Radiation damage induced in Si photodiodes by high-temperature neutron irradiation

Results are presented of a detailed study of the effects of high-temperature 4-MeV neutron irradiation on the performance degradation of Si pin photodiodes together with the radiation-induced defects, observed by deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). It was found that the dark current increases after irradiation, while the photocurrent decreases. After irradiation, two majority electron capture levels with (E _c–0.22 eV) and (E _c–0.40 eV) were induced in the n-Si substrate, while one minority hole capture level with (E _v+0.37 eV) was found. Additionally, the degradation of the device performance and the introduction rate of the lattice defects decreases with increasing irradiation temperature. For a 250 °C irradiation, the reduction of the reverse current is only 20% of the starting value. This result suggests that the creation and recovery of the radiation damage proceeds simultaneously at high temperatures.     

Threshold voltage uniformity and characterization of microwaveperformance for GaAs/AlGaAs high electron-mobility transistors grown onSi substrates

We report on DC and microwave characteristics for high electron-mobility transistors (HEMT's) grown on Si substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Threshold voltage (V _th) distribution in a 3-in wafer shows standard deviation of V_th (σV_th) of 36 mV with V_th of -2.41 V for depletion mode HEMT's/Si and σV_th of 31 mV with V_th of 0.01 V for enhancement mode, respectively. The evaluation of V_th in a 1.95×1.9 mm² area shows high uniformity for as-grown HEMT's/Si with σV_th of 9 mV for V_th of -0.10 V, which is comparable to that for HEMT's/GaAs. Comparing the V_th distribution pattern in the area with that for annealed HEMT's/Si, it is indicated that the high uniformity of V_th is obtained irrelevant of a number of the dislocations existing in the GaAs/Si. From microwave characteristic evaluation for HEMT's with a middle-(10~50 Ω·cm) and a high-(2000~6000 Ω·cm) resistivity Si substrate using a new equivalent circuit model, it is demonstrated that HEMT's/Si have the disadvantage for parasitic capacitances and resistances originated not from the substrate resistivity but from a conductive layer at the Si-GaAs interface. The parasitic parameters, especially the capacitances, can be overcome by the reduction of electrode areas for bonding pads and by the insertion of a dielectric layer under the electrode, which bring high cut-off frequency (f_T) and maximum frequency of operation (f_max) of 24 GHz for a gate length of 0.8 (μm). These results indicate that HEMT's/Si are sufficiently applicable for IC's and discrete devices and have a potential to be substituted for HEMT's/GaAs     

Expression of matrix Gla protein (MGP) in an in vitro model of vascular calcification

Specimens collected in several localities from Salta and Tucumán provinces (north-western Argentina) Liolaemus quilmes and L. ornatus (oviparous population), and L. alticolor (viviparous population) were dissected. The specimens of lizards examinated have nematodes, in stomach, fore-gut and cloaca, identified as Physaloptera lutzi Guimaraes, Cristófaro and Rodrigues, 1976. This represents the first record for this parasite from Liolaemus species in Argentina. Morphologic and morphometric parasitological studies were done. The specimens were drawn and photographed. Also, the following parasitic infection indexes were calculated: prevalence, mean and maximum intensity.     

Simulation des Mikrorisswachstums unter Schwingbeanspruchung. Teil 1: Modell und Simulationsergebnisse,Mikrorisswachstum, Streuung,Einfluss von Beanspruchungsart und ‐höhe,Risskeimdichte und Korngröße

Simulation of fatigue microcrack growth. Part 1: Modelling and results of simulation, microcrack growth, scatter, effect of load condition, density of microcrack seeds and grain size Presented is a simulation of microcrack growth under alternating stresses. Microstructural barriers and the state of stress play a dominant role in the early stages of crack growth of metals. The polycristalline metal was modeled as an aggregat of hexagonal grains with a different crystallographic orientation of each grain. The effect of grain bounderies on stage I crack growth is considered in the model. The mode of shear crack growth is analyzed on the basis of microstructural crack growth within the first few grains, where the crack growth decelerates as the crack tip gets closer to the grain boundery. Normal stress crack growth has been considered for those cracks which are longer than microstructurelly short cracks, so‐called physically small cracks. Furthermore the transition from stage I to stage II growth is considered. The model is applied for thinwalled tubular specimens of the ferritic steel AlSI 1015 and the aluminium alloy Al Mg Si 1 subjected to tension and torsion as well as combined tension‐torsion loading. Also different load sequences are investigated. The microstructural crack pattern and crack distribution can sucessfully simulated with the model. The crack growth behaviour and the effect of lifetime until a crack length of 500 μm ist presented for numerous parameters.     

