Compositionally modulated Fermi surfaces, structured diffuse scattering and ternary derivatives of 1T-TaS2

Ternary derivatives of 1T-TaS₂ have been synthesized and the variation in the highly structured diffuse intensity distributions characteristic of such materials carefully monitored to investigate the effect that such substitution has upon the band structures and Fermi surfaces (FSs) of the materials. Removal of d electrons via the replacement of Ta ions with lower valent transition metal ions leads to a systematic increase in the radii of the characteristic structured diffuse intensity distribution. Extended Hückel tight binding calculations of the FSs of the doped samples are carried out and used to predict possible nesting wave-vectors. The results are in reasonably good agreement with the radii of the experimentally observed diffuse intensity distributions.     

Continuous-time Markov model for geriatric patients behavior. Optimization of the bed occupancy and computer simulation

Previous research has shown that the flow of patients around departments of geriatric medicine and ex-patients in the community may be modelled by the application of a mixed-exponential distribution. In this paper we considered a five-compartment model using a continuous-time Markov process to describe the flow of patients. Using a M/Ph/c queuing model, we present a way of optimizing the number of beds in order to maintain an acceptable delay probability at a sufficiently low level. Finally, we constructed a Java computer simulation, using data from St George’s Hospital, London.     

Growth of oxide thin films for optical gas sensor applications

Tungsten trioxide and titanium dioxide thin films were synthesised by pulsed laser deposition. We used for irradiations of oxide targets an UV KrF* (λ = 248 nm, τ_FWHM ≅ 20 ns, ν = 2 Hz) excimer laser source, at 2 J/cm² incident fluence value. The experiments were performed in low oxygen pressure. The (0 0 1) SiO₂ substrates were heated during the thin film deposition process at temperature values within the 300-500 °C range. The structure and crystalline status of the obtained oxide thin films were investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Our analyses show that the films are composed by nanoparticles with average diameters from a few to a few tens of nm. Moreover, the films deposited at substrate temperatures higher than 300 °C are crystalline. The tungsten trioxide films consist of a mixture of triclinic and monoclinic phases, while the titanium dioxide films structure corresponds to the tetragonal anatase phase. The oxide films average transmittance in the visible-infrared spectral range is higher than 80%, which makes them suitable for sensor applications.     

Sequestration within biomolecular condensates inhibits Aβ-42 amyloid formation

Biomolecular condensates are emerging as an efficient strategy developed by cells to control biochemical reactions in space and time by locally modifying composition and environment. Yet, local increase in protein concentration within these compartments could promote aberrant aggregation events, including the nucleation and growth of amyloid fibrils. Understanding protein stability within the crowded and heterogeneous environment of biological condensates is therefore crucial, not only when the aggregation-prone protein is the scaffold element of the condensates but also when proteins are recruited as client molecules within the compartments. Here, we investigate the partitioning and aggregation kinetics of the amyloidogenic peptide Abeta42 (Aβ-42), the peptide strongly associated with Alzheimer''s disease, recruited into condensates based on low complexity domains (LCDs) derived from the DEAD-box proteins Laf1, Dbp1 and Ddx4, which are associated with biological membraneless organelles. We show that interactions between Aβ-42 and the scaffold proteins promote sequestration and local increase of the peptide concentration within the condensates. Yet, heterotypic interactions within the condensates inhibit the formation of amyloid fibrils. These results demonstrate that biomolecular condensates could sequester aggregation-prone proteins and prevent aberrant aggregation events, despite the local increase in their concentration. Biomolecular condensates could therefore work not only as hot-spots of protein aggregation but also as protective reservoirs, since the heterogenous composition of the condensates could prevent the formation of ordered fibrillar aggregates.

Biomolecular condensates sequester an aggregation-prone peptide and prevent its aggregation, showing that heterotypic interactions within the condensates can prevent the formation of amyloid fibrils, despite the local increase in concentration.     

Plasmon hybridization in spherical nanoparticles

We show that the plasmon resonances in single metallic nanoshells and multiple concentric metallic shell particles can be understood in terms of interaction between the bare plasmon modes of the individual surfaces of the metallic shells. The interaction of these elementary plasmons results in hybridized plasmons whose energy can be tuned over a wide range of optical and infrared wavelengths. The approach can easily be generalized to more complex systems, such as dimers and small nanoparticle aggregates.     

Sol–gel preparation and structural characterization of Ba2TiSi2O8 powder

Fresnoite (Ba₂TiSi₂O₈, BTS) nano-particles were successfully synthesized at a low temperature of 900?°C by a modified Pechini sol?Cgel process with starting materials of Ba(NO₃)₂, Si(OC₂H₅)₄ and Ti(OC₃H₇)₄. The structural characterization of the precursors and derived synthesized oxide powders is done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TG-DTG) and electron microscopy (SEM, EDX and TEM) studies. The effect of heat-treating temperature on the crystallinity of the fresnoite was investigated. Combined the XRD data and the strong FTIR peaks assigned to Ti?CO and Si?CO vibration, indicate the formation of fresnoite phase at a temperature of 900?°C. Also the nano-crystals size distribution was studied and the main diameter of nanoparticles was about 47?nm.     

Reactions in solid state: Localized and delocalized

It is not necessary to classify homogeneous (delocalized) solid state reactions as rare or unusual. Their specificity lies in the fact that in contrast to gas-phase and liquid-phase reactions they may be interpreted as homogeneous processes at different dimensional levels in the range between atomic-molecular size scale and the size scale of crystals. Some oscillating reactions accompanied by superposition of high-frequency reaction rate oscillations (connected with consecutive entering into reaction of crystal faces) on low-frequency reaction rate oscillations, which are attributed to consecutive entering into reaction of crystals (particles) and fractions of polycrystalline and powder-like substances, were discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Homogene (delokalisierte) Festphasenreaktionen brauchen nicht als selten oder unüblich betrachtet zu werden. Ihre Besonderheit liegt darin, daß sie im Gegensatz zu Reaktionen in Gas- oder Flüssigphasen als homogene Prozesse interpretiert werden können, die in verschiedenen Größenordnungsniveaus im Bereich zwischen der Größe von Atomen/Molekülen und der Größe von Kristallen ablaufen. Es wurden einige oszillierende Reaktionen besprochen, die von der Überlagerung von Oszillationen mit hochfrequenten Reaktionsgeschwindigkeiten (verbunden mit einer konsekutiven Teilnahme an Reaktionen von Kristallebenen) und niederfrequenten Reaktionsgeschwindigkeiten begleitet werden, wobei letztere einer konsekutiven Teilnahme an Reaktionen von Kristallen (Partikeln) sowie polykristallinen und pulverartigen Fraktionen zugeschrieben werden.

     

Carbon nanotubes growth from C2H2 and C2H4/NH3 by catalytic LCVD on supported iron–carbon nanocomposites

We report about the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by catalytic LCVD (C-LCVD), using a CW CO₂ laser and alternatively, C₂H₂/C₂H₄/NH₃ and C₂H₂/C₂H₄-containing gas mixtures. Different core–shell Fe–C nanocomposites (as synthesized and toluene extracted) were used employed as catalysts. The nanotubes grown from Fe–C residue demonstrate the lowest mean diameters. Prevalent curled and coiled morphologies are obtained for the CNTs grown in the presence of ammonia.     

Investigation of singlet-oxygen formation in chemical reactions

Conclusion We have reported here the results of investigations of new possibilities of obtaining O₂ ^* by a chemical method. In searches for new sources of O₂ ^* we synthesized solid peroxide-containing substances that interact with chlorine to release the oxygen intensively.The purpose of the investigations was a quantitative measurement of the O₂ ^* yield from the reaction of chloride with solid peroxyhydrates of inorganic salts, and to prove the advantages of the new method of obtaining O₂ ^* for OIL development.We developed for this purpose a universal measurement system that makes it possible to determine, by a combined optical and calorimetric method, the content of singlet oxygen at the exit from a chemical SOG. Measurements of the singlet-oxygen yield from the reaction of chlorine with solid peroxyhydrates have shown that in this case the yield is close to 100%. Experiments performed with an alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide and comparison of our results with data of others have demonstrated the fitness of the developed procedure and prove the reliability of the results.Translated from Preprint No. 18, Lebedev Physics Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, 1991.     

Localization phenomena of topochemical reactions

Typical localization forms of topochemical reactions taking place on the surface and inside a crystal have been compared. A kinetic model of triclinic crystal decomposition, which in contrast to known models takes into account that crystal faces react non-simultaneously, has been studied. It has been shown that depending on the value of the induction period that precedes entry of the crystal face into the reaction, and on the ratio of the linear velocities of interface advance in different directions, the decomposition may proceed without self-acceleration, or with one-fold or multi-fold self-acceleration.

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Zusammenfassung Typische Lokalisationsformen topochemischer, auf der OberflÄche und im Kristallinneren verlaufender Reaktionen werden zusammenfassend dargestellt. Das kinetische Modell der Zersetzung von triklinen Kristallen, das im Gegensatz zu bekannten Modellen die nicht gleichzeitig verlaufenden Reaktionen der einzelnen KristallflÄchen berücksichtigt, wird untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, da\ abhÄngig von der LÄnge der dem Start der Reaktion an den einzelnen KristallflÄchen vorausgehenden Induktionsperiode und von der linearen Geschwindigkeit des Fortschreitens der GrenzflÄche in verschiedene Richtungen die Zersetzung ohne oder mit einfacher oder vielfacher Selbsbeschleunigung verlaufen kann.

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