Actual Composition Research Articles

The Racial Composition of Forensic DNA Databases

Forensic DNA databases have received an inordinate amount of academic and judicial attention. From their inception, scholars, advocates, and judges have wrestled with the proper reach of DNA collection, retention, and search policies. Central to these debates are concerns about racial equity in forensic genetic practices. Yet when such questions arise, critics typically just assert that forensic DNA databases are not demographically representative. Such assertions are expressed in vague or conclusory terms, without a citation to actual data or even to concrete estimates about the actual composition of DNA databases. This Article endeavors to fill these gaps in the literature by providing demographic information about the composition of forensic DNA databases. We draw upon two sources. First, we obtained data from states in response to our requests under freedom of information laws. Second, we devised an original estimate based on public information about each state’s DNA collection policies and the demographic data that matches those policies. In other words, we reverse-engineered the national DNA database. We then use our data on the actual and estimated racial composition of DNA databases to identify and illuminate four questions fundamental to forensic DNA policy. First, the data center racial justice concerns as critical to debates about the proper scope of collection and search policies, as well as the impact of forensic DNA database practices more generally. Second, the data cast light on the significance, determinacy, and stability of race and ethnicity as meaningful biological and social categories. Third, the data provide insight into the advantages and disadvantages of choosing among architectural approaches when collecting, storing, and searching sensitive data such as genetic profiles. And finally, the data prompt questions about genetic privacy more generally, including how to weigh the significance of criminal justice practices in an increasingly genetically transparent society.

Geochemistry of PM2.5 aerosols at an urban site, Varanasi, in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain during pre-monsoon season

Abstract The knowledge of actual morphological features and composition of aerosols are very important to understand atmospheric chemistry, mixing state and radiative forcing on a global scale. Daily and weekly PM2.5 samples were collected during pre-monsoon season (March–May 2015) from an urban site, Varanasi, located in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain to study geochemical and morphological features of aerosols. PM2.5 samples were analyzed for their elemental concentration by means of an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) whereas particle morphology and composition were ascertained by means of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) coupled with an Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. PM2.5 concentrations ranged between 22.2 and 70.5 μgm–3 in daily samples, whereas it varied between 52.0 and 106.2 μgm–3 in weekly samples. PM2.5 concentrations, except in one daily sample, were found to be higher than the 24-h threshold limit of World Health Organization (WHO) standards (25 μgm–3). Elemental concentration of Pb and Zn were as high as ~2000 ppm and 3700 ppm, respectively highlighting impact of heavy metal pollution in Varanasi. The mass concentration of Al was the highest amongst all the measured elements followed by K, Fe, Zn, Ti, Pb, Mn, As, Cd. Enrichment Factors (EF) 5 for K, Zn, As, Pb and Cd suggesting anthropogenic sources as a major contributor to these elements at the study site. The cluster analysis suggests that biomass burning emissions and air mass traversing through northern and western parts of India majorly contributed to high PM2.5 concentration at Varanasi. In contrast, wind patterns did show lower velocities and different directions (from NW India to Eastern parts of India) during the days with relatively lower PM2.5 concentrations. Morphological features of individual particles reveal an irregular, aggregated and flaky morphology whereas the elemental composition revealed the dominance of aluminosilicates, soot and tarball with inclusion of anthropogenic elements (e.g. Pb) at Varanasi.

Chemodiversity and Antiproliferative Activity of the Essential Oil of Schinus molle Growing in Jordan.

The leaves and unripe and fully-grown fruits of Schinus molle were collected from three geographical regions of Jordan: Amman (the Mediterranean), Madaba (Irano-Turanean), and Sahab (Saharo-Arabian). The hydrodistilled volatile oils of fresh and dried leaves and fruits were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The actual composition of the emitted volatiles was determined using Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME). α- and β-Phellandrenes were the major components in all the analyzed samples. Quantitative differences were observed in the obtained essential oils (0.62-5.25 %). Additionally, cluster analysis was performed. Biologically, the antiproliferative activity of the essential oil, ethanol, and water extracts of the fruits and leaves was screened on Caco2, HCT116, MCF7, and T47D cell lines. The essential oil and ethanol extracts exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth with IC50 ranging between 21 and 65 μg/mL. The water extract did not exhibit any antiproliferative activity against the investigated cell lines.

