Performance analysis and enhancement of 10-nm GAA CNTFET-based circuits in the presence of CNT-metal contact resistance

The gate-all-around (GAA) CNTFET is one of the most efficient types of CNTFETs which provides the conditions for scaling the technology to 10 nm and beyond, due to the extraordinary features of carbon nanotubes and the superior gate control through a high-k insulator over the CNT channel. However, the high CNT-metal contact resistance at the source/drain terminals can significantly degrade the device and circuit performance in CNTFET technology compared to what we have expected. In this study, first a comprehensive comparative assessment of performance and robustness of the gate-all-around CNTFET- and FinFET-based devices and circuits is performed. In the GAA CNTFET-based circuits the contact resistance can be defined as a series resistor at each contacted node of transistors. In addition, an effective circuit-level solution for improving the performance of GAA CNTFET-based circuits in the presence of contact resistance is proposed. In this approach, the contact lengths of the devices located on the critical path are increased to an effective value to reduce the contact resistance considerably and the other contact lengths remain minimum-sized. The results demonstrate that applying this solution significantly improves the speed, energy consumption and energy-delay product of GAA CNTFET-based circuits.     

The Evaluation of Rheofalt as a Warm Mix Asphalt Additive on the Properties of Asphalt Binder

In this research study, Rheofalt as warm additive was used to modify original binder (60–70 penetration grade). The binder fatigue and rutting performance was evaluated through Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) and multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) test, respectively. Results indicated that the binder modified with 2% rheofalt has the highest J_nr value which lead the pure binder more susceptible to rutting. The LAS test results demonstrated that the fatigue behavior of asphalt binders modified with 2% rheofalt is the highest one.     

Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties and Mineral Composition of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) at Different Growth Stages

The main objective of this research was to appraise the changes in mineral content and antioxidant attributes of Portulaca oleracea over different growth stages. The antioxidant activity was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The iodine titration method was used to determine the ascorbic acid content (AAC). DPPH scavenging (IC(50)) capacity ranged from 1.30 ± 0.04 to 1.71 ± 0.04 mg/mL, while the ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant activity (AEAC) values were 229.5 ± 7.9 to 319.3 ± 8.7 mg AA/100 g, total phenol content (TPC) varied from 174.5 ± 8.5 to 348.5 ± 7.9 mg GAE/100 g. AAC 60.5 ± 2.1 to 86.5 ± 3.9 mg/100 g and FRAP 1.8 ± 0.1 to 4.3 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g. There was good correlation between the results of TPC and AEAC, and between IC(50) and FRAP assays (r(2) > 0.9). The concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Fe and Zn increased with plant maturity. Calcium (Ca) was negatively correlated with sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl), but positively correlated with magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Portulaca olerecea cultivars could be used as a source of minerals and antioxidants, especially for functional food and nutraceutical applications.     

Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in the Essential Oil of Lemon Verbena (Lippia citriodora) as Affected by Drying Condition

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of drying air temperature and air flow rate on the quantity and quality of the essential oil of lemon verbena. A completely randomized design was applied with a factorial arrangement of two factors: temperature (30, 40, and 50°C) and air flow rate (0.5, 1, and 1.5 m/s). The leaves were harvested in full blooming stage and placed in the drying machine at different temperatures and air flow rates. The essential oil of leaves was extracted by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the interaction between different temperatures under various air flow rates had a significant effect on the content and chemical composition of the essential oil. Seventeen compounds were identified in essential oil of lemon verbena, of which geranial, neral, and limonene were the major components. The maximum oil content and majority compounds of essential oil were obtained at 50°C and a 0.5 m/s air flow. Finally, seven mathematical models of thin-layer drying such as correlation coefficient (R ²), sum of square errors (SSE), and root mean square error (RMSE) were evaluated and the modified Page model was found to be the best drying model for lemon verbena.     

Management of osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head continues to pose a therapeutic challenge to orthopedic surgeons. This pathologic process results from the death of living components of bone from mechanical and biologic factors. Diagnosis, clinical symptoms, and classification systems are discussed. Several treatment regimens and their controversies are explored in this article.     

Production of egg-like silica sphere in a carbon shell and their oxidation to produce egg-tray structures with high ammonia adsorption

A simple synthesis protocol to prepare egg-like carbon-silica hybrids was developed where the size of a silica ball housed inside a carbon shell was tunable. An egg-tray type of carbon-silica hybrid was also made by the oxidation of egg-like carbon-silica hybrids. This oxidized hybrid has shown high ammonia adsorption capacity that is about 30 times more than the standard commercial adsorbent H-ZSM-5 (SiO₂/Al₂O₃=128).     

Colloidal lead-free Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskite nanocrystals: Synthesis,uniform thin-film fabrication,and application in solution-processed solar cells

Recently developed lead-free double perovskite nanocrystals(NCs)have been proposed for the possible application in solutionprocessed optoelectronic devices.However,the optoelectronic applications of double perovskite NCs have been hampered due to the structural and chemical instability in the presence of polar molecules.Here,we report a facile strategy for the synthesis and purification of Cs₂AgBiBr₆double perovskite NCs that remained stable even after washing with polar solvent.This is realized with our efficient colloidal route to synthesize Cs₂AgBiBr₆NCs that involve stable and strongly coordinated precursor such as silvertrioctyl phosphine complex together with bismuth neodecanoate,which leads to a significantly improved chemical and colloidal stability.Using layer-by-layer solid-state ligand exchange technique,a compact and crack-free thin film of Cs₂AgBiBr₆NCs were fabricated.Finally,perovskite solar cells consisting of Cs₂AgBiBr₆as an absorber layer were fabricated and tested.