Deciphering the Structure and Chemical Composition of Drug Nanocarriers: From Bulk Approaches to Individual Nanoparticle Characterization

Drug nanocarriers (NCs) with sizes usually below 200 nm are gaining increasing interest in the treatment of severe diseases such as cancer and infections. Characterization methods to investigate the morphology and physicochemical properties of multifunctional NCs are key in their optimization and in the study of their in vitro and in vivo fate. Whereas a variety of methods has been developed to characterize “bulk” NCs in suspension, the scope of this review is to describe the different approaches for the NC characterization on an individual basis, for which fewer techniques are available. The accent is put on methods devoid of labelling, which could lead to artefacts. For each characterization method, the principles and approaches to analyze the data are presented in an accessible manner. Aspects related to sample preparation to avoid artefacts are indicated, and emphasis is put on examples of applications. NC characterization on an individual basis allows gaining invaluable information in terms of quality control, on: i) NC localization and fate in biological samples; ii) NC morphology and crystallinity; iii) distribution of the NC components (drugs, shells), and iv) quantification of NCs’ chemical composition. The individual characterization approaches are expected to gain increasing interest in the near future.     

The Role of Information in Managing Interactions from a Multifractal Perspective

In the framework of the multifractal hydrodynamic model, the correlations informational entropy–cross-entropy manages attractive and repulsive interactions through a multifractal specific potential. The classical dynamics associated with them imply Hubble-type effects, Galilei-type effects, and dependences of interaction constants with multifractal degrees at various scale resolutions, while the insertion of the relativistic amendments in the same dynamics imply multifractal transformations of a generalized Lorentz-type, multifractal metrics invariant to these transformations, and an estimation of the dimension of the multifractal Universe. In such a context, some correspondences with standard cosmologies are analyzed. Since the same types of interactions can also be obtained as harmonics mapping between the usual space and the hyperbolic plane, two measures with uniform and non-uniform temporal flows become functional, temporal measures analogous with Milne’s temporal measures in a more general manner. This work furthers the analysis published recently by our group in “Towards Interactions through Information in a Multifractal Paradigm”.     

毫米波回旋速调管放大器的自洽非线性数值模拟

为了实现回旋速调管放大器的快速设计,基于经典的回旋管的稳态单模非线性理论方法,开展了回旋速调管放大器的束波作用效率的理论模拟研究。由于单模理论无法匹配回旋速调管放大器的输入腔、中间腔两端的突变边界条件,所以输入腔与中间腔都只能采用给定场法进行求解。回旋速调管的输出腔的功率输出端通常采用缓变结构,这种腔体可以采用单模自洽理论进行求解。对两腔毫米波回旋速调管放大器进行了理论模拟,并与商业粒子模拟软件的结果进行对比,验证了该数值理论模拟方法的有效性。     

减反膜对单晶硅太阳能电池性能的影响分析

在太阳能电池效率的评价中,电池材料、掺杂浓度、扩散长度等都是比较重要的参数,合理地改变相关参数可以优化太阳能电池的性能,提高电池效率。此外,在太阳能电池表面镀一层具有减反作用的光学薄膜（简称减反膜）也是提高电池效率的重要手段。以提高电池效率为目标,对单晶硅太阳能电池的掺杂浓度和扩散长度等微观参数进行计算优化,分析了掺杂浓度和扩散长度变化对电池效率的影响。并在此基础上分析了不同类型的减反膜对于电池效率的影响,给出了最佳减反膜材料及其膜系厚度,并且结合镀膜后电池量子效率的变化验证了其准确性。结果表明,在优化电池掺杂浓度和扩散长度的基础上,选择合适的减反膜,电池效率最高可达20.35%,相比于优化前提高了8.25%。     

信息化课堂教学设计--以“刚体定轴转动的角动量及角动量守恒定律”为例

遵循“学生主体、教师主导”的教育教学理念,借助信息化教学工具,合理有效地设计好每一个教学环节.采用演示、体验、探究、问题导向和分组讨论等教学手段和方法,让学生在课堂中自主发现问题、分析问题并解决问题,实现“学生做中学、教师做中教”,大大提升教学效果.     

新型单模大模场红外硫系玻璃光子晶体光纤设计研究

大模场光子晶体光纤在高功率激光传输、光纤放大器、光纤激光器中的广泛应用, 使其受到研究者的广泛关注.硫系玻璃在红外波段(1–20μm)具有优良透过性能, 且具有折射率高(2.0–3.5)、声子能量低(小于350 cm^-1)、 组分可调等特性, 成为制备红外光纤的理想材料. 本文设计一种基于Ge₂₀Sb₁₅Se₆₅硫系玻璃基质的新型单模传输、低损耗、超大模场面积光子晶体光纤结构, 经理论验证其在λ =10.6 μm处基模限制损耗远低于0.1 dB/m, 高阶限制模损耗大于2 dB/m, 模场面积约为13333 μm². 关键词： 硫系玻璃 大模场面积 红外光子晶体光纤 结构设计     

Application of experimental design for optimization of erbium determination by high-resolution continuum source electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using lanthanum as a chemical modifier

ABSTRACT

In this paper, lanthanum was used as a chemical modifier for the direct determination of erbium by high-resolution continuum source electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. A two-step experimental design was used for optimization, first a full factorial design was conducted for identification of significant factors, and then a central composite design was carried out for final optimization of the significant factors. The optimum parameters were obtained as follows: atomization temperature of 2500°C, pyrolysis temperature of 1600°C, and pyrolysis time of 10?s in the presence of lanthanum as a chemical modifier. Under optimum conditions, the characteristic mass, limit of detection, and limit of quantification were 29?pg, 0.71, and 2.4?µg?L^?1, respectively. The precision of the method, estimated as the relative standard deviation for 10 replicate measurements of 50?µg?L^?1 of erbium, was 1.8%. The optimized method was applied to determine erbium content in sediments and rock samples. The determined values of erbium in sediment certified reference materials were in satisfactory agreement with the certified values according to the t-test for a 95% confidence level.     

Hybrid Bridgman anvil design: an optical window for in situ spectroscopy in large volume presses

The absence of in situ optical probes for large volume presses (LVPs) often limits their application to high-pressure materials research. In this article, we present a unique anvil/optical window design for use in LVPs, which consists of an inverted diamond anvil seated in a Bridgman-type anvil. A small cylindrical aperture through the Bridgman anvil ending at the back of diamond anvil allows optical access to the sample chamber and permits direct optical spectroscopy measurements, such as ruby fluorescence (in situ pressure) or Raman spectroscopy. The performance of this anvil design has been demonstrated by loading KBr to a pressure of 14.5 GPa.     

Optical pressure sensors for high-pressure–high-temperature studies in a diamond anvil cell

We review the various optical pressure sensors that are suitable for high-pressure and high-temperature studies in a diamond anvil cell. Two different kinds of sensors are considered: those based on the pressure shift of a fluorescence line (ruby, SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺) and those based on the pressure shift of a Raman line (c-BN, diamond). The calibration of those sensors are presented in detail, and discussion is made on their useful pressure and temperature ranges.     

A high pressure,high temperature study of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitro ethylene

We report a synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction study of the novel high explosive 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene at high pressures and high temperatures. Pressure was generated using a Paris–Edinburgh cell to employ larger sample volumes. High temperatures were created using a resistive graphite cylinder surrounding the sample. The PT phase diagram was explored in the 3.3 GPa pressure range and in the ～ 400°C temperature range. We believe that the sample commenced in the α-phase and then ended up in an amorphous phase when the temperature increased beyond 280°C near 2 GPa, which we believe to be the γ-phase. Further pressure and temperature cycling suggests that the sample transformed reversibly into and out of the amorphous phase near the phase line.