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Words can convey subtle cultural stereotypes and perpetuate subconscious gender biases. Wording in job advertisements that appeals to 1 gender and deters others may unintentionally skew the applicant pool and affect the early phase of the recruitment process. "Masculine" tone can lead to decreased interest among women applicants while 'feminine' wording may not affect a man's decision to apply for the job. In this study, we evaluated the presence and extent of subtle gender bias in job advertisements for radiology faculty positions.All job postings for faculty radiologists were retrieved from the American College of Radiology Career Center website in July 2020. The complete job advertisement was analyzed using Gender Decoder, a publicly available web-based application, to determine number and percentage of female or male coded words and the overall tone of the ad. The job posts were also stratified by subspecialty, leadership positions and academic versus private practice environments.Of the 623 job postings reviewed, a little over half (52.0%) of job postings were feminine coded, 26.6% had a masculine tone and 21.3% had a neutral tone. Of the leadership (division director) positions, 50.0% (4/8) had a masculine tone, 37.5% had a feminine tone, and 12.5% had a neutral tone. Among various specialties, pediatric radiology had the lowest percentage of job posts with a masculine tone (10.5%) while nuclear medicine had the highest percentage (41.7%). The most commonly used feminine words were: "support," "responsible," "commitment" and the most common masculine words were: "competitive," "leader," "active."Most of the imaging job advertisements were feminine coded, with masculine tone in overall 26.6% posts and neutral tone in about a fifth. Leadership posts had a higher percentage of masculine tone. Awareness of these biases is important to enable diversity in recruitment and to ensure a diverse applicant pool.

Medical errors may lead to patient harm and may also have a devastating effect on medical providers, who may suffer from guilt and the personal impact of a given error (second victim experience). While it is important to recognize and remedy errors, it should be done in a way that leads to long-standing practice improvement and focuses on systems-level opportunities rather than in a punitive fashion. Traditional peer review systems are score based and have some undesirable attributes. The authors discuss the differences between traditional peer review systems and peer learning approaches and offer practical suggestions for transitioning to peer learning conferences. Peer learning conferences focus on learning opportunities and embrace errors as an opportunity to learn. The authors also discuss various types and sources of errors relevant to the practice of radiology and how discussions in peer learning conferences can lead to widespread system improvement. In the authors' experience, these strategies have resulted in practice improvement not only at a division level in radiology but in a broader multidisciplinary setting as well.

International audience; We report a study of the influence of the deposition conditions on the morphological parameters (shapes, size distribution and ordering) of Ag nanoclusters embedded in SiO(2), deposited by different techniques of co-sputtering or multilayer deposition. The influence of the substrate temperature on the nucleation and growth process is also studied. The different cluster morphologies determined by various complementary techniques (transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy) are then correlated with the optical absorption, showing that the fabrication process is the key factor to control the position, shape and width of the surface plasmon resonance peaks and to achieve the desired optical properties. Films deposited by co-sputtering from 2 targets on a substrate heated at 440 degrees C show a very narrow absorption peak at 370 nm corresponding to the plasma resonance in near spherical silver particles. In multilayered films, the absorption peak is shifted from 340 to 480 nm with a larger half-band width. In cermet films co-sputtered from composite target on a rotating substrate, two absorption peaks are observed due to the more elongated shape of the metal nanoparticles. The experimental results are analysed in the frame of the Maxwell Garnett theory. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Room temperature magneto-optical and radar absorption measurements were carried out on Fe ξ –V 2 O 5 nano-composites prepared by RF co-sputtering. The relationship between the Fe atomic content and the state of the matrix precursor as well as the metal nano-particles’ size are discussed with emphasis on the interfacial oxidation of the Fe nano-particles. The magneto-optical and radar absorption responses were found to be effective above the Fe nano-particles percolation threshold ξ C . Using three different complementary techniques, this critical value was found to be about 23% atomic. From absorption viewpoint, these Fe ξ –V 2 O 5 nano-composites could be adequate radar absorbers at the specific radar frequency of 9.45 GHz. Below the critical atomic concentration value of 23%, the radar absorption is weak and relatively broad.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of myocardial perfusion abnormalities and the possible association between myocardial perfusion defects and traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors as well as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) related risk factors. Patients and methods: Female patients with SLE, disease duration >5 years, age 18–55 years, who had used steroids for at least one year were enrolled. Traditional CAD risk factors evaluated were arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, postmenopausal status, smoking, obesity, and premature family CAD profile. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy was evaluated by single photon emission computed tomography with technetium 99m-sestamibi at rest and after dipyridamole induced stress. Results: Eight two female patients with SLE without angina pectoris with mean (SD) age 37 (10) years, disease duration 127 (57) months, SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score 6 (5), and SLICC/ACR-DI score 2 (2) were evaluated. Myocardial perfusion abnormalities were found in 23 patients (28%). The mean (SD) number of CAD risk factors was 2.2 (1.6). There was a significant positive correlation between age and number of CAD risk factors. Lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level showed a significant association with abnormal scintigraphy. Logistic regression analysis showed that lower HDL cholesterol level and diabetes mellitus were associated with myocardial perfusion abnormalities. Current vasculitis was also associated with abnormal scintigraphy. Conclusions: Lower HDL cholesterol level and diabetes mellitus have a significant influence on abnormal myocardial perfusion results found in asymptomatic patients with SLE. Current vasculitis was associated with abnormal myocardial scintigraphy. These data suggest that abnormal myocardial scintigraphy may be related to subclinical atherosclerosis.

