Intense infrared luminescence in transparent glass-ceramics containing beta-Ga2O3 : Ni2+ nanocrystals

Transparent glass-ceramics containing beta-Ga2O3:Ni2+ nanocrystals were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Intense broad-band luminescence centering at 1200 nm was observed when the sample was excited by a diode laser at 980 nm. The room-temperature fluorescent lifetime was 665 mu s, which is longer than the Ni2+-doped ZnAl2O4 and LiGa5O8 glass-ceramics and is also comparable to the Ni2+-doped LiGa5O8 single crystal. The intense infrared luminescence with long fluorescent lifetime may be ascribed to the high crystal field hold by Ni2+ and the moderate lattice phonon energy of beta-Ga2O3. The excellent optical properties of this novel material indicate that it might be a promising candidate for broad-band amplifiers and room-temperature tunable lasers.

Precipitation of Ge nanoparticles from GeO2 glasses in transmission electron microscope

We show, using spatially resolved energy loss spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), that GeO2 and GeO2-SiO2 glasses are extremely sensitive to high energy electrons. Ge nanoparticles can be precipitated in GeO2 glasses efficiently by the high-energy electron beam of a TEM. This is relevant to TEM characterization of luminescent Ge nanoparticles in silicate glasses, which may produce artificial results. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Análise vibratória de fundações de máquinas sobre estacas.

A análise de fundações sob solicitações dinâmicas é algo sempre presente em projetos na área industrial. É um campo pouco explorado na área de engenharia geotécnica, onde existem relativamente poucas informações no Brasil, de maneira geral. O método mais comum de realizar essas análises é a simplificação de modelos estruturais a partir do uso de molas. Sabe-se que esses coeficientes de reação têm uma variação relativamente grande e que esse enfoque de projeto pode, em alguns casos, mostrar-se contra a segurança ou levar a superdimensionamentos desnecessários. Verifica-se, então, a necessidade de uma avaliação mais criteriosa, utilizando a interação solo x estrutura, onde as molas comumente utilizadas nas análises vibratórias convencionais são substituídas pela rigidez real do solo quando concebido como um meio contínuo, através de sua discretização pelo método dos elementos finitos. A presente dissertação analisa o problema através do módulo de dinâmica do programa Plaxis 2D. Neste tipo de análise, além da modelagem do solo como um meio contínuo, torna-se possível introduzir condições de contorno específicas ao problema em estudo, múltiplas camadas de solo, sejam horizontais ou inclinadas, além da introdução de amortecedores capazes de evitar a reflexão espúria das ondas incidentes nos limites da malha de elementos finitos e assim modelar mais adequadamente a perda de energia por radiação. A presente dissertação compara medições experimentais e soluções eficientes de métodos vibratórios clássicos com a resposta obtida pelo MEF, mostrando resultados bastante satisfatórios tanto pelos métodos clássicos quanto pelo MEF.

Optical and electronic properties of amorphous diamond

The optical and electronic properties of highly tetrahedral amorphous diamond-like carbon (amorphous diamond, a-D) films were investigated. The structure of the films grown on silicon and glass substrates, under similar deposition conditions using a compact filtered cathodic vacuum arc system, are compared using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Results from hydrogenation of the films are also reported. The hydrogenated films show two prominent IR absorption peaks centered at 2920 and 2840 cm-1, which are assigned to the stretch mode of the C-H bond in the sp3 configuration on the C-H3 and C-H sites respectively. The high loss EELS spectra show no reduction in the high sp3 content in the hydrogenated films. UV and visible transmission spectra of a-D thin films are also presented. The optical band gap of 2.0-2.2 eV for the a-D films is found to be consistent with the electronic bandgap. The relationship between the intrinsic compressive stress in the films and the refractive index is also presented. The space charge limited current flow is analyzed and coupled with the optical absorption data to give an estimate of 1018 cm-3 eV-1 for the valence band edge density of states.

Energetics of resting metabolism in an Indian major carp (Catla catla Ham.)

