[en] We report a new methodology to prepare activated carbon and activated carbons/ZnO composites from walnut shell-derived hydrothermal carbons (hydrochars), which were prepared under hydrothermal condition in presence of ZnCl₂. For this method, activated carbon/ZnO composites were prepared via heat treatment of hydrochars under inert environment and activated carbons were prepared by removing the ZnO in activated carbon/ZnO composites. The chemical structure of walnut shell, hydrochars, activated carbon/ZnO and activated carbon was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and N₂ adsorption/desorption measurements. It is found ZnCl₂ plays multiple roles, i.e., helping to remove the oxygen-containing groups during hydrothermal stage, improving the surface area of activated carbon and acting as the precursor of ZnO in heat-treatment stage. The specific surface areas up to 818.9 and 1072.7 m² g⁻¹ have been achieved for activated carbon/ZnO composites and activated carbon, respectively. The activated carbon/ZnO as electrode materials for supercapacitors showed that specific capacitance of up to 117.4 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹ in KOH aqueous solution can be achieved and keeps stable in 1000 cycles. - Highlights: • Hydrochars as intermediate to prepare activated carbon/ZnO composites. • Activated carbon/ZnO showed excellent electrochemical performance in supercapacitors. • Activated carbon with large surface area can be obtained by removing ZnO

[en] ABSTRACT: Spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ has been thought as one of ideal anode materials for Li ion batteries due to its safety performance and long cycle life, while the low conductivity and Li-ion diffusion capability has limited its application. To improve the electrochemical performance of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, Gd-doped single-crystalline Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/TiO₂ (rutile phase) nanosheets composites in this study was prepared via a solvothermal synthesis assisted method. It is found that the as prepared doped dual phases composites showed superior electrochemical performance as anode material. At a current density of 0.2 A/g (1.14 C), the Gd-LTO/TiO₂ electrode can deliver a specific capacity of ∼180.2 mAh/g, and it can deliver a specific capacity as high as ∼111.1 mAh/g even at current density of 20 A/g (114.3 C). The introduction of Gd ion has been found to play a crucial role in improving the electrochemical performance, and its introduction modifies the morphology of as prepared sample at the same time.

[en] Based on the HFR method and considering configuration interaction between bound states, some problems and inadequacies what may be occurred in the calculation of photoionization cross sections by using Cowan's theory are discussed, and correct method is given to solve these problems. Using the method, photoionization cross sections of Li, Na and Cs atoms are calculated and compared with references. The difference and relationship between the orbital-orbital and the summed level-level photoionization cross sections are discussed and analysed theoretically

[en] Auger rates for Au were calculated by quasi-relativistic configuration-averaged method, with the wave functions obtained by Cowan's codes. Firstly, 'configuration-to-configuration Auger rates' for He-like to Dy-like gold were calculated. Then 'Auger rates for single electron' for average atom model (AAM) with and without ι-splitting were both obtained by averaging the configuration-to-configuration rates. Our data were evaluated through the comparison with other results calculated from more detailed codes, including Cowan's codes, flexible atomic code and fully relativistic codes. The evaluation shows that most of our data are reliable except those with high orbital quantum number ι, which were replaced with valid data obtained by other codes. (authors)

[en] Based on the HFR method for bound states and Distorted-Wave method for continuous states, photoionization cross sections that describe level to level transitions of He-like Rb and He-like Nb ions have been calculated. In the calculation, configuration interactions between bound states have been considered. The included configurations of the process are 1s nl→1s εl +- 1 (1≤n≤6,0≤l≤n-1), and the energy range of free electron is 0∼10 times the ionization energy. The computational error and the data accuracy are discussed. Also the results that have been summed over final states are provided

[en] A new method is described for solving the multi-channel equation, in which channel wave functions are expressed in terms of the homogeneous solutions analytically. By using the method, direct excitations of ${\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}}^{+},{\mathrm{B}\mathrm{e}}^{+},{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{a}}^{+},{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{d}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{B}\mathrm{a}}^{+}$ ions impacted by electrons are calculated for the energies close to their thresholds. The calculated results are compared with the experimental results and previous theoretical calculations. The lack of orthogonality between the channel wave functions and the orbital wave functions of the target ions is considered. (paper)

