Breakdown of anomalous channeling with ion energy for accurate strain determination in gan-based heterostructures

The influence of the beam energy on the determination of strain state with ion channeling in GaN-based heterostructures (HSs) is addressed. Experimental results show that anomalous channeling may hinder an accurate analysis due to the steering effects at the HS interface, which are more intense at lower ion energies. The experimental angular scans have been well reproduced by Monte Carlo simulations, correlating the steering effects with the close encounter probability at the interface. Consequently, limitations in the determination of the strain state by ion channeling can be overcome by selecting the adequate beam energy

Influence of steering effects on strain detection in AlGaInN/GaN heterostructures by ion channellin

Ion steering effects in the interface of heterostructures can strongly influence the shape and position of angular channelling scans leading to considerable error in the determination of strain by ion channelling. As an example, this paper presents channelling measurements on a near-lattice-matched AlGaInN/GaN heterostructure which show no shift between the angular scans from the quaternary layer and the underlying GaN substrate although high resolution x-ray diffraction data confirm the presence of strain in the layer. Such ‘anomalous’ behaviour was studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations for nitride ternary and quaternary films in the whole composition range. The simulations show that the thickness, magnitude of the distortion of the strained lattice and energy of the probing beam are critical parameters controlling the impact of steering. Three composition/strain regions were established for a typical beam of 2MeV alpha particles corresponding to different intensities of the steering potential and in which strain measurements by ion channelling are (a) correct, (b) possible but require corrections and (c) not possible due to steering effects

Optimal network topologies: Expanders, Cages, Ramanujan graphs, Entangled networks and all that

We report on some recent developments in the search for optimal network topologies. First we review some basic concepts on spectral graph theory, including adjacency and Laplacian matrices, and paying special attention to the topological implications of having large spectral gaps. We also introduce related concepts as ``expanders'', Ramanujan, and Cage graphs. Afterwards, we discuss two different dynamical feautures of networks: synchronizability and flow of random walkers and so that they are optimized if the corresponding Laplacian matrix have a large spectral gap. From this, we show, by developing a numerical optimization algorithm that maximum synchronizability and fast random walk spreading are obtained for a particular type of extremely homogeneous regular networks, with long loops and poor modular structure, that we call entangled networks. These turn out to be related to Ramanujan and Cage graphs. We argue also that these graphs are very good finite-size approximations to Bethe lattices, and provide almost or almost optimal solutions to many other problems as, for instance, searchability in the presence of congestion or performance of neural networks. Finally, we study how these results are modified when studying dynamical processes controlled by a normalized (weighted and directed) dynamics; much more heterogeneous graphs are optimal in this case. Finally, a critical discussion of the limitations and possible extensions of this work is presented.Comment: 17 pages. 11 figures. Small corrections and a new reference. Accepted for pub. in JSTA

First observations with CONDOR, a 1.5 THz heterodyne receiver

The THz atmospheric windows centered at roughly 1.3 and 1.5~THz, contain numerous spectral lines of astronomical importance, including three high-J CO lines, the N+ line at 205 microns, and the ground transition of para-H2D+. The CO lines are tracers of hot (several 100K), dense gas; N+ is a cooling line of diffuse, ionized gas; the H2D+ line is a non-depleting tracer of cold (~20K), dense gas. As the THz lines benefit the study of diverse phenomena (from high-mass star-forming regions to the WIM to cold prestellar cores), we have built the CO N+ Deuterium Observations Receiver (CONDOR) to further explore the THz windows by ground-based observations. CONDOR was designed to be used at the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) and Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). CONDOR was installed at the APEX telescope and test observations were made to characterize the instrument. The combination of CONDOR on APEX successfully detected THz radiation from astronomical sources. CONDOR operated with typical Trec=1600K and spectral Allan variance times of 30s. CONDOR's first light observations of CO 13-12 emission from the hot core Orion FIR4 (= OMC1 South) revealed a narrow line with T(MB) = 210K and delta(V)=5.4km/s. A search for N+ emission from the ionization front of the Orion Bar resulted in a non-detection. The successful deployment of CONDOR at APEX demonstrates the potential for making observations at THz frequencies from ground-based facilities.Comment: 4 pages + list of objects, 3 figures, to be published in A&A special APEX issu

Human papillomavirus infection in honduran women with normal cytology

Contains fulltext : 80440.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at estimating type-specific HPV prevalence and its cofactors among Honduran women with normal cytology in order to provide valuable information to health policymakers about the epidemiology of this important sexually transmitted infection. METHODS: A total of 591 women with normal cytology from Tegucigalpa, Honduras were interviewed and tested for HPV using the SPF10 LiPA25. A structured epidemiological questionnaire was administered to each woman. RESULTS: The overall HPV prevalence was 51%. Twenty-three types of HPV were detected; HPV 16, 51, 31, 18, and 11 were the most common. The highest prevalence of cancer associated HPV types (15.0%) was found in the women less than 35 years. Besides the association with age, the main independent predictors of HPV infection were the lifetime number of sexual partners and having a low socioeconomic status and less than 5 previous Pap smears. CONCLUSIONS: In the population studied, there was a broad diversity of HPV infections, with high-risk types being the most common types detected. The establishment of a well-characterized population with regard to the community prevalence of type-specific HPV infection will provide a valuable baseline for monitoring population effectiveness of an HPV vaccine

