Bonding Structures of ZrHx Thin Films by X-ray Spectroscopy

The variation in local atomic structure and chemical bonding of ZrHx (x=0.15, 0.30, 1.16) magnetron sputtered thin films are investigated by Zr K-edge (1s) X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopies. A chemical shift of the Zr K-edge towards higher energy with increasing hydrogen content is observed due to charge-transfer and an ionic or polar covalent bonding component between the Zr 4d and the H 1s states with increasing valency for Zr. We find an increase in the Zr-Zr bond distance with increasing hydrogen content from 3.160 {\AA} in the hexagonal closest-packed metal (alpha-phase) to 3.395 {\AA} in the understoichiometric delta-ZrHx film (CaF2-type structure) with x=1.16 that largely resembles that of bulk delta-ZrH2. For yet lower hydrogen contents, the structures are mixed alpha and delta-phases, while sufficient hydrogen loading (x>1) yields a pure {\delta}-phase that is understoichiometric, but thermodynamically stable. The change in the hydrogen content and strain is discussed in relation to the corresponding change of bond lengths, hybridizations, and trends in electrical resistivity.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure

The Road I Can\u27t Help Travelling : Holmes on Truth and Persuadability

Nano-structural evolution of layer morphology and interfacial roughness in Cr/Sc metal multilayers grown with ion assistance during magnetron sputter deposition has been investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and hard X-ray reflectivity. Calculations based on a binary collision model predict an ion-assisted growth window for optimized Cr/Sc multilayer interface sharpness, within the ion energy range of 21 eV to 37 eV and an ion flux of 10 ions per deposited atom. Multilayers with nominal modulation periods in the range of 1.6 nm to 10.2 nm, grown with these conditions, exhibit a well-defined layer structure with an improved flattening and abruptness of the interfaces. It is shown that multilayers with a modulation period smaller than 3.4 nm have clear benefit from the reduced intermixing obtained by utilizing a two-stage ion energy modulation for each individual layer. The amorphization of Sc and Cr layers, below certain thicknesses, is found to be independent of the low energy ion-assistance. It is also shown that the Cr/Sc multilayers, containing periods less than 2 nm are ‘self healing’ i.e. they re-gain abrupt interfaces and flat layers after morphological disturbances during ion assisted growth. In comparison, multilayers grown without ion-assistance exhibited severe roughness and layer distortions.Original publication: N. Ghafoor, F. Eriksson, P.O.Å. Persson, L. Hultman and J. Birch, Effects of ion-assisted growth on the layer definition in Cr/Sc multilayers, 2008, Thin Solid Films, (516), 6, 982-990. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2007.06.108. Copyright: Elsevier B.V., http://www.elsevier.com

Reactive magnetron sputtering of tungsten target in krypton/trimethylboron atmosphere

W-B-C films were deposited on Si(100) substrates held at elevated temperature by reactive sputtering from a W target in Kr/trimethylboron (TMB) plasmas. Quantitative analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the films are W-rich between ~ 73 and ~ 93 at.% W. The highest metal content is detected in the film deposited with 1 sccm TMB. The C and B concentrations increase with increasing TMB flow to a maximum of ~18 and ~7 at.%, respectively, while the O content remains nearly constant at 2-3 at.%. Chemical bonding structure analysis performed after samples sputter-cleaning reveals C-W and B-W bonding and no detectable W-O bonds. During film growth with 5 sccm TMB and 500 oC or with 10 sccm TMB and 300-600 oC thin film X-ray diffraction shows the formation of cubic 100-oriented WC1-x with a possible solid solution of B. Lower flows and lower growth temperatures favor growth of W and W2C, respectively. Depositions at 700 and 800 oC result in the formation of WSi2 due to a reaction with the substrate. At 900 oC, XPS analysis shows ~96 at.% Si in the film due to Si interdiffusion. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal a fine-grained microstructure for the deposited WC1-x films. Nanoindentation gives hardness values in the range from ~23 to ~31 GPa and reduced elastic moduli between ~220 and 280 GPa in the films deposited at temperatures lower than 600 oC. At higher growth temperatures the hardness decreases by a factor of 3 to 4 following the formation of WSi2 at 700-800 oC and Si-rich surface at 900 oC.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure

A Molecular Taxonomy for Urothelial Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Even though urothelial cancer is the fourth most common tumor type among males, progress in treatment has been scarce. A problem in day-to-day clinical practice is that precise assessment of individual tumors is still fairly uncertain; consequently efforts have been undertaken to complement tumor evaluation with molecular biomarkers. An extension of this approach would be to base tumor classification primarily on molecular features. Here, we present a molecular taxonomy for urothelial carcinoma based on integrated genomics. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We use gene expression profiles from 308 tumor cases to define five major urothelial carcinoma subtypes: urobasal A, genomically unstable, urobasal B, squamous cell carcinoma like, and an infiltrated class of tumors. Tumor subtypes were validated in three independent publically available data sets. The expression of 11 key genes was validated at the protein level by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The subtypes show distinct clinical outcomes and differ with respect to expression of cell-cycle genes, receptor tyrosine kinases particularly FGFR3, ERBB2, and EGFR, cytokeratins, and cell adhesion genes, as well as with respect to FGFR3, PIK3CA, and TP53 mutation frequency. The molecular subtypes cut across pathologic classification, and class-defining gene signatures show coordinated expression irrespective of pathologic stage and grade, suggesting the molecular phenotypes as intrinsic properties of the tumors. Available data indicate that susceptibility to specific drugs is more likely to be associated with the molecular stratification than with pathologic classification. CONCLUSIONS: We anticipate that the molecular taxonomy will be useful in future clinical investigations. Clin Cancer Res; 1-10. ©2012 AACR

Inherited DNA repair gene mutations in men with lethal prostate cancer

Germline variants in DNA repair genes are associated with aggressive prostate cancer (PrCa). The aim of this study was to characterize germline variants in DNA repair genes associated with lethal PrCa in Finnish and Swedish populations. Whole-exome sequencing was performed for 122 lethal and 60 unselected PrCa cases. Among the lethal cases, a total of 16 potentially damaging protein-truncating variants in DNA repair genes were identified in 15 men (12.3%). Mutations were found in six genes with CHEK2 (4.1%) and ATM (3.3%) being most frequently mutated. Overall, the carrier rate of truncating variants in DNA repair genes among men with lethal PrCa significantly exceeded the carrier rate of 0% in 60 unselected PrCa cases (p = 0.030), and the prevalence of 1.6% (p < 0.001) and 5.4% (p = 0.040) in Swedish and Finnish population controls from the Exome Aggregation Consortium. No significant difference in carrier rate of potentially damaging nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants between lethal and unselected PrCa cases was observed (p = 0.123). We confirm that DNA repair genes are strongly associated with lethal PrCa in Sweden and Finland and highlight the importance of population-specific assessment of variants contributing to PrCa aggressiveness.</p

Panel Three: The Roles of Juries and the Press in the Modern Judicial System

Reactive sputtering by high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) of a Zr target in Ar/H-2 plasmas was employed to deposit Zr-H films on Si(100) substrates, and with H content up to 61 at.% and O contents typically below 0.2 at.% as determined by elastic recoil detection analysis. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals a chemical shift of similar to 0.7 eV to higher binding energies for the Zr-H films compared to pure Zr films, consistent with a charge transfer from Zr to H in a zirconium hydride. X-ray diffraction shows that the films are single-phase delta-ZrH2 (CaF2 type structure) at H content greater thansimilar to 55 at.% and pole figure measurements give a 111 preferred orientation for these films. Scanning electron microscopy cross-section images show a glasslike microstructure for the HiPIMS films, while the DCMS films are columnar. Nanoindentation yield hardness values of 5.5-7 GPa for the delta-ZrH2 films that is slightly harder than the similar to 5 GPa determined for Zr films and with coefficients of friction in the range of 0.12-0.18 to compare with the range of 0.4-0.6 obtained for Zr films. Wear resistance testing show that phase-pure delta-ZrH2 films deposited by HiPIMS exhibit up to 50 times lower wear rate compared to those containing a secondary Zr phase. Four-point probe measurements give resistivity values in the range of similar to 100-120 mu Omega cm for the delta-ZrH2 films, which is slightly higher compared to Zr films with values in the range 70-80 mu Omega cm

