Raman scattering in SnSe

Zone center optical phonons in SnSe were investigated using Raman scattering data obtained here and previously reported far infrared reflectivity measurements. The values of the ratio of the pairs of interlayer force constants were calculated te be between 3·3 and 4·5. Thus it can be concluded that SnS is a layer like semiconductor but less layer like than GeS, GeSe or SnS.     

Whether the Support Region of Three-Bit Uniform Quantizer Has a Strong Impact on Post-Training Quantization for MNIST Dataset?

Driven by the need for the compression of weights in neural networks (NNs), which is especially beneficial for edge devices with a constrained resource, and by the need to utilize the simplest possible quantization model, in this paper, we study the performance of three-bit post-training uniform quantization. The goal is to put various choices of the key parameter of the quantizer in question (support region threshold) in one place and provide a detailed overview of this choice’s impact on the performance of post-training quantization for the MNIST dataset. Specifically, we analyze whether it is possible to preserve the accuracy of the two NN models (MLP and CNN) to a great extent with the very simple three-bit uniform quantizer, regardless of the choice of the key parameter. Moreover, our goal is to answer the question of whether it is of the utmost importance in post-training three-bit uniform quantization, as it is in quantization, to determine the optimal support region threshold value of the quantizer to achieve some predefined accuracy of the quantized neural network (QNN). The results show that the choice of the support region threshold value of the three-bit uniform quantizer does not have such a strong impact on the accuracy of the QNNs, which is not the case with two-bit uniform post-training quantization, when applied in MLP for the same classification task. Accordingly, one can anticipate that due to this special property, the post-training quantization model in question can be greatly exploited.     

Small-Angle and Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering Study of Slow Relaxation Following Phase Transitions of New Bolaamphiphiles Based on N-(12-Betainylamino-Dodecane)-octyl β-D-Glucofuranosiduronamide Chloride

In the present study, we investigated the polymorphism and its time-dependence of a new series of bolaamphiphile molecules based on N-(12-Betainylamino-dodecane)-octyl β-D-Glucofuranosiduronamide Chloride. To obtain six members of this series, the length of the main bridging chain and the lateral chain were varied in order to modify the hydrophilic–lipophilic balance. Another chemical modification was to introduce a diacetylenic unit in the middle of the bridging chain to study the influence of the π–π stacking on the supramolecular organization of these molecules. Dry bolaamphiphiles self-organize in supramolecular structures such as lamellar crystalline structure, L_c; lamellar gel structure, L_β′; lamellar fluid structure, L_α; and lamellar isotropic structure, L. Thermal hysteresis of these structures, following phase transitions, are investigated by small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering. Once the thermal cycle is accomplished, the system remains in the kinetically stabilized undercooled high-temperature phase at the temperature of 20°C. Subsequently, the time-dependence of the relaxation to the thermodynamically stable phase is followed, and very slow relaxation for a period on the order of hours or days is observed. The study of the polymorphism and the stability of various phases of this new series of bolaamphiphiles—which are issued from natural primary resources (sugar beet and wheat) and thus interesting for potential application in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, or food industry—was undertaken in this work.     

Mechanistic studies of reactions catalysed by diamine oxidase using isotope effects

Diamine oxidase (DAO), the enzyme that is responsible for amine biodegradation in animals, plants and humans, catalyses the biotransformation of amines such as histamine (HA), putrescine, 1-phenylethylamine, tyrosine, tryptamine, serotonine and spermine. The kinetic and solvent isotope effects (SIEs) were applied to study the mechanism of the biotransformation using HA and its methylderivatives. The SIE for the biotransformation of HA, N^τ-methylhistamine and N^π-methylhistamine was found to be 3.58, 2.22 and 5.70 on V_max, and 1.58, 1.06 and 1.14 on V_max/K_M, respectively. On the other hand, the kinetic isotope effect for oxidation of stereospecifically deuterium-labelled [(α R)-²H]-N^τ-methylhistamine and [(α R)-²H]-N^π-methylhistamine was 0.69 and 0.62 on V_max, and 15.06 and 7.50 on V_max/K_M, respectively. These results demonstrate that DAO catalyses amine biotransformation by stereospecifically cleaving the αC\bond H bond in the pro-S position. Moreover, the oxidation of amine to aldehyde involves several transition states, including hybridisation change from sp³ (Schiff base) to sp² (imine), then back again to sp³ to give a final product with hybridisation sp² (aldehyde).     

