Spectral information coding by infrared photoreceptors

Spontaneous pulsing has been observed in circuits containing cryogenically cooled silicon p-i-n (p⁺-n-n⁺) diodes under dc forward bias. The intensity of infrared radiation incident on the diodes controls the pulse rate with no appreciable effect on the shape or size of the pulses. A strong similarity is noted between these properties and the nearly universal means of coding of visual information by animal photoreceptors and neural networks. It is proposed that exploitation of this remarkable analogy could lead to radically new approaches to acquisition and processing of infrared optical information. Infrared analogs of neural color coding and color vision are proposed based on analysis of p-i-n spectral response measurements.     

Statistical distributions of image DCT coefficients

Several assumptions regarding the distributions of the DCT coefficients of image data have been made in recent years. A recent paper by Reininger and Gibson shows on the basis of distribution tests that the non-DC coefficients are best approximated by a Laplacian distribution. In this paper a similar test is used to show that while the distributions of the non-DC coefficients depend on the type of image, for most images, if a single distribution is desired for all the non-DC coefficients, a Cauchy distribution provides a better fit.     

Series resistance of silicided ohmic contacts for nanoelectronics

The electrical behavior of shallow silicide-to-silicon ohmic contacts has been evaluated for lateral dimensions to 50 nm. Trench-isolated series resistance test structures were fabricated using TiSi₂ self-aligned contact technology. Resistance measurements have been performed as a function of contact size in the temperature range from 100 to 300 K and analyzed using multidimensional resistor ladder network models. Well-behaved small-volume ohmic contacts have been achieved. Large-area contact characteristics can be maintained to the smallest sizes. Multidimensional current flow has little effect on the measured resistances. Small lateral dimensional variations are responsible for the higher than predicted series resistance for the smallest sizes. The implications on nanoelectronic devices and circuits are quantified     

Novolak resins with high thermal stability,high resolution,improved photospeed and etch characteristics for advanced photoresist applications

Novolak resins provide the best overall performance for “g” and “i”-line photoresists. There is a continuing need for advanced novolak designs that will provide improved lithographic, thermal, and etch characteristics that may be reproducibly synthesized. A novolak synthesis process was developed using the solution condensation technique. Cresol mixtures with m-cresol and 3,5-xylenol at specific ratios provide reproducible novolaks with controlled molecular weights. In order to achieve high thermal and etch performance, while retaining photospeed and resolution characteristics, three basic approaches were investigated: (1) increase in molecular weight, which produces novolaks with T_g ranging from 120 to 130°C with relatively slow dissolution rates; (2) incorporation of multi-hydroxyphenols such as resorcinol to tailor the dissolution rate, resolution, thermal, etch, and adhesion characteristics; (3) partial esterification of multi-hydroxy novolaks giving a T_g range of 140 to 150°C. Lithographic evaluation of the novolak resins was performed by formulating with a 2,1,4-diazonaphthoquinone (DNQ) sensitizer. Results on resin synthesis, molecular weights, lithographic, thermal, and etch characteristics are discussed.     

Mechanical and morphological properties of white rice husk ash filled polypropylene/ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer thermoplastic elastomer composites

The performance of white rice husk ash (WRHA) as filler for polypropylene (PP)/ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer (EPDM) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) composites was investigated. The composites with different filler loadings were prepared in a Brabender plasticorder internal mixer. Both unvulcanized and dynamically vulcanized composites were prepared. Mixing and vulcanization processes of the composites were monitored through the typical Brabender torque‐time curves. The mechanical properties and morphology of the composites were also studied. The Brabender torque curves revealed that the dynamic vulcanization process employed was successful and incorporation of filler has no adverse effect on the processibility of the composites. Incorporation of WRHA improves the tensile modulus and flexural modulus and lowers tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, and toughness of both types of composites. Dynamic vulcanization significantly enhances the mechanical and TPE properties of the composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) study revealed the existence of two phases in both types of composites. It further shows that neither dynamic vulcanization nor filler agglomeration has played a prominent role in the compatibility of the composites. Thermogravimetric investigation shows that dynamic vulcanization or WRHA loading has not adversely affected the thermal stability of the composites. The scanning electron micrographs provide evidence for the tendency to form filler agglomerates with increasing filler loading, better filler dispersion of dynamically vulcanized composites over unvulcanized composites, and effective vulcanization of elastomer phase of the composites in the presence of filler. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 438–453, 2002     

Thermodegradative and morphological behavior of composites of HDPE with surface-treated hydroxyapatite

In the present work, the thermodegradative and morphological behavior of composites of high-density polyethylene and surface-treated hydroxyapatite (HDPE/HA) were studied. Composites were prepared with HDPE, 30 wt% of HA and 2 phr of an ethylene–acrylic acid copolymer (20 wt% of acrylic acid) (EAA) and melt-blended in an internal mixer at 160 °C and 50 rpm. Two sets of composites filled with different surface-treated hydroxyapatite (STHA) were prepared: one HA sample was pretreated with ethylene–acrylic acid copolymer (STHA₁) and the other one with acrylic acid (STHA₂). Thermogravimetric analyses were carried out to evaluate the thermal stability of the composites. The activation energies (Ea) were determined using a numerical method based on the Invariant Kinetic Parameters (IKP). The thermal decomposition of the HDPE/HA composites showed an Ea value of 330 kJ/mol. On the other hand, HDPE/HA/EAA and HDPE/STHA₁ composites showed a sudden decrease in Ea (272 and 270 kJ/mol, respectively). The HDPE/STHA₂ composite exhibited an Ea value of 313 kJ/mol, slightly lower than that of the HDPE/HA composite. Additionally, with the presence of EAA copolymer and acrylic acid in the composites, the nucleation and nucleus growth kinetic-model probabilities decreased compared to those of the HDPE/HA composite. However, there was an increase in the probability of the reaction order of the model. This behavior could be attributed to the morphology of the composites and to the addition of a less thermally stable component, i.e. EAA copolymer and acrylic acid. On the other hand, due to the interaction polymer/surface-treated filler, an increase in the Young Modulus and the tensile strength was observed.     

Functionalized polypropylenes in the compatibilization and dispersion of clay nanocomposites

The preparation of polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites was studied using clay and three types of modified PP (m‐PP) as compatibilizers: diethyl maleate grafted PP (PP‐g‐DEM), maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP‐g‐MA), and PP grafted with carbamyl maleamic acid (PP‐g‐UMA). The clay was made organophylic by an acid treatment with octadecylamine. PP functionalization and blending were carried out in an internal mixer. Blends of PP containing 20 and 40 wt% each of the modified PP and 5 wt% of organophilic clay (IMt), in each case, were prepared. Samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical microscopy, and mechanical testing. The presence of tactoid, intercalated and exfoliated structures was observed by TEM in all the samples containing clay and modified PP, which also showed improved mechanical properties with tensile modulus as much as three times that of PP. Melting temperature did not vary significantly with the addition of clay. However, because of the clay's nucleating effect, an increase in the crystallization temperature was observed, accompanied by a slight decrease in the degree of crystallinity. The best results were obtained when PP‐g‐MA was used as the compatibilizer; intermediate results were obtained with the use of PP‐g‐UMA, followed by the results obtained when PP‐g‐DEM was used. Property enhancements were obtained when a higher percentage of modified PP was employed. POLYM. COMPOS., 27:451–460, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Deoxynivalenol in barley samples from Uruguay

A survey of the natural occurrence of deoxynivalenol (DON) in barley harvested in Uruguay from 1996 to 2002 was conducted. A total of 292 samples were analyzed for DON by an immunochemical method using inmunoaffinity columns and fluorimetric detection. Between 26 and 100% of the samples were positive for DON while mean DON contents varied between the quantification limit (500 mug/kg) to 6349 mug/kg. Annual maximum levels in individual samples ranged from 1900 mug/kg to 10,000 mug/kg. The mean DON contents were similar from 1996 to 1999 increasing markedly from 2000 to 2002. The percentage of the samples with DON were highest in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002 (67, 90, 100 and 100%) as was the accumulated precipitation during the flowering period. A positive correlation between DON levels and precipitation was seen. These results suggest that monitoring for DON barley crops, particularly in years with heavy rainfall during the flowering period, must be regularly performed.