Rapid Formation of Kinetically Sprayed Cu-Sn Intermetallic Film

The kinetically spraying method was used to fabricate an in situ copper- (Cu-) tin (Sn) intermetallic compound (IMC) film with its thickness of approximately 1 μm using a Cu-Sn mixed powder. Microsized Cu (~5 μm) and Sn (~10 μm) powders were mixed at its ratio of 45 : 55 wt.%, respectively, and then deposited onto a silicon substrate, forming an IMC layer. The actual composition of the deposited film was measured to be at a Cu : Sn ratio of 36 : 64 wt.% (in situ kinetically sprayed at 200°C). This kinetically sprayed process uses the energy source of collision and heat energy simultaneously, leading to the formation of an IMC phase. The IMC phase of Cu6Sn5 was formed successfully within 3 minutes of in situ deposition. Moreover, we obtained a Cu6Sn5 phase when the thin film was annealed in a furnace for 1 hour immediately after kinetically spraying at room temperature. However, an IMC phase was not formed in the thin film when kinetically sprayed at room temperature followed by heating on a hot plate for 3 minutes. It seems that the simultaneous supply of collision and heat energy is crucial to result in phase formation. Therefore, we have proven that the kinetically spraying process is capable of fabricating a super-thin layer of IMC film within a short time.

Selection of appropriate load compositions for predicting the dynamic performance of distribution grids

In this study, the significant effects of the load models used to analyse low-voltage power systems are presented and a systematic process for selecting appropriate load compositions to evaluate the performance of distribution systems containing distributed generation is proposed. The driving force behind, and key reasons for, voltage instability are analysed by evaluating different load models subjected to grid disturbances. The stability conditions of distribution systems are also checked through time-domain simulations performed on various network configurations, such as radial, loop, and mesh topologies. The system's responses to changes in the substation's voltage and contingency events are also demonstrated. It is found that the types and order of load models used greatly affect a system's voltage stability and therefore, an accurate load modelling is necessary to support the renewables integration in distribution systems. As the system's response is found to be sensitive to the network's topology and actual load composition, an approach that selects appropriate load compositions which, in turn, reduces the huge investment costs of improper planning, is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified by connecting static synchronous compensators to the network under varying load compositions.

Rumen-protected lysine supplementation increased milk production in dairy cows fed a lysine-deficient diet

The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the effects of 3 levels of a rumen-protected Lys (RP-Lys) prototype on milk production in dairy cows fed a diet deficient in MP-Lys and (2) to assess the effects of treatments using AMTS.Cattle.Professional (AMTS = Agricultural Modeling and Training System; Groton, NY). Ten multiparous, Holstein cows were used in a 5 × 10 Latin rectangle (rows = five 18-d periods, columns = 10 cows). Treatments were (1) control (0 g of RP-Lys), (2) 30 g of Lys supplemented from RP-Lys using Aji-Pro L (APL; Ajinomoto, Chicago, IL), (3) 17.5 g of Lys supplemented from RP-Lys prototype (RPLL), (4) 21.8 g of Lys supplemented from RP-Lys prototype (RPLM), and (5) 31.5 g of Lys supplemented from RP-Lys prototype (RPLH). The basal diet was formulated with a MP-Lys balance of −16.5 g/d. Milk and blood samples were analyzed for milk components and plasma AA concentrations. Treatments were assessed for MP-Lys balance using actual chemical composition of feed ingredients, DMI, and milk production using the AMTS. Regression analysis revealed that RP-Lys prototype supplementation increased milk and lactose yields linearly ( P = 0.03 and 0.04). There was a trend for RP-Lys prototype to increase protein percent quadratically ( P = 0.07). Treatments did not affect plasma Lys concentrations. The retrospective evaluation of treatments showed an MP-Lys balance of −17 g/d for control and −2, −7, and 8 g/d for RPLL, RPLM, and RPLH treatments, respectively. Collectively, these results indicated that the RP-Lys prototype delivered Lys to support milk production. Results indicate that supplementation with an RP-Lys prototype increased milk production in cows fed a diet deficient in RP-Lys. These results may benefit dairy cows fed corn-based diets.

Intelligent prediction method of mechanical property based on hybrid driving of industrial data and mechanism model for high speed wire

For the high speed wire production process, a temperature field model and a strain field model were established. Based on the metallurgical mechanism model, the recrystallization and phase transition processes of the high speed wire rolling process were calculated, and the microstructure closely related to the mechanical property was obtained. Based on the combination with the actual production data, an artificial intelligence neural network architecture for predicting product property was established. Through the training of a large amount of data, the mapping relationship between process parameters and mechanical property was obtained, which has practical significance for the adjustment of actual chemical composition and process optimization.

