Comparative investigation of InP/InGaAs heterostructure-emitter tunneling and superlattice bipolar transistors

In this article, the characteristics of InP/InGaAs heterostructure-emitter bipolar transistors with 30 n-InP layer tunneling layers and a five-period InP/InGaAs superlattice are demonstrated and comparatively investigated by experimentally results and analysis. In the three devices, a 200 Å n-In_0.53Ga_0.47As layer together with an n-InP tunneling emitter layer (or n-InP/n-InGaAs superlattice) forms heterostructure emitter to decrease collector-emitter offset voltage. The results exhibits that the largest collector current and current gain are obtained for the tunneling transistor with a 30 Å n-InP tunneling emitter layer. On the other hand, some of holes injecting from base to emitter will be blocked at n-InP/n-InGaAs heterojunction due to the relatively small hole transmission coefficient in superlattice device, which will result in a considerable base recombination current in the n-InGaAs layer. Therefore, the collector current and current gain of the superlattice device are the smallest values among of the devices.     

Binding and Enhanced Binding between Key Immunity Proteins TRAF6 and TIFA

Human tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor (TRAF)-interacting protein, with a forkhead-associated domain (TIFA), is a key regulator of NF-κB activation. It also plays a key role in the activation of innate immunity in response to bacterial infection, through heptose 1,7-bisphosphate (HBP); a metabolite of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the mechanism of TIFA function is largely unexplored, except for the suggestion of interaction with TRAF6. Herein, we provide evidence for direct binding, albeit weak, between TIFA and the TRAF domain of TRAF6, and it is shown that the binding is enhanced for a rationally designed double mutant, TIFA S174Q/M179D. Enhanced binding was also demonstrated for endogenous full-length TRAF6. Furthermore, the structures of the TRAF domain complexes with the consensus TRAF-binding peptides from the C terminus of wild-type and S174Q/M179D mutant TIFA, showing salt-bridge formation between residues 177–181 of TIFA and the binding pocket residues of the TRAF domain, were solved. Taken together, the results provide direct evidence and a structural basis for the TIFA–TRAF6 interaction, and show how this important biological function can be modulated.     

Distinct dispersion stability of various TiO2 nanopowders using ammonium polyacrylate as dispersant

The dispersion stabilities of three titania (TiO₂) nanopowders with different particle sizes and surface chemistries in aqueous suspensions containing a common water-based dispersant, ammonium polyacrylate (PAA-NH₄), have been investigated and compared. According to adsorption isotherm and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses, the adsorption conformations of PAA-NH₄ are distinct for the different TiO₂ nanopowders. In addition, PAA-NH₄ exhibited the greatest adsorption affinity to the larger, hydrophilic TiO₂ nanopowder and the least affinity to smaller, hydrophobic nanopowder. From sedimentation and rheological results, the dispersion stability of the larger, hydrophilic TiO₂ nanopowder was demonstrated to be the greatest. Based on thermodynamic and kinetic calculations for the stabilization energies, the larger, hydrophilic TiO₂ nanopowder was also shown to be the best-stabilized powder, although it settles faster than the smaller, hydrophilic TiO₂ nanopowder; this is due to the greater affection of sedimentation flux on the larger nanopowder. In contrast, the hydrophobic TiO₂ nanopowder formed a gel-like structure in the aqueous suspension when the solid content was greater than 10 wt%, which is attributed to polymer bridging between PAA-NH₄-adsorbed TiO₂ nanoparticles.     

Investigation of the piezoelectric and anti-reduction properties of (Ba,Ca) (Ti,Sn, Hf) textured ceramics prepared under low oxygen partial pressure conditions at low sintering temperatures

Multilayer piezoelectric ceramics must be sintered in a reducing atmosphere, preventing oxidation of the inner base metal. Plate-like textured (Ba, Ca)(Ti, Sn, Hf)O₃ ceramics with a <001> preferred orientation were successfully developed at a low oxygen partial pressure (PO₂:10^?8 atm) using a BaTiO₃ (BT) template with sintering temperatures < 1300 °C, which is beneficial for multilayer applications using base metal co-firing with ceramics. When adding the 3 wt% BT template, the proposed samples had a Lottgering factor of 84 %, piezoelectric coefficients d₃₃ = 324 pC/N, -d₃₁ = 122 (pC/N), and Q_m = 452, and the strain values increased from 0.07 % for the randomly oriented ceramics to 0.115 % at 20 kV/cm for the textured ceramics, confirming that the texturing behavior assisted the grain growth and improved both the soft and hard behaviors and insulation resistance of the proposed lead-free ceramics. These findings make a significant contribution to the production of high-power piezoelectric components.     

cRedit-based and reputation retrieval system

The Journal of Supercomputing - The challenge of a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) or hybrid wireless network (HWN) is that every node must rely on others to forward its messages, but selfish nodes...     

Inhibitory effects of three chemical dust suppressants on nitrocellulose dust cloud explosion

Three types of self-prepared chemical dust suppressants (CDSs) were investigated for their inhibitory effects on nitrocellulose (NC) cloud dust explosion. The results revealed that NC is extremely sensitive to electric sparks and has a high explosion intensity. CaCl₂-CDS effectively increased the particle size to control fly dust substantially inhibiting dust cloud explosions. However, both Na₂SO₄-CDS and MgCl₂-CDS exhibited poor abilities and even promoted explosion. Therefore, neither Na₂SO₄-CDS nor MgCl₂-CDS is recommended as a CDS for NC. Inappropriately using CDSs may engender severe explosions. Furthermore, a mechanism underlying NC dust cloud combustion and explosion was proposed. NC has three stages of heat release: autoxidation, thermal decomposition, and combustion. Thermal decomposition, combustion, and explosion were triggered depending on the energy provided from autoxidation. CaCl₂-CDS inhibited only combustion. This study reveals the mechanism underlying NC dust cloud explosions and provides useful information for the development of more optimized CDSs.     

An optimal volute spiral case design for centrifugal fan: theoretical and experimental studies

An inverse design problem in determining the optimal shape of volute spiral case for a centrifugal-flow fan is examined in the present study using the Levenberg–Marquardt method and a general purpose commercial code CFD-ACE+, and based on a desired airflow rate. The desired volume airflow rate can be obtained by multiplying the airflow rate of an existing fan by a constant number which is >1. The shape of the redesigned volute case is generated using the equation of the trajectory of fluid particles in the volute, which enables the shape of the fan volute be constructed completely. Finally, prototypes of the original and optimized fan volutes as well as fan impellers are fabricated, thereafter the fan performance is tested based on the AMCA-210-85 standard to verify the validity of the design. The experimental results demonstrate that by utilizing the fabricated centrifugal optimal fan and operating at the design condition, the airflow rate can be increased by 6.5 % and the pressure drop, noise and input power of fan can be reduced by 1.6, 5.3 and 11.4 %, respectively, when compared with the original fan. As a result, the performance of optimal fan can be improved greatly.     

Identification of a new sildenafil analogue adulterant,desethylcarbodenafil, in a herbal supplement

In a maca-containing herbal supplement claimed to remedy erectile dysfunction, a new sildenafil analogue was found using adulterant screening with TLC, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS. This compound was isolated by column chromatography and HPLC, and identified by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR and mass spectral analyses. The structure of this new compound was established as 5-[2-ethoxy-5-(piperazine-1-carbonyl) phenyl]-1-methyl-3-propyl-1,6-dihydro-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one, and was named desethylcarbodenafil.