Surface structure and solidification morphology of aluminum nanoclusters

Classical molecular dynamics simulation with embedded atom method potential had been performed to investigate the surface structure and solidification morphology of aluminum nanoclusters Aln (n = 256, 604, 1220 and 2048). It is found that Al cluster surfaces are comprised of (111) and (001) crystal planes. (110) crystal plane is not found on Al cluster surfaces in our simulation. On the surfaces of smaller Al clusters (n = 256 and 604), (111) crystal planes are dominant. On larger Al clusters (n = 1220 and 2048), (111) planes are still dominant but (001) planes can not be neglected. Atomic density on cluster (111)/(001) surface is smaller/larger than the corresponding value on bulk surface. Computational analysis on total surface area and surface energies indicates that the total surface energy of an ideal Al nanocluster has the minimum value when (001) planes occupy 25% of the total surface area. We predict that a melted Al cluster will be a truncated octahedron after equilibrium solidification.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, 34 reference

Risiken im Lebenszyklus: Theorie und Evidenz

Der einzelne Mensch ist im Lebensverlauf erheblichen biometrischen, ökonomischen, familiären und politischen Risiken ausgesetzt. Viele meinen, diese wären in den letzten Jahren größer geworden. Haben wir die richtigen Institutionen, um diese Risiken effizient abzudecken? Unter Institutionen verstehen wir individuelles Sparen, familiäre Hilfe, private Versicherungen und schließlich den Staat mit seinen Sozialversicherungen. Wo und wann funktionieren diese Institutionen? Wo und wann nicht? Was muss man tun, um sie zu verbessern? Wie sieht modernes "Social Risk Management" aus? Der erste Teil dieses Übersichtsbeitrags skizziert die wirtschaftstheoretischen Grundlagen des Sparverhaltens, der Portefeuillewahl und der Versicherungsnachfrage. Im Hauptteil werden die empirischen Befunde gesammelt, um im dritten Teil wirtschaftspolitische Schlussfolgerungen zu ziehen

Early Turonian ammonites from Goulmima, southern Morocco

In recent years, large numbers of Early Turonian ammonites from Morocco have found their way onto the open market. They come from the Cretaceous escarpment to the north of Goulmima, in the province of El Rachidia, southern Morocco. A section measured northeast of the village of Asfla sets the ammonites in stratigraphic context. The fauna belongs to the widely recognised upper lower Turonian Mammites nodosoides Zone, and comprises Romaniceras (Yubariceras) reymenti (COLLIGNON, 1967), Mammites nodosoides (SCHLÜTER, 1871), Nannovascoceras intermedium RENZ and ALVAREZ, 1979, Fagesia peroni PERVINQUIÈRE, 1907, Neoptychites cephalotus (COURTILLER, 1860), Neoptychites aff. hottingeri COLLIGNON, 1967, Choffaticeras (Choffaticeras) segne (SOLGER, 1903) and Wrightoceras munieri (PERVINQUIÈRE, 1907)

Integrated stratigraphy across the Aptian-Albian boundary in the Marnes Bleues, at the Col de Pré-Guittard, Arnayon (Drôme), and at Tartonne (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), France: a candidate Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Boundary Point for the base of the Albian Stage.

The history of definition of the Aptian-Albian boundary is reviewed with particular reference to the ammonite schemes of Brinkmann (1937), Breistroffer (1947), Casey (1961a, 1996, 1999), Kemper (1982), Owen (1996, 1999), and Ruffell & Owen (1995). The classic sequence in the Hannover area of Germany described by Brinkmann (1937) is reviewed in the light of subsequent work. The definition of the base of the Albian Stage at the first occurrence of the ammonite Proleymeriella schrammeni (Jacob, 1907) is rejected as it can only be recognised over a limited area near Hannover; no more widely recognised secondary markers have been documented, and there is no permanent section at the present time. An alternative Aptian-Albian boundary, defined by the first occurrence of the ammonite Leymeriella (L.) tardefurcata (d'Orbigny, 1841) in the expanded Marnes Bleues section at Tartonne, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France, is suggested. The palynomorph, coccolith, planktonic foraminiferan, ammonite, and inoceramid bivalve sequence, organic and inorganic carbon, trace, rare earth, and major element record, oxygen and carbon isotope sequence, and strontium isotope data are presented for sections at the Col de Pré-Guittard, Arnayon (Drôme), and Tartonne (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) and described in detail. The Pré-Guittard section, considered as a candidate Global Boundary Stratotype Section (GSS) for the base of the Albian Stage at the Second International Symposium on Cretaceous Stage Boundaries held in Brussels in September 1995, provides a standard section for the boundary interval in SE France. It is, however, unsuitable as a GSS, as there is a hiatus at the critical level in the section. In contrast, the Tartonne section is a potential GSS. The Boundary Point for the base of the Albian Stage suggested here is the first criterion proposed at Brussels: the first appearance of the ammonite Leymeriella (L.) tardefurcata at the base of the Niveau Paquier within the expanded Marnes Bleues sequence. The first appearance is only 60 cm above the last record of its presumed ancestor, L. (L.) germanica Casey, 1957. So defined, the boundary lies within thePrediscosphaera columnata Nannofossil (NF) Zone NC/CC8, and the planktonic foraminiferal Hedbergella planispira Partial Range Zone. There is no major or trace element event associated with the proposed boundary, nor is there any distinctive oxygen or carbon isotopic signal. Strontium isotope data from the Tartonne section are compatible with those elsewhere in the basin, and show that the base of the Albian, defined by the first appearance of L. (L.)tardefurcata corresponds to an87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.707339±2. Systematic sections deal with a new palynomorph, calcareous nannofossils and ammonites; full range data and taxonomic indices are given for the first two groups

Integrated stratigraphy across the Aptian/Albian boundary at Col de Pré-Guittard (southeast France) : a candidate global boundary stratotype section

The outcrop of the Marnes Bleues at the Col de Pr\ue9-Guittard, 11km north of the village of R\ue9muzat in the D\ue9partment of Dr 4me in southeastern France is probably the most intensively studied succession spanning the Aptian/Albian boundary interval. Following the rejection of the proposed GSSP for the base of the Albian Stage (based on the first occurrence of the ammonite Leymeriellla tardefurcata in the section at Le Pillart, Tartonne, Alpes-de-Haute Provence), we re-visit the Pr\ue9-Guittard section. A new candidate GSSP defined by the first occurrence of the planktonic foraminifera Microhedbergella renilaevis Huber and Leckie, 2011 is here proposed. This first occurrence is placed in a 100m section with 28 secondary markers, including calcareous nannofossils, planktonic foraminifera, palynomorphs, an inoceramid bivalve, ammonites, stable carbon isotopes, and local marker beds. The outcrop fulfils most of the physical criteria required of a Global Stratotype Section and Point. \ua9 2014 Elsevier Ltd