Growth of single and multilayer sesquioxide crystal films for lasing applications via pulsed laser deposition

Sesquioxides, materials of the form RE2O3 (RE: rare earth), are of great interest for lasing applications. These materials offer high thermal conductivities, are mechanically stable, can easily be doped with various rare earth ions and are optically isotropic. Members of the sesquioxide family have the same crystal structure but differing refractive indices, and hence are ideal candidates for multilayer as well as single film growth. Sesquioxides can be challenging to grow from the melt, however, due to their high melting points (>2400 °C)

Characterization and laser operation of PLD grown Yb³⁺:Y₂O₃

# Yb3+:Y2O3# Pulsed laser deposition# Characterization of Yb3+:Y2O3 thin films# Laser experiments# Outloo

On the influence of adequate Weddell Sea characteristics in a large-scale global ocean circulation model

Global ocean circulation models usually lack an adequate consideration of high-latitude processes due to a limited model domain or insufficient resolution. Without the processes in key areas of the global thermohaline circulation, the characteristics and flow of deep and bottom waters cannot be modeled realistically. In this study, a high-resolution (~20 km) ocean model focused on the Weddell Sea sector of the Southern Ocean is combined with a low-resolution (2°× 2°) global ocean model applying the state estimation technique. Temperature, salinity, and velocity data on two Weddell Sea sections from the regional model are used as constraints for the large-scale model in addition to satellite altimetry and sea-surface temperatures. The differences between the model with additional constraints and without document that the Weddell Sea circulation exerts significant influence on the course of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current with consequences for Southern Ocean water mass characteristics and the spreading of deep and bottom waters in the South Atlantic. Furthermore, a warming trend in the period 19932001 was found in the Weddell Sea and adjacent basins in agreement with float measurements in the upper Southern Ocean. Teleconnections to the North Atlantic are suggested but need further studies to demonstrate their statistical significance

GO-SHIP Easy Ocean: Gridded ship-based hydrographic section of temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen.

Despite technological advances over the last several decades, ship-based hydrography remains the only method for obtaining high-quality, high spatial and vertical resolution measurements of physical, chemical, and biological parameters over the full water column essential for physical, chemical, and biological oceanography and climate science. The Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP) coordinates a network of globally sustained hydrographic sections. These data provide a unique data set that spans four decades, comprised of more than 40 cross-ocean transects. The section data are, however, difficult to use owing to inhomogeneous format. The purpose of this new temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen data product is to combine, reformat and grid these data measured by Conductivity-Temperature-Depth-Oxygen (CTDO) profilers in order to facilitate their use by a wider audience. The product is machine readable and readily accessible by many existing visualisation and analysis software packages. The data processing can be repeated with modifications to suit various applications such as analysis of deep ocean, validation of numerical simulation, and calibration of autonomous platforms

Multi-beam pulsed laser deposition for advanced thin-film optical waveguides

We discuss our progress in the use of multiple laser beams and multiple targets for the pulsed laser deposition of thin films for waveguide laser and magneto-optic applications. In contrast to the more widely used single-beam/single-target geometries, having more than one laser-produced plume can allow tuning of the material properties and complex engineering of the deposited thin films. For optical applications - the majority of the work reported here - dopants can be selectively introduced, lattice mismatch and residual strain can be compensated, which is an important factor for successful growth of thin films of ~ tens of microns thickness, and refractive index values can be adjusted for fabrication of sophisticated waveguiding structures. We discuss mixed, layered, superlattice and Bragg reflector growth, which involve out-of-plane engineering of the film structure, and in-plane engineered geometries for designs relevant to thin-film disc lasing devices. Finally we briefly discuss our most recent use of multi-plume growth for magneto-optic thin films, which involves compositional tuning of final magnetic properties

Effect of Personalized Messages Sent by a Health System's Patient Portal on Influenza Vaccination Rates: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BackgroundAdult influenza vaccination rates are low. Tailored patient reminders might raise rates.ObjectiveEvaluate impact of a health system's patient portal reminders: (1) tailored to patient characteristics and (2) incorporating behavioral science strategies, on influenza vaccination rates among adults.DesignPragmatic 6-arm randomized trial across a health system during the 2019-2020 influenza vaccination season. The setting was one large health system-53 adult primary care practices.ParticipantsAll adult patients who used the patient portal within 12 months, stratified by the following: young adults (18-64 years, without diabetes), older adults (≥65 years, without diabetes), and those with diabetes (≥18 years).InterventionsPatients were randomized within strata to either (1) pre-commitment reminder alone (1 message, mid-October), (2) pre-commitment + loss frame messages, (3) pre-commitment + gain frame messages, (4) loss frame messages alone, (5) gain frame messages alone, or (6) standard of care control. Patients in the pre-commitment group were sent a message in mid-October, asking if they planned on getting an influenza vaccination. Patients in loss or gain frame groups were sent up to 3 portal reminders (late October, November, and December, if no documented influenza vaccination in the EHR) about importance and safety of influenza vaccine.Main measuresReceipt of 1 influenza vaccine from 10/01/2019 to 03/31/2020.Key results196,486 patients (145,166 young adults, 29,795 older adults, 21,525 adults with diabetes) were randomized. Influenza vaccination rates were as follows: for young adults 36.8%, for older adults 55.6%, and for diabetics 60.6%. On unadjusted and adjusted (for age, gender, insurance, race, ethnicity, and prior influenza vaccine history) analyses, influenza vaccination rates were not statistically different for any study group versus control.ConclusionsPatient reminders sent by a health system's patient portal that were tailored to patient demographics (young adults, older adults, diabetes) and that incorporated two behavioral economic messaging strategies (pre-commitment and loss/gain framing) were not effective in raising influenza vaccination rates.Trial registrationThis trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04110314)

Ocean circulation of the Southwest Paci c: new insights from the Southwest Paci c Ocean and Climate Experiment (SPICE)

http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/mirai/mr12-03/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/mirai/mr14-02/

Advances from the Southwest Pacific Ocean Circulation and Climate Experiment (SPICE)

http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/mirai/mr10-07/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/mirai/mr12-03/

Zonally asymmetric response of the Southern Ocean mixed-layer depth to the Southern Annular Mode

International audienc