Unipolar SiC power devices and elevated temperature

The paper discusses the limitations and perspectives of unipolar SiC devices for the use in high temperature applications. After clarifying the requirements for the next generation high temperature semiconductor components, these data are reflected to the performance of devices available or in development today. For Schottky barrier diodes, the limits of today’s standard technology are shown and the strategy for developing an improved device is sketched. For switching devices, the two competing concepts - normally on JFETs and normally off MOSFETs - are compared. Advantages for JFET structure are worked out, mainly based on the fact that no oxide interface is involved. The theoretical considerations are checked by experiments.     

Developing hexanal as an odor reference standard for sensory analysis of drinking water

There are many analytical and sensory methods to analyze drinking water for flavor and off-flavors before it reaches consumers. Flavor profile analysis (FPA) is one of the most comprehensive methods. A well-trained panel is essential for FPA and although taste standards are well established, FPA training lacks an odor reference standard. In search of an odor reference standard, four different panel groups were trained and tested for n-hexanal at various concentrations (1-1000 microg/L) over 14 months. The Weber-Fechner plots for n-hexanal showed a linear and overlapping relationship for all panels. Analytical measurements demonstrated that the headspace concentration of n-hexanal was constant after 5 sniffs at 45 degrees C and it remained constant during FPA sessions for up to 4 h. The panelists liked the grassy odor of n-hexanal, which did not result in fatigue, and testing demonstrated that approximately 95% of the population can detect n-hexanal's odor. n-Hexanal is proposed as an odor reference standard for FPA training to define odor intensities because it is chemically stable, follows Weber-Fechner law, mimics grassy odors found in drinking water, and was acceptable to the human panelists.     

pp'DDE contamination of the blood and diet in central European populations

In this study, the actual risk of DDT pollution to two European human populations was assessed by analysing DDT residues in the diet, which is the main route of pollution for man, and in the blood and placenta, which are components affecting organs and new generations, respectively. The Gdańsk region was selected as representative of areas subjected to a recent DDT ban in Europe, while a rural area in Western Germany was considered representative of European regions where DDT use and production ceased many years ago. The results of three food series of food sampling carried out with market basket methods during 2003 showed that pp'DDE, which is by far the main constituent of DDT residues, was present in foods of animal origin and in cereals at rather high concentrations in both countries, and that a risk for human health cannot be excluded. The total daily intake was higher in Poland than in Germany, and agrees with the finding that body tissues, on the average, are more polluted in donors from Poland than those from Germany.     

Electric-field-directed assembly of biomolecular-derivatized nanoparticles into higher-order structures

Multilayered structures composed of biomolecule-derivatized nanoparticles can be fabricated by electric-field-directed self-assembly. A microelectrode-array device facilitates the rapid parallel electrophoretic transport and binding of biotin and streptavidin fluorescent nanoparticles to specific sites on the microarray. Control of the current, voltage, and activation time of each of the 400-microarray electrodes allows a combinatorial approach to optimize nanoparticle binding. Under optimal conditions, nanoparticle layers form within 15 s of microelectrode activation, and the directed assembly of more than 50 alternate layers of nanoparticles is complete within an hour. The final multilayered structures are removed from the support by a relatively simple lift-off process. The electric-field process allows the parallel patterned assembly of multilayer structures using extremely low concentrations of nanoparticles and produces minimal nonspecific binding to unactivated sites. These results are significant for the development of rapid, maskless nanofabrication and hierarchical integration of biomolecular-derivatized nanocomponents into higher-order materials and devices.     

Microfluidic high-resolution free-flow isoelectric focusing

A microfluidic free-flow isoelectric focusing glass chip for separation of proteins is described. Free-flow isoelectric focusing is demonstrated with a set of fluorescent standards covering a wide range of isoelectric points from pH 3 to 10 as well as the protein HSA. With respect to an earlier developed device, an improved microfluidic FFE chip was developed. The improvements included the usage of multiple sheath flows and the introduction of preseparated ampholytes. Preseparated ampholytes are commonly used in large-scale conventional free-flow isoelectric focusing instruments but have not been used in micromachined devices yet. Furthermore, the channel depth was further decreased. These adaptations led to a higher separation resolution and peak capacity, which were not achieved with previously published free-flow isoelectric focusing chips. An almost linear pH gradient ranging from pH 2.5 to 11.5 between 1.2 and 2 mm wide was generated. Seven isoelectric focusing markers were successfully and clearly separated within a residence time of 2.5 s and an electrical field of 20 V mm-1. Experiments with pI markers proved that the device is fully capable of separating analytes with a minimum difference in isoelectric point of Delta(pI) = 0.4. Furthermore, the results indicate that even a better resolution can be achieved. The theoretical minimum difference in isoelectric point is Delta(pI) = 0.23 resulting in a peak capacity of 29 peaks within 1.8 mm. This is an 8-fold increase in peak capacity to previously published results. The focusing of pI markers led to an increase in concentration by factor 20 and higher. Further improvement in terms of resolution seems possible, for which we envisage that the influence of electroosmotic flow has to be further reduced. The performance of the microfluidic free-flow isoelectric focusing device will enable new applications, as this device might be used in clinical analysis where often low sample volumes are available and fast separation times are essential.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral amino ketones to amino alcohols for pharmaceutical use

This Account gives an overview of the homogeneously catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral amino ketones. The preparation of enantiopure arylalkanolamines, which are potent and economically very important pharmaceuticals, is described. Classical routes of synthesis are compared with the new asymmetric hydrogenation route for a number of compounds from the viewpoint of an industrial pharmaceutical chemist.     

Neural Network for Rapid Depth Evaluation of Shallow Cracks in Asphalt Pavements

Abstract:   Rapid and nondestructive evaluation of pavement crack depths is a major challenge in pavement maintenance and rehabilitation. This article presents a computer-based methodology with which one can estimate the actual depths of shallow, surface-initiated fatigue cracks in asphalt pavements based on rapid measurement of their surface characteristics. It is shown that the complex overall relationship among crack depths, surface geometrical properties of cracks, pavement properties, and traffic characteristics can be learnt effectively by a neural network (NN). The learning task is facilitated by a database that includes relevant traffic and pavement characteristics of Florida's state highway network. In addition, the specific data used for the NN model development also contained laser-scanned microscopic surface geometrical properties of cracks in 95 pavement sections and pavement core samples scattered within five counties of Florida. Relatively advanced training algorithms were investigated in addition to the Standard Backpropagation algorithm to determine the optimal NN architecture. In terms of optimizing the NN training process, the "early stopping method" was found to be effective. The crack depth evaluation model was validated based on an unused portion of the database and fresh core samples. The results indicate the promise of NN usage in nondestructive estimation of shallow crack depths based on crack-surface geometry and pavement and traffic characteristics .