First cohomology group of rank two Witt algebra to its Larsson modules

Let U = ℂ², Γ = ℤ², and let ℂ[x ₁^±1, x ₂^±1] be the ring of Laurent polynomials. The Witt algebra L is the Lie algebra of derivations over ℂ[x ₁^±1, x ₂^±1], which is spanned by elements of the form D(u, r) = x ^r (u ₁ d ₁ + u ₂ d ₂), u = (u ₁, u ₂) ∈ U, r ∈ Γ, where d ₁ and d ₂ are the degree derivations of ℂ[x ₁^±1, x ₂^±1]. The image of gl ₂-module V under Larsson functor F ^α , denoted by W = F ^α (V), gives a class of L-modules, often called the Larsson-modules of L. In this paper, we study the derivations from the Witt algebra L to its Larsson-modules W, and we determine the first cohomology group H ¹(L,W).     

Performance improvement of MEH-PPV:PCBM solar cells using bathocuproine and bathophenanthroline as the buffer layers

In this work, bathocuproine (BCP) and bathophenanthroline (Bphen), commonly used in small-molecule organic solar cells (OSCs), are adopted as the buffer layers to improve the performance of the polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV): [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bulk heterojunction. By inserting BCP or Bphen between the active layer and the top cathode, all the performance parameters are dramatically improved. The power conversion efficiency is increased by about 70% and 120% with 5-nm BCP and 12-nm Bphen layers, respectively, when compared with that of the devices without any buffer layer. The performance enhancement is attributed to BCP or Bphen (i) increasing the optical field, and hence the absorption in the active layer, (ii) effectively blocking the excitons generated in MEH-PPV from quenching at organic/aluminum (Al) interface due to the large band-gap of BCP or Bphen, which results in a significant reduction in series resistance (Rs), and (iii) preventing damage to the active layer during the metal deposition. Compared with the traditional device using LiF as the buffer layer, the BCP-based devices show a comparable efficiency, while the Bphen-based devices show a much larger efficiency. This is due to the higher electron mobility in Bphen than that in BCP, which facilitates the electron transport and extraction through the buffer layer to the cathode.     

Observation of Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Migration in Aggregated Soil Using Image Analysis

Physical model experiments were conducted to observe the migration of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) in a double-porosity soil medium. The double-porosity characteristics of the soil were simulated through aggregation of kaolin which resulted in well-defined intra-aggregate and inter-aggregate pores. Digital images were collected to monitor LNAPL (modeled by toluene) migration. A special experimental setup was developed to enable the instantaneous capture of the LNAPL migration around the whole soil column using a single digital camera. An image processing module was applied to the captured images and the results plotted using a surface mapping programme. Events observed during the duration of the experiments were discussed. It was found that the LNAPL flowed much faster in the aggregated soil as compared to a single-porosity soil. The wettability of the fluid and the capillary pressure characteristics were demonstrated to be influential factors in immiscible fluids migration when the soil fabric showed highly contrasting porosity values.     

The synergistic effect of nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide/mercaptobenzoic acid/silver nanocomplexes for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

We synthesized titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and nitrogen-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles (N-TiO₂ NPs) via a sol-hydrothermal method using ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) as the nitrogen (N) source. Furthermore, an N-TiO₂/4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA)/silver (Ag) nanocomplex served as an active substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and was prepared by self-assembly. During SERS, the Raman signals of 4-MBA of the N-TiO₂/MBA/Ag nanocomplexes exhibited higher intensity and sensitivity than pure TiO₂/MBA/Ag, with 1% N doping in N-TiO₂, producing the strongest Raman signals. We characterized the N-TiO₂ hybrid materials by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra. N doping did not influence the phase of the TiO₂ crystal. The doped N entered into the crystal lattice of the TiO₂, replacing some oxygen (O) to form Ti-O-N or Ti-N-O linkage. The results indicated that an appropriate amount of N doping could enhance the SERS performance of the TiO₂ SERS substrate via N substitution doping. These doping forms were beneficial to the molecular charge transfer (CT), and this resulted in improved SERS performance for N-doped TiO₂ NPs. We attributed this improvement to the formation of N-doping energy levels that were beneficial to the process of TiO₂ to MBA molecule CT. This work not only enriched the nonmetal-doped CT mechanism in SERS but also provided several reference values for practical applications.

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Graphical abstract N-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized. Whereafter, N-TiO₂/MBA/Ag nanocomplexes were prepared and served as a SERS-active substrate. An appropriate amount of N doping can enhance the SERS properties of TiO₂ SERS-active substrate by nitrogen substitution doping. The nonmetal doping TiO₂-to-molecule CT mechanism and the synergistic effect in N-TiO₂/MBA/Ag charge transfer systems have been studied.

