Comparison of the Material Quality of AlInN (x-0-0.50) Films Deposited on Si(100) and Si(111) at Low Temperature by Reactive RF Sputtering.

AlInN ternary semiconductors have attracted much interest for application in photovoltaic devices. Here, we compare the material quality of AlInN layers deposited on Si with different crystallographic orientations, (100) and (111), via radio-frequency (RF) sputtering. To modulate their Al content, the Al RF power was varied from 0 to 225 W, whereas the In RF power and deposition temperature were fixed at 30 W and 300 °C, respectively.

Coherence Analysis between the Surface Diaphragm EMG Envelope Signal and the Respiratory Signal derived from the ECG in Patients assisted by Mechanical Ventilation.

Prolonged use of mechanical ventilation (MV) can lead to greater complications for a patient. In clinical practice, it is important to identify patients who could fail in the extubation process. However, accurately predicting the outcome of this process remains a challenge.

A new protocol to compare successful versus failed patients using the electromyographic diaphragm signal in extubation process.

In clinical practice, when a patient is undergoing mechanical ventilation, it is important to identify the optimal moment for extubation, minimizing the risk of failure. However, this prediction remains a challenge in the clinical process. In this work, we propose a new protocol to study the extubation process, including the electromyographic diaphragm signal (diaEMG) recorded through 5-channels with surface electrodes around the diaphragm muscle.

Performance enhancement of an ultrafast all-fiber laser based on an InN saturable absorber using GRIN coupling.

Indium nitride (InN)-based semiconductor saturable absorbers have previously shown advantages for application in near-IR fiber lasers due to their broad modulation depth, ultrafast nonlinear response and thermal stability. However, up to now all demonstrated saturable absorber elements based on InN (either transmissive or reflective) have shown limited performance due to poor coupling and insertion losses. We present here a simple mode-locking device based on a GRIN-rod lens in conjunction with an InN semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) for its use in a passively mode-locked all-fiber laser system operating at telecom wavelengths.

Structural Characterization of AlInN/AlN/p-Si (111) Heterojunctions Grown by RF Sputtering for Solar Cell Applications.

Compact AlInN layers were grown by radiofrequency sputtering on bare and 15 nm-thick AlN-buffered Si (111) substrates. The crystalline quality of the AlInN layers was studied by high-resolution X-ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscopy. Both techniques show an improvement of the structural properties when the AlInN layer is grown on a 15 nm-thick AlN buffer.

Estimating Kidney Failure Risk Using Electronic Medical Records.

Background: The four-variable kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) is a well-validated tool for patients with GFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m and incorporates age, sex, GFR, and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) to forecast individual risk of kidney failure. Implementing the KFRE in electronic medical records is challenging, however, due to low ACR testing in clinical practice.

III-Nitrides Resonant Cavity Photodetector Devices.

III-nitride resonant cavity-enhanced Schottky barrier photodetectors were fabricated on 2 µm thick GaN templates by radio frequency plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The optical cavity was formed by a bottom distributed Bragg reflector based on 10 periods of AlGaN/GaN, an Au-based Schottky contact as top mirror, and an active zone of 40 nm-thick GaN layer. The devices were fabricated with planar geometry.

AlInN on Si (100) Solar Cells (x = 0-0.56) Deposited by RF Sputtering.

We investigate the photovoltaic performance of solar cells based on n-AlInN (x = 0-0.56) on p-Si (100) hetero-junctions deposited by radio frequency sputtering. The AlInN layers own an optical bandgap absorption edge tuneable from 1.

Widely power-tunable polarization-independent ultrafast mode-locked fiber laser using bulk InN as saturable absorber.

The growing demand of ultrafast mode-locked fiber lasers in the near infrared has boosted the research activity in this area. One of the most convenient ways to achieve passive mode locking consists of inserting a semiconductor saturable absorber in the laser cavity to modulate the losses. However, in such a configuration, the limited power range of operation is still an unsolved issue.

