Metal-silica sol-gel materials

The present invention relates to a single phase metal-silica sol-gel glass formed by the co-condensation of a transition metal with silicon atoms where the metal atoms are uniformly distributed within the sol-gel glass as individual metal centers. Any transition metal may be used in the sol-gel glasses. The present invention also relates to sensor materials where the sensor material is formed using the single phase metal-silica sol-gel glasses. The sensor materials may be in the form of a thin film or may be attached to an optical fiber. The present invention also relates to a method of sensing chemicals using the chemical sensors by monitoring the chromatic change of the metal-silica sol-gel glass when the chemical binds to the sensor. The present invention also relates to oxidation catalysts where a metal-silica sol-gel glass catalyzes the reaction. The present invention also relates to a method of performing oxidation reactions using the metal-silica sol-gel glasses. The present invention also relates to organopolymer metal-silica sol-gel composites where the pores of the metal-silica sol-gel glasses are filled with an organic polymer polymerized by the sol-gel glass

In the Same Boat? Exploring Treaty Rights, Resource Privatization, Community Resistance,and Mi’kmaq / non-native Solidarity in Bear River First Nation,through Video-based Participatory Research

This research/creation explores alliances between social movements resisting neo-liberal globalization, and Indigenous peoples’ struggles for self-determination. This is done by examining dynamics in and around the Mi’kmaq community of Bear River First Nation (BRFN) through video-based participatory action research. The thesis includes an introduction; three chapters previously published in academic anthologies, two of which were co-written with Sherry Pictou, a community leader in BRFN; and a video documentary on DVD. This thesis examines BRFN’s position with regards to the recognition and exercise of their treaty right to fish, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s R. v. Marshall (1999). It also details BRFN’s strategy for defending those rights - with a particular emphasis on the conflict resolution and alliance building with neighboring non-Indigenous fishers that has been central to their strategy. These intersections are analyzed in three different contexts: within the movement to build community-based fisheries management as a means of asserting inherent treaty rights and as strategy of resistance against resource privatization and rationalization of the fishing industry; within the knowledge and cultural production integral to BRFN’s strategy of solidarity building, and of asserting the Mi’kmaq concept of Netuklimuk; and within the current process of treaty right implementation that is intensifying colonial and neo-liberal dynamics. The experiences of BRFN and neighbouring fishers are also presented through the video documentary, In the Same Boat? Neo-liberal transformations, as they intensify both colonial and capitalist dynamics, have proven an interesting site for alliance building in BRFN’s traditional territory of Kespuwick (Southwest Nova Scotia). Undoubtedly, it is the political ground won by the Mi’kmaq through R. v. Marshall that forced open such a dialogue. Also important are the dynamics of resistance: both groups emphasize local, direct-democratic governance, guided by a critical analysis of neo-liberal globalization and a desire to preserve subsistence livelihoods. While the dynamics of resistance within BRFN and non-native fishers are unique, and the lessons we can draw from this case study are not universally applicable, it has much to teach us about the ways colonial and capitalist dynamics intersect in resource dependent communities in Canada, the challenges facing Indigenous peoples’ self-determination struggles in the context of neo-liberal globalization, the limits of Crown/First Nation negotiations within the current context, and of the need for social movements resisting neo-liberal globalization to learn from and ally themselves with the self-determination struggles of First Nations

An investigation of the degradation of Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) copolymer thermal blanketing materials aboard LDEF in the laboratory

Samples of fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer thermal blanketing material, recovered from the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), were investigated to determine the nature and the extent of degradation due to exposure to the low-Earth-orbit environment. Samples recovered from the ram-facing direction of LDEF, which received vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) radiation and atomic-oxygen impingement, and samples from the trailing edge, which received almost exclusively VUV exposure, were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The most significant result of this investigation was found on samples that received only VUV exposure. These samples possessed a hard, embrittled surface layer that was absent from the atomic-oxygen exposed sample and from unexposed control samples. This surface layer is believed to be responsible for the 'synergistic' effect between VUV and atomic oxygen. Overall, the investigation revealed dramatically different morphologies for the two samples. The sample receiving both atomic-oxygen and VUV exposure was deeply eroded and had a characteristic 'rolling' surface morphology, while the sample that received only VUV exposure showed mild erosion and a surface morphology characterized by sharp high-frequency peaks. The morphologies observed in the LDEF samples, including the embrittled surface layer, were successfully duplicated in the laboratory

An Estimate of \Lambda in Resummed Quantum Gravity in the Context of Asymptotic Safety

We show that, by using recently developed exact resummation techniques based on the extension of the methods of Yennie, Frautschi and Suura to Feynman's formulation of Einstein's theory, we get quantum field theoretic descriptions for the UV fixed-point behaviors of the dimensionless gravitational and cosmological constants postulated by Weinberg. Connecting our work to the attendant phenomenological asymptotic safety analysis of Planck scale cosmology by Bonanno and Reuter, we estimate the value of the cosmological constant \Lambda. We find the encouraging estimate \rho_\Lambda\equiv \frac{\Lambda}{8\pi G_N} \simeq (2.4\times 10^{-3}eV)^4. While this numerical value is close to recent experimental observations, we caution the reader that the estimate involves a number of model parameters that still possess significant levels of uncertainty, such as the value of the transition time between the Planck scale cosmology era and the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker radiation dominated era, where our current understanding allows for at least two orders of magnitude in its uncertainty and this would change our estimate of \rho_\Lambda by at least four orders of magnitude. We discuss such theoretical uncertainties as well. We show why GUT and EW scale vacuum energies from spontaneous symmetry breaking are suppressed in our approach to the estimation of \rho_\Lambda. As a bonus, we show how our estimate constrains susy GUTS.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure; more systematic presentation; extended text, two new figures for self-containment - now 37 pages; corrected grammar, improved references to published version. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:hep-ph/060719

Icarus : In-situ monitoring of the surface degradation on a near-Sun asteroid

Icarus is a mission concept designed to record the activity of an asteroid during a close encounter with the Sun. The primary science goal of the mission is to unravel the nontrivial mechanism(s) that destroy asteroids on orbits with small perihelion distances. Understanding the destruction mechanism(s) allows us to constrain the bulk composition and interior structure of asteroids in general. The Icarus mission does not only aim to achieve its science goals but also functions as a technical demonstration of what a low-cost space mission can do. The proposed space segment will include a single spacecraft capable of surviving and operating in the harsh environment near the Sun. The spacecraft design relies on the heritage of missions such as Rosetta, MESSENGER, Parker Solar Probe, BepiColombo, and Solar Orbiter. The spacecraft will rendezvous with an asteroid during its perihelion passage and records the changes taking place on the asteroid's surface. The primary scientific payload has to be capable of imaging the asteroid's surface in high resolution using visual and near-infrared channels as well as collecting and analyzing particles that are ejected from the asteroid. The payload bay also allows for additional payloads relating to, for example, solar research. The Icarus spacecraft and the planned payloads have high technology readiness levels and the mission is aimed to fit the programmatic and cost constraints of the F1 mission (Comet Interceptor) by the European Space Agency. Considering the challenging nature of the Icarus trajectory and the fact that the next F-class mission opportunity (F2) is yet to be announced, we conclude that Icarus is feasible as an F-class mission when certain constraints such as a suitable launch configuration are met. A larger mission class, such as the M class by the European Space Agency, would be feasible in all circumstances.Peer reviewe

Electronic structures and photophysics of d(8)-d(8) complexes

This work was supported by the NSF CCI Solar Fuels Program (CHE-1305124), the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic - grant LH13015, and the COST Action CM1405