Destination images of non-visitors

This article provides much needed understanding of destination images held by non-visitors. Recognizing the characteristics of non-visitor images and their formation is important in order to understand images more widely. This qualitative study assesses images of London. The views of three hundred people in the Czech Republic who have never visited London were obtained via an innovative open-ended research instrument. The study showed that non-visitors imagine destinations through comparisons with their own experiences of places. Findings indicate that images can be very persistent and that the first images formed of a destination endure over time. Although the research is based on people with no direct experience of London, the research highlights that a range of secondary ‘experiences’ influence image formation

Structure and magnetism of self-organized Ge(1-x)Mn(x) nano-columns

We report on the structural and magnetic properties of thin Ge(1-x)Mn(x)films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on Ge(001) substrates at temperatures (Tg) ranging from 80deg C to 200deg C, with average Mn contents between 1 % and 11 %. Their crystalline structure, morphology and composition have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. In the whole range of growth temperatures and Mn concentrations, we observed the formation of manganese rich nanostructures embedded in a nearly pure germanium matrix. Growth temperature mostly determines the structural properties of Mn-rich nanostructures. For low growth temperatures (below 120deg C), we evidenced a two-dimensional spinodal decomposition resulting in the formation of vertical one-dimensional nanostructures (nanocolumns). Moreover we show in this paper the influence of growth parameters (Tg and Mn content) on this decomposition i.e. on nanocolumns size and density. For temperatures higher than 180deg C, we observed the formation of Ge3Mn5 clusters. For intermediate growth temperatures nanocolumns and nanoclusters coexist. Combining high resolution TEM and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry, we could evidence at least four different magnetic phases in Ge(1-x)Mn(x) films: (i) paramagnetic diluted Mn atoms in the germanium matrix, (ii) superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic low-Tc nanocolumns (120 K 400 K) and (iv) Ge3Mn5 clusters.Comment: 10 pages 2 colonnes revTex formatte

Exchange bias in GeMn nanocolumns: the role of surface oxidation

We report on the exchange biasing of self-assembled ferromagnetic GeMn nanocolumns by GeMn-oxide caps. The x-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis of this surface oxide shows a multiplet fine structure that is typical of the Mn2+ valence state in MnO. A magnetization hysteresis shift |HE|~100 Oe and a coercivity enhancement of about 70 Oe have been obtained upon cooling (300-5 K) in a magnetic field as low as 0.25 T. This exchange bias is attributed to the interface coupling between the ferromagnetic nanocolumns and the antiferromagnetic MnO-like caps. The effect enhancement is achieved by depositing a MnO layer on the GeMn nanocolumns.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Residual contamination detection and serovar distribution of Listeria monocytogenes isolates in pork slaughterhouse and cutting facilities in province of Quebec

L. monocytogenes (L. mono) is recognised as a zoonotic foodborne pathogen. Its control is focused on the “Readyto Eat” food production level. Recently, Health Canada had reinforced its “Policy on L. mono in Ready-to-Eat Foods”, highlighting environmental surveillance and control of meat processing facilities as important risk reduction tools. The industry wants to improve its management of L. mono risk, taking into account previous steps of meat production. Nowadays, few information are available on the presence, distribution and types of strains in the environments concerning this pathogen in pork slaughterhouses and cutting facilities in Canada. Our objective was to detect and described residual L. mono contamination and analyse serovars distribution in different areas in the pork production continuum in and between slaughterhouses and cutting facilities in province of Quebec, during a one year period. Such data are a pre-requisite to achieve the optimization of the management measures by the industrials

Molecular serotyping and virulence potential of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from bovine, swine and human in the province of Quebec

Listeria monocytogenes (L mono) cause rare but critical diseases, particularly for at risk population that include pregnant women. Food-borne origin of listeriosis is clearly recognised only since 1984. Since then, a great number of grouped cases occurred and milk or meat products, particularly pork meat, were implicated. Management of this zoonotic pathogen considers all strains as at equal risk. Recently a new perspective for characterisation of strain virulence was allowed since unaltered sequence of InlA was recognised as a key for strain virulence

Three-dimensional magnetic flux-closure patterns in mesoscopic Fe islands

We have investigated three-dimensional magnetization structures in numerous mesoscopic Fe/Mo(110) islands by means of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism combined with photoemission electron microscopy (XMCD-PEEM). The particles are epitaxial islands with an elongated hexagonal shape with length of up to 2.5 micrometer and thickness of up to 250 nm. The XMCD-PEEM studies reveal asymmetric magnetization distributions at the surface of these particles. Micromagnetic simulations are in excellent agreement with the observed magnetic structures and provide information on the internal structure of the magnetization which is not accessible in the experiment. It is shown that the magnetization is influenced mostly by the particle size and thickness rather than by the details of its shape. Hence, these hexagonal samples can be regarded as model systems for the study of the magnetization in thick, mesoscopic ferromagnets.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure