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At least 1,279 records · Page 71

Experimental and theoretical investigation into the high pressure deflagration products of 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105)

Diamond anvil cell (DAC) laser ignition experiments and reactive ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations were performed on the high explosive (HE) LLM-105 to investigate its high pressure (HP) deflagration chemistry. Raman and optical spectroscopy measurements reveal LLM-105 reacts into an opaque carbonaceous product at 4–25 GPa. At pressures >~ 27 GPa, the reaction product consists of an amorphous optically transparent solid and nitrogen (N 2 ) in the solid phase. While not a one-to-one comparison due to the small time and length scales, the HP AIMD simulations show that some of the product is molecular N 2 , in qualitative agreement with experiment, while above 20 GPa most of the product consists of large amorphous C x H y N z O k clusters. Clustering is enhanced with pressure and reduces with temperature. In the experiments with initial sample pressure >~ 25 GPa, the pressure within the DAC decreases with minimal change in DAC cavity area. At initial sample pressures of 43.9 GPa, when quenched to 0 K, simulations predict a product experiencing a lower pressure consistent with the experimental measurement at lower load pressures. In conclusion, the results are important for understanding the HP deflagration chemistry of LLM-105.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Validation of process simulation workflow for thermosetting prepreg platelet molding compounds

Continuous carbon fiber prepreg slit and cut into rectangular platelets has proven to be a useful material for net shape molding of semi-structural and structural components in the aerospace and automotive industries. Furthermore, to assist the designer in use of these prepreg platelet molding compounds, sometimes called carbon fiber sheet molding compounds, simulation tools are required that can predict the as-manufactured fiber orientation state which has a significant impact on the resulting performance. Herein, an analysis workflow for design-enabling predictions is demonstrated for a double dome geometry with two different initial charge configurations. Here, the workflow is validated through comparison with experimental short shots, orientation state, and stiffness trends. Significantly, to complete the validation, a method is proposed for determining the confidence bounds on measured orientation state enhancing the results of optical microscopy which can only produce a small sample of platelet orientations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Apolipoprotein C-II Is a Potential Serum Biomarker as a Prognostic Factor of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer After Chemoradiation Therapy

Purpose: To determine pretreatment serum protein levels for generally applicable measurement to predict chemoradiation treatment outcomes in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma (CC). Methods and Materials: In a screening study, measurements were conducted twice. At first, 6 serum samples from CC patients (3 with no evidence of disease [NED] and 3 with cancer-caused death [CD]) and 2 from healthy controls were tested. Next, 12 serum samples from different CC patients (8 NED, 4 CD) and 4 from healthy controls were examined. Subsequently, 28 different CC patients (18 NED, 10 CD) and 9 controls were analyzed in the validation study. Protein chips were treated with the sample sera, and the serum protein pattern was detected by surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS). Then, single MS-based peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) and tandem MS (MS/MS)-based peptide/protein identification methods, were used to identify protein corresponding to the detected peak. And then, turbidimetric assay was used to measure the levels of a protein that indicated the best match with this peptide peak. Results: The same peak 8918 m/z was identified in both screening studies. Neither the screening study nor the validation study had significant differences in the appearance of this peak in the controls and NED. However, the intensity of the peak in CD was significantly lower than that of controls and NED in both pilot studies (P=.02, P=.04) and validation study (P=.01, P=.001). The protein indicated the best match with this peptide peak at 8918 m/z was identified as apolipoprotein C-II (ApoC-II) using PMF and MS/MS methods. Turbidimetric assay showed that the mean serum levels of ApoC-II tended to decrease in CD group when compared with NED group (P=.078). Conclusion: ApoC-II could be used as a biomarker for detection in predicting and estimating the radiation treatment outcome of patients with CC.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

A facile synthesis of ZnWO{sub 4} nanoparticles by microwave assisted technique and its application in photocatalysis

Highlights: ► Nanocrystalline ZnWO{sub 4} particles were successfully prepared by a microwave method. ► Spherical morphology with a 10 nm size. ► The band is 3.4 eV. ► The photodegradation of RhB was 95% within 25 min. - Abstract: A simple microwave assisted technique has been successfully developed to synthesize ZnWO{sub 4} nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction results indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles exhibited only wolframite structure. Structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnWO{sub 4} nanoparticles have been analyzed by XRD, SEM, TEM EDAX, UV–vis and FT-IR spectral measurements. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image revealed that particle size of ZnWO{sub 4} nanoparticles was found to be 10 nm, the band-gap of ZnWO{sub 4} nanoparticles was found to be 3.4 eV. The photocatalytic activities for aqueous Rhodamine B and Methylene Blue samples were investigated and observed that ZnWO{sub 4} nanoparticles exhibited highly enhanced photocatalytic activity towards RhB than MB.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Highly efficient deep desulfurization of fuels by meso/macroporous H3PW12O40/TiO2 at room temperature

Highlights: • A new kind of meso/macroporous structured HPW/TiO{sub 2} catalyst was prepared by monodispersed polystyrene spheres and quaternary ammonium bromide. • Quaternary ammonium bromide with longer alkyl chains length (STAB) was found to be the best mesostructure-directing agent in the synthesis of meso/macroporous HPW/TiO{sub 2} catalyst. • The influence of dosage of macroporous templates (monodispersed polystyrene spheres) and alkyl chains length of quaternary ammonium bromide on the textural of meso/macroporous HPW/TiO{sub 2} catalyst were investigated. • With proper PS spheres and quaternary ammonium bromide usage, disordered macropores arranged periodicity and led relatively larger pore size and pore volume. • The meso/macroporous HPW/TiO{sub 2} materials exhibited enhanced excellent desulfurization performance of thiophenic sulfur in model fuel than other samples. Dibenzothiophene can be completely removed within 2 h at 30 °C. - Abstract: This paper described the synthesis of meso/macroporous phosphotungstic acid (HPW) /TiO{sub 2} catalyst with quaternary ammonium bromide and monodispersed polystyrene spheres (PS) as dual-template. The synthetic parameters, such as concentration of the templates and the alky chain length of quaternary ammonium bromide was studied carefully and optimized to generate catalyst with regulated porous features. The chemical properties of the catalyst was also investigated, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) measurements confirmed the Keggin-type HPW were highly dispersed on the TiO{sub 2} framework. The optimal meso/macroporous HPW/TiO{sub 2} catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the oxidation of refractory sulphur compounds such as benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT), and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT). DBT was removed within 2 h at 30 °C under selected reaction conditions and the apparent activation energy for DBT oxidation was calculated to be 45.7 kJ/mol. The high ODS reaction rate of catalyst could be attributed to the combination of unique meso/macroporous architecture allowing for efficient mass transport of reactants and products in pore channel and its high surface area, large mesoporous size, and pore volume enabling sufficient exposure of catalytic active sites. Moreover, the meso/macroporous HPW/TiO{sub 2} catalyst also exhibited excellent reusability with no obviously degradation even after eight cycles.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Influence of thermal treatment time on structural and physical properties of polyimide films at beginning of carbonization

Poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylene-oxydiphthalimide) (POO) was thermally treated at 773 K for 1, 15 and 60 min under argon atmosphere resulting in free-standing films with intermingled characteristics between polymer and carbon-rich derivatives. Degradative thermal analysis performed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (Py-GC/MS) revealed CO 2 among the major products of thermal decomposition which according to electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) passed through a radical process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed thermal treated samples with semicrystalline organization that was attributed to the development of lamellae structure. Moreover, Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed an increase in the roughness of the samples that acquired pronounced roughcast-like surface. Hence, there was an enhancement of mechanical strength and dielectric permittivity. From the data collected a mechanism of thermal decomposition was proposed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetic excitations in strained infinite-layer nickelate PrNiO 2 films

Strongly correlated materials respond sensitively to external perturbations such as strain, pressure, and doping. In the recently discovered superconducting infinite-layer nickelates, the superconducting transition temperature can be enhanced via only ~ 1% compressive strain-tuning with the root of such enhancement still being elusive. Using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS), we investigate the magnetic excitations in infinite-layer PrNiO 2 thin films grown on two different substrates, namely SrTiO 3 (STO) and (LaAlO 3 ) 0.3 (Sr 2 TaAlO 6 ) 0.7 (LSAT) enforcing different strain on the nickelates films. The magnon bandwidth of PrNiO 2 shows only marginal response to strain-tuning, in sharp contrast to the enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature T c in the doped superconducting samples. These results suggest the bandwidth of spin excitations of the parent compounds is similar under strain while T c in the doped ones is not, and thus provide important empirics for the understanding of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Enhancement in the multiferroic properties of BiFeO{sub 3} by charge compensated aliovalent substitution of Ba and Nb

Polycrystalline ceramics, Bi{sub 1-2x}Ba{sub 2x}Fe{sub 1-x}Nb{sub x}O{sub 3} (x = 0.00–0.15), were synthesized by solid state reactions method. X-ray diffraction data have revealed elimination of impurity phases and an increase in unit cell volume with Ba and Nb substitution. Diffraction peak splitting is found to be suppressed which indicates a decrease in octahedral distortion. The Mössbauer spectra demonstrate the suppression of spiral spin modulation of the magnetic moments resulting in enhanced ferromagnetism with increasing dopant concentration. The leakage current density of the sample with x = 0.10 is found to be greatly reduced up to six orders of magnitude as compared to the undoped sample. Ohmic conduction is found to be dominant mechanism in all the samples, however, undoped sample showed space charge limited conduction in high electric filed region, while the sample with x = 0.15 exhibited grain boundary limited conduction in low electric field region.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Al insertion and additive effects on the thermoelectric properties of yttrium boride

The aluminoboride Y{sub x}Al{sub y}B{sub 14} (x ∼ 0.57, 0.41 ≤ y ≤ 0.63) has been found to show striking p-n control of the thermoelectric properties through variations of the y occupancy of the Al site. The effect of Al was investigated in further extremes. Polycrystalline samples of Al-free Y{sub x}B{sub 14}(x ∼ 0.55; “YB{sub 25}”) were successfully synthesized in sufficient amounts for bulk spark plasma sintering (SPS) samples and their thermoelectric properties were investigated. Y{sub 0.56}Al{sub 0.57}B{sub 14} was also prepared in comparison, and further Al was added to the samples through SPS treatment. We observed that Y{sub 0.55}B{sub 14} exhibits large positive Seebeck coefficients, ∼1000 μV K{sup −1}, around room temperature and the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient largely decreases with increase of temperature while that of Y{sub 0.56}Al{sub 0.57}B{sub 14} is proportional to T{sup −1/2}, indicating a strong effect of Al on the electronic structure around the Fermi level. Y{sub 0.55}B{sub 14} was found to be strongly disordered with a relatively low thermal conductivity and short localization length of 0.65 Å which is close to that previously determined for the disordered and thermally glass-like compound YB{sub 66}. Occupancy of Al could not be increased further for the Al-rich sample, although Al was discovered to act as a sintering aid to enhance density and ZT could be significantly improved by 50%.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Structural and dielectric properties of Nd/Ca co-doped bi-ferrite multiferroics

Single-phase polycrystalline samples of Bi{sub 0.8}Nd{sub 0.2−x}Ca{sub x}FeO{sub 3} (x = 0.0, 0.1) were synthesized by chemical coprecipitation method. X-ray diffraction patterns accompanied by Rietveld-refined crystal structure parameters reveal the phase transition of Bi{sub 0.8}Nd{sub 0.1}Ca{sub 0.1}FeO{sub 3} with rhombohedral R3c symmetry to triclinic structure of Bi{sub 0.8}Nd{sub 0.2}FeO{sub 3} sample. Frequency dependence of dielectric constant (ε') and dielectric loss (tanδ), infers enhancement of both ε' (tanδ) in narrow band gap of Nd/Ca co-doped BFO as compare to wide band pristine BFO.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Modulated magnetoelectric property of BiFeO{sub 3} incorporated in Co{sub 0.50}Fe{sub 0.50}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4}

Nanocomposite of (BiFeO{sub 3}){sub 0.50} (Co{sub 0.50}Fe{sub 0.50}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 0.50} were prepared by using a chemical coprecipitation method. X- ray diffraction (XRD) was recorded to confirm the desired crystallographic phase of the sample. The nanocrystallite size of each component including their average size was calculated from the broadening of the XRD peaks using the well known Debye-Scherrer equation. To confirm the presence of the onset of magnetic ordering in ac hysteresis loops were recorded. The dielectric and ferroelectric property was also confirmed the presence of electric ordering in the sample at room temperature. The magnetic property of BFO has been substantially enhanced by the strong magnetic host of Co{sub 0.50}Fe{sub 0.50}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Enhanced emission and photoconductivity due to photo-induced charge transfer from Au nanoislands to ZnO

We report systematic studies based on photoluminescence, Hall, and photoconductivity measurements together with theoretical modeling in order to identify mechanisms for the photo-induced charge transfer effects in ZnO thin film incorporated with the Au nano-islands (AuNIs). Significant enhancement of near band edge emission and improvement in conductivity of ZnO/AuNIs samples after illumination are observed, which are attributed to the photo-induced hot electrons in Au which are then transferred into the conduction band of ZnO as long as the excitation energy is higher than the offset between the ZnO conduction-band minimum and Au Fermi level. Our experimental results are consistent with the general features predicted by first principles calculations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Apertureless near-field terahertz imaging using the self-mixing effect in a quantum cascade laser

We report two-dimensional apertureless near-field terahertz (THz) imaging using a quantum cascade laser (QCL) source and a scattering probe. A near-field enhancement of the scattered field amplitude is observed for small tip-sample separations, allowing image resolutions of ∼1 μm (∼λ/100) and ∼7 μm to be achieved along orthogonal directions on the sample surface. This represents the highest resolution demonstrated to date with a THz QCL. By employing a detection scheme based on self-mixing interferometry, our approach offers experimental simplicity by removing the need for an external detector and also provides sensitivity to the phase of the reinjected field.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

THE METALLICITY DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS OF SEGUE G AND K DWARFS: CONSTRAINTS FOR DISK CHEMICAL EVOLUTION AND FORMATION

We present the metallicity distribution function (MDF) for 24,270 G and 16,847 K dwarfs at distances from 0.2 to 2.3 kpc from the Galactic plane, based on spectroscopy from the Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SEGUE) survey. This stellar sample is significantly larger in both number and volume than previous spectroscopic analyses, which were limited to the solar vicinity, making it ideal for comparison with local volume-limited samples and Galactic models. For the first time, we have corrected the MDF for the various observational biases introduced by the SEGUE target-selection strategy. SEGUE is particularly notable for its sample of K dwarfs, which are too faint to examine spectroscopically far from the solar neighborhood. The MDF of both spectral types becomes more metal-poor with increasing |Z|, which reflects the transition from a sample with small [{alpha}/Fe] values at small heights to one with enhanced [{alpha}/Fe] above 1 kpc. Comparison of our SEGUE distributions to those of two different Milky Way models reveals that both are more metal-rich than our observed distributions at all heights above the plane. Our unbiased observations of G and K dwarfs provide valuable constraints over the |Z|-height range of the Milky Way disk for chemical and dynamical Galaxy evolution models, previously only calibrated to the solar neighborhood, with particular utility for thin- and thick-disk formation models.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Temperature Quenching in LAB based liquid scintillator

The effect of temperature changes on the light output of LAB based liquid scintillator is investigated in a range from –5 C to 30 °C with a-particles and electrons in a small scale setup. Two PMTs observe the scintillator liquid inside a cylindrically shaped aluminum cuvette that is heated or cooled and the temperature dependent PMT sensitivity is monitored and corrected. The a-emitting isotopes in dissolved radon gas and in natural Samarium (bound to a LAB solution) excite the liquid scintillator mixtures and changes in light output with temperature variation are observed by fitting light output spectra. Furthermore, also changes in light output by compton electrons, which are generated from external calibration g-ray sources, is analysed with varying temperature. Assuming a linear behaviour, a combined negative temperature coefficient of (–0:29 0:01) % /°C is found. Considering hints for a particle type dependency, electrons show (–0:17 0:02) % /°C, whereas the temperature dependency seems stronger for a-particles, with (–0:35 0:03) % /°C. Furthermore, due to a high sampling rate, a pulse shape analysis can be performed and shows an enhanced slow decay component at lower temperatures, pointing to reduced non-radiative triplet state de-excitations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Identification of bacteria synthesizing ribosomal RNA in response to uranium addition during biostimulation at the Rifle, CO Integrated Field Research site

