Utilizing Liquid Crystal Phases to Obtain Highly Ordered Thin Films for Organic Electronics

Organic electronic materials offer several advantages when compared to inorganic materials, but they suffer from low charge carrier mobility. Two major factors hindering effective charge transport in organic materials are: 1) effective wavefunction overlap in organic crystals and 2) the domain morphology of thin films. Charge transport in organic materials occurs via a hopping mechanism along the conjugated π system. Often, rigid, aromatic organic materials crystallize in a herringbone, edge-to-face orientation, limiting π-π stacking and decreasing charge carrier mobility. Face-to-face orientation of aromatic rings decreases intermolecular π-π distances and increases wavefunction overlap. Control of the crystal structure can be achieved to some extent by tuning structural features of the molecule, like increasing the ratio of carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms in the aromatic rings; this is often achieved by introducing heteroatoms like sulfur and oxygen into the aromatic ring structure. Thin films of organic materials often contain many unaligned domains; this is caused by rapid crystallization. Control of the domain morphology of thin films has been shown to increase charge carrier mobility by 6 orders of magnitude for thin films of the same material. Liquid crystal phases allow a slow process of crystallization, whereby the molecules in a thin film can be slowly aligned into a monodomain before crystallization. The crystal-smectic phases, like smectic E, are particularly attractive for this strategy due to their high degree of intermolecular order. This project describes the synthesis and characterization of organic semiconductors designed to exhibit short π-π distances and highly ordered crystalsmectic phases to obtain thin films with high charge carrier mobility. The n,2-OBTTT series contains 15 newly designed and synthesized mesogens. The liquid crystal and solid crystal structures of these mesogens are examined and deposition conditions are optimized for the production of highly ordered, monodomain thin films

Issues in forest restoration: Southwest ecological restoration institutes (SWERI) biophysical monitoring workshop report

On October 15-16, 2009, the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) hosted a workshop in which the participants would 1) build a common understanding of the types of monitoring that are occurring in forested ecosystems of the Southwest; 2) analyze and agree on an efficient, yet robust set of biophysical variables that can be used by land mangers and scientists to monitor the effectiveness of restoration/land treatments; and 3) discuss and develop strategies to overcome common challenges to effective forest monitoring and its integration into land management decision making. An invited group of individuals representing federal and state agencies, environmental non-profits, academic institutions, and consulting firms brought their knowledge and expertise to bear on the three goals of the workshop..

Development of an in-line filter to prevent intrusion of NO2 toxic vapors into A/C systems

The hypergolic propellant nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4 or NTO) is routinely used in spacecraft launched at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS). In the case of a catastrophic failure of the spacecraft, there would be a release of the unspent propellant in the form of a toxic cloud. Inhalation of this material at downwind concentrations which may be as high as 20 parts per million (ppm) for 30 minutes in duration, may produce irritation to the eyes, nose and respiratory tract. Studies at both KSC and CCAS have shown that the indoor concentrations of N2O4 during a toxic release may range from 1 to 15 ppm and depend on the air change rate (ACR) for a particular building and whether or not the air conditioning (A/C) system has been shut down or left in an operating mode. This project was initiated in order to assess how current A/C systems could be easily modified to prevent personnel from being exposed to toxic vapors. A sample system has been constructed to test the ability of several types of filter material to capture the N2O4 vapors prior to their infiltration into the A/C system. Test results will be presented which compare the efficiencies of standard A/C filters, water wash systems, and chemically impregnated filter material in taking toxic vapors out of the incoming air stream

Prospectus, September 6, 1989

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1989/1018/thumbnail.jp

Babesiosis in Southeastern, Central and Northeastern Europe: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Tick-Borne Disease of Humans and Animals

There is now considerable evidence that in Europe, babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease, with some of the causative species spreading as a consequence of the increasing range of their tick vector hosts. In this review, we summarize both the historic records and recent findings on the occurrence and incidence of babesiosis in 20 European countries located in southeastern Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia), central Europe (Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland), and northern and northeastern Europe (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway), identified in humans and selected species of domesticated animals (cats, dogs, horses, and cattle). Recorded cases of human babesiosis are still rare, but their number is expected to rise in the coming years. This is because of the widespread and longer seasonal activity of Ixodes ricinus as a result of climate change and because of the more extensive use of better molecular diagnostic methods. Bovine babesiosis has a re-emerging potential because of the likely loss of herd immunity, while canine babesiosis is rapidly expanding in central and northeastern Europe, its occurrence correlating with the rapid, successful expansion of the ornate dog tick (Dermacentor reticulatus) populations in Europe. Taken together, our analysis of the available reports shows clear evidence of an increasing annual incidence of babesiosis across Europe in both humans and animals that is changing in line with similar increases in the incidence of other tick-borne diseases. This situation is of major concern, and we recommend more extensive and frequent, standardized monitoring using a “One Health” approach

The Grizzly, November 14, 2002

Did you Miss the Election 2002? • Young Voters Ignore their Political Power • Ursinus Students Writing Kids Program Grant • History, Reminder Found in Veteran\u27s Day • Tartuffe Simply Delicious • Opinions: Are Dateds Worth It?; Homecoming: A Different Opinion; More Problems with Registration; Everclear Rocks Ursinus • Get Ready to Jazz: Ursinus Concert Band Style • Dateds: Worth the Dollar? • Everclear: Clearer than Ever • Exhibit Cases Return to Myrin Library • Men\u27s, Women\u27s Basketball Get Ready to Open Seasons • Roller Hockey Records First • Swim Team Opens Winter Season with a Win • Hot Dates for Collegeville Love Birds • Louie and his Band Rock U.C. • Meet the Ladies of Suites 106 and 204https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1525/thumbnail.jp

A systematic review of the evidence for single stage and two stage revision of infected knee replacement

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic infection about the knee is a devastating complication that may affect between 1% and 5% of knee replacement. With over 79 000 knee replacements being implanted each year in the UK, periprosthetic infection (PJI) is set to become an important burden of disease and cost to the healthcare economy. One of the important controversies in treatment of PJI is whether a single stage revision operation is superior to a two-stage procedure. This study sought to systematically evaluate the published evidence to determine which technique had lowest reinfection rates. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases with the aim to identify existing studies that present the outcomes of each surgical technique. Reinfection rate was the primary outcome measure. Studies of specific subsets of patients such as resistant organisms were excluded. RESULTS: 63 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. The majority of which (58) were reports of two-stage revision. Reinfection rated varied between 0% and 41% in two-stage studies, and 0% and 11% in single stage studies. No clinical trials were identified and the majority of studies were observational studies. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence for both one-stage and two-stage revision is largely of low quality. The evidence basis for two-stage revision is significantly larger, and further work into direct comparison between the two techniques should be undertaken as a priority

Tick-, mosquito-, and rodent-borne parasite sampling designs for the National Ecological Observatory Network

Parasites and pathogens are increasingly recognized as significant drivers of ecological and evolutionary change in natural ecosystems. Concurrently, transmission of infectious agents among human, livestock, and wildlife populations represents a growing threat to veterinary and human health. In light of these trends and the scarcity of long-term time series data on infection rates among vectors and reservoirs, the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) will collect measurements and samples of a suite of tick-, mosquito-, and rodent-borne parasites through a continental-scale surveillance program. Here, we describe the sampling designs for these efforts, highlighting sampling priorities, field and analytical methods, and the data as well as archived samples to be made available to the research community. Insights generated by this sampling will advance current understanding of and ability to predict changes in infection and disease dynamics in novel, interdisciplinary, and collaborative ways. (Résumé d'auteur

Tick-, Mosquito-, and Rodent-Borne Parasite Sampling Designs for the National Ecological Observatory Network [Special Feature: NEON Design]

Parasites and pathogens are increasingly recognized as significant drivers of ecological and evolutionary change in natural ecosystems. Concurrently, transmission of infectious agents among human, livestock, and wildlife populations represents a growing threat to veterinary and human health. In light of these trends and the scarcity of long-term time series data on infection rates among vectors and reservoirs, the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) will collect measurements and samples of a suite of tick-, mosquito-, and rodent-borne parasites through a continental-scale surveillance program. Here, we describe the sampling designs for these efforts, highlighting sampling priorities, field and analytical methods, and the data as well as archived samples to be made available to the research community. Insights generated by this sampling will advance current understanding of and ability to predict changes in infection and disease dynamics in novel, interdisciplinary, and collaborative ways