Temperature dependent Band gap Correction model using tight-binding approach for UTB device simulations

<div>Ultra-thin body (UTB) devices are being used in many electronic applications operating over a wide range of temperatures. The electrostatics of these devices depends on the band structure of the channel material, which varies with temperature as well as channel thickness. The semi-empirical tight binding (TB) approach is widely used for calculating channel thickness dependent band structure of any material, at a particular temperature, where TB parameters are defined. For elementary semiconductors like Si, Ge and compound semiconductors like GaAs, these TB parameters are generally defined at only 0 K and 300 K. This limits the ability of the TB approach to simulate the electrostatics of these devices at any other intermediate temperatures.</div><div>In this work, we analyze the variation of band structure for Si, Ge and GaAs over different channel thicknesses at 0 K and 300 K (for which TB parameters are available), and show that the band curvature at the band minima has minor variation with temperature, whereas the change of band gap significantly affects the channel electrostatics. Based on this finding, we propose an approach to simulate the electrostatics of UTB devices, at any temperature between 0 K and 300 K, using TB parameters defined at 0 K, along with a suitable channel thickness and temperature dependent band gap correction. </div>

Temperature dependent Band gap Correction model using tight-binding approach for UTB device simulations

<div>Ultra-thin body (UTB) devices are being used in many electronic applications operating over a wide range of temperatures. The electrostatics of these devices depends on the band structure of the channel material, which varies with temperature as well as channel thickness. The semi-empirical tight binding (TB) approach is widely used for calculating channel thickness dependent band structure of any material, at a particular temperature, where TB parameters are defined. For elementary semiconductors like Si, Ge and compound semiconductors like GaAs, these TB parameters are generally defined at only 0 K and 300 K. This limits the ability of the TB approach to simulate the electrostatics of these devices at any other intermediate temperatures.</div><div>In this work, we analyze the variation of band structure for Si, Ge and GaAs over different channel thicknesses at 0 K and 300 K (for which TB parameters are available), and show that the band curvature at the band minima has minor variation with temperature, whereas the change of band gap significantly affects the channel electrostatics. Based on this finding, we propose an approach to simulate the electrostatics of UTB devices, at any temperature between 0 K and 300 K, using TB parameters defined at 0 K, along with a suitable channel thickness and temperature dependent band gap correction. </div>

Soil Water Content Measurement Using Polymer Optical Fibre Bragg Gratings

Measuring soil water content is crucially important and can affect soil strength which is a key parameter in analysis, design and monitoring of geo-structures. In this study, an optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor inscribed in Polymer Optical Fibre (POF) was developed and for the first time its ability to measure soil water content was investigated. The sensitivity of the sensor to different values of gravimetric soil water content under different compaction conditions of loose and normal compaction was tested. The effect of soil temperature on the sensor’s performance was considered. To assess the sensor’s implementation, accuracy and reliability, a commercial soil water content probe (SM150), which measures volumetric soil water content was employed. The results indicate that the developed sensor when calibrated correctly, is able to provide detailed data on any minor variation of soil water content (e.g. 0.5%) with high precision. The outcomes of this study define an additional capability of the POFBG sensors which is significantly important for long-term performance monitoring of geo-structures.

Tracing Nutrients and Organic Matter Changes in Eutrophic Wenchang (China) and Oligotrophic Krka (Croatia) Estuaries: A Comparative Study

Estuaries modify the concentration and composition of riverine nutrients and organic matter (OM), which eventually determine the riverine flux effect to coasts. Nutrients, organic carbon (OC), pigments, and amino acids (AAs) from the samples collected in the eutrophic Wenchang River Estuary (WRE) in China and the oligotrophic Krka River Estuary (KRE) in Croatia were analyzed in order to have a better understanding of how estuaries regulate terrestrial materials. We found a clear increase of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration and its subsequent decrease due to the removal of DIN (over 100 μM) in the WRE, whereas DIN showed minor variation lengthwise in the KRE, i.e., with the salinity changes, ranging between 1.0 and 5.8 μM. The elevated algae-derived OC, dissolved organic nitrogen, and particulate AAs nitrogen suggest that the OM assimilation may explain approximately one-third of the DIN removal in the WRE, whereas in the oligotrophic KRE, such inorganic to organic transformation is not likely to be significant. Due to the prominent estuarine nitrogen removal/assimilation process, DIN/dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) ratio was as high as 425 in the upper WRE under strong riverine influence, but it declined to as low as 5.4 at the mouth of WRE, that is even lower than DIN/DIP ratio at the mouth of oligotrophic KRE (12). When compared with other rivers worldwide, the Wenchang River showed high nutrients and organic carbon yields. Given the contrasting estuarine process (e.g., DIN removal) between the KRE and the WRE, apparent high nutrient yield from eutrophic rivers should be viewed with caution in ocean studies as the final impact to coastal zone could be similar to the oligotrophic rivers like the KRE.

