Field mapping with nanometer-scale resolution for the next generation of electronic devices

In order to improve the performance of today's nanoscaled semiconductor devices, characterization techniques that can provide information about the position and activity of dopant atoms and the strain fields are essential. Here we demonstrate that by using a modern transmission electron microscope it is possible to apply multiple techniques to advanced materials systems in order to provide information about the structure, fields, and composition with nanometer-scale resolution. Off-axis electron holography has been used to map the active dopant potentials in state-of-the-art semiconductor devices with 1 nm resolution. These dopant maps have been compared to electron energy loss spectroscopy maps that show the positions of the dopant atoms. The strain fields in the devices have been measured by both dark field electron holography and nanobeam electron diffraction.     

Assessment of medical occupational radiation doses in Costa Rica

Participation of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) in activities in an IAEA Regional Project RLA/9/066 through training, equipment and expert missions, has enabled to setting up of a national personal monitoring laboratory. Since 2007, the UCR has been in charge of monitoring around 1800 medical radiation workers of the Social Security System. Individual external doses are measured with thermoluminescent dosemeter using a Harshaw 6600 Plus reader. The service has accreditation with ISO/IEC 17025:2005. Distribution of monitored medical personnel is as follows: 83 % in diagnostic radiology, 6 % in nuclear medicine and 6 % in radiotherapy. Preliminary values for the 75 percentile of annual H(p)(10) in mSv are: radiology 0.37; interventional radiology 0.41; radiotherapy 0.53 and nuclear medicine 1.55. The service provided by the UCR in a steady and reliable way can help to implement actions to limit the doses received by the medical workers and optimise their radiation protection programs.     

Characterizing the structure of pharmaceutical granules obtained by wet granulation with varying amounts of water via Raman chemical imaging

A pharmaceutical formulation containing metformin hydrochloride (MET), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was wet granulated with varying amounts of water and the structure of the obtained granules was characterized by Raman chemical mapping. Univariate Raman mapping was found to be satisfactory for producing the images of the two components of interest (HPC and MCC). In addition to the images, the average Raman spectra from the maps as well as the micro-Raman spectra from the hot pixels were analyzed. HPC is found to strongly respond to the addition of water, with its domain dissipating and Raman bands becoming weaker as the water addition increases. MCC is also responsive to water, reacting similarly to HPC but to a much smaller extent and only for the largest amounts of water. Granules made with increasing water content also have improved tabletting properties and flow.     

卡塔尔二氯乙烷(EDC)新建计划

１９９９年１２月１６日,卡塔尔乙烯公司（ＱＶＣ）就二氯乙烷综合生产厂建设项目（４．７５亿美元贷款）正式签订协议。在ＢａｎｑｕｅＰａｒｉｂａｓ、阿拉伯石油投资公司（Ａｐｉｃｏｒｐ）和ＣｒｅｄｉｔＳｕｉｓｓｅＦｉｒｓｔＢｏｓｔｏｎ的安排下,这一项为期１２年货款将部分支持ＱＶＣ计划在Ｍｅｓａｉｅｅｄ的６．５亿美元二氯乙烷综合厂的建设。这一贷款协议的签订为项目的工程建设、完成及建设合同的执行铺平了道路。该项目已于６月被乌德（Ｋｒｕｐｐｕｅｈｄｅ）与技术石油（Ｔｅｃｈｎｉｐｅｔｒｏｌ）的德／意集团公司以４…     

基于车牌识别的图像预处理研究

车牌识别包括车牌图像的预处理、车牌定位、字符分割和字符识别等重要的部分。其中车牌图像预处理的优劣直接决定着车牌定位识别准确性的高低。列举了图像预处理的优化方法和步骤,针对全局阈值的二值化算法进行了改进。实验的仿真结果很好的验证了改进算法的性能。     

时效处理对Mg-5Sn-1Si合金显微组织和硬度的影响

研究时效温度、保温时间对Mg-5Sn-1Si合金显微组织和硬度的影响,分析时效处理的作用机制。结果表明,保温时间一定时,随温度升高,晶粒球化程度加强,析出相数量逐渐增加。温度一定的条件下,随保温时间延长,合金组织先后经过不连续析出、连续析出与网状析出三种变化,当保温时间较长时,第二相颗粒发生偏聚。合金经过时效处理后,显微硬度得到明显改善,比相应的铸态合金高出20%,随时效温度升高和保温时间延长,合金硬度均出现先升高后降低的趋势。     

发呆,也是一种小美好

正白岩松说,没事儿的时候发发呆。我们疲于追逐成功的路上,发呆成了一种奢侈。是啊,回想一下,在我们每天仅有的24小时中,工作、交际以及各种琐事占据了大半,剩下的注意力又被手机等携带大量娱乐信息的产品夺走。我们每天生活的似乎都很丰满,迈着急促的脚步穿梭于公司、学校、商场、电影院之间,甚至感觉时间不够用,经常熬夜到凌晨,因此,我们没有多余的时间去发呆,或者说,在这个充满娱乐信息的时代,我们不需要去孤独地发呆。     

Influence of meat quality and NaCl percentage on glutathione peroxidase activity and values for acid-reactive substances of raw and dry-cured Longissimus dorsi

Fresh and dry-cured porcine loins (Longissimus dorsi) were analysed for glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and acid reactive substances (TBARS) in order to assess the influence of meat quality and salt (NaCl) concentration on oxidative stability. The results showed lower GSHPx activity and higher TBA levels in normal meat than in PSE meat indicating a higher oxidative stress in normal meat quality. GSHPx remained active at the end of the curing process. Higher salt concentration led to lower enzyme activity and TBARS values prompted the thought of a double role of NaCl as an enzyme inhibitor and as an antioxidant molecule