Electrical properties of macromolecular complexes of coordinated polymers with mixed valence of Co(II), Co(III) and Co(II–III)

Electrical properties of bis‐ethylenediamine Co(II), Co(III) and Co(II–III) mixed valence complexes and polyethylenediaminecarbosilazane (PEDCSZ) [Co(II), Co(III) and Co(II–III)] macromolecules were measured at room temperature in a frequency range between 1 Hz and 10⁶ Hz. Electrical modulus, permittivity and ac conductivity were calculated using ac impedance and phase‐angle measurements. It was found that the overall conductivity of PEDCSZ macromolecules with Co is much higher than that for Co monomers. In addition, the conductivity of PEDCSZ Co(III) and Co(II–III) mixed valence compounds are higher than those containing Co(II) where the electronic conduction is dominant. The relaxation time increases from about 2.7 × 10^?6 s for Co(II) chloride to a value of 2.9 × 10^?4 s for Co(II–III) chloride monomers. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Design, fabrication, and performance of high-speed monolithicallyintegrated InAlAs/InGaAs/InP MSM/HEMT photoreceivers

A detailed study of the performance of monolithically integrated photoreceivers based on metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors (PD's) and HEMT's is undertaken. Two different stacked-layer approaches to integrating MSM-PD's with HEMT's are investigated, and the performance of detectors and HEMT's for each approach is compared. The structure with the MSM layers grown on top of the HEMT layers exhibited the best overall performance. A physics-based MSM model is developed and incorporated into microwave circuit design software; excellent agreement between circuit simulations and measured frequency responses is demonstrated. To evaluate the effects of MSM electrode geometry and detector area on photoreceiver performance, photoreceivers with MSM interelectrode spacings of 1, 1.5, and 2 μm were fabricated and characterized. The electrical amplifier used in the photoreceivers is a two-stage, variable-transimpedance amplifier with a common-gate HEMT as the feedback path. By adjusting the DC voltage applied to the gate of this feedback HEMT, transimpedances ranging from 55.8 to 38.1 dBΩ, with corresponding -3 dB cutoff frequencies from 6.3 to 18.5 GHz, were measured experimentally. Excellent noise performance has been measured, with average input noise current spectral densities of 7.5, 8, and 12 pA/Hz^1/2 obtained for bandwidths of 6.3, 8, and 13.7 GHz, respectively. A packaged receiver has been tested at 5 Gb/s and an open eye pattern obtained     

Electro-Thermal Transport in Quantum Point Contact Nanodevice

The Peltier effect was discovered several decades ago. The Peltier effect has been combined with modern low-dimensional quantum system materials, e.g., the quantum point contact (QPC), to open up a new research field. The Peltier coefficient and thermal transport in a QPC, under the influence of photon-assisted and different temperatures are investigated. Numerical calculations of the Peltier coefficient have been performed at different applied voltages, amplitudes, and temperatures. The obtained results are consistent with experimental results in the literature.     

Fabrication of magnesium hydroxide nanoneedles

Magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)₂ nanoneedles with diameters of 40–60 nm and lengths of more than 650 nm have been fabricated by a fast and safe route in de-ionized water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the Mg(OH)₂ nanoneedles were well-crystallized with the hexagonal structure, whereas from the morphological investigations using scanning electron microscope (SEM), it was revealed that the nanoneedles are grown in a very high density over the whole foil substrate. The structure features were also analyzed by high~resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The approach is based on a simple reaction of magnesium foil and de-ionized water without using surfactants. The reaction time is 3 h and the temperature is ~110°C. The advantages of producing nanoneedles using this method include ease, flexibility, speed, and cost. The process can easily be scaled up.     

Heavy metals and trace elements levels in milk and milk products

Milk and dairy products are an important food in the human diet. The present investigation was carried out to determine concentrations of lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and iron in milk and dairy products and evaluate the potential health risks of metals to humans via consumption of milk and dairy products. A total of 77 samples of milk and dairy products (22 raw milk, 20 kareish cheese, 21 butter and 14 rice pudding) were collected from farms, individual farmers and dairy shops in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt. Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu and Fe concentrations in milk and dairy products ranged from 0.044–0.751, 0.008–0.179, 0.888–18.316, 0.002–1.692 and 1.3208–45.6198 ppm respectively. Pb concentration in all samples exceeded the maximum permissible limit (0.02 mg/kg) established by codex standard. Pd and Cd intake through milk and dairy products consumption were 1.27 and 0.33 μg/kg bw/day, which represent 35.3 and 39.8 % of the tolerable daily intake. Dairy products are poor sources of iron, copper and zinc, and milk contributes little to the total iron and zinc intake. Target hazard quotient values of less than 1 indicate a relative absence of health risks associated with the consumption of milk and dairy products.     

Microemulsion for simultaneous transdermal delivery of benzocaine and indomethacin: in vitro and in vivo evaluation

This study investigated simultaneous transdermal delivery of indomethacin and benzocaine from microemulsion. Eucalyptus oil based microemulsion was used with Tween 80 and ethanol being employed as surfactant and cosurfactant, respectively. A microemulsion formulation comprising eucalyptus oil, polyoxyethylene sorbitan momooleate (Tween 80), ethanol and water (20:30:30:20) was selected. Indomethacin (1% w/w) and benzocaine (20% w/w) were incorporated separately or combined into this formulation before in vitro and in vivo evaluation. Application of indomethacin microemulsion enhanced the transdermal flux and reduced the lag time compared to saturated aqueous control. The same trend was evident for benzocaine microemulsion. Simultaneous application of the two drugs in microemulsion provided similar enhancement pattern. The in vivo evaluation employed the pinprick method and revealed rapid anesthesia after application of benzocaine microemulsion with the onset being 10?min and the action lasting for 50?min. For indomethacin microemulsion, the analgesic effect was recorded after 34.5?min and lasted for 70.5?min. Simultaneous application of benzocaine and indomethacin provided synergistic effect. The onset of action was achieved after 10?min and lasted for 95?min. The study highlighted the potential of microemulsion formulation in simultaneous transdermal delivery of two drugs.     

A 70-GHz fT low operating bias self-aligned p-type SiGeMODFET

A self-aligned process for the fabrication of SiGe p-type modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFETs) is described. Self-aligned devices with 0.1-μm gate-length have been fabricated and characterized. A maximum dc extrinsic transconductance of 258 mS/mm was obtained with a low turn-on resistance and very low knee voltage. Excellent high frequency performance with a unity current-gain cutoff frequency (f_T) of 70 GHz was obtained. This excellent high frequency performance was exhibited even at drain bias as low as 0.5 V     

Design aspects of four-nozzle hydraulic servovalves

In order to extend the use of four-nozzle hydraulic servovalves towards higher output powers, alternative configurations to the conventional valve, with a bifurcated flapper, are proposed. Comparative study of these designs shows that a certain flat-pintle valve would be the most suitable in view of valving element compliance, fluid line design aspects, as well as compactness and manufacturing costs. The favourable values of fluid line parameters of this design allow extending the valve bandwidth in servo applications. Experimental determination of the stalled load pressures, in constant supply pressure operation, confirms good agreement with the theoretically deduced characteristics. The cavitation limits and fluid forces acting on the valving element are determined in both cases of constant supply pressure and constant supply flow operation of the valve.     

The properties of cutoff frequency in two-dimensional superconductor photonic crystals

In this paper, by means of frequency-dependent plane wave expansion method we investigate the properties of photonic band structures in two-dimensional superconductor photonic crystals. Effects of cut-off frequency are investigated by various parameters such as filling factor, the lattice constant alteration, threshold frequency of the superconductor, and shape of the rods as well. We show that the cut-off frequency can be efficiently tuned by the operating temperature. Moreover, it can be tailored by changing the dielectric constant of the background and the threshold frequency of the superconductor material.