Crystal structure, Fermi surface calculations and Shubnikov-de Haas oscillation spectrum of the organic metal θ-(BETS)4HgBr4(C6H5Cl) at low temperature

The organic metal θ-(BETS)₄HgBr₄(C₆H₅Cl) is known to undergo a phase transition as the temperature is lowered down to about 240 K. X-ray data obtained at 200 K indicate a corresponding modification of the crystal structure, the symmetry of which is lowered from quadratic to monoclinic. In addition, two different types of cation layers are observed in the unit cell. The Fermi surface (FS), which can be regarded as a network of compensated electron and hole orbits according to band structure calculations at room temperature, turns to a set of two alternating linear chains of orbits at low temperature. The field and temperature dependence of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillation spectrum have been studied up to 54 T. Eight frequencies are observed which, in any case, point to an FS much more complex than predicted by band structure calculations at room temperature, even though some of the observed Fourier components might be ascribed to magnetic breakdown or frequency mixing. The obtained spectrum could result from either an interaction between the FSs linked to each of the two cation layers or to an eventual additional phase transition in the temperature range below 200 K.     

Invariant Functions on Simple Orders

It is shown that any continuous invariant function on a doubly homogeneous simple order is a polynomial with respect to supremum and infimum operations.     

Switchable lasing in multimode microcavities

We propose the new concept of a switchable multimode microlaser. As a generic, realistic model of a multimode microresonator a system of two coupled defects in a two-dimensional photonic crystal is considered. We demonstrate theoretically that lasing of the cavity into one selected resonator mode can be caused by injecting an appropriate optical pulse at the onset of laser action (injection seeding). Temporal mode-to-mode switching by reseeding the cavity after a short cooldown period is demonstrated by direct numerical solution. A qualitative analytical explanation of the mode switching in terms of the laser bistability is presented.     

Direct XUV probing of attosecond electron recollision

We demonstrate that the recolliding electron wave packet, fundamental to many strong field phenomena, can be directly imaged with sub-A spatial and attosecond temporal resolution using attosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses. When the recolliding electron revisits the parent ion, it can absorb an XUV photon yielding high energy electron and thereby providing a measurement of the electron energy at the moment of recollision. The full temporal evolution of the recollision wave packet can be reconstructed by measuring the photoelectron spectra for different time delays between the driving laser and the attosecond XUV probe. The strength of the photoelectron signal can be used to characterize the spatial distribution of the electron density in the longitudinal direction. Elliptical polarization can be used to characterize the electron probability in transversal direction.     

Migration and proliferation dichotomy in tumor-cell invasion

We propose a two-component reaction-transport model for the migration-proliferation dichotomy in the spreading of tumor cells. By using a continuous time random walk (CTRW), we formulate a system of the balance equations for the cancer cells of two phenotypes with random switching between cell proliferation and migration. The transport process is formulated in terms of the CTRW with an arbitrary waiting-time distribution law. Proliferation is modeled by a standard logistic growth. We apply hyperbolic scaling and Hamilton-Jacobi formalism to determine the overall rate of tumor cell invasion. In particular, we take into account both normal diffusion and anomalous transport (subdiffusion) in order to show that the standard diffusion approximation for migration leads to overestimation of the overall cancer spreading rate.     

Theory of parabolic pulse generation in tapered fiber

We examine similarities and differences between high-power parabolic pulse generation in an active medium and in tapered fiber with decreasing normal dispersion. Using a realistic tapered fiber design, we demonstrate the possibility of parabolic pulse generation without an external pump and determine the limitations of this approach.     

Ultrasonic devulcanization of waste rubbers: Experimentation and modeling

Continuous ultrasonic devulcanization of ground tire rubber (GRT) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is considered. Experiments are performed under various processing conditions. Two recipes of SBR with different amounts of polysulfidic linkages are utilized. Gel fraction and crosslink density of devulcanized rubbers are measured and a unique relationship between them is established. Die characteristics with and without imposition of ultrasonic waves are determined. Devulcanized samples are revulcanized and mechanical properties are measured. In some cases, properties of revulcanized SBR samples exceeded those of virgin vulcanizates. This is explained based on the presence of a double network in the revulcanized rubber. A modification of acoustic cavitation and flow modeling of ultrasonic devulcanization of SBR and GRT is proposed using a concept of effective viscosity characterizing the flow of vulcanized particles before devulcanization combined with a shear rate, temperature and gel fraction-dependent viscosity of devulcanized rubber. Velocity, shear rate, pressure, and temperature field along with gel fraction, crosslink density and number of bonds broken are simulated. Predicted data on gel fraction, crosslink density, and pressure using the present modification of the model are found to be closer to experimental data then previously reported.Dedicated to the memory of Professor Tasos C. Papanastasiou     

Perovskites with the Framework‐Forming Xenon

The Group 18 elements (noble gases) were the last ones in the periodic system to have not been encountered in perovskite structures. We herein report the synthesis of a new group of double perovskites KM(XeNaO₆) (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) containing framework‐forming xenon. The structures of the new compounds, like other double perovskites, are built up of the alternating sequence of corner‐sharing (XeO₆) and (NaO₆) octahedra arranged in a three‐dimensional rocksalt order. The fact that xenon can be incorporated into the perovskite structure provides new insights into the problem of Xe depletion in the atmosphere. Since octahedrally coordinated Xe^VIII and Si^IV exhibit close values of ionic radii (0.48 and 0.40 Å, respectively), one could assume that Xe^VIII can be incorporated into hyperbaric frameworks such as MgSiO₃ perovskite. The ability of Xe to form stable inorganic frameworks can further extend the rich and still enigmatic chemistry of this noble gas.     

Study of the distribution of actinides in human tissues using synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

This study aims at evaluating the capabilities of synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (SR micro-XRF) for qualitative and semi-quantitative elemental mapping of the distribution of actinides in human tissues originating from individuals with documented occupational exposure. The investigated lymph node tissues were provided by the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR) and were analyzed following appropriate sample pre-treatment. Semi-quantitative results were obtained via calibration by external standards and demonstrated that the uranium concentration level in the detected actinide hot spots reaches more than 100 μg/g. For the plutonium hot spots, concentration levels up to 31 μg/g were found. As illustrated by this case study on these unique samples, SR micro-XRF has a high potential for this type of elemental bio-imaging owing to its high sensitivity, high spatial resolution, and non-destructive character.

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Graphical Abstract SR micro-XRF study of the distribution of actinitides in human tissues. Left Location of the U-contaminated tissue sample in the human body. Middle U distribution derived from the high resolution SR micro-XRF scan on the tissue sample, indication of five U hot spots. Right Detail of the point measurement spectrum of U hot spot 3, intense U-L_α fluorescence peak located at 13.6 keV.

     

High-speed monitoring of the crystallinity change in poly(lactic acid) during photodegradation by using a newly developed wide area NIR imaging system (Compovision)

We aimed to achieve wide area rapid monitoring of the crystallinity change in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) during photodegradation caused by ultraviolet (UV) light by using a newly developed near-infrared (NIR) camera (Compovison). Several kinds of PLA samples with different crystallinities and their blends with poly[(3)-(R)-hydroxybutyrate] were prepared. Their two-dimensional NIR spectra in the 1,000–2,350-nm region were measured by Compovision at a 5-min interval during photolysis. An intensity decrease of the band in the 1,900-1,925-nm region due to the second overtone of the C = O stretching vibration of PLA was observed during photolysis. This suggests that an anhydride carbonyl is produced during photolysis. The NIR image of the crystallinity change monitored by the band at 1,917 nm in the standard normal variate spectra clearly shows the inhomogeneity of crystal evolution. A logarithmic increase was observed for all identified areas in the PLA film; however, the time to reach the maximum crystallinity was slightly different according to the initial crystallinity of the sample. It is likely that the initial crystallinity of the sample influences the degradation speed more than the degradation amount. These imaging results have provided fundamental chemical insights into the photolytic process for PLA, and at the same time they have demonstrated that the two-dimensional spectral data obtained by Compovision are useful for process monitoring of polymers.