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At least 1,081 records · Page 60

Single layer multi-color luminescent display

The invention is a multi-color luminescent display comprising an insulator substrate and a single layer of host material which may be a phosphor deposited thereon that hosts one or more differential impurities, therein forming a pattern of selected and distinctly colored phosphors such as blue, green, and red phosphors in a single layer of host material. Transparent electrical conductor means may be provided for subjecting selected portions of the pattern of colored phosphors to an electric field thereby forming a multi-color, single layer electroluminescent display.

Robertson, James B.↗

Fixed-frequency and Frequency-agile (au, HTS) Microstrip Bandstop Filters for L-band Applications

In this work, we report on the performance of a highly selective, compact 1.83 x 2.08 cm(exp 2) (approx. 0.72 x 0.82 in(exp 2) microstrip line bandstop filter of YBa2CU3O(7-delta) (YBCO) on LaAlO3 (LAO) substrate. The filter is designed for a center frequency of 1.623 GHz for a bandwidth at 3 dB from reference baseline of less than 5.15 MHz, and a bandstop rejection of 30 dB or better. The design and optimization of the filter was performed using Zeland's IE3D circuit simulator. The optimized design was used to fabricate gold (Au) and High-Temperature Superconductor (HTS) versions of the filter. We have also studied an electronically tunable version of the same filter. Tunability of the bandstop characteristics is achieved by the integration of a thin film conductor (Au or HTS) and the nonlinear dielectric ferroelectric SrTiO3 in a conductor/ferroelectric/dielectric modified microstrip configuration. The performance of these filters and comparison with the simulated data will be presented.

Saenz, Eileen M.↗

Synthesis of terminal alkenes from internal alkenes and ethylene via olefin metathesis

This invention relates generally to olefin metathesis, and more particularly relates to the synthesis of terminal alkenes from internal alkenes using a cross-metathesis reaction catalyzed by a selected olefin metathesis catalyst. In one embodiment of the invention, for example, a method is provided for synthesizing a terminal olefin, the method comprising contacting an olefinic substrate comprised of at least one internal olefin with ethylene, in the presence of a metathesis catalyst, wherein the catalyst is present in an amount that is less than about 1000 ppm relative to the olefinic substrate, and wherein the metathesis catalyst has the structure of formula (II) ##STR00001## wherein the various substituents are as defined herein. The invention has utility, for example, in the fields of catalysis, organic synthesis, and industrial chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Synthesis of terminal alkenes from internal alkenes and ethylene via olefin metathesis

This invention relates generally to olefin metathesis, and more particularly relates to the synthesis of terminal alkenes from internal alkenes using a cross-metathesis reaction catalyzed by a selected olefin metathesis catalyst. In one embodiment of the invention, for example, a method is provided for synthesizing a terminal olefin, the method comprising contacting an olefinic substrate comprised of at least one internal olefin with ethylene, in the presence of a metathesis catalyst, wherein the catalyst is present in an amount that is less than about 1000 ppm relative to the olefinic substrate, and wherein the metathesis catalyst has the structure of formula (II) ##STR00001## wherein the various substituents are as defined herein. The invention has utility, for example, in the fields of catalysis, organic synthesis, and industrial chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

CWDM transmit module for wavelength tuning and tracking

A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes a semiconductor substrate with a main bus waveguide disposed within the substrate. Two or more ring lasers are disposed within the substrate and are optically coupled to the main bus waveguide. The ring lasers have a wavelength control mechanism allowing change of a lasers emitted wavelength. A wavelength selective filter is optically coupled to the bus waveguide. A control circuit is electronically coupled to each wavelength control mechanism, and the wavelength selective filter. The control circuit in conjunction with the selective filter allows monitoring of a ring laser's wavelength on the main bus waveguide. Based on a determined wavelength, the control circuit may change a ring laser wavelength to a desired wavelength to achieve a desired wavelength spacing for each of the ring lasers. The PIC may be integrated as a coarse wave-length division multiplexing (CWDM) transmit module.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Self-organization of S adatoms on Au(111): √3R30° rows at low coverage

Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we observe an adlayer structure that is dominated by short rows of S atoms, on unreconstructed regions of a Au(111) surface. This structure forms upon adsorption of low S coverage (less than 0.1 monolayer) on a fully reconstructed clean surface at 300 K, then cooling to 5 K for observation. The rows adopt one of three orientations that are rotated by 30° from the close-packed directions of the Au(111) substrate, and adjacent S atoms in the rows are separated by √3 times the surface lattice constant, a. Monte Carlo simulations are performed on lattice-gas models, derived using a limited cluster expansion based on density functional theory energetics. Models which include long-range pairwise interactions (extending to 5a), plus selected trio interactions, successfully reproduce the linear rows of S atoms at reasonable temperatures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Promiscuous terpene synthases from Prunella vulgaris highlight the importance of substrate and compartment switching in terpene synthase evolution

