Widely tunable low-power high-linearity current-mode integrator built using DG-MOSFETs

A novel tunable current-mode integrator for low-voltage low-power applications is presented using mixed-mode TCAD simulations. The design is based on independently driven double-gate (IDDG) MOSFETs, a nano-scale four-terminal device, where one gate can be used to change the characteristics of the other. Using current-mirrors built with IDDG-MOSFETs, we show that the number of active devices in the tunable current-mode integrator, 16 in bulk CMOS design, may be halved, i.e. considerable savings in both total area and power dissipation. The integrator operates with single supply voltage of 1 V and a wide range of tunable bandwidth (~2 decades) and gain (~30 dB). This linear circuit has third-order harmonic distortion as low as ?70 dB in appropriate bias conditions, which can be set via the back-gates. The impact of tuning on the IDDG integrator and conventional design using symmetrically driven (SDDG) MOSFETs is comparatively studied. The proposed design is a good example for performance leverage through IDDG MOSFET architectures in analog circuits integral to future mixed-signal systems.     

Mechanistic investigation of the oxidation of Cefuroxime by hexacyanoferrate(III) in alkaline conditions

The reactions of Cefuroxime (CFA) by hexacyanoferrate (III) (HCF(III)) in alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength has been studied spectrophotometrically. It is a first order reaction, but fractional order in both CFA and alkali. Decrease in dielectric constant of the medium decreases the rate of reaction. The effect of added products and ionic strength has also been investigated. A mechanism involving free radicals is proposed. In a composite equilibrium step, CFA binds to HCF(III) to form a complex that subsequently decomposes to the products. The main two products were separated and identified by column chromatography, TLC and FT-IR. There is good agreement between the observed and calculated rate constants under different experimental conditions. The reaction was studied at different temperatures and activation parameters were computed with respect to the slow step of the proposed mechanism.     

Comparative Effects of Sandalwood Seed Oil on Fatty Acid Profiles and Inflammatory Factors in Rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of sandalwood seed oil on fatty acid (FA) profiles and inflammatory factors in rats. Fifty male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into five different dietary groups: 10 % soybean oil (SO), 10 % olive oil (OO), 10 % safflower oil (SFO), 10 % linseed oil (LSO) and 8 % sandalwood seed oil blended with 2 % SO (SWSO) for 8 weeks. The SWSO group had a higher total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels but lower n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios in both adipose tissue and liver than those in the SO, OO and SFO groups (p < 0.05). Although the SWSO group had a much lower 18:3n-3 level (4.51 %) in their dietary lipids than the LSO group (58.88 %), the levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA: 22:6n-3) in liver lipids and phospholipids of the SWSO group (7.52 and 11.77 %) were comparable to those of the LSO group (7.07 and 13.16 %). Ximenynic acid, a predominant acetylenic FA in sandalwood seed oil, was found to be highly incorporated into adipose tissue (13.73 %), but relatively lower in liver (0.51 %) in the SWSO group. The levels of prostaglandin F_2α, prostaglandin E₂, thromboxane B₂, leukotriene B₄, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in both liver and plasma were positively correlated with the n-6:n-3 ratios, suggesting that increased n-6 PUFA appear to increase the formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas n-3 PUFA exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. The present results suggest that sandalwood seed oil could increase tissue levels of n-3 PUFA, DHA and reduce the n-6:n-3 ratio, and may increase the anti-inflammatory activity in rats.     

High-Quality Magnetically Hard ε-Fe2O3 Thin Films through Atomic Layer Deposition for Room-Temperature Applications

The critical-element-free ε-Fe₂O₃ ferrimagnet exhibits giant magnetic coercivity even at room temperature. It is thus highly attractive material for advanced applications in fields such as spintronics, high-density data storage, and wireless communication. However, a serious obstacle to overcome is the notoriously challenging synthesis of ε-Fe₂O₃ due to its metastable nature. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is the state-of-the-art thin-film technology in microelectronics. Herein, it is demonstrated that it has also true potential for the fabrication of amazingly stable in situ crystalline and high-performance ε-Fe₂O₃ thin films from simple (FeCl₃ and H₂O) chemical precursors at a moderately low deposition temperature (280 °C). Standard X-ray diffraction and Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy characterization indicates that the films are of high level of phase purity. Most importantly, precise temperature-dependent ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements verify that the hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) trace in the films is below 2.5%, and reveal the characteristic low- and high-temperature transitions at 208–228 K and ≈480 K, respectively, while magnetization measurements confirm the symmetric hysteresis loops expected for essentially phase-pure ε-Fe₂O₃ films. Excitingly, the highly c-axis oriented film growth, the overall film quality, and the unique magnetic properties remain the same, independently of the substrate material used.     

