Solution absorption and luminescence studies of tetraphenylboron, -carbon, -silicon, -germanium, -tin, -lead, -phosphorus, -arsenic,and -antimony

The lowest absorption band of the tetraphenyl compounds resembles that of the lowest absorption band of benzene with the following difference. In benzene the electronic origin is strictly forbidden, and all intensity is associated with a symmetric progression built on one mode of asymmetric vibration. In the tetraphenyl compounds the intensity associated with the asymmetric vibration is relatively unaffected; however, there is increasing intensity associated with the electronic origin and a symmetric progression built on it along the series

$\text{φ}{}_4\text{Pb}\text{< φ}{}_4\text{Sn}\text{< φ}{}_4\text{Ge}\text{< φ}{}_4\text{Si}\text{< φ}{}_4\text{C}\text{? φ}{}_4\text{B}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{< φ}{}_4\text{Sb}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{< φ}{}_4\text{As}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{< φ}{}_4\text{P}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$

. For the cations it is the electronic origin and the progression built on it that are the primary source of intensity. This effect is attributed to an inductive perturbation. A similar effect is observed in the fluorescence spectrum. In phosphorescence, the relative enhancement of the electronic origin and the progression built on it is far less marked. The phosphorescence emission of φ₄Pb and φ₄Sb⁺ are red shifted from the others by ～0.5 eV, an effect attributed to formation of a triplet excimer. Increasing spin-orbit coupling in the triplet due to a heavy atom effect can be seen in the decreasing phosphorescence lifetime (range 4 sec to 4 msec) and decreasing ratio of $\text{φ}{}_{\mathrm{f}}\text{φ}{}_{\mathrm{p}}$ (fluorescence to phosphorescence quantum yields) in the order

$\text{φ}{}_4\text{C}\text{> φ}{}_4\text{B}\text{> φ}{}_4\text{Si}\text{> φ}{}_4\text{P}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{> φ}{}_4\text{Ge}\text{> φ}{}_4\text{As}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{> φ}{}_4\text{Sn}$

In all cases nonexponential decay of phosphorescence is observed.     

Vocal Fold Vibration and Phonation Start in Aspirated, Unaspirated, and Staccato Onset

Objectives/Hypotheses

Singers learn to produce well-controlled tone onsets by accurate synchronization of glottal adduction and buildup of subglottal pressure. Spectrographic analyses have shown that the higher spectrum partials are present also at the vowel onset in classically trained singers’ performances. Such partials are produced by a sharp discontinuity in the waveform of the transglottal airflow, presumably produced by vocal fold collision.

Study Design

After hearing a prompt series of a triad pattern, six singer subjects sang the same triad pattern on the vowel /i/ (1) preceded by an aspirated /p/, (2) preceded by an unaspirated /p/, and (3) without any preceding consonant in staccato.

Methods

Using high-speed imaging we examined the initiation of vocal fold vibration in aspirated and unaspirated productions of the consonant /p/ as well as in the staccato tones.

Results

The number vibrations failing to produce vocal fold collision were significantly higher in the aspirated /p/ than in the unaspirated /p/ and in the staccato tones. High frequency ripple in the audio waveform was significantly delayed in the aspirated /p/.

Conclusions

Initiation of vocal fold collision and the appearance of high-frequency ripple in the vowel /i/ are slightly delayed in aspirated productions of a preceding consonant /p/.     

Environment,consciousness, and quantum measurement

It is shown that (a) the conscious observer plays no essential part in the measurement process, and (b) environmental perturbations of whatever kind fail to account for the evolution of systems into mixtures or dynamically decoupled systems.     