     

Mesoporous silica nanorods toward efficient loading and intracellular delivery of siRNA

The technology of RNA interference (RNAi) that uses small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence the gene expression with complementary messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence has great potential for the treatment of cancer in which certain genes were usually found overexpressed. However, the carry and delivery of siRNA to the target site in the human body can be challenging for this technology to be used clinically to silence the cancer-related gene expression. In this work, rod shaped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were developed as siRNA delivery system for specific intracellular delivery. The rod MSNs with an aspect ratio of 1.5 had a high surface area of 934.28 m²/g and achieved a siRNA loading of more than 80 mg/g. With the epidermal growth factor (EGF) grafted on the surface of the MSNs, siRNA can be delivered to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpressed colorectal cancer cells with high intracellular concentration compared to MSNs without EGF and lead to survivin gene knocking down to less than 30%.     

Exact solutions to $$$$-dimensional Chaffee–Infante equation

A \(\gamma \)-ray spectroscopy system based on a 1\(^{\prime \prime }\times 1^{\prime \prime }\) NaI(Tl) detector and 1.5\(^{\prime \prime }\) photomultiplier tube has been developed at IUAC for teaching laboratory applications involving radioactive sources. Following along the lines of the Phoenix and Expeyes hardware developed in the laboratory earlier, a low-cost, light weight multichannel analyser also has been developed. Here the details about the same are presented. The detector–analyser system has been used as a part of the postgraduate curriculum for measuring \(^{40}\)K content in some potassium salts and common building materials like brick, cement, concrete and sand.     

An experimental study of the merging probability of double buoyancy-controlled jet flame

This article presents an experimental investigation on the merging probability of buoyancy-controlled jet flames. Two rectangular jet nozzles with different aspect ratios and heat release rates were studied in the open space. The nozzles of the same area with dimensions of 1.5 × 24, 3 × 12, and 6 × 6 mm were used in this article. It is found that the merging probability increases with the heat release rate and decreases with the space between these two nozzles. A model to predict the merging probability has been developed, which is proportional to a dimensionless parameter linearly within a certain scope.     

改性血红蛋白诱导手性聚苯胺的合成

The synthesis of chiral polyaniline (PANI) induced by modified hemoglobin (Hb) was profoundly explored for the first time. Results revealed that after being separated, inactivated or immobilized, Hb can still induce the formation of chiral PANI successfully, suggesting that Hb can be used as the chiral inducers regardless of harsh reaction conditions. By examining the properties of PANI induced by modified Hb, it was found that Hb(inactivated)-PANI possessed excellent chirality, stability, and crystalline structure. The globin separated from Hb was demonstrated to have the ability of inducing the production of chiral PANI whereas the hematin from Hb had no capacity to direct enantio specificity for the PANI chains. Results indicated that Hb(immobilized)-PANI exhibited poor yield, doping state, and crystalline structure, indicating that the immobilization of Hb by entrapment was not bene cial to the polymerization reaction. Results also showed that the structure of Hb may have significant effects on the morphologies of chiral PANI.     

Electrochemical polymerization of alizarin and the electrochemical properties of poly(alizarin)

Electrochemical polymerization of alizarin on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was carried out in acidic solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and the polymerization process was monitored by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). A possible mechanism concerning the polymerization of alizarin was also proposed in this work. The as-synthesized poly(alizarin) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The study on electrode reaction process shows that the electrode reaction of poly(alizarin) is controlled by diffusion. Finally, the activation energy (E _a) of the electrode reactions of poly(alizarin) was obtained according to the temperature dependence of the redox peak currents.     

Bi_xBa_(1-x)TiO_3电子及能带结构的第一性原理研究

采用基于第一性原理的赝势平面波方法,研究了ABO_3钙钛矿复合氧化物BaTiO_3中A位离子被Bi原子取代后对其构型、电子及能带结构的影响.计算结果表明,Bi取代Ba之后会降低BaTiO_3的对称性,空间点群随着取代量的变化而变化,结合能逐渐降低.通过能带结构的计算发现Bi_xBa_(1-x)TiO_3为直接带隙型半导体.Bi的取代可调节Bi_xBa_(1-x)TiO_3的禁带宽度,从x=0.125到x=0.625时,Bi的取代量越大,其带隙越宽,吸收光谱蓝移.x0.625时,禁带宽度又逐渐减小,吸收光谱红移.由态密度图可看出,其价带顶主要是O-2p与Bi-6s态杂化而成,导带底主要由Ti-3d态构成.