Circular Morphology Research Articles

Coordination-Defect-Driven Construction of Responsive Pure-MOF Microspheres for Switchable Mode-Dependent Anticounterfeiting Labels.

Luminescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with exceptional dynamics and diverse active sites possess tremendous potential in information security and anticounterfeiting applications. However, traditional MOF systems are based on broadband spectral signals with spectrum overlap, which easily leads to low-resolution signal identification, compromising the overall security level. Here, we report the coordination-defect-induced amorphous pure-MOF microsphere with switchable whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) signals as a mode-dependent security platform. Amorphous MOF microspheres are prepared by a chlorine coordination-defect-driven growth strategy based on the aperiodic arrangement in coordinate networks. The as-prepared amorphous MOF microspheres with well-defined circular morphology display the typical WGM resonance with dimension-dependent character, permitting the creation of photonic barcodes with substantial encoding capacity. Furthermore, the amorphous MOF microspheres exhibit optical mode switching behavior due to reversible framework shrinkage, which enables the design of covert photonic barcodes as anticounterfeiting labels, finally demonstrating responsive coding property and enhanced information security. The results provide a novel strategy for exploring an MOF-based security platform for information encryption and optical anticounterfeiting.

Volcanic ring morphostructures in Momchilgrad area of Southeastern Rhodope, Bulgaria

The focus of this study is the interpretation of images obtained by the ASTER optical instrument on the TERRA satellite. Its data is processed and presented in stereoscopic images. Anaglyphic glasses with red and cyan color filters are used to obtain the realistic 3D effect. The structural analysis of data shows two ring morphostructures with distinct patterns of radial and concentric lineaments forming a clear circular morphology with a diameter of up to 20 km, located in Eastern Rhodope, eastern from the town of Momchilgrad, Bulgaria. Several volcanic edifices of intermediate composition and many acid extrusions have been mapped. These relatively young structures are directly reflected in the modern morphostrucural plan and can be easily detected in aerial photographs and space images.

Jurassic depocenters development, between Colorado basin, Chelforó sub-basin and Neuquén basin

Northern Patagonia, to the north of the Somún Cura Massif along the 39°S parallel, is characterized by the development of a series of Jurassic depocenters, initiating in the Andes to the west, across the Neuquén basin and the Pampean sector (Chelforó sub-basin) towards the Atlantic coast near the location of the Pedro Luro −1 well (onshore Colorado basin), and further east over the Argentine shelf, where multiple Jurassic depocenters form the Colorado, Rawson, and Valdés basins.Using marine and continental gravity data (Free air and Isostatic anomalies respectively), constrained by well and seismic data, an integrated interpretation workflow for the study area was carried out. The southern limit of the Neuquén Basin is controlled by the Huincul High, an E-W directed structure with a positive gravimetric anomaly, interpreted as a basement high limited by relative gravimetric lows to the north and south of the structure. The eastern sector includes a series of isolated depocenters, separated by basement highs (obliquely oriented) and limited to the south by the E-W anomaly of the Huincul High. These depocenters correspond to the Chelforó sub-basin, which was drilled in a recent exploration campaign obtaining Jurassic ages where seismic interpretation pointed out presumably Jurassic deposits. Between Valcheta and Sierra Grande, this positive anomaly turns NW and becomes the southern boundary of the Pedro Luro depocenter, partially drilled by the Pedro Luro- 1 well, with possibly Tithonian palynological records at total depth. Between the Pedro Luro depocenter and the Chelforó sub-basin some features consistent with basement highs with circular morphology have been identified on gravimetric data, located in the area limited between the Colorado and Río Negro rivers. Jurassic rift depocenters have also been interpreted further east, in the Colorado basin where depocenters are controlled by an E-W oriented basement high, and further east by NW trending structures near the position of the SDRs (seaward dipping reflectors on the continental-oceanic crust transition zone).The common evolution of these Jurassic depocenters is still poorly understood. They extend for more than 1500 km from the Andes to the Atlantic continental shelf and are controlled by structures located to the north of the Somún Cura Massif. The interpretation of seismic lines, and gravimetric data in areas without deep wells allow the identification of new exploration targets increasing the exploration potential of these basins.

