Observation of a two level thermal conductivity in the low-dimensional materials

The recent theoretical one-dimensional models display invariably anomalous thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity of several low-dimensional crystalline systems has been investigated using our new techniques. The results show that for most of the measured materials in the high temperature range the thermal conductivity is composed of two extremes: a low- and a high-conductive state. The effective thermal conductivity jumps abruptly between these two states giving rise to apparent discontinuities or “spikes”.     

K2M(III)2(M(VI)O4)(PO4)2 (M(III) = Fe, Sc; M(VI) = Mo, W), novel members of the lagbeinite-related family: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

The possibility of PO(4)(3-) for MoO(4)(2-) partial substitution in the langbeinite framework has been studied by exploration of the K-Fe(Sc)-Mo(W)-P-O systems using the high-temperature solution method. It was shown that 1/3PO(4)(3-) for MoO(4)(2-) substitution leads to formation of three novel compounds K(2)Fe(MoO(4))(PO(4))(2), K(2)Sc(MoO(4))(PO(4))(2), and K(2)Sc(WO(4))(PO(4))(2) with slightly increased lattice parameters and significant distortion of the anion tetrahedra without structure changes. In contrast, the antiferromagnetic structure is modified by substitution in the low-temperature region. The structural peculiarities are discussed in light of bond-valence sums calculations.     

Design and characterization of a directly polarized radioluminescent light source

The properties of several directly polarized radioluminescent light (RL) sources are described. The RL sources are composed of a [small beta]-particle-emitting (90)Sr radioisotope coupled to polarization-oriented light-emitting plastic scintillators. The polarization of the scintillator molecules was achieved through a mechanical stress applied to the polymer matrix. The emission stability of the RL sources is described. It was found that the degree of polarization of light emitted by the sources varied from zero to 26%, depending on the matrix and scintillating material. The RL source with the highest degree of polarization was constructed from polystyrene and anthracene.     

Novel KTP-like complex phosphates KM0.33Nb0.67PO5 (M—Mn, Co)

Single crystals of KTP-related phosphates of general formula KM^II_0.33Nb_0.67PO₅ (M^II—Co, Mn) have been obtained in the pseudo-binary system K₂Mo₂O₇-KM^II_0.33Nb_0.67PO₅ by means of the flux technique. The compounds have been studied by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Both complex phosphates belong to the tetragonal system and crystallize in the enantiomorphous polar space groups P4₁ and P4₃. The structure contains cis-like helical chains which are connected by corner sharing Nb(M^II)O₆ octahedra and further linked through the PO₄ tetrahedra. The potassium cations are located in the channels running along [001] direction of the anionic framework [M^II_0.33Nb_0.67PO₅]⁻ and are irregularly coordinated by eight oxygen atoms. Potassium atom site is split into two equally occupied positions with q=0.5.     

Advancements in internationally accepted standards for radiation processing

Three subcommittees of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) are developing standards on various aspects of radiation processing. Subcommittee E10.01 “Dosimetry for Radiation Processing” has published 9 standards on how to select and calibrate dosimeters, where to put them, how many to use, and how to use individual types of dosimeter systems. The group is also developing standards on how to use gamma, electron beam, and x-ray facilities for radiation processing, and a standard on how to treat dose uncertainties. Efforts are underway to promote inclusion of these standards into procedures now being developed by government agencies and by international groups such as the United Nations' International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI) in order to harmonize regulations and help avoid trade barriers.

Subcommittee F10.10 “Food Processing and Packaging” has completed standards on good irradiation practices for meat and poultry and for fresh fruits, and is developing similar standards for the irradiation of seafood and spices. These food-related standards are based on practices previously published by ICGFI.

Subcommittee E10.07 on “Radiation Dosimetry for Radiation Effects on Materials and Devices” principally develops standards for determining doses for radiation hardness testing of electronics. Some, including their standards on the Fricke and TLD dosimetry systems are equally useful in other radiation processing applications.     

