Memory effects of all‐solution‐processed oxide thin‐film transistors using ZnO nanoparticles

Abstract— Non‐volatile memory effects of an all‐solution‐processed oxide thin‐film transistor (TFT) with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) as the charge‐trapping layer are reported. The device was fabricated by using a soluble MgInZnO active channel on a ZrHfO^x gate dielectric. ZnO NPs were used as the charge‐trapping site at the gate‐insulator—channel interface, and Al was used for source and drain electrodes. Transfer characteristics of the device showed a large clockwise hysteresis, which can be used to demonstrate its memory function due to electron trapping in the ZnO NP charge‐trapping layer. This memory effect has the potential to be utilized as a memory application on displays and disposable electronics.     

Hydroxyapatite (HA) bone scaffolds with controlled macrochannel pores

Hydroxyapatite (HA) macrochanneled porous scaffolds, with a controlled pore structure, were fabricated via a combination of the extrusion and lamination processes. The scaffold was architectured by aligning and laminating the extruded HA and carbon filaments. The macrochannel pores were formed by removing the carbon filaments after thermal treatments (binder removal and sintering). The porosity of the scaffolds was varied between 48 and 73% with a controlled pore size of ∼450 μm, by adjusting the fractions of HA and carbon filaments. As the porosity was increased from 48 to 73%, the compressive strength decreased from 11.5 to 3.2 MPa. However, the osteoblast-like cell responses on the scaffold, such as the proliferation rate and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, were significantly enhanced as the porosity was increased.     

Indirect adaptive control of nonlinear dynamic systems using self recurrent wavelet neural networks via adaptive learning rates

This paper proposes an indirect adaptive control method using self recurrent wavelet neural networks (SRWNNs) for dynamic systems. The architecture of the SRWNN is a modified model of the wavelet neural network (WNN). However, unlike the WNN, since a mother wavelet layer of the SRWNN is composed of self-feedback neurons, the SRWNN can store the past information of wavelets. In the proposed control architecture, two SRWNNs are used as both an identifier and a controller. The SRWNN identifier approximates dynamic systems and provides the SRWNN controller with information about the system sensitivity. The gradient-descent method using adaptive learning rates (ALRs) is applied to train all weights of the SRWNN. The ALRs are derived from discrete Lyapunov stability theorem, which are applied to guarantee the convergence of the proposed control system. Finally, we perform some simulations to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.     

Morphological control of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> particles via glycothermal process

Acicular magnetite (Fe₃O₄) powders were synthesized through new glycothermal dehydration by using crystalline α-FeOOH as precursor and glycols as solvent. When ethylene glycol was used as solvent, the phase was in-situ transformed from acicular α-FeOOH to α-Fe₂O₃ and finally to Fe₃O₄ at 270 °C for 6 h without morphological change. When water was added as a co-solvent in glycothermal reaction, Fe₃O₄ powders were synthesized through dissolution–recrystallization process at 230 °C for 3 h. The volume ratio of ethylene glycol to water (E/W) in the reaction has a strong effect on the morphology of the synthesized Fe₃O₄ particles. The particle shape of Fe₃O₄ particles changed from needle to sphere when the water content in E/W volume ratio increased from 0.5 to 1 mL in mixed glycothermal condition. When the water were added by more than 10 ml, the particle shape of Fe₃O₄ changed from sphere to octahedron truncated with the {100} faces and finally distinct octahedron with only {111} faces. Also, it is demonstrated that the size of Fe₃O₄ particles can be controlled from 1–2 μm to 100–200 nm by varying the reaction conditions such as the volume ratio of water to ethylene glycol and additive in glycothermal reaction.     

Integrated framework of risk evaluation and risk allocation with bounded data

This paper presents an integrated framework for risk evaluation and risk allocation with bounded data in a critical risk management. A risk evaluation framework using the Imprecise Data Envelopment Analysis (IDEA) method is proposed to be applied to operations of Korean Army helicopters. The risks pertaining to pilots, missions and helicopters are evaluated based on bounded data, and pilots are appropriately allocated to missions and helicopters using goal programming with bounded risk scores. Using bounded data, two risk allocation models are developed to be used with the expected value and lower/upper limit values, resulting in improved reliability of the solutions. Numerical experiments show reasonable solutions and valuable information for risk management.     

Convex Optimization-based Entry Guidance for Spaceplane

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - This paper aims to propose convex-optimization-based entry guidance for a spaceplane, which has potential in online implementation with...     

Biophysical modeling of forward scattering from bacterial colonies using scalar diffraction theory

A model for forward scattering from bacterial colonies is presented. The colonies of interest consist of approximately 10(12) - 10(13) individual bacteria densely packed in a configuration several millimeters in diameter and approximately 0.1-0.2 mm in thickness. The model is based on scalar diffraction theory and accounts for amplitude and phase modulation created by three macroscopic properties of the colonies: phase modulation due to the surface topography, phase modulation due to the radial structure observed from some strains and species, and diffraction from the outline of the colony. Phase contrast and confocal microscopy were performed to provide quantitative information on the shape and internal structure of the colonies. The computed results showed excellent agreement with the experimental scattering data for three different Listeria species: Listeria innocua, Listeria ivanovii, and Listeria monocytogenes. The results provide a physical explanation for the unique and distinctive scattering signatures produced by colonies of closely related Listeria species and support the efficacy of forward scattering for rapid detection and classification of pathogens without tagging.     

Ultrasonic assisted thermoforming for rapid fabrication of a microspeaker diaphragm

The present study uses ultrasonic vibration energy as an energy source in thermoforming of a microspeaker diaphragm. Microspeaker diaphragms have many applications in mobile media, and are generally manufactured from a thin polymer film using the thermoforming process. Thermoforming is a polymer processing method in which a polymer film is heated and softened to be formed into a desired shape. This process requires long cycle time because the polymer film should be heated enough to be softened before forming, and should be cooled sufficiently to be solidified after forming. In this study, ultrasonic vibration is applied to a thermoforming plug from which thin polymer films are shaped. For this purpose, an ultrasonic plug is designed to resonate at the excitation frequency of ultrasonic waves, and is applied to the thermoforming of a microspeaker diaphragm that incorporates a number of micro-corrugations. Considering that the cycle time of the proposed ultrasonic-assisted thermoforming process is <20 s owing to its localized heating capability, it can be concluded that the proposed process is superior to the conventional thermoforming process, the cycle time of which was as long as 160 s.