Piercing the Mystery: Predator Identification Using the Perforated Tests of the Sea Urchin Brissus unicolor (Leske, 1778)

ABSTRACTDrilling predation on echinoids (sea urchins) has been known to occur in marine ecosystems since the Jurassic Period; however, it has rarely been studied in existing species. Tests of the irregular sea urchin Brissus unicolor (Leske, 1778), which frequently occurs in shallow substrates of the Canary Islands, mostly show very evident perforations through their skeletons. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of these perforations in order to determine their possible origins as well as document their size, site selectivity, and frequency of occurrence among different sample sites. Of the 104 tests of B. unicolor that were collected from 15 locations off the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), 94% showed a least one perforation. These boreholes exhibit a circular morphology, penetrating the sea urchin tests perpendicularly and entirely. Notably, they display a unique acid signature, diverging from those documented in the fossil record and other relevant studies. Our analysis showed size and site selectivity by the predator as the perforations were mainly located on the oral side of the test. The perforations are attributed to drilling predation. The characteristics of these boreholes on B. unicolor match published records of predation marks suggesting that they are produced by the predatory gastropod family Cassidae, with Semicassis undulata (Gmelin, 1791) considered to be the most probable predator.

Characteristics of Deformation and Damage and Acoustic Properties of Sandstone in Circular Tunnel Morphology under Varying Inundation Depths

When water damage occurs in a mine, variations in the immersion levels of tunnels at different burial depths can be observed. There is a significant relationship between the stability of the surrounding rock and the depth of immersion. Therefore, studying the deformation and damage characteristics of sandstone with circular holes at varying immersion depths, along with their acoustic properties, plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of water-rich roadways. The TAW-2000 press and static strain system were utilized to investigate the mechanical properties, crack evolution, and deformation field distribution of sandstone with circular holes at varying immersion depths. Additionally, this study analyzed the impact of immersion depth on the characteristic parameters of acoustic emission. The results indicate that immersion depth is negatively correlated with the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of sandstone; as immersion depth increases, the duration of the compression and yield phases of the rock samples also increases, while the duration of the elastic phase remains relatively unaffected. Furthermore, greater immersion depths correspond to a decrease in the total number of cracks, although the proportion of tensile cracks increases, making the formation of secondary cracks less likely. The frequency of acoustic emission events (transient elastic waves generated by the formation, extension, or closure of tiny cracks within the rock) shows a closely correlated dynamic with the stress–time curve of the rock sample. The acoustic emission ringing counts generated by rock samples under submerged water conditions tend to stabilize with a slight increase before signs of rupture appear. Additionally, the cumulative total energy of acoustic emissions from the rock samples decreases as the water level rises. These research findings provide significant reference value for addressing issues related to water immersion and the extent of water saturation in roadways within rock engineering.

Therapeutic potential of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles in mitigating cytotoxicity and transcriptome changes in human brain endothelial cells

This study investigates the therapeutic effect of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mitigating neurotoxicity-induced transcriptome changes, mitochondrial function, and base excision repair mechanisms in human brain endothelial cells (HBECs). Neurodegenerative disorders are marked by inflammatory processes impacting the blood–brain barrier (BBB) that involve its main components- HBECs and astrocytes. Astrocytes maintain homeostasis through various mechanisms, including EV release. The effect of these EVs on mitigating neurotoxicity in HBECs has not been investigated. This study assesses the impact of astrocyte-derived EVs on global transcriptome changes, cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, oxidative DNA damage, and mitochondrial morphology in HBECs exposed to the neurotoxic reagent Na2Cr2O7. Exposure to Na2Cr2O7 for 5 and 16 h induced oxidative DNA damage, measured by an increase in genomic 8OHdG, while the EVs reduced the accumulation of the adduct. A neurotoxic environment caused a non-statistically significant upregulation of the DNA repair enzyme OGG1 while the addition of astrocyte-derived EVs was associated with the same level of expression. EVs caused increased cell proliferation and reduced cytotoxicity in Na2Cr2O7-treated cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction associated with a reduced copy number and circular morphology induced by neurotoxic exposure was not reversed by astrocyte-derived EVs. High-throughput RNA sequencing revealed that exposure to Na2Cr2O7 suppressed immune response genes. The addition of astrocyte-derived EVs resulted in the dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs impacting genes associated with brain development and angiogenesis. These findings reveal the positive impact of astrocytes-derived EVs in mitigating neurotoxicity and as potential therapeutic avenues for neurodegenerative diseases.