Mn stabilization in complex phosphate-fluoride fluxes and its incorporation into langbeinite framework

Two new mixed valence manganese-containing orthophosphates with a langbeinite structure have been obtained from the complex fluoride-phosphate melts using the high-temperature flux technique. M^IVF₄ and K₂M^IVF₆ (M^IV—Zr, Hf) were used as fluoride and polyvalent metal precursors. Obtained langbeinites were investigated using a single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR-, UV-VIS- and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-spectroscopy. Both compounds crystallize in a cubic system (sp. gr. P2₁3) with cell parameters a=10.2106(12) and 10.1896(9) Å for K_1.96Mn_0.57Zr_1.43(PO₄)₃ and K_1.93Mn_0.53Hf_1.47(PO₄)₃, respectively. The rigid langbeinite-like framework is built up from the isolated [MO₆] octahedra and [PO₄] tetrahedra interlinked via oxygen vertices. Potassium cations occupy positions in the large closed cavities of the framework. Statistical distribution of manganese and tetravalent metal over two crystallographic positions in octahedral oxygen environment can be observed. The presence of the mixed valence manganese in the reported phosphates was confirmed using UV-VIS and EPR-spectroscopy.     

Molecular Modeling of the 1,1-Cyclopropane- and 1,1-Cyclobutanedicarboxamide Systems. Insights into the Self-Assembly of Diamide Diacids in Water

Modeling of the following compounds bis-(N--amido-L-phenylalaninyl)-1,1-cyclopropane dicarboxylate, 3, and bis-(N--amido-L-phenylalaninyl)-1,1-cyclobutane dicarboxylate, 4, were undertaken. The study involved construction and optimization of the precursory 1,1-dicarboxaldehydes and continued stepwise via the 1,1-dicarboxamides, the bis-N-(methyl)dicarboxamides, the bis(N--amidoglycinyl) dicarboxylates, the bis(N--amido-L-alaninyl) dicarboxylates and onto the targeted bis(N--amido-L-phenylalaninyl) dicarboxylates. Using the X-ray crystal structure of 4 (i.e., 4X) as a guide, we found that our approach was not able to reproduce the packable conformer of 4, via the computational methods employed. Nevertheless, an enhanced understanding of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding patterns available to these systems was obtained from IR and VT-NMR studies. In summary, the conformational preferences found in the 1,1-disubstituted cycloalkanes (3 and 4) direct their respective self-assembly processes by controlling the orientation of their amide NH populations.     

Synthesis and characterization of N(1)-(4-toluenesulfonyl)-N(1)- (9-anthracenemethyl)triamines

A modular synthetic approach was developed to access triamines with varying tether lengths from commercially available aminoalkanols. Initial N-alkylation via reductive amination with anthracene-9-carbaldehyde provided the secondary amines in good yield. Subsequent ditosylation with excess TsCl yielded the respective bis-N,O-tosylates. The tosylates were reacted with excess putrescine to give the final triamines. X-ray crystallography revealed that the polyamine tail is preferentially oriented over the shielding cone of the anthracene ring.     

DISTINGUISHED PRE-NICHOLS ALGEBRAS

We formally define and study the distinguished pre-Nichols algebra \( \tilde{B} \)(V) of a braided vector space of diagonal type V with finite-dimensional Nichols algebra B(V). The algebra \( \tilde{B} \)(V) is presented by fewer relations than B(V), so it is intermediate between the tensor algebra T(V) and B(V). Prominent examples of distinguished pre-Nichols algebras are the positive parts of quantized enveloping (super)algebras and their multiparametric versions. We prove that these algebras give rise to new examples of Noetherian pointed Hopf algebras of finite Gelfand-Kirillov dimension. We investigate the kernel (in the sense of Hopf algebras) of the projection from \( \tilde{B} \)(V) to B(V), generalizing results of De Concini and Procesi on quantum groups at roots of unity.     

Shadows Of Mapping Class Groups: Capturing Convex Cocompactness

We strengthen the analogy between convex cocompact Kleinian groups and convex cocompact subgroups of the mapping class group of a surface in the sense of B. Farb and L. Mosher. Received: August 2006, Accepted: January 2007, Revision: February 2007