Vanadium centers in ZnTe crystals. II. Electron paramagnetic resonance

Four V-related electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) spectra are observed in Bridgman-grown ZnTe doped with vanadium. Two of them are attributed to the charge states VZn3+(A+) and VZn2+(A0) of the isolated V impurity. For the ionized donor, VZn3+(A+), the spectrum reveals the typical behavior of the expected 3A2(F) ground state in tetrahedral symmetry. The incorporation on a cation lattice site could be proved by the resolved superhyperfine interaction with four Te ions. The second spectrum showing triclinic symmetry and S=3/2 is interpreted as the neutral donor state VZn2+(A0). The origin of the triclinic distortion of the cubic (Td) crystal field could be a static Jahn-Teller effect. The two additionally observed EPR spectra are attributed to nearest-neighbor V-related defect pairs. The spectrum of the first one, V2+Zn-YTe, shows trigonal symmetry and can be explained by the S=3/2 manifold of an orbital singlet ground state. An associated defect "YTe" is responsible for the trigonal distortion of the tetrahedral crystal field of V2+Zn. The spectrum of the second pair defect also shows trigonal symmetry and can be described by S=1/2. The ground-state manifold implies a VZn3+−XTe pair as the most probable origin of this spectrum. The S=1/2 ground state is produced by a dominating isotropic exchange interaction coupling the S=1 ground-state manifold of V3+Zn to an assumed S=1/2 ground state of "XTe" in antiferromagnetic orientation. The nature of the associated defects "YTe" and "XTe" remains unknown for both pairs since no hyperfine structure has been observed, but most probably acceptorlike defects are involved

Vanadium centers in ZnTe crystals. I. Optical properties

In ZnTe:V bulk crystals with nominal vanadium concentrations between 1000 and 7000 ppm three vanadium-ion states V+, V2+, and V3+ were found in low-temperature optical measurements. No-phonon lines of the internal emissions were detected for the 5E(D)→5T2(D) transition of V+(d4) at 3401 cm−1 (0.422 eV), for 4T2(F)→4T1(F) of V2+(d3) at 4056 cm−1 (0.503 eV), and for 3T2(F)→3A2(F) of V3+(d2) at 4726 cm−1 (0.586 eV). The energies of the internal transitions are reduced with respect to the corresponding transitions in ZnS:V and ZnSe:V. The respective excitation spectra display, in addition to broad charge-transfer bands, higher excited levels of the individual charge states. Crystal-field calculations of the detected transition energies based on the Tanabe-Sugano scheme are presented. With the help of sensitization experiments, a one-electron model is designed, in which the donor level (V2+/V3+) is situated 12 500 cm−1 (1.55 eV) below the conduction-band edge and the acceptor level (V2+/V+) 9400 cm−1 (1.17 eV) above the valence-band edge. The dynamical behavior of the three infrared lurainescence bands was measured. Decay time constants of 43 μs (V+), 120 μs (V2+), and 420 μs (V3+) were found. Electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) results measured on the same samples are presented in an accompanying paper and confirm the optical detection of isolated substitutional V2+(d3) and V3+(d2) ions. Relations between the EPR and optical results are discussed

The Chromium Impurity in ZnTe: Changes of the Charge State Detected by Optical and EPR Spectroscopy