Influence of homogenization preceding to cold-rolling on the microstructure of the AA-3003

The aluminum alloy AA3003 produced by a direct chill continuous casting process has a microstructure that significantly affects its potential use in engineering applications. This work studies the effects of the homogenizing heat treatment on the microstructure of AA3003 with cold working. Six conditions were studied, combining the variables initial condition (with and without homogenizing) and amount of cold working. All conditions were evaluated by means of optical and scanning electron microscopy, in combination with backscattered electrons and energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy techniques. Results suggest that for both initial conditions, the secondary phases present are Al6(Mn,Fe) and α-Al(Mn,Fe)Si, which vary in number, size, and shape. The homogenization caused the dissolution and precipitation of dispersoids, in addition to the spheroidization of primary particles, and minor variation of the size of secondary particles during cold working. Secondary phases are composed of primary and secondary particles, which differ in their Fe and Mn content, resulting in a lower Mn/Fe ratio for the primary particles (0,57 for the as‑received condition and 0,80 for the homogenized condition), whereas the dispersoids have a higher Mn/Fe ratio (1,56 after the homogenization). Homogenization increased ductility and reduced the likelihood of cracking during cold working. This was evidenced by the results obtained for strength, hardness, and ductility.

Influence of homogenization preceding to cold-rolling on the microstructure of the AA-3003

The aluminum alloy AA3003 produced by a direct chill continuous casting process has a microstructure that significantly affects its potential use in engineering applications. This work studies the effects of the homogenizing heat treatment on the microstructure of AA3003 with cold working. Six conditions were studied, combining the variables initial condition (with and without homogenizing) and amount of cold working. All conditions were evaluated by means of optical and scanning electron microscopy, in combination with backscattered electrons and energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy techniques. Results suggest that for both initial conditions, the secondary phases present are Al6(Mn,Fe) and α-Al(Mn,Fe)Si, which vary in number, size, and shape. The homogenization caused the dissolution and precipitation of dispersoids, in addition to the spheroidization of primary particles, and minor variation of the size of secondary particles during cold working. Secondary phases are composed of primary and secondary particles, which differ in their Fe and Mn content, resulting in a lower Mn/Fe ratio for the primary particles (0,57 for the as‑received condition and 0,80 for the homogenized condition), whereas the dispersoids have a higher Mn/Fe ratio (1,56 after the homogenization). Homogenization increased ductility and reduced the likelihood of cracking during cold working. This was evidenced by the results obtained for strength, hardness, and ductility.

Influence of Personality Traits on Organization Identification (Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Punjab).

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between personality traits and personal identification in the organization. The study used random sampling technique to collect data from 1277 employees. The results showed that there exists a positive relationship between personality traits and identification of organization; workers having agreeableness and conscientiousness traits tend to have more identification with their organization, while neurotic workers showed negative association. However, differences were seen in male and female samples concerning perceived organizational identification with minor variation. The study concludes that individuals possessing agreeable and conscientious traits are more advantageous for the high level of organizational identification, irrespective of gender differences.