Understanding which organisms are capable of reducing uranium at historically contaminated sites provides crucial information needed to evaluate treatment options and outcomes. One approach is determination of the bacteria which directly respond to uranium addition. In this research, uranium amendments were made to groundwater samples from a site of ongoing biostimulation with acetate. The active microbes in the planktonic phase were deduced by monitoring ribosomes production via RT-PCR. The results indicated several microorganisms were synthesizing ribosomes in proportion with uranium amendment up to 2 μM. Concentrations of U (VI) >2 μM were generally found to inhibit ribosome synthesis. Two active bacteria responding to uranium addition in the field were close relatives of Desulfobacter postgateii and Geobacter bemidjiensis . Since RNA content often increases with growth rate, our findings suggest it is possible to rapidly elucidate active bacteria responding to the addition of uranium in field samples and provides a more targeted approach to stimulate specific populations to enhance radionuclide reduction in contaminated sites.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Counterflow Virtual Impactor (CVI) Inlet Aboard Aircraft (INLETCVI-AIR) Instrument Handbook

The counterflow virtual impactor (CVI) inlet separates out and samples cloud elements via inertial impaction. Warm, dry, particle-free carrier gas of known composition is pumped to the tip of the inlet in the direction opposite of the flow of air. The flow lines of the incoming free stream air are split. Larger droplets and ice crystals suspended in the sample air have enough inertia to penetrate the counterflow and enter the sample flow, while smaller, unactivated particles follow the streamlines of the air flowing around the inlet’s tip (Noone et al. 1988). The instrument is capable of sampling cloud elements as a function of cut size by changing the velocity of counterflow at the probe tip. The CVI cut size is usually defined as a diameter of a smallest particle for which penetration rate is 50%. For the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facilityGulfstream-159 aircraft’s CVI inlet, that value is usually around 13 microns. The dry heated air, normally used as the carrier gas, also serves to evaporate water from the hydrometeor, leaving the residuals to be sampled by in-cabin aerosol instrumentation. The number concentration of the droplet residue in the CVI sample line is usually increased with respect to corresponding cloud element number concentration. The CVI performance as a concentrator is usually described via CVI enhancement factor, which is a conversion factor between ambient volumetric concentration (not adjusted to standard temperature and pressure) and volumetric concentration in the CVI sample line.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Beating the Auditors: Comparing Doping in Sport to Nuclear Proliferators

The Berlinger Bottle (Figure 1, below) is the central part of the BEREG-Kit that has been used by anti-doping agencies worldwide for over 25 years. As documented in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s investigative report [Ref 1], in 2014, Russian state-level actors found ways to defeat these bottles and was able to secretly replace an athlete’s drug-laced urine with clean urine samples that had been collected earlier. This cheating scheme allowed rampant performance enhancing drug use by its athletes, and (before disqualifications) earned Russia 33 medals in the 2014 Sochi Olympics – more than double its haul of 15 medals at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. All this activity was conducted despite the watchful eye of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Similarly, Lance Armstrong and the US Postal Team infamously used performance enhancing drugs and blood transfusions to win 7 Tour de France titles (again, before disqualification) in a row, all under the supervision of L’Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the US Anti Doping Agency. The inspection role of anti-doping agencies is similar in scope to the role of a Safeguards Inspector with the International Atomic Energy Agency: detect the misuse of facilities, and conduct scheduled and randomized testing to detect and deter would-be cheaters. This paper will explore the motivation, the means, and the mistakes which led to discovery – and will draw out commonalities between those who seek to cheat in sports, and those who seek to undermine international nuclear safeguards as Iraq tried in the 1980s.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