Probing the electron-phonon coupling in ozone-doped graphene by Raman spectroscopy

We have investigated the effects of ozone treatment on graphene by Raman scattering. Sequential ozone short-exposure cycles resulted in increasing the $p$ doping levels as inferred from the blue shift of the 2$D$ and $G$ peak frequencies, without introducing significant disorder. The two-phonon 2$D$ and 2$D'$ Raman peak intensities show a significant decrease, while, on the contrary, the one-phonon G Raman peak intensity remains constant for the whole exposure process. The former reflects the dynamics of the photoexcited electrons (holes) and, specifically, the increase of the electron-electron scattering rate with doping. From the ratio of 2$D$ to 2$D$ intensities, which remains constant with doping, we could extract the ratio of electron-phonon coupling parameters. This ratio is found independent on the number of layers up to ten layers. Moreover, the rate of decrease of 2$D$ and 2$D'$ intensities with doping was found to slowdown inversely proportional to the number of graphene layers, revealing the increase of the electron-electron collision probability

Integrability and explicit solutions in some Bianchi cosmological dynamical systems

The Einstein field equations for several cosmological models reduce to polynomial systems of ordinary differential equations. In this paper we shall concentrate our attention to the spatially homogeneous diagonal G_2 cosmologies. By using Darboux's theory in order to study ordinary differential equations in the complex projective plane CP^2 we solve the Bianchi V models totally. Moreover, we carry out a study of Bianchi VI models and first integrals are given in particular cases

Optical properties of Si/Si0.87Ge0.13 multiple quantum well wires

Nanometer-scale wires cut into a Si/Si0.87Ge0.13 multiple quantum well structure were fabricated and characterized by using photoluminescence and photoreflectance at temperatures between 4 and 20 K. It was found that, in addition to a low-energy broadband emission at around 0.8 eV and other features normally observable in photoluminescence measurements, fabrication process induced strain relaxation and enhanced electron-hole droplets emission together with a new feature at 1.131 eV at 4 K were observed. The latter was further identified as a transition related to impurities located at the Si/Si0.87Ge0.13 heterointerfaces

Comparison of Zn_{1-x}Mn_xTe/ZnTe multiple-quantum wells and quantum dots by below-bandgap photomodulated reflectivity

Large-area high density patterns of quantum dots with a diameter of 200 nm have been prepared from a series of four Zn_{0.93}Mn_{0.07}Te/ZnTe multiple quantum well structures of different well width (4 nm, 6 nm, 8 nm and 10 nm) by electron beam lithography followed by Ar+ ion beam etching. Below-bandgap photomodulated reflectivity spectra of the quantum dot samples and the parent heterostructures were then recorded at 10 K and the spectra were fitted to extract the linewidths and the energy positions of the excitonic transitions in each sample. The fitted results are compared to calculations of the transition energies in which the different strain states in the samples are taken into account. We show that the main effect of the nanofabrication process is a change in the strain state of the quantum dot samples compared to the parent heterostructures. The quantum dot pillars turn out to be freestanding, whereas the heterostructures are in a good approximation strained to the ZnTe lattice constant. The lateral size of the dots is such that extra confinement effects are not expected or observed.Comment: 23 pages, LaTeX2e (amsmath, epsfig), 7 EPS figure

Manejo del agua en las acequias privadas Garrapatal y el Tambo en la provincia del Carchi, Ecuador

