The origin of defects induced in ultra-pure germanium by Electron Beam Deposition

The creation of point defects in the crystal lattices of various semiconductors by subthreshold events has been reported on by a number of groups. These observations have been made in great detail using sensitive electrical techniques but there is still much that needs to be clarified. Experiments using Ge and Si were performed that demonstrate that energetic particles, the products of collisions in the electron beam, were responsible for the majority of electron-beam deposition (EBD) induced defects in a two-step energy transfer process. Lowering the number of collisions of these energetic particles with the semiconductor during metal deposition was accomplished using a combination of static shields and superior vacuum resulting in devices with defect concentrations lower than $10^{11}\,$cm$^{-3}$, the measurement limit of our deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) system. High energy electrons and photons that samples are typically exposed to were not influenced by the shields as most of these particles originate at the metal target thus eliminating these particles as possible damage causing agents. It remains unclear how packets of energy that can sometimes be as small of 2eV travel up to a $\mu$m into the material while still retaining enough energy, that is, in the order of 1eV, to cause changes in the crystal. The manipulation of this defect causing phenomenon may hold the key to developing defect free material for future applications.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure

Eluding SUSY at every genus on stable closed string vacua

In closed string vacua, ergodicity of unipotent flows provide a key for relating vacuum stability to the UV behavior of spectra and interactions. Infrared finiteness at all genera in perturbation theory can be rephrased in terms of cancelations involving only tree-level closed strings scattering amplitudes. This provides quantitative results on the allowed deviations from supersymmetry on perturbative stable vacua. From a mathematical perspective, diagrammatic relations involving closed string amplitudes suggest a relevance of unipotent flows dynamics for the Schottky problem and for the construction of the superstring measure.Comment: v2, 17 pages, 8 figures, typos corrected, new figure added with 3 modular images of long horocycles,(obtained with Mathematica

Extending the Belavin-Knizhnik "wonderful formula" by the characterization of the Jacobian

A long-standing question in string theory is to find the explicit expression of the bosonic measure, a crucial issue also in determining the superstring measure. Such a measure was known up to genus three. Belavin and Knizhnik conjectured an expression for genus four which has been proved in the framework of the recently introduced vector-valued Teichmueller modular forms. It turns out that for g>3 the bosonic measure is expressed in terms of such forms. In particular, the genus four Belavin-Knizhnik "wonderful formula" has a remarkable extension to arbitrary genus whose structure is deeply related to the characterization of the Jacobian locus. Furthermore, it turns out that the bosonic string measure has an elegant geometrical interpretation as generating the quadrics in P^{g-1} characterizing the Riemann surface. All this leads to identify forms on the Siegel upper half-space that, if certain conditions related to the characterization of the Jacobian are satisfied, express the bosonic measure as a multiresidue in the Siegel upper half-space. We also suggest that it may exist a super analog on the super Siegel half-space.Comment: 15 pages. Typos corrected, refs. and comments adde

Rate theory of acceleration of the defect annealing driven by discrete breathers

Novel mechanisms of defect annealing in solids are discussed, which are based on the large amplitude anharmonic lattice vibrations, a.k.a. intrinsic localized modes or discrete breathers (DBs). A model for amplification of defect annealing rate in Ge by low energy plasma-generated DBs is proposed, in which, based on recent atomistic modelling, it is assumed that DBs can excite atoms around defects rather strongly, giving them energy $\gg k_BT$ for $\sim$100 oscillation periods. This is shown to result in the amplification of the annealing rates proportional to the DB flux, i.e. to the flux of ions (or energetic atoms) impinging at the Ge surface from inductively coupled plasma (ICP)Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1406.394

Quality of Life and Affective Well-Being in Middle-Aged and Older People with Chronic Medical Illnesses: A Cross-Sectional Population Based Study