EN FACE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY MORPHOLOGY OF MACULAR PUCKER CORRELATES WITH METAMORPHOPSIA: Possible Role of the Henle Fiber Layer.

To describe macular pucker contraction patterns with en face optical coherence tomography (OCT), to provide a correlation with metamorphopsia scores, and to discuss the protective role of the Henle fiber layer (HFL) against tangential traction. Retrospective, institutional, observational, and consecutive case series. Clinical charts, M-charts scores, and structural and en face OCT imaging of patients diagnosed with macular pucker were reviewed. A 120 eyes of 114 consecutive patients diagnosed with macular pucker were included. En face OCT patterns of macular pucker contraction were foveal in 51 of 120 eyes (42.5%) and extrafoveal in 69 of 120 eyes (57.5%). Foveal macular puckers had regular, a concentric, circle morphology in the HFL (46/51 eyes, 90.2%), whereas extrafoveal membranes had irregular, distorted, circular HFL morphology (62/69 eyes, 89.8%; P < 0.001). Foveal contraction morphology and regular HFL pattern, as well as extrafoveal contraction morphology and an irregular HFL pattern, highly correlated one with another (P < 0.001 in both cases). Foveal macular puckers with regular HFL patterns had significantly less vertical and horizontal M-charts scores as compared with extrafoveal membranes with irregular HFL (P < 0.001 in both cases). Ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane defects were rare in the parafoveal region (5/120 eyes, 4.2%). Visual acuity did not correlate with metamorphopsia scores (P = 0.903). En face OCT imaging identifies macular pucker contraction patterns that correlate with metamorphopsia scores and that can be used alongside the current structural OCT staging system to guide clinicians in the surgical decision-making process.

SOFIA/HAWC+ Far-infrared Polarimetric Large Area CMZ Exploration Survey. II. Detection of a Magnetized Dust Ring in the Galactic Center

We present the detection of a magnetized dust ring (M0.8–0.2) in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of the Galactic center. The results presented in this paper utilize the first data release of the Far-Infrared Polarimetric Large Area CMZ Emission (FIREPLACE) survey (i.e., Paper I of this series). The FIREPLACE survey is a 214 μm polarimetric survey of the Galactic center using the SOFIA/HAWC+ telescope. The M0.8–0.2 ring is a region of gas and dust that has a circular morphology with a central depression. The dust polarization in the M0.8–0.2 ring implies a curved magnetic field that traces the ring-like structure of the cloud. We posit an interpretation in which an expanding shell compresses and concentrates the ambient gas and magnetic field. We argue that this compression results in strengthening of the magnetic field, as we infer from the observations toward the interior of the ring.

