Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia Using Tiara-like Phenylethanethiolated Nickel Cluster

The fixing of N₂ to NH₃ is challenging due to the inertness of the N≡N bond. Commercially, ammonia production depends on the energy-consuming Haber-Bosch (H−B) process, which emits CO₂ while using fossil fuels as the sources of hydrogen and energy. An alternative method for NH₃ production is the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) process as it is powered by renewable energy sources. Here, we report a tiara-like nickel-thiolate cluster, [Ni₆(PET)₁₂] (where, PET=2-phenylethanethiol)] as an efficient electro-catalyst for the electrochemical NRR at ambient conditions. Ammonia (NH₃: 16.2±0.8 μg h⁻¹ cm⁻²) was the only nitrogenous product over the potential of −2.3 V vs. F_c⁺/F_c with a Faradaic efficiency of 25%±1.7. Based on theoretical calculations, NRR by [Ni₆(PET)₁₂] proceeds through both the distal and alternating pathways with an onset potential of −1.84 V vs. RHE (i.e., −2.46 V vs. F_c⁺/F_c) which corroborates with the experimental findings.     

Plasma jets produced by low energy laser pulse interaction with planar and cratered targets

Laser experiments of the plasma jet formation using nanosecond laser pulses with low energy, i.e., <20 J, are presented. Planar and cratered gadolinium and aluminum targets are irradiated with laser intensities of several 10¹⁴ W/cm². Spatially-resolved time-integrated X-ray spectra were recorded in the spectral range from 7 to 10 Å. A jet-like structure is obtained from aluminum targets with a preformed crater, which is not seen in planar target irradiation. For gadolinium, a jet is observed from both planar and preformed cratered targets, suggesting that the collimation is dominated by radiative cooling. A radiation-hydrodynamics code coupled to a non-LTE ionization code was used to model the plasma. The calculated plasma emission was found to be consistent with the experimental results.     

A robust filter in stock networks analysis

We show that the use of a minimal spanning tree (MST) to filter important information in a complex system is not robust except when the system contains a unique MST. In this paper we propose to use the forest of all MSTs as a robust filter. According to this filter, centrality measures are also robust. For that purpose an algorithm, which can also be used to detect the uniqueness of an MST, will be provided. A simple hypothetical example will clarify the construction of the proposed filter and a real problem in filtering the information contained in NYSE 100 stocks will illustrate its advantages compared to the MST-based filter.     

Fixed Points for the Multifractal Spectrum Map

For all continuous function g having a specific form that we call with increasing visibility, we construct a function f whose multifractal spectrum is such that \( d_f =g\circ f\). The function f is obtained as an infinite superposition of piecewise \(C^1\) functions, is also with increasing visibility, and is homogeneously multifractal; i.e., its restriction on any subinterval of \([0,1]\) has the same multifractal spectrum as the function f itself. In particular, we prove the existence of a function f which is its own multifractal spectrum; i.e., \(f=d_f\).     

Comparison of performance due to guided hyperlearning,unguided hyperlearning,and conventional learning in mathematics: an empirical study

In this paper, the use of guided hyperlearning, unguided hyperlearning, and conventional learning methods in mathematics are compared. The design of the research involved a quasi-experiment with a modified single-factor multiple treatment design comparing the three learning methods, guided hyperlearning, unguided hyperlearning, and conventional learning. The participants were from three first-year university classes, numbering 115 students in total. Each group received guided, unguided, or conventional learning methods in one of the three different topics, namely number systems, functions, and graphing. The students’ academic performance differed according to the type of learning. Evaluation of the three methods revealed that only guided hyperlearning and conventional learning were appropriate methods for the psychomotor aspects of drawing in the graphing topic. There was no significant difference between the methods when learning the cognitive aspects involved in the number systems topic and the functions topic.     

Critical behavior of the optical absorption edge in EuO

Measurements of the temperature dependence of the optical absorption edge, E_g(T), in EuO, at the close vicinity of its critical temperature, T_c, are reported. In agreement with theoretical expectations the analysis of the results, with the constraints of continuous E_g and dE_g/dT, yielded the same critical exponents (α = α' ≈ -0.044) and amplitude ratio (|A/Á| ≈ 1.22) as the specific heat data analysis.     

Diagnostics of dielectronic processes in laser produced samarium plasma

Spatially-resolved time-integrated X-ray spectra of laser produced samarium plasma were recorded, in the spectral range from 7 to 10 Å. The spectrum of samarium is characterized by the prominent pattern of transitions 3d – nf (n = 4–7) belonging to Co-like (Sm³⁵⁺), Ni-like (Sm³⁴⁺) and Cu-like (Sm³³⁺) ions. Spectral lines of Mn-like (Sm³⁷⁺) to Zn-like (Sm³²⁺) were identified. The appearance of these ionization stages as a function of distance from the target was measured. Transfer of the dominant ion stages to lower stages with increasing distance from the original target surface was demonstrated, probably indicating dielectronic recombination. The Hebrew University Lawrence Livermore Atomic Code was used to generate emission spectra for comparison with the experimental ones.A radiation-hydrodynamics code coupled to three non-Local Thermal Equilibrium ionization and equation of state models with different approaches for dielectronic processes was used to model the plasma. The simulated plasma ionization and electron densities and temperatures were found to be consistent with the experimental results.     

Minimal spanning tree problem in stock networks analysis: An efficient algorithm

Since the last decade, minimal spanning trees (MSTs) have become one of the main streams in econophysics to filter the important information contained, for example, in stock networks. The standard practice to find an MST is by using Kruskal’s algorithm. However, it becomes slower and slower when the number of stocks gets larger and larger. In this paper we propose an algorithm to find an MST which has considerably promising performance. It is significantly faster than Kruskal’s algorithm and far faster if there is only one unique MST in the network. Our approach is based on the combination of fuzzy relation theory and graph theoretical properties of the forest of all MSTs. A comparison study based on real data from four stock markets and four types of simulated data will be presented to illustrate the significant advantages of the proposed algorithm.