Improving waste-incineration energy recovery efficiency using a reverse calculation algorithm to estimate waste composition and heating value.

The heating value and composition of waste are crucial operational variables for understanding waste incinerators behavior and optimizing their operation. However, because the heating value and composition of waste are highly variable, their prediction in waste incineration plants is difficult. To overcome this issue, this study developed a novel method to derive heating value and composition waste via a reverse calculation algorithm using operating data and physics-based model.

Mechanisms of the Device Property Alteration Generated by the Proton Irradiation in GaN-Based MIS-HEMTs Using Extremely Thin Gate Insulator.

Recently, we reported that device performance degradation mechanisms, which are generated by the γ-ray irradiation in GaN-based metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (MIS-HEMTs), use extremely thin gate insulators. When the γ-ray was radiated, the total ionizing dose (TID) effects were generated and the device performance deteriorated. In this work, we investigated the device property alteration and its mechanisms, which were caused by the proton irradiation in GaN-based MIS-HEMTs for the 5 nm-thick SiN and HfO gate insulator.

Comprehensive Research of Total Ionizing Dose Effects in GaN-Based MIS-HEMTs Using Extremely Thin Gate Dielectric Layer.

The device performance deterioration mechanism caused by the total ionizing dose effect after the γ-ray irradiation was investigated in GaN-based metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (MIS-HEMTs) for a 5 nm-thick SiN and HfO gate dielectric layer. The γ-ray radiation hardness according to the gate dielectric layer was also compared between the two different GaN-based MIS-HEMTs. Although HfO has exhibited strong tolerance to the total ionizing dose effect in Si-based devices, there is no detail report of the γ-ray radiation effects in GaN-based MIS-HEMTs employing a HfO gate dielectric layer.

Charging Effect by Fluorine-Treatment and Recess Gate for Enhancement-Mode on AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors.

An enhancement-mode AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high-electron- mobility-transistor was fabricated using a recess gate and CF plasma treatment to investigate its reliable applicability to high-power devices and circuits. The fluorinated-gate device showed hysteresis during the DC current-voltage measurement, and the polarity and magnitude of hysteresis depend on the drain voltage. The hysteresis phenomenon is due to the electron trapping at the AlO/AlGaN interface and charging times longer than milliseconds were obtained by pulse I-V measurement.

Laxative Activity of the Hot-Water Extract Mixture of Thunb. and Mazel in Chronic Constipation Model SD Rats.

This study examined the laxative effects of hot-water extracts of Thunb. (HD), Mazel (PM), and a 2:8 mixture of both (HP) in two chronic constipation models. For the loperamide-induced constipation model, animals were divided into an untreated group, negative control group (loperamide 4 mg/kg), positive control group (bisacodyl 4 mg/kg) group, and six treatment groups (HP 100 or 400, HD 50 or 100, and PM 100 or 400 mg/kg).

Daylight-Induced Metal-Insulator Transition in Ag-Decorated Vanadium Dioxide Nanorod Arrays.

Metal-insulator transition (MIT) in strongly correlated electronic materials has enormous potential with scientific and technological impacts in future oxide nanoelectronic devices. Although photo-induced MIT can provide opportunities to extend the novel functionality of strongly correlated electronic materials, there have rarely been reports on it. Here, we report MIT provoked by visible-near-infrared light in Ag-decorated VO nanorod arrays (NRs) because of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and its application to broadband photodetectors.

Broadening the reflection bandwidth of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal via a reactive surface coating layer.

We report a method of broadening the reflection bandwidth of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal (PSCLC). The top substrate was consecutively coated with a polyimide (PI) and a reactive mesogen (RM) layer, while the bottom substrate was coated with only PI. We exposed the top substrate with the RM coating to UV light.

Estimation of the roll angle in a triplet towed array using oceanic surface-generated ambient noise.

This paper proposes a roll-angle estimation method for the triplet towed array using the oceanic ambient noise recorded in the mid-frequency range of 1 to 10 kHz. Here, the dominance of oceanic surface-generated noises such as wind-driven and shipping noises is expected. The ratio between the approximated phase parts of the noise-coherence function regarding the triplet hydrophones is used for the roll estimation.