In gasphase-grown p-type ZnTe crystals, the substitutional Cr impurity is detected in the neutral (Cr2+) and both ionized states Cr3+ and Cr+. While these three oxidation states are now identified by EPR, two of them emerge in the optical spectra as well. Optical irradiation of the samples at low temperatures influences the relative concentrations of these species. By monitoring the respective EPR or optical signals, thresholds for photoionization and photo-neutralization processes are derived. In addition to the strong 5E(D)→5T2(D) optical absorption of Cr2+(d4), the samples display a luminescence band near 4500 cm-1, structured by Jahn—Teller interaction. For the first time, a no-phonon line at 4989 cm-1 is resolved, accompanied by a TA(L) satellite and some local-mode structure. In EPR, the angular dependence of the ∆M = ±2 transition characteristic for Cr2+(d4) ions on lattice sites indicates the 5E(D) ground state subject to a static Jahn-Teller effect in the three (100) directions. Whereas an internal optical transition of Cr3+(d3) could not be identified, in EPR, an isotropie signal at g=3.3 discloses a strongly Jahn—Teller-disturbed 4T1(F) ground state. On irradiation with band-tail photons, the ionized acceptor state Cr+(d5) becomes detectable by EPR. Furthermore, an emission with an onset near 10,300 cm-1 is recorded for the first time. Its excitation and optical stimulation spectra are studied in wide spectral ranges; the exponential decay with ζ≅1 ms supports an assignment to a spin-forbidden transition. The acceptor ionization energy is determined as 10,500 cm-1 (1.3 eV)

Analysis of polymorphism and development of a molecular-genetic system for genotyp-ing by the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene

This article explores the genetic variability of the gene that encodes telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), which plays a key role in maintaining telomere length and, as a result, genome stability in various eukaryotic species. The study employs a comprehensive approach that combines phylogenetic and bioinformatic analysis with molecular-genetic research methods. The research involved the screening of genetic databases to investigate TERT gene orthologues across organisms belonging to different systematic groups. The TERT gene, which is prevalent in a wide range of eukaryotic biological species, exhibits polymorphisms that have the potential to influence TERT enzyme function and, consequently, animal phenotypes. The primary focus of this study centers on the pig TERT gene, selected as a model organism due to its genetic similarity to humans and its importance as a productive agricultural species. The article explores the exon-intron structure of the TERT gene, analyzing the size of the corresponding transcript and protein product. Furthermore, it provides data on polymorphisms in the pig TERT gene, including missense and synonymous variants. The chromosomal localization of these polymorphisms is characterized and correlated with the domain structure of the TERT enzyme. For the evaluation of the impact of polymorphisms on the structural and functional properties of the TERT enzyme, a molecular-genetic system based on the PCR-RFLP method has been developed. This PCR-RFLP system serves as a basis for subsequent experimental analyses of missense and synonymous variants in population and association studies, allowing for an assessment of the prevalence of these polymorphisms and their significance for animal phenotypes. Given the significance of further laboratory investigation of the pig TERT gene, the developed PCR-RFLP system becomes necessary for the assessment of the functional implications of the polymorphisms within this gene and the potential identification of causative ones among them. The synergy of bioinformatics and molecular-genetic methods in this study lays the groundwork for future impactful research in this field. The presented study holds promise for marker-associated selection, as it opens the way for the use of the TERT gene as a marker in the genetic improvement of agricultural animal species

Adding tsetse control to medical activities contributes to decreasing transmission of sleeping sickness in the Mandoul focus (Chad)

