Phase composition,conductivity,and sensor properties of cerium-doped indium oxide

The hydrothermal synthesis of In_(2)O_(3)and CeO_(2)–In_(2)O_(3)is investigated as well as the properties of sensor layers based on these compounds.During the synthesis of In_(2)O_(3),intermediate products In(OH)_(3)and InOOH are formed,which are the precursors of stable cubic(c-In_(2)O_(3))and metastable rhombohedral(rh-In_(2)O_(3))phases,respectively.A transition from c-In_(2)O_(3)to rh-In_(2)O_(3)is observed with the addition of CeO_(2).The introduction of cerium into rh-In_(2)O_(3)results in a decrease in the sensor response to hydrogen,while it increases in composites based on c-In_(2)O_(3).The data on the sensor activity of the composites correlate with XPS results in which CeO_(2)causes a decrease in the concentrations of chemisorbed oxygen and oxygen vacancies in rh-In_(2)O_(3).The reverse situation is observed in composites based on c-In_(2)O_(3).Compared to In_(2)O_(3)and CeO_(2)–In_(2)O_(3)obtained by other methods,the synthesized composites demonstrate maximum response to H_(2)at low temperatures by 70–100℃,and have short response time(0.2–0.5 s),short recovery time(6–7 s),and long-term stability.A model is proposed for the dependence of sensitivity on the direction of electron transfer between In_(2)O_(3)and CeO_(2).

Kinetics of dense plasma in the field of short laser pulses:A generalized approach

A generalized kinetic model of atomic level populations in an optically dense plasma excited by laser pulses of arbitrary duration is formulated and studied.This model is based on a nonstationary expression for the probability of excitation of an atomic transition and takes into account the effects of laser pulse penetration into an optically dense medium.A universal formula for the excitation probability as a function of time and propagation length is derived and applied to the case of a Lorentzian spectral profile of an atomic transition excited by a laser pulse with a Gaussian envelope.The features of nonstationary excitation probabilities are presented for different optical depths of the plasma,laser pulse durations,and carrier frequencies.The formulas derived here will be useful for the description of atomic populations excited by laser pulses under realistic conditions of dense plasmas.

Characterization of bright betatron radiation generated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in plasma of near critical density

Directed x-rays produced in the interaction of sub-picosecond laser pulses of moderate relativistic intensity with plasma of near-critical density are investigated. Synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation occurs in the process of direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in a relativisticlaser channel when the electrons undergo transverse betatron oscillations in self-generated quasi-static electric and magnetic fields. In anexperiment at the PHELIX laser system, high-current directed beams of DLA electrons with a mean energy ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential and maximum energy up to 100 MeV were measured at 10^(19) W/cm^(2)laser intensity. The spectrum of directed x-raysin the range of 5–60 keV was evaluated using two sets of Ross filters placed at 0°and 10°to the laser pulse propagation axis. The differential x-ray absorption method allowed for absolute measurements of the angular-dependent photon fluence. We report 10^(13) photons/sr withenergies >5 keV measured at 0°to the laser axis and a brilliance of 10^(21) photons s^(−1) mm^(−2) mrad−2(0.1%BW)−1. The angular distributionof the emission has an FWHM of 14°–16°. Thanks to the ultra-high photon fluence, point-like radiation source, and ultra-short emissiontime, DLA-based keV backlighters are promising for various applications in high-energy-density research with kilojoule petawatt-class laserfacilities.

Application of quantum-statistical methods to studies of thermodynamic and radiative processes in hot dense plasmas

Calculations of thermodynamic and radiative characteristics of hot dense plasmas within different quantum-statistical approaches,such as the use of the Hartree–Fock–Slater model and the ion model,are presented.Calculated equations of state of different substances are used to investigate findings from absolute and relative measurements of the compressibility of solid aluminum samples in strong shock waves.It is shown that our calculated Hugoniot adiabat of aluminum is in a good agreement with experimental data and other theoretical results from first principles.Wealso present a review of the most important applications of the quantum-statistical approach to the study of radiative properties of hot dense plasmas.It includes the optimization problem of hohlraum wall materials for laser inertial fusion,calculations of the radiative efficiency of complex materials for optically thin plasma in X-pinch,modeling of radiative and gas-dynamic processes in plasma for experiments,where both intense laser and heavy ion beams are used,and temperature diagnostics for X-and Z-pinch plasmas.