Composition and Crystal Structure of SmSb2O4Cl Revisited – and the Analogy of Sm1.5Sb1.5O4Br

The quaternary halide‐containing samarium(III) oxidoantimonates(III) Sm1.3Sb1.7O4Cl and Sm1.5Sb1.5O4Br were synthesized through solid‐state reactions from the binary components (Sm2O3, Sb2O3 and SmX3, X = Cl and Br) at 750 °C in evacuated fused silica ampoules. They crystallize tetragonally in the space group P4/mmm, like the basically isotypic bismuthate(III) compounds SmBi2O4Cl and SmBi2O4Br, but show larger molar volumes and therefore contradict an ideal composition of “SmSb2O4X” (X = Cl and Br). Both single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and quantitative electron‐beam microprobe analysis revealed the actual compositions of the investigated antimony(III) compounds, which can be understood as heavily Sm3+‐doped derivatives of “SmSb2O4X” hosts at the Sb3+ site. (Sm1)3+ is coordinated eightfold by oxygen atoms in the shape of a cube. The mixed‐occupied (Sb/Sm2)3+ cation has four oxygen atoms and four halide anions as neighbors forming a square antiprism. The oxygen atoms and anions establish alternating layers parallel to the ab‐plane, which alternate when stacked along [001].

CRUMBLER: A tool for the prediction of ancestry in cattle.

In many beef and some dairy production systems, crossbreeding is used to take advantage of breed complementarity and heterosis. Admixed animals are frequently identified by their coat color and body conformation phenotypes, however, without pedigree information it is not possible to identify the expected breed composition of an admixed animal and in the presence of selection, the actual composition may differ from expectation. As the roles of DNA and genotype data become more pervasive in animal agriculture, a systematic method for estimating the breed composition (the proportions of an animal’s genome originating from ancestral pure breeds) has utility for a variety of downstream analyses including the estimation of genomic breeding values for crossbred animals, the estimation of quantitative trait locus effects, and heterosis and heterosis retention in advanced generation composite animals. Currently, there is no automated or semi-automated ancestry estimation platform for cattle and the objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of extant public software for ancestry estimation and determine the effects of reference population size and composition and number of utilized single nucleotide polymorphism loci on ancestry estimation. We also sought to develop an analysis pipeline that would simplify this process for members of the livestock genomics research community. We developed and tested a tool, “CRUMBLER”, to estimate the global ancestry of cattle using ADMIXTURE and SNPweights based on a defined reference panel. CRUMBLER, was developed and evaluated in cattle, but is a species agnostic pipeline that facilitates the streamlined estimation of breed composition for individuals with potentially complex ancestries using publicly available global ancestry software and a specified reference population SNP dataset. We developed the reference panel from a large cattle genotype data set and breed association pedigree information using iterative analyses to identify purebred individuals that were representative of each breed. We also evaluated the numbers of markers necessary for breed composition estimation and simulated genotypes for advanced generation composite animals to evaluate the precision of the developed tool. The developed CRUMBLER pipeline extracts a specified subset of genotypes that is common to all current commercially available genotyping platforms, processes these into the file formats required for the analysis software, and predicts admixture proportions using the specified reference population allele frequencies.

Flower Pollination Algorithm for the optimization of stair casting parameter for the preparation of AMC

Abstract Aluminium Matrix Composite (AMC) is an encouraging metal matrix composition method for the preparation of most of the commercial metal. The AMC preparation with nitride or oxide nano particle has advantage to boost the hardness and strength of the metal. But the preparation of actual or exact composition of reinforcement material is challenging task. Hence optimization is employed in this paper to select the optimal parameter of the stair casting process of AMC preparation. In the proposed work the Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA) is used for the optimal parameter selection. The optimization is employed based on the hardness and strength. Ultimately the performance of the proposed technique proves the effectiveness in the stair casting parameter optimization.

