Self-organization of charge under pressure in the organic conductor (TMTSF)2ReO4

(TMTSF)2ReO4 presents a phase coexistence between two anion orderings defined by their wave vectors q_2=(1/2,1/2,1/2) and q_3=(0,1/2,1/2) in a wide range of pressure (8-11kbar) and temperature. From the determination of the anisotropy of the conductivity and the superconducting transitions in this regime we were able to extract the texture which results from a self-organization of the orientations of the ReO4 anions in the sample. At the lowest pressures, the metallic parts, related to the q_3 order, form droplets elongated along the a-axis embedded in the semiconducting matrix associated with the q_2 order. Above 10kbar, filaments along the a-axis extend from one end of the sample to the other nearly up to the end of the coexistence regime. A mapping of the system into an anisotropic Ising lattice is satisfactory to analyze the data. satisfactory to analyze the data.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, EPL forma

Absorption characteristics of a quantum dot array induced intermediate band: implications for solar cell design

We present a theoretical study of the electronic and absorption properties of the intermediate band (IB) formed by a three dimensional structure of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) arranged in a periodic array. Analysis of the electronic and absorption structures suggests that the most promising design for an IB solar cell material, which will exhibit its own quasi-Fermi level, is to employ small QDs (~6–12 nm QD lateral size). The use of larger QDs leads to extension of the absorption spectra into a longer wavelength region but does not provide a separate IB in the forbidden energy gap

Automated design of multi junction solar cells by genetic approach : reaching the >50% efficiency target

The proper design of the multi-junction solar cell (MJSC) requires the optimisation search through the vast parameter space, with parameters for the proper operation quite often being constrained, like the current matching throughout the cell. Due to high complexity number of MJSC device parameters might be huge, which makes it a demanding task for the most of the optimising strategies based on gradient algorithm. One way to overcome those difficulties is to employ the global optimisation algorithms based on the stochastic search. We present the procedure for the design of MJSC based on the heuristic method, the genetic algorithm, taking into account physical parameters of the solar cell as well as various relevant radiative and non-radiative losses. In the presented model, the number of optimising parameters is 5M + 1 for a series constrained M-junctions solar cell. Diffusion dark current, radiative and Auger recombinations are taken into account with actual ASTM G173-03 Global tilted solar spectra, while the absorption properties of individual SCs were calculated using the multi band k · p Hamiltonian. We predicted the efficiencies in case of M = 4 to be 50:8% and 55:2% when all losses are taken into account and with only radiative recombination, respectively. Keywords: Multi Junction Solar Cells, Current Matching, III-V semiconductors, Auger effect, Genetic Algorith

Nature, life and mind. An essay on the essence

Background: Our long-standing scientific work and love to the fine art and nature for many years succeeded in making a unifying description of the three domains, at a time when a high specialisation in science, and even in art, has neglected the necessary entirety. Materials and methods: Some neurons of a rat cerebral cortex were labelled with true blue and photographed under a fluorescent microscope. A monkey brain was sectioned in the axial plane. Several slices of the human motor cortex were stained with cresyl violet. A cerebral hemisphere image was modified, and another image was created in Adobe Photoshop. Results: Some 10 billion years after the Big Bang life appeared on the Earth, reaching its peak with development of the brain. The humans started exploration of the local nature to survive, and the universe for psychological support. The antique philosophers Leucippes, Democritus and Heraclitus were the first to create a unifying atomic theory and to suggest the eternal movement of the matter. Newton and Kepler explained the movement of the celestial objects, whereas Einstein, Planck, Bohr, Hubbel, Howking and many others connected the quantum physics and elementary forces with the essence of the universe. Leonardo da Vinci, and later many others as well, united science and art. Philosophers and mathematicians created the phenomena which do not exist in nature. Conclusions: Nature designed the human brain, more complex than the universe itself, which in turn created millions of the artworks and scientific discoveries. The might of the mind in some domains overcomes the power of nature

