increase from 13.7 MGOe to 16.0 MGOe after the heat treatment at 623 K with a magnetic field of 1 T, which gets 17% improvement compared with that of the sample without a magnetic field heat treatment. We demonstrate that the magnetic field heat treatment plays a certain role in the magnetization reversal behavior and can improve the microstructure of (Nd{sub 0.8}Ce{sub 0.2}){sub 1.6}Fe{sub 12}Co{sub 2}B alloy.

  9. Preparation and electrical properties of MoO{sub 3}-modified SrBi{sub 2}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 9}-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yao, Zhongran, E-mail: ruiqingchu@sohu.com [College of Materials Science and Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059 (China); Chu, Ruiqing, E-mail: rqchu@lcu.edu.cn [College of Materials Science and Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059 (China); Xu, Zhijun; Hao, Jigong; Wei, Denghu; Cheng, Renfei [College of Materials Science and Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059 (China); Li, Guorong [The State Key Lab of High Performance Ceramics and Superfinemicrostructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 200050 (China)

    2016-05-05

    Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics, SrBi{sub 2}(Nb{sub 1-x}Mo{sub x}){sub 2}O{sub 9} (SBNM-x), were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure, microstructure and electrical properties were systematically investigated. The X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that the substitution formed layered perovskite structure. Plate-like morphology of the grains which is characteristic for layer-structure Aurivillius compounds was clearly observed for all the samples. The excellent electrical properties (e.g., d{sub 33}∼18 pC/N, 2P{sub r}∼20.34 μC/cm{sup 2}) and a high Curie temperature (e.g., T{sub c}∼458 °C) are simultaneously obtained in the ceramics with x = 0.12. Additionally, thermal annealing studies indicated that piezoelectric constant (d{sub 33}) of SBNM-0.12 ceramic remains almost unchanged (16 pC/N, only decrease by 12%) at temperatures below 400 °C, demonstrating that the Mo-modified SBN-based ceramics are the promising candidates for high-temperature applications. - Highlights: • Higher valent cation Mo{sup 6+} substituted for B-site Nb{sup 5+} in the perovskite layers ions. • The piezoelectric constant (d{sub 33}) of SrBi{sub 2}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 9} ceramic is increased to be 18 pC/N. • The remnant polarization (2P{sub r}) of SrBi{sub 2}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 9} ceramic is increased to be 20.34 μC cm{sup −2}. • SBNM-x ceramics show good temperature stability for high temperature applications.

  10. Preparation and structural properties of nonlinear optical borates K{sub 2(1-x)}Rb{sub 2x}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7}, 0 < x < 0.75

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Atuchin, V.V., E-mail: atuchin@thermo.isp.nsc.ru [Laboratory of Optical Materials and Structures, Institute of Semiconductor Physics, SB RAS, Novosibirsk 90, 630090 (Russian Federation); Bazarov, B.G. [Laboratory of Oxide Systems, Baikal Institute of Nature Management, SB RAS, Ulan-Ude 47, 670047 (Russian Federation); Gavrilova, T.A. [Laboratory of Nanodiagnostics and Nanolithography, Institute of Semiconductor Physics, SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090 (Russian Federation); Grossman, V.G. [Laboratory of Oxide Systems, Baikal Institute of Nature Management, SB RAS, Ulan-Ude 47, 670047 (Russian Federation); Molokeev, M.S. [Laboratory of Crystal Physics, Institute of Physics, SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk 660036 (Russian Federation); Bazarova, Zh.G. [Laboratory of Oxide Systems, Baikal Institute of Nature Management, SB RAS, Ulan-Ude 47, 670047 (Russian Federation)

    2012-02-25

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Solid solutions K{sub 2(1-x)}Rb{sub 2x}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} are synthesized over wide composition range up to x {approx} 0.83. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Crystal structure of K{sub 2(1-x)}Rb{sub 2x}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} solutions is determined in space group P321. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Second harmonic generation is observed in KRbAl{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Drastic variation of cell parameters is found over KABO-type crystal family. - Abstract: The structures of K{sub 2(1-x)}Rb{sub 2x}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7}, x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, have been determined in space group P321 through Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data. The solubility limit in K{sub 2(1-x)}Rb{sub 2x}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} crystals has been estimated as x {approx} 0.83-0.9. Nonlinear optical properties of KRbAl{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} have been verified by powder Kurtz-Perry method. Mechanisms of structural parameter variation in K{sub 2}Al{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} crystal family have been discussed.

  11. Measurement of the B0<sub>s> lifetime in B0<sub>s> → K+ K- decays

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pounder, Nicola Louise [Wolfson College, Oxford (United Kingdom)

    2009-01-01

    A method is presented to simultaneously separate the contributions to a sample of B0<sub>s> → h+h'- decays, where h = π or K, and measure the B meson lifetimes in the sample while correcting for the bias in the lifetime distributions due to the hadronic trigger at the CDF experiment. Using 1 fb -1 of data collected at CDF the B0 lifetime is measured as τ<sub>B0sub> = 1.558<sub>-0.047sub>+0.050<sub>stat> ± 0.028<sub>syst> ps, in agreement with the world average measurement. The B0<sub>s> lifetime in the B<sub>s>0 → K+K- decay is measured as τ<sub>B0<sub>s> → K+K- = 1.51<sub>-0.11sub>+0.13<sub>stat> ± 0.04 <sub>syst> ps. No difference is observed between the lifetime and other measurements of the average B0<sub>s> lifetime or the lifetime of the light B0<sub>s> mass eigenstate determined from B0<sub>s> → J/ΨΦ decays. With the assumptions that B0<sub>s> → K+K- is 100% CP-even and that τ<sub>B0<sub>s> = τsub> B0sub> the width difference in the B0<sub>s> system is determined as ΔΓCP/Γ = 0.03<sub>-0.15sub>+0.17<sub>stat> ± 0.05<sub>syst> using the current world average B0 lifetime. This is consistent with zero and with the current world average measurement.

  12. From Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N to LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2}: Decreasing the optical band gap of a photocatalyst

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Anke, B. [Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (Germany); Bredow, T. [Mulliken Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Universität Bonn, Beringstr. 4, 53115 Bonn (Germany); Pilarski, M.; Wark, M. [Institut für Chemie, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg (Germany); Lerch, M., E-mail: martin.lerch@tu-berlin.de [Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (Germany)

    2017-02-15

    Yellow LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} was successfully synthesized as phase-pure material crystallizing isostructurally to previously reported Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N and mixed-valence Ba{sub 3}Ta{sup V}{sub 4}Ta{sup IV}O{sub 15}. The electronic structure of LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} was studied theoretically with the range-separated hybrid method HSE06. The most stable structure was obtained when lanthanum was placed on 2a and nitrogen on 4h sites confirming Pauling's second rule. By incorporating nitrogen, the measured band gap decreases from ∼3.8 eV for the oxide via 2.74 eV for Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N to 2.63 eV for the new oxide nitride, giving rise to an absorption band well in the visible-light region. Calculated fundamental band gaps confirm the experimental trend. The atom-projected density of states has large contributions from N2p orbitals close to the valence band edge. These are responsible for the observed band gap reduction. Photocatalytic hydrogen formation was investigated and compared with that of Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N revealing significantly higher activity for LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} under UV-light. - Graphical abstract: X-ray powder diffraction pattern of LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} with the results of the Rietveld refinements. Inset: Unit cell of LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} and polyhedral representation of the crystal structure. - Highlights: • Synthesis of a new oxide nitride LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2}. • Refinement of the crystal structure. • Quantum chemical calculations provided band gap close to the measured value. • New phase shows a higher photocatalytic H{sub 2} evolution rate compared to prior tested Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N.

  13. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of Cs{sub 2}Er[Si{sub 6}O{sub 14}]F and Cs{sub 2}Er[Si{sub 4}O{sub 10}]F

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dabic, Predrag; Kremenovic, Aleksandar; Vulic, Predag [Belgrade Univ. (Serbia). Lab. of Crystallography; Kahlenberg, Volker; Schmidmair, Daniela [Innsbruck Univ. (Austria). Inst. of Mineralogy and Petrography

    2016-07-01

    Single-crystal growth experiments in the system CsF-Er{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} resulted in the simultaneous crystallization of two chemically related compounds within the same run: Cs{sub 2}Er[Si{sub 6}O{sub 14}]F (phase I) and Cs{sub 2}Er[Si{sub 4}O{sub 10}]F (phase II). They represent the first examples for cesium erbium silicates containing fluorine. Basic crystallographic data are - phase I: space group Cmca, a=17.2556(6) Aa, b=24.6565(7) Aa, c=14.4735(5) Aa, V=6157.9(3) Aa{sup 3}, Z=16; phase II: space group Pnma, a=22.3748(7) Aa, b=8.8390(2) Aa, c=11.9710(4) Aa, V=2367.5(1) Aa{sup 3}, Z=8. The structures were determined by direct methods and refined to residuals of R(vertical stroke F vertical stroke)=0.0229 for 2920 (phase I) and 0.0231 for 2314 (phase II) independent observed reflections with I>2σ(I). The structure of phase I represents a previously unknown structure type with a three dimensional tetrahedral framework consisting of Q{sup 3} and Q{sup 4} groups in the ratio 2:1. Basic building units of the network are unbranched sechser single-chains running parallel to [001]. The network can be conveniently built up from the condensation of tetrahedral layers parallel to (010) or (100), respectively. The crystal structure of phase II can be classified as a tubular or columnar chain silicate indicating that the backbones of the structure are multiple chains of silicate tetrahedra. This structure is isotypic to a Cs{sub 2}Y[Si{sub 4}O{sub 10}]F, a compound that has been characterized previously. Alternatively, both compounds can be described as mixed octahedral-tetrahedral frameworks, which can be classified according to their polyhedral microensembles. A topological analysis of both nets is presented.

  14. Insulating phase in Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4}: An investigation using critical analysis and magnetocaloric effect

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bhatti, Imtiaz Noor; Pramanik, A.K., E-mail: akpramanik@mail.jnu.ac.in

    2017-01-15

    The nature of insulating phase in 5d based Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4} is quite debated as the theoretical as well as experimental investigations have put forward evidences in favor of both magnetically driven Slater-type and interaction driven Mott-type insulator. To understand this insulating behavior, we have investigated the nature of magnetic state in Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4} through studying critical exponents, low temperature thermal demagnetization and magnetocaloric effect. The estimated critical exponents do not exactly match with any universality class, however, the values obey the scaling behavior. The exponent values suggest that spin interaction in present material is close to mean-field model. The analysis of low temperature thermal demagnetization data, however, shows dual presence of localized- and itinerant-type of magnetic interaction. Moreover, field dependent change in magnetic entropy indicates magnetic interaction is close to mean-field type. While this material shows an insulating behavior across the magnetic transition, yet a distinct change in slope in resistivity is observed around T{sub c}. We infer that though the insulating phase in Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4} is more close to be Slater-type but the simultaneous presence of both Slater- and Mott-type is the likely scenario for this material. - Highlights: • Critical analysis shows Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4} has ferromagnetic ordering temperature T{sub c}~225 K. • Obtained critical exponents imply spin interaction is close to mean-field model. • Analysis of magneto-entropy data also supports mean-field type interaction. • However, the presence of both itinerant and localized spin interaction is evident. • Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4} has simultaneous presence of both Slater- and Mott-type insulating phase.

  15. A better ferrimagnetic half-metal LuCu{sub 3}Mn{sub 4}O{sub 12}: Predicted from first-principles investigation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lv Shuhui; Li Hongping [State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022 (China); Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049 (China); Han Deming; Wu Zhijian [State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022 (China); Liu Xiaojuan, E-mail: lxjuan@ciac.jl.c [State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022 (China); Meng Jian, E-mail: jmeng@ciac.jl.c [State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022 (China)

    2011-03-15

    Electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA+U for manganite cuprate compound LuCu{sub 3}Mn{sub 4}O{sub 12} have been performed, using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The calculated results indicate that LuCu{sub 3}Mn{sub 4}O{sub 12} is ferrimagnetic and half-metallic in both GGA and GGA+U calculations. The minority-spin band gap is 0.7 eV within GGA, which is larger than that of LaCu{sub 3}Mn{sub 4}O{sub 12} (0.3 eV), indicating its better half-metallicity. Further, the minority-spin gap enlarges from 0.7 to 2.8 eV with U taken into account, and simultaneously the Fermi level being shifted to the middle of the gap, making the half-metallic energy gap to be 1.21 eV. These results demonstrate that electronic correlation effect enhances the stability of half-metallic property. These facts make this system interesting candidates for applications in spintronic devices. - Research highlights: The electronic and magnetic properties of LuCu{sub 3}Mn{sub 4}O{sub 12} are analyzed. Both GGA and GGA+U methods are reported and compared. A better half-metal LuCu{sub 3}Mn{sub 4}O{sub 12} is obtained with large half-metallic gap. The results agree very well with the experimental data.

  16. In situ defect annealing of swift heavy ion irradiated CeO<sub>2sub> and ThO<sub>2sub> using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and a hydrothermal diamond anvil cell

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Palomares, Raul I.; Tracy, Cameron L.; Zhang, Fuxiang; Park, Changyong; Popov, Dmitry; Trautmann, Christina; Ewing, Rodney C.; Lang, Maik

    2015-04-16

    Hydrothermal diamond anvil cells (HDACs) provide facile means for coupling synchrotron X-ray techniques with pressure up to 10 GPa and temperature up to 1300 K. This manuscript reports on an application of the HDAC as an ambient-pressure sample environment for performingin situdefect annealing and thermal expansion studies of swift heavy ion irradiated CeO<sub>2sub>and ThO<sub>2sub>using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The advantages of thein situHDAC technique over conventional annealing methods include rapid temperature ramping and quench times, high-resolution measurement capability, simultaneous annealing of multiple samples, and prolonged temperature and apparatus stability at high temperatures. Isochronal annealing between 300 and 1100 K revealed two-stage and one-stage defect recovery processes for irradiated CeO<sub>2sub>and ThO<sub>2sub>, respectively, indicating that the morphology of the defects produced by swift heavy ion irradiation of these two materials differs significantly. These results suggest that electronic configuration plays a major role in both the radiation-induced defect production and high-temperature defect recovery mechanisms of CeO<sub>2sub>and ThO<sub>2sub>.

  17. Effect of freeze-drying and self-ignition process on the microstructural and electrochemical properties of Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jamin, Claire [GREEnMat/LCIS, Department of Chemistry, B6a, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège (Belgium); Traina, Karl [GREEnMat/LCIS, Department of Chemistry, B6a, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège (Belgium); APTIS, Department of Physics, B5a, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège (Belgium); Eskenazi, David [Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, B6a, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège (Belgium); Krins, Natacha; Cloots, Rudi; Vertruyen, Bénédicte [GREEnMat/LCIS, Department of Chemistry, B6a, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège (Belgium); Boschini, Frédéric, E-mail: frederic.boschini@ulg.ac.be [GREEnMat/LCIS, Department of Chemistry, B6a, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège (Belgium); APTIS, Department of Physics, B5a, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège (Belgium)

    2013-11-15

    Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} is prepared by a method involving self-ignition of a freeze-dried gel. • Addition of NH{sub 4}NO{sub 3} modifies the self-ignition propagation mode. • Well-crystallized Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} phase is obtained after only 2 h at 800 °C. • Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} powder has 161 mAh g{sup −1} capacity and good retention at C/4 rate. - Abstract: Crystalline Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} is synthesized by a method involving the freeze-drying and self-ignition of a gel prepared from titanium isopropoxide, lithium nitrate and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). This synthesis route yields crystalline Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} particles after calcination at 800 °C for 2 h. In an alternative route, addition of ammonium nitrate shifts the self-ignition mode from wave-like propagation to simultaneous. Powders with different microstructures are thereby obtained. Electrochemical characterization shows that the best results for Li{sup +} intercalation/desintercalation are obtained for the powder prepared without ammonium nitrate addition. These results highlight the necessity for a control of the self-ignition mode to obtain adequate properties.

  18. Hyperpolarized 3He magnetic resonance imaging: Preliminary evaluation of phenotyping potential in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Mathew, Lindsay; Kirby, Miranda; Etemad-Rezai, Roya; Wheatley, Andrew; McCormack, David G.; Parraga, Grace

    2011-01-01

    Rationale and objectives: Emphysema and small airway obstruction are the pathological hallmarks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this pilot study in a small group of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients was to quantify hyperpolarized helium-3 ( 3 He) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) functional and structural measurements and to explore the potential role for 3 He MRI in detecting the lung structural and functional COPD phenotypes. Materials and methods: We evaluated 20 ex-smokers with stage I (n = 1), stage II (n = 9) and stage III COPD (n = 10). All subjects underwent same-day plethysmography, spirometry, 1 H MRI and hyperpolarized 3 He MRI at 3.0 T. 3 He ventilation defect percent (VDP) was generated from 3 He static ventilation images and 1 H thoracic images and the 3 He apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was derived from diffusion-weighted MRI. Results: Based on the relative contribution of normalized ADC and VDP, there was evidence of a predominant 3 He MRI measurement in seven patients (n = 3 mainly ventilation defects or VDP dominant (VD), n = 4 mainly increased ADC or ADC dominant (AD)). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significantly lower ADC for subjects with predominantly elevated VDP (p = 0.02 compared to subjects with predominantly elevated ADC; p = 0.008 compared to mixed group) and significantly decreased VDP for subjects with predominantly elevated ADC (p = 0.003, compared to mixed group). Conclusion: In this small pilot study, a preliminary analysis shows the potential for 3 He MRI to categorize or phenotype COPD ex-smokers, providing good evidence of feasibility for larger prospective studies.

  19. Polyaniline as a cathode for O/sub 2/ reduction - kinetics of the reaction with H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ and use of the polymer in a model H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ fuel cell

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Doubova, L.; Mengoli, G.; Musiani, M.M.; Valcher, S.

    1989-03-01

    Oxygen reduction at a polyaniline cathode occurs in aqueous sulfuric acid through a chemical-electrochemical route which involves the intermediate oxidation of leucoemeraldine to emeraldine with the formation of H/sub 2/O/sub 2/. This paper specifically deals with the conversion of leucoemeraldine to emeraldine by H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ whose kinetics, apparently second order on the charge exchange, are similar to those found for the reaction with O/sub 2/, although they occur at lower rate. The catalytic four electron O/sub 2/ reduction mediated by the Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple which decomposes H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ is not fully achieved. However, polyaniline proved to be a reliable cathode for O/sub 2/, sustaining the working of a model H/sub 2//O/sub 2/ fuel cell.

  20. Renal scintigraphy in the 21st Century {sup 99m} Tc-MAG{sub 3} with zero time injection of furosemide (MAG{sub 3}-F{sub 0}): a fast and easy protocol, one for all indications. Part 3. Clinical experience. Congenital disorders

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sfakianakis, G.N. [Professor of Radiology and Pediatrics, Director Division of Nuclear Medicine, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida (United States)

    2007-07-01

    In this work the Protocol for MAG{sub 3}-F{sub 0} is presented. Patient preparation, easy (only restriction, oral hydration, no bladder cathartic). Dynamic study (iv 1-10 mCi MAG{sub 3} + 40-80 mg LASIX), simultaneous injection of furosemide: MAG{sub 3}-F{sub 0}, duration of the study: 25 minutes. Tomography-SPECT (20 mCi MAG{sub 3}). No diuretic needed, duration of the study: 4 minutes. (Author)

  1. CO{sub 2} emissions - sequestration, costs; Emisja CO{sub 2} - sekwestracja, koszty

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rakowski, J. [Inst. of Power Industry, Warsaw (Poland). Thermal Process Department

    2004-07-01

    The paper discusses and compares costs of technologies for limiting emissions of carbon dioxide in both before and after combustion in power generation - natural gas combined cycle; coal power unit with pulverised fuel boiler at both supercritical conditions and ultra supercritical conditions; and integrated gasification combined cycle. It then discusses in some detail the concept of an IGCC unit adapted to the removal of CO{sub 2} with the simultaneous production of hydrogen, and the use of an oxygen plant with CO{sub 2} recycling. 17 refs., 2 figs., 10 tabs.

  2. Optical absorption, piezoelectric effect and second harmonic generation studies of single crystal AgGaGe{sub 3}Se{sub 7.6}Te{sub 0.4} solid solution

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Myronchuk, G.L.; Krymus, A.S.; Piasecki, M. [Institute of Physics, J. Dlugosz University, Czestochowa (Poland); Eastern European National University, Physics Department, Lutsk (Ukraine); Lakshminarayana, G. [Universiti Putra Malaysia, Wireless and Photonic Networks Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Serdang, Selangor (Malaysia); Kityk, I.V. [Czestochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czestochowa (Poland); Eastern European National University, Physics Department, Lutsk (Ukraine); Parasyuk, O.V. [Eastern European National University, Department of Chemistry, Lutsk (Ukraine); Rudysh, M.Ya.; Shchepanskyi, P.A. [Institute of Physics, J. Dlugosz University, Czestochowa (Poland); Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Physics Department, Lviv (Ukraine)

    2017-03-15

    Spectral features of absorption were studied for novel AgGaGe{sub 3}Se{sub 7.6}Te{sub 0.4} solid-state alloys at different temperatures. The synthesized crystals structure parameters are obtained by the X-ray Rietveld refinement method. During increasing temperature from 100 up to 300 K, the energy gap of AgGaGe{sub 3}Se{sub 7.6}Te{sub 0.4} decreases linearly from 2.05 up to 1.94 eV at a rate 5.7 x 10{sup -4} eV/K. The magnitudes of piezoelectric coefficients are significantly changed and demonstrate substantial anisotropy. At room temperature, these values are equal to 5.2 pm/V (d{sub 11}), 31.5 pm/V (d{sub 22}) and 35.5 pm/V (d{sub 33}). It is crucial that with an increasing temperature the piezoelectric efficiencies are increased. We have explored temperature and laser-induced changes of piezoelectric coefficients. (orig.)

  3. Raman Spectroscopic Studies of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} Coated Conductors

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Choi, Mi Kyeung; Mnh, Nguyen Van; Bae, J. S.; Jo, William; Yang, In Sang [Ewha Womans University, Seoul (Korea, Republic of); Ko, Rock Kil; Ha, Hong Soo; Park, Chan [Korea Electrotecnology Research Institute, Changwon (Korea, Republic of)

    2005-04-15

    We present results of Raman spectroscopic studies of superconducting YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} (YBCO) coated conductors. Raman scattering is used to characterize optical phonon modes, oxygen content, c-axis misalignment, and second phases of the YBCO coated conductors at a micro scale. A two-dimensional mapping of Raman spectra with transport properties has been performed to elucidate the effect of local propertied on current path and superconducting phase. The information taken from the local measurement will be useful for optimizing the process condition.

  4. Aqueous arsenite removal by simultaneous ultraviolet photocatalytic oxidation-coagulation of titanium sulfate

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, Yuxia [Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resources, Environment and Ecology, MOE, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (China); Duan, Jinming, E-mail: jinmingduan@xauat.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resources, Environment and Ecology, MOE, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (China); Centre for Water Management and Reuse, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, South Australia (Australia); Li, Wei [Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resources, Environment and Ecology, MOE, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (China); Beecham, Simon; Mulcahy, Dennis [Centre for Water Management and Reuse, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, South Australia (Australia)

    2016-02-13

    Highlights: • A simultaneous UV catalysed oxidation–coagulation for As(III) removal is proposed. • As(III) was effectively oxidised to As(V) by the UV catalysed coagulation. • >99% removal for As(III) in pH 4–6 at low doses of Ti(SO{sub 4}){sub 2} was achieved. • Concurrent UV radiation in massive small crystal formation facilitate the effects. • Reaction mechanisms involve both hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals. - Abstract: This study explored the efficacy and efficiency of a simultaneous UV-catalyzed oxidation–coagulation process of titanium sulfate (UV/Ti(SO{sub 4}){sub 2}) for efficient removal of As(III) from water. It revealed that, As(III) could be oxidized to As(V) during the UV catalyzed coagulation of Ti(SO{sub 4}){sub 2} with highly efficient As(III) removal in the pH range 4–6{sub .} The UV catalyzed oxidation–coagulation showed surprisingly effective oxidation of As(III) to As(V) within a short time. XPS indicated that 84.7% of arsenic on the coagulated precipitate was in the oxidized form of As(V) after the UV/Ti(SO{sub 4}){sub 2} treatment of As(III) aqueous solutions at pH 5. Arsenic remaining in solution at high pH was in the oxidized form As(V). Removal efficiencies of As(III) were investigated as a function of pH, Ti(SO{sub 4}){sub 2} dosage, initial As(III) concentration and irradiation energy. As(III) could almost completely be removed (>99%) by the photocatalytic oxidation–coagulation process with a moderate dose of Ti(SO{sub 4}){sub 2} in the pH range 4–6 at an initial arsenic concentration of 200 μg/L. The mechanisms of the photocatalytic coagulation oxidation of Ti(SO{sub 4}){sub 2} are similar to those of UV/crystalline TiO{sub 2} particles, involving the formation and reactions of the hydroxyl radical OH· and superoxide HO{sub 2}·/O{sub 2}{sup ·−}.

  5. Electrical characteristics of SrTiO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} laminated film capacitors

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Peng, Yong; Yao, Manwen, E-mail: yaomw@tongji.edu.cn; Chen, Jianwen; Xu, Kaien; Yao, Xi [Functional Materials Research Laboratory, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092 (China)

    2016-07-07

    The electrical characteristics of SrTiO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} (160 nm up/90 nm down) laminated film capacitors using the sol-gel process have been investigated. SrTiO{sub 3} is a promising and extensively studied high-K dielectric material, but its leakage current property is poor. SrTiO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} laminated films can effectively suppress the demerits of pure SrTiO{sub 3} films under low electric field, but the leakage current value reaches to 0.1 A/cm{sup 2} at higher electric field (>160 MV/m). In this study, a new approach was applied to reduce the leakage current and improve the dielectric strength of SrTiO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} laminated films. Compared to laminated films with Au top electrodes, dielectric strength of laminated films with Al top electrodes improves from 205 MV/m to 322 MV/m, simultaneously the leakage current maintains the same order of magnitude (10{sup −4} A/cm{sup 2}) until the breakdown occurs. The above electrical characteristics are attributed to the anodic oxidation reaction in origin, which can repair the defects of laminated films at higher electric field. The anodic oxidation reactions have been confirmed by the corresponding XPS measurement and the cross sectional HRTEM analysis. This work provides a new approach to fabricate dielectrics with high dielectric strength and low leakage current.

  6. Sequential-Simultaneous Processing and Reading Skills in Primary Grade Children.

    Science.gov (United States)

    McRae, Sandra G.

    1986-01-01

    The study examined relationships between two modes of information processing, simultaneous and sequential, and two sets of reading skills, word recognition and comprehension, among 40 second and third grade students. Results indicated there is a relationship between simultaneous processing and reading comprehension. (Author)

  7. Equilibrium diagram of KPO{sub 3}-Y(PO{sub 3}){sub 3} system, chemical preparation and characterization of KY(PO{sub 3}){sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jouini, Anis; Ferid, Mokhtar; Trabelsi-Ayadi, Malika

    2003-04-17

    Microdifferential thermal analysis ({mu}-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy were used for the first time to investigate the liquidus and solidus relations in the KPO{sub 3}-Y(PO{sub 3}){sub 3} system. The only compound observed within the system was KY(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} melting incongruently at 1033 K. An eutectic appears at 13.5 mol% Y(PO{sub 3}){sub 3} at 935 K, the peritectic occurs at 1033 K and the phase transition for potassium polyphosphate KPO{sub 3} was observed at 725 K. Three monoclinic allotropic phases of the single crystals were obtained. KY(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} polyphosphate has the P2{sub 1} space group with lattice parameters: a=7.183(4) A, b=8.351(6) A, c=7.983(3) A, {beta}=91.75(3) deg. and Z=2 is isostructural with KNd(PO{sub 3}){sub 4}. The second allotropic form of KY(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} belongs to the P2{sub 1}/n space group with lattice parameters: a=10.835(3) A, b=9.003(2) A, c=10.314(1) A, {beta}=106.09(7) deg. and Z=4 and is isostructural with TlNd(PO{sub 3}){sub 4}. The IR absorption spectra of the two forms show a chain polyphosphates structure. The last modification of KYP{sub 4}O{sub 12} crystallizes in the C2/c space group with lattice parameters: a=7.825(3) A, b=12.537(4) A, c=10.584(2) A, {beta}=110.22(7) deg. and Z=4 is isostructural with RbNdP{sub 4}O{sub 12} and contains cyclic anions. The methods of chemical preparations, the determination of crystallographic data and IR spectra for these compounds are reported.

  8. Synthesis of ceramic BaCe{sub 0.7}Zr{sub 0,1}Y{sub 0.2}O{sub 3-δ} electrolyte containing ZnO through the method hidrogel; Sintese do eletrolito ceramico BaCe{sub 0,7}Z{sub 0,1}Y{sub 0,2}O{sub 3-}δ com adicao de ZnO atraves do metodo hidrogel

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Vieira, J.H.A.; Fagury Neto, E.; Rabelo, A.A., E-mail: adriano@unifesspa.edu.br [Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Para (FEMAT/UNIFESSPA), Maraba, PA (Brazil)

    2014-07-01

    The solid oxide fuel cells are promising sources of sustainable energy, once they produce electricity from an electrochemical reaction only with steam water as the product of this reaction. In this paper the synthesis of ceramic electrolyte BaCe{sub 0.7}Zr{sub 0.1}Y{sub 0.2}O{sub 3-δ} using the hydrogel method which involves using an organic gelatin inexpensive and nontoxic modifying the conventional route of polymeric precursor was performed. It was used different amounts of the sintering additive ZnO to decrease the sintering temperature, typically around 1600 °C, towards a minimum relative density of 95%. The polymeric resin was pyrolyzed at 300 °C, subjected to calcination at 600 °C and sintering at temperatures of 1350, 1400 and 1450 °C for 2 hours. Characterizations were carried out by determination of relative density and apparent porosity and using the techniques of differential thermal analysis and simultaneous thermogravimetric, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.(author)

  9. Precipitation of Ag{sub 2}Te in the thermoelectric material AgSbTe{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sugar, Joshua D. [Materials Physics Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA (United States)], E-mail: jdsugar@sandia.gov; Medlin, Douglas L. [Materials Physics Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA (United States)

    2009-06-10

    The microstructure of AgSbTe{sub 2}, prepared by solidification, is investigated using electron microscopy. During solidification and thermal treatment, the material separates into a two-phase mixture of a rocksalt phase, which is Ag{sub 22}Sb{sub 28}Te{sub 50}, and silver telluride, Ag{sub 2}Te. Ag{sub 2}Te formation results either from eutectic solidification (large lamellar structures), or by solid-state precipitation (fine-scale particles). The crystal structure of the AgSbTe{sub 2} phase determined by electron diffraction is consistent with a rocksalt structure that has a disordered cation sublattice. A preferred crystallographic orientation relationship at the interface between the matrix and the low-temperature monoclinic Ag{sub 2}Te phase is defined and discussed. This orientation relationship is observed for both second-phase morphologies. In both cases, the orientation relationship originates from a topotactic (cube-on-cube) alignment of the Te sublattices in the initially cubic Ag{sub 2}Te and the matrix at elevated temperature. This Te sublattice alignment is retained as the Ag{sub 2}Te undergoes a cubic-to-monoclinic transformation during cooling. This orientation relationship is observed for both second-phase morphologies.