Resting metabolism in Indian major carp, Catla catla Ham. fingerlings were investigated. For this purpose a water recirculatory system in the laboratory was used. The metabolic energy losses were determined by the indirect method of oxygen consumption by the fish and were then multiplied by an oxycalorific coefficient (Q-ox). Five metabolism chambers in the experimental system were used where there were two same treatment runs in quadruplicate of mean total weight of fish fingerlings of 109.5, 110.4, 112.8 and 111.6g/chamber. The water temperature in the system was 28±0.5°C. The mean metabolic rate in the replicates showed no significant variation (p>0.05) and was found to be 151.66, 153.91, 150.25, 152.74 mgO-2/kg/h respectively. This showed an equivalent energy loss 5.40, 5.52, 5.51 and 5.56 KJ/chamber/day (35.60, 35.92, 36.67 and 36.40 KJ/kg/day) respectively. Energetics of resting metabolism in an Indian major carp (Catla catla Ham.)

Feeding metabolism in an Indian major carp (Catla catla Lin.) fed on different protein diets

Feeding metabolism in an Indian major carp, Catla catla fingerlings of 10.8+0.56g was investigated in a flow-through water recirculating system. The metabolic energy loss in resting metabolism and feeding metabolism were determined by the indirect method of oxygen consumption followed by multiplication by suitable oxycalorific coefficient. This was done in four metabolic chambers of a respirometer system. Ten fish fingerlings of mean total weight of 109.5, 110.4 and 112.8g/chambers respectively each in two experimental runs of three treatments a, b and c were used. The mean resting metabolic rate during unfed condition showed no significant variation in different treatments. The fish in three treatments a, b and c fed on diets containing 28, 33 and 38% crude protein had significantly different (p<0.05) post-fed SDA magnitude of 497.7, 638.7 and 735.5 mgO2/chamber/day having an equivalent energy loss of 12.68, 14.68 and 15.86 KJ respectively. The SDA co-efficient in three treatments a, b and c were 14.95, 19.00 and 22.36% respectively whereas, respiratory energy - 'R' as % of mean total ingested energy in three treatments were 26.93, 31.17 and 34.74% respectively showing a significant increase (p<0.05) with increase of protein. Feeding metabolism in an Indian major carp (Catla catla Lin.) fed on different protein diets.

Effect of deposition conditions on the chemical bonding in sputtered carbon nitride films

A balanced planar r.f. powered magnetron sputter source has been used to deposit carbon nitride films from a graphite target under various conditions. Sample temperature, bias voltage and nitrogen content in the gas mixture were varied. The effects of oxygen, methane and ammonia on the film growth were also studied. Special attention was paid to the effects of the deposition parameters on the structure of the films, in particular the hybridisation of the carbon and nitrogen bonding. The chemical bonding of the carbon and nitrogen atoms was studied by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The chemical composition was evaluated by Rutherford back-scattering. The intensity of transitions to π antibonding orbitals, as revealed by EELS, was found to increase with the nitrogen content in the films. Ion bombardment of the films during growth and the addition of oxygen or hydrogen-rich gases further increased the proportion of π bonds of both the carbon and nitrogen atoms. It is suggested that the increase in the transitions to μ antibond orbitals is to be explained by increased sp2 or possibly sp hybridisation of the carbon and nitrogen. Also, the effect of annealing on the bonding of nitrogen rich films after deposition was tested. The changes caused by nitrogen and deposition conditions are consistent with previous reports on the formation of paracyanogen structures.

Deposition of diamond-like carbon films by photon-enhanced chemical vapour deposition of methane using a windowless hydrogen lamp

Thin films of diamond-like carbon (DLC) have been deposited using a novel photon-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (photo-CVD) method. This low energy method may be a way to produce better interfaces in electronic devices by reducing damage due to ion bombardment. Methane requires high energy photons for photolysis to take place and these are not transmitted in most photo-CVD methods owing to the presence of a window between the lamp and the deposition environment. In our photo-CVD system there is no window and all the high energy photons are transmitted into the reaction gas. Initial work has proved promising and this paper presents recent results. Films have been characterized by measuring electron energy loss spectra, by ellipsometry and by fabricating and testing diode structures. Results indicate that the films are of a largely amorphous nature and are semiconducting. Diode structures have on/off current ratios of up to 106.

Preparation of tetrahedral amorphous carbon films by filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition

Tetrahedrally bonded amorphous carbon (ta-C) and nitrogen doped (ta-C:N) films were obtained at room temperature in a filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) system incorporating an off-plane double bend (S-bend) magnetic filter. The influence of the negative bias voltage applied to substrates (from -20 to -350 V) and the nitrogen background pressure (up to 10-3 Torr) on film properties was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and X-ray reflectivity (XRR). The ta-C films showed sp3 fractions between 84% and 88%, and mass densities around 3.2 g/cm3 in the wide range of bias voltage studied. In contrast, the compressive stress showed a maximum value of 11 GPa for bias voltages around -90 V, whereas for lower and higher bias voltages the stress decreased to 6 GPa. As for the ta-C:N films grown at bias voltages below -200 V and with N contents up to 7%, it has been found that the N atoms were preferentially sp3 bonded to the carbon network with a reduction in stress below 8 GPa. Further increase in bias voltage or N content increased the sp2 fraction, leading to a reduction in film density to 2.7 g/cm3.

X-ray propagation in carbon nanotubes

The maintenance of the growth of the multibillion-dollar semiconductor industry requires the development of techniques for the fabrication and characterisation of nanoscale devices. Consequently, there is great interest in photolithography techniques such as extreme UV and x-ray. Both of these techniques are extremely expensive and technologically very demanding. In this paper we describe research on the feasibility of exploiting x-ray propagation within carbon nanotubes (CNT's) for the fabrication and characterisation of nanoscale devices. This work discusses the parameters determining the design space available. To demonstrate experimentally the feasibility of x-ray propagation, arrays of carbon nanotubes have been grown on silicon membranes. The latter are required to provide structural support for the CNT's while minimising energy loss. To form a waveguide metal is deposited between the nanotubes to block x-ray transmission in this region at the same time as cladding the CNT's. The major challenge has been to fill the spaces between the CNT's with material of sufficient thickness to block x-ray transmission while maintaining the structural integrity of the CNT's. Various techniques have been employed to fill the gaps between the nanotubes including electroplating, sputtering and evaporation. This work highlights challenges encountered in optimising the process.

Properties of tetrahedral amorphous carbon prepared by vacuum arc deposition

The structural, optical, electrical and physical properties of amorphous carbon deposited from the filtered plasma stream of a vacuum arc were investigated. The structure was determined by electron diffraction, neutron diffraction and energy loss spectroscopy and the tetrahedral coordination of the material was confirmed. The measurements gave a nearest neighbour distance of 1.53 Å, a bond angle of 110 and a coordination number of four. A model is proposed in which the compressive stress generated in the film by energetic ion impact produces pressure and temperature conditions lying well inside the region of the carbon phase diagram within which diamond is stable. The model is confirmed by measurements of stress and plasmon energy as a function of ion energy. The model also predicts the formation of sp2-rich materials on the surface owing to stress relaxation and this is confirmed by a study of the surface plasmon energy. Some nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and optical properties are reported and the behaviour of diodes using tetrahedral amorphous carbon is discussed. © 1991.

Metrical dental analysis on golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

Dental variation in the Chinese golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is here evaluated by univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. Allometric analyses indicate that canines and P3s are positively, but other dimensions negatively scaled to mandible and maxilla, and to body size. With the exception of the mesiodistal dimensions of I-1 and M-3, and the buccolingual dimension of Pq, mandibular dental variables show similar scaling relative to body size. Analysis of residuals shows that males have significantly larger canine, P-3 and buccolingual dimensions of the postcanine teeth (M-2 and M-3) than females. A significant difference in shape between the sexes is found in the buccolingual dimension of the upper teeth, but not in the mandible. Unlike the situation in some other species, Female golden monkeys do nor exhibit relatively larger postcanine teeth than males, in fact, the reverse is true, especially for M(2)s and M(3)s. The fact that most of the dental variables show low negative allometry to body size might be related a cold environment that has led to the development of larger body size with I-educed energy loss. When the raw data are examined by Discriminant Function Analysis the sexes are clearly distinguishable.

Microstructural evolution of SiOx films and its effect on the luminescence of Si nanoclusters

In this paper we demonstrate that the structural and optical properties of Si nanoclusters (Si ncs) formed by thermal annealing of SiOx films prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and magnetron sputtering are very different. In fact, at a fixed Si excess and annealing temperature, photoluminescence (PL) spectra of sputtered samples are redshifted with respect to PECVD samples, denoting a larger Si ncs size. In addition, PL intensity reaches a maximum in sputtered films at annealing temperatures much lower than those needed in PECVD films. These data are correlated with structural properties obtained by energy filtered transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. It is shown that in PECVD films only around 30% of the Si excess agglomerates in clusters while an almost complete agglomeration occurs in sputtered films. These data are explained on the basis of the different initial structural properties of the as-deposited films that become crucial for the subsequent evolution. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Growth and feed utilization in two strains of gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio: paternal effects in a gynogenetic fish

Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch) is a natural gynogenetic fish which requires sperm of the same or related species to activate egg development. The eggs of one gibel carp were divided into two batches. One batch was 'fertilized' with sperm from gibel carp (strain DD), and the other 'fertilized' with sperm from red common carp (Cyprinus carpio red variety) (strain DR). The juveniles were transferred to the laboratory 36 days post-hatch. Triplicate groups of each strain were fed a formulated diet at either 3% or satiation ration for 8 weeks. At both the restricted and satiation rations, specific growth rate was significantly higher in strain DR than in strain DD. At the 3% ration, there was no significant difference in feeding rate or feed conversion efficiency between the two strains. At the satiation ration, strain DR had a significantly lower feeding rate but higher feed conversion efficiency than strain DD. At the satiation ration, strain DR had a significantly lower intake protein, but higher recovered protein than strain DD. There was no significant difference in faecal protein loss between the two strains. At the 3% ration, strain had no significant effects on intake protein, faecal protein or recovered protein. Neither faecal energy loss nor recovered energy was affected by strain or ration. At both the 3% and satiation ration, final body contents of dry matter and lipid were significantly lower in strain DR than strain DD, while there was no significant difference in protein and energy content between the two strains at either ration level. The results suggested that gibel carp 'fertilized' with sperm of common carp grew faster than those 'fertilized' with sperm of gibel carp through increased feed conversion efficiency and protein retention.

Growth and feed utilization by F-4 human growth hormone transgenic carp fed diets with different protein levels

The F-4 generation of human growth hormone (hGH) transgenic red common carp Cyprinus carpio had significantly higher growth rates than the non-transgenic controls. Protein and energy intakes were significantly higher in the transgenic carp than in the controls fed the 20% protein diet, but were not different between the two strains fed diets with 30 and 40% protein. Faecal protein loss, as a proportion of protein intake, was significantly lower in the transgenics than in the controls fed diets with 20 and 30% protein, but was not different between the two strains Fed diet with 40% protein. Faecal energy loss, as a proportion of energy intake, was significantly lower in the transgenics than in the controls fed diet with 20% protein, but was not different between the two strains fed diets with 30 and 40% protein. Recovered protein, as a proportion of protein intake, was significantly higher in the transgenics than in the controls fed all diets, whereas recovered energy was significantly higher in the transgenic fish fed the 40% protein diet. For fish fed each diet, the transgenics had significantly higher body contents of dry matter and protein, but lower contents of lipid than the controls. It was concluded that transgenics were more efficient in utilizing dietary protein than the controls. it a lower dietary protein level; transgenics achieved higher growth rates mainly by increasing feed intake; at higher levels of dietary protein, transgenics achieved higher growth rates mainly through a higher energy conversion efficiency. (C) 1998 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.