Energy Spectrum of Bloch Electrons Under Checkerboard Field Modulations

Two-dimensional Bloch electrons in a uniform magnetic field exhibit complex energy spectrum. When static electric and magnetic modulations with a checkerboard pattern are superimposed on the uniform magnetic field, more structures and symmetries of the spectra are found, due to the additional adjustable parameters from the modulations. We give a comprehensive report on these new symmetries. We have also found an electric-modulation induced energy gap, whose magnitude is independent of the strength of either the uniform or the modulated magnetic field. This study is applicable to experimentally accessible systems and is related to the investigations on frustrated antiferromagnetism.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures (reduced in sizes), submitted to Phys. Rev.

Electrochemical deposition of bismuth telluride thick layers onto nickel

Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) is the currently best performing thermoelectric (TE) material in commercial TE devices for refrigeration and waste heat recovery up to 200 °C. Up to 800 μm thick, compact, uniform and stoichiometric Bi2Te3 films were synthesized by pulsed electrodeposition from 2 M nitric acid baths containing bismuth and tellurium dioxide on 1 cm2 nickel (Ni) substrates at average film growth rates of ~ 50 μm/h. Pre-treatment of the Ni substrate was found to significantly enhance the adhesion of Bi2Te3 material onto Ni while pulsed electrodeposition was used to increase the compactness of the material. To maintain a homogeneous composition across the thickness of the films, a sacrificial Bi2Te3 anode was employed. All deposits produced were n-type with a Seebeck coefficient of up to − 80 μV/K and an electrical conductivity of ~ 330 S/cm at room temperature

Life history traits influence in gonad composition of two sympatric species of flatfish

AbstractParalichthys orbignyanus and Paralichthys patagonicus are flatfish with different life history traits, having in common the condition of breeding in seawater. Paralichthys patagonicus remain their whole life in open seawater and Paralichthys orbignyanus are sometimes found in brackish water bodies. As marine and estuarine food webs have different fatty acid (FA) compositions, the aim of this study was to characterize the gonadal maturation of P. orbignyanus and P. patagonicus females through the analysis of lipid content and FA profile in order to understand to what extent life history traits are reflected in the ovarian composition. During gonadal maturation lipid content increased and FA profiles changed in both species, but the lipid increase was greater in P. orbignyanus. The N-3FA and n-3HUFA proportions increased in both species but were higher in P. orbignyanus. The differences between the lifestyles of these species were reflected in the ovarian FA profile mainly as a result of differences in their FA metabolism, causing a greater accumulation of n-3FA and n-3HUFA in P. orbignyanus than in P. patagonicus. The higher lipid accumulation in P. orbignyanus’ ovaries could indicate that this species, feeding in brackish water bodies, has the possibility of storing more energy than P. patagonicus

Production photoélectrochimique d'hydrogène à l'aide de colorants en lumière visible

The principle of a photoelectrochemical cell is described. The process uses four photons of visible light to photolyse one water molecule. Photochemical reactions occur in liquid phase using soluble photosensitizers which are regenerated at inert electrodes. The results obtained for the photoreduction of water into hydrogen are presented. The dyes used are Zn, Mg, Cr and Ni phthalocyanines. The volumes of hydrogen evolved correspond to a turnover of the dye of the order of 10 ; furthermore no degradation is observed after illumination. The yields are of the order of 1 % with respect to the hydrogen volume which can be evolved under these conditions using photons having wavelength between 600 and 650 nm.On donne le principe d'une pile photoélectrochimique qui utilise quatre photons visibles par molécule d'eau photolysée. Les réactions photochimiques ont lieu en phase liquide grâce à des colorants photosensibles mis en solution. La régénération des réactifs a lieu aux électrodes. Les résultats obtenus pour la photoréduction de l'eau en hydrogène sont présentés. Les colorants utilisés sont les phthalocyanines de Zn, Mg, Cr et Ni. Les volumes d'hydrogène produits correspondent à plus de 10 utilisations du colorant; de plus celui-ci ne semble pas se dégrader au cours du temps. Les rendements sont de l'ordre de 1 % par rapport au volume d'hydrogène pouvant être produit dans ces conditions, par des photons de longueur d'onde comprise entre 600 et 650 nm

Production photoélectrochimique d'hydrogène à l'aide de colorants en lumière visible

On donne le principe d'une pile photoélectrochimique qui utilise quatre photons visibles par molécule d'eau photolysée. Les réactions photochimiques ont lieu en phase liquide grâce à des colorants photosensibles mis en solution. La régénération des réactifs a lieu aux électrodes. Les résultats obtenus pour la photoréduction de l'eau en hydrogène sont présentés. Les colorants utilisés sont les phthalocyanines de Zn, Mg, Cr et Ni. Les volumes d'hydrogène produits correspondent à plus de 10 utilisations du colorant; de plus celui-ci ne semble pas se dégrader au cours du temps. Les rendements sont de l'ordre de 1 % par rapport au volume d'hydrogène pouvant être produit dans ces conditions, par des photons de longueur d'onde comprise entre 600 et 650 nm

Simultaneous Presence of PrtH and PrtH2 Proteinases in Lactobacillus helveticus Strains Improves Breakdown of the Pure αs1-Casein▿ †

Lactobacillus helveticus can possess one or two cell envelope proteinases (CEPs), called PrtH2 and PrtH. The aim of this work was to explore the diversity of 15 strains of L. helveticus, isolated from various origins, in terms of their proteolytic activities and specificities on pure caseins or on milk casein micelles. CEP activity differed 14-fold when the strains were assayed on a synthetic substrate, but no significant differences were detected between strains possessing one or two CEPs. No correlation was observed between the proteolytic activities of the strains and their rates of acidification in milk. The kinetics of hydrolysis of purified αs1- and β-casein by L. helveticus whole cells was monitored using Tris-Tricine sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) electrophoresis, and for four strains, the peptides released were identified using mass spectrometry. While rapid hydrolysis of pure β-casein was observed for all strains, the hydrolysis kinetics of αs1-casein was the only criterion capable of distinguishing between the strains based on the number of CEPs. Fifty-four to 74 peptides were identified for each strain. When only PrtH2 was present, 22 to 30% of the peptides originated from αs1-casein. The percentage increased to 41 to 49% for strains in which both CEPs were expressed. The peptide size ranged from 6 to 33 amino acids, revealing a broad range of cleavage specificities, involving all classes of amino acids (Leu, Val, Ala, Ile, Glu, Gln, Lys, Arg, Met, and Pro). Regions resistant to proteolysis were identified in both caseins. When strains were grown in milk, a drastic reduction in the number of peptides was observed, reflecting changes in accessibility and/or peptide assimilation during growth