Enhanced field emission from multi-walled carbon nanotubes grown on pure copper substrate

An efficient CNT-based field emitter was prepared on a Cu substrate using thermal chemical vapor deposition. Field emission characterization of the emitter showed a very low turn-on field, high emission current, long time stability and good resistance to degradation in high-field, long-time exposure. These superior field emission characteristics are attributed to a lower contact barrier and higher conductivity of the substrate. High resolution transmission electron microscope analysis showed the presence of a conducting phase, TiC, at the metal-CNT interface, providing a low contact resistance barrier.     

Synthesis and characterization of a porous poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)‐based hydrogel device for the implantable delivery of insulin

Poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) [poly(HEMA‐co‐EGDMA)]‐based hydrogel devices were synthesized by a free‐radical polymerization reaction with 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate as the monomer, different concentrations of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinking agent, and ammonium persulfate/N,N,N′,N′‐tetra‐methyl ethylenediamine as the free‐radical initiator. The porosity of the poly(HEMA‐co‐EGDMA) hydrogels was controlled with water as the porogen. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of poly(HEMA‐co‐EGDMA) showed absorption bands associated with ? C?O stretching at 1714 cm^?1, C? O? C stretching vibrations at 1152 cm^?1, and a broad band at 3500–3800 cm^?1 corresponding to ? OH stretching. Atomic force microscopy studies showed that the hydrogel containing 67% water had pores in the range of 3500–9000 nm, whereas the hydrogel containing 7% water did not show measurable pores. The hydrogel synthesized with 1% EGDMA showed 50% thallium‐201 release within the first 30 min and about 80% release within 60 min. In vitro insulin‐release studies suggested that the hydrogel with 27% water showed sustained release up to 120 min, whereas the hydrogels with 47 and 67% water showed that nearly all of the insulin was released within 60 min. Hydrogel devices synthesized with 27% water and filled with insulin particles showed sustained release for up to 8 days, whereas the hydrogels synthesized with 47 and 67% water released insulin completely within 3 days of administration. Animal studies suggested that the hydrogel devices synthesized with 27% water and filled with insulin‐loaded particles (120 IU) were able to control blood glucose levels for up to 5 days after implantation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Relevance of ROT control for hot rolled low carbon steels

The need for precision in controlling coiling temperature and cooling profiles on the run out table for hot rolled low carbon steel strips has been investigated. It is claimed in literature that a high degree of automation and control of the run out table is required to control the yield strength variation to within 20 MPa. However, calculations based on models available in literature predict that the variation in strip temperature encountered in a typical run out table does not affect the mechanical property significantly. This has been shown to be true even from experimental data available in literature. Hence even a coarse control over the run out table is adequate to achieve the desired yield strength. A detailed report concentrating on the influence of coiling temperature on the mechanical properties of HSLA steels is under preparation.     

Metabolic Analysis of Vitreous/Lens and Retina in Wild Type and Retinal Degeneration Mice

Photoreceptors are the light-sensing cells of the retina and the major cell type affected in most inherited retinal degenerations. Different metabolic pathways sustain their high energetic demand in physiological conditions, particularly aerobic glycolysis. The principal metabolome of the mature retina has been studied, but only limited information is available on metabolic adaptations in response to key developmental events, such as eye opening. Moreover, dynamic metabolic changes due to retinal degeneration are not well understood. Here, we aimed to explore and map the ocular metabolic dynamics induced by eye opening in healthy (wild type) or Pde6b-mutant (retinal degeneration 1, Rd1) mice, in which photoreceptors degenerate shortly after eye opening. To unravel metabolic differences emerging before and after eye opening under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, we performed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrosco-py-based metabolome analysis of wild type and Rd1 retina and vitreous/lens. We show that eye opening is accompanied by changes in the concentration of selected metabolites in the retina and by alterations in the vitreous/lens composition only in the retinal degeneration context. As such, we identify N-Acetylaspartate as a potential novel vitreous/lens marker reflecting progressive retinal degeneration. Thus, our data can help elucidating mechanisms underlying key events in retinal physiology and reveal changes occurring in pathology, while highlighting the importance of the vitreous/lens in the characterization of retinal diseases.     

Kinetics of copper and high Pb/high Sn bilayered Pb-Sn solder interactions

Use of bilayered Pb-Sn solders consisting of high Sn and high Pb solder compositions is an option for joining chips to organic substrates at lower temperatures in which the high Sn solder is deposited onto Cu pads on the substrates. In this work interactions between the two-layered solder and copper pads during the reflow operation have been studied for both flip chip and Ball Grid Array (BGA) applications. It has been observed that Sn from the high Sn solder migrates faster at the edges along the surface of the high Pb solder than at the interior, resulting in a non-uniform Sn concentration along the Cu-solder interface. The thickness of the intermetallic compound formed due to the interaction of Cu and Sn has also been found to be non-uniform along the solder-Cu interface. This has been attributed to the variation in the Sn concentration of the solder adjacent to the Cu pads at different positions. The intermetallic compound growth rate has been explained using a model based on Sn diffusion into copper.     

Skin-Inspired Nanofluid-Filled Surfaces with Tunable Icephobic,Photothermal, and Energy Absorption Properties

Ice buildup can significantly and negatively impact system performance in various industrial sectors, and has remained a persistent challenge for decades. Many compliant materials exhibit excellent de-icing performance but are easily eroded by impacts from supercooled water droplets, sand, dust, and debris. A composite panel inspired by animal skin, consisting of a facesheet protecting a nanofluid layer beneath, which exhibits durable anti-icing and tunable photothermal properties is proposed. The viscous liquid layer beneath the facesheet increases flexural rigidity, preventing large deflections and increasing deformation resistance, which alters ice's adhesion to the surface. The non-uniform fluid pressure exerted by the viscous nanofluid-filled composite panels facilitates ice detachment, resulting in ice adhesion strengths as low as τ_ice ≈ 10 kPa. Further, by altering the fluid properties, different additional functionalities can be endowed to the system. Incorporating fumed silica in a fluid-filled composite panel results in rheopectic behavior, and this doubles their impact resistance when the shear thickening properties are properly tuned. Additionally, the combination of a transparent facesheet and a solar light absorbent nanofluid allows for tunable photothermal properties, further enhancing the anti-icing performance of the system. This durable and tunable nanofluid-filled composite panel shows great promise as a multifunctional de-icing material.     

Absorption of chlorine in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide: Desorption of hypochlorous acid followed by its dissociation to chlorine monoxide

The absorption of chlorine in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide with concurrent desorption of hypochlorous acid (followed by its dissociation to chlorine monoxide) was studied at 55 and 75°C in a model stirred contactor with a flat gas-liquid interface. Theoretical and experimental aspects of this unique case of desorption (followed by dissociation) have been considered.A reasonably good agreement between the theoretical predictions and experimental observations has been found.     

基于MOSFET的平方根计算模拟电路

在仪表和测量系统中广泛使用了平方根计算电路,例如：用于计算任意波形rms（均方根）等。因此,设计师需要有一种高效的模拟平方根计算装置。由于制造商常采用MOS技术制造IC,采用基于MOSFET的模拟平方根计算装置应该是很合适的。此设计实例就描述了一个这样的电路。该电路只采用MoSFET提供平方根功能（图1）。它设计简单,