575 research outputs found
Magnetic nanocomposites at microwave frequencies
Most conventional magnetic materials used in the electronic devices are
ferrites, which are composed of micrometer-size grains. But ferrites have small
saturation magnetization, therefore the performance at GHz frequencies is
rather poor. That is why functionalized nanocomposites comprising magnetic
nanoparticles (e.g. Fe, Co) with dimensions ranging from a few nm to 100 nm,
and embedded in dielectric matrices (e.g. silicon oxide, aluminium oxide) have
a significant potential for the electronics industry. When the size of the
nanoparticles is smaller than the critical size for multidomain formation,
these nanocomposites can be regarded as an ensemble of particles in
single-domain states and the losses (due for example to eddy currents) are
expected to be relatively small. Here we review the theory of magnetism in such
materials, and we present a novel measurement method used for the
characterization of the electromagnetic properties of composites with
nanomagnetic insertions. We also present a few experimental results obtained on
composites consisting of iron nanoparticles in a dielectric matrix.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures, 5 table
CdS/Cu(In,Ga)S2 based solar cells with efficiencies reaching 12.9% prepared by a rapid thermal process
In this letter, we report externally confirmed total area efficiencies
reaching up to 12.9% for CdS/Cu(In,Ga)S2 based solar cells. These are the
highest externally confirmed efficiencies for such cells. The absorbers were
prepared from sputtered metals subsequently sulfurized using rapid thermal
processing in sulfur vapor. Structural, compositional, and electrical
properties of one of these champion cells are presented. The correlation
between the Ga distribution profile and solar cell properties is discussed
Regular packings on periodic lattices
We investigate the problem of packing identical hard objects on regular
lattices in d dimensions. Restricting configuration space to parallel alignment
of the objects, we study the densest packing at a given aspect ratio X. For
rectangles and ellipses on the square lattice as well as for biaxial ellipsoids
on a simple cubic lattice, we calculate the maximum packing fraction \phi_d(X).
It is proved to be continuous with an infinite number of singular points X^{\rm
min}_\nu, X^{\rm max}_\nu, \nu=0, \pm 1, \pm 2,... In two dimensions, all
maxima have the same height, whereas there is a unique global maximum for the
case of ellipsoids. The form of \phi_d(X) is discussed in the context of
geometrical frustration effects, transitions in the contact numbers and number
theoretical properties. Implications and generalizations for more general
packing problems are outlined.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review
Letter
Point defect segregation and its role in the detrimental nature of Frank partials in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film absorbers
The interaction of point defects with extrinsic Frank loops in the photovoltaic absorber material Cu(In,Ga)Seâ was studied by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy in combination with electron energy-loss spectroscopy and calculations based on density-functional theory. We find that Cu accumulation occurs outside of the dislocation cores bounding the stacking fault due to strain-induced preferential formation of CuâžÂ˛In, which can be considered a harmful hole trap in Cu(In,Ga)Seâ. In the core region of the cation-containing Îą-core, Cu is found in excess. The calculations reveal that this is because Cu on In-sites is lowering the energy of this dislocation core. Within the Se-containing β-core, in contrast, only a small excess of Cu is observed, which is explained by the fact that CuÂĄâż and CuÂĄ are the preferred defects inside this core, but their formation energies are positive. The decoration of both cores induces deep defect states, which enhance nonradiative recombination. Thus, the annihilation of Frank loops during the Cu(In,Ga)Seâ growth is essential in order to obtain absorbers with high conversion efficiencies
Prevention of venous thromboembolism in acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage: A survey of opinion
INTRODUCTION: People immobilized following acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) are at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) but the role of short-term prophylactic anticoagulation remains uncertain. We surveyed UK clinical practice and opinion regarding preventing VTE after ICH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An online survey was sent to stroke healthcare professionals within the United Kingdom and Ireland via a professional society (British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians (BIASP)). RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-three staff members responded to the survey, of whom 80% were consultant stroke physicians. All responders except one considered the issue to be important or extremely important, but only 5 (4%) were âextremely certainâ and 51 (41%) âfairly certainâ regarding the optimal treatment approach. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices alone were the most used method (in 60%) followed by IPC devices and switching to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (in 30%). We identified high levels of uncertainty regarding the role of anticoagulation, and its optimal timing; uncertainty was greater in lobar compared to deep ICH. Most respondents (93%) consider a randomised controlled trial investigating the role of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis after acute ICH as important and would consider participation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The optimal method for the prevention of VTE in non-traumatic ICH patients remains an area of clinical uncertainty. Clinical trials assessing short-term anticoagulation in patients after acute ICH would be beneficial in providing evidence to resolve this clinical dilemma
Groups without cultured representatives dominate eukaryotic picophytoplankton in the oligotrophic South East Pacific Ocean
Background: Photosynthetic picoeukaryotes (PPE) with a cell size less than 3 Âľm play a critical role in oceanic primary production. In recent years, the composition of marine picoeukaryote communities has been intensively investigated by molecular approaches, but their photosynthetic fraction remains poorly characterized. This is largely because the classical approach that relies on constructing 18S rRNA gene clone libraries from filtered seawater samples using universal eukaryotic primers is heavily biased toward heterotrophs, especially alveolates and stramenopiles, despite the fact that autotrophic cells in general outnumber heterotrophic ones in the euphotic zone.
Methodology/Principal Findings: In order to better assess the composition of the eukaryotic picophytoplankton in the South East Pacific Ocean, encompassing the most oligotrophic oceanic regions on earth, we used a novel approach based on flow cytometry sorting followed by construction of 18S rRNA gene clone libraries. This strategy dramatically increased the recovery of sequences from putative autotrophic groups. The composition of the PPE community appeared highly variable both vertically down the water column and horizontally across the South East Pacific Ocean. In the central gyre, uncultivated lineages dominated: a recently discovered clade of Prasinophyceae (IX), clades of marine Chrysophyceae and Haptophyta, the latter division containing a potentially new class besides Prymnesiophyceae and Pavlophyceae. In contrast, on the edge of the gyre and in the coastal Chilean upwelling, groups with cultivated representatives (Prasinophyceae clade VII and Mamiellales) dominated.
Conclusions/Significance: Our data demonstrate that a very large fraction of the eukaryotic picophytoplankton still escapes cultivation. The use of flow cytometry sorting should prove very useful to better characterize specific plankton populations by molecular approaches such as gene cloning or metagenomics, and also to obtain into culture strains representative of these novel groups
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