A Review of X-Ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopic Studies of Pyrochlore-Type Oxides Proposed for Nuclear Materials Applications

Pyrochlore-type oxides (A2B2O7) have received considerable attention for nuclear waste sequestration applications. It is important to understand how the electronic structure of these materials changes depending on the composition and how the structure of these materials is affected by radiation. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) is a powerful technique that can be used to study the electronic structure of the materials as well as the effect of radiation-induced structural damage on these materials. The objective of this contribution is to demonstrate how XANES can be used to extract important information on pyrochlore-type oxides, including: oxidation state, coordination number (CN), antisite disorder, and the effect of radiation on the structure of the material.NSER

Electronic and atomic structures of the Sr3Ir4Sn13 single crystal: A possible charge density wave material

[[abstract]]X-ray scattering (XRS), x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopic techniques were used to study the electronic and atomic structures of the high-quality Sr3Ir4Sn13 (SIS) single crystal below and above the transition temperature (T* ≈ 147 K). The evolution of a series of modulated satellite peaks below the transition temperature in the XRS experiment indicated the formation of a possible charge density wave (CDW) in the (110) plane. The EXAFS phase derivative analysis supports the CDW-like formation by revealing different bond distances [Sn1(2)-Sn2] below and above T* in the (110) plane. XANES spectra at the Ir L3-edge and Sn K-edge demonstrated an increase (decrease) in the unoccupied (occupied) density of Ir 5d-derived states and a nearly constant density of Sn 5p-derived states at temperatures T < T* in the (110) plane. These observations clearly suggest that the Ir 5d-derived states are closely related to the anomalous resistivity transition. Accordingly, a close relationship exists between local electronic and atomic structures and the CDW-like phase in the SIS single crystal.[[notice]]補正完

Pokémon GO is serious leisure that increases the touristic engagement, physical activity and sense of happiness of players

© 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. This study investigates Pokémon Go as a form of serious leisure including its impact on the touristic engagement, physical activity and sense of happiness of players. This location-aware augmented reality mobile game continues to be played by millions of people every day. Based on an online survey identifying 438 Pokémon GO players from 34 countries the present study examines if playing Pokémon GO sends people to locations, cities and countries beyond their normal sphere of activity and makes them feel happier and more successful. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis and regression were used to analyze data. Results show that playing the networked game on a mobile device increases visitation to local tourism attractions, and motivates people to spend more time outdoors and walking. It also sends them to cities and countries they might not otherwise visit and acts as an alternative to spending time indoors playing computer games. Surveyed players feel happier and more successful after playing the game. Pokémon GO might have value as the center of a tourism product for those players. The opportunity to acquire Pokémon and encounter others involved in the game across a destination, or in a single attraction, could pull players to that place. These are the attributes of people in pursuit of serious leisure