Broad-band SiGe MMICs for phased-array radar applications

This paper reports the performances of several broad-band monolithic SiGe monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) suitable for phased-array radar applications. The amplitude and phase control MMIC designs are based on an optimized SiGe p-i-n diode offered by the IBM 5HP SiGe foundry process. Utilizing this diode, several control circuitries including a broad-band (1-20-GHz) monolithic single-pole double-throw switch, a five-port transfer switch, a 6-bit phase shifter, and a 5-bit attenuator, all operating over 7-11 GHz, are designed. Also, the design and performance of an SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor variable-gain cascode amplifier that combines the functionality of an amplifier and an attenuator into one MMIC is described.     

A low-overhead and reliable switch architecture for Network-on-Chips

This paper proposes and evaluates Low-overhead, Reliable Switch (LRS) architecture to enhance the reliability of Network-on-Chips (NoCs). The proposed switch architecture exploits information and hardware redundancies to eliminate retransmission of faulty flits. The LRS architecture creates a redundant copy of each newly received flit and stores the redundant flit in a duplicated flit buffer that is associated with the incoming channel of the flit. Flit buffers in the LRS are equipped with information redundancy to detect probable bit flip errors. When an error is detected in a flit buffer, its duplicated buffer is used to recover the correct value of the flit. In this way, the propagation of the erroneous flits in NoC is prevented without any need to credit signals and, retransmission buffers. Using an HDL-based NoC simulator, the LRS is compared to two other widely used reliability enhancement methods: the Switch-to-Switch (S2S) and the End-to-End (E2E) methods. The simulation results show that the LRS consumes less power and provides higher performance compared to those of the E2E and S2S methods. More importantly, unlike the E2E and the S2S methods, the LRS has constant overheads, which makes it applicable in all working conditions. To validate the comparison, an analytical performance and reliability model is developed for the LRS, S2S and E2E methods. The results of the model match those obtained from the simulations while the proposed model is significantly faster.     

Second harmonic generation from LB superlattices containing two active components

Second harmonic generation has been observed from Langmuir-Blodgett multilayer arrays containing two active components. Both materials were based on long chain donor-acceptor dye compounds, but were designed with the donor-acceptor groups in opposite senses with respect to the hydrocarbon chain. Preliminary results indicate a significant enhancement of the second-order polarisability for this type of supermolecular array.     

Establishment of traceability for strain measuring data acquisition system in terms of voltage

This paper emphasizes on establishment of traceability for the strain measuring data acquisition system in terms of voltage. If this amplifier’s output voltage is not calibrated then traceability chain breaks. To complete the traceability chain, the amplifier’s output voltage has been calibrated for corresponding strain. The sensitivity is calculated using calibration results and further used to feed in data acquisition system to display the result in terms of force/strain.     

Effect of elastane linear density and draft ratio on the physical and mechanical properties of core-spun cotton yarns

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of elastane linear density and draft ratio on the physical and mechanical properties of core-spun yarns. Twenty yarn samples were prepared on industrial scale in a spinning mill with two different yarn linear densities, each with different two elastane deniers and five draft ratios. It was found that core-spun yarn’s tenacity, elongation and hairiness are affected not only by the overall yarn linear density but also by the elastane linear density and the draft ratio. However, the effect of elastane linear density and draft ratio was not found to be statistically significant on the yarn mass variations and total imperfections, which are only affected by the overall yarn liner density. A statistically significant interaction for yarn elongation at break was found between the yarn liner density and the elastane linear density concluding that elastane linear density used in the core must be compatible with the overall yarn liner density for attaining the best yarn elongation.     

Smart packaging: sensors for monitoring of food quality and safety

The development of chemical sensors and biosensors over several decades has been investigated resulting in novel and very interesting sensor devices with great promise for many areas of applications including food technology. The incorporation of such sensors into the food packaging technology has resulted what we call smart or intelligent packaging. These are truly integrated and interdisciplinary systems that invoke expertise from the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, physics and electronics as well as food science and technology. Smart packaging utilises chemical sensor or biosensor to monitor the quality & safety of food from the producers to the costumers. This technology can result in a variety of sensor designs that are suitable for monitoring of food quality and safety, such as freshness, pathogens, leakage, carbon dioxide, oxygen, pH, time or temperature. Thus, this technology is needed as on-line quality control and safety in term of consumers, authorities and food producers, and has great potential in the development of new sensing systems integrated in the food packaging, which are beyond the existing conventional technologies, like control of weight, volume, colour and appearance.     

