Abstract
In this paper, the distribution of relaxation times (DRTs) functions are calculated numerically in Matlab for synthetic impedance data from single parallel
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RC
circuit and two parallel
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RC
circuits connected in series, experimental impedance data from supercapacitors and α-LiFeO
2
anode based Li ion batteries. The quality of the impedance data is checked with the Kramers–Krönig (KK) relations. The DRTs are calculated within the KK compatible regime for all the systems using Tikhonov regularization (TR) method. Here we use a fast and simple L-curve method to estimate the TR parameter (λ) for regularization of the Fredholm integral equations of first kind in impedance. Estimation of the regularization parameters are performed effectively from the offset of the global corner of the L-curve rather than simply using the global corner. The physical significances of DRT peaks are also discussed by calculating the effective resistances and capacitances coupled with peak fitting program. For instance, two peaks in the DRTs justify the electrical double layer capacitance and ion diffusion phenomena for supercapacitors in low to intermediate frequencies respectively. Moreover, the surface film effect, Li/electrolyte and electrode/electrolyte charge transfer related processes are identified for α-LiFeO
2
anode based Li-ion batteries. This estimation of the offset of the global corner extends the L-curve approach coupled with the Tikhonov regularization in the field of electrochemistry and can also be applied in similar process detection methods.
Efficient light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic energy-harvesting devices are expected to play an important role in the continued efforts towards sustainable global power consumption. Semiconductor ...nanowires are promising candidates as the active components of both light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic cells, primarily due to the added freedom in device design offered by the nanowire geometry. However, for nanowire-based components to move past the proof-of-concept stage and be implemented in production-grade devices, it is necessary to precisely quantify and control fundamental material properties such as doping and carrier mobility. Unfortunately, the nanoscale geometry that makes nanowires interesting for applications also makes them inherently difficult to characterize. Here, we report a method to carry out Hall measurements on single core-shell nanowires. Our technique allows spatially resolved and quantitative determination of the carrier concentration and mobility of the nanowire shell. As Hall measurements have previously been completely unavailable for nanowires, the experimental platform presented here should facilitate the implementation of nanowires in advanced practical devices.
Long-range shape measurement with high accuracy is needed for precision manufacturing of large-scale parts such as turbines, compressors, and trains. We have developed a high-accuracy ranging system ...based on frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) technology. Our system has two unique features. First, it achieves high-accuracy range measurement by directly modulating a low-cost vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) at high sweep rates. The nonlinearity of the optical frequency sweep is compensated for by resampling through a reference interferometer. Second, an optical fiber with multiple fiber Bragg grating (FBG) structures is used for distance calibration. Ranging accuracy better than 10 μm is achieved at 2 m distance. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging of 10-cubic-meter volume has been obtained by combining the FMCW ranging with a galvanometer scanner.
Superconductivity in the PbO-type structure α-FeSe Hsu, Fong-Chi; Luo, Jiu-Yong; Yeh, Kuo-Wei ...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS,
09/2008, Letnik:
105, Številka:
38
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The recent discovery of superconductivity with relatively high transition temperature (Tc) in the layered iron-based quaternary oxypnictides LaO₁₋xFx FeAs by Kamihara et al. Kamihara Y, Watanabe T, ...Hirano M, Hosono H (2008) Iron-based layered superconductor LaO1-xFx FeAs (x = 0.05-0.12) with Tc = 26 K. J Am Chem Soc 130:3296-3297. was a real surprise and has generated tremendous interest. Although superconductivity exists in alloy that contains the element Fe, LaOMPn (with M = Fe, Ni; and Pn = P and As) is the first system where Fe plays the key role to the occurrence of superconductivity. LaOMPn has a layered crystal structure with an Fe-based plane. It is quite natural to search whether there exists other Fe based planar compounds that exhibit superconductivity. Here, we report the observation of superconductivity with zero-resistance transition temperature at 8 K in the PbO-type α-FeSe compound. A key observation is that the clean superconducting phase exists only in those samples prepared with intentional Se deficiency. FeSe, compared with LaOFeAs, is less toxic and much easier to handle. What is truly striking is that this compound has the same, perhaps simpler, planar crystal sublattice as the layered oxypnictides. Therefore, this result provides an opportunity to better understand the underlying mechanism of superconductivity in this class of unconventional superconductors.
As the macromolecular version of mechanically interlocked molecules, mechanically interlocked polymers are promising candidates for the creation of sophisticated molecular machines and smart soft ...materials. Polyncatenanes, where the molecular chains consist solely of interlocked macrocycles, contain one of the highest concentrations of topological bonds. We report, herein, a synthetic approach toward this distinctive polymer architecture in high yield (∼75%) via efficient ring closing of rationally designed metallosupramolecular polymers. Light-scattering, mass spectrometric, and nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of fractionated samples support assignment of the high–molar mass product (number-average molar mass ∼21.4 kilograms per mole) to a mixture of linear poly7–26catenanes, branched poly13–130catenanes, and cyclic poly4–7catenanes. Increased hydrodynamic radius (in solution) and glass transition temperature (in bulk materials) were observed upon metallation with Zn2+.
Magnetic domain walls are boundaries between regions with different configurations of the same magnetic order. In a magnetic insulator, where the magnetic order is tied to its bulk insulating ...property, it has been postulated that electrical properties are drastically different along the domain walls, where the order is inevitably disturbed. Here we report the discovery of highly conductive magnetic domain walls in a magnetic insulator, Nd₂Ir₂O₇, that has an unusual all-in-all-out magnetic order, via transport and spatially resolved microwave impedance microscopy. The domain walls have a virtually temperature-independent sheet resistance of ∼1 kilohm per square, show smooth morphology with no preferred orientation, are free from pinning by disorders, and have strong thermal and magnetic field responses that agree with expectations for all-in-all-out magnetic order.
RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), is an essential in the RNA replication within the life cycle of the severely acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing the deadly respiratory induced ...sickness COVID-19. Remdesivir is a prodrug that has seen some success in inhibiting this enzyme, however there is still the pressing need for effective alternatives. In this study, we present the discovery of four non-nucleoside small molecules that bind favorably to SARS-CoV-2 RdRp over the active form of the popular drug remdesivir (RTP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by utilizing high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) against the vast ZINC compound database coupled with extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. After post-trajectory analysis, we found that the simulations of complexes containing both ATP and RTP remained stable for the duration of their trajectories. Additionally, it was revealed that the phosphate tail of RTP was stabilized by both the positive amino acid pocket and magnesium ions near the entry channel of RdRp which includes residues K551, R553, R555 and K621. It was also found that residues D623, D760, and N691 further stabilized the ribose portion of RTP with U10 on the template RNA strand forming hydrogen pairs with the adenosine motif. Using these models of RdRp, we employed them to screen the ZINC database of ~ 17 million molecules. Using docking and drug properties scoring, we narrowed down our selection to fourteen candidates. These were subjected to 200 ns simulations each underwent free energy calculations. We identified four hit compounds from the ZINC database that have similar binding poses to RTP while possessing lower overall binding free energies, with ZINC097971592 having a binding free energy two times lower than RTP.
We report the observation of a thermoelectric power factor in InAs nanowires that exceeds that predicted by a single-band bulk model by up to an order of magnitude at temperatures below about 20 K. ...We attribute this enhancement effect not to the long-predicted 1D subband effects but to quantum-dot-like states that form in electrostatically nonuniform nanowires as a result of interference between propagating states and 0D resonances.
Organisms across the tree of life use a variety of mechanisms to respond to stress-inducing fluctuations in osmotic conditions. Cellular response mechanisms and phenotypes associated with ...osmoadaptation also play important roles in bacterial virulence, human health, agricultural production and many other biological systems. To improve understanding of osmoadaptive strategies, we have generated 59 high-quality draft genomes for the haloarchaea (a euryarchaeal clade whose members thrive in hypersaline environments and routinely experience drastic changes in environmental salinity) and analyzed these new genomes in combination with those from 21 previously sequenced haloarchaeal isolates. We propose a generalized model for haloarchaeal management of cytoplasmic osmolarity in response to osmotic shifts, where potassium accumulation and sodium expulsion during osmotic upshock are accomplished via secondary transport using the proton gradient as an energy source, and potassium loss during downshock is via a combination of secondary transport and non-specific ion loss through mechanosensitive channels. We also propose new mechanisms for magnesium and chloride accumulation. We describe the expansion and differentiation of haloarchaeal general transcription factor families, including two novel expansions of the TATA-binding protein family, and discuss their potential for enabling rapid adaptation to environmental fluxes. We challenge a recent high-profile proposal regarding the evolutionary origins of the haloarchaea by showing that inclusion of additional genomes significantly reduces support for a proposed large-scale horizontal gene transfer into the ancestral haloarchaeon from the bacterial domain. The combination of broad (17 genera) and deep (≥5 species in four genera) sampling of a phenotypically unified clade has enabled us to uncover both highly conserved and specialized features of osmoadaptation. Finally, we demonstrate the broad utility of such datasets, for metagenomics, improvements to automated gene annotation and investigations of evolutionary processes.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Synovium is acutely affected following joint trauma and contributes to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) progression. Little is known about discrete cell types and molecular mechanisms in PTOA ...synovium. We aimed to describe synovial cell populations and their dynamics in PTOA, with a focus on fibroblasts. We also sought to define mechanisms of synovial Wnt/β-catenin signalling, given its emerging importance in arthritis.
We subjected mice to non-invasive anterior cruciate ligament rupture as a model of human joint injury. We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing to assess synovial cell populations, subjected Wnt-GFP reporter mice to joint injury to study Wnt-active cells, and performed intra-articular injections of the Wnt agonist R-spondin 2 (Rspo2) to assess whether gain of function induced pathologies characteristic of PTOA. Lastly, we used cultured fibroblasts, macrophages and chondrocytes to study how Rspo2 orchestrates crosstalk between joint cell types.
We uncovered seven distinct functional subsets of synovial fibroblasts in healthy and injured synovium, and defined their temporal dynamics in early and established PTOA. Wnt/β-catenin signalling was overactive in PTOA synovium, and Rspo2 was strongly induced after injury and secreted exclusively by Prg4
lining fibroblasts. Trajectory analyses predicted that Prg4
lining fibroblasts arise from a pool of Dpp4+ mesenchymal progenitors in synovium, with SOX5 identified as a potential regulator of this emergence. We also showed that Rspo2 orchestrated pathological crosstalk between synovial fibroblasts, macrophages and chondrocytes.
Synovial fibroblasts assume distinct functional identities during PTOA in mice, and Prg4
lining fibroblasts secrete Rspo2 that may drive pathological joint crosstalk after injury.