Einstein,Podolsky, Rosen,and Shannon

The Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox (1935) is reexamined in the light of Shannons information theory (1984). The EPR argument did not take into account that the observers information was localized, like any other physical object.Dedicated to the memory of James T. Cushing     

The electronic,optical,and thermodynamical properties of tetragonal,monoclinic,and orthorhombic M_3N_4(M=Si,Ge,Sn):A first-principles study

A detailed study of the M_3N_4(M = Si,Ge,Sn) nitrides in their tetragonal,monoclinic and orthorhombic phases has been performed with the plane-wave pseudo-potential method combined with the quasi-harmonic approximation,including the phononic effects.We rationalize the main puzzle,i.e.,the fundamental properties of these phases are unclear,by calculating the crystal structures,density of states,and optical properties.The direct band gaps of t-Ge_3N_4,m-Si_3N_4,and o-Ge_3N_4 benefit the opto-electrical properties,t-,m-,and o-Si_3N_4 can be used as refractive materials while m-M_3N_4(M = Si,Ge,Sn) are optically transparent in the visible light region.Our results improve the understanding of the detailed electronic structures of all compounds,as well as the influences of electronic structure on their stabilities.Furthermore,we find that thermodynamic quantities are sensitive to structures and,therefore,depend on various temperature and pressure conditions.     

Null vectors,spinors, and strings

It is shown how, in the frame of the Cartan-conception of spinors, the old theorems onminimal surfaces, as generated from null-curves, formulated by Enneper-Weierstrass (1864–1866) for 3-dimensional ordinary space, and by Eisenhart (1911) for 4-dimensional space-time, may be reformulated in terms ofcomplex 2- and 4-component projective spinors respectively. For the correspondingreal (Majorana) spinors instead the same procedure naturally leads tostrings in 3-dimensional and 4-dimensional space-time (?^{2, 1} and ?^{3, 1}). It is suggested that this close connection with Cartan-spinors, and the corresponding (projective) null-geometry, may be the clue for understanding the fundamental nature of strings.     

Magnetism and hyperfine interactions of Fe, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er and Yb in RM4Al8 compounds (R = rare earth or Y, M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu)

Mössbauer and magnetic susceptibility studies of sixty tetragonal RM₄Al₈ compounds (R = 4f, M = 3d element), show a wide variety of magnetic phenomena in the behaviour of 3d transition elements. The rare earths order antiferromagnetically at temperatures below 10–30 K in all compounds. The 3d elements, however, all behave differently. Fe in RFe₄Al₈ has a localized moment (effective moment of 4.4 _μB) and orders independently of the rare earth sublattice. Mn in RMn₄Al₈ has also a localized moment (1 _μB) but orders only when the rare earths order. Cr in RCr₄Al₈ has no moment of its own, but it has an induced moment (.1 _μB) by its magnetic rare earth neighbours. Cu in RCu₄Al₈ is nonmagnetic. The Mössbauer studies of ¹⁵¹Eu, ¹⁵⁵Gd, ¹⁶¹Dy, ¹⁶⁶Er, ¹⁷⁰Yb and a ⁵⁷Fe probe yield all hyperfine interaction parameters including the orientation of the hyperfine field relative to the crystallographic c-axis. In addition, the studies yield the Ce, Eu and Yb valencies in the various compounds. Eu in EuFe₄Al₈ and in EuMn₄Al₈ and Yb in YbCr₄Al₈ are in a mixed valent state.     

Differences in Self-Rated, Perceived, and Acoustic Voice Qualities Between High- and Low-Fatigue Groups

Objectives

The present study was performed to examine which factors among self-rated scales, perceptual evaluations, and acoustic parameters, calculated from sustained vowels, are reliable indicators of physical and mental fatigues.

Methods

A total of 73 volunteers (male:female, 52:21), aged 19–24 years, were enrolled in this study. We defined the high- and low-fatigue groups using the Chalder Fatigue Scale score. For assessment of self-rated symptoms, each subject was asked to complete Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and Voice Rating Scale (VRS). For perceptual evaluations, three clinicians assessed each subject’s vocal quality on the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain Scale. For acoustic analysis, each subject was asked to produce sustained vowels /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/ for 3 seconds. Then, the habitual fundamental frequency (F₀), jitter, shimmer, F₀ tremor, mean F₀, standard deviation of F₀, maximum F₀, minimum F₀, normalized noise energy, harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), amplitude tremor, and ratio within 2–4 kHz were calculated using Dr. Speech software.