  10. Centrosymmetric [N(CH{sub 3}){sub 4}]{sub 2}TiF{sub 6} vs. noncentrosymmetric polar [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}: A hydrogen-bonding effect on the out-of-center distortion of TiF{sub 6} octahedra

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kim, Eun-ah [Department of Chemistry Education, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, Dong Woo [Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756 (Korea, Republic of); Ok, Kang Min, E-mail: kmok@cau.ac.kr [Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756 (Korea, Republic of)

    2012-11-15

    The syntheses, structures, and characterization of organically templated zero-dimensional titanium fluoride materials, A{sub 2}TiF{sub 6} (A=[N(CH{sub 3}){sub 4}] or [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]), are reported. Phase pure samples of A{sub 2}TiF{sub 6} were synthesized by either solvothermal reaction method or a simple mixing method. While [N(CH{sub 3}){sub 4}]{sub 2}TiF{sub 6} crystallizes in a centrosymmetric space group, R-3, [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sub 2}TiF{sub 6} crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric polar space group, Cm. The asymmetric out-of-center distortion of TiF{sub 6} octahedra in polar [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sub 2}TiF{sub 6} are attributable to the hydrogen-bonding interactions between the fluorine atoms in TiF{sub 6} octahedra and the nitrogen atoms in the [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sup +} cation. Powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements on the [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}, using 1064 nm radiation, indicate the material has SHG efficiency of 25 Multiplication-Sign that of {alpha}-SiO{sub 2}, which indicates an average nonlinear optical susceptibility, Left-Pointing-Angle-Bracket d{sub eff} Right-Pointing-Angle-Bracket {sub exp} of 2.8 pm/V. Additional SHG measurements reveal that the material is not phase-matchable (Type 1). The magnitudes of out-of-center distortions and dipole moment calculations for TiF{sub 6} octahedra will be also reported. - Graphical abstract: The out-of-center distortion of TiF{sub 6} octahedron in the polar noncentrosymmetric [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sub 2}TiF{sub 6} is attributable to the hydrogen-bonding interactions between the F in TiF{sub 6} octahedron and the H-N in the [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sup +}. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Two titanium fluorides materials have been synthesized in high yields. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Hydrogen-bonds are crucial for the out-of-center distortion of TiF{sub 6} octahedra. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer [C(NH{sub 2}){sub 3}]{sub 2}TiF{sub 6} has a SHG efficiency of 25

  11. Thermoelectric properties of p-type Ag{sub 1−x}(Pb{sub 1−y}Sn{sub y}){sub m}Sb{sub 1−z}Te{sub m+2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ahn, Kyunghan [Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 (United States); Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science, (IBS), Seoul 151-742 (Korea, Republic of); Kong, Huijun; Uher, Ctirad [Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (United States); Kanatzidis, Mercouri G., E-mail: m-kanatzidis@northwestern.edu [Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 (United States)

    2016-10-15

    The thermoelectric properties of Ag{sub 1−x}(Pb{sub 1−y}Sn{sub y}){sub m}Sb{sub 1−z}Te{sub m+2} (4≤m≤16, −0.1≤x≤0.3, 1/3≤y≤2/3, 0.2≤z≤0.4; Lead Antimony Silver Tellurium Tin, LASTT-m) compositions were investigated in the temperature range of 300 to ~670 K. All samples crystallize in the average NaCl-type structure without any noticeable second phase and exhibit very narrow bandgaps of <0.1 eV. We studied a range of m values, silver concentrations (x), Pb/Sn ratios (y), and antimony concentrations (z) to determine their effects on the thermoelectric properties. The samples were investigated as melt grown polycrystalline ingots. Varying the Ag contents, the Pb/Sn ratios, and the Sb contents off-stoichiometry allowed us to control the electrical conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and the thermal conductivity. The electrical conductivity tends to decrease with decreasing m values. The highest ZT of ~1.1 was achieved at ~660 K for Ag{sub 0.9}Pb{sub 5}Sn{sub 5}Sb{sub 0.8}Te{sub 12} mainly due to the very low lattice thermal conductivity of ~0.4 W/(m K) around 660 K. Also, samples with charge-balanced stoichiometries, Ag(Pb{sub 1−y}Sn{sub y}){sub m}SbTe{sub m+2}, were studied and found to exhibit a lower power factor and higher lattice thermal conductivity than the Ag{sub 1−x}(Pb{sub 1−y}Sn{sub y}){sub m}Sb{sub 1−z}Te{sub m+2} compositions. - Graphical abstract: The Ag{sub 1−x}(Pb{sub 1−y}Sn{sub y}){sub m}Sb{sub 1−z}Te{sub m+2} system defines a complex and flexible class of tunable thermoelectric class of materials with high performance.

  12. Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Resected Oral Cavity Cancer and Simultaneous Second Primary Malignancies.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Chun-Ta Liao

    Full Text Available Simultaneous second primary tumors (SSPT are not uncommon in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC living in areas where the habit of betel quid chewing is widespread. We sought to identify the main prognostic factors in OSCC patients with SSPT and incorporate them into a risk stratification scheme.A total of 1822 consecutive patients with primary OSCC treated between January 1996 and February 2014 were analyzed for the presence of SSPT. The 18-month and 5-year overall survival (OS rates served as the main outcome measures.Of the 1822 patients, 77 (4% were found to have SSPT (i.e, two malignancies identified within one month of each other. The 18-month and 5-year OS rates in patients without SSPT and with SSPT were 82% and 69%, and 72% and 53%, respectively (p = 0.0063. Patients with SSPT were further divided into patients with either esophageal cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (eso-HCC subgroup, n = 8 and other tumors (NO eso-HCC subgroup, n = 69. After multivariate analysis, neck nodal extracapsular spread (ECS, n = 18 and the presence of eso-HCC were identified as independent adverse prognostic factors. The 18-month OS rates of SSPT patients with both eso-HCC and ECS (n = 5 vs. the remaining patients (n = 72 were 0% and 78%, respectively (p < 0.0001.OSCC patients with neck nodal ECS and esophageal cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma as SSPT have a dismal short-term prognosis.

  13. INEXPENSIVE CO{sub 2} THICKENING AGENTS FOR IMPROVED MOBILITY CONTROL OF CO{sub 2} FLOODS

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Robert M. Enick; Eric J. Beckman; Andrew Hamilton

    2004-10-01

    The objective of this research was the design, synthesis and evaluation of inexpensive, nonfluorous carbon dioxide thickening agents. We followed the same strategy employed in the design of fluorinated CO{sub 2} polymeric thickeners. First, a highly CO{sub 2}-philic, hydrocarbon-based monomer was to be identified. Polymers or oligomers of this monomer were then synthesized. The second step was to be completed only when a CO{sub 2}-soluble polymer that was soluble in CO{sub 2} at pressures comparable to the MMP was identified. In the second step, viscosity-enhancing associating groups were to be incorporated into the polymer to make it a viable thickener that exhibited high CO{sub 2} solubility at EOR MMP conditions. This final report documents the CO{sub 2} solubility of a series of commercial and novel polymers composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and, in some cases, nitrogen.

  14. Effect of Cr substitution on magnetic and magnetic entropy change of La{sub 0.65}Eu{sub 0.05}Sr{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Cr{sub x}O{sub 3} (0.05≤x≤0.15) rhombohedral nanocrystalline near room temperature

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bellouz, R., E-mail: bellouzridha@yahoo.fr [Laboratoire de Physico-chimie des Matériaux, Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences de Monastir,Université de Monastir, 5019 (Tunisia); Oumezzine, M. [Laboratoire de Physico-chimie des Matériaux, Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences de Monastir,Université de Monastir, 5019 (Tunisia); Hlil, E.K. [Institut Néel, National Centre for Scientific Research, Université Joseph Fourier, B.P. 166, 38042 Grenoble (France); Dhahri, E. [Laboratoire de Physique appliqué, Département de physique, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, 3018 (Tunisia)

    2015-02-01

    We have studied the effect of Cr substitution on magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in nanocrystalline La{sub 0.65}Eu{sub 0.05}Sr{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Cr{sub x}O{sub 3} (x=0.05, 0.1 and 0.15). The materials were prepared using the Pechini sol–gel method. All the studied samples were crystallized into a single phase rhombohedral structure with R−3C space group. Magnetic measurements indicate that the ferromagnetic double exchange interaction is weakened with increasing Cr concentration, resulting in a shift in T{sub C} from 338 K to 278 K as x varied between 0.05 and 0.15. Detailed analyzes in the vicinity of the ferromagnetic (FM)–paramagnetic (PM) phase-transition temperature prove the samples undergoing a second-order phase transition. The magnetocaloric effect is calculated from the measurement of initial isothermal magnetization versus magnetic field at various temperatures. The maximum magnetic entropy change |ΔS{sub M}{sup max}| is found to decrease with increasing of Cr content from 4.04 J/Kg K for x=0.05–0.78 J/KgK for x=0.15 upon 5 T applied field change. The relative cooling power (RCP) of La{sub 0.65}Eu{sub 0.05}Sr{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Cr{sub x}O{sub 3} series is nearly 54% of pure Gd, which will be an interesting system for application in room temperature refrigeration. - Highlights: • Nanocrystalline materials La{sub 0.65}Eu{sub 0.05}Sr{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Cr{sub x}O{sub 3} were obtained. • The Cr substitution decreases the T{sub C} from 338 K for x=0.05–278 K for x=0.15. • The relative cooling power of La{sub 0.65}Eu{sub 0.05}Sr{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Cr{sub x}O{sub 3} is nearly 54% of pure Gd. • Arrott plot analyses was applied to study the order of the magnetic transition. • La{sub 0.65}Eu{sub 0.05}Sr{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Cr{sub x}O{sub 3} samples show second order PM–FM transition at T=T{sub C}.

  15. Structural analysis of quaternary Se{sub 85−x}Sb{sub 10}In{sub 5}Ag{sub x} bulk glassy alloys

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sharma, Rita, E-mail: reetasharma2012@gmail.com; Sharma, Shaveta; Kumar, Praveen; Chander, Ravi; Thangaraj, R.; Mian, M. [Semiconductors Laboratory, Department of Physics, GND University, Amritsar (India)

    2015-08-28

    The physical properties of chalcogenide semiconductor have attracted much attention recently due to their applications in optical recording media and inorganic resist due to photo induced structural transformations observed in these materials. The bulk samples of Se{sub 85-x}Sb{sub 10}In{sub 5}Ag{sub x} system are prepared by melt-quenching technique. X-ray diffraction technique and RAMAN spectroscopy have been used to study the role of Ag additive on the amorphous/crystalline nature and molecular structure of Se{sub 85}Sb{sub 10}In{sub 5} glassy alloys. The phases Sb{sub 2}Se{sub 3}, In-Sb and In{sub 2}Se{sub 3} has been observed by X-ray diffraction. The formation of AgInSe{sub 2} phase along with the enhancement in intensity has been observed with the Ag addition.Three bands observed by raman spectroscopy for Se85Sb10In5 are at 70 cm-1, 212cm-1 and 252cm-1. The formation of small bands up to wavenumber 188cm{sup -1} and shifting in second band along with the increase in intensity up to sample x=5 has been observed with the Ag addition. The enhancement in intensity in third band with Ag content has been observed.

  16. A QUASAR CATALOG WITH SIMULTANEOUS UV, OPTICAL, AND X-RAY OBSERVATIONS BY SWIFT

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wu Jian; Grupe, Dirk; Koch, Scott; Gelbord, Jonathan; Schneider, Donald P.; Gronwall, Caryl; Porterfield, Blair L. [Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802 (United States); Vanden Berk, Daniel; Wesolowski, Sarah, E-mail: jwu@astro.psu.edu [Department of Physics, Saint Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650 (United States)

    2012-08-01

    We have compiled a catalog of optically selected quasars with simultaneous observations in UV/optical and X-ray bands by the Swift Gamma-ray Burst Explorer. Objects in this catalog are identified by matching the Swift pointings with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 5 quasar catalog. The final catalog contains 843 objects, among which 637 have both Ultraviolet Optical Telescope (UVOT) and X-Ray Telescope (XRT) observations and 354 of which are detected by both instruments. The overall X-ray detection rate is {approx}60% which rises to {approx}85% among sources with at least 10 ks of XRT exposure time. We construct the time-averaged spectral energy distribution (SED) for each of the 354 quasars using UVOT photometric measurements and XRT spectra. From model fits to these SEDs, we find that the big blue bump contributes about {approx}0.3 dex to the quasar luminosity. We re-visit the {alpha}{sub ox}-L{sub 2500A} relation by selecting a clean sample with only Type 1 radio-quiet quasars; the dispersion of this relation is reduced by at least 15% compared with studies that use non-simultaneous UV/optical and X-ray data. We only found a weak correlation between L{sub bol}/L{sub Edd} and {alpha}{sub UV}. We do not find significant correlations between {alpha}{sub x} and {alpha}{sub ox}, {alpha}{sub ox} and {alpha}{sub UV}, and {alpha}{sub x} and log L(0.3-10 keV). The correlations between {alpha}{sub UV} and {alpha}{sub x}, {alpha}{sub ox} and {alpha}{sub x}, {alpha}{sub ox} and {alpha}{sub UV}, L{sub bol}/L{sub Edd} and {alpha}{sub x}, and L{sub bol}/L{sub Edd} and {alpha}{sub ox} are stronger among low-redshift quasars, indicating that these correlations are likely driven by the changes of SED shape with accretion state.

  17. Evaluation of heterogeneous metabolic profile in an orthotopic human glioblastoma xenograft model using compressed sensing hyperpolarized 3D 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Park, Ilwoo; Hu, Simon; Bok, Robert; Ozawa, Tomoko; Ito, Motokazu; Mukherjee, Joydeep; Phillips, Joanna J; James, C David; Pieper, Russell O; Ronen, Sabrina M; Vigneron, Daniel B; Nelson, Sarah J

    2013-07-01

    High resolution compressed sensing hyperpolarized (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging was applied in orthotopic human glioblastoma xenografts for quantitative assessment of spatial variations in (13)C metabolic profiles and comparison with histopathology. A new compressed sensing sampling design with a factor of 3.72 acceleration was implemented to enable a factor of 4 increase in spatial resolution. Compressed sensing 3D (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging data were acquired from a phantom and 10 tumor-bearing rats following injection of hyperpolarized [1-(13)C]-pyruvate using a 3T scanner. The (13)C metabolic profiles were compared with hematoxylin and eosin staining and carbonic anhydrase 9 staining. The high-resolution compressed sensing (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging data enabled the differentiation of distinct (13)C metabolite patterns within abnormal tissues with high specificity in similar scan times compared to the fully sampled method. The results from pathology confirmed the different characteristics of (13)C metabolic profiles between viable, non-necrotic, nonhypoxic tumor, and necrotic, hypoxic tissue. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  18. Quantitative {sup 1}H and hyperpolarized {sup 3}He magnetic resonance imaging: Comparison in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and healthy never-smokers

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Owrangi, Amir M., E-mail: aowrangi@robats.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, London, Canada N6A 5K8 (Canada); Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London (Canada); Wang, Jian X., E-mail: jxwang@robats.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, London, Canada N6A 5K8 (Canada); Applied Science Laboratories, General Electric Healthcare (Canada); Wheatley, Andrew, E-mail: awheat@imaging.robarts.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, London, Canada N6A 5K8 (Canada); McCormack, David G., E-mail: David.Mccormack@lhsc.on.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, London, Canada N6A 5K8 (Canada); Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London (Canada); Parraga, Grace, E-mail: gparraga@robats.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, London, Canada N6A 5K8 (Canada); Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London (Canada); Department of Medical Imaging, The University of Western Ontario, London (Canada); Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London (Canada)

    2014-01-15

    Objective: The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between short echo time pulmonary {sup 1}H magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity (SI) and {sup 3}He MRI apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC), high-resolution computed tomography (CT) measurements of emphysema, and pulmonary function measurements. Materials and methods: Nine healthy never-smokers and 11 COPD subjects underwent same-day plethysmography, spirometry, short echo time ((TE) = 1.2 ms) {sup 1}H and diffusion-weighted hyperpolarized {sup 3}He MRI (b = 1.6 s/cm{sup 2}) at 3.0 T. In addition, for COPD subjects only, CT densitometry was also performed. Results: Mean {sup 1}H SI was significantly greater for never-smokers (12.1 ± 1.1 arbitrary units (AU)) compared to COPD subjects (10.9 ± 1.3 AU, p = 0.04). The {sup 1}H SI AP-gradient was also significantly greater for never-smokers (0.40 AU/cm, R{sup 2} = 0.94) compared to COPD subjects (0.29 AU/cm, R{sup 2} = 0.968, p = 0.05). There was a significant correlation between {sup 1}H SI and {sup 3}He ADC (r = −0.58, p = 0.008) and significant correlations between {sup 1}H MR SI and CT measurements of emphysema (RA{sub 950}, r = −0.69, p = 0.02 and HU{sub 15}, r = 0.66, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The significant and moderately strong relationship between {sup 1}H SI and {sup 3}He ADC, as well as between {sup 1}H SI and CT measurements of emphysema suggests that these imaging methods and measurements may be quantifying similar tissue changes in COPD and that pulmonary {sup 1}H SI may be used to monitor emphysema as a complement to CT and noble gas MRI.

  19. The Role of PDH Inhibition in the Development of Hypertrophy in the Hyperthyroid Rat Heart: A Combined MRI and Hyperpolarized MRS Study

    Science.gov (United States)

    Atherton, Helen J.; Dodd, Michael S.; Heather, Lisa C.; Schroeder, Marie A.; Griffin, Julian L.; Radda, George K.; Clarke, Kieran; Tyler, Damian J.

    2015-01-01

    Background Hyperthyroidism increases heart rate, contractility and cardiac output, as well as metabolic rate. It is also accompanied by alterations in the regulation of cardiac substrate utilisation. Specifically, hyperthyroidism increases the ex vivo activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), thereby inhibiting glucose oxidation via pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). Cardiac hypertrophy is another effect of hyperthyroidism, with an increase in the abundance of mitochondria. Although the hypertrophy is initially beneficial, it can eventually lead to heart failure. The aim of this study was to use hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to investigate the rate and regulation of in vivo pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) flux in the hyperthyroid heart, and to establish whether modulation of flux through PDH would alter cardiac hypertrophy. Methods & Results Hyperthyroidism was induced in 18 male Wistar rats with 7 daily intraperitoneal injections of freshly prepared triiodothyronine (T3; 0.2 mg/kg/day). In vivo PDH flux, assessed using hyperpolarized MRS, was reduced by 59% in hyperthyroid animals (0.0022 ± 0.0002 s−1 vs 0.0055 ± 0.0005 s−1, P = 0.0003) and this reduction was completely reversed by both acute and chronic delivery of the PDK inhibitor, dichloroacetic acid (DCA). Hyperpolarized [2-13C]pyruvate was also used to evaluate Krebs cycle metabolism and demonstrated a unique marker of anaplerosis, the level of which was significantly increased in the hyperthyroid heart. Cine MRI showed that chronic DCA treatment significantly reduced the hypertrophy observed in hyperthyroid animals (100 ± 20 mg vs 200 ± 30 mg; P = 0.04) despite no change to the increase observed in cardiac output. Conclusions This work has demonstrated that inhibition of glucose oxidation in the hyperthyroid heart in vivo is PDK mediated. Relieving this inhibition can increase the metabolic flexibility of the hyperthyroid heart and reduce the level of hypertrophy that develops

  20. The new silver borate Ag{sub 3}B{sub 5}O{sub 9}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sohr, Gerhard; Falkowski, Viktoria; Huppertz, Hubert, E-mail: hubert.huppertz@uibk.ac.at

    2015-05-15

    Single crystals of Ag{sub 3}B{sub 5}O{sub 9} were obtained via high-pressure synthesis at 3 GPa and 600 °C, using a Walker-type multianvil high-pressure device. Ag{sub 3}B{sub 5}O{sub 9} crystalizes with a=674.7(2), b=943.5(2), c=1103.5(2) pm, V=0.7025(2) nm{sup 3}, and Z=4 in the noncentrosymmetric space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1} (no. 19). The orthorhombic structure was refined from 3740 independent reflections with R1=0.0496 and wR2=0.587 (all data). It is built up from infinite corner-sharing chains of BO{sub 4} tetrahedra along the a axis, which are interconnected by BO{sub 3} groups to form a network. In the structure, three crystallographically independent sites are occupied with Ag{sup +} cations exhibiting argentophillic interactions. The synthetic conditions as well as the results of the single crystal structure analysis are presented. - Graphical abstract: Noncentrosymmetric silver borate: During investigations in the system Ag–B–O, a new noncentrosymmetric silver borate Ag{sub 3}B{sub 5}O{sub 9} was discovered. The new structure type is built up from corner-sharing BO{sub 3} and BO{sub 4} groups, forming a network. Argentophillic interactions are clearly indicated by the Ag{sup +}⋯Ag{sup +} distances present in the structure. - Highlights: • A noncentrosymmetric borate Ag{sub 3}B{sub 5}O{sub 9} is accessible via high-pressure synthesis. • Ag{sub 3}B{sub 5}O{sub 9} is the second high-pressure silver borate. • Ag{sup +}⋯Ag{sup +} distances in Ag3B5O9 clearly indicate the presence of argentophillic interactions.

  1. Upconversion luminescence, ferroelectrics and piezoelectrics of Er Doped SrBi{sub 4}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 15}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Peng Dengfeng [Functional Materials Research Laboratory, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092 (China); National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Kyushu, 807-1 Shuku, Tosu, Saga 841-0052 (Japan); Zou Hua; Wang Xusheng; Yao Xi [Functional Materials Research Laboratory, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092 (China); Xu Chaonan [National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Kyushu, 807-1 Shuku, Tosu, Saga 841-0052 (Japan); Lin Jian; Sun Tiantuo [School of Material Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Cao' an Highway, Shanghai 201804 (China)

    2012-12-15

    Er{sup 3+} doped SrBi{sub 4}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 15} (SBT) bismuth layered-structure ferroelectric ceramics were synthesized by the traditional solid-state method, and their upconversion photoluminescent (UC) properties were investigated as a function of Er{sup 3+} concentration and incident pump power. Green (555 nm) and red (670 nm) emission bands were obtained under 980 nm excitation at room temperature, which corresponded to the radiative transitions from {sup 4}S{sub 3/2}, and {sup 4}F{sub 9/2} to {sup 4}I{sub 15/2}, respectively. The emission color of the samples could be changed with moderating the doping concentrations. The dependence of UC intensity on pumping power indicated a two-photon emission process. Studies on dielectric properties indicated that the introduction of Er increased the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition temperature (Tc) of SBT, thus making this ceramic suitable for piezoelectric sensor applications at higher temperatures. Piezoelectric measurement showed that the doped SBT had a relative higher piezoelectric constant d{sub 33} compared with the non-doped ceramics. The thermal annealing behaviors of the doped sample revealed a stable piezoelectric property. The doped SBT showed bright UC emission while simultaneously having increased Tc and d{sub 33}. As a multifunctional material, Er doped SBT ferroelectric oxide showed great potential in application of sensor, future optical-electro integration and coupling devices.

  2. Coexistence of Weak Ferromagnetism and Polar Lattice Distortion in Epitaxial NiTiO<sub>3sub> thin films of the LiNbO<sub>3sub>-Type Structure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Varga, Tamas [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Droubay, Timothy C. [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Bowden, Mark E. [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Colby, Robert J. [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Manandhar, Sandeep [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Shutthanandan, Vaithiyalingam [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Hu, Dehong [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Kabius, Bernd C. [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Apra, Edoardo [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Shelton, William A. [Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab., Richland, WA (United States); Chambers, Scott A. [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

    2013-04-15

    We report the magnetic and structural characteristics of epitaxial NiTiO<sub>3sub> films grown by pulsed laser deposition that are isostructural with acentric LiNbO<sub>3sub> (space group R3c). Optical second harmonic generation and magnetometry demonstrate lattice polarization at room temperature and weak ferromagnetism below 250 K, respectively. These results appear to be consistent with earlier predictions from first-principles calculations of the coexistence of ferroelectricity and weak ferromagnetism in a series of transition metal titanates crystallizing in the LiNbO<sub>3 sub>structure. This acentric form of NiTiO<sub>3sub> is believed to be one of the rare examples of ferroelectrics exhibiting weak ferromagnetism generated by a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

  3. Green synthesis of soya bean sprouts-mediated superparamagnetic Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cai Yan [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230039 (China); Shen Yuhua, E-mail: s_yuhua@163.co [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230039 (China) and State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Xie Anjian, E-mail: anjx@163.co [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230039 (China) and State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Li Shikuo; Wang Xiufang [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230039 (China)

    2010-10-15

    Superparamagnetic Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles were first synthesized via soya bean sprouts (SBS) templates under ambient temperature and normal atmosphere. The reaction process was simple, eco-friendly, and convenient to handle. The morphology and crystalline phase of the nanoparticles were determined from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra. The effect of SBS template on the formation of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles was investigated using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results indicate that spherical Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles with an average diameter of 8 nm simultaneously formed on the epidermal surface and the interior stem wall of SBS. The SBS are responsible for size and morphology control during the whole formation of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles. In addition, the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) results indicate the products are superparamagnetic at room temperature, with blocking temperature (T{sub B}) of 150 K and saturation magnetization of 37.1 emu/g.

  4. Simultaneous complexometric determination of bismuth and indium in thermoelectronic material (Bisub(1-x)Insub(x))/sub 2/Te/sub 3/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Danzaki, Yuetsu; Shoji, Tsutomu; Sase, Masahiko; Takeyama, Shuro [Tohoku Univ., Sendai (Japan). Research Inst. for Iron, Steel and Other Metals

    1983-08-01

    A sample of 0.1 g was dissolved in 5 ml of conc. HNO/sub 3/ and diluted to about 100 ml with water. To the sample solution 20 % KOH solution was added so as to make 2 % KOH alkaline solution. The solution was boiled for about 5 min and cooled in running water. The coagulated precipitate was filtered and washed with 1 % KOH solution. The precipitate on the filter paper was dissolved in 15 ml of hot HNO/sub 3/ (1 + 1), and washed with warm HNO/sub 3/ (2 + 100). After the filtrate was evaporated to about 2 ml and diluted to about 10 ml with water, 20 ml of 0.02 M EDTA was added and diluted to about 100 ml. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 5--5.5 with hexamethylenetetramine. The excess of EDTA was back-titrated with 0.01 M Pb(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ in the presence of MTBas an indicater, and total amounts of Bi and In were determined. To the same solution, 1 g of ascorbic acid was added, and pH was adjusted to 10 with ammoniacal water. After (1--2) min, the liberated EDTA was titrated with 0.01 M MnCl/sub 2/, and the amount of Bi was determined. The results obtained with complexometry were compared with those of BiOCl gravimetry for Bi and atomic absorption for In.

  5. Radiation processes in glass of Ba(PO/sub 3/)/sub 2/-MgF/sub 2/-LiF system. [Gamma radiation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bocharova, T.V.; Karapetyan, G.O.; Khalilev, V.D.

    1984-11-01

    Optical spectra of additional absorption of glasses of Ba(PO/sub 3/)/sub 2/-MgF/sub 2/-LiF system ..gamma..-irradiated up to 10/sup 6/ R dose are presented. It was established that introduction of up to 70 mol% of fluorides into phosphate glass doesn't result in occurrence of AAB (additional absorption band) in spectra, related to color centers similar to F-centers in MgF/sub 2/ and LiF crystals. It was shown that occurring color centers in phosphate matrix form nonelementary AAB in approximately 20,000 cm/sup -1/ spectrum region. The contribution to the total spectrum of additional absorption in visible region is made, besides (PO)/sub 4/-centers, by radiation color centers related with the presence of Mg/sup +2/ ions near PO/sub 4/ tetrahedrons. It was assumed that change of AAB position and intensity with ..gamma..sub(max) approximately 20,000 cm/sup -1/ in fluorophosphate glass with regularly changed composition reflects structural rebuilding of glass network taking place simultaneously with fluoride introduction. The obtained results support the conclusion, that MgF/sub 2/ takes part in formation of structural glass network whereas LiF acts as a component which breaks phosphate chains.

  6. Parallel ICA identifies sub-components of resting state networks that covary with behavioral indices.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Meier, Timothy B; Wildenberg, Joseph C; Liu, Jingyu; Chen, Jiayu; Calhoun, Vince D; Biswal, Bharat B; Meyerand, Mary E; Birn, Rasmus M; Prabhakaran, Vivek

    2012-01-01

    Parallel Independent Component Analysis (para-ICA) is a multivariate method that can identify complex relationships between different data modalities by simultaneously performing Independent Component Analysis on each data set while finding mutual information between the two data sets. We use para-ICA to test the hypothesis that spatial sub-components of common resting state networks (RSNs) covary with specific behavioral measures. Resting state scans and a battery of behavioral indices were collected from 24 younger adults. Group ICA was performed and common RSNs were identified by spatial correlation to publically available templates. Nine RSNs were identified and para-ICA was run on each network with a matrix of behavioral measures serving as the second data type. Five networks had spatial sub-components that significantly correlated with behavioral components. These included a sub-component of the temporo-parietal attention network that differentially covaried with different trial-types of a sustained attention task, sub-components of default mode networks that covaried with attention and working memory tasks, and a sub-component of the bilateral frontal network that split the left inferior frontal gyrus into three clusters according to its cytoarchitecture that differentially covaried with working memory performance. Additionally, we demonstrate the validity of para-ICA in cases with unbalanced dimensions using simulated data.

