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At least 1,441 records · Page 80

Vacancy‐Controlled Contact Friction in Graphene

Abstract Defects‐controlled friction in graphene is of technological importance in many applications, but the underlying mechanism remains a subject of debate. Here it is shown that, during the controlled oxidation in oxygen plasma and subsequent reduction induced by high‐energy photons, the contact friction in chemical vapor deposition grown graphene is dominantly determined by the vacancies formed instead of the bonding with add‐atoms. This effect is attributed to the vacancy‐enhanced out‐of‐plane deformation flexibility in graphene, which tends to produce large puckering of graphene sheet near the contact edge and thus increases the effective contact area. Modified graphene with large contact friction has a large density of defects, but remains a good electrical conductor, in which the carrier transport is strongly affected by quantum localization effects even at room temperature. It is also found that the oxidation process in graphene is substrate‐sensitive. Comparing to monolayer graphene on SiO 2 substrate, the oxidation process progresses much faster when the substrate is SrTiO 3 , while bilayer graphene exhibits great oxidation resistance on both substrates. The collection of observations provides important information for tailoring the mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties of graphene through selected defects and substrates.

Gajurel, Prakash↗

VEGF111b, a new member of VEGFxxxb isoforms and induced by mitomycin C, inhibits angiogenesis

Highlights: •We discovered a new member of VEGFxxxb family-VEGF111b. •We found VEGF111b mRNA and protein can be induced by mitomycin C. •We confirmed VEGF111b over-expression inhibits angiogenesis. •VEGF111b inhibits angiogenesis through inhibiting VEGF-R2/PI3K/Akt and VEGF-R2/ERK1/2 phosphorylation. -- Abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) stimulating angiogenesis is required for tumor growth and progression. The conventional VEGF-A isoforms have been considered as pro-angiogenic factors. Another family of VEGF-A isoforms generated by alternative splicing, termed VEGFxxxb isoforms, has anti-angiogenic property, exemplified by VEGF165b. Here, we identify a new number of VEGFxxx family-VEGF111b induced by mitomycin C, although not detected in mitomycin C-unexposed ovarian cancer cells. SKOV3 cells were transfected with pcDNA{sub 3.1} empty vector, pcDNA{sub 3.1}-VEGF111b or pcDNA{sub 3.1}-VEGF165b to collect conditioned mediums respectively. VEGF111b overexpression inhibits proliferation, migration and tube formation of endothelial cell by inhibiting VEGF-R2 phosphorylation and its downstream signaling, similar to VEGF165b but slightly lower than VEGF165b. The anti-angiogenic property depends on the six amino acids of exon 8b of the VEGFxxxb isoforms. Our results show that VEGF111b is a novel potent anti-angiogenic agent that can target the VEGF-R2 and its signaling pathway to inhibit ovarian tumor growth.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

A review of computational modeling techniques in study and design of shape memory ceramics

Shape memory ceramics are a unique family of shape memory materials with a wide variety of applications, such as ultra-high energy dissipation and high-temperature actuation. Along with significant progress in the experimental study of zirconia-based shape memory ceramics in recent years, computational simulations have exhibited powerful capabilities in revealing nano/microstructure-dependent deformation and failure mechanisms in these materials. In this work, we review the recent progress in understanding the phase transformation behavior in shape memory ceramics, focusing on computational modeling of zirconia-based ceramics. Electronic structure calculations have provided new data on the phase stability and surface properties of shape memory ceramics. At the nanometer length scale, molecular dynamics simulations have captured fundamental information about martensitic phase transformation and the effects of grain boundaries and defects on mechanical response of bi- and polycrystalline zirconia-based ceramics. At the micrometer length scale, advanced phase-field models have shown the ability to predict morphological evolution of microstructures and the corresponding mechanical responses in good agreement with experimental observations. Despite the recent multiscale computational advancements, further developments are required to establish processing-structure-property-performance relations that will lead to reliable and practical strategies for designing zirconia-based (or other) ceramics with improved and sustained shape memory responses. This article critically reviews current computational modeling techniques and provides an outlook for the study and design of the next generation of shape memory ceramics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low dimensional metal halide perovskites and hybrids

