Direct measurement of electrocaloric effect in lead-free Ba(SnxTi1-x)O3 ceramics

In this study, we report on investigation of the electrocaloric (EC) effect in lead-free Ba(SnxTi1-x)O3 (BSnT) ceramics with compositions in the range of 0.08 ≤ x ≤ 0.15 by the direct measurement method using a differential scanning calorimeter. The maximum EC temperature change, ΔTEC-max = 0.63 K under an electric field of 2 kV/mm, was observed for the composition with x = 0.11 at ∼44 °C around the multiphase coexistence region. We observed that the EC effect also peaks at transitions between ferroelectric phases of different symmetries. Comparison with the results of indirect EC measurements from our previous work shows that the indirect approach provides reasonable estimations of the magnitude of the largest EC temperature changes and EC strength. However, it fails to describe correctly temperature dependences of the EC effect for the compositions showing relaxor-like behaviour (x = 0.14 and 0.15) because of their non-ergodic nature. Our study provides strong evidence supporting that looking for multiphase ferroelectric materials can be very useful to optimize EC performance

Petrogenesis of Paleozoic–Early Mesozoic Granites and Pegmatites in the Yuechengling Pluton of South China

AbstractAlthough pegmatites are volumetrically minor in the upper continental crust, these rocks host abundant rare metal deposits (e.g., Li, Be, Rb, Ta, and Nb). Pegmatites can be formed either by extensive fractional crystallization of granitic magmas or by low-degree partial melting of metasedimentary rocks. The Mao’ershan–Yuechengling composite batholith in the Nanling Range in the South China Block (SCB) is of early Paleozoic–Triassic age (440–381 and 236–204 Ma, respectively). Recently, hundreds of pegmatites associated with Nb, Ta, Be, Rb, and Li mineralization have been identified in this batholith. These pegmatites are hosted by granitic wall rocks. However, the relationships between the pegmatites and granitic wall rocks are not well constrained. To address this, we investigated the Mao’antang (MAT) and Tongzuo (TZ) pegmatites and their biotite granite wall rocks in the middle part of the Yuechengling pluton. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry zircon U–Pb ages revealed that the MAT pegmatites formed during the Permian (269 Ma) and Triassic (231 Ma) and that the MAT biotite granite wall rock records two stages of magmatic activity (271 and 231 Ma) that are coeval with the pegmatites. The TZ pegmatites probably formed during the Triassic (235 Ma), and the TZ biotite granite wall rock formed during the Silurian (435 Ma). The MAT biotite granite and pegmatites (εNdt=−12.0 to −10.6; εHft=−8.0 to −1.0), TZ pegmatites (εNdt=−10.4 to −6.1), and TZ biotite granites (εNdt=−9.1 to −8.7; εHft=−7.7 to −4.1) have enriched whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf isotopic compositions that are similar to those of early Paleozoic and Triassic S-type granites in the SCB. In addition, the whole-rock Pb isotopic compositions of the MAT and TZ pegmatites and granites are distributed along the upper crust evolution line. We suggest that the MAT and TZ biotite granites were mainly derived from Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks in the middle crust. The MAT pegmatites are fractional crystallization products of the MAT biotite granites, whereas the TZ pegmatites were formed by fractional crystallization of hidden parental S-type granites. We propose that the MAT and TZ pegmatites have potential for rare metal (Nb, Ta, Be, and Li) mineralization, as they record high degrees of fractional crystallization. The MAT and TZ areas in the middle of the Yuechengling pluton are promising targets for rare metal exploration

Antibodies to SARS Coronavirus in Civets

Using three different assays, we examined 103 serum samples collected from different civet farms and a market in China in June 2003 and January 2004. While civets on farms were largely free from SARS-CoV infection, ≈80% of the animals from one animal market in Guangzhou contained significant levels of antibody to SARS-CoV, which suggests no widespread infection among civets resident on farms, and the infection of civets in the market might be associated with trading activities under the conditions of overcrowding and mixing of various animal species

A Novel Recombinant Peste des Petits Ruminants-Canine Adenovirus Vaccine Elicits Long-Lasting Neutralizing Antibody Response against PPR in Goats