  7. Anisotropic electrical and thermal conductivity in Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}Co{sub 2}O{sub 8+δ} [AE = Ca, Sr{sub 1−x}Ba{sub x} (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0)] single crystals

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dong, Song-Tao [National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Institute of Material Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212003 (China); Zhang, Bin-Bin; Lv, Yang-Yang; Zhou, Jian; Zhang, Shan-Tao [National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Xiong, Ye [College of Physical Science and Technology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097 (China); Yao, Shu-Hua, E-mail: shyao@nju.edu.cn, E-mail: ybchen@nju.edu.cn [National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); State Key laboratory of Crystal Material, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100 (China); Chen, Y. B., E-mail: shyao@nju.edu.cn, E-mail: ybchen@nju.edu.cn [National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Chen, Yan-Feng [National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China)

    2015-09-28

    Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}Co{sub 2}O{sub 8+δ} (AE represents alkaline earth), constructed by stacking of rock-salt Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}O{sub 4} and triangle CoO{sub 2} layers alternatively along c-axis, is one of promising thermoelectric oxides. The most impressive feature of Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}Co{sub 2}O{sub 8+δ}, as reported previously, is their electrical conductivity mainly lying along CoO{sub 2} plane, adjusting Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}O{sub 4} layer simultaneously manipulates both thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. It in turn optimizes thermoelectric performance of these materials. In this work, we characterize the anisotropic thermal and electrical conductivity along both ab-plane and c-direction of Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}Co{sub 2}O{sub 8+δ} (AE = Ca, Sr, Ba, Sr{sub 1−x}Ba{sub x}) single crystals. The results substantiate that isovalence replacement in Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}Co{sub 2}O{sub 8+δ} remarkably modifies their electrical property along ab-plane; while their thermal conductivity along ab-plane only has a slightly difference. At the same time, both the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity along c-axis of these materials also have dramatic changes. Certainly, the electrical resistance along c-axis is too high to be used as thermoelectric applications. These results suggest that adjusting nano-block Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}O{sub 4} layer in Bi{sub 2}AE{sub 2}Co{sub 2}O{sub 8+δ} cannot modify the thermal conductivity along high electrical conductivity plane (ab-plane here). The evolution of electrical property is discussed by Anderson localization and electron-electron interaction U. And the modification of thermal conductivity along c-axis is attributed to the microstructure difference. This work sheds more light on the manipulation of the thermal and electrical conductivity in the layered thermoelectric materials.

  8. Electrochemical preparation of carbon films with a Mo{sub 2}C interlayer in LiCl-NaCl-Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} melts

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ge, Jianbang; Wang, Shuai; Zhang, Feng; Zhang, Long; Jiao, Handong [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083 (China); Zhu, Hongmin [Department of Metallurgy, Materials Science, and Materials Processing, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579 (Japan); Jiao, Shuqiang, E-mail: sjiao@ustb.edu.cn [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083 (China)

    2015-08-30

    Highlights: • The electrodeposition of carbon films with a Mo{sub 2}C interlayer. • Carbon diffusion engenders the formation of Mo{sub 2}C interlayer. • The Mo{sub 2}C interlayer has a good adhesion. - Abstract: The electrodeposition of carbon films with a Mo{sub 2}C interlayer was investigated in LiCl-NaCl-Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} melts at 900 °C. Cyclic voltammetry was applied to study the electrochemical reaction mechanism on Mo and Pt electrodes, indicating that, two reduction reactions including carbon deposition and carbon monoxide evolution, may take place on the two electrodes simultaneously during the cathodic sweep. Carbon films with a continuous Mo{sub 2}C interlayer were prepared by constant voltage electrolysis, showing a good adhesion between Mo substrate and carbon films. The carbon films with a Mo{sub 2}C interlayer were characterized using X-ray diffraction measurement, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results reveal that carbon materials deposited on the electrodes are mainly composed of graphite and carbon diffusion in Mo (or Mo{sub 2}C) leads to the formation and growth of Mo{sub 2}C interlayer.

  9. Interaction of different poisons with MgCl{sub 2}/TiCl{sub 4} based Ziegler-Natta catalysts

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bahri-Laleh, Naeimeh, E-mail: n.bahri@ippi.ac.ir

    2016-08-30

    Highlights: • The interactions between different classes of poison molecules and TiCl{sub 4}/MgCl{sub 2} type Ziegler-Natta catalyst is considered. • Poisons strongly stabilize MgCl{sub 2} crystal surfaces, mostly Ti active center relative to the unpoisoned solid. • Poison molecules decrease catalyst activity by increasing E{sub TS} in olefin polymerization. • Poison molecules do not have significant effect in stereospecifity of ZN catalysts in propylene polymerization. - Abstract: Adsorption of different poison molecules on activated MgCl{sub 2} is investigated within DFT using a cluster model of the MgCl{sub 2} surface with (MgCl{sub 2}){sub 16} formula containing four 4-coordinated and eight 5-coordinated Mg atoms as (110) and (104) surfaces, respectively. Studied poison molecules are chosen as possible impurities in hydrocarbon solvents and monomer feeds and contain water, hydrogensulfide, carbondioxide, molecular oxygen and methanol. First, adsorption of 1–4 molecules of different poisons to the (104) and (110) lateral cuts of MgCl{sub 2}, as well as their adsorption on [MgCl{sub 2}]/TiCl{sub 2}Et active center and AlEt{sub 3} cocatalyst is considered. Results reveal that poisons strongly stabilize both crystal surfaces, mostly Ti active center relative to the unpoisoned solid. Second, energy barrier (E{sub TS}) for ethylene insertion in the presence of different poisons located on the first and second Mg atom relative to the active Ti is calculated. While poison molecule located on the second Mg does not change E{sub TS}, coordination of it into the first Mg atom increases E{sub TS} by 0.9–1.2 kcal mol{sup −1}. In the last part of this manuscript, the stereoselective behavior of active Ti species, with and without poison molecules and external electron donor, is fully explored.

  10. Simultaneous Multiagent Hyperpolarized 13C Perfusion Imaging

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    von Morze, Cornelius; Bok, Robert A.; Reed, Galen D.

    2014-01-01

    in simulations. "Tripolarized" perfusion MRI methods were applied to initial preclinical studies with differential conditions of vascular permeability, in normal mouse tissues and advanced transgenic mouse prostate tumors. Results: Dynamic imaging revealed clear differences among the individual tracer...... distributions. Computed permeability maps demonstrated differential permeability of brain tissue among the tracers, and tumor perfusion and permeability were both elevated over values expected for normal tissues. Conclusion: Tripolarized perfusion MRI provides new molecular imaging measures for specifically...

  11. Cu{sub 2}ZnSn(S,Se){sub 4} from Cu{sub x}SnS{sub y} nanoparticle precursors on ZnO nanorod arrays

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kavalakkatt, Jaison, E-mail: jai.k@web.de [Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, D-14109 Berlin (Germany); Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin (Germany); Lin, Xianzhong; Kornhuber, Kai [Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, D-14109 Berlin (Germany); Kusch, Patryk [Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin (Germany); Ennaoui, Ahmed [Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, D-14109 Berlin (Germany); Reich, Stephanie [Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin (Germany); Lux-Steiner, Martha Ch. [Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, D-14109 Berlin (Germany); Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin (Germany)

    2013-05-01

    Solar cells with Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} absorber thin films have a potential for high energy conversion efficiencies with earth-abundant and non-toxic elements. In this work the formation of CZTSSe from Cu{sub x}SnS{sub y} nanoparticles (NPs) deposited on ZnO nanorod (NR) arrays as precursors for zinc is investigated. The NPs are prepared using a chemical route and are dispersed in toluene. The ZnO NRs are grown on fluorine doped SnO{sub 2} coated glass substrates by electro deposition method. A series of samples are annealed at different temperatures between 300 °C and 550 °C in selenium containing argon atmosphere. To investigate the products of the reaction between the precursors the series is analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The morphology is recorded by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of broken cross sections. The XRD measurements and the SEM images show the disappearing of ZnO NRs with increasing annealing temperature. Simultaneously the XRD and Raman measurements show the formation of CZTSSe. The formation of secondary phases and the optimum conditions for the preparation of CZTSSe is discussed. - Highlights: ► Cu{sub x}SnS{sub y} nanoparticles are deposited on ZnO nanorod arrays. ► Samples are annealed at different temperatures (300–550 °C) in Se/Ar-atmosphere. ► Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy are performed. ► ZnO disappears with increasing annealing temperature. ► With increasing temperature Cu{sub x}SnS{sub y} and ZnO form Cu{sub 2}ZnSn(S,Se){sub 4}.

  12. Diet-induced obesity impairs endothelium-derived hyperpolarization via altered potassium channel signaling mechanisms.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Rebecca E Haddock

    Full Text Available BACKGROUND: The vascular endothelium plays a critical role in the control of blood flow. Altered endothelium-mediated vasodilator and vasoconstrictor mechanisms underlie key aspects of cardiovascular disease, including those in obesity. Whilst the mechanism of nitric oxide (NO-mediated vasodilation has been extensively studied in obesity, little is known about the impact of obesity on vasodilation to the endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH mechanism; which predominates in smaller resistance vessels and is characterized in this study. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Membrane potential, vessel diameter and luminal pressure were recorded in 4(th order mesenteric arteries with pressure-induced myogenic tone, in control and diet-induced obese rats. Obesity, reflecting that of human dietary etiology, was induced with a cafeteria-style diet (∼30 kJ, fat over 16-20 weeks. Age and sexed matched controls received standard chow (∼12 kJ, fat. Channel protein distribution, expression and vessel morphology were determined using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and ultrastructural techniques. In control and obese rat vessels, acetylcholine-mediated EDH was abolished by small and intermediate conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (SK(Ca/IK(Ca inhibition; with such activity being impaired in obesity. SK(Ca-IK(Ca activation with cyclohexyl-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl-6-methyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine (CyPPA and 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO, respectively, hyperpolarized and relaxed vessels from control and obese rats. IK(Ca-mediated EDH contribution was increased in obesity, and associated with altered IK(Ca distribution and elevated expression. In contrast, the SK(Ca-dependent-EDH component was reduced in obesity. Inward-rectifying potassium channel (K(ir and Na(+/K(+-ATPase inhibition by barium/ouabain, respectively, attenuated and abolished EDH in arteries from control and obese rats, respectively; reflecting differential K

  13. Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} decorated graphene nanosheet: An advanced material for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Chandra, Sourov, E-mail: sourov.chem@gmail.com [Nanomaterials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur (India); Department of Instrumentation Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032 (India); Das, Pradip; Bag, Sourav [Nanomaterials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur (India); Bhar, Radhaballabh, E-mail: rbusicju32@yahoo.co.in [Department of Instrumentation Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032 (India); Pramanik, Panchanan, E-mail: pramanik1946@gmail.com [Nanomaterials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur (India)

    2012-06-25

    Graphical abstract: A facile and economical route has been developed for the synthesis of graphene-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite in which Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles are uniformly distributed throughout the surface of the graphene nanosheet with their average sizes ranging from 8 to 10 nm. It shows a brilliant catalytic activity during the photodegradation of several organic dyes as compare to both of the bare manganese oxide and graphene too. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer One step sonochemical synthesis of graphene-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Growth of such nanoparticles over graphene is accelerated by the simultaneous reduction with KMnO{sub 4}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The composite can effectively use as heterogeneous catalyst during the photodegradation of organic dyes. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer It exhibits {approx}84%, {approx}80% and {approx}60% degradation of MB, eosin and RB respectively within a few minutes. - Abstract: A one step sonochemical route has been developed to prepare graphene-Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite with uniform distribution of Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles throughout the surface of graphene nanosheet. Growth of such nanoparticles over this two dimensional carbon network is simply accelerated by the simultaneous reduction of potassium permanganate along with graphene oxide, in which metal ions are first anchored through binding with oxy-functional groups of graphene oxide and finally reduced by hydrazine. The final product ensure a new platform for the photodegradation of organic dyes, as it can store electrons and circulate them towards dye molecules through the formation of hydroxyl radical under the exposure of UV-light. Almost 80% photocatalytic degradation of eosin, methylene blue and rhodamine B have been observed within few minutes, which has not been obtained by using bare manganese oxide itself.

  14. One-step synthesis Fe{sub 3}N surface-modified Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles with excellent lithium storage ability

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Li, Yabin [College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123 (China); Institute of Chemical Power Sources, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006 (China); Yan, Yuerong [Department of Science and Technology, Jiaozuo Teachers College, Jiaozuo 454000 (China); Ming, Hai, E-mail: lunaticmh@163.com [College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123 (China); Institute of Chemical Power Sources, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006 (China); Zheng, Junwei, E-mail: jwzheng@suda.edu.cn [College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123 (China); Institute of Chemical Power Sources, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006 (China)

    2014-06-01

    The Fe{sub 3}N modified Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles with an excellent performance in lithium-ion batteries were prepared via a one-step and an efficient method. The layer of Fe{sub 3}N could significantly decrease the variation of volume and enhance the conductivity of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} simultaneously during the reaction of lithium ions in the charge-discharge process. There are two main advantages of this material: (1) their size distribution, ranging from 100 to 500 nm and (2) the fact that these particles are connected with each other by the Fe{sub 3}N layer. These two features allow such material to exhibit a high reversible capacity of 739 and 620 mA h g{sup −1} after each 60 cycles at the current density of 50 and 200 mA g{sup −1}, respectively. More importantly, since its introduction, this new concept of coating metal oxides with a layer of metal nitride to form core-shell structured metal oxide@metal nitride can be widely applied in the fields of catalysis, electrochemistry, energy, environmental and materials science with improved performance.

  15. Search for second generation leptoquarks with ATLAS at the LHC

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Krobath, Gernot

    2008-07-18

    The Large Hadron Collider will collide protons with protons at a center-of-mass energy of up to 14 TeV. New physics phenomena and new particles are predicted to be detectable with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. One of these predicted new particles beyond the Standard Model are leptoquarks. This thesis deals with the search for scalar second generation leptoquarks produced in pairs. Second generation leptoquarks decay into a muon-type lepton and a quark. In this thesis the decay of both second generation leptoquarks into a muon and a quark is considered. Since pair production is studied the final state consists of two high-energetic muons and two high-energetic jets. This thesis studies second generation leptoquarks with masses of m{sub LQ}=300 GeV, m{sub LQ}=400 GeV, m{sub LQ}=600 GeV and m{sub LQ}=800 GeV. The best cut variables for the discrimination between the signal and the main Standard Model backgrounds t anti t and Z/{gamma}{sup *} found in this analysis are the p{sub T} of the muons, S{sub T} (the scalar sum of the transverse momenta of the two selected muons and the transverse energies of the two selected jets), the mass of the selected dimuon system and the reconstructed leptoquark mass. The latter three cut variables have been optimized for a discovery with a 5{sigma} significance including the systematic uncertainties and trigger efficiencies. Second generation leptoquarks have been excluded up to the mass of 300 GeV with a 95% confidence level at present experiments. The expected integrated luminosities needed for a 5{sigma} discovery of the tested second generation leptoquark masses with the ATLAS detector have been calculated. This thesis shows that for a discovery with 5{sigma} significance of a second generation leptoquark with m{sub LQ}=300 GeV and m{sub LQ}=400 GeV an expected integrated luminosity of 1.51 pb{sup -1} and 7.42 pb{sup -1} is needed respectively; this corresponds to a very early phase, i.e. the first few months

  16. Magnetic field of mars from data of simultaneous measurements in the planet's magnetosphere and in the solar wind

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Dolginov, S.S.; Shkol'nikova, S.I.; Zhuzgov, L.N.

    1985-01-01

    This paper examines the parameters of the magnetic dipole of Mars according to measurements by the Mars-2 probe on February 23-24, 1972. In all components there were observed fields of marked intensity in the components; however, at the second pass of the pericenter no field of marked intensity was observed. The passage through zero and change of polarity of the radial component Y /sub m/ of the field was also revealed in the magnetogram. The results of simultaneous measurements of interplanetary magnetic fields near Mars on its day and night sides and data on the dynamic pressure of the solar wind (IMP-6) are compared. The existence of a Martian magnetic field with a magnetic moment that is an effective obstacle to the solar wind is demonstrated. It is estimated that, with the width of the polar cap of Mars ca 45 degrees, the magnetic tail of the Martian magnetosphere can reach as far as 90R /sub M/

  17. Plasmochemical modification of aluminum-zinc alloys using NH{sub 3}-Ar atmosphere with anti-wear coatings deposition

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kyzioł, Karol, E-mail: kyziol@agh.edu.pl [Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, A. Mickiewicza Av. 30, 30 059 Kraków (Poland); Koper, Katarzyna [Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, A. Mickiewicza Av. 30, 30 059 Kraków (Poland); Kaczmarek, Łukasz [Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego Str. 1/15, 90 924 Łódz (Poland); Grzesik, Zbigniew [Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, A. Mickiewicza Av. 30, 30 059 Kraków (Poland)

    2017-03-01

    This paper constitutes a continuation of studies on modification technologies for 7075 series aluminum alloys (Al-Zn) in plasmochemical conditions using the RF CVD (Radio-Frequency Chemical Vapor Deposition) method. This technique is simultaneously the second stage of alloy ageing. The presented results concern optimization of alloy surface modification using N{sup +} ions (in NH{sub 3} or NH{sub 3}/Ar atmosphere) before obtaining a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) layer doped with Si and N. From the results it can be concluded that the most profitable mechanical properties (H, ca. 12 GPa and E, ca. 115 GPa) are obtained when the SiCNH coating process is preceded by Al-Zn alloy surface modification with nitrogen ions. These ions are provided by a flowing NH{sub 3} and Ar gas mixture (1:1 ratio). In these process conditions, the lowest tribological wear of the surface is also observed. Furthermore, the obtained coating exhibits a fine-grained structure. - Highlights: • Surface properties of Al-Zn alloy after plasma processes are investigated. • Modification in a RF reactor was the second stage of ageing. • The N{sup +} ion treatments of aluminum substrates was justified. • SiCNH coatings obtained on Al alloys significantly improve mechanical parameters.

  18. A Critical Review of the Impacts of Leaking CO<sub>2sub> Gas and Brine on Groundwater Quality

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Qafoku, Nikolla [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Zheng, Liange [Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Bacon, Diana H. [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Lawter, Amanda R. [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Brown, Christopher F. [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

    2015-09-30

    Geological carbon sequestration (GCS) is a global carbon emission reduction strategy involving the capture of CO<sub>2sub> emitted from fossil fuel burning power plants, as well as the subsequent injection of the captured CO<sub>2sub> gas into deep saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs. A critical question that arises from the proposed GCS is the potential impacts of CO<sub>2sub> injection on the quality of drinking-water systems overlying CO<sub>2sub> sequestration storage sites. Although storage reservoirs are evaluated and selected based on their ability to safely and securely store emplaced fluids, leakage of CO<sub>2sub> from storage reservoirs is a primary risk factor and potential barrier to the widespread acceptance of geologic CO<sub>2sub> sequestration (OR Harvey et al. 2013; Y-S Jun et al. 2013; DOE 2007). Therefore, a systematic understanding of how CO<sub>2sub> leakage would affect the geochemistry of potable aquifers, and subsequently control or affect elemental and contaminant release via sequential and/or simultaneous abiotic and biotic processes and reactions is vital.

  19. Description and crystal structure of albrechtschraufite, MgCa{sub 4}F{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sub 2}.17-18H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mereiter, K. [Vienna Univ. of Technology (Austria). Inst. of Chemical Technologies and Analytics

    2013-04-15

    Albrechtschraufite, MgCa{sub 4}F{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sub 2}.17-18H{sub 2}O, triclinic, space group P anti 1, a = 13.569(2), b = 13.419(2), c = 11.622(2) Aa, α = 115.82(1), β = 107.61(1), γ = 92.84(1) (structural unit cell, not reduced), V = 1774.6(5) Aa{sup 3}, Z = 2, Dc = 2.69 g/cm{sup 3} (for 17.5 H{sub 2}O), is a mineral that was found in small amounts with schroeckingerite, NaCa{sub 3}F[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}](SO{sub 4}).10H{sub 2}O, on a museum specimen of uranium ore from Joachimsthal (Jachymov), Czech Republic. The mineral forms small grain-like subhedral crystals (= 0.2 mm) that resemble in appearance liebigite, Ca{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}]. ∝ 11H{sub 2}O. Colour pale yellow-green, luster vitreous, transparent, pale bluish green fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Optical data: Biaxial negative, nX = 1.511(2), nY = 1.550(2), nZ = 1.566(2), 2V = 65(1) (λ = 589 nm), r < v weak. After qualitative tests had shown the presence of Ca, U, Mg, CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}O, the chemical formula was determined by a crystal structure analysis based on X-ray four-circle diffractometer data. The structure was later on refined with data from a CCD diffractometer to R1 = 0.0206 and wR2 = 0.0429 for 9,236 independent observed reflections. The crystal structure contains two independent [UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sup 4-} anions of which one is bonded to two Mg and six Ca while the second is bonded to only one Mg and three Ca. Magnesium forms a MgF{sub 2}(O{sub carbonate}){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O) octahedron that is linked via the F atoms with three Ca atoms so as to provide each F atom with a flat pyramidal coordination by one Mg and two Ca. Calcium is 7- and 8-coordinate forming CaFO{sub 6}, CaF{sub 2}O{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}, CaFO{sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4} and CaO{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 6} coordination polyhedra. The crystal structure is built up from MgCa{sub 3}F{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}].8H{sub 2}O layers parallel to (001) which

  20. Mechanical properties of tungsten alloys with Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} and titanium additions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Aguirre, M.V., E-mail: mariavega.aguirre@upm.es [Departamento de Tecnologias Especiales Aplicadas a la Aeronautica, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, E.U.I.T. Aeronautica, 28040 Madrid (Spain); Martin, A.; Pastor, J.Y. [Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales-CISDEM, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.E.T.S. Ingenieros de Caminos, 28040 Madrid (Spain); LLorca, J. [Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales-CISDEM, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.E.T.S. Ingenieros de Caminos, 28040 Madrid (Spain); Instituto Madrileno de Estudios Avanzados en Materiales (Instituto IMDEA-Materiales), Ingenieros de Caminos, 28040 Madrid (Spain); Monge, M.A.; Pareja, R. [Departamento de Fisica, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganes (Spain)

    2011-10-01

    In this research the mechanical behaviour of pure tungsten (W) and its alloys (2 wt.% Ti-0.47 wt.% Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} and 4 wt.% Ti-0.5 wt.% Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}) is compared. These tungsten alloys, have been obtained by powder metallurgy. The yield strength, fracture toughness and elastic modulus have been studied in the temperature interval of 25 deg. C to 1000 deg. C. The results have shown that the addition of Ti substantially improves the bending strength and toughness of W, but it also dramatically increases the DBTT. On the other hand, the addition of 0.5% Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}, is enough to improve noticeably the oxidation behaviour at the higher temperatures. The grain size, fractography and microstructure are studied in these materials. Titanium is a good grain growth inhibitor and effective precursor of liquid phase in HIP. The simultaneous presence of Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Ti permits to obtain materials with low pores presence.

  1. Pressure induced insulator–metal transition and giant negative piezoresistance in Pr{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}Mn{sub 0.96}Al{sub 0.04}O{sub 3} polycrystal

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Arumugam, S., E-mail: sarumugam1963@yahoo.com [Centre for High Pressure Research, School of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli 620024, Tamil Nadu (India); Thiyagarajan, R. [Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR), Shanghai 201203 (China); Kalaiselvan, G.; Sivaprakash, P. [Centre for High Pressure Research, School of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli 620024, Tamil Nadu (India)

    2016-11-01

    The effect of external hydrostatic pressure (P) on the magnetization (M) and resistivity (ρ) properties of charge-orbital (CO) ordered-insulating phase-separated manganite Pr{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}Mn{sub 0.96}Al{sub 0.04}O{sub 3} system is reported here. At ambient P, CO ordering transition and spin-canting in the AFM are observed at 223 K and 55 K respectively in M(T) and ρ(T) measurements. Application of P increases simultaneously the magnitude of magnetization (M) and transition temperature, and weakens the CO ordering in M(T) measurements up to 0.98 GPa. During ρ(T) measurements, P induces an insulator–metallic transition (T{sub IM}) at 1.02 GPa, and further increase of P up to 2.84 GPa leads to increase of T{sub IM} (dT{sub IM}/dP =21.6 K/GPa). ρ at T{sub IM} is reduced about three orders of magnitude at 2.84 GPa, and leads to the giant negative piezoresistance (~98%). These results are analyzed separately in two temperature regions i.e., below and above T{sub IM} by power function equation and small polaronic hopping model respectively. It is understood from these analyses that the application of P suppresses the Jahn–Teller distortions, electron–electron and electron–magnon scattering factors, and induces the insulator–metal transition in Pr{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}Mn{sub 0.96}Al{sub 0.04}O{sub 3} system. - Highlights: • Application of P on Pr{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}Mn{sub 0.96}Al{sub 0.04}O{sub 3} reduces resistivity (ρ) remarkably at low-temperatures, and exhibits an insulator to metallic transition at 1.02 GPa. • The reduction in ρ by P is about three orders of magnitude at 2.84 GPa, leads to the giant negative piezoresistance about 98%. • The effect of the suppression of Jahn–Teller distortions, electron–electron and electron–magnon scattering under an applied P exhibits to the metal-Insulator transition. • The phase-separation in this system has been tuned by both internal and external perturbations.

  2. Evidence of the semiconductor-metal transition in V{sub 2}O{sub 5} thin films by the pulsed laser photoacoustic method

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Perez-Pacheco, A.; Acosta-Najarro, D. R.; Cruz-Manjarrez, H.; Rodriguez-Fernandez, L.; Pineda-Santamaria, J. C; Aguilar-Franco, M. [Instituto de Fisica-Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico DF (Mexico); Castaneda-Guzman, R. [Laboratorio de Fotofisica y Peliculas Delgadas, CCADET-UNAM, Mexico DF (Mexico)

    2013-05-14

    In this work, the pulsed photoacoustic technique was used to investigate the semiconductor-metal transition of thin vanadium pentoxide films (V{sub 2}O{sub 5}) under increasing temperature. The V{sub 2}O{sub 5} thin films were simultaneously deposited by RF magnetron sputtering at room temperature, on corning glass and SnO{sub 2}:F/glass substrates, in order to compare the photoacoustic response. The elemental and structural analysis of the V{sub 2}O{sub 5} films was performed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The optical transmission and band gap were determined using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The electrical properties were measured using four-point probe measurements with the Van der Pauw geometry.

  3. Hyperpolarized {sup 3}He magnetic resonance imaging: Preliminary evaluation of phenotyping potential in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mathew, Lindsay, E-mail: lmathew@imaging.robarts.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London (Canada); Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London (Canada); Kirby, Miranda, E-mail: mkirby@imaging.robarts.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London (Canada); Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London (Canada); Etemad-Rezai, Roya, E-mail: Roya.EtemadRezai@lhsc.on.ca [Department of Medical Imaging, University of Western Ontario (Canada); Wheatley, Andrew, E-mail: awheat@imaging.robarts.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London (Canada); McCormack, David G., E-mail: David.McCormack@lhsc.on.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London (Canada); Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London (Canada); Lawson Health Research Institute, London (Canada); Parraga, Grace, E-mail: gep@imaging.robarts.ca [Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London (Canada); Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London (Canada); Department of Medical Imaging, University of Western Ontario (Canada); Lawson Health Research Institute, London (Canada)

    2011-07-15

    Rationale and objectives: Emphysema and small airway obstruction are the pathological hallmarks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this pilot study in a small group of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients was to quantify hyperpolarized helium-3 ({sup 3}He) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) functional and structural measurements and to explore the potential role for {sup 3}He MRI in detecting the lung structural and functional COPD phenotypes. Materials and methods: We evaluated 20 ex-smokers with stage I (n = 1), stage II (n = 9) and stage III COPD (n = 10). All subjects underwent same-day plethysmography, spirometry, {sup 1}H MRI and hyperpolarized {sup 3}He MRI at 3.0 T. {sup 3}He ventilation defect percent (VDP) was generated from {sup 3}He static ventilation images and {sup 1}H thoracic images and the {sup 3}He apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was derived from diffusion-weighted MRI. Results: Based on the relative contribution of normalized ADC and VDP, there was evidence of a predominant {sup 3}He MRI measurement in seven patients (n = 3 mainly ventilation defects or VDP dominant (VD), n = 4 mainly increased ADC or ADC dominant (AD)). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significantly lower ADC for subjects with predominantly elevated VDP (p = 0.02 compared to subjects with predominantly elevated ADC; p = 0.008 compared to mixed group) and significantly decreased VDP for subjects with predominantly elevated ADC (p = 0.003, compared to mixed group). Conclusion: In this small pilot study, a preliminary analysis shows the potential for {sup 3}He MRI to categorize or phenotype COPD ex-smokers, providing good evidence of feasibility for larger prospective studies.

  4. The high temperature superconductor YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub>: symmetry of the order parameter, and gradiometers for biomagnetic applications

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kouznetsov, Konstantin Alexander [Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (US). Dept. of Physics; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

    1999-12-01

    The cuprate YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub> is the material that drives the majority of the technological applications of high transition temperature (T<sub>c>) superconductors, particularly in the area of superconducting electronics. Despite the widespread use of high-T<sub>c> superconducting materials in a variety of applications, the nature of the superconducting state in these materials remains unknown since their discovery more than a decade ago. Many properties of the high-T<sub>c> superconductors are determined by their order parameter, which is a wavefunction describing the superconducting condensate. The symmetry of the order parameter in cuprates has been the subject of intensive investigation, leading to conflicting sets of results. Some experiments supported conventional, s-wave symmetry of the order parameter, while others indicated an unconventional, d-wave symmetry. The first part of this thesis is an experimental study of the symmetry of the order parameter in YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub>. A new class of phase sensitive experiments is described that involve Josephson tunneling along the c-axis of twinned crystals of YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub>. These experiments showed that an s-wave component must reverse sign across the twin boundary, providing direct evidence for a mixed, s+d symmetry of the order parameter in YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub>, and thereby reconciling two conflicting sets of previous findings and establishing the dominant d-wave pairing symmetry. The second part of the thesis focuses on practical applications of YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub> in superconducting electronics. The authors introduce a novel Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) gradiometer. The principle of operation of these long baseline high-T{sub c} SQUID gradiometers is based on the inductive coupling of the input coil of a planar flux transformer to the

  5. Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Zn{sub x}O{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ho, T.A. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841 (Korea, Republic of); Lim, S.H., E-mail: sangholim@korea.ac.kr [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841 (Korea, Republic of); Tho, P.T.; Phan, T.L. [Department of Physics and Oxide Research Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 17035 (Korea, Republic of); Yu, S.C. [Department of Physics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644 (Korea, Republic of)

    2017-03-15

    The magnetic Mn{sup 3+} ions in La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} are partially replaced by nonmagnetic Zn{sup 2+} ions to form La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Zn{sub x}O{sub 3} compounds (x=0.0, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.1), and their magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are investigated. The Curie temperature decreases drastically from 245 to 70 K as x increases from 0 to 0.1. An analysis using the Banerjee's criterion of the experimental results for magnetization as a function of temperature and magnetic field indicates that the first-to-second order magnetic phase transformation occurs at a threshold composition of x=0.06, which is further supported by the universal curves of the normalized entropy change versus reduced temperature. The maximum magnetic entropy change measured at a magnetic field span of 50 kOe, which occurs near the Curie temperature, decreases from 10.30 to 2.15 J/kg K with the increase of x from 0.0 to 0.1. However, the relative cooling power, an important parameter for practical applications, shows a maximum value of 404 J/kg at x=0.08, which is 1.5 times greater than that observed for the undoped sample. - Highlights: • Magnetic and MCE of La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}Mn{sub 1−x}Zn{sub x}O{sub 3} are investigated. • Order of magnetic phase transition is dependent on the Zn doping concentration. • Although the |∆S{sub max}| decreases with increasing x, RCP increase remarkably.