Como parte de las actividades que el Instituto Internacional del Manejo del Agua (IWMI, por su sigla en Inglés) adelantó en la Región Andina se llevó a cabo el estudio que aquí se presenta. El Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo otorgó una donación al Intituto a fin de valuar, entre otras cosas, el manejo de los sistemas de riego privados en las partes altas del Ecuador. Fue así como se escogieron dos acequias en la Provincia del Carchi: Garrapatal y el Tambo. El estudio representa un esfuerzo significativo por parte de los autores ya que las condiciones geográficas del área constituyen de por sí una gran barrera para la ejecución de este tipo de trabajos. Tanto el acceso a las bocatomas de estas acequias andinas como el recorrido de las mismas representan buenas horas de camino, en el mejor de los casos. Sin embargo, debe decirse que ese esfuerzo se ve más compensado por la espectacular belleza del paisaje y la amabilidad de los habitantes de la zona. El trabajo cubre no solo los aspectos técnicos relacionados con la disponibilidad, distribución y eficiencia en el manejo del agua sino también que fue mas allá al mirar factores relacionados con la producción agrícola, factores institucionales y organizativos de las juntas de agua, los rendimientos económicos de las diferentes zonas de riego ---incluyendo lo relacionado con las tarifas de agua---, así como aspectos ambientales de estos pequeños sistemas de riego en las laderas andinas. Finalmente, es bueno anotar que en este trabajo también el Instituto aplica los indicadores de desempeño que ha venido promoviendo en otros estudios a nivel global lo que permitirá eventualmente comparar los comportamientos de sistemas de riego similares pero bajo diferentes condiciones y ambientes geográficos una meta a mediano plazo del Instituto

Efecto de los hongos micorrícicos arbusculares en un cultivo ecológico de ají (Capsicum annuum L.) cacho de cabra

Mapuche farmers in southern Chile have been cultivating local ecotypes of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), called locally "Cacho de cabra", for many decades. It is used to make "merkén", a condiment that is consumed locally and exported. This vegetable requires a nursery stage and can obtain nutritional benefits from symbiotic associations such as mycorrhizal fungi, achieving a better adaptation to transplanting. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate biotrophes appearing in abundance in agroecosystems with conservation management. The aim of this study was to compare effectiveness of two AMF, a commercial mycorrhizal inoculant (IC, Glomus intraradices) and another native (IN, Glomus claroideum) with a control without inoculation (-I) on the production and quality of "Cacho de cabra". At 45 days after sowing (DAS) transplanting was carried out and at 90 and 216 DAS fruit quality, fungal and edaphic parameters were evaluated. The harvest was at four stages. With IN inoculation plants and with greater foliar area were obtained. Also, precocity of fruit production was observed. The harvest started 49 days earlier and fresh weight was 177% higher than that of the control. Root colonization was low, showing significant differences between IN and IC, while a large number of spores was produced in the substrate. It was concluded that inoculation with native fungi decreased transplanting stress thus accelerating the maturation stage of plants and resulting in higher and better yield quality

Luminescence from Semiconductor Quantum Wires, Quantum Dots, and Monolayer Quantum Wells: Bottleneck and Localization Issues

Semiconductors nanostructures are fabricated using a range of techniques which inevitably have an impact in the resulting optical properties. Multilayers are grown by epitaxial techniques with a varying degree of uniformity in thickness, composition, etc., all leading to localisation effects in two-dimension. These multilayers are patterned to fabricate wires and dots using, in this case, electron beam lithography and dry etching. The fabrication steps contribute to modifications of the optical properties, beyond the expected purely confinement-related effects. An overview of linear and modulation spectroscopy is presented to demonstrate the impact of fabrication steps as well as of lateral confinement upon the emission from wires and dots. We focus on photoreflectance of GaAs-GaA1As dots and Si-SiGe wires as a probe of strain relaxation. Near-field scanning optical microscopy of single dots of GaAs-GaA1As at helium temperatures illustrates the potentials of using scanning probe techniques to study the underlying quantum mechanics of nanostructures. Finally, we suggest that a combination of lateral exciton confinement and exciton localization is a possible way forward to realise high emission efficiency nanostructures

Lifestyle, Inflammation, and Vascular Calcification in Kidney Transplant Recipients:Perspectives on Long-Term Outcomes

After decades of pioneering and improvement, kidney transplantation is now the renal replacement therapy of choice for most patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Where focus has traditionally been on surgical techniques and immunosuppressive treatment with prevention of rejection and infection in relation to short-term outcomes, nowadays, so many people are long-living with a transplanted kidney that lifestyle, including diet and exposure to toxic contaminants, also becomes of importance for the kidney transplantation field. Beyond hazards of immunological nature, a systematic assessment of potentially modifiable-yet rather overlooked-risk factors for late graft failure and excess cardiovascular risk may reveal novel targets for clinical intervention to optimize long-term health and downturn current rates of premature death of kidney transplant recipients (KTR). It should also be realized that while kidney transplantation aims to restore kidney function, it incompletely mitigates mechanisms of disease such as chronic low-grade inflammation with persistent redox imbalance and deregulated mineral and bone metabolism. While the vicious circle between inflammation and oxidative stress as common final pathway of a multitude of insults plays an established pathological role in native chronic kidney disease, its characterization post-kidney transplant remains less than satisfactory. Next to chronic inflammatory status, markedly accelerated vascular calcification persists after kidney transplantation and is likewise suggested a major independent mechanism, whose mitigation may counterbalance the excess risk of cardiovascular disease post-kidney transplant. Hereby, we first discuss modifiable dietary elements and toxic environmental contaminants that may explain increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and late graft failure in KTR. Next, we specify laboratory and clinical readouts, with a postulated role within persisting mechanisms of disease post-kidney transplantation (i.e., inflammation and redox imbalance and vascular calcification), as potential non-traditional risk factors for adverse long-term outcomes in KTR. Reflection on these current research opportunities is warranted among the research and clinical kidney transplantation community

Biomimetic magnetic sensor for electrochemical determination of scombrotoxin in fish

This work addresses a novel, rapid and cost-effective approach for the electrochemical sensing of scombrotoxin (histamine) in fish based on magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (magnetic-MIP). The histamine magnetic-MIP was synthesized by the core-shell method using histamine as a template, and 2-vinyl pyridine as functional monomer. The magnetic-MIP was characterized by TEM, SEM, and confocal microscopy. Additionally, the binding capacity of magnetic-MIP towards histamine was investigated and compared with magnetic non-molecularly imprinted polymer (magnetic-NIP). This biomimetic material merged the advantages of MIPs and magnetic particles (MPs), including low cost of production, stability, high binding capacity and can be easily separated by the aid of a permanent magnet. The magnetic-MIP was integrated into magneto-actuated electrodes for the direct electrochemical detection of histamine preconcentrated from fish samples. The results revealed that this approach succeeded in the preconcentration and determination of histamine with a LOD as low as 1.6 × 10−6 mg L−1, much lower than the index for fish spoilage (50 mg kg−1) accordingly to the legislation. Furthermore, the analytical performance was validated for the determination of histamine in scombroid fish samples with recovery values ranging from 96.8 to 102.0 %, confirm so it can be applied easily for routine food examination.Fil: Hassan, Amal H. A.. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; España. Beni suef University; EgiptoFil: Sappia, Luciano David. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Moura, Silio Lima. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Ali, Fatma H. M.. Beni Suef University; EgiptoFil: Moselhy, Walaa A.. Beni Suef University; EgiptoFil: Sotomayor, María del Pilar Taboada. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho. Faculdade de Engenharia.; BrasilFil: Pividori, María Isabel. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Españ

Más allá del desarrollo capitalista en Argentina : Límites, posibilidades y alternativas

En los últimos años la modalidad neoliberal de desarrollo capitalista ha entrado en una fase de profunda crisis en todas las regiones del mundo. El neoliberalismo, entendido como un proceso de restructuración de las lógicas de la acumulación de capital a escala global iniciado a fines de los años setenta y tendiente a restaurar el poder y los ingresos de la clase dominante (Harvey, 2007), fue un proceso “exitoso” en términos de estos objetivos pero condujo –al mismo tiempo– a profundizar las contradicciones económicas, sociales y políticas preexistentes y a generar nuevas contradicciones, sobre todo ligadas a la mundialización/ transnacionalización del capital y la preeminencia del capital ficticio sobre el productivo. La agudización de estas tensiones y contradicciones permiten comprender su crisis y han sido objeto de estudio reciente de una variedad de autores (Chesnais, 2010).Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació