Low-density, solid-state, porous supramolecular organic frameworks are constructed using pillarenes. The frameworks have a honeycomb-like structure, permanent porosity, high thermal stability, and selective and reversible sorption properties toward CO2. The exceptionally selective CO2-sorption properties (375/1, 339/1) of one framework over N2 and CH4 indicate potential applications in CO2-capture for post-combustion power plants and natural gas sweetening.

Blue-emitting YPO4:Ce3+ and green-emitting YPO4:Tb3+ and YPO4:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphor particles were synthesized by coprecipitation method. Their structure and micromorphology have been analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectra, and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The transitions of Ce3+ 5d−4f and Tb3+ 5D4−7F J (J = 6−3) were detected, and the photoluminescence intensity of the Tb3+ increased on increasing the concentration of Ce3+. Finally, the energy-transfer process from Ce3+ to Tb3+ was investigated in YPO4:Ce3+,Tb3+ nanoparticles in detail. These nanoparticles can be potentially used as labels for biological molecules.

This paper provides an attempt to formalize Hayek's notion of spontaneous order within the framework of the Arrow-Debreu economy. Our study shows that if a competitive economy is enough fair and free, then a spontaneous economic order shall emerge in long-run competitive equilibria so that social members together occupy an optimal distribution of income. Despite this, the spontaneous order might degenerate in the form of economic crises whenever an equilibrium economy approaches the extreme competition. Remarkably, such a theoretical framework of spontaneous order provides a bridge linking Austrian economics and Neoclassical economics, where we shall comprehend a truth: "Freedom promotes technological progress".

Highly active half-metallocene type chromium(III) catalysts for ethylene polymerization have been developed. High molecular weight linear polyethylene (M n > 1 000 000 g/mol) was produced by these catalysts in the presence of a relatively small amount of AlR3 (25 equiv).

Abstract:The origin of economic crises is a key problem for economics. We present a model of long-run competitive markets to show that the multiplicity of behaviors in an economic system, over a long time scale, emerge as statistical regularities (perfectly competitive markets obey Bose-Einstein statistics and purely monopolistic-competitive markets obey Boltzmann statistics) and that how interaction among firms influences the evolutionary of competitive markets. It has been widely accepted that perfect competition is most efficient. Our study shows that the perfectly competitive system, as an extreme case of competitive markets, is most efficient but not stable, and gives rise to economic crises as society reaches full employment. In the economic crisis revealed by our model, many firms condense (collapse) into the lowest supply level (zero supply, namely bankruptcy status), in analogy to Bose-Einstein condensation. This curious phenomenon arises because perfect competition (homogeneous competitions) equals symmetric (indistinguishable) investment direction, a fact abhorred by nature. Therefore, we urge the promotion of monopolistic competition (heterogeneous competitions) rather than perfect competition. To provide early warning of economic crises, we introduce a resolving index of investment, which approaches zero in the run-up to an economic crisis. On the other hand, our model discloses, as a profound conclusion, that the technological level for a long-run social or economic system is proportional to the freedom (disorder) of this system; in other words, technology equals the entropy of system. As an application of this new concept, we give a possible answer to the Needham question: "Why was it that despite the immense achievements of traditional China it had been in Europe and not in China that the scientific and industrial revolutions occurred?"

Economic competition between humans leads to income inequality, but, so far, there has been little understanding of underlying quantitative mechanisms governing such a collective behavior. We analyze datasets of household income from 67 countries, ranging from Europe to Latin America, North America and Asia. For all of the countries, we find a surprisingly uniform rule: Income distribution for the great majority of populations (low and middle income classes) follows an exponential law. To explain this empirical observation, we propose a theoretical model within the standard framework of modern economics and show that free competition and Rawls' fairness are the underlying mechanisms producing the exponential pattern. The free parameters of the exponential distribution in our model have an explicit economic interpretation and direct relevance to policy measures intended to alleviate income inequality.

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Acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter located in cholinergic synapses, can trigger cargo release from mesoporous silica nanoparticles equipped with calixarene- or pillarene-based nanovalves by removing macrocycles from the stalk components. The amount and speed of cargo release can be controlled by varying the concentration of ACh in solution or changing the type of gating macrocycle. Although this proof-of-concept study is far from a real-life application, it provides a possible route to treat diseases related to the central nervous system.