Exposure of the Hidden Anti-Ferromagnetism in Paramagnetic CdSe:Mn Nanocrystals

We present theoretical and experimental investigations of the magnetism of paramagnetic semiconductor CdSe:Mn nanocrystals and propose an efficient approach to the exposure and analysis of the underlying anti-ferromagnetic interactions between magnetic ions therein. A key advance made here is the build-up of an analysis method with the exploitation of group theory technique that allows us to distinguish the anti-ferromagnetic interactions between aggregative Mn2+ ions from the overall pronounced paramagnetism of magnetic ion doped semiconductor nanocrystals. By using the method, we clearly reveal and identify the signatures of anti-ferromagnetism from the measured temperature dependent magnetisms, and furthermore determine the average number of Mn2+ ions and the fraction of aggregative ones in the measured CdSe:Mn nanocrystals.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figure

Pituitary macroadenoma co-existent with supraclinoid internal carotid artery cerebral aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature

With improved angiographic techniques and magnetic resonance angiography available today, an increasing number of incidental aneurysms are being detected. Occurrence of an intracranial aneurysm together with a pituitary adenoma presents tremendous risk to the patient, particularly when the aneurysm lies near the operative field

Community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Children, Taiwan

Highly virulent community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) with Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is common worldwide. Using antimicrobial drug susceptibility testing, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing, exotoxin profiling, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing, we provide evidence that supports the relationship between nasal strains of PVL-positive MRSA and community-acquired disease

On the Effect of Lubricant on Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Performance

   For typical vapor compression processes, lubricant oil is very essential for lubricating and sealing the sliding parts and the lubricant also takes part in cushioning cylinder valves. However lubricants may migrate to the evaporator to alter the heat transfer characteristics. This is can be made clear from the viscosity and surface tension of lubricant since the viscosity of lubricant oil is about two to three orders higher than that of refrigerant whereas the corresponding surface tension of lubricant is approximately one order higher. Typically, the presence of lubricant may deteriorate heat transfer performance, yet this phenomenon becomes more severe when the lubricant mass fraction is higher. However, some previous literatures had clearly showed that the presence of lubricant oil may favor the heat transfer performance at a low lubricant fraction and the heat transfer performance may peak at a specific oil concentration. In this study, the authors aim at clarifying this phenomenon subject to pool boiling condition. Various parameters affecting the heat transfer coefficient, such as viscosity, surface tension, critical solution temperature and other thermodynamic and transport properties will be examined.    During pool boiling process, the lubricant accumulates on the surface since the refrigerant is preferential to evaporate. Hence, excess lubricant enrichment on the surface results in a thin lubricant excess layer and a thermal boundary layer, which influence the heat transfer performance, either enhancement or degradation. The excess layer may bring about a liquid-solid surface energy reduction which increases site density and reduces the bubble departure diameter, causing enhancement and degradation in heat transfer performance, respectively. However, the effect of the bubble departure diameter normally surpasses the influence of site density. This may be the crucial reason that gives rise to an occurrence of the plateau of heat transfer coefficient and followed by an apparent decline of heat transfer coefficient with a further increase of lubricant concentration.    Moreover, with the preferential evaporation of the refrigerant, a surface tension gradient is formed, which induces the Marangoni effect through which refrigerant/lubricant mixtures is supplied toward the contact line. From the phase equilibrium diagram, the maximum of the Marangoni number may occur at the low lubricant concentration with a maximum temperature difference. Hence, the presence of Marangoni effect may also be the favor the heat transfer accordingly. Also, a small fraction of lubricant will increase a larger viscosity that provide a thicker thermal boundary layer which may activate more site density, and enhances the heat transfer performance. Furthermore, miscibility may also play a crucial factor that affects the pool boiling heat transfer performance. The fluid with a smaller difference between the bulk fluid temperature and critical solution temperature may yield a better heat transfer performance by drawing superheated liquid onto the bubble sides.

The Effect of Refrigeration Lubricant Properties on Nucleate Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Performance

Refrigeration lubricant plays a key role in lubricating and sealing during vapor compression processes. However, it may migrate to the evaporator to influence the heat transfer characteristics, either enhancement or degradation. The aim of this study is to fundamentally understand the effect of lubricant properties and bubble parameters on heat transfer performance. To clarify parameters affecting the heat transfer coefficient, several experiments were conducted on a horizontal flat surface, and pool-boiling phenomenon was recording by high-speed camera. Comparisons of heat transfer measurements for different refrigerant/lubricant mixtures were made, including two different refrigerants (R-134a & R-1234ze) and eight POE lubricants with different miscibility, ISO68 to ISO170 viscosity range. This study shows that improvements over pure refrigerant heat transfer can be obtained for refrigerant /lubricant mixtures with small lubricant mass fraction, high lubricant viscosity, and a low critical solution temperature (CST). The presence of lubricant will decrease the departure bubble diameter and may deteriorate heat transfer performance when the lubricant mass fraction is higher than 3%. A mechanistic explanation was provided for the observed refrigerant/lubricant boiling phenomenon, and we were successfully in creating a new model to quantify the effect of lubricant properties on the heat transfer performance. This model was developed based on cavity boiling theory, interfacial energy calculation between metal-liquid surface, and liquid-bubble interface. According to the model, the presence of lubricant layer on metal surface and surrounding the bubble will significantly alter waiting time of boiling, bubble departure time, activity site density of boiling incipience and superheat on heating surface

Probing onset of strong localization and electron-electron interactions with the presence of direct insulator-quantum Hall transition

We have performed low-temperature transport measurements on a disordered two-dimensional electron system (2DES). Features of the strong localization leading to the quantum Hall effect are observed after the 2DES undergoes a direct insulator-quantum Hall transition with increasing the perpendicular magnetic field. However, such a transition does not correspond to the onset of strong localization. The temperature dependences of the Hall resistivity and Hall conductivity reveal the importance of the electron-electron interaction effects to the observed transition in our study.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Changes in the Nasal Colonization with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Children: 2004-2009

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of infection, particularly in persons colonized with this organism. This study compared the annual prevalence and microbiological characteristics of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization in Taiwanese children from 2004 through 2009. Risk factors for MRSA were determined for the overall study period. METHODS: Children from birth to ≤14 years of age presenting for health maintenance visits or attending 1 of 57 kindergartens were recruited. Nasal swabs were obtained, and a questionnaire was administered. The prevalence and microbiological characteristics of MRSA colonization were also calculated for two 3-year periods: 2004-2006 and 2007-2009. RESULTS: Cultures of the anterior nares were positive for S. aureus in 824 (25.8%) of the 3,200 children, and MRSA colonization was found in 371 (11.6%) children. The prevalence of S. aureus colonization decreased from 28.1% in 2004-2006 to 23.3% in 2007-2009 (p<0.01), whereas the prevalence of MRSA colonization increased from 8.1% to 15.1% during this period (p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for MRSA carriage were different for male and female children, and also among age groups. Most MRSA isolates belonged to sequence type 59 (ST59) (86.3%); however, a multiresistant MRSA clone with ST338 background emerged in 2007-2009. Ten (62.5%) of the 16 MRSA isolates expressed the genotypic profile ST338/staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec V(T)/Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive/staphylococcal enterotoxin B-positive, and differed only in their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of nasal colonization by MRSA increased among healthy Taiwanese children from 2004-2006 to 2007-2009, despite an overall decrease in the prevalence of nasal colonization by S. aureus. A multiresistant MRSA clone characterized as ST338 was identified from these children