Organic-inorganic metal halide hybrids are an important class of crystalline materials with exceptional structural and property tunability. Recently metal halide perovskites with ABX 3 structure have been extensively investigated as new generation semiconductors for various optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaic cells, light emitting diodes, photodetectors, and lasers, for their exceptional optical and electronic properties. By controlling the morphological dimensionality, low dimensional metal halide perovskites, including 2D perovskite nanoplatelets, 1D perovskite nanowires, and 0D perovskite quantum dots, have been developed to exhibit distinct properties from their bulk counterparts, due to quantum size effects. Besides ABX 3 perovskites, organic-inorganic metal halide hybrids, containing the same fundamental building block of metal halide octahedra (BX 6 ), can also be assembled to possess other types of crystallographic structures. Using appropriate organic and inorganic components, low dimensional organic-inorganic metal halide hybrids with 2D, quasi-2D, corrugated-2D, 1D, and 0D structures at the molecular level have been developed and studied. Due to the strong quantum confinement and site isolation, these low dimensional metal halide hybrids at the molecular level exhibit remarkable and unique properties that are significantly different from those of ABX 3 perovskites. In light of the rapid development of low dimensional metal halide perovskites and hybrids, it is indeed timely to review the recent progress in these areas. Also, there is a need to clarify the difference between morphological low dimensional metal halide perovskites and molecular level low dimensional metal halide hybrids, as currently the terminologies of low dimensional perovskites are not appropriately used in many cases. Finally, in this review article, we discuss the synthesis, characterization, application, and computational studies of low dimensional metal halide perovskites and hybrids.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Epitaxial Growth of Three-Dimensionally Mesostructured Single-Crystalline Cu 2 O via Templated Electrodeposition

Significant efforts have been made over the past few decades to realize functional three-dimensional photonic crystal devices including zero-threshold lasers, waveguides, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and solar cells; however, progress has been limited because of difficulties in creating three-dimensional photonic crystals from single-crystal materials. Most have been formed from polycrystalline materials and thus have generally exhibited poor electronic properties. Realization of materials containing complex three-dimensional mesostructures, in single-crystal form, remains a significant challenge. Furthermore, we demonstrate the epitaxial growth of three-dimensionally mesostructured Cu 2 O by bottom-up electrodeposition through a 3D silica colloidal template. Not only is the templated Cu 2 O single crystal, but when the electrodeposition continues past the colloidal template, the crystallinity of the overlying solid Cu 2 O appears to be improved because the template blocks threading dislocations, resulting in substantial reductions in the dislocation density of the overlying solid Cu 2 O.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Changes in Physical Properties of Everglades Peat Soils Induced by Increased Salinity at the Laboratory Scale: Implications for Changes in Biogenic Gas Dynamics

Abstract Saltwater intrusion due to sea level rise is a major concern for the Florida Everglades because it may induce shifts in ecosystem productivity and physical soil properties. However, the effects of saline water intrusion into the current carbon gas dynamics of the Everglades (particularly in terms of biogenic gas production and emissions, i.e., CH 4 and CO 2 ) are still uncertain. In this work, we present a laboratory‐based study to simulate how sea level rise may alter the physical properties (i.e., hydraulic conductivity) of peat soils from the Everglades and consequently affect the accumulation and release of biogenic gases within the peat matrix. Peat monoliths collected from the Everglades were subjected to progressive increases in salinity from a NaCl solution, and changes to the biogenic gas dynamics regime were simultaneously monitored using a combination of time‐lapse ground‐penetrating radar measurements, manometers, time‐lapse photography, and gas traps. Physical changes to the peat matrix at each salinity interval were assessed using constant head permeameter tests. Consistent with previous research, results show that a progressive increase in salinity (from fresh to saltwater) results in (1) a progressive increase in hydraulic conductivity and (2) a progressive decrease in gas content within the peat matrix (i.e., production) and gas releases. This work has implications for better understanding the potential effects of saltwater intrusion into freshwater peatland systems in the Everglades, particularly in terms of carbon gas dynamics.

Sirianni, Matthew J.↗

Pseudogap behavior in charge density wave kagome material ScV 6 Sn 6 revealed by magnetotransport measurements

Over the last few years, significant attention has been devoted to studying the kagome materials A V 3 Sb 5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) due to their unconventional superconductivity and charge density wave (CDW) ordering. Recently $ScV_{6}Sn_{6}$ was found to host a CDW below ≈ 90 K, and, like A V 3 Sb 5 , it contains a kagome lattice comprised only of V ions. Here we present a comprehensive magnetotransport study on $ScV_{6}Sn_{6}$. We discovered several anomalous transport phenomena above the CDW ordering temperature, including insulating behavior in interlayer resistivity, a strongly temperature-dependent Hall coefficient, and a violation of Kohler’s rule. All these anomalies can be consistently explained by a progressive decrease in carrier densities with decreasing temperature, suggesting the formation of a pseudogap. Our findings suggest that high-temperature CDW fluctuations play a significant role in determining the normal state electronic properties of $ScV_{6}Sn_{6}$.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Synthesis and chemistry of elemental 2D materials

2D materials have attracted considerable attention in the past decade for their superlative physical properties. These materials consist of atomically thin sheets exhibiting covalent in-plane bonding and weak interlayer and layer-substrate bonding. Following the example of graphene, most emerging 2D materials are derived from structures that can be isolated from bulk phases of layered materials, which form a limited library for new materials discovery. Entirely synthetic 2D materials provide access to a greater range of properties through the choice of constituent elements and substrates. Of particular interest are elemental 2D materials, because they provide the most chemically tractable case for synthetic exploration. In this Review, we explore the progress made in the synthesis and chemistry of synthetic elemental 2D materials, and offer perspectives and challenges for the future of this emerging field.

Mannix, Andrew J.↗

Indexed improvements for real-time trotter evolution of a (1 + 1) field theory using NISQ quantum computers

Today's quantum computers offer the possibility of performing real-time calculations for quantum field theory scattering processes motivated by high energy physics. In order to follow the successful roadmap which has been established for the calculation of static properties at Euclidean time, it is crucial to develop new algorithmic methods to deal with the limitations of current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices and to establish quantitative measures of the progress made with different devices. In this paper, we report recent progress in these directions. We show that nonlinear aspects of the trotter errors allow us to take much larger step then suggested by low-order analysis. This is crucial to reach physically relevant time scales with today's NISQ technology. We propose to use an index averaging absolute values of the difference between the accurately calculated trotter evolution of site occupations and their actual measurements on NISQ machines (G index) as a measure to compare results that have been obtained from different hardware platforms. Using the transverse Ising model in one spatial dimension with four sites we apply this metric across several hardware platforms. We study the results including readout mitigation and Richardson extrapolations and show that the mitigated measurements are very effective based on the analysis of the trotter step size modifications. Furthermore, we discuss how this advance in the trotter step size procedures can improve quantum computing physics scattering results and how this technical advance can be applied to other machines and noise mitigation methods.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

X-ray nanodiffraction studies of ionically controlled nanoscale phase separation in cobaltites

Complex oxide heterostructures provide access to emergent functional and structural phases that are not present in the bulk constituent materials. In this Rapid Communication, we focus on $La_{0.67}Sr_{0.33}CoO_3$ (LSCO)/Gd heterostructures due to the high oxygen ion conductivity, as well as the coupled magnetic and electronic properties of LSCO, which are strongly dependent on the oxygen stoichiometry. This combination of properties enables the ionic control of the functional properties of LSCO thin films through the presence of oxygen getter layers such as Gd.We utilize x-ray nanodiffraction to directly image the nanoscale morphology of LSCO thin films as they are progressively transformed from the equilibrium perovskite phase to the metastable brownmillerite (BM) phase with increasing Gd thickness. Our studies show the coexistence of perovskite and BM phases with a critical oxygen vacancy concentration threshold which leads to the formation of extended BM filaments. In addition to lateral phase separation, we observed phase separation within the film thickness possibly due to pinning of the perovskite and BM phases by the substrate/LSCO and LSCO/Gd interface, respectively. Our studies provide a nanoscale survey of the phase separation in the cobaltites and shed light on the formation of the metastable BM phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Toward sustainable production of value‐added bioenergy and industrial oils in oilseed and biomass feedstocks