A novel method for investigation of acoustic and elastic wave phenomena using numerical experiments

The emergence of new types of composite materials,the depletion of existing hydrocarbon deposits,and the increase in the speed of trains require the development of new research methods based on wave scattering.Therefore,it is necessary to determine the laws of wave scattering in inhomogeneous media.We propose a method that combines the advantages of a numerical simulation with an analytical study of the boundary value problem of elastic and acoustic wave equations.In this letter we present the results of the study using the proposed method:the formation of a response from a shear wave in an acoustic medium and the formation of shear waves when a vertically incident longitudinal wave is scattered by a vertical gas-filled fracture.We have obtained a number of analytical expressions characterising the scattering of these wave types.

Evaluation of CDK6 and p16/INK4a-Derived Peptides Interaction

The goal of this work is the development of novel peptides with high efficacy of inhibiting activity of CDK6/CyclinD complex. The peptides were derived from primary sequence of P16 protein and its homologues. The interactions between CDK6 and P16/INK4a-derived peptides are studied with molecular dynamics simulation employing umbrella sampling method. The SASA implicit solvent model was used for simulation, which was accelerated using NVIDIA GPUs.

Spray Pyrolysis Deposition of Single and Mixed Oxide Thin Films

The influence of processing parameters is investigated on the structural characteristics of single and mixed oxides produced by spray pyrolysis technique. The films were synthesized by spraying precursor solutions through a noz-zle onto a heated alumina substrate. The precursor consisted separately of aqueous solutions of tin chloride for SnO2 and zinc chloride for ZnO for single oxide cases, and aqueous solutions of tin chloride and indium nitrate for SnO2 + In2O3 and zinc chloride and indium nitrate solutions for ZnO + In2O3 for mixed oxide cases. The substrate temperature was varied accordingly for each single and mixed case. The films produced were characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results indicate that a non-homogenous film is formed at low temperature for both single oxides considered. The temperature has significant effect on the composition of the synthesized films of both single oxides below 450℃. The results for mixed oxides show that the best homogeneous films are obtained for 80 wt% ZnO + 20 wt% In2O3, and 80 wt% SnO2 + 20 wt% In2O3.

Cardiac Tissue Engineering with the Aid of Polyhydroxybutyrate Membranes and Nanofibers

The PHB （polyhydroxybutyrate） films were reported recently as promising materials for tissue involving cultivation of dermoblasts, fibroblasts and connective tissue. In the present work, the authors studied PHB scaffolds for the cardiac tissue engineering, either in a form of thin membranes or electrospun fiber mats. The results show that cardiac cells of various origins can be successfully grown on PHB substrates, in the both forms： membrane and nanofiber matrix. Functioning of obtained tissue patches was tested by visual observation of contractions and with the aid of optical mapping, i.e., registration of excitation waves with fluorescent markers. The latter one allowed ensuring the fact that cultured cells represented electrophysiological syncytium, and the PHB scaffold showed its full compatibility with the excitability of cardiac cells.

Upconversion Luminescence of Er^3＋ and Co-Doped Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ Novel Transparent Oxyfluoride Glasses and Glass Ceramics： Spectral and Structural Properties

Transparent oxyfluoride silicate precursor glasses and glass ceramics with the novel composition （1） SiO2-PbO-PbFE-Er2O3, （2） SiO2-GeOE-PbO-PbFE-Er2O3 （3） SiO2-Al2O3-Y2O3-Na2O-NaF-LiF-Er2O3-YbF3 doped with Er^3＋ and co-doped with Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ ions were synthesized. X-ray diffraction analysis （XRD） and Er3＋ absorption spectra revealed precipitation of PbF2 nanocrystals dispersed in the glassy matrix. Under 980 nm laser excitation, intense green, red and near IR bands of upconversion luminescence （UCL） were recorded both before and after heat treatment. In the glass ceramics the upconversion intensity increased significantly. To our knowledge, for the first time the composition of the glass ceramics characterized by the small-angle neutron scattering （SANS） showed the cluster organization of PbF2 nanocrystals.

