Two-dimensional electron gas related emissions in ZnMgO/ZnO heterostructures

Radiative recombination of two-dimensional electron gas(2DEG), induced by polarization and validated by Hall effect measurements, is investigated in ZnMgO/ZnO heterostructures grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The Mg composition, the depth profile distribution of Mg, the residual strain in ZnMgO caplayer, and the thickness of caplayer all significantly influence the 2DEG-related transitions in ZnMgO/ZnO heterostructures. Below or above ZnO donor bound exciton, three additional broad emissions persisting up to 100 K are assigned to the spatially indirect transitions from 2DEG electrons to the photoexcited holes towards the ZnO flat-band region or remaining at the heterointerface.Research is supported by the State Key Program for Basic Research of China under Grant No. 2011CB302003 and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61025020 and 60990312)

Mapping the global, regional, and national burden of diarrheal diseases attributable to unsafe water

BackgroundDiarrheal diseases are major contributors to deaths. Data on global and country-specific levels and trends of diarrheal diseases resulting from unsafe water are essential for policymakers to allocate resources.AimsThis study aimed to describe the global, regional, and national spatiotemporal burden of diarrheal diseases resulting from unsafe water exposure.MethodsAccording to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 dataset, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of diarrheal diseases, and their age-standardized rates (ASRs) were analyzed by age and sex in 204 countries and territories. Moreover, the average annual percentage change (AAPC) was estimated by a log-linear regression model to reflect the time trend. The association between ASR of diarrheal diseases due to unsafe water and socio-demographic index (SDI) levels was also analyzed.ResultsFrom 1990 to 2019, the number of deaths and DALYs of diarrheal diseases resulting from unsafe water decreased by 50 and 59%, respectively. Moreover, the ASR of deaths and DALYs also decreased during the study period, with AAPCs of −3.69 (95% CI [95% confidence interval]: −3.91 to −3.47) and − 3.66 (95% CI: −3.8 to −3.52), respectively. High diarrheal diseases resulting from unsafe water occurred mainly in low SDI regions and Africa. Males exhibited greater diarrheal deaths attributable to unsafe water than females, which was contrary to the condition in terms of DALYs. The age-specific burden of diarrheal deaths attributable to unsafe water is concentrated in children younger than 5 years. The AAPCs of the ASR of both deaths and DALYs showed a strong negative correlation with the SDI levels.ConclusionThe current study indicated that the global burden of unsafe water exposure-related diarrheal diseases decreased from 1990 to 2019 and varied significantly according to age, sex, and geographical location. Effective health promotion and health communication strategies and policies should be adopted to prevent and control diarrheal diseases resulting from unsafe water exposure

Staircase Band Gap Si \u3csub\u3e1-x\u3c/sub\u3eGe\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3e/Si Photodectectors

We fabricated Si 1-xGex/Si photodetectors by using a staircase band gap Si 1-xGex/Si structure. These devices exhibit a high optical response with a peak responsive wavelength at 0.96 μm and a responsivity of 27.8 A/W at -5 V bias. Excellent electrical characteristics evidenced by good diode rectification are also demonstrated. The dark current density is 0.1 pA/μm2 at V bias, and the breakdown voltage is -27 V. The high response is explained as the result of a staircase band gap by theoretical analysis

Room-Temperature Blue Luminescence of Thermally Oxidized Si\u3csub\u3e1-x-y\u3c/sub\u3eGe\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3eC\u3csub\u3ey\u3c/sub\u3e Thin Films on Si (100) Substrates

We measured at room temperature the photoluminescence spectra of the thermally oxidized Si1-x-yGexCy thin films which were grown on silicon substrates by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and the wet oxidized at 1100 °C for 20 min. The photoluminescence band with a peak at ~393 nm under the exciting radiation of λ = 241 nm was observed. Possible mechanism of this photoluminescence is discussed

Evaluation of the Observational Associations and Shared Genetics Between Glaucoma With Depression and Anxiety

PURPOSE: Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, is suspected to exhibit a notable association with psychological disturbances. This study aimed to investigate epidemiological associations and explore shared genetic architecture between glaucoma and mental traits, including depression and anxiety.METHODS: Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to investigate longitudinal associations based on UK Biobank. A stepwise approach was used to explore the shared genetic architecture. First, linkage disequilibrium score regression inferred global genetic correlations. Second, MiXeR analysis quantified the number of shared causal variants. Third, specific shared loci were detected through conditional/conjunctional false discovery rate (condFDR/conjFDR) analysis and characterized for biological insights. Finally, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to investigate bidirectional causal associations.RESULTS: Glaucoma was significantly associated with elevated risks of hospitalized depression (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-2.34) and anxiety (HR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.70-4.01) compared to healthy controls. Despite the absence of global genetic correlations, MiXeR analysis revealed 300 variants shared between glaucoma and depression, and 500 variants shared between glaucoma and anxiety. Subsequent condFDR/conjFDR analysis discovered 906 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) jointly associated with glaucoma and depression and two associated with glaucoma and anxiety. The MR analysis did not support robust causal associations but indicated the existence of pleiotropic genetic variants influencing both glaucoma and depression.CONCLUSIONS: Our study enhances the existing epidemiological evidence and underscores the polygenic overlap between glaucoma and mental traits. This observation suggests a correlation shaped by pleiotropic genetic variants rather than being indicative of direct causal relationships.</p

Evaluation of the Observational Associations and Shared Genetics Between Glaucoma With Depression and Anxiety

PURPOSE: Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, is suspected to exhibit a notable association with psychological disturbances. This study aimed to investigate epidemiological associations and explore shared genetic architecture between glaucoma and mental traits, including depression and anxiety.METHODS: Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to investigate longitudinal associations based on UK Biobank. A stepwise approach was used to explore the shared genetic architecture. First, linkage disequilibrium score regression inferred global genetic correlations. Second, MiXeR analysis quantified the number of shared causal variants. Third, specific shared loci were detected through conditional/conjunctional false discovery rate (condFDR/conjFDR) analysis and characterized for biological insights. Finally, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to investigate bidirectional causal associations.RESULTS: Glaucoma was significantly associated with elevated risks of hospitalized depression (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-2.34) and anxiety (HR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.70-4.01) compared to healthy controls. Despite the absence of global genetic correlations, MiXeR analysis revealed 300 variants shared between glaucoma and depression, and 500 variants shared between glaucoma and anxiety. Subsequent condFDR/conjFDR analysis discovered 906 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) jointly associated with glaucoma and depression and two associated with glaucoma and anxiety. The MR analysis did not support robust causal associations but indicated the existence of pleiotropic genetic variants influencing both glaucoma and depression.CONCLUSIONS: Our study enhances the existing epidemiological evidence and underscores the polygenic overlap between glaucoma and mental traits. This observation suggests a correlation shaped by pleiotropic genetic variants rather than being indicative of direct causal relationships.</p