The morphology of nanocermet thin films deposited on substrates having different roughnesses has been studied by surface sensitive x-ray scattering techniques. Grazing incidence small angle scattering data of the films shows that the nanoparticles, which are present in the ceramic matrix, exhibit a specific average interparticle separation. Analysis of the x-ray reflectivity indicates that, in the films deposited on smooth substrates, the nanoparticles adopt some layering along the growth direction. This layering tends to diminish with increasing substrate roughness and vanish completely for very high substrate roughness. The variation of such layering with substrate roughness is an indication that it starts close to the substrate and is an effect of the substrate boundary condition.

The morphology of ceramic–metal (cermet) thin films is studied by surface-sensitive X-ray scattering techniques. Grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) experiments carried out at LURE with a 2D detector show that metal clusters of nanometer size, known as nanoparticles, are dispersed in the thin film. Analyses of the X-ray reflectivity along with the diffuse scattering allow to predict the formation of layers of nanoparticles along the growth direction of the films. The formation of such cumulative-disordered layers in one direction is likely to be related to the boundary condition in the reduced dimension.

The optical properties of Ag-TiO 2 nanocermet thin films are studied with the aim of optical filtering applications. Beyond the classical properties of cermets with noble metal inclusions predicted by the effective medium theories, the optical properties of Ag-TiO 2 nanocermets deposited by R.F. co-sputtering are governed by their columnar morphology and the under-stoichiometry of the TiO 2 matrix. A careful experimental analysis of the different parameters and effects involved in the optical response of these nanocermets is performed both on TiO 2 and Ag-TiO 2 : film thickness, silver volume fraction, thermal treatments, oxidation. The influence of these parameters on the surface plasmon resonance and the infrared transmission of the nanocermet thin films is optimized.

Thermal stability of multilayered Co–Ti neutron optic polarizers with a period of the order of 103 A is investigated. The diffusion kinetics is determined by using the Du Mond and Youtz's method with grazing angle neutron reflectometry in the temperature range of 293–723 K. It was found that the diffusion is mainly directed from Co-layers towards the Ti-layers. The effective interdiffusion coefficient Deff of cobalt into titanium is calculated from the rate of decrease of the first reflected Bragg peak related to the artificial periodicity of the multilayer with the annealing temperature T. The temperature dependence of Deff is found to be described approximately by Deff≈(D0 exp (−0.25 eV/kBT)) cm2 s−1.

It is shown here that the observation of the phenomenon of like small angle scattering of X-rays in very thin heterogeneous films, can be made comparatively easily by using grazing angle reflectometry of X-rays. The feasibility was achieved with co-sputtered thin films of approximately 600 A thickness, made up by crystalline platinum clusters embedded in an amorphous alumina matrix. The experimental reflectivity profiles are simulated by the intensity superposition of two components: (i) the specular part caused by the usual interference phenomenon between the partial waves reflected from the air-film and film-substrate interfaces, and (ii) the like-small angle scattering part due to diffraction by platinum clusters. It is found that the shape of such clusters is spherical characterized by mean values of diameter and inter-cluster distance of the order 29 A and 45 A respectively with standard deviations and of the order of 3 A. Such an observation of both the interference and diffraction phenomena indicates that the thin granular film exhibits both its continuous and heterogeneous aspects together.

