Transition Probabilities Of Astrophysical Interest In The Niobium Ions Nb+ And Nb2+

Aims. We attempt to derive accurate transition probabilities for astrophysically interesting spectral lines of Nb II and Nb III and determine the niobium abundance in the Sun and metal-poor stars rich in neutron-capture elements. Methods. We used the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique to measure radiative lifetimes in Nb II. Branching fractions were measured from spectra recorded using Fourier transform spectroscopy. The radiative lifetimes and the branching fractions were combined yielding transition probabilities. In addition, we calculated lifetimes and transition probablities in Nb II and Nb III using a relativistic Hartree-Fock method that includes core polarization. Abundances of the sun and five metal-poor stars were derived using synthetic spectra calculated with the MOOG code, including hyperfine broadening of the lines. Results. We present laboratory measurements of 17 radiative lifetimes in Nb II. By combining these lifetimes with branching fractions for lines depopulating the levels, we derive the transition probabilities of 107 Nb II lines from 4d(3)5p configuration in the wavelength region 2240-4700 angstrom. For the first time, we present theoretical transition probabilities of 76 Nb III transitions with wavelengths in the range 1430-3140 angstrom. The derived solar photospheric niobium abundance log epsilon(circle dot) = 1.44 +/- 0.06 is in agreement with the meteoritic value. The stellar Nb/Eu abundance ratio determined for five metal-poor stars confirms that the r-process is a dominant production method for the n-capture elements in these stars.Integrated Initiative of Infrastructure RII3-CT-2003-506350Swedish Research CouncilKnut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationBelgian FRS-FNRSFRIAUS National Science Foundation AST-0607708, AST-0908978Astronom

Financial reporting for the Georgia colony

Stewardship reporting was an important tool in the establishment and development of the American Colonies. In 1732 the King of England created the Colony of Georgia as a haven for England\u27s worthy poor. A corporate trust was established to implement this purpose, and it was necessary for the trustees to account for the many private contributions to the cause as well as the grants from the crown. This article discusses the early history of the Georgia colony, presents a thumbnail sketch of Harman Verelst, the Trust\u27s accountant, and illustrates by example the financial reporting he developed for the Georgia Colony

Quantitative modeling of \textit{in situ} x-ray reflectivity during organic molecule thin film growth

Synchrotron-based x-ray reflectivity is increasingly employed as an \textit{in situ} probe of surface morphology during thin film growth, but complete interpretation of the results requires modeling the growth process. Many models have been developed and employed for this purpose, yet no detailed, comparative studies of their scope and accuracy exists in the literature. Using experimental data obtained from hyperthermal deposition of pentane and diindenoperylene (DIP) on SiO$_2$, we compare and contrast three such models, both with each other and with detailed characterization of the surface morphology using ex-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). These two systems each exhibit particular phenomena of broader interest: pentacene/SiO$_2$ exhibits a rapid transition from rough to smooth growth. DIP/SiO$_2$, under the conditions employed here, exhibits growth rate acceleration due to a different sticking probability between the substrate and film. In general, \textit{independent of which model is used}, we find good agreement between the surface morphology obtained from fits to the \insitu x-ray data with the actual morphology at early times. This agreement deteriorates at later time, once the root-mean squared (rms) film roughness exceeds about 1 ML. A second observation is that, because layer coverages are under-determined by the evolution of a single point on the reflectivity curve, we find that the best fits to reflectivity data --- corresponding to the lowest values of $\chi_\nu^2$ --- do not necessarily yield the best agreement between simulated and measured surface morphologies. Instead, it appears critical that the model reproduce all local extrema in the data. In addition to showing that layer morphologies can be extracted from a minimal set of data, the methodology established here provides a basis for improving models of multilayer growth by comparison to real systems.Comment: 34 pages (double-spaced, including figures and references), 10 figures, 3 appendice

Infrared reflectiity and transmissivity of boron implanted, laser annealed silicon

The mid-infrared reflectance and transmittance of boron implanted, laser annealed silicon was measured. A Drude model of free holes was used to obtain the dielectric constant of the implanted layer. A least squares adjustment of (1) the ratio of boron concentration to effective hole mass; and (2) the relaxation time gave a fairly good fit to the data and permitted determination of these parameters

Morphological Variation, Karyology, and Systematic Relationships of \u3ci\u3eHeteromys gaumeri\u3c/i\u3e (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