  6. New vanadium tellurites: Syntheses, structures, optical properties of noncentrosymmetric VTeO{sub 4}(OH), centrosymmetric Ba{sub 2}V{sub 4}O{sub 8}(Te{sub 3}O{sub 10})

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Liang, Ming-Li [College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108 (China); State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002 (China); Marsh, Matthew [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306 (United States); Shang, Xian-Xing [College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108 (China); State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002 (China); Mao, Jiang-Gao [State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002 (China); Albrecht-Schmitt, Thomas E. [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306 (United States); Kong, Fang, E-mail: kongfang@fjirsm.ac.cn [State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002 (China); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306 (United States)

    2017-05-15

    Two new vanadium tellurites, VTeO{sub 4}(OH) (1) and Ba{sub 2}V{sub 4}O{sub 8}(Te{sub 3}O{sub 10}) (2), have been synthesized successfully with the use of hydrothermal reactions. The crystal structures of the two compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the polar space group Pca2{sub 1} (No. 29) while compound 2 crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group C2/c (No. 15). The topography of compound 1 reveals a two-dimensional, layered structure comprised of VO{sub 6} octahedral chains and TeO{sub 3}(OH) zig-zag chains. Compound 2, on the contrary, features a three-dimensional [V{sub 4}O{sub 8}(Te{sub 3}O{sub 10})]{sup 4-} anionic framework with Ba{sup 2+} ions filled into the 10-member ring helical tunnels. The [V{sub 4}O{sub 8}(Te{sub 3}O{sub 10})]{sup 4-} anionic network is the first 3D vanadium tellurite framework to be discovered in the alkaline-earth vanadium tellurite system. Powder second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements indicate that compound 1 shows a weak SHG response of about 0.3×KDP (KH{sub 2}PO{sub 4}) under 1064 nm laser radiation. Infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermal analysis, and dipole moment calculations have also been carried out. - Graphical abstract: VTeO{sub 4}(OH) (1) crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group Pca2{sub 1} (No. 29) while Ba{sub 2}V{sub 4}O{sub 8}(Te{sub 3}O{sub 10}) (2) crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group C2/c (No. 15). - Highlights: • VTeO{sub 4}(OH) (1) and Ba{sub 2}V{sub 4}O{sub 8}(Te{sub 3}O{sub 10}) (2) have been synthesized successfully with the use of hydrothermal reactions. • VTeO{sub 4}(OH) (1) crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group Pca2{sub 1} and displays a weak SHG response. • VTeO{sub 4}(OH) (1) represents only the fourth SHG-active material found in vanadium tellurite systems. • Ba{sub 2}V{sub 4}O{sub 8}(Te{sub 3}O{sub 10}) (2) exhibits a novel three-dimensional [V{sub 4}O{sub 8}(Te{sub 3}O{sub 10

  7. Controlled synthesis of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} modified Ag-{sub 010}BiVO{sub 4} heterostructures with enhanced photoelectrochemical activity toward the dye degradation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Li, Junqi, E-mail: sfmlab@163.com; Zhou, Jian; Hao, Hongjuan; Li, Weijie

    2017-03-31

    Highlights: • Z-scheme system and n-n heterogeneous were constructed on the (010) and (110) facet. • The n-n-Z system realizes the wide absorption range, high charge-separation and strong redox ability. • The PEC performance of the Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} modified Ag-BiVO{sub 4} was enhanced than that of the pure BiVO{sub 4}. - Abstract: Crystal facet dependence is an important approach for optimizing the performance of photocatalyst. In consideration that there is a close correlation between the photoelectric conversion efficiencies and crystal facet, the monoclinic bismuth vanadate (m-BiVO{sub 4}) with (010) and (110) crystal facets has drawn attention. We designed the Ag nanoparticles modified the (010) facet of the BiVO{sub 4} (Ag-{sub 010}BiVO{sub 4}) and then the Ag-{sub 010}BiVO{sub 4} heterogeneous nanostructure was modified by the Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles. In the Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} modified Ag-{sub 010}BiVO{sub 4}, the (110) facet of the BiVO{sub 4} was only modified by the Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nano-particles to construct the n-n heterojunction structure. Simultaneously, the Z-scheme system was fabricated on the (010) facet of the BiVO{sub 4}, where was modified by the Ag and Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nano-particles. We investigated its photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic activities by the measurement of the electrochemical performance and degradation of methyl orange (MO). The Ag species in the system is only treated as the solid state electron mediator. As was expected, the Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} modified Ag-{sub 010}BiVO{sub 4} heterojunction structure exhibited the highest photocurrent density and the smallest impedance. Besides, the Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} modified Ag-{sub 010}BiVO{sub 4} heterojunction structure exhibited excellent redox ability and the MO could be degraded 92% after 150 min. It is worth noting that the outstanding performance should be attributed to the synergistic effect of n-n and Z-scheme system in the different facets, which

  8. Second stop and sbottom searches with a stealth stop

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cheng, Hsin-Chia; Li, Lingfeng; Qin, Qin [Department of Physics, University of California,Davis, California 95616 (United States)

    2016-11-29

    The top squarks (stops) may be the most wanted particles after the Higgs boson discovery. The searches for the lightest stop have put strong constraints on its mass. However, there is still a search gap in the low mass region if the spectrum of the stop and the lightest neutralino is compressed. In that case, it may be easier to look for the second stop since naturalness requires both stops to be close to the weak scale. The current experimental searches for the second stop are based on the simplified model approach with the decay modes t̃{sub 2}→t̃{sub 1}Z and t̃{sub 2}→t̃{sub 1}h. However, in a realistic supersymmetric spectrum there is always a sbottom lighter than the second stop, hence the decay patterns are usually more complicated than the simplified model assumptions. In particular, there are often large branching ratios of the decays t̃{sub 2}→b̃{sub 1}W and b̃{sub 1}→t̃{sub 1}W as long as they are open. The decay chains can be even more complex if there are intermediate states of additional charginos and neutralinos in the decays. By studying several MSSM benchmark models at the 14 TeV LHC, we point out the importance of the multi-W final states in the second stop and the sbottom searches, such as the same-sign dilepton and multilepton signals, aside from the traditional search modes. The observed same-sign dilepton excesses at LHC Run 1 and Run 2 may be explained by some of our benchmark models. We also suggest that the vector boson tagging and a new kinematic variable may help to suppress the backgrounds and increase the signal significance for some search channels. Due to the complex decay patterns and lack of the dominant decay channels, the best reaches likely require a combination of various search channels at the LHC for the second stop and the lightest sbottom.

  9. CAPHIGAS Project: Design of a Novel WGS-Adsorbent-Membrane Hybrid System for the Simultaneous Capture of CO{sub 2} and Production of H2 (Ref.: Ene2009-08002); Proyecto CAPHIGAS: Diseno de un Sistema Hibrido WGS-Adsorbente-Membrana para la Captura de CO{sub 2} con Produccion de H{sub 2} (Ref: Ene2009-08002)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Marano, M.; Barreiro, M. M.; Sanchez, J. M.

    2014-02-01

    This report describes the general objective, tasks and main results and conclusions drawn within CAPHIGAS Project, Plan Nacional de I+D+I 2008-2011, financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and carried out by the Valorization of Fuels and Wastes Group of Ciemat. The general objective of the project was the design and development of a novel hybrid system for the simultaneous removal of CO{sub 2} and production of H{sub 2} using a WGS catalyst-adsorbent membrane configuration. The novel system proposed has provided new insight into the adsorption and reaction processes and has allowed an optimization of the operating conditions to take advantage of the synergies between both processes. In this report main future activities are also reported. (Author)

  10. Coercivity enhancement of NdFeB sintered magnets by low melting point Dy{sub 32.5}Fe{sub 62}Cu{sub 5.5} alloy modification

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Liang, Liping; Ma, Tianyu, E-mail: maty@zju.edu.cn; Zhang, Pei; Jin, Jiaying; Yan, Mi, E-mail: mse_yanmi@zju.edu.cn

    2014-04-15

    To improve coercivity without sacrificing other magnetic performance of NdFeB sintered magnets, a low melting point Dy{sub 32.5}Fe{sub 62}Cu{sub 5.5} alloy was introduced as an intergranular additive. Magnetic properties and microstructure of the magnets with different Dy{sub 32.5}Fe{sub 62}Cu{sub 5.5} contents were studied. At the optimum addition of 3 wt%, coercivity H{sub cj} was enhanced from 12.7 to 15.2 kOe, the maximum magnetic energy product (BH){sub max} was simultaneously increased from 46.6 to 47.8 MG Oe, accompanied by a slight reduction in remanence B{sub r}. Further investigation on microstructure and grain boundary composition indicated that the enhanced H{sub cj} and (BH){sub max} could be attributed to the refined and uniform 2:14:1 phase grains, continuous grain boundaries and a (Nd,Dy){sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B hardening shell surrounding the 2:14:1 phase grains. - Highlights: • Low melting-point Dy{sub 32.5}Fe{sub 62}Cu{sub 5.5} alloy was introduced to NdFeB magnets. • The doped magnet exhibits enhanced coercivity and maximum energy product. • (Nd,Dy){sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B shell was expected to form in the surface of Nd{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B grains. • The continuous grain boundary layer formed between neighboring Nd{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B grains.

  11. Dissipation in vibrating superleak second sound transducers

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Giordano, N.

    1985-01-01

    We have performed an experimental study of the generation and detection of second sound in 4 He using vibrating superleak second sound transducers. At temperatures well below T/sub lambda/ and for low driving amplitudes, the magnitude of the generated second sound wave is proportional to the drive amplitude. However, near T/sub lambda/ and for high drive amplitudes this is no longer the case--instead, the second sound amplitude saturates. In this regime we also find that overtones of the drive frequency are generated. Our results suggest that this behavior is due to critical velocity effects in the pores of the superleak in the generator transducer. This type of measurement may prove to be a useful way in which to study critical velocity effects in confined geometries

  12. Basic characteristics of simultaneous color contrast revisited.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ekroll, Vebjørn; Faul, Franz

    2012-10-01

    In this article, we present evidence supporting the hypothesis that the local mechanism of simultaneous color contrast is the same as the mechanism responsible for the crispening effect and the gamut expansion effect. A theoretically important corollary of this hypothesis is that the basic characteristics of simultaneous contrast are at odds with traditional laws. First, this hypothesis implies that the direction of the simultaneous contrast effect in color space is given by the vector from surround to target and not--as traditionally assumed--by the hue complementary to that of the surround. Second, it implies that the size of the simultaneous contrast effect depends on the difference between the target and surround colors in a way that challenges Kirschmann's fourth law. The widespread belief in the traditional laws, we argue, is due to the confounding influence of temporal adaptation.

  13. Improvement of (La{sub 0.74}Bi{sub 0.10}Sr{sub 0.16})MnO{sub 3}-Bi{sub 1.4}Er{sub 0.6}O{sub 3} composite cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Li, Junliang; Wang, Shaorong; Sun, Xiufu; Liu, Renzhu; Ye, Xiaofeng; Wen, Zhaoyin [Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1295 Dingxi Road, Shanghai 200050 (China)

    2008-12-01

    Porous composite cathodes including (La{sub 0.74}Bi{sub 0.10}Sr{sub 0.16})MnO{sub 3-{delta}} (LBSM) and Bi{sub 1.4}Er{sub 0.6}O{sub 3} (ESB) were fabricated and characterized using AC impedance spectroscopy. In our earlier work, the growth and aggregation of ESB particles were found in LBSM-ESB composite cathodes. In this study, therefore, two approaches were used to restrain the growth and aggregation of ESB particles. First, the sintering temperature of the composite cathode was reduced by introducing a sintering function layer, which caused a 22% reduction in the initial polarization resistance (R), but the cathode polarization resistance decreased at a rate of 2.15 x 10{sup -4} {omega} cm{sup 2} h{sup -1} at 700 C during a period of 100 h. Second, nano-sized Gd-doped ceria powder (CGO) was added to the composite cathode system. Stability improvement was achieved at 10 vol% CGO, and the degradation rate at 700 C was 4.01 x 10{sup -5} {omega} cm{sup 2} h{sup -1} during a period of 100 h. (author)

  14. Structural, magnetic and Moessbauer spectral studies of aluminum substituted Mg-Mn-Ni ferrites (Mg{sub 0.2}Mn{sub 0.5}Ni{sub 0.3}Al{sub y}Fe{sub 2-y}O{sub 4})

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Verma, Satish, E-mail: satishapurva@gmail.com [Department of Physics, Govt. P.G. College, Solan-173212 (India); Chand, Jagdish [Department of Physics, Govt. P.G. College, Solan-173212 (India); Batoo, Khalid Mujasam [King Abdullah Institute of Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451 (Saudi Arabia); Singh, M. [Department of Physics, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer-Hill, Shimla-171005 (India)

    2013-02-25

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Single phase nanocrystalline Al{sup 3+} ions doped Mg-Mn-Ni ferrite have been synthesized by citrate precursor method. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Particle size decreases as non-magnetic Al content increases. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The presence of doublets in the Moessbauer spectra can be attributed to superparamagnetic relaxation. - Abstract: Nanocrystalline Al{sup 3+} ions doped Mg{sub 0.2}Mn{sub 0.5}Ni{sub 0.3}Al{sub y}Fe{sub 2-y}O{sub 4} compositions, where y = 0.0, 0.05 and 0.10 have been synthesized by citrate precursor method. Crystal structure and magnetic properties have been investigated at 300 K by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Moessbauer spectra measurements. XRD study reveals that particle size decreases from 102.25 nm to 41.65 nm. A decrease in lattice constant and saturation magnetization was attributed to smaller ionic radius of Al{sup 3+} ions and weakening of super exchange interaction. Experimental and X-ray density decrease with increasing aluminum concentration. Though Moessbauer spectra of y = 0.0 exhibit normal Zeeman split sextets, spectra of samples for y = 0.05 and 0.10 are characterized by simultaneous presence of a central paramagnetic doublet. Dependence of Moessbauer parameters such as isomer shift, quadrupole splitting, linewidth and hyperfine magnetic field on Al{sup 3+} ions concentration have been discussed. Initial permeability '{mu}{sub i}', saturation magnetization (4 {pi}M{sub S}), retentivity (M{sub R}), Bohr magneton number (n{sub B}{sup N}), magneto crystalline anisotropy constant (K{sub 1}) and magnetic loss decreases while coercivity (H{sub C}) increases with increasing substitution of Al{sup 3+} ions. Magnetic loss has very low value in the range of 10{sup -3} which is two orders of magnitude less than samples prepared by conventional method.

  15. Crystal structure of a new polar borate Na{sub 2}Ce{sub 2}[BO{sub 2}(OH)][BO{sub 3}]{sub 2} · H{sub 2}O with isolated boron triangles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Topnikova, A. P.; Belokoneva, E. L., E-mail: elbel@geol.msu.ru; Dimitrova, O. V.; Volkov, A. S. [Moscow State University, Faculty of Geology (Russian Federation)

    2016-11-15

    Crystals of a new polar borate Na{sub 2}Ce{sub 2}[BO{sub 2}(OH)][BO{sub 3}]{sub 2} · H{sub 2}O were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The crystals are orthorhombic, a = 7.2295(7) Å, b = 11.2523(8) Å, c = 5.1285(6) Å, Z = 2, sp. gr. C2mm (Amm2), R = 0.0253. The formula of the compound was derived from the structure determination. The Ce and Na atoms are coordinated by nine and six O atoms, respectively. The Ce position is split, and a small amount of Ce is incorporated into the Na1 site with the isomorphous substitution for Na. The anionic moieties exist as isolated BO{sub 3} and BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles. The planes of the BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles with mm2 symmetry are parallel to the ab plane. The planes of the BO{sub 3} triangles with m symmetry are perpendicular to the ab plane and are rotated in a diagonal way. The splitting of the Ce positions and the polar arrangement of the BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles, water molecules, and Na atoms are observed along the polar a axis. The new structure is most similar to the new borate NaCa{sub 4}[BO{sub 3}]{sub 3} (sp. gr. Ama2), in which triangles of one type are arranged in a polar fashion along the c axis. Weak nonlinear-optical properties of both polar borates are attributed to the quenching of the second-harmonic generation due to the mutually opposite orientation of two-thirds of B triangles in the unit cell.

  16. The complex structure of liquid Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Qin Jingyu; Gu Tingkun; Bian Xiufang [Key Laboratory of Liquid Structure and Heredity of Materials, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Southern Campus, Jinan 250061 (China); Liu Hui [Shandong High Performance Computing Center, Shandong University, Southern Campus, Jinan 250061 (China)

    2009-04-15

    By applying ab initio molecular dynamics simulation to liquid Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy, the hetero-coordination tendency is discovered by Bathia-Thornton partial correlation functions and a chemical short-range parameter. However the local structural environment of Sn in l-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy resembles that of liquid Sn by Voronoi analysis. A new feature, i.e. a subpeak in between the first and second peaks, is discovered by the present method which implies that topologically disordered {beta}-Sn-type structural units may exist in l-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy. The local density states of electrons show that both Cu-Sn and Sn-Sn bonding exist in l-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy. This work suggests that chemical short-range order between unlike atoms and self-coordination between Sn atoms coexists in l-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy.

  17. Photoluminescence and phosphorescence properties of Sr{sub 1-x}Zn{sub 2-y}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}:Eu{sub x}{sup 2+},Mn{sub y}{sup 2+} phosphor for UV-based white-LEDs

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jeong, Junho; Jayasimhadri, M. [Research Institute of Basic Science, Changwon National University, Changwon 641-773 (Korea, Republic of); Sueb Lee, Ho [Department of Physics, Changwon National University, Changwon 641-773 (Korea, Republic of); Jang, Kiwan, E-mail: kwjang@changwon.ac.k [Department of Physics, Changwon National University, Changwon 641-773 (Korea, Republic of); Soo Yi, Soung [Department of Photonics, Silla University, Pusan 617-736 (Korea, Republic of); Hyun Jeong, Jung [Department of Physics, Pukyong National University, Pusan 608-737 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Changdae [Department of Physics, Mokpo National University, Mokpo 534-729 (Korea, Republic of)

    2009-07-01

    Sr{sub 1-x}Zn{sub 2-y}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}:Eu{sub x}{sup 2+},Mn{sub y}{sup 2+} (SZP: Eu{sub x}{sup 2+},Mn{sub y}{sup 2+}) phosphors (x=0, 0.01 and y=0, 0.01) were prepared by using a stoichiometric solid-state reaction method and their photoluminescence and phosphorescence decay properties were investigated. The emission spectrum of SrZn{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}:Eu{sub 0.01}{sup 2+}, Mn{sub 0.01}{sup 2+} measured under 400 nm excitation was composed of the violettish blue and the emerald green emissioins centered at 421 and 547 nm, respectively. The excitation wavelength of the emission peak at 547 nm was about 421 nm in the excitation spectrum of SZP:Mn{sub 0.01}{sup 2+}. Since, this value is equal to the transition energy of Eu{sup 2+}, the energy transfer from Eu{sup 2+} to Mn{sup 2+} in SZP:Eu{sub 0.01}{sup 2+},Mn{sub 0.01}{sup 2+} phosphor has been demonstrated. The CIE chromaticity coordinates of SZP:Eu{sub 0.01}{sup 2+},Mn{sub 0.01}{sup 2+} phosphor were (0.330, 0.328) under the excitation wavelength 375 nm at room temperature. The phosphorescence from SZP:Eu{sub 0.01}{sup 2+},Mn{sub 0.01}{sup 2+} could be seen by naked eyes for few seconds and it has persisted for about 4.4 h while monitoring by using a PMT spectrometer. Therefore, SZP:Eu{sub x}{sup 2+},Mn{sub y}{sup 2+}phosphor may be a potential candidate for the UV-based white light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

  18. Novel chemical route for deposition of Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} photovoltaic absorbers

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gordillo, Gerardo; Becerra, Raul A.; Calderón, Clara L., E-mail: ggordillog@unal.edu.co [Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota (Colombia)

    2018-05-01

    This work reports results of a study carried out to optimize the preparation conditions of Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} (CZTS) thin films grown by sequential deposition of Cu{sub 2}SnS{sub 3} (CTS) and ZnS layers, where the Cu{sub 2}SnS{sub 3} compound was grown using a novel procedure consisting of simultaneous precipitation of Cu{sub 2}S and SnS{sub 2} performed by diffusion membrane assisted chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. The precipitation across the diffusion membranes allows achieving moderate control of release of metal ions into the work solution favoring the heterogeneous growth mainly through an ion-ion mechanism. Through a parameters study, conditions were found to grow Cu{sub 2}SnS{sub 3} thin films which were used as precursors for the formation of Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} films. The formation of CZTS thin films grown in the Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} phase was verified through measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. Solar cells with efficiencies of 4.9% were obtained using CZTS films prepared by membrane assisted CBD technique as absorber layer. (author)

  19. Magnetic and luminescent hybrid nanomaterial based on Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanocrystals and GdPO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 3+} nanoneedles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Runowski, Marcin; Grzyb, Tomasz; Lis, Stefan, E-mail: blis@amu.edu.pl [Adam Mickiewicz University, Department of Rare Earths, Faculty of Chemistry (Poland)

    2012-10-15

    A bifunctional hybrid nanomaterial, which can show magnetic and luminescent properties, was obtained. A magnetic phase was synthesized as a core/shell type composite. Nanocrystalline magnetite, Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} was used as the core and was encapsulated in a silica shell. The luminescent phase was GdPO{sub 4} doped with Eu{sup 3+} ions, as the emitter. The investigated materials were synthesized using a coprecipitation method. Encapsulated Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} was 'trapped' in a nano-scaffold composed of GdPO{sub 4} crystalline nanoneedles. When an external magnetic field was applied, this hybrid composite was attracted in one direction. Also, the luminescent phase can move simultaneously with magnetite due to a 'trapping' effect. The structure and morphology of the obtained nanocomposites were examined with the use of transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. Spectroscopic properties of the Eu{sup 3+}-doped nanomaterials were studied by measuring their excitation and emission spectra as well as their luminescence decay times.Graphical Abstract.

  20. Crystal structure, chemical bond and enhanced performance of β-Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 3} compounds with interstitial indium dopant

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tang, Dingguo [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070 (China); Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials Science of the State Ethnic Affair Commission and Ministry of Education, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074 (China); Zhao, Wenyu, E-mail: wyzhao@whut.edu.cn [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070 (China); Yu, Jian; Wei, Ping; Zhou, Hongyu; Zhu, Wanting [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070 (China); Zhang, Qingjie, E-mail: zhangqj@whut.edu.cn [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070 (China)

    2014-07-15

    Highlights: • The interstitial In dopant leads to the local structural perturbations in β-Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 3}. • The simultaneous increases in α and σ are observed in the In-doped Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 3} compounds. • The In dopant plays different doping behaviors by the dopant contents in the samples. • A maximum ZT of 1.41 at 700 K is achieved for the In-doped Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 3} compounds. - Abstract: In-doped β-Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 3} compounds (Zn{sub 4−x}In{sub x}Sb{sub 3}, 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.24) were prepared by melt-quenching and spark plasma sintering technology in the work. The resultant samples were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermoelectric property measurements. The In dopant was identified to preferentially occupy the interstitial site in β-Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 3} and led to the local structural perturbations near the 12c Sb2 and 36f Zn1 sites. The Auger parameters of Zn and Sb indicated that the increase in the valence of Zn was attributed to the charge transfer from Zn to In atoms. The binding energies of In 3d{sub 5/2} core level showed that the interstitial In dopant was n-type dopant (In{sup 3+}) in slightly In-doped Zn{sub 4−x}In{sub x}Sb{sub 3}, but acted as acceptor and was p-type dopant (In{sup +}) in heavily In-doped ones. The discovery provides a reasonable explanation for the puzzled relation between σ and x for Zn{sub 4−x}In{sub x}Sb{sub 3}. Simultaneously increasing the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of Zn{sub 4−x}In{sub x}Sb{sub 3} can be realized through the local structural perturbations. The significantly enhanced power factor and the intrinsic low thermal conductivity resulted in a remarkable increase in the dimensionless figure of merit (ZT). The highest ZT reached 1.41 at 700 K for Zn{sub 3.82}In{sub 0.18}Sb{sub 3} and increased by 68% compared with that of the undoped β-Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 3}.

  1. Chemical stabilization and high pressure synthesis of Ba-free Hg-based superconductors, (Hg,M)Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub n-1}Cu{sub n}O{sub y}(N=1{approximately}3)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kishio, K. [Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)]|[Kyoto Univ. (Japan); Shimoyama, J.; Hahakura, S. [Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)] [and others

    1994-12-31

    A homologous series of new Hg-based HTSC compounds, (Hg,M)Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub n-1}Cu{sub n}O{sub y} with n=1 to 3, have been synthesized. The stabilization of the pure phases have been accomplished by chemical doping of third elements such as M=Cr, Mo and Re. While the Hg1201(n=1) phase was readily obtained in this way, it was necessary to simultaneously dope Y into the Ca site to stabilize the Hg1212(n=2) phase. On the other hand, single-phase Y-free Hg1212(n=2) and Hg1223(n=3) samples were synthesized only under a high pressure of 6 GPa. In sharp contrast to the Ba-containing compounds, all the samples prepared in the present study have been quite stable during the synthesis and no deterioration in air has been observed after the preparation.

  2. Synthesis, surface modification/decoration of luminescent–magnetic core/shell nanomaterials, based on the lanthanide doped fluorides (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/SiO{sub 2}/NH{sub 2}/PAA/LnF{sub 3})

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Runowski, Marcin; Lis, Stefan, E-mail: blis@amu.edu.pl

    2016-02-15

    The synthesized magnetite nanoparticles (10–15 nm) were successfully coated with amine modified silica nanoshell, which led to the formation of core/shell type nanostructures (30–50 nm). The as-prepared nanoparticles were surface modified with polyacrylic acid (PAA) via electrostatic interactions of –NH{sub 2} and –COOH groups. Afterwards, the surface PAA molecules acted as complexing agents of the introduced lanthanide (Ln{sup 3+}) ions. Subsequently, the as-prepared nanostructures were surface decorated with luminescent LnF{sub 3} nanoparticles, forming Eu{sup 3+} or Tb{sup 3+} doped Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/SiO{sub 2}/NH{sub 2}/PAA/LnF{sub 3} nanomaterials (50–100 nm). The obtained luminescent–magnetic products exhibited simultaneously bright red or green emission under UV lamp irradiation (λ{sub ex}=254 nm), and a response for the applied magnetic field (strong magnet attracts the colloidal particles, dispersed in aqueous medium). After the synthesis, properties of the nanomaterials were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and spectrofluorometry (analysis of excitation/emission spectra and luminescence decay curves). Such advanced nanomaterials can be potentially used in multimodal imaging, targeted therapies and as multifunctional contrast agents, novel luminescent–magnetic tracers, protection of documents, etc. - Highlights: • Luminescent–magnetic nanomaterials Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/SiO{sub 2}/NH{sub 2}/PAA/LnF{sub 3} were synthesized. • Core/shell nanostructures were obtained by surface modification of nanoparticles. • Luminescent lanthanide fluoride nanoparticles doped with Eu{sup 3+} and Tb{sup 3+} ions. • Multifunctional core/shell nanostructures exhibited red or green emission. • Nanomaterials formed stable aqueous colloids.

  3. Microstructure evolution in the rapidly quenched Fe{sub 78}Si{sub 9}B{sub 13} ribbons

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, W.-M., E-mail: weiminw@sdu.edu.c [Key Lab of Liquid Structure and Heredity of Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250061 (China); Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004 (China); Jin, S.F. [Key Lab of Liquid Structure and Heredity of Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250061 (China); Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080 (China); Zhang, J.T.; Huang, T.; Wang, L.; Bian, X.F. [Key Lab of Liquid Structure and Heredity of Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250061 (China)

    2009-11-01

    We report microstructure evolution in as-spun Fe{sub 78}Si{sub 9}B{sub 13} ribbons under various wheel speeds (s), which was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). With decreasing s, the volume fraction of the residual amorphous phase (V{sub a}) in the as-spun ribbons decreases gradually, and the total exothermic heat of the crystallization in the DSC curves also decreases, but the ratio of the exothermic heat of the second crystallization to the first one is on the contrary. alpha-Fe is found in the ribbon with s of 32.9 m/s, while alpha-Fe, eutectic alpha-Fe+Fe{sub 2}B, and Fe{sub 3}Si phases are found in ribbons with s of 25.6 and 18.3 m/s. The phase precipitating behavior in cooling processes is well consistent with the annealing process in the literatures.

  4. Simultaneous bioreduction of nitrate and chromate using sulfur-based mixotrophic denitrification process

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sahinkaya, Erkan, E-mail: erkansahinkaya@yahoo.com [Istanbul Medeniyet University, Bioengineering Department, Goztepe, Istanbul (Turkey); Kilic, Adem [Harran University, Environmental Engineering Department, Osmanbey Campus, 63000 Sanliurfa (Turkey); Calimlioglu, Beste; Toker, Yasemin [Istanbul Medeniyet University, Bioengineering Department, Goztepe, Istanbul (Turkey)

    2013-11-15

    Highlights: • Simultaneous heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrification was stimulated. • Simultaneous bioreduction of nitrate and chromate was achieved. • Total chromium decreased <50 μg/L when the influent Cr(VI) was ≤5 mg/L. -- Abstract: This study aims at evaluating simultaneous chromate and nitrate reduction using sulfur-based mixotrophic denitrification process in a column reactor packed with elemental sulfur and activated carbon. The reactor was supplemented with methanol at C/N ratio of 1.33 or 2. Almost complete denitrification was achieved at influent NO{sub 3}{sup −}–N and Cr(VI) concentrations of 75 mg/L and 10 mg/L, respectively, and 3.7 h HRT. Maximum denitrification rate was 0.5 g NO{sub 3}{sup −}–N/(L.d) when the bioreactor was fed with 75 mg/L NO{sub 3}{sup −}–N, 150 mg/L methanol and 10 mg/L Cr(VI). The share of autotrophic denitrification was between 12% and 50% depending on HRT, C/N ratio and Cr(VI) concentration. Effluent total chromium was below 50 μg/L provided that influent Cr(VI) concentration was equal or below 5 mg/L. DGGE results showed stable microbial community throughout the operation and the presence of sulfur oxidizing denitrifying bacteria (Thiobacillus denitrificans) and Cr(VI) reducing bacteria (Exiguobacterium spp.) in the column bed.

  5. Measurement of lung airways in three dimensions using hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Peterson, Eric T; Fain, Sean B; Dai Jionghan; Holmes, James H

    2011-01-01

    Large airway measurement is clinically important in cases of airway disease and trauma. The gold standard is computed tomography (CT), which allows for airway measurement. However, the ionizing radiation dose associated with CT is a major limitation in longitudinal studies and trauma. To avoid ionizing radiation from CT, we present a method for measuring the large airway diameter in humans using hyperpolarized helium-3 (HPHe) MRI in conjunction with a dynamic 3D radial acquisition. An algorithm is introduced which utilizes the significant airway contrast for semi-automated segmentation and skeletonization which is used to derive the airway lumen diameter. The HPHe MRI method was validated with quantitative CT in an excised and desiccated porcine lung (linear regression R 2 = 0.974 and slope = 0.966 over 32 airway segments). The airway lumen diameters were then compared in 24 human subjects (22 asthmatics and 2 normals; linear regression R 2 value of 0.799 and slope = 0.768 over 309 airway segments). The feasibility for airway path analysis to areas of ventilation defect is also demonstrated.

  6. As-free pnictide LaNi{sub 1-x}Sb{sub 2} thin films grown by reactive molecular beam epitaxy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Retzlaff, Reiner; Buckow, Alexander; Kurian, Jose; Alff, Lambert [Institute of Materials Science, Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Petersenstr. 23, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany)

    2012-07-01

    We use reactive molecular beam epitaxy (RMBE) as synthesis technique for the search of arsenic free pnictide superconductors. Epitaxial thin films of LaNi{sub 1-x}Sb{sub 2} were grown on (100)MgO substrates from elemental sources by simultaneous evaporation of high purity La, Ni and Sb metals by e-gun. The LaNi{sub 1-x}Sb{sub 2} thin films grow epitaxially and are (00l) oriented with high crystalline quality, as evident from RHEED and X-Ray diffraction studies. The Ni deficient LaNi{sub 1-x}Sb{sub 2} thin films show metallic behavior with a room temperature resistivity of 110 {mu}{Omega} cm, while the stoichiometric compound is a semiconductor/insulator. The isostructural compound with Bi as pnictide shows a superconducting transition with a T{sub C}(0) of 3.1 K.

  7. Performance test of PSA-type O{sub 2} separator for efficient O{sub 2} supply to room ventilation system combined with CO{sub 2} adsorption module

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Han, Gi Bo; Jang, Jung Hee; Choi, Changsik [Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin (Korea, Republic of); Lee, Tae Jin [School of Chemical Engineering Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan (Korea, Republic of)

    2016-04-15

    High purity O{sub 2} concentrated by the PSA-type O{sub 2} separator was applied to a room ventilation system combined with CO{sub 2} adsorption module to remove the indoor CO{sub 2} for the indoor air quality. And then the room was occupied by several persons to breathe for the O{sub 2} consumption and CO{sub 2} generation. As a result, the indoor air quality was improved by the ventilation system combined with the O{sub 2} supply and the CO{sub 2} adsorption module. It was due to the fact that the CO{sub 2} concentration was not steeply increased, but also even decreased and then the increasing rate of the O{sub 2} concentration with the O{sub 2} supply was simultaneously increased by the CO{sub 2} removal despite the CO{sub 2} generation and O{sub 2} consumption with the four persons' breathing. As a representative result, in the case of supplying the high purity O{sub 2} of 30 L/min under using the CO{sub 2} adsorption module, the best performance with the highest increasing rate of O{sub 2} concentration and the lowest increasing rate of CO{sub 2} concentration was obtained among the various cases, and then the increasing rates of CO{sub 2} radiation and O{sub 2} concentration were -2.3 ppm/min and 33.3%/min, respectively.

  8. “Plug-and-Play” potentials: Investigating quantum effects in (H{sub 2}){sub 2}–Li{sup +}–benzene

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    D’Arcy, Jordan H.; Kolmann, Stephen J.; Jordan, Meredith J. T. [School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney (Australia)

    2015-08-21

    Quantum and anharmonic effects are investigated in (H{sub 2}){sub 2}–Li{sup +}–benzene, a model for hydrogen adsorption in metal-organic frameworks and carbon-based materials, using rigid-body diffusion Monte Carlo (RBDMC) simulations. The potential-energy surface (PES) is calculated as a modified Shepard interpolation of M05-2X/6-311+G(2df,p) electronic structure data. The RBDMC simulations yield zero-point energies (ZPE) and probability density histograms that describe the ground-state nuclear wavefunction. Binding a second H{sub 2} molecule to the H{sub 2}–Li{sup +}–benzene complex increases the ZPE of the system by 5.6 kJ mol{sup −1} to 17.6 kJ mol{sup −1}. This ZPE is 42% of the total electronic binding energy of (H{sub 2}){sub 2}–Li{sup +}–benzene and cannot be neglected. Our best estimate of the 0 K binding enthalpy of the second H{sub 2} to H{sub 2}–Li{sup +}–benzene is 7.7 kJ mol{sup −1}, compared to 12.4 kJ mol{sup −1} for the first H{sub 2} molecule. Anharmonicity is found to be even more important when a second (and subsequent) H{sub 2} molecule is adsorbed; use of harmonic ZPEs results in significant error in the 0 K binding enthalpy. Probability density histograms reveal that the two H{sub 2} molecules are found at larger distance from the Li{sup +} ion and are more confined in the θ coordinate than in H{sub 2}–Li{sup +}–benzene. They also show that both H{sub 2} molecules are delocalized in the azimuthal coordinate, ϕ. That is, adding a second H{sub 2} molecule is insufficient to localize the wavefunction in ϕ. Two fragment-based (H{sub 2}){sub 2}–Li{sup +}–benzene PESs are developed. These use a modified Shepard interpolation for the Li{sup +}–benzene and H{sub 2}–Li{sup +}–benzene fragments, and either modified Shepard interpolation or a cubic spline to model the H{sub 2}–H{sub 2} interaction. Because of the neglect of three-body H{sub 2}, H{sub 2}, Li{sup +} terms, both fragment PESs lead to overbinding

  9. Phase separation, crystallization and polyamorphism in the Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} system

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Skinner, Lawrie B; Barnes, Adrian C [H H Wills Physics Laboratory, Royal Fort, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL (United Kingdom); Salmon, Philip S [Department of Physics, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY (United Kingdom); Crichton, Wilson A [European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, BP 220, Grenoble Cedex, F-38043 (France)], E-mail: a.c.barnes@bristol.ac.uk

    2008-05-21

    A detailed study of glass formation from aerodynamically levitated liquids in the (Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub x}(Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub 1-x} system for the composition range 0.21{<=}x{<=}0.41 was undertaken by using pyrometric, optical imaging and x-ray diffraction methods. Homogeneous and clear single-phase glasses were produced over the composition range 0.27{<=}x{<=}0.33. For Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}-rich compositions (0.33{<=}x{<=}0.375), cloudy materials were produced which contain inclusions of crystalline yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) of diameter up to 40 {mu}m in a glassy matrix. For Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}-poor compositions around x = 0.24, cloudy materials were also produced, but it was not possible to deduce whether this resulted from (i) sub-micron inclusions of a nano-crystalline or glassy material in a glassy matrix or (ii) a glass formed by spinodal decomposition. For x = 0.21, however, the sample cloudiness results from crystallization into at least two phases comprising yttrium aluminium perovskite and alumina. The associated pyrometric cooling curve shows slow recalescence events with a continuous and slow evolution of excess heat which contrasts with the sharp recalescence events observed for the crystallization of YAG at compositions near x = 0.375. The materials that are the most likely candidates for demonstrating homogeneous nucleation of a second liquid phase occur around x = 0.25, which corresponds to the limit for formation of a continuous random network of corner-shared AlO{sub 4} tetrahedra.

  10. A Second Generation Swirl-Venturi Lean Direct Injection Combustion Concept

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tacina, Kathleen M.; Chang, Clarence T.; He, Zhuohui Joe; Lee, Phil; Dam, Bidhan; Mongia, Hukam

    2014-01-01

    A low-NO (sub x) aircraft gas turbine engine combustion concept was developed and tested. The concept is a second generation swirl-venturi lean direct injection (SV-LDI) concept. LDI is a lean-burn combustion concept in which the fuel is injected directly into the flame zone. Three second generation SV-LDI configurations were developed. All three were based on the baseline 9-point SV-LDI configuration reported previously. These second generation configurations had better low power operability than the baseline 9-point configuration. Two of these second generation configurations were tested in a NASA Glenn Research Center flametube; these two configurations are called the at dome and 5-recess configurations. Results show that the 5-recess configuration generally had lower NO (sub x) emissions than the flat dome configuration. Correlation equations were developed for the flat dome configuration so that the landing-takeoff NO (sub x) emissions could be estimated. The flat dome landing-takeoff NO (sub x) is estimated to be 87-88 percent below the CAEP/6 standards, exceeding the ERA project goal of 75 percent reduction.

  11. Facile preparation of Z-scheme WO{sub 3}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} composite photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cui, Lifeng, E-mail: lifeng.cui@gmail.com [School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Guangdong 523808 (China); Ding, Xiang; Wang, Yangang; Shi, Huancong; Huang, Lihua; Zuo, Yuanhui [Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093 (China); Kang, Shifei, E-mail: sfkang@usst.edu.cn [Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093 (China)

    2017-01-01

    Highlights: • WO{sub 3}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} composites were synthesized through a facile mixing-and-heating method. • The composite showed improved visible light response. • The composite showed high activity for MB degradation. • Z-scheme charge carrier transfer pathways in the composite are proposed. - Abstract: Visible-light-driven WO{sub 3}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} composites photocatalysts were synthesized via a facile one-step simultaneously heating procedure with urea as the main precursor. These prepared catalyst samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N{sub 2} adsorption, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV–vis), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The photocatalytic activity of the WO{sub 3}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} composites was evaluated by the photo-degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the composites with 25 wt.% WO{sub 3} content exhibited highest photocatalytic activity compared to pure WO{sub 3}, bare g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} and other WO{sub 3}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} composites. The favorable photocatalytic activity of WO{sub 3}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} composites was mainly attributed to the excellent surface properties, enhanced visible-light absorption and the desirable band positions. A possible Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on structure and electrochemical characterizations results, which can well explain the enhanced migration rate of photogenerated electrons and holes in WO{sub 3}/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} heterojunctions.

  12. Mechanical properties of bismuth telluride (Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}) processed by high pressure torsion (HPT); Propiedades mecanicas del telururo de bismuto (Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}) procesado mediante torsion bajo alta presion (HPT)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Santamaria, J. A.; Alkorta, J.; Gil Sevillano, J.

    2013-06-01

    Bismuth telluride, Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, is the main thermoelectric material currently in use for commercial cooling devices or for energy harvesting near room temperature. Because of its highly anisotropic layered structure, Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} is very brittle, failing by cleavage along its basal plane. Refining its grain size is expected to increase its toughness with the advantage that, simultaneously, its thermoelectric figure of merit results increased. In this work, powders of the compound have been compacted by conventional methods as well as by severe plastic deformation under high pressure (3 GPa) using high pressure torsion (HPT, one turn at room temperature). Near-theoretical density has been achieved. The hardness and toughness of the compacts have been assessed by micro and nano-indentation. (Author) 11 refs.

  13. Hyperpolarized 3helium magnetic resonance ventilation imaging of the lung in cystic fibrosis: comparison with high resolution CT and spirometry

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    McMahon, Colm J.; Dodd, Jonathan D.; Skehan, Stephen J.; Masterson, James B.; Hill, Catherine; Woodhouse, Neil; Wild, Jim M.; Fichele, Stan; Gallagher, Charles G.; Beek, Edwin J.R. van

    2006-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to compare hyperpolarized 3 helium magnetic resonance imaging ( 3 He MRI) of the lungs in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and spirometry. Eight patients with stable CF prospectively underwent 3 He MRI, HRCT, and spirometry within 1 week. Three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo sequence was used during an 18-s breath-hold following inhalation of hyperpolarized 3 He. Each lung was divided into six zones; 3 He MRI was scored as percentage ventilation per lung zone. HRCT was scored using a modified Bhalla scoring system. Univariate (Spearman rank) and multivariate correlations were performed between 3 He MRI, HRCT, and spirometry. Results are expressed as mean±SD (range). Spirometry is expressed as percent predicted. There were four men and four women, mean age=31.9±9 (20-46). Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV) 1 =52%±29 (27-93). Mean 3 He MRI score=74%±25 (55-100). Mean HRCT score=48.8±24 (13.5-83). The correlation between 3 He MRI and HRCT was strong (R=±0.89, p 3 He MRI; 3 He MRI correlated better with FEV 1 and forced vital capacity (FVC) (R=0.86 and 0.93, p 3 He MRI correlates strongly with structural HRCT abnormalities and is a stronger correlate of spirometry than HRCT in CF. (orig.)

  14. Applications of simultaneous ion backscattering and ion-induced x-ray emission

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Musket, R.G.

    1983-05-01

    Simultaneous ion backscattering and ion-induced x-ray emission (E/sub x/greater than or equal to 300 eV) analyses have been performed using helium ions as probes of the first few hundred nanometers of various materials. These studies serve as a demonstration of the complementary nature of the two types of information obtained. Uncertainties associated with each of the individual techniques were reduced by performing both analyses. The principal advantages of simultaneous analyses over sequential analyses have been delineated

  15. Strong magnetorefractive effect in epitaxial La{sub 2/3}Ca{sub 1/3}MnO{sub 3} thin films

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hrabovsky, D. [Institut de Ciencia de Materials de Barcelona, ICMAB-CSIC Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra 08193, Catalonia (Spain); Herranz, G., E-mail: gherranz@icmab.e [Institut de Ciencia de Materials de Barcelona, ICMAB-CSIC Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra 08193, Catalonia (Spain); Caicedo, J.M.; Infante, I.C.; Sanchez, F.; Fontcuberta, J. [Institut de Ciencia de Materials de Barcelona, ICMAB-CSIC Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra 08193, Catalonia (Spain)

    2010-05-15

    We report here on the magneto-optical characterization of epitaxial La{sub 2/3}Ca{sub 1/3}MnO{sub 3} thin films. We observe that the magnetic field dependence of the magneto-optical signal measured in transverse Kerr geometry can be decomposed into even and odd contributions which evolve differently with the temperature. We demonstrate that whereas the odd component is proportional to the magnetization, the even contribution is related to the magnetorefractive effect, which is caused by the changes of the refractive index and optical conductivity with the magnetic field. This phenomenon, previously reported only at infrared wavelengths in some spin valves and granular systems, is shown here to be very relevant at visible frequencies for the colossal magnetoresistance manganites, thus allowing simultaneous optical characterization of the magnetic and magnetotransport properties. We argue that these characteristics result from inherent transport properties of these strongly correlated ferromagnetic oxides.

  16. Studies on the relationship between Pitzer's equation and medium effect: the system of HCl + H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} in {l_brace}0.06455C{sub 2}H{sub 5}OH + 0.93545H{sub 2}O{r_brace}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lu Xingmei E-mail: lxmqt@sohu.com; Xu Weiguo; Chang Xiaohong; Lu Dianzhen; Yang Jiazhen

    2004-03-01

    The second ionization constant of sulfuric acid in mixed solvent, K{sub 2}, was determined by e.m.f. of cell without liquid junction: (Pt,H{sub 2}(101.325 kPa) vertical bar HCl(m{sub 1}),H{sub 2}SO{sub 4}(m{sub 2}),{l_brace}ethanol(x=0.06455)+water(x=0.93545){r_brace} vertical bar AgCl-Ag))over the temperatures (278.15 to 318.15) K, where x is mole fraction. Combining Owen's definition of medium effect with Pitzer's equations, the values of combination parameters: ({lambda}{sub nHS}+{lambda}{sub nCl}-{lambda}{sub nS})+(3/2)m{sub n}({mu}{sub nnHS}+{mu}{sub nnC=} l-{mu}{sub nnS}),(1/2)({xi}{sub nHHS}+{xi}{sub nHCl}-{xi}{sub nHS}), that represent the interactions between ions and ethanol were obtained at 298.15 K.

  17. New high-pressure polymorph of In{sub 2}S{sub 3} with defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type structure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lai, Xiaojing; Zhu, Feng; Wu, Ye; Huang, Rong [Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, MOE, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Wu, Xiang, E-mail: xiang.wu@pku.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, MOE, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Zhang, Qian [Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, MOE, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Yang, Ke [Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204 (China); Qin, Shan, E-mail: sqin@pku.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, MOE, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)

    2014-02-15

    The high pressure behavior of β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} (I4{sub 1}/amd and Z=16) has been studied by in situ synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction combined with diamond anvil cell up to 71.7 GPa. Three pressure-induced phase transitions are evidenced at ∼6.6 GPa, ∼11.1 GPa at room temperature and 35.6 GPa after the high-temperature annealing using a portable laser heating system. The new polymorph of In{sub 2}S{sub 3} at 35.6 GPa is assigned to the denser cubic defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4} structure (I4¯3d and Z=5.333), whose unit-cell parameters are a=7.557(1) Å and V=431.6(2) Å{sup 3}. The Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type phase can be stable at least up to 71.7 GPa and cannot be preserved at ambient pressure. The pressure–volume relationship is well described by the second-order Birch–Murnaghan Equation of State, which yields B{sub 0}=63(3) GPa and B{sub 0}′=4 (fixed) for the β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} phase and B{sub 0}=87(3) GPa and B{sub 0}′=4 (fixed) for the defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type phase respectively. - Graphical abstract: The structure and Rietveld refinement of new polymorph the defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type In{sub 2}S{sub 3}. This structure was observed at 35.6 GPa after laser heating by X-ray diffraction. Display Omitted - Highlights: Three pressure-induced phase transitions of β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} were observed. β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} was stable up to 6.6 GPa. The defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type In{sub 2}S{sub 3} was identified at 35.6 GPa after laser heating and was stable up to 71.7 GPa. Elastic properties of β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} and Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type In{sub 2}S{sub 3} are well presented by Birch–Murnaghan EoS.

  18. Thermodynamic study of (alkyl esters + {alpha},{omega}-alkyl dihalides) VI. H{sub m}{sup E} and V{sub m}{sup E} for 20 binary mixtures {l_brace}xC{sub u-1}H{sub 2u-1}CO{sub 2}(CH{sub 2}){sub 3}CH{sub 3} + (1 - x){alpha},{omega}-BrCH{sub 2}(CH{sub 2}){sub v-2}CH{sub 2}Br{r_brace}, where u = 1 to 5, {alpha} = 1, and v = {omega} = 2 to 6

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Navas, A. [Laboratorio de Termodinamica y Fisicoquimica de Fluidos, Parque Cientifico-Tecnologico, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35071, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain); Ortega, J. [Laboratorio de Termodinamica y Fisicoquimica de Fluidos, Parque Cientifico-Tecnologico, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35071, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)], E-mail: jortega@dip.ulpgc.es; Nuez, I. de la [Laboratorio de Termodinamica y Fisicoquimica de Fluidos, Parque Cientifico-Tecnologico, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35071, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)

    2009-11-15

    This work shows the experimental values obtained for H{sub m}{sup E} and V{sub m}{sup E} at the temperature of 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure, for a set of 20 binary mixtures comprised of the first four butyl esters (methanoate to butanoate) with five {alpha},{omega}-dibromoalkanes (1,2-dibromoethane to 1,6-dibromohexane). The H{sub m}{sup E} are endothermic for mixtures with butyl methanoate, while for the other esters the H{sub m}{sup E} adopt a sigmoidal shape. The V{sub m}{sup E} are positive for mixtures with low molecular weight dibromoalkanes, becoming negative with contractive effects in the final mixture, as the dihalide chain increases. The results indicate that the mixtures present specific interactions, with simultaneous expansion/contraction and exothermic/endothermic effects, and an explanation is given for the different types of interaction taking place. Experimental data are correlated with a polynomial equation used in previous works with satisfactory results. Modelling of the experimental results of the mixtures is carried out on the H{sub m}{sup E} values, giving rise to an adequate definition of the different interactions taking place. Two versions of the UNIFAC method were used, and for Dang and Tassios' version different possibilities were considered for the interaction parameters of the ester (G)/dibromide (G'). The best estimations were obtained when the pair of interaction parameters, type a{sub G/G{sup '}}, depended on the number of carbon atoms in the compounds constituting the mixture.

  19. Better together: reduced compliance after sequential versus simultaneous bilateral hearing aids fitting.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lavie, Limor; Banai, Karen; Attias, Joseph; Karni, Avi

    2014-03-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sequential versus simultaneous bilateral hearing aids fitting on patient compliance. Thirty-six older adults with hearing impairment participated in this study. Twelve were fitted with bilateral hearing aids simultaneously. The remaining participants were fitted sequentially: One hearing aid (to the left or to the right ear) was used initially; 1 month later, the other ear was also fitted with a hearing aid for bilateral use. Self-reports on usefulness and compliance were elicited after the first and second months of hearing aid use. In addition, the number of hours the hearing aids were used was extracted from the data loggings of each device. Simultaneous fitting resulted in high levels of compliance and consistent usage throughout the study period. Sequential fitting resulted in abrupt reduction in compliance and hours of use once the second hearing aid was added, both in the clinical scoring and in the data loggings. Simultaneous fitting of bilateral hearing aids results in better compliance compared with sequential fitting. The addition of a second hearing aid after a relatively short period of monaural use may lead to inconsistent use of both hearing aids.

  20. Magnetocaloric effect and critical behavior in melt-extracted Gd{sub 60}Co{sub 15}Al{sub 25} microwires

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Xing, Dawei; Jiang, Sida; Chen, Dongming; Liu, Yanfen; Sun, Jianfei [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (China); Shen, Hongxian [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (China); Institute of Materials and Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL (United States); Liu, Jingshun [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot (China); Phan, Manh-Huong [Institute of Materials and Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL (United States); Wang, Huan; Qin, Faxiang [Institute for Composites Science and Innovation (InCSI), College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (China)

    2015-09-15

    High-quality Gd{sub 60}Co{sub 15}Al{sub 25} microwires with an average diameter of 40 μm were successfully fabricated by the melt-extraction method. The as-cast microwires undergo a second-order paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (PM-FM) transition at ∝100 K. Large values of the magnetic entropy change (-ΔS{sub M} ∝9.73 J kg{sup -1} K{sup -1}) and the refrigerant capacity (RC ∝732 J kg{sup -1}) are achieved for a field change of 5 T. A careful analysis of critical exponents near the PM-FM transition indicates the significant effects of structural disorder on the long-range ferromagnetic interaction and the magnetocaloric response of the microwires. The excellent magnetocaloric properties make the Gd{sub 60}Co{sub 15}Al{sub 25} microwires very promising for use in magnetic refrigerators operating in the liquid nitrogen temperature range. (copyright 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  1. Magnetic properties of the Kagome staircase mixed system (Co{sub x}Ni{sub 1-x}){sub 3}V{sub 2}O{sub 8}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Qureshi, Navid

    2008-09-26

    The orthooxovanadates of the 3d transition metals M{sub 3}V{sub 2}O{sub 8}, known as Kagome staircase systems, reveal interesting magnetic properties due to their crystal structure. Although these compounds are isostructural for M=Co,Ni,Mn,Cu, they differ considerably with respect to their magnetic phase transitions and magnetic structures. As the magnetic ions are situated on corners of cornersharing triangles, geometric frustration plays an important role in this system. This is not only confined to the fact, that the antiferromagnetic structures exhibit reduced magnetic moments, but apparently also to the ferromagnetic structure of Co{sub 3}V{sub 2}O{sub 8}, which exhibits a strongly reduced Co moment of 1.54 Bohr magnetons. Within this work precisely this ferromagnetic structure has been investigated in detail and it could be shown that the relatively weak magnetic moment does not result from frustration, but is a consequence of the strong hybridization effects between the cobalt and oxygen orbitals. The pronounced covalent character of this Co ion leads to the fact that due to the charge transfer the oxygen ions significantly contribute to the bulk magnetization when applying an external magnetic field. The second part of the presented work deals with the systematic investigation of the mixed system (Co{sub x}Ni{sub 1-x})3V{sub 2}O{sub 8}. A detailed magnetic phase diagram could be drawn, in which the temperature and composition dependent magnetic phase transitions have been pinpointed. Furthermore, an interesting magnetic structure of a chosen composition of x=0.5 has been observed, which differs considerably from those of the end members. (orig.)

  2. Thermodynamic study of (alkyl esters+{alpha},{omega}-alkyl dihalides) V. H{sub m}{sup E}andV{sub m}{sup E} for 25 binary mixtures {l_brace}xC{sub u-1}H{sub 2u-1}CO{sub 2}CH{sub 3}+(1-x){alpha},{omega}-ClCH{sub 2}(CH{sub 2}){sub v-2}CH{sub 2}Cl{r_brace}, where u=1 to 5, {alpha}=1 and v={omega}=2 to 6

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ortega, J. [Laboratorio de Termodinamica y Fisicoquimica de Fluidos, Parque Cientifico-Tecnologico, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35071 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)]. E-mail: jortega@dip.ulpgc.es; Marrero, E. [Laboratorio de Termodinamica y Fisicoquimica de Fluidos, Parque Cientifico-Tecnologico, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35071 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)

    2007-05-15

    The experimental data of excess molar enthalpies H{sub m}{sup E} and excess molar volumes V{sub m}{sup E} are presented for a set of 25 binary mixtures comprised of the first five methyl esters C{sub u-1}H{sub 2u-1}COOCH{sub 3} (u=1 to 5) and five {alpha},{omega}-dichloroalkanes, ClCH{sub 2}(CH{sub 2}){sub v-2}CH{sub 2}Cl (v=2 to 6), obtained at a temperature of 298.15K and atmospheric pressure. Except for the mixtures with u=1 and v=2 to 6, which are all endothermic and with u=5 and v=2 to 6, which are all exothermic, the others present net endo/exothermic effects and these mixing effects evolve quasiregularly, from endothermic to exothermic, depending on the dichloroalkane present. However, the V{sub m}{sup E} are positive in most mixtures except for those corresponding to u=4,5 and v=5,6, which present contraction effects. These results indicate a set of specific interactions with simultaneous effects for V{sub m}{sup E} of expansion/contraction and for exothermic/endothermic H{sub m}{sup E} for this set of mixtures. The change in V{sub m}{sup E} with the chain length of the compounds is irregular. To achieve a good application of the UNIFAC model using the version of Dang and Tassios, parameters of the ester (G)/dichloride (G') interaction were calculated again, making a distinction, during its application, dependent on the acid part of the ester u. Hence, interaction parameters are presented as a function of u, and of the dichloroalkane chain length v. The most appropriate general expression was of the type:a{sub G/G{sup '}}={phi}(u,v)={sigma}sub(i=0)sup(n)a{sub i-1}u{sup i-1}+{sigma}sub(i=0= )sup(n)b{sub i-1}v{sup i-1}and with this proposal good estimations of enthalpies were obtained with the UNIFAC model.

  3. Simultaneous determination of umbelliferone and scopoletin in Tibetan medicine Saussurea laniceps and traditional Chinese medicine Radix angelicae pubescentis using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence coupled with second-order calibration method

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wang, Li; Wu, Hai-Long; Yin, Xiao-Li; Hu, Yong; Gu, Hui-Wen; Yu, Ru-Qin

    2017-01-01

    A chemometrics-assisted excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence method is presented for simultaneous determination of umbelliferone and scopoletin in Tibetan medicine Saussurea laniceps (SL) and traditional Chinese medicine Radix angelicae pubescentis (RAP). Using the strategy of combining EEM fluorescence data with second-order calibration method based on the alternating trilinear decomposition (ATLD) algorithm, the simultaneous quantification of umbelliferone and scopoletin in the two different complex systems was achieved successfully, even in the presence of potential interferents. The pretreatment is simple due to the "second-order advantage" and the use of "mathematical separation" instead of awkward "physical or chemical separation". Satisfactory results have been achieved with the limits of detection (LODs) of umbelliferone and scopoletin being 0.06 ng mL- 1 and 0.16 ng mL- 1, respectively. The average spike recoveries of umbelliferone and scopoletin are 98.8 ± 4.3% and 102.5 ± 3.3%, respectively. Besides, HPLC-DAD method was used to further validate the presented strategy, and t-test indicates that prediction results of the two methods have no significant differences. Satisfactory experimental results imply that our method is fast, low-cost and sensitive when compared with HPLC-DAD method.

  4. Colloidal synthesis and photophysics of M{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}I{sub 9} (M=Cs and Rb) nanocrystals. Lead-free perovskites

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pal, Jaya; Manna, Suman; Nag, Angshuman [Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune (India); Mondal, Anirban; Adarsh, K.V. [Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal (India); Das, Shyamashis [Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (India)

    2017-11-06

    Herein we report the colloidal synthesis of Cs{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}I{sub 9} and Rb{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}I{sub 9} perovskite nanocrystals, and explore their potential for optoelectronic applications. Different morphologies, such as nanoplatelets and nanorods of Cs{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}I{sub 9}, and spherical Rb{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}I{sub 9} nanocrystals were prepared. All these samples show band-edge emissions in the yellow-red region. Exciton many-body interactions studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy of Cs{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}I{sub 9} nanorods reveals characteristic second-derivative-type spectral features, suggesting red-shifted excitons by as much as 79 meV. A high absorption cross-section of ca. 10{sup -15} cm{sup 2} was estimated. The results suggest that colloidal Cs{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}I{sub 9} and Rb{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}I{sub 9} nanocrystals are potential candidates for optical and optoelectronic applications in the visible region, though a better control of defect chemistry is required for efficient applications. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  5. The enhancement of thermoelectric power and scattering of carriers in Bi{sub 2{minus}x}Sn{sub x}Te{sub 3} single crystals

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kulbachinskii, V A; Negishi, H; Sasaki, M; Giman, Y; Inoue, M

    1997-07-01

    Thermoelectric power, electrical resistivity, and Hall effect of p-type Bi{sub 2{minus}x}Sn{sub x}Te{sub 3} (0 < x < 0.03) singlecrystals have been measured in the temperature range 4.2--300K. By doping of Sn atoms into the host Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} lattice, the enhancement in the thermoelectric power is observed in the intermediate temperature range 30--150K for x {le} 0,0075. The activation type behavior of Hall coefficient and resistivity are found which corresponds to the Sn-induced impurity band located above the second lower valence band.

  6. Effects of anesthesia on renal function and metabolism in rats assessed by hyperpolarized MRI

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Qi, Haiyun; Mariager, Christian Østergaard; Lindhardt, Jakob

    2018-01-01

    . In the present study, we aimed to investigate the renal functional and metabolic consequences of 3 typical rodent anesthetics used in preclinical MRI: sevoflurane, inaction, and a mixture of fentanyl, fluanisone, and midazolam (FFM). METHODS: The renal effects of 3 different classes of anesthetics (inactin......, servoflurane, and FFM) were investigated using functional and metabolic MRI. The renal glucose metabolism and hemodynamics was characterized with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate MRI and by DCE imaging. RESULTS: Rats receiving sevoflurane or FFM had blood glucose levels that were 1.3-fold to 1.4-fold higher than...... rats receiving inactin. A 2.9-fold and 4.8-fold increased13C-lactate/13C-pyruvate ratio was found in the FFM mixture anesthetized group compared with the sevoflurane and the inactin anesthetized groups. The FFM anesthesia resulted in a 50% lower renal plasma flow compared with the sevoflurane...

  7. Photodissociation of van der Waals clusters of isoprene with oxygen, C{sub 5}H{sub 8}-O{sub 2}, in the wavelength range 213-277 nm

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Vidma, Konstantin V.; Frederix, Pim W. J. M.; Parker, David H. [Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 ED Nijmegen (Netherlands); Baklanov, Alexey V. [Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Institutskaja Street 3, Novosibirsk 630090 (Russian Federation) and Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova street 2, Novosibirsk 630090 (Russian Federation)

    2012-08-07

    The speed and angular distribution of O atoms arising from the photofragmentation of C{sub 5}H{sub 8}-O{sub 2}, the isoprene-oxygen van der Waals complex, in the wavelength region of 213-277 nm has been studied with the use of a two-color dissociation-probe method and the velocity map imaging technique. Dramatic enhancement in the O atoms photo-generation cross section in comparison with the photodissociation of individual O{sub 2} molecules has been observed. Velocity map images of these 'enhanced' O atoms consisted of five channels, different in their kinetic energy, angular distribution, and wavelength dependence. Three channels are deduced to be due to the one-quantum excitation of the C{sub 5}H{sub 8}-O{sub 2} complex into the perturbed Herzberg III state ({sup 3}{Delta}{sub u}) of O{sub 2}. This excitation results in the prompt dissociation of the complex giving rise to products C{sub 5}H{sub 8}+O+O when the energy of exciting quantum is higher than the complex photodissociation threshold, which is found to be 41740 {+-} 200 cm{sup -1} (239.6{+-}1.2 nm). This last threshold corresponds to the photodissociation giving rise to an unexcited isoprene molecule. The second channel, with threshold shifted to the blue by 1480 {+-} 280 cm{sup -1}, corresponds to dissociation with formation of rovibrationally excited isoprene. A third channel was observed at wavelengths up to 243 nm with excitation below the upper photodissociation threshold. This channel is attributed to dissociation with the formation of a bound O atom C{sub 5}H{sub 8}-O{sub 2}+hv{yields} C{sub 5}H{sub 8}-O{sub 2}({sup 3}{Delta}{sub u}) {yields} C{sub 5}H{sub 8}O + O and/or to dissociation of O{sub 2} with borrowing of the lacking energy from incompletely cooled complex internal degrees of freedom C{sub 5}H{sub 8}{sup *}-O{sub 2}+hv{yields} C{sub 5}H{sub 8}{sup *}-O{sub 2}({sup 3}{Delta}{sub u}) {yields} C{sub 5}H{sub 8}+ O + O. The kinetic energy of the O atoms arising in two other

  8. SF{sub 6} decomposition and layer formation due to excimer laser photoablation of SiO{sub 2} surface at gas-solid system

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sajad, Batool [Physics Department, Amirkabir University, PO Box 15875-4413, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Parvin, Parviz [Physics Department, Amirkabir University, PO Box 15875-4413, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Bassam, Mohamad Amin [Excimer Laser Lab, Emam Hussain University, PO Box 16575-4347, Tehrann (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

    2004-12-21

    In this work, the effect of an excimer laser has been studied for presenting a method for SF{sub 6} decomposition and simultaneous formation of a SiF{sub 2} layer on amorphous SiO{sub 2}. Though the excimer laser did not establish a gas phase photodissociation, we have shown that UV photoablation leads strongly to molecular decomposition in the SF{sub 6}-SiO{sub 2} system. Moreover, the dependence of the decomposition process on the exposure parameters such as the wavelength and intensity as well as the gas pressure and the focal point distance from the gas-solid interface has been investigated.

  9. Photoelectrochemical cell for simultaneous electricity generation and heavy metals recovery from wastewater

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, Dawei [Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Xi Kang Road #1, Nanjing 210098 (China); Li, Yi, E-mail: envly@hhu.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Xi Kang Road #1, Nanjing 210098 (China); Li Puma, Gianluca, E-mail: g.lipuma@lboro.ac.uk [Environmental Nanocatalysis & Photoreaction Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU (United Kingdom); Lianos, Panagiotis [Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras (Greece); Wang, Chao; Wang, Peifang [Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Xi Kang Road #1, Nanjing 210098 (China)

    2017-02-05

    Highlights: • Polymer capped TiO{sub 2} photoanode consumes photogenerated holes. • Heavy metals reduce on the cathode according to their reduction potentials. • Simultaneous recovery of heavy metals and production of electricity. • Industrial wastewater treatment and production of renewable energy. - Abstract: The feasibility of simultaneous recovery of heavy metals from wastewater (e.g., acid mining and electroplating) and production of electricity is demonstrated in a novel photoelectrochemical cell (PEC). The photoanode of the cell bears a nanoparticulate titania (TiO{sub 2}) film capped with the block copolymer [poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(propylene glycol)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)] hole scavenger, which consumed photogenerated holes, while the photogenerated electrons transferred to a copper cathode reducing dissolved metal ions and produced electricity. Dissolved silver Ag{sup +}, copper Cu{sup 2+}, hexavalent chromium as dichromate Cr{sub 2}O{sub 7}{sup 2−} and lead Pb{sup 2+} ions in a mixture (0.2 mM each) were removed at different rates, according to their reduction potentials. Reduced Ag{sup +}, Cu{sup 2+} and Pb{sup 2+} ions produced metal deposits on the cathode electrode which were mechanically recovered, while Cr{sub 2}O{sub 7}{sup 2−} reduced to the less toxic Cr{sup 3+} in solution. The cell produced a current density J{sub sc} of 0.23 mA/cm{sup 2}, an open circuit voltage V{sub oc} of 0.63 V and a maximum power density of 0.084 mW/cm{sup 2}. A satisfactory performance of this PEC for the treatment of lead-acid battery wastewater was observed. The cathodic reduction of heavy metals was limited by the rate of electron-hole generation at the photoanode. The PEC performance decreased by 30% after 9 consecutive runs, caused by the photoanode progressive degradation.

  10. Simultaneous determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury compounds in natural waters

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Logar, Martina; Horvat, Milena [Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia); Akagi, Hirokatsu [National Institute for Minamata Disease, 4058-18 Hama, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008 (Japan); Pihlar, Boris [Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 5, 1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia)

    2002-11-01

    The purpose of the present work was to develop a simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate method for the simultaneous determination of inorganic mercury (Hg{sup 2+}) and monomethylmercury compounds (MeHg) in natural water samples at the pg L{sup -1} level. The method is based on the simultaneous extraction of MeHg and Hg{sup 2+}dithizonates into an organic solvent (toluene) after acidification of about 300 mL of a water sample, followed by back extraction into an aqueous solution of Na {sub 2}S, removal of H {sub 2}S by purging with N {sub 2}, subsequent ethylation with sodium tetraethylborate, room temperature precollection on Tenax, isothermal gas chromatographic separation (GC), pyrolysis and cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometric detection (CV AFS) of mercury. The limit of detection calculated on the basis of three times the standard deviation of the blank was about 0.006 ng L {sup -1} for MeHg and 0.06 ng L {sup -1} for Hg {sup 2+}when 300 mL of water was analysed. The repeatability of the results was about 5% for MeHg and 10% for Hg {sup 2+}. Recoveries were 90-110% for both species. (orig.)

  11. Better dual-task processing in simultaneous interpreters

    Science.gov (United States)

    Strobach, Tilo; Becker, Maxi; Schubert, Torsten; Kühn, Simone

    2015-01-01

    Simultaneous interpreting (SI) is a highly complex activity and requires the performance and coordination of multiple, simultaneous tasks: analysis and understanding of the discourse in a first language, reformulating linguistic material, storing of intermediate processing steps, and language production in a second language among others. It is, however, an open issue whether persons with experience in SI possess superior skills in coordination of multiple tasks and whether they are able to transfer these skills to lab-based dual-task situations. Within the present study, we set out to explore whether interpreting experience is associated with related higher-order executive functioning in the context of dual-task situations of the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) type. In this PRP situation, we found faster reactions times in participants with experience in simultaneous interpretation in contrast to control participants without such experience. Thus, simultaneous interpreters possess superior skills in coordination of multiple tasks in lab-based dual-task situations. PMID:26528232

  12. Reaction of H{sub 2}S with MoRu(CO){sub 6}(dppm){sub 2} to give H{sub 2} and a bridged-sulfide product via hydrido-sulfhydryl intermediates (dppm equals Ph{sub 2}PCH{sub 2}PPh{sub 2})

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Khorasani-Motlagh, M. [Sistan and Baluchestan Univ., Zahedan (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Dept. of Chemistry; Safari, N. [Shahid Beheshti Univ., Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Dept. of Chemistry; Pamplin, C.B.; Patrick, B.O.; James, B.R. [British Columbia Univ., Vancouver, BC (Canada). Dept. of Chemistry

    2006-02-15

    The reactivity of hydrogen sulphide toward transition metal complexes was studied with particular focus on the reactions of hydrogen sulphide (H{sub 2}S) with solutions of bimetallic-dppm complexes. The complex MoRu(CO){sub 6}({mu}-dppm){sub 2} (1) (dppm equals Ph{sub 2}PCH{sub 2}PPh{sub 2}) reaction toward hydrogen sulphide was examined because of the fact that Ru is the second-row analogue of Fe and because of the key role of sulphur ligands in the Mo-Fe enzyme systems. This paper reported on the interaction of the Mo-Ru complex with hydrogen sulphide to form the bridged sulphide complex Mo(CO){sub 2}({mu}-CO)({mu}-S)(dppm){sub 2}Ru(CO) which can be synthesized with elemental sulphur. Oxidative addition of H{sub 2}S to MoRu(CO){sub 6}({mu}-dppm){sub 2} (1) at 20 degrees C in toluene yields an isolable complex formulated as Mo(CO){sub 3}({mu}-SH)({mu}-CO)({mu}-dppm){sub 2}RuH(CO) (2) via the possible intermediate Mo(CO){sub 3}({mu}-H)({mu}-CO)({mu}-dppm){sub 2}Ru(SH)(CO) (4) (dppm equals Ph{sub 2}PCH{sub 2}PPh{sub 2}) that is detectable at lower temperatures. Over 2 days, species 2 in toluene lost H{sub 2} (and CO) to yield the bridged-sulfide product, Mo(CO){sub 2}({mu}-CO)({mu}-S)({mu}-dppm){sub 2}Ru(CO) (5) that is also formed directly from the reaction of 1 with elemental sulfur. The solid-state molecular structure of 5 was determined by X-ray crystallography. A further hydrido-sulfhydryl species was found to be in equilibrium with 2 at ambient temperature. It was concluded that it is not impossible that hydrogen sulphide can react in a concerted manner with dimetallic precursors, without prior formation of an adduct. 24 refs., 2 tabs., 3 figs.

  13. Simultaneous test construction by zero-one programming

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Boekkooi-Timminga, Ellen

    1986-01-01

    A method is described for simultaneous test construction using the Operations Research technique zero-one programming. The model for zero-one programming consists of two parts. The first contains the objective function that describes the aspect to be optimized. The second part contains the

  14. C, N co-doped TiO{sub 2}/TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} composite coatings prepared from TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} powder using ball milling followed by oxidation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hao, Liang, E-mail: haoliang@tust.edu.cn [Tianjin Key Lab of Integrated Design and On-line Monitoring for Light Industry & Food Machinery and Equipment, Tianjin (China); College of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 1038 Dagu Nanlu, Hexi District, Tianjin 300222 (China); Wang, Zhenwei, E-mail: 1004329228@qq.com [School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai, No. 2, Wenhua West Road, Weihai 264209 (China); Zheng, Yaoqing, E-mail: 13612177268@163.com [College of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 1038 Dagu Nanlu, Hexi District, Tianjin 300222 (China); Li, Qianqian, E-mail: 1482471595@qq.com [College of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 1038 Dagu Nanlu, Hexi District, Tianjin 300222 (China); Guan, Sujun, E-mail: sujunguan1221@gmail.com [College of Mechanical Engineering & Graduate School, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522 (Japan); Zhao, Qian, E-mail: zhaoqian@tust.edu.cn [Tianjin Key Lab of Integrated Design and On-line Monitoring for Light Industry & Food Machinery and Equipment, Tianjin (China); College of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 1038 Dagu Nanlu, Hexi District, Tianjin 300222 (China); Cheng, Lijun, E-mail: chenglijun@tust.edu.cn [Tianjin Key Lab of Integrated Design and On-line Monitoring for Light Industry & Food Machinery and Equipment, Tianjin (China); College of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 1038 Dagu Nanlu, Hexi District, Tianjin 300222 (China); Lu, Yun, E-mail: luyun@faculty.chiba-u.jp [College of Mechanical Engineering & Graduate School, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522 (Japan); Liu, Jizi, E-mail: jzliu@njust.edu.cn [Herbert Gleiter Institute of Nanoscience, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, No. 200, Xiaolingwei Street, Nanjing 210094 (China)

    2017-01-01

    Highlights: • TiO{sub 2}/TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} coatings were prepared by ball milling followed by oxidation. • In situ co-doping of C and N with simultaneous TiO{sub 2} formation was observed. • Improved photocatalytic activity under UV/visible light was noticed. • Synergism in co-doping and heterojunction formation promoted carrier separation. - Abstract: Ball milling followed by heat oxidation was used to prepared C, N co-doped TiO{sub 2} coatings on the surfaces of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} balls from TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} powder. The as-prepared coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV–vis). The results show that continuous TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} coatings were formed after ball milling. C, N co-doped TiO{sub 2}/TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} composite coatings were prepared after the direct oxidization of TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} coatings in the atmosphere. However, TiO{sub 2} was hardly formed in the surface layer of TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} coatings within a depth less than 10 nm during the heat oxidation of TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} coatings in carbon powder. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic activity evaluation of these coatings was conducted under the irradiation of UV and visible light. All the coatings showed photocatalytic activity in the degradation of MB no matter under the irradiation of UV or visible light. The C, N co-doped TiO{sub 2}/TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} composite coatings showed the most excellent performance. The enhancement under visible light irradiation should attribute to the co-doping of carbon and nitrogen, which enhances the absorption of visible light. The improvement of photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation should attribute to the synergistic effect of C, N co-doping, the formation of rutile-anatase mixed phases and the TiO{sub 2}/TiC{sub 0.7}N{sub 0.3} composite microstructure.

  15. Sorption properties and reversibility of Ti(IV) and Nb(V)-fluoride doped-Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2}-MgH{sub 2} system

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bonatto Minella, Christian, E-mail: christian.minella@kit.edu [Institute for Metallic Materials, IFW Dresden, Helmholtzstrasse 20, D-01069 Dresden (Germany); Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden (Germany); Garroni, Sebastiano [Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia, Universitá di Sassari and INSTM, Via Vienna 2, I-07100 Sassari (Italy); Pistidda, Claudio [Institute of Materials Research, Materials Technology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung GmbH, Max Planck Str. 1, D-21502 Geesthacht (Germany); Baró, Maria Dolors [Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra (Spain); Gutfleisch, Oliver [Materials Science, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 16, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany); Klassen, Thomas; Dornheim, Martin [Institute of Materials Research, Materials Technology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung GmbH, Max Planck Str. 1, D-21502 Geesthacht (Germany)

    2015-02-15

    Highlights: • Faster desorption reaction for doped materials vs. the pure composite system. • Kinetic improvement concerning re-hydrogenation reaction showed by the addition of NbF{sub 5}. • Full characterization of the de-hydrogenation reaction pathway by means of both SR-PXD and {sup 11}B{"1H} MAS-NMR. • Study of the evolution of the chemical state of the additives upon both milling and sorption reactions. - Abstract: In the last decade, alkaline and alkaline earth metal tetrahydroborates have been the focuses of the research due to their high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen densities. Among them, Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} and the Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} + MgH{sub 2} reactive hydride composites (RHC), were calculated to have the ideal thermodynamic properties which fall within the optimal range for mobile applications. In this study, the addition of NbF{sub 5} or TiF{sub 4} to the Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} + MgH{sub 2} reactive hydride composite system was attempted aiming to obtain a full reversible system with the simultaneous suppression of CaB{sub 12}H{sub 12}. Structural characterization of the specimens was performed by means of in-situ Synchrotron Radiation Powder X-ray diffraction (SR-PXD) and {sup 11}B{"1H} Solid State Magic Angle Spinning-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS-NMR). The evolution of the chemical state of the Nb- and Ti-based additives was monitored by X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES). The addition of NbF{sub 5} or TiF{sub 4} to the Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} + MgH{sub 2} system have not suppressed completely the formation of CaB{sub 12}H{sub 12} and only a slight improvement concerning the reversible reaction was displayed just in the case of Nb-doped composite material.

  16. Kinetic study of formic acid oxidation on Ti/IrO{sub 2} electrodes prepared using the spin coating deposition technique

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Fierro, Stephane, E-mail: stephane.fierro@epfl.c [Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ISIC-EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne (Switzerland); Comninellis, Christos [Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ISIC-EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne (Switzerland)

    2010-09-30

    In the first part of this paper, IrO{sub 2} electrodes produced by thermal decomposition of H{sub 2}IrCl{sub 6} precursor were manufactured using the spin coating deposition technique, where centrifugal forces spread the precursor solution with simultaneous evaporation of the solvent on the rotating Ti substrate. It was found using this technique, that it is possible to obtain thin and uniform IrO{sub 2} coatings with controlled loadings. The influence of the concentration of iridium salt in the precursor solution (c{sub 0}) as well as the influence of the rotation speed at which the substrate spins ({omega}) on the IrO{sub 2} loading have been studied using voltammetric charge measurements. From these results, a simple relation has been proposed for the estimation of the IrO{sub 2} loading for a given c{sub 0} and {omega}. In the second part of this paper and from measurements performed using different IrO{sub 2} loadings and formic acid concentrations, the kinetic parameters of the oxidation of formic acid have been quantitatively determined using a model that involves the redox couple IrO{sub 3}/IrO{sub 2} as mediator of this reaction. Furthermore, using the kinetic parameters obtained together with the Nernst equation and the I-V curves of the supporting electrolyte (1 M HClO{sub 4}), theoretical I-V curves could be constructed for different concentrations of formic acid and different IrO{sub 2} loadings.

  17. Morphology, structure, and electrical properties of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} thin films on tilted NdGaO{sub 3} substrates, deposited by DC-sputtering

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mozhaev, Peter B. [Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics RAS, Moscow 125009 (Russian Federation)]. E-mail: pbmozh@nm.ru; Kotelyanskii, Iosif M. [Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics RAS, Moscow 125009 (Russian Federation); Luzanov, Valery A. [Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics RAS, Moscow 125009 (Russian Federation); Mozhaeva, Julia E. [Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics RAS, Moscow 125009 (Russian Federation); Donchev, Todor [Institute of Electronics BAS, Sofia (Bulgaria); Mateev, Emil [Institute of Electronics BAS, Sofia (Bulgaria); Nurgaliev, Timur [Institute of Electronics BAS, Sofia (Bulgaria); Bdikin, Igor K. [Institute of Solid State Physics RAS, Chernogolovka, Moscow 142432 (Russian Federation); Department of Ceramic and Glass Engineering, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193 (Portugal); Narymbetov, Bakhyt Zh. [Complex Institute of Natural Sciences UzAS, Nukus (Uzbekistan)

    2005-02-15

    Thin YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} (YBCO) films were deposited using DC-sputtering technique on NdGaO{sub 3} substrates, tilted from (1 1 0) orientation by 0-26 deg . The structure and surface quality of the substrates were carefully characterized to obtain reliable results of thin films deposition. Structural, morphological and electrical properties of the YBCO thin films show three different ranges of inclination angle: vicinal, intermediate and high. In the vicinal range the properties of the film are generally the same as of the standard films deposited on (1 1 0) NdGaO{sub 3} substrate. An increase of the inclination angle to the intermediate range results in a significant improvement of morphology and structural quality of the film. Best electrical parameters are measured for the films of the intermediate range also. Probable reason for such behavior is simultaneous and regular seeding of the film in the joints of facets on the substrate surface. Further increase of inclination angle leads to step bunching and oxygen out-diffusion, destroying both structural and electrical perfection of the tilted-axes YBCO film.

  18. Effects of Nernst-Ettinghausen, Seebeck and Hall in Sb sub 2 Te sub 3 monocrystals

    CERN Document Server

    Zhitinskaya, M K; Ivanova, L D

    2002-01-01

    In Sb sub 2 Te sub 3 top-quality single crystals grown following the Czochralski method within 77-420 K range one measured temperature dependences of the following components of kinetic coefficients: electrical conductivity within sigma sub 1 sub 1 chip plane, of the Seebeck S sub 1 sub 1 and S sub 3 sub 3 , of the Hall R sub 1 sub 2 sub 3 and R sub 3 sub 2 sub 1 and of the Nernst-Ettinghausen Q sub 1 sub 2 sub 3. One analyzed the derived results on the basis of the phenomenological theory. It is shown that the essential peculiarities of the experimental data may be explained in terms of a two-region model with anisotropy of mobility of the first and second types holes towards the chip (epsilon sub g approx = 0.3 eV), as well as, the energy gap between the ground and auxiliary extremes of the valence band (DELTA epsilon subupsilon approx 0.1 eV)

  19. Crystal-field energy level analysis for Nd{sup 3+} ions at the low symmetry C{sub 1} site in [Nd(hfa){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O)](N(C{sub 2}H{sub 5}){sub 4}) single crystals

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mech, Agnieszka; Gajek, Zbigniew [Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy Of Sciences, ulica Okolna 2, 54-422 Wroclaw (Poland); Karbowiak, Miroslaw [Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, ulica F Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw (Poland); Rudowicz, Czeslaw [Institute of Physics, Szczecin University of Technology, Aleja Piastow 17, 70-310 Szczecin (Poland)], E-mail: karb@wchuwr.pl

    2008-09-24

    Optical absorption measurements of Nd{sup 3+} ions in single crystals of [Nd(hfa){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O)](N(C{sub 2}H{sub 5}){sub 4}) (hfa = hexafluoroacetyloacetonate), denoted Nd(hfa) for short, have been carried out at 4.2 and 298 K. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group P 2{sub 1}/n). Each Nd ion is coordinated to eight oxygen atoms that originate from the hexafluoroacetylacetonate ligands and one oxygen atom from the water molecule. A total of 85 experimental crystal-field (CF) energy levels arising from the Nd{sup 3+} (4f{sup 3}) electronic configuration were identified in the optical spectra and assigned. A three-step CF analysis was carried out in terms of a parametric Hamiltonian for the actual C{sub 1} symmetry at the Nd{sup 3+} ion sites. In the first step, a total of 27 CF parameters (CFPs) in the Wybourne notation B{sub kq}, admissible by group theory, were determined in a preliminary fitting constrained by the angular overlap model predictions. The resulting CFP set was reduced to 24 specific independent CFPs using appropriate standardization transformations. Optimizations of the second-rank CFPs and extended scanning of the parameter space were employed in the second step to improve reliability of the CFP sets, which is rather a difficult task in the case of no site symmetry. Finally, seven free-ion parameters and 24 CFPs were freely varied, yielding an rms deviation between the calculated energy levels and the 85 observed ones of 11.1 cm{sup -1}. Our approach also allows prediction of the energy levels of Nd{sup 3+} ions that are hidden in the spectral range overlapping with strong ligand absorption, which is essential for understanding the inter-ionic energy transfer. The orientation of the axis system associated with the fitted CF parameters w.r.t. the crystallographic axes is established. The procedure adopted in our calculations may be considered as a general framework for analysis of CF levels of lanthanide ions at low

  20. Simultaneous exact controllability for Maxwell equations and for a second-order hyperbolic system

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Boris V. Kapitonov

    2010-02-01

    Full Text Available We present a result on "simultaneous" exact controllability for two models that describe two hyperbolic dynamics. One is the system of Maxwell equations and the other a vector-wave equation with a pressure term. We obtain the main result using modified multipliers in order to generate a necessary observability estimate which allow us to use the Hilbert Uniqueness Method (HUM introduced by Lions.

  1. The emissions of SO{sub 2}, NO{sub x} and N{sub 2}O during the combustion of coal blends in a fluidized bed reactor

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Abelha, P.; Boavida, D.; Gulyurtlu, I.; Cabrita, I.

    1999-07-01

    Combustion studies of five coals of different origins around the world (Colombia, Spain, South Africa and the US), were carried out in a laboratory scale fluidized bed combustor. Five blends prepared by mixing two coals, in three varying amounts, based on their petrological characterization, were selected to study the possibility of reduction NO{sub x}, N{sub 2}O and SO{sub 2} emissions. Temperature, fuel ratio and N/C ratio were found to be the most important parameters affecting NO{sub x} and N{sub 2}O emissions among the single coals, while fuel-S content was the major factor in SO{sub 2} emissions. The results showed that some blends had the opposite behavior concerning the release of NO{sub x} and SO{sub 2} in relation to parent coals, and the emissions were higher than expected. The N{sub 2}O amounts observed were however, in almost all blends tested, lower than predicted values. With some blends, the mixing levels intended to reduce SO{sub 2} were not always found to correspond to those for simultaneous decrease of NO{sub x}, raising difficulties in the optimization of both emission levels. Most of the blends studied showed some evidence of interaction between the individual constituent coals. Varying the proportion of the blend components was observed to alter the temperatures at which interactions were stronger.

  2. Comparison of soft-tissue changes in simultaneous maxillomandibular distraction with mandibular distraction with second-stage maxillary osteotomy

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    S M Balaji

    2016-01-01

    Discussion and Conclusion: The results indicate that the simultaneous DO yields more better frontal lip cant change between both halves than the mono-DO with orthognathic surgery. The mean change is much higher in the simultaneous DO cases indicating a more effective correction and desired result. The biological reason and lip musculature mechanism behind the response in both conditions are discussed.

  3. Real-time tracking of dissociation of hyperpolarized 89Y-DTPA: a model for degradation of open-chain Gd3+ MRI contrast agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ferguson, Sarah; Niedbalski, Peter; Parish, Christopher; Kiswandhi, Andhika; Kovacs, Zoltan; Lumata, Lloyd

    Gadolinium (Gd) complexes are widely used relaxation-based clinical contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gd-based MRI contrast agents with open-chain ligand such as Gd-DTPA, commercially known as magnevist, are less stable compared to Gd complexes with macrocyclic ligands such as GdDOTA (Dotarem). The dissociation of Gd-DPTA into Gd ion and DTPA ligand under certain biological conditions such as high zinc levels can potentially cause kidney damage. Since Gd is paramagnetic, direct NMR detection of the Gd-DTPA dissociation is quite challenging due to ultra-short relaxation times. In this work, we have investigated Y-DTPA as a model for Gd-DPTA dissociation under high zinc content solutions. Using dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), the 89Y NMR signal is amplified by several thousand-fold. Due to the the relatively long T1 relaxation time of 89Y which translates to hyperpolarization lifetime of several minutes, the dissociation of Y-DTPA can be tracked in real-time by hyperpolarized 89Y NMR spectroscopy. Dissociation kinetic rates and implications on the degradation of open-chain Gd3+ MRI contrast agents will be discussed. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Defense Award Number W81XWH-14-1-0048 and by the Robert A. Welch Foundation research Grant Number AT-1877.

  4. Tunable luminescence in Bi{sup 3+} and Eu{sup 3+} co-doped Sr{sub 3}AlO{sub 4}F Oxyfluorides phosphors

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Noh, Minhee [Center for Green Fusion Technology and Department of Engineering in Energy & Applied Chemistry, Silla University, Busan 617-736 (Korea, Republic of); Cho, So-Hye [Center for Materials Architecturing, Institute of Multidisciplinary Convergence of Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 130-650 (Korea, Republic of); Park, Sangmoon, E-mail: spark@silla.ac.kr [Center for Green Fusion Technology and Department of Engineering in Energy & Applied Chemistry, Silla University, Busan 617-736 (Korea, Republic of)

    2015-05-15

    Luminescent materials composed of Sr{sub 3−3(m+n)/2}Bi{sub m}Eu{sub n}AlO{sub 4}F (m=0.001–0.05, n=0–0.1) were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The excitation and emission spectra of Sr{sub 3−3m/2}Bi{sub m}AlO{sub 4}F (m=0.001–0.05) were investigated using photoluminescence spectroscopy; broad-band emission peaks owing to the {sup 3}P{sub 1}→{sup 1}S{sub 0} transitions of the Bi{sup 3+} activator were observed centered near 427 nm. Critical emission quenching, as a function of Bi{sup 3+} content in Sr{sub 3−3m/2}Bi{sub m}AlO{sub 4}F, was observed at relatively low concentrations of the activator. The quantum efficiency of Sr{sub 2.985}Bi{sub 0.01}AlO{sub 4}F in comparison with sodium salicylate was explored. When Sr{sup 2+} ions in the oxyfluoride host were replaced by Bi{sup 3+} and Eu{sup 3+} ions, the effective s{sup 2}–sp and f–f transitions of the Bi{sup 3+} and Eu{sup 3+} ions, respectively, were simultaneously observed. The diverse excitation and emission photoluminescence spectra and color CIE coordinates, as well as the blue to orange-red emission, obtained using Sr{sub 3−3(m+n)/2}Bi{sub m}Eu{sub n}AlO{sub 4}F (m=0–0.05, n=0–0.1) phosphors are also discussed. - Highlights: • Sr{sub 3−3(m+n)/2}Bi{sub m}Eu{sub n}AlO{sub 4}F (m=0.001–0.05, n=0–0.1) phosphors was prepared. • Emission owing to the {sup 3}P{sub 1}→{sup 1}S{sub 0} transitions of the Bi{sup 3+} activator was observed. • Quantum efficiency of Sr{sub 2.985}Bi{sub 0.01}AlO{sub 4}F was explored. • s{sup 2}–sp and f–f transitions of the Bi{sup 3+} and Eu{sup 3+} ions were simultaneously observed. • CIE values including the emissions from blue to red regions were achieved.

