Influence of Pt Alloying on the Fluorescence of Fully Inorganic,Colloidal Gold Nanoclusters

Noble metal alloy nanoclusters (NCs) are interesting systems as the properties of two or more elements can be combined in one particle, leading to interesting fluorescence phenomena. However, previous studies have been exclusively performed on ligand-capped NCs from wet chemical synthesis. This makes it difficult to differentiate to which extent the fluorescence is affected by ligand-induced effects or the elemental composition of the metal core. In this work, we used laser fragmentation in liquids (LFL) to fabricate colloidal gold-rich bi-metallic AuPt NCs in the absence of organic ligands and demonstrate the suitability of this technique to produce molar fraction series of 1nm alloy NC. We found that photoluminescence of ligand-free NCs is not a phenomenon limited to Au. However, even minute amounts of Pt atoms in the AuPt NCs lead to quenching and red-shift of the fluorescence, which may be attributed to the altered surface charge density.     

Imaging the Magnetic Reversal of Isolated and Organized Molecular‐Based Nanoparticles using Magnetic Force Microscopy

In the race towards miniaturization in nanoelectronics, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as potential candidates for their integration in ultrahigh‐density recording media. Molecular‐based materials open the possibility to design new tailor‐made MNPs with variable composition and sizes, which benefit from the intrinsic properties of these materials. Before their implementation in real devices is reached, a precise organization on surfaces and a reliable characterization and manipulation of their individual magnetic behavior are required. In this paper, it is demonstrated how molecular‐based MNPs are accurately organized on surfaces and how the magnetic properties of the individual MNPs are detected and tuned by means of low‐temperature magnetic force microscopy (LT‐MFM) with variable magnetic field. The magnetization reversal on isolated and organized MNPs is investigated; in addition, the temperature dependence of their magnetic response is evaluated.     

Charge redistribution and a shortening of the Fe—As bond at the quantum critical point of SmO1–xFxFeAs

Many researchers have pointed out that there is a quantum critical point (QCP) in the F‐doped SmOFeAs system. In this paper, the electronic structure and local structure of the superconductive FeAs layer in SmO_1–xF_xFeAs as a function of the F‐doping concentration have been investigated using Fe and As K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. Experiments performed on the X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure showed that in the vicinity of the QCP the intensity of the pre‐edge feature at the Fe‐edge decreases continuously, while there is a striking rise of the shoulder‐peak at the As edge, suggesting the occurrence of charge redistribution near the QCP. Further analysis on the As K‐edge extended X‐ray absorption fine structure demonstrated that the charge redistribution originates mostly from a shortening of the Fe—As bond at the QCP. An evident relationship between the mysterious QCP and the fundamental Fe—As bond was established, providing new insights on the interplay between QCP, charge dynamics and the local structural Fe—As bond in Fe‐based superconductors.     

Towards a microchannel‐based X‐ray detector with two‐dimensional spatial and time resolution and high dynamic range

X‐ray detectors that combine two‐dimensional spatial resolution with a high time resolution are needed in numerous applications of synchrotron radiation. Most detectors with this combination of capabilities are based on semiconductor technology and are therefore limited in size. Furthermore, the time resolution is often realised through rapid time‐gating of the acquisition, followed by a slower readout. Here, a detector technology is realised based on relatively inexpensive microchannel plates that uses GHz waveform sampling for a millimeter‐scale spatial resolution and better than 100 ps time resolution. The technology is capable of continuous streaming of time‐ and location‐tagged events at rates greater than 10⁷ events per cm². Time‐gating can be used for improved dynamic range.     

