Sample records for double gate dg

  1. Enhanced transconductance in a double-gate graphene field-effect transistor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hwang, Byeong-Woon; Yeom, Hye-In; Kim, Daewon; Kim, Choong-Ki; Lee, Dongil; Choi, Yang-Kyu

    2018-03-01

    Multi-gate transistors, such as double-gate, tri-gate and gate-all-around transistors are the most advanced Si transistor structure today. Here, a genuine double-gate transistor with a graphene channel is experimentally demonstrated. The top and bottom gates of the double-gate graphene field-effect transistor (DG GFET) are electrically connected so that the conductivity of the graphene channel can be modulated simultaneously by both the top and bottom gate. A single-gate graphene field-effect transistor (SG GFET) with only the top gate is also fabricated as a control device. For systematical analysis, the transfer characteristics of both GFETs were measured and compared. Whereas the maximum transconductance of the SG GFET was 17.1 μS/μm, that of the DG GFET was 25.7 μS/μm, which is approximately a 50% enhancement. The enhancement of the transconductance was reproduced and comprehensively explained by a physics-based compact model for GFETs. The investigation of the enhanced transfer characteristics of the DG GFET in this work shows the possibility of a multi-gate architecture for high-performance graphene transistor technology.

  2. Experimental evidence of mobility enhancement in short-channel ultra-thin body double-gate MOSFETs by magnetoresistance technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chaisantikulwat, W.; Mouis, M.; Ghibaudo, G.; Cristoloveanu, S.; Widiez, J.; Vinet, M.; Deleonibus, S.

    2007-11-01

    Double-gate transistor with ultra-thin body (UTB) has proved to offer advantages over bulk device for high-speed, low-power applications. There is thus a strong need to obtain an accurate understanding of carrier transport and mobility in such device. In this work, we report for the first time an experimental evidence of mobility enhancement in UTB double-gate (DG) MOSFETs using magnetoresistance mobility extraction technique. Mobility in planar DG transistor operating in single- and double-gate mode is compared. The influence of different scattering mechanisms in the channel is also investigated by obtaining mobility values at low temperatures. The results show a clear mobility improvement in double-gate mode compared to single-gate mode mobility at the same inversion charge density. This is explained by the role of volume inversion in ultra-thin body transistor operating in DG mode. Volume inversion is found to be especially beneficial in terms of mobility gain at low-inversion densities.

  3. Impact of negative capacitance effect on Germanium Double Gate pFET for enhanced immunity to interface trap charges

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bansal, Monika; Kaur, Harsupreet

    2018-05-01

    In this work, a comprehensive drain current model has been developed for long channel Negative Capacitance Germanium Double Gate p-type Field Effect Transistor (NCGe-DG-pFET) by using 1-D Poisson's equation and Landau-Khalatnikov equation. The model takes into account interface trap charges and by using the derived model various parameters such as surface potential, gain, gate capacitance, subthreshold swing, drain current, transconductance, output conductance and Ion/Ioff ratio have been obtained and it is demonstrated that by incorporating ferroelectric material as gate insulator with Ge-channel, subthreshold swing values less than 60 mV/dec can be achieved along with improved gate controllability and current drivability. Further, to critically analyze the advantages offered by NCGe-DG-pFET, a detailed comparison has been done with Germanium Double Gate p-type Field Effect Transistor (Ge-DG-pFET) and it is shown that NCGe-DG-pFET exhibits high gain, enhanced transport efficiency in channel, very less or negligible degradation in device characteristics due to interface trap charges as compared to Ge-DG-pFET. The analytical results so obtained show good agreement with simulated results obtained from Silvaco ATLAS TCAD tool.

  4. A pH sensor with a double-gate silicon nanowire field-effect transistor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahn, Jae-Hyuk; Kim, Jee-Yeon; Seol, Myeong-Lok; Baek, David J.; Guo, Zheng; Kim, Chang-Hoon; Choi, Sung-Jin; Choi, Yang-Kyu

    2013-02-01

    A pH sensor composed of a double-gate silicon nanowire field-effect transistor (DG Si-NW FET) is demonstrated. The proposed DG Si-NW FET allows the independent addressing of the gate voltage and hence improves the sensing capability through an application of asymmetric gate voltage between the two gates. One gate is a driving gate which controls the current flow, and the other is a supporting gate which amplifies the shift of the threshold voltage, which is a sensing metric, and which arises from changes in the pH. The pH signal is also amplified through modulation of the gate oxide thickness.

  5. Effects of drain bias on the statistical variation of double-gate tunnel field-effect transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choi, Woo Young

    2017-04-01

    The effects of drain bias on the statistical variation of double-gate (DG) tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) are discussed in comparison with DG metal-oxide-semiconductor FETs (MOSFETs). Statistical variation corresponds to the variation of threshold voltage (V th), subthreshold swing (SS), and drain-induced barrier thinning (DIBT). The unique statistical variation characteristics of DG TFETs and DG MOSFETs with the variation of drain bias are analyzed by using full three-dimensional technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation in terms of the three dominant variation sources: line-edge roughness (LER), random dopant fluctuation (RDF) and workfunction variation (WFV). It is observed than DG TFETs suffer from less severe statistical variation as drain voltage increases unlike DG MOSFETs.

  6. Study of Gaussian Doped Double Gate JunctionLess (GD-DG-JL) transistor including source drain depletion length: Model for sub-threshold behavior

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumari, Vandana; Kumar, Ayush; Saxena, Manoj; Gupta, Mridula

    2018-01-01

    The sub-threshold model formulation of Gaussian Doped Double Gate JunctionLess (GD-DG-JL) FET including source/drain depletion length is reported in the present work under the assumption that the ungated regions are fully depleted. To provide deeper insight into the device performance, the impact of gaussian straggle, channel length, oxide and channel thickness and high-k gate dielectric has been studied using extensive TCAD device simulation.

  7. Double gate impact ionization MOS transistor: Proposal and investigation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Zhaonian; Zhang, Yue; Yang, Yuan; Yu, Ningmei

    2017-02-01

    In this paper, a double gate impact ionization MOS (DG-IMOS) transistor with improved performance is proposed and investigated by TCAD simulation. In the proposed design, a second gate is introduced in a conventional impact ionization MOS (IMOS) transistor that lengthens the equivalent channel length and suppresses the band-to-band tunneling. The OFF-state leakage current is reduced by over four orders of magnitude. At the ON-state, the second gate is negatively biased in order to enhance the electric field in the intrinsic region. As a result, the operating voltage does not increase with the increase in the channel length. The simulation result verifies that the proposed DG-IMOS achieves a better switching characteristic than the conventional is achieved. Lastly, the application of the DG-IMOS is discussed theoretically.

  8. Investigation and statistical modeling of InAs-based double gate tunnel FETs for RF performance enhancement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Poorvasha, S.; Lakshmi, B.

    2018-05-01

    In this paper, RF performance analysis of InAs-based double gate (DG) tunnel field effect transistors (TFETs) is investigated in both qualitative and quantitative fashion. This investigation is carried out by varying the geometrical and doping parameters of TFETs to extract various RF parameters, unity gain cut-off frequency (f t), maximum oscillation frequency (f max), intrinsic gain and admittance (Y) parameters. An asymmetric gate oxide is introduced in the gate-drain overlap and compared with that of DG TFETs. Higher ON-current (I ON) of about 0.2 mA and less leakage current (I OFF) of 29 fA is achieved for DG TFET with gate-drain overlap. Due to increase in transconductance (g m), higher f t and intrinsic gain is attained for DG TFET with gate-drain overlap. Higher f max of 985 GHz is obtained for drain doping of 5 × 1017 cm‑3 because of the reduced gate-drain capacitance (C gd) with DG TFET with gate-drain overlap. In terms of Y-parameters, gate oxide thickness variation offers better performance due to the reduced values of C gd. A second order numerical polynomial model is generated for all the RF responses as a function of geometrical and doping parameters. The simulation results are compared with this numerical model where the predicted values match with the simulated values. Project supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under SERB Scheme (No. SERB/F/2660).

  9. Impact of device engineering on analog/RF performances of tunnel field effect transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vijayvargiya, V.; Reniwal, B. S.; Singh, P.; Vishvakarma, S. K.

    2017-06-01

    The tunnel field effect transistor (TFET) and its analog/RF performance is being aggressively studied at device architecture level for low power SoC design. Therefore, in this paper we have investigated the influence of the gate-drain underlap (UL) and different dielectric materials for the spacer and gate oxide on DG-TFET (double gate TFET) and its analog/RF performance for low power applications. Here, it is found that the drive current behavior in DG-TFET with a UL feature while implementing dielectric material for the spacer is different in comparison to that of DG-FET. Further, hetero gate dielectric-based DG-TFET (HGDG-TFET) is more resistive against drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) as compared to DG-TFET with high-k (HK) gate dielectric. Along with that, as compared to DG-FET, this paper also analyses the attributes of UL and dielectric material on analog/RF performance of DG-TFET in terms of transconductance (gm ), transconductance generation factor (TGF), capacitance, intrinsic resistance (Rdcr), cut-off frequency (F T), and maximum oscillation frequency (F max). The LK spacer-based HGDG-TFET with a gate-drain UL has the potential to improve the RF performance of device.

  10. Design and optimization analysis of dual material gate on DG-IMOS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Sarabdeep; Raman, Ashish; Kumar, Naveen

    2017-12-01

    An impact ionization MOSFET (IMOS) is evolved for overcoming the constraint of less than 60 mV/decade sub-threshold slope (SS) of conventional MOSFET at room temperature. In this work, first, the device performance of the p-type double gate impact ionization MOSFET (DG-IMOS) is optimized by adjusting the device design parameters. The adjusted parameters are ratio of gate and intrinsic length, gate dielectric thickness and gate work function. Secondly, the DMG (dual material gate) DG-IMOS is proposed and investigated. This DMG DG-IMOS is further optimized to obtain the best possible performance parameters. Simulation results reveal that DMG DG-IMOS when compared to DG-IMOS, shows better I ON, I ON/I OFF ratio, and RF parameters. Results show that by properly tuning the lengths of two materials at a ratio of 1.5 in DMG DG-IMOS, optimized performance is achieved including I ON/I OFF ratio of 2.87 × 109 A/μm with I ON as 11.87 × 10-4 A/μm and transconductance of 1.06 × 10-3 S/μm. It is analyzed that length of drain side material should be greater than the length of source side material to attain the higher transconductance in DMG DG-IMOS.

  11. On gate stack scalability of double-gate negative-capacitance FET with ferroelectric HfO2 for energy efficient sub-0.2 V operation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jang, Kyungmin; Saraya, Takuya; Kobayashi, Masaharu; Hiramoto, Toshiro

    2018-02-01

    We have investigated the gate stack scalability and energy efficiency of double-gate negative-capacitance FET (DGNCFET) with a CMOS-compatible ferroelectric HfO2 (FE:HfO2). Analytic model-based simulation is conducted to investigate the impacts of ferroelectric characteristic of FE:HfO2 and gate stack thickness on the I on/I off ratio of DGNCFET. DGNCFET has wider design window for the gate stack where higher I on/I off ratio can be achieved than DG classical MOSFET. Under a process-induced constraint with sub-10 nm gate length (L g), FE:HfO2-based DGNCFET still has a design point for high I on/I off ratio. With an optimized gate stack thickness for sub-10 nm L g, FE:HfO2-based DGNCFET has 2.5× higher energy efficiency than DG classical MOSFET even at ultralow operation voltage of sub-0.2 V.

  12. Strain and deformations engineered germanene bilayer double gate-field effect transistor by first principles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meher Abhinav, E.; Chandrasekaran, Gopalakrishnan; Kasmir Raja, S. V.

    2017-10-01

    Germanene, silicene, stanene, phosphorene and graphene are some of single atomic materials with novel properties. In this paper, we explored bilayer germanene-based Double Gate-Field Effect Transistor (DG-FET) with various strains and deformations using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Green's approach by first-principle calculations. The DG-FET of 1.6 nm width, 6 nm channel length (Lch) and HfO2 as gate dielectric has been modeled. For intrinsic deformation of germanene bilayer, we have enforced minute mechanical deformation of wrap and twist (5°) and ripple (0.5 Å) on germanene bilayer channel material. By using NEGF formalism, I-V Characteristics of various strains and deformation tailored DG-FET was calculated. Our results show that rough edge and single vacancy (5-9) in bilayer germanene diminishes the current around 47% and 58% respectively as compared with pristine bilayer germanene. In case of strain tailored bilayer DG-FET, multiple NDR regions were observed which can be utilized in building stable multiple logic states in digital circuits and high frequency oscillators using negative resistive techniques.

  13. Simulation of InGaAs subchannel DG-HEMTs for analogue/RF applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saravana Kumar, R.; Mohanbabu, A.; Mohankumar, N.; Godwin Raj, D.

    2018-03-01

    The paper reports on the influence of a barrier thickness and gate length on the various device parameters of double gate high electron mobility transistors (DG-HEMTs). The DC and RF performance of the device have been studied by varying the barrier thickness from 1 to 5 nm and gate length from 10 to 150 nm, respectively. As the gate length is reduced below 50 nm regime, the barrier thickness plays an important role in device performance. Scaling the gate length leads to higher transconductance and high frequency operations with the expense of poor short channel effects. The authors claim that the 30-nm gate length, mole fractions tuned In0.53Ga0.47As/In0.7Ga0.3As/In0.53Ga0.47As subchannel DG-HEMT with optimised device structure of 2 nm In0.48Al0.52As barrier layer show a peak gm of 3.09 mS/µm, VT of 0.29 V, ION/IOFF ratio of 2.24 × 105, subthreshold slope 73 mV/decade and drain induced barrier lowering 68 mV/V with fT and fmax of 776 and 905 GHz at Vds = 0.5 V is achieved. These superior performances are achieved by using double-gate architecture with reduced gate to channel distance.

  14. Design and simulation of nanoscale double-gate TFET/tunnel CNTFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bala, Shashi; Khosla, Mamta

    2018-04-01

    A double-gate tunnel field-effect transistor (DG tunnel FET) has been designed and investigated for various channel materials such as silicon (Si), gallium arsenide (GaAs), alminium gallium arsenide (Al x Ga1‑x As) and CNT using a nano ViDES Device and TCAD SILVACO ATLAS simulator. The proposed devices are compared on the basis of inverse subthreshold slope (SS), I ON/I OFF current ratio and leakage current. Using Si as the channel material limits the property to reduce leakage current with scaling of channel, whereas the Al x Ga1‑x As based DG tunnel FET provides a better I ON/I OFF current ratio (2.51 × 106) as compared to other devices keeping the leakage current within permissible limits. The performed silmulation of the CNT based channel in the double-gate tunnel field-effect transistor using the nano ViDES shows better performace for a sub-threshold slope of 29.4 mV/dec as the channel is scaled down. The proposed work shows the potential of the CNT channel based DG tunnel FET as a futuristic device for better switching and high retention time, which makes it suitable for memory based circuits.

  15. Study of fully-depleted Ge double-gate n-type Tunneling Field-Effect Transistors for improvement in on-state current and sub-threshold swing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Xiangyu; Hu, Huiyong; Wang, Meng; Zhang, Heming; Cui, Shimin; Shu, Bin; Wang, Bin

    2018-01-01

    In this paper, a fully-depleted (FD) Ge double-gate (DG) n-type Tunneling Field-Effect Transistors (TFET) structure is studied in detail by two-dimensional numerical simulation. The simulation results indicated that the on-state current Ion and on-off ratio of the FD Ge DG-TFET increases about 1 order of magnitude comparing with the Conventional Ge DG-TFET, and Ion=3.95×10-5 A/μm and the below 60 mV/decade subthreshold swing S=26.4 mV/decade are achieved with the length of gate LD=20 nm, the workfuntion of metal gate Φm=0.2 eV and the doping concentration of n+-type-channel ND=1×1018 cm-3. Moreover, the impacts of Φm, ND and LD are investigated. The simulation results indicated that the off-state current Ioff includes the tunneling current at the middle of channel IB the gated-induced drain leakage (GIDL) current IGIDL. With optimized Φm and ND, Ioff is reduced about 2 orders of magnitude to 2.5×10-13 A/μm with LD increasing from 40 nm to 100 nm, and on-off ratio is increased to 1.58×107.

