Reduction of leakage current at the gate edge of SDB SOI NMOStransistor

Leakage current through the parasitic channel formed at the sidewall of the SOI active region has been investigated by measuring the subthreshold I-V characteristics. Partially depleted (PD, ~2500 Å) and fully depleted (FD, ~800 Å) SOI NMOS transistors of enhancement mode have been fabricated using the silicon direct bonding (SDB) technology. Isolation processes for the SOI devices were LOCOS, LOCOS with channel stop ion implantation or fully recessed trench (FRT). The electron concentration of the parasitic channel is calculated by the PISCES IIb simulation. As a result, leakage current of the FD mode SOI device with FRT isolation at the front and back gate biases of 0 V was reduced to ~pA and no hump was seen on the drain current curve     

Secure communication in IPTV broadcasting

In internet protocol television (IPTV) broadcasting, service providers charge subscribing fee by scrambling the program with conditional access system (CAS) using control words (CWs). A smart card is used to decrypt the CWs and transfer them back to set-top box (STB) to descramble the scrambled program. Secure communication between STB and the smart card is closely related with the benefit of service providers and the legal rights of users. In addition, secure key exchange with mutual authentication in the communication between STB and the smart card is an essential part of secure communication that will significantly improve the security of the system. To provide secure communication with mutual authentication in IPTV broadcasting, there are several schemes. The schemes proposed a secure and efficient method for the communication between STB and the smart card. Unfortunately, the schemes still have some security flaws. In this paper, we review that the previous schemes are vulnerable to several attacks. Further, we recommend some modifications to the schemes to correct these security flaws and present a formal analysis about our improved protocol using a logic based formal method.     

Ultrasonic-assisted leaching kinetics in aqueous FeCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>-HCl solution for the recovery of copper by hydrometallurgy from poorly soluble chalcopyrite

We studied the ultrasonic effect on the leaching of copper from poorly soluble chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) mineral in aqueous FeCl₃ solution. The leaching experiment employed two methods, basic leaching and ultrasonic-assisted leaching, and was conducted under the optimized experimental conditions: a slurry density of 20 g/L in 0.1M FeCl₃ reactant in a solution of 0.1M HCl, with an agitation speed of 500 rpm and in the temperature range of 50 to 99 °C. The maximum yield obtained from the optimized basic leaching was 77%, and ultrasonic-assisted leaching increased the maximum copper recovery to 87% under the same conditions of basic leaching. In terms of the leaching mechanism, the overall reaction rate of basic leaching is determined by the diffusion of both the product and ash layers based on a shrinking core model with a constant spherical particle; however, in the case of ultrasonic-assisted leaching, the leaching rate is determined by diffusion of the ash layer only by the removal of sulfur adsorbed on the surface of chalcopyrite mineral.     

Characteristics of an electrochemical reduction of Ta2O5 for the preparation of metallic tantalum in a LiCl–Li2O molten salt

The electrochemical reduction of Ta₂O₅ in a LiCl–Li₂O molten salt system has been carried out in an electrolytic cell with an integrated cathode assembly. During the electrochemical run, Ta₂O₅ reacts chemically with Li₂O to form LiTaO₃. The chronopotentiometry method was used to prepare the metallic tantalum from Ta₂O₅. The electrolysis of Li₂O and the reduction of Ta₂O₅ and/or LiTaO₃ take place simultaneously at the cathode part of an electrolysis cell. The recycle of Li₂O by an O²⁻ diffusion occurs in the cell. The results suggest that the metallic tantalum is prepared successfully by an electrochemical reduction in the LiCl–Li₂O molten salt.     

Molecular recognition of protonated polyamines at calix[4]crown-5 self-assembled monolayer modified electrodes by impedance measurements

Molecular recognition of protonated aliphatic polyamines has been studied at calix[4]crown-5 self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrodes by electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) experiments. The energy of complex formation between the calix [4]crown-5 molecule and a series of alkyl ammonium ions was shown by molecular modeling and EIS experiments to depend on the number of amine groups in the alkyl chain as well as the number of methylene groups between the amine groups. The structures of complexes formed between the crown ether on the lower rim of calix[4]arene and protonated amines were determined by minimizing the complex formation energies. The adducts thus formed on the SAM rendered the electron transfer from the electrode to the probe (Fe(CN)63-/4- pair) easier or more difficult depending on the number of ammonium groups and their arrangement in linear alkyl chains. Analytical procedures have been developed to detect protonated spermidine (a recognized cancer marker) in simulated urine, blood, erythrocyte, and cerebrospinal fluids.     