Background Gambian sleeping sickness or HAT (human African trypanosomiasis) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense transmitted by riverine species of tsetse. A global programme aims to eliminate the disease as a public health problem by 2020 and stop transmission by 2030. In the South of Chad, the Mandoul area is a persistent focus of Gambian sleeping sickness where around 100 HAT cases were still diagnosed and treated annually until 2013. Pre-2014, control of HAT relied solely on case detection and treatment, which lead to a gradual decrease in the number of cases of HAT due to annual screening of the population. Methods Because of the persistence of transmission and detection of new cases, we assessed whether the addition of vector control to case detection and treatment could further reduce transmission and consequently, reduce annual incidence of HAT in Mandoul. In particular, we investigated the impact of deploying ‘tiny targets’ which attract and kill tsetse. Before tsetse control commenced, a census of the human population was conducted and their settlements mapped. A pre-intervention survey of tsetse distribution and abundance was implemented in November 2013 and 2600 targets were deployed in the riverine habitats of tsetse in early 2014, 2015 and 2016. Impact on tsetse and on the incidence of sleeping sickness was assessed through nine tsetse monitoring surveys and four medical surveys of the human population in 2014 and 2015. Mathematical modelling was used to assess the relative impact of tsetse control on incidence compared to active and passive screening. Findings The census indicated that a population of 38674 inhabitants lived in the vicinity of the Mandoul focus. Within this focus in November 2013, the vector is Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and the mean catch of tsetse from traps was 0.7 flies/trap/day (range, 0-26). The catch of tsetse from 44 sentinel biconical traps declined after target deployment with only five tsetse being caught in nine surveys giving a mean catch of 0.005 tsetse/trap/day. Modelling indicates that 70.4% (95% CI: 51-95%) of the reduction in reported cases between 2013 and 2015 can be attributed to vector control with the rest due to medical intervention. Similarly tiny targets are estimated to have reduced new infections dramatically with 62.8% (95% CI: 59–66%) of the reduction due to tsetse control, and 8.5% (95% 8–9%) to enhanced passive detection. Model predictions anticipate that elimination as a public health problem could be achieved by 2018 in this focus if vector control and screening continue at the present level and, furthermore, there may have been virtually no transmission since 2015. Conclusion This work shows that tiny targets reduced the numbers of tsetse in this focus in Chad, which may have interrupted transmission and the combination of tsetse control to medical detection and treatment has played a major role in reducing in HAT incidence in 2014 and 2015

Static and dynamic ionization levels of transition metal-doped zinc chalcogenides

Transition metal (TM) impurities in semiconductors have a considerable effect on the electronic properties and on the lattice vibrations. The unfilled d shell permits the impurity atoms to exist in a variety of charge states. In this work, the static donor and acceptor ionization energies of ZnX:M, with X = S, Se, Te and M:Sc, Ti, V, Fe, Co, Ni are obtained from first principles total energy calculations and compared with experimental results in the literature where they exist. From these results, many of the TM-doped zinc chalogenides have an amphoteric behavior. To analyze the rule of the deep gap levels in both the radiative and non-radiative processes, the dynamic ionization energies are obtained as a function of the inward and outward M–X displacements. In many cases, the changes in the mass and the force constants resulting from the substitution of an impurity center for a lattice atom are small. When the charge or the environment of the impurity changes, the electron population tend to remain compensated. As consequence, the changes in the lattice vibrational modes are small

Health economic evaluation of strategies to eliminate gambiense human African trypanosomiasis in the Mandoul disease focus of Chad

Human African trypanosomiasis, caused by the gambiense subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei (gHAT), is a deadly parasitic disease transmitted by tsetse. Partners worldwide have stepped up efforts to eliminate the disease, and the Chadian government has focused on the previously high-prevalence setting of Mandoul. In this study, we evaluate the economic efficiency of the intensified strategy that was put in place in 2014 aimed at interrupting the transmission of gHAT, and we make recommendations on the best way forward based on both epidemiological projections and cost-effectiveness. In our analysis, we use a dynamic transmission model fit to epidemiological data from Mandoul to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of combinations of active screening, improved passive screening (defined as an expansion of the number of health posts capable of screening for gHAT), and vector control activities (the deployment of Tiny Targets to control the tsetse vector). For cost-effectiveness analyses, our primary outcome is disease burden, denominated in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and costs, denominated in 2020 US$. Although active and passive screening have enabled more rapid diagnosis and accessible treatment in Mandoul, the addition of vector control provided good value-for-money (at less than$750/DALY averted) which substantially increased the probability of reaching the 2030 elimination target for gHAT as set by the World Health Organization. Our transmission modelling and economic evaluation suggest that the gains that have been made could be maintained by passive screening. Our analysis speaks to comparative efficiency, and it does not take into account all possible considerations; for instance, any cessation of ongoing active screening should first consider that substantial surveillance activities will be critical to verify the elimination of transmission and to protect against the possible importation of infection from neighbouring endemic foci