  16. An analytical drain current model for symmetric double-gate MOSFETs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Fei; Huang, Gongyi; Lin, Wei; Xu, Chuanzhong

    2018-04-01

    An analytical surface-potential-based drain current model of symmetric double-gate (sDG) MOSFETs is described as a SPICE compatible model in this paper. The continuous surface and central potentials from the accumulation to the strong inversion regions are solved from the 1-D Poisson's equation in sDG MOSFETs. Furthermore, the drain current is derived from the charge sheet model as a function of the surface potential. Over a wide range of terminal voltages, doping concentrations, and device geometries, the surface potential calculation scheme and drain current model are verified by solving the 1-D Poisson's equation based on the least square method and using the Silvaco Atlas simulation results and experimental data, respectively. Such a model can be adopted as a useful platform to develop the circuit simulator and provide the clear understanding of sDG MOSFET device physics.

  17. A new DG nanoscale TFET based on MOSFETs by using source gate electrode: 2D simulation and an analytical potential model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ramezani, Zeinab; Orouji, Ali A.

    2017-08-01

    This paper suggests and investigates a double-gate (DG) MOSFET, which emulates tunnel field effect transistors (M-TFET). We have combined this novel concept into a double-gate MOSFET, which behaves as a tunneling field effect transistor by work function engineering. In the proposed structure, in addition to the main gate, we utilize another gate over the source region with zero applied voltage and a proper work function to convert the source region from N+ to P+. We check the impact obtained by varying the source gate work function and source doping on the device parameters. The simulation results of the M-TFET indicate that it is a suitable case for a switching performance. Also, we present a two-dimensional analytic potential model of the proposed structure by solving the Poisson's equation in x and y directions and by derivatives from the potential profile; thus, the electric field is achieved. To validate our present model, we use the SILVACO ATLAS device simulator. The analytical results have been compared with it.

  18. Impact of Lateral Straggle on the Analog/RF Performance of Asymmetric Gate Stack Double Gate MOSFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sivaram, Gollamudi Sai; Chakraborty, Shramana; Das, Rahul; Dasgupta, Arpan; Kundu, Atanu; Sarkar, Chandan K.

    2016-09-01

    This paper presents a systematic comparative study of Analog and RF performances of an underlapped double gate (U-DG) NMOSFET with Gate Stack (GS) for varying straggle lengths. Asymmetric underlap devices (A-U-DG) have been proposed as one of the remedies for reducing Short Channel Effects (SCE's) with the underlap being present towards the source for sub 20 nm devices. However, the Source to Drain (S/D) implant lateral diffusion leads to a variation in the effective underlap length. This paper investigates the impact of variation of straggle length on the Analog and RF parameters of the device. The RF performance is analyzed by considering the intrinsic capacitances (Cgd, Cgs), intrinsic resistances (Rgd, Rgs), transport delay (τm), inductance (Lsd), cutoff frequency (fT), and the maximum frequency of oscillations (fmax). The circuit performance of the devices are also studied. It is seen that the Analog and RF performances of the devices are improved by optimizing the S/D lateral straggle.

  19. A compact quantum correction model for symmetric double gate metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cho, Edward Namkyu; Shin, Yong Hyeon; Yun, Ilgu, E-mail: iyun@yonsei.ac.kr

    2014-11-07

    A compact quantum correction model for a symmetric double gate (DG) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) is investigated. The compact quantum correction model is proposed from the concepts of the threshold voltage shift (ΔV{sub TH}{sup QM}) and the gate capacitance (C{sub g}) degradation. First of all, ΔV{sub TH}{sup QM} induced by quantum mechanical (QM) effects is modeled. The C{sub g} degradation is then modeled by introducing the inversion layer centroid. With ΔV{sub TH}{sup QM} and the C{sub g} degradation, the QM effects are implemented in previously reported classical model and a comparison between the proposed quantum correction model and numerical simulationmore » results is presented. Based on the results, the proposed quantum correction model can be applicable to the compact model of DG MOSFET.« less

  20. Universal core model for multiple-gate field-effect transistors with short channel and quantum mechanical effects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shin, Yong Hyeon; Bae, Min Soo; Park, Chuntaek; Park, Joung Won; Park, Hyunwoo; Lee, Yong Ju; Yun, Ilgu

    2018-06-01

    A universal core model for multiple-gate (MG) field-effect transistors (FETs) with short channel effects (SCEs) and quantum mechanical effects (QMEs) is proposed. By using a Young’s approximation based solution for one-dimensional Poisson’s equations the total inversion charge density (Q inv ) in the channel is modeled for double-gate (DG) and surrounding-gate SG (SG) FETs, following which a universal charge model is derived based on the similarity of the solutions, including for quadruple-gate (QG) FETs. For triple-gate (TG) FETs, the average of DG and QG FETs are used. A SCEs model is also proposed considering the potential difference between the channel’s surface and center. Finally, a QMEs model for MG FETs is developed using the quantum correction compact model. The proposed universal core model is validated on commercially available three-dimensional ATLAS numerical simulations.

  1. Rectification of graphene self-switching diodes: First-principles study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ghaziasadi, Hassan; Jamasb, Shahriar; Nayebi, Payman; Fouladian, Majid

    2018-05-01

    The first principles calculations based on self-consistent charge density functional tight-binding have performed to investigate the electrical properties and rectification behavior of the graphene self-switching diodes (GSSD). The devices contained two structures called CG-GSSD and DG-GSSD which have metallic or semiconductor gates depending on their side gates have a single or double hydrogen edge functionalized. We have relaxed the devices and calculated I-V curves, transmission spectrums and maximum rectification ratios. We found that the DG-MSM devices are more favorable and more stable. Also, the DG-MSM devices have better maximum rectification ratios and current. Moreover, by changing the side gates widths and behaviors from semiconductor to metal, the threshold voltages under forward bias changed from +1.2 V to +0.3 V. Also, the maximum currents are obtained from 1.12 μA to 10.50 μA. Finally, the MSM and SSS type of all devices have minimum and maximum values of voltage threshold and maximum rectification ratios, but the 769-DG devices don't obey this rule.

  2. A two-dimensional (2D) analytical subthreshold swing and transconductance model of underlap dual-material double-gate (DMDG) MOSFET for analog/RF applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Narendar, Vadthiya; Rai, Saurabh; Tiwari, Siddharth; Mishra, R. A.

    2016-12-01

    The double-gate (DG) metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are the choice of technology in sub -100 nm regime of leading microelectronics industry. To enhance the analog and RF performance of DG MOSFET, an underlap dual-material (DM) DG MOSFET device structure has been considered because, it has the advantages of both underlap as well as that of dual-material gate (DMG). A 2D analytical surface potential, subthreshold current, subthreshold swing as well as transconductance modelling of underlap DMDG MOSFET has been done by solving the Poisson's equation. It has also been found that, numerically simulated data approves the analytically modelled data with commendable accuracy. As underlap length (Lun) increases, a substantial reduction of subthreshold current due to enhanced gate control over channel regime is observed. DMG structure facilitates to improve the average velocity of carriers which leads to superior drive current of the device. The underlap DMDG MOSFET device structure demonstrates an ameliorated subthreshold characteristic. The analog figure of merits (FOMs) such as transconductance (gm), transconductance generation factor (TGF), output conductance (gd), early voltage (VEA), intrinsic gain (AV) and RF FOMs namely cut-off frequency (fT), gain frequency product (GFP), transconductance frequency product (TFP) and gain transconductance frequency product (GTFP) have been evaluated. The aforesaid analysis revels that, the device is best suited for communication related Analog/RF applications.

  3. Influence of trap-assisted tunneling on trap-assisted tunneling current in double gate tunnel field-effect transistor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhi, Jiang; Yi-Qi, Zhuang; Cong, Li; Ping, Wang; Yu-Qi, Liu

    2016-02-01

    Trap-assisted tunneling (TAT) has attracted more and more attention, because it seriously affects the sub-threshold characteristic of tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET). In this paper, we assess subthreshold performance of double gate TFET (DG-TFET) through a band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) model, including phonon-assisted scattering and acoustic surface phonons scattering. Interface state density profile (Dit) and the trap level are included in the simulation to analyze their effects on TAT current and the mechanism of gate leakage current. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61574109 and 61204092).

  4. Analysis of high-k spacer on symmetric underlap DG-MOSFET with Gate Stack architecture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Das, Rahul; Chakraborty, Shramana; Dasgupta, Arpan; Dutta, Arka; Kundu, Atanu; Sarkar, Chandan K.

    2016-09-01

    This paper shows the systematic study of underlap double gate (U-DG) NMOSFETs with Gate Stack (GS) under the influence of high-k spacers. In highly scaled devices, underlap is used at the Source and Drain side so as to reduce the short channel effects (SCE's), however, it significantly reduces the on current due to the increased channel resistance. To overcome these drawbacks, the use of high-k spacers is projected as one of the remedies. In this paper, the analog performance of the devices is studied on the basis of parameters like transconductance (gm), transconductance generation factor (gm/Id) and intrinsic gain (gmro). The RF performance is analyzed on the merits of intrinsic capacitance (Cgd, Cgs), resistance (Rgd, Rgs), transport delay (τm), inductance (Lsd), cutoff frequency (fT), and the maximum frequency of oscillation (fmax). The circuit performance of the devices are studied by implementing the device as the driver MOSFET in a Single Stage Common Source Amplifier. The Gain Bandwidth Product (GBW) has been analyzed from the frequency response of the circuit.

  5. Improved Performance of h-BN Encapsulated Double Gate Graphene Nanomesh Field Effect Transistor for Short Channel Length

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tiwari, Durgesh Laxman; Sivasankaran, K.

    This paper presents improved performance of Double Gate Graphene Nanomesh Field Effect Transistor (DG-GNMFET) with h-BN as substrate and gate oxide material. The DC characteristics of 0.95μm and 5nm channel length devices are studied for SiO2 and h-BN substrate and oxide material. For analyzing the ballistic behavior of electron for 5nm channel length, von Neumann boundary condition is considered near source and drain contact region. The simulated results show improved saturation current for h-BN encapsulated structure with two times higher on current value (0.375 for SiO2 and 0.621 for h-BN) as compared to SiO2 encapsulated structure. The obtained result shows h-BN to be a better substrate and oxide material for graphene electronics with improved device characteristics.

  6. Effect of boundary treatments on quantum transport current in the Green's function and Wigner distribution methods for a nano-scale DG-MOSFET

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jiang Haiyan; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223-0001; Cai Wei

    2010-06-20

    In this paper, we conduct a study of quantum transport models for a two-dimensional nano-size double gate (DG) MOSFET using two approaches: non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) and Wigner distribution. Both methods are implemented in the framework of the mode space methodology where the electron confinements below the gates are pre-calculated to produce subbands along the vertical direction of the device while the transport along the horizontal channel direction is described by either approach. Each approach handles the open quantum system along the transport direction in a different manner. The NEGF treats the open boundaries with boundary self-energy defined by amore » Dirichlet to Neumann mapping, which ensures non-reflection at the device boundaries for electron waves leaving the quantum device active region. On the other hand, the Wigner equation method imposes an inflow boundary treatment for the Wigner distribution, which in contrast ensures non-reflection at the boundaries for free electron waves entering the device active region. In both cases the space-charge effect is accounted for by a self-consistent coupling with a Poisson equation. Our goals are to study how the device boundaries are treated in both transport models affects the current calculations, and to investigate the performance of both approaches in modeling the DG-MOSFET. Numerical results show mostly consistent quantum transport characteristics of the DG-MOSFET using both methods, though with higher transport current for the Wigner equation method, and also provide the current-voltage (I-V) curve dependence on various physical parameters such as the gate voltage and the oxide thickness.« less

  7. Tunable Mobility in Double-Gated MoTe2 Field-Effect Transistor: Effect of Coulomb Screening and Trap Sites.

    PubMed

    Ji, Hyunjin; Joo, Min-Kyu; Yi, Hojoon; Choi, Homin; Gul, Hamza Zad; Ghimire, Mohan Kumar; Lim, Seong Chu

    2017-08-30

    There is a general consensus that the carrier mobility in a field-effect transistor (FET) made of semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (s-TMDs) is severely degraded by the trapping/detrapping and Coulomb scattering of carriers by ionic charges in the gate oxides. Using a double-gated (DG) MoTe 2 FET, we modulated and enhanced the carrier mobility by adjusting the top- and bottom-gate biases. The relevant mechanism for mobility tuning in this device was explored using static DC and low-frequency (LF) noise characterizations. In the investigations, LF-noise analysis revealed that for a strong back-gate bias the Coulomb scattering of carriers by ionized traps in the gate dielectrics is strongly screened by accumulation charges. This significantly reduces the electrostatic scattering of channel carriers by the interface trap sites, resulting in increased mobility. The reduction of the number of effective trap sites also depends on the gate bias, implying that owing to the gate bias, the carriers are shifted inside the channel. Thus, the number of active trap sites decreases as the carriers are repelled from the interface by the gate bias. The gate-controlled Coulomb-scattering parameter and the trap-site density provide new handles for improving the carrier mobility in TMDs, in a fundamentally different way from dielectric screening observed in previous studies.

  8. A unified analytical drain current model for Double-Gate Junctionless Field-Effect Transistors including short channel effects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raksharam; Dutta, Aloke K.

    2017-04-01

    In this paper, a unified analytical model for the drain current of a symmetric Double-Gate Junctionless Field-Effect Transistor (DG-JLFET) is presented. The operation of the device has been classified into four modes: subthreshold, semi-depleted, accumulation, and hybrid; with the main focus of this work being on the accumulation mode, which has not been dealt with in detail so far in the literature. A physics-based model, using a simplified one-dimensional approach, has been developed for this mode, and it has been successfully integrated with the model for the hybrid mode. It also includes the effect of carrier mobility degradation due to the transverse electric field, which was hitherto missing in the earlier models reported in the literature. The piece-wise models have been unified using suitable interpolation functions. In addition, the model includes two most important short-channel effects pertaining to DG-JLFETs, namely the Drain Induced Barrier Lowering (DIBL) and the Subthreshold Swing (SS) degradation. The model is completely analytical, and is thus computationally highly efficient. The results of our model have shown an excellent match with those obtained from TCAD simulations for both long- and short-channel devices, as well as with the experimental data reported in the literature.

  9. A computational study of a novel graphene nanoribbon field effect transistor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ghoreishi, Seyed Saleh; Yousefi, Reza

    2017-04-01

    In this paper, using gate structure engineering and modification of channel dopant profile, we propose a new double gate graphene nanoribbon field effect transistor (DG-GNRFET) mainly to suppress the band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) of carriers. In the new device, the intrinsic part of the channel is replaced by an intrinsic-lightly doped-intrinsic (I -N--I) configuration in a way that only the intrinsic parts are covered by the gate contact. Transport characteristics of the device are investigated theoretically using the nonequilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) formalism. Numerical simulations show that off-current, ambipolar behavior, on/off-current ratio and the switching characteristics such as intrinsic delay and power-delay product are improved. In addition, the new device demonstrates better sub-threshold swing and less drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL).

  10. Improved sensing characteristics of dual-gate transistor sensor using silicon nanowire arrays defined by nanoimprint lithography.

    PubMed

    Lim, Cheol-Min; Lee, In-Kyu; Lee, Ki Joong; Oh, Young Kyoung; Shin, Yong-Beom; Cho, Won-Ju

    2017-01-01

    This work describes the construction of a sensitive, stable, and label-free sensor based on a dual-gate field-effect transistor (DG FET), in which uniformly distributed and size-controlled silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays by nanoimprint lithography act as conductor channels. Compared to previous DG FETs with a planar-type silicon channel layer, the constructed SiNW DG FETs exhibited superior electrical properties including a higher capacitive-coupling ratio of 18.0 and a lower off-state leakage current under high-temperature stress. In addition, while the conventional planar single-gate (SG) FET- and planar DG FET-based pH sensors showed the sensitivities of 56.7 mV/pH and 439.3 mV/pH, respectively, the SiNW DG FET-based pH sensors showed not only a higher sensitivity of 984.1 mV/pH, but also a lower drift rate of 0.8% for pH-sensitivity. This demonstrates that the SiNW DG FETs simultaneously achieve high sensitivity and stability, with significant potential for future biosensing applications.

