Analysis of the stability of InGaN/GaN multiquantum wells against ion beam intermixing.

Ion-induced damage and intermixing was evaluated in InGaN/GaN multi-quantum wells (MQWs) using 35 keV N(+) implantation at room temperature. In situ ion channeling measurements show that damage builds up with a similar trend for In and Ga atoms, with a high threshold for amorphization. The extended defects induced during the implantation, basal and prismatic stacking faults, are uniformly distributed across the quantum well structure. Despite the extremely high fluences used (up to 4 × 10(16) cm(-2)), the InGaN MQWs exhibit a high stability against ion beam mixing.

"Rolling" phenomenon in twin screw granulation with controlled-release excipients.

The developed knowledge regarding use of twin screw granulators for continuous wet granulation has been primarily limited to immediate release formulations in the literature. The present study highlights an issue previously unreported for wet granulation with twin screw extruders when using formulations containing controlled-release (CR) excipients. Long (3-10 mm), twisted noodle-like granules can be produced in the presence of these excipients that are difficult to control and are anticipated to create complications in downstream unit operations to the granulator. Working with two different CR excipients, METHOCEL™ K4M and Kollidon® SR, each blended at different ratios with a mixture of 80% α-lactose monohydrate/20% microcrystalline cellulose, these unique particles were found to be produced in the conveying elements of the extruder, arising from a rolling action at the top of the screw flights. The CR excipients adhesively strengthen the wetted mass, forming this undesired granule shape such that they persisted to the exit of the machine; the shape appeared most strongly affected by screw speed, producing particles of higher aspect ratio as speed was increased. Adjusting the concentration of these CR excipients in the formulation, the flow rate or the type of compression element used in the screws proved ineffective in controlling the problem. Rather, a re-design of the extruder screws was required to prevent generation of these extended-form granules.

Atmospheric freeze drying for the reduction of powder electrostatics of amorphous, low density, high surface area pharmaceutical powders.

Amorphous itraconazole (ITZ) was prepared by Thin Film Freezing (TFF) utilizing 1,4-dioxane as the solvent with subsequent solvent removal via conventional tray lyophilization (ITZ LYO) or atmospheric freeze drying (ITZ AFD). ITZ AFD was prepared under various drying conditions to assess the influence of drying parameters on powder properties. XRD analysis confirmed all products were amorphous and DSC analysis revealed both drying processes resulted in the formation of the nematic mesophase of ITZ. SEM revealed a larger pore size and agglomerate size with fewer fine particles (i.e. less than 10 microns in diameter) for ITZ AFD compared to ITZ LYO. Residual solvent analysis revealed a primary drying temperature of -10°C resulted in residual solvent levels above the acceptable limits set by the International Conference on Harmonization as a result of microcollapse. Primary drying temperatures of less than -10°C resulted in acceptable residual solvent levels. The extent of microcollapse did not alter the macrostructure of the resulting powder. Powder flowability was determined to be similar for ITZ AFD and ITZ LYO based on Carr's index and the Hausner ratio, as well as by dynamic angle of repose. All powders displayed poor flowability. Chargeability measurements demonstrated a lower charge transfer for ITZ AFD powders compared to ITZ LYO due to a combination of factors including differences in residual solvent level, particle size, pore size, surface area, and fine particles content. The reduction in chargeability as a result of AFD is highly desirable because it allows for improved powder handling and use post-production.

Impact of non-binder ingredients and molecular weight of polymer binders on heat assisted twin screw dry granulation.

Two grades of commercial AFFINISOL™ HPMC HME were used as polymer binders to explore the influence of polymer viscosity and concentration on a novel heat assisted dry granulation process with a twin screw extruder. Contributions of other non-binder ingredients in the formulations were also studied for lactose, microcrystalline cellulose and an active pharmaceutical ingredient of caffeine. As sensitive indicators of processing conditions that expose the drug to high internally generated heat, dehydration of α-lactose monohydrate and polymorphic transformation of caffeine were monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, any decomposition of caffeine was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Granular samples were characterized by particle size, circularity, fracture strength and their temperature on the exit of extruder. Higher screw speed and lower feed rate were found to help particles agglomerate by allowing feed particles a greater opportunity to increase in temperature. Lower binder molecular weight and higher binder concentration enable granules to build stronger strength and thereby lead to higher particle size. This new twin screw dry granulation was demonstrated as offering advantages over conventional hot melt granulation by minimizing thermal degradation of the tested ingredients.

Hysteretic photochromic switching of Eu-Mg defects in GaN links the shallow transient and deep ground states of the Mg acceptor.

Although p-type activation of GaN by Mg underpins a mature commercial technology, the nature of the Mg acceptor in GaN is still controversial. Here, we use implanted Eu as a 'spectator ion' to probe the lattice location of Mg in doubly doped GaN(Mg):Eu. Photoluminescence spectroscopy of this material exemplifies hysteretic photochromic switching (HPS) between two configurations, Eu0 and Eu1(Mg), of the same Eu-Mg defect, with a hyperbolic time dependence on 'switchdown' from Eu0 to Eu1(Mg). The sample temperature and the incident light intensity at 355 nm tune the characteristic switching time over several orders of magnitude, from less than a second at 12.5 K, ~100 mW/cm2 to (an estimated) several hours at 50 K, 1 mW/cm2. Linking the distinct Eu-Mg defect configurations with the shallow transient and deep ground states of the Mg acceptor in the Lany-Zunger model, we determine the energy barrier between the states to be 27.7(4) meV, in good agreement with the predictions of theory. The experimental results further suggest that at low temperatures holes in deep ground states are localized on N atoms axially bonded to Mg acceptors.

Examining drug hydrophobicity in continuous wet granulation within a twin screw extruder.