BACKGROUND: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious infectious disease of goats, sheep and small wild ruminant species with high morbidity and mortality rates. The Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) expresses a hemagglutinin (H) glycoprotein on its outer envelope that is crucial for viral attachment to host cells and represents a key antigen for inducing the host immune response. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To determine whether H can be exploited to generate an effective PPRV vaccine, a replication-competent recombinant canine adenovirus type-2 (CAV-2) expressing the H gene of PPRV (China/Tibet strain) was constructed by the in vitro ligation method. The H expression cassette, including the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) promoter/enhancer and the BGH early mRNA polyadenylation signal, was inserted into the SspI site of the E3 region, which is not essential for proliferation of CAV-2. Infectious recombinant rCAV-2-PPRV-H virus was generated in transfected MDCK cells and used to immunize goats. All vaccinated animals produced antibodies upon primary injection that were effective in neutralizing PPRV in vitro. Higher antibody titer was obtained following booster inoculation, and the antibody was detectable in goats for at least seven months. No serious recombinant virus-related adverse effect was observed in immunized animals and no adenovirus could be isolated from the urine or feces of vaccinated animals. Results showed that the recombinant virus was safe and could stimulate a long-lasting immune response in goats. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This strategy not only provides an effective PPR vaccine candidate for goats but may be a valuable mean by which to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (the so-called DIVA approach)

Identification of Amino Acids in HA and PB2 Critical for the Transmission of H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses in a Mammalian Host

Since 2003, H5N1 influenza viruses have caused over 400 known cases of human infection with a mortality rate greater than 60%. Most of these cases resulted from direct contact with virus-contaminated poultry or poultry products. Although only limited human-to-human transmission has been reported to date, it is feared that efficient human-to-human transmission of H5N1 viruses has the potential to cause a pandemic of disastrous proportions. The genetic basis for H5N1 viral transmission among humans is largely unknown. In this study, we used guinea pigs as a mammalian model to study the transmission of six different H5N1 avian influenza viruses. We found that two viruses, A/duck/Guangxi/35/2001 (DKGX/35) and A/bar-headed goose/Qinghai/3/2005(BHGQH/05), were transmitted from inoculated animals to naïve contact animals. Our mutagenesis analysis revealed that the amino acid asparagine (Asn) at position 701 in the PB2 protein was a prerequisite for DKGX/35 transmission in guinea pigs. In addition, an amino acid change in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein (Thr160Ala), resulting in the loss of glycosylation at 158–160, was responsible for HA binding to sialylated glycans and was critical for H5N1 virus transmission in guinea pigs. These amino acids changes in PB2 and HA could serve as important molecular markers for assessing the pandemic potential of H5N1 field isolates

Stabilization of Heterogeneous Multiagent Systems via Harmonic Control

Stabilizing multiagent systems including unstable agents shows the advantage of cooperation. This paper addresses the problem of stabilization of heterogeneous multiagent systems. Under cycle graphs, a sufficient condition for the stabilization problem via harmonic control is provided and an algorithm of designing the interconnection gains is presented. Furthermore, a sufficient and necessary condition for stabilization problem via harmonic control under cycle graphs is first given when the graph contains less than 5 nodes

Particle-in-cell simulation study of a 0.42 THz second-harmonic gyrotron oscillator

In this paper, a gyrotron oscillator operating at 0.42 THz is studied by Particle-in-cell simulation. Under the condition of a beam voltage of 12 kV, beam current of 160 mA and magnetic field of 7.665 T, the gyrotron can operate stably in the TE06 mode at the second-harmonic. Its output power of continuous wave (CW) is up to 82 W corresponding to an efficiency rate of 4.1

Research on Optical System of Dim Target Simulator Based on Polarization Stray Light Suppression

In view of the lack of high-precision optical simulation equipment for dim space targets at present, in this study, a simulation method for dim space targets based on polarization stray light suppression is proposed, the overall optical system architecture of the optical engine for depolarization stray light suppression is constructed, the mechanism of stray light generation is explored, and the dark state light leakage suppression method is presented by compensating the phase of LCOS reflected light with wave plate; a high-image quality collimating optical system with large field of view and flat aberration is designed based on the illumination system optimization method of the critical angle matching of the spectroscopic film; and the polarization stray light suppression effect and star position simulation error of the dim target simulator are tested. The test results show that the illumination of the simulated dim target is ≮10−10 lx, the contrast is 6.96, the non-uniformity of the bright state is only 5.88%, and the simulation error of the star position is 9.9″. This research can make some contributions to enhancing the observability of detecting dim targets, breaking through the detection technology of extremely dark targets in space, developing advanced deep space detection capabilities, and improving the engineering technology system of deep space exploration