Structural analysis of Gd6FeBi2 from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction methods and electronic structure calculations

The crystal structure of the gadolinium iron bismuthide Gd₆FeBi₂ has been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data and analyzed in detail using first‐principles calculations. The structure is isotypic with the Zr₆CoAl₂ structure, which is a variant of the ZrNiAl structure and its binary prototype Fe₂P (Pearson code hP9, Wyckoff sequence g f d a). As such, the structure is best viewed as an array of tricapped trigonal prisms of Gd atoms centered alternately by Fe and Bi. The magnetic‐ordering temperature of this compound (ca 350 K) is much higher than that of other rare‐earth metal‐rich phases with the same or related structures. It is also higher than the ordering temperature of many other Gd‐rich ternary phases, where the magnetic exchange is typically governed by Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interactions. First‐principles calculations reveal a larger than expected Gd magnetic moment, with the additional contribution arising from the Gd 5d electrons. The electronic structure analysis suggests strong Gd 5d–Fe 3d hybridization to be the cause of this effect, rather than weak interactions between Gd and Bi. These details are of importance for understanding the magnetic response and explaining the high ordering temperature in this material.     

Porous cobalt hydroxide film electrodeposited on nickel foam with excellent electrochemical capacitive behavior

A new porous cobalt hydroxide film has been successfully electrodeposited on nickel foam from 0.1?M cobalt nitrate electrolyte at ?1.0?V vs. SCE without adding any surfactant. The microstructure and surface morphology of prepared cobalt hydroxide films were physically characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that an interlaced network structure was obtained. The effects of electrodeposition time, deposition potential, and different substrates on the specific capacitance and microstructure of prepared porous ??-Co(OH)₂ thin film were systematically studied. The results indicate that the film deposited on nickel foam at ?1.0?V has excellent electrochemical properties. A maximum specific capacitance of 1473?F?g^?1 could be achieved at a current density of 2?A?g^?1.     

Preparation of 5‐Fluorouracil‐Poly(L‐lactide) Microparticles Using Solution‐Enhanced Dispersion by Supercritical CO2

Summary: 5‐Fluorouracil‐poly(L ‐lactide) (5‐Fu‐PLLA) microparticles have been prepared by an SEDS process. First, the 5‐Fu is successfully micronized and is then used to produce the 5‐Fu‐PLLA microparticles. The 5‐Fu‐PLLA microparticles synthesized by the SEDS process exhibit a rather spherical shape and a narrow particle size distribution, where it ranges from 615 to 1 990 nm, with a mean particle size of 980 nm. The dichloromethane residue in the 5‐Fu‐PLLA microparticles without any further treatment is 46 ppm. The average drug load and encapsulation efficiency of the 5‐Fu‐PLLA microparticles are 3.05 and 17.8%, respectively. The rate of drug release from the 5‐Fu‐PLLA microparticles shows mainly first‐order kinetics.

Scanning electron spectroscopy image of 5‐Fu‐PLLA microparticles.     

Experimental analysis of crack tip fields in rubber materials under large deformation

A three-nested-deformation model is proposed to describe crack-tip fields in rubber-like materials with large deformation.The model is inspired by the distribution of the measured in-plane and out-of-plane deformation.The inplane displacement of crack-tip fields under both Mode I and mixed-mode(Mode I-II) fracture conditions is measured by using the digital Moire’ method.The deformation characteristics and experimental sector division mode are investigated by comparing the measured displacement fields under different fracture modes.The out-of-plane displacement field near the crack tip is measured using the three-dimensional digital speckle correlation method.     

Three positive solutions of singular nonlocal boundary value problems for systems of nonlinear second-order ordinary differential equations

In this paper, we consider the existence of at least three positive solutions of singular nonlocal boundary value problems for systems of nonlinear second-order ordinary differential equations. The associated Green’s function for the boundary value problems is first given. The proofs of our main results are based upon the Leggett–Williams fixed point theorem. Finally, we give an example to demonstrate our result.     

Time Consistent Dynamic Risk Measures

We introduce the time-consistency concept that is inspired by the so-called “principle of optimality” of dynamic programming and demonstrate – via an example – that the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) need not be time-consistent in a multi-stage case. Then, we give the formulation of the target-percentile risk measure which is time-consistent and hence more suitable in the multi-stage investment context. Finally, we also generalize the value-at-risk and CVaR to multi-stage risk measures based on the theory and structure of the target-percentile risk measure.     

Synthesis, structure, and characterization of novel two- and three-dimensional vanadates: Ba2.5(VO2)3(SeO3)4.H2O and La(VO2)3(TeO6).3H2O

Two new vanadates, Ba(2.5)(VO2)3(SeO3)4.H2O and La(VO2)3(TeO6).3H2O, have been synthesized by hydrothermal methods using BaCO3, Ba(OH)2.H2O, La(NO3)3.6H2O, V2O5, TeO2, and H2SeO3 as reagents. The structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ba(2.5)(VO2)3(SeO3)4.H2O exhibits a two-dimensional layered structure consisting of VO(5) square pyramids and SeO3 polyhedra, whereas La(VO2)3(TeO6).3H2O has a three-dimensional framework structure composed of VO(4) tetrahedra and TeO6 octahedra. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis are also presented. Crystal data: Ba(2.5)(VO2)3(SeO3)4.H2O, trigonal, space group P (No. 147) with a = b = 12.8279(15) A, c = 7.2631(9) A, V = 1035.1(2) A(3), and Z = 2; La(VO2)3(TeO6).3H2O, trigonal, space group R3c (No. 161) with a = b = 9.4577(16) A, c = 23.455(7) A, V = 1816.9(7) A3, and Z = 6.     

Preparation of ethyl 2-aryl 2,3-alkadienoates via palladium-catalyzed selective cross-coupling reactions

Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of aryl iodides containing not only an electron-donating group but also an electron-withdrawing group on the aryl ring with organoindium reagents generated in situ from indium and ethyl 4-bromo-2-alkynoates produced selectively ethyl 2-aryl-2,3-alkadienoates in good yield.