Effect of additives on dissolution and swelling of soybean lecithin microcapsules prepared using the Wurster process

Microcapsules whose membranes contained soybean lecithin (SL), cholesterol (CH), stearic acid (SA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) at various compositions were prepared. Then, dissolution and swelling behaviors of the microcapsules in a 0.9% saline solution were studied to be related to the phase diagram of three components containing 42% of PVP in anhydrous state. In the aqueous solution, when an anhydrous microcapsule membrane was composed of SL not saturated with both CH and SA, the microcapsules showed rapid release of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate (CCSS, a model drug), poor particle-swelling and spouting of droplets containing CCSS. Long-delayed release of CCSS and drastic particle-swelling with no spouting of droplets were observed when the anhydrous membrane was composed of SL saturated with both CH and SA and the composition was not close to the two-component line, CH-SA, or to the saturation line. The spouting of droplets would be attributable to the CH and/or SA-poor SL phase and to the SL phase which dissolved CH and SA, but contained either CH or SA only in a small amount, and the delayed release would be due to the CH and SA-rich SL phase dissolving a great amount of CH and SA formed by hydration. The degree of release suppression and particle-swelling depended on the SL content. At 20-45% of SL content, the prolonged-release, great particle-swelling and no spouting of droplets at the early stage were observed only when the CH and SA-rich SL phase formed by hydration contained a high content of CH and SA.     

Stability and growth characteristics of GFPuv-labeled Cronobacter sakazakii isolated from foods

Stability of ultraviolet green fluorescent protein (GFPuv)-labeled Cronobacter sakazakii and C. muytjensii isolated from foods and the effects of the plasmid GFPuv (pGFPuv) on growth were analyzed. PCR analysis and microscopic observation showed that C. sakazakii and C. muytjensii isolates took up the plasmid into cells and expressed the GFPuv gene. All Cronobacter transformants maintained this plasmid after frozen storage and 2 consecutive subcultures. The C. sakazakii FWHd16 transformant was the most stable, while the C. muytjensii FWHd11 transformant was the least stable. All transformants showed nearly identical growth curves during lag, log and stationary phases, compared to wild type parental isolates. The maximum bacterial growth rates (μ_max) of the transformants and parents were similar, indicating that the presence of pGFPuv in transformants did not affect cell growth. Stable GFPuv-labeled Cronobacter has potential for use in tracking bacterial behavior during food handling and drying.     

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Heterogeneous Nanocatalytic Ozonation

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized by plasma oxygen (CNTs) have been used as heterogeneous catalysts for the ozonation of methyl orange (MO) dye (CI 13025) in aqueous solutions. It was found that the addition of CNTs significantly enhanced the dye decolorization as compared to ozone alone or when activated carbon was used at the same dose as CNTs. Both the initial ozone concentration and catalyst dosage enhanced the removal of MO. However, ozone gas concentrations higher than 6 g/m³ NTP did not further improve the decolorization rates. The removal efficiency of MO increased with pH in the range 2 to 3, while a reverse trend was observed when the pH increased from 3 to 9. The addition of a radical scavenger resulted in only a limited change in the decolorization rates suggesting that molecular ozone was the main pathway by which MO decolorization occurred in solution. However, under favorable conditions for MO attraction to CNT surface (pH = 3), the decolorization rate has significantly increased. At higher pH than the pKa value of MO (3.47) and the point of zero charge of CNT (3.87), a condition that favors the electrostatic repulsion of MO from CNT, the rates were reduced in the presence of CNT as compared to ozone alone possibly due to loss of part of the supplied ozone in un-useful parallel reactions.     

Structures of HIV TAR RNA–Ligand Complexes Reveal Higher Binding Stoichiometries

Target TAR by NMR : Tripeptides containing arginines as terminal residues and non‐natural amino acids as central residues are good leads for drug design to target the HIV trans‐activation response element (TAR). The structural characterization of the RNA–ligand complex by NMR spectroscopy reveals two specific binding sites that are located at bulge residue U23 and around the pyrimidine‐stretch U40‐C41‐U42 directly adjacent to the bulge.

     

Non-contact measurement of surface oscillation due to Marangoni flow instability in a silicon liquid bridge by phase-shift interferometry

In order to investigate Marangoni flow instability of molten silicon, surface oscillation of a silicon liquid bridge with various aspect ratios at high Marangoni numbers, such as Ma ≥ 2400, was observed by using real-time phase-shift interferometry. By analyzing phase distribution of the phase-shift interferograms using FFT (fast Fourier transformation) and wavelet transformation, we found that two frequency bands exist in surface oscillation. Their central frequencies are 0.1–0.5 Hz for a lower band and 0.7–1.3 Hz for a higher band, respectively. Central frequency decreases with increase in aspect ratio. The lower frequency bands, which include m = 1 and m = 3 modes, appear continuously, whereas the higher frequency bands appear intermittently.