  5. Effects of pyruvate dose on in vivo metabolism and quantification of hyperpolarized 13C spectra

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Janich, M. A.; Menzel, M. I.; Wiesinger, F.

    2012-01-01

    Real‐time in vivo measurements of metabolites are performed by signal enhancement of [1‐13C]pyruvate using dynamic nuclear polarization, rapid dissolution and intravenous injection, acquisition of free induction decay signals and subsequent quantification of spectra. The commonly injected dose...... uptake and metabolic conversion. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of a [1‐13C]pyruvate bolus on metabolic conversion in vivo. Spectra were quantified by three different methods: frequency‐domain fitting with LCModel, time‐domain fitting with AMARES and simple linear least‐squares fitting...... in the time domain. Since the simple linear least‐squares approach showed bleeding artifacts and LCModel produced noisier time signals. AMARES performed best in the quantification of in vivo hyperpolarized pyruvate spectra. We examined pyruvate doses of 0.1–0.4 mmol/kg (body mass) in male Wistar rats...

  6. Magnetic Fe{sub 2}MO{sub 4} (M:Fe, Mn) activated carbons: Fabrication, characterization and heterogeneous Fenton oxidation of methyl orange

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nguyen, Thi Dung [Institute of Chemical Technology, Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, 01 Mac Dinh Chi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh (Viet Nam); Phan, Ngoc Hoa [Department of Chemical Technology, Hochiminh University of Technology, 268 Ly Thuong Kiet, District 10, Ho Chi Minh (Viet Nam); Do, Manh Huy, E-mail: huydoma@vast-hcm.ac.vn [Institute of Chemical Technology, Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, 01 Mac Dinh Chi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh (Viet Nam); Ngo, Kim Tham [Institute of Chemical Technology, Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, 01 Mac Dinh Chi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh (Viet Nam); College of science, Can Tho University, 3/2, Can Tho (Viet Nam)

    2011-01-30

    We present a simple and efficient method for the fabrication of magnetic Fe{sub 2}MO{sub 4} (M:Fe and Mn) activated carbons (Fe{sub 2}MO{sub 4}/AC-H, M:Fe and Mn) by impregnating the activated carbon with simultaneous magnetic precursor and carbon modifying agent followed by calcination. The obtained samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and the catalytic activity in heterogeneous Fenton oxidation of methyl orange (MO) was evaluated. The resulting Fe{sub 2}MnO{sub 4}/AC-H showed higher catalytic activity in the methyl orange oxidation than Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/AC-H. The effect of operational parameters (pH, catalyst loading H{sub 2}O{sub 2} dosage and initial MO concentration) on degradation performance of the oxidation process was investigated. Stability and reusability of selected catalyst were also tested.

  7. Structure, ferroelectric ordering, and semiempirical quantum calculations of lanthanide based metal-organic framework: [Nd(C{sub 4}H{sub 5}O{sub 6})(C{sub 4}H{sub 4}O{sub 6})][3H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ahmad, Bhat Zahoor; Want, Basharat, E-mail: bawant@kashmiruniversity.ac.in [Solid State Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006 (India)

    2016-04-14

    We investigate the structure and ferroelectric behavior of a lanthanide based metal-organic framework (MOF), [Nd(C{sub 4}H{sub 5}O{sub 6})(C{sub 4}H{sub 4}O{sub 6})][3H{sub 2}O]. X-ray crystal structure analyses reveal that it crystallizes in the P4{sub 1}2{sub 1}2 space group with Nd centres, coordinated by nine oxygen atoms, forming a distorted capped square antiprismatic geometry. The molecules, bridged by tartrate ligands, form a 2D chiral structure. The 2D sheets are further linked into a 3D porous framework via strong hydrogen-bonding scheme (O-H…O ≈ 2.113 Å). Dielectric studies reveal two anomalies at 295 K and 185 K. The former is a paraelectric-ferroelectric transition, and the later is attributed to the freezing down of the motion of the hydroxyl groups. The phase transition is of second order, and the spontaneous polarization in low temperature phase is attributed to the ordering of protons of hydroxyl groups. The dielectric nonlinearity parameters have been calculated using Landau– Devonshire phenomenological theory. In addition, the most recent semiempirical models, Sparkle/PM7, Sparkle/RM1, and Sparkle/AM1, are tested on the present system to assay the accuracy of semiempirical quantum approaches to predict the geometries of solid MOFs. Our results show that Sparkle/PM7 model is the most accurate to predict the unit cell structure and coordination polyhedron geometry. The semiempirical methods are also used to calculate different ground state molecular properties.

  8. Photo-catalytic hydrogen production over Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} based catalysts

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Boudjemaa, A. [Technical and Scientific Research Centre of Physico-chemistry Analysis (CRAPC), BP 248, RP 16004, Algiers (Algeria); Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Gas, Faculty of Chemistry (USTHB) BP 32, 16111 Algiers (Algeria); Trari, M. [Laboratory of Storage and Valorization of Renewable Energies, Faculty of Chemistry (USTHB) BP 32, 16111 Algiers (Algeria)

    2010-08-15

    The hydrogen photo-evolution was successfully achieved in aqueous (Fe{sub 1-x}Cr{sub x}){sub 2}O{sub 3} suspensions (0 {<=} x {<=} 1). The solid solution has been prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and characterized by X-ray diffraction, BET, transport properties and photo-electrochemistry. The oxides crystallize in the corundum structure, they exhibit n-type conductivity with activation energy of {proportional_to}0.1 eV and the conduction occurs via adiabatic polaron hops. The characterization of the band edges has been studied by the Mott Schottky plots. The onset potential of the photo-current is {proportional_to}0.2 V cathodic with respect to the flat band potential, implying a small existence of surface states within the gap region. The absorption of visible light promotes electrons into (Fe{sub 1-x}Cr{sub x}){sub 2}O{sub 3}-CB with a potential ({proportional_to}-0.5 V{sub SCE}) sufficient to reduce water into hydrogen. As expected, the quantum yield increases with decreasing the electro affinity through the substitution of iron by the more electropositive chromium which increases the band bending at the interface and favours the charge separation. The generated photo-voltage was sufficient to promote simultaneously H{sub 2}O reduction and SO{sub 3}{sup 2-} oxidation in the energetically downhill reaction (H{sub 2}O + SO{sub 3}{sup 2-} {yields} H{sub 2} + SO{sub 4}{sup 2-}, {delta}G = -17.68 kJ mol{sup -1}). The best activity occurs over Fe{sub 1.2}Cr{sub 0.8}O{sub 3} in SO{sub 3}{sup 2-} (0.1 M) solution with H{sub 2} liberation rate of 21.7 {mu}mol g{sup -1} min{sup -1} and a quantum yield 0.06% under polychromatic light. Over time, a pronounced deceleration occurs, due to the competitive reduction of the end product S{sub 2}O{sub 6}{sup 2-}. (author)

  9. Determination of the k{sub Q{sub c{sub l{sub i{sub n,Q{sub m{sub s{sub r}{sup f{sub c}{sub l}{sub i}{sub n},f{sub m}{sub s}{sub r}}}}}}}}} correction factors for detectors used with an 800 MU/min CyberKnife{sup ®} system equipped with fixed collimators and a study of detector response to small photon beams using a Monte Carlo method

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Moignier, C., E-mail: cyril.moignier@free.fr; Huet, C. [Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), Service de Dosimétrie Externe, 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses (France); Makovicka, L. [IRMA/CE UMR 6249 CNRS, Université de Franche-Comté, 25200, Montbéliard (France)

    2014-07-15

    Purpose: In a previous work, output ratio (OR{sub det}) measurements were performed for the 800 MU/min CyberKnife{sup ®} at the Oscar Lambret Center (COL, France) using several commercially available detectors as well as using two passive dosimeters (EBT2 radiochromic film and micro-LiF TLD-700). The primary aim of the present work was to determine by Monte Carlo calculations the output factor in water (OF{sub MC,w}) and the k{sub Q{sub c{sub l{sub i{sub n,Q{sub m{sub s{sub r}{sup f{sub c}{sub l}{sub i}{sub n},f{sub m}{sub s}{sub r}}}}}}}}} correction factors. The secondary aim was to study the detector response in small beams using Monte Carlo simulation. Methods: The LINAC head of the CyberKnife{sup ®} was modeled using the PENELOPE Monte Carlo code system. The primary electron beam was modeled using a monoenergetic source with a radial gaussian distribution. The model was adjusted by comparisons between calculated and measured lateral profiles and tissue-phantom ratios obtained with the largest field. In addition, the PTW 60016 and 60017 diodes, PTW 60003 diamond, and micro-LiF were modeled. Output ratios with modeled detectors (OR{sub MC,det}) and OF{sub MC,w} were calculated and compared to measurements, in order to validate the model for smallest fields and to calculate k{sub Q{sub c{sub l{sub i{sub n,Q{sub m{sub s{sub r}{sup f{sub c}{sub l}{sub i}{sub n},f{sub m}{sub s}{sub r}}}}}}}}} correction factors, respectively. For the study of the influence of detector characteristics on their response in small beams; first, the impact of the atomic composition and the mass density of silicon, LiF, and diamond materials were investigated; second, the material, the volume averaging, and the coating effects of detecting material on the detector responses were estimated. Finally, the influence of the size of silicon chip on diode response was investigated. Results: Looking at measurement ratios (uncorrected output factors) compared to the OF{sub MC,w}, the PTW 60016

  10. Magnetic structure of the magnetocaloric compound AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cedervall, Johan, E-mail: johan.cedervall@kemi.uu.se [Department of Chemistry – Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 538, 751 21 Uppsala (Sweden); Andersson, Mikael Svante; Sarkar, Tapati [Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 534, 751 21 Uppsala (Sweden); Delczeg-Czirjak, Erna K. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 751 20 Uppsala (Sweden); Bergqvist, Lars [Department of Materials and Nano Physics and Swedish e-Science Research Centre (SeRC), Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Electrum 229, SE-164 40 Kista (Sweden); Hansen, Thomas C. [Institut Laue-Langevin, B.P. 156, Grenoble Cedex 9, 38042 France (France); Beran, Premysl [Nuclear Physics Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rez, 25068 Czech Republic (Czech Republic); Nordblad, Per [Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 534, 751 21 Uppsala (Sweden); Sahlberg, Martin [Department of Chemistry – Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 538, 751 21 Uppsala (Sweden)

    2016-04-15

    The crystal and magnetic structures of AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2} have been studied with a combination of X-ray and neutron diffraction and electronic structure calculations. The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties have been investigated by magnetisation measurements. The samples have been produced using high temperature synthesis and subsequent heat treatments. The compound crystallises in the orthorhombic crystal system Cmmm and it orders ferromagnetically at 285 K through a second order phase transition. At temperatures below the magnetic transition the magnetic moments align along the crystallographic a-axis. The magnetic entropy change from 0 to 800 kA/m was found to be −1.3 J/K kg at the magnetic transition temperature. - Graphical abstract: The magnetic structure of AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2} has been investigated using neutron diffraction and the magnetic spins have been found to align ferromagnetically along the crystallographic a-axis. - Highlights: • The crystal and magnetic structures of AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2} have been studied. • Orders ferromagnetically at 285 K via a second order phase transition. • The magnetic moments are found to be aligned along the crystallographic a-axis. • The magnetic entropy change from 0 to 800 kA/m was found to be −1.3 J/K kg.

  11. High-pressure behavior and equations of state of the cobaltates YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7}, YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7+{delta}}, YBaCoZn{sub 3}O{sub 7} and BaCoO{sub 3-x}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Juarez-Arellano, Erick A., E-mail: eajuarez@unpa.edu.mx [Instituto de Quimica Aplicada, Universidad del Papaloapan, Circuito Central 200, Parque Industrial, 68301 Tuxtepec, Oaxaca (Mexico); Avdeev, Maxim; Yakovlev, Sergey [Bragg Institute, ANSTO, PMB 1, Menai, NSW 2234 (Australia); Lopez-de-la-Torre, Laura; Bayarjargal, Lkhamsuren; Winkler, Bjoern; Friedrich, Alexandra [Institut fuer Geowissenschaften, Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt, Altenhoeferallee 1, 60438 Frankfurt a.M. (Germany); Kharton, Vladislav V. [Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, CICECO, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro (Portugal)

    2012-12-15

    The compressibilities of the cobaltates YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7}, YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7+{delta}}, YBaCoZn{sub 3}O{sub 7} and BaCoO{sub 3-x} were investigated by in situ powder X-ray diffraction experiments up to 30 GPa using diamond anvil cells. Pressure-induced phase transitions and amorphization were observed in all the samples. The onset of the pressure-induced phase transition and the onset of the amorphization were observed at {approx}11.7 and 12.2 GPa (YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7}), at {approx}14.2 and 16.1 GPa (YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7+{delta}}), and at {approx}16.7 and 18.7 GPa (YBaCoZn{sub 3}O{sub 7}), respectively. An attempt to laser anneal at high-pressure failed as it led to a decomposition of the YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} phase into a mixture of phases. Fits of second- and third-order Birch-Murnaghan equations-of-state to the p-V data result in B{sub 0}=109(3) GPa for YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7}; B{sub 0}=186(4) GPa and B Prime =1.5 for YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7+{delta}}; and B{sub 0}=117(1) GPa for YBaCoZn{sub 3}O{sub 7}. The high-pressure behavior of the studied compounds was compared with isostructural compounds and it is shown that the oxygen-content has a very large effect on the high-pressure behavior of this class of materials. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Compressibilities were investigated by in situ DAC powder X-ray diffraction experiments. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Pressure-induced phase transitions were observed in all the samples. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer High-pressure phases were very sensitive to small amounts of stresses and strains. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Due to the metastability of the compounds, laser annealing leads to decomposition. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Oxygen-content has a very large effect on the high pressure behavior in these materials.

  12. A Comparison between Radiolabeled Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake and Hyperpolarized 13C-Labeled Pyruvate Utilization as Methods for Detecting Tumor Response to Treatment

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Timothy H. Witney

    2009-06-01

    Full Text Available Detection of early tumor responses to treatment can give an indication of clinical outcome. Positron emission tomography measurements of the uptake of the glucose analog, [18F] 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG, have demonstrated their potential for detecting early treatment response in the clinic. We have shown recently that 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging measurements of the uptake and conversion of hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate into [1-13C]lactate can be used to detect treatment response in a murine lymphoma model. The present study compares these magnetic resonance measurements with changes in FDG uptake after chemotherapy. A decrease in FDG uptake was found to precede the decrease in flux of hyperpolarized 13C label between pyruvate and lactate, both in tumor cells in vitro and in tumors in vivo. However, the magnitude of the decrease in FDG uptake and the decrease in pyruvate to lactate flux was comparable at 24 hours after drug treatment. In cells, the decrease in FDG uptake was shown to correlate with changes in plasma membrane expression of the facilitative glucose transporters, whereas the decrease in pyruvate to lactate flux could be explained by an increase in poly(ADP-ribose polymerase activity and subsequent depletion of the NAD(H pool. These results show that measurement of flux between pyruvate and lactate may be an alternative to FDG-positron emission tomography for imaging tumor treatment response in the clinic.

  13. Interplay of superconductivity and magnetism in Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} and ist potential as wire material

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wiesenmayer, Josef Erwin

    2015-07-07

    The results presented in this thesis provide a deeper insight in the physical properties of Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} and their connection among each other. By using a combination of high resolution X-ray diffraction, susceptibility measurements, and μSR, it was possible to unambiguously identify a microscopic coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetism in underdoped Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} (up to x=0.23). This result strongly supports the assumption of an s± symmetry in the area 0f the phase diagram. These studies were extended to the optimally and overdoped Ba{sub 1-x}Na{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} up to x=0.66 generating a phase diagram displaying gradual transitions from long-range to short -range order instead of sharp borders. This magnetic order can be detected up to at last x=0.66, a value beyond the expected one (between 0.2 and 0.3). On Ba{sub 0.6}Na{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} under pressure, a new antiferromagnetic order AFM2 was discovered, also displaying coexistence with superconductivity. In the second part of this thesis, Ba{sub 0.6}K{sub 0.4}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} was examined as material for the production of superconducting wires and tapes. Preliminary critical current density measurements of these prototype filaments are encouraging. To further investigate these wires, a new synthesis route was explored using mechanical alloying of the ternary precursors BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} and KFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} in order to obtain larger sample amounts.

  14. Electronic structure and X-ray spectroscopic properties of YbNi{sub 2}P{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Shcherba, I.D., E-mail: ishcherba@gmail.com [Institute of Technology, University of Pedagogy, Podchorazych 2, 30-084 Krakow (Poland); Lviv National University by Ivan Franko, Lviv (Ukraine); Bekenov, L.V.; Antonov, V.N. [Institute for Metal Physics, 36 Vernadsky Street, 03142 Kiev (Ukraine); Noga, H. [Institute of Technology, University of Pedagogy, Podchorazych 2, 30-084 Krakow (Poland); Uskokovic, D. [Institute of Technical Sciences, SASA, Belgrade (Serbia); Zhak, O.; Kovalska, M.V. [Lviv National University by Ivan Franko, Lviv (Ukraine)

    2016-10-15

    Highlights: • We present new experimental and theoretical data for YbNi{sub 2}P{sub 2}. • The presence of divalent and trivalent Yb ion found in YbNi{sub 2}P{sub 2}. • The calculation show good agreement with the experimental measurements. - Abstract: X-ray absorption spectrum at the Yb L{sub 3} edge and X-ray emission spectra of Ni and P at the K and L{sub 2,3} edges have been studied experimentally and theoretically in the mixed valent compound YbNi{sub 2}P{sub 2} with ThCr{sub 2}Si{sub 2} type crystal structure. The electronic structure of YbNi{sub 2}P{sub 2} is investigated using the fully relativistic Dirac linear muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) band-structure method. The effect of the spin–orbit (SO) interaction and Coulomb repulsion U on the electronic structure of YbNi{sub 2}P{sub 2} is examined in the frame of the LSDA + SO + U method. The core-hole effect in the final states as well as the effect of the electric quadrupole E{sub 2} transitions have been investigated. A good agreement between the theory and the experiment was found. Both the trivalent and the divalent Yb ions in YbNi{sub 2}P{sub 2} are reflected in the experimentally measured Yb L{sub 3} X-ray absorption spectrum simultaneously. We found that the best agreement between the experimental spectrum and sum of the theoretically calculated Yb{sup 2+} and Yb{sup 3+} spectra is achieved with 73% ytterbium ions in 2+ state and 27% ions in 3+ state.

  15. A comparative study on the magnetic and electrical properties of Bi{sub 0.89}Tb{sub 0.11}FeO{sub 3} and Bi{sub 0.89}Tb{sub 0.11}FeO{sub 3}/CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} multiferroic thin films

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tan, Guoqiang, E-mail: tan3114@163.com; Luo, Yangyang; Dong, Guohua; Liu, Wenlong; Ren, Huijun; Xia, Ao

    2015-02-25

    Highlights: • BTFO and CFO phases have perfect double layered structure on FTO substrates. • The CFO layer has a large effect on the dielectric properties of the BTFO/CFO. • The huge ferroelectric polarization (2P{sub r} ∼ 218 μC/cm{sup 2}) is obtained in BTFO/CFO. • BTFO/CFO exhibits the desired magnetic characteristics (2M{sub r} ∼ 100.9 emu/cm{sup 3}). - Abstract: A double layered multiferroic thin film consisting of Bi{sub 0.89}Tb{sub 0.11}FeO{sub 3} (BTFO) and CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (CFO) layers has been deposited on a FTO/glass substrate by the chemical solution deposition method. The influence of magnetic layer on the crystal structure, dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of the double layered film was investigated. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra and scanning electron microscope results demonstrate the perfect formation of double layered thin film structure without second phase. With the introduction CFO magnetic layer, the double layered film of dielectric constant shows strong frequency dependence, and the leakage current density and the multiferroic properties have been significantly improved. It is believed that at room temperature the superior multiferroic parameters (2P{sub r} ∼ 218 μC/cm{sup 2} and 2M{sub r} ∼ 100.9 emu/cm{sup 3}) of the BTFO/CFO film are a major breakthrough in the double layered BFO-based films. The double layered film with excellent multiferroic properties become an attractive research focus in potential multifunctional devices.

  16. Superconducting thin films of As-free pnictide LaPd{sub 1-x}Sb{sub 2} grown by reactive molecular beam epitaxy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Retzlaff, Reiner; Buckow, Alexander; Kurian, Jose; Alff, Lambert [Institute of Materials Science, Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Petersenstr. 23, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany)

    2013-07-01

    We use reactive molecular beam epitaxy as synthesis technique for the search of arsenic free pnictide superconductors. Epitaxial thin films of LaPd{sub 1-x}Sb{sub 2} were grown on (100) MgO substrates from elemental sources by simultaneous evaporation of high purity La, Pd and Sb metals by e-gun. LaPd{sub 1-x}Sb{sub 2} belongs to a novel class of pnictide superconductors with a peculiar pnictide square net layer. Previously, we have reported epitaxial growth of isostructural Bi based compounds. The substitution of Bi by Sb leads to thin films with metallic behavior and room temperature resistivity of about 85 μΩ cm. The highest observed transition temperature T{sub c} inLaPd{sub 1-x}Sb{sub 2} is 3.1 K and does not depend on x. We discuss strategies to increase T{sub c} in this pnictide subfamily.

  17. YbNi{sub 4}P{sub 2}. Single crystal growth by the Czochralski method and high-field magnetization measurements

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kliemt, Kristin; Krellner, Cornelius [Goethe-University, Frankfurt (Germany); Foerster, Tobias [HLD, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden (Germany); Brando, Manuel [MPI for Chemical Physics of Solids, Dresden (Germany)

    2016-07-01

    We have investigated a new generation of YbNi{sub 4}P{sub 2} single crystals that were grown from a levitating melt by the Czochralski method. With T{sub C}= 0.17 K, this ferromagnetic material has the lowest Curie temperature ever observed among stoichiometric compounds. A quantum critical point occurs in the substitution series YbNi{sub 4}(P{sub 1-x}As{sub x}){sub 2} at x ∼ 0.1. The hybridization between localized f-electrons and the conduction electrons leads to a Fermi-liquid ground state with narrow bands and strongly enhanced effective electronic masses (heavy fermion system, Kondo temperature 8 K). An external magnetic field can split the bands, deform the Fermi surface and simultaneously suppress the Kondo interaction. If such a deformation changes the topology, it is called a Lifshitz transition. Previous thermodynamic and electrical transport studies have found indications for Lifshitz transitions in this Kondo lattice system. We report on results of high-field magnetization measurements at low temperature to further investigate the putative Lifshitz transitions in YbNi{sub 4}P{sub 2}.

  18. 3081//sub E/ processor

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Kunz, P.F.; Gravina, M.; Oxoby, G.; Trang, Q.; Fucci, A.; Jacobs, D.; Martin, B.; Storr, K.

    1983-03-01

    Since the introduction of the 168//sub E/, emulating processors have been successful over an amazingly wide range of applications. This paper will describe a second generation processor, the 3081//sub E/. This new processor, which is being developed as a collaboration between SLAC and CERN, goes beyond just fixing the obvious faults of the 168//sub E/. Not only will the 3081//sub E/ have much more memory space, incorporate many more IBM instructions, and have much more memory space, incorporate many more IBM instructions, and have full double precision floating point arithmetic, but it will also have faster execution times and be much simpler to build, debug, and maintain. The simple interface and reasonable cost of the 168//sub E/ will be maintained for the 3081//sub E/

  19. Optical non-linearity tuning in Ca{sub 8-x}Pb{sub x}MBi(VO{sub 4}){sub 7} whitlockite-type systems

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Beskorovaynaya, Daria A., E-mail: darya.beskorovajnaya@list.ru [Chemistry Department, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Department of Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Deyneko, Dina V. [Chemistry Department, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography RAS, 119333 Moscow (Russian Federation); Baryshnikova, Oksana V. [Chemistry Department, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Stefanovich, Sergey Yu. [Chemistry Department, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); L.Ya. Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry, 105064 Moscow (Russian Federation); Lazoryak, Bogdan I. [Chemistry Department, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation)

    2016-07-25

    Ca{sub 8-x}Pb{sub x}MBi(VO{sub 4}){sub 7}, M{sup 2+} = Mg{sup 2+}, Zn{sup 2+} (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5) and M{sup 2+} = Ca{sup 2+}, Cd{sup 2+} (0 ≤ x ≤ 2) solid solutions with whitlockite-type structure have been prepared by solid state reactions in the form of powders and ceramics. Ferroelectric phase transitions (FPT) are revealed in the cause of dielectric, calorimetric and temperature second harmonic generation (SHG) investigations. It is found that ferroelectric Curie points in solid solutions decrease with x from 1000–1070 K to 730–800 K. The intensity of SHG firstly increases with x and then decreases, the highest SHG signal belongs to Ca{sub 7}PbCdBi(VO{sub 4}){sub 7} and Ca{sub 6.5}Pb{sub 1.5}CdBi(VO{sub 4}){sub 7}. Variation of Pb{sup 2+} concentration is shown to have a minor influence on the coherence length, therefore the SHG augmentation in solid solutions is attributed to optical nonlinear coefficient . The structure of Ca{sub 6.5}Pb{sub 1.5}MgBi(VO{sub 4}){sub 7} is resolved and crystal structure changes in solid solutions are analyzed. The results are interpreted in view of site occupancy by two- and trivalent cations and their influence on formation of spare space essential for Pb{sup 2+} and Bi{sup 3+} non-bonded electrons stereo-activity in whitlockite-type crystal structures. For the first time contribution to optical nonlinearity from VO{sub 4}{sup 3−} anionic groups in different positions is also discussed. - Highlights: • The Curie temperatures of ferroelectric Ca{sub 8-x}Pb{sub x}MBi(VO{sub 4}){sub 7} solid solutions are chemically controlled from 1070 down to 730–800 K. • Optical SHG non-linear coefficient in Ca{sub 8-x}Pb{sub x}MBi(VO{sub 4}) strongly increase up to 3.3 pm/V at an optimized Pb and Bi concentration. • Structure-property correlations in the whitlockites includes crystal site positions occupancy by two- and trivalent cations.

  20. Preparation and characterization of carbonate terminated polycrystalline Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Al films

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tornow, C. [Fraunhofer-Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM), Adhesive Bonding Technology and Surfaces, Wiener Str. 12, D-28359 Bremen (Germany); Fachhochschule Oldenburg/Ostfriesland/Wilhelmshaven, University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Technology, Department of Applied Natural Sciences, Engineering Physics, Constantiaplatz 4, D-26723 Emden (Germany); Noeske, P.-L.M. [Fraunhofer-Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM), Adhesive Bonding Technology and Surfaces, Wiener Str. 12, D-28359 Bremen (Germany); Dieckhoff, S. [Fraunhofer-Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM), Adhesive Bonding Technology and Surfaces, Wiener Str. 12, D-28359 Bremen (Germany); Wilken, R. [Fraunhofer-Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM), Adhesive Bonding Technology and Surfaces, Wiener Str. 12, D-28359 Bremen (Germany)]. E-mail: rw@ifam.fraunhofer.de; Gaertner, K. [Fachhochschule Oldenburg/Ostfriesland/Wilhelmshaven, University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Technology, Department of Applied Natural Sciences, Engineering Physics, Constantiaplatz 4, D-26723 Emden (Germany)

    2005-12-15

    X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was applied to investigate the surface reactivity of polycrystalline Al films in contact with a gas mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen at room temperature. Based on the characterization of interactions between these substrates and the individual gases at selected exposures, various surface functionalities were identified. Simultaneously dosing both carbon dioxide and oxygen is shown to create surface-terminating carbonate species, which contribute to inhibiting the formation of an Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} layer. Finally, a reaction scheme is suggested to account for the observed dependence of surface group formation on the dosing conditions.

  1. Li vaporization property of two-phase material of Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} and Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} for tritium breeder

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ogawa, Seiya [Course of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292 (Japan); Masuko, Yuki; Kato, Hirokazu; Yuyama, Hayato; Sakai, Yutaro [Department of Prime Mover Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292 (Japan); Niwa, Eiki; Hashimoto, Takuya [Department of Physics, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, 3-8-1 Sakurajousui, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8550 (Japan); Mukai, Keisuke [Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656 (Japan); Hosino, Tsuyoshi [Breeding Functional Materials Development Group, Department of Blanket Systems Research, Rokkasho Fusion Institute, Sector of Fusion Research and Development, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2-166 Obuch, Omotedate, Rokkasho-mura, Kamikita-gun, Aomori 039-3212 (Japan); Sasaki, Kazuya, E-mail: k_sasaki@tokai-u.jp [Course of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292 (Japan); Department of Prime Mover Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292 (Japan); Course of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics and Astronautics, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292 (Japan)

    2015-10-15

    Highlights: • We synthesized two phase materials based on Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} and Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3}. • We investigated the Li vaporization property of the two-phase materials. • Li vaporization occurs significantly from only Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} grains in the vicinity of the surface of the pellets. • The Li vaporization is remarkable only for an early short time for the vaporization from Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} grains at the vicinity of the surface. • The second stable phase added functions effectively for inhibition of the Li vaporization. - Abstract: Li vaporization property of two-phase materials of Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} and Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} in a working condition for the solid tritium breeder used in the demonstration power plant of fusion reactor was investigated, and the suppression mechanism of the vaporization was considered. The Li vaporization rate from the specimen pellet was measured by gravimetric method, and the change of Li concentration distribution in the pellet was analyzed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer. Li was vaporized only from the Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} at the vicinity of the surface of the pellet. The remarkable vaporization of Li arose only in an early short time. The inhibition of the vaporization from the Li{sub 2}SiO{sub 3} was successful by adding the small amount of the stable secondary phase of Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3}.

