Quantitative modeling of \textit{in situ} x-ray reflectivity during organic molecule thin film growth

Synchrotron-based x-ray reflectivity is increasingly employed as an \textit{in situ} probe of surface morphology during thin film growth, but complete interpretation of the results requires modeling the growth process. Many models have been developed and employed for this purpose, yet no detailed, comparative studies of their scope and accuracy exists in the literature. Using experimental data obtained from hyperthermal deposition of pentane and diindenoperylene (DIP) on SiO$_2$, we compare and contrast three such models, both with each other and with detailed characterization of the surface morphology using ex-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). These two systems each exhibit particular phenomena of broader interest: pentacene/SiO$_2$ exhibits a rapid transition from rough to smooth growth. DIP/SiO$_2$, under the conditions employed here, exhibits growth rate acceleration due to a different sticking probability between the substrate and film. In general, \textit{independent of which model is used}, we find good agreement between the surface morphology obtained from fits to the \insitu x-ray data with the actual morphology at early times. This agreement deteriorates at later time, once the root-mean squared (rms) film roughness exceeds about 1 ML. A second observation is that, because layer coverages are under-determined by the evolution of a single point on the reflectivity curve, we find that the best fits to reflectivity data --- corresponding to the lowest values of $\chi_\nu^2$ --- do not necessarily yield the best agreement between simulated and measured surface morphologies. Instead, it appears critical that the model reproduce all local extrema in the data. In addition to showing that layer morphologies can be extracted from a minimal set of data, the methodology established here provides a basis for improving models of multilayer growth by comparison to real systems.Comment: 34 pages (double-spaced, including figures and references), 10 figures, 3 appendice

Automated 3D quantitative assessment and measurement of alpha angles from the femoral head-neck junction using MR imaging

To develop an automated approach for 3D quantitative assessment and measurement of alpha angles from the femoral head-neck (FHN) junction using bone models derived from magnetic resonance (MR) images of the hip joint

Women candidates and councillors in Scottish local government, 1974-2012

While significant attention has been paid to the levels of representation of women in both the Westminster Parliament and the Scottish Parliament, much less considered has been given to the position within local government. This article addresses that deficit for Scotland. It shows that for twenty-five years following the reorganisation of local government in Scotland in 1974 there was a slow but relatively steady increase in the numbers of female candidates and councillors, although more recently this appears to have since plateaued somewhat, together with a similar increase in the number of women councillors taking up more senior roles in Scotland’s councils. The article analyses the representation of women in Scottish local government over the period from 1974 to 2012 against the backdrop of significant change in Scotland, including a further restructuring of local government and the introduction of the Single Transferable Vote for council elections, the creation of the Scottish Parliament, the rise of the SNP and the decline of the Conservative Party

Development of high-gain gaseous photomultipliers for the visible spectral range

We summarize the development of visible-sensitive gaseous photomultipliers, combining a semitransparent bi-alkali photocathode with a state-of-the-art cascaded electron multiplier. The latter has high photoelectron collection efficiency and a record ion blocking capability. We describe in details the system and methods of photocathode production and characterization, their coupling with the electron multiplier and the gaseous-photomultiplier operation and characterization in a continuous mode. We present results on the properties of laboratory-produced K$_2$CsSb, Cs$_3$Sb and Na$_2$KSb photocathodes and report on their stability and QE in gas; K$_2$CsSb photocathodes yielded QE values in Ar/CH$_4$(95/5) above 30% at wavelengths of 360-400 nm. The novel gaseous photomultiplier yielded stable operation at gains of 10$^5$, in continuous operation mode, in 700 Torr of this gas; its sensitivity to single photons was demonstrated. Other properties are described. The successful detection of visible light with this gas-photomultiplier pave ways towards further development of large-area sealed imaging detectors, of flat geometry, insensitive to magnetic fields, which might have significant impact on light detection in numerous fields.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures, for submission to JINS

The outflow in Mrk 509: A method to calibrate XMM-Newton EPIC-pn and RGS

We have analyzed three XMM-Newton observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509, with the goal to detect small variations in the ionized outflow properties. Such measurements are limited by the quality of the cross-calibration between RGS, the best instrument to characterize the spectrum, and EPIC-pn, the best instrument to characterize the variability. For all three observations we are able to improve the relative calibration of RGS and pn consistently to 4 %. In all observations we detect three different outflow components and, thanks to our accurate cross-calibration we are able to detect small differences in the ionization parameter and column density in the highest ionized component of the outflow. This constrains the location of this component of the outflow to within 0.5 pc of the central source. Our method for modeling the relative effective area is not restricted to just this source and can in principle be extended to other types of sources as well.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Immunoblot analysis of the seroreactivity to recombinant Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antigens, including VlsE, in the long-term course of treated patients with Erythema migrans

Objective: We evaluated whether immunoblotting is capable of substantiating the posttreatment clinical assessment of patients with erythema migrans ( EM), the hallmark of early Lyme borreliosis. Methods: In 50 patients, seroreactivity to different antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was analyzed by a recombinant immunoblot test (IB) in consecutive serum samples from a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. Antigens in the IgG test were decorin- binding protein A, internal fragment of p41 (p41i), outer surface protein C (OspC), p39, variable major protein-like sequence expressed (VlsE), p58 and p100; those in the IgM test were p41i, OspC and p39. Immune responses were correlated with clinical and treatment-related parameters. Results: Positive IB results were found in 50% before, in 57% directly after therapy and in 44% by the end of the follow-up for the IgG class, and in 36, 43 and 12% for the IgM class. In acute and convalescence phase sera, VlsE was most immunogenic on IgG testing 60 and 70%), and p41i (46 and 57%) and OspC (40 and 57%) for the IgM class. By the end of the follow-up, only the anti-p41i lgM response was significantly decreased to 24%. Conclusions: No correlation was found between IB results and treatment-related parameters. Thus, immunoblotting does not add to the clinical assessment of EM patients after treatment. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