Abstract Plant fatty acids are used for food, feed, fuel, and industrial materials. Structurally and chemically diverse fatty acids, referred to as unusual or specialized fatty acids, are found in the seed oils of diverse plant species. Many unusual fatty acids have potential use as alternative and renewable sources of biofuels and bio‐based industrial feedstocks due to their variant structures' physical or functional properties. Oils enriched in these fatty acids can increase the value of oilseed crops and provide co‐products that can be readily extracted from lignocellulosic materials in biomass crops. Here, we describe recent progress in strategies for enhancement of oil production and quality in oilseed crops and the extension of this knowledge for metabolic engineering of biomass crops. Successful implementation of these strategies, in part, through the use of emerging synthetic biology tools, will provide added product value for the economic sustainability of biomass crops as bioenergy feedstocks.

Park, Kiyoul↗

Multipurpose active scanning probe cantilevers for near-field spectroscopy, scanning tunnel imaging, and atomic-resolution lithography

In this work, we report progress on developing a multipurpose scanning probe cantilever applying gallium nitride nanowires as the probe tip. Gallium nitride nanowires possess high potential as probes due to their straight profile, tunable electrical and optical properties, high Young’s Modulus, durability, and high-yield fabrication process. Their wide bandgap enables them to be pumped to emit ultraviolet pulses which can be used for optical imaging and spectroscopy. They can be doped during growth to be electrically conductive, and their sharp tips obtained during epitaxial growth enable confinement of a high electric field at tip–sample interface. Their sharp tips are obtained during fabrication by their epitaxial growth which eliminates the need for postprocess sharpening that is typically required for standard STM tips. We present results of using gallium nitride nanowires for scanning tunnel microscopy applications of atomic-resolution imaging and lithography, and atomic force microscopy applications of imaging and lithography in vacuum and atmospheric environments.

Engineering↗

Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 4. Deciphering the Nature of the Higgs Sector

This Report summarizes the results of the activities of the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group in the period 2014-2016. The main goal of the working group was to present the state-of-the-art of Higgs physics at the LHC, integrating all new results that have appeared in the last few years. The first part compiles the most up-to-date predictions of Higgs boson production cross sections and decay branching ratios, parton distribution functions, and off-shell Higgs boson production and interference effects. The second part discusses the recent progress in Higgs effective field theory predictions, followed by the third part on pseudo-observables, simplified template cross section and fiducial cross section measurements, which give the baseline framework for Higgs boson property measurements. The fourth part deals with the beyond the Standard Model predictions of various benchmark scenarios of Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, extended scalar sector, Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and exotic Higgs boson decays. This report follows three previous working-group reports: Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 1. Inclusive Observables (CERN-2011-002), Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 2. Differential Distributions (CERN-2012-002), and Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 3. Higgs properties (CERN-2013-004). The current report serves as the baseline reference for Higgs physics in LHC Run 2 and beyond.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 4. Deciphering the Nature of the Higgs Sector

This Report summarizes the results of the activities of the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group in the period 2014-2016. The main goal of the working group was to present the state-of-the-art of Higgs physics at the LHC, integrating all new results that have appeared in the last few years. The first part compiles the most up-to-date predictions of Higgs boson production cross sections and decay branching ratios, parton distribution functions, and off-shell Higgs boson production and interference effects. The second part discusses the recent progress in Higgs effective field theory predictions, followed by the third part on pseudo-observables, simplified template cross section and fiducial cross section measurements, which give the baseline framework for Higgs boson property measurements. The fourth part deals with the beyond the Standard Model predictions of various benchmark scenarios of Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, extended scalar sector, Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and exotic Higgs boson decays. This report follows three previous working-group reports: Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 1. Inclusive Observables (CERN-2011-002), Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 2. Differential Distributions (CERN-2012-002), and Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 3. Higgs properties (CERN-2013-004). The current report serves as the baseline reference for Higgs physics in LHC Run 2 and beyond.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Fast Magnetic Reconnection: “Ideal” Tearing and the Hall Effect