Effect of Composition and Morphology on Sensor Properties of Aerosol Deposited Nanostructured ZnO+In<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>Films

The structural characteristics are investigated of nanoheterogeneous films comprising ZnO, In2 O3 and ZnO + In2 O3 composite produced by aerosol spray pyrolysis technique (SPT). The process utilizes water solutions of zinc chloride and indium nitrate precursors. The X-ray diffraction data show that the SPT process results in polycrystalline films of hexagonal wurtzite type ZnO, and In2 O3 crystals of cubic structure. SPT-synthesized ZnO + In2 O3composites contain mixtures of these crystals. The morphology of the synthesized films is studied by scanning electron microscopy as well as the dependence of morphology on the synthesis conditions, specifically the temperature of the aerosol precipitation and the concentration of the precursors in solutions. The characteristics of nucleation and growth of oxide crystals during the synthesis of ZnO + In2 O3 composite films are also considered. The film with the composition 25 wt% ZnO + 75 wt% In2 O3 contains a large number of small crystal aggregates of arbitrary shape with a high density of contacts between the aggregates and are characterized by a homogeneous structure with high dispersion. Such morphology has high specific surface, which favors high sensory response. In addition, in this range of aggregate composition the relationship between the particles of the catalytically active component- ZnO, cleavage of hydrogen molecule, and In2 O3particles with a high concentration of conduction electrons is close to optimal for the maximum sensory effect in the detection of hydrogen.

Reinforced interface endows the lithium anode with stable cycle at high-temperature of 80℃

Embracing ultrahigh theoretical capacity of 3860 mA h g^(-1)and the lowest reduction potential of-3.04 V(versus standard hydrogen electrode),lithium(Li) is considered as the "holy grail" material for pursuing higher energy density,of which application has been challenged due to the unstable interface caused by the non-uniform electrodeposition as well as high chemical activity.Operating at higher temperature can be recommended to uniform electrodeposition of Li metal.Nevertheless,the intrinsic side-reaction between Li metal anode and electrolyte is inevitably aggravated and thus fosters the failure of Li metal anode rapidly with uneven electrodeposition.Here,a kind of temperature-tolerated ionic liquid(1-methyl-3-ethylimidazole bis(fluorosulfo nyl)imide/lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfo nyl)imide,EF/LT)based electrolyte that matrixed with poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) was designed to maintain the interfacial stabilization of Li metal due to the weak interfacial reaction and uniform electrodeposition at high temperature of 80℃.It is the matter that the 660-h cycle with lower polarization is achieved with EF/LT-based electrolyte at temperature of 80 ℃ and the full cell embraces outstanding cyclic performance,without capacity fading within 100 cycles.Delighting,a door for practical application of Li metal anode for higher energy density as the carbon neutrality progresses in the blooming human society has been opened gradually.

Electro-chemo-mechanical design of polymer matrix in composited LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) cathode endows solid-state batteries with superior performance

Nickel-rich LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM811) cathode material has been widely concerned due to its high voltage,high specific capacity and excellent rate performance,which is considered as one of the most promising cathode materials for the next generation of high-energy-density solid-state lithium batteries.However,serious electro-chemo-mechanical degradation of Nickel-rich cathode during cycling,especially at a high voltage(over 4.5 V),constrains their large-scale application.Here,using the multiphysical simulation,highly-conductive polymer matrix with spontaneous stress-buffering effect was uncovered theoretically for reinforcing the electrochemical performance of composited NCM81 1 cathode through the visualization of uniform concentration distribution of Li-ion coupled with improved stress field inside NCM811 cathode.Thereupon,polyacrylonitrile(PAN) and soft polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF) were selected as the polymer matrix to fabricate the composited NCM811 cathode(PVDFPAN@NCM811) for improving the electrochemical performance of the solid-state NMC811|Li full cells,which can maintain high capacity over 146.2 mA h g^(-1)after 200 cycles at a high voltage of 4.5 V.Suggestively,designing a multifunctional polymer matrix with high ionic conductivity and mechanical property can buffer the stress and maintain the integrity of the structure,which can be regarded as the door-opening avenue to realize the high electrochemical performance of Ni-rich cathode for solidstate batteries.

Application of integrated simulation environment SIEMNED to the analysis of the MEPHIST-0 tokamak operation

This paper presents the results of numerical simulation of plasma equilibrium and stability in the MEPHIST-0 tokamak with SIEMNED software and comparison of simulation results with experiments.The determined characteristics of the vacuum chamber show that it significantly affects the entire discharge.For various scenarios of the inductor operation,a comparison of experimental data and simulated currents and magnetic fields induced in the chamber was carried out.For steady-state tokamak operation,a numerical study of equilibrium plasma configurations was carried out depending on the currents in the poloidal magnetic field coils and plasma current.The vertical plasma instability was investigated.The limiting values of plasma ellipticity preventing the vertical plasma instability were numerically determined.Numerical simulations show that plasma equilibrium is supported by induced currents.It was shown numerically that magnetic configuration with‘zero of higher order’were obtained before the plasma shot,suggesting consistency between the simulation results and observations.