Neutron and X-ray reflectivity measurements of a thin film of cermet (ceramic-metal) made by co-sputtering Pt and Al2O3 on the surface of a flat piece of float glass are presented. From the analysis of the specular and off-specular measurements, the morphology of the Pt clusters which are embedded in the Al2O3 matrix is determined by adjusting a model to the observed data. It is found that the structure of such films presents a certain degree of order in the direction normal to the surface of the films but no correlation (or with a very short correlation length not measurable by this technique) in the plane of the film.

Molecular mechanics calculations in vacuum were used to examine the influence of the structures of alkyl chains R of dialkyl phosphoric acids ((RO)2PQ2H noted HL) on liquid-liquid extraction of lanthanide(HI). Several models were proposed to investigate the partage, the dimerization of ligands, their interfacial areas and the stability of Ln(HLL)3 complexes, Ln varying from La to Lu. The presence of branched alkyl chains increases van dcr Waals interactions between extractants in the complex and between alkyl chains in the dimer (HL)2. The solvent accessible surfaces of ligands (SHL) and complexes (Scplx) are estimated and empirical relations between partition constants (PHL) and SHL are proposed. An ionic method is described to model Ln(HLL)3 complexes. Ln-O bond lengths are controlled by coulombic attractions and van der Waals repulsions between Ln3+ and oxygen donors atoms. The parameterization is tested on lanthanide(III) aqua ions series and provides likely structures for Ln(HLL)3 complexes....

In a previous paper, a kinetic study of the precipitation stripping of yttrium oxalate powders from yttrium-loaded HDEHP solution was conducted using a Lewis-type cell. The variation in yttrium content in organic phase versus time with a constant liquid-liquid interfacial area allowed the determination of the initial precipitation stripping rate. The work reported here has used these experimental results and observations to investigate mechanisms for the precipitation of YH(C2O4)2 · 3H2O(s) and Y2(C2O4)3 · 10H2O(s) salts. The precipitation of the acid salt is assumed to be based on a fast nucleation step followed by a continuous growth process. The rate-controlling step is the displacement of organic dimers H 2 L 2 from the intermediate complex Y(HL 2 ) 2 + adsorbed onto a free site of the salt located at the liquid-liquid interface by oxalic acid. The precipitation of the neutral salt can be analysed by a model based on nucleation and agglomeration, assuming that there is negligible growth. In the mechanism considered the rate-controlling step is the first step of the stripping reaction of yttrium.

In previous papers, a kinetic study on the precipitation-stripping of yttrium oxalate powders from yttrium-loaded HDEHP solution had been conducted using a Lewis-type cell. In the present work, the precipitation-stripping of yttrium oxalate has been investigated in a reactor with an ultrasonic stirrer. This study shows the influence of several parameters on the precipitation yield, the solubility of yttrium in the aqueous phase, the nature, and the size distribution of the precipitated salt. The parameters which could vary were: initial concentrations of nitric (0–5 mol L−1) and oxalic (0.15–0.75 mol L−1) acids in the aqueous phase, initial concentrations of Y(HL 2 ) 3 (0.075–0.10 mol L−1) and HL (0.8–2.2 mol L−1) in the organic phase, nature of the organophosphorus acid used ((RO)2PO2H, R(RO)P02H with R = 2-ethylhexyl), temperature (24–60°C), ratio of the volumes of phases ( r = V o V a varying from 0.5 to 4). The nature of the precipitated salt depended on the concentrations of oxalic and nitric acids. At ambient temperature, neutral salt Y2(C2O4)3 · 10H2O(s) was precipitated as aggregated platelets, the median diameter of which could vary from I to 4 μm according to the experimental conditions. Acidic salt YH(C2O4)2 · 3H2O(s) was precipitated in concentrated acidic aqueous media as platelets with a median diameter which could vary from 4 to 7 μm.

