Chemical modification of semiconductor surfaces

Results of research on the chemical modification of TiO2 powders in the gas phase and the examination of the modified powders by infrared absorption spectroscopy are comprehensively summarized. The range of information obtainable by IR spectroscopy of chemically modified semiconductors, and a definition of the optimum reaction conditions for synthesizing a monolayer of methylsilanes using vapor phase reaction conditions were considered

Chemical modification of TiO2 surfaces with methylsilanes and characterization by infrared absorption spectroscopy

Infrared absorption spectra of methylsilanes bonded to a TiO2 powder were obtained. The reacting silanes include Me sub (4-n)SiX sub n (n=1-4; X=Cl, OMe) and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). Reactions were performed on hydroxylated-but-anhydrous TiO2 surfaces in the gas phase. IR spectra confirm the presence of a bonded silane layer. Terminal surface OH groups are found to react more readily than bridging OH groups. By-products of the modification adsorp tenaciously to the surface. The various silanes show only small differences in their ability to sequester surface OH groups. Following hydrolysis in moist air, Si-OH groups are observed only for the tetrafunctional silanes

Domestic Human Trafficking Legislation in the 113th Congress

[Excerpt] This report examines the trafficking-related provisions in legislation that has at least been reported out of committee in the 113th Congress. Where applicable, it discusses companion legislation that may not have been considered in committee or other legislation that has received significant Congressional interest. The legislation includes the following: • The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Title XII of P.L. 113-4) enacted on March 7, 2013. This act was part of the larger The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. • The E. Clay Shaw, Jr. Missing Children’s Assistance Reauthorization Act (P.L. 113-38), enacted on September 30, 2013. • The Fraudulent Overseas Recruitment and Trafficking Elimination Act (H.R. 3344).14 • The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013 (H.R. 3530), placed on the House calendar on May 15, 2014. The companion legislation (S. 1738) has not been taken up in committee. • The Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2013 (H.R. 3610), placed on the House calendar on May 13, 2014. The companion legislation (S. 1733) has not been taken up in committee. • The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Improving Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care Act (H.R. 4058), as ordered reported by the House Ways and Means Committee on April 29, 2014.15 • The SAVE Act of 2014 (H.R. 4225), placed on the House calendar on May 15, 2014. • International Megan’s Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking (H.R. 4573), as ordered reported by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 9, 2014. • The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744), as passed by the Senate on June 27, 2013. • The Supporting At-Risk Children Act (S. 1870), as ordered reported by the Senate Finance Committee on December 12, 2013.16 The following sections lay out issues raised in the bills. The issues are grouped under the following themes: (1) restoring victims through services and benefits, (2) unaccompanied minor trafficking victims, (3) protection of foreign national workers, (4) criminal justice, (5) improving data, (6) domestic sex trafficking of children, and (7) other issues that include inter-agency coordination and sex offender registry and notification

Sex Trafficking of Children in the United States: Overview and Issues for Congress

[Excerpt] This report provides an overview of sex trafficking of children in the United States. It first conceptualizes the issue, discussing the victims and perpetrators involved. It then outlines the federal response to investigating and prosecuting perpetrators as well as providing services to victims. The report concludes with a discussion of select issues concerning the federal response to sex trafficking of minors in the United States

Border Security: Understanding Threats at U.S. Borders

[Excerpt] The United States confronts a wide array of threats at U.S. borders, ranging from terrorists who may have weapons of mass destruction, to transnational criminals smuggling drugs or counterfeit goods, to unauthorized migrants intending to live and work in the United States. Given this diversity of threats, how may Congress and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set border security priorities and allocate scarce enforcement resources? In general, DHS’s answer to this question is organized around risk management, a process that involves risk assessment and the allocation of resources based on a cost-benefit analysis. This report focuses on the first part of this process by identifying border threats and describing a framework for understanding risks at U.S. borders. DHS employs models to classify threats as relatively high- or low-risk for certain planning and budgeting exercises and to implement certain border security programs. Members of Congress may wish to use similar models to evaluate the costs and benefits of potential border security policies and to allocate border enforcement resources. This report discusses some of the issues involved in modeling border-related threats

Book Review: Environmental Law Practice: Problems and Exercises for Skills Development

In this Book Review of Environmental Law Practice: Problems and Exercises for Skills Development, written by Jerry L. Anderson and Dennis D. Hirsch, the author quickly sets out the strength and weakness of this book: practicality. The author briefly discusses the four main chapters, which are conveniently separated into compliance, enforcement, litigation, and policy. In short, the author concludes that this book does a good job of providing a rudimentary understanding of environmental law, but more advanced practitioners and scholars may find it less useful

A Phenomenological Study on Perceived Academic and Social Factors that Attribute to the Collegiate Success or Failure of Low-Income, First-Generation Black Males

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to analyze and discover the factors that contributed to the success or failure of first-generation Black male collegiates at four-year institutions and effectively provide an in-depth understanding of these issues. The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s theory of integration, which focuses on the norms of academic and social integration. Related to this theory was a series of studies that presented the idea that students’ involvement in the social environment and educational setups were critical to their success and retention in college. Participants completed a questionnaire to determine their eligibility for the study. I collected the data from the study for the ten individuals that met the criteria to be participants in this study. A questionnaire, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups provided the data for this study. The data yielded five themes: community mentors, engagement, self-motivation, college preparedness, and support. Several sub-themes were identified from each theme: mentors, financial and emotional support, and academic and social integration

Southwest Border Violence: Issues in Identifying and Measuring Spillover Violence

[Excerpt] There has been a recent increase in the level of drug trafficking-related violence within and between the drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. This violence has generated concern among U.S. policy makers that the violence in Mexico might spill over into the United States. Currently, U.S. federal officials deny that the recent increase in drug trafficking-related violence in Mexico has resulted in a spillover into the United States, but they acknowledge that the prospect is a serious concern. Currently, no comprehensive, publicly available data exist that can definitively answer the question of whether there has been a significant spillover of drug trafficking-related violence into the United States. Although anecdotal reports have been mixed, U.S. government officials maintain that there has not yet been a significant spillover. In an examination of data that could provide insight into whether there has been a significant spillover in drug trafficking-related violence from Mexico into the United States, CRS analyzed violent crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report program. The data, however, do not allow analysts to determine what proportion of the violent crime rate is related to drug trafficking or, even more specifically, what proportion of drug trafficking-related violent crimes can be attributed to spillover violence. In conclusion, because the trends in the overall violent crime rate may not be indicative of trends in drug trafficking-related violent crimes, CRS is unable to draw definitive claims about trends in drug trafficking-related violence spilling over from Mexico into the United States. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant