Trapezoidal SOI FinFET analog parameters` dependence on cross-section shape

The trapezium is often a better approximation for the FinFET cross-section shape, rather than the design-intended rectangle. The frequent width variations along the vertical direction, caused by the etching process that is used for fin definition, may imply in inclined sidewalls and the inclination angles can vary in a significant range. These geometric variations may cause some important changes in the device electrical characteristics. This work analyzes the influence of the FinFET sidewall inclination angle on some relevant parameters for analog design, such as threshold voltage, output conductance, transconductance, intrinsic voltage gain (A V), gate capacitance and unit-gain frequency, through 3D numeric simulation. The intrinsic gain is affected by alterations in transconductance and output conductance. The results show that both parameters depend on the shape, but in different ways. Transconductance depends mainly on the sidewall inclination angle and the fixed average fin width, whereas the output conductance depends mainly on the average fin width and is weakly dependent on the sidewall inclination angle. The simulation results also show that higher voltage gains are obtained for smaller average fin widths with inclination angles that correspond to inverted trapeziums, i.e. for shapes where the channel width is larger at the top than at the transistor base because of the higher attained transconductance. When the channel top is thinner than the base, the transconductance degradation affects the intrinsic voltage gain. The total gate capacitances also present behavior dependent on the sidewall angle, with higher values for inverted trapezium shapes and, as a consequence, lower unit-gain frequencies.

A simple design methodology for elliptical cross-section, transverse, asymmetric, head gradient coils for MRI

A simple design process for the design of elliptical cross-section, transverse gradient coils for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is presented. This process is based on a flexible stochastic optimization method and results in designs of high linearity and efficiency with low switching times. A design study of a shielded, transverse asymmetric elliptical coil set for use in neural imaging is presented and includes the minimization of the torques experienced by the gradient set.

Combined in-fermenter extraction and cross-flow microfiltration for improved inclusion body processing

In this study we demonstrate a new in-fermenter chemical extraction procedure that degrades the cell wall of Escherichia coli and releases inclusion bodies (IBs) into the fermentation medium. We then prove that cross-flow microfiltration can be used to remove 91% of soluble contaminants from the released IBs. The extraction protocol, based on a combination of Triton X-100, EDTA, and intracellular T7 lysozyme, effectively released most of the intracellular soluble content without solubilising the IBs. Cross-flow microfiltration using a 0.2 mum ceramic membrane successfully recovered the granulocyte macrophagecolony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) IBs with removal of 91% of the soluble contaminants and virtually no loss of IBs to the permeate. The filtration efficiency, in terms of both flux and transmission, was significantly enhanced by infermenter Benzonase(R) digestion of nucleic acids following chemical extraction. Both the extraction and filtration methods exerted their efficacy directly on a crude fermentation broth, eliminating the need for cell recovery and re-suspension in buffer. The processes demonstrated here can all be performed using just a fermenter and a single cross-flow filtration unit, demonstrating a high level of process intensification. Furthermore, there is considerable scope to also use the microfiltration system to subsequently solubilise the IBs, to separate the denatured protein from cell debris, and to refold the protein using diafiltration. In this way refolded protein can potentially be obtained, in a relatively pure state, using only two unit operations. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals Inc.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a Quality of Life questionnaire: The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation questionnaire

Background:The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) instrument is a disease-specific questionnaire for assessing the outcome of an intervention in nasal obstruction in trials. This instrument is only available in the English language and cross-culturally valid questionnaires are very important for all research, including nasal obstruction. The aim of the current study was to reproduce the cross-cultural adaptation process for the NOSE questionnaire in the Portuguese language (NOSE-p). Methodology: Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the instrument were divided into two stages. Stage I involved four bilingual professionals, an expert committee and the author of the original instrument. In Stage 2, the NOSE-p was tested on 33 patients undergoing septoplasty for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity. discriminant validity, criterion validity, and response sensitivity. Results: The cross-cultural adaptation process was completed and the NOSE-p was demonstrated to be a valid instrument with satisfactory construct validity. It showed an adequate internal consistency reliability and adequate test-retest reliability. It could discriminate between patients with and without nasal obstruction and it has a high response sensitivity to change. Conclusions: The cross-cultural adaptation and validation process demonstrated to be valid and the NOSE-p proved to be applicable in Brazil.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a Brazilian Portuguese version of the chronic pain grade

To verify the reliability and validity of a Brazilian Portuguese version of the chronic pain grade (CPG-Br). Cultural adaptation was made in accordance with established guidelines, with modifications aiming at improving this process. Adaptations were made based on interviews with 45 chronic pain patients from So Paulo city. Validation was studied by concurrent application of the short-form-36 health survey (SF-36) and other questionnaires to 283 participants with chronic pain from the general population. Temporal stability was verified by a second application to 131 individuals. Factor analysis resulted in a two-factor solution with factors named characteristic pain intensity and activity limitation due to pain. Alpha coefficients of 0.78 and 0.70 and intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.76 and 0.72 for each factor indicated good internal consistency and temporal stability. Significant correlations between CPG-Br and SF-36, Roland-Morris disability questionnaire and neck disability index scores were noted. A consistent linear trend was also observed between pain grades and SF-36 scores. Frequency of use of pain medications and of pain-related medical visits increased with pain grade. This Brazilian Portuguese version of the chronic pain grade, tested on a sample of the Brazilian population, demonstrated good reliability and validity.

Solubility study of phytochemical cross-linking agents on dentin stiffness

Objectives: The effects of interactions between cross-linking proanthocyanidins (PA) in polar solvents and type-I collagen of demineralized dentin were investigated. Methods: Three PA-rich extracts, two from grape seed (GSEP and GSES) and one from cocoa (COE), were dissolved (water, ethanol:water and acetone:water) and analyzed for their ability to increase the modulus of elasticity of demineralized dentin. Sound dentin beams (0.5 mm x 1.7 mm x 7 mm) were fully demineralized and divided into 12 groups according to the type of cross-linking agent and solvents used. Specimens were immersed in the respective solutions and tested at baseline, 10, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min. Results: The elastic modulus (EM) of dentin was significantly increased by the PA treatment regardless of time (p < 0.05 for all times). The extracts showed different solubility in different solvents. GSEP showed the highest increase in EM when diluted in distilled water and acetone at all exposure times. Both GSEs showed superior results when diluted in distilled water and after 4 h of treatment, while COE produced strongest enhancement when dissolved in ethanol:water. Conclusions: The results indicates that herbal extraction process and other pharmacognostic parameters have an important influence on extract solubility as well as constitution and, consequently, on the PA-dentin matrix interaction. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The application of statistical process control charts to the detection and monitoring of hospital-acquired infections

The monitoring of infection control indicators including hospital-acquired infections is an established part of quality maintenance programmes in many health-care facilities. However, surveillance data use can be frustrated by the infrequent nature of many infections. Traditional methods of analysis often provide delayed identification of increasing infection occurrence, placing patients at preventable risk. The application of Shewhart, Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) and Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) statistical process control charts to the monitoring of indicator infections allows continuous real-time assessment. The Shewhart chart will detect large changes, while CUSUM and EWMA methods are more suited to recognition of small to moderate sustained change. When used together, Shewhart and EWMA methods are ideal for monitoring bacteraemia and multiresistant organism rates. Shewhart and CUSUM charts are suitable for surgical infection surveillance.

GLUT4 - At the cross roads between membrane trafficking and signal transduction

GLUT4 is a mammalian facilitative glucose transporter that is highly expressed in adipose tissue and striated muscle. In response to insulin, GLUT4 moves from intracellular storage areas to the plasma membrane, thus increasing cellular glucose uptake. While the verification of this 'translocation hypothesis' (Cushman SW. Wardzala LJ. J Biol Chem 1980;255: 4758-4762 and Suzuki K, Kono T. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1980;77: 2542-2545) has increased our understanding of insulin-regulated glucose transport, a number of fundamental questions remain unanswered. Where is GLUT4 stored within the basal cell? How does GLUT4 move to the cell surface and what mechanism does insulin employ to accelerate this process) Ultimately we require a convergence of trafficking studies with research in signal transduction. However, despite more than 30 years of intensive research we have still not reached this point. The problem is complex, involving at least two separate signal transduction pathways which feed into what appears to be a very dynamic sorting process. Below we discuss some of these complexities and highlight new data that are bringing us closer to the resolution of these questions.

Cross-linking of PFA by electron beam irradiation

The effect of electron beam radiation on a perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) resin was examined using solid-state high-speed magic angle spinning F-19 NMR spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy. Samples were prepared for analysis by subjecting them to electron beam radiation in the dose range 0.5-2.0 MGy at 633 K, which is above the crystalline melting temperature. The new structures were identified and include new saturated chain ends, short and long branches, unsaturated groups, and cross-links. The radiation chemical yield (G value) of new long branch points was greater than the G value of new chain ends, suggesting that cross-linking is the net radiolytic process. This conclusion was supported by an observed decrease in the crystallinity and an increase in the optical clarity of the polymer.