Electrophysiology of hiPSC-Cardiomyocytes Co-Cultured with HEK Cells Expressing the Inward Rectifier Channel

The immature electrophysiology of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiCMs) complicates their use for therapeutic and pharmacological purposes. An insufficient inward rectifying current (IK1) and the presence of a funny current (if) cause spontaneous electrical activity. This study tests the hypothesis that the co-culturing of hiCMs with a human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell-line expressing the Kir2.1 channel (HEK-IK1) can generate an electrical syncytium with an adult-like cardiac electrophysiology. The mechanical activity of co-cultures using different HEK-IK1:hiCM ratios was compared with co-cultures using wildtype (HEK–WT:hiCM) or hiCM alone on days 3–8 after plating. Only ratios of 1:3 and 1:1 showed a significant reduction in spontaneous rate at days 4 and 6, suggesting that IK1 was influencing the electrophysiology. Detailed analysis at day 4 revealed an increased incidence of quiescent wells or sub-areas. Electrical activity showed a decreased action potential duration (APD) at 20% and 50%, but not at 90%, alongside a reduced amplitude of the aggregate AP signal. A computational model of the 1:1 co-culture replicates the electrophysiological effects of HEK–WT. The addition of the IK1 conductance reduced the spontaneous rate and APD20, 50 and 90, and minor variation in the intercellular conductance caused quiescence. In conclusion, a 1:1 co-culture HEK-IK1:hiCM caused changes in electrophysiology and spontaneous activity consistent with the integration of IK1 into the electrical syncytium. However, the additional electrical effects of the HEK cell at 1:1 increased the possibility of electrical quiescence before sufficient IK1 was integrated into the syncytium.

Exploration of Polymetallic Nodules and Resource Assessment: A Case Study from the German Contract Area in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Tropical Northeast Pacific

In 2006, the BGR signed a contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the northeast Pacific. During nine expeditions, in particular, “Area E1”, the eastern part of the contract area, with a size of ~60,000 km2, was explored in detail. Here, we outline BGR’s exploration methods and provide resource estimates for Area E1 and three sub-areas. The resource assessment is predominantly based on statistical analyses of data obtained by 12-kHz multibeam bathymetry and backscatter mapping, box core sampling and geochemical analysis of nodules. The main parameter for the assessment is the nodule abundance (kg/m2), as its coefficient of variation (CoV) over the entire eastern contract area is relatively high at 36%. In contrast, the metal contents of nodules show only minor variation, with a CoV of 8% for manganese and 8% for the sum of copper, nickel and cobalt. To estimate mineral resources for the entire Area E1, we used an artificial neural network approach with a multivariate statistical correlation between nodule abundance derived from box cores and hydro-acoustic data. The total estimated resources are 540 ± 189 million tonnes (Mt) of dry nodules, and the total estimated metal contents are 168 Mt of manganese, 7.5 Mt of nickel, 6.3 Mt of copper, 0.9 Mt of cobalt, 0.4 Mt of rare-earth elements and 0.3 Mt of molybdenum. A geostatistical resource estimate of three economically prospective areas with a total size of 4498 km2, intensively sampled by box cores, was carried out using ordinary kriging of nodule abundance and metal grades. Within these three nodule fields, 7.14 Mt of dry nodules are classified as measured mineral resources covering an area of 489 km2. Indicated mineral resources amount to 11.2 Mt, covering an area of 825 km2, and inferred mineral resources of 35.5 Mt of dry nodules were estimated for an area of 3184 km2. In total, the metal contents of the three prospective areas amount to 16.8 Mt of manganese, 0.74 Mt of nickel, 0.63 Mt of copper and 0.09 Mt of cobalt.

59 Should The ‘Normal’ And ‘Ideal’ Nipple Position in A Male Influence the Surgeon When Planning Severe Gynaecomastia Correction?

Background The ideal nipple position of the male chest following gynecomastia surgery is well documented however with increased development of the chest muscles, the NAC placement can change, leading to the medial displacement of the nipple giving a poor aesthetic outcome. Therefore, we feel these measurements need to be applied to the patients build and take into consideration the patient's future fitness goals. Method We have analysed photographs of 3 groups of men: super- athletes, athletes and severe gynaecomastia. We assessed the proportions of the chest in relation to the NAC and the degree of ptosis. Results There is wide variation in the position of the nipple to the chest wall between each group with minor variation within each group. Based on this research we believe that surgeons should be circumspect when considering breast reduction with a Wise pattern in patients with severe gynaecomastia. In patient with increased development of the pectoralis major muscles, the NAC placement can change, leading to medial displacement of the nipple and ptosis and poor aesthetic result. Conclusions We suggest a two-stage procedure, carried out on two separate occasions wound be more ideal than a single stage as this allows better long-term better positioning of the nipple.