  11. Improved sensing characteristics of dual-gate transistor sensor using silicon nanowire arrays defined by nanoimprint lithography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lim, Cheol-Min; Lee, In-Kyu; Lee, Ki Joong; Oh, Young Kyoung; Shin, Yong-Beom; Cho, Won-Ju

    2017-12-01

    This work describes the construction of a sensitive, stable, and label-free sensor based on a dual-gate field-effect transistor (DG FET), in which uniformly distributed and size-controlled silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays by nanoimprint lithography act as conductor channels. Compared to previous DG FETs with a planar-type silicon channel layer, the constructed SiNW DG FETs exhibited superior electrical properties including a higher capacitive-coupling ratio of 18.0 and a lower off-state leakage current under high-temperature stress. In addition, while the conventional planar single-gate (SG) FET- and planar DG FET-based pH sensors showed the sensitivities of 56.7 mV/pH and 439.3 mV/pH, respectively, the SiNW DG FET-based pH sensors showed not only a higher sensitivity of 984.1 mV/pH, but also a lower drift rate of 0.8% for pH-sensitivity. This demonstrates that the SiNW DG FETs simultaneously achieve high sensitivity and stability, with significant potential for future biosensing applications.

  12. Two-dimensional analytical model of double-gate tunnel FETs with interface trapped charges including effects of channel mobile charge carriers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Huifang; Dai, Yuehua

    2017-02-01

    A two-dimensional analytical model of double-gate (DG) tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) with interface trapped charges is proposed in this paper. The influence of the channel mobile charges on the potential profile is also taken into account in order to improve the accuracy of the models. On the basis of potential profile, the electric field is derived and the expression for the drain current is obtained by integrating the BTBT generation rate. The model can be used to study the impact of interface trapped charges on the surface potential, the shortest tunneling length, the drain current and the threshold voltage for varying interface trapped charge densities, length of damaged region as well as the structural parameters of the DG TFET and can also be utilized to design the charge trapped memory devices based on TFET. The biggest advantage of this model is that it is more accurate, and in its expression there are no fitting parameters with small calculating amount. Very good agreements for both the potential, drain current and threshold voltage are observed between the model calculations and the simulated results. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61376106), the University Natural Science Research Key Project of Anhui Province (No. KJ2016A169), and the Introduced Talents Project of Anhui Science and Technology University.

  13. Role of deposition and annealing of the top gate dielectric in a-IGZO TFT-based dual-gate ion-sensitive field-effect transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, Narendra; Sutradhar, Moitri; Kumar, Jitendra; Panda, Siddhartha

    2017-03-01

    The deposition of the top gate dielectric in thin film transistor (TFT)-based dual-gate ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (DG ISFETs) is critical, and expected not to affect the bottom gate TFT characteristics, while providing a higher pH sensitive surface and efficient capacitive coupling between the gates. Amorphous Ta2O5, in addition to having good sensing properties, possesses a high dielectric constant of ˜25 making it well suited as the top gate dielectric in a DG ISFET by providing higher capacitive coupling (ratio of C top/C bottom) leading to higher amplification. To avoid damage of the a-IGZO channel reported to be caused by plasma exposure, deposition of Ta2O5 by e-beam evaporation followed by annealing was investigated in this work to obtain sensitivity over the Nernst limit. The deteriorated bottom gate TFT characteristics, indicated by an increase in the channel conductance, confirmed that plasma exposure is not the sole contributor to the changes. Oxygen vacancies at the Ta2O5/a-IGZO interface, which emerged during processing, increased the channel conductivity, became filled by optimum annealing in oxygen at 400 °C for 1 h, which was confirmed by an x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling analysis. The obtained pH sensitivity of the TFT-based DG ISFET was 402 mV pH-1, which is about 6.8 times the Nernst limit (59 mV pH-1). The concept of capacitive coupling was also demonstrated by simulating an a-IGZO-based DG TFT structure. Here, the exposure of the top gate dielectric to the electrolyte without applying any top gate bias led to changes in the measured threshold voltage of the bottom gate TFT, and this obviated the requirement of a reference electrode needed in conventional ISFETs and other reported DG ISFETs. These devices, with high sensitivities and requiring low volumes (˜2 μl) of analyte solution, could be potential candidates for utilization as chemical sensors and biosensors.

  14. The Programming Optimization of Capacitorless 1T DRAM Based on the Dual-Gate TFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Wei; Liu, Hongxia; Wang, Shulong; Chen, Shupeng; Wang, Qianqiong

    2017-09-01

    The larger volume of capacitor and higher leakage current of transistor have become the inherent disadvantages for the traditional one transistor (1T)-one capacitor (1C) dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Recently, the tunneling FET (TFET) is applied in DRAM cell due to the low off-state current and high switching ratio. The dual-gate TFET (DG-TFET) DRAM cell with the capacitorless structure has the superior performance-higher retention time (RT) and weak temperature dependence. But the performance of TFET DRAM cell is sensitive to programming condition. In this paper, the guideline of programming optimization is discussed in detail by using simulation tool—Silvaco Atlas. Both the writing and reading operations of DG-TFET DRAM depend on the band-to-band tunneling (BTBT). During the writing operation, the holes coming from BTBT governed by Gate2 are stored in potential well under Gate2. A small negative voltage is applied at Gate2 to retain holes for a long time during holding "1". The BTBT governed by Gate1 mainly influences the reading current. Using the optimized programming condition, the DG-TFET DRAM obtains the higher current ratio of reading "1" to reading "0" (107) and RT of more than 2 s. The higher RT reduces the refresh rate and dynamic power consumption of DRAM.

  15. Impact of underlap and mole-fraction on RF performance of strained-Si/Si1-xGex/strained-Si DG MOSFETs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dutta, Arka; Koley, Kalyan; Sarkar, Chandan K.

    2014-11-01

    In this paper, a systematic RF performance analysis of double-gate strained silicon (DGSS) nMOSFETs is presented. The analysis is focused upon impact of Germanium mole-fraction variation on RF performance of underlap engineered DGSS nMOSFET. The RF performance of the device is analysed as a function of intrinsic RF figure of merits (FOMs) including non-quasi static effects (NQS). The RF FOMs are represented by the intrinsic gate to source/drain capacitance (Cgs and Cgd) and resistance (Rgs and Rgd), the transport delay (τm), the intrinsic inductance (Lsd), the cut-off frequency (fT), and the maximum oscillation frequency (fMAX). The results of the study suggested a significant improvement in the device performance, up to 40% increase in Germanium mole fraction (χ).

  16. The Programming Optimization of Capacitorless 1T DRAM Based on the Dual-Gate TFET.

    PubMed

    Li, Wei; Liu, Hongxia; Wang, Shulong; Chen, Shupeng; Wang, Qianqiong

    2017-09-06

    The larger volume of capacitor and higher leakage current of transistor have become the inherent disadvantages for the traditional one transistor (1T)-one capacitor (1C) dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Recently, the tunneling FET (TFET) is applied in DRAM cell due to the low off-state current and high switching ratio. The dual-gate TFET (DG-TFET) DRAM cell with the capacitorless structure has the superior performance-higher retention time (RT) and weak temperature dependence. But the performance of TFET DRAM cell is sensitive to programming condition. In this paper, the guideline of programming optimization is discussed in detail by using simulation tool-Silvaco Atlas. Both the writing and reading operations of DG-TFET DRAM depend on the band-to-band tunneling (BTBT). During the writing operation, the holes coming from BTBT governed by Gate2 are stored in potential well under Gate2. A small negative voltage is applied at Gate2 to retain holes for a long time during holding "1". The BTBT governed by Gate1 mainly influences the reading current. Using the optimized programming condition, the DG-TFET DRAM obtains the higher current ratio of reading "1" to reading "0" (10 7 ) and RT of more than 2 s. The higher RT reduces the refresh rate and dynamic power consumption of DRAM.

  17. Steering law for parallel mounted double-gimbaled control moment gyros

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kennel, H. F.

    1975-01-01

    Parallel mounting of double-gimbaled control moment gyros (DG CMG) is discussed in terms of simplification of the steering law. The steering law/parallel mounted DG CMG is considered to be a 'CMG kit' applicable to any space vehicle where the need for DG CMG's has been established.

  18. Impact of strain on electronic and transport properties of 6 nm hydrogenated germanane nano-ribbon channel double gate field effect transistor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meher Abhinav, E.; Sundararaj, Anuraj; Gopalakrishnan, Chandrasekaran; Kasmir Raja, S. V.; Chokhra, Saurabh

    2017-11-01

    In this work, chair like fully hydrogenated germanane (CGeH) nano-ribbon 6 nm short channel double gate field effect transistor (DG-FET) has been modeled and the impact of strain on the I-V characteristics of CGeH channel has been examined. The bond lengths, binding and formation energies of various hydrogenated geometries of buckled germanane channel were calculated using local density approximation (LDA) with Perdew-Zunger (PZ) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with Perdew Burke Ernzerhof (PBE) parameterization. From four various geometries, chair like structure is found to be more stable compared to boat like obtuse, stiruup structure and table like structure. The bandgap versus width, bandgap versus strain characteristics and I-V characteristics had been analyzed at room temperature using density functional theory (DFT). Using self consistent calculation it was observed that the electronic properties of nano-ribbon is independent of length and band structure, but dependent on edge type, strain [Uni-axial (ɛ xx ), bi-axial (ɛ xx   =  ɛ yy )] and width of the ribbon. The strain engineered hydrogenated germanane (GeH) showed wide direct bandgap (2.3 eV) which could help to build low noise electronic devices that operates at high frequencies. The observed bi-axial compression has high impact on the device transport characteristics with peak to valley ratio (PVR) of 2.14 and 380% increase in peak current compared to pristine CGeH device. The observed strain in CGeH DG-FET could facilitate in designing novel multiple-logic memory devices due to multiple negative differential resistance (NDR) regions.

  19. A self-amplified transistor immunosensor under dual gate operation: highly sensitive detection of hepatitis B surface antigen

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, I.-K.; Jeun, M.; Jang, H.-J.; Cho, W.-J.; Lee, K. H.

    2015-10-01

    Ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs), although they have attracted considerable attention as effective immunosensors, have still not been adopted for practical applications owing to several problems: (1) the poor sensitivity caused by the short Debye screening length in media with high ion concentration, (2) time-consuming preconditioning processes for achieving the highly-diluted media, and (3) the low durability caused by undesirable ions such as sodium chloride in the media. Here, we propose a highly sensitive immunosensor based on a self-amplified transistor under dual gate operation (immuno-DG ISFET) for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen. To address the challenges in current ISFET-based immunosensors, we have enhanced the sensitivity of an immunosensor by precisely tailoring the nanostructure of the transistor. In the pH sensing test, the immuno-DG ISFET showed superior sensitivity (2085.53 mV per pH) to both standard ISFET under single gate operation (58.88 mV per pH) and DG ISFET with a non-tailored transistor (381.14 mV per pH). Moreover, concerning the detection of hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) using the immuno-DG ISFET, we have successfully detected trace amounts of HBsAg (22.5 fg mL-1) in a non-diluted 1× PBS medium with a high sensitivity of 690 mV. Our results demonstrate that the proposed immuno-DG ISFET can be a biosensor platform for practical use in the diagnosis of various diseases.Ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs), although they have attracted considerable attention as effective immunosensors, have still not been adopted for practical applications owing to several problems: (1) the poor sensitivity caused by the short Debye screening length in media with high ion concentration, (2) time-consuming preconditioning processes for achieving the highly-diluted media, and (3) the low durability caused by undesirable ions such as sodium chloride in the media. Here, we propose a highly sensitive immunosensor based on a self-amplified transistor under dual gate operation (immuno-DG ISFET) for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen. To address the challenges in current ISFET-based immunosensors, we have enhanced the sensitivity of an immunosensor by precisely tailoring the nanostructure of the transistor. In the pH sensing test, the immuno-DG ISFET showed superior sensitivity (2085.53 mV per pH) to both standard ISFET under single gate operation (58.88 mV per pH) and DG ISFET with a non-tailored transistor (381.14 mV per pH). Moreover, concerning the detection of hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) using the immuno-DG ISFET, we have successfully detected trace amounts of HBsAg (22.5 fg mL-1) in a non-diluted 1× PBS medium with a high sensitivity of 690 mV. Our results demonstrate that the proposed immuno-DG ISFET can be a biosensor platform for practical use in the diagnosis of various diseases. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Material preparation, surface functionalization and anti-HBsAg immobilization. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03146j

  20. A two-dimensional analytical modeling for channel potential and threshold voltage of short channel triple material symmetrical gate Stack (TMGS) DG-MOSFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tripathi, Shweta

    2016-10-01

    In the present work, a two-dimensional (2D) analytical framework of triple material symmetrical gate stack (TMGS) DG-MOSFET is presented in order to subdue the short channel effects. A lightly doped channel along with triple material gate having different work functions and symmetrical gate stack structure, showcases substantial betterment in quashing short channel effects to a good extent. The device functioning amends in terms of improved exemption to threshold voltage roll-off, thereby suppressing the short channel effects. The encroachments of respective device arguments on the threshold voltage of the proposed structure are examined in detail. The significant outcomes are compared with the numerical simulation data obtained by using 2D ATLAS™ device simulator to affirm and formalize the proposed device structure.

  1. Accurate analytical modeling of junctionless DG-MOSFET by green's function approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nandi, Ashutosh; Pandey, Nilesh

    2017-11-01

    An accurate analytical model of Junctionless double gate MOSFET (JL-DG-MOSFET) in the subthreshold regime of operation is developed in this work using green's function approach. The approach considers 2-D mixed boundary conditions and multi-zone techniques to provide an exact analytical solution to 2-D Poisson's equation. The Fourier coefficients are calculated correctly to derive the potential equations that are further used to model the channel current and subthreshold slope of the device. The threshold voltage roll-off is computed from parallel shifts of Ids-Vgs curves between the long channel and short-channel devices. It is observed that the green's function approach of solving 2-D Poisson's equation in both oxide and silicon region can accurately predict channel potential, subthreshold current (Isub), threshold voltage (Vt) roll-off and subthreshold slope (SS) of both long & short channel devices designed with different doping concentrations and higher as well as lower tsi/tox ratio. All the analytical model results are verified through comparisons with TCAD Sentaurus simulation results. It is observed that the model matches quite well with TCAD device simulations.

  2. Analytical Modeling of Triple-Metal Hetero-Dielectric DG SON TFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahajan, Aman; Dash, Dinesh Kumar; Banerjee, Pritha; Sarkar, Subir Kumar

    2018-02-01

    In this paper, a 2-D analytical model of triple-metal hetero-dielectric DG TFET is presented by combining the concepts of triple material gate engineering and hetero-dielectric engineering. Three metals with different work functions are used as both front- and back gate electrodes to modulate the barrier at source/channel and channel/drain interface. In addition to this, front gate dielectric consists of high-K HfO2 at source end and low-K SiO2 at drain side, whereas back gate dielectric is replaced by air to further improve the ON current of the device. Surface potential and electric field of the proposed device are formulated solving 2-D Poisson's equation and Young's approximation. Based on this electric field expression, tunneling current is obtained by using Kane's model. Several device parameters are varied to examine the behavior of the proposed device. The analytical model is validated with TCAD simulation results for proving the accuracy of our proposed model.

  3. Extraction of mobility and Degradation coefficients in double gate junctionless transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhuvaneshwari, Y. V.; Kranti, Abhinav

    2017-12-01

    In this work, we use the modified McLarty function to understand and extract accumulation (μ acc) and bulk (μ bulk) mobility in Double Gate (DG) Junctionless (JL) MOSFETs over a wide range of doping concentration (N d) and temperature range (250 K to 520 K). The approach enables the estimation of mobility and its attenuation factors (θ 1 and θ 2) by a single method. The extracted results indicate that μ acc can reach higher values than μ bulk due to the screening effect. Results also show that θ 2 extracted in the accumulation regime of JL transistors exhibit relatively low values in comparison to inversion and accumulation mode devices. It is shown that the attenuation factor (θ 1) in JL devices designed with higher N d (≥1019 cm-3) is mainly affected by series resistance (R sd) whereas, in inversion mode (IM) and Accumulation mode (AM) devices, θ 1 factor is governed by both the intrinsic mobility reduction factor (θ 10) and R sd. Additionally, the impact of variation in oxide thickness (T ox), gate length (L g), N d and temperature on θ 1 and θ 2 has been investigated for JL transistor. The weak dependence of μ bulk and μ acc on temperature shows the prevalence of coulomb scattering over phonon scattering for heavily doped JL transistors. The work provides insights into different modes of operation, extraction of mobility and attenuation factors which will be useful for the development of compact models for JL transistors.

