410 research outputs found
Zinc isotopes from archaeological bones provide reliable trophic level information for marine mammals
In marine ecology, dietary interpretations of faunal assemblages often rely on nitrogen isotopes as the main or only applicable trophic level tracer. We investigate the geographic variability and trophic level isotopic discrimination factors of bone zinc 66Zn/64Zn ratios (δ66Zn value) and compared it to collagen nitrogen and carbon stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) values. Focusing on ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from multiple Arctic archaeological sites, we investigate trophic interactions between predator and prey over a broad geographic area. All proxies show variability among sites, influenced by the regional food web baselines. However, δ66Zn shows a significantly higher homogeneity among different sites. We observe a clear trophic spacing for δ15N and δ66Zn values in all locations, yet δ66Zn analysis allows a more direct dietary comparability between spatially and temporally distinct locations than what is possible by δ15N and δ13C analysis alone. When combining all three proxies, a more detailed and refined dietary analysis is possible
Relativistic and retardation effects in the two--photon ionization of hydrogen--like ions
The non-resonant two-photon ionization of hydrogen-like ions is studied in
second-order perturbation theory, based on the Dirac equation. To carry out the
summation over the complete Coulomb spectrum, a Green function approach has
been applied to the computation of the ionization cross sections. Exact
second-order relativistic cross sections are compared with data as obtained
from a relativistic long-wavelength approximation as well as from the scaling
of non-relativistic results. For high-Z ions, the relativistic wavefunction
contraction may lower the two-photon ionization cross sections by a factor of
two or more, while retardation effects appear less pronounced but still give
rise to non-negligible contributions.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure
Structural dynamics during laser induced ultrafast demagnetization
The mechanism underlying femtosecond laser pulse induced ultrafast
magnetization dynamics remains elusive despite two decades of intense research
on this phenomenon. Most experiments focused so far on characterizing
magnetization and charge carrier dynamics, while first direct measurements of
structural dynamics during ultrafast demagnetization were reported only very
recently. We here present our investigation of the infrared laser pulse induced
ultrafast demagnetization process in a thin Ni film, which characterizes
simultaneously magnetization and structural dynamics. This is achieved by
employing femtosecond time resolved X-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity
(tr-XRMR) as probe technique. The experimental results reveal unambiguously
that the sub-picosecond magnetization quenching is accompanied by strong
changes in non-magnetic X-ray reflectivity. These changes vary with reflection
angle and changes up to 30 have been observed. Modeling the X-ray
reflectivity of the investigated thin film, we can reproduce these changes by a
variation of the apparent Ni layer thickness of up to 1. Extending these
simulations to larger incidence angles we show that tr-XRMR can be employed to
discriminate experimentally between currently discussed models describing the
ultrafast demagnetization phenomenon
Ultra-fast intramolecular vibronic coupling revealed by RIXS and RPES maps of an aromatic adsorbate on TiO2(110)
Two-dimensional resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) and resonant photoelectron spectroscopy (RPES) maps are presented for multilayer and monolayer coverages of an aromatic molecule (bi-isonicotinic acid) on the rutile TiO2(110) single crystal surface. The data reveals ultra-fast intramolecular vibronic coupling upon core-excitation from the N 1s orbital into the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) derived resonance. In the RIXS measurements this results in the splitting of the participator decay channel into a purely elastic line which disperses linearly with excitation energy, and a vibronic coupling channel at constant emission energy. In the RPES measurements the vibronic coupling results in a linear shift in binding energy of the participator channel as the excitation is tuned over the LUMO-derived resonance. Localisation of the vibrations on the molecule on the femtosecond timescale results in predominantly inelastic scattering from the core-excited state in both the physisorbed multilayer and the chemisorbed monolayer
Promotion of oxygen reduction by a bio-inspired tethered iron phthalocyanine carbon nanotube-based catalyst
Electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction are a critical component that may dramatically enhance the performance of fuel cells and metal-air batteries, which may provide the power for future electric vehicles. Here we report a novel bio-inspired composite electrocatalyst, iron phthalocyanine with an axial ligand anchored on single-walled carbon nanotubes, demonstrating higher electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction than the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst as well as exceptional durability during cycling in alkaline media. Theoretical calculations suggest that the rehybridization of Fe 3d orbitals with the ligand orbitals coordinated from the axial direction results in a significant change in electronic and geometric structure, which greatly increases the rate of oxygen reduction reaction. Our results demonstrate a new strategy to rationally design inexpensive and durable electrochemical oxygen reduction catalysts for metal-air batteries and fuel cells.close34
Earliest evidence of dental caries manipulation in the Late Upper Palaeolithic
Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare, and the few documented cases are known from
the Neolithic, when the adoption of early farming culture caused an increase of carious lesions. Here
we report the earliest evidence of dental caries intervention on a Late Upper Palaeolithic modern
human specimen (Villabruna) from a burial in Northern Italy. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy
we show the presence of striations deriving from the manipulation of a large occlusal carious cavity
of the lower right third molar. The striations have a “V”-shaped transverse section and several
parallel micro-scratches at their base, as typically displayed by cutmarks on teeth. Based on in
vitro experimental replication and a complete functional reconstruction of the Villabruna dental
arches, we confirm that the identified striations and the associated extensive enamel chipping on
the mesial wall of the cavity were produced ante-mortem by pointed flint tools during scratching
and levering activities. The Villabruna specimen is therefore the oldest known evidence of dental
caries intervention, suggesting at least some knowledge of disease treatment well before the
Neolithic. This study suggests that primitive forms of carious treatment in human evolution entail an
adaptation of the well-known toothpicking for levering and scratching rather than drilling practices
Identification of durable and non-durable FeN x sites in Fe–N–C materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells
While Fe–N–C materials are a promising alternative to platinum for catalysing the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic polymer fuel cells, limited understanding of their operando degradation restricts rational approaches towards improved durability. Here we show that Fe–N–C catalysts initially comprising two distinct FeNx sites (S1 and S2) degrade via the transformation of S1 into iron oxides while the structure and number of S2 were unmodified. Structure–activity correlations drawn from end-of-test 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy reveal that both sites initially contribute to the oxygen reduction reaction activity but only S2 substantially contributes after 50 h of operation. From in situ 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy in inert gas coupled to calculations of the Mössbauer signature of FeNx moieties in different electronic states, we identify S1 to be a high-spin FeN4C12 moiety and S2 a low- or intermediate-spin FeN4C10 moiety. These insights lay the groundwork for rational approaches towards Fe–N–C cathodes with improved durability in acidic fuel cells. [Figure not available: see fulltext.
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