Effects of hydrothermal post-treatment on microstructures and morphology of titanate nanoribbons

Titanate nanoribbons were prepared via a hydrothermal treatment of rutile-type TiO₂ powders in a 10 M NaOH solution at 200 °C for 48 h. The as-prepared titanate nanoribbons were then hydrothermally post-treated at 150 °C for 12-36 h. The titanate nanoribbons before and after hydrothermal post-treatment were characterized with FESEM, XRD, TEM, UV-VIS and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results showed that the hydrothermal post-treatment not only promoted the phase transformation from titanate to anatase TiO₂, but also was beneficial to the removal of Na⁺ ions remained in the titanate nanoribbons. After hydrothermal post-treatment, the TiO₂ samples retained the one-dimensional structure feature of the titanate nanoribbons and showed an obvious increase in the specific surface area and the pore volume.     

Numerical solution of minimax problems of optimal control,part 1

This paper contains general transformation techniques useful to convert minimax problems of optimal control into the Mayer-Bolza problem of the calculus of variations [Problem (P)]. We consider two types of minimax problems: minimax problems of Type (Q), in which the minimax function depends on the state and does not depend on the control; and minimax problems of Type (R), in which the minimax function depends on both the state and the control. Both Problem (Q) and Problem (R) can be reduced to Problem (P).For Problem (Q), we exploit the analogy with a bounded-state problem in combination with a transformation of the Jacobson type. This requires the proper augmentation of the state vectorx(t), the control vectoru(t), and the parameter vector , as well as the proper augmentation of the constraining relations. As a result of the transformation, the unknown minimax value of the performance index becomes a component of the parameter vector being optimized.For Problem (R), we exploit the analogy with a bounded-control problem in combination with a transformation of the Valentine type. This requires the proper augmentation of the control vectoru(t) and the parameter vector , as well as the proper augmentation of the constraining relations. As a result of the transformation, the unknown minimax value of the performance index becomes a component of the parameter vector being optimized.In a subsequent paper (Part 2), the transformation techniques presented here are employed in conjunction with the sequential gradient-restoration algorithm for solving optimal control problems on a digital computer; both the single-subarc approach and the multiple-subarc approach are discussed.This research was supported by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. ENG-79-18667, and by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Contract No. F33615-80-C3000. This paper is a condensation of the investigations reported in Refs. 1–7. The authors are indebted to E. M. Coker and E. M. Sims for analytical and computational assistance.     

A comparative study on the single-scan and multiple-scan techniques in differential scanning calorimetry: Application to the crystallization of the semiconducting Ge0.13Sb0.23Se0.64 alloy

A method has been developed for analysing the evolution with time of the volume fraction transformed and for calculating the kinetic parameters at non-isothermal reactions in materials involving formation and growth of nuclei. By considering the assumptions of extended volume and random nucleation, a general expression of the fraction transformed as a function of time has been obtained in isothermal crystallization processes. Considering the mutual interference of regions growing from separate nuclei the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami equation has been deduced as a particular case. The application of the transformation rate equation to the non-isothermal processes has been carried out under the restriction of a nucleation which takes place early in the transformation and the nucleation frequency is zero thereafter. Under these conditions, the kinetic parameters have been deduced by using the techniques of data analysis of single-scan and multiple-scan. The theoretical method developed has been applied to the glass-crystal transformation kinetics of the semiconducting Ge_0.13Sb_0.23Se_0.64 alloy. The kinetic parameters obtained according to both techniques differ by only about 2.5%, which confirms the reliability and accuracy of the single-scan technique when calculating the above-mentioned parameters in non-isothermal transformation processes. The phases at which the above-mentioned semiconducting glass crystallizes after the thermal process have been identified by X-ray diffraction. The diffractogram of the transformed material shows that microcrystallites of Sb₂Se₃ and GeSe are associated with the crystallization process, remaining a residual amorphous matrix.     

An efficient synthesis of 4,5-dihydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan through a novel ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-one

An innovative route for the synthesis of substituted naphtho[2,1-b]furan has been delineated through a ring transformation reaction of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones by reaction with 6,7-dihydro-5H-benzofuran-4-one, in good yield.     

Stereoselective electrocatalytic transformation of arylidene- or alkylidenemalononitriles and malonate into alkyl (1R,5R,6R)* 6-substituted 5-cyano-4,4-dialkoxy-2-oxo-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-1-carboxylates

Electrolysis of arylidene- or alkylidenemalononitriles and malonate in alcohol in an undivided cell in the presence of sodium halide as mediator results in the stereoselective formation of alkyl (1R,5R,6R)* 6-substituted 5-cyano-4,4-dialkoxy-2-oxo-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-1-carboxylates in 50-70% yields.     

Back-and-forth shooting method for solving two-point boundary-value problems

The paper proposes a special iterative method for a nonlinear TPBVP of the form (t)=f(t, x(t),p(t)), (t)=g(t, x(t),p(t)), subject toh(x(0),p(0))=0,e(x(T),p(T))=0. Certain stability properties of the above differential equations are taken into consideration in the method, so that the integration directions associated with these equations respectively are opposite to each other, in contrast with the conventional shooting methods. Via an embedding and a Riccati-type transformation, the TPBVP is reduced to consecutive initial-value problems of ordinary differential equations. A preliminary numerical test is given by a simple example originating in an optimal control problem.     

一个1+1维Boussinesq系统的Darboux变换及其应用

主要考虑1+1维Boussinesq系统的一个Darboux变换,反复利用该Darboux变换,可以从该系统的一个已知解出发,通过代数运算和求导运算得到系统的新解.     

Advances in Electrochemical Decarboxylative Transformation Reactions

Owing to their non-toxic, stable, inexpensive properties, carboxylic acids are considered as environmentally benign alternatives as coupling partners in various organic transformations. Electrochemical mediated decarboxylation of carboxylic acid has emerged as a new and efficient methodology for the construction of carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bonds. Compared with transition-metal catalysis and photoredox catalysis, electro-organic decarboxylative transformations are considered as a green and sustainable protocol due to the absence of chemical oxidants and strong bases. Further, it exhibits good tolerance with various functional groups. In this Minireview, we summarize the recent advances and discoveries on the electrochemical decarboxylative transformations on C−C and C−heteroatoms bond formations.     

High-order rogue waves for the Hirota equation

The Hirota equation is better than the nonlinear Schrödinger equation when approximating deep ocean waves. In this paper, high-order rational solutions for the Hirota equation are constructed based on the parameterized Darboux transformation. Several types of this kind of solutions are classified by their structures.     

MgCu metallic glass

We generate an amorphous MgCu model using the rapid solidification of the melt through a first-principles molecular dynamics approach within a generalised gradient approximation and reveal, for the first time, its structural features and mechanical properties in details. The liquid and glassy MgCu are found to acquire slightly distinct local structures. Yet in both forms of MgCu, most Cu atoms have a tendency to form the ideal and defective icosahedrons while Mg atoms are arranged in complex configurations. The mean coordination number of Cu and Mg at 300 K is 11.31 and 13.73, respectively. The short-range order of MgCu glass is projected to be different than the known crystalline MgCu and Mg₂Cu phases. The mechanical properties of MgCu glass and the CsCl-type MgCu crystal are computed and compared. On the basis of the enthalpy analyses, a possible pressure-induced crystallisation of the MgCu glass into a CsCl-type structure is proposed to occur at around 11 GPa.