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Unidirectional growth, a novel and promising approach, is a key method for synthesizing large-scale single crystals of ultra-thin materials. In this study, we present a unique and convenient method for the growth of molybdenum dioxide (MoO 2) nanoflakes on a c-sapphire substrate, achieving uniform orientation. Specifically, the MoO 2 (100) and MoO 2 < 02 1 ¯ > are aligned parallel to sapphire(0001) and sapphire<1 2 ¯ 10>, respectively. A crucial observation in our study is the presence of a buffer layer between the as-grown MoO 2 and c-sapphire. This buffer layer is essential in overcoming the limitation of lattice mismatch, thereby facilitating the unidirectional growth of MoO 2. The introduction of reductants, such as H 2 and sulfur vapor, is critical for the formation of this buffer layer. Electrical measurements indicate that the electrical conductivity of the as-grown MoO 2 nanoflake is approximately 3.91 × 106 S/m at 300 K, which is comparable to other metallic nanomaterials. In addition, magnetotransport measurements reveal that the as-grown MoO 2 nanoflakes exhibit a temperature-dependent linear magnetoresistance (MR) under magnetic fields. These findings not only demonstrate a method for the unidirectional growth of MoO 2 on the c-sapphire substrate but also have significant implications for the application of MoO 2 in transparent electrodes and the fabrication of integrated devices based on MoO 2. • MoO 2 nanoflakes with uniform orientation are synthesized on c-sapphire substrate through a convenient CVD method. • A buffer layer is observed between MoO 2 nanoflakes and substrate, resulting the unidirectional growth of MoO 2 nanoflakes. • The MoO 2 nanoflakes exhibit high conductivity and temperature-dependent linear magnetoresistance under magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clathrate hydrates are ice-like, crystalline solids, composed of a three-dimensional network of hydrogen bonded water molecules that confines gas molecules in well-defined cavities that can store gases as a solid solution. Ideally, hydrogen hydrates can store hydrogen with a maximum theoretical capacity of about 5.4 wt%. However, the pressures necessary for the formation of such a hydrogen hydrate are 180–220 MPa and therefore too high for large-scale plants and industrial use. Thus, since the early 1990s, there have been numerous studies to optimize pressure and temperature conditions for hydrogen formation and storage and to develop a proper reactor type via optimisation of the heat and mass transfer to maximise hydrate storage capacity in the resulting hydrate phase. So far, the construction of the reactor has been developed for small, sub-litre scale; and indeed, many attempts were reported for pilot-scale reactor design, on the multiple-litre scale and larger. The purpose of this review article is to compile and summarise this knowledge in a single article and to highlight hydrogen-storage prospects and future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Javier de Mesones-Cabello was an influential and active planner of the 1960s and 1970s in Spain, who passed away in December, 2016. His professional career as a self-taught urban planner was extensively linked to his academic and institutional activities. These connections supported the establishment of relationships with prestigious professionals working in urban planning practice. In planning the 1969 masterplan for the city of Valladolid, in Spain, de Mesones-Cabello made several intellectual references to the Greek urban planner Doxiadis. This masterplan covers a relatively unknown example of directional city growth in a European context. My findings elucidate the extent to which de Mesones-Cabello was influenced by Doxiadis, and the circumstances in which these ideas have continued to dominate thinking about Valladolid's urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Europium-doped Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate crystal was successfully grown using the Unidirectional growth method, achieving a length of 108 mm. • X-ray Diffraction analysis confirmed that the crystal belonged to the P1 space group, and lattice parameters were calculated. • Scanning electron microscope images and EDAX analysis confirmed the presence of Europium in the crystal. • Photoluminescence studies demonstrated an emission peak at 640 nm, corresponding to 5D 0 to 7F J (J = 2,3) transition levels of Europium ions in the orange-red region. • Antimicrobial studies revealed significant inhibition zones for various bacterial and fungal cultures, indicating the crystal's potential antimicrobial activity. A Europium-doped Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate crystal was grown using Unidirectional growth method, resulting in a crystal that was 108 mm long. Various characterization methods were employed to investigate its growth, optical, structural, and antimicrobial properties. X-ray Diffraction analysis showed that the crystal belonged to the P1 space group and calculated its corresponding lattice parameters. The band gap of the grown