Design and fabrication of through-glass via (TGV) based 3D spiral inductors in fused silica substrate

Microsystem Technologies - Design and fabrication of the through-glass via (TGV) based three-dimensional (3D) spiral inductors in the fused silica substrates by a simpler electrochemical discharge...     

Synthesis and characterization of novel ion-exchange resin based on polyimide containing 8-hydroxyquinoline as a pendent groups

Novel ion-exchange resin (PBMDDMCMHQ polyimide) having 8-hydroxyuinoline as a pendent groups was prepared using phenylenebismaleimide-diamine polyimide (PBMDDM) and 5-chloromethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline hydrochloride (CMHQ). Phenylenebismaleimide-diamine polyimide (PBMDDM) was prepared by Michael addition reaction of 1,3-phenylenebismaleimide (PBM) and 4,4’-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM). The resulting ion-exchange resin was characterized by spectral techniques. Polymeric metal chelates of ion-exchange resin were also prepared using transition metal ions Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II), and were duly characterized. Ion-exchange properties of ion-exchange resin (PBMDDMCMHQ) for Fe(III), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal ions were also studied by batch-equilibration method. The produced ion-exchange resin (PBMDDMCMHQ) has thermal stability up to 220°C and can be used over a wide pH range. It has good metal up take capacity at varying pH range and can be recycled.     

Resource potential and scope of utilization of renewable energy in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Jammu and Kashmir the northern most state of India is blessed with immense potential for utilization of renewable energy. The state at present is fairly untapped in terms of energy utilization and thus venturing into this region would definitely prove to be profitable. The natural energy sources like sunshine, wind, vegetation, water flow, biomass and other biological wastes though abundantly available in the state yet are not being potentially harnessed resulting in very low per capita energy availability, deforestation and poor health. Renewable energy acquires a promising option not only for energy availability next view and of environment protection but also the socio-economic conditions of the people residing in these areas can be improved to a great extent. The hydroelectric power has tremendous potential for generation of electricity in the state because the topography of the state provides extensive network of canals and streams. This paper describes the resource potential and opportunity to enter the market and bring more renewable energy projects in the form of solar, biomass derived fuels, biogas and hydroelectric in the state.     

Apoptosis induction by caspase-8 is amplified through the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c

Apoptosis often involves the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, leading to caspase activation. However, in apoptosis mediated by CD95 (Fas/APO-1), caspase-8 (FLICE/MACH/Mch5) is immediately activated and, in principle, could process other caspases directly. To investigate whether caspase-8 could also act through mitochondria, we added active caspase-8 to a Xenopus cell-free system requiring these organelles. Caspase-8 rapidly promoted the apoptotic program, culminating in fragmentation of chromatin and the nuclear membrane. In extracts devoid of mitochondria, caspase-8 produced DNA degradation, but left nuclear membranes intact. Thus, mitochondria were required for complete engagement of the apoptotic machinery. In the absence of mitochondria, high concentrations of caspase-8 were required to activate downstream caspases. However, when mitochondria were present, the effects of low concentrations of caspase-8 were vastly amplified through cytochrome c-dependent caspase activation. Caspase-8 promoted cytochrome c release indirectly, by cleaving at least one cytosolic substrate. Bcl-2 blocked apoptosis only at the lowest caspase-8 concentrations, potentially explaining why CD95-induced apoptosis can often evade inhibition by Bcl-2.     

Drying of Multilayer Polymeric Coatings,Part I: An Experimental Study

Designing of multilayer coatings of poly(styrene)-tetrahydrofuran and poly(methyl methacrylate)-tetrahydrofuran has been studied. Multilayers were prepared by layer-by-layer and simultaneous methods. Several binary polymeric coatings of poly(styrene)-tetrahydrofuran and poly(methyl methacrylate)-tetrahydrofuran systems have been dried under quiescent drying conditions. Gravimetric analyses were performed using an analytical weighing balance. The initial amount of polymer was kept constant in both solution coatings. Coating which is likely to go through the glass transition temperature should be applied on the bottom side in order to minimize the residual solvent. For instance, residual solvent content is high in multilayer coating having poly(methyl methacrylate)-tetrahydrofuran coating on the top and poly(styrene)-tetrahydrofuran coating on the bottom, as compared to multilayer coatings having poly(styrene)-tetrahydrofuran on the top of poly(methyl methacrylate)-tetrahydrofuran coating.     

22 nm LDD FinFET Based Novel Mixed Signal Application: Design and Investigation

Silicon - In this paper, a sigma- delta (Ʃ Δ) analog to digital converter (ADC) has been designed and circuit performance metrics have been investigated using 22 nm silicon on insulator...     

Processing of duplex stainless steel by WEDM

This study investigates the manufacturing process of 2205 duplex stainless steel by wire electrical discharge machining where the effects of pulse-on time (PONT), wire tension and pulse-off time (POFT) on surface finish, kerf width, and material removal rate (MRR). It was found that the kerf width was unchanged with the change of PONT at long pulse-of time and higher wire tension. However, it decreased initially and then increased due to the rise of PONT at low values of wire tension and POFT. Low wire tension and PONT, POFT and contributed towards widest kerf. Longer PONT increased MRR due to higher machining/processing speed. Lower wire tension and shorter POFT increased MRR more than that of higher wire tension and POFT. Craters and recast layer were on the machined surfaces at all machining conditions. Increased PONT raised surface roughness at the lower POFT and tension in the wire. The surface finish at high wire tension and longer PONT is always better than that at smaller PONT and lower tension in the wire. The microstructure underneath the recast layer remains unchanged and the failure of wire electrode occurred at higher wire tension, longer PONT and shorter POFT.     

National Ignition Facility laser performance status

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is the world's largest laser system. It contains a 192 beam neodymium glass laser that is designed to deliver 1.8 MJ at 500 TW at 351 nm in order to achieve energy gain (ignition) in a deuterium-tritium nuclear fusion target. To meet this goal, laser design criteria include the ability to generate pulses of up to 1.8 MJ total energy, with peak power of 500 TW and temporal pulse shapes spanning 2 orders of magnitude at the third harmonic (351 nm or 3omega) of the laser wavelength. The focal-spot fluence distribution of these pulses is carefully controlled, through a combination of special optics in the 1omega (1053 nm) portion of the laser (continuous phase plates), smoothing by spectral dispersion, and the overlapping of multiple beams with orthogonal polarization (polarization smoothing). We report performance qualification tests of the first eight beams of the NIF laser. Measurements are reported at both 1omega and 3omega, both with and without focal-spot conditioning. When scaled to full 192 beam operation, these results demonstrate, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, that the NIF will meet its laser performance design criteria, and that the NIF can simultaneously meet the temporal pulse shaping, focal-spot conditioning, and peak power requirements for two candidate indirect drive ignition designs.     

Probing a Device's Active Atoms

Materials science and device studies have, when implemented jointly as “operando” studies, better revealed the causal link between the properties of the device's materials and its operation, with applications ranging from gas sensing to information and energy technologies. Here, as a further step that maximizes this causal link, the paper focuses on the electronic properties of those atoms that drive a device's operation by using it to read out the materials property. It is demonstrated how this method can reveal insight into the operation of a macroscale, industrial‐grade microelectronic device on the atomic level. A magnetic tunnel junction's (MTJ's) current, which involves charge transport across different atomic species and interfaces, is measured while these atoms absorb soft X‐rays with synchrotron‐grade brilliance. X‐ray absorption is found to affect magnetotransport when the photon energy and linear polarization are tuned to excite Fe? O bonds parallel to the MTJ's interfaces. This explicit link between the device's spintronic performance and these Fe? O bonds, although predicted, challenges conventional wisdom on their detrimental spintronic impact. The technique opens interdisciplinary possibilities to directly probe the role of different atomic species on device operation, and shall considerably simplify the materials science iterations within device research.     

Progress of Nanofluid Application in Machining: A Review

A colloidal mixture of nanometer-sized (<100 nm) metallic and non-metallic particles in conventional cutting fluid is called nanofluid. Nanofluids are considered to be potential heat transfer fluids because of their superior thermal and tribological properties. Therefore, nano-enhanced cutting fluids have recently attracted the attention of researchers. This paper presents a summary of some important published research works on the application of nanofluid in different machining processes: milling, drilling, grinding, and turning. Further, this review article not only discusses the influence of different types of nanofluids on machining performance in various machining processes but also unfolds other factors affecting machining performance. These other factors include nanoparticle size, its concentration in base fluid, lubrication mode (minimum quantity lubrication and flood), fluid spraying nozzle orientation, spray distance, and air pressure. From literature review, it has been found that in nanofluid machining, higher nanoparticle concentration yields better surface finish and more lubrication due to direct effect (rolling/sliding/filming) and surface enhancement effect (mending and polishing) of nanoparticles compared to dry machining and conventional cutting fluid machining. Furthermore, nanofluid also reduces the cutting force, power consumption, tool wear, nodal temperature, and friction coefficient. Authors have also identified the research gaps for further research.