N-Type Field-Effect Transistors Using Multiple Mg-Doped ZnO Nanorods

Nanorod field-effect transistors (FETs) that use multiple Mg-doped ZnO nanorods and a SiO₂ gate insulator were fabricated and characterized. The use of multiple nanorods provides higher on-currents without significant degradation in threshold voltage shift and subthreshold slopes. It has been observed that the on-currents of the multiple ZnO nanorod FETs increase approximately linearly with the number of nanorods, with on-currents of ~1 muA per nanorod and little change in off-current (~4times10^-12). The subthreshold slopes and on-off ratios typically improve as the number of nanorods within the device channel is increased, reflecting good uniformity of properties from nanorod to nanorod. It is expected that Mg dopants contribute to high n-type semiconductor characteristics during ZnO nanorod growth. For comparison, nonintentionally doped ZnO nanorod FETs are fabricated, and show low conductivity to compare with Mg-doped ZnO nanorods. In addition, temperature-dependent current-voltage characteristics of single ZnO nanorod FETs indicate that the activation energy of the drain current is very low (0.05-0.16 eV) at gate voltages both above and below threshold     

Decreasing miscibility with greater heterogeneity in ternary polymer blend: poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate), poly(α‐methyl styrene) and poly(4‐methyl styrene)

A ternary blend system comprising poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) (PCHMA), poly(α‐methyl styrene) (PαMS) and poly(4‐methyl styrene) (P4MS) was investigated by thermal analysis, optical and scanning electron microscopy. Ternary phase behaviour was compared with the behaviour for the three constituent binary pairs. This study showed that the ternary blends of PCHMA/PαMS/P4MS in most compositions were miscible, with an apparent glass transition temperature (T_g) and distinct cloud‐point transitions, which were located at lower temperatures than their binary counterparts. However, in a closed‐loop range of compositions roughly near the centre of the triangular phase diagram, some ternary blends displayed phase separation with heterogeneity domains of about 1 µm. Therefore, it is properly concluded that ternary PCHMA/PαMS/P4M is partially miscible with a small closed‐loop immisciblity range, even though all the constituent binary pairs are fully miscible. Thermodynamic backgrounds leading to decreased miscibility and greater heterogeneity in a ternary polymer system in comparison with the binary counterparts are discussed. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Self-Consistent Effects on the Starting Current of Gyrotron Oscillators

Self-consistent effects on the starting current of gyrotron oscillators are examined. Field profiles in the open cavity are shown to be sensitive to the interaction dynamics. This can either significantly raise or lower the oscillation threshold, particularly for the low-Q modes. The transition from resonant-mode oscillations at the low magnetic field to backward-wave oscillations at the high magnetic field is demonstrated.     

Catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with carbon dioxide: promotional effect of antimony in supported vanadium–antimony oxide catalyst

Alumina-supported vanadium oxide, VO_x/Al₂O₃, and binary vanadium–antimony oxides, VSbO_x/Al₂O₃, have been tested in the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation with carbon dioxide and characterized by S_BET, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction and CO₂ pulse methods. VSbO_x/Al₂O₃ exhibited enhanced catalytic activity and especially on-stream stability compared to VO_x/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Incorporation of antimony into VO_x/Al₂O₃ increased dispersion of active VO_x species, enhanced redox properties of the systems and formed a new mixed vanadium–antimony oxide phase in the most catalytically efficient V_0.43Sb_0.57O_x/Al₂O₃ system.     

A hybrid wafer-dicing process for GaAs MMIC production

A dicing process for GaAs MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) wafers using spin-on wax for wafer mounting and a hybrid process of wet chemical etching/mechanical sawing for chip dicing is described. This process minimizes ragged chip edges and reduces generation of microcracks in addition to the elimination of the plated gold burrs on the backside of the diced MMIC chips. This process gives a uniformity of -3 μm across a 2-in wafer following the completion of the whole backside process. This GaAs chip dicing technique is amenable to production because it exhibits both a very high chip yield (>90%) and nearly flawless edges     

Differences in risk factors for being either a hepatitis B carrier or anti-hepatitis C+ in a hepatoma-hyperendemic area in rural Taiwan

This is a study of the differences in the risk factors for being either hepatitis B surface antigen positive [HBsAg(+)] or antibody to hepatitis C virus positive [Anti-HCV(+)] in A-Lein, a rural area in southern Taiwan, an area which also has a high hepatoma mortality rate. Three hundred eighty-five patients age > or =40 years participated in hepatoma screening at the A-Lein Community Health Center during 1995. Those who were HBsAg(-) and anti-HCV(-) or had coinfection of HBsAg(+) and anti-HCV(+) were excluded, leaving 293 patients: 109 HBsAg(+) and 184 anti-HCV(+). The anti-HCV(+) patients had a lower socioeconomic status (as defined by level of education and type of occupation) and were older than HBsAg(+) patients (P < 0.05). Those with higher alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) also had a higher anti-HCV(+) to HBsAg(+) odds ratio (OR), and a dose response relationship was found, P < 0.0001. Anti-HCV(+) patients were more likely than HBsAg(+) patients to have a spouse who shared the infection, OR = 5.11; 95% CI, 2.30-11.28. Anti-HCV(+) patients were more likely than HBsAg(+) patients to have had blood transfusions (OR = 2.66; 95% CI, 1.20-5.89), frequent medical injections (OR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.62-4.31), or injections by non-licensed medical providers (OR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.18-3.09). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the significant factors for anti-HCV(+) patients vs. HBsAg(+) patients are drinking habit (OR = 3.45; 95% CI, 1.02-11.60), age (OR = 6.33; 95% CI, 2.93-13.68), and frequent medical injections (OR = 2.88; 95% CI, 1.65-5.03). The transmission of hepatitis C in A-Lein is closely related to low socioeconomic status, age, alcohol abuse, spouses being anti-HCV(+), and frequent medical injections, especially from non-licensed medical providers, including both pharmacists and those with no medical licensing whatsoever. These nonlicensed medical providers sometimes reuse needles to save money, which is a likely route of infection.     