Results

In men, VHI, VRS, F₀ tremor, shimmer, HNR, SNR, and amplitude tremor were related to mental fatigue. In women, only VHI was related to physical fatigue, and none of the acoustic parameters was related to the fatigue score. Perceptual evaluations were not related to fatigue in men or women.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that self-rated symptoms and acoustic parameters related to voice quality are indicative of mental fatigue, and these features are prominent in men.     

Eigenvalues, Peres＇ Separability Condition, and Entanglement

The general expression with the physical significance and positive-definite condition of the eigenvalues of 4×4 Hermitian and trace-one matrix are obtained. The obvious expression of Peres' separability condition for an arbitrary state of two qubits is then given and its operational feature is enhanced. Furthermore, we discuss some applications to the calculation of the entanglement, the upper bound of the entanglement, and a model of the transfer of entanglement in a qubit chain with noise.     

Prediction of scandium tetraboride from first-principles calculations:Crystal structures,phase stability,mechanical properties,and hardness

Using the evolutionary methodology for crystal structure prediction, we have predicted the orthorhombic Cmcm and Pnma phases for ScB_4. The earlier proposed Cr B_4~-, Fe B_4~-, Mn B_4~-, and Re P_4~- type structures for ScB_4 are excluded.It is first discovered that the Cmcm phase transforms to the Pnma phase at about 18 GPa. Moreover, both phases are dynamically and mechanically stable. The large bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Young's modulus of the two phases make it an optimistic low compressible material. Moreover, the strong covalent bonding nature of ScB_4 is confirmed by the ELF analysis. The strong covalent bonding contributes greatly to its stability.     

Three-transition cascade erbium laser at 1.7, 2.7, and 1.6 microm

We report on an upconversion cascade laser in an erbium-doped ZBLAN fiber emitting simultaneously on the three transitions (4)S(3/2) ? (4)I(9/2) at 1.7 microm , (4)I(11/2) ? (4)I(13/2) at 2.7 microm , and (4)I(13/2) ? (4)I(15/2) at 1.6 microm . At moderate pump powers, the laser transition at 1.6 microm supports 2.7-microm lasing and permits a slope efficiency at 2.7 microm of 15% versus launched pump power. Above the threshold of upconversion lasing at 1.7 microm , the slope efficiency at 2.7 microm increases to 25.4%. Taking pump excited-state absorption into account, this value represents more than 90% of the theoretical slope efficiency. A transversely single-mode output power of 99mW is achieved at 2.7 microm.     

Resistance,magnetoresistance, and thermopower of zinc nanowire composites

We report a very large enhancement of the thermopower of 4 nm diameter metallic Zn nanowires, with a temperature dependence that is consistent with that of their electrical resistivity and the Mott formula. The temperature dependence of the resistance, magnetoresistance, and thermopower of composites consisting of 15, 9, and 4 nm diameter Zn nanowires imbedded in porous host materials is reported. The 15 nm wires are metallic. The smaller wires show 1D weak localization, but the electrical resistivity mostly follows a T(-1/2) law, and the thermopower of the 4 nm wires saturates at -130 microV/K.     

Sources and circulation of water and arsenic in the Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada

Recovery of gold from arsenopyrite-hosted ore in the Giant Mine camp, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, has left a legacy of arsenic contamination that poses challenges for mine closure planning. Seepage from underground chambers storing some 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide dust, has As concentrations exceeding 4000 ppm. Other potential sources and sinks of As also exist. Sources and movement of water and arsenic are traced using the isotopes of water and sulphate. Mine waters (16 ppm As; AsV/AsIII approximately 150) are a mixture of two principal water sources--locally recharged, low As groundwaters (0.5 ppm As) and Great Slave Lake (GSL; 0.004 ppm As) water, formerly used in ore processing and discharged to the northwest tailings impoundment (NWTP). Mass balance with delta18O shows that recirculation of NWTP water to the underground through faults and unsealed drillholes contributes about 60% of the mine water. Sulphate serves to trace direct infiltration to the As2O3 chambers. Sulphate in local, low As groundwaters (0.3-0.6 ppm As; delta34SSO4 approximately 4% and delta18OSO4 approximately -10%) originates from low-temperature aqueous oxidation of sulphide-rich waste rock. The high As waters gain a component of 18O-enriched sulphate derived from roaster gases (delta18OSO4) = + 3.5%), consistent with their arsenic source from the As2O3 chambers. High arsenic in NWTP water (approximately 8 ppm As; delta18OSO4 = -2%) derived from mine water, is attenuated to close to 1 ppm during infiltration back to the underground, probably by oxidation and sorption by ferrihydrite.     

