Advantages of top-gate, high-k dielectric carbon nanotube field-effect transistors

The subthreshold slope, transconductance, threshold voltage, and hysteresis of a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT FET) were examined as its configuration was changed from bottom-gate exposed channel, bottom-gate covered channel to top-gate FET. An individual single wall CNT was grown by chemical vapor deposition and its gate configuration was changed while determining its transistor characteristics to ensure that the measurements were not a function of different chirality or diameter CNTs. The bottom-gate exposed CNT FET utilized 900 nm SiO2 as the gate insulator. This CNT FET was then covered with TiO2 to form the bottom-gate covered channel CNT FET. Finally, the top-gate CNT FET was fabricated and the device utilized TiO 2 (K ∼ 80, equivalent oxide thickness=0.25 nm) as the gate insulator. Of the three configurations investigated, the top-gate device exhibited best subthreshold slope (67-70 mV/dec), highest transconductance (1.3 μS), and negligible hysteresis in terms of threshold voltage shift. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Automatic transcription of conversational telephone speech

This paper discusses the Cambridge University HTK (CU-HTK) system for the automatic transcription of conversational telephone speech. A detailed discussion of the most important techniques in front-end processing, acoustic modeling and model training, language and pronunciation modeling are presented. These include the use of conversation side based cepstral normalization, vocal tract length normalization, heteroscedastic linear discriminant analysis for feature projection, minimum phone error training and speaker adaptive training, lattice-based model adaptation, confusion network based decoding and confidence score estimation, pronunciation selection, language model interpolation, and class based language models. The transcription system developed for participation in the 2002 NIST Rich Transcription evaluations of English conversational telephone speech data is presented in detail. In this evaluation the CU-HTK system gave an overall word error rate of 23.9%, which was the best performance by a statistically significant margin. Further details on the derivation of faster systems with moderate performance degradation are discussed in the context of the 2002 CU-HTK 10 × RT conversational speech transcription system. © 2005 IEEE.

Perturbation of the stability of amyloid fibrils through alteration of electrostatic interactions.

The self-assembly of proteins and peptides into polymeric amyloid fibrils is a process that has important implications ranging from the understanding of protein misfolding disorders to the discovery of novel nanobiomaterials. In this study, we probe the stability of fibrils prepared at pH 2.0 and composed of the protein insulin by manipulating electrostatic interactions within the fibril architecture. We demonstrate that strong electrostatic repulsion is sufficient to disrupt the hydrogen-bonded, cross-β network that links insulin molecules and ultimately results in fibril dissociation. The extent of this dissociation correlates well with predictions for colloidal models considering the net global charge of the polypeptide chain, although the kinetics of the process is regulated by the charge state of a single amino acid. We found the fibrils to be maximally stable under their formation conditions. Partial disruption of the cross-β network under conditions where the fibrils remain intact leads to a reduction in their stability. Together, these results support the contention that a major determinant of amyloid stability stems from the interactions in the structured core, and show how the control of electrostatic interactions can be used to characterize the factors that modulate fibril stability.

Probing protein aggregation with quartz crystal microbalances.

The supra-molecular self-assembly of peptides and proteins is a process which underlies a range of normal and aberrant biological pathways in nature, but one which remains challenging to monitor in a quantitative way. We discuss the experimental details of an approach to this problem which involves the direct measurement in vitro of mass changes of the aggregates as new molecules attach to them. The required mass sensitivity can be achieved by the use of a quartz crystal transducer-based microbalance. The technique should be broadly applicable to the study of protein aggregation, as well as to the identification and characterisation of inhibitors and modulators of this process.

