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Lead oxide (PbO) is one of the most promising materials for application in direct conversion medical imaging X-ray detectors. Despite its high potential, conventional polycrystalline PbO layers deposited with the basic thermal evaporation method are not yet mature for practical use in X-ray imaging; indeed, they are highly porous, unstable at ambient conditions, and substoichiometric. In order to combat the above issues with PbO, we advance the basic evaporation process with simultaneous energetic ion bombardment of the growing film. We show that tuning the ion-assisted thermal deposition not only solves the structural problems of poly-PbO, but also enables the growth of a new non-crystalline polymorphic form of the material—amorphous PbO (a-PbO). In contrast to poly-PbO, novel a-PbO layers grown by ion-assisted thermal deposition are stable at ambient conditions. Structural and morphological analysis confirms that a-PbO is stoichiometric and free of detectable voids, which suggests higher bulk X-ray stopping power than porous poly-PbO.

As x S 100- x ( x  = 40, 45, 50) thin films top surface nanolayers affected by green (532 nm) diode laser illumination have been studied by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy, and surface profilometry. It is shown that the composition of obtained films depends not only on the composition of the source material but as well on the composition of the vapor during the evaporation process. Near-bandgap laser light decreases both As–As and S–S homopolar bonds in films, obtained from thermal evaporation of the As 40 S 60 and As 50 S 50 glasses. Although As 45 S 55 composition demonstrates increasing of As–As bonds despite to the partial disappearance of S–S bonds, for explanation of this phenomenon Raman investigations has also been performed. It is shown that As 4 S 3 structural units (s.u.) responsible for the observed effect. Laser light induced surface topology of the As 45 S 55 film has been recorded by 2D profilometer.

As (Ge)–S (Se) based amorphous bulk chalcogenide glasses and layers have been used for surface geometrical relief recording by 2 MeV energy H+ and He+ ion-beams. The formation of giant (height modulation from nanometers up to micrometers) geometrical reliefs (dots, lines), have been investigated. Efficiency of surface patterning was compared for selected compositions, type of ion beam and conductivity of substrates. Comparisons with optical and e-beam recording were made with aim to establish the details of relief formation mechanisms. The results show applicability of high-energy ion beams for in situ fabrication of planar optical elements on the surface of chalcogenide glasses (bulk samples or amorphous films).

Hydrological ensemble prediction systems (HEPS) have in recent years been increasingly used for the operational forecasting of floods by European hydrometeorological agencies. The most obvious advantage of HEPS is that more of the uncertainty in the modelling system can be assessed. In addition, ensemble prediction systems generally have better skill than deterministic systems both in the terms of the mean forecast performance and the potential forecasting of extreme events. Research efforts have so far mostly been devoted to the improvement of the physical and technical aspects of the model systems, such as increased resolution in time and space and better description of physical processes. Developments like these are certainly needed; however, in this paper we argue that there are other areas of HEPS that need urgent attention. This was also the result from a group exercise and a survey conducted to operational forecasters within the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) to identify the top priorities of improvement regarding their own system. They turned out to span a range of areas, the most popular being to include verification of an assessment of past forecast performance, a multi-model approach for hydrological modelling, to increase the forecast skill on the medium range (>3 days) and more focus on education and training on the interpretation of forecasts. In light of limited resources, we suggest a simple model to classify the identified priorities in terms of their cost and complexity to decide in which order to tackle them. This model is then used to create an action plan of short-, medium- and long-term research priorities with the ultimate goal of an optimal improvement of EFAS in particular and to spur the development of operational HEPS in general.

Peculiarities of depth profiling of PbTe crystals by Ar plasma with energy of 350 eV at the conditions of Secondary Neutral Mass Spectrometry originated from the crystal growth environment are presented. The crystals grown from vapor phase and from melt by the Bridgman method were studied. The natural faceted surface corresponding to the crystallographic plane of high symmetry (100), the natural lateral surfaces of crystal ingots, and the surfaces processed mechanically during cutting of the crystals were profiled. Nucleation, growth, and re-sputtering of the arrays of micro- and nanoscopic surface structures on the sputtered surfaces as a result of re-deposition of sputtered Pb and Te atoms were observed. It was determined that the growth environment of the PbTe crystal surfaces has a strong effect on nucleation and growth of the surface micro- and nanostructures in the conditions of continuous surface bombardment by Ar ions during depth profiling. This does not prevent the correct determination of the composition of the studied objects via the analysis of the composition of sputtered phase, if sputtering continues for at least 5-10 minutes.

