Ion-Size Effect at the Surface of a Silica Hydrosol

The author used synchrotron x-ray reflectivity to study the ion-size effect for alkali ions (Na$^+$, K$^+$, Rb$^+$, and Cs$^+$), with densities as high as $4 \times 10^{18}- 7 \times 10^{18}$ m$^{-2}$, suspended above the surface of a colloidal solution of silica nanoparticles in the field generated by the surface electric-double layer. According to the data, large alkali ions preferentially accumulate at the sol's surface replacing smaller ions, a finding that qualitatively agrees with the dependence of the Kharkats-Ulstrup single-ion electrostatic free energy on the ion's radius.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

The Refractive Index of Silicon at Gamma Ray Energies

The index of refraction n(E_{\gamma})=1+\delta(E_{\gamma})+i\beta(E_{\gamma}) is split into a real part \delta and an absorptive part \beta. The absorptive part has the three well-known contributions to the cross section \sigma_{abs}: the photo effect, the Compton effect and the pair creation, but there is also the inelastic Delbr\"uck scattering. Second-order elastic scattering cross sections \sigma_{sca} with Rayleigh scattering (virtual photo effect), virtual Compton effect and Delbr\"uck scattering (virtual pair creation) can be calculated by integrals of the Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations from the cross section \sigma_{abs}. The real elastic scattering amplitudes are proportional to the refractive indices \delta_{photo}, \delta_{Compton} and \delta_{pair}. While for X-rays the negative \delta_{photo} dominates, we show for the first time experimentally and theoretically that the positive \delta_{pair} dominates for \gamma rays, opening a new era of \gamma optics applications, i.e. of nuclear photonics.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Induced Crystallization of Polyelectrolyte-Surfactant Complexes at the Gas-Water Interface

Synchrotron-X-ray and surface tension studies of a strong polyelectrolyte (PE) in the semi-dilute regime (~ 0.1M monomer-charges) with varying surfactant concentrations show that minute surfactant concentrations induce the formation of a PE-surfactant complex at the gas/solution interface. X-ray reflectivity and grazing angle X-ray diffraction (GIXD) provide detailed information of the top most layer, where it is found that the surfactant forms a two-dimensional liquid-like monolayer, with a noticeable disruption of the structure of water at the interface. With the addition of salt (NaCl) columnar-crystals with distorted-hexagonal symmetry are formed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figure

Spectroscopy of stripe order in La1.8Sr0.2NiO4 using resonant soft x-ray diffraction

Strong resonant enhancements of the charge-order and spin-order superstructure-diffraction intensities in La1.8Sr0.2NiO4 are observed when x-ray energies in the vicinity of the Ni L2,3 absorption edges are used. The pronounced photon-energy and polarization dependences of these diffraction intensities allow for a critical determination of the local symmetry of the ordered spin and charge carriers. We found that not only the antiferromagnetic order but also the charge-order superstructure resides within the NiO2 layers; the holes are mainly located on in-plane oxygens surrounding a Ni2+ site with the spins coupled antiparallel in close analogy to Zhang-Rice singlets in the cuprates.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Primary cervical malignant teratoma with a rib metastasis in an adult: Five-year survival after surgery and chemotherapy: A case report with a review of the literature

We report a case of a man presenting with a cervical malignant teratoma and a chondrosarcomatous rib metastasis. He was alive and free of recurrence five years and 10 months (= 70 months) after resection of the primary mass, followed by chemotherapy and subsequent resection of the rib tumor. This is the 35th patient reported in the literature and the first description in which an ‘adjuvant' or primary chemotherapy was used. Previous patients with a cervical malignant teratoma, reported after lethal outcome, had survivals of one to 22 months (median nine months). In all patients with a preoperative clinical impression of an aggressive, differentiated or undifferentiated malignancy, the definite diagnosis of teratoma could only be made histologically. By analogy to germ cell tumors, the prognosis of malignant teratoma might be improved if complete excision is combined with new, adjuvant chemotherapy protocols for germ cell tumors. Lessons learned from this case are placed in the context of germ cell tumors in general and of non-gonadal malignant teratomas in particula

Longitudinal magnetic excitations in classical spin systems

Using spin dynamics simulations we predict the splitting of the longitudinal spin wave peak in all antiferromagnets with single site anisotropy into two peaks separated by twice the energy gap at the Brillouin zone center. This phenomenon has yet to be observed experimentally but can be easily investigated through neutron scattering experiments on MnF$_2$ and FeF$_2$. We have also determined that for all classical Heisenberg models the longitudinal propagative excitations are entirely multiple spin-wave in nature.Comment: four pages three figures, the last two postscript files are two parts of the third figur

Domain Growth and Finite-Size-Scaling in the Kinetic Ising Model

This paper describes the application of finite-size scaling concepts to domain growth in systems with a non-conserved order parameter. A finite-size scaling ansatz for the time-dependent order parameter distribution function is proposed, and tested with extensive Monte-Carlo simulations of domain growth in the 2-D spin-flip kinetic Ising model. The scaling properties of the distribution functions serve to elucidate the configurational self-similarity that underlies the dynamic scaling picture. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the application of finite-size-scaling techniques facilitates the accurate determination of the bulk growth exponent even in the presence of strong finite-size effects, the scale and character of which are graphically exposed by the order parameter distribution function. In addition it is found that one commonly used measure of domain size--the scaled second moment of the magnetisation distribution--belies the full extent of these finite-size effects.Comment: 13 pages, Latex. Figures available on request. Rep #9401

Readers as research detectives

Flaws in research papers are common but it may require arduous detective work to unravel them. Checklists are helpful, but many inconsistencies will only be revealed through repeated cross-checks of every little detail, just like in a crime case. As a major deterrent for dishonesty, raw data from all trials should be posted on a public website. This would also make it much easier to detect errors and flaws in publications, and it would allow many research projects to be performed without collecting new data. The prevailing culture of secrecy and ownership to data is not in the best interests of patients

High (but Not Low) Urinary Iodine Excretion Is Predicted by Iodine Excretion Levels from Five Years Ago

Background: It has not been investigated whether there are associations between urinary iodine (UI) excretion measurements some years apart, nor whether such an association remains after adjustment for nutritional habits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between iodine-creatinine ratio (ICR) at two measuring points 5 years apart. Methods: Data from 2,659 individuals from the Study of Health in Pomerania were analyzed. Analysis of covariance and Poisson regressions were used to associate baseline with follow-up ICR. Results: Baseline ICR was associated with follow-up ICR. Particularly, baseline ICR >300 mu g/g was related to an ICR >300 mu g/g at follow-up (relative risk, RR: 2.20; p < 0.001). The association was stronger in males (RR: 2.64; p < 0.001) than in females (RR: 1.64; p = 0.007). In contrast, baseline ICR <100 mu g/g was only associated with an ICR <100 mu g/g at follow-up in males when considering unadjusted ICR. Conclusions: We detected only a weak correlation with respect to low ICR. Studies assessing iodine status in a population should take into account that an individual with a low UI excretion in one measurement is not necessarily permanently iodine deficient. On the other hand, current high ICR could have been predicted by high ICR 5 years ago. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base