  4. A quantum wave based compact modeling approach for the current in ultra-short DG MOSFETs suitable for rapid multi-scale simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hosenfeld, Fabian; Horst, Fabian; Iñíguez, Benjamín; Lime, François; Kloes, Alexander

    2017-11-01

    Source-to-drain (SD) tunneling decreases the device performance in MOSFETs falling below the 10 nm channel length. Modeling quantum mechanical effects including SD tunneling has gained more importance specially for compact model developers. The non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) has become a state-of-the-art method for nano-scaled device simulation in the past years. In the sense of a multi-scale simulation approach it is necessary to bridge the gap between compact models with their fast and efficient calculation of the device current, and numerical device models which consider quantum effects of nano-scaled devices. In this work, an NEGF based analytical model for nano-scaled double-gate (DG) MOSFETs is introduced. The model consists of a closed-form potential solution of a classical compact model and a 1D NEGF formalism for calculating the device current, taking into account quantum mechanical effects. The potential calculation omits the iterative coupling and allows the straightforward current calculation. The model is based on a ballistic NEGF approach whereby backscattering effects are considered as second order effect in a closed-form. The accuracy and scalability of the non-iterative DG MOSFET model is inspected in comparison with numerical NanoMOS TCAD data for various channel lengths. With the help of this model investigations on short-channel and temperature effects are performed.

  5. Bone morphogenetic protein signaling in the developing telencephalon controls formation of the hippocampal dentate gyrus and modifies fear-related behavior.

    PubMed

    Caronia, Giuliana; Wilcoxon, Jennifer; Feldman, Polina; Grove, Elizabeth A

    2010-05-05

    The cortical hem is an embryonic signaling center that generates bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and acts as an organizer for the hippocampus. The role of BMP signaling in hippocampal neurogenesis, however, has not been established. We therefore generated mice that were deficient in Bmpr1b constitutively, and deficient in Bmpr1a conditionally in the dorsal telencephalon. In double mutant male and female mice, the dentate gyrus (DG) was dramatically smaller than in control mice, reflecting decreased production of granule neurons at the peak period of DG neurogenesis. Additionally, the pool of cells that generates new DG neurons throughout life was reduced, commensurate with the smaller size of the DG. Effects of diminished BMP signaling on the cortical hem were at least partly responsible for these defects in DG development. Reduction of the DG and its major extrinsic output to CA3 raised the possibility that the DG was functionally compromised. We therefore looked for behavioral deficits in double mutants and found that the mice were less responsive to fear- or anxiety-provoking stimuli, whether the association of the stimulus with fear or anxiety was learned or innate. Given that no anatomical defects appeared in the double mutant telencephalon outside the DG, our observations support a growing literature that implicates the hippocampus in circuitry mediating fear and anxiety. Our results additionally indicate a requirement for BMP signaling in generating the dorsalmost neuronal lineage of the telencephalon, DG granule neurons, and in the development of the stem cell niche that makes neurons in the adult hippocampus.

  6. Analytical solutions for flow fields near drain-and-gate reactive barriers.

    PubMed

    Klammler, Harald; Hatfield, Kirk; Kacimov, Anvar

    2010-01-01

    Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are a popular technology for passive contaminant remediation in aquifers through installation of reactive materials in the pathway of a plume. Of fundamental importance are the degree of remediation inside the reactor (residence time) and the portion of groundwater intercepted by a PRB (capture width). Based on a two-dimensional conformal mapping approach (previously used in related work), the latter is studied in the present work for drain-and-gate (DG) PRBs, which may possess a collector and a distributor drain ("full" configuration) or a collector drain only ("simple" configuration). Inherent assumptions are a homogeneous unbounded aquifer with a uniform far field, in which highly permeable drains establish constant head boundaries. Solutions for aquifer flow fields in terms of the complex potential are derived, illustrated, and analyzed for doubly symmetric DG configurations and arbitrary reactor hydraulic resistance as well as ambient groundwater flow direction. A series of practitioner-friendly charts for capture width is given to assist in PRB design and optimization without requiring complex mathematics. DG PRBs are identified as more susceptible to flow divergence around the reactor than configurations using impermeable side structures (e.g., funnel-and-gate), and deployment of impermeable walls on drains is seen to mitigate this problem under certain circumstances.

  7. Simulation of Ultra-Small MOSFETs Using a 2-D Quantum-Corrected Drift-Diffusion Model

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biegel, Bryan A.; Rafferty, Conor S.; Yu, Zhiping; Dutton, Robert W.; Ancona, Mario G.; Saini, Subhash (Technical Monitor)

    1998-01-01

    We describe an electronic transport model and an implementation approach that respond to the challenges of device modeling for gigascale integration. We use the density-gradient (DG) transport model, which adds tunneling and quantum smoothing of carrier density profiles to the drift-diffusion model. We present the current implementation of the DG model in PROPHET, a partial differential equation solver developed by Lucent Technologies. This implementation approach permits rapid development and enhancement of models, as well as run-time modifications and model switching. We show that even in typical bulk transport devices such as P-N diodes and BJTs, DG quantum effects can significantly modify the I-V characteristics. Quantum effects are shown to be even more significant in small, surface transport devices, such as sub-0.1 micron MOSFETs. In thin-oxide MOS capacitors, we find that quantum effects may reduce gate capacitance by 25% or more. The inclusion of quantum effects in simulations dramatically improves the match between C-V simulations and measurements. Significant quantum corrections also occur in the I-V characteristics of short-channel MOSFETs due to the gate capacitance correction.

  8. Double-Group Particle Swarm Optimization and Its Application in Remote Sensing Image Segmentation

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Liang; Huang, Xiaotao; Fan, Chongyi

    2018-01-01

    Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a well-known meta-heuristic. It has been widely used in both research and engineering fields. However, the original PSO generally suffers from premature convergence, especially in multimodal problems. In this paper, we propose a double-group PSO (DG-PSO) algorithm to improve the performance. DG-PSO uses a double-group based evolution framework. The individuals are divided into two groups: an advantaged group and a disadvantaged group. The advantaged group works according to the original PSO, while two new strategies are developed for the disadvantaged group. The proposed algorithm is firstly evaluated by comparing it with the other five popular PSO variants and two state-of-the-art meta-heuristics on various benchmark functions. The results demonstrate that DG-PSO shows a remarkable performance in terms of accuracy and stability. Then, we apply DG-PSO to multilevel thresholding for remote sensing image segmentation. The results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms five other popular algorithms in meta-heuristic-based multilevel thresholding, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. PMID:29724013

  9. Double-Group Particle Swarm Optimization and Its Application in Remote Sensing Image Segmentation.

    PubMed

    Shen, Liang; Huang, Xiaotao; Fan, Chongyi

    2018-05-01

    Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a well-known meta-heuristic. It has been widely used in both research and engineering fields. However, the original PSO generally suffers from premature convergence, especially in multimodal problems. In this paper, we propose a double-group PSO (DG-PSO) algorithm to improve the performance. DG-PSO uses a double-group based evolution framework. The individuals are divided into two groups: an advantaged group and a disadvantaged group. The advantaged group works according to the original PSO, while two new strategies are developed for the disadvantaged group. The proposed algorithm is firstly evaluated by comparing it with the other five popular PSO variants and two state-of-the-art meta-heuristics on various benchmark functions. The results demonstrate that DG-PSO shows a remarkable performance in terms of accuracy and stability. Then, we apply DG-PSO to multilevel thresholding for remote sensing image segmentation. The results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms five other popular algorithms in meta-heuristic-based multilevel thresholding, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

  10. Bias stress instability of double-gate a-IGZO TFTs on polyimide substrate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cho, Won-Ju; Ahn, Min-Ju

    2017-09-01

    In this study, flexible double-gate thin-film transistor (TFT)-based amorphous indium-galliumzinc- oxide (a-IGZO) was fabricated on a polyimide substrate. Double-gate operation with connected front and back gates was compared with a single-gate operation. As a result, the double-gate a- IGZO TFT exhibited enhanced electrical characteristics as well as improved long-term reliability. Under positive- and negative-bias temperature stress, the threshold voltage shift of the double-gate operation was much smaller than that of the single-gate operation.

  11. Collapse of the Ia{bar 3}d cubic symmetry by uniaxial stretching of a double-gyroid block copolymer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sakurai, Shinichi; Isobe, Daisuke; Okamoto, Shigeru

    2001-06-01

    We report an experimental observation of collapse of the Ia{bar 3}d symmetry by stretching of an elastomeric block copolymer that forms a double-gyroid (DG) microdomain structure. Some new diffraction spots were observed for a deformed DG structure. These spots were assigned to {l_brace}110{r_brace} and {l_brace}200{r_brace} reflections. For the Ia{bar 3}d symmetry, these reflections are prohibited by the extinction rule and therefore none of them appeared for the sample before deformation. Appearance of these reflections indicates breakdown of the extinction rule and can be explained as a result of collapse of the symmetry of glide when three-dimensional DG networks are partiallymore » ruptured upon stretching.« less

  12. Multi-Dimensional Quantum Effect Simulation Using a Density-Gradient Model and Script-Level Programming Techniques

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rafferty, Connor S.; Biegel, Bryan A.; Yu, Zhi-Ping; Ancona, Mario G.; Bude, J.; Dutton, Robert W.; Saini, Subhash (Technical Monitor)

    1998-01-01

    A density-gradient (DG) model is used to calculate quantum-mechanical corrections to classical carrier transport in MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) inversion/accumulation layers. The model is compared to measured data and to a fully self-consistent coupled Schrodinger and Poisson equation (SCSP) solver. Good agreement is demonstrated for MOS capacitors with gate oxide as thin as 21 A. It is then applied to study carrier distribution in ultra short MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) with surface roughness. This work represents the first implementation of the DG formulation on multidimensional unstructured meshes. It was enabled by a powerful scripting approach which provides an easy-to-use and flexible framework for solving the fourth-order PDEs (Partial Differential Equation) of the DG model.

  13. Multi-Dimensional Quantum Tunneling and Transport Using the Density-Gradient Model

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biegel, Bryan A.; Yu, Zhi-Ping; Ancona, Mario; Rafferty, Conor; Saini, Subhash (Technical Monitor)

    1999-01-01

    We show that quantum effects are likely to significantly degrade the performance of MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) as these devices are scaled below 100 nm channel length and 2 nm oxide thickness over the next decade. A general and computationally efficient electronic device model including quantum effects would allow us to monitor and mitigate these effects. Full quantum models are too expensive in multi-dimensions. Using a general but efficient PDE solver called PROPHET, we implemented the density-gradient (DG) quantum correction to the industry-dominant classical drift-diffusion (DD) model. The DG model efficiently includes quantum carrier profile smoothing and tunneling in multi-dimensions and for any electronic device structure. We show that the DG model reduces DD model error from as much as 50% down to a few percent in comparison to thin oxide MOS capacitance measurements. We also show the first DG simulations of gate oxide tunneling and transverse current flow in ultra-scaled MOSFETs. The advantages of rapid model implementation using the PDE solver approach will be demonstrated, as well as the applicability of the DG model to any electronic device structure.

  14. A Facile Method to Fabricate Double Gyroid as A Polymer Template for Nanohybrids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Hsiao-Fang; Ho, Rong-Ming

    2015-03-01

    Here, we suggest a facile method to acquire double gyroid (DG) phase from the self-assembly of chiral block copolymers (BCPs*), polystyrene- b-poly(L-lactide) (PS-PLLA). A wide region for the formation of DG can be found in the phase diagram of the BCPs*, suggesting that helical phase (H*) from the self-assembly of BCPs* can serve as a stepping stone for the formation of the DG due to an easy path for order-order transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional (network) structure. Moreover, the order-order transition from metastable H* to stable DG can be expedited by blending the PS-PLLA with compatible entity. Moreover, PS-PLLA blends are prepared by using styrene oligomer (S) to fine-tune the morphologies of the blends at which the molecular weight ratio of the S and compatible PS block (r) is less than 0.1. Owing to the use of the low-molecular-weight oligomer, the increase of BCP chain mobility in the blends significantly reduces the transformation time for the order-order transition from H* to DG. Consequently, nanoporous gyroid SiO2 can be fabricated using hydrolyzed PS-PLLA blends as a template for sol-gel reaction followed by removal of the PS matrix.

  15. Analytical drain current model for symmetric dual-gate amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide thin-film transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qin, Ting; Liao, Congwei; Huang, Shengxiang; Yu, Tianbao; Deng, Lianwen

    2018-01-01

    An analytical drain current model based on the surface potential is proposed for amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-InGaZnO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with a synchronized symmetric dual-gate (DG) structure. Solving the electric field, surface potential (φS), and central potential (φ0) of the InGaZnO film using the Poisson equation with the Gaussian method and Lambert function is demonstrated in detail. The compact analytical model of current-voltage behavior, which consists of drift and diffusion components, is investigated by regional integration, and voltage-dependent effective mobility is taken into account. Comparison results demonstrate that the calculation results obtained using the derived models match well with the simulation results obtained using a technology computer-aided design (TCAD) tool. Furthermore, the proposed model is incorporated into SPICE simulations using Verilog-A to verify the feasibility of using DG InGaZnO TFTs for high-performance circuit designs.

  16. Introduction of performance boosters like Ge as channel material for the future of CMOS

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Samia, Slimani, E-mail: slimani.samia@gmail.com; Laboratoire de Modélisation et Méthodes de calcul LMMC,20002 Saida; Bouaza, Djellouli, E-mail: djelbou@hotmail.fr

    High mobility materials are being considered to replace Si in the channel to achieve higher drive currents and switching speeds. Ge is one of new attractive channel materials that require CMOS scaling For future technology nodes and future high performance P-MOSFETS, we have studied a nanoscale SOI DG MOSFETs using quantum simulation approach on DG MOSFETs within the variation of Ge channel concentration and in the presence of source and drain doping by replacing Silicon in the channel by Ge using various dielectric constant. The use of high mobility channel (like Ge) to maximize the MOSFET IDsat and simultaneously circumventmore » the poor electrostatic control to suppress short-channel effects and enhance source injection velocity. The leakage current (I{sub off}) can be controlled by different gates oxide thickness more ever the required threshold voltage (V{sub TH}) can be achieved by keeping gate work function and altering the doping channel.« less

  17. Enhancement of minority carrier injection in ambipolar carbon nanotube transistors using double-gate structures

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kim, Bongjun; Liang, Kelly; Dodabalapur, Ananth, E-mail: ananth.dodabalapur@engr.utexas.edu

    We show that double-gate ambipolar thin-film transistors can be operated to enhance minority carrier injection. The two gate potentials need to be significantly different for enhanced injection to be observed. This enhancement is highly beneficial in devices such as light-emitting transistors where balanced electron and hole injections lead to optimal performance. With ambipolar single-walled carbon nanotube semiconductors, we demonstrate that higher ambipolar currents are attained at lower source-drain voltages, which is desired for portable electronic applications, by employing double-gate structures. In addition, when the two gates are held at the same potential, the expected advantages of the double-gate transistors suchmore » as enhanced on-current are also observed.« less

  18. 100-nm gate lithography for double-gate transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krasnoperova, Azalia A.; Zhang, Ying; Babich, Inna V.; Treichler, John; Yoon, Jung H.; Guarini, Kathryn; Solomon, Paul M.

    2001-09-01

    The double gate field effect transistor (FET) is an exploratory device that promises certain performance advantages compared to traditional CMOS FETs. It can be scaled down further than the traditional devices because of the greater electrostatic control by the gates on the channel (about twice as short a channel length for the same gate oxide thickness), has steeper sub-threshold slope and about double the current for the same width. This paper presents lithographic results for double gate FET's developed at IBM's T. J. Watson Research Center. The device is built on bonded wafers with top and bottom gates self-aligned to each other. The channel is sandwiched between the top and bottom polysilicon gates and the gate length is defined using DUV lithography. An alternating phase shift mask was used to pattern gates with critical dimensions of 75 nm, 100 nm and 125 nm in photoresist. 50 nm gates in photoresist have also been patterned by 20% over-exposure of nominal 100 nm lines. No trim mask was needed because of a specific way the device was laid out. UV110 photoresist from Shipley on AR-3 antireflective layer were used. Process windows, developed and etched patterns are presented.

