Making Every Single Puff Count-Simple and Sensitive E-Cigarette Aerosol Sampling for GCxIMS and GC-MS Analysis.

The analysis of the aerosol from tobaccoless electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is an important part of understanding their impact on human health, yet sampling aerosol from e-cigarettes is still considered a challenge. It lacks a standard method for research and quality control and there are a variety of methods. However, few are simple and inexpensive, and none have been suggested for the use with gas chromatography coupled ion mobility spectrometry (GCxIMS). This work presents and evaluates such a setup made from standard lab equipment to quickly collect a quantitative sample from the aerosol of a single puff (5 s totaling 125 mL). The aerosol condensates directly in the cooled headspace (HS) vial, which is analyzed in the HS-GCxIMS or mass spectrometer (HS-GC-MS). The combined use of GC-MS and GCxIMS allows the simple and sensitive identification of unknown substances in complex mixtures and the identification of degradation products in the aerosols. A calibration of 26 flavor compounds (0.2-20 µg/g) was created using single puffs of a spiked, flavorless commercial refill solution and 2-alkanones as internal standards. This sensitive but easily reproducible setup enables a wide range of further investigations, even for labs that were previously unable to afford it.

Expanded dataset of mechanical properties and observed phases of multi-principal element alloys.

This data article presents a compilation of mechanical properties of 630 multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs). Built upon recently published MPEA databases, this article includes updated records from previous reviews (with minor error corrections) along with new data from articles that were published since 2019. The extracted properties include reported composition, processing method, microstructure, density, hardness, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength (or maximum compression strength), elongation (or maximum compression strain), and Young's modulus. Additionally, descriptors (e.g. grain size) not included in previous reviews were also extracted for articles that reported them. The database is hosted and continually updated on an open data platform, Citrination. To promote interpretation, some data are graphically presented.

Magnetically stabilized Fe8(µ4-S)6S8 clusters in Ba6Fe25S27.

We have prepared Ba6Fe25S27, and studied its magnetic properties and electronic structure. Single crystal diffraction revealed a cubic phase (Pm3[combining macron]m) with a = 10.2057(9) Å and Z = 1. Within the large cubic cell, tetrahedrally coordinated Fe atoms arrange into octonuclear Fe8(µ4-S)6(S8) clusters, which can be described as a cube of Fe atoms with six face-capping and eight terminal S atoms. SQUID magnetometry measurements reveal an antiferromagnetic transition at 25 K and anomalous high-temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility that is non-Curie like-two magnetic signatures which mimic behavior seen in the parent phases of Fe-based superconductors. Using a combined DFT and molecular orbital based approach, we provide an interpretation of the bonding and stability within Ba6M25S27 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) and related M9S8 phases. Through a σ-bonding molecular orbital model of the transition metal coordination environments, we illustrate how the local stability can be enhanced through addition of Ba. In addition, we perform spin-polarized DFT calculations on Ba6Fe25S27 to determine the effect of adopting an antiferromagnetic spin state on its electronic structure. By studying the magnetic properties from an empirical and computational perspective, we hope to elucidate what aspects of the magnetic structure are significant to bonding.

Data-driven discovery of energy materials: efficient BaM2Si3O10 : Eu2+ (M = Sc, Lu) phosphors for application in solid state white lighting.

In developing phosphors for application in solid state lighting, it is advantageous to target structures from databases with highly condensed polyhedral networks that produce rigid host compounds. Rigidity limits channels for non-radiative decay that will decrease the luminescence quantum yield. BaM(2)Si(3)O(10) (M = Sc, Lu) follows this design criterion and is studied here as an efficient Eu(2+)-based phosphor. M = Sc(3+) and Lu(3+) compounds with Eu(2+) substitution were prepared and characterized using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Substitution with Eu(2+) according to Ba(1-x)Eu(x)Sc(2)Si(3)O(10) and Ba(1-x)Eu(x)Lu(2)Si(3)O(10) results in UV-to-blue and UV-to-blue-green phosphors, respectively. Interestingly, substitution with Eu(2+) in the Lu(3+) containing material produces two emission peaks at low temperature and with 365 nm excitation, as allowed by the two substitution sites. The photoluminescence of the Sc(3+) compound is robust at high temperature, decreasing by only 25% of its room temperature intensity at 503 K, while the Lu-analogue suffers a large drop (75%) from its room temperature intensity. The decrease in emission intensity is explained as stemming from charge transfer quenching due to the short distances separating the luminescent centers on the Lu(3+) substitution site. The correlation between structure and optical response in these two compounds indicates that even though the structures are three-dimensionally connected, high symmetry is required to prevent structural distortions that could impact photoluminescence.

An efficient, thermally stable cerium-based silicate phosphor for solid state white lighting.

A novel cerium-substituted, barium yttrium silicate has been identified as an efficient blue-green phosphor for application in solid state lighting. Ba9Y2Si6O24:Ce(3+) was prepared and structurally characterized using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. The photoluminescent characterization identified a major peak at 394 nm in the excitation spectrum, making this material viable for near-UV LED excitation. An efficient emission, with a quantum yield of ≈60%, covers a broad portion (430-675 nm) of the visible spectrum, leading to the blue-green color. Concentration quenching occurs when the Ce(3+) content exceeds ≈3 mol %, whereas high temperature photoluminescent measurements show a 25% drop from the room temperature efficiency at 500 K. The emission of this compound can be red-shifted via the solid solution Ba9(Y(1-y)Sc(y))(1.94)Ce(0.06)Si6O24 (y = 0.1, 0.2), allowing for tunable color properties when device integration is considered.

Seed dispersal by the Florida box turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri) in pine rockland forests of the lower Florida Keys, United States.

Seed dispersal by animals is one of the most important plant-animal mutualisms, but saurochory, the dispersal of seeds by reptiles, has received little attention. We investigated the role of the Florida box turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri) as a seed dispersal agent in pine rockland forests of the lower Florida Keys and examined the effect of turtle digestion on seed germination. We obtained seeds of 11 species with fleshy fruits and 2 species with non-fleshy fruits (a grass and legume) from the feces of 145 box turtles collected on Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge from 1999 to 2000. We planted the seeds of nine species and germination percentage (percentage of seeds that germinated during the experiment) varied from 10% to 80%. Comparative germination experiments were conducted with Thrinax morrissii, Serenoa repens, and Byrsonima lucida. We compared the germination percentage and germination rate (number of days from planting to seedling emergence) of seeds from three treatments (seeds recovered from feces, control seeds with pulp, and control seeds without pulp) and continued these experiments for up to 2 years. Passage through the box turtle digestive tract greatly enhanced the germination percentage and germination rate of S. repens, but decreased the germination percentage of B. lucida and T. morrissii, and decreased germination rate for T. morrissii. Subsequent destructive seed viability tests revealed that many ungerminated T. morrissii seeds remained viable, suggesting long-term seed dormancy may occur, even after passage through the turtle digestive system. In addition, the proportion of ungerminated seeds which remained viable was greater for seeds recovered from turtle feces than from control seeds with pulp. Furthermore, removal of fleshy pulp either manually or by the turtle digestive system may allow T. morrissii to escape insect predation.