Experimental verification of intermediate band formation on titanium-implanted silicon

Intermediate band formation on silicon layers for solar cell applications was achieved by titanium implantation and laser annealing. A two-layer heterogeneous system, formed by the implanted layer and by the un-implanted substrate, was formed. In this work, we present for the first time electrical characterization results which show that recombination is suppressed when the Ti concentration is high enough to overcome the Mott limit, in agreement with the intermediate band theory. Clear differences have been observed between samples implanted with doses under or over the Mott limit. Samples implanted under the Mott limit have capacitance values much lower than the un-implanted ones as corresponds to a highly doped semiconductor Schottky junction. However, when the Mott limit is surpassed, the samples have much higher capacitance, revealing that the intermediate band is formed. The capacitance increasing is due to the big amount of charge trapped at the intermediate band, even at low temperatures. Ti deep levels have been measured by admittance spectroscopy. These deep levels are located at energies which vary from 0.20 to 0.28?eV below the conduction band for implantation doses in the range 1013-1014 at./cm2. For doses over the Mott limit, the implanted atoms become nonrecombinant. Capacitance voltage transient technique measurements prove that the fabricated devices consist of two-layers, in which the implanted layer and the substrate behave as an n+/n junction

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Elaboración de un texto de problemas resueltos para la enseñanza de la asignatura de Electrónica en las Facultades de Ciencias : problemas resueltos de Electrónica

Realizado en la E.T.S. de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación de Valladolid, por 2 profesores: uno, perteneciente a dicha facultad y otro, profesor en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de Salamanca. El objetivo del proyecto era la realización de un texto de problemas resueltos. El texto ajusta su contenido a los de la asignatura troncal -Electrónica- de la Licenciatura en Ciencias Físicas y se estructura en tres bloques: 1. La física de los semiconductores; 2. Los dispositivos electrónicos; 3. Los circuitos electrónicos. La metodología aplicada es la normal en el desarrollo de un libro de problemas y se ha elaborado un CD que incluye la totalidad del texto en PDF. También se han incluido anexos conteniendo propiedades de los semiconductores, las funciones matemáticas más usadas y bibliografía. Se han difundido los enunciados a través de la página Web de los profesores para que puedan usarse en la docencia y la difusión pública de las soluciones está prevista para más adelante, cuando se realicen algunas modificaciones.Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Educación y CulturaCastilla y LeónJunta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Educación y Cultura; Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Prado. Autovía Puente Colgante, s. n.; 47071 Valladolid; Tel. +34983411881; Fax +34983411939; [email protected]

Elementos de electrónica

Libro de texto sobre electrónica destinado a servir de apoyo a la docencia de la asignatura troncal de electrónica de cuarto curso de la licenciatura de Ciencias Físicas. El contenido del libro es clásico y se agrupa en cuatro partes: física de semiconductores, dispositivos electrónicos, electrónica aplicada analógica, y electrónica aplicada digital. Cada parte tiene una colección de problemas referidos a su contenido. Se incluyen características de dispositivos.Junta de Castilla y León. Dirección General de Universidades e InvestigaciónCastilla y LeónES

Semiconductores : física y tecnología

Es un libro de texto para la enseñanza de la Física y de la Tecnología de Semiconductores en la Licenciatura en CC Físicas y/o E. Técnicas Superiores (Especialidades de Materiales). El desarrollo de la Teoríco del sólido se hace a partir de los postulados mecano-cuanticos de la Teoría de Bandas y de los postulados estadísticos de la ecuación de Botaman. Se incluyen los capitulos de : 1. Teoría de Bandos. 2. Estadística de equilibrio 3. Ecuación de Botaman. 4. Fenómenos de transporte y propiedades ópticas. 5. Generación recombinación y tecnología del material 'macizo'. Se incluyen gráficos y datos experimentales y se proponen ejercicios al final de cada lección.Junta de Castilla y León. Dirección General de Universidades e Investigación. Monasterio Ntra. Sra. del Prado. Autovia Puente Colgante s/n. 47071 Valladolid. Teléfono: 983-41.18.87Castilla y LeónES

Prosthetic Valve Candida spp. Endocarditis: New Insights Into Long-term Prognosis—The ESCAPE Study

International audienceBackground: Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Candida spp. (PVE-C) is rare and devastating, with international guidelines based on expert recommendations supporting the combination of surgery and subsequent azole treatment.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed PVE-C cases collected in Spain and France between 2001 and 2015, with a focus on management and outcome.Results: Forty-six cases were followed up for a median of 9 months. Twenty-two patients (48%) had a history of endocarditis, 30 cases (65%) were nosocomial or healthcare related, and 9 (20%) patients were intravenous drug users. "Induction" therapy consisted mainly of liposomal amphotericin B (L-amB)-based (n = 21) or echinocandin-based therapy (n = 13). Overall, 19 patients (41%) were operated on. Patients <66 years old and without cardiac failure were more likely to undergo cardiac surgery (adjusted odds ratios [aORs], 6.80 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59-29.13] and 10.92 [1.15-104.06], respectively). Surgery was not associated with better survival rates at 6 months. Patients who received L-amB alone had a better 6-month survival rate than those who received an echinocandin alone (aOR, 13.52; 95% CI, 1.03-838.10). "Maintenance" fluconazole therapy, prescribed in 21 patients for a median duration of 13 months (range, 2-84 months), led to minor adverse effects.Conclusion: L-amB induction treatment improves survival in patients with PVE-C. Medical treatment followed by long-term maintenance fluconazole may be the best treatment option for frail patients

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327  There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in th

Contemporary use of cefazolin for MSSA infective endocarditis: analysis of a national prospective cohort

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the real use of cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infective endocarditis (IE) in the Spanish National Endocarditis Database (GAMES) and to compare it with antistaphylococcal penicillin (ASP). Methods: Prospective cohort study with retrospective analysis of a cohort of MSSA IE treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Outcomes assessed were relapse; intra-hospital, overall, and endocarditis-related mortality; and adverse events. Risk of renal toxicity with each treatment was evaluated separately. Results: We included 631 IE episodes caused by MSSA treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Antibiotic treatment was cloxacillin, cefazolin, or both in 537 (85%), 57 (9%), and 37 (6%) episodes, respectively. Patients treated with cefazolin had significantly higher rates of comorbidities (median Charlson Index 7, P <0.01) and previous renal failure (57.9%, P <0.01). Patients treated with cloxacillin presented higher rates of septic shock (25%, P = 0.033) and new-onset or worsening renal failure (47.3%, P = 0.024) with significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality (38.5%, P = 0.017). One-year IE-related mortality and rate of relapses were similar between treatment groups. None of the treatments were identified as risk or protective factors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cefazolin is a valuable option for the treatment of MSSA IE, without differences in 1-year mortality or relapses compared with cloxacillin, and might be considered equally effective