Elastic and inelastic4He-scattering on208Pb,232Th and234, 236, 238U

The angular distributions of the elastic⁴He-scattering on²⁰⁸Pb and the elastic and inelastic⁴He-scattering on²³²Th and^234,236,238U at \(E_{4_{He} } = 50 MeV\) were measured between 20° and 60°. The⁴He-particles were detected with a position sensitive detector in the focal plane of a split-pole spectrograph. The aim was to get data to determine the deformation parameters of the equilibrium states by coupled channels calculations.     

Mechanical,elastic, anisotropy,and electronic properties of monoclinic phase of m-Si_xGe_(3-x)N_4

The structural,mechanical,elastic anisotropic,and electronic properties of the monoclinic phase of m-Si_3N_4,mSi_2GeN_4,m-SiGe_2N_4,and m-Ge_3N_4are systematically investigated in this work.The calculated results of lattice parameters,elastic constants and elastic moduli of m-Si_3N_4and m-Ge_3N_4are in good agreement with previous theoretical results.Using the Voigt–Reuss–Hill method,elastic properties such as bulk modulus B and shear modulus G are investigated.The calculated ratio of B/G and Poisson’s ratio v show that only m-SiGe_2N_4should belong to a ductile material in nature.In addition,m-SiGe_2N_4possesses the largest anisotropic shear modulus,Young’s modulus,Poisson’s ratio,and percentage of elastic anisotropies for bulk modulus ABand shear modulus AG,and universal anisotropic index AUamong m-Si_xGe_(3-x)N_4(x=0,1,2,3.)The results of electronic band gap reveal that m-Si_3N_4,m-Si_2GeN_4,m-SiGe_2N_4,and m-Ge_3N_4 are all direct and wide band gap semiconducting materials.     

Structural, orbital, and magnetic order in vanadium spinels

Vanadium spinels (ZnV2O4, MgV2O4, and CdV2O4) exhibit a sequence of structural and magnetic phase transitions, reflecting the interplay of lattice, orbital, and spin degrees of freedom. We offer a theoretical model taking into account the relativistic spin-orbit interaction, collective Jahn-Teller effect, and spin frustration. Below the structural transition, vanadium ions exhibit ferro-orbital order and the magnet is best viewed as two sets of antiferromagnetic chains with a single-ion Ising anisotropy. Magnetic order, parametrized by two Ising variables, appears at a tetracritical point.     

Hyperinstantons,the Beltrami equation,and triholomorphic maps

We consider the Beltrami equation for hydrodynamics and we show that its solutions can be viewed as instanton solutions of a more general system of equations. The latter are the equations of motion for an sigma model on 4‐dimensional worldvolume (which is taken locally HyperKähler) with a 4‐dimensional HyperKähler target space. By means of the 4D twisting procedure originally introduced by Witten for gauge theories and later generalized to 4D sigma‐models by Anselmi and Fré, we show that the equations of motion describe triholomophic maps between the worldvolume and the target space. Therefore, the classification of the solutions to the 3‐dimensional Beltrami equation can be performed by counting the triholomorphic maps. The counting is easily obtained by using several discrete symmetries. Finally, the similarity with holomorphic maps for sigma on Calabi‐Yau space prompts us to reformulate the problem of the enumeration of triholomorphic maps in terms of a topological sigma model.     