  2. Universal behavior of magnetocaloric effect in a layered perovskite La{sub 1.2}Sr{sub 1.8}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7} single crystal

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Thanh, Tran Dang, E-mail: thanhxraylab@yahoo.com [Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18-Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi (Viet Nam); Manh, T.V.; Ho, T.A. [Department of Physics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763 (Korea, Republic of); Telegin, Andrey [Department of Magnetic Semiconductors, Institute of Metal Physics, RAS (Russian Federation); Phan, T.L. [Department of Physics and Oxide Research Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 449-791 (Korea, Republic of); Yu, S.C., E-mail: scyu@chungbuk.ac.kr [Department of Physics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763 (Korea, Republic of)

    2016-04-01

    In this paper, we present a detailed analysis on temperature and magnetic field dependences of the magnetic entropy change (ΔS{sub m}) near the ferromagnetic (FM)–paramagnetic (PM) phase transition of a La{sub 1.2}Sr{sub 1.8}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7} single crystal. Experimental results reveal the material exhibiting a FM–PM phase transition at T{sub C}=85 K, and belongs to a second-order phase transition (SOPT). Around T{sub C}, −ΔS{sub m} reaches the maximum value (|ΔS{sub max}|), which increases with increasing an applied magnetic field change, ΔH. The |ΔS{sub max}| values found are about 0.93, 1.73, 2.38, 2.91, and 3.33 J kg{sup −1} K{sup −1} for ΔH=10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 kOe, respectively. However, the peak position of the −ΔS{sub m}(T) curves is effectively shifted to higher temperatures when ΔH increases. Additionally, the ΔS{sub m}(T) curves measured at different ΔH values do not collapse into a universal curve when they are normalized to their respective ΔS{sub max} value, and Prod. Type: rescaled the temperature axis with θ{sub 1}=(T−T{sub C})/(T{sub r}−T{sub C}) for a reference temperature T{sub r}>T{sub C} or T{sub r}sub C}. Nevertheless, they can be collapsed into a unique curve in the whole temperature range if using two separated reference temperatures, T{sub r1} and T{sub r2}, with θ{sub 2}=−(T−T{sub C})/(T{sub r1}−T{sub C}) for T≤T{sub C} and θ{sub 2}=(T−T{sub C})/(T{sub r2}−T{sub C}) for T>T{sub C}.

  3. Investigation of Y{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} and YMn{sub 12} intermetallic alloys under high hydrogen pressure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Filipek, S M; Sato, R [Inst. of Phys. Chem. PAS, ul. Kasprzaka 44, 01-224 Warsaw (Poland); Kuriyama, N; Tanaka, H; Takeichi, N, E-mail: smf@ichf.edu.p [National Institute of Adv. Ind. Science and Techn. 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka 563-8577 (Japan)

    2010-03-01

    Among three intermetallic compounds existing in Y-Mn system the YMn{sub 2} and Y{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} can easily form interstitial hydrides while for YMn{sub 12} existence of hydride has never been reported. At moderate hydrogen pressure YMn{sub 2} and Y{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} transform into YMn{sub 2}H{sub 4.5} and Y{sub 6}Mn{sub 23}H{sub 25} respectively. At high hydrogen pressure the YMn{sub 2} (C15 or C14 parent structure) forms a unique YMn{sub 2}H{sub 6} (s.g. Fm3m) complex hydride of fluorite structure in which one Mn atom Mn(1) and Y randomly occupy the 8c sites while second manganese (Mn2) in position 4a forms complex anion with 6 hydrogen atoms located in positions 24e. Formation of YMn{sub 2}H{sub 6} independently of the structure of parent phase (C14 or C15) as well as occupation of the same site (8c) by Y and Mn(1) atoms suggested that also Y{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} and YMn{sub 12} could transform into YMn{sub 2}H{sub 6} - type hydride in which suitable number of Y atoms will be substituted by Mn(1) in the 8c positions. This assumption was confirmed by exposing R{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} and RMn{sub 12} to 1 GPa of hydrogen pressure at 100{sup 0}C. Formation of (R{sub x}Mn{sub 2-x})MnH{sub 6} (where x = 18/29 or 3/13 for R{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} and RMn{sub 12} hydrides respectively) was confirmed by XRD. Hydrogen concentration in both R{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} and RMn{sub 12} based hydrides reached H/Me = 2 thus value two times higher than in R{sub 6}Mn{sub 23}H{sub 25}.

  4. Difference between Extra- and Intracellular T1 Values of Carboxylic Acids Affects the Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Kinetics by Hyperpolarized NMR

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Karlsson, Magnus; Jensen, Pernille Rose; Ardenkjær-Larsen, Jan Henrik

    2016-01-01

    on the quantification of intracellular metabolicactivity. It is expected that the significantly shorter T1valueof the carboxylic moieties inside cells is a result of macro-molecular crowding. An artificial cytosol has been preparedand applied to predict the T1of other carboxylic acids. Wedemonstrate the value......Incomplete knowledge of the longitudinal relaxationtime constant (T1) leads to incorrect assumptions in quantita-tive kinetic models of cellular systems, studied by hyper-polarized real-time NMR. Using an assay that measures theintracellular signal of small carboxylic acids in living cells...

  5. Simultaneous acquisition of pure rotational and vibrational nitrogen spectra using three-laser CARS

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Lucht, R.P.; Maris, M.A.

    1987-01-01

    The author used three-laser coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering to acquire simultaneously the pure rotational and vibrational spectra from the nitrogen molecule. The energy level schematic for the three-laser CARS process is shown in this paper. Frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser radiation at frequency ω/sub 1/ is used to pump a broadband dye laser which lasers at a range of frequencies ω/sub s/ and a narrowband dye laser with frequency ω/sub 2/. The three-beams are focused to a common CARS probe volume using a three-dimensional phase-matching geometry. A CARS polarization is established when the frequency difference ω/sub 1/ - ω/sub s/ corresponds to a vibrational Raman resonance. The vibrational polarization scatters the incident ω/sub 2/ beam to produce anti-Stokes radiation at frequency ω/sub 1/ - ω/sub s/ + ω/sub 2/. In a similar fashion, a CARS polarization is also established when the frequency difference ω/sub 2/ - ω/sub s/ is equal to a pure rotational Raman resonance. The pure rotational polarization scatters the Nd:YAG laser radiation at ω/sub 1/ to produce anti-Stokes radiation at ω/sub 2/ - ω/sub s/ + ω/sub 1/

  6. Comparison of soft-tissue changes in simultaneous maxillomandibular distraction with mandibular distraction with second-stage maxillary osteotomy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Balaji, S M; Balaji, Preetha

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to compare the frontal lip cant changes in common facial asymmetry (FA) cases after simultaneous maxillomandibular distraction osteogenesis (DO) and mandibular DO with maxillary orthognathic surgery. Retrospective analysis of FA cases at tertiary craniofacial referral was performed. Patients of either gender with all medical imaging records and pre- and post-operative (1 year) facial photographs in natural head position were included in the study. The lip cant change was assessed by the ratio of the linear dimension between affected and unaffected side labial commissures and the bi-pupillary reference line. Difference between the pre- and post-operative ratio was analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed for the outcome. P ≤0.05 was taken as significant. The mean preoperative measured value of the affected side was 0.845 ± 0.036 while the postoperative value was 0.95 ± 0.032. The effective change was 0.11 ± 0.044. The postoperative ratio compared with simultaneous DO case was 0.98 ± 0.06 while that of mandibular distraction with orthognathic surgery was 0.92 ± 0.08 (P = 0.048). The mean change of the simultaneous DO case was measured as 0.114 ± 0.041 while the same for the mandibular distraction with orthognathic surgery was 0.069 ± 0.035 (P = 0.013). The results indicate that the simultaneous DO yields more better frontal lip cant change between both halves than the mono-DO with orthognathic surgery. The mean change is much higher in the simultaneous DO cases indicating a more effective correction and desired result. The biological reason and lip musculature mechanism behind the response in both conditions are discussed.

  7. Neutron diffraction studies on GdB{sub 6} and TbB{sub 6} powders

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Luca, S.E.; Amara, M.; Galera, R.M.; Givord, F.; Granovsky, S.; Isnard, O.; Beneu, B

    2004-07-15

    We report here the first powder neutron diffraction study of GdB{sub 6} and TbB{sub 6}. GdB{sub 6} and TbB{sub 6} order antiferromagnetically at 15 and 21 K, respectively. In both compounds the transition at T{sub N} is of the first order. Moreover GdB{sub 6} presents a second spontaneous magnetic transition at T{sup *}=8 K. The present study shows that, in both compounds, the magnetic propagation vectors belong to the <((1)/(4)) ((1)/(4)) ((1)/(2))> star and that the direction of the magnetic moment is perpendicular to the ((1)/(2)) component of the wave-vector in GdB{sub 6}, while in TbB{sub 6} the moment is parallel to it. The deduced low-temperature values of the magnetic moments agree with those of the respective rare-earth trivalent ions.

  8. Thermal expansion of mullite-type Bi{sub 2}Al{sub 4}O{sub 9}: A study by X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy and density functional theory

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mangir Murshed, M., E-mail: murshed@uni-bremen.de [Chemische Kristallographie fester Stoffe, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Bremens, Leobener Straße, D-28359 Bremen (Germany); Mendive, Cecilia B.; Curti, Mariano [Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Dean Funes 3350, B7600AYL Mar del Plata (Argentina); Šehović, Malik [Chemische Kristallographie fester Stoffe, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Bremens, Leobener Straße, D-28359 Bremen (Germany); Friedrich, Alexandra [Institut für Geowissenschaften, Abteilung Kristallographie, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Altenhöferallee 1, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main (Germany); Fischer, Michael [Kristallographie, FB Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Klagenfurter Straße, D-28359 Bremen (Germany); Gesing, Thorsten M. [Chemische Kristallographie fester Stoffe, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Bremens, Leobener Straße, D-28359 Bremen (Germany)

    2015-09-15

    Polycrystalline Bi{sub 2}Al{sub 4}O{sub 9} powder samples were synthesized using the glycerine method. Single crystals were produced from the powder product in a Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} melt. The lattice thermal expansion of the mullite-type compound was studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). The metric parameters were modeled using Grüneisen approximation for the zero pressure equation of state, where the temperature-dependent vibrational internal energy was calculated from the Debye characteristic frequency. Both the first-order and second-order Grüneisen approximations were applied for modeling the volumetric expansion, and the second-order approach provided physically meaningful axial parameters. The phonon density of states as well as phonon dispersion guided to set the characteristic frequency for simulation. The experimental infrared and Raman phonon bands were compared with those calculate from the DFT calculations. Selective Raman modes were analyzed for the thermal anharmonic behaviors using simplified Klemens model. The respective mode Grüneisen parameters were calculated from the pressure-dependent Raman spectra. - Graphical abstract: Crystal structure of mullite-type Bi{sub 2}Al{sub 4}O{sub 9} showing the edge-sharing AlO{sub 6} octahedra running parallel to the c-axis. - Highlights: • Thermal expansion of Bi{sub 2}Al{sub 4}O{sub 9} was studied using XRD, FTIR, Raman and DFT. • Metric parameters were modeled using Grüneisen approximation. • Phonon DOS and phonon dispersion helped to set the Debye frequency. • Mode Grüneisen parameters were calculated from the pressure-dependent Raman spectra. • Anharmonicity was analyzed for some selective Raman modes.

  9. Phosphor thermometry: On the synthesis and characterisation of Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12}:Eu (YAG:Eu) and YAlO{sub 3}:Eu (YAP:Eu)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kissel, T. [Fachgebiet Reaktive Strömungen und Messtechnik (RSM), Center of Smart Interfaces (CSI), Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstraße 32, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany); Brübach, J., E-mail: bruebach@ekt.tu-darmstadt.de [Fachgebiet Reaktive Strömungen und Messtechnik (RSM), Center of Smart Interfaces (CSI), Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstraße 32, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany); Euler, M. [Fachgebiet Reaktive Strömungen und Messtechnik (RSM), Center of Smart Interfaces (CSI), Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstraße 32, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany); Frotscher, M.; Litterscheid, C.; Albert, B. [Eduard-Zintl-Institut für Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstraße 18, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany); Dreizler, A. [Fachgebiet Reaktive Strömungen und Messtechnik (RSM), Center of Smart Interfaces (CSI), Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstraße 32, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany)

    2013-07-15

    With regard to phosphor thermometry, the materials Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12}:Eu (YAG:Eu) and YAlO{sub 3}:Eu (YAP:Eu) were synthesised and characterised in order to substitute the commonly used thermographic phosphor Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}:Eu, whose temperature sensitive luminescence lifetime exhibits a strong and most often undesirable cross-sensitivity to the oxygen concentration of the surrounding gas phase. The synthesis is outlined in detail and the crystallographic structure was characterised by X-ray diffraction. In a second step, the luminescence properties following pulsed UV laser excitation were determined. In this context, the emission spectra and the temperature lifetime characteristics were monitored. For Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12}:Eu and YAlO{sub 3}:Eu, temperature sensitive ranges of 1000 K–1470 K and 850 K–1300 K were identified. Contrary to Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}:Eu, both materials do show much lower cross-sensitivities to the oxygen concentration of the surrounding gas phase. - Highlights: ► Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12}:Eu and YAlO{sub 3}:Eu were synthesised and characterised. ► The synthesis is outlined and the crystallographic structure was characterised. ► Emission spectra and the temperature lifetime characteristics were monitored. ► Compared to Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}:Eu lower sensitivities to the oxyg. conc. of the gas phase emerged.

  10. Highly selective adsorption of organic dyes containing sulphonic groups using Cu{sub 2}(OH){sub 3}NO{sub 3} nanosheets

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jia, Jincan; Wang, Honghong; Niu, Helin, E-mail: niuhelin@ahu.edu.cn; Chen, Jingshuai; Song, Jiming; Mao, Changjie; Zhang, Shengyi [Anhui University, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (China); Gao, Yuanhao [Xuchang University, Institute of Surface Micro and Nano Materials (China); Chen, Changle [University of Science and Technology of China, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry (China)

    2016-09-15

    In this study, we report a facile approach to synthesize Cu{sub 2}(OH){sub 3}NO{sub 3} nanosheets via simply sonochemical method, which showed high efficiency and selectivity towards the adsorption of organic dyes containing sulphonic groups. The structure and morphology of the nanosheets were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N{sub 2} adsorption–desorption isotherms, particle size and zeta potential analysis. The adsorption results indicated that the equilibrium data coincide very well with Langmuir isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacities for Congo red, methyl blue and methyl orange were 1864, 1270 and 959 mg g{sup −1}, respectively. The kinetic data can be explained by pseudo-second-order model. The Cu{sub 2}(OH){sub 3}NO{sub 3} nanosheets also demonstrated high selectivity towards the adsorption of dyes containing sulphonic groups from mixed dye solutions. The rational mechanism of adsorption was attributed to hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attractions and ion exchanges between the dye molecules and Cu{sub 2}(OH){sub 3}NO{sub 3} in the adsorption process.

  11. 4,6-Dimethyl-dibenzothiophene conversion over Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiO{sub 2}-supported noble metal catalysts

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nunez, Sara [Departamento de Ingenieria de Procesos e Hidraulica, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, San Rafael Atlixco 186, Vicentina, Iztapalapa, 09340, Mexico, D.F. (Mexico); Escobar, Jose, E-mail: jeaguila@imp.mx [Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo, Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas 152, San Bartolo Atepehuacan, Gustavo A. Madero, 07730, Mexico, D.F. (Mexico); Vazquez, Armando; Reyes, Jose Antonio de los [Departamento de Ingenieria de Procesos e Hidraulica, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, San Rafael Atlixco 186, Vicentina, Iztapalapa, 09340, Mexico, D.F. (Mexico); Hernandez-Barrera, Melissa [Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo, Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas 152, San Bartolo Atepehuacan, Gustavo A. Madero, 07730, Mexico, D.F. (Mexico)

    2011-03-15

    Research highlights: {yields} Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiO{sub 2} (molar ratio Al/Ti = 2, AT2) mixed oxides were pore-filling impregnated to obtain Pd, Pt and Pd-Pt catalysts with {approx}1 wt% nominal metal loading. {yields} Reduced catalysts were tested in the 4,6-dimethyl-dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS). {yields} In Pd-containing materials, TiO{sub 2} incorporation into the alumina support was favorable to the catalytic activity of noble metal catalysts. {yields} Enhanced intrinsic activity (per exposed metallic site) was obtained in Pt-containing catalysts supported on the AT2 mixed oxide. {yields} Yield to different products over various catalysts seemed to be strongly influenced by metallic particles dispersion. - Abstract: Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiO{sub 2} (molar ratio Al/Ti = 2, AT2) mixed oxides were synthesized using a low-temperature sol-gel method and were further pore-filling impregnated to obtain Pd and Pt catalysts with {approx}1 wt% nominal metal loading. Simultaneous impregnation was used to prepare bimetallic materials at Pd:Pt = 80:20. Solids characterization was carried out by N{sub 2}-physisorption, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM and E-FTEM), X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction and CO-chemisorption. Reduced (350 deg. C, H{sub 2} flow) catalysts were tested in the 4,6-dimethyl-dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) (in n-dodecane, at 300 deg. C and 5.5 MPa, batch reactor). In Pd-containing materials, TiO{sub 2} incorporation into the alumina support was favorable to the catalytic activity of noble metal catalysts, where bimetallic Pd-Pt with AT2 carrier had the highest organo-S compound conversion. Enhanced intrinsic activity (per exposed metallic site) was obtained in Pt-containing catalysts supported on the AT2 mixed oxide (as compared to alumina-supported ones). Yield to different products over various catalysts seemed to be strongly influenced by

  12. A novel porous tubular Co{sub 3}O{sub 4}: Self-assembly and excellent electrochemical performance as anode for lithium-ion batteries

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang, Xing; Yang, Zheng; Li, Cun; Xie, Anjian, E-mail: anjx@163.com; Shen, Yuhua, E-mail: s_yuhua@163.com

    2017-05-01

    Highlights: • A novel porous tubular Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} was prepared by a simple, eco-friendly and turning waste into treasure method using waste napkin paper as template and organizer. • The formation and self-assembly of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles occur simultaneously. • The unique Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} tubular structure with many pores could accelerate electrolyte diffusion and Li-ion transport, as well as accommodate the volume change during the charge and discharge progress. • Significant electrochemical performance of porous tubular Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} has been observed. - Abstract: Herein, the novel porous tubular Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} was successfully prepared by a simple, low-cost and eco-friendly process using waste napkin paper as template and organizer. It is very noteworthy that the formation and self-assembly of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles occur simultaneously. The as-synthesized porous tubular structure with average outer diameter of 2.2 μm is orderly self-assembled by numerous Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles with diameter of 50–150 nm. The specific surface area of typical product is 24.6 m{sup 2} g{sup −1} by the BET method, and the majority diameter of pores is about 67 nm. In addition, the effects of different Co{sup 2+} concentration on the morphology and electrochemical performance of the products were explored. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), the typical sample shows a high reversible specific capacity (1053 mAh g{sup −1} after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g{sup −1}), remarkable cycling performance and a good rate capability of 727 mAh g{sup −1} after 100 cycles at a high specific current density of 500 mA g{sup −1}. The excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to the unique porous tubular structure. With these outstanding performances, the as-prepared Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} may be an outstanding candidate anode material for LIBs.

  13. Violet Grove CO{sub 2} injection project : monitoring with timelapse VSP surveys

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Coueslan, M.; Lawton, D. [Calgary Univ., Calgary, AB (Canada); Jones, M. [Schlumberger Canada Ltd., Calgary, AB (Canada)

    2006-07-01

    Several oil and gas fields in western Canada have been depleted through primary production and secondary recovery methods. Injecting carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) into a reservoir can enhance oil recovery (EOR) and has the potential benefit of CO{sub 2} sequestration, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. It has been estimated that western Canada has a practical CO{sub 2} storage capacity of about 3.3 Gt in its oil and gas reservoirs. In order to claim a reduction in CO{sub 2} emissions, however, the injected CO{sub 2} must be monitored to prove that it is being trapped in these reservoirs. For that reason, the Violet Grove site, near Drayton Valley, Alberta was chosen as a pilot site to study CO{sub 2} injection into a reservoir for enhanced recovery and carbon sequestration purposes. The reservoir is located in the Cardium Formation in the Pembina Field. It was expected that the CO{sub 2} would flow preferentially in the reservoir's dominant fracture orientation, which is northeast-southwest. Simultaneously acquired time-lapse multicomponent surface and borehole seismic surveys were used to monitor changes in the reservoir. Prior to CO{sub 2} injection, a baseline survey was acquired in March 2005. A second survey was acquired 8 months after CO{sub 2} injection. The borehole seismic data displayed higher bandwidth and increased resolution compared to the surface seismic data. The PS-wave borehole seismic data in particular showed much better results. Together, these seismic surveys provide lateral coverage of the area as well as high resolution images near the observation well. Preliminary results from the time-lapse analysis show an increase of 30 to 60 per cent in the reservoir reflectivity amplitudes in the 8 months between the baseline and monitor surveys, suggesting that the CO{sub 2} flood has progressed southwest of the injector, most likely along the dominant fracture trend. 7 refs., 5 figs.

  14. Tuning ZrFe{sub 4}Si{sub 2} by Ge and Y substitution

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Weber, Katharina [Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Dresden (Germany); Institute of Solid State Physics, TU Dresden (Germany); Mufti, Nandang; Bergmann, Christoph; Rosner, Helge; Geibel, Christoph [Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Dresden (Germany); Goltz, Til; Klauss, Hans-Henning [Institute of Solid State Physics, TU Dresden (Germany); Woike, Theo [Institute for Structural Physics, TU Dresden (Germany)

    2016-07-01

    The intermetallic compound series AFe{sub 4}X{sub 2} (A = Y, Lu, Zr; X = Si, Ge) presents a rare case of magnetic frustrated metallic systems. In particular ZrFe{sub 4}Si{sub 2} is of strong interest because our results indicate this system to be very close to a quantum critical point (QCP) where Fe magnetic order disappears. To get a deeper insight into its ground state, we performed a detailed study of Ge and Y substituted ZrFe{sub 4}Si{sub 2}. The isovalent substitution of Ge for Si induces a negative chemical pressure as Ge is larger than Si. As expected from this, the substitution results in the formation of a well-defined antiferromagnetic order with Neel temperatures increasing up to 25 K at 40 % Ge. This confirms ZrFe{sub 4}Si{sub 2} to be extremely close to the QCP, just on the magnetic side of it. With the second substitution series Y{sub x}Zr{sub 1-x}Fe{sub 4}Si{sub 2} we investigate the development from the highly reduced antiferromagnetic order in ZrFe{sub 4}Si{sub 2} towards the two magnetic transitions at 56 K and 76 K, which we see in YFe{sub 4}Si{sub 2}.

  15. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of cadmium-doped Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} nanoparticles under simulated solar light

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Song, Xu Chun, E-mail: songxuchunfj@163.com; Li, Wen Ting [Fujian Normal University, Department of Chemistry (China); Huang, Wan Zhen; Zhou, Huan [Zhejiang University of Technology, Research Center of Analysis and Measurement (China); Yin, Hao Yong [Hangzhou Dianzi University, Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering (China); Zheng, Yi Fan [Zhejiang University of Technology, Research Center of Analysis and Measurement (China)

    2015-03-15

    Novel cadmium-doped Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} nanoparticles with different Cd contents have been synthesized by a one-step route using ethylene glycol and water as solvents at 180 °C for 12 h. The as-synthesized samples were characterized in detailed by SEM, XRD, EDS, HRTEM, UV–Vis DRS, BET techniques, and so on. The results shown that with the increase of the Cd{sup 2+} addition, the crystal structure, lattice space, and absorption edge were not significantly changed and the calculated band gap value was 2.58 eV. However, the flower-like Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} sphere was gradually destroyed. Simultaneously, the surface area and photocurrent responses of the catalysts were greatly increased. Photocatalytic activity of the Cd-doped Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} samples was determined by monitoring the change of RhB concentration under simulated solar light. The results revealed that cadmium doping greatly improved the photocatalytic efficiency of Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}. The Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} sample with R{sub Cd} = 0.05 displayed the highest photocatalytic activity, and the degradation rate is about two times greater than pure Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}. Moreover, the Cd–Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} photocatalyst remained stable even after five consecutive cycles. A possible mechanism of photocatalytic activity enhancement on basis of the experimental results was proposed.

  16. On grand unified SU(8)sub(L) x SU(8)sub(R) model

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Pirogov, Yu.F.

    1980-01-01

    In the model of early chiral grand unification SU(8)sub(L)xSU(8)sub(R) with intermediate symmetry hierarchies the radiation corrections for sinsup(2)thetasub(W)(μ) and α(μ) are calculated and unification mass M 8 is found in the one loop approximation with Higgs fields contribution being neglected. It is shown that there exists a natural hierarchy, leading to the decrease of sinsup(2)thetasub(W)(Msub(W)) down to the value sinsup(2)thetasub(W)=1/5-1/4 and simultaneous decrease of M 8 down to M 8 =(10 6 -10 7 ) GeV as compared with the values when there is no hierarchy [ru

  17. The role of carbonic anhydrase in C<sub>4sub> photosynthesis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Studer, Anthony [Life Sciences Research Foundation, Baltimore, MD (United States)

    2015-10-01

    Current pressures on the global food supply have accelerated the urgency for a second green revolution using novel and sustainable approaches to increase crop yield and efficiency. This proposal outlines experiments to address fundamental questions regarding the biology of C<sub>4sub> photosynthesis, the method of carbon fixation utilized by the most productive food, feed and bioenergy crops. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) has been implicated in multiple cellular functions including nitrogen metabolism, water use efficiency, and photosynthesis. CA catalyzes the first dedicated step in C<sub>4sub> photosynthesis, the hydration of CO<sub>2sub> into bicarbonate, and is potentially rate limiting in C<sub>4sub> grasses. Using insertional mutagenesis, we have generated CA mutants in maize, and propose the characterization of these mutants using phenotypic, physiological, and transcriptomic profiling to assay the plant’s response to altered CA activity. In addition, florescent protein tagging experiments will be employed to study the subcellular localization of CA paralogs, providing critical data for modeling carbon fixation in C<sub>4sub> plants. Finally, I propose parallel experiments in Setaria viridis to explore its relevance as model C<sub>4sub> grass. Using a multifaceted approach, this proposal addresses important questions in basic biology, as well as the need for translation research in response to looming global food challenges.

  18. Nonlinear optical characteristics of monolayer MoSe{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Le, Chinh Tam; Ullah, Farman; Senthilkumar, Velusamy; Kim, Yong Soo [Department of Physics and Energy Harvest Storage Research Center, University of Ulsan (Korea, Republic of); Clark, Daniel J.; Jang, Joon I. [Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY (United States); Sim, Yumin; Seong, Maeng-Je [Department of Physics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul (Korea, Republic of); Chung, Koo-Hyun [School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ulsan (Korea, Republic of); Park, Hyoyeol [Electronics, Communication and Semiconductor Applications Department, Ulsan College (Korea, Republic of)

    2016-08-15

    In this study, we utilized picosecond pulses from an Nd:YAG laser to investigate the nonlinear optical characteristics of monolayer MoSe{sub 2}. Two-step growth involving the selenization of pulsed-laser-deposited MoO{sub 3} film was employed to yield the MoSe{sub 2} monolayer on a SiO{sub 2}/Si substrate. Raman scattering, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy verified the high optical quality of the monolayer. The second-order susceptibility χ{sup (2)} was calculated to be ∝50 pm V{sup -1} at the second harmonic wavelength λ{sub SHG} ∝810 nm, which is near the optical gap of the monolayer. Interestingly, our wavelength-dependent second harmonic scan can identify the bound excitonic states including negatively charged excitons much more efficiently, compared with the PL method at room temperature. Additionally, the MoSe{sub 2} monolayer exhibits a strong laser-induced damage threshold ∝16 GW cm{sup -2} under picosecond-pulse excitation{sub .} Our findings suggest that monolayer MoSe{sub 2} can be considered as a promising candidate for high-power, thin-film-based nonlinear optical devices and applications. (copyright 2016 by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  19. Two superstructures of Ce{sub 3}Rh{sub 4}Ge{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Vosswinkel, Daniel; Hoffmann, Rolf-Dieter [Muenster Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Svitlyk, Volodymyr [European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble (France); and others

    2018-04-01

    Two different samples of Ce{sub 3}Rh{sub 4}Ge{sub 4} were synthesized from different starting compositions by melting of the elements in an arc-melting furnace followed by annealing sequences in a sealed tantalum ampoule in a muffle furnace. The structures of two different stacking variants were refined on the basis of temperature dependent single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data. At high temperature Ce{sub 3}Rh{sub 4}Ge{sub 4} adopts the U{sub 3}Ni{sub 4}Si{sub 4} type structure with strongly enhanced anisotropic displacement parameters for the Rh1 atoms. For the two different crystals, additional reflections start to appear at different temperatures. The first crystal showed additional reflections already at room temperature (stacking variant I) and the second one showed additional reflections emerging below 270 K (stacking variant II). Stacking variant I could be described with the (3+1)D superspace group I2/m(α0γ)00; α=1/2a*, γ=1/2c*; (Z=2), 1252 F{sup 2} values, 48 variables, wR=0.0306 for the main and wR=0.0527 for 440 1{sup st} order satellite reflections, similar to Pr{sub 3}Rh{sub 4}Ge{sub 4}. For stacking variant II the (3+1)D superspace group is Immm(α00)00s; α=1/2a*; (Z=2). The structure could be refined with 1261 F{sup 2} values, 53 variables and residuals of wR=0.0331 for the main reflections and wR=0.1755 (R1{sub obs}=0.0788) for the 1{sup st} order satellite reflections, [a=406.2(1), b=423.7(1) and c=2497.1(1) pm]. The commensurate description could be transformed to a three-dimensional (3D) supercell with space group Pnma and Z=4: a=812.5(1), b=423.7(1), c=2497.1(2) pm, 1261 F{sup 2} values, 69 variables and wR=0.0525. The relation of the U{sub 3}Ni{sub 4}Si{sub 4} type structure, the (3+1)D modulated and the 3D supercells are discussed on the basis of group-subgroup schemes. Ab initio electronic structure calculations are in line with the diffraction experiments, revealing the lowest total energy for the Pnma phase.

  20. The second-order decomposition model of nonlinear irregular waves

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Yang, Zhi Wen; Bingham, Harry B.; Li, Jin Xuan

    2013-01-01

    into the first- and the second-order super-harmonic as well as the second-order sub-harmonic components by transferring them into an identical Fourier frequency-space and using a Newton-Raphson iteration method. In order to evaluate the present model, a variety of monochromatic waves and the second...