Alloying, de-alloying and reentrant alloying in (sub-)monolayer growth of Ag on Pt(111)

An in-situ nanoscopic investigation of the prototypical surface alloying system Ag/Pt(111) is reported. The morphology and the structure of the ultrathin Ag-Pt film is studied using Low Energy Electron Microscopy during growth at about 800 K. An amazingly rich dynamic behaviour is uncovered in which stress relieve plays a governing role. Initial growth leads to surface alloying with prolonged and retarded nucleation of ad-islands. Beyond 50% coverage de-alloying proceeds, joined by partial segregation of Pt towards the centre of large islands in violent processes. Upon coalescence the irregularly shaped vacancy clusters are filled by segregating Pt, which then take a compact shape (black spots). As a result at around 85% coverage the strain of the initially pseudo-morphological film is almost completely relieved and Pt-segregation is at its maximum. Further deposition of Ag leads to transient re-entrant alloying and recovery of the pseudo-morphological layer. The black spots persist even in/on several layers thick films. Ex-situ atomic force microscopy data confirm that these are constituted by probably amorphous Pt(-rich) structures. The (sub-)monolayer films are very much heterogeneous

Self-locking clamping tool with swivel jaws

A plier-like tool (11) having two plier-like members (13, 15) pivotally joined togther intermediate of their ends and having handle portions (17, 18) and swivel jaw members (29,30). An automatic locking mechanism (27) extending between the members permits an user to clamp the handle portions together so as to clamp the jaw members on an object (25) but holds the position so reached if the clamping action of the user is removed. A release device (65) is provided so that the jaw members may be opened up again. A compression spring (23) extending between the members (19, 20) assists in the opening of the jaw members. The swivel jaw members (29, 30) permit the user to rotate the plier-like members (13,15) relative to the object (25) being grasped

Debye mass and heavy quark potential in a PNJL quark plasma

We calculate the Debye mass for the screening of the heavy quark potential in a plasma of massless quarks coupled to the temporal gluon background governed by the Polyakov loop potential within the PNJL model in RPA approximation. We give a physical motivation for a recent phenomenological fit of lattice data by applying the calculated Debye mass with its suppression in the confined phase due to the Polyakov-loop to a description of the temperature dependence of the singlet free energy for QCD with a heavy quark pair at infinite separation. We compare the result to lattice data.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, contribution to Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on "Critical Point and Onset of Deconfinement", to appear in Phys. At. Nucl., vol. 7

Visualization of steps and surface reconstructions in Helium Ion Microscopy with atomic precision

Helium Ion Microscopy is known for its surface sensitivity and high lateral resolution. Here, we present results of a Helium Ion Microscopy based investigation of a surface confined alloy of Ag on Pt(111). Based on a change of the work function of 25\,meV across the atomically flat terraces we can distinguish Pt rich from Pt poor areas and visualize the single atomic layer high steps between the terraces. Furthermore, dechanneling contrast has been utilized to measure the periodicity of the hcp/fcc pattern formed in the 2--3 layers thick Ag/Pt alloy film. A periodicity of 6.65\,nm along the $\langle\overline{11}2\rangle$ surface direction has been measured. In terms of crystallography a hcp domain is obtained through a lateral displacement of a part of the outermost layer by $1/\sqrt{3}$ of a nearest neighbour spacing along $\langle\overline{11}2\rangle$. This periodicity is measured with atomic precision: coincidence between the Ag and the Pt lattices is observed for 23 Ag atoms on 24 Pt atoms. The findings are perfectly in line with results obtained with Low Energy Electron Microscopy and Phase Contrast Atomic Force Microscopy.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure

IMPACT: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning. Volume 8, Issue 1, Winter 2019