Equifinality and unusual genesis of closed depressions in a mixed carbonate/igneous terrain

Closed depressions such as sinkholes and pits can form through various subsurface processes, leading to similar surface expressions. This study analyzes closed depressions in eastern Galilee, Israel, to evaluate their potential origins. Ten depressions were surveyed, including shallow bowl-like forms and steep-walled pits. The terrain comprises faulted Cretaceous carbonates intruded by Early Pleistocene basalts dated to around 2.25 Ma. The circular morphology of the depressions and lack of ejecta indicate collapse into subsurface voids. Field evidence and geophysical data reveal a complex interplay of tectonic and volcanic factors. Some depressions appear to be structurally controlled by dilational normal faults, while others appear to be associated with volcanic features like dikes. Karst processes in the soluble carbonates likely contributed, most probably by hypogene dissolution related to magmatic fluids which may have enhanced void development. A dike identified within depressions suggests void formation through inflation and deflation of intrusions. Progressive collapse and erosion modified steep pits into shallow bowl-like depressions over time. Our results highlight the equifinality of closed depressions, wherein similar morphologies can arise through multiple subsurface processes. Unraveling this complexity has significance for interpreting pit craters on planetary surfaces using remote sensing.

An eco-friendly and facile method for oil-water separation using the bio-Zn oxide-based superhydrophobic membrane.

This manuscript presents a novel approach for developing an environmentally friendly and effective oil-water separation membrane. Achieving a superhydrophobic (SH) coating on textile fabric (TF) involved a two-step process. Initially, the surface roughness was enhanced by applying bio-zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles obtained from Thymbra spicata L. Subsequently, the roughened surface was modified with stearic acid, a material known for its low surface energy. The bio-ZnO nanoparticles exhibit a circular morphology with an average size of 21 nm. The coating demonstrated remarkable mechanical stability, maintaining SH properties even after an abrasion length of 300 mm. Chemical stability studies revealed that the prepared membrane retained SH properties within a pH range of 5-11, which ensures robust performance. Absorption capacity measurements showcased different capacities for n-hexane (Hex), corn oil (C.O), and silicone oil (S.O), with consistent performance over 10 absorption-desorption cycles. High oil-water separation efficiencies were achieved for hexane, C.O, and S.O, emphasizing the coating's versatility. Flux rate measurements demonstrated that oil passed through the membrane efficiently, with the highest flux observed for Hex. The prepared SH membrane has superior mechanical and chemical stability and high separation efficiencies, which positions it as a promising candidate for diverse industrial applications.

In Situ Microstructure Modification Using a Layerwise Surface-Preheating Laser Scan of Ti-6Al-4V during Laser Powder Bed Fusion.

An innovative in situ thermal approach in the domain of LPBF for Ti-6Al-4V fabrication has been carried out with results directing towards an improved fatigue life without the need for post-processing. The thermal process involves an additional laser scan with different process parameters to preheat the selected regions of each layer of the powder bed prior to their full melting. This preheating step influences the cooling rate, which in turn affects surface characteristics and subsurface microstructure, both of which are directly correlated with fatigue properties. A thorough analysis has been conducted by comparing the preheated samples with reference samples with no preheating. Without any additional thermal processing, the preheated samples showed a significant improvement over their reference counterparts. The optimized preheated sample showed an improved prior β-grain distribution with a circular morphology and thicker α laths within the even finer prior β-grain boundaries. Also, an overall increment of the c/a ratio of the HCP α has been observed, which yielded lattice strain relaxation in the localized grain structure. Furthermore, a less-profound surface roughness was observed in the preheated sample. The obtained microstructure with all these factors delivered a 10% improvement in its fatigue life with better mechanical strength overall.

Characterization of lead sulfide obtained from Naga Bhasma

BackgroundLead sulfide nanoparticles were manufactured from lead oxide using a procedure described in the Ayurveda formulary of India, which involved using a quantum of the heat of up to 60 puta, which is officially known as the Shasti puta Naga Bhasma. ObjectiveThe study shows sulfurization of nanoparticles decreased their toxicity due to the lower solubility. Materials and MethodsThe present work used the arsenic sulfide media and traditional puta for processing and the characterization of the same has been conducted. Different analytical techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-Ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermo-gravimetry analysis (TGA) were used. ResultsPowder x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis all showed that the produced nanoparticles are lead sulfide nanoparticles with a particle size of an average of 84.60 and the crystalline average size of 69.06 nm. ConclusionThe rounded, rod, oval, cubic, and circular morphology of the produced lead sulfide nanoparticles can be seen in the SEM image. The stretching and bending functional groups in the sample were alkanes, alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids, alkyl carboxylic acids, alkyl alpha, beta-unsaturated, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acid, aliphatic amines, primary amines, secondary amines, alkyl halides, are studied through the FTIR spectrum.

