Invariant (α, β)-metrics on homogeneous manifolds

In this paper we study invariant (α, β)-metrics on homogeneous spaces. We first give a method to construct invariant (α, β)-metrics on homogeneous spaces. Then we obtain some conditions for some special type of (α, β)-metrics to be of Berwald type and Douglas type. At last, we give a rigidity result concerning the Randers metrics and Matsumoto metrics of Berwald type on homogeneous spaces. Members of LPMC and supported by NSFC (no. 10671096) and NCET of China. Second author was corresponding author. Authors’ address: Huihui An and Shaoqiang Deng, School of Mathematical Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People’s Republic of China     

Morphology,toughness mechanism,and thermal properties of hyperbranched epoxy modified diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) interpenetrating polymer networks

New hyperbranched poly(trimellitic anhydride‐triethylene glycol) ester epoxy (HTTE) is synthesized and used to toughen diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) resin system. The effects of content and generation number of HTTE on the performance of the cured systems are studied in detail. The impact strength is improved 2–7 times for HTTE/DGEBA blends compared with that of the unmodified system. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of fracture surface shows cavitations at center and fibrous yielding phenomenon at edge which indicated that the particle cavitations, shear yield deformation, and in situ toughness mechanism are the main toughening mechanisms. The dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMA) analyses suggest that phase separation occurred as interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) for the HTTE/DGEBA amine systems. The IPN maintains transparency and shows higher modulus than the neat epoxy. The glass transition temperature (T_g) decreases to some extent compared with the neat epoxy. The T_g increases with increase in the generation number from first to third of HTTE and the concentrations of hard segment. The HTTE leads to a small decrease in thermal stability with the increasing content from TGA analysis. The thermal stability increases with increase in the generation number from first to third. Moreover, HTTE promotes char formation in the HTTE/DGEBA blends. The increase in thermal properties from first to third generation number is attributed to the increase in the molar mass and intramolecular hydrogen bridges, the increasing interaction of the HTTE/DGEBA IPNs, and the increasing crosslinking density due to the availability of a greater number of end hydroxyl and end epoxide functions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structures and isomerizations of carbenoids H2CCCLiX (X  F,Cl)

Novel structures of H₂C?C?CLiX (X ? F, Cl) were determined using HF/STO-3G gradient method. Both of the carbenoids have two equilibrium structures, askew and linear forms, at the level of calculation. In the case X?F, the former is more stable, but in the case X=Cl, the latter is more stable. The frontier MOs are given and analyzed.     

Size- and Surface- Dual Engineered Small Polyplexes for Efficiently Targeting Delivery of siRNA

Though siRNA-based therapy has achieved great progress, efficient siRNA delivery remains a challenge. Here, we synthesized a copolymer PAsp(-N=C-PEG)-PCys-PAsp(DETA) consisting of a poly(aspartate) block grafted with comb-like PEG side chains via a pH-sensitive imine bond (PAsp(-N=C-PEG) block), a poly(l-cysteine) block with a thiol group (PCys block), and a cationic poly(aspartate) block grafted with diethylenetriamine (PAsp(DETA) block). The cationic polymers efficiently complexed siRNA into polyplexes, showing a sandwich-like structure with a PAsp(-N=C-PEG) out-layer, a crosslinked PCys interlayer, and a complexing core of siRNA and PAsp(DETA). Low pH-triggered breakage of pH-sensitive imine bonds caused PEG shedding. The disulfide bond-crosslinking and pH-triggered PEG shedding synergistically decreased the polyplexes’ size from 75 nm to 26 nm. To neutralize excessive positive charges and introduce the targeting ligand, the polyplexes without a PEG layer were coated with an anionic copolymer modified with the targeting ligand lauric acid. The resulting polyplexes exhibited high transfection efficiency and lysosomal escape capacity. This study provides a promising strategy to engineer the size and surface of polyplexes, allowing long blood circulation and targeted delivery of siRNA.     

Effects of Cr doping on the electrochemical performance of Li3V2(PO4)3 cathode material for lithium ion batteries

A series of Cr-doped Li₃V_2 − x Cr _x (PO₄)₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5) samples are prepared by a sol–gel method. The effects of Cr doping on the physical and chemical characteristics of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ are investigated. Compared with the XRD pattern of the undoped sample, the XRD patterns of the Cr-doped samples have no extra reflections, which indicates that Cr enters the structure of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃. As indicated by the charge–discharge measurements, the Cr-doped Li₃V_2 − x Cr _x (PO₄)₃ (x = 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5) samples exhibit lower initial capacities than the undoped sample at the 0.2 C rate. However, both the discharge capacity and cycling performance at high rates (e.g., 1 and 2 C) are enhanced with proper amount of Cr doping (x = 0.1). The highest discharge capacity and capacity retention at the rates of 1 and 2 C are obtained for Li₃V_1.9Cr_0.1(PO₄)₃. The improvement of the electrochemical performance can be attributed to the higher crystal stability and smaller particle size induced by Cr doping.

     

Design and development of a pulsed electromagnetic micro-actuator for 3D virtual tactile displays

The design and analysis of a miniature electromagnetic actuator for use in a novel virtual tactile display is described. The actuator operates in repulsive mode so that it can be used for vibro-tactile stimulation of a human fingertip. Pulsed current and permanent magnet based approaches are investigated and compared. Four frequencies (10, 50, 100, and 150 Hz) were used to test the perception limit of three human subjects. The results indicated that the perception is not strongly dependent on frequency in the test range. The required stimulation energy of individual pulses was estimated to be below 57 micro-Joules, while the average peak-force needed for reliable stimulation was 59 milli-Newtons. The perception of simple test shapes was also tested by attaching the actuator onto the fingertip of the human subjects and turning it on and off as a function of its position.     

Double-Recessed High-Frequency AlInGaN/InGaN/GaN Metal–Oxide Double Heterostructure Field-Effect Transistors

We demonstrate a low-threshold AlInGaN/InGaN/GaN metal-oxide semiconductor double heterostructure field-effect transistor (MOS-DHFET) for high-frequency operation. A combination of an InGaN channel (for carrier confinement), a DRE process, and a new digital-oxide-deposition technique helped us to achieve MOS-DHFET devices with extremely low subthreshold leakage currents. This reduction in output conductance (short channel effect) resulted in a high cutoff gain frequency f_T of about 65 GHz and a current gain frequency f _max of 94 GHz. The devices exhibited high drain-currents of 1.3 A/mm and delivered RF powers of 3.1 W/mm at 26 GHz with a 35 V drain bias.     

Heteroatom-substituted rhodamine dyes: Structure and spectroscopic properties

This review summarized the structures and photophysical properties of heteroatom-substituted rhodamines.     

A π‐stacked and conjugated hybrid based on poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) postfunctionalized with terfluorene for stable deep‐blue hole‐transporting materials

The combination of π‐stacked with π‐conjugated building blocks offers an essential strategy to construct multifunctional organic semiconductors (MOSs) with the unique optoelectrical properties. Covalent hybrids can efficiently avoid the intrinsic phase‐separation defects in corresponding blend system. In this contribution, poly(vinylcarbazole) tethered with terfluorene, PVK‐TF, as a double‐channeled π‐stacked and π‐conjugated hybrid (SCH), has been constructed via Friedal‐Crafts click postmodification (FCCP). The chemical structure and optoelectrical property were determined by GPC, UV–vis, PL, TGA, DSC, and CV. Its PL spectra in the annealing thin film at N₂ atmosphere without low‐energy emission bands centered at the 530 nm indicates that no π‐stacks between carbazole and TF or among TFs dominate the whole condensed phase, which is in agreement with the intrachain T‐shaped π‐pitched motifs in molecular modeling simulation due to steric hindrance effect in complicated diarylfluorenes (CDAFs). A supporting prototype stable deep‐blue PLED was successfully obtained with an Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.20, 0.10) and a width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 60 nm at high current density of 100 mA/cm² (35 V). Deep‐blue PVK‐TF is a promising MOS for hole‐transporting and host materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5221–5229, 2009     

Mechanisms of ring contraction,C—H insertion and 1,2-hydrogen migration of cyclobutylidene

Isomerizations of cyclobutylidene 1 to methylenecyclopropane 2 , cyclobutene 3 and bicyclobutane 4 have been studied using ab initio method. Equilibrium and transition structures are fully optimized with 3–21G basis set. The reaction barriers are 78, 75 and 110 kJ/mol at 6–31 G^**, respectively, 1→2 occurs via the outward disrotation of two end C-C bonds, 1→3 via the attack of an exo hydrogen to the carbene p AO before the transition state, and 1→4 is unable to compete with 1→2 and 1→3 for its higher barrier.