Parasitic Bipolar Junction Transistors in a Floating-Gate MOSFET for Fluorescence Detection

In this letter, we examined whether the parasitic bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) in the MOSFET fabricated by the standard CMOS process can play a role as a fluorescence detector. To suppress the action of two vertical parasitic BJTs, the gate and n-well were tied in the parasitic BJTs, and the body node was connected to the drain. The proposed device was compared with the inherent and the parasitic diodes in the MOSFET. It had 100 times higher photocurrents than the diodes in the MOSFET. In addition, it was applied for the detection of the fluorescent signal, and could detect near 10 nM of Alexa 546. Therefore, CMOS-process-compatible parasitic BJTs can be used as a photodetector in an integrated fluorescence detector.     

Integrated modelling under uncertainty in watershed-level assessment and management.

Uncertainty in water quality model predictions is inevitably high due to natural stochasticity, model uncertainty, and parameter uncertainty. An integrated modelling system (modified-BASINS) under uncertainty is described and demonstrated for use in receiving-water quality prediction and watershed management. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to investigate the effect of various uncertainty types on output prediction. Without pollution control measures in the watershed, the concentrations of total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) in the Hwaong Reservoir, considering three uncertainty types, would be less than about 4.4 and 0.23 mg L(-1), respectively, in 2012, with 90% confidence. The effects of two watershed management practices, wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and constructed wetlands (WETLAND), were evaluated. The combined scenario (WWTP + WETLAND) was the most effective at improving reservoir water quality, bringing concentrations of T-N and T-P in the Hwaong Reservoir to less than 3.4 and 0.14 mg L(-1), 24 and 41% improvements, respectively, with 90% confidence. Overall, the Monte Carlo simulation in the integrated modelling system was practical for estimating uncertainty and reliable in water quality prediction. The approach described here may allow decisions to be made based on the probability and level of risk, and its application is recommended.     

Synthesis of biodegradable PU/PEGDA IPNs having micro-separated morphology for enhanced blood compatibility

Summary New biodegradable hydrophobic polyurethane (PU)/hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) IPN was simultaneously synthesized with changing the molecular weight of PEGDA to investigate the effect of crosslinking density on the degree of phase separation. PU was modified using biodegradable poly(-caprolactone)diol and the hydroxy group of PEG was substituted to crosslinkable acrylate group having double bond, which induce photo-polymerization. The sturucture of PEGDA was confirmed by NMR. Because the reaction rate of PEGDA was faster than that of PU, the continuous matrix of the micro-separated PU/PEGDA IPNs having amphiphilic character was made of hydrophilic PEGDA-rich phase. All IPNs have sea-island morphology resulting from the suppressed phase separation. The effect of the degree of phase separation on blood compatibility was investigated.     

Corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel separator for molten carbonate fuel cell

STS310S and SC-STS310S (simultaneously co-deposited chromium and aluminum onto 310S austenitic stainless steel substrate by pack-cementation process) were used as separator materials on the cathode side of a molten carbonate fuel cell. With the STS310S, corrosion proceeded via three steps; a formation step of unstable corrosion product, a protection step against corrosion until breakaway, and an advance step of corrosion after breakaway. The final corrosion product was LiFeO₂ and the loss of mass was 6.5 mg/cm² after a corrosion test of 480 hr at 650°C. The SC-STS310S showed more effective corrosion resistance, however, than did common STS310S. There was especially no corrosion loss on the SC-STS310S after the 480 hr corrosion test. It is anticipated that it will be very useful as an alternative separator on the cathode side off the MCFC in the future.     

Perceived Visual Complexity and Visual Search Performance of Automotive Instrument Cluster: A Quantitative Measurement Study

Advancements in technology have spurred the development of new in-vehicle applications. Drivers are faced with different driving contexts due to an increase in the number of devices that provide a wealth of diverse information. However, such a scenario can cause drivers to become distracted. Therefore, research on how the presentation of visual information can affect drivers’ performance is important. In this study, an analysis of quantifiable measurements that affect drivers’ perception of visual complexity and visual search performance was conducted. A questionnaire was administered to assess subjective perception of visual complexity, and a user experiment using eye tracking was designed to explore participants’ visual search performance. The results of subjective visual complexity perception and visual search performance suggested that some objective measurement variables were significantly related only to perceived visual complexity, whereas others affected both subjective and behavioral measurements. Thus it is possible to predict which quantifiable measurement variables affect subjective perception of visual complexity and which affect visual search performance. Therefore, this study allows understanding and explaining of perception of visual complexity by quantifiable measurements and the different ways by which these measurements affect visual search performance.     

Electromigration effect on Sn-58 % Bi solder joints with various substrate metallizations under current stress

The electromigration behavior of low-melting temperature Sn-58Bi (in wt%) solder joints was investigated with a high current density between 3 and 4.5 × 10³ A/cm² between 80 and 110 °C. In order to analyze the impact of various substrate metallizations on the electromigration performance of the Sn-58Bi joint, we used representative substrate metallizations including electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG), electroless nickel electroless palladium immersion gold (ENEPIG), and organic solderability preservatives (OSP). As the applied current density increased, the time to failure (TTF) for electromigration decreased regardless of the temperature or substrate metallizations. In addition, the TTF slightly decreased with increasing temperature. The substrate metallization significantly affected the TTF for the electromigration behavior of the Sn-58Bi solder joints. The substrate metallizations for electromigration performance of the Sn-58Bi solder are ranked in the following order: OSP-Cu, ENEPIG, and ENIG. Due to the polarity effect, current stressing enhanced the fast growth of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at the anode interface. Cracks occurred at the Ni₃Sn₄ + Ni₃P IMC/Cu interfaces on the cathode sides in the Sn-58Bi/ENIG joint and the Sn-58Bi/ENEPIG joint; this was caused by the complete consumption of the Ni(P) layer. Alternatively, failure occurred via deformation of the bulk solder in the Sn-58Bi/OSP-Cu joint. The experimental results confirmed that the electromigration reliability of the Sn-58Bi/OSP-Cu joint was superior to those of the Sn-58Bi/ENIG or Sn-58Bi/ENEPIG joints.     

Color juxtaposition for pointillism based on an artistic color model and a statistical analysis

We analyze characteristics and patterns of color juxtaposition and the color theory used by pointillist painters and employ them to create rendering algorithm that generates images in a pointillist style. We determine the distribution of colors in several paintings by Seurat and quantify a number of the theory that he employs. Using an RYB color wheel and a hierarchical point generation technique, we convert an input image into a set of colored dots, which is again converted into brush strokes with appropriate shapes and directions. We present images which illustrate the extent to which we have managed to simulate Seurat’s technique.