MgZnO/AlGaN heterostructure light-emitting diodes

We report on p-n junction light-emitting diodes fabricated from MgZnO/ZnO/AlGaN/GaN triple heterostructures. Energy band diagrams of the light-emitting diode structure incorporating piezoelectric and spontaneous polarization fields were simulated, revealing a strong hole confinement near the n-ZnO/p-AlGaN interface with a hole sheet density as large as 1.82x10(13) cm(-2) for strained structures. The measured current-voltage (IV) characteristics of the triple heterostructure p-n junctions have rectifying characteristics with a turn-on voltage of similar to3.2 V. Electron-beam-induced current measurements confirmed the presence of a p-n junction located at the n-ZnO/p-AlGaN interface. Strong optical emission was observed at similar to390 nm as expected for excitonic optical transitions in these structures. Experimental spectral dependence of the photocurrent confirmed the excitonic origin of the optical transition at 390 nm. Light emission was measured up to 650 K, providing additional confirmation of the excitonic nature of the optical transitions in the devices

Hybrid CdZnO/GaN quantum-well light emitting diodes

We report on the demonstration of light emission from hybrid CdZnO quantum-well light emitting diodes. A one-dimensional drift-diffusion method was used to model the expected band structure and carrier injection in the device, demonstrating the potential for 90% internal quantum efficiency when a CdZnO quantum well is used. Fabricated devices produced visible electroluminescence that was found to redshift from 3.32 to 3.15 eV as the forward current was increased from 20 to 40 mA. A further increase in the forward current to 50 mA resulted in a saturation of the redshift

Studies of minority carrier diffusion length increase in p-type ZnO : Sb

Minority electron diffusion length was measured in p-type, Sb-doped ZnO as a function of temperature using the electron beam induced current technique. A thermally induced increase of electron diffusion length was determined to have an activation energy of 184 +/- 10 meV. Irradiation with a low energy (5 kV) electron beam also resulted in an increase of diffusion length with a similar activation energy (219 +/- 8 meV). Both phenomena are suggested to involve a Sb-Zn-2V(Zn) acceptor complex. Saturation and relaxation dynamics of minority carrier diffusion length are explored. Details of a possible mechanism for diffusion length increase are presented

Migration and luminescence enhancement effects of deuterium in ZnO/ZnCdO quantum wells

ZnO/ZnCdO/ZnO multiple quantum well samples grown on sapphire substrates by molecular beam epitaxy and annealed in situ were exposed to D(2) plasmas at 150 degrees C. The deuterium showed migration depths of similar to 0.8 mu m for 30 min plasma exposures, with accumulation of (2)H in the ZnCdO wells. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity from the samples was increased by factors of 5 at 5 K and similar to 20 at 300 K as a result of the deuteration, most likely due to passivation of competing nonradiative centers. Annealing up to 300 degrees C led to increased migration of (2)H toward the substrate but no loss of deuterium from the sample and little change in the PL intensity. The initial PL intensities were restored by annealing at \u3e = 400 degrees C as (2)H was evolved from the sample (similar to 90% loss by 500 degrees C). By contrast, samples without in situ annealing showed a decrease in PL intensity with deuteration. This suggests that even moderate annealing temperatures lead to degradation of ZnCdO quantum wells. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics

Thermal stability of CdZnO/ZnO multi-quantum-wells

The thermal stability of CdZnO/ZnO multi-quantum-well (MQW) structures was studied using rapid thermal annealing in nitrogen from 300 to 750 degrees C. Photoluminescence (PL) emission from the MQWs was studied while varying the annealing temperature and time. For 15 min annealings, the PL center wavelength showed a 7 nm reduction for temperatures up to 650 degrees C. Above 650 degrees C, the wavelength changed rapidly, with a 50 nm reduction at 750 degrees C. Annealing at 700 degrees C for up to 20 min produced a systematic reduction in PL wavelength up to 39 nm. The data suggest that CdZnO/ZnO MQWs are relatively stable for nitrogen annealing below 650 degrees C for times up to 15 min

Differential pattern and prognostic significance of CD4+, FOXP3+ and IL-17+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in ductal and lobular breast cancers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Clinical relevance of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer is controversial. Here, we used a tumor microarray including a large series of ductal and lobular breast cancers with long term follow up data, to analyze clinical impact of TIL expressing specific phenotypes and distribution of TILs within different tumor compartments and in different histological subtypes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A tissue microarray (TMA) including 894 ductal and 164 lobular breast cancers was stained with antibodies recognizing CD4, FOXP3, and IL-17 by standard immunohistochemical techniques. Lymphocyte counts were correlated with clinico-pathological parameters and survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CD4⁺lymphocytes were more prevalent than FOXP3⁺TILs whereas IL-17⁺TILs were rare. Increased numbers of total CD4⁺and FOXP3⁺TIL were observed in ductal, as compared with lobular carcinomas. High grade (G3) and estrogen receptor (ER) negative ductal carcinomas displayed significantly (<it>p </it> < 0.001) higher CD4⁺and FOXP3⁺lymphocyte infiltration while her2/neu over-expression in ductal carcinomas was significantly (<it>p </it> < 0.001) associated with higher FOXP3⁺TIL counts. In contrast, lymphocyte infiltration was not linked to any clinico-pathological parameters in lobular cancers. In univariate but not in multivariate analysis CD4⁺infiltration was associated with significantly shorter survival in patients bearing ductal, but not lobular cancers. However, a FOXP3⁺/CD4⁺ratio > 1 was associated with improved overall survival even in multivariate analysis (<it>p </it>= 0.033).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Ductal and lobular breast cancers appear to be infiltrated by different lymphocyte subpopulations. In ductal cancers increased CD4⁺and FOXP3⁺TIL numbers are associated with more aggressive tumor features. In survival analysis, absolute numbers of TILs do not represent major prognostic indicators in ductal and lobular breast cancer. Remarkably however, a ratio > 1 of total FOXP3⁺/CD4⁺TILs in ductal carcinoma appears to represent an independent favorable prognostic factor.</p

Affective regulation of cognitive-control adjustments in remitted depressive patients after acute tryptophan depletion

Negative affect in healthy populations regulates the appraisal of demanding situations, which tunes subsequent effort mobilization and adjustments in cognitive control. In the present study, we hypothesized that dysphoria in depressed individuals similarly modulates this adaptation, possibly through a neural mechanism involving serotonergic regulation. We tested the effect of dysphoria induced by acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) in remitted depressed patients on conflict adaptation in a Simon task. ATD temporarily lowers the availability of the serotonin precursor L-Tryptophan and is known to increase depressive symptoms in approximately half of remitted depressed participants. We found that depressive symptoms induced by ATD were associated with increased conflict adaptation. Our finding extends recent observations implying an important role of affect in regulating conflict-driven cognitive control