Nd3+-doped mixed-anion fluoro-sulfo-phosphate glass for 1.06 μm solid-state laser

Fluoro-sulfo-phosphate poly-anionic glasses KPO3–AlF3–K2SO4 (KPFS) and Nd3+-doped samples (Nd–KPFS) were prepared by conventional melt-quenching method and their physical properties were comprehensively analyzed. Their actual glass compositions were carefully checked by different methods. These glasses exhibit typically low linear refractive index nd (~ 1.482) and nonlinear refractive index n2 (~ 0.86 × 10−13 esu), high Abbe's number (~ 72.0) and moderate elasticity modulus E⁎ (~ 50.2 GPa). The spectroscopic properties of Nd–KPFS specimens are further evaluated by the Judd-Ofelt theory, and the results suggest that the stimulated radiative parameters can be enhanced by tuning sulfate contents. Besides, Nd–KPFS glasses present relatively long lifetime τexp (~ 428 μs) and large figure of merit FOM (~ 9.29 × 10−24 cm2 s). All of the results imply that such fluoro-sulfo-phosphate glass would be a promising candidate for solid-state laser.

Absence of Quantum-Confined Stark Effect in GaN Quantum Disks Embedded in (Al,Ga)N Nanowires Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy.

Several of the key issues of planar (Al,Ga)N-based deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes could potentially be overcome by utilizing nanowire heterostructures, exhibiting high structural perfection, and improved light extraction. Here, we study the spontaneous emission of GaN/(Al,Ga)N nanowire ensembles grown on Si(111) by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The nanowires contain single GaN quantum disks embedded in long (Al,Ga)N nanowire segments essential for efficient light extraction. These quantum disks are found to exhibit intense lightemission at unexpectedly high energies, namely, significantly above the GaN bandgap, and almost independent of the disk thickness. An in-depth investigation of the actual structure and composition of the nanowires reveals a spontaneously formed Al gradient both along and across the nanowire, resulting in a complex core/shell structure with an Al-deficient core and an Al-rich shell with continuously varying Al content along the entire length of the (Al,Ga)N segment. This compositional change along the nanowire growth axis induces a polarization doping of the shell that results in a degenerate electron gas in the disk, thus screening the built-in electric fields. The high carrier density not only results in the unexpectedly high transition energies but also in radiative lifetimes depending only weakly on temperature, leading to a comparatively high internal quantum efficiency of the GaN quantum disks up to room temperature.

Estimating increasing diversity and dissipative loss of critical metals in the aluminum automotive sector

As the demand for and consumption of products and services grow in the US, so does the concern for sustainable material usage. In the automotive industry, major sustainability issues revolve around advocating for improved fuel economy and the incorporation of materials with higher recyclability in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A popular strategy to achieve this in the automotive industry is light-weighting. Many studies in this field are focused on the environmental benefits of light-weighting, that is, how replacement of traditional steel in the automotive industry with aluminum, for instance, will help reduce the amount of CO2-eq emissions in the environment. The increasing use of aluminum in the industry for differing automotive applications broadens the range of alloying elements. Unfortunately, many of these elements are dissipatively lost and also deemed critical. Furthermore, some of the alloying elements accumulate as tramp (unwanted) elements in the secondary aluminum stream, hence posing as a barrier to effective recycling, thus leading to material and economic losses. We quantified the material losses and analyzed the economic losses attributed to the dissipation of critical metals and also examined the attendant accumulation of tramp elements in the recycled aluminum stream. Our results indicate that to achieve a more circular economy requires investment and further development of a) operational blending and batching strategies that comprehend alloying additions and the inherent variability of their actual composition, and b) economically feasible material identification and sorting technologies that will help in abating these material losses and associated economic losses.

Different versions of the German nutrient database affect energy and nutrient intake among adolescents

Updates of food composition data complicate comparisons of energy and nutrient intake between consecutive dietary surveys. The effect of an update of the German Nutrient Database (BLS) from version BLS2.3 to BLS3.02 on calculated energy and nutrient intake was evaluated among 1272 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years from the first German children and adolescents nutrition survey EsKiMo. Food consumption during the past four weeks was assessed by computer assisted dietary history interviews. Energy and nutrient intake was calculated using BLS2.3 and recalculated using BLS3.02. Pair-wise differences in intakes derived from BLS2.3 and BLS3.02 were statistically significant for all nutrients except for cholecalciferol. Differences were less than 5% for energy and macronutrients but exceeded 10% for ß-carotene (+12.3%), biotin (+12.9%), calcium (-18.7%), magnesium (-19.6%), iron (-17.6%), copper (-19.1%), and manganese (-11.8%). In total, 72.6 to 95.0% of participants were assigned to the same intake tertile based on both BLS-versions. Kappa-coefficients varied between 0.68 and 0.94. Median intakes were consistently above or below 100% of the reference values using both BLS versions, except for iron and calcium. In order to make more cautious interpretations of differences over time, recalculation of intakes according to the actual food composition database should be considered.

A spatial analytical approach towards understanding racial residential segregation in Gauteng province (South Africa)

Abstract. The introduction of apartheid in 1948 resulted in racial residential segregation that has influenced the spatial distribution of the population in South Africa. Apartheid laws, which were mainly based on race, brought about the exclusion of the non-white population from urban areas and the mainstream economy of South Africa, as well as the benefits that come with it. In the early 1990’s, apartheid was abolished and the South African government set to bring about social and spatial justice, address inequalities and promote social cohesion. This also meant doing away with racial residential segregation that had been entrenched into the urban morphology of the country. Despite this, in the post-apartheid era, racial-residential segregation still exists (Parry and Van Eeden 2015).Figure 1 shows the density (kernel) distribution of each of the four population groups in Gauteng in 2011: Indian/Asian (IA), white (W), black African (BA) and coloured (C). It is a reflection of the legacy of apartheid town planning which isolated non-whites to the peripheral areas of urban economic centers. Densely populated areas are coloured in red while less populated areas are coloured in green. As it can be seen in the map (Figure 1), the white population group densely occupies areas close to the business centers of the province in places such as Pretoria and northern parts of Johannesburg, while non-whites densely occupy peripheral areas in former townships designated to non-whites, such as Soweto (black African), Mabopane (black African) and Lenasia (Indian/Asians). This observed pattern is more pronounced for black Africans.To study the pattern of racial residential segregation in South Africa, non-spatial indices of segregation are widely employed despite their shortcomings. Parry and Van Eeden (2015) are among the few authors who have acknowledged the importance of employing spatial indices of segregation, even though they did not explicitly use one due to the lack of ready to use GIS software. Massey and Denton (1988) define residential segregation as “the degree to which two or more groups live separately from one another, in different parts of the urban environment”, i.e. racial residential segregation manifests itself across space. Hence, in order to assess the extent to which the levels of racial residential segregation have subsided, adequate empirical studies that employ spatial segregation indices on socio-economic data are necessary. The purpose of this research is to study the pattern of racial residential segregation by employing a spatial index of segregation namely the ‘spatial information theory index (H)’ for Gauteng province, the economic hub and most populated province of South Africa.Some of the shortcomings of existing non-spatial indices of segregation (and also of some of the spatial ones) include the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) which refers to how such indices are sensitive to the size of the areal units (i.e. administrative or political boundaries) of analysis that might be arbitrarily chosen or might not accurately reflect the actual racial composition of the local neighbourhoods. This introduces possibilities of obtaining inaccurate measures of racial residential segregation and also being unable to compare the results at various scales of analysis (Reardon et al. 2004; Weir-Smith 2016). One of the major challenges that impedes the use of spatial segregation indices is the lack of ready to use software that has implemented spatial segregation indices which have attempted to address the MAUP. To address such a challenge, Hong et al. 2014 implemented a series of spatial equivalences of existing segregation measures in R under the package ‘seg’ based on Reardon et al. (2004)’s formulation of spatial segregation indices. Reardon et al. (2004) emphasise the computation of spatial indices of segregation based on the racial composition of the population as reflected by their immediate local environment instead of relying on arbitrary or fixed administrative boundaries. The ‘spatial information theory index (H)’ as implemented by Reardon et al. (2004) is experimented in this study.This study explores existing literature related to racial residential segregation in order to further complement and supplement existing theories on segregation in South Africa by adopting a spatial analytical approach. The authors take advantage of the R implementation of spatial measures of segregation (Hong et al. 2014), namely the spatial information theory index (H), to study the patterns of residential segregation in Gauteng province (South Africa).

All in the Family: the Link Between Couple-Level Work-Family Conflict and Family Satisfaction and Its Impact on the Composition of the Family over Time

Using a resource scarcity perspective, the current longitudinal study examines how a couple’s work-family conflict influences future satisfaction within the family domain and subsequent couple separation and family expansion. Results suggest that work-family conflict does alter the couple’s work-family interface indirectly by negatively influencing satisfaction within the family domain, which in turn influences future couple separation and family expansion through birth or adoption. These results move the applied psychology literature on the link between work-family conflict and satisfaction in the home forward by demonstrating that its effects are not limited to proximal outcomes within the family domain but overtime can indeed change the actual structure and composition of the family unit. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Understanding the Role of Protic Ionic Liquids (PILs) in Reactive Systems: Rational Selection of PILs for the Design of Green Synthesis Strategies for Allylic Amines and β-Amino Esters.