[en] Objective: To investigate the CT characteristics of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and evaluate the diagnostic value of CT in this disease. Methods: The CT findings of 10 patients with pathologically proved anaplastic thyroid carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. The patients included 7 females and 3 males. Their age ranged from 25.0 to 78 years with median of 61 years. Multi-slices plain and post contrast CT scans were performed in all patients. Results: Unilateral thyroid was involved in 6 patients. Unilateral thyroid and thyroid isthmus were both involved in 2 patients due to big size. Bilateral thyroid were involved in 2 patients. The maximum diameter of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma ranged from 2.9-12.8 cm with mean of (4.5 ± 1.4) cm. All lesions demonstrated unclear margins and envelope invasion. The densities of all lesions were heterogeneous and obvious necrosis areas were noted on precontrast images. Seven lesions showed varied calcifications, and coarse granular calcifications were found in 5 lesions among them. All lesions showed remarkable heterogenous enhancement on post-contrast CT. The CT value of solid portion of the tumor increased 40 HU after contrast media administration. The ratios of CT value which comparing of the tumor with contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscle were 0.69-0.82 (0.76 ± 0.18) and 1.25-1.41 (1.33 ± 0.28) on pre and post CT, respectively. Enlarged cervical lymph nodes were found in 6 cases (60.0%). It showed obvious homogeneous enhancement or irregular ring-like enhancement on post-contrast images and dot calcifications were seen in 1 case. Conclusions: Relative larger single thyroid masses with coarse granular calcifications, necrosis,envelope invasion, remarkable heterogeneous enhancing and enlarged lymph nodes on CT are suggestive of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. (authors)

[en] Based on the developed method for solving the multi-channel equation, which had been applied to the calculations of several kinds of ions including only open-open interactions, closed channels and their interactions with open channels have been studied. The wave functions of the closed channels are also expressed in terms of their homogeneous solutions which is just the same as for open channels. The homogeneous solutions are described and solved in WKB form, therefore the regular and irregular solutions as well as the quantum defect numbers can be obtained simultaneously. Excitations of Mg ⁺, Cd ⁺ ions impact by electrons are calculated for energies close to the thresholds. The results are compared with those of the experimental observations and previous theoretical calculations. The effect of including the closed channels, especially when the energy passes through the resonance energies, has been discussed according to the deduced formulae and the calculated results. (paper)

[en] Highlights: • A two-moment limited-interaction unified yield condition is proposed for shells based on unified yield criterion. • The plastic limit analysis of simply supported conical shells subjected to internal pressure is carried out. • According to the lower and upper bound analyses, the obtained solutions are the exact solutions. • The results can be used to predict the limit pressure on a conical shell for most non-SD (strength differential) materials. -- Abstract: In this paper, a two-moment limited-interaction unified yield condition (TLUYC) is proposed for shells. Based on the TLUYC, the plastic limit analysis of simply supported conical shells subjected to internal pressure is carried out. A semi-analytical method is presented to compute the plastic limit solution for conical shell in terms of a piecewise linear yield criterion. According to the lower and upper bound analyses, the obtained solutions are the exact solutions for the yield point stress. The moment fields, stress fields and velocity fields with respect to three special yield conditions are illustrated and compared. The results derived in this paper can be used to predict the limit pressure on a conical shell for a wide range of non-SD (strength differential) materials.

[en] The formulae of photon angular distribution and polarization degree for radiative recombination are presented to include the contribution of multipoles and their correlations. A fully relativistic code is then developed to calculate the photon angular distribution and polarization. The calculated polarization degree and differential cross-sections agree well with that of Scofild's results within 10%. The effects of multipoles on polarization and angular distribution are investigated. The polarization and the angular distribution become asymmetric when the multipoles are accounted as the electron energy increases. (authors)