Alkali-metal(Li,Na, and K)-adsorbed MoSi2N4 monolayer: an investigation of its outstanding electronic,optical, and photocatalytic properties

Single-layer MoSi₂N₄,a high-quality two-dimensional material,has recently been fabricated by chemical vapor deposition.Motivated by this latest experimental work,herein,we apply first principles calculations to investigate the electronic,optical,and photocatalytic properties of alkali-metal(Li,Na,and K)-adsorbed MoSi₂N₄ monolayer.The electronic structure analysis shows that pristine MoSi₂N₄ monolayer exhibits an indirect bandgap(E_g=1.89 eV).By contrast,the bandgaps of one Li-,Na-,and K-adsorbed MoSi₂N₄ monolayer are 1.73 eV,1.61 eV,and 1.75 eV,respectively.Moreover,the work function of MoSi₂N₄ monolayer(4.80 eV)is significantly reduced after the adsorption of alkali metal atoms.The work functions of one Li-,Na-,and K-adsorbed MoSi₂N₄ monolayer are 1.50 eV,1.43 eV,and 2.03 eV,respectively.Then,optical investigations indicate that alkali metal adsorption processes substantially increase the visible light absorption range and coefficient of MoSi₂N₄ monolayer.Furthermore,based on redox potential variations after alkali metals are adsorbed,Li-and Na-adsorbed MoSi₂N₄ monolayers are more suitable for the water splitting photocatalytic process,and the Li-adsorbed case shows the highest potential application for CO₂ reduction.In conclusion,alkali-metal-adsorbed MoSi₂N₄ monolayer exhibits promising applications as novel optoelectronic devices and photocatalytic materials due to its unique physical and chemical properties.     

ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND CRYSTALLINE ELECTRIC FIELD IN Rco5(R= Y,La, Ce,Pr, Nd,Sm, Gd,and Tb)

Self consistent charge and spin polarized local spin-density approximation functional theory calculations based on the discrete variational method have been performed for RCo₅(R=Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, and Tb) compounds. The partial density of states of the Pr atom in the PrCo₆Co₁₂ cluster is established to be strikingly similar to that of the Ce atom in the CeCo₆Co₁₂ cluster, supporting the suggestion that the Pr atom is valence fluctuating. The radii ＜r_4f＞ and ＜r₄f²＞ of the 4f electrons of the R atom from La to Tb, except Ce, show the lanthanide contraction. The crystalline electric field (CEF) parameter A⁰₂ at the R site is calculated using a real charge distribution ρ(R) in the cluster, except for Pr and Nd, and is in agreement with that evalu ated based on the single-ion model. This result shows that the CEF parameter A⁰₂ is mainly determined by the near electronic structure. There exists a hybridization in a certain degree between the light rare-earth R-4f and Co-3d orbitals in some single-electron-molecular-orbitals, which are n ear the Fermi energy level and occupied by electrons. For light rare-earths the R-4f electrons in R Co₆Co₁₂(R=Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm) clu sters are not localized entirely and a small amount of the R-4f electrons have itinerant properties.     

Synthesis,characterization, and cytotoxicity of glutathione-PEG-iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles

Recently, increasing interest is spent on the synthesis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, followed by their characterization and evaluation of cytotoxicity towards tumorigenic cell lines. In this work, magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were synthesized by the polyol method and coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glutathione (GSH), leading to the formation of PEG-Fe₃O₄ and GSH-PEG-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized by state-of-the-art techniques: dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetic measurements. PEG-Fe₃O₄ and GSH-PEG-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have crystallite sizes of 10 and 5 nm, respectively, indicating compression in crystalline lattice upon addition of GSH on the nanoparticle surface. Both nanoparticles presented superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature, and AFM images revealed the regular spherical shape of the nanomaterials and the absence of particle aggregation. The average hydrodynamic sizes of PEG-Fe₃O₄ and GSH-PEG-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were 69 ± 37 and 124 nm ± 75 nm, respectively. The cytotoxicity of both nanoparticles was screened towards human prostatic carcinoma cells (PC-3). The results demonstrated a decrease in PC-3 viability upon treatment with PEG-Fe₃O₄ or GSH-PEG-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the cytotoxicity was not time-dependent. Due to the superparamagnetic behavior of PEG-Fe₃O₄ or GSH-PEG-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, upon the application of an external magnetic field, those nanoparticles can be guided to the target site yielding local toxic effects to tumor cells with minimal side effects to normal tissues, highlighting the promising uses of iron oxide nanoparticles in biomedical applications.