Dinámica poblacional de arvenses en el cultivo del pipian (Cucurbita pepo L.) producido bajo un sistema de manejo orgánico y un sistema de manejo convencional, en Tipitapa, Masaya 2007

Actualmente, el manejo de arvenses en las Cucurbitaceae es a base de herbicidas, repercutiendo en serios problemas al ambiente y al hombr e. En la finca experimental El Plantel, ubicado en el km 43 ½ carretera Tipitapa – Masaya, se estableció un estudio con el objetivo de conocer la dinámica poblacional de arvenses y su incidencia en el cultivo de pipián Cucurbita pepo L; producido bajo dos sistemas de manejo. Se evaluó un sistema convencional con el uso de Completo (12 - 30 - 10) 522.98 Kg/Ha, Urea 190.06 Kg/Ha, y un sistema orgánico con el uso Humus 10,886.95Kg/Ha, Compost: 21,900.62Kg/Ha, Biofertilizante: 14,765.21 Kg/Ha En una área 525m2, en tres parcelas de 80.5 m2, alternando con el pipián, el caupí. ( Vigna unguiculata . (L) Walp). En la diversidad se encontraron 13 especies en el sistema orgánico, predominando Tithonia rotundifolia (Mill) Blake, Boerhavia erecta L., Sorghum halepense (L) P e rs. Y 10 familias, entre ellas, Portulacaceae, Asteraceae, Nyctaginaceae, y Cyperaceae. Y en el sistema convencional 11 especies, predominando, Ixophorus unicetus (Presl), Sorghum halepense (L) P ers, Tithonia rotundifolia (Mill) Blake, y 9 familias, sobres alieron Poaceae, Portulacaceae, Asteraceae, y Nyctaginaceae. El porcentaje de cobertura en los dos sistemas de manejo se presento similar. La biomasa por familia, especie y cultivo, fue mayor en el sistema orgánico. El rendimiento del cultivo no reflejo di ferencia significativa entre los dos sistemas de manejo evaluados. Los resultados demostraron que presencia de arvenses no afectó el desarrollo y crecimiento del cultivo. El manejo orgánico puede verse como una alternativa viable para el productor y para l a conservación del ambiente, a pesar de ser este un corto ciclo, este manejo muestra que a futuro se pueden obtenerse mejores resultados

Probe for Measurements of Density/Conductivity in Flows of Conducting Fluids

A probe utilizing the bipolar pulse method to measure the density of a conducting fluid has been developed. The probe is specially designed such that the concentration of a stream tube can be sampled continuously. The density was determined indirectly from the measurement of solution conductivity. The probe was calibrated using standard NaCl solutions of varying molarity and was able to rapidly determine the density of a fluid with continuously varying conductance. Measurements of the conductivity profiles, corresponding density profiles, and their fluctuation levels are demonstrated in a channel flow with an electrolyte injected from a slot in one wall.

Micropropagación de apices caulinares en platano (Musa spp. AAB) cultivar Cuerno Gigante

El estudio se realizó en el laboratorio de cultivo de tejidos de la Universidad Nacional Agraria de diciembre 2008 a enero 2010. En el centro experimental de FAGRO se seleccionaron hijos de plátano (Musa spp AAB) cultivar Cuerno Gigante para el estudio de los diferentes factores en las cuatro fases de la micropropagación. En el establecimiento se evaluó el efecto del Bencil amino purina y Ácido indolacético. En multiplicación se estudió la respuesta de los tejidos a los medios de cultivo, volumen del frasco, número de plantas por frasco y número de subcultivos. En la fase de enraizamiento se evaluó el efecto del AIA y sacarosa en la producción de raíces, y en la fase de aclimatación las correlaciones entre variables morfológicas. Los datos de establecimiento se analizaron en Cuadros porcentuales, en las fases de multiplicación y enraizamiento con el diseño bloques completos al azar, se determinaron los mejores tratamientos mediante el análisis de Duncan y Waller. Todos los ápices establecidos segregaron fenoles y en el medio con 1 mg l-1 BAP la formación de plantas fue del 20%. A partir del segundo subcultivo los medios que contenían 2 mgl-1 de BAP incrementaron los porcentajes de brotación. Con 5 y 7 plantas por frasco de 220 y 430 ml se obtuvieron los mejores promedios de brotación axilar, longitud del pseudotallo y de número de hojas. Con 7 plantas por frasco se disminuyó en 28.93% la cantidad de frascos y de medios de cultivo en comparación con 5 plantas por frasco. La mejor producción de raíces se consiguió en las sales MS con 30 gl-1 de sacarosa consistencia semi-sólida. En fase de aclimatación el número de raíces tuvo correlación significativa y positiva con longitud del pseudotallo y volumen de raíces, también hubo correlación positiva y significativa entre número de hojas y longitud del pseudotallo, resultando de gran importancia en la determinación del crecimiento y comportamiento futuro de las plantas.