Exosome miRNA-203 promotes M1 macrophage polarization and inhibits prostate cancer tumor progression.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent malignant neoplasm affecting the male reproductive system globally. However, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches fall short of meeting the demands posed by PCa. Poor expression of miRNA-203 (miR-203) within PCa tissues and cells implies its potential utility as a diagnostic indicator for PCa. Exosomes (Exo), membranous vesicles released by various cells, are rich reservoirs of miRNAs. However, the presence of miR-203 presents within Exo derived from PCa cells remains unclarified. In this study, Exo was isolated from urine specimens collected from clinical PCa patients and LNCaP cells to detect miR-203 expression. Meanwhile, the impact of overexpressed miR-203 on M0 macrophages (mø) was analyzed. Subsequently, alterations in the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of LNCaP cells were examined within a co-culture system featuring elevated miR-203 levels in both macrophages and LNCaP cells. Furthermore, the repercussions of miR-203 upregulation or inhibition were explored in a murine PCa tumor model. The results revealed that Exo manifested a circular or elliptical morphology, encapsulating a phospholipid bilayer approximately 100nm in diameter. Notably, Exo readily infiltrated, with both Exo and miR-203-overexpressing Exo prompting macrophage polarization toward the M1 subtype. In the co-culture system, miR-203 exhibited pronounced suppression of LNCaP cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while concurrently fostering apoptosis as compared with the LNCaP group (Control). In vivo experiments further disclosed that miR-203 greatly inhibited the growth of PCa tumors in nude mice. Markedly heightened expression of M1 macrophage markers such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, CXCL9, and CXCL10 was observed within the tumor microenvironment following miR-203 intervention, as opposed to the model group. However, the introduction of miR-203 antagomir led to a reversal in tumor growth trends. This investigation indicates the presence of miR-203 within the urine of PCa patients and Exo originating from cells, and that miR-203 exerted antitumor effect by facilitating M1 macrophage polarization. Our study furnishes valuable insights into the potential applicability of miR-203 as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PCa.

Multiple stellar populations found outside the tidal radius of NGC 1851 via Gaia DR3 XP spectra

Aims. Ancient galactic globular clusters (GCs) have long fascinated astronomers due to their intriguing multiple stellar populations (MPs), which are characterized by variations in light element abundances. Among these clusters, type II GCs stand out as they exhibit stars with large differences in heavy-element chemical abundances. These enigmatic clusters, comprising approximately 17% of analyzed GCs with MPs, have been hypothesized to be the remnants of accreted dwarf galaxies. Methods. We focus on one of the most debated type II GCs, namely, NGC 1851, to investigate its MPs across a wide spatial range of up to 50 arcmin from the cluster center. By using Gaia Data Release 3 low-resolution XP spectra, we generated synthetic photometry to perform a comprehensive analysis of the spatial distribution and kinematics of the canonical and anomalous populations within this GC. By using appropriate color-magnitude diagrams from the synthetic photometry in the BVI bands and in the f41525 band introduced in this work, we identified distinct stellar sequences associated with different heavy-element chemical compositions. Results. Our results suggest that the canonical and the anomalous populations reside both inside and outside the tidal radius of NGC 1851, up to a distance that exceeds its tidal radius 3.5 times. However, about 80% of stars outside the tidal radius are consistent with characteristics that class them among the canonical population, emphasizing its dominance in the cluster’s outer regions. Remarkably, canonical stars exhibit a more circular on-sky morphology, while the anomalous population displays an elliptical shape. Furthermore, we delve into the kinematics of the multiple populations, examining velocity dispersions, rotation patterns, and potential substructures. Our results reveal a flat or increasing velocity dispersion profile in the outer regions. Additionally, we observe hints of a tangentially anisotropic motion in the outer regions, indicating a preference for stars to escape on radial orbits. Our work demonstrates the capability of synthetic photometry, based on Gaia spectra, to explore multiple populations across the entire cluster field.

