11,549 research outputs found
Superlattice barrier varactors
SBV (Single Barrier Varactor) diodes have been proposed as alternatives to Schottky barrier diodes for harmonic multiplier applications. However, these show a higher current than expected. The excess current is due to X valley transport in the barrier. We present experimental results showing that the use of a superlattice barrier and doping spikes in the GaAs depletion regions on either side of the barrier can reduce the excess current and improve the control of the capacitance vs. voltage characteristic. The experimental results consist of data taken from two types of device structures. The first test structure was used to study the performance of AlAs/GaAs superlattice barriers. The wafer was fabricated into 90 micron diameter mesa diodes and the resulting current vs. voltage characteristics were measured. A 10 period superlattice structure with a total thickness of approximately 400 A worked well as an electron barrier. The structure had a current density of about one A/sq cm at one volt at room temperature. The capacitance variation of these structures was small because of the design of the GaAs cladding layers. The second test structure was used to study cladding layer designs. These wafers were InGaAs and InAlAs layers lattice matched to an InP substrate. The layers have n(+) doping spikes near the barrier to increase the zero bias capacitance and control the shape of the capacitance vs. voltage characteristic. These structures have a capacitance ratio of 5:1 and an abrupt change from maximum to minimum capacitance. The measurements were made at 80 K. Based on the information obtained from these two structures, we have designed a structure that combines the low current density barrier with the improved cladding layers. The capacitance and current-voltage characteristics from this structure are presented
Salmonella sepsis and miscarriage
We present a case of a miscarriage at 16 weeks of gestation due to infection and transplacental passage of Salmonella group C. This was identified as being Salmonella Virchow from genital tract swab culture, and placental Gram-staining revealed numerous colonies of Gram-negative bacilli within the fibrin between the placental villi, confirming a true villitis associated with a hematogenous infection. Based on the patient's history, it was suggested that she had contracted the salmonella infection from eating undercooked eggs. Treatment of salmonella infection in pregnancy is controversial, and antibiotic therapy should be reserved for cases of invasive disease, using amoxicillin or a cephalosporin
Relativistic linear stability equations for the nonlinear Dirac equation in Bose-Einstein condensates
We present relativistic linear stability equations (RLSE) for
quasi-relativistic cold atoms in a honeycomb optical lattice. These equations
are derived from first principles and provide a method for computing
stabilities of arbitrary localized solutions of the nonlinear Dirac equation
(NLDE), a relativistic generalization of the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation.
We present a variety of such localized solutions: skyrmions, solitons,
vortices, and half-quantum vortices, and study their stabilities via the RLSE.
When applied to a uniform background, our calculations reveal an experimentally
observable effect in the form of Cherenkov radiation. Remarkably, the Berry
phase from the bipartite structure of the honeycomb lattice induces a
boson-fermion transmutation in the quasi-particle operator statistics.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Training deep neural density estimators to identify mechanistic models of neural dynamics
Mechanistic modeling in neuroscience aims to explain observed phenomena in terms of underlying causes. However, determining which model parameters agree with complex and stochastic neural data presents a significant challenge. We address this challenge with a machine learning tool which uses deep neural density estimators-- trained using model simulations-- to carry out Bayesian inference and retrieve the full space of parameters compatible with raw data or selected data features. Our method is scalable in parameters and data features, and can rapidly analyze new data after initial training. We demonstrate the power and flexibility of our approach on receptive fields, ion channels, and Hodgkin-Huxley models. We also characterize the space of circuit configurations giving rise to rhythmic activity in the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion, and use these results to derive hypotheses for underlying compensation mechanisms. Our approach will help close the gap between data-driven and theory-driven models of neural dynamics
Radio Detection of Cosmic Ray Air Showers with Codalema
Studies of the radio detection of Extensive Air Showers is the goal of the
demonstrative experiment CODALEMA. Previous analysis have demonstrated that
detection around eV was achieved with this set-up. New results
allow for the first time to study the topology of the electric field associated
to EAS events on a event by event basis.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures Proceedings of the Rencontres de Moriond, Very
High Energy Phenomena in the Universe, La Thuile, Italy (March 12-19, 2005
Radio Detection of Extensive Air Showers with CODALEMA
The principle and performances of the CODALEMA experimental device, set up to
study the possibility of high energy cosmic rays radio detection, are
presented. Radio transient signals associated to cosmic rays have been
identified, for which arrival directions and shower's electric field topologies
