Superconducting state parameters of indium-based binary alloys

Our well-recognized pseudopotential is used to investigate the superconducting state parameters viz: electron-phonon coupling strength λ. Coulomb pseudopotential μ*, transition temperature T _c, isotope effective exponent α and interaction strength N ₀ V for the In_1−x Zn _x and In_1−x Sn _x binary alloys. We have incorporated six different types of local field correction functions, proposed by Hartree, Taylor, Vashistha-Singwi, Ichimaru-Utsumi, Farid et al and Sarkar et al to show the effect of exchange and correlation on the aforesaid properties. Very strong influence of the various exchange and correlation functions is concluded from the present study. The comparison with other such theoretical values is encouraging, which confirms the applicability of our model potential in explaining the superconducting state parameters of binary mixture.     

More electron rich than cyclopentadienyl: 1,2-diaza-3,5-diborolyl as a ligand in ferrocene and ruthenocene analogs

Ruthenium and iron sandwich complexes incorporating cyclopentadienyl analogs with CB(2)N(2)(-) skeletons were characterized. Electrochemical measurements supported by computational studies revealed that in combination with larger metal ions such as Ru the CB(2)N(2)(-) ligand can be more electron-rich than its organic counterpart.     

Explicit equations for the height and position of the first component shock for binary mixtures with competitive Langmuir isotherms under ideal conditions

Explicit equations for the height c(1)(S) and retention time t(R,1) of the pure first component shock in the case of a narrow rectangular injection pulse of a binary mixture with competitive Langmuir isotherms were derived within the frame of the equilibrium theory. The height of the first shock is obtained as an only positive root of a quartic equation. Hence, it was shown that, for binary Langmuir systems, the individual concentration profiles at the column outlet can be expressed entirely in closed-form. In addition, a novel, simple parametric representation that gives the trajectory of the first shock in the distance-time diagram as a function of c(1)(S) was derived. The practical relevance of the new equations was demonstrated by utilizing them for optimization of batch chromatography. It was shown that c(1)(S) increases and t(R,1) decreases with increasing duration of injection for given feed concentrations when the pure first component plateau is eroded during elution. The derivative of the cycle time with respect to the duration of injection is always more than unity. For this reason, the maximum productivity of more retained component is obtained when the duration of injection is selected so that the purity constraint can be fulfilled by having 100% yield. For the less retained component, an implicit expression for the maximum productivity was derived. When the injected loadings are constant, t(R,1) decreases with increasing feed concentrations while c(1)(S) and the cycle time are independent of them. In addition, the productivities of both components always increase with increasing feed concentrations.     

Hume’s Argument for the Ontological Independence of Simple Properties

In this paper, I will reconstruct Hume's argument for the ontological (in the sense of rigid existential) independence of simple properties in A Treatise of Human Nature, Book 1 (1739). According to my reconstruction, the main premises of the argument are the real distinctness of every perception of a simple property, Hume's Separability Principle and his Conceivability Principle. In my view, Hume grounds the real distinctness of every perception of a simple property in his atomistic theory of sense perception and his Copy Principle. I will also show why Hume's argument should be seen as relevant nowadays. David Lewis and his followers in metaphysics continue Hume's line of thinking in this respect, which is opposed by power ontologists (Brian Ellis, Stephen Mumford), for example.     

Polarization of light backscattered by small particles

We study scattering of light by wavelength-scale spherical, cubic, and spheroidal particles as well as clusters of spherical particles for equal-volume-sphere size parameters 4≤x≤10 and refractive indices 1.1≤m≤2.0. Such particles exhibit three specific features in the regime of backscattering: first, the intensity shows a backscattering peak; second, the degree of linear polarization for unpolarized incident light is negative; and, third, the depolarization ratio is double-lobed. We find that the overall characteristics of the scattering-matrix elements can be explained by an internal field composed of waves propagating in opposite directions near the particle perimeter and forming standing waves, as well as a wave propagating forward with the wavelength of the internal medium. When moving from the central axis of the particle toward its perimeter, the internal field changes from a forward-propagating wave with a wavelength dictated by the particle refractive index toward a standing wave with an apparent wavelength of the surrounding medium. The mapping of the internal field to the scattered far field is like an interference dial where rotation of the dial by a quarter of a wavelength on the particle perimeter results in a change from a destructive to constructive interference feature in the angular patterns (or vice versa). The dial is a manifestation of a well-known rule of thumb: the number of maxima or minima in the scattering-matrix elements is given by the size parameter. We explain the backscattering peak as deriving from the backward-propagating internal wave near the particle perimeter. Negative polarization follows from the spatial asymmetry of the internal fields: inside the particle, the fields are amplified near the central plane perpendicular to the polarization state of incident light, resulting in more pronounced interference effects for the perpendicular polarization than for the parallel polarization. The double-lobe feature in the depolarization results from the same internal-field structure with leading cross-polarized fields located slightly different from the copolarized fields. We discuss practical implications of these findings for the retrieval of particle sizes, shapes, and refractive indices from observations and laboratory experiments.     