  19. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Baart, T. A.; Vandersypen, L. M. K.; Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5046, 2600 GA Delft

    We report the computer-automated tuning of gate-defined semiconductor double quantum dots in GaAs heterostructures. We benchmark the algorithm by creating three double quantum dots inside a linear array of four quantum dots. The algorithm sets the correct gate voltages for all the gates to tune the double quantum dots into the single-electron regime. The algorithm only requires (1) prior knowledge of the gate design and (2) the pinch-off value of the single gate T that is shared by all the quantum dots. This work significantly alleviates the user effort required to tune multiple quantum dot devices.

  20. Surgeons’ and residents’ double-gloving practices at 2 teaching hospitals in Ontario

    PubMed Central

    Haines, Ted; Stringer, Bernadette; Herring, Jeremy; Thoma, Achilleas; Harris, Kenneth A.

    2011-01-01

    Background Surgeons and residents are at increased risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens owing to percutaneous injury (PI) and contamination. One method known to reduce risk is double-gloving (DG) during surgery. Methods All surgeons and residents affiliated with the University of Western Ontario (UWO) and McMaster University in 2005 were asked to participate in a Web-based survey. The survey asked respondents their specialty, the number of operations they participated in per week, their age and sex, the proportion of surgeries in which they double-gloved (DG in ≥ 75% surgeries was considered to be routine), and the average number of PIs they sustained per year and whether or not they reported them to an employee health service. Results In total, 155 of 331 (47%) eligible surgeons and residents responded; response rates for UWO and McMaster surgeons were 50% and 39%, respectively, and for UWO and McMaster residents, they were 52% and 47%, respectively. A total of 43% of surgeons and residents reported routine DG; 50% from McMaster and 36% from UWO. Using logistic regression to simultaneously adjust for participant characteristics, we confirmed that DG was more frequent at McMaster than at UWO, with an odds ratio of 3.32 (95% confidence interval 1.35–8.17). Surgeons and residents reported an average of 3.3 surgical PIs per year (2.2 among McMaster participants and 4.5 among UWO participants). Of the 77% who reported at least 1 injury/year, 67% stated that they had not reported it to an employee health service. Conclusion Percutaneous injuries occur frequently during surgery, yet routine DG, an effective means of reducing risk, was carried out by less than half of the surgeons and residents participating in this study. This highlights the need for a more concerted and broad-based approach to increase the use of a measure that is effective, inexpensive and easily carried out. PMID:21251417

  1. Double-gated myocardial ASL perfusion imaging is robust to heart rate variation.

    PubMed

    Do, Hung Phi; Yoon, Andrew J; Fong, Michael W; Saremi, Farhood; Barr, Mark L; Nayak, Krishna S

    2017-05-01

    Cardiac motion is a dominant source of physiological noise (PN) in myocardial arterial spin labeled (ASL) perfusion imaging. This study investigates the sensitivity to heart rate variation (HRV) of double-gated myocardial ASL compared with the more widely used single-gated method. Double-gating and single-gating were performed on 10 healthy volunteers (n = 10, 3F/7M; age, 23-34 years) and eight heart transplant recipients (n = 8, 1F/7M; age, 26-76 years) at rest in the randomized order. Myocardial blood flow (MBF), PN, temporal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and HRV were measured. HRV ranged from 0.2 to 7.8 bpm. Double-gating PN did not depend on HRV, while single-gating PN increased with HRV. Over all subjects, double-gating provided a significant reduction in global PN (from 0.20 ± 0.15 to 0.11 ± 0.03 mL/g/min; P = 0.01) and per-segment PN (from 0.33 ± 0.23 to 0.21 ± 0.12 mL/g/min; P < 0.001), with significant increases in global temporal SNR (from 11 ± 8 to 18 ± 8; P = 0.02) and per-segment temporal SNR (from 7 ± 4 to 11 ± 12; P < 0.001) without significant difference in measured MBF. Single-gated myocardial ASL suffers from reduced temporal SNR, while double-gated myocardial ASL provides consistent temporal SNR independent of HRV. Magn Reson Med 77:1975-1980, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  2. Simulation of Ultra-Small MOSFETs Using a 2-D Quantum-Corrected Drift-Diffusion Model

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biegal, Bryan A.; Rafferty, Connor S.; Yu, Zhiping; Ancona, Mario G.; Dutton, Robert W.; Saini, Subhash (Technical Monitor)

    1998-01-01

    The continued down-scaling of electronic devices, in particular the commercially dominant MOSFET, will force a fundamental change in the process of new electronics technology development in the next five to ten years. The cost of developing new technology generations is soaring along with the price of new fabrication facilities, even as competitive pressure intensifies to bring this new technology to market faster than ever before. To reduce cost and time to market, device simulation must become a more fundamental, indeed dominant, part of the technology development cycle. In order to produce these benefits, simulation accuracy must improve markedly. At the same time, device physics will become more complex, with the rapid increase in various small-geometry and quantum effects. This work describes both an approach to device simulator development and a physical model which advance the effort to meet the tremendous electronic device simulation challenge described above. The device simulation approach is to specify the physical model at a high level to a general-purpose (but highly efficient) partial differential equation solver (in this case PROPHET, developed by Lucent Technologies), which then simulates the model in 1-D, 2-D, or 3-D for a specified device and test regime. This approach allows for the rapid investigation of a wide range of device models and effects, which is certainly essential for device simulation to catch up with, and then stay ahead of, electronic device technology of the present and future. The physical device model used in this work is the density-gradient (DG) quantum correction to the drift-diffusion model [Ancona, Phys. Rev. B 35(5), 7959 (1987)]. This model adds tunneling and quantum smoothing of carrier density profiles to the drift-diffusion model. We used the DG model in 1-D and 2-D (for the first time) to simulate both bipolar and unipolar devices. Simulations of heavily-doped, short-base diodes indicated that the DG quantum corrections do not have a large effect on the IN characteristics of electronic devices without heteroj unction s. On the other hand, ultra-small MOSFETs certainly exhibit important quantum effects that the DG model will include: quantum repulsion of the inversion and gate charges from the oxide interfaces, and quantum tunneling through thin gate oxides. We present initial results of 2-D DG simulations of ultra-small MOSFETs. Subtle but important issues involving the specification of the model, boundary conditions, and interface constraints for DG simulation of MOSFETs will also be illuminated.

  3. Poor recognition of O6-isopropyl dG by MGMT triggers double strand break-mediated cell death and micronucleus induction in FANC-deficient cells

    PubMed Central

    Hashimoto, Kiyohiro; Sharma, Vyom; Sasanuma, Hiroyuki; Tian, Xu; Takata, Minoru; Takeda, Shunichi; Swenberg, James A.; Nakamura, Jun

    2016-01-01

    Isopropyl methanesulfonate (IPMS) is the most potent genotoxic compound among methanesulfonic acid esters. The genotoxic potential of alkyl sulfonate esters is believed to be due to their alkylating ability of the O6 position of guanine. Understanding the primary repair pathway activated in response to IPMS-induced DNA damage is important to profile the genotoxic potential of IPMS. In the present study, both chicken DT40 and human TK6 cell-based DNA damage response (DDR) assays revealed that dysfunction of the FANC pathway resulted in higher sensitivity to IPMS compared to EMS or MMS. O6-alkyl dG is primarily repaired by methyl guanine methyltransferase (MGMT), while isopropyl dG is less likely to be a substrate for MGMT. Comparison of the cytotoxic potential of IPMS and its isomer n-propyl methanesulfonate (nPMS) revealed that the isopropyl moiety avoids recognition by MGMT and leads to higher cytotoxicity. Next, the micronucleus (MN) assay showed that FANC deficiency increases the sensitivity of DT40 cells to MN induction by IPMS. Pretreatment with O6-benzyl guanine (OBG), an inhibitor of MGMT, increased the MN frequency in DT40 cells treated with nPMS, but not IPMS. Lastly, IPMS induced more double strand breaks in FANC-deficient cells compared to wild-type cells in a time-dependent manner. All together, these results suggest that IPMS-derived O6-isopropyl dG escapes recognition by MGMT, and the unrepaired DNA damage leads to double strand breaks, resulting in MN induction. FANC, therefore, plays a pivotal role in preventing MN induction and cell death caused by IPMS. PMID:27486975

  4. Efficient Multi-Dimensional Simulation of Quantum Confinement Effects in Advanced MOS Devices

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biegel, Bryan A.; Ancona, Mario G.; Rafferty, Conor S.; Yu, Zhiping

    2000-01-01

    We investigate the density-gradient (DG) transport model for efficient multi-dimensional simulation of quantum confinement effects in advanced MOS devices. The formulation of the DG model is described as a quantum correction ot the classical drift-diffusion model. Quantum confinement effects are shown to be significant in sub-100nm MOSFETs. In thin-oxide MOS capacitors, quantum effects may reduce gate capacitance by 25% or more. As a result, the inclusion of quantum effects may reduce gate capacitance by 25% or more. As a result, the inclusion of quantum effects in simulations dramatically improves the match between C-V simulations and measurements for oxide thickness down to 2 nm. Significant quantum corrections also occur in the I-V characteristics of short-channel (30 to 100 nm) n-MOSFETs, with current drive reduced by up to 70%. This effect is shown to result from reduced inversion charge due to quantum confinement of electrons in the channel. Also, subthreshold slope is degraded by 15 to 20 mV/decade with the inclusion of quantum effects via the density-gradient model, and short channel effects (in particular, drain-induced barrier lowering) are noticeably increased.

  5. Drinking game participation and outcomes in a sample of Australian university students.

    PubMed

    George, Amanda M; Zamboanga, Byron L

    2018-05-15

    Most drinking game (DG) research among university students has been conducted among USA college samples. The extent to which demographics and game type (e.g. team and sculling games) are linked to DG behaviours/consequences among non-USA students is not well understood. As such, the current study investigated characteristics of DG participation (and associated outcomes) among a sample of Australian university students. University students (N = 252; aged 18-24 years; 67% female) who had consumed alcohol in the prior year completed an online survey. Measures included demographics, DG behaviours (lifetime, frequency and consumption) and gaming-specific consequences. Most of the students reported lifetime DG participation (85%). Among those who played a DG in the prior 6 months (69%), most had experienced a negative gaming-specific consequence. While team games were the most popular DG played, regression analysis demonstrated that participation in games which encouraged consumption (e.g. sculling) were associated with increased alcohol consumption during play. In addition to being older, playing DGs more frequently, and consuming more alcohol while playing, participation in both consumption and dice games (e.g. 7-11, doubles) predicted more negative gaming-specific consequences. DG participation is common among Australian university students, as it is in other parts of the world. The importance of game type is clear, particularly the risk of consumption games. Findings could help inform interventions to reduce participation in consumption games and identify students who might be especially at-risk for experiencing negative DG consequences. © 2018 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

  6. Measurement of transverse emittance and coherence of double-gate field emitter array cathodes

    PubMed Central

    Tsujino, Soichiro; Das Kanungo, Prat; Monshipouri, Mahta; Lee, Chiwon; Miller, R.J. Dwayne

    2016-01-01

    Achieving small transverse beam emittance is important for high brightness cathodes for free electron lasers and electron diffraction and imaging experiments. Double-gate field emitter arrays with on-chip focussing electrode, operating with electrical switching or near infrared laser excitation, have been studied as cathodes that are competitive with photocathodes excited by ultraviolet lasers, but the experimental demonstration of the low emittance has been elusive. Here we demonstrate this for a field emitter array with an optimized double-gate structure by directly measuring the beam characteristics. Further we show the successful application of the double-gate field emitter array to observe the low-energy electron beam diffraction from suspended graphene in minimal setup. The observed low emittance and long coherence length are in good agreement with theory. These results demonstrate that our all-metal double-gate field emitters are highly promising for applications that demand extremely low-electron bunch-phase space volume and large transverse coherence. PMID:28008918

  7. Measurement of transverse emittance and coherence of double-gate field emitter array cathodes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsujino, Soichiro; Das Kanungo, Prat; Monshipouri, Mahta; Lee, Chiwon; Miller, R. J. Dwayne

    2016-12-01

    Achieving small transverse beam emittance is important for high brightness cathodes for free electron lasers and electron diffraction and imaging experiments. Double-gate field emitter arrays with on-chip focussing electrode, operating with electrical switching or near infrared laser excitation, have been studied as cathodes that are competitive with photocathodes excited by ultraviolet lasers, but the experimental demonstration of the low emittance has been elusive. Here we demonstrate this for a field emitter array with an optimized double-gate structure by directly measuring the beam characteristics. Further we show the successful application of the double-gate field emitter array to observe the low-energy electron beam diffraction from suspended graphene in minimal setup. The observed low emittance and long coherence length are in good agreement with theory. These results demonstrate that our all-metal double-gate field emitters are highly promising for applications that demand extremely low-electron bunch-phase space volume and large transverse coherence.

  8. High-performance SEGISFET pH Sensor using the structure of double-gate a-IGZO TFTs with engineered gate oxides

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pyo, Ju-Young; Cho, Won-Ju

    2017-03-01

    In this paper, we propose a high-performance separative extended gate ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (SEGISFET) that consists of a tin dioxide (SnO2) SEG sensing part and a double-gate structure amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistor (TFT) with tantalum pentoxide/silicon dioxide (Ta2O5/SiO2)-engineered top-gate oxide. To increase sensitivity, we maximized the capacitive coupling ratio by applying high-k dielectric at the top-gate oxide layer. As an engineered top-gate oxide, a stack of 25 nm-thick Ta2O5 and 10 nm-thick SiO2 layers was found to simultaneously satisfy a small equivalent oxide thickness (˜17.14 nm), a low leakage current, and a stable interfacial property. The threshold-voltage instability, which is a fundamental issue in a-IGZO TFTs, was improved by low-temperature post-deposition annealing (˜87 °C) using microwave irradiation. The double-gate structure a-IGZO TFTs with engineered top-gate oxide exhibited high mobility, small subthreshold swing, high drive current, and larger on/off current ratio. The a-IGZO SEGISFETs with a dual-gate sensing mode showed a pH sensitivity of 649.04 mV pH-1, which is far beyond the Nernst limit. The non-ideal behavior of ISFETs, hysteresis, and drift effect also improved. These results show that the double-gate structure a-IGZO TFTs with engineered top-gate oxide can be a good candidate for cheap and disposable SEGISFET sensors.

  9. Performance analysis of SiGe double-gate N-MOSFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, A.; Kapoor, D.; Sharma, R.

    2017-04-01

    The major purpose of this paper is to find an alternative configuration that not only minimizes the limitations of single-gate (SG) MOSFETs but also provides the better replacement for future technology. In this paper, the electrical characteristics of SiGe double-gate N-MOSFET are demonstrated and compared with electrical characteristics of Si double-gate N-MOSFET. Furthermore, in this paper the electrical characteristics of Si double-gate N-MOSFET are demonstrated and compared with electrical characteristics of Si single-gate N-MOSFET. The simulations are carried out for the device at different operational voltages using Cogenda Visual TCAD tool. Moreover, we have designed its structure and studied both {I}{{d}}{-}{V}{{g}} characteristics for different voltages namely 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 0.8, 1 and 1.5 V and {I}{{d}}{-}{V}{{d}} characteristics for different voltages namely 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 V at work functions 4.5, 4.6 and 4.8 eV for this structure. The performance parameters investigated in this paper are threshold voltage, DIBL, subthreshold slope, GIDL, volume inversion and MMCR.

  10. Performance characteristics of a nanoscale double-gate reconfigurable array

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beckett, Paul

    2008-12-01

    The double gate transistor is a promising device applicable to deep sub-micron design due to its inherent resistance to short-channel effects and superior subthreshold performance. Using both TCAD and SPICE circuit simulation, it is shown that the characteristics of fully depleted dual-gate thin-body Schottky barrier silicon transistors will not only uncouple the conflicting requirements of high performance and low standby power in digital logic, but will also allow the development of a locally-connected reconfigurable computing mesh. The magnitude of the threshold shift effect will scale with device dimensions and will remain compatible with oxide reliability constraints. A field-programmable architecture based on the double gate transistor is described in which the operating point of the circuit is biased via one gate while the other gate is used to form the logic array, such that complex heterogeneous computing functions may be developed from this homogeneous, mesh-connected organization.

