3,479 research outputs found
Effective mass theory of monolayer \delta-doping in the high-density limit
Monolayer \delta-doped structures in silicon have attracted renewed interest
with their recent incorporation into atomic-scale device fabrication strategies
as source and drain electrodes and in-plane gates. Modeling the physics of
\delta-doping at this scale proves challenging, however, due to the large
computational overhead associated with ab initio and atomistic methods. Here,
we develop an analytical theory based on an effective mass approximation. We
specifically consider the Si:P materials system, and the limit of high donor
density, which has been the subject of recent experiments. In this case,
metallic behavior including screening tends to smooth out the local disorder
potential associated with random dopant placement. While smooth potentials may
be difficult to incorporate into microscopic, single-electron analyses, the
problem is easily treated in the effective mass theory by means of a jellium
approximation for the ionic charge. We then go beyond the analytic model,
incorporating exchange and correlation effects within a simple numerical model.
We argue that such an approach is appropriate for describing realistic,
high-density, highly disordered devices, providing results comparable to
density functional theory, but with greater intuitive appeal, and lower
computational effort. We investigate valley coupling in these structures,
finding that valley splitting in the low-lying \Gamma band grows much more
quickly than the \Gamma-\Delta band splitting at high densities. We also find
that many-body exchange and correlation corrections affect the valley splitting
more strongly than they affect the band splitting
Wavelet Analysis of AGN X-Ray Time Series: A QPO in 3C 273?
Quasi-periodic signals have yielded important constraints on the masses of
black holes in galactic X-ray binaries, and here we extend this to active
galactic nuclei (AGNs). We employ a wavelet technique to analyze 19
observations of 10 AGNs obtained with the XMM-Newton EPIC pn camera. We report
the detection of a candidate 3.3 ks quasi period in 3C 273. If this period
represents an orbital timescale originating near a last stable orbit of 3Rs, it
implies a central black hole mass of 7.3x10^6 Msun. For a maximally rotating
black hole with a last stable orbit of 0.6Rs, a central black hole mass of
8.1x10^7 Msun is implied. Both of these estimates are substantially lower than
previous reverberation-mapping results, which place the central black hole mass
of 3C 273 at about 2.35 x10^8 Msun. Assuming that this reverberation mass is
correct, the X-ray quasi period would be caused by a higher order oscillatory
mode of the accretion disk.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figure
Opportunities for topical antimicrobial therapy: permeation of canine skin by fusidic acid
BACKGROUND: Staphylococcal infection of the canine epidermis and hair follicle is amongst the commonest reasons for antimicrobial prescribing in small animal veterinary practice. Topical therapy with fusidic acid (FA) is an attractive alternative to systemic therapy based on low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs, commonly <0.03 mg/l) documented in canine pathogenic staphylococci, including strains of MRSA and MRSP (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and S. pseudintermedius). However, permeation of canine skin by FA has not been evaluated in detail. This study aimed to define the degree and extent of FA permeation in canine skin in vitro from two sites with different hair follicle density following application of a licensed ophthalmic formulation that shares the same vehicle as an FA-betamethasone combination product approved for dermal application in dogs. Topical FA application was modelled using skin held in Franz-type diffusion cells. Concentrations of FA in surface swabs, receptor fluid, and transverse skin sections of defined anatomical depth were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) analysis. RESULTS: The majority of FA was recovered by surface swabs after 24 h, as expected (meanâ±âSEM: 76.0â±â17.0%). FA was detected within 424/470 (90%) groups of serial sections of transversely cryotomed skin containing follicular infundibula, but never in 48/48 (100%) groups of sections containing only deeper follicular structures, nor in receptor fluid, suggesting that FA does not permeate beyond the infundibulum. The FA concentration (meanâ±âSEM) in the most superficial 240 Όm of skin was 2000â±â815 Όg/g. CONCLUSIONS: Topically applied FA can greatly exceed MICs for canine pathogenic staphylococci at the most common sites of infection. Topical FA therapy should now be evaluated using available formulations in vivo as an alternative to systemic therapy for canine superficial bacterial folliculitis.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