crystal was determined by analysing its response to UV excitation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy identified the presence of OH and sulfoxide bond. Surface images of the crystal were taken using the Scanning electron microscope, and EDAX reports confirmed the presence of Europium in the grown crystal. Photoluminescence studies showed the emission peak at 640 nm, and 5D 0 to 7F J (J = 2,3) transition levels were observed in the emission spectrum corresponding to europium ions in the orange-red region using 320 nm of excitation wavelength. Antimicrobial studies were conducted on Eu doped CuSO 4 ·5H 2 O crystals using two gram-positive, two gram-negative bacteria, and two fungal cultures. The zone of inhibition was measured and found to be 12,12,13.5,14 mm and 16,17 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus Faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida, Aspergillus, respectively. These findings indicate that Eu doped CuSO 4 ·5H 2 O is a fast-growing crystal that exhibits good quality optical and antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] FTIR study shows the vibrations of the molecules which made in studying other characteristics also. [•] Large size of GPMG crystals are obtained. [•] Hardness is found to be higher. [•] Transparency of the crystal is good. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Single crystals of L-tartaric acid (LTA), an organic nonlinear optical material, have been grown using a home-built crystal growth setup (the Moovendaran-Kalyanasundar-Natarajan setup). Crystals of LTA were also grown by the slow evaporation solution technique. These single crystals were characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, high-resolution X-ray diffraction, and IR and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy. In addition, measurements of Vickers microhardness, laser damage threshold value and second harmonic generation efficiency are reported. Thermal, dielectric and photoluminescence studies were also carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When building genetic maps, it is necessary to choose from several marker ordering algorithms and criteria, and the choice is not always simple. In this study, we evaluate the efficiency of algorithms try (TRY), seriation (SER), rapid chain delineation (RCD), recombination counting and ordering (RECORD) and unidirectional growth (UG), as well as the criteria PARF (product of adjacent recombination fractions), SARF (sum of adjacent recombination fractions), SALOD (sum of adjacent LOD scores) and LHMC (likelihood through hidden Markov chains), used with the RIPPLE algorithm for error verification, in the construction of genetic linkage maps. A linkage map of a hypothetical diploid and monoecious plant species was simulated containing one linkage group and 21 markers with fixed distance of 3 cM between them. In all, 700 F2 populations were randomly simulated with 100 and 400 individuals with different combinations of dominant and co-dominant markers, as well as 10 and 20% of missing data. The simulations showed that, in the presence of co-dominant markers only, any combination of algorithm and criteria may be used, even for a reduced population size. In the case of a smaller proportion of dominant markers, any of the algorithms and criteria (except SALOD) investigated may be used. In the presence of high proportions of dominant markers and smaller samples (around 100), the probability of repulsion linkage increases between them and, in this case, use of the algorithms TRY and SER associated to RIPPLE with criterion LHMC would provide better results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When grown in a complex peptone-yeast extract culture medium, Seliberia stellata and related morphologically similar aquatic bacterial strains typically divided asymmetrically, giving rise to a motile swarmer and a longer sessile rod. Indirect immunoferritin labeling of these bacteria, followed by incubation during which cell growth occurred, has provided evidence that antigenic cell-surface components are synthesized de novo in a sharply demarcated zone at one pole of the growing parent cells. Cell elongation occurred unidirectionally from the pole showing the de novo surface synthesis; it was this end of the elongating, helically sculptured (i.e., screw-like) rod that became the daughter swarmer cell. The daughter swarmers, produced after polar growth and division of the immunoferritinlabeled parent cells, were not labeled. The immunoferritin label remaining on the parent cell did not appear to be diluted or disturbed by the cell growth and division process. Under the cultural conditions used in this study, the growth and division events which led to production of swarmer cells in the seliberia strains examined met two major criteria of accepted definitions of budding (de novo cell surface synthesis and transverse asymmetry of division). However, the developing daughter cell was not initially narrower than the parent and thus did not increase in cell diameter during growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]