  11. Design of band-notched antenna with DG-CEBG

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jaglan, Naveen; Kanaujia, Binod Kumar; Gupta, Samir Dev; Srivastava, Shweta

    2018-01-01

    Ultra-wideband (UWB) disc monopole antenna with crescent shaped slot for double band-notched features is presented. Planned antenna discards worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) band (3.3-3.6 GHz) and wireless local area network (WLAN) band (5-6 GHz). Defected ground compact electromagnetic band gap (DG-CEBG) designs are used to accomplish band notches in WiMAX and WLAN bands. Defected ground planes are utilised to achieve compactness in electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structures. The proposed WiMAX and WLAN DG-CEBG designs show a compactness of around 46% and 50%, respectively, over mushroom EBG structures. Parametric analyses of DG-CEBG design factors are carried out to control the notched frequencies. Stepwise notch transition from upper to lower frequencies is presented with incremental inductance augmentation. The proposed antenna is made-up on low-cost FR-4 substrate of complete extents as (42 × 50 × 1.6) mm3.Fabricated sample antenna shows excellent consistency in simulated and measured outcomes.

  12. Robust Deterministic Controlled Phase-Flip Gate and Controlled-Not Gate Based on Atomic Ensembles Embedded in Double-Sided Optical Cavities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, A.-Peng; Cheng, Liu-Yong; Guo, Qi; Zhang, Shou

    2018-02-01

    We first propose a scheme for controlled phase-flip gate between a flying photon qubit and the collective spin wave (magnon) of an atomic ensemble assisted by double-sided cavity quantum systems. Then we propose a deterministic controlled-not gate on magnon qubits with parity-check building blocks. Both the gates can be accomplished with 100% success probability in principle. Atomic ensemble is employed so that light-matter coupling is remarkably improved by collective enhancement. We assess the performance of the gates and the results show that they can be faithfully constituted with current experimental techniques.

  13. Side-gate modulation effects on high-quality BN-Graphene-BN nanoribbon capacitors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, Yang; Chen, Xiaolong; Ye, Weiguang

    High-quality BN-Graphene-BN nanoribbon capacitors with double side-gates of graphene have been experimentally realized. The double side-gates can effectively modulate the electronic properties of graphene nanoribbon capacitors. By applying anti-symmetric side-gate voltages, we observed significant upward shifting and flattening of the V-shaped capacitance curve near the charge neutrality point. Symmetric side-gate voltages, however, only resulted in tilted upward shifting along the opposite direction of applied gate voltages. These modulation effects followed the behavior of graphene nanoribbons predicted theoretically for metallic side-gate modulation. The negative quantum capacitance phenomenon predicted by numerical simulations for graphene nanoribbons modulated by graphene side-gates was not observed,more » possibly due to the weakened interactions between the graphene nanoribbon and side-gate electrodes caused by the Ga{sup +} beam etching process.« less

  14. SU-F-BRD-08: A Novel Technique to Derive a Clinically-Acceptable Beam Model for Proton Pencil-Beam Scanning in a Commercial Treatment Planning System

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Scholey, J. E.; Lin, L.; Ainsley, C. G.

    2015-06-15

    Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy and limitations of a commercially-available treatment planning system’s (TPS’s) dose calculation algorithm for proton pencil-beam scanning (PBS) and present a novel technique to efficiently derive a clinically-acceptable beam model. Methods: In-air fluence profiles of PBS spots were modeled in the TPS alternately as single-(SG) and double-Gaussian (DG) functions, based on fits to commissioning data. Uniform-fluence, single-energy-layer square fields of various sizes and energies were calculated with both beam models and delivered to water. Dose was measured at several depths. Motivated by observed discrepancies in measured-versus-calculated dose comparisons, a third model was constructed based on double-Gaussianmore » parameters contrived through a novel technique developed to minimize these differences (DGC). Eleven cuboid-dose-distribution-shaped fields with varying range/modulation and field size were subsequently generated in the TPS, using each of the three beam models described, and delivered to water. Dose was measured at the middle of each spread-out Bragg peak. Results: For energies <160 MeV, the DG model fit square-field measurements to <2% at all depths, while the SG model could disagree by >6%. For energies >160 MeV, both SG and DG models fit square-field measurements to <1% at <4 cm depth, but could exceed 6% deeper. By comparison, disagreement with the DGC model was always <3%. For the cuboid plans, calculation-versus-measured percent dose differences exceeded 7% for the SG model, being larger for smaller fields. The DG model showed <3% disagreement for all field sizes in shorter-range beams, although >5% differences for smaller fields persisted in longer-range beams. In contrast, the DGC model predicted measurements to <2% for all beams. Conclusion: Neither the TPS’s SG nor DG models, employed as intended, are ideally suited for routine clinical use. However, via a novel technique to be presented, its DG model can be tuned judiciously to yield acceptable results.« less

  15. Improved glycemic control induced by both metformin and repaglinide is associated with a reduction in blood levels of 3-deoxyglucosone in nonobese patients with type 2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Engelen, Lian; Lund, Søren S; Ferreira, Isabel; Tarnow, Lise; Parving, Hans-Henrik; Gram, Jørgen; Winther, Kaj; Pedersen, Oluf; Teerlink, Tom; Barto, Rob; Stehouwer, Coen D A; Vaag, Allan A; Schalkwijk, Casper G

    2011-03-01

    Metformin has been reported to reduce α-dicarbonyls, which are known to contribute to diabetic complications. It is unclear whether this is due to direct quenching of α-dicarbonyls or to an improvement in glycemic control. We therefore compared the effects of metformin versus repaglinide, an antihyperglycemic agent with an insulin-secreting mechanism, on the levels of the α-dicarbonyl 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG). We conducted a single-center, double-masked, double-dummy, crossover study involving 96 nonobese patients with type 2 diabetes. After a 1-month run-in on diet-only treatment, patients were randomized to either repaglinide (6 mg daily) followed by metformin (2 g daily) or vice versa each during 4 months with a 1-month washout between interventions. 3DG levels decreased after both metformin (-19.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): -23.5, -14.8)) and repaglinide (-20.8% (95% CI: -24.9, -16.3)) treatments, but no difference was found between treatments (1.8% (95% CI: -3.8, 7.8)). Regardless of the treatment, changes in glycemic variables were associated with changes in 3DG. Specifically, 3DG decreased by 22.7% (95% CI: 19.0, 26.5) per s.d. decrease in fasting plasma glucose (PG), by 20.0% (95% CI: 16.2, 23.9) per s.d. decrease in seven-point mean plasma glucose, by 22.5% (95% CI: 18.6, 26.6) per s.d. decrease in area under the curve for PG, by 17.2% (95% CI: 13.8, 20.6) per s.d. decrease in HbAlc, and by 10.9% (95% CI: 6.4, 15.5) per s.d. decrease in Amadori albumin. In addition, decreases in 3DG were associated with decreases in advanced glycation endproducts and endothelial markers. Improved glycemic control induced by both metformin and repaglinide is associated with a reduction in 3DG levels in nonobese individuals with type 2 diabetes. This may constitute a shared metabolic pathway through which both treatments have a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular risk.

  16. Micromachined mold-type double-gated metal field emitters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Yongjae; Kang, Seokho; Chun, Kukjin

    1997-12-01

    Electron field emitters with double gates were fabricated using micromachining technology and the effect of the electric potential of the focusing gate (or second gate) was experimentally evaluated. The molybdenum field emission tip was made by filling a cusplike mold formed when a conformal film was deposited on the hole-trench that had been patterned on stacked metals and dielectric layers. The hole-trench was patterned by electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching. Each field emitter has a 0960-1317/7/4/009/img1 diameter extraction gate (or first gate) and a 0960-1317/7/4/009/img2 diameter focusing gate (or second gate). To make a path for the emitted electrons, silicon bulk was etched anisotropically in KOH and EDP (ethylene-diamine pyrocatechol) solution successively. The I - V characteristics and anode current change due to the focusing gate potential were measured.

  17. Method for double-sided processing of thin film transistors

    DOEpatents

    Yuan, Hao-Chih; Wang, Guogong; Eriksson, Mark A.; Evans, Paul G.; Lagally, Max G.; Ma, Zhenqiang

    2008-04-08

    This invention provides methods for fabricating thin film electronic devices with both front- and backside processing capabilities. Using these methods, high temperature processing steps may be carried out during both frontside and backside processing. The methods are well-suited for fabricating back-gate and double-gate field effect transistors, double-sided bipolar transistors and 3D integrated circuits.

  18. Semiconductor to metallic transition in bulk accumulated amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide dual gate thin-film transistor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chun, Minkyu; Chowdhury, Md Delwar Hossain; Jang, Jin, E-mail: jjang@khu.ac.kr

    We investigated the effects of top gate voltage (V{sub TG}) and temperature (in the range of 25 to 70 {sup o}C) on dual-gate (DG) back-channel-etched (BCE) amorphous-indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) characteristics. The increment of V{sub TG} from -20V to +20V, decreases the threshold voltage (V{sub TH}) from 19.6V to 3.8V and increases the electron density to 8.8 x 10{sup 18}cm{sup −3}. Temperature dependent field-effect mobility in saturation regime, extracted from bottom gate sweep, show a critical dependency on V{sub TG}. At V{sub TG} of 20V, the mobility decreases from 19.1 to 15.4 cm{sup 2}/V ⋅ s with increasingmore » temperature, showing a metallic conduction. On the other hand, at V{sub TG} of - 20V, the mobility increases from 6.4 to 7.5cm{sup 2}/V ⋅ s with increasing temperature. Since the top gate bias controls the position of Fermi level, the temperature dependent mobility shows metallic conduction when the Fermi level is above the conduction band edge, by applying high positive bias to the top gate.« less

  19. Spin measurement in an undoped Si/SiGe double quantum dot incorporating a micromagnet

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Xian; Ward, Daniel; Prance, Jonathan; Kim, Dohun; Shi, Zhan; Mohr, Robert; Gamble, John; Savage, Donald; Lagally, Max; Friesen, Mark; Coppersmith, Susan; Eriksson, Mark

    2014-03-01

    We present measurements on a double dot formed in an accumulation-mode undoped Si/SiGe heterostructure. The double dot incorporates a proximal micromagnet to generate a stable magnetic field difference between the quantum dots. The gate design incorporates two layers of gates, and the upper layer of gates is split into five different sections to decrease crosstalk between different gates. A novel pattern of the lower layer gates enhances the tunability of tunnel rates. We will describe our attempts to create a singlet-triplet qubit in this device. This work was supported in part by ARO(W911NF-12-0607), NSF(DMR-1206915), and the United States Department of Defense. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressly or implied, of the US Government. Now works at Lancaster University, UK.

  20. Grape seed extract enhances neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in C57BL/6 mice.

    PubMed

    Yoo, Dae Young; Kim, Woosuk; Yoo, Ki-Yeon; Lee, Choong Hyun; Choi, Jung Hoon; Yoon, Yeo Sung; Kim, Dong-Woo; Won, Moo-Ho; Hwang, In Koo

    2011-05-01

    The effects of grape seed extract (GSE), a major source of phenolic compounds, were examined on cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation and integration into granule cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of middle-aged (12 month-old) mice using Ki67, doublecortin (DCX) immunohistochemistry and 5'-bromo-2-deoxyguanosine (BrdU)/calbindin D-28k (CB) double immunofluorescence study, respectively. GSE (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) was administered orally for 28 days, and the animals were treated with 50 mg/kg BrdU intraperitoneally on the day of first GSE treatment. In the vehicle-treated group, Ki67 and DCX immunoreactivity was detected in the subgranular zone of the DG (SZDG). GSE treatment dose-dependently increased the number of Ki67 and DCX immunoreactive cells, particularly the number of DCX immunoreactive neuroblasts with well-developed (tertiary) dendrites. GSE also dose-dependently increased DCX protein levels. In addition, GSE treatment increased significantly the number of BrdU/CB double labeled granule cells. These results suggest that GSE significantly increases cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation and integration into granule cells in the DG, and the consumption of GSE enhances the plasticity of hippocampus in middle-aged mice. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  1. Gate tunable parallel double quantum dots in InAs double-nanowire devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baba, S.; Matsuo, S.; Kamata, H.; Deacon, R. S.; Oiwa, A.; Li, K.; Jeppesen, S.; Samuelson, L.; Xu, H. Q.; Tarucha, S.

    2017-12-01

    We report fabrication and characterization of InAs nanowire devices with two closely placed parallel nanowires. The fabrication process we develop includes selective deposition of the nanowires with micron scale alignment onto predefined finger bottom gates using a polymer transfer technique. By tuning the double nanowire with the finger bottom gates, we observed the formation of parallel double quantum dots with one quantum dot in each nanowire bound by the normal metal contact edges. We report the gate tunability of the charge states in individual dots as well as the inter-dot electrostatic coupling. In addition, we fabricate a device with separate normal metal contacts and a common superconducting contact to the two parallel wires and confirm the dot formation in each wire from comparison of the transport properties and a superconducting proximity gap feature for the respective wires. With the fabrication techniques established in this study, devices can be realized for more advanced experiments on Cooper-pair splitting, generation of Parafermions, and so on.

  2. Determination of Glucose Utilization Rates in Cultured Astrocytes and Neurons with [14C]deoxyglucose: Progress, Pitfalls, and Discovery of Intracellular Glucose Compartmentation.

    PubMed

    Dienel, Gerald A; Cruz, Nancy F; Sokoloff, Louis; Driscoll, Bernard F

    2017-01-01

    2-Deoxy-D-[ 14 C]glucose ([ 14 C]DG) is commonly used to determine local glucose utilization rates (CMR glc ) in living brain and to estimate CMR glc in cultured brain cells as rates of [ 14 C]DG phosphorylation. Phosphorylation rates of [ 14 C]DG and its metabolizable fluorescent analog, 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG), however, do not take into account differences in the kinetics of transport and metabolism of [ 14 C]DG or 2-NBDG and glucose in neuronal and astrocytic cells in cultures or in single cells in brain tissue, and conclusions drawn from these data may, therefore, not be correct. As a first step toward the goal of quantitative determination of CMR glc in astrocytes and neurons in cultures, the steady-state intracellular-to-extracellular concentration ratios (distribution spaces) for glucose and [ 14 C]DG were determined in cultured striatal neurons and astrocytes as functions of extracellular glucose concentration. Unexpectedly, the glucose distribution spaces rose during extreme hypoglycemia, exceeding 1.0 in astrocytes, whereas the [ 14 C]DG distribution space fell at the lowest glucose levels. Calculated CMR glc was greatly overestimated in hypoglycemic and normoglycemic cells because the intracellular glucose concentrations were too high. Determination of the distribution space for [ 14 C]glucose revealed compartmentation of intracellular glucose in astrocytes, and probably, also in neurons. A smaller metabolic pool is readily accessible to hexokinase and communicates with extracellular glucose, whereas the larger pool is sequestered from hexokinase activity. A new experimental approach using double-labeled assays with DG and glucose is suggested to avoid the limitations imposed by glucose compartmentation on metabolic assays.

  3. Distributed generation capabilities of the national energy modeling system

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    LaCommare, Kristina Hamachi; Edwards, Jennifer L.; Marnay, Chris

    2003-01-01

    This report describes Berkeley Lab's exploration of how the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) models distributed generation (DG) and presents possible approaches for improving how DG is modeled. The on-site electric generation capability has been available since the AEO2000 version of NEMS. Berkeley Lab has previously completed research on distributed energy resources (DER) adoption at individual sites and has developed a DER Customer Adoption Model called DER-CAM. Given interest in this area, Berkeley Lab set out to understand how NEMS models small-scale on-site generation to assess how adequately DG is treated in NEMS, and to propose improvements or alternatives. Themore » goal is to determine how well NEMS models the factors influencing DG adoption and to consider alternatives to the current approach. Most small-scale DG adoption takes place in the residential and commercial modules of NEMS. Investment in DG ultimately offsets purchases of electricity, which also eliminates the losses associated with transmission and distribution (T&D). If the DG technology that is chosen is photovoltaics (PV), NEMS assumes renewable energy consumption replaces the energy input to electric generators. If the DG technology is fuel consuming, consumption of fuel in the electric utility sector is replaced by residential or commercial fuel consumption. The waste heat generated from thermal technologies can be used to offset the water heating and space heating energy uses, but there is no thermally activated cooling capability. This study consists of a review of model documentation and a paper by EIA staff, a series of sensitivity runs performed by Berkeley Lab that exercise selected DG parameters in the AEO2002 version of NEMS, and a scoping effort of possible enhancements and alternatives to NEMS current DG capabilities. In general, the treatment of DG in NEMS is rudimentary. The penetration of DG is determined by an economic cash-flow analysis that determines adoption based on the n umber of years to a positive cash flow. Some important technologies, e.g. thermally activated cooling, are absent, and ceilings on DG adoption are determined by some what arbitrary caps on the number of buildings that can adopt DG. These caps are particularly severe for existing buildings, where the maximum penetration for any one technology is 0.25 percent. On the other hand, competition among technologies is not fully considered, and this may result in double-counting for certain applications. A series of sensitivity runs show greater penetration with net metering enhancements and aggressive tax credits and a more limited response to lowered DG technology costs. Discussion of alternatives to the current code is presented in Section 4. Alternatives or improvements to how DG is modeled in NEMS cover three basic areas: expanding on the existing total market for DG both by changing existing parameters in NEMS and by adding new capabilities, such as for missing technologies; enhancing the cash flow analysis but incorporating aspects of DG economics that are not currently represented, e.g. complex tariffs; and using an external geographic information system (GIS) driven analysis that can better and more intuitively identify niche markets.« less

  4. A novel double gate MOSFET by symmetrical insulator packets with improved short channel effects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ramezani, Zeinab; Orouji, Ali A.