One of the main questions in magnetic reconnection is the origin of triggering behavior with on/off properties that, once it is activated, accounts for the fast magnetic energy conversion to kinetic and thermal energies at the heart of explosive events in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Over the past decade, progress has been made on the initiation of fast reconnection via the plasmoid instability and what has been called “ideal” tearing, which sets in once current sheets thin to a critical inverse aspect ratio (a/L){sub c}. As shown by Pucci and Velli, at (a/L){sub c}∼S{sup −1/3}, the timescale for the instability to develop becomes of the order of the Alfvén time and independent of the Lundquist number (here defined in terms of current sheet length L). However, given the large values of S in natural plasmas, this transition might occur for thicknesses of the inner resistive singular layer that are comparable to the ion inertial length d {sub i}. When this occurs, Hall currents produce a three-dimensional quadrupole structure of the magnetic field, and the dispersive waves introduced by the Hall effect accelerate the instability. Here we present a linear study showing how the “ideal” tearing mode critical aspect ratio is modified when Hall effects are taken into account, including more general scaling laws of the growth rates in terms of sheet inverse aspect ratio: the critical inverse aspect ratio is amended to a/L≃(di/L){sup 0.29}(1/S){sup 0.19}, at which point the instability growth rate becomes Alfvénic and does not depend on either of the (small) parameters d{sub i}/L,1/S. We discuss the implications of this generalized triggering aspect ratio for recently developed phase diagrams of magnetic reconnection.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Materials and structures technology

Materials and structures performance limitations, particularly for the hot section of the engine in which these limitations limit the life of components, are considered. Failure modes for components such as blades, vanes, and combustors and how they are affected by the environment for such components are discussed. Methods used to improve the materials used for such components are: (1) application of directional structures to turbine components for high strength at high temperatures; (2) improved coatings to increase oxidation and corrosion resistance; (3) increase strength and stiffness with reduced weight by applying higher specific properties of composite materials; and (4) cost effective processing such as near net shape powder methods applied to disks. Life prediction techniques developed to predict component life accurately in advance of service and progress in improving the intermediate and cold section components of turbine engines are covered.

Signorelli, R. A.↗

Spherical micro-glass particle impingement studies of thermoplastic materials at normal incidence

Light optical and scanning electron microscope studies were conducted to characterize the erosion resistance of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE). Erosion was caused by a jet of spherical micro-glass beads at normal impact. During the initial stages of damage, the surfaces of these materials were studied using a profilometer. Material buildup above the original surface was observed on PC and PMMA. As erosion progressed, this buildup disappeared as the pit became deeper. Little or no buildup was observed on PTFE and on UHMWPE. UHMWPE and PTFE are the most resistant materials and PMMA the least. Favorable properties for high erosion resistance seem to be high values of ultimate elongation, and strain energy and a low value of the modulus of elasticity. Erosion-rate-versus-time curves of PC and PTFE exhibit incubation, acceleration and steady state periods. A continuously increasing erosion rate period was observed however for PMMA instead of a steady state period. At early stages of damage and at low impact pressure material removal mechanisms appear to be similar to those for metallic materials.

Rao, P. V.↗

Spherical microglass particle impingement studies of thermoplastic materials at normal incidence

Light optical and scanning electron microscope studies were conducted to characterize the erosion resistance of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE). Erosion was caused by a jet of spherical micro-glass beads at normal impact. During the initial stages of damage, the surfaces of these materials were studied using a profilometer. Material buildup above the original surface was observed on PC and PMMA. As erosion progressed, this buildup disappeared as the pit became deeper. Little or no buildup was observed on PTFE and on UHMWPE. UHMWPE and PTFE are the most resistant materials and PMMA the least. Favorable properties for high erosion resistance seem to be high values of ultimate elongation, and strain energy and a low value of the modulus of elasticity. Erosion-rate-versus-time curves of PC and PTFE exhibit incubation, acceleration and steady state periods. A continuously increasing erosion rate period was observed however for PMMA instead of a steady state period. At early stages of damage and at low impact pressure material removal mechanisms appear to be similar to those for metallic materials.

Veerabhadra Rao, P.↗