gamma-LiAlO2 single crystal grown by Czochralski technique and modified by vapor transport equilibration (VTE) technique

Large-sized (similar to 2 inch, 50.8 mm) gamma-UA102 single crystal has been grown by conventional Czochralski (Cz) method, but the crystal ha's a milky, dendriform center. The samples taken from transparent and milky parts were ground and examined by X-ray diffraction. All diffraction peaks could be indexed in gamma-LiAlO2. The crystal quality was characterized by X-ray rocking curve. The full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) values are 116.9 and 132.0 arcsec for transparent and milky parts, respectively. The vapor transport equilibrium (VTE) technique was introduced to modify the crystal quality. After 1000 degrees C/48 h, 1100 degrees C/48 h, 1200 degrees C/48 h VTE processes, the FWHM values dropped to 44.2 and 55.2 arcsec for transparent and milky part, respectively. The optical transmission of transparent part was greatly enhanced from 85% to 90%, and transmission of milky part from 75% to 80% in the range of 190 similar to 1900 nm at room temperature. When the VTE temperature was raised to 1300 degrees C, the sample cracked and FWHM values of transparent and milky parts were increased to 55.2 and 80.9 arcsec, respectively. By combining Cz technique with VTE technique, large-sized and high quality gamma-LiAlO2 crystal can be obtained.

大尺寸高质量γ-LiAlO2晶体的制备研究

采用提拉法快速（6mm／h）生长了透明、φ45mm×50mm完整的铝酸锂晶体，但晶体中下部出现了一个树状、乳白色的核芯．分别从透明和乳白色核芯部位取样，研磨作粉末X射线衍射测试，发现两个样品所有的衍射峰均可以用γ-LiAlO2指标化．双晶摇摆曲线显示晶体透明和乳白色部位的半高宽分别为116．9arcsec和132．0axcsec，结晶质量较差．通过三步气相传输平衡法（简称VTE）处理后，透明部位半高宽值（FWHM）降至44．2arcsec，乳白色部位FWHM值降至53．3arcsec．结合快速生长和VTE

Growth and spectroscopic characteristics of Yb : LPS single crystal

For the first time, a high optical quality Yb3+-doped lutetium pyrosilicate laser crystal Lu2Si2O7 (LPS) was grown by the Czochralski (Cz) method. The segregation coefficient of ytterbium ion in Yb:LPS crystal detected by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (TCP-AES) method is equal to 0.847. X-ray powder diffraction result confirms the C2/m phase monoclinic space group of the grown crystal and the peaks corresponding to different phases were indexed. The absorption and fluorescence spectra, as well as fluorescence decay lifetime of Yb3+ ion in LPS have been investigated. The absorption and fluorescence cross-sections of the transitions F-2(7/2) <-> F-2(5/2) of Yb3+ ion in LPS crystal have been determined. The advantages of the Yb:LPS crystal including high crystal quality, quasi-four-level laser operating scheme, high absorption cross-sections (1.33 x 10(-2) cm(2)) and particularly broad emission bandwidth (similar to 62 nm) indicated that the Yb:LPS crystal seemed to be a promising candidate used as compact, efficient thin chip lasers when LD is pumped at 940 and 980 nm due to its low-symmetry monoclinic structure and single crystallographic site. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aging effects on early-stage face perception: An ERP study

We compared early stages of face processing in young and older participants as indexed by ERPs elicited by faces and non-face stimuli presented in upright and inverted orientations. The P1 and N170 components were larger in older than in young participant

Bibliometric analysis of nicotine research in China during the period of 1991 to 2007

With the widespread exposure of people to nicotine through recreational use of tobacco products, research into nicotine has attracted increasing attention. Tobacco smoking is by far the most important cause of lung cancer. As the world's largest producer and consumer of tobacco products, China bears a large proportion of the global burden of smoking-related disease; therefore, information on nicotine publications should be collected to formulate future research policy. In the present study, we investigated nicotine-related research articles published by Chinese authors that were indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI) from 1991 to 2007. An indicator "citations per publication" (CPP) was used in the study to evaluate the impact of journals, articles, and institutes. The quantity of publications has increased at a quicker pace than the worldwide trend. Article visibility, measured as the frequency of being cited, also increased during the period. However, the overall quality of articles, based on the impact factor of journals publishing those articles, dropped behind the worldwide average level. There has been an increase in international collaboration, mainly with researchers in the USA. The average CPP of international co-authorship articles was higher than that of single country publications. Besides the USA, nicotine research in China will benefit from more collaboration with Taiwan, England, and Germany. Some 110 of 264 articles were published by a single institute, and the top six institutes were compared from various angles. Seventy-two subject categories were covered, and trends (in terms of both quantity and quality) of nicotine research in China were compared with worldwide trends. In addition, analysis of keywords in both nicotine and lung cancer research fields was applied to indicate research interests. Mutual cooperation among multiple disciplines needs further strengthening.

QtUCP-A program for determining unit-cell parameters in electron diffraction experiments using double-tilt and rotation-tilt holders

A computer program, QtUCP, has been developed based on several well-established algorithms using GCC 4.0 and Qt (R) 4.0 (Open Source Edition) under Debian GNU/Linux 4.0r0. it can determine the unit-cell parameters from an electron diffraction tilt series obtained from both double-tilt and rotation-tilt holders. In this approach, two or more primitive cells of the reciprocal lattice are determined from experimental data, in the meantime, the measurement errors of the tilt angles are checked and minimized. Subsequently, the derived primitive cells are converted into the reduced form and then transformed into the reduced direct primitive cell. Finally all the patterns are indexed and the least-squares refinement is employed to obtain the optimized results of the lattice parameters. Finally, two examples are given to show the application of the program, one is based on the experiment, the other is from the simulation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

THE STUDY OF MICROSTRUCTURE IN IRON-DOPED AND SULFUR-DOPED INP CRYSTALS BY MEANS OF HREM AND COMPUTER-SIMULATION

The microstructures in iron- and sulphur-doped InP crystals were studied using both electron microscopy and electron diffraction. A modulated structure has been found in S-doped InP crystal, where the commensurate modulations corresponded to periodicities of 0.68 nm and 0.7 nm in real space and were related to the reflections of the cubic lattice in [111] and [113BAR] directions; they were indexed as q111* = 1/2(a* + b* + c*) and q113BAR* = 1/4(-a* - b* + 3c*), respectively. Single atomic layers of iron precipitate were observed, with preferred orientations along which precipitates are formed. Simulated calculations by means of the dynamical theory of electron diffraction using models for the precipitate structure were in good agreement with our experimental results. The relation between the modulated structure and the precipitates is also discussed.

Prematurely condensed chromosome fragments in human lymphocytes induced by high doses of high-linear-energy-transfer irradiation

This study provides a useful biodosimetry protocol for radiation accidents that involve high doses of heavy particle radiation. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were irradiated in vitro with high doses (5–50 Gy) of charged heavy-ion particles (carbon ions, at an effective linear-energy-transfer (LET) of 34.6 keV/ m), and were then stimulated to obtain dividing cells. PBLs were treated with 100nMcalyculin A to force chromosomes to condense prematurely, and chromosome spreads were obtained and stained with Giemsa. The G2 prematurely condensed chromosome (G2-PCC) index and the number of G2-PCC including fragments (G2-PCC-Fs) per cell for each radiation dose point were scored. Dose-effect relationships were obtained by plotting the G2-PCC indices or G2-PCC-Fs numbers against radiation doses. The G2-PCC index was greater than 5% up to doses of 15 Gy; even after a 30Gy radiation dose, the index was 1 to 2%. At doses higher than 30 Gy, however, the G2-PCC indices were close to zero. The number of G2-PCC-Fs increased steeply for radiation doses up to 30 Gy at a rate of 1.07 Gy−1. At doses higher than 30 Gy, the numbers of G2-PCC-Fs could not be accurately indexed because of the limited numbers of cells for analysis. Therefore, the number of G2-PCC-Fs could be used to estimate radiation doses up to 30 Gy. In addition, a G2-PCC index close to zero could be used as an indicator for radiation doses greater than 40 Gy.

Uniform YVO4:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Dy, and Sm) nanocrystals: Solvothermal synthesis and luminescence properties

Well-dispersed YVO4:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Dy, and Sm) nanocrystals with uniform morphology and size have been synthesized via a facile solvothermal route. XRD results demonstrate that all of the three samples can be well indexed to the pure tetragonal phase Of YVO4, indicating that the Eu3+, Dy3+, and Sm3+ have been effectively doped into the host lattices of YVO4. TEM images show that the YVO4 nanocrystals exhibit ellipsoid shape and a mean size of about 20 nm, which is in good agreement with the estimation of XRD results.

Facile synthesis and luminescence properties of octahedral YVO4:Eu3+ microcrystals

Uniform octahedral YVO4:Eu3+ microcrystals have been successfully prepared through a designed two-step hydrothermal conversion method. One-dimensional precursor Y4O(OH)(9)NO3 was first prepared through a simple hydrothermal process without using any surfactant, catalyst or template. Subsequently, well-defined octahedral YVO4 was synthesized at the expense of the precursor during a hydrothermal conversion process. XRD results demonstrate that the diffraction peaks of the final product can be well indexed to the pure tetragonal phase of YVO4.

Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Sheaflike TbPO4 Hierarchical Architectures with Different phase Structures

Sheaflike terbium phosphate hydrate hierarchical architectures composed of filamentary nanorods have been fabricated by a hydrothermal method. The X-ray diffraction patterns and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis investigations reveal that the obtained terbium phosphate hydrate has a structural formula of TbPO4 center dot H2O, which can be readily indexed to the hexagonal phase GdPO4 center dot nH(2)O in JCPDS file 39-0232. The evolution of the morphology of the products has been investigated in detail. It is found that the addition of CTAB and Na2H2L (disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate) plays an important role in controlling the final morphology of the products. A possible formation mechanism of the sheaflike architectures was proposed according to the experimental results and analysis. In addition, the phase structure of the product changes to monoclinic phase when it is annealed at 750 degrees C for 2 h in N-2-H-2 atmosphere. Tetragonal chase TbPO4 can be obtained when annealed temperature increases to 1150 degrees C.

General and Facile Method To Prepare Uniform Y2O3:Eu Hollow Microspheres

Well-shaped Y2O3:Eu hollow microspheres have been successfully prepared on a large scale via a urea-based homogeneous precipitation technique in the presence of colloidal carbon spheres as hard templates followed by a subsequent heat treatment process. XRD results demonstrate that all the diffraction peaks of the samples can be well indexed to the pure cubic phase Of Y2O3. TEM and SEM images indicate that the shell of the uniform hollow spheres, whose diameters are about 250 nm, is composed of many uniform nanoparticles with diameters of about 20 nm, basically consistent with the estimation of XRD results. Furthermore, the main process in this method was carried out in aqueous condition, without the use of organic solvents or etching agents. The as-prepared hollow Y2O3:Eu microspheres show a strong red emission corresponding to the D-5(0)-F-7(2) transition of the Eu3+ ions under ultraviolet or low voltage excitation, which might find potential applications in fields such as light phosphor powders, advanced flat panel displays, field emission display devices, and biological labeling.

Spectroscopic studies on charge transfer from Ce3+, to Yb3+ in KMgF3 : Ce, Yb nanocrystals

Nanocrystals of KMgF3 single-doped and codoped with Ce3+ or/and Yb3+ were synthesized separately by the microemulsion method. The X-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns were indexed to show that the KMgF, crystal system was unchanged. The fluorescent spectra of KMgF3:Ce, Yb polycrystal powders were studied and compared with those of the Ce, Yb doped KMgF3 crystals produced using the high-temperature solid phase method. The diffuse reflection spectra and infrared. emission of KMgF3:Ce, Yb were investigated. From the results, the authors could confirm that there were charge transfer processes from Ce3+ to Yb3+ in both KMgF3: Ce,Yb nanocrystals and polycrystal powders.

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of erbium-doped BaF2 nanoparticles

Erbium-doped BaF2 nanoparticles were prepared from the microemulsion of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), n-butanol, n-octane and water. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were indexed to a pure BaF2 cubic phase. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that BaF2 products were monodispersed with 15-20 nm in size at the dopant concentration of 0.06 mol%. At higher dopant concentration, there was no significant increase in particle size, but more polydispersed. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of the final products were examined. We can observe fluorescence of Er3+ around 1540 nm and with the increase of dopant concentration, the fluorescent intensity increases.

Synthesis and spectral properties of lutetium-doped CeF3 nanoparticles

CeF3 and lutetium-doped CeF3 nanoparticles with the dopant concentration of 17, 25, 30, 42 and 50 mol% (molar ratio, Lu/Ce) were synthesized. XRD patterns were indexed to a pure CeF3 hexagonal phase even under the dopant concentration of 50 mol%. Environmental scanning electron microscopy-field emission gun (ESEM-FEG) was used to characterize the morphology of the final products. From the luminescence spectra of the products, we can get a broad emission ranging from 290 to 400 nm with peak at 325 nm. Lutetium-doping increases the luminescence intensity. We got. the most intense luminescence at the dopant concentration of 30 mol%.