Sol-gel deposition of calcium silicate red-emitting luminescent films doped with Eu3+

Eu3+-activated calcium silicate (CaO-SiO2:Eu3+) luminescent films were prepared by the sol-gel method. The structural evolution of the film was studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the luminescence properties of the phosphor films were investigated as a function of heat treatment temperature. The XRD study indicates that a kilchoanite phase forms in the film sintered at 800 degreesC, which is different from that in gel powder treated under the same conditions. The SEM results show that the film thickness decreases and the particles in the film become smaller with increasing heat treatment temperature. The CaO-SiO2:Eu film shows the characteristic emission of Eu3+ under UV excitation, with the Eu3+ D-5(0)-->F-7(2) band (616 nm) being the most prominent. A large difference in the Eu3+ lifetime is observed between the film samples treated at 500 and 700 degreesC (or above). Concentration quenching occurs when the Eu3+ doping concentration is above 6 mol% of Ca2+ in the film.

锡在流体和花岗质熔体间分配行为的实验研究

锡矿床是与花岗岩在时间、空间、成因上有着密切联系的典型矿种之一。与锡矿有关的花岗岩多具有过铝、富钾、硅含量高的特征。传统观点认为与锡矿有关的花岗岩主要是S型花岗岩，可是近年在国内外相继发现了许多具有重要经济价值的锡矿床与富碱侵入岩有着密切成因联系。与富碱侵入岩有关的锡成矿作用日益受到地质学家的重视，锡矿床与富碱侵入岩的关系已成为研究热点之一，相关的研究工作虽然取得了很大的进展，但是富碱侵入岩体能否分异出富锡成矿流体还存在争议。研究表明，与岩浆岩有关的成矿与岩浆演化过程中成矿元素在流体-熔体相间的分配行为有着密切的关系。成矿元素在流体-熔体相间的分配行为除受到温度、压力及氧逸度等物理化学条件的制约外，还受到岩浆熔体成份及岩浆分异出来的流体化学组成的影响。以往有关锡在流体-熔体相间分配行为的实验研究主要侧重于改变流体相来观测锡的分配系数，且多为单一的含氯或含氟岩浆体系，这制约了对岩浆演化过程中元素在流体-熔体相间分配行为的深入认识。本文通过改变流体相、熔体相的化学组成，开展了一系列锡在流体和花岗质熔体相间分配行为的实验研究。综合分析了锡在晶体-熔体-流体间的分配行为，并结合地质实际探讨与富碱侵入岩有关的锡成矿的物理化学条件和成矿机理。研究成果对深入认识与花岗岩有关锡矿的成矿机理、丰富和完善与花岗岩有关的锡成矿理论、为进一步探索与花岗岩有关的锡成矿规律提供重要的实验依据。此外，实验对进一步推动实验地球化学学科发展具有重要意义。 实验在中国科学院地球化学研究所矿床地球化学国家重点实验室的成矿实验室完成，主要实验设备为快速内冷（RQV）高压釜。实验的温度为850℃，压力100MPa、氧逸度接近NNO。实验首先采用人工合成硅酸盐凝胶的方法制成具有不同化学组成的花岗质熔体，使用分析纯化学试剂配制不同成分和不同浓度的溶液，分别作为实验初始固液相。主要开展了三方面的实验研究：1．熔体相组成不变，以改变流体相组成来观察锡的分配行为。这组实验固相初始物为过碱质富钾的硅酸盐，初始液相分别为NaCl、KCl、HCl、HF、去离子水溶液；2．流体相组成不变，改变熔体化学组成观察锡分配行为。初始液相选用低浓度的0.1mol/L HCl溶液，熔体相为具不同化学组成的凝胶（其中一组改变熔体碱质含量和铝饱和指数ASI、另一组改变熔体钠钾摩尔比值）；3．氟氯共存含水的花岗质岩浆体系中氟氯含量相对变化时锡分配行为。实验通过改变熔体相中氟含量和液相盐酸溶液的浓度来观察锡在含氟硅酸盐熔体和不同浓度盐酸溶液间的分配行为。氟主要以(NaF+KF)混合物的形式加入初始固相中。实验研究结果表明： 1．流体相络阴离子种类及含量对锡在流体-熔体相间的分配行为有着明显的影响。当流体相中络阴离子Cl－、F－含量增大时，有利于增大锡在流体-熔体相间的分配系数；尤其当流体为富氯的酸性流体时，锡在流体-熔体相间的分配系数随液相中HCl浓度的增大而增大并存在关系式logD Sn=2.0247×log[HCl]＋0.6717（[HCl]的单位为mol/L），锡在流体相中主要以二价锡氯配合物的形式迁移，锡倾向于分配进入富氯的酸性流体中。此外，富氯酸性流体与共存的熔体反应后，熔体中的碱质含量降低，铝饱和指数增大。 2．熔体化学组成对锡在熔体相/流体相的分配行为有着明显的影响。D Sn随着熔体中碱质含量增大而减小：D Sn=－0.0489×MAlk＋0.4516, R2=0.98（MAlk为熔体中Na2O+K2O摩尔含量），表明富碱质熔体有利于锡在熔体相中富集，从而可能为锡矿形成提供矿质来源。D Sn随熔体ASI值的增大而增大：D Sn=0.1886×ASI－0.1256, R2=0.99，即过铝质熔体相对有利于锡分配进入流体相中。过铝质熔体中碱质总量及其它组分相对不变的前提下，熔体钠钾摩尔比值越高D Sn越小：D Sn=－0.0314×RNa/K＋0.0483, R2=0.82（RNa/K为Na/K摩尔比值），富钠的熔体有利于锡分配进入熔体相，而富钾的熔体却相对有利于锡分配进入流体相中。 3．在氟氯共存花岗质岩浆体系中：①熔体相中氟含量对氯在流体-熔体相间的分配有着明显影响，熔体中氟含量降低有利于氯分配进入流体相。②熔体中氟含量大于约1 wt%后，D Sn小于0.1且变化不大，当液相富含HCl且熔体中氟含量从约1 wt%降低后，D Sn 迅速增大，即熔体中氟含量小于约1 wt%后锡倾向于分配进入富氯的酸性流体中。而富氟（F含量大于约1 wt%）的熔体有利于萃取锡并使锡在熔体相中富集。③熔体铝饱和指数ASI值越大，相应锡的分配系数越大；流体相中HCl浓度增大时，锡分配系数随之增大；当熔体为过铝质的花岗质熔体、流体富含HCl时有利于锡分配进入流体相。 分析总结与花岗岩有关的锡成矿特征和锡在不同晶体相和熔体相间的分配行为得出：壳源铝质、富碱、富挥发份、贫钙铁镁的岩浆在结晶分异演化过程中相对有利于锡在残余熔流体相中富集。因此，具有这些特征的岩浆结晶分异演化产生的晚期岩浆可富含锡，能为后期锡矿床的形成提供矿质来源。这种富锡富挥发份的岩浆在上侵过程中，当温度压力降低、岩浆水饱和度增大、硅含量增大、熔体相氟含量降低时，可分异出含氯富锡的成矿流体。 根据上述结论，分析了与湖南芙蓉锡矿床有着密切成因联系的骑田岭花岗岩的岩石化学特征、成岩成矿物理化学条件，得出芙蓉锡矿床成矿流体可由骑田岭晚期岩浆分异产生。 最后得出如下认识：1)当花岗质岩浆体系水不饱和、流体相络阴离子浓度低的情况下，锡倾向于分配进入熔体相中；2)水饱和富含挥发份的过铝、富钾的岩浆体系有利于锡分配进入流体相；3) 铝质、富钾、富挥发份的富碱侵入岩岩浆演化过程中可在有利的物理化学条件下分异出富锡的流体相，与芙蓉超大型锡矿床有成因联系的骑田岭富碱侵入岩体成岩过程中可分异出富锡的成矿流体。

Dual-energy computed tomography with advanced postimage acquisition data processing: improved determination of urinary stone composition.

INTRODUCTION: The characterization of urinary calculi using noninvasive methods has the potential to affect clinical management. CT remains the gold standard for diagnosis of urinary calculi, but has not reliably differentiated varying stone compositions. Dual-energy CT (DECT) has emerged as a technology to improve CT characterization of anatomic structures. This study aims to assess the ability of DECT to accurately discriminate between different types of urinary calculi in an in vitro model using novel postimage acquisition data processing techniques. METHODS: Fifty urinary calculi were assessed, of which 44 had >or=60% composition of one component. DECT was performed utilizing 64-slice multidetector CT. The attenuation profiles of the lower-energy (DECT-Low) and higher-energy (DECT-High) datasets were used to investigate whether differences could be seen between different stone compositions. RESULTS: Postimage acquisition processing allowed for identification of the main different chemical compositions of urinary calculi: brushite, calcium oxalate-calcium phosphate, struvite, cystine, and uric acid. Statistical analysis demonstrated that this processing identified all stone compositions without obvious graphical overlap. CONCLUSION: Dual-energy multidetector CT with postprocessing techniques allows for accurate discrimination among the main different subtypes of urinary calculi in an in vitro model. The ability to better detect stone composition may have implications in determining the optimum clinical treatment modality for urinary calculi from noninvasive, preprocedure radiological assessment.

Disturbance attenuation in linear systems via dynamical compensators: A parametric eigenstructure assignment approach

A simple approach is proposed for disturbance attenuation in multivariable linear systems via dynamical output compensators based on complete parametric eigenstructure assignment. The basic idea is to minimise the H-2 norm of the disturbance-output transfer function using the design freedom provided by eigenstructure assignment. For robustness, the closed-loop system is restricted to be nondefective. Besides the design parameters, the closed-loop eigenvalues are also optimised within desired regions on the left-half complex plane to ensure both closed-loop stability and dynamical performance. With the proposed approach, additional closed-loop specifications can be easily achieved. As a demonstration, robust pole assignment, in the sense that the closed-loop eigenvalues are as insensitive as possible to open-loop system parameter perturbations, is treated. Application of the proposed approach to robust control of a magnetic bearing with a pair of opposing electromagnets and a rigid rotor is discussed.

Estudo de soluções de contenção periférica em função das condicionantes de execução

Dissertação de natureza científica para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil

L'Écho de Paris

1893/08/21 (Numéro 3382).

Resolución No. 41759 - SIC: Por la cual se resuelve un recuero de apelación

Servicios registrales

Determinants of bankruptcy protection duration for Canadian firms

The present thesis examines the determinants of the bankruptcy protection duration for Canadian firms. Using a sample of Canadian firms that filed for bankruptcy protection between the calendar years 1992 and 2009, we fmd that the firm age, the industry adjusted operating margin, the default spread, the industrial production growth rate or the interest rate are influential factors on determining the length of the protection period. Older firms tend to stay longer under protection from creditors. As older firms have more complicated structures and issues to settle, the risk of exiting soon the protection (the hazard rate) is small. We also find that firms that perform better than their benchmark as measured by the industry they belong to, tend to leave quickly the bankruptcy protection state. We conclude that the fate of relatively successful companies is determined faster. Moreover, we report that it takes less time to achieve a final solution to firms under bankrupt~y when the default spread is low or when the appetite for risk is high. Conversely, during periods of high default spreads and flight for quality, it takes longer time to resolve the bankruptcy issue. This last finding may suggest that troubled firms should place themselves under protection when spreads are low. However, this ignores the endogeneity issue: high default spread may cause and incidentally reflect higher bankruptcy rates in the economy. Indeed, we find that bankruptcy protection is longer during economic downturns. We explain this relation by the natural increase in default rate among firms (and individuals) during economically troubled times. Default spreads are usually larger during these harsh periods as investors become more risk averse since their wealth shrinks. Using a Log-logistic hazard model, we also fmd that firms that file under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) protection spend longer time restructuring than firms that filed under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA). As BIA is more statutory and less flexible, solutions can be reached faster by court orders.