2,092 research outputs found
Controlled epitaxial graphene growth within amorphous carbon corrals
Structured growth of high quality graphene is necessary for technological
development of carbon based electronics. Specifically, control of the bunching
and placement of surface steps under epitaxial graphene on SiC is an important
consideration for graphene device production. We demonstrate lithographically
patterned evaporated amorphous carbon corrals as a method to pin SiC surface
steps. Evaporated amorphous carbon is an ideal step-flow barrier on SiC due to
its chemical compatibility with graphene growth and its structural stability at
high temperatures, as well as its patternability. The amorphous carbon is
deposited in vacuum on SiC prior to graphene growth. In the graphene furnace at
temperatures above 1200C, mobile SiC steps accumulate at these
amorphous carbon barriers, forming an aligned step free region for graphene
growth at temperatures above 1330C. AFM imaging and Raman spectroscopy
support the formation of quality step-free graphene sheets grown on SiC with
the step morphology aligned to the carbon grid
Wafer bonding solution to epitaxial graphene - silicon integration
The development of graphene electronics requires the integration of graphene
devices with Si-CMOS technology. Most strategies involve the transfer of
graphene sheets onto silicon, with the inherent difficulties of clean transfer
and subsequent graphene nano-patterning that degrades considerably the
electronic mobility of nanopatterned graphene. Epitaxial graphene (EG) by
contrast is grown on an essentially perfect crystalline (semi-insulating)
surface, and graphene nanostructures with exceptional properties have been
realized by a selective growth process on tailored SiC surface that requires no
graphene patterning. However, the temperatures required in this structured
growth process are too high for silicon technology. Here we demonstrate a new
graphene to Si integration strategy, with a bonded and interconnected compact
double-wafer structure. Using silicon-on-insulator technology (SOI) a thin
monocrystalline silicon layer ready for CMOS processing is applied on top of
epitaxial graphene on SiC. The parallel Si and graphene platforms are
interconnected by metal vias. This method inspired by the industrial
development of 3d hyper-integration stacking thin-film electronic devices
preserves the advantages of epitaxial graphene and enables the full spectrum of
CMOS processing.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure
Half integer quantum Hall effect in high mobility single layer epitaxial graphene
The quantum Hall effect, with a Berry's phase of is demonstrated here
on a single graphene layer grown on the C-face of 4H silicon carbide. The
mobility is 20,000 cm/Vs at 4 K and ~15,000 cm/Vs
at 300 K despite contamination and substrate steps. This is comparable to the
best exfoliated graphene flakes on SiO and an order of magnitude larger
than Si-face epitaxial graphene monolayers. These and other properties indicate
that C-face epitaxial graphene is a viable platform for graphene-based
electronics.Comment: Some modifications in the text and figures, 7 pages, 2 figure
Observation of Resistively Detected Hole Spin Resonance and Zero-Field Pseudo-Spin Splitting in Epitaxial Graphene
Electronic carriers in graphene show a high carrier mobility at room temperature. Thus, this system is widely viewed as a potential future charge-based high-speed electronic material to complementâor replaceâsilicon. At the same time, the spin properties of graphene have suggested improved capability for spin-based electronics or spintronics and spin-based quantum computing. As a result, the detection, characterization and transport of spin have become topics of interest in graphene. Here we report a microwave photo-excited transport study of monolayer and trilayer graphene that reveals an unexpectedly strong microwave-induced electrical response and dual microwave-induced resonances in the dc resistance. The results suggest the resistive detection of spin resonance, and provide a measurement of the g-factor, the spin relaxation time and the sub-lattice degeneracy splitting at zero magnetic field
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Flavonoid Intake and Plasma Sex Steroid Hormones, Prolactin, and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin in Premenopausal Women
Background: Flavonoids potentially exert anti-cancer effects, as suggested by their chemical structures and supported by animal studies. In observational studies, however, the association between flavonoids and breast cancer, and potential underlying mechanisms, remain unclear. Objective: To examine the relationship between flavonoid intake and sex hormone levels using timed blood samples in follicular and luteal phases in the Nursesâ Health Study II among premenopausal women. Methods: Plasma concentrations of estrogens, androgens, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), prolactin, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in samples collected between 1996 and 1999. Average flavonoid were calculated from semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires collected in 1995 and 1999. We used generalized linear models to calculate geometric mean hormone concentrations across categories of the intake of flavonoids and the subclasses. Results: Total flavonoid intake generally was not associated with the hormones of interest. The only significant association was with DHEAS (p-trend = 0.02), which was 11.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): â18.6%, â3.0%) lower comparing the highest vs. lowest quartile of flavonoid intake. In subclass analyses, the highest (vs. lowest) quartile of flavan-3-ol intake was associated with significantly lower DHEAS concentrations (â11.3% with 95% CI: â18.3%, â3.7%, p-trend = 0.01), and anthocyanin intake was associated with a significant inverse trend for DHEA (â18.0% with 95% CI: â27.9%, â6.7%, p-trend = 0.003). Conclusion: Flavonoid intake in this population had limited impact on most plasma sex hormones in premenopausal women. Anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols were associated with lower levels of DHEA and DHEAS
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Association between Cutaneous Nevi and Breast Cancer in the Nurses' Health Study: A Prospective Cohort Study