Grainyhead-like 2 is required for morphological integrity of mouse embryonic stem cells and orderly formation of inner ear-like organoids.

Mutations in the transcription factor gene grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2) are associated with progressive non-syndromic sensorineural deafness autosomal dominant type 28 (DFNA28) in humans. Since complete loss of Grhl2 is lethal in mouse embryos, we studied its role during inner ear pathology and hearing loss in vitro. To this end, we generated different homozygous deletions to knockout Grhl2 in mouse embryonic stem cells (Grhl2-KO ESCs), including some mimicking naturally occurring truncations in the dimerisation domain related to human DFNA28. Under naïve culture conditions, Grhl2-KO cells in suspension were more heterogenous in size and larger than wild-type controls. Adherent Grhl2-KO cells were also larger, with a less uniform shape, flattened, less circular morphology, forming loose monolayer colonies with poorly defined edges. These changes correlated with lower expression of epithelial cadherin Cdh1 but no changes in tight junction markers (Ocln, Tjp2) or other Grhl isoforms (Grhl1, Grhl3). Clonogenicity from single cells, proliferation rates of cell populations and proliferation markers were reduced in Grhl2-KO ESCs. We next induced stepwise directed differentiation of Grhl2-KO ESCs along an otic pathway, giving rise to three-dimensional inner ear-like organoids (IELOs). Quantitative morphometry revealed that Grhl2-KO cells initially formed larger IELOs with a less compacted structure, more eccentric shape and increased surface area. These morphological changes persisted for up to oneweek. They were partially rescued by forced cell aggregation and fully restored by stably overexpressing exogenous Grhl2 in Grhl2-KO ESCs, indicating that Grhl2 alters cell-cell interactions. On day 8, aggregates were transferred into minimal maturation medium to allow self-guided organogenesis for another two weeks. During this period, Grhl2-KO cells and wild-type controls developed similarly, expressing neural, neuronal and sensory hair cell markers, while maintaining their initial differences in size and shape. In summary, Grhl2 is required for morphological maintenance of ESCs and orderly formation of IELOs, consistent with an essential role in organising epithelial integrity during inner ear development. Our findings validate quantitative morphometry as a useful, non-invasive screening method for molecular phenotyping of candidate mutations during organoid development.

Study on the effect of flocculation morphology on the floatability of talc flocs and the adhesion mechanism with air bubbles

This study investigates the impact of floc morphology on flotation by preparing two types of flocs with similar apparent particle sizes but different aggregation degrees through varying the stirring speed. Flotation tests were conducted on the two flocs, revealing that flocs with higher aggregation degrees demonstrated superior floatability and higher flotation rate constants. Fractal dimension and AFM analysis indicated that flocs with higher aggregation degrees exhibited higher fractal dimensions, displaying a more circular and compact overall morphology, as well as a more regular and uniform surface morphology. XPS and contact angle tests showed that, for flocs with comparable particle sizes, an increase in fractal dimension led to increased adsorption of flocculant (PEO) on the surface, accompanied by enhanced hydrophobicity. Further analysis of the induction time for particle-bubble attachment and coverage angle demonstrated that flocs with higher fractal dimensions had shorter induction times and larger coverage angles, indicating faster attachment between flocs and bubbles. These findings suggest that flocs with higher fractal dimensions can acquire greater kinetic energy in a flow field, enabling them to more effectively disrupt the hydration film on the bubble surface and adhere to the bubble surface, thereby enhancing floatability.