Collective Charge Excitations below the Metal-to-Insulator Transition in BaVS3

The charge response in the barium vanadium sulfide (BaVS3) single crystals is characterized by dc resistivity and low frequency dielectric spectroscopy. A broad relaxation mode in MHz range with huge dielectric constant ~= 10^6 emerges at the metal-to-insulator phase transition TMI ~= 67 K, weakens with lowering temperature and eventually levels off below the magnetic transition Tchi ~= 30 K. The mean relaxation time is thermally activated in a manner similar to the dc resistivity. These features are interpreted as signatures of the collective charge excitations characteristic for the orbital ordering that gradually develops below TMI and stabilizes at long-range scale below Tchi.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, submitted to PR

The Concept of Time in Don DeLillo’s Point Omega

Temporality is one of the key aspects that contribute to the reshaping of the narrative tendencies of literary modernism, thus leading to the emergence of new narrative strategies associated with postmodern literature. The aim of this paper is to scrutinize its representation in postmodern literature and theory, focusing on one of the notable works that illustrate this phenomenon. Influenced by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s theory of the final aim of evolution, defined as the omega point, Don DeLillo’s novel of the same name explores, in Peter Boxall’s words, the formal balance between cinematic time, urban time, and desert time. In that sense, the paper is particularly concerned with the plurality of time, prevalent in literary postmodernism. In order to provide insight into this matter, it is also essential to shed light on how it is represented in the works of Jorge Luis Borges, who exerted significant influence on DeLillo’s depiction of the concept of time in the contemporary world

Molecular and Crystal Structure of the Bis(Acetato)-Bis(4- Methyl-1h-Pyrazole)-Zinc(Ii)

Due to the low CO2 emission of geopolymers compared to Portland cement, interest in their use as binding cement has increased in recent years. The main goal of this research is to relate the green and sustainable characteristics to the good mechanical and chemical properties of fly ashbased geopolymers. For those purposes, samples of different ratios of fly ash (FA) and metakaolin (MK) were prepared. Mineralogical characterization of the geopolymer samples conducted using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) showed that in the geopolymer synthesis reaction new amorphous phase was formed. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT) confirmed characteristic bands of Si-O and O-Si-O groups at 1045 cm–1 . Compressive strength analysis revealed that the optimal ratio of FA and MK is 50:50 and exhibits the highest value, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed the total reduction of carbon content in the alkali activated geopolymer with optimal stoichiometry 50:50. The results of this research indicates the possibility to obtain a geopolymer material with almost complete absence of carbon, which implies further application as a material with very high environmental potential and zero carbon emission.distorted tetrahedral environment. Different pattern of non-bonding interactions involving chemically equivalent ligands influence the overall shape of the complex molecule. This is evident in different mutual position of the pyrazolyl and acetato ligands, which is associated with different hydrogen bonds. Two neighboring complex molecules forms hydrogen bonded dimer. There are no significant intermolecular contacts between dimmer

Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Periapical Lesions Upregulate the Production of Immunoregulatory Cytokines by Inflammatory Cells in Culture

The pathophysiology of periapical lesions (PLs) is under control of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory (mainly immunoregulatory) cytokines. We have recently established mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from PLs and showed their suppressive effects on the production of proinflammatory cytokines from PLs inflammatory cells (ICs). In this work we studied the production of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-27 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, by PL-ICs in direct or indirect contacts with PL-MSCs. PL-ICs, which were isolated from four different asymptomatic PLs, predominantly composed of lymphocytes, followed by neutrophil granulocytes, macrophages and plasma cells. PLMSCs, expressing typical MSC markers, were co-cultivated with PL-ICs at 1:10 ratio, either in direct contact or in a transwell-system, for 24 hours. The levels of cytokines in cell-culture supernatants were tested by ELISA. The results showed that PL-MSCs up-regulated the production of all three immunoregulatory cytokines by PL-ICs. PL-MSCs stimulated the production of IL-10 and IL-27 via soluble factors, whereas the up-regulation of TGF-β required direct cell-to-cell contacts. In conclusion, our results showed for the first time the involvement of PL-MSCs in restriction of inflammation in PLs by up-regulation of immunoregulatory cytokines