Background: Cutaneous nevi are suggested to be hormone-related. We hypothesized that the number of cutaneous nevi might be a phenotypic marker of plasma hormone levels and predict subsequent breast cancer risk. Methods and Findings: We followed 74,523 female nurses for 24 y (1986â2010) in the Nurses' Health Study and estimate the relative risk of breast cancer according to the number of cutaneous nevi. We adjusted for the known breast cancer risk factors in the models. During follow-up, a total of 5,483 invasive breast cancer cases were diagnosed. Compared to women with no nevi, women with more cutaneous nevi had higher risks of breast cancer (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98â1.10 for 1â5 nevi; 1.15, 95% CI, 1.00â1.31 for 6â14 nevi, and 1.35, 95% CI, 1.04â1.74 for 15 or more nevi; p for continuous trend = 0.003). Over 24 y of follow-up, the absolute risk of developing breast cancer increased from 8.48% for women without cutaneous nevi to 8.82% (95% CI, 8.31%â9.33%) for women with 1â5 nevi, 9.75% (95% CI, 8.48%â11.11%) for women with 6â14 nevi, and 11.4% (95% CI, 8.82%â14.76%) for women with 15 or more nevi. The number of cutaneous nevi was associated with increased risk of breast cancer only among estrogen receptor (ER)âpositive tumors (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio per five nevi, 1.09, 95% CI, 1.02â1.16 for ER+/progesterone receptor [PR]âpositive tumors; 1.08, 95% CI, 0.94â1.24 for ER+/PRâ tumors; and 0.99, 95% CI, 0.86â1.15 for ERâ/PRâ tumors). Additionally, we tested plasma hormone levels according to the number of cutaneous nevi among a subgroup of postmenopausal women without postmenopausal hormone use (n = 611). Postmenopausal women with six or more nevi had a 45.5% higher level of free estradiol and a 47.4% higher level of free testosterone compared to those with no nevi (p for trend = 0.001 for both). Among a subgroup of 362 breast cancer cases and 611 matched controls with plasma hormone measurements, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for every five nevi attenuated from 1.25 (95% CI, 0.89â1.74) to 1.16 (95% CI, 0.83â1.64) after adjusting for plasma hormone levels. Key limitations in this study are that cutaneous nevi were self-counted in our cohort and that the study was conducted in white individuals, and thus the findings do not necessarily apply to other populations. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the number of cutaneous nevi may reflect plasma hormone levels and predict breast cancer risk independently of previously known factors. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summar
External perceptions of successful university brands
Branding in universities has become an increasingly topical issue, with some institutions committing substantial financial resources to branding activities. The particular characteristics of the sector present challenges for those seeking to build brands and it therefore seems to be timely and appropriate to investigate the common approaches of those institutions perceived as having successful brands.
This study is exploratory in nature, seeking to investigate how successfully UK universities brand themselves, whether they are distinct and if the sector overall communicates effectively. This is approached through examining the perspective of opinion formers external to universities but closely involved with the sector â a key stakeholder group in UK higher education
Overall, the researchâs exploratory nature aims to further the debate on effective branding in UK higher education.
The findings and conclusions identify some issues surrounding university branding activity; most UK universities were considered to be distinct from one another, but few were seen to have real fully formed brands. Although a number of institutions that were seen as having more âsuccessfulâ brands were identified, it was argued that whilst many UK universities communicate their brand well enough to key stakeholders, they fail to consistently do this across all audiences. It was also suggested that UK universities may concentrate on areas of perceived immediate strategic importance (in terms of branding) to an extent where others are neglected
Heritage branding orientation: The case of Ach. Brito and the dynamics between corporate and product heritage brands
The notion of heritage branding orientation is introduced and explicated. Heritage branding orientation is designated as embracing both product and corporate brands and differs from corporate heritage brand orientation which has an explicit corporate focus. Empirical insights are drawn from an in-depth and longitudinal case study of Ach. Brito, a celebrated Portuguese manufacturer of soaps and toiletries. This study shows how, by the pursuance of a strategy derived from a heritage branding orientation Ach. Brito â after a prolonged period of decline â achieved a dramatic strategic turnaround. The findings reveal how institutional heritage can be a strategic resource via its adoption and activation at both the product and corporate levels. Moreover, the study showed how the bi-lateral interplay between product and corporate brand levels can be mutually reinforcing. In instrumental terms, the study shows how heritage can be activated and articulated in different ways. For instance, it can re-position both product and/or corporate brands; it can be meaningfully informed by product brand heritage and shape corporate heritage; and can be of strategic importance to both medium-sized and small enterprises
Structured epitaxial graphene: growth and properties
graphene ; nano-structure ; electronic transport ; ballistic transportInternational audienceGraphene is generally considered to be a strong candidate to succeed silicon as an electronic material. However, to date, it actually has not yet demonstrated capabilities that exceed standard semiconducting materials. Currently demonstrated viable graphene devices are essentially limited to micron size ultrahigh frequency analog field effect transistors and quantum Hall effect devices for metrology. Nanoscopically patterned graphene tends to have disordered edges which severely reduce mobilities thereby obviating its advantage over other materials. Here we show that graphene grown on structured silicon carbide surfaces overcomes the edge roughness and promises to provide an inroad into nanoscale patterning of graphene. We show that high quality ribbons and rings can be made using this technique. We also report on progress towards high mobility graphene monolayers on silicon carbide for device applications
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