Effect of cathode material on the morphology and osseointegration of TiO2 nanotube arrays by electrochemical anodization technique

Titanium (Ti) has been one of the most widely used materials for biomedical implants owing to its suitable bulk and surface properties. To control the risk of tissue infection and implant failure, titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) have been frequently grown on Ti surface via electrochemical anodization (EA), which is a cost-effective process offering tunable TNTs structures with ease. In the present work, the role of counter electrodes in affecting the microstructure and surface properties of TNTs was investigated. To study this less-highlighted parameter systematically, platinum (Pt), graphite (Gp), and stainless steel (SS) were selected as representatives. The use of Pt and Gp cathodes led to TNTs with typical circular morphology, while those produced with the SS cathode displayed hexagonal-shaped tubes. Moreover, TNTs fabricated with SS cathode exhibited particle debris on the surface at the expense of some portion of its tube length. This morphology, however, resulted in greater surface roughness and hydrophilicity. The highly complicated surface microstructure played a major role in facilitating the growth of bone-forming apatite during osseointegration.

Obtaining and research of the properties of magnetic-luminescent hybrid structures based on iron oxide (Fe&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;) with semiconductor shells

The high-temperature organic synthesis of hydrophobic superparamagnetic nanocomposites of the Fe3O4/ZnS and Fe3O4/ZnSe core–shell type is discussed. An analysis of the absorption, luminescence, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and morphology spectra of hydrophobic magnetoluminescent nanocomposites is presented. It is shown that nanocomposites have luminescent properties, and the growth of the shell on the Fe3O4 core retains the magnetic properties of the particles. An analysis of the MCD spectra shows that the magnetic field induces spin-dependent chiral magneto-optical activity. An estimate of the dependence of the g factor on the magnitude and sign of the external magnetic field demonstrates a change in the magnetization of the resulting nanocomposites relative to Fe3O4.

Teutsch 76: A deep near-infrared study

We have performed a detailed analysis on the Teutsch 76 (T76) open cluster using the deep near-infrared (NIR) observations taken with the TANSPEC instrument mounted on the 3.6m Devasthal optical telescope along with the recently available high quality proper motion data from the Gaia data release 3 and deep photometric data from Pan-STARRS1 survey. We have found that the T76 cluster is having a central density concentration with circular morphology, probably due to the star-formation processes. The radius of the T76 cluster is found to be 45 $$^{\prime \prime }$$ (1.24 pc) and 28 stars within this radius were marked as highly probable cluster members. We have found that the cluster is located at a distance of $$5.7\pm 1.0$$ kpc and is having an age of $$50\pm 10$$ Myr. The mass function slope ( $$\Gamma $$ ) in the cluster region in the mass range of $$\sim $$ $$0.75<M/M_\odot <5.8$$ is estimated as $$-1.3\pm 0.2$$ , which is similar to the value of −1.35 given by Salpeter (1955). The cluster is not showing any signatures of mass-segregation and is currently undergoing dynamical relaxation.

Highly Soluble Lithium Nitrate-Containing Additive for Carbonate-Based Electrolyte in Lithium Metal Batteries

While lithium nitrate (LiNO3) is widely utilized as an electrolyte additive in ether-based electrolytes for stable lithium deposition, use of LiNO3 in conventional carbonate-based electrolytes is very limited due to the poor solubility of LiNO3 in the carbonate-based electrolytes. Herein, a new LiNO3-containing electrolyte additive which is very soluble in carbonate-based electrolytes, 1-trimethylsilyl imidazole lithium nitrate adduct (TMSILN), has been synthesized by a simple method. The electrochemical performance is significantly improved in Li/Li and NCM622/Li cells with TMSILN additive containing electrolyte. Our extensive investigations reveal that the deposited lithium metal in the TMSILN additive-containing electrolyte has a circular morphology with a very thin (∼5 nm) surface film containing lithium nitrate decomposition products such as Li3N and LiNxOy. The improved electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the favorable features of the SEI and morphology of the deposited lithium in the presence of the TMSILN additive.