The level of surface passivation is determined by techniques based on photoconductance. An effective surface recombination velocity below 100 cm/s is obtained on 10 Omega.cm p-type c-Si wafers (Cz Si). A high density of negative fixed charges in the order of 10(12) cm(-2) is detected in the Al2O3 films and its impact on the level of surface passivation is demonstrated experimentally. Furthermore, a comparison between the surface passivation achieved for thermal SiO2 and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition SiNx:H films on the same c-Si is presented. The high negative fixed charge density explains the excellent passivation of p-type c-Si by Al2O3.”
“A case of

fatal asphyxia by helium inhalation from inside a plastic bag closed around the neck with tape is presented. Helium was identified by headspace gas chromatography in the intratracheal AZD0530 inhibitor gas, lung tissue and blood. Severe congestion of the organs was also observed. We concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia GSI-IX due to inhalation of helium, and identification of helium from intratracheal gas was useful for making this diagnosis.”
“Many orb-weaving spiders decorate their webs with conspicuous ultraviolet (UV)-reflective stabilimenta. The prey-attraction hypothesis suggests that stabilimenta are visually attractive to prey and thus may increase the spiders’ foraging success.

However, previous studies on the function of stabilimenta have produced conflicting results in Argiope species. Using a combination of field and laboratory studies, we examined whether the linear stabilimentum of Argiope bruennichi contributes to prey interception. We recorded prey interceptions in 53 webs with stabilimenta and 37 equally-sized webs without stabilimenta, classifying captured prey according to their taxonomical group and size. On average, 6.2 +/- 4.7 prey items were intercepted in webs with stabilimenta, while 3.2 +/- 2.9 items were intercepted in webs without stabilimenta. The effects of stabilimenta LY3039478 mouse on foraging success appear to be due to increased interception of UV-sensitive

insect pollinators, including 20 families of Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera. The mean number of UV-sensitive prey was 4.4 +/- 3.6 in webs with stabilimenta compared with 1.8 +/- 2.1 in webs without stabilimenta. Webs with and without stabilimenta did not differ in the mean number of UV-nonsensitive prey captured. The linear stabilimentum showed strong positive effects on the interception of large prey: webs with stabilimenta captured more than twice as many large prey (a parts per thousand yen5 mm) than webs without stabilimenta, whereas there was only a slight difference in the interception rates for small prey (< 5 mm). Comparisons among different Argiope species suggest that the stabilimentum may have different adaptive functions in different species or ecological contexts.