The influence of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) hydrophobicity on continuous wet granulation was studied in twin screw granulation utilizing foamed binder delivery. The APIs examined were caffeine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and griseofulvin and the drug load was maintained constant at 15 wt%. In order to understand the impact of these APIs on the granulation process, API and binder distribution, particle size, porosity, and fracture strength were analyzed on samples collected along the screw length. It was found that the API and binder distributions were uniform along the screws regardless of the hydrophobicity of the formulation, in contrast to literature results with liquid injection. The absence of de-mixing of the hydrophobic ingredient was hypothesized to be a result of the high spread-to-soak ratio of a foamed binder that 'cages' those particles within the mass of local hydrophilic solids.

Photoluminescence studies of a perceived white light emission from a monolithic InGaN/GaN quantum well structure.

In this work we demonstrate by photoluminescence studies white light emission from a monolithic InGaN/GaN single quantum well structure grown by metal organic chemical vapour deposition. As-grown and thermally annealed samples at high temperature (1000 °C, 1100 °C and 1200 °C) and high pressure (1.1 GPa) were analysed by spectroscopic techniques, and the annealing effect on the photoluminescence is deeply explored. Under laser excitation of 3.8 eV at room temperature, the as-grown structure exhibits two main emission bands: a yellow band peaked at 2.14 eV and a blue band peaked at 2.8 eV resulting in white light perception. Interestingly, the stability of the white light is preserved after annealing at the lowest temperature (1000 °C), but suppressed for higher temperatures due to a deterioration of the blue quantum well emission. Moreover, the control of the yellow/blue bands intensity ratio, responsible for the white colour coordinate temperatures, could be achieved after annealing at 1000 °C. The room temperature white emission is studied as a function of incident power density, and the correlated colour temperature values are found to be in the warm white range: 3260-4000 K.

Use of the Hennessy Grading Probe (GP) for predicting the meat, fat and bone yields of beef carcasses.

Left sides of 36 bulls, 22 cows, 57 steers and 38 heifer carcasses were weighed hot (HCWL) and were probed with the Hennessy Grading Probe (HGP) at five sites to give four subcutaneous fat depths, two M. longissimus dorsi depths and one total tissue depth measurement. A fat depth (GR) over the 10th rib was also measured by ruler probe. The left sides were later separated by knife into saleable eat (90% visual lean), fat trim and bone. Probe readings of subcutaneous fat thickness at the fatter rump sites (BF, 5-7 cm lateral to the perianal region over the M. biceps femoris; SC8, 8 cm lateral to the prominence of the sacral crest) were smaller than ruler measurements at the same sites. Probe eye muscle depth measurements were smaller than measurements taken at the same site by ruler. The BF measurement taken by probe, combined with HCWL, gave the best prediction of percentage fat trim (RSD = 2·0% for steers and 2·2% for heifers) and edible meat yield (RSD = 2·0% for steers and 2·6% for heifers) in the left sides of all the measurements studied, either singly or in combination. A major problem was to find a measurement site where subcutaneous fat was not removed from some carcasses during hide removal.

Hospitals acquiring local businesses: the art and challenge of buying beyond the four walls.

As managed care pushes hospitals to redesign themselves into "integrated health care delivery systems," hospital executives are faced with "make or buy" decisions for a variety of alternate site care businesses. This article dissects the nuances of the buy option, which involves some rather subtle issues often new to most hospital-based executives.

Home health care: the pivotal link in the creation of a new health care delivery system.

Health care reform has challenged the home care industry to reemerge as the primary site for the delivery of health care, just as it was in the beginning of the 20th century. The factors driving the growth in this industry are discussed in this article, with an overview of what can be expected in a managed care environment. An analysis of the current marketplace and predictions for the expanded role of the home health care industry in the future are outlined.

Structural dynamics of GaN microcrystals in Evolutionary Selection Selective Area Growth probed by X-ray microdiffraction.

A method to grow high quality, single crystalline semiconductor material irrespective of the substrate would allow a cost-effective improvement to functionality and performance of optoelectronic devices. Recently, a novel type of substrate-insensitive growth process called Evolutionary Selection Selective Area Growth (ES-SAG) has been proposed. Here we report the use of X-ray microdiffraction to study the structural properties of GaN microcrystals grown by ES-SAG. Utilizing high resolution in both direct and reciprocal spaces, we have unraveled structural dynamics of GaN microcrystals in growth structures of different dimensions. It has been found that the geometric proportions of the growth constrictions play an important role: 2.6 µm and 4.5 µm wide growth tunnels favor the evolutionary selection mechanism, contrary to the case of 8.6 µm growth tunnels. It was also found that GaN microcrystal ensembles are dominated by slight tensile strain irrespective of growth tunnel shape.

Induced magnetic moment of Eu(3+) ions in GaN.

Magnetic semiconductors with coupled magnetic and electronic properties are of high technological and fundamental importance. Rare-earth elements can be used to introduce magnetic moments associated with the uncompensated spin of 4f-electrons into the semiconductor hosts. The luminescence produced by rare-earth doped semiconductors also attracts considerable interest due to the possibility of electrical excitation of characteristic sharp emission lines from intra 4f-shell transitions. Recently, electroluminescence of Eu-doped GaN in current-injection mode was demonstrated in p-n junction diode structures grown by organometallic vapour phase epitaxy. Unlike most other trivalent rare-earth ions, Eu(3+) ions possess no magnetic moment in the ground state. Here we report the detection of an induced magnetic moment of Eu(3+) ions in GaN which is associated with the (7)F(2) final state of (5)D(0)→(7)F(2) optical transitions emitting at 622 nm. The prospect of controlling magnetic moments electrically or optically will lead to the development of novel magneto-optic devices.