    2018-03-01

    In this article, we study a novel double-gate SOI MOSFET structure incorporating insulator packets (IPs) at the junction between channel and source/drain (S/D) ends. The proposed MOSFET has great strength in inhibiting short channel effects and OFF-state current that are the main problems compared with conventional one due to the significant suppressed penetrations of both the lateral electric field and the carrier diffusion from the S/D into the channel. Improvement of the hot electron reliability, the ON to OFF drain current ratio, drain-induced barrier lowering, gate-induced drain leakage and threshold voltage over conventional double-gate SOI MOSFETs, i.e. without IPs, is displayed with the simulation results. This study is believed to improve the CMOS device reliability and is suitable for the low-power very-large-scale integration circuits.

  5. Dual-gate GaAs FET switches

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vorhaus, J. L.; Fabian, W.; Ng, P. B.; Tajima, Y.

    1981-02-01

    A set of multi-pole, multi-throw switch devices consisting of dual-gate GaAs FET's is described. Included are single-pole, single-throw (SPST), double-pole, double-throw (DPDT), and single-pole four-throw (SP4T) switches. Device fabrication and measurement techniques are discussed. The device models for these switches were based on an equivalent circuit of a dual-gate FET. The devices were found to have substantial gain in X-band and low Ku-band.

  6. Multiple and configurable optical logic systems based on layered double hydroxides and chromophore assemblies.

    PubMed

    Shi, Wenying; Fu, Yi; Li, Zhixiong; Wei, Min

    2015-01-14

    Multiple and configurable fluorescence logic gates were fabricated via self-assembly of layered double hydroxides and various chromophores. These logic gates were operated by observation of different emissions with the same excitation wavelength, which achieve YES, NOT, AND, INH and INHIBIT logic operations, respectively.

  7. Front and backside processed thin film electronic devices

    DOEpatents

    Evans, Paul G [Madison, WI; Lagally, Max G [Madison, WI; Ma, Zhenqiang [Middleton, WI; Yuan, Hao-Chih [Lakewood, CO; Wang, Guogong [Madison, WI; Eriksson, Mark A [Madison, WI

    2012-01-03

    This invention provides thin film devices that have been processed on their front- and backside. The devices include an active layer that is sufficiently thin to be mechanically flexible. Examples of the devices include back-gate and double-gate field effect transistors, double-sided bipolar transistors and 3D integrated circuits.

  8. Ion/Ioff ratio enhancement and scalability of gate-all-around nanowire negative-capacitance FET with ferroelectric HfO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jang, Kyungmin; Saraya, Takuya; Kobayashi, Masaharu; Hiramoto, Toshiro

    2017-10-01

    We have investigated the energy efficiency and scalability of ferroelectric HfO2 (FE:HfO2)-based negative-capacitance field-effect-transistor (NCFET) with gate-all-around (GAA) nanowire (NW) channel structure. Analytic simulation is conducted to characterize NW-NCFET by varying NW diameter and/or thickness of gate insulator as device structural parameters. Due to the negative-capacitance effect and GAA NW channel structure, NW-NCFET is found to have 5× higher Ion/Ioff ratio than classical NW-MOSFET and 2× higher than double-gate (DG) NCFET, which results in wider design window for high Ion/Ioff ratio. To analyze these obtained results from the viewpoint of the device scalability, we have considered constraints regarding very limited device structural spaces to fit by the gate insulator and NW channel for aggresively scaled gate length (Lg) and/or very tight NW pitch. NW-NCFET still has design point with very thinned gate insulator and/or narrowed NW. Therefore, FE:HfO2-based NW-NCFET is applicable to the aggressively scaled technology node of sub-10 nm Lg and to the very tight NW integration of sub-30 nm NW pitch for beyond 7 nm technology. From 2011 to 2014, he engaged in developing high-speed optical transceiver module as an alternative military service in Republic of Korea. His research interest includes the development of steep slope MOSFETs for high energy-efficient operation and ferroelectric HfO2-based semiconductor devices, and fabrication of nanostructured devices. He joined the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, in 2010, where he worked on advanced CMOS technologies such as FinFET, nanowire FET, SiGe channel and III-V channel. He was also engaged in launching 14 nm SOI FinFET and RMG technology development. Since 2014, he has been an Associate Professor in Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, where he has been working on ultralow power transistor and memory technology. Dr. Kobayashi is a member of IEEE and the Japan Society of Applied Physics. Dr. Hiramoto is a fellow of Japan Society of Applied Physics and a member of IEEE and IEICE. He served as the General Chair of Silicon Nanoelectronics Workshop in 2003 and the Program Chair in 1997, 1999, and 2001. He was on Committee of IEDM from 2003 to 2009. He was the Program Chair of Symposium on VLSI Technology in 2013 and was the General Chair in 2015. He is the Program Chair of International Conference on Solid-State Devices and Materials (SSDM) in 2016.

  9. Hippocampal Adult Neurogenesis is Enhanced by Chronic Eszopiclone Treatment in Rats

    PubMed Central

    Methippara, Melvi; Bashir, Tariq; Suntsova, Natalia; Szymusiak, Ron; McGinty, Dennis

    2010-01-01

    Summary The adult hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) exhibits cell proliferation and neurogenesis throughout life. We examined the effects of daily administration of eszopiclone (Esz), a commonly used hypnotic drug and GABA agonist, compared to vehicle, on DG cell proliferation and neurogenesis, and on sleep-wake patterns. Esz was administered during the usual sleep period of rats, to mimic typical use in humans. Esz treatment for 7 days did not affect the rate of cell proliferation, as measured by 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunostaining. However, twice daily Esz administration for two weeks increased survival of newborn cells, by 46%. Most surviving cells exhibited a neuronal phenotype, identified BrdU-NeuN double-labeling. NeuN (Neuronal nuclei) is a marker of neurons. NREM sleep was increased on day one, but not on days 7 or 14 of Esz administration. Delta EEG activity was increased on days 1 and 7 of treatment, but not on day 14. There is evidence that enhancement of DG neurogenesis is a critical component of the effects of antidepressant treatments of major depressive disorder (MDD). Adult born DG cells are responsive to GABAergic stimulation which promotes cell maturation. The present study suggests that Esz, presumably acting as a GABA agonist, has pro-neurogenic effects in the adult DG. This result is consistent with evidence that Esz enhances antidepressant treatment response of MDD patients with insomnia. PMID:20408925

  10. Effect of Oxide Interface Roughness on the Threshold Voltage Fluctuations in Decanano MOSFETs with Ultrathin Gate Oxides

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Asenov, Asen; Kaya, S.

    2000-01-01

    In this paper we use the Density Gradient (DG) simulation approach to study, in 3-D, the effect of local oxide thickness fluctuations on the threshold voltage of decanano MOSFETs on a statistical scale. The random 2-D surfaces used to represent the interface are constructed using the standard assumptions for the auto-correlation function of the interface. The importance of the Quantum Mechanical effects when studying oxide thickness fluctuations are illustrated in several simulation examples.

  11. Causal Evidence for the Role of Specific GABAergic Interneuron Types in Entorhinal Recruitment of Dentate Granule Cells

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Cheng-Ta; Kao, Min-Hua; Hou, Wen-Hsien; Wei, Yu-Ting; Chen, Chin-Lin; Lien, Cheng-Chang

    2016-01-01

    The dentate gyrus (DG) is the primary gate of the hippocampus and controls information flow from the cortex to the hippocampus proper. To maintain normal function, granule cells (GCs), the principal neurons in the DG, receive fine-tuned inhibition from local-circuit GABAergic inhibitory interneurons (INs). Abnormalities of GABAergic circuits in the DG are associated with several brain disorders, including epilepsy, autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer disease. Therefore, understanding the network mechanisms of inhibitory control of GCs is of functional and pathophysiological importance. GABAergic inhibitory INs are heterogeneous, but it is unclear how individual subtypes contribute to GC activity. Using cell-type-specific optogenetic perturbation, we investigated whether and how two major IN populations defined by parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) expression, regulate GC input transformations. We showed that PV-expressing (PV+) INs, and not SST-expressing (SST+) INs, primarily suppress GC responses to single cortical stimulation. In addition, these two IN classes differentially regulate GC responses to θ and γ frequency inputs from the cortex. Notably, PV+ INs specifically control the onset of the spike series, whereas SST+ INs preferentially regulate the later spikes in the series. Together, PV+ and SST+ GABAergic INs engage differentially in GC input-output transformations in response to various activity patterns. PMID:27830729

  12. Investigation of the novel attributes in double recessed gate SiC MESFETs at drain side

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Orouji, Ali A.; Razavi, S. M.; Ebrahim Hosseini, Seyed; Amini Moghadam, Hamid

    2011-11-01

    In this paper, the potential impact of drain side-double recessed gate (DS-DRG) on silicon carbide (SiC)-based metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) is studied. We investigate the device performance focusing on breakdown voltage, threshold voltage, drain current and dc output conductance with two-dimensional and two-carrier device simulation. Our simulation results demonstrate that the channel thickness under the gate in the drain side is an important factor in the breakdown voltage. Also, the positive shift in the threshold voltage for the DS-DRG structure is larger in comparison with that for the source side-double recessed gate (SS-DRG) SiC MESFET. The saturated drain current for the DS-DRG structure is larger compared to that for the SS-DRG structure. The maximum dc output conductance in the DS-DRG structure is smaller than that in the SS-DRG structure.

  13. Low-voltage electric-double-layer paper transistors gated by microporous SiO2 processed at room temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Jia; Wan, Qing; Lu, Aixia; Jiang, Jie

    2009-11-01

    Battery drivable low-voltage SnO2-based paper thin-film transistors with a near-zero threshold voltage (Vth=0.06 V) gated by microporous SiO2 dielectric with electric-double-layer (EDL) effect are fabricated at room temperature. The operating voltage is found to be as low as 1.5 V due to the huge gate specific capacitance (1.34 μF/cm2 at 40 Hz) related to EDL formation. The subthreshold gate voltage swing and current on/off ratio is found to be 82 mV/decade and 2.0×105, respectively. The electron field-effect mobility is estimated to be 47.3 cm2/V s based on the measured gate specific capacitance at 40 Hz.

  14. Front and backside processed thin film electronic devices

    DOEpatents

    Yuan, Hao-Chih; Wang, Guogong; Eriksson, Mark A.; Evans, Paul G.; Lagally, Max G.; Ma, Zhenqiang

    2010-10-12

    This invention provides methods for fabricating thin film electronic devices with both front- and backside processing capabilities. Using these methods, high temperature processing steps may be carried out during both frontside and backside processing. The methods are well-suited for fabricating back-gate and double-gate field effect transistors, double-sided bipolar transistors and 3D integrated circuits.

  15. Simultaneous control of thermoelectric properties in p- and n-type materials by electric double-layer gating: New design for thermoelectric device

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takayanagi, Ryohei; Fujii, Takenori; Asamitsu, Atsushi

    2015-05-01

    We report a novel design of a thermoelectric device that can control the thermoelectric properties of p- and n-type materials simultaneously by electric double-layer gating. Here, p-type Cu2O and n-type ZnO were used as the positive and negative electrodes of the electric double-layer capacitor structure. When a gate voltage was applied between the two electrodes, holes and electrons accumulated on the surfaces of Cu2O and ZnO, respectively. The thermopower was measured by applying a thermal gradient along the accumulated layer on the electrodes. We demonstrate here that the accumulated layers worked as a p-n pair of the thermoelectric device.

  16. Enhancing the pH sensitivity by laterally synergic modulation in dual-gate electric-double-layer transistors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liu, Ning; Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201; Hui Liu, Yang

    2015-02-16

    The sensitivity of a standard ion-sensitive field-effect transistor is limited to be 59.2 mV/pH (Nernst limit) at room temperature. Here, a concept based on laterally synergic electric-double-layer (EDL) modulation is proposed in order to overcome the Nernst limit. Indium-zinc-oxide EDL transistors with two laterally coupled gates are fabricated, and the synergic modulation behaviors of the two asymmetric gates are investigated. A high sensitivity of ∼168 mV/pH is realized in the dual-gate operation mode. Laterally synergic modulation in oxide-based EDL transistors is interesting for high-performance bio-chemical sensors.

  17. Electric-field control of conductance in metal quantum point contacts by electric-double-layer gating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shibata, K.; Yoshida, K.; Daiguji, K.; Sato, H.; , T., Ii; Hirakawa, K.

    2017-10-01

    An electric-field control of quantized conductance in metal (gold) quantum point contacts (QPCs) is demonstrated by adopting a liquid-gated electric-double-layer (EDL) transistor geometry. Atomic-scale gold QPCs were fabricated by applying the feedback-controlled electrical break junction method to the gold nanojunction. The electric conductance in gold QPCs shows quantized conductance plateaus and step-wise increase/decrease by the conductance quantum, G0 = 2e2/h, as EDL-gate voltage is swept, demonstrating a modulation of the conductance of gold QPCs by EDL gating. The electric-field control of conductance in metal QPCs may open a way for their application to local charge sensing at room temperature.

  18. A double chain reversal loop and two diagonal loops define the architecture of a unimolecular DNA quadruplex containing a pair of stacked G(syn)-G(syn)-G(anti)-G(anti) tetrads flanked by a G-(T-T) Triad and a T-T-T triple.

    PubMed

    Kuryavyi, V; Majumdar, A; Shallop, A; Chernichenko, N; Skripkin, E; Jones, R; Patel, D J

    2001-06-29

    The architecture of G-G-G-G tetrad-aligned DNA quadruplexes in monovalent cation solution is dependent on the directionality of the four strands, which in turn are defined by loop connectivities and the guanine syn/anti distribution along individual strands and within individual G-G-G-G tetrads. The smallest unimolecular G-quadruplex belongs to the d(G2NnG2NnG2NnG2) family, which has the potential to form two stacked G-tetrads linked by Nn loop connectivities. Previous studies have focused on the thrombin-binding DNA aptamer d(G2T2G2TGTG2T2G2), where Nn was T2 for the first and third connecting loops and TGT for the middle connecting loop. This DNA aptamer in K(+) cation solution forms a unimolecular G-quadruplex stabilized by two stacked G(syn)-G(anti)-G(syn)-G(anti) tetrads, adjacent strands which are antiparallel to each other and edge-wise connecting T2, TGT and T2 loops. We now report on the NMR-based solution structure of the d(G2T4G2CAG2GT4G2T) sequence, which differs from the thrombin-binding DNA aptamer sequence in having longer first (T4) and third (GT4) loops and a shorter (CA) middle loop. This d(G2T4G2CAG2GT4G2T) sequence in Na(+) cation solution forms a unimolecular G-quadruplex stabilized by two stacked G(syn)-G(syn)-G(anti)-G(anti) tetrads, adjacent strands which have one parallel and one antiparallel neighbors and distinct non-edge-wise loop connectivities. Specifically, the longer first (T4) and third (GT4) loops are of the diagonal type while the shorter middle loop is of the double chain reversal type. In addition, the pair of stacked G-G-G-G tetrads are flanked on one side by a G-(T-T) triad and on the other side by a T-T-T triple. The distinct differences in strand directionalities, loop connectivities and syn/anti distribution within G-G-G-G tetrads between the thrombin-binding DNA aptamer d(G2T2G2TGTG2T2G2) quadruplex reported previously, and the d(G2T4G2CAG2GT4G2T) quadruplex reported here, reinforces the polymorphic nature of higher-order DNA architectures. Further, these two small unimolecular G-quadruplexes, which are distinct from each other and from parallel-stranded G-quadruplexes, provide novel targets for ligand recognition. Our results demonstrate that the double chain reversal loop connectivity identified previously by our laboratory within the Tetrahymena telomere d(T2G4)4 quadruplex, is a robust folding topology, since it has now also been observed within the d(G2T4G2CAG2GT4G2T) quadruplex. The identification of a G-(T-T) triad and a T-T-T triple, expands on the available recognition alignments for base triads and triples. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

  19. Influence of the colloidal structure of dairy gels on milk fat fusion behavior: quantification of the liquid fat content by in situ quantitative proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (isq (1) H NMR).