IMPACT: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning is a peer-reviewed, biannual online journal that publishes scholarly and creative non-fiction essays about the theory, practice and assessment of interdisciplinary education. Impact is produced by the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning at the College of General Studies, Boston University (www.bu.edu/cgs/citl).In this issue of Impact you will find a humanities scholar deeply engaged with the arcing out of a new territory: the interdisciplinary study of the Grateful Dead. Impact’s own Christopher Coffman’s review essay should be required reading for scholars of popular music, performance studies and history. His review also serves as an important reference for those who aspire to teach a course on the Grateful Dead, as well as for those who wish to write review essays. In this issue we also hear from those who are engaged in teaching people who are incarcerated. Importantly, Stephanie Cage’s essay looks to incarcerated people themselves to find out what they think about prison education. Peter Wakefield encourages us to see The Great Gatsby anew, in particular in the context of American racism and White supremacy. Wakefield’s essay is important too because it had its genesis in Writing, the State, and the Rise of Neo-Nationalism: Historical Contexts and Contemporary Concerns, a conference sponsored by the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning

Limits on the Mass, Velocity and Orbit of PSR J1933−-6211

We present a high-precision timing analysis of PSR J1933$-$6211, a millisecond pulsar (MSP) with a 3.5-ms spin period and a white dwarf (WD) companion, using data from the Parkes radio telescope. Since we have accurately measured the polarization properties of this pulsar we have applied the matrix template matching approach in which the times of arrival are measured using full polarimetric information. We achieved a weighted root-mean-square timing residuals (rms) of the timing residuals of 1.23 $\rm \mu s$, 15.5$\%$ improvement compared to the total intensity timing analysis. After studying the scintillation properties of this pulsar we put constraints on the inclination angle of the system. Based on these measurements and on $\chi^2$ mapping we put a 2-$\sigma$ upper limit on the companion mass (0.44 M$_\odot$). Since this mass limit cannot reveal the nature of the companion we further investigate the possibility of the companion to be a He WD. Applying the orbital period-mass relation for such WDs, we conclude that the mass of a He WD companion would be about 0.26$\pm$0.01 M$_\odot$ which, combined with the measured mass function and orbital inclination limits, would lead to a light pulsar mass $\leqslant$ 1.0 M$_\odot$. This result seems unlikely based on current neutron star formation models and we therefore conclude that PSR J1933$-$6211 most likely has a CO WD companion, which allows for a solution with a more massive pulsar

Hybrid Material Based on the Lindquist Polyoxometalate [W6O19]2− and the organosulfur donor o-Me2TTF: A Combined Structural and Spectroscopic Study

International audienceThe synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopic properties of the hybrid radical cation salt containing oxidized o-3,4-dimethyltetrathiafulvalene (o-Me2TTF) and the Lindquist polyoxometalate anion [W6O19]2− are reported. The title salt represents the first time a Lindquist polyoxometalate has been utilized as the counter anion with this unsymmetrical member of the TTF family of derivatives. The salt crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1¯ with a = 7.6211(7) Å, b = 9.5231(9) Å, c = 12.2148(11) Å, α = 105.5870(10)°, β = 106.8340(10)° and γ = 95.6950(10)°. Resolution of the solid state structure revealed that the o-Me2TTF radical cations aggregate as isolated face-to-face dimers with intradimer interactions between neighboring sulfur atoms at distances <3.6 Å. Hydrogen bonding was also observed between hydrogen atoms bound to sp 2-hybridized carbon atoms of o-Me2TTF and bridging oxygen atoms of [W6O19]2−. Single crystal IR and Raman spectra were also collected and provide further evidence that the o-Me2TTF donors have been oxidized to their corresponding radical cationic states

What treatments relieve arthritis and fatigue associated with systemic lupus erythematosus?

Q: What treatments relieve arthritis and fatigue associated with systemic lupus erythematosus? A: Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine improve the arthritis associated with mild systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)--producing a 50% reduction in arthritis flares and articular involvement--and have few adverse effects (strength of recommendation [SOR]: a, systematic review of randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Methotrexate reduces arthralgias by as much as 79%, but produces adverse effects in up to 70% of patients (SOR: b, systematic review of RCTs with limited patient-oriented evidence). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are often used for SLE joint pain (SOR: c, expert opinion). Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce arthritis symptoms by about 35% (SOR: b, RCTs with inconsistent evidence). Abatacept and dehydroepiandrosterone don't produce clinically meaningful improvements in fatigue associated with SLE, and abatacept causes significant adverse effects (SOR: b, posthoc analysis of a single RCT). Aerobic exercise may help fatigue (SOR: b, systematic review with inconsistent evidence)