Bond strength of individual carbon nanotubes grown directly on carbon fibers.

The performance of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based devices strongly depends on the adhesion of CNTs to the substrate on which they were directly grown. We report on the bond strength of CNTs grown on a carbon fiber (T700SC Toray), measured via in situ pulling of individual CNTs inside a transmission electron microscope. The bond strength of an individual CNT, obtained from the measured pulling force and CNT cross-section, was very high (∼200 MPa), 8-10 times higher than that of an adhesion model assuming only van der Waals interactions (25 MPa), presumably due to carbon-carbon interactions between the CNT (its bottom atoms) and the carbon substrate.

Design of Circle Array Pattern for Transparent Nanomesh-Type Electrodes.

In this study, we report simulation results for the optical properties of nanomesh-type electrodes for transparent electrode. Usually, indium tin oxide (ITO) is commonly used for transparent conductor to solar cell, display, LED and other electronic modules. However, the cost is high due to the rarity of indium.

Core/shell-structured upconversion nanophosphor and cadmium-free quantum-dot bilayer-based near-infrared photodetectors.

The core/shell-structured upconversion nanophosphors (UCNPs) and Cd-free CuInS(2)/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized via coprecipitation and hot-injection methods, respectively, and they were applied to near infrared (NIR) photodetectors. The β-NaYF(4):Yb,Er/β-NaYF(4) UCNPs emitted intense visible light peaking at 522, 542, and 656 nm via (2)H(11/2), (4)S(3/2), and (4)F(9/2)→(4)I(15/2) transitions under excitation with 980 nm NIR light. The core/shell UCNPs showed 6.

Design and application of a novel in situ nano-manipulation stage for transmission electron microscopy.

A novel nano-scale manipulator capable of handling low-dimensional materials with three-dimensional linear motion, gripping action, and push-pull action of the gripper was developed for an in situ experiment in transmission electron microscopy. X-Y-Z positioning and push-pull action were accomplished by a piezotubing system, combined with a specially designed assembly stage that consisted of a lever-action gripping tip backed by a push-pull piezostack. The gripper tip consisted of tungsten wire fabricated by electrochemical etching followed by a focused ion beam process.

Graphene as an atomically thin barrier to Cu diffusion into Si.

The evolution of copper-based interconnects requires the realization of an ultrathin diffusion barrier layer between the Cu interconnect and insulating layers. The present work reports the use of atomically thin layer graphene as a diffusion barrier to Cu metallization. The diffusion barrier performance is investigated by varying the grain size and thickness of the graphene layer; single-layer graphene of average grain size 2 ± 1 μm (denoted small-grain SLG), single-layer graphene of average grain size 10 ± 2 μm (denoted large-grain SLG), and multi-layer graphene (MLG) of thickness 5-10 nm.

Nanopatterning by laser interference lithography: applications to optical devices.

A systematic review, covering fabrication of nanoscale patterns by laser interference lithography (LIL) and their applications for optical devices is provided. LIL is a patterning method. It is a simple, quick process over a large area without using a mask.

Electrical coating method of graphene oxide.

In this work, we use the electrical method to coat graphene oxide (GO) on ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) glass. The coated GO was characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The coated surface was monitored by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM).

Activation of NF-κB pathway in oral buccal mucosa during small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury induces intestinal mucosal barrier disruption, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiorgan failure, and death. The major pathway for the systemic inflammatory responses depends on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). However, direct measuring of NF-κB in injured tissues is not routinely available.

Range-dependent geoacoustic inversion of vertical line array data using matched beam processing.

This paper describes the results of range-dependent geoacoustic inversion using vertical line array data obtained from the 4th Matched Acoustic Properties and Localization Experiment conducted in the East Sea of Korea. The narrowband multitone continuous-wave signal from the towed source was analyzed to estimate the range-dependent geoacoustic properties along the radial track. The primary approach is based on the sectorwise inversion scheme.

Robust time reversal focusing in the ocean.

Recent time-reversal experiments with high-frequency transmissions (3.5 kHz) show that stable focusing is severely limited by the time-dependent ocean environments. The vertical focal structure displays dynamic variations associated with focal splitting and remerging resulting in large changes in focal intensity.