Imaging-SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy) Studies of Advanced Materials

This article describes the application of scanning ion microprobe (SIM) microanalysis for the characterization of advanced engineered materials. In conjunction with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), scanning ion microprobes can image elemental distributions over surfaces with high lateral resolution (50-100 nm). With this technique, most elements, including isotopes, can be detected with good sensitivity. The principles and instrumentation associated with the SIM/SIMS technique are briefly described and ongoing developments are outlined. The analytical capabilities of the technique are illustrated by case studies of aluminum-lithium alloys, zinc oxide varistors, aluminum matrix composites, and photographic materials

Stability and Electronic Properties of TiO2 Nanostructures With and Without B and N Doping

We address one of the main challenges to TiO2-photocatalysis, namely band gap narrowing, by combining nanostructural changes with doping. With this aim we compare TiO2's electronic properties for small 0D clusters, 1D nanorods and nanotubes, 2D layers, and 3D surface and bulk phases using different approximations within density functional theory and GW calculations. In particular, we propose very small (R < 0.5 nm) but surprisingly stable nanotubes with promising properties. The nanotubes are initially formed from TiO2 layers with the PtO2 structure, with the smallest (2,2) nanotube relaxing to a rutile nanorod structure. We find that quantum confinement effects - as expected - generally lead to a widening of the energy gap. However, substitutional doping with boron or nitrogen is found to give rise to (meta-)stable structures and the introduction of dopant and mid-gap states which effectively reduce the band gap. Boron is seen to always give rise to n-type doping while depending on the local bonding geometry, nitrogen may give rise to n-type or p-type doping. For under coordinated TiO2 surface structures found in clusters, nanorods, nanotubes, layers and surfaces nitrogen gives rise to acceptor states while for larger clusters and bulk structures donor states are introduced

Quasiparticle tunneling spectroscopy of high {Tc} cuprates

Superconductor-insulator-normal metal (SIN) and superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junctions provide important information on pairing state symmetry and mechanism. Measurements of such junctions on high {Tc} superconductors (HTS) are reported using mechanical point contacts, which generally display the optimum characteristics that can be obtained from HTS native-surface tunnel barriers. New tunneling data on the infinite-layer cuprate, Sr{sub 1{minus}x}Nd{sub x}CuO{sub 2} are reported which show a remarkable similarity to another electron-doped cuprate, Nd{sub 1.85}Ce{sub 0.85}CuO{sub 4}. In particular, there is a strong, asymmetric linear background conductance that is indicative of inelastic tunneling from a continuum of states. A discussion is given of the anomalous dip feature found in the tunneling and photoemission data on BSCCO 2212. It is shown that a similar feature is found in many cuprate junctions and that this dip scales with the gap energy over a wide range. New data on the single-layer, tetragonal cuprate, Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}CuO{sub 6} (Tl2201) are presented and discussed in light of recent published results on the similar compound HgBa{sub 2}CuO{sub 4} (Hg1201). The HG1201 data display a low, flat sub-gap tunneling conductance which is consistent with a BCS density of states whereas the T12201 data display a cusp-like feature at zero bias which is more consistent with d{sub x}2-{sub y}2 symmetry

Regulation of peripheral blood flow in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: clinical implication for symptomatic relief and pain management

Background. During the chronic stage of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), impaired microcirculation is related to increased vasoconstriction, tissue hypoxia, and metabolic tissue acidosis in the affected limb. Several mechanisms may be responsible for the ischemia and pain in chronic cold CPRS. Discussion. The diminished blood flow may be caused by either sympathetic dysfunction, hypersensitivity to circulating catecholamines, or endothelial dysfunction. The pain may be of neuropathic, inflammatory, nociceptive, or functional nature, or of mixed origin. Summary. The origin of the pain should be the basis of the symptomatic therapy. Since the difference in temperature between both hands fluctuates over time in cold CRPS, when in doubt, the clinician should prioritize the patient's report of a persistent cold extremity over clinical tests that show no difference. Future research should focus on developing easily applied methods for clinical use to differentiate between central and peripheral blood flow regulation disorders in individual patients

Some trends in the dynamics of the tax system of Kyrgyzstan

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:7742.64435(98/3) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Some trends in the dynamics of the tax system of Kyrgyzstan

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:7742.64435(98/3) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Fibre Protection for TMC High Temperature Applications.

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