Theoretical study of a potential low-noise semimetal-basedavalanche photodetector

The authors present a theoretical analysis of a possible avalanching photodetector (APD)-based on II-VI compound semiconductors. Each unit cell is composed of a HgTe layer, or a similar semimetal, sandwiched between two layers of CdTe and HgCdTe or similar semiconducting materials. The barrier layers are graded so that the leading barrier height is just high enough to eliminate the thermionic emission dark current out of the well. The use of a semimetal within the well has a distinct advantage over a semiconductor, which is that the ionization process is essentially an interband mechanism since the confined carriers within the well lie within the overlapping conduction and valence bands. As a result, the concentration of target carriers is virtually inexhaustible as in a conventional interband device     

A pixellated grating array using photoelectrochemical etching on aGaAs waveguide

We have demonstrated and evaluated a grating array outcoupler fabricated by photoelectrochemical (PEC) etching, a manufacturable and practical approach for fabrication of grating-based III-V semiconductor waveguide devices. An array of submicron period gratings was etched into photolithographically delineated areas in a single PEC step. The fabricated devices are: 10-μm wide rib waveguides with 0.35-μm first-order outcoupling gratings; and 10-μm wide rib waveguides with 10 μm×10 μm pixellated areas of gratings. Device characterization demonstrates the effectiveness of outcoupling grating fabrication using PEC and that the pixellated grating outcoupler is an effective and simple means of generating an optical beam array     

Measles, polio and tetanus toxoid antibody levels in Gambian children aged 3 to 4 years following routine vaccination

A nation-wide cross-sectional survey of 816 children 3-4 years old was carried out in The Gambia between September 1990 and July 1991 to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against 3 diseases included in the expanded programme on immunization: measles, poliomyelitis and tetanus. Among 689 children whose records were available, 94.5% were fully immunized. Measles vaccine was administered to 97% of the children and 91% of these had detectable antibodies at the time of the survey. Antibodies against type 1 and type 3 polioviruses, after up to 6 doses of oral polio vaccine, were present in 88.1% and 89.3% of the children respectively. Ninety-seven percent of the children who had received 4 doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DPT) and 91% of those who received 3 doses had detectable tetanus toxoid antibodies at the age of 3-4 years. This study shows that serological responses to EPI vaccines given in infancy persist at very satisfactory levels throughout early childhood.     

A Study of the Dust Collection Process in the Production of Refractories

An experimental setup for studying filter-assisted dust collection is described. The role of various factors — hydraulic resistance, filtering velocity, dust concentration, pressure drop, efficiency of recovery — in the performance of filters intended for use in the production of refractory materials is considered. The dust removal method was tested under industrial conditions at the Semilukskii Refractory Plant and can be recommended for wider use in different branches of industry.     

Hypomorphic mutation in an essential cell-cycle kinase causes growth retardation and impaired spermatogenesis

Cdc7 kinase is essential for initiation of DNA replication. Cdc7(-/-) mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are non-viable but their growth can be rescued by an ectopically expressed transgene (Cdc7(-/-)tg). Here we report that, despite the normal growth capability of Cdc7(-/-)tg ES cells, the mice with the identical genetic background exhibit growth retardation. Concomi tantly, Cdc7(-/-)tg embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) display delayed S phase entry and slow S phase progression. Furthermore, spermatogenesis of Cdc7(-/-)tg mice is disrupted prior to pachytene stage of meiotic prophase I. The impairment in spermatogenesis correlates with the extremely low level of Cdc7 protein in testes, and is rescued by introducing an additional allele of transgene, which results in increase of Cdc7 expression. The increased level of Cdc7 also recovers the growth of Cdc7(-/-)tg MEFs and mice, indicating that the developmental abnormalities of Cdc7(-/-)tg mice are due to insufficiency of Cdc7 protein. Our results indicate the requirement of a critical level of a cell-cycle regulator for mouse development and provide genetic evidence that Cdc7 plays essential roles in meiotic processes in mammals.     

Temporal and radial evolution of the populations of CuI levels inthe CuBr vapor laser

Populations of CuI ground state, resonance, and metastable levels have been measured in CuBr laser with and without hydrogen additives. Temporal evolution and spatial distribution populations have been studied during the excitation pulse and also during the interpulse period of time. Addition of hydrogen results in a smaller rate of resonance and metastable levels excitation and smaller depopulation of the ground state during the excitation pulse. Repopulation of the ground state after the excitation pulse with hydrogen is much faster. CuBr molecules have been detected only in the periphery of the active zone. The density of the CuBr molecules had no noticeable change either during the excitation pulse or in the interpulse period