A porous bulk metallic glass with unidirectional opening pores

Porous Zr-based bulk metallic glass (PMG) with unidirectional opening pores is prepared by electrochemical etching of tungsten wires of the W/bulk metallic glass (BMG) composites. The porosity and pore size can be controlled by adjusting the tungsten wires. The PMG showed no measurable loss in thermal stability as compared to the monolithic Zr-based BMG by water quenching and is more ductile and softer than the pore-free counterpart. The specific surface area of the PMGs is calculated to be 0.65, 3.96, and 10.54 m(2)/kg for 20, 60, and 80 vol % porosity, respectively. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.

升温率和应变率对30CrMnSi拉伸强度的影响

报道了硬度HRC为20和40的两种30CrMnSi材料在100-900℃的力学性能及升温率、应变率和热处理条件对抗拉强度、屈服强度的影响。在低温区,材料性能随温度的升高,呈现缓慢下降,其数值与常温相差不多,热处理状态对该区影响甚大,升温率有一定影响; 在高温区,材料强度大大降低,其数值随温度变化不大,不同升温速率的影响及热处理状态影响消失; 在中温区,材料性能随温度升高呈现快速下降趋势,热处理状态对材料性能影响大,不同升温率对材料性能影响不大。

Experiment on the thermocapillary convection of a mercury liquid bridge in a floating half zone

A liquid bridge of a floating half zone consisting of liquid mercury sealed in a glass tube with nitrogen atmosphere was used for the experiment of thermocapillary convection with a low Prandtl number liquid. A non-contacted diagnostic method was developed to monitor the surface flow and the surface oscillation. A growing surface film (or skin) is a crucial source to suppress thermocapillary convection, and is discussed in this paper. For the case of a mercury Liquid bridge, the critical Marangoni number was obtained as 900, and the oscillatory frequency was around 5 Hz.

Aquaculture Asia, Vol.13, No.1, pp.1-56, January-March 2008

Developing guidelines for sustainable freshwater aquaculture planning in Vietnam. Aquaculture production, certification and trade: Challenges and opportunities for the small-scale farmer in Asia. The successful development of backyard hatcheries for crustaceans in Thailand. Alternate carp species for diversification in freshwater aquaculture in India. Genetic and reproduction technologies for enhanced aquaculture and fisheries management of Murray cod. Effluent and disease management in traditional practices of shrimp farming: A case study on the west coast of Sabah, Malaysia. Status of sahar domestication and its development in the Himalayan Region of Nepal. Vaccination benefits highlighted as Schering-Plough reinforces commitment to Asian aquaculture. Comparative advantage analysis of shrimp production in Asia. Strategies to improve livelihood of the rural poor: A case study in two small reservoirs in Binh Phuoc Province, Vietnam. Cambodian Government ban on snakehead farming enforced. Marine finfish aquaculture developments at ‘Indonesian Aquaculture 2007’. Production update – marine finfish aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region. Body size of rotifers from estuaries in North Sulawesi. NACA Newsletter.

强粘性剪切流稳定性方程组的简化及计算判据

研究强粘性剪切流稳定性方程组的物理尺度及其相互关系.同时,对强粘性剪切流稳定性方程组作GCS分析,从而解决强粘性剪切流稳定性方程组的某些计算问题.作为应用,给出Orr-Sommerfeld方程的一种新的简化形式.

颗粒离散元法的微机可视化程序设计

以 VC+ + 6 .0为开发工具 ,将 UNIX环境下的离散元程序进行了移植和改造 ,研制出在微机WINDOWS环境下的离散元仿真程序。程序的计算和控制部分采用混合编程、动态链接及多线程编程技术 ,在可视化图形程序设计中成功地引进了 Open GL���形库 ,实现了图像资料直接打印和保存。使用上述程序模拟了急刹车情况下车载散体与车厢的相互作用 ,表明新程序的操作和图形显示界面友好 ,效率很高

