The effect of surface hydroxyl groups on the adsorption properties of nanocrystalline TiO

Nanocrystalline TiO2/Brij and TiO2/Pluronic films were prepared with a view to their application in electrochromic and Grätzel cells and examination of their photocatalytic effect. The films were prepared from titanium (IV) isopropoxide with the addition of Brij 56 or Pluronic F127. Films were deposited by dip-coating, thermally treated at 500 ∘C and analysed by XRD, TEM and IR analysis. XRD and TEM analyses revealed the presence of anatase nanoparticles embedded in the amorphous phase. The presence of the latter was also confirmed by a broad high-frequency shoulder of the Ti-O stretching mode at 436 cm−1 that was found for films prepared with both kinds of surfactants. Addition of surfactants decreased the size of the particles and increased the surface roughness, and consequently in IR spectra the surface hydroxyl Ti-OH modes appear between 3800 and 3600 cm−1. IR measurements also revealed that TiO2 films with surfactants have a higher photocatalytic effect which was tested for stearic acid by following the integral intensity of C-H and C=O IR bands

Li+ distribution into V2O5 films resulting from electrochemical intercalation reactions

We studied interface effects of thin film V2O5 electrodes on top of indium tin oxide (ITO) glass for Li intercalation by means of a combination of methods: depth-profiling by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), electrochemical insertion-extraction of lithium ions by slow-scan cyclic voltammetry (SSCV) and by potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT). We show that the Li+ distribution inside the oxide film is always far from homogeneous, and that different diffusion paths (parallel to interfaces as well as perpendicular to them) have to be considered in experiments with electrodes having areas of few cm². The exposed edge formed when cutting out coupons from the coated glass plate supporting the V2O5 electrode plays a significant role in the process, because it exposes the V2O5-ITO interface to the electrolyte.Estudamos os efeitos de interface de filmes finos de eletrodos de V2O5 sobre vidros com óxido de índio-estanho (ITO) para intercalação de Li utilizando combinações de métodos: perfil de profundidade por espectrometria de massas de íons secundários (SIMS), inserção-extração eletroquímica de íons lítio por voltametria cíclica de varredura lenta (SSCV) e por técnica de titulação potenciostática intermitente (PITT). Nós demonstramos que a distribuição de Li+ no interior do filme de óxido é sempre distante de ser considerada homogênea e que diferentes etapas de difusão (paralelas às interfaces e bem como perpendiculares a elas) são consideradas por conter áreas de alguns cm² em experimentos com eletrodos. A margem exposta pelo corte da placa de vidro revestida com ITO e recoberta com V2O5 desempenha um papel importante no processo, pelo fato de expor a interface V2O5-ITO ao eletrólito.66767

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Trials

BACKGROUND: The aim of this open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted in four African countries (Madagascar, Niger, Central African Republic, and Senegal) is to compare three strategies of renutrition for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in children based on modulation of the gut microbiota with enriched flours alone, enriched flours with prebiotics or enriched flours coupled with antibiotic treatment. METHODS: To be included, children aged between 6 months and 2 years are preselected based on mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) and are included based on a weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) between - 3 and - 2 standard deviations (SD). As per current protocols, children receive renutrition treatment for 12 weeks and are assessed weekly to determine improvement. The primary endpoint is recovery, defined by a WHZ >/= - 1.5 SD after 12 weeks of treatment. Data collected include clinical and socioeconomic characteristics, side effects, compliance and tolerance to interventions. Metagenomic analysis of gut microbiota is conducted at inclusion, 3 months, and 6 months. The cognitive development of children is evaluated in Senegal using only the Developmental Milestones Checklist II (DMC II) questionnaire at inclusion and at 3, 6, and 9 months. The data will be correlated with renutrition efficacy and metagenomic data. DISCUSSION: This study will provide new insights for the treatment of MAM, as well as original data on the modulation of gut microbiota during the renutrition process to support (or not) the microbiota hypothesis of malnutrition. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03474276 Last update 28 May 2018