Core/shell quantum-dot-photosensitized nano-TiO2 films: fabrication and application to the damage of cells and DNA

Through the use of monodisperse core/shell quantum dots (QDs) as photosensitizers for the first time, a novel strategy for the fabrication of QD-photosensitized nano-TiO2 films was demonstrated. Core/shell QDs were self-assembled on nano-TiO2 films through carboxyls as anchoring groups to metal oxides. Atomic force microscopy and some other experiments showed the fabrication strategy is successful. Reactive oxygen species detection experiments indicated that such films have photosensitization ability. The results of bactericidal and DNA damage experiments demonstrate that such films have excellent photoactivity.     

Development of an odd-Z-projectile reaction for heavy element synthesis: 208Pb(64Ni,n)271Ds and 208Pb(65Cu,n)(272)111

Seven 271Ds decay chains were identified in the bombardment of 208Pb targets with 311.5 and 314.3 MeV 64Ni projectiles using the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator. These data, combined with previous results, provide an excitation function for this reaction. From these results, an optimum energy of 321 MeV was estimated for the production of (272)111 in the new reaction 208Pb(65Cu,n). One decay chain was observed, resulting in a cross section of 1.7(+3.9)(-1.4) pb. This experiment confirms the discovery of element 111 by the Darmstadt Group who used the 209Bi(64Ni,n)(272)111 reaction.     

Interaction of an electron bunch with a laser pulse in vacuum

The output properties of electrons accelerated by the vacuum laser acceleration scheme CAS (capture and acceleration scenario) are addressed. The transport process of the electron bunch, the fraction of the CAS electrons of the incident electrons, the correlation of electron energy with position and scattering angle, the energy spectrum and angular distributions as well as the emittance of the outgoing electrons are studied at a laser intensity of a₀=10. In addition, the effects of the laser intensity, beam width, and pulse duration on the properties of the output electrons are also examined. Physical explanations of those output characteristics are presented based on the mechanism behind the CAS scheme. The feasibility of CAS to become a realistic laser accelerator scheme is explored. PACS 41.75.Jv; 42.60.Jf; 41.85.Ja     

Hydrothermal synthesis and magnetic properties of CuSb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> nanoparticles and nanorods

Nanoparticles and nanorods of CuSb₂O₆ are prepared by hydrothermal method and its high temperature α-phase is stabilized at room temperature. The average size of the nanoparticles is ca. 13.7 nm. The nanorods, with a width of ca. 20 nm and an aspect ratio of ca. 5, are the agglomerates composing of smaller nanoparticles with an average size of ca. 8.3 nm. Compared with the high temperature α-phase of bulk sample at 400 K, the lattice of nanophases elongated in ab plane and compressed along c direction. The CuSb₂O₆ nanoparticles exhibit predominant paramagnetic phenomenon. The difference in magnetic properties of the nanoparticles and nanorods indicates the interfacial interaction of agglomerated nanoparticles.     

Hollow glass microspheres coated with CoFe2O4 and its microwave absorption property

Spinel CoFe₂O₄ coating on the surface of hollow glass microspheres of low density was synthesized by co-precipitation method. The phase structures, morphologies, particle size, shell thickness, chemical compositions of the composites have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that CoFe₂O₄ coating on hollow glass microspheres can be achieved, and the coating layers are constituted by CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles of mean size ca. 10 nm. The as-synthesized powder materials were uniformly dispersed into the phenolic cement, then the mixture was pasted on metal plate with the area of 200 mm×200 mm as the test plate. The test of microwave absorption was carried out by the radar-absorbing materials (RAM) reflectivity far field radar cross-section (RCS) method. The results indicate that the coated CoFe₂O₄/hollow glass microspheres composites can be applied in lightweight and strong absorption microwave absorbers.     