Symptom burden in patients with chronic kidney disease not requiring renal replacement therapy
Background: Although evidence shows that patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) experience a high symptom burden which impacts on quality of life (QoL), less is known about patients with earlier stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to explore symptom burden and potential contributing factors in patients with CKD Stage 1-5 not requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Methods: Patients with CKD Stage 1-5 and not on RRT were asked to report their symptoms using the Leicester Uraemic Symptom Score (LUSS), a questionnaire which assesses the frequency and intrusiveness of 11 symptoms commonly reported by kidney patients. Results: Symptoms were assessed in 283 CKD Stage 1-5 patients: 54% male, mean age 60.5 standard error± 1.0, mean eGFR 38ml/min/1.73m2. Some 96% (95% confidence interval 93.2-98.0) of participants reported experiencing at least one symptom, the median reported being six. Excessive tiredness (81%;76.0-85.6), sleep disturbance (70%;64.3-75.3) and pain in bones/joints (69%;63.4-74.6) were reported most commonly. Overall, few significant associations were found between biochemical markers of disease severity and symptom burden. Men tended to report fewer symptoms than women and South Asian patients often described experiencing symptoms with a greater severity. Older patients found musculoskeletal symptoms more intrusive whereas younger patients found reduced concentration more intrusive. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that patients with CKD stages 1-5 experience a multitude of symptoms that could potentially impact QoL. Using multidimensional tools like the LUSS, more exploration and focus could provide a greater opportunity for patient focussed symptom control from the earliest stages of CKD.Peer-reviewedPublisher Versio
Association between hepatitis B co-infection and elevated liver stiffness among HIV-infected adults in Lusaka, Zambia
In sub-Saharan Africa, liver disease epidemiology among HIV-infected individuals is not well described, in part due to limited access to diagnostic tests for liver fibrosis
An XMM-Newton observation of the massive, relaxed galaxy cluster ClJ1226.9+3332 at z=0.89
A detailed X-ray analysis of an XMM-Newton observation of the high-redshift
(z=0.89) galaxy cluster ClJ1226.9+3332 is presented. The X-ray temperature is
found to be 11.5{+1.1}{-0.9}keV, the highest X-ray temperature of any cluster
at z>0.6. In contrast to MS1054-0321, the only other very hot cluster currently
known at z>0.8, ClJ1226.9+3332 features a relaxed X-ray morphology, and its
high overall gas temperature is not caused by one or several hot spots. The
system thus constitutes a unique example of a high redshift, high temperature,
relaxed cluster, for which the usual hydrostatic equilibrium assumption, and
the X-ray mass is most reliable. A temperature profile is constructed (for the
first time at this redshift) and is consistent with the cluster being
isothermal out to 45% of the virial radius. Within the virial radius
(corresponding to a measured overdensity of a factor of 200), a total mass of
(1.4+/-0.5)*10^15 M_solar is derived, with a gas mass fraction of 12+/-5%. The
bolometric X-ray luminosity is (5.3+/-0.2)*10^45 erg/s. The probabilities of
finding a cluster of this mass within the volume of the discovery X-ray survey
are 8*10^{-5} for Omega_M=1 and 0.64 for Omega_M=0.3, making Omega_M=1 highly
unlikely. The entropy profile suggests that entropy evolution is being
observed. The metal abundance (of Z=0.33{+0.14}{-0.10} Z_solar), gas mass
fraction, and gas distribution are consistent with those of local clusters;
thus the bulk of the metals were in place by z=0.89.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Effect of Baseline Renal Function on Tenofovir-Containing Antiretroviral Therapy Outcomes in Zambia
In this large cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving first-line antiretroviral therapy in Zambia, individuals who started a tenofovir-containing regimen despite baseline renal dysfunction showed comparable mortality and renal function improvement to those not receiving tenofovi
Quantum Computation with Quantum Dots
We propose a new implementation of a universal set of one- and two-qubit
gates for quantum computation using the spin states of coupled single-electron
quantum dots. Desired operations are effected by the gating of the tunneling
barrier between neighboring dots. Several measures of the gate quality are
computed within a newly derived spin master equation incorporating decoherence
caused by a prototypical magnetic environment. Dot-array experiments which
would provide an initial demonstration of the desired non-equilibrium spin
dynamics are proposed.Comment: 12 pages, Latex, 2 ps figures. v2: 20 pages (very minor corrections,
substantial expansion), submitted to Phys. Rev.
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