Spectrophotometry of Epsilon Aur, 3295-8880 A

Spectrophotometric scans were obtained at 8 A resolution from 3295 to 8880 A on twenty nights before, during, and after the recent eclipse of epsilon Aurigae, beginning with a pre-eclipse observation on 5 March 1982 U.T. The observations were reduced to absolute flux using the standard stars 109 Vir or xi(2) Ceti. The data confirm that the eclipse is essentially gray over the entire visible spectrum, as others have noted from broadband photometry. High resolution echellograms (450 to 6700 A) made through mid-eclipse and the scans show changes in the equivalent widths of H alpha, Na D, and O I as large as a factor of two

Solar Flare Intermittency and the Earth's Temperature Anomalies

We argue that earth's short-term temperature anomalies and the solar flare intermittency are linked. The analysis is based upon the study of the scaling of both the spreading and the entropy of the diffusion generated by the fluctuations of the temperature time series. The joint use of these two methods evidences the presence of a L\'{e}vy component in the temporal persistence of the temperature data sets that corresponds to the one that would be induced by the solar flare intermittency. The mean monthly temperature datasets cover the period from 1856 to 2002.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Anomalous optical phonons in FeTe pnictides: spin state, magnetic order, and lattice anharmonicity

Polarized Raman-scattering spectra of non-superconducting, single-crystalline FeTe are investigated as function of temperature. We have found a relation between the magnitude of ordered magnetic moments and the linewidth of A1g phonons at low temperatures. This relation is attributed to the intermediate spin state (S=1) and the orbital degeneracy of the Fe ions. Spin-phonon coupling constants have been estimated based on microscopic modeling using density-functional theory and analysis of the local spin density. Our observations show the importance of orbital degrees of freedom for the Fe-based superconductors with large ordered magnetic moments, while small magnetic moment of Fe ions in some iron pnictides reflects the low spin state of Fe ions in those systems.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure

Influence of Annealing on the Interface Structure and Strain Relief in Si/Ge Heterostructures on (100) Si

Research work on the general problem of the nature and thermal stability of the Si/Ge semiconductor interface is reviewed. We report on our recent studies of the interface structure in [(Si)m(Ge)n]p superlattices and (Ge)n layers buried in Si as revealed by Raman scattering, extended X-ray absorption fine structure, and X-ray techniques. Strain relaxation and interdiffusion in the superlattices caused by annealing have been investigated, and it is found that considerable strain-enhanced intermixing together with partial relaxation of Ge-Ge bonds occurs even for very short anneal times at 700°C. Further annealing leads to diffusion at a much slower rate and to the eventual formation of an alloy layer. The Ge-Ge bond lengths in as-grown samples are that expected for a fully strained Ge layer. Similar studies of the (Ge)n layers reveal that two-dimensional pseudomorphic growth proceeds up to n = 5, probably mediated by a Si-Ge interface interdiffusion over one or two monolayers of approximately 20%. A n = 12 layer gave evidence of strain relaxation by the introduction of dislocations and clustering. Interdiffusion proceeds rapidly on annealing at 750°C

The social geography of childcare: 'making up' the middle class child

Childcare is a condensate of disparate social forces and social processes. It is gendered and classed. It is subject to an excess of policy and political discourse. It is increasingly a focus for commercial exploitation. This is a paper reporting on work in progress in an ESRC funded research project (R000239232) on the choice and provision of pre-school childcare by middle class (service class) families in two contrasting London locations. Drawing on recent work in class analysis the paper examines the relationships between childcare choice, middle class fractions and locality. It suggests that on the evidence of the findings to date, there is some evidence of systematic differences between fractions in terms of values, perspectives and preferences for childcare, but a more powerful case for intra-class similarities, particularly when it comes to putting preferences into practice in the 'making up of a middle class child' through care and education

Solving the measurement problem: de Broglie-Bohm loses out to Everett

The quantum theory of de Broglie and Bohm solves the measurement problem, but the hypothetical corpuscles play no role in the argument. The solution finds a more natural home in the Everett interpretation.Comment: 20 pages; submitted to special issue of Foundations of Physics, in honour of James T. Cushin

Victimization, crime propensity and deviance: a multinational test of general strain theory

General Strain Theory (GST) identifies victimization as one of the strains most strongly related to crime which, like other sources of strain, is moderated by individual and social factors. Recently, Agnew (2013) extended the theorization of coping strategies by proposing that the effects of strain on deviance are conditioned by individual and social factors in combination, rather than singly, which he labelled crime propensity. Tests of the propensity hypothesis have so far yielded mixed results, highlighting the value of additional studies. Whereas previous tests have focused on single countries, either in North America or Asia, we test the propensity hypothesis using data on adolescents in 25 countries collected through the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD3; n= 57,760). A series of OLS regressions show that the relationship between victimization and delinquency/substance use is conditioned by the effects of individuals’ crime propensity, thereby supporting the recent extension to GST

A Randomized Controlled Double Blind Trial of Ciclosporin versus Prednisolone in the Management of Leprosy Patients with New Type 1 Reaction, in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy Type 1 (T1R) reactions are immune-mediated events leading to nerve damage and preventable disability affecting hands, feet and eyes. Type 1 Reactions are treated with oral corticosteroids. There is little evidence on alternative treatments for patients who do not respond to steroids or experience steroid adverse effects. We report the results of a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy and adverse effect profile of ciclosporin and prednisolone (CnP) in comparison to prednisolone only (P) in patients with new T1R in Ethiopia. Ciclosporin is a potent immunosuppressant. Outcomes were measured using a clinical severity score, recurrence rate, adverse events and quality of life. RESULTS: Seventy three patients with new T1R were randomized to receive CnP or P for 20 weeks. Recovery rates in skin signs was similar in both groups (91% vs 88%). Improvements in nerve function both, new and old, sensory (66% vs 49%) and motor (75% vs 74%) loss were higher (but not significantly so) in the patients on CnP. Recurrences rates of T1R (85%) were high in both groups, and recurrences occurred significantly earlier (8 weeks) in patients CnP, who needed 10% more additional prednisolone. Serious major and minor adverse events rates were similar in patients in the two treatment arms of the study. Both groups had a significant improvement in their quality of life after the study, measured by the SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first double-blind RCT assessing ciclosporin, in the management of T1R in Africa. Ciclosporin could be a safe alternative second-line drug for patients with T1R who are not improving with prednisolone or are experiencing adverse events related to prednisolone. This study illustrates the difficulty in switching off leprosy inflammation. Better treatment agents for leprosy patients with reactions and nerve damage are needed

Rare-earth monosulfides as durable and efficient cold cathodes

In their rocksalt structure, rare-earth monosulfides offer a more stable alternative to alkali metals to attain low or negative electron affinity when deposited on various III-V and II-VI semiconductor surfaces. In this article, we first describe the successful deposition of Lanthanum Monosulfide via pulsed laser deposition on Si and MgO substrates and alumina templates. These thin films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and Kelvin probe measurements. For both LaS/Si and LaS/MgO thin films, the effective work function of the submicron thick thin films was determined to be about 1 eV from field emission measurements using the Scanning Anode Field Emission Microscopy technique. The physical reasons for these highly desirable low work function properties were explained using a patchwork field emission model of the emitting surface. In this model, nanocrystals of low work function materials having a orientation perpendicular to the surface and outcropping it are surrounded by a matrix of amorphous materials with higher work function. To date, LaS thin films have been used successfully as cold cathode emitters with measured emitted current densities as high as 50 A/cm2. Finally, we describe the successful growth of LaS thin films on InP substrates and, more recently, the production of LaS nanoballs and nanoclusters using Pulsed Laser Ablation.Comment: 61 pages, 24 figure