Dissimilar autogenous full penetration welding of superalloy K418 and 42CrMo steel by a high power CW Nd:YAG laser

Experiments of autogenous laser full penetration welding between dissimilar cast Ni-based superalloy K418 and alloy steel 42CrMo flat plates with 3.5 mm thickness were conducted using a 3 kW continuous wave (CW) Nd:YAG laser. The influences of laser welding velocity, flow rate of side-blow shielding gas, defocusing distance were investigated. Microstructure of the welded seam was characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Mechanical properties of the welded seam were evaluated by microhardness and tensile strength testing. Results show that high quality full penetration laser-welded joint can be obtained by optimizing the welding velocity, flow rate of shielding gas and defocusing distance. The laser-welded seam have non-equilibrium solidified microstructures consisting of γ-FeCr_0.29Ni_0.16C_0.06 austenite solid solution dendrites as the dominant and very small amount of super-fine dispersed Ni₃Al γ′ phase and Laves particles as well as MC needle-like carbides distributed in the interdendritic regions. Although the microhardness of the laser-welded seam was lower than that of the base metal, the strength of the joint was equal to that of the base metal and the fracture mechanism showed fine ductility.     

Thickness determination of molecularly thin lubricant films by angle-dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

An angle-dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) method used to measure the thickness of molecularly thin lubricants was developed. The method was built based on an island model of patched overlayer on a flat substrate by using the photoemission signal solely from the lubricant film. Typical molecularly thin Zdol films on the CHx overcoat of unused commercial magnetic disks were measured to verify the metrology. The lubricant thickness determined by the metrology was equal to the recent result by thermostatic high vacuum atomic force microscopy. The measured deduction in the thickness of the molecularly thin lubricant films, successively irradiated by the monochromatic source operated at 14 kV/250 W, was as low as 1 ? during the first irradiation hour. XPS spectra showed that no hydrocarbons, water or oxygen were adsorbed over the Zdol outer surfaces in the tested XPS conditions. The inelastic mean free path (IMFP) of C 1s in Zdol or in CHx was found to be independent of take off angle (TOA) when TOA < 40°. The IMFP of C 1s in Zdol was ∼63.5 ? and the lubricant island thickness was ∼35 ?.     

Characteristics of deep penetration laser welding of dissimilar metal Ni-based cast superalloy K418 and alloy steel 42CrMo

Experimental trials of autogenous deep penetration welding between dissimilar cast Ni-based superalloy K418 and alloy steel 42CrMo flat plates with 5.0 mm thickness were conducted using a 3 kW continuous wave (CW) Nd:YAG laser. The influences of laser output power, welding velocity and defocusing distance on the morphology, welding depth and width as well as quality of the welded seam were investigated. Results show that full keyhole welding is not formed on both K418 and 42CrMo side, simultaneously, due to the relatively low output power. Partial fusion is observed on the welded seam near 42CrMo side because of the large disparity of thermal–physical and high-temperature mechanical properties of these two materials. The microhardness of the laser-welded joint was also examined and analyzed. It is suggested that applying negative defocusing in the range of Raylei length can increase the welding depth and improve the coupling efficiency of the laser materials interaction.     

A novel scheme of label abstraction and erasion based on Fabry-Perot semiconductor optical amplifier

A novel label abstraction and erasion scheme based on a Fabry-Perot semiconductor optical amplifier (FP-SOA) is proposed for all-optical separation of the bit-serial label from payload and its performance is investigated by simulation. Important features of this scheme are that it does not make use of any high-speed electronics and only one device is needed. Using this scheme, label abstraction and erasion can be realized with the extinction ratio of 9.72 and 7.05 dB, respectively.     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor protects retinal ganglion cells

Background  

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are responsible for the transmission of visual signals to the brain. Progressive death of RGCs occurs in glaucoma and several other retinal diseases, which can lead to visual impairment and blindness. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a potent antiangiogenic, neurotrophic and neuroprotective protein that can protect neurons from a variety of pathologic insults. We tested the effects of PEDF on the survival of cultured adult rat RGCs in the presence of glaucoma-like insults, including cytotoxicity induced by glutamate or withdrawal of trophic factors.