The mint family (Lamiaceae) is well documented as a rich source of terpene natural products. More than 200 diterpene skeletons have been reported from mints, but biosynthetic pathways are known for just a few of these. We crossreferenced chemotaxonomic data with publicly available transcriptomes to select common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) and its highly unusual vulgarisin diterpenoids as a case study for exploring the origins of diterpene skeletal diversity in Lamiaceae. Four terpene synthases (TPS) from the TPS-a subfamily, including two localised to the plastid, were cloned and functionally characterised. Previous examples of TPS-a enzymes from Lamiaceae were cytosolic and reported to act on the 15-carbon farnesyl diphosphate. Plastidial TPS-a enzymes using the 20-carbon geranylgeranyl diphosphate are known from other plant families, having apparently arisen independently in each family. All four new enzymes were found to be active on multiple prenyl-diphosphate substrates with different chain lengths and stereochemistries. One of the new enzymes catalysed the cyclisation of geranylgeranyl diphosphate into 11-hydroxy vulgarisane, the likely biosynthetic precursor of the vulgarisins. We uncovered the pathway to a rare diterpene skeleton. Our results support an emerging paradigm of substrate and compartment switching as important aspects of TPS evolution and diversification.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Inhibiting Metal Oxide Atomic Layer Deposition: Beyond Zinc Oxide

The atomic layer deposition (ALD) of several metal oxides is selectivity inhibited on alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au and the eventual nucleation mechanism is investigated. The inhibition ability of the SAM is significantly improved by the in situ H 2 -plasma pretreatment of the Au substrate prior to gas-phase deposition of a long-chain alkanethiol, 1-dodecanethiol (DDT). This more rigorous surface preparation inhibits even aggressive oxide ALD precursors, including trimethylaluminum and water, for at least 20 cycles. We study the effect that ALD precursor purge times, growth temperature, alkanethiol chain length, alkanethiol deposition time, and plasma treatment time have on Al 2 O 3 ALD inhibition. This is the first example of Al 2 O 3 ALD inhibition from a vapor-deposited SAM. Inhibition of Al 2 O 3 , ZnO, and MnO ALD processes are compared, revealing the versatility of this selective surface treatment. As a result, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and grazing incidence x-ray fluorescence (GIXRF) further reveals insight into the mechanism by which the well-defined surface chemistry of ALD may eventually be circumvented to allow metal oxide nucleation and growth on SAM-modified surfaces.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural basis for enzymatic terminal C–H bond functionalization of alkanes

Alkane monooxygenase (AlkB) is a widely occurring integral membrane metalloenzyme that catalyzes the initial step in the functionalization of recalcitrant alkanes with high terminal selectivity. AlkB enables diverse microorganisms to use alkanes as their sole carbon and energy source. Here we present the 48.6-kDa cryo-electron microscopy structure of a natural fusion from Fontimonas thermophila between AlkB and its electron donor AlkG at 2.76 Å resolution. The AlkB portion contains six transmembrane helices with an alkane entry tunnel within its transmembrane domain. A dodecane substrate is oriented by hydrophobic tunnel-lining residues to present a terminal C–H bond toward a diiron active site. AlkG, an [Fe–4S] rubredoxin, docks via electrostatic interactions and sequentially transfers electrons to the diiron center. The archetypal structural complex presented reveals the basis for terminal C–H selectivity and functionalization within this broadly distributed evolutionary class of enzymes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Site-Controlled Growth of GaN Nanorods with Inserted InGaN Quantum Wells on μ-Cone Patterned Sapphire Substrates by Plasma-Assisted MBE

We report on a new approach to fabricate regular arrays of GaN nanorods (NRs) with InGaN QWs by plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy (PA MBE) on micro-cone patterned sapphire substrates (μ-CPSSs). A two-stage PA MBE fabrication process of GaN NRs has been developed, starting with a high temperature nucleation layer growth at metal-rich conditions to aggregate selectively GaN nucleus on c-oriented areas of the μ-CPSSs and followed by growth of 1-μm-thick GaN NRs at strongly nitrogen-rich conditions exactly on the cone tips. These results are explained by energetically favorable GaN growth on the (000-) oriented sapphire surface. Both micro-photoluminescence and micro-cathodoluminescence confirm the formation of regular array of optically and spectrally isolated NRs without usage of any nanolithography.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Biofouling and Corrosion Study for a Novel Linear Guided Wave Energy Converter (Post Access Report)