Low temperature nanoparticle sintering with continuous wave and pulse lasers

New manufacturing methods are being sought for electronics production. Printable electronics is a promising method for producing low cost and large-scale electronics. In printable electronics nanoparticle inks printed on the surface of substrate contain additives, such as dispersing agent and carrier fluids that provide good printing properties by changing the viscosity and separating the nanoparticles of the ink. In the sintering process ink particles are heated to a certain, ink-specific temperature. During the sintering process the carrier fluid and dispersing agents are evaporated from the ink. Additional heating after evaporation causes the nanoparticles to start to agglomerate. A small particle size allows the use of a considerably lower sintering temperature than with bulk silver, for example 220 °C. The sintering process is usually utilized with a convection oven, with a long sintering time, and the thermal load on the surrounding material can become too great as components and patterns are formed from layers of different type inks. Hence, alternative sintering methods are sought. This paper describes tests done with two different types of laser; pulsed and continuous wave lasers. Laser sintering enables short sintering times and selective sintering, making it possible for printed structures to contain fragile active components produced with other technologies.     

High temperature and pressure thermodynamics of strontium: A macroscopic approach

Close proximity of d-bands (above) to the Fermi level (E _F) makes the heavy alkaline earth metals (Ca, Sr and Ba) fairly sensitive to external influences like temperature and pressure. Softening of some of the phonon modes at high temperatures and/or pressures implies that anharmonic effects can play an important role in determining lattice dynamics and related properties. In the conventional approach, phonon density of states (p-dos) have to be calculated at each volume to compute free energy and thereby the other thermodynamic properties, which is computationally quite demanding. Using an alternative technique, the mean-field potential (MFP) approach was combined with the relatively soft local pseudopotential to obtain the free energy at different temperatures and pressures. The results for phonon frequency shifts at finite temperatures using the MFP approach and those calculated from p-dos within the quasiharmonic approximation are very similar. This validates the use of the MFP approach coupled with the local pseudopotential to estimate vibrational response of the system at high-temperature and high-pressure environments. The present scheme was used to study various thermophysical properties for elemental strontium at elevated temperatures and pressures, including the high-pressure melting curve and temperature along the shock Hugoniot. Computed results are affirmatively compared and analyzed with other reported data. The present scheme completely bypasses traditional cumbersome calculations, and it is computationally convenient yet accurate.     

On Green’s Relations, 2~0-regularity and Quasi-ideals in Γ-semigroups

In this paper, we introduce the definition of ( m, n) 0-regularity in Γ-semigroups. We investigate and characterize the 20-regular class of Γ-semigroups using Green's relations. Extending and generalizing the Croisot's Theory of Decomposition for Γ-semigroups, we introduce and study the absorbent and regular absorbent Γ-semigroups. We approach this problem by examining quasi-ideals using Green's relations.     

Evaluation of ForenSeq™ Signature Prep Kit B on predicting eye and hair coloration as well as biogeographical ancestry by using Universal Analysis Software (UAS) and available web‐tools

This study examined 266 individuals from various populations including African American, East Asian, South Asian, European, and mixed populations to evaluate the ForenSeq? Signature Prep Kit Primer Mix B. Focus was placed on phenotypic and biogeographical ancestry predictions by Illumina's Universal Analysis Software (UAS). These outcomes were compared to those obtained through web‐tools developed at the Erasmus Medical Center (EMC) and available from the Forensic Resource/Reference on Genetics‐knowledge base (FROG‐kb), as well as to eye color predictions by the 8‐plex system. Due to drop‐outs, predictions for eye and hair color by UAS failed for various samples in each run. By including reads below thresholds, predictions could be obtained for all samples through the web‐tools. Eye and hair color predictions for African Americans, East Asians, and South Asians showed no errors. Difficulties however, were noted in intermediate (neither blue nor brown) eye color predictions. These were mitigated by the 8‐plex system through exclusion of one eye color (e.g. “not brown”). Additionally, notable discrepancies were observed in hair color predictions, where some black/dark‐brown haired individuals were predicted to have blond hair. Overall, ancestry predictions were more accurate by FROG‐kb compared to UAS, which did not predict South Asian ancestry, particularly Indian individuals.