A New Tin Graphite Intercalation Compound for Lithium Ion Batteries

IntroductionLithium ion batteries have attracted a great interestbecause of their commercial applications in portable de-vices[1,2].Great efforts have been made to improve theenergy density of new anode materials.For example,Sn-based compounds,such as SnO…     

PLANNING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS: A MULTIPLE USE GAME

Abstract The EU Marine Strategy Directive (MSD) has a regional focus in its implementation. The directive obliges countries to take multiple uses and the marine strategies of neighboring countries into account when formulating marine strategies and when designating marine protected areas (MPAs). We use game theoretical analysis both to find the optimal size of MPAs with multiple uses by multiple countries and to investigate the influences of multiple uses on cooperation. To this end, we develop a model in which two specific uses, fisheries and nature conservation, by multiple countries are considered in a strategic framework. The results of the paper suggest that EU marine policy such as the MSD and the coming Maritime Policy may help to secure the highest possible benefits from these MPAs if these policies induce cooperation among countries, but only if policies force countries to consider all possible benefits of MPAs. In fact cooperation on a single issue may give a worse outcome than the noncooperative equilibrium. The results also indicate that cooperation may be hard to achieve because of defector incentives, and therefore policy measures should be strict in enforcing cooperation on all possible uses of MPAs.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Catalytic Properties of a New 2D Nickel(II) Coordination Polymer Based on Flexible Bis(benzimidazole)

A new Ni(II) coordination polymer [Ni(L)2(SCN)2]n(L = 1,4-bis(benzimidazol-1-yl)butane) was synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c with a = 9.4760(3), b = 24.0408(8), c = 16.5871(5) A, β = 99.832(3)°, V = 3723.2(2) A3, Z = 4, Dc = 1.348 g/cm3, F(000) = 1576, the final R = 0.0486 and w R = 0.0936 for 2938 observed reflections with I 2σ(I) for the complex. Structural analysis shows that the coordination polymer possesses a 2D(4,4) layer structure which is composed of Ni(II) centers bridged by L ligand with two kinds of conformations and further assembled into a 3D supramolecular network via π-π stacking interactions. In addition, the fluorescence and catalytic properties, for the degradation of Congo red, of the complex were investigated.     

STATIC and TIME-RESOLVED FLUORESCENCE OF AN AMPHIPHILIC FLAVIN IN AEROSOL OT REVERSED MICELLES

Spectral and time-resolved fluorescence studies have been carried out on N(3)-undecyllumi-flavin dispersed in reversed micelles composed of the surfactant sodium di(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT, AOT), various amounts of water and n -heptane as continuous phase. The fluorescence spectral properties (spectral distribution, quantum efficiencies and lifetimes) as function of the water to AOT molar ratio suggest that the flavin occupies a position within the surfactant boundary layer in close contact with water. The fluorescence anisotropy exhibits biexponential decay with a short (0.3 ns) and a longer (1.6–2.4 ns) correlation time. The contribution of the short component increases with the growth of the droplet providing evidence for enhanced flexibility of the flavin in the interfacial layer.     

X-ray spectrometry for preventive conservation of cultural heritage

Analytical chemistry does play a key role in the chemical characterization of the environment and it appears that X-ray spectrometry, in its many forms, is one of the most relevant analytical techniques in preventive conservation, as it is in cultural heritage research in general. X-ray spectrometry has indeed been the method of choice for the characterization of the inorganic composition of atmospheric aerosols, for a long time.     

Behavior in Repeated Prisoner's Dilemma Games with Shifted Outcomes Analyzed with a Statistical Learning Model

A fuzzy set theoretical framework is proposed for the analysis of sociometric structure characterized by vagueness of liking between individuals and a person's relative degree of belonging to a social group. Max‐min transitivity of a fuzzy relation is employed as a basic concept to examine the degree of liking and clustering in group structures. A distance model based on min‐max transitivity is also formulated as a special case of transitivity analysis. Other notions of transitivity such as the max‐product and the max‐* are also discussed. An empirical analysis is performed to examine the applicability of the proposed transitivity concepts. It appears that the current methodological construct provides a more appropriate perspective in the analysis of the group structure properties.     

Sequential Power-Dependence Theory

Existing methods for predicting resource divisions in laboratory exchange networks do not take into account the sequential nature of the experimental setting. We extend network exchange theory by considering sequential exchange. We prove that Sequential Power-Dependence Theory—unlike Power-Dependence Theory and most other exchange theories—has a unique point prediction for resource divisions in every network, and we show that these point predictions fare well in comparison to those from established theories.     

Antenna coupling study for ICWC plasma characterization in TEXTOR

Ion cyclotron wall conditioning (ICWC) discharges, in pulsed-mode operation, were carried out in the limiter tokamak TEXTOR to explore safe operational regimes for the experimental parameters for possible ICWC-discharge cleaning in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) at half field. Antenna coupling properties obtained during the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) wall conditioning experiments performed in helium–hydrogen mixture in TEXTOR were analysed in relation to the obtained ICWC-plasma characterization results. Satisfactory antenna coupling in the mode conversion scenario along with reproducible generation of ICRF plasmas for wall conditioning, were achieved by coupling radio frequency (RF) power from one or two ICRF antennas. The plasma breakdown results obtained in the TEXTOR tokamak have been compared with the predictions of a zero-dimensional RF plasma production model. The present study of ICWC emphasizes the beneficial effect of application of an additional (along with toroidal magnetic field) stationary vertical (B _V???B _T) or oscillating poloidal magnetic field (B _P???B _T) on antenna coupling and relevant plasma parameters.     

Rotational spectra of the Kr-H2O van der Waals complex

Rotational spectra of the Kr-H₂O van der Waals complex were measured in the frequency range 4–19 GHz using a pulsed jet cavity Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The isotopomers studied include those of H₂O, HDO, D₂O, H₂ ¹⁷O and H₂ ¹⁸O with the six most abundant isotopes of Kr. A tunnelling splitting due to a large amplitude internal motion of the H₂O subunit that exchanges bonded and non-bonded hydrogen atoms was observed. Nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure was resolved and measured for the complexes containing ⁸³Kr, D, and ^l7O, and the corresponding nuclear quadrupole coupling constants were determined. These were used to estimate structural parameters and to derive information about the intermolecular dynamics. The results, and in some instances the spectroscopic constants themselves, were compared with experimental and theoretical data previously reported for Ar-H₂O.