Extended X-ray absorption fine structure studies of thulium doped GaN epilayers

The local structure of Tm³⁺ ions incorporated into GaN epilayers was studied by means of Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure. The samples were doped either in situ during growth by Molecular Beam Epitaxy or by ion implantation of layers grown by Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition. The implantation was done at ion energy of 300 keV and different nominal fluences of 3×10¹⁵, 4×10¹⁵ cm⁻² and 5×10¹⁵ cm⁻². The concentration of Tm in the samples studied was measured by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray analysis. For the in situ doped sample with concentration of 0.5%, and for all of the implanted samples, Tm was found on the Ga site in GaN. The ion implanted sample and an in situ doped sample with a similar concentration of Tm showed the same local structure, which suggests that the lattice site occupied by Tm does not depend on the doping method. When the average Tm concentration for in situ doped samples is increased to 1.2% and 2.0%, Tm is found to occupy the Ga substitutional site and the presence of a substantial number of Tm ions in the second coordination sphere indicates dopant clustering in the films. The formation of pure TmN clusters was found in an in situ doped sample with a dopant concentration of 3.4%.     

Thermal behavior of the maleic anhydride modified poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), PHB has been structurally modified through reaction with maleic anhydride, MA. Transesterification reaction was carried out fixing the PHB and MA and besides time and temperature the concentration of the triethylamine (used as catalyst) was changed. Glass transition, melting and crystallization temperature obtained from DSC curves and thermal degradation temperatures obtained from TG traces were used to evaluate the influence of the reaction conditions on the modification of PHB according to factorial design. On the base of the results the optimum conditions are to perform the PHB modification reaction with MA reaction at 110°C for 1 h with 5% v/v triethylamine.     

Scaling impacted structures

Summary The problem of non-scalability of structures under impact loads caused by strain-rate effects is solved in this article by properly correcting the impact velocity. The technique relies on the use of an alternative dimensionless basis, together with a mathematical model which allows the calculation of a correction factor for the impact velocity. This new velocity, when applied to the model, makes it to assure the satisfaction of the scaling laws. The indirect similitude method detailed here is applied to two strain-rate sensitive structures, a double plate under in-plane impact and a beam subjected to a blast load. The results show a very good agreement so that the model and a prototype made from strain rate sensitive materials behave the same.accepted for publication 3 March 2004     

Compositional Profiles in Silica-Based Sol-Gel Films Doped with Erbium and Silver, by RBS and ERDA

Photosensitive organic-titania hybrid materials have been prepared from metal alkoxides and various organic ester compounds with double bonds. The refractive index of the film increases with the decrease of the concentration of the organic ester compound, and the highest refractive index of 1.62 is obtained when 2-hydroxymethyl acrylate (HOA) is used as the organic ester and the molar ratio of HOA to Ti is 0.5. The material with the highest refractive index is exposed to femtosecond pulse using the multi-beam laser interference technique. After laser irradiation, the irradiated parts of the material are photopolymerized and periodic structures can be obtained by development of the unirradiated parts. In the case of laser irradiation of 120 J total energy for 5 min, the periodic structure obtained corresponds to 2D photonic crystal structure which is composed of two parts; the material with the highest refractive index and the air.     

Dendritic molecular capsules for hydrophobic compounds

Reichardt's dye, a highly solvatochromic dye, was encapsulated within poly (glycerol succinic acid) ([Gn]-PGLSA-OH) dendrimers to investigate the interior environment of these dendritic macromolecules. The absorption maximum for the encapsulated Reichardt's dye in water was indicative of a relatively high dielectric constant present within the dye/dendrimer complex. (1)H NMR of the encapsulated complex showed the presence of aromatic protons from Reichardt's dye along with the aliphatic protons of the dendrimer. Additionally, there were substantial changes in T(1) and T(2) times of the encapsulated dye when compared with the free dye, and (1)H NOESY spectra for the complex showed a significant number of intermolecular NOE cross-peaks. These data reveal the close through-space proximity of the dye to the dendrimer and the restricted motion of the encapsulated dye. To demonstrate the potential use of these macromolecules as drug delivery vehicles, the poorly water-soluble anticancer drug 10-hydroxycamptothecin (10HCPT) was encapsulated within a carboxylated PGLSA dendrimer ([G4]-PGLSA-COONa). Cytotoxicity assays with human breast cancer cells showed a significant reduction of cell viability, demonstrating that 10HCPT retains activity upon encapsulation.     

Pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate for xylitol production byCandida guilliermondii

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - In order to remove or reduce the concentrations of toxic substances present in the sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate for xyloseto-xylitol...     

Determination of fluquinconazole, pyrimethanil, and clofentezine residues in fruits by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

A simple method was developed for the determination of fluquinconazole, pyrimethanil, and clofentezine in whole fruit; peel; and pulp of mango, apple, and papaya. These compounds were extracted from fruit samples with a mixture of ethyl acetate-n-hexane (1 + 1, v/v). An aliquot (2 mL) of the extract was evaporated to near dryness under a stream of nitrogen, and the residue was dissolved with 2 mL methanol. The analysis was performed by means of liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection at 254 nm using a gradient solvent system. The method was validated with fortified fruit samples at concentration levels of 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.50 mg/kg. Average recoveries (4-8 replicates) ranged from 80 to 95% with relative standard deviations between 3.5 and 12.7%. Detection limits ranged from 0.03 to 0.05 mg/kg for fruit pulp and 0.03 mg/kg for whole fruit. The quantitation limits ranged from 0.05 to 0.10 mg/kg for fruit pulp and 0.05 mg/kg for whole fruit. The analytical method was applied to fruit samples obtained from local markets.     

Molecular shape effects and quantum theory

Certain features of the chemist's molecular structure model, viz. size and shape, are retrieved even in the best non-adiabatic variational calculations thus far carried out for ground states of H ₂ ⁺ and H₂. Those features do not conflict with the full symmetry of exact molecular eigenstates, once they are properly understood as correlation effects.