Development of LTCC micro-hotplate with PTC temperature sensor for gas-sensing applications

Low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) micro-hotplates show wide applications in gas sensors and micro-fluidic devices. It is easily structured in three-dimensional structures. This paper presents the low power consumption micro-hotplates which were developed with PTC (positive temperature coefficient) temperature sensor and inter-digitated electrodes. The paper presents two different structures for micro-hotplate with platinum as a heating element. The PTC temperature sensor using two different materials viz. PdAg and platinum paste are developed with micro-hotplates. The simulation has been achieved through COMSOL for LTCC and alumina micro-hotplates. The temperature variation with power consumption has been measured for the developed LTCC micro-hotplates. The change in resistance of PTC temperature sensors was measured with micro-hotplate temperature. The aim of this study was to place a temperature sensor with the gas sensor module to measure and control the temperature of micro-hotplate. A SnO₂ sensing layer is coated on LTCC micro-hotplate using screen printing and characterized for the sensing of carbon monoxide gas (CO). This study will be beneficial for designing hotplates based on LTCC technology with low power consumption and better stability of temperature for gas-sensing applications.     

Cut off frequency and transit time analysis of lightly doped drain (LDD) MOSFETs

Analytical model for the transconductance, cut off frequency, transit time and fringing capacitance of LDD MOSFETs is presented with a simple approach. The analysis is carried out considering the LDD device as a conventional MOSFET with a series resistance [Z.-H. Liu et al., Threshold voltage model for submicrometer MOSFETs. IEEE Trans Electron Devices 1993; ED-40: 86–94] and a simple closed form expressions for cut off frequency and transit time is obtained. The total gate capacitance, i.e. the geometric and fringing capacitance, is calculated for both LDD and non-LDD devices and lower fringing capacitance is reported in LDD devices. Lower cut-off frequencies and higher transit time are reported in LDD devices for the same channel length.     

Effects of quinine on the mechanical frequency response of the cupula in the fish lateral line

Quinine induces changes in the motion of the cupula in the lateral line canal of the African knife-fish in response to sinusoidal water movements. Two different phases in the action of quinine on the cupular frequency response can be discerned. In the first phase the best frequency, i.e., the frequency at which the cupular vibratory displacement is maximal in response to constant-amplitude sinusoidal canal fluid displacement, shifts toward higher frequencies. During this phase, lasting about 70-100 min, the best frequency increases by a factor between 1.3 and 1.5. In the second phase, during roughly the following 90 min, the best frequency decreases gradually to a value 0.3-0.5 times that observed before the application of quinine.     

HLA-B27-restricted antigen presentation in the absence of tapasin reveals polymorphism in mechanisms of HLA class I peptide loading

Tapasin is a resident ER protein believed to be critical for antigen presentation by HLA class I molecules. We demonstrate that allelic variation in MHC class I molecules influences their dependence on tapasin for peptide loading and antigen presentation. HLA-B*2705 molecules achieve high levels of surface expression and present specific viral peptides in the absence of tapasin. In contrast, HLA-B*4402 molecules are highly dependent upon human tapasin for these functions, while HLA-B8 molecules are intermediate in this regard. Significantly, HLA-B*2705 like HLA-B*4402, requires tapasin to associate efficiently with TAP (transporters associated with antigen processing). The unusual ability of HLA-B*2705 to form peptide complexes without associating with TAP or tapasin confers flexibility in the repertoire of peptides presented by this molecule. We speculate that these properties might contribute to the role of HLA-B27 in conferring susceptibility to inflammatory spondyloarthropathies.     

Hexamethyl cyclotrisiloxane–styrene block copolymers and their chemical composition

Triblock copolymers of hexamethyl cyclotrisiloxane (D₃) and styrene were synthesized by first preparing “living” species of polystyrene dianion followed by polymerization of D₃. The chain lenght of polymeric blocks could be controlled in a predictable fashion leading to a central hard block of polystyrene and the two end segments of amorphous polydimethylsiloxane having narrow molecular weight distribution, were characterized by gel permeation chromatography. The chemical composition of block copolymers was determined by silicon analysis and infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Thermal aging of block copolymers at 150, 200, and 300°C was also discussed.     

Engineering and molding properties of poly(vinyl chloride), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and polyester blends

Polymer blends with varying amounts of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polyester have been developed to produce parts with highly flexible, good impact strength, and flame retardant hinge properties. In the present work, the rheological and dynamic mechanical properties are balanced by changing the blend formulations. It is shown that blends morphology and rheology have greater impact on the dimensional stability and delamination at the surface of the molded hinge parts.     

Enhanced liquid spreading due to porosity

A conceptual pore level model (Chem. Eng. Sci. 57 (2002) 3401) of spreading of liquid over internally wet porous particles is applied to explain reported rector level enhancement in wetting of trickle bed reactor (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 36 (1997) 5133). It is confirmed that a symbiotic relationship exists between internal and external wetting of porous particles whereby each enhances the other. Further, it is illustrated that liquid spreading in porous solids is driven more by porosity than by contact angle. A major implication of this phenomena is that liquid will spread more on less wettable (but porous) surfaces in comparison to more wettable (but nonporus) surfaces and a reinterpretation of experiments involving spreading of liquid over porous solids is required. On a large scenario, it is hoped that present exercise will be in important step towards explaining the complex reactor level macro phenomena by simple and conceptual pore level micro models.