The overall objective of this project was to examine the reliability and performance of antibiofouling coatings used for a wave energy converter (WEC) developed by E-Wave Technologies. The particular coatings were selected for their low toxicity and potential compatibility with aquaculture. The aim of this work was to 1) test coating solutions to prevent biofouling growth and saltwater corrosion on the static (paddle and attachment frame surface) components of the WEC that are submerged, 2) determine adhesion of the coatings to system components, and 3) assess the ease and effectiveness of biofouling cleaning to insure long term performance of the system. An analysis of commercial coatings was performed using methods to examine the prevention of biofouling and coating adhesion properties on two key materials of the WEC, which were 316L low carbon marine grade stainless steel (SS) and Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (PE). Three marine antifouling paints were selected based on their unique properties to test how different paint styles perform on different materials. The selected paints were ePaint Ecominder self-polishing paint with Zinc Omadine for slime control, Pettit ECO HRT Copper-Free ablative antifouling with Econea biocide, and Intersleek 1100SR foul release. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) prepared PE and SS substrates coated with the three paints and compared the performance against uncoated substrates when submerged in raw seawater for 3-, 6-, and 9-month (m) time periods. Results in adhesion testing indicated that Pettit and ePaint materials clearly bonded strongly to SS, but did not bond comparably well to PE. It was noted during adhesion testing that the Intersleek surfaces were especially difficult to test as the paint highly resists bonding to the epoxy adhesives used with the adherence testing platform. The wear rate of the coatings was not measured under this study; however, based on adhesion testing, coatings in the sliding regions of the Ewave device are expected to wear rapidly. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) evaluated the adhesion of three different paints to PE and SS substrates which were exposed to a marine environment for time intervals of 0, 3, 6, and 9 months. From qualitative visual analysis of the 3 in2 coupons when pulled from the tank, the 3 in2 coupons generally only appeared to have biofouling consisting of filamentous algae or diatoms, which all have relatively low mass and can be easily wiped from the surface of coupons. Qualitative visual analysis indicated that ECO HRT and Unpainted were consistently worse than Intersleek and Ecominder at all time points. Results provide insight to aid with down-selection of commercial coatings under static conditions to support reliability of the WEC and potential maintenance schedules. This investigation was conducted using small coupon samples suspended in seawater and the development of testing rigs for dynamic component level testing is needed for future work. In addition, the potential toxicity of these commercial coatings on aquaculture has not been determined by this study. One recommendation is to conduct toxicity investigations at the Environmental Toxicity Laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Aerobic oxidative coupling of amines to imines by mesoporous copper aluminum mixed metal oxides via generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

We report a mesoporous, monomodal copper aluminum mixed metal oxide (MMO) (average pore size 9.63 nm, surface area 140 m 2 /g) synthesized via a modified inverse micelle method, efficiently catalyzes aerobic oxidative coupling of amines to imines. This material exhibits excellent conversion (> 99%) and selectivity (> 99%) towards imine synthesis under mild, solvent free, green conditions utilizing atmospheric air as the sole oxidant. Catalytic activity is observed for a diverse range of amine substrates. The aerobic oxidation of amines to imines follows a unique mechanistic pathway which involves Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Karyopherinβ1 regulates proliferation of human glioma cells via Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Karyopherinβ1 (KPNB1), one of the cytosolic factors involved in the selective protein transport across nucleus, docked at nuclear pore complex and transported through nuclear envelope in an ATP-dependent style, assisting proteins to be recognized as import substrates. It has been reported to be bound up with the origination and progress of lung cancer, cervical cancer, head and neck cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. In current study, we demonstrated for the first time that the role of KPNB1 in human glioma. KPNB1 was over-expressed as the well-known trend of Ki-67(p < 0.01) and tightly closed to poor prognosis, as an independent prognostic factor. In vitro, up-regulation of KPNB1 was accompanied by certain rising levels of proliferation markers, employing U251 and U87MG cells as serum-starve models. Silencing KPNB1 in U251 and U87MG led to G1 phase arrested directly via flow cytometry analysis. In the nucleus of KPNB1-depletion cell models, the decreasing expression of KPNB1 and β-catenin was detected respectively, which indicated that KPNB1 functioned via β-catenin signal. Besides, the interaction between KPNB1 and β-catenin was proved clearly by immunoprecipitation. Taken together, it showed that KPNB1 might enhance human glioma proliferation via Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway. - Highlights: • KPNB1 accelerated the progress of human glioma via Wnt/β-catenin pathway. • The decreased β-catenin expression in nucleus of KPNB1-depletion cells. • We identified the interaction between β-catenin and KPNB1 for the first time. • The close positive relationship between KPNB1 expression and glioma proliferation. • Two kinds of glioma cell lines were applied to this study.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Ionic complexation of endblock-sulfonated thermoplastic elastomers and their physical gels for improved thermomechanical performance

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) composed of nonpolar triblock copolymers constitute a broadly important class of (re)processable network-forming macromolecules employed in ubiquitous commercial applications. Physical gelation of these materials in the presence of a low-volatility oil that is midblock-selective yields tunably soft TPE gels (TPEGs) that are suitable for emergent technologies ranging from electroactive, phase-change and shape-memory responsive media to patternable soft substrates for flexible electronics and microfluidics. Many of the high-volume TPEs used for these purposes possess styrenic endblocks that are inherently limited by a relatively low glass transition temperature. To mitigate this shortcoming, we sulfonate and subsequently complex (and physically crosslink) the endblocks with trivalent Al3+ ions. Doing so reduces the effective hydrophilicity of the sulfonated endblocks, as evidenced by water uptake measurements, while concurrently enhancing the thermomechanical stability of the corresponding TPEGs. Chemical modification results, as well as morphological and property development, are investigated as functions of the degree of sulfonation, complexation and TPEG composition. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Tailoring the Selective Oxidation of Hydroxyl-Containing Compounds via Precisely Tuning the Hydrogen-Bond Strength of Catalyst H-Bond Acceptors

The unique performance of the enzyme is mainly achieved via weak interactions between the “outer coordination sphere” and the substrate. Inspired by this process, we developed 3D encapsulated-structure catalysts with hydrogen-bond engineering on the shell, which mimics the “outer coordination sphere” of an enzyme. Various hydrogen bond acceptors (C=O, S=O, and N–O groups) are imparted in the shell. Concentration-dependent 1H NMR, inverse-phase gas Chromatography (IGC) measurements, and DFT calculations underscore that the hydrogen bond strength between the acceptor groups and alcohol follows the order of C=O < S=O < N–O. The hydroxyl compound oxidation rate vs the hydrogen bond strength follows a volcano behavior, reminiscent of Sabatier’s principle. The performance variation among catalysts is attributed to the adsorption strength of the substrate. The proposed bioinspired design principle expands the scope of encapsulated catalysts, enabling fine regulation of catalytic activity through precise microenvironment control via weak interactions with substrates.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Bottom-up fabrication of 2D Rydberg exciton arrays in cuprous oxide

Solid-state platforms provide exceptional opportunities for advancing on-chip quantum technologies by enhancing interaction strengths through coupling, scalability, and robustness. Cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) has recently emerged as a promising medium for scalable quantum technology due to its high-lying Rydberg excitonic states, akin to those in hydrogen atoms. To harness these nonlinearities for quantum applications, the confinement dimensions must match the Rydberg blockade size, which can reach several microns in Cu 2 O. Using a CMOS-compatible growth technique, this study demonstrates the bottom-up fabrication of site-selective arrays of Cu 2 O microparticles. We observed Rydberg excitons up to the principal quantum number n = 5 within these Cu 2 O arrays on a quartz substrate and analyzed the spatial variation of their spectrum across the array, showing robustness and reproducibility on a large chip. These results lay the groundwork for the deterministic growth of Cu 2 O around photonic structures, enabling substantial light-matter interaction on integrated photonic platforms and paving the way for scalable, on-chip quantum devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Phase-selective vanadium dioxide (VO{sub 2}) nanostructured thin films by pulsed laser deposition

Thin films of monoclinic nanostructured vanadium dioxide are notoriously difficult to produce in a selective manner. To date, post-annealing, after pulsed laser deposition (PLD), has been used to revert the crystal phase or to remove impurities, and non-glass substrates have been employed, thus reducing the efficacy of the transparency switching. Here, we overcome these limitations in PLD by optimizing a laser-ablation and deposition process through optical imaging of the laser-induced plasma. We report high quality monoclinic rutile-type vanadium dioxide (VO{sub 2}) (M1) nanoparticles without post-annealing, and on a glass substrate. Our samples demonstrate a reversible metal-to-insulator transition at ∼43 °C, without any doping, paving the way to switchable transparency in optical materials at room temperature.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