Single phase a-plane MgZnO epilayers for UV optoelectronics: substitutional behaviour of Mg at large contents

High quality 1 μm thick a-plane MgxZn1−xO layers were produced by molecular beam epitaxy with Mg contents higher than 50%. Resonant Rutherford backscattering spectrometry combined with ion channeling revealed a uniform growth in both composition and atomic order. The lattice-site location of Mg, Zn and O elements was determined independently, proving the substitutional behaviour of Mg in Zn-sites of the wurtzite lattice. X-Ray diffraction pole figure analysis also confirms the absence of phase separation. Optical properties at such high Mg contents were studied in Schottky photodiodes

Estimating the long-term impact of a prophylactic human papillomavirus 16/18 vaccine on the burden of cervical cancer in the UK

To predict the public health impact on cervical disease by introducing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the United Kingdom, we developed a mathematical model that can be used to reflect the impact of vaccination in different countries with existing screening programmes. Its use is discussed in the context of the United Kingdom. The model was calibrated with published data. The impact of vaccination on cervical cancer and deaths, precancerous lesions and screening outcomes were estimated for a vaccinated cohort of 12-year-old girls, among which it is estimated that there would be a reduction of 66% in the prevalence of high-grade precancerous lesions and a 76% reduction in cervical cancer deaths. Estimates for various other measures of the population effects of vaccination are also presented. We concluded that it is feasible to forecast the potential effects of HPV vaccination in the context of an existing national screening programme. Results suggest a sizable reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer and related deaths. Areas for future research include investigation of the beneficial effects of HPV vaccination on infection transmission and epidemic dynamics, as well as HPV-related neoplasms in other sites

Oral chondroitin sulfate and prebiotics for the treatment of canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic enteropathy of unknown etiology, although microbiome dysbiosis, genetic susceptibility, and dietary and/or environmental factors are hypothesized to be involved in its pathogenesis. Since some of the current therapies are associated with severe side effects, novel therapeutic modalities are needed. A new oral supplement for long-term management of canine IBD containing chondroitin sulfate (CS) and prebiotics (resistant starch, β-glucans and mannaoligosaccharides) was developed to target intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, and restore normobiosis, without exhibiting any side effects. This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in dogs with IBD aims to evaluate the effects of 180 days administration of this supplement together with a hydrolyzed diet on clinical signs, intestinal histology, gut microbiota, and serum biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. RESULTS Twenty-seven client-owned biopsy-confirmed IBD dogs were included in the study, switched to the same hydrolyzed diet and classified into one of two groups: supplement and placebo. Initially, there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05) for any of the studied parameters. Final data analysis (supplement: n = 9; placebo: n = 10) showed a significant decrease in canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI) score in both groups after treatment (p < 0.001). After treatment, a significant decrease (1.53-fold; p < 0.01) in histologic score was seen only in the supplement group. When groups were compared, the supplement group showed significantly higher serum cholesterol (p < 0.05) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) levels after 60 days of treatment (p < 0.01), and the placebo group showed significantly reduced serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels after 120 days (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups at any time point for CIBDAI, WSAVA histologic score and fecal microbiota evaluated by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). No side effects were reported in any group. CONCLUSIONS The combined administration of the supplement with hydrolyzed diet over 180 days was safe and induced improvements in selected serum biomarkers, possibly suggesting a reduction in disease activity. This study was likely underpowered, therefore larger studies are warranted in order to demonstrate a supplemental effect to dietary treatment of this supplement on intestinal histology and CIBDAI

Closing the Light Gluino Window in Supersymmetric Grand Unified Models

We study the light gluino scenario giving special attention to constraints from the masses of the light CP-even neutral Higgs $m_h$, the lightest chargino $m_{\chi^{\pm}_1}$, and the second lightest neutralino $m_{\chi^0_2}$, and from the $b\rightarrow s\gamma$ decay. We find that minimal $N=1$ supergravity, with a radiatively broken electroweak symmetry group and universality of scalar and gaugino masses at the unification scale, is incompatible with the existence of a light gluino.Comment: 12 pages (plain tex), 1 figure not included, VAND-TH-94-7-R. An error is corrected. Modifications to the text and the figure are mad

The role of healthcare providers in HPV vaccination programs – A meeting report

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and Control Board convened a meeting in Bucharest, Romania (May 2018), to discuss the role of healthcare providers (HCPs) in prevention programs, with a focus on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. International and local experts discussed the role that HCPs can play to increase the uptake of HPV vaccine and screening. Experts recommended: 1) increasing HCP norms of getting vaccinated; 2) training providers to make effective recommendations; 3) making culturally appropriate materials available, in local languages; and 4) centralizing and coordinating education and information material, to direct both HCPs and the general public to the best material available