Effects of mineralogical composition on uniaxial compressive strengths of sedimentary rocks

Figuring out rock strength plays essential roles in the sub ground mining activities,such as oil and gas well drilling and hydraulic fracturing,coal mining,tunneling,and other civil engineering scenarios.To help understand the effects of the mineralogical composition on evaluating the rock strength,this research tries to establish indirect prediction models of rock strength by specific input mineral contents for common sedimentary rocks.Using rock samples collected from the outcrops in the Sichuan Basin,uniaxial compression tests have been conducted to sandstone,carbonate,and shale cores.Combining with statistical analysis,the experimental data prove it true that the mineralogical composition can be utilized to predict the rock strength under specific conditions but the effects of mineralogical composition on the rock strength highly depend on the rock lithologies.According to the statistical analysis results,the predicted values of rock strengths by the mineral contents can get high accuracies in sandstone and carbonate rocks while no evidences can be found in shale rocks.The best indicator for predicting rock strength should be the quartz content for the sandstone rocks and the dolomite content for the carbonate rocks.Especially,to improve the evaluation accuracy,the rock strengths of sandstones can be obtained by substituting the mineral contents of quartz and clays,and those of carbonates can be calculated by the mineral contents of dolomite and calcite.Noticeably,the research data point out a significant contrast of quartz content in evaluating the rock strength of the sandstone rocks and the carbonate rocks.Increasing quartz content helps increase the sandstone strength but decrease the carbonate strength.As for shale rocks,no relationship exists between the rock strength and the mineralogical composition(e.g.,the clay fractions).To provide more evidences,detailed discussion also provides the readers more glances into the framework of the rock matrix,which can be further studied in the future.These findings can help understand the effects of mineralogical composition on the rock strengths,explain the contrasts in the rock strength of the responses to the same mineral content(e.g.,the quartz content),and provide another indirect method for evaluating the rock strength of common sedimentary rocks.

Model of fractured medium and nondestructive control of composite materials

Non-destructive testing of composites is an important issue in the modern aircraft industry.Composites are susceptible to the barely visible impact damage which can affect the residual strength of the material and occurs both during production and operation.The continuum model for describing the damaged zone is presented.The slip theory relations used for a continuous distribution of slip planes are applied.At the initial stage,the isotropic background model is used.This model allows the material slippage along the fractures based on the Coulomb friction law with the small viscous addition.In this regime,the govern system of equations becomes rigid.To overcome this difficulty,the explicit-implicit grid-characteristic scheme is proposed.The standard ultrasound diagnostic procedure of damaged composite materials is successfully simulated.Compared with the trivial free-surface fracture model,different reactions on the compression and stretch waves are registered.This approach provided an effective way for the simulation of complex dynamic behavior of damage zones.

Measurement of yields and angular distributions ofγ-quanta from the interaction of 14.1 MeV neutrons with oxygen,phosphorus,and sulfur

A study of the inelastic scattering of neutrons with an energy of 14.1 MeV on the nuclei of oxygen,phosphorus,and sulfur was performed at the TANGRA facility at JINR(Dubna).The experiment aimed to refine existing data and obtain new data on the yields and angular distributions ofγ-quanta emitted by the studied nuclei due to neutron-induced nuclear reactions using the tagged neutron method.Two types of detector systems were used to registerγ-quanta.Theγ-ray yields were measured using a high-purity germanium(HPGe)detector.The angular distributions ofγ-rays were obtained using a system of 18 scintillation detectors based on bismuth germanite Bi_(4)Ge_(3)O_(12)(BGO)located around the sample.The performed experiments measured the yields of two transitions for the reaction of tagged neutrons with 16O,nine transitions for the reaction with ^(31)P,and nine transitions for the reaction with ^(32)S for the first time.The angular anisotropy of theγ-radiation accompanying the inelastic scattering of neutrons with an energy of 14.1 MeV on ^(31)P nuclei was also measured for the first time.