Effect of neutralization and cross-linking on the thermal degradation of chitosan electrospun membranes

Thermal degradation of as electrospun chitosan membranes and samples subsequently treated with ethanol and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) have been studied by thermogravimetry (TG) coupled with an infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The influence of the electrospinning process and cross-linking in the electrospun chitosan thermal stability was evaluated. Up to three degradation steps were observed in the TG data, corresponding to water dehydration reaction at temperatures below 100 ºC, loss of side groups formed between the amine groups of chitosan and trifluoroacetic acid between 150 – 270 ºC and chitosan thermal degradation that starts around 250 ºC and goes up to 400 ºC. The Kissinger model was employed to evaluate the activation energies of the electrospun membranes during isothermal experiments and revealed that thermal degradation activation energy increases for the samples processed by electrospinning and subsequent neutralization and cross-linking treatments with respect to the neat chitosan powder.

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING INDUCES SOPHISTICATION OF CAPITAL BUDGETING

This article compares capital budgeting techniques employed in listed and unlisted companies in Brazil. We surveyed the Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) of 398 listed companies and 300 large unlisted companies, and based on 91 respondents, the results suggest that the CFOs of listed companies tend to use less simplistic methods more often, for example: NPV and CAPM, and that CFOs of unlisted companies are less likely to estimate the cost of equity, despite being large companies. These findings indicate that stock exchange listing may require greater sophistication of the capital budgeting process.

Cross-cultural differences in children's concepts of health and illness

INTRODUCTION: In spite of general agreement that cross-cultural research is needed in the health area, most existing investigations of children's development of health and illness-related concepts have involved samples from developed countries. The study examined the development of the concepts of health and illness as a function of subject's age, socio-economic status (SES), gender and grade level in a Brazilian sample of 96 elementary and junior high school students. METHODS: Subjects were interviewed individually and their ideas of health and illness were assessed through open-ended questions. Participants' answers were transcribed verbatim and subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: Chi-square analyses revealed significant age, school grade and SES-related differences in participants' concepts of health and illness. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The themes employed by subjects to define both health and illness were broadly consistent with those found by previous research. The study showed a predictable relationship between subject's age and school grade level and increasingly more highly differentiated and multidimensional concepts of health and illness. This investigation suggests that, for the most part, cross-cultural similarities in children's concepts of health and illness may be more striking than the differences.

MBR activated sludge filterability characterization in cross flow filtration

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente, perfil Sanitária

Optimization process of polyester polymer mortars modified with recycled GFRP waste aggregates – application of factorial experiment design-

Glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP), nowadays commonly used in the construction, transportation and automobile sectors, have been considered inherently difficult to recycle due to both: cross-linked nature of thermoset resins, which cannot be remolded, and complex composition of the composite itself, which includes glass fibres, matrix and different types of inorganic fillers. Presently, most of the GFRP waste is landfilled leading to negative environmental impacts and supplementary added costs. With an increasing awareness of environmental matters and the subsequent desire to save resources, recycling would convert an expensive waste disposal into a profitable reusable material. There are several methods to recycle GFR thermostable materials: (a) incineration, with partial energy recovery due to the heat generated during organic part combustion; (b) thermal and/or chemical recycling, such as solvolysis, pyrolisis and similar thermal decomposition processes, with glass fibre recovering; and (c) mechanical recycling or size reduction, in which the material is subjected to a milling process in order to obtain a specific grain size that makes the material suitable as reinforcement in new formulations. This last method has important advantages over the previous ones: there is no atmospheric pollution by gas emission, a much simpler equipment is required as compared with ovens necessary for thermal recycling processes, and does not require the use of chemical solvents with subsequent environmental impacts. In this study the effect of incorporation of recycled GFRP waste materials, obtained by means of milling processes, on mechanical behavior of polyester polymer mortars was assessed. For this purpose, different contents of recycled GFRP waste materials, with distinct size gradings, were incorporated into polyester polymer mortars as sand aggregates and filler replacements. The effect of GFRP waste treatment with silane coupling agent was also assessed. Design of experiments and data treatment were accomplish by means of factorial design and analysis of variance ANOVA. The use of factorial experiment design, instead of the one factor at-a-time method is efficient at allowing the evaluation of the effects and possible interactions of the different material factors involved. Experimental results were promising toward the recyclability of GFRP waste materials as polymer mortar aggregates, without significant loss of mechanical properties with regard to non-modified polymer mortars.

A study in cross-cultural transmission of natural philosophy: the Kenkon Bensetsu

Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Doutor em História dos Descobrimentos e da Expansão Portuguesa