Optoelectronics of Inverted Type-I CdS/CdSe Core/Crown Quantum Ring

Inverted type-I heterostructure core/crown quantum rings (QRs) are quantum-efficient luminophores, whose spectral characteristics are highly tunable. Here, we study the optoelectronic properties of type-I core/crown CdS/CdSe QRs in the zincblende phase - over contrasting lateral size and crown width. For this we inspect their strain profiles, transition energies, transition matrix elements, spatial charge densities, electronic bandstructure, band-mixing probabilities, optical gain spectra, maximum optical gains and differential optical gains. Our framework uses an effective-mass envelope function theory based on the 8-band k$\cdot$p method employing the valence force field model for calculating the atomic strain distributions. The gain calculations are based on the density-matrix equation and take into consideration the excitonic effects with intraband scattering. Variations in the QR lateral size and relative widths of core and crown (ergo the composition) affect their energy levels, band-mixing probabilities, optical transition matrix elements, emission wavelengths/intensity, etc. The optical gain of QRs is also strongly dimension and composition dependent with further dependency on the injection carrier density causing band-filling effect. They also affect the maximum and differential gain at varying dimensions and compositions.Comment: Published in AIP Journal of Applied Physics (11 pages, 7 figures

Temperature-dependent Optoelectronic Properties of Quasi-2D Colloidal Cadmium Selenide Nanoplatelets

Colloidal Cadmium Selenide (CdSe) nanoplatelets (NPLs) are a recently developed class of efficient luminescent nanomaterial suitable for optoelectronic device applications. A change in temperature greatly affects their electronic bandstructure and luminescence properties. It is important to understand how-and-why the characteristics of NPLs are influenced, particularly at elevated temperature, where both reversible and irreversible quenching processes come into picture. Here we present a study on the effect of elevated temperature on the characteristics of colloidal CdSe NPLs. We used an effective-mass envelope function theory based 8-band k$\cdot$p model and density-matrix theory considering exciton-phonon interaction. We observed the photoluminescence (PL) spectra at various temperatures for their photon emission energy, PL linewidth and intensity by considering the exciton-phonon interaction with both acoustic and optical phonons using Bose-Einstein statistical factors. With rise in temperature we observed a fall in the transition energy (emission redshift), matrix element, Fermi factor and quasi Fermi separation, with reduction in intraband state gaps and increased interband coupling. Also, there was a fall in the PL intensity, along with spectral broadening due to an intraband scattering effect. The predicted transition energy values and simulated PL spectra at varying temperatures exhibit appreciable consistency with experimental results. Our findings have important implications for application of NPLs in optoelectronic devices, such as NPL lasers and LEDs, operating much above room temperature.Comment: Published in Royal Society of Chemistry, Nanoscale (12 pages, 9 figures

Anomalous Spectral Characteristics of Ultrathin sub-nm Colloidal CdSe Nanoplatelets

We demonstrate high quantum yield broad photoluminescence emission of ultrathin sub-nanometer CdSe nanoplatelets (two-monolayer). They also exhibit polarization-characterized lateral size dependent anomalous heavy hole and light/split-off hole absorption intensities.Comment: Published in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO): Science and Innovations 2017, San Jose, CA, USA, 14-19 May 2017 (2 pages, 3 figures

Surface Plasmon Enhancement on Infrared Photodetection

AbstractInAsSb based infrared photodetector is an alternative to the existing HgCdTe, PbSnTe, and InSb counterparts, but its room temperature performance is still relatively poor. One of the ways to improve its performance is through surface plasmon, which provides near field confinement that leads to enhancement in light matter interaction. In this work, the role of each parameter of two dimensional metallic hole arrays in plasmonic enhancement is studied in details, such as the periodicity of hole array, hole diameter and metal film thickness. The plasmonic resonances and their corresponding electric field distributions are comprehensively studied in finite difference time domain simulation, which also would serve as a guide for designing surface plasmon enhanced InAsSb infrared detector with high quantum efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio

Intraoperative device closure of atrial septal defects with inferior vena cava rim deficiency: A safe alternative to surgical repair

ObjectiveOur objective was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of intraoperative device closure of atrial septal defects with inferior vena cava rim deficiency.MethodsFrom January 2005 to December 2008, we enrolled 65 patients who had a secundum atrial septal defect with inferior vena cava rim deficiency closure in our institution. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 35 patients in group I underwent intraoperative device closure with a right lateral minithoracotomy and 30 in group II underwent open cardiac repair with a right lateral thoracotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. Intraoperative device closure involved a minimal intercostal incision that was performed after full evaluation of the atrial septal defect by transthoracic echocardiography and the insertion of the device through the delivery sheath to occlude the atrial septal defect.ResultsThe procedure was successful in all patients. In group I, the diameter of the atrial septal defect ranged from 30 to 44 mm (mean, 35.3 ± 3.9 mm), and the size of the implanted occluder ranged from 34 to 48 mm (mean, 40 ± 2.1 mm). The total occlusion rate was 82.9% immediately after the operation, 97.1% at 3 months, and 100% at 12 and 24 months of follow-up. In group II, all patients had successful closure. A follow-up period of 12 to 24 months was obtained in both groups. During the follow-up, there was no recurrence, thrombosis, or device failure. In our comparative studies, group II had significantly longer operative time, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay than group I (P < .001). The cost of group I was less than that of group II (20,450.9 ± 840.8 RMB vs 25,884.9 ± 701.8; P < .001).ConclusionsIntraoperative device closure of atrial septal defects with inferior vena cava rim deficiency is a safe and feasible technique. It has the advantages of cost savings, cosmetic results, and less trauma than surgical closure. Early and midterm results are encouraging

Intraoperative device closure of atrial septal defects in the Older Population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>This study sought to prove the safety and feasibility of intraoperative device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) with transthoracic minimal invasion in the older patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From January 2006 to December 2009, 47 patients aged 50 years or more and suffered from atrial septal defect were enrolled in our institution. Patients were divided into two groups, 27 of which in group I with intraoperative device closure and the other 20 in group II with surgical closure. In group I, the method involved a minimal intercostal incision, which was performed after full evaluation of the atrial septal defect by transthoracic echocardiography, and the insertion of the device through the delivery sheath to occlude the atrial septal defect.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In group I, implantation was ultimately successful in all patients. The complete closure rate at 24 hours and 1 year were 81.5% and 100% respectively. In 6 of 27 patients, minor complications occurred: transient arrhythmia (n = 5) and blood transfusion (n = 3). In group II, all patients were closured successfully; almost all of them needed blood transfusion and suffered from various minor complications though. During a follow-up period of 1 to 5 years, no residual shunt, noticeable mitral regurgitation, significant arrhythmias, thrombosis, or device failure were found. In our comparative studies, group II had significantly longer ICU stay and hospital stay than group I (p < 0.05). The cost of group I was less than that of group II(p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Minimally invasive transthoracic device closure of the atrial septal defect at advanced age with a domestically made device without cardiopulmonary bypass is safe and feasible under transthoracic echocardiographic guidance. It was cost-savings, yielding better cosmetic results and leaving fewer traumas than surgical closure. Early and mid-term results are encouraging. However, it is necessary to evaluate the long-term results.</p

Short-term effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep bruxism:a pilot study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on patients with sleep bruxism (SB). Twelve patients with SB were included in an open, single-intervention pilot study. rTMS at 1 Hz and an intensity of 80% of the active motor threshold was applied to the ‘hot spot' of the masseter muscle representation at the primary motor cortex bilaterally for 20 min per side each day for 5 consecutive days. The jaw-closing muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity during sleep was recorded with a portable EMG recorder at baseline, during rTMS treatment and at follow-up for 5 days. In addition, patients scored their jaw-closing muscle soreness on a 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS). Data were analysed with analysis of variance. The intensity of the EMG activity was suppressed during and after rTMS compared to the baseline (P = 0.04; P = 0.02, respectively). The NRS score of soreness decreased significantly during and after rTMS compared with baseline (P < 0.01). These findings indicated a significant inhibition of jaw-closing muscle activity during sleep along with a decrease of muscle soreness. This pilot study raises the possibility of therapeutic benefits from rTMS in patients with bruxism and calls for further and more controlled studies

A phase 4 multicentre, 2×2 factorial randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of tobramycin inhalation solution for Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradication in bronchiectasis:Erase

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in bronchiectasis patients. Initiating antibiotics early may lead to the eradication of PA. Here we outline the design of a trial (ERASE; NCT06093191) assessing the efficacy and safety of inhaled tobramycin, alone or with oral ciprofloxacin, in bronchiectasis patients with a new isolation of PA. This multicentre, 2×2 factorial randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial includes a 2-week screening period, a 12-week treatment phase (with a combination of ciprofloxacin or a placebo at initial 2 weeks) and a 24-week follow-up. 364 adults with bronchiectasis and a new PA isolation will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo (inhaled saline and ciprofloxacin placebo twice daily), ciprofloxacin alone (750 mg ciprofloxacin and inhaled saline twice daily), inhaled tobramycin alone (inhaled 300 mg tobramycin and ciprofloxacin placebo twice daily) or a combination of both drugs (inhaled 300 mg tobramycin and 750 mg ciprofloxacin twice daily). The primary objective of this study is to assess the proportion of patients successfully eradicating PA in each group by the end of the study. Efficacy will be evaluated based on the eradication rate of PA at other time points (12, 24 and 36 weeks), the occurrence of exacerbations and hospitalisations, time to first pulmonary exacerbations, patient-reported outcomes, symptom measures, pulmonary function tests and the cost of hospitalisations. To date no randomised trial has evaluated the benefit of different PA eradication strategies in bronchiectasis patients. The ERASE trial will therefore generate crucial data to inform future clinical guidelines.</p