The Principles of Social Order. Selected Essays of Lon L. Fuller, edited With an introduction by Kenneth I. Winston

The electron spins of semiconductor defects can have complex interactions with their host, particularly in polar materials like SiC where electrical and mechanical variables are intertwined. By combining pulsed spin resonance with ab initio simulations, we show that spin-spin interactions in 4H-SiC neutral divacancies give rise to spin states with a strong Stark effect, sub-10(-6) strain sensitivity, and highly spin-dependent photoluminescence with intensity contrasts of 15%-36%. These results establish SiC color centers as compelling systems for sensing nanoscale electric and strain fields

Electrically and mechanically tunable electron spins in silicon carbide color centers

The electron spins of semiconductor defects can have complex interactions with their host, particularly in polar materials like SiC where electrical and mechanical variables are intertwined. By combining pulsed spin resonance with ab-initio simulations, we show that spin-spin interactions within SiC neutral divacancies give rise to spin states with an enhanced Stark effect, sub-10**-6 strain sensitivity, and highly spin-dependent photoluminescence with intensity contrasts of 15-36%. These results establish SiC color centers as compelling systems for sensing nanoscale fields.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Factors associated with acquisition of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify possible risk factors for acquisition of Enterobacterial strains with a marker for resistance to carbapenems. Methods: exploratory case-control study performed in hospital settings. The study sample consisted of patients with biological specimens that tested positive for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (cases), with the disk diffusion test and Etest, and controls with biological samples testing negative for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. In all, 65 patients were included: 13 (20%) cases and 52 (80%) controls. Results: the microorganisms isolated were Serratia marcescens (6), Klebsiella pneumoniae (4), and Enterobacter cloacae (3). Univariate analysis revealed that length of hospitalization prior to sample collection (p=0.002) and having a surgical procedure (p=0.006) were statistically significant. In the multivariable logistic regression model, both were still significant, with odds ratios of 0.93 (p = 0.009; 95% CI: 0.89 to 0.98) for length of hospitalization prior to sample collection, and 9.28 (p = 0.05; 95% CI: 1.01 to 85.14) for having a surgical procedure. Conclusion: shorter hospitalization times and increased surveillance of patients undergoing surgery could play a decisive role in reducing the spread of carbapenem-resistant microorganisms in hospital settings

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in the prevention of childhood pneumonia

Lower respiratory tract infections are among the most important causes of childhood mortality worldwide, more than 2 million children die due to pneumonia every year. A number of infections caused by the main pathogens related to pneumonia can be prevented through vaccination ( S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae type-b, morbilli, pertussis, influenza). In the last decade, after the introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV), the epidemiological background of childhood pneumonia has changed. Recently, several studies have been performed to collect data and evidences about the efficacy of PCV against noninvasive pneumococcal diseases (e.g. pneumonia, otitis media). These investigations showed 10–50% decrease of all pneumonia cases, 10–30% decrease of radiologically diagnosed pneumonia, and 50–70% decrease of the incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in children. The aim of this review was to determine the role of the PCV in the prevention of childhood pneumonia according to the medical literature, and to summarize the efforts of global organizations (WHO, UNICEF, GAVI) in the fight against pneumonia in children

A Room temperature single photon source in silicon carbide

We report the first observation of stable single photon sources in an electronic and photonic device-friendly material, silicon carbide (SiC). SiC is a viable material for implementing quantum communication, computation and photonic technologies.2 page(s