Sub-wavelength focusing meta-lens

We show that planar a plasmonic metamaterial with spatially variable meta-atom parameters can focus transmitted light into sub-wavelength hot-spots located beyond the near-field of the metamaterial. By nano-structuring a gold film we created an array of meta-lenses generating foci of 160 nm (0.2{\lambda}) in diameter when illuminated by a wavelength of 800 nm. We attribute the occurrence of sub-wavelength hotspots beyond the near field to the phenomenon of superoscillation

Deactivation of TEM-1 beta-Lactamase investigated by isothermal batch and non-isothermal continuous enzyme membrane reactor methods

The thermal deactivation of TEM-1 β-lactamase was examined using two experimental techniques: a series of isothermal batch assays and a single, continuous, non-isothermal assay in an enzyme membrane reactor (EMR). The isothermal batch-mode technique was coupled with the three-state Equilibrium Model of enzyme deactivation, while the results of the EMR experiment were fitted to a four-state molten globule model . The two methods both led to the conclusions that the thermal deactivation of TEM-1 β -lactamase does not follow the Lumry-Eyring model and that the Teq of the enzyme (the point at which active and inactive states are present in equal amounts due to thermodynamic equilibrium) is at least 10 °C from the Tm (melting temperature), contrary to the idea that the true temperature optimum of a biocatalyst is necessarily close to the melting temperature

The impact of internal and external factors on human rights conditions in Xinjiang, China

In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control of Xinjiang from the Koumintang (KMT) and declared that Xinjiang was to be an autonomous region in 1955. However, major decisions were still made by the CCP led by the Han Chinese and not the Uyghurs from Xinjiang. The CCP implemented aggressive assimilation policies in the 1960s especially during the Cultural Revolution during which the Uyghurs were subjected to serious abuses. In 1978, Deng Xiaoping took over the leadership of China after the demise of Mao Zedong. It brought about dramatic changes in the human rights situation in China. These included freedom for the Uyghurs to practice their religion, culture and language. Hence, there was an improvement in human rights in Xinjiang. However, in the late 1990s the CCP reverted to harsh policies once again. This study examines the internal and external factors that have influenced China's policies on the human rights condition in Xinjiang. The aim of this study is to analyse the changes in the human rights condition in Xinjiang under the different administrations and the factors that have caused the changes

CORPORATIONS - PREINCORPORATION CONTRACTS OF PROMOTERS AND INCORPORATORS - EFFECT OF STATUTE ON PERSONAL LIABILITY OF INCORPORATORS

It seems difficult to draw such a conclusion directly from the terms of the statute. Indeed, the section is not very definite as to the liability either of the incorporators or of the corporation on contracts of the designated class. However, in Hart Potato Growers\u27 Association v. Grenier, it was intimated that this section made the corporation liable upon the contracts of the incorporators immediately upon incorporation. Toward this conclusion certain provisions of the section are rather persuasive. The clause providing that all property held by the incorporators for the benefit of the corporation shall be deemed to be the property of the corporation is mandatory and contemplates, apparently, no action by the corporation. Further, the limitation of the class of contracts designated by the statute to those made by the incorporators alone, and made expressly for or on behalf of the corporation, is surely not inconsistent with a legislative intention to bind the corporation. In fact, the section suggests, though somewhat vaguely, that an agency concept is at the basis of the statute

CONTRACTS - THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY - POWER OF PROMISEE TO DISCHARGE PROMISOR - NECESSITY FOR CONSIDERATION

Stanfield recovered judgment against W. C. McBride, Inc. for personal injuries suffered in an automobile accident which was occasioned by the negligence of Strunk, employee of the McBride company, who at the time of the accident was driving (with the owner\u27s consent) an automobile owned by the Miller-Morgan Auto Company. The McBride company in turn recovered a judgment against its employee, Strunk, and now as garnishor seeks to reach an insurance policy issued to the Miller-Morgan company which at the time of its issuance contained an omnibus clause insuring all persons driving the insured car with the consent of the Miller-Morgan company. However, prior to the accident a rider had been attached to the policy cancelling the omnibus clause but leaving the policy otherwise intact. The McBride company offered to show that there was no consideration to support the rider in order to recover on the policy as originally issued. Held, that the promisor and promisee may by agreement change the contract so that it no longer protects a third party beneficiary, not identifiable at the time, and that the third party beneficiary cannot raise the question of want of consideration for the deletion of the omnibus clause. Stanfield v. W. C. McBride, Inc., 149 Kan. 567, 88 P. (2d) 1002 (1939)

FRAUD - NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION - LIABILITY WITHOUT FAULT - CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE AS A DEFENSE

Plaintiff purchased a pearl necklace from the defendant. In a suit for fraud, plaintiff alleged that the defendant had misrepresented the quality of the necklace and his own expert ability. Before purchasing, plaintiff had secured the services of another expert. The trial court found that there was no reliance by the plaintiff on the defendant\u27s misrepresentation and that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. Held, by the trial court, (1) that lack of reliance barred recovery for fraud; (2) that contributory negligence barred recovery for negligent misrepresentation; and (3) that if New York courts recognize a liability without fault in this field, recovery on that theory was also barred by the plaintiff\u27s contributory negligence. Gould v. Flato, 170 Misc. 378, 10 N. Y. S. (2d) 361 (1938)

Evaluating agricultural flood control benefits by an optimal programming technique

The general objective of this study is to estimate the difference in farm organization and net income where the likelihood of potential flood damage vary. The specific objectives are to; (1) adjust the production functions of crops grown in the flood plain to reflect varying levels of potential flood damage, (2) use the adjusted production functions to estimate organization and income for each respective level of potential flood damage for different resource situations, and (3) use these estimates to demonstrate a procedure for computing potential farm income for different levels of flood damage, i.e., benefits from flood control. Estimates of production functions adjusted for potential flood damages are assumed to reflect the farmer’s image of flood-plain land productivity. These estimates were tabulated from a combination of farmer experiences, yield estimates from agronomic research, and certain hydrologic data. The adjusted production functions were necessary to reflect the reduced income of different levels of flood damage, i.e., the cost of incurring the flood risk. The adjusted production function developed for different levels of flood damage will reflect differences in farm organization and net income. This procedure has been suggested for estimating benefits from enhancement land use which result in changes in farm organization and net income. Estimates of organization and net income changes should prove useful guides to farmers having flood-plain land, as well as provide a basis for evaluating agricultural benefits of different levels of flood control. The production response of farmers to installation of flood control measures is of major importance in estimating the economic feasi-bility of a water resource development project. The benefit accruing to agriculture is the difference in net income between the optimum use of the flood-plain land with natural flooding risk and that obtained with different levels of flood control

RAILROADS -- EXTENT OF TITLE ACQUIRED BY RAILROAD BY ADVERSE POSSESSION OF LAND USED AS RIGHT-OF-WAY - EFFECT ON MINERAL RIGHTS

In a recent Michigan case it appeared that for more than the statutory period of limitation the plaintiff railroad had maintained a right-of-way over land to which the defendant held the record title. A decree quieting title in fee simple absolute in the plaintiff railroad was sought in order to determine the ownership of the oil and gas underlying the right-of-way. The court held that the railroad acquired by adverse user of the right-of-way no title to the oil and gas or other minerals beneath the surface of the land

Solid-immersion super-oscillatory lens for heat assisted magnetic recording technology and nanoscale imaging

We demonstrate a solid-immersion super-oscillatory planar lens for super-resolution applications with a 102 nm full-width at half maximum focal spot in a low-loss immersion medium