Ferromagnetism in transparent Mn(II)-doped indium tin oxide films prepared by sol-gel process

We observe remarkably strong room temperature ferromagnetism (~1.5 Bohr Magneton/Mn) in optically transparent Mn(II)-doped indium tin oxide (ITO) films. The nanocrystalline films with average grain size 10-22 nm and thickness 150-350 nm are prepared by sol-gel coating technique on sodalime silica glass substrate. The ferromagnetic property is, of course, weak for films deposited on pure silica glass substrate. The structural parameters of the films appear to be governing the magnetic property strongly which vary appreciably depending on the substrate. The observation of room temperature ferromagnetism in transparent conducting ITO films may find a plethora of applications in the area of magneto-optics.Comment: 17 pages including 3 figures; pdf onl

Data Management in Multicountry Consortium Studies: The Enterics For Global Health (EFGH) Shigella Surveillance Study Example

Background: Rigorous data management systems and planning are essential to successful research projects, especially for large, multicountry consortium studies involving partnerships across multiple institutions. Here we describe the development and implementation of data management systems and procedures for the Enterics For Global Health (EFGH) Shigella surveillance study—a 7-country diarrhea surveillance study that will conduct facility-based surveillance concurrent with population-based enumeration and a health care utilization survey to estimate the incidence of Shigella­-associated diarrhea in children 6 to 35 months old. Methods: The goals of EFGH data management are to utilize the knowledge and experience of consortium members to collect high-quality data and ensure equity in access and decision-making. During the planning phase before study initiation, a working group of representatives from each EFGH country site, the coordination team, and other partners met regularly to develop the data management systems for the study. Results: This resulted in the Data Management Plan, which included selecting REDCap and SurveyCTO as the primary database systems. Consequently, we laid out procedures for data processing and storage, study monitoring and reporting, data quality control and assurance activities, and data access. The data management system and associated real-time visualizations allow for rapid data cleaning activities and progress monitoring and will enable quicker time to analysis. Conclusions: Experiences from this study will contribute toward enriching the sparse landscape of data management methods publications and serve as a case study for future studies seeking to collect and manage data consistently and rigorously while maintaining equitable access to and control of data

Synthesis & Characterisation of Isomers of Bis(thiosalicylohydrazidato)nickel(II) and Kinetics & Mechanisms of Their Interconversion Reactions in Solution

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A sol-gel derived yellow-transmitting coating on glass

Bright yellow, transparent coatings were deposited on sheet glass by the sol-gel dip coating process. Sols were prepared from titanium tetraethoxide, ferric nitrate nonahydrate and a mixture of 1-propanol and 2-butanol. Advantage was taken of the absorption of Fe3+ and Fe2+ (a part of the ferric ion being reduced to ferrous ion during baking of the film, as confirmed by Mössbauer and UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy) in the UV and near-IR regions, respectively, and of the absorption of Ti4+ in the UV range. The coatings show a distinct transmission maximum which shifted in position depending on the physical thickness; this indicated the role of interference in monitoring the exact yellow shade of the transmitting color. Specular reflectance and transmission spectra of the coatings were examined to elucidate their optical behavior. The coating material was used in a multilayer design to obtain selective transmission behavior

Preparation and properties of zirconia coatings from aquo-organic solutions of zirconyl chloride octahydrate

Amorphous and crystalline transparent zirconia coatings were deposited on soda-lime glass by the dipping or spinning technique, using a solution of zirconyl chloride octahydrate in an aquo-organic solvent. The range of coating parameters and the corresponding properties of the coatings (thickness, refractive index, crystallinity, optical reflection behaviour in the visible range) have been described

Optical properties of CdS- and (Cd, Zn)S-doped sol-gel titania films

Microcrystalline CdS and (Cd, Zn)S were generated in sol-gel derived dip-coated amorphous TiO2 films. The relevant properties, e.g. optical absorption, optical gap (E(opt)) and fluorescence were studied via variations of different preparative parameters, e.g. CdS:TiO2 and CdS:ZnS stoichiometry, baking temperature and soaking time