have been extracted from the antenna signals. The measured rate, about 1 event
per day, corresponds to an energy threshold around 5.10^16 eV. These results
allow to determine the perspectives offered by the present experimental design
for radiodetection of UHECR at a larger scale.Comment: 4 pages and 3 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the 29th ICRC,
Pune (2005
A selfâconsistent model of ÎâX mixing in GaAs/AlAs/GaAs quantum well structures using the quantum transmitting boundary method
We present a numerical study of the ÎâX mixing in GaAs/AlAs/GaAs quantum well structures. A ÎâX mixing model proposed by Liu [Appl. Phys. Lett. 51, 1019 (1987)] is extended to include the effects of selfâconsistency and nonzero transverse momentum. In the present model, the coupled Schrödinger equations for Î and X electron envelope wave functions are solved selfâconsistently with Poissonâs equation to calculate the electron transmission probability and wave functions, which lead to the currentâvoltage (IâV) characteristics of single barrier and double barrier resonant tunneling diode structures. The quantum transmitting boundary method is employed in the model for numerical solution of the coupled Schrödinger equations, which proves to be very stable and efficient, even for large (âł2000 Ă
) structures. The features of ÎâX mixing, such as the resonance/antiresonance in the transmission probability and the virtual bound states, are clearly demonstrated. Additional physical features are observed in the transmission probability and the wave functions under applied bias conditions. Our work shows that inclusion of transverse momentum, variable effective mass, and the selfâconsistent potential is important in the realistic modeling of IâV characteristics for structures exhibiting ÎâX coupling.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69686/2/JAPIAU-74-8-5053-1.pd
Predictors of locating children participants in epidemiological studies 20 years after last contact: Internet resources and longitudinal research
This study examines predictors of locating participants that were last contacted 20 years ago using public web-search directories, in order to facilitate longitudinal environmental health research. Participants (n = 3,202) resided in four distinct geographical neighborhoods in Hamilton, Ontario during childhood; they were between 15 and 17 years old when they were last contacted in 1986. Data used for tracing included available addresses, telephone numbers, given names, and parental names. Reverse and forward search strategies were used to retrieve updated contact details. 43% of the sample was traced using online directories. Following ethical approval, participants were contacted using traced data and 29% of the original cohort was located. Predictors of locating participants were: availability of paternal names, being traced to original addresses or telephone numbers, gender (male), relatively higher socioeconomic status in childhood, and not being exposed to smoking in childhood. Where participants resided in childhood was not a significant predictor of locating participants. Although 13% of the sample was traced using forward search by name, only 4% were located. For participants traced to available addresses or telephone numbers, the difference between the proportions of traced and located participants was \u3c3%. Prospective studies on children may benefit from including the listed names that pertain to each child\u27s telephone number and full parental names at recruitment, thereby increasing the likelihood of locating participants using Internet resources. Integrating the use of Internet-based public directories for cohort reconstruction can reduce financial costs related to follow-up for longitudinal research. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V
Recommended from our members
Food systems and diets: Facing the challenges of the 21st century
The world is facing a nutrition crisis: approximately three billion people from every one of the worldâs 193 countries have low-quality diets. Over the next 20 years, multiple forms of malnutrition will pose increasingly serious threats to global health. Population growth combined with climate change will place increasing stress on food systems, particularly in Africa and Asia where there will be an additional two billion people by 2050. At the same time, rapidly increasing urbanization, particularly in these two regions, will affect hunger and nutrition in complex ways â both positively and negatively. Unless policy makers apply the brakes on overweight, obesity and diet-related disease and accelerate efforts to reduce undernutrition, everyone will pay a heavy price: death, disease, economic losses and degradation of the environment. A response, equivalent to that marshalled to tackle HIV/AIDS, malaria and smoking is needed to meet these challenges. Around the world, coordinated action needs to be accompanied by fundamental shifts in our understanding and in our policy actions. Much more emphasis must be given to positioning agricultural growth as a way to improve diet quality, rather than merely delivering sufficient calories. Food systems need to be repositioned from just supplying food to providing high-quality diets for all. This will require policy initiatives far beyond agriculture to encompass trade, the environment and health, which harness the power of the private sector and empower consumers to demand better diets. This report is a call to action for world leaders and their governments. Leadership and commitment will be essential in driving forward the decisions set out in this report and in delivering the necessary priority actions to reshape the global food system
- âŠ