The morphology of Au–Al2O3 nanocermet thin films, prepared by cosputtering Au and Al2O3 on float glass substrates, was studied using surface sensitive x-ray scattering techniques and the results were correlated with the optical absorption of the films measured using ultraviolet visible spectroscopy. The presence of gold nanoparticles in an alumina matrix is evident from both x-ray scattering and spectroscopic studies. The distribution of nanoparticles is obtained from grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering, while the electron density profile obtained from the analysis of x-ray reflectivity data gives total film thickness, volume fraction (f) of Au and the special arrangement along the growth direction. Optical properties show a linear dependence of the absorption peak position with f, which is interesting for making nanocomposites of tunable absorption.

In the first part of this work, the diphasic acido-basic constant (pka*) of di(octylphenyl)phosphoric acid, denoted hereafter DOPPA or HL, is determined from its experimental diphasic neutralization curve. The pka* value of DOPPA appears to be equal to 2.6 in the presence of 1 mol/dm3 sodium salt. Such a value is significantly lower than that previously determined for di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA, pka* = 5.2), 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid, mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC88A®, pka* = 7.1) and di(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (CYANEX® 272, pka* = 8.7). DOPPA (HL) is definitely more acidic than the other organophosphorus acids because its acidic proton can be easily exchanged with sodium cation to form Na+;HL2- species in organic phase. In the second and final part of the work, molecular modelling is used to model the dimers of various organophosphorus acids. A structure-activity relationship is obtained between the association energies of modelled dimers and their diphasic acido-basic...

The approach of an all-digital phase locked loop is used in this delay-locked loop circuit. This design is designated to a system with two processing units, a master CPU and a slave system chip, that share the same bus. It allows maximum utilization of the bus, as the minimal skew between the clocks of the two components significantly reduces idle periods, and also set-up and hold times. Changes in the operating frequency are possible, without falling out of synchronization. Due to the special lead-lag phase detector, the jitter of the clock is zero, when the loop is locked, under any working conditions. >

Molecular modeling is used to account for the extraction of zinc(II) by 8-hy-droxyquinoline and 2-methyl and 4-methyl analogues in chloroform in the presence of pyridine and its 2-methyl, 4-methyl, and 2,4,6-trimethyl derivatives. The species of formula ZnQ2B and ZnQ2B(H2O) are modeled, where Q− is an 8-hydroxyquino-linate anion and B is the 8-hydroxyquinoline itself or a pyridinic adduct. Each complex has an energy value which characterizes its steric and electrostatic parts and which allows comparison among complexes. This study accounts for the steric hindrances produced by methyl groups in the 2-and 6-positions of the pyridine ring and those produced by the methyl group in the 2-position of the 8-hydroxy-quinolinate anion. It also accounts for the improvement of the stability of complexes when the 8-hydroxyquinolinate anion has a methyl group in the 4-position. The energy of the modeled pyridinic adduct complexes decreases when the extraction constant is increased, as has been observed for ot...

A molecular modelling method is used as an aid to predict and to account for the results of solvent extraction of dianions by an ion-exchange extractants such as diphosphonium compounds (polymethylenebis(trioctylphosphonium)s abbreviated as CnBP2+). The extraction ability of CnBP2+ extractants was surprisingly dependent on the dianionic species and on the length of bridging methylene chain connecting the two phosphonium cationic centers which offers an effective molecular recognition field. The dianions studied are phthalate, isophthalate, terephthalate, dibenzoyltartrate and zinc oxalate complex. All of them have their negative charges carried by oxygen atoms. The extracted species considered for a dianion A2− are 1:1 and 2:2 ion-pair species such as (CnBP2+, A2−), (2 CnBP2+, 2 A2−rpar; with n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. These ion-pair species are modelled and minimized. The total energy values obtained are processed to calculate the association energies of ion-pair species which allow comparison of 1...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the overjet and overbite behavior during eruption of the upper permanent incisors. Fourth-eight plaster casts of 16 patients from ages 6-13 years were appraised longitudinally. It was found that the overjet remains constant, starting at the eruption of the upper permanent central incisors until eruption of the upper permanent canine teeth, while the overbite increases after eruption of the upper permanent lateral incisors and remains constant with the eruption of the canine teeth.

Molecular modelling is used as a novel aid to account for the results of solvent extraction of dianionic species such as dibenzoyltartrate with monocationic extractant (butyltrioctylphosphonium) and dicationic extractants such as polymethylenebis(trioctylphosphonium)s abbreviated as CnBPs. The extraction ability of CnBPs was remarkably dependent on the length of bridging methylene chain connecting the two phosphonium cationic centers which offers an effective molecular recognition field. The anionic species and cationic extractants are modelled separately in their conformations corresponding to the absolute energy minimum. Then, 1:1 and 2:2 ion-pair complexes are built and minimized by taking into account their atomic charge distributions. The minimized energies quantify the steric and electrostatic effects of complexes. The results show that the 2:2 association takes the best account for experimental data and that the electrostatic energy is an important component of the total energy of complexe...

Grazing-angle neutron reflectometry has been developed recently as a technique to study roughness, interfacial diffusion and chemical contamination at surfaces and interfaces of both liquid and solid samples. Many of the classical phenomena in optics have been demonstrated with thermal and cold neutrons such as total reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference. The interaction between the de Broglie neutron waves and the condensed matter is described by an index of refraction which has the same mathematical expression as for X-rays. Taking into account the intrinsic characteristics of the neutron wave, the information obtained by this new technique can be unique. In this paper, we give some examples which illustrate the possibilities of this technique to study thin films and stratified media.

The equilibrium distribution of arsenic (III) was investigated for solvent extraction with Solvesso 150 (a solvent containing 99% aromatics) from hydrochloric acid solution. An effective extraction has been proved from 8–12 M HCl. When calcium chloride was added to the hydrochloric acid the extraction of As(III) was enhanced. The hydrogen ion, chloride ion and hydrochloric acid activities were determined in the H2OHcl and H2OHClCaCl2 mixtures by a potentiometric method and the water activities were obtained from literature. The distribution coefficient of As(III) determined in these media could be correlated either through the variation of the initial activity of hydrochloric acid or the ratio a HCl a H 2 O . Thus, it was possible to find H2OHClCaCl2 mixtures which are “equivalent” to concentrated hydrochloric acid solutions for the solvent extraction of As(III) by Solvesso 150: the distribution coefficient is greater than 10 for the mixtures which have an activity of hydrochloric acid greater than 4. A model which takes the analysis of the distribution data into account was proposed. In this model, the extracted species of As(III) were As(OH)Cl2 and AsCl3.

The corrosion resistance and the biocompatibility of NiCr, CoCr and titanium metal implants can be strongly enhanced by hard ceramic coatings (Al 2 O 3 , SiC etc.). The corrosion resistance is evaluated through potentiodynamic polarization tests. The biocompatibility of coated and uncoated metals is compared using differentiated human cell cultures.

To evaluate disease characteristics of childhood onset SLE in Latin America and to compare this information with an adult population in the same cohort of GLADEL. A protocol was designed as a multicenter, multinational, inception cohort of lupus patients to evaluate demographic, clinical, laboratory and serological variables, as well as classification criteria, disease activity, organ damage and mortality. Descriptive statistics, chi square, Fisher's exact test, Student's t test and multiple logistic regression were used to compare childhood and adult onset SLE. 230 patients were < 18 years and 884 were adult SLE patients. Malar rash, fever, oral ulcers, thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia and some neurologic manifestations were more prevalent in children (p < 0.05). On the other hand, myalgias, Sjögren’s syndrome and cranial nerve involvement were more frequently seen in adults (p < 0.05). Afro-Latin-American children had a higher prevalence of fever, thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia. White and mestizo children had a higher prevalence of malar rash. Mestizo children had a higher prevalence of cerebrovascular disease and cranial nerve involvement. Children met SLE ACR criteria earlier with higher mean values than adults (p: 0.001). They also had higher disease activity scores (p: 0.01), whereas adults had greater disease damage (p: 0.02). In Latin America, childhood onset SLE seems to be a more severe disease than adults. Some differences can be detected among ethnic groups.

Ag-TiO(2) nanocermet thin films, deposited for optical filtering applications by two sputtering techniques, codeposition and multilayer deposition, exhibit surface plasmon absorption in the spectral range 450-500 nm. The cosputtering technique induces a columnar growth, whereas multilayer deposition produces a more-random distribution of silver inclusions. Both films have large, flat silver grains at the air-cermet interface. An optical double-heterogeneous layer model based on the experimental morphological parameters of the films accounts well for their experimental transmittance, notably for extra absorption near 700 nm, which is attributed to a surface plasmon in the flat silver grains of the surface.

Ag -TiO2 nanocermet thin films, deposited for optical filtering applications by two sputtering techniques, codeposition and multilayer deposition, exhibit surface plasmon absorption in the spectral range 450 -500 nm. The cosputtering technique induces a columnar growth, whereas multilayer deposition produces a more-random distribution of silver inclusions. Both films have large, flat silver grains at the air -cermet interface. An optical double-heterogeneous layer model based on the experimental morphological parameters of the films accounts well for their experimental transmittance, notably for extra absorption near 700 nm, which is attributed to a surface plasmon in the flat silver grains of the surface.

High reflectivity multilayer soft X-ray mirrors were deposited using a dc triode sputtering system, equipped with facilities for accurately monitoring film thickness. Absolute reflectivity measurements of Ni-C and W-C multilayers at λ = 44.79 A (CKα) in the first and second order Bragg peaks, and at λ = 67.8 A (BKα) in the first order only, were carried out using a special soft X-ray spectrogoniometer which enables the manufacturing conditions to be rapidly optimized without relying on synchrotron radiation. In this spectrometer the incident beam is polarized by two parallel plane multilayer mirrors fixed at an angle close to the Brewster angle (θ ≈ 45°). Thus the measured reflectivities are not affected by the large variation of the P component versus the angle. The preliminary results obtained at λ = 113 A (BeKα) are also presented.

A potentiometric method has been used for the determination of the values of hydrogen ion and chloride ion activities (αH and αCl respectively) in solutions of hydrochloric ranging in concentration from 1 to 9 M. The potentials of the couples H2(g)/H+ and Cl−/Cl2(g) where measured at zero current with respect to the standard potentials of ferrocene and tetracene which are supposed to be independent of solvent. The values of αH and αCl were obtained from the Nernst equation. A comparison is made with literature data including the values of ionic activities calculated from the expressions of Bates et al. These expressions require the individual activity coefficients of the ions in concentrated solutions of unassociated uni-univalent chloride electrolytes based on the Stokes-Robinson hydration theory. The variations of αH and αCl with the concentration of hydrochloric solution were used for the exploitation of experimental results. For example, the equilibrium constant of formation of the complex AgCl43− which prevails in concentrated hydrochloric acid has been determined from the variation of the redox potential of the Ag+/Ag system with log αCl.

Objective According to published studies, 16–82% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have abnormal findings on myocardial perfusion tests, but it has not been established whether these patients also have abnormal findings on coronary angiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of abnormal findings on coronary angiography in SLE patients in whom myocardial perfusion scintigraphy revealed abnormalities. Methods Ninety female SLE patients (ages 20–55 years, disease duration >5 years, and current or previous steroid treatment for ≥1 year) underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with single-photon–emission computed tomography using 99mTc-sestamibi. Images were taken while the patient was at rest and after dipyridamole-induced stress. Myocardial perfusion defects were identified in 30 patients (33%). Twenty-one of these patients (mean ± SD age 42 ± 9; mean ± SD disease duration 132 ± 66 months) agreed to undergo coronary angiography. Results Atherosclerotic plaques were identified by angiography in 8 of the 21 patients (38%). The majority of coronary abnormalities were localized in the anterior descending artery. The mean ± SD number of risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) was significantly higher in the subgroup with (4.5 ± 0.8) compared with the subgroup without (2.5 ± 1.9) abnormal angiographic findings (P = 0.006). Arterial hypertension and postmenopause status were significantly associated with abnormal angiographic findings. Of the patients with at least 4 risk factors for CAD, coronary stenosis was present in 67% (P = 0.005). The number of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for SLE and scores on the SLE Disease Activity Index and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR damage index were also higher in the subgroup with coronary stenosis (P < 0.05). Conclusion This is the first study to examine coronary angiography results in SLE patients with abnormal findings on myocardial scintigraphy. Our data suggest that myocardial scintigraphy can be used to screen SLE patients and that all patients with abnormal findings plus at least 4 risk factors for CAD should undergo coronary angiography.

A fully digital phase locked loop (PLL) for synchronizing a generated clock to an external clock is presented. It can be used as a clock synchronizer in an application that is constructed of several components which use an associated bus and must operate synchronously. The PLL is digital in terms of phase-detection, phase shift by a tapped delay-line, and phase-error correction using a digital machine. When switching to another frequency, smooth switching is performed without losing synchronization. The PLL has zero jitter under any working conditions. No RESET signal is needed in order for the PLL to operate in a chip that requires the PLL to be synchronized at the end of RESET. >

Experiments performed by x-ray reflectivity, grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on a cosputtered nanocermet thin film of $\mathrm{Pt}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ are presented. It is shown that the morphology of such a heterogeneous material can be well interpreted by combining the information obtained from the three techniques. In particular, the layering of metal nanoparticles in the immediate vicinity of the substrate is clearly evidenced. GISAXS results are interpreted via a model which yields spherical nanoparticles of diameter $2R=3.1$ nm, separated on the average by a distance of 5.8 nm. The evidence for the layering of particles close to the substrate is deduced from the analysis of the specular reflectivity and probed directly by TEM.

Double‐layer and multiple‐layer thin films of permalloy with carbon as a intermediate nonmagnetic spacer were prepared by low‐energy dc triode sputtering. Coupling between the two layers of the double films is investigated on a series of samples with a fixed thickness of permalloy layers (dp = 300 A) and thickness of the carbon layer dc, varying from 0 to 25 A. Thickness dc = 10 A is found to be the limiting value for the carbon layer to be continuous and 20 A for domain structures in the two magnetic films to decouple. Saturation magnetization Ms, uniaxial anisotropy field, Hk, and coercive force Hc of multilayers with dc = 10 A and dp from 50 to 600 A (number of magnetic layers from 12 down to 1) are measured and found consistent with earlier results by other authors. Multiple domain walls in the multilayers are investigated by Lorentz electron microscopy.

International audience; This report describes the second part of a theoretical approach aimed at establishing structure-activity relationships in a data base made of twenty-two monoamides (A) used as uranium (VI) nitrate extractants. It was found that predominant factors determining the extracting ability of a monoamide are of three kinds : i) electron density of the coordinating atoms or groups, which should be as high as possible ; ii) steric effects, which should be as low as possible ; and Hi) lipophilicity of the ligands, which should be above a minimum threshold value. In the first paper of this series[1], quantum chemistry calculations were reported to account for electronic properties of the ligands. This second paper reports molecular mechanics calculations made on UO$_2$(NO$_3$)$_2$A$_2$ complexes in order to determine the influence of steric effects on the formation of these compounds. Calculations of monoamide lipophilicity using Rekker's method showed that all the molecules of the data base were lipophilic enough and, consequently, that this parameter was not significantly important for the extraction of uranyl nitrate by these monoamides. A quantitative relationship was established between the U(VI) distribution ratio and the two parameters, calculated by quantum chemistry and molecular mechanics methods.

The structural and magnetic properties of rf-sputtered Fe/V multilayers with the elemental Fe and V layer thickness and with the structural modulation period ranging from 2 nm to 24 nm have been studied by high-angle x-ray diffraction, vibrating-sample magnetometry, and conversion-electron Mossbauer spectrometry methods at room temperature. The results show that the Fe/V interfaces are paramagnetic. The magnetic behaviour of the multilayers, hence, originates from the at the centres of the individual subsystems and the iron-rich crystalline Fe(V) alloy lying near the interface. The spin orientation in the Fe layers is strongly aligned in the film plane. However, evidence for a weak perpendicular spin orientation associated with the magnetic topmost Fe layer is found.

Surface sensitive x-ray scattering studies were carried out to understand the morphology of cermet thin films prepared by cosputtering metallic gold and ceramic materials on float glass substrates. It has been observed that the morphology of Au clusters in cermet thin films depends strongly on the matrix during growth, even if, all other conditions are kept identical. In particular, nearly isotropic growth of Au clusters, to form nanoparticles, is found in silica and alumina matrices, while anisotropic columnar-like growth of Au clusters, to form a nanorod-like shape, is found in a titanium oxide matrix. Thickness of the films was also found very different, which is likely to be related to the different sputtering yields of the ceramic materials. The volume fraction of Au estimated from the electron density profile shows that the total volume or the amount of Au is different in films of different ceramic matrices. This suggests that even the sputtering yield of Au is very different in the presence of diff...

Multilayer x-ray mirrors have been deposited using a dc triode sputtering system, which incorporates an accurate method of thickness monitoring based on the dependence of the deposition rate on the target current. Thickness can be controlled with an accuracy of better than 0.1 A. High efficiency W-C and Ni-C multilayer mirrors have been synthesized and tested at 1.54-A (CuKoalpha) and 44.79-A (CKalpha). Absolute reflectivity measurements at lambda = 44.79-A (CKalpha) have been carried out. In this case the incident beam is previously polarized by a premonochromator equipped with a pair of parallel-plane multilayer mirrors fixed at an angle close to the Brewster (theta ? 45 degrees ). Thus the measured reflectivities are not affected by a progressive variation of the P-component.

High reflectivity multilayered soft X-ray mirrors were deposited using a triode sputtering system, equipped with facilities for accurately monitoring film thickness, giving very sharp interfaces and a high stack regularity. Absolute reflectivity measurements of W/C and Ni/C multilayers were carried out at λ = 44.79 A and λ = 67.8 A using a special soft X-ray spectrogoniometer which enables the manufacturing conditions to be rapidly optimized without relying on synchrotron radiation. Magnetic studies of Ni/C multilayer films give information on the structure of the interfaces.

Finely dispersed small iron particles in an amorphous alumina matrix are studied. AC susceptibility (17 Hz⩽ v ⩽11 kHz), Mossbauer spectroscopy, magnetization, TRM and IRM measurements are performed. The time dependent properties are similar to those of spin glasses and are explained with the small particle model taking into account the interaction between particles.

The optical and electrical properties of metal-dielectric composites (cermets) show large variations as a function of volume fraction, size, shape and the statistical distribution of metallic grains in the dielectric. The flexibility of the optical properties around the percolation threshold can be used to develop new spectrally selective multilayer coatings consisting of a PtAl 2 O 3 cermet absorbing film, an Al 2 O 3 antireflecting film and an Al 2 O 3 underlayer, deposited on a metallic substrate. These coatings are totally absorbing in the visible range and highly reflective in the IR, with an adjustable cutoff wavelength .

Recent progress in thin film deposition techniques has motivated a renewed interest in artifically prepared layered microstructures. These multilayers can be used as Bragg reflectors for X-ray-UV optics in the range 100–1000 eV. Ideal multilayers require optimized thicknesses of low and high absorbing materials with perfect interfaces. The main problems are the control of the layer thicknesses to a high accuracy and the attainment of good quality interfaces between the layers. We have used a low energy (300–500 V) d.c. triode sputtering system which gives very sharp interfaces. We describe a new method of thickness monitoring which is based on the dependence of the deposition rate on the target current. The sequence and timing of the deposition of each layer is controlled using a microprocessor which also regulates the sputtering parameters (pressures, target voltage etc.). Thicknesses can be controlled with an accuracy to better than 0.1 A and a reproducibility of better than 0.1%.

AuCr thin films deposited by evaporation and by d.c. magnetron sputtering on glass and polymer substrates are investigated in a wide range of compositions for application as optical data storage media. Various analysis techniques are used: Auger electron spectroscopy to determine their composition profiles, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction to study their crystallographic and granular structure and to follow their evolution when heated by a laser pulse or by an electron beam. Optical and electrical properties are reported and interpreted according to the structural characterization. The optical response between 400 and 1200 nm is governed to a large extent by the chromium response even in gold-rich films, and by the oxidation degree of chromium.

The interference function as well as the radial distribution function of pure a.Ge are compared to those of two hydrogenated samples. One is a glow discharge prepared a.Si(I−x)Hx where x has been estimated to be equal to 33%. The other is a chemically prepared a.GeI−x)Hx with x equal to 66%. The progressive hydrogenation effect on the local order is studied on the coordination of Si and Ge first neighbours and the distribution of the successive pair distances especially in the interval where they depend on the dihedral angle distribution.