Background Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that has been linked to an increased risk of periodontal disease. Among the oral manifestations associated with DM, periodontal disease has been the most extensively studied. Dental calculus, which forms when dental plaque mineralizes over time, is known to trap biological substances and may preserve biochemical markers indicative of systemic health. Therefore, it could provide valuable information about patients’ overall health. In this study, we analyzed the elemental composition of dental calculus in diabetic and non-diabetic (control) patients using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), with a specific focus on potassium (K) content. Patients and methods We analyzed 57 dental calculus samples, including 17 from individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 40 from non-diabetic controls. The elemental composition was assessed using scanning electron microscopy paired with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), targeting standardized 100 × 100 μm regions. Potassium content, along with other elemental data, was reported in both mass and atomic percentages. Results The results showed elevated potassium levels in diabetic patients compared to controls, with the difference reaching the treshold of statistical significance (0.484 ± 0.710 wt.% versus 0.186 ± 0.320 wt.%). A similar trend was observed in atomic percentage values (0.249 ± 0.387 versus 0.092 ± 0.174; p  = 0.0555). Notably, potassium was present in 100% of the diabetic samples. Carbon and oxygen were the predominant elements in both groups, with the diabetic group exhibiting a slight increase in oxygen and lower levels of calcium and phosphorus. Conclusion These findings suggest that potassium concentration in dental calculus could serve as a potential biomarker for diabetes. They also highlight the feasibility of incorporating dental calculus analysis after routine dental treatments— which involve the removal of calculus—for early diabetes detection. This approach provides a cost-effective and painless alternative to traditional diagnostic methods. However, we note that while the data are still preliminary, the results indicate a potential biochemical link that warrants further exploration in larger, well-controlled studies.

Colored hot dip galvanization of various steel samples was realized in an industrial bath containing 738 kg of a Zn-Mn liquid alloy at 450?C. Zinc was alloyed in three steps to reach 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 w% of Mn in liquid zinc, and galvanization of 9 different steel samples was performed in all three baths. The obtained colors change in the sequence blue - yellow - pink - green with increasing the Mn-content of the bath and with increasing the wall thickness of the steel samples. The results are analyzed by Glow-discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES) and Secondary Neutral Mass Spectrometry (SNMS) techniques. It is shown that depending on the Mn-content and on the wall thickness of the steel the samples are coated by MnO of various thicknesses (in the range between 30 - 230 nm). This layer forms when the samples are removed from the Zn-Mn bath into surrounding air, before the Zn-layer is solidified. Light interference on this thin MnO layer causes the colors of the galvanized coating. Different colors are obtained in different ranges of MnO thicknesses, in accordance with the laws of optics. The minimum Mn-content of liquid Zn is found as 0.025 ? 0.010 m/m% to ensure that the original outer ZnO layer on Zn is converted into the MnO layer. This minimum critical Mn-content is in agreement with chemical thermodynamics. nema

The 14N(p,γ)15O reaction controls the rate of CNO cycle hydrogen burning in various astrophysical sites and it is therefore one of the most important reactions in nuclear astrophysics. An experimental program is in progress to measure the 14N(p,γ)15O cross section in a wide energy range using a novel approach. A crucial quantity for the cross section determination is the number of N atoms in the target. In this paper the results of different experiments used for N target characterization are presented.

As40Se60 nanolayers, as-deposited, annealed and in situ illuminated by green (532 nm) laser light, were studied using synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy. Changes in composition and local atomic coordination occurring in the irradiated region of As40Se60 films were monitored by analysis of As 3d and Se 3d core levels. It was found that the thermal treatment causes a decrease of the concentration of homopolar (As–As and Se–Se) bonds. On the other hand, an increasing concentration of both As-rich and Se-rich structural units (s.u.) with homopolar As–As and Se–Se bonds was observed under in situ green laser illumination of As40Se60 nanolayers. This process appeared to be reversible for a few sequences of annealing and illuminating of the sample. After a few cycles storing at ambient conditions the As40Se60 film composition was gradually changing, i.e. the aging effect was detected due to a drastic loss of As under ambient conditions. The surface local structure of the As40Se60 nanolayers and their photoinduced transformation are discussed in detail.

In this paper, the Atomki Accelerator Centre (AAC, Debrecen, Hungary) incorporating several small-sized particle accelerators is reviewed. The energy range of our accelerators for proton beam is between 50 eV and 20 MeV. The technical and personnel organization of AAC is presented together with the rules of beamtime requests and usage. Three of our accelerators (Cyclotron, ECRIS, Tandetron) are described in detail with their technical descriptions and with the main application fields. As an example for highlights, a series of unique low-energy ion–sample irradiations and post-treatments are shown which, by our hopes and plans, form a bridge between physics and biology.