Skanskas säkerhet på arbetsplatsen : Personlig skyddsutrustning

This degree projekt deals with Skanska´s safety at the construction site with focus on personal safety equipment. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how the rules of personal safety equipment are applied and experienced at Skanska´s construction sites. In October 2004 Skanska started a projekt to make the construction sites more safe. With use of a questionnaire we have made a survey at different construction sites. 80 questionaires have been handed out to Skanska´s employees in the southeast region. While they were handed out we conrolled if the employees at Skanska´s construction sites used head protection, easy visible clothing, safety shoes and identification cards. The result of the survey shows how the rules are applied. Differences can be seen in employees of different ages, types of labour and positions. The report also includes a list of all answers from the questionnaire. The result showed that over 90 % of the emplyees used head protection, easy visible clothing, safety shoes and identification cards always or almost all the time. Our visits to the construction sites confirm that result. Our visits and surveys also show that the employees are careless with eye-, ear-, and muuth protection. It also showed a lack of use of visitors identification cards and information to the visitors. The conclusion of this report is that Skanska´s information to the employees about how to use personal safety equipment is insufficient. To inform the emplyees about what the consequences will be if handling careless with personal safety equipment, could encourage them to always use it.Detta examensarbete behandlar Skanskas säkerhet på deras arbetsplatser med tyngdpunkten på personlig utrustning. Syftet med examensarbetet är att undersöka hur regler om användande av personlig skyddsutrustning följs och upplevs på Skanskas arbetsplatser. Skanska har i oktober 2004 infört ett program för säkrare arbetsplatser som vi i examensarbetet granskar. Vi har med hjälp av en enkät som vi tagit fram för detta ändamål gjort undersökningar på olika arbetsplatser. 80 enkäter har delats ut bland Skanskas anställda i region sydost. I samband med att enkäterna delats ut har användandet av huvudskydd, varselkläder, skyddsskor och företagskort kontrollerats bland de som befinner sig på arbetsplatsen. Undersökningen har berört Skanskas Väg och anläggnings-, Husbyggnads- och byggservice verksamhet. Resultatet av enkätundersökningen visar hur svaren skiljer sig mellan de olika verksamheterna inom företaget, mellan olika åldersgrupper, mellan arbetsledning och yrkesarbetare. Rapporten innehåller dessutom en sammanställning av samtliga svar på enkäten. Av resultatet på enkätundersökningen framkommer att användandet av huvudskydd, varselkläder och skyddsskor är bra vilket även bekräftats av våra besök på arbetsplatserna. Både av enkäterna och av våra kontroller på arbetsplatserna framgår att respondenterna däremot är mindre noggranna med användningen av personlig skyddsutrustning så som ögonskydd och andningsskydd. Samtidigt visar kontrollerna att Skanskas underentreprenörer är sämre på användning av huvudskydd och varselklädsel än Skanskas egna anställda. Besöken visar även att det förekommer slarv med besökskvittenser och säkerhetsinformation på företagets arbetsplatser. Slutsatsen av denna rapport är att Skanskas information till sina anställda gällande när och hur olika former av personlig utrustning ska användas uppfattas bristfällig. Att undervisa de anställda om de konsekvenser som slarv med personlig utrustning leder till skulle vara ett sätt att motivera dem till flitigare användning av den personliga utrustningen

Hälsingelagen och Upplandslagens ärfdabalk i Cod. Ups. B49 : språkhistorisk undersökning.

1. Akademisk afhandling[voorlopige beschrijving