The reactive behaviour of protic ionic liquids (PILs) has been shown to be governed not only by their chemical structures but also by their global compositions, which include the presence of free acids and bases at equilibrium with ionic pairs. Six PILs composed of primary, secondary, or tertiary alkyl ammonium cations with two couterions, nitrate or acetate, were tested in model reactions with unsaturated substrates. The free species that were naturally present in these liquids were identified by cyclic voltammetry. Only tributylammonium nitrate was found to be mostly composed just of the ionic pair; the other five PILs also contain variable amounts of free acid and amine. In reactive systems, these free species determine the products of the reaction. In particular, allylic amines and β-amino esters were obtained in good yields (91 and 75 %, respectively) by reaction of conjugated dienes and acrylates in the presence of PILs. By taking into account the actual composition of each PIL, it was possible to direct the reaction path towards a specific product with good yields, to ensure acid catalysis, to avoid polymerization of the substrate, and to promote phase transfer of products. These results establish some useful guidelines for the rational design of new PIL-based one-step synthetic strategies.

Optical Emission Spectroscopy Investigation of a 1-atm DC Glow Discharge With Liquid Anode and Associated Self-Organization Patterns

Optical emission spectroscopy is used to study a 1-atm dc helium glow discharge with a liquid anode to obtain insight into the physical mechanisms underlying observed plasma self-organization at the liquid surface. Plasma column conditions such as gas temperature, electron density, and species composition were determined by means of optical emissions spectroscopy techniques and correlated with the appearance and structure of anode patterns over a broad burning voltage range with fixed flow rate and liquid conductivity. The discharge column was stratified from a species standpoint with the attachment near the liquid surface containing more sodium and water emission, while near the cathode, the predominant emission was from nitrogen and helium. The experiment suggested a complex interplay between the transport of liquid phase species and the actual composition of the plasma, suggesting the importance of processes such as localized boiling and perhaps physical sputtering.

A combined experimental approach to the study of ancient coins and its application the Venetian “sesino”

The material study of ancient coins is very often rendered particularly challenging by several factors: the presence of surface alteration products; the occasional or deliberate, e.g., forgery, changes in the composition of the base alloy; the misleading information deriving from historical and literature sources.We present herewith a multi-analytical approach to the study of ancient coins. The selected test samples are coins widely used in the Venetian Republic over a time span ranging from the second half of the 16th until the early years of the 17th century: the so-called “sesino”. The rationale of the study was to establish a model, taking into account the layered structure of the surface region of the coins, that once validated could be used for a fully non-destructive characterization of similar items. The specific interest of the results obtained from this investigation is twofold. First, the actual composition of the copper based alloy used for these specific type of Venetian coin, has been measured for the first time with direct measurements on the coin cross-section. Second, the detailed characterization of the coins provides an essential background knowledge for a fully non-destructive characterization of the same kind of coins.

Yolk-shell CdS@void@TiO2 composite particles with photocorrosion resistance for enhanced dye removal and hydrogen evolution

Yolk-shell CdS@void@TiO2 (cadmium sulfide@void@titanium dioxide) composite particles (CPs), consisting of three parts: core (CdS) synthesized by solvent thermal reaction, void generated by polypyrrole (PPy) sacrificed layers and porous shell (TiO2) by sol-gel method, were innovatively fabricated. The actual yolk-shell structure and chemical composition of the resultant CdS@void@TiO2 were verified by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction analyses (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). CdS@void@TiO2 CPs possessed enhanced visible light response due to its narrower energy gap (2.9 eV) than TiO2 (3.2 eV). With the support of photocatalytic performance test results, CdS@void@TiO2 exhibits much higher hydrogen evolution rate up to 1893.5 μmol h−1 g−1 as well as dye removal efficiency both under visible and UV light irradiation than pristine TiO2. The covering of TiO2 shell remarkably promotes the photocorrosion resistance of CdS. The unique yolk-shell structure promotes striking photocatalytic performance in dye removal and hydrogen evolution. A possible photocatalytic mechanism about enhanced photocatalytic activity and robust photostability is also proposed.