INTERNATIONAL LAW-ALIENS-CONFISCATION OF ALIEN ENEMY PROPERTY-ALIEN ENEMY CHARACTER OF SHINTO SHRINE IN HAWAII

Plaintiff, a Hawaiian corporation, brought suit under section 9 of the Trading with the Enemy Act for the return of real and personal property vested in 1948 under authority of section S(b). Evidence was introduced to show that plaintiff\u27s members were largely alien Japanese; that, prior to December 7, 1941, plaintiff operated what purported to be a Shinto shrine in Honolulu where three Japanese gods were worshiped; that the shrine looked like a Shinto shrine and was in some respects operated like one. It was further shown that plaintiff\u27s members had no real understanding of the tenets of Shintoism as it existed in Japan; that in Japan Shintoism had been distorted and used as an ideological weapon against Japan\u27s enemies; and that plaintiff had ties of love and affection with the Shintoist organization in Japan. The court found as a fact that plaintiff was not controlled, directly or indirectly, financially or ideologically, by the Japanese government, and that, whatever ties with Japan might have existed before or during the war, MacArthur\u27s order of 1945, providing that Shintoism would no longer be recognized as a state religion, divested the Japanese government of any control over Shintoism anywhere in the world. Held, the plaintiff has proven itself eligible under the Act to have a judicial order directing the Custodian to return to it the vested property ... it will be so ordered .... The evidence disclosed no enemy taint, and the vesting was a violation of the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Kotohira Jinsha v. McGrath, (D.C. Hawaii 1950) 90 F. Supp. 892

INTERNATIONAL LAW-STATUS OF GERMANY-NATIONALITY LAWS-VOTING IN GERMAN ELECTION AS FORFEITURE OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP

Petitioner, an American citizen living in Germany, voted in the January 27, 1946 election of local officials in Rodach, Germany, American Zone of Occupation, held under the direction and with the approval of the Office of Military Government for Bavaria. Petitioner was issued a certificate of loss of nationality, based on section 801(e) of the Nationality Act of 1940, which provides that American nationality is lost through voting in a political election in a foreign state. Held, petitioner had not lost her citizenship. The Rodach election was held in territory then ruled and governed by the United States and was held by permission and under the direction and by the authority of the United States and was not a political election in a foreign state within the meaning of section 801(e). Brehm v. Acheson, Secretary of State, (D.C. Tex. 1950) 90 F. Supp. 662

TRUSTS-CONSTRUCTION-WHETHER DEVISE OF ANY UNDISBURSED INCOME AFTER LIFE TENANT\u27S DEATH INCLUDES INCOME WHICH ACCRUED BEFORE LIFE TENANT\u27S DEATH

Testator\u27s residuary estate was put in trust to pay income, dividends and profits to the testator\u27s wife so long as she shall live. In the same paragraph the will provided that at her death the trustee shall stand seized and possessed of said residuary estate including any undisbursed income in trust. In a sub-paragraph the trustee was directed to pay over the balance of said residuary estate to St. Joseph\u27s Hospital. During her widowhood, testator\u27s wife was in Switzerland where wartime exchange controls precluded payment of income to her under the terms of the trust. Both her administrator and the residuary legatee claimed the income accumulated and held by the trustee at the date of ber death. Held, the income in question became a part of the testator\u27s estate and should be paid to the hospital. A will must be construed in accordance with the testator\u27s intention as indicated by his language which in this instance is unambiguous; the ordinary literal meaning of undisbursed income is not paid out, and testator intended to benefit only the chief objects of his bounty, his wife so long as she was living and the hospital. Rhode Island Hospital Trust Co. v. Otis, CR.I. 1950) 75 A. (2d) 210

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: the challenge ahead.

Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%. To explore the hypothesis that low-dose exposures to mixtures of chemicals in the environment may be combining to contribute to environmental carcinogenesis, we reviewed 11 hallmark phenotypes of cancer, multiple priority target sites for disruption in each area and prototypical chemical disruptors for all targets, this included dose-response characterizations, evidence of low-dose effects and cross-hallmark effects for all targets and chemicals. In total, 85 examples of chemicals were reviewed for actions on key pathways/mechanisms related to carcinogenesis. Only 15% (13/85) were found to have evidence of a dose-response threshold, whereas 59% (50/85) exerted low-dose effects. No dose-response information was found for the remaining 26% (22/85). Our analysis suggests that the cumulative effects of individual (non-carcinogenic) chemicals acting on different pathways, and a variety of related systems, organs, tissues and cells could plausibly conspire to produce carcinogenic synergies. Additional basic research on carcinogenesis and research focused on low-dose effects of chemical mixtures needs to be rigorously pursued before the merits of this hypothesis can be further advanced. However, the structure of the World Health Organization International Programme on Chemical Safety 'Mode of Action' framework should be revisited as it has inherent weaknesses that are not fully aligned with our current understanding of cancer biology