Electronic band structure of stepped Si(100) and water stepped Si(100) systems

Ph.D. - Doctoral Progra

Fabrication and micromagnetic modeling of barium hexaferrite thin films by RF magnetron sputtering

The synthesis and characterization of thin M-type barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19 or BaM) films on silicon are reported. Multilayer in situ technique was employed to anneal the films at 850–900 °C for 10 min. The thickness dependence of the magnetic properties of the BaM films has been investigated using VSM. For the BaM 150 nm thickness film, acicular BaM grains were present having their c-axis randomly oriented. For the BaM films thicker than 150 nm, lattice relaxation favors the c-axis to be aligned in the film plane. The micromagnetic simulation was used to model the out-of-plane and the in-plane hysteresis loops. We have achieved good matching between the experimental data and the model. Using the micromagnetic model, we have estimated the deflection angle of c-axis from the normal plane θ = 25° for the 150 nm thick film. Keywords: Barium hexaferrite, Magnetic properties, Hysteresis loop, Micromagnetic modeling, VS

Hypertensive disorders in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: insights from the ESC EORP PPCM Registry

Aims: Hypertensive disorders occur in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). How often hypertensive disorders co-exist, and to what extent they impact outcomes, is less clear. We describe differences in phenotype and outcomes in women with PPCM with and without hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Methods: The European Society of Cardiology PPCM Registry enrolled women with PPCM from 2012-2018. Three groups were examined: 1) women without hypertension (‘PPCM-noHTN’); 2) women with hypertension but without pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-HTN’); 3) women with pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-PE’). Maternal (6-month) and neonatal outcomes were compared. Results: Of 735 women included, 452 (61.5%) had PPCM-noHTN, 99 (13.5%) had PPCM-HTN and 184 (25.0%) had PPCM-PE. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had more severe symptoms (NYHA IV in 44.4% and 29.9%, p<0.001), more frequent signs of heart failure (pulmonary rales in 70.7% and 55.4%, p=0.002), higher baseline LVEF (32.7% and 30.7%, p=0.005) and smaller left ventricular end diastolic diameter (57.4mm [±6.7] and 59.8mm [±8.1], p<0.001). There were no differences in the frequencies of death from any cause, re-hospitalization for any cause, stroke, or thromboembolic events. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had a greater likelihood of left ventricular recovery (LVEF≥50%) (adjusted OR 2.08 95% CI 1.21-3.57) and an adverse neonatal outcome (composite of termination, miscarriage, low birth weight or neonatal death) (adjusted OR 2.84 95% CI 1.66-4.87). Conclusion: Differences exist in phenotype, recovery of cardiac function and neonatal outcomes according to hypertensive status in women with PPCM