Lasing of a single crystal Nd fluoride fiber

We present laser action in a single crystal fluoride fiber obtained by the micro-pulling-down technique. The 700 μm diameter and 1 cm long Nd:LiYF₄ fiber was pumped by a beam shaped diode bar emitting at 806 nm. A peak power of 300 mW was achieved with a slope efficiency of 12%. When considering the pump power fraction absorbed by the laser mode, a slope efficiency of 37% was achieved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a Nd: LiYF₄ fiber laser.     

Unsupervised classification of children’s bodies using currents

Object classification according to their shape and size is of key importance in many scientific fields. This work focuses on the case where the size and shape of an object is characterized by a current. A current is a mathematical object which has been proved relevant to the modeling of geometrical data, like submanifolds, through integration of vector fields along them. As a consequence of the choice of a vector-valued reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) as a test space for integrating manifolds, it is possible to consider that shapes are embedded in this Hilbert Space. A vector-valued RKHS is a Hilbert space of vector fields; therefore, it is possible to compute a mean of shapes, or to calculate a distance between two manifolds. This embedding enables us to consider size-and-shape clustering algorithms. These algorithms are applied to a 3D database obtained from an anthropometric survey of the Spanish child population with a potential application to online sales of children’s wear.     

Cocycle deformations and Galois objects for semisimple Hopf algebras of dimension p3 and pq2

Let p and q be distinct prime numbers. We study the Galois objects and cocycle deformations of the noncommutative, noncocommutative, semisimple Hopf algebras of odd dimension $p^3$ and of dimension $p{q}^2$. We obtain that the $p+1$ non-isomorphic self-dual semisimple Hopf algebras of dimension $p^3$ classified by Masuoka have no non-trivial cocycle deformations, extending his previous results for the 8-dimensional Kac–Paljutkin Hopf algebra. This is done as a consequence of the classification of categorical Morita equivalence classes among semisimple Hopf algebras of odd dimension $p^3$, established by the third-named author in an appendix.     

Apparent conflicting indications on the conformation of dimethylether–argon from the rotational spectra of the d6 and C species

The rotational spectra of dimethylether–d₆–Ar and dimethylether–¹³C–Ar have been investigated by molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The obtained rotational constants, when compared to those of the normal species, give contrasting indications on the conformation of the complex. We believe the indications given by the dimethylether–Ar/dimethylether–¹³C–Ar pair to be the correct ones. They suggest the Ar atom to lie in the σ_ν symmetry plane of dimethylether perpendicular to the C–O–C plane, shifted towards the oxygen atom. This conformation is in agreement with several kinds of theoretical calculations. Probably isotopic substitution effects make the data from dimethylether–d₆–Ar not directly compatible with those of the other species.     

Acrylic acid (CH2CHCOOH): the rotational spectrum in the millimetre range up to 397 GHz

In order to facilitate its detection in astronomical observations, the measurement of the rotational spectrum of acrylic acid has been extended to 397 GHz using a free space cell at room temperature. 295 new lines were assigned to the s-cis conformer and 286 new lines to the s-trans conformer of acrylic acid. Using the determined experimental parameters, the predictions of the rotational transition frequencies up to 900 GHz and their intensities were obtained at temperatures of 100 and 200 K and at room temperature. Based on these predictions, a search of the most intense transitions of acrylic acid in star-forming regions was performed using published data from the HERSCHEL Science Archive. No lines were found but the possibility of observing rotational transitions of acrylic acid in astronomical objects is discussed.     

Direct conversion of electrodeposited nanocrystalline ε-MnO2 into LiMn2O4 by microwave calcination

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Firstly, ε-MnO2 films with good adhesion and high surface area were electrolytically deposited on platinum plates. After being soaked for...     

A Mild Dihydrobenzooxaphosphole Oxazoline/Iridium Catalytic System for Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Unfunctionalized Dialins

Air‐stable P‐chiral dihydrobenzooxaphosphole oxazoline ligands were designed and synthesized. When they were used in the iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized 1‐aryl‐3,4‐dihydronaphthalenes under one atmosphere pressure of H₂, up to 99:1 e.r. was obtained. High enantioselectivities were also observed in the reduction of the exocyclic imine derivatives of 1‐tetralones.     

Fast and enhanced removal of mercury from aqueous solutions by magnetic starch-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-poly(acryl amide)/graphene oxide nanocomposite superabsorbents

In this study, we developed a novel magnetic nanocomposite superabsorbent (MNS) for effective removal of mercury ions from aqueous solutions. The preparation method of MNS is easy, fast, simple, effective, and safe. The MNSs were synthesized via the simultaneous formation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs) and in situ radical solution polymerization of superabsorbents based on poly(acryl amide) grafted onto starch backbones in the presence of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. The chemical structure, morphology and phase composition of the obtained MSNs were characterized using FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, and VSM techniques. The effects of parameters and also the morphology of MNSs on the adsorption of Hg²⁺ were investigated in detail through batch experiments. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics fits well with the pseudosecond- order model. The equilibrium data also fitted the Langmuir sorption isotherms well. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters shown that the sorption process was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic.