Atomic-Scale Interface for Pt Nanoparticles on SrTiO (001).

The interfacial structure formed by Pt nanoparticles grown epitaxially on a SrTiO (001) surface by pulsed laser deposition was studied by X-ray standing-wave (XSW) excited core-level photoelectron emission. The XSW-generated 3D atomic map of the Pt and interfacial oxygens for the oxidized Pt/SrTiO interface differs significantly from that of the as-deposited interface. After oxidation, the Pt atoms shifted upward and their atomic occupation at fcc-like sites evolved as the oxidation temperature increased.

Atomic-Scale View of Redox Induced Changes for Monolayer MoO on α-TiO(110) with Chemical-State Sensitivity.

Supported molybdenum oxide (MoO) plays an important role in catalytic transformations from alcohol dehydrogenation to transesterification. During these reactions, molybdenum and oxygen surface species undergo structural and chemical changes. A detailed, chemical-state specific, atomic-scale structural analysis of the catalyst under redox conditions is important for improving catalytic properties.

Atomic-Site-Specific Surface Valence-Band Structure from X-Ray Standing-Wave Excited Photoemission.

X-ray standing-wave (XSW) excited photoelectron emission was used to measure the site-specific valence band (VB) for ½ monolayer (ML) Pt grown on a SrTiO_{3} (001) surface. The XSW induced modulations in the core level (CL), and VB photoemission from the surface and substrate atoms were monitored for three hkl substrate Bragg reflections. The XSW CL analysis shows the Pt to have a face-centered-cubic-like cube-on-cube epitaxy with the substrate.

A new route to obtain fluorescence X-ray absorption spectra of compounds and to remove the self-absorption induced nonlinearity in the spectra.

A new route to obtain fluorescence X-ray absorption spectra of compounds and to remove the self-absorption induced nonlinearity in the spectra is described. The fluorescent intensity I is linearly proportional to the absorption coefficient μ. For studies of surface structures around an element (κ) the fluorescence detection is often the mode of choice.

Evaluating UK National Guidance for Screening of Children for Tuberculosis. A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Rationale: To identify infected contacts of tuberculosis (TB) cases, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended the addition of IFN-γ release assays (IGRA) to the tuberculin skin test (TST) in its 2006 TB guidelines. Treatment for TB infection was no longer recommended for children who screened TST-positive but IGRA-negative.

Objectives: We performed a cohort study to evaluate the risk of TB disease in this group.

High-Modulus Low-Cost Carbon Fibers from Polyethylene Enabled by Boron Catalyzed Graphitization.

Currently, carbon fibers (CFs) from the solution spinning, air oxidation, and carbonization of polyacrylonitrile impose a lower price limit of ≈$10 per lb, limiting the growth in industrial and automotive markets. Polyethylene is a promising precursor to enable a high-volume industrial grade CF as it is low cost, melt spinnable and has high carbon content. However, sulfonated polyethylene (SPE)-derived CFs have thus far fallen short of the 200 GPa tensile modulus threshold for industrial applicability.

High-temperature tensile cell for in situ real-time investigation of carbon fibre carbonization and graphitization processes.

A new high-temperature fibre tensile cell is described, developed for use at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory to enable the investigation of the carbonization and graphitization processes during carbon fibre production. This cell is used to heat precursor fibre bundles to temperatures up to ∼2300°C in a controlled inert atmosphere, while applying tensile stress to facilitate formation of highly oriented graphitic microstructure; evolution of the microstructure as a function of temperature and time during the carbonization and higher-temperature graphitization processes can then be monitored by collecting real-time wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) patterns. As an example, the carbonization and graphitization behaviour of an oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibre was studied up to a temperature of ∼1750°C.

Concurrent Covalent and Supramolecular Polymerization.

Covalent and supramolecular polymerizations, both of which offer their own unique advantages, have emerged as popular strategies for making artificial materials. Herein, we describe a concurrent covalent and supramolecular polymerization strategy-namely, one which utilizes 1) a bis-azide-functionalized diazaperopyrenium dication that undergoes polymeriation covalently with a bis-alkyne-functionalized biphenyl derivative in one dimension as a result of a rapid and efficient β-cyclodextrin(CD)-accelerated, cucurbit[6]uril(CB)-templated azide-alkyne cycloaddition, while 2) the aromatic core of the dication is able to dimerize in a criss-cross fashion by dint of π-π interactions, enabling simultaneous supramolecular assembly, resulting in an extended polymer network in an orthogonal dimension.

The impact of BCG vaccination on tuberculin skin test responses in children is age dependent: evidence to be considered when screening children for tuberculosis infection.

Background: Following exposure to TB, contacts are screened to target preventive treatment at those at high risk of developing TB. The UK has recently revised its recommendations for screening and now advises a 5 mm tuberculin skin test (TST) cut-off irrespective of age or BCG status. We sought to evaluate the impact of BCG on TST responses in UK children exposed to TB and the performance of different TST cut-offs to predict interferon γ release assay (IGRA) positivity.

Key factors limiting carbon nanotube yarn strength: exploring processing-structure-property relationships.

Studies of carbon nanotube (CNT) based composites have been unable to translate the extraordinary load-bearing capabilities of individual CNTs to macroscale composites such as yarns. A key challenge lies in the lack of understanding of how properties of filaments and interfaces across yarn hierarchical levels govern the properties of macroscale yarns. To provide insight required to enable the development of superior CNT yarns, we investigate the fabrication-structure-mechanical property relationships among CNT yarns prepared by different techniques and employ a Monte Carlo based model to predict upper bounds on their mechanical properties.

Elucidating chemical and morphological changes in tetrachloroauric solutions induced by X-ray photochemical reaction.

Chemical and morphological changes induced by an X-ray photochemical reaction in tetrachloroauric solutions leading to Au(3+)-to-Au(0) reduction are monitored in real time by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray small angle scattering. Prior to metal precipitation, the intermediate state, also observed by other techniques, is unambiguously determined for the first time to be the reduction of Au(3+) to Au(1+), whose kinetics is strictly of the zeroth order. The morphological changes occur simultaneously in the solutions, that is, the gold complexes rearrange and aggregate, as unequivocally observed by the correlated changes in the Au L(3) emission and small angle scattering intensities.

Zr and Ba edge phenomena in the scintillation intensity of fluorozirconate-based glass-ceramic X-ray detectors.

The energy-dependent scintillation intensity of Eu-doped fluorozirconate glass-ceramic X-ray detectors has been investigated in the energy range from 10 to 40 keV. The experiments were performed at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, USA. The glass ceramics are based on Eu-doped fluorozirconate glasses, which were additionally doped with chlorine to initiate the nucleation of BaCl(2) nanocrystals therein.