Onset of gas self-induction and power consumption after gas induction in an agitated tank

The behavior of inducted gas from liquid surface and the; power requirements in an agitated tank using a mechanical agitator are studied in order to increase the amount of gas self-induction and the gas retention time for gas absorption. A 45° six-blade downward impeller turbine was utilized in this study. Air and water, air and 40 wt% 60 wt%, and 80 wt% of glycerin water, and air and 106 cP silicon oil were employed as gas and liquid phases. Variables which were studied included geometrical factors (immersed depth of impeller, baffle with and diameter of impeller) and the physical properties of the liquid (viscosity, density, and surface tension). The correlations for the onset speed of impeller and power consumption after gas induction in the agitated tank are established from our experimental results. The amount of gas self-induction from the liquid surface in the agitated tank increases with increasing impeller diameter and speed and decreases with increasing baffle width, depth of impeller and viscosity of liquid.     

Delayed delivery of surviving triplet after fetal reduction and spontaneous abortion

In multiple pregnancies, survival of remaining fetuses after premature death and delivery of one fetus is uncommon. We report a case of a triplet pregnancy that was reduced to twins at the 14th gestational week and then had preterm premature rupture of membranes and intrauterine fetal death of one twin at the 17th gestational week. To save the surviving fetus, delivery of the dead fetus and ligation of the umbilical cord at the cervical level were performed. We also performed McDonald cervical cerclage to keep the placenta of the dead fetus as well as that of the surviving one in the uterine cavity. After a series of aggressive procedures, including immediate administration of tocolytic agents, and antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infection and preterm labor, the surviving fetus was delivered vaginally 73 days later due to intractable uterine contractions. After a 10-week hospital stay, the infant boy, weighing 2,500 g, was discharged without any sequelae. To our knowledge, this was the longest interval between deliveries in a triplet pregnancy reported in Taiwan. With adequate intensive management, a satisfactory outcome of the fetus and mother in such cases is possible.     

An efficient numerical approach, for determining the dispersioncharacteristics of dual-mode elliptical-core optical fibers

Based on vectorial formulations which combine the surface integral equation method and the finite-element method, a novel numerical approach is proposed for calculating the dispersion coefficients of dual-mode elliptical-core fibers with arbitrary refractive index profiles. By differentiating the original formulations involving the propagation constant β and the guided mode fields H_x and H_y once and twice with respect to the normalized frequency V, the new formulations for {dβ/dV, dH_x/dV, dH_y/dV} and for {d²β/dV², d² H_x/dV², d²H_y/dV² } are obtained respectively. Once {β, H_x, H_y } is solved through the eigenvalue procedure which dominates the computing time, only a few matrix manipulations are required to obtain {dβ/dV, dH_x/dV, dH_y/dV} and {d²β/dV², d²H_x/dV² , d²H_y/dV²}. Some numerical examples are examined to see the influence of different refractive index distributions with dips on the dispersions of the four nondegenerate LP ₁₁ modes for elliptical-core fibers     

The inhibition of DMBA-induced carcinogenesis by neoxanthin in hamster buccal pouch

Neoxanthin, a major carotenoid pigment of spinach, is found in the Chloroplast membrane and has an unknown function in plants. Neoxanthin inhibited the production of superoxide anions in an artificial xanthine and xanthine oxidase system and depressed DNA synthesis in methylcholanthrene (MCA)-initiated C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts. in two-stage carcinogenesis experiments, neoxanthin at 0.2 micrograms/0.2 ml inhibited the formation of tumors that were induced sequentially by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in the buccal pouch of Syrian Golden hamsters. To assess the ongoing process of carcinogenesis, the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), required for cell proliferation, was analyzed. Neoxanthin inhibited the activity of ODC when animals were treated with neoxanthin one hour before the application of TPA in two-stage carcinogenesis. However, neoxanthin did not inhibit ODC activity when animals were treated with neoxanthin one hour before the application of DMBA in two-stage carcinogenesis, and there was no subsequent tumor formation. In a short-term anti-initiation experiment, neoxanthin inhibited the covalent binding of isotope-labeled DMBA to DNA by 53%. These results indicate that neoxanthin inhibits the initiation stage and the promotion stage in two-stage carcinogenesis. This suggests that neoxanthin may act as a potential chemopreventive agent.