Czochralski growth and crystal structure of cerium-doped Lu2Si2O7 scintillator

Cerium-doped lutetium pyrosilicate crystal, Ce:Lu2Si2O7 (Ce:LPS), was grown by the Czochralski method. The segregation coefficient of Ce3+ ion was studied by the ICP-AES method. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the structure of Ce:LPS crystal was monoclinic symmetry with space group of C2/m. Perfect cleavage planes (110) and imperfect cleavage planes (001) were observed by optical microscope. The reasons why it is difficult to grow crack-free crystals were studied. After optimized growth parameters, a Ce:LPS crystal with dimension of Phi 25 x 30 mm was grown, which is colorless, high optical quality, cracking-free and no inclusions. The transmittance of Ce:LPS crystal from 380 to 800 nm is over 82% and there is no observable absorption. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnO films grown on c-plane sapphire and (100)gamma-LiAlO2 by pulse laser deposition

ZnO thin films were grown on single-crystal gamma-LiAlO2 (LAO) and sapphire (0001) substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnO films were investigated. The results show that LAO is more suitable for fabricating ZnO films than sapphire substrate and the highest-quality ZnO film was attained on LAO at the substrate temperature of 550 degrees C. However, when the substrate temperature rises to 700 degrees C, lithium would diffuse from the substrate (LAO) into ZnO film which makes ZnO film on LAO becomes polycrystalline without preferred orientation, the stress in ZnO film increases dominantly and the resistivity of the film decreases exponentially. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crystal growth and properties of Yb : FAP laser crystal

A large and transparent Yb:FAP crystal with dimensions up to circle divide 30 mm x 85 mm has been grown by the Czochralski method. The preparation of the raw material has been investigated. X-ray power diffraction studies of Yb:FAP crystal confirm that the as-grown crystal is isostructural with the FAP crystal. The crystalline quality has been studied using X-ray rocking curve analysis. The segregation coefficient of Yb3+ in the Yb:FAP crystal has been also determined. Linear thermal expansion coefficients in [001] and [100] directions have been measured in the 30-800 degrees C temperature range. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

γ-LiAlO2晶体生长、改性和热学性质研究

采用快速提拉法生长出了透明、完整的γ-LIAlO2晶体，但是晶体的高熔点和易挥发性限制了γ-LiAlO2晶体质量．采用气相传输平衡法（vapor transport equilibration technique，VTE）工艺对晶体改性，半高宽（FWHM）值从116．9arcsec降至44．2arcsec，继续升高VTE处理温度至1300℃，FWHM值反而升高至55．2arcsec．快速提拉法生长出来晶体，[100]方向和[001]方向的热膨胀系数分别为17．2398×10^-6／K，10．7664×10

c面白宝石衬底表面形貌对气相传输平衡法制备的γ-LiAlO_2层质量的影响(英文)

采用气相传输平衡（VTE）技术，在（0001）面白宝石衬底表面上成功地制备出单相γ-LiAlO2层。研究了白宝石衬底表面形貌对γ-LiAlO2层质量的影响，发现白宝石衬底的表面粗糙度和退火处理是两个影响γ-LiAlO2层质量的重要因素。要制备高质量的γ-LiAlO2层，适度的表面粗糙度是恰当的。对白宝石衬底进行退火处理，γ-LiAlO2层的择优取向变差。并对其中可能的机理进行了探讨。

Fabrication of beta-BaB2O4 layers on (001) Sr2+-doped alpha-BaB2O4 by vapor transport equilibration (VTE)

Crystalline beta-BBO layers have been successfully prepared on (0 0 1)-oriented Sr2+-doped alpha-BBO substrates using vapor transport equilibration technique. The layers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray rocking curve and transmission spectra. The present results manifest that the VTE treatment time and powder ratio are important factors on the preparation of beta-BBO layers. beta-BBO layers with a highly (0 0 l) preferred orientation were obtained according to XRD profiles. The full width at half-maximum of the rocking curve for the layer is as low as about 1000 in., which shows the high crystallinity of the layer. These results reveal the possibility of fabricating beta-BBO (0 0 1) layers on (0 0 1)-oriented Sr2+-doped alpha-BBO substrates by VTE. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Age and growth estimates of the thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the western Gulf of Maine

