Sputtering yield measurements at glancing incidence using a quartz crystal microbalance

Low energy sputtering yields at grazing incidence have been investigated experimentally using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. This method involved precoating the QCM with a thin film of the desired target material and relating the resonance frequency shift directly to mass loss during ion bombardment. A highly focused, low divergence ion beam provided a well defined incidence angle. Focusing most of the ion current on the center of the target allowed for higher sensitivity by taking into account the radial mass sensitivity of the QCM. Measurements of Mo, Cu, and W sputtering yields were taken for low energy (80–1000 eV) Xe+ and Ar+ to validate this experimental method. The target films ranged from 3.5 to 8.0 µm in thickness and were deposited so that their crystal structure and density would match those of the bulk material as closely as possible. These properties were characterized using a combination of scanning electron microscope imagery, profilometry, and x-ray diffraction. At normal incidence, the sputtering yields demonstrated satisfactory agreement with previously published work. At angles of incidence up to 40° off normal, the data agreed well with predictions from existing theoretical models. Sputtering yields were found to increase by a factor of 1.6 over this range. The optimum angle for sputtering occurred at 55°, after which the yields rapidly decreased. Measurements were taken up to 80° from the surface normal

Casualty of War : the governorship of Beriah Magoffin, 1859-1862.

This thesis seeks to understand Beriah Magoffin as Governor of Kentucky. Adding to the work begun by Michael T. Dues and Lowell H. Harrison during the 1960s and 1970s, this thesis fleshes out a man little studied in history. It addresses several questions: Who was Governor Beriah Magoffin and what type of leader was he? Answering these questions, this thesis provides Magoffin as a mediocre leader who unsuccessfully tried to prevent civil war through compromise, neutrality, and obstruction. Moreover, Magoffin was a complex man with complex principles that guided his actions and eventually ruined his governorship. Magoffin believed in state\u27s rights, majority rule, a strict construction of the Constitution, compromise, and the Union as it was. Over the course of the war, Magoffin held onto his principles without evolving. Unable to influence policy or the Unionist dominated General Assembly, Magoffin resigned as a political casualty of war

Semiconductor Bolometers Give Background-Limited Performance

Semiconductor bolometers that are capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation over most or all of the infrared spectrum and that give background-limited performance at operating temperatures from 20 to 300 K have been invented. The term background-limited performance as applied to a bolometer, thermopile, or other infrared detector signifies that the ability to detect infrared signals that originate outside the detector is limited primarily by thermal noise attributable to the background radiation generated external to the bolometer. The signal-to-noise ratios and detectivities of the bolometers and thermopiles available prior to this invention have been lower than those needed for background-limited performance by factors of about 100 and 10, respectively. Like other electrically resistive bolometers, a device according to the invention exhibits an increase in electrical resistance when heated by infrared radiation. Depending on whether the device is operated under the customary constant- current or constant-voltage bias, the increase in electrical resistance can be measured in terms of an increase in voltage across the device or a decrease in current through the device, respectively. In the case of a semiconductor bolometer, it is necessary to filter out visible and shorter-wavelength light that could induce photoconductivity and thereby counteract all or part of the desired infrared- induced increase in resistance. The basic semiconductor material of a bolometer according to the invention is preferably silicon doped with one or more of a number of elements, each of which confers a different variable temperature coefficient of resistance. Suitable dopants include In, Ga, S, Se, Te, B, Al, As, P, and Sb. The concentration of dopant preferably lies in the range between 0.1 and 1,000 parts per billion

Exploring the Value of Business Analytics Solutions for SMEs

There is an increasing recognition of the need for organisations to make effective use of the information which is available to them, that sources of information have expanded hugely and that analytics offers organisations the possibility of insights which could not otherwise be obtained. Sophisticated analytics, however, have been seen as the preserve of large organisations but is this is, potentially, changing. In this paper we have explored the potential value of business analytics solutions in the specific case of smaller organisations and we have highlighted how such organisations may start to drive value from such analytic tools

A Pilot Study of the Performance Characteristics of the D-dimer in Presumed Sepsis

Objectives: To determine if a sensitive D-dimer assay can exclude progression to organ dysfunction, death, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected infection, and if increasing levels of D-dimer are predictive of those end points.Methods: The study took place at two academic EDs, both located in tertiary care hospitals. This was a prospective convenience sample of adult patients presenting with an infective process and at least two of four criteria for the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. We measured D-dimer levels in the participants and abstracted their records for the end points. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated and receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine if a higher cutoff would have a greater specificity for our end points.Results: We enrolled 134 patients. Twelve were excluded from analysis (10 for lack of a D-dimer, one for recent surgery, and one for complete loss to follow up). Using the cutoff of 0.4 established by our laboratories as positive, the D-dimer had a sensitivity of 94% (CI95; 76-99) for organ dysfunction in the ED, 93% (72-99) for organ dysfunction at 48 hours, 93% (81-98) for ICU admission, and 100% (63-100) for 30-day mortality. However, at this cutoff, specificity was not statistically significant. Significantly raising the cutoff for a positive resulted in a decrease in sensitivity but improved specificity.Conclusion: This study was limited by its nonconsecutive patient recruitment and sample size. A normal D-dimer may exclude progression to organ dysfunction, ICU admission, and death and, at higher cutoff levels, could help risk stratify patients presenting to the ED with signs of sepsis.[West J Emerg Med. 2010;11(2):173-179.

Metallic Wall Hall Thrusters

A Hall thruster apparatus having walls constructed from a conductive material, such as graphite, and having magnetic shielding of the walls from the ionized plasma has been demonstrated to operate with nearly the same efficiency as a conventional nonmagnetically shielded design using insulators as wall components. The new design is believed to provide the potential of higher power and uniform operation over the operating life of a thruster device

Fibromyalgia in Behçet's disease: a narrative review.

IntroductionFibromyalgia is characterised by chronic widespread pain and tenderness. It has often been reported to occur concomitantly with chronic rheumatological conditions. Behçet's disease is a chronic relapsing, multisystem, autoinflammatory disease. There is only limited understanding of a potential relationship between fibromyalgia and Behçet's disease.AimGiven the potential detrimental influence of pain on the outcome of chronic disease, the aim of this narrative review is to gain an understanding of the incidence and presentation of fibromyalgia in Behçet's disease.MethodsElectronic databases Scopus, Medline, PubMed and UpToDate were searched.ResultsA total of 269 studies were identified, and limitations and exclusion/inclusion criteria were applied to ensure accurate and comparable selection of studies; four studies were selected. All cases were assessed for the presence of fibromyalgia according to the 1990 or 2010 diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, with Behçet's disease diagnosed according to the International Study Group (ISG) for Behçet's disease criteria. A higher prevalence of fibromyalgia (5.7-37.1%) was reported in Behçet's disease compared to that of the general population (2.9-4.7%).DiscussionWhile an increased prevalence of fibromyalgia was found in patients with Behçet's disease, this needs to be considered within the context of limited available evidence. The potential impact of these conditions on the disease activity of each other is not clear and may require a prospective study.ConclusionFibromyalgia appears to be more prevalent in those with Behçet's disease than would be expected in the overall population. Significance: This review provides some evidence that fibromyalgia is more prevalent in those with Behçet's disease. To ensure appropriate patient treatment choices, it is important that both conditions are diagnosed where they co-exist