Method for superior denoising of UV/Vis/NIR transmittance spectra of thin films.

UV/Vis/NIR transmittance spectra T(λ) are often used for the characterization of thin films in both spectrophotometry and spectroscopic ellipsometry. T(λ) are inherently noisy due to noise generated by the measuring equipment and the environment. Nevertheless, film characterizations are usually performed either without denoising T(λ) or by smoothing it, which should limit the characterization accuracy.

Increasing the Accuracy of the Characterization of a Thin Semiconductor or Dielectric Film on a Substrate from Only One Quasi-Normal Incidence UV/Vis/NIR Reflectance Spectrum of the Sample.

OEMT is an existing optimizing envelope method for thin-film characterization that uses only one transmittance spectrum, (), of the film deposited on the substrate. OEMT computes the optimized values of the average thickness, d¯, and the thickness non-uniformity, Δd, employing variables for the external smoothing of (), the slit width correction, and the optimized wavelength intervals for the computation of d¯ and Δd, and taking into account both the finite size and absorption of the substrate. Our group had achieved record low relative errors, <0.

Hybrid Dispersion Model Characterization of PAZO Azopolymer Thin Films over the Entire Transmittance Spectrum Measured in the UV/VIS/NIR Spectral Region.

Notwithstanding the significant optical applicability of PAZO polymer films, there are no accurate data about their optical characteristics. To remedy this shortcoming, in this study three PAZO polymer thin films are characterized, with dissimilar thicknesses, on glass substrates using only one UV/VIS/NIR transmittance spectrum () per sample and an original hybrid dispersion model (HDM). HDM is based on the Tauc-Lorentz model, the new amorphous dispersion formula, the Tauc-Lorentz-Urbach model of Foldyna and the Tauc-Lorentz-Urbach model of Rodriguez.

Further Increasing the Accuracy of Characterization of a Thin Dielectric or Semiconductor Film on a Substrate from Its Interference Transmittance Spectrum.

Three means are investigated for further increasing the accuracy of the characterization of a thin film on a substrate, from the transmittance spectrum () of the specimen, based on the envelope method. Firstly, it is demonstrated that the accuracy of characterization, of the average film thickness d¯ and the thickness non-uniformity ∆d over the illuminated area, increases, employing a simple dual transformation utilizing the product ()(), where () is the smoothed spectrum of () and () is the substrate absorbance. Secondly, an approach is proposed for selecting an interval of wavelengths, so that using envelope points only from this interval provides the most accurate characterization of d¯ and ∆d, as this approach is applicable no matter whether the substrate is transparent or non-transparent.

Multicenter cluster-randomized trial of a multifactorial intervention to improve antihypertensive medication adherence and blood pressure control among patients at high cardiovascular risk (the COM99 study).

Background: Medication nonadherence is common and results in preventable disease complications. This study assessed the effectiveness of a multifactorial intervention to improve both medication adherence and blood pressure control and to reduce cardiovascular events.

Methods And Results: In this multicenter, cluster-randomized trial, physicians from hospital-based hypertension clinics and primary care centers across Spain were randomized to receive and provide the intervention to their high-risk patients.

Acceptability of lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease : ACEPTO study.

Objective: To assess the acceptability of lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets (LODT) in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Methods: A multicentre, observational, cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with GORD aged > or =18 years under the care of 272 gastroenterologists. Acceptability was determined by global patient assessment whereby the drug's organoleptic characteristics and properties were evaluated by a self-administered 11-item ad hoc questionnaire with a 5-point Likert-type scale.

A multicentre, 12-week study of imidapril and candesartan cilexetil in patients with mild to moderate hypertension using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Background: Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) provides the most accurate efficacy assessment of an antihypertensive agent throughout a 24-hour dosing interval. The objective of this prospective, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, multicentre study was to compare the antihypertensive efficacy of imidapril versus candesartan cilexetil using ABPM.

Methods: After screening and a single-blind, placebo run-in phase, ambulatory adult patients with mild to moderate hypertension (defined as a mean office sitting diastolic BP [DBP] and systolic BP [SBP], respectively, of 90-109 mm Hg and 140-179 mm Hg, and a mean ABPM DBP and SBP, respectively, of >or=80 mm Hg and >or=125 mm Hg) were randomised to once-daily treatment with imidapril or candesartan cilexetil for 12 weeks.

Influence of substrate absorption on the optical and geometrical characterization of thin dielectric films.

The role played by a glass substrate on the accurate determination of the optical constants and the thickness of a thin dielectric film deposited on it, when well-known envelope methods are used, is discussed. Analytical expressions for the two envelopes of the optical transmission spectra corresponding to film. with both uniform and nonuniform thicknesses are derived, assuming the substrate to be a weakly absorbing layer.