Catena-[triaquabis(μ2-1,4-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)butane)nitrato-κ2O-praseodymium(III) nitrate monohydrate methanol solvate

The bidentate ligand, 1,4-bis(diphenlyphosphoryl)butane (dppbO2), was used to prepare a 1D polymeric Pr(III) complex which was characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.Peer reviewe

Vibrational sum frequency scattering from a submicron suspension

A novel application of vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) is developed to study the molecular properties of the surface of submicron particles in suspension. The Rayleigh-Gans-Debye scattering theory is extended to extract the local molecular response from the macroscopic nonlinearly scattered spectral intensity. These results demonstrate the use of VSFG to investigate quantitatively the surface molecular properties of submicron particles, dispersed in solution. It provides information on the order and density of alkane chains and allows us to determine the elements of the local second-order surface susceptibility

Coulomb explosion in femtosecond laser ablation of Si(111)

The ablation of ionized silicon is studied using near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses in the fluence regime from 1 to 9 J/cm(2). Two major peaks are observed in the mass spectrum corresponding to Si+ and Si2+. In the time-of-flight transients of Si+, a bimodal structure is observed. The fast Si+ peak corresponds to a velocity half of that observed for Si2+. This momentum scaling is clearly indicative of a Coulomb explosion. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics

Impact of information and communication technologies on energy efficiency in road transport - Final Report

The application of ITS is seen as very promising to address the negative consequences of road transport. However, the mechanisms which have an impact on the CO2 emissions are very complex, while not much about this is known from existing studies. Therefore, the EC commissioned this study, ‘Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on Energy Efficiency in Road Transport’, with the objective to perform an analysis on how ICT can contribute to reduction of emissions of CO2 and possible other greenhouse gases (from here on called “CO2 emissions”) through innovative technologies. The study is intended to support the policy making process, by providing an assessment of the most important systems and models able to resolve some of the challenges related to clean and efficient mobility. The result will help to define DG INFSO’s role in the ICT debate

Coherent Oscillatory Femtosecond Dynamics in Multichannel Photodynamics of NO2 Studied by Spatially Masked Electron Imaging

400 fs) a second slow (near 0 eV) photoelectron channel is observed that is associated with one photon excitation at 400 nm to the first excited (A) over bar B-2(2) state NO2 followed by two photon excitation at 266 nm leading to near threshould tomization and dissociation to NO- + O(P-3). Distinctive oscillatory patterns were found in the pump-probe transients of the photoelectron yield for both the slow and the fast photoelectron channels but with different periods of about 750 fs (slow) ro 590 fs (fast) Extensive polarization experiments are reported for both linerar and circular polarized pump and probe laser geometries. We discuss the oscillatory mechanism in relation to ab initio calculations of relevant Rydberg and valence type excited states of NO2 near 9.3 eV. We propose that an oscillating wavepacked of mixed Rydberg and valence character that predissociates is reponsible for the observed osicillations in the transients of the fast (0.88 eV) photoelectron channel

Exploring experiences and health-related quality of life of caregivers of patients who start home dialysis:study protocol for a prospective, multicentre cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Starting dialysis not only has a major impact on the life of patients but also on their informal caregivers. Previous research shows greater burden and lower quality of life among caregivers of dialysis patients compared with the general population. Unfortunately, the evidence on the course of both positive and negative experience in caregivers of incident dialysis patients is scarce. Furthermore, well-designed, prospective, multicentre studies comparing caregiving of home dialysis patients with in-centre dialysis patients are lacking. This paper proposes a protocol to assess the trajectory of experiences (both positive and negative) and quality of life of caregivers of home dialysis patients compared with caregivers of in-centre dialysis patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This paper presents a protocol for a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study which extends the ongoing Dutch nOcturnal and hoME dialysis Study To Improve Clinical Outcomes (DOMESTICO). This study will include at least 200 adult caregivers of patients who start dialysis therapy and have been included in the DOMESTICO study. Positive experiences of the caregivers will be the primary outcome parameter of this study, and negative experiences and health-related quality of life the secondary outcome parameters. Required support will be investigated as an exploratory finding. Outcome parameters will be assessed at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months after start of dialysis using validated questionnaires. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Amsterdam University Medical Centre. The results of this study will be disseminated by publication in a peer-reviewed journal and through presentations at conferences and seminars