Spectrophotometric Study of Catechol Oxidation by Aerial O2 in Alkaline Aqueous Solutions Containing Mg(II) Ions.

Electronic absorption spectroscopy was employed to study the aerial oxidation of catechol (1,2-benzenediol) in alkaline aqueous solution containing an excess of Mg(II) ions. Graphical analysis by the matrix method of UV spectra recorded at regular time intervals gave a good fit for two absorbing species in solution. Based on this result and our earlier ESR spectroscopic investigations we concluded that two main absorbing species in this system are Mg(II)-spin stabilized o-benzosemiquinone anion radical and C-C dimer formed by the nucleophilic attack of catecholate anion on o-benzoquinone. Although the formation of 1,2,4-benzenetriol during the catechol oxidation has been detected in some ESR studies its presence was not indicated by this analysis probably because of the low and/or stable steady state concentration throughout the experiment.     

Comment on: “Questions concerning the generalized Hartman effect” [Phys. Lett. A 375 (2011) 3259]

In this comment, we show that the arguments against the applicability of stationary phase method (SPM) for tunneling time calculations, presented in Letter “Questions concerning the generalized Hartman effect” are not valid for small wave packet energy widths.     

Terahertz imaging through self-mixing in a quantum cascade laser

We demonstrate terahertz (THz) frequency imaging using a single quantum cascade laser (QCL) device for both generation and sensing of THz radiation. Detection is achieved by utilizing the effect of self-mixing in the THz QCL, and, specifically, by monitoring perturbations to the voltage across the QCL, induced by light reflected from an external object back into the laser cavity. Self-mixing imaging offers high sensitivity, a potentially fast response, and a simple, compact optical design, and we show that it can be used to obtain high-resolution reflection images of exemplar structures.     

Post-processing synchronization and characterization of generated signals by a repetitive Marx generator

In the present paper, a new approach was developed for solving the problem of time synchronization of a set of signals obtained by different measurement techniques without a common trigger. The recorded signals were the result of sparks and bursts generated by a repetitive Marx generator. A thermal imaging camera, a high speed camera and an audio recorder were used to obtain the necessary data for synchronization and characterization. Moreover, a piezoelectric sensor was applied for shock waves characterization during the early stages of bursts. In the first place, different data with evident time shifts were acquired. Then, A set of simple operations such as maximum selection and localization, threshold comparison, Euclidean distance calculation and minimization were employed for signal analysis and pattern matching to ensure a good data synchronization, which allowed a detailed analysis of the phenomenon in the end.     

Studies on adhesion characteristics and corrosion behaviour of vinyltriethoxysilane/epoxy coating protective system on aluminium

The corrosion stability of vinyltriethoxysilane/epoxy coating protective system on aluminium is strongly related to the strength of bonds forming at the metal/organic coating interface. This article is a study of adhesion, composition, electrochemical and transport properties of epoxy coatings electrodeposited on bare aluminium and aluminium pretreated by vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) during exposure to 3% NaCl. The VTES film was deposited on aluminium surface from 2% vinyltriethoxysilane solution during 30 s. From the values of adhesion strength (pull-off test), time dependence of pore resistance and coating capacitance of epoxy coating (impedance measurements) and diffusion coefficient of water through epoxy coating (gravimetric liquid sorption measurements), the influence of VTES sublayer on the corrosion stability of the electrodeposited epoxy coating was shown.The work discusses the role of the VTES pretreatment in the enhanced adhesion and corrosion stability of epoxy cataphoretic coating. The electrochemical results showed that the aluminium pretreatment by VTES film improved barrier properties of epoxy coating (greater pore resistance and lower coating capacitance). The lower value of diffusion coefficient of water through epoxy coating indicates the lower porosity, while the smaller adhesion reduction points to better adhesion of epoxy coating on aluminium pretreated by VTES film. The composition of the deposited coatings investigated by XPS enabled the clarification of the bonding mechanism.