Morphological variation was assessed within and among populations of Heteromys gaumeri using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses of external and cranial measurements. Although patterns and amount of nongeographic variation in H. gaumeri were similar to other heteromyines, geographic variation was relatively conservative. Mean values of most characters were statistically homogeneous among localities and spatially unpatterned. Consequently, no association was found between levels of within- and among-sample variation for individual characters (the Kluge-Kerfoot phenomenon ). Populations of H. gaumeri were chromosomally monomorphic. The lack of morphological and chromosomal variation in H. gaumeri contrasts sharply with patterns in other heteromyines. Heteromys gaumeri is morphologically and chromosomally distinct from the H. desmarestianus species group (to which it is currently assigned) and appears to share some primitive characters with Liomys (the sister group of Heteromys). We recommend that H. gaumeri be removed from the H. desmarestianus group. Spanish abstract: La variación morfológica intra e interpoblacional de Heteromys gaumeri fue evaluada usando análisis estadísticos univariados y multivariados de medidas externas y craneales. A pesar de que los patrones y cantidad de variación intrapoblacional en H. gaumeri fue similar a la de otros heterominos, la variación geográfica fue relativamente conservadora. Los valores promedio de la mayoría de los caracteres fueron estadisticamente homogeneos entre las localidades, sin mostrar ningún patrón de variación espacial. En conservencia, no se encontró asociación alguna entre los niveles de variación intra e interpoblacional para caracteres individuates ( fenómena Kluge-Kerfoot ), Las poblaciones de H. gaumeri fueron monomórficas cromosómicamente. La falta de variacion tanto morfológica como cronosómica en H. gaumeri contrasta marcadamente con los patrones encontrados anteriormente para otros heteróminos. Heteromys gaumeri es morfológica y cromosómicamente distinguible del grupo H. desmarestianus (al cual se asigna actualmente) y aparentemente comparte algunos caracteres primitives con Liomys (el grupo hermano de Heteromys). Nosotros recomendamos que se remueva a H. gaumeri del grupo H. desmarestianus. Portuguese abstract: Avalia-se a variação morfológica intra- e interpopulacional de Heteromys gaumeri, através de análises estatisticas uni- e multivariadas de medidas externas e craniais. Apesar dos padrões, e da quantidade de variação intrapopulacional em H. gaumeri serem similares aos de outros heteromídeos, a variação geográfica é relativamente conservadora. Os valores médios da maior parte dos caráteres examinados são estatìsticamente homogeneos entre as localidades, e não surgiu nenhum padrão de variações locais. Consequentemente, não foram encontradas assoçiacões entre os níveis de varaiações intra- e interpopulacionais para caráteres individuais (o “fenômeno Kluge-Kerfoot”). Populações de H. gaumeri mostraram-se cromossômicamente monomórficas. A falta de variação morfológica ou cromossômica em H. gaumeri é altamente contrastante aos padrões encontrados em outros heteromídeos. Heteromys gaumeri distinguese tanto morfológica quanto cromossômicamente do grupo H. desmarestianus, ao qual está atualmente designado, e aparentemente possue caráteres primitivos em comum com Liomys—grupo irmão de Heteromys. Recomendamos que H. gaumeri seja removido do grupo H. desmarestianus

Morphological Variation, Karyology, and Systematic Relationships of \u3ci\u3eHeteromys gaumeri\u3c/i\u3e (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

Morphological variation was assessed within and among populations of Heteromys gaumeri using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses of external and cranial measurements. Although patterns and amount of nongeographic variation in H. gaumeri were similar to other heteromyines, geographic variation was relatively conservative. Mean values of most characters were statistically homogeneous among localities and spatially unpatterned. Consequently, no association was found between levels of within- and among-sample variation for individual characters (the Kluge-Kerfoot phenomenon ). Populations of H. gaumeri were chromosomally monomorphic. The lack of morphological and chromosomal variation in H. gaumeri contrasts sharply with patterns in other heteromyines. Heteromys gaumeri is morphologically and chromosomally distinct from the H. desmarestianus species group (to which it is currently assigned) and appears to share some primitive characters with Liomys (the sister group of Heteromys). We recommend that H. gaumeri be removed from the H. desmarestianus group. Spanish abstract: La variación morfológica intra e interpoblacional de Heteromys gaumeri fue evaluada usando análisis estadísticos univariados y multivariados de medidas externas y craneales. A pesar de que los patrones y cantidad de variación intrapoblacional en H. gaumeri fue similar a la de otros heterominos, la variación geográfica fue relativamente conservadora. Los valores promedio de la mayoría de los caracteres fueron estadisticamente homogeneos entre las localidades, sin mostrar ningún patrón de variación espacial. En conservencia, no se encontró asociación alguna entre los niveles de variación intra e interpoblacional para caracteres individuates ( fenómena Kluge-Kerfoot ), Las poblaciones de H. gaumeri fueron monomórficas cromosómicamente. La falta de variacion tanto morfológica como cronosómica en H. gaumeri contrasta marcadamente con los patrones encontrados anteriormente para otros heteróminos. Heteromys gaumeri es morfológica y cromosómicamente distinguible del grupo H. desmarestianus (al cual se asigna actualmente) y aparentemente comparte algunos caracteres primitives con Liomys (el grupo hermano de Heteromys). Nosotros recomendamos que se remueva a H. gaumeri del grupo H. desmarestianus. Portuguese abstract: Avalia-se a variação morfológica intra- e interpopulacional de Heteromys gaumeri, através de análises estatisticas uni- e multivariadas de medidas externas e craniais. Apesar dos padrões, e da quantidade de variação intrapopulacional em H. gaumeri serem similares aos de outros heteromídeos, a variação geográfica é relativamente conservadora. Os valores médios da maior parte dos caráteres examinados são estatìsticamente homogeneos entre as localidades, e não surgiu nenhum padrão de variações locais. Consequentemente, não foram encontradas assoçiacões entre os níveis de varaiações intra- e interpopulacionais para caráteres individuais (o “fenômeno Kluge-Kerfoot”). Populações de H. gaumeri mostraram-se cromossômicamente monomórficas. A falta de variação morfológica ou cromossômica em H. gaumeri é altamente contrastante aos padrões encontrados em outros heteromídeos. Heteromys gaumeri distinguese tanto morfológica quanto cromossômicamente do grupo H. desmarestianus, ao qual está atualmente designado, e aparentemente possue caráteres primitivos em comum com Liomys—grupo irmão de Heteromys. Recomendamos que H. gaumeri seja removido do grupo H. desmarestianus