Preparation and Properties of Novel Quaternized Metal–Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites

A new class of PANI/Sn(II)SiO₃/FCNTs nanocomposite was synthesized by mixing polyaniline into the gel of Sn(II)SiO₃ followed by FCNTs (Polyaniline/Sn(II)SiO₃/Functionalized Carbon nanotubes). The physico-chemical characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscope, XRD (X-ray Diffraction), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis studies. The ion-exchange capacity (1.2 meq/g) and distribution studies were also determined to understand the ion-exchange capabilities. The DC electrical conductivity studies revile it in the range of 3–5 × 10^?3 S/cm. On the basis of distribution studies, ion-selective membrane electrode was designed for Hg(II). The analytical utility of this membrane was established by using it as an indicator electrode in electrometric titrations.     

Preparation and Characterization of hybrid graphene oxide composite and its application in paracetamol microbiosensor

Graphene oxides decorated with Sn(II) (Sn‐GO) were prepared via a redox reaction between graphene oxide (GO) and SnCl₂. GO was reacted Sn²⁺ leading to a homogeneous distribution of Sn on GO. An electrochemical sensor based on the electrocatalytic activity of functionalized graphene oxide for sensitive detection of paracetamol is presented. The electrochemical behaviors of paracetamol on grapheme modified carbon fiber electrodes were investigated by DC potential amperometry. The results showed that the Sn‐GO‐modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity to paracetamol. A redox process of paracetamol at the modified electrode was obtained. Such electrocatalytic behavior of graphene oxide is attributed to its unique physical and chemical properties, e.g., subtle electronic characteristics, attractive π–π interaction, and strong adsorptive capability. This electrochemical sensor shows an excellent performance for detecting paracetamol with a detection limit of 8 µM, a response time of 27 s, and a satisfied recovery. The sensor shows great promise for simple, sensitive, and quantitative detection and screening of paracetamol. We have investigated the composite properties of the self‐assembled electrodes for biological compounds analysis and showed that the Sn‐GO composite biosensor can achieve great sensitivity without significant bio material. The sensor shows great promise for simple, sensitive, and quantitative detection and screening of paracetamol. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:221–228, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Experimental investigation of heat transfer through Nitrogen and Argon gas in a closed space reactor vault model

ABSTRACT

The main aim of this study is to analyse and understand the heat transfer in closed spaces between the main vessel and the safety vessel in a nuclear reactor by using Nitrogen and Argon gas as an insulator. For nuclear reactor cooling, researchers started moving from the hard water method to various other methods of dissipating the heat. In this study, we used a closed cube filled with nitrogen as a prototype model. Within the closed cube, a very thin pipe is used to carry the nitrogen gas and Argon gas, whose effectiveness will be measured in the study. This study is conducted into three parts, with the main thing being creating a proto-model to conduct the experiment.     

Effect of Organic Additives on the Phase Separation Phenomenon of Amphiphilic Drug Solutions

The effect of various organic additives, viz. sugars, ureas, alcohols, hydrotropes and bile salts on the clouding (phase separation) phenomenon of the amphiphilic antidepressant drug amitriptyline hydrochloride was investigated in the present study. All sugars lowered the cloud point (CP) due to their water structure-making property. Urea and alkylureas were found to lower the CP. In contrast, thioureas increased the CP slightly, but the presence of methyl group(s) had a similar effect in alkylureas. Short chain alcohols affected the CP insignificantly while higher ones decreased it, and medium chain alcohols showed peak behavior. Addition of hydrotropes and bile salts increased the CP at lower concentrations, while a decrease was observed at higher concentrations (like the medium chain alcohols). In addition, thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated but only for those additives which formed mixed micelles with the drug.