Effect of transglutaminase on the functional properties of GDL (glucono‐delta‐lactone) cold‐set soybean glycinin gel

Cold‐set soybean glycinin gel was prepared by cross‐linking of soybean glycinin (non‐preheated and preheated) at pH 8.0 and 50 °C using transglutaminase (TG), followed by cold‐set acidification using glucono‐δ‐lactone (GDL). Dynamic oscillatory rheological measurements (both under non‐preheat and preheat conditions) showed that there was a substantial increase in the elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) moduli of enzyme treated gels. The moduli also showed similar frequency dependence. The yield strains of enzyme treated gels were clearly higher than that of the gels without enzyme treatment. Texture profile analysis indicated that preheat and enzyme treatments have beneficial effect on hardness, fracturability and gumminess of gels. Thermal and enzyme treatments have synergetic effect to improve the strength of gels, which is also consistent with the results of rheological measurements. These results demonstrated that heat treatment followed by TG treatment and GDL acidification improved the functional properties of soybean glycinin cold‐set gel.     

Ergogenic Attributes of Young and Mature Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Water Based on Physical Properties,Sugars and Electrolytes Contents

The present work aimed to compare the main ergogenic attributes of two commercialized stages (young and mature) of coconut water (CW) obtained from four coconut varieties. The changes of electrolytes and sugars in CW upon maturation were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Based on the electrolyte profiling, potassium yielded the highest amount (ranging from 237.41 to 361.20 mg/100 mL) followed by sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, selenium, and zinc across all the maturity stages tested. For sugars, there were lower amounts of fructose and glucose, but a higher amount of sucrose with the maturation of the fruits. In conclusion, the amount of beneficial nutrients in the form of sugars and minerals was higher than that of young CW, and the ergogenic attributes of mature CW especially from MATAG variety (M-MATAG) were the best to be exploited further in the development of natural energy drinks.     

Effect of short-term storage on phenolic content,o-diphenolase and peroxidase activities of cut yam tubers (Dioscorea sp)

The effect of short-term storage on the protein, phosphorus and phenolic content as well as peroxidase and o-diphenolase activities of cut, harvested Jamaican yam (Dioscorea sp) tubers (D rotundata. D alata and D cayenensis) was studied. There was an initial increase in the total phenolic content up to the third week of storage followed by a gradual decrease to the sixth week. Phenolic content was found to be highest in D cayenensis followed by D rotundata and D alata. The activities of peroxidase (EC 1. 11. 1. 7) and o-diphenolase (EC 1. 10.3.1) increased steadily up to the third week of storage and thereafter decreased to the fifth week. The intensity and rapidity of browning in tubers when cut, correlated very closely with the tuber o-diphenolase and phenolic content levels while the onset of rotting correlated with the peroxidase activity levels in the species studied.     

Antioxidants and antiradicals in almond hull and shell (Amygdalus communis L.) as a function of genotype

To compare the antioxidant and antiradical activity of Amygdalus communis L. hulls and shells phenolic extracts in different genotypes, 18 A. communis L. genotypes were selected from those in Qooshchi, Qalgachi, Qovarchin Qale, Najaf Abad, Jamal Abad, Kahriz, Sfahlan of West and East Azerbayjan provinces of Iran in 2007. The fruits of these almonds were collected, their hulls and shells dried, ground and then methanolic extracts prepared from these hulls and shells. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu (F–C) method. The extracts’ reducing power and scavenging capacity for radical nitrite, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide were evaluated. Significant differences were found in phenolic content of hulls and shells among various genotypes, radical scavenging capacity percentage varied significantly among genotypes and their hulls and shells. S₃-7 genotype with the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity in its hulls represents a valuable genotype for procuring antioxidant phenolic compounds.