Critical phenomena in head-on collisions of neutron stars

We find type I critical collapses of compact objects modeled by a polytropic equation of state (EOS) with a polytropic index Gamma=2 without the ultrarelativistic assumption. The object is formed in head-on collisions of neutron stars. Further, we show that the critical collapse can occur due to a change of the EOS, without fine-tuning of initial data. This opens the possibility that a neutron-star-like compact object, not just those formed in a collision, may undergo a critical collapse in processes which slowly change the EOS, such as cooling.     

Enhanced photovoltaic properties of polymer-fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells by thermal annealing

The effect of a thermal annealing treatment on the performance of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells based on poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and fullerene (C₆₀) composites is investigated. Upon thermal annealing at 120 ^°C, short-circuit current and power conversion efficiency (η) are more than tripled, while a sharp rise by eight times in and η is found for the device annealed at 200 ^°C. It is concluded that the improved phase separation between MEH-PPV and C₆₀ leads to the enhancement of and η at 120 ^°C, while thermodynamic molecule arrangement at the higher temperature of ∼200 ^°C induces a significant increase in all photovoltaic parameters of composite devices except the open-circuit voltage .     

Generation and Identification of the Linear OCBNO and OBNCO Molecules with 24 Valence Electrons

Two structural isomers containing five second-row element atoms with 24 valence electrons were generated and identified by matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The OCBNO complex, which is produced by the reaction of boron atoms with mixtures of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide in solid neon, rearranges to the more stable OBNCO isomer on UV excitation. Bonding analysis indicates that the OCBNO complex is best described by the bonding interactions between a triplet-state boron cation with an electron configuration of (2s)⁰(2p_σ)⁰(2p_π)² and the CO/NO⁻ ligands in the triplet state forming two degenerate electron-sharing π bonds and two ligand-to-boron dative σ bonds.     

Characterization and performance of cobalt-free perovskite-type La0.6Ba0.4Fe0.8Ni0.2O3 − δ cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Ionics - A novel cobalt-free perovskite La0.6Ba0.4Fe0.8Ni0.2O3 − δ (LBFN) powder was synthesized using a combustion method. The phase composition, electrical conductivity, thermal...     

一种改进的三帧差分运动目标实时检测算法

针对传统的三帧差分法提取的运动目标存在大量的噪声和空洞,提出了一种改进的三帧差分运动目标实时检测算法。该算法采用Surendra背景提取算法提取有效背景,对视频流中连续的三帧图像分别进行背景减除,得到的结果作为反馈对背景进行选择性更新,利用HSV颜色空间去除阴影后进行三帧差分,将差分结果进行“与”运行,通过将中间帧背景减除结果与“与”运算的结果进行“或”运算,这样可以得到运动目标的完整信息。实验结果表明,该算法能够快速、完整、准确地检测出运动目标,可有效应用于实时监控系统。     

The Rayleigh law in silicon doped hafnium oxide ferroelectric thin films

A wealth of studies have confirmed that the low‐field hysteresis behaviour of ferroelectric bulk ceramics and thin films can be described using Rayleigh relations, and irreversible domain wall motion across the array of pining defects has been commonly accepted as the underlying micro‐mechanism. Recently, HfO₂ thin films incorporated with various dopants were reported to show pronounced ferroelectricity, however, their microscopic domain structure remains unclear till now. In this work, the effects of the applied electric field amplitude, frequency and temperature on the sub‐coercive polarization reversal properties were investigated for 10 nm thick Si‐doped HfO₂ thin films. The applicability of the Rayleigh law to ultra‐thin ferroelectric films was first confirmed, indicating the existence of a multi‐domain structure. Since the grain size is about 20–30 nm, a direct observation of domain walls within the grains is rather challenging and this indirect method is a feasible approach to resolve the domain structure. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Rapid screening and determination of nerve agent metabolites in human urine by LC-MS/MS

Qualitative screening procedures have been developed for the rapid detection and identification of the metabolites of nerve agents in the urine samples and extracts using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The combination of negative electrospray ionization (ESI) using a C₁₈ column and water-methanol mobile phase modified with ammonium formate provides a rapid screening procedure for nerve agent degradation products with limit of detection of 1 ng/mL in the precursor-ion analysis. Also, determination of the alkyl methylphosphonic acids was carried out by the SRM scan mode with the limit of detection of 0.1 ng/mL. These procedures will be applicable to the trace analysis of metabolites of nerve agents in human urine matrices in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) proficiency test.