Amplitude analysis of the decays D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(+)π^(−)and D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(0)π^(0)

Using e^(+)e^(−)annihilation data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb^(−1)taken at the center-of-mass energy√s=3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector,a joint amplitude analysis is performed on the decays D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(+)π^(−)and D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(0)π^(0)(non-η).The fit fractions of individual components are obtained,and large interferences among the dominant components of the decays D^(0)→a_(1)(1260)π,D^(0)→π(1300)π,D^(0)→ρ(770)ρ(770),and D^(0)→2(ππ)_(S)are observed in both channels.With the obtained amplitude model,the CP-even fractions of D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(+)π^(−)and D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(0)π^(0)(non-η)are determined to be(75.2±1.1_(stat).±1.5_(syst.))%and(68.9±1.5_(stat).±2.4_(syst.))%,respectively.The branching fractions of D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(+)π^(−)and D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(0)π^(0)(non-η)are measured to be(0.688±0.010_(stat.)±0.010_(syst.))%and(0.951±0.025_(stat.)±0.021_(syst.))%,respectively.The amplitude analysis provides an important model for the binning strategy in measuring the strong phase parameters of D^(0)→4πwhen used to determine the CKM angleγ(ϕ_(3))via the B^(−)→DK^(−)decay.

Immunopathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a widespread infectious disease with unfavorable outcomes and life-threatening consequences for patients, in spite of modern vaccination and antiviral treatment modalities. Cutting-edge experimental approaches have demonstrated key pathways that involve cross-talk between viral particles and host immune cells. All events, including penetration of hepatitis B virus (HBV) particles into host cells, establishing persistence, and chronization of CHB infection, and possibility of complete elimination of HBV particles are controlled by the immune system. Researchers have paid special attention to the replication capacity of HBV in host cells, which is associated with cellular changes that reflect presentation of viral antigens and variability of HBV antigen features. In addition, specific HBV proteins have an immune-modulating ability to initiate molecular mechanisms that &#x0201c;avoid&#x0201d; control by the immune system. The relationship between immunological shifts and chronic infection stages has been intensively studied since it was recognized that the immune system is a direct participant in the recurrent (cyclic) nature of CHB. Understanding the wide diversity of molecular pathways and the crosstalk between innate and adaptive immune system components will provide fresh insight into CHB immune pathogenesis and the possibilities of developing new treatment strategies for this disease.

Statistical and quantum photoionization cross sections in plasmas:Analytical approaches for any configurations including inner shells

Statistical models combined with the local plasma frequency approach applied to the atomic electron density are employed to study the photoionization cross-section for complex atoms.It is demonstrated that the Thomas–Fermi atom provides surprisingly good overall agreement even for complex outer-shell configurations,where quantum mechanical approaches that include electron correlations are exceedingly difficult.Quantum mechanical photoionization calculations are studied with respect to energy and nl quantum number for hydrogen-like and non-hydrogen-like atoms and ions.Ageneralized scaled photoionizationmodel(GSPM)based on the simultaneous introduction of effective charges for non-H-like energies and scaling charges for the reduced energy scale allows the development of analytical formulas for all states nl.Explicit expressions for nl1s,2s,2p,3s,3p,3d,4s,4p,4d,4f,and 5s are obtained.Application to H-like and non-H-like atoms and ions and to neutral atoms demonstrates the universality of the scaled analytical approach including inner-shell photoionization.Likewise,GSPMdescribes the near-threshold behavior and high-energy asymptotes well.Finally,we discuss the various models and the correspondence principle along with experimental data and with respect to a good compromise between generality and precision.The results are also relevant to large-scale integrated light–matter interaction simulations,e.g.,X-ray free-electron laser interactions with matter or photoionization driven by a broadband radiation field such as Planckian radiation.

Experimental Study of Induced Polarization Effect in Unconventional Reservoir Rocks

Unconventional hydrocarbon reserves substantially surpass those of conventional resources and therefore are extremely economically attractive. However, exploration and production of uncon-ventional reserves is challenging. This paper demonstrates that one can observe significant induced polarization effects in shale reservoir rocks, which can be used in exploration for unconventional reserves. The generalized effective-medium theory of induced polarization (GEMTIP) was used to model the complex resistivity of shale rocks. We demonstrate that GEMTIP modeling provides an evaluation of mineral composition and volume fractions in rock samples. We have conducted spectral induced polarization (IP) measurements using different types of shale rocks to test the feasibility of the IP method and GEMTIP modeling for studying unconventional hydrocarbon (HC) reservoir rocks.