Waveguide saturable absorbers at 1.55 μm based on intraband transitions in GaN/AlN QDs.

We report on the design, fabrication and optical characterization of GaN/AlN quantum-dot-based waveguides for all-optical switching via intraband absorption saturation at 1.55 µm. The transmittance of the TM-polarized light increases with the incident optical power due to the saturation of the s-p(z) intraband absorption in the QDs.

Evolutionary vaccination dilemma in complex networks.

In this work we analyze the evolution of voluntary vaccination in networked populations by entangling the spreading dynamics of an influenza-like disease with an evolutionary framework taking place at the end of each influenza season so that individuals take or do not take the vaccine upon their previous experience. Our framework thus puts in competition two well-known dynamical properties of scale-free networks: the fast propagation of diseases and the promotion of cooperative behaviors. Our results show that when vaccine is perfect, scale-free networks enhance the vaccination behavior with respect to random graphs with homogeneous connectivity patterns.

Experimental study of the individual differences in chromatic perception through blue-yellow metameric matches of a white-light continuum.

A metameric colour matching test was designed to study inter-observer variability. Blue-yellow metameric matching to a white-light continuum was used to define the optimal wavelengths at which each of eight non-colour-defective observers achieved a match. The tests involved chromatic stimuli on a 2° bipartite field, with a white-light continuum presented on the left half, and a mixture of two monochromatic stimuli on the right half.

[Spelling development in the Spanish language].

This study focused on spelling development in Spanish children from elementary grades. A sample of 1045 was selected from 2nd to 6th grade belonging to four schools in Tenerife Island with an age range between 7 and 12 years old (M = 113.8, SD = 17.

[Speech perception development in children with dyslexia].

Several studies have indicated that dyslexics show a deficit in speech perception (SP). The main purpose of this research is to determine the development of SP in dyslexics and normal readers paired by grades from 2nd to 6th grade of primary school and to know whether the phonetic contrasts that are relevant for SP change during development, taking into account the individual differences. The achievement of both groups was compared in the phonetic tasks: voicing contrast, place of articulation contrast and manner of articulation contrast.

Human leukocyte antigen class I and MICA haplotypes in a multicase family with Cladophialophora carrionii chromoblastomycosis.

Previous studies carried out in an endemic semiarid region northwest of Venezuela at Falcon State have shown a prevalence of 15.4/1000 of chromoblastomycosis following traumatisms with xenophile vegetation infected with Cladophialophora carrionii. We performed high-resolution DNA typing of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B and -C and major histocompatibility complex class I chain related gene A (MICA) alleles and segregation analysis in 49 members of one extended family with 12 affected individuals, who have lived for approximately 70 years in this endemic zone.

[Stenosis of the ileal loop in a patient with Bricker type urinary diversion].

Stenosis of the ileal loop itself in the urinary diversion performed with the technique described by Bricker is uncommon, particularly in adults, and nowadays is basically managed through non-invasive methods. This paper contributes one case of stenosis of the ileal loop in a patient with urinary diversion performed with Bricker's technique, which was treated by partial resection of the ileal loop, since use of non-invasive techniques was not possible due to technical hindrances. The pathoanatomical study showed the different etiopathogeny of this type of stenosis relative to others related to the ileal loop (stoma and ureteroileal attachment stenosis).

Diode-pumped long-pulse-length Ho:Tm:YLiF(4) laser at 10 Hz.

An optical efficiency of 0.052 under normal mode operation for diode-pumped Ho:Tm:YLiF(4) at a pulse repetition frequency of 10 Hz has been achieved. Laser output energy of 30 mJ in single Q-switched pulses with 600-ns pulse length were obtained for an input energy of 3 J.

Spectroscopic and lasing properties of Ho:Tm:LuAG.

Ho:Tm:LuAG has been grown, examined spectroscopically, and lased at 2.1 microm. Ho:Tm:LuAG was selected for this experimental investigation when quantum-mechanical modeling predicted that it would be a good laser material for Ho laser operation on one of the (5)I(7) to (5)I(8) transitions.