The northwest Atlantic population of thorny skates (Amblyraja radiata) inhabits an area that ranges from Greenland and Hudson Bay, Canada, to South Carolina. Despite such a wide range, very little is known about most aspects of the biology of this species. Recent stock assessment studies in the northeast United States indicate that the biomass of the thorny skate is below the threshold levels mandated by the Sustainable Fisheries Act. In order to gain insight into the life history of this skate, we estimated age and growth for thorny skates, using vertebral band counts from 224 individuals ranging in size from 29 to 105 cm total length (TL). Age bias plots and the coefficient of variation indicated that our aging method represents a nonbiased and precise approach for the age assessment of A. radiata. Marginal increments were significantly different between months (Kruskal-Wallis P<0.001); a distinct trend of increasing monthly increment growth began in August. Age-at-length data were used to determine the von Bertalanffy growth parameters for this population: L∞ = 127 cm (TL) and k= 0.11 for males; L∞ = 120 cm (TL) and k= 0.13 for females. The oldest age estimates obtained for the thorny skate were 16 years for both males and females, which corresponded to total lengths of 103 cm and 105 cm, respectively.

Caribbean corals in crisis: record thermal stress, bleaching, and mortality in 2005

Background: The rising temperature of the world’s oceans has become a major threat to coral reefs globally as the severity and frequency of mass coral bleaching and mortality events increase. In 2005, high ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean resulted in the most severe bleaching event ever recorded in the basin. Methodology/Principal Findings: Satellite-based tools provided warnings for coral reef managers and scientists, guiding both the timing and location of researchers’ field observations as anomalously warm conditions developed and spread across the greater Caribbean region from June to October 2005. Field surveys of bleaching and mortality exceeded prior efforts in detail and extent, and provided a new standard for documenting the effects of bleaching and for testing nowcast and forecast products. Collaborators from 22 countries undertook the most comprehensive documentation of basin-scale bleaching to date and found that over 80% of corals bleached and over 40% died at many sites. The most severe bleaching coincided with waters nearest a western Atlantic warm pool that was centered off the northern end of the Lesser Antilles. Conclusions/Significance: Thermal stress during the 2005 event exceeded any observed from the Caribbean in the prior 20 years, and regionally-averaged temperatures were the warmest in over 150 years. Comparison of satellite data against field surveys demonstrated a significant predictive relationship between accumulated heat stress (measured using NOAA Coral Reef Watch’s Degree Heating Weeks) and bleaching intensity. This severe, widespread bleaching and mortality will undoubtedly have long-term consequences for reef ecosystems and suggests a troubled future for tropical marine ecosystems under a warming climate

Subpopulações e ativação de linfócitos T CD4+ e T CD8+ em crianças e adolescentes HIV positivos vacinados contra Neisseria meningitidis C

Neisseria meningitidis sorogrupo C (MenC) tem sido causador de surtos no Brasil, desde 2005. Vacinas conjugadas contra MenC estão disponíveis desde 1999 nos países desenvolvidos e mais recentemente no Brasil. São vacinas eficazes em pacientes imunologicamente normais, mas pouco se conhece sobre o impacto em pacientes HIV+. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi investigar se há alguma correlação entre a resposta de LT CD4+ de memória e a resposta de anticorpos específicos para o MenC, assim como conhecer as populações de memória dos LT CD8+, em crianças e adolescentes infectados pelo HIV respondedores ou não à vacina MenC conjugada. Amostras de sangue de 36 pacientes HIV+ foram coletadas antes e após imunização, para análises laboratoriais, soros e células coletadas foram congelados e enviados ao nosso laboratório para a análise da resposta imune humoral e celular. Utilizamos o ensaio bactericida para avaliar a resposta humoral e dividir a população de estudo em soroconversor positivo e soroconversor negativo. A citometria de fluxo foi aplicada para identificação das seis subpopulações de LT CD4+ e T CD8+ e avaliação do perfil de ativação. Não encontramos mudanças no perfil de distribuição das subpopulações antes e após a vacinação. A subpopulação LT CD4+ Int correlacionou positivamente com os títulos de anticorpos e a ativação, de um modo geral, estava elevada nos respondedores, conferindo certa importância para essa célula. Semelhanças foram observadas entre as subpopulações LT CD4+ e T CD8+. Em suma, este estudo revelou importantes associações entre a resposta de anticorpos bactericidas após a vacinação, o perfil de distribuição das subpopulações de LT CD4+ LT CD8+ e seu status de ativação.