Background: There has been considerable research into the impact of chronic illness on health-related quality of life. However, few studies have assessed the impact of different chronic conditions on general quality of life (QOL). The objective of this paper was to compare general (rather than health-related) QOL and affective well-being in middle aged and older people across eight chronic illnesses.Methods and Findings: This population-based, cross-sectional study involved 11,523 individuals aged 50 years and older, taking part in wave 1 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. General QOL was assessed using the CASP-19, happiness was evaluated using two items drawn from the GHQ-12, and depression was measured with the CES-D. Analysis of covariance and logistic regression, adjusting for age, gender and wealth, were performed. General QOL was most impaired in people with stroke (mean 37.56, CI 36.73-38.39), and least in those reporting cancer (mean 41.78, CI 41.12-42.44, respectively), compared with no illness (mean 44.15, CI 43.92-44.39). Stroke (mean 3.65, CI 3.58-3.73) was also associated with the greatest reduction in positive well-being whereas diabetes (mean 3.81, CI 3.76-3.86) and cancer were least affected (3.85, CI 3.79-3.91), compared with no illness (mean 3.97, CI 3.95-4.00). Depression was significantly elevated in all conditions, but was most common in chronic lung disease (OR 3.04, CI 2.56-3.61), with more modest elevations in those with osteoarthritis (OR 2.08, CI 1.84-2.34) or cancer (OR 2.07, CI 1.69-2.54). Multiple co-morbidities were associated with greater decrements in QOL and affective well-being.Conclusion: The presence of chronic illness is associated with impairments in broader aspects of QOL and affective wellbeing, but different conditions vary in their impact. Further longitudinal work is needed to establish the temporal links between chronic illness and impairments in QOL and affective well-being

Function preservation using transoral laser surgery for T2-T3 glottic cancer: oncologic, vocal, and swallowing outcomes

Aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze oncologic and functional results of a cohort of T2 and selected T3 glottic tumors treated by transoral laser surgery (TLS). Eighty-nine patients affected by T2 and T3 glottic tumors were treated by TLS from 2005 to 2010 at an academic institution by Type V cordectomies using an "en bloc" or, more frequently, a "piece-meal" technique depending on a number of variables. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to evaluate 5-year overall, disease-specific survivals, local control with laser, and organ preservation rates. Univariate analysis of the impact of different variables was performed. At least 1 year after surgery, we examined: subjective voice evaluation by voice handicap index (VHI), perceptive analysis by GRBAS scale, objective measurements with multidimensional voice program (MDVP), swallowing assessment with the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), videonasal endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (VEES), and videofluoroscopy (VFS). Fifty-nine patients were pT2 and 30 pT3. The 5-year overall, disease-specific survivals, local control with laser, and organ preservation rates were 92.4, 98.7, 68.5, and 82.1 %, respectively. VHI mean score was 20 (mild dysphonia). Mild and moderate dysphonias were detected by GRBAS in 82 and 18 % of patients, respectively. Mean values of Jitter, Shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio by MDVP resulted 7.87 %, 24.8 %, and 0.37, respectively. Mean value of MDADI was 95.75. Only 2 % of patients at VEES and 4 % at VFS showed tracheal aspiration. Our results highlight that T2 and selected T3 glottic tumors treated by TLS have favorable oncologic and functional outcomes

Function preservation using transoral laser surgery for T2-T3 glottic cancer: oncologic, vocal, and swallowing outcomes.

Aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze oncologic and functional results of a cohort of T2 and selected T3 glottic tumors treated by transoral laser surgery (TLS). Eighty-nine patients affected by T2 and T3 glottic tumors were treated by TLS from 2005 to 2010 at an academic institution by Type V cordectomies using an "en bloc" or, more frequently, a "piece-meal" technique depending on a number of variables. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to evaluate 5-year overall, disease-specific survivals, local control with laser, and organ preservation rates. Univariate analysis of the impact of different variables was performed. At least 1 year after surgery, we examined: subjective voice evaluation by voice handicap index (VHI), perceptive analysis by GRBAS scale, objective measurements with multidimensional voice program (MDVP), swallowing assessment with the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), videonasal endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (VEES), and videofluoroscopy (VFS). Fifty-nine patients were pT2 and 30 pT3. The 5-year overall, disease-specific survivals, local control with laser, and organ preservation rates were 92.4, 98.7, 68.5, and 82.1 %, respectively. VHI mean score was 20 (mild dysphonia). Mild and moderate dysphonias were detected by GRBAS in 82 and 18 % of patients, respectively. Mean values of Jitter, Shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio by MDVP resulted 7.87 %, 24.8 %, and 0.37, respectively. Mean value of MDADI was 95.75. Only 2 % of patients at VEES and 4 % at VFS showed tracheal aspiration. Our results highlight that T2 and selected T3 glottic tumors treated by TLS have favorable oncologic and functional outcomes