Stress distribution on [100] Si wafer mapped by novel I-V analysis of MOS tunneling diodes

The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of metal-oxide-semiconductor tunneling diodes distributed over a 3-in Si wafer were analyzed to investigate the stress distribution on the wafer. Generally, the substrate injection saturation current (J/sub sat/) decreases as the gate injection leakage current (J/sub g/) increases, the latter being dominated by oxide thickness via a trap related mechanism. A universal curve to fit all analyzed data was found and it is suggested that devices with extremely high (low) J/sub sat/ at a given J/sub g/ should be located in areas of the silicon lattice with relatively high external compressive (tensile) stress because of the stress-induced bandgap variation effect. The mapped locations of the highly stressed devices on a 3-in [100] Si wafer correspond to the patterns of slips caused by thermal stress during rapid thermal processing, as described in previous reports.     

The prospects of non-volatile phase-change RAM

Phase-change read-and-write memory (PRAM) is a promising memory that can solve the problems of conventional memory—scalability, read/write speed, and reliability. We will review the opportunities and technical challenges of PRAM. The most important challenge of PRAM is the reduction of the writing current. Various approaches to reduce the writing current will be reviewed and the prospects of PRAM are discussed.     

Temperature dependence of hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistors

The temperature dependence characteristics of hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistors were investigated. The results indicate that as the temperature was increased, the threshold voltage and the field-effect mobility were first increased, and then decreased, which may be controlled by different mechanisms at low and high temperatures. In addition, if the temperature was higher than 420 K, the Fermi level was promoted to the degenerate-like states, the current channel always existed due to the temperature effect, and the threshold voltage became negative.     

Extraction of penicillin G from simulated media by an emulsion liquid membrane process

The extraction of penicillin G from simulated media was performed by water/oil/water (w/o/w) emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs) and studied under various operational conditions in a batch system. The degree of extraction achieved was between 80% and 95% under specific conditions. A concentration of greater than nine times the initial concentration of penicillin G in the external phase was obtained in the internal phase. The pH of the internal aqueous solution, containing a basic salt, was theoretically calculated on the basis of the amount of penicillin G transported into the internal phase. The calculated results agreed with the experimental data well and were used to select a suitable type and concentration of a basic salt in the internal phase to give a pH within the range 5 to 8 where penicillin G was stable after the termination of extraction. The extraction of penicillin G was successfully performed by the ELM process with sodium carbonate in the internal phase.     

Purification and renaturation of recombinant human lymphotoxin (tumour necrosis factor beta) expressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies

High level expression of recombinant human tumour necrosis factor β (rh TNF-β) in Escherichia coli results in the formation of two portions of protein, namely soluble active protein and insoluble protein which is inactive and aggregates in the form of inclusion bodies (IBs). In this study, a procedure for purification and renaturation of rh TNF-β from inclusion bodies has been designed and verified experimentally with a product purity of more than 90% and a recovery of about 30%. The procedure includes washing of IBs with specific wash buffer (Triton X-100/EDTA/lysozyme/PMSF), their solubilization with 8 mol dm^?3 alkaline urea, purification with ion-exchange columns, refolding with renaturation buffer and finally concentration and desalination with an ultrafiltration membrane. The characteristics of the renatured protein were identical with those of purified protein from the soluble fraction as demonstrated by (1) SDS-PAGE, (2) cytotoxic activity on mouse L929 cells, (3) N-terminal amino acid sequence, and (4) gel filtration chromatography.