10,537 research outputs found
Self-contained Kondo effect in single molecules
Kondo coupling of f and conduction electrons is a common feature of
f-electron intermetallics. Similar effects should occur in carbon ring
systems(metallocenes). Evidence for Kondo coupling in Ce(C8H8)2 (cerocene) and
the ytterbocene Cp*2Yb(bipy) is reported from magnetic susceptibility and
L_III-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy. These well-defined systems provide a
new way to study the Kondo effect on the nanoscale, should generate insight
into the Anderson Lattice problem, and indicate the importance of this
often-ignored contribution to bonding in organometallics.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures (eps
Quantifying structural damage from self-irradiation in a plutonium superconductor
The 18.5 K superconductor PuCoGa5 has many unusual properties, including
those due to damage induced by self-irradiation. The superconducting transition
temperature decreases sharply with time, suggesting a radiation-induced Frenkel
defect concentration much larger than predicted by current radiation damage
theories. Extended x-ray absorption fine-structure measurements demonstrate
that while the local crystal structure in fresh material is well ordered, aged
material is disordered much more strongly than expected from simple defects,
consistent with strong disorder throughout the damage cascade region. These
data highlight the potential impact of local lattice distortions relative to
defects on the properties of irradiated materials and underscore the need for
more atomic-resolution structural comparisons between radiation damage
experiments and theory.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, to be published in PR
Studies on the Occurrence and Elemental Composition of Bacteria in Freshwater Plankton
The occurrence and cation content of bacteria in a eutrophic freshwater lake (Rostherne Mere, Cheshire, UK) were investigated over a one year sampling period in relation to cation changes in the lake surface water and phytoplankton.
Scanning electron microscope examination of trawl-net and filtered samples demonstrated bacterial association with Anabaena, Aphanizomenon and diatoms. Direct counts of associated and unassociated bacteria showed that increases in bacterial population relate to population decline of major algal constituents.
Spectrophotometric determination of selected cation levels in the lake water demonstrated wide fluctuations throughout the sampling period, with elevated levels of transition metals before and at the end of Summer stratification. Zn and Pb also showed increased levels in relation to episodic events.
Mass fractions of spectrophotometrically-determined selected cations (Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb) in phytoplankton also varied considerably during the sampling period, with major increases apparently following peaks in water level.
X-ray microanalysis of whole, unassociated bacterial eel ls demonstrated high levels of soluble and bound cations, including K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb. Changes in the cation levels of bacteria did not follow a similar pattern to the general phytoplankton - probably due to differences in uptake or adsorption or to cycling of bacterial cells in the water column
The debris disk - terrestrial planet connection
The eccentric orbits of the known extrasolar giant planets provide evidence
that most planet-forming environments undergo violent dynamical instabilities.
Here, we numerically simulate the impact of giant planet instabilities on
planetary systems as a whole. We find that populations of inner rocky and outer
icy bodies are both shaped by the giant planet dynamics and are naturally
correlated. Strong instabilities -- those with very eccentric surviving giant
planets -- completely clear out their inner and outer regions. In contrast,
systems with stable or low-mass giant planets form terrestrial planets in their
inner regions and outer icy bodies produce dust that is observable as debris
disks at mid-infrared wavelengths. Fifteen to twenty percent of old stars are
observed to have bright debris disks (at wavelengths of ~70 microns) and we
predict that these signpost dynamically calm environments that should contain
terrestrial planets.Comment: Contribution to proceedings of IAU 276: Astrophysics of Planetary
System
Application of Waste Glass Powder as a Partial Cement Substitute towards more Sustainable Concrete Production
Use of waste materials in concrete is now a global trend for efficient waste management so as to achieve a sustainable green environment and with the added advantages of preserving the natural resources as well as producing a better performing concrete. This study examined the properties of concrete containing ground waste glass powder (GP) as partial replacement for cement. The waste glass was finely grounded into powder and the morphology imagery of the powder materials was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the chemical composition of the glass powdered material was determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the strength activity index, workability, split tensile and compressive strength properties of the concrete with 0%, 15%, 18%, 21%, 24%, 27% and 30% partial replacement of cement with the ground waste glass powder. The results showed that the oxides composition of the glass powder meets the requirements for pozzolanic material, while the SEM morphology shows materials of amorphous flaky solid masses, and based on the 28-day strength activity index, concrete containing 21% cement replacement shows a higher strength index above the recommended 75%. It was also observed that workability of the concrete reduced with increase in percentage glass content while significant improvement of the compressive strength of the concrete was achieved at 21% cement replacement, after which a decrease in strength with increasing percentage glass content was observed. The revealed results were confirmed by the microstructural examination using SEM showing a denser concrete at 21% cement replacement but increase porosity as the glass content increases. However, a decrease in split tensile strength was observed with increasing glass content. The results clearly showed that it is possible to produce moderate strength sustainable concrete for structural application using 20% glass powder as cement replacement
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