Assessment of Atlantic Red Drum for 1999: Northern and southern regions

An assessment of the status of the Atlantic stock of red drum is conducted using recreational and commercial data from 1986 through 1998. This assessment updates data and analyses from the 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1995 stock assessments on Atlantic coast red drum (Vaughan and Helser, 1990; Vaughan 1992; 1993; 1996). Since 1981, coastwide recreational catches ranged between 762,300 pounds in 1980 and 2,623,900 pounds in 1984, while commercial landings ranged between 60,900 pounds in 1997 and 422,500 pounds in 1984. In weight of fish caught, Atlantic red drum constitute predominantly a recreational fishery (ranging between 85 and 95% during the 1990s). Commercially, red drum continue to be harvested as part of mixed species fisheries. Using available length-frequency distributions and age-length keys, recreational and commercial catches are converted to catch in numbers at age. Separable and tuned virtual population analyses are conducted on the catch in numbers at age to obtain estimates of fishing mortality rates and population size (including recruitment to age 1). In tum, these estimates of fishing mortality rates combined with estimates of growth (length and weight), sex ratios, sexual maturity and fecundity are used to estimate yield per recruit, escapement to age 4, and static (or equilibrium) spawning potential ratio (static SPR, based on both female biomass and egg production). Three virtual analysis approaches (separable, spreadsheet, and FADAPT) were applied to catch matrices for two time periods (early: 1986-1991, and late: 1992-1998) and two regions (Northern: North Carolina and north, and Southern: South Carolina through east coast of Florida). Additional catch matrices were developed based on different treatments for the catch-and-release recreationally-caught red drum (B2-type). These approaches included assuming 0% mortality (BASEO) versus 10% mortality for B2 fish. For the 10% mortality on B2 fish, sizes were assumed the same as caught fish (BASEl), or positive difference in size distribution between the early period and the later period (DELTA), or intermediate (PROP). Hence, a total of 8 catch matrices were developed (2 regions, and 4 B2 assumptions for 1986-1998) to which the three VPA approaches were applied. The question of when offshore emigration or reduced availability begins (during or after age 3) continues to be a source of bias that tends to result in overestimates of fishing mortality. Additionally, the continued assumption (Vaughan and Helser, 1990; Vaughan 1992; 1993; 1996) of no fishing mortality on adults (ages 6 and older), causes a bias that results in underestimates of fishing mortality for adult ages (0 versus some positive value). Because of emigration and the effect of the slot limit for the later period, a range in relative exploitations of age 3 to age 2 red drum was considered. Tuning indices were developed from the MRFSS, and state indices for use in the spreadsheet and FADAPT VPAs. The SAFMC Red Drum Assessment Group (Appendix A) favored the FADAPT approach with catch matrix based on DELTA and a selectivity for age 3 relative to age 2 of 0.70 for the northern region and 0.87 for the southern region. In the northern region, estimates of static SPR increased from about 1.3% for the period 1987-1991 to approximately 18% (15% and 20%) for the period 1992-1998. For the southern region, estimates of static SPR increased from about 0.5% for the period 1988-1991 to approximately 15% for the period 1992-1998. Population models used in this assessment (specifically yield per recruit and static spawning potential ratio) are based on equilibrium assumptions: because no direct estimates are available as to the current status of the adult stock, model results imply potential longer term, equilibrium effects. Because current status of the adult stock is unknown, a specific rebuilding schedule cannot be determined. However, the duration of a rebuilding schedule should reflect, in part, a measure of the generation time of the fish species under consideration. For a long-lived, but relatively early spawning, species as red drum, mean generation time would be on the order of 15 to 20 years based on age-specific egg production. Maximum age is 50 to 60 years for the northern region, and about 40 years for the southern region. The ASMFC Red Drum Board's first phase recovery goal of increasing %SPR to at least 10% appears to have been met. (PDF contains 79 pages)

油气水复合式分离器样机实验

本文介绍了油气水分离技术方面的研究工作,分析了复合式油气水分离器的核心部件螺旋管和T型管对分离器性能的影响和作用,以及螺旋管侧壁开孔的大小、数量和位置的影响。通过试验得出适当增加h／d的值,如h／d-20,直管直径为DN40,高度900,在大粘度下分离效果更好。联合实验表明,对一定配比的油水混合液(含水率60～80％)经T型管、螺旋管分离后,油中含水可小于1％。