Characterization of precipitates formed in X7R 0603 BME-MLCC during sintering

In the current study two different batches of X7R-0603 BME-MLCCs displayed dissimilar electrical performance, despite having the same chemical composition, tape casting, and sintering conditions; with the only difference between them being the ore deposits where the raw materials were extracted from to synthesize the BaTiO₃. Specifically, they presented different electrical response to highly accelerated life tests (HALT). Although the chemical analysis of each slip showed the same composition, the trace elements of the BaTiO₃ sources could have acted as dopants or produced different secondary phases. A search for precipitates in the two samples was conducted by means of Scanning (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. SEM observations confirmed the presence of precipitates formed within the structure of the MLCCs exhibiting the greatest decrement in their electrical resistance results during the HALT. In order to further characterize the observed precipitates, samples were prepared by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) lift-out method, to make TEM characterization of specific precipitates feasible. TEM studies were performed on the precipitates to obtain electron diffraction patterns and complementary Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS) chemical analysis. Based on the crystal and chemical data obtained, it can be concluded that the precipitates are a hexagonal anhydrous silicate oxyapatite phase with a stoichiometry of Ca₃Y₁₆Si₁₀O₁₃, and lattice parameters of a = 0.9353 nm and c = 0.6970 nm; this phase was not found in the JCPDS data base. Differences in raw materials coming from different ore deposits can produce undesired precipitates that affect the electrical performance of MLCCs.     

Phase locked loop-based clock synthesizer for reconfigurable analog-to-digital converters

Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing - This paper presents the complete design of a phase locked loop-based clock synthesizer for reconfigurable analog-to-digital converters. The...     

Invisible emotion magnification algorithm (IEMA) for real-time micro-expression recognition with graph-based features

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The interest in real-time micro-expression recognition has increased with the current trend in human-computer interaction applications. Presently, there are...     

Biochemical Investigation of the Interaction of pICln,RioK1 and COPR5 with the PRMT5–MEP50 Complex

The PRMT5–MEP50 methyltransferase complex plays a key role in various cancers and is regulated by different protein–protein interactions. Several proteins have been reported to act as adaptor proteins that recruit substrate proteins to the active site of PRMT5 for the methylation of arginine residues. To define the interaction between these adaptor proteins and PRMT5, we employed peptide truncation and mutation studies and prepared truncated protein constructs. We report the characterisation of the interface between the TIM barrel of PRMT5 and the adaptor proteins pICln, RioK1 and COPR5, and identify the consensus amino acid sequence GQF[D/E]DA[E/D] involved in binding. Protein crystallography revealed that the RioK1 derived peptide interacts with a novel PPI site.     

Linear regression-based multifidelity surrogate for disturbance amplification in multiphase explosion

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - When simulations are very expensive and many are required, as for optimization or uncertainty quantification, a way to reduce cost is using...     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3/ZrO2 composites by two-step sintering

Composites of Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ (containing 25, 50, and 75 vol% ZrO₂) were prepared by mixing Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ suspensions. The microstructural control via two-step sintering (TSS) was the main objective of this work. For this purpose, different sintering curves were constructed, aiming to achieve the best temperature combination for the sintering steps that provides higher density and finer microstructure. The results were compared with single-step sintering (SSS). Furthermore, microhardness and fracture toughness were measured for the best TSS specimens under each composition. The results showed that the high densities were obtained, and the reduction of grain size was greater than 40% for two-step sintered specimens, compared to SSS ones. Consequently, microhardness values increased. However, fracture toughness values remained unchanged.     

Design and evaluation of a mobile smart home interactive system with elderly users in Brazil

Personal and Ubiquitous Computing - This article presents a study concerning the evaluation of a smart home control system for elderly people with a sample of 10 users in a city in the interior of...     

A review on some classes of algebraic systems

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we review some algebraic control system. Precisely, linear and bilinear systems on Euclidean spaces and invariant and linear systems on Lie groups. The fourth classes of systems have a common issue: to any class, there exists an associated subgroup. From this object, we survey the controllability property. Especially, from those coming from our contribution to the theory.     

In vivo Kinetic Biodistribution of Nano‐Sized Outer Membrane Vesicles Derived from Bacteria

Evaluation of kinetic distribution and behaviors of nanoparticles in vivo provides crucial clues into their roles in living organisms. Extracellular vesicles are evolutionary conserved nanoparticles, known to play important biological functions in intercellular, inter‐species, and inter‐kingdom communication. In this study, the first kinetic analysis of the biodistribution of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs)—bacterial extracellular vesicles—with immune‐modulatory functions is performed. OMVs, injected intraperitoneally, spread to the whole mouse body and accumulate in the liver, lung, spleen, and kidney within 3 h of administration. As an early systemic inflammation response, increased levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 are observed in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In addition, the number of leukocytes and platelets in the blood is decreased. OMVs and cytokine concentrations, as well as body temperature are gradually decreased 6 h after OMV injection, in concomitance with the formation of eye exudates, and of an increase in ICAM‐1 levels in the lung. Following OMV elimination, most of the inflammatory signs are reverted, 12 h post‐injection. However, leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are increased as a late reaction. Taken together, these results suggest that OMVs are effective mediators of long distance communication in vivo.