Asymptotically exact a posteriori local discontinuous Galerkin error estimates for the one‐dimensional second‐order wave equation

In this article, we analyze a residual‐based a posteriori error estimates of the spatial errors for the semidiscrete local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) method applied to the one‐dimensional second‐order wave equation. These error estimates are computationally simple and are obtained by solving a local steady problem with no boundary condition on each element. We apply the optimal L² error estimates and the superconvergence results of Part I of this work [Baccouch, Numer Methods Partial Differential Equations 30 (2014), 862–901] to prove that, for smooth solutions, these a posteriori LDG error estimates for the solution and its spatial derivative, at a fixed time, converge to the true spatial errors in the L²‐norm under mesh refinement. The order of convergence is proved to be , when p‐degree piecewise polynomials with are used. As a consequence, we prove that the LDG method combined with the a posteriori error estimation procedure yields both accurate error estimates and superconvergent solutions. Our computational results show higher convergence rate. We further prove that the global effectivity indices, for both the solution and its derivative, in the L²‐norm converge to unity at rate while numerically they exhibit and rates, respectively. Numerical experiments are shown to validate the theoretical results. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 31: 1461–1491, 2015     

STOCHASTIC OPTIMIZATION FOR MULTISPECIES FISHERIES IN THE BARENTS SEA

We present a multispecies stochastic model that suggests optimal fishing policy for two species in a three‐species predator–prey ecosystem in the Barents Sea. We employ stochastic dynamic programming to solve a three‐dimensional model, in which the catch is optimized by using a multispecies feedback strategy. Applying the model to the cod, capelin, and herring ecosystem in the Barents Sea shows that the optimal catch for the stochastic interaction model is more conservative than that implied by the deterministic model. We also find that stochasticity has a stronger effect on the optimal exploitation policy for prey (capelin) than for predator (cod).     

AN INDIVIDUAL‐BASED MODEL FOR FERAL HOGS IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

The expansion of feral hog (Sus scrofa) populations in the United States has resulted in increased efforts to develop and implement control strategies designed to minimize the impacts done by this invasive species. We describe an individual‐based model for feral hogs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). The objectives of the model are to provide an understanding of the population dynamics of this feral hog population and to determine the efficacy of the annual harvest as a population control method. Results suggest that the dynamics of the population are driven by fall hard mast production and the GSMNP harvests currently limit growth of the population, but these control efforts have not reduced the population.     

Surface Changes at Platinized Platinum Based Hydrogen Gas Electrodes Following Use in Highly Saline Aqueous Solutions

Platinized platinum based hydrogen gas electrodes, Pt(Pt)|H₂(g)|H⁺(aq), and silver‐silver chloride electrodes, Ag|AgCl|Cl^? (aq), make up the Harned cell, without transfer, working in the potentiometric mode at Cl^? concentrations and ionic strengths, I, below 0.1 mol kg^?1, for assigning primary pH values to reference pH buffer solutions. This work reports on experiments performed at higher I and Cl^? solutions up to 0.7 mol kg^?1, aiming at addressing seawater conditions with results of equally high quality. In the course of measurements, the occasional occurrence of highly unstable potentials denoted electrode malfunction; Pt metal surfaces observed by SEM/EDS and XRD exhibit strong Ag and Cl peaks corresponding to the presence of AgCl crystals deposited at both surfaces.     

Structure‐Based Design of Inhibitors of the Aspartic Protease Endothiapepsin by Exploiting Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry

Structure‐based design (SBD) can be used for the design and/or optimization of new inhibitors for a biological target. Whereas de novo SBD is rarely used, most reports on SBD are dealing with the optimization of an initial hit. Dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) has emerged as a powerful strategy to identify bioactive ligands given that it enables the target to direct the synthesis of its strongest binder. We have designed a library of potential inhibitors (acylhydrazones) generated from five aldehydes and five hydrazides and used DCC to identify the best binder(s). After addition of the aspartic protease endothiapepsin, we characterized the protein‐bound library member(s) by saturation‐transfer difference NMR spectroscopy. Cocrystallization experiments validated the predicted binding mode of the two most potent inhibitors, thus demonstrating that the combination of de novo SBD and DCC constitutes an efficient starting point for hit identification and optimization.