Novel nanocomposite actuator based on sulfonated poly(styrene-b-ethylene-co-butylene-b-styrene) polymer

Ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators were developed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and sulfonated poly(styrene-b-ethylene-co-butylene-b-styrene) (SSEBS) ionic polymers. MWNT with the diameter of 10 approximately 15 nm and length of 10 approximately 20 microm was used to enhance the mechanical and electrical performances of IPMC actuators. Ultrasonic treatment and high speed mixing were employed to disperse MWNTs homogeneously in SSEBS solution. The electroless plating method was used to make electrodes on the both side of the composite membrane. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images were taken to characterize the surface and micro-structures of the composite actuators. In this study, novel nano-composite actuators were fabricated with different weight ratio of the MWNT 0.5%, 1.5% and the bending actuation performance and electrical power consumptions were investigated.     

Interleukin-34-CSF1R Signaling Axis Promotes Epithelial Cell Transformation and Breast Tumorigenesis

IL-34 has been recently identified as a ligand for CSF1R that regulates various cellular processes including cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Although the binding of IL-34 to CSF1R modulates several cancer-driving signaling pathways, little is known about the role of IL-34/CSF1R signaling in breast cancer. Herein, we report that IL-34 induces epithelial cell transformation and breast tumorigenesis through activation of MEK/ERK and JNK/c-Jun pathways. IL-34 increased the phosphorylation of MEK1/2, ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and c-Jun through CSF1R in mouse skin epidermal JB6 C141 cells and human breast cancer MCF7 cells. IL-34 enhanced c-Fos and c-Jun promoter activity, resulting in increased AP-1 transactivation activity in JB6 Cl41 and MCF7 cells. Moreover, PIN1 enhanced IL-34-induced phosphorylation of MEK1/2, ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and c-Jun in JB6 Cl41 and MCF7 cells. Inhibition of PIN1 using juglone prevented the IL-34-induced transformation of JB6 C141 cells. Similarly, silencing of PIN1 reduced the IL-34-induced tumorigenicity of MCF7 cells. Consistent with these results, the synergistic model showed that treatment with juglone suppressed the IL-34-induced growth of tumors formed by 4T1 cells in BALB/c mice. Our study demonstrates the role of IL-34-induced MEK/ERK and JNK/c-Jun cascades in breast cancer and highlights the regulatory role of PIN1 in IL-34-induced breast tumorigenesis.     

Humidity sensing by luminescence of Eu(III)-doped mesoporous silica thin film

We report the luminescence properties of Eu(III)-doped mesoporous silica thin films (Eu-MSTFs) and their application to humidity sensing. Eu-MSTFs with ～9 nm-sized pores ordered into a wormlike pore structure were synthesized. The Eu(III) ions inside the pores could be coordinated with 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,5-pyridine dicarboxylic acid ligand by diffusing in the ligand molecules through the pores. The ligand molecules increased the luminescence intensity of the Eu(III) ions. The luminescence intensity of the ligand-treated Eu-MSTFs varied linearly with the humidity level in the environment. The humidity sensing by this method is repeatable over many times.     

Influence of potassium pyrophosphate in electrolyte on coated layer of AZ91 Mg alloy formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation

The effect of potassium pyrophosphate in the electrolyte on plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process for AZ91 Mg alloy was investigated. The morphologies and chemical compositions of the coating layer on the AZ91 Mg alloy were evaluated and corrosion resistance was also estimated by potentiodynamic polarization analysis. The coating layer on AZ91 Mg alloy coated from the Bath 2 containing 0.03 mol/L of potassium pyrophosphate for 360 s exhibited considerably dense structure and contained 11%–18% (mass fraction) of phosphorous. The higher content of phosphorous of coating layer coated from Bath 2 could be detected at the bottom of oxide layer, which strongly implied that the phosphorous ion might be concentrated at the barrier layer. Corrosion potential of coating layer of AZ91 Mg alloy increased and corrosion current density decreased with increasing the concentration of potassium pyrophosphate. The polarization resistance (R_p) of coating layer of AZ91 Mg alloy coated from Bath 2 was 4.65×10⁷ Ω/cm², which was higher than that (R_p=3.56×10⁴ Ω/cm²) of the sample coated from electrolyte without potassium pyrophosphate. The coating layer coated from Bath 2 containing 0.03 mol/L potassium pyrophosphate exhibited the best corrosion resistance.