Molecular modeling study on surface,thermal, mechanical and gas diffusion properties of chitosan

The motivation of this work is to provide reliable and accurate modeling studies of the physical (surface, thermal, mechanical and gas diffusion) properties of chitosan (CS) polymer. Our computational efforts have been devoted to make a comparison of the structural bulk properties of CS with similar type of polymers such as chitin and cellulose through cohesive energy density, solubility parameter, hydrogen bonding, and free volume distribution calculations. Atomistic modeling on CS polymer using molecular mechanics (MM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations has been carried out in three dimensionally periodic and effective two dimensionally periodic condensed phases. From the equilibrated structures, surface energies were computed. The equilibrium structure of the films shows an interior region of mass density close to the value in the bulk state. Various components of energetic interactions have been examined in detail to acquire a better insight into the interactions between bulk structure and the film surface. MD simulation (NPT ensemble) has also been used to obtain polymer specific volume as a function of temperature. It is demonstrated that these V–T curves can be used to locate the volumetric glass transition temperature (T_g) reliably. The mechanical properties of CS have been obtained using the strain deformation method. Diffusion coefficients of O₂, N₂, and CO₂ gas molecules at 300 K in CS have been estimated. The calculated properties of CS are comparable with the experimental values reported in the literature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1260–1270, 2007     

Melt rheology of polylactide/montmorillonite nanocomposites

In this article, the linear and nonlinear shear rheological behaviors of polylactide (PLA)/clay (organophilic‐montmorillonite) nanocomposites (PLACNs) were investigated by an Advanced Rheology Expanded System rheometer. The nanocomposites were prepared by master batch method using a twin‐screw extruder with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) as a compatibilizer. The presence of org‐MMT leads to obvious pseudo‐solid‐like behaviors of nanocomposite melts. The behaviors caused by the formation of a “percolating network” derived from the reciprocity among the strong related sheet particles. Therefore, the storage moduli, loss moduli, and dynamic viscosities of PLACNs show a monotonic increase with MMT content. Nonterminal behaviors exists in PLACNs nanocomposites. Besides the PLACNs melts show a greater shear thinning tendency than pure PLA melt because of the preferential orientation of the MMT layers. Therefore, PLACNs have higher moduli but better processibility compared with pure PLA. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3189–3196, 2007     

MgO films grown on yttria-stabilized zirconia by molecular beam epitaxy

MgO films were grown on (0 0 1) yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The crystalline structures of these films were investigated using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Growth temperature was varied from 350 to 550 °C, with crystalline quality being improved at higher temperatures. The MgO films had a domain structure: (1 1 1)[1 1 2¯]_MgO(0 0 1)[1 0 0]_YSZ with four twin variants related by a 90° in-plane rotation about the [1 1 1]_MgO axis. The observed epitaxial orientation was compared to previous reports of films grown by pulsed laser deposition and sputtering and explained as resulting in the lowest interface energy.     

Geometry and electronic structure of a heterometallic cluster Mo<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mg<Subscript>2</Subscript> in different oxidation states of Mo: a DFT study

Reduction of tetranuclear heterometallic complex Mo₂Mg₂ was simulated using the B3LYP and PBE density functional methods. The results of geometry calculations of the initial complex [Mo^VIO₂Mg(MeOH)₂(OMe)₄]₂ and a partially reduced Mo^V complex are in good agreement with experimental data. The reduced Mo^III complex is characterized by a decrease in the binding energy of aqua ligands. Structural rearrangement of the complex with release of a coordination position at the Mo atoms requires small energy expenditure. One can assume that the reduction of the polynuclear complex causes overcrowding of its coordination sphere, which favors formation of dinitrogen complexes. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 441–457, March, 2008.     

The supersymmetric WKB approximation of ring-shaped oscillator potential in r and θ dimensions with spherical polar coordinates

According to calculation of the energy spectrum of ring-shape oscillator potential by using the supersymmetric WKB approximation, it is shown that the energy spectrum of some noncentral separable potentials can be exactly obtained in r and θ dimensions by above method.     

微观世界探索

论文系统地阐述了从原子、原子核到基本粒子内部结构研究的历史及现状，讨论了微观物理理论和实验研究的前景和展望．论文还阐述了微观物理与宏观物理(宇宙论和天体物理等)的结合与交叉，以无可争辨的实验事实阐明了微观世界和宏观世界的无限性．     

微观世界探索(续)

论文系统地阐述了从原子、原子核到基本粒子内部结构研究的历史及现状，讨论了微观物理理论和实验研究的前景和展望．论文还阐述了微观物理与宏观物理(宇宙论和天体物理等)的结合与交叉，以无可争辨的实验事实阐明了微观世界和宏观世界的无限性．     

Working group report: Neutrino and astroparticle physics

This is the report of neutrino and astroparticle physics working group at WHEPP-7. Discussions and work on CP violation in long baseline neutrino experiments, ultra high energy neutrinos, supernova neutrinos and water Cerenkov detectors are discussed.     

Cu-MgF2复合纳米金属陶瓷薄膜的电导特性研究

用射频磁控共溅射法制备了Cu体积分数分别为 10 % ,15 % ,2 0 %和 3 0 %的Cu MgF2 复合金属陶瓷薄膜 .用x射线衍射、x射线光电子能谱和变温四引线技术对薄膜的微结构、组分及电导特性进行了测试分析 .微结构分析表明 :制备的Cu MgF2 复合薄膜由fcc Cu晶态纳米微粒镶嵌于主要为非晶态的MgF2 陶瓷基体中构成 ,Cu晶粒的平均晶粒尺寸随组分增加从 11 9nm增至 17 8nm .5 0— 3 0 0K温度范围内的电导测试结果表明 :当Cu体积分数qM 由 15 %增加到 2 0 %时 ,Cu MgF2 复合薄膜的电阻减小了 8个量级 ,得出制备的复合薄膜渗透阈qCM 应处于 15 %和 2 0 %之间 .qM 在 10 %和 15 %之间的薄膜呈介质导电状态 ,而在 2 0 %和 3 0 %之间的薄膜则呈金属导电状态 .从理论上讨论了复合薄膜中杂质电导和本征电导的激活能及其对电导的贡献 ,并讨论了Cu MgF2 复合纳米金属陶瓷薄膜的渗透阈 ,得到了和实验一致的结果     

Analysis of a Duopoly Supply Chain and its Application in Electricity Spot Markets

This paper studies a supply chain consisting of two suppliers and one retailer in a spot market, where the retailer uses the newsvendor solution as its purchase policy, and suppliers compete for the retailer’s purchase. Since each supplier’s bidding strategy affects the other’s profit, a game theory approach is used to identify optimal bidding strategies. We prove the existence and uniqueness of a Nash solution. It is also shown that the competition between the supplier leads to a lower market clearing price, and as a result, the retailer benefits from it. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability of the obtained results by deriving optimal bidding strategies for power generator plants in the deregulated California energy market. Supported in part by RGC (Hong Kong) Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CUHK4167/04E and CUHK4239/03E), a Distinguished Young Investigator Grant from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China, and a grant from Hundred Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.