    PubMed

    Bouteille, Romain; Perez, Jeanne; Khifer, Farid; Jouan-Rimbaud-Bouveresse, Delphine; Lecanu, Bruno; This, Hervé

    2013-04-01

    Dairy gels (DG), such as yoghurts, contain both solid and liquid fats at the time of consumption, as their temperature rises to anything between 10 and 24 °C after being introduced into the mouth at 4 °C. The mass ratio between solid and liquid fats, which depends on the temperature, impacts the organoleptic properties of DG. As the ordinary methods for determining this ratio can only be applied to samples consisting mainly in fat materials, a fat extraction step needs to be added into the analytical process when applied to DG, which prevents the study of the potential impact of their colloidal structure on milk fat fusion behavior. In situ quantitative proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (isq (1) H NMR) was investigated as a method for direct measurements in DG: at temperatures between 20.0 and 70.0 °C, the liquid fat content and the composition of triacylglycerols of the liquid phase (in terms of alkyl chains length) were determined. Spectra of isolated milk fat also enable the quantification of the double bonds of triacylglycerols. Statistical tests showed no significant difference between isolated milk fat and milk fat inside a DG in terms of melting behavior: the fat globule membrane does not seem to have a significant influence on the fat melting behavior. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®

  20. Characterization of the structural collapse undergone by an unstable system of ultrasoft particles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prestipino, Santi; Malescio, Gianpietro

    2016-09-01

    The effective repulsion between macromolecules such as polymer chains or dendrimers is everywhere finite, implying that interaction centers can even coincide. If, in addition, the large-distance attraction is sufficiently strong, then the system is driven unstable. An unstable system lacks a conventional thermodynamics since, in the infinite-size limit, it eventually collapses to a finite-size cluster (for instance, a polymer dispersion undergoes irreversible coagulation when increasing the amount of dissolved salt beyond a certain limit). Using a double-Gaussian (DG) potential for demonstration, we study the phase behavior of a system of ultrasoft particles as a function of the attraction strength η. Above a critical threshold ηc, the DG system is unstable but its collective behavior is far from trivial since two separate regions of the thermodynamic plane can be identified, based on the value taken by the average waiting time for collapse: this is finite and small on one side of the boundary, while presumably infinite in the other region. In order to make sense of this evidence, we consider a stable system of particles interacting through a DG potential augmented with a hard core (stabilized DG, or SDG potential). We provide arguments supporting the view that the boundary line of the unstable DG model is the remnant of the spinodal line of a fluid-fluid phase transition occurring in the SDG model when the hard-core diameter is sent to zero.

  1. State-conditional coherent charge qubit oscillations in a Si/SiGe quadruple quantum dot

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ward, Daniel R.; Kim, Dohun; Savage, Donald E.; Lagally, Max G.; Foote, Ryan H.; Friesen, Mark; Coppersmith, Susan N.; Eriksson, Mark A.

    2016-10-01

    Universal quantum computation requires high-fidelity single-qubit rotations and controlled two-qubit gates. Along with high-fidelity single-qubit gates, strong efforts have been made in developing robust two-qubit logic gates in electrically gated quantum dot systems to realise a compact and nanofabrication-compatible architecture. Here we perform measurements of state-conditional coherent oscillations of a charge qubit. Using a quadruple quantum dot formed in a Si/SiGe heterostructure, we show the first demonstration of coherent two-axis control of a double quantum dot charge qubit in undoped Si/SiGe, performing Larmor and Ramsey oscillation measurements. We extract the strength of the capacitive coupling between a pair of double quantum dots by measuring the detuning energy shift (≈75 μeV) of one double dot depending on the excess charge configuration of the other double dot. We further demonstrate that the strong capacitive coupling allows fast, state-conditional Landau-Zener-Stückelberg oscillations with a conditional π phase flip time of about 80 ps, showing a promising pathway towards multi-qubit entanglement and control in semiconductor quantum dots.

  2. Nanofabrication of 10-nm T-shaped gates using a double patterning process with electron beam lithography and dry etch

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shao, Jinhai; Deng, Jianan; Lu, W.; Chen, Yifang

    2017-07-01

    A process to fabricate T-shaped gates with the footprint scaling down to 10 nm using a double patterning procedure is reported. One of the keys in this process is to separate the definition of the footprint from that for the gate-head so that the proximity effect originated from electron forward scattering in the resist is significantly minimized, enabling us to achieve as narrow as 10-nm foot width. Furthermore, in contrast to the reported technique for 10-nm T-shaped profile in resist, this process utilizes a metallic film with a nanoslit as an etch mask to form a well-defined 10-nm-wide foot in a SiNx layer by reactive ion etch. Such a double patterning process has demonstrated enhanced reliability. The detailed process is comprehensively described, and its advantages and limitations are discussed. Nanofabrication of InP-based high-electron-mobility transistors using the developed process for 10- to 20-nm T-shaped gates is currently under the way.

  3. Solution 1H NMR determination of secondary structure for the three-iron form of ferredoxin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus.

    PubMed

    Teng, Q; Zhou, Z H; Smith, E T; Busse, S C; Howard, J B; Adams, M W; La Mar, G N

    1994-05-24

    Two-dimensional 1H NMR data have been used to make sequence-specific assignments and define the secondary structure of the three-iron form of the oxidized ferredoxin, Fd, from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, Pf. Signals for at least some protons were located for 65 of the 66 amino acids in the sequence, in spite of the paramagnetic (S = 1/2) ground state, but not all could be assigned. Unassigned and missing signals could be qualitatively correlated with the expected proximity of the protons to the paramagnetic cluster. The secondary structure was deduced from qualitative analysis of the 2D nuclear Overhauser effect, which identified two antiparallel beta-sheets, one triple-stranded including Ala1-Ser5, Val39-Glu41, and Thr62-Ala66, and one double-stranded consisting of Glu26-Asn28 and Lys32-Glu34, as well as an alpha-helix involving Glu43-Glu54. Three tight type I turns are located at residues Asp7-Thr10, Pro22-Phe25, and Asp29-Gly31. Comparison with the crystal structure of Desulfovibrio gigas, Dg, Fd (Kissinger et al., 1991) reveals a very similar folding topology, although several secondary structural elements are extended in Pf relative to Dg Fd. Thus the beta-sheet involving the two termini is expanded to include the two terminal residues and incorporates a third strand from the internal loop that is lengthened by several insertions in Pf relative to Dg Fd. The double-stranded beta-sheet in the interior of Pf Fd is lengthened slightly due to a much tighter type I turn between the two strands. The helix near the C-terminus is three residues longer in Pf than in Dg Fd, as well as being shifted toward the N-terminus. The disulfide link between the two nonligating Cys residues (Cys21 and Cys48) is conserved in Pf Fd, but the link near the C-terminus is in the middle of the long alpha-helix in Pf Fd, instead of at the N-terminus of the helix as in Dg Fd. The extensions of the beta-sheets and alpha-helix increase the number of main-chain hydrogen bonds in Pf Fd by approximately 8 relative to those in Dg Fd and likely contribute to its remarkable thermostability (it is unaffected by anaerobic incubation at 95 degrees C for 24 h).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

  4. Comparative influence study of gate-formation structuring on Al0.22Ga0.78As/In0.16Ga0.84As/Al0.22Ga0.78As double heterojunction high electron mobility transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsu, M. K.; Chiu, S. Y.; Wu, C. H.; Guo, D. F.; Lour, W. S.

    2008-12-01

    Pseudomorphic Al0.22Ga0.78As/In0.16Ga0.84As/Al0.22Ga0.78As double heterojunction high electron mobility transistors (DH-HEMTs) fabricated with different gate-formation structures of a single-recess gate (SRG), a double-recess gate (DRG) and a field-plate gate (FPG) were comparatively investigated. FPG devices show the best breakdown characteristics among these devices due to great reduction in the peak electric field between the drain and gate electrodes. The measured gate-drain breakdown voltages defined at a 1 mA mm-1 reverse gate-drain current density were -15.3, -19.1 and -26.0 V for SRG, DRG and FPG devices, respectively. No significant differences in their room-temperature common-source current-voltage characteristics were observed. However, FPG devices exhibit threshold voltages being the least sensitive to temperature. Threshold voltages as a function of temperature indicate a threshold-voltage variation as low as -0.97 mV K-1 for FPG devices. According to the 2.4 GHz load-pull power measurement at VDS = 3.0 V and VGS = -0.5 V, the saturated output power (POUT), power gain (GP) and maximum power-added efficiency (PAE) were 10.3 dBm/13.2 dB/36.6%, 11.2 dBm/13.1 dB/39.7% and 13.06 dBm/12.8 dB/47.3%, respectively, for SRG, DRG and FPG devices with a pi-gate in class AB operation. When the FPG device is biased at a VDS of 10 V, the saturated power density is more than 600 mW mm-1.

  5. High-voltage lateral double-implanted MOSFETs implemented on high-purity semi-insulating 4H-SiC substrates with gate field plates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Seok, Ogyun; Kim, Hyoung Woo; Moon, Jeong Hyun; Lee, Hyun-Su; Bahng, Wook

    2018-06-01

    Lateral double-implanted MOSFETs (LDIMOSFETs) fabricated on on-axis high-purity semi-insulating (HPSI) 4H-SiC substrates with gate field plates have been demonstrated for the enhancement of reverse blocking capability. The effects of gate field plate on LDIMOSFET were analyzed by simulation and experimental methods. The electric field concentration at the gate edge was successfully suppressed by a gate field plate. A high breakdown voltage of 934 V and a figure of merit of 14.6 MW/cm2 were achieved at L FP of 2 µm and L drift of 15 µm, while those of the conventional device without a gate field plate were 744 V and 13.3 MW/cm2, respectively. Also, the fabricated device shows stable blocking characteristics at a high temperature of 250 °C. The drain leakage was increased by only 22% at 250 °C compared with that at room temperature.

  6. High-sensitivity pH sensor using separative extended-gate field-effect transistors with single-walled carbon-nanotube networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pyo, Ju-Young; Cho, Won-Ju

    2018-04-01

    We fabricate high-sensitivity pH sensors using single-walled carbon-nanotube (SWCNT) network thin-film transistors (TFTs). The sensing and transducer parts of the pH sensor are composed of separative extended-sensing gates (ESGs) with SnO2 ion-sensitive membranes and double-gate structure TFTs with thin SWCNT network channels of ∼1 nm and AlO x top-gate insulators formed by the solution-deposition method. To prevent thermal process-induced damages on the SWCNT channel layer due to the post-deposition annealing process and improve the electrical characteristics of the SWCNT-TFTs, microwave irradiation is applied at low temperatures. As a result, a pH sensitivity of 7.6 V/pH, far beyond the Nernst limit, is obtained owing to the capacitive coupling effect between the top- and bottom-gate insulators of the SWCNT-TFTs. Therefore, double-gate structure SWCNT-TFTs with separated ESGs are expected to be highly beneficial for high-sensitivity disposable biosensor applications.

  7. Organic/inorganic hybrid synaptic transistors gated by proton conducting methylcellulose films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wan, Chang Jin; Zhu, Li Qiang; Wan, Xiang; Shi, Yi; Wan, Qing

    2016-01-01

    The idea of building a brain-inspired cognitive system has been around for several decades. Recently, electric-double-layer transistors gated by ion conducting electrolytes were reported as the promising candidates for synaptic electronics and neuromorphic system. In this letter, indium-zinc-oxide transistors gated by proton conducting methylcellulose electrolyte films were experimentally demonstrated with synaptic plasticity including paired-pulse facilitation and spatiotemporal-correlated dynamic logic. More importantly, a model based on proton-related electric-double-layer modulation and stretched-exponential decay function was proposed, and the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimentally measured synaptic behaviors.

  8. Organic/inorganic hybrid synaptic transistors gated by proton conducting methylcellulose films

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wan, Chang Jin; Wan, Qing, E-mail: wanqing@nju.edu.cn, E-mail: yshi@nju.edu.cn; Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201

    The idea of building a brain-inspired cognitive system has been around for several decades. Recently, electric-double-layer transistors gated by ion conducting electrolytes were reported as the promising candidates for synaptic electronics and neuromorphic system. In this letter, indium-zinc-oxide transistors gated by proton conducting methylcellulose electrolyte films were experimentally demonstrated with synaptic plasticity including paired-pulse facilitation and spatiotemporal-correlated dynamic logic. More importantly, a model based on proton-related electric-double-layer modulation and stretched-exponential decay function was proposed, and the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimentally measured synaptic behaviors.

  9. Low-Power and High-Speed Technique for logic Gates in 20nm Double-Gate FinFET Technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Priydarshi, A.; Chattopadhyay, M. K.

    2016-10-01

    The FinFET is the leading example of multigate MOSFETS to substitute conventional single gate MOSFETs for ultimate scaling [1], The FinFET structure is a combination of a thin channel region and a double gate to suppress the short channel effects (SCEs) and Vthvariation [2], By using FinFET,figure of merits viz, ION, IOFF, output resistance, propagation delay, noise margin and leakage power, can be improved for ultra low power and high performance applications[3]. In this paper, a new high speed low power dynamic circuit design technique has been proposed using 20nm FinFETs. By applying the appropriate clock and sleep signal to the back gates of the FinFETs, the proposed circuit can efficiently control the dynamic power, During the pre-charging period, Vth of PMOS is controlled low so that a fast precharging can occur;

  10. Ultraclean single, double, and triple carbon nanotube quantum dots with recessed Re bottom gates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jung, Minkyung; Schindele, Jens; Nau, Stefan; Weiss, Markus; Baumgartner, Andreas; Schoenenberger, Christian

    2014-03-01

    Ultraclean carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that are free from disorder provide a promising platform to manipulate single electron or hole spins for quantum information. Here, we demonstrate that ultraclean single, double, and triple quantum dots (QDs) can be formed reliably in a CNT by a straightforward fabrication technique. The QDs are electrostatically defined in the CNT by closely spaced metallic bottom gates deposited in trenches in Silicon dioxide by sputter deposition of Re. The carbon nanotubes are then grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) across the trenches and contacted using conventional electron beam lithography. The devices exhibit reproducibly the characteristics of ultraclean QDs behavior even after the subsequent electron beam lithography and chemical processing steps. We demonstrate the high quality using CNT devices with two narrow bottom gates and one global back gate. Tunable by the gate voltages, the device can be operated in four different regimes: i) fully p-type with ballistic transport between the outermost contacts (over a length of 700 nm), ii) clean n-type single QD behavior where a QD can be induced by either the left or the right bottom gate, iii) n-type double QD and iv) triple bipolar QD where the middle QD has opposite doping (p-type). Research at Basel is supported by the NCCR-Nano, NCCR-QIST, ERC project QUEST, and FP7 project SE2ND.

  11. Silicon-gate CMOS/SOS processing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ramondetta, P.

    1979-01-01

    Major silicon-gate CMOS/SOS processes are described. Sapphire substrate preparation is also discussed, as well as the following process variations: (1) the double epi process; and (2) ion implantation.

  12. Geometry in Biomimetic Network: Double Gyroid to Pseudo-Single Gyroid in Nanohybrid Materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsueh, Han-Yu; Ho, Rong-Ming; Hung, Yu-Chueh; Ling, Yi-Chun; Hasegawa, Hirokazu

    2013-03-01

    Biological systems have developed delicately arranged micro- and architectures to produce striking optical effects since millions of years ago. Inspired by the textures of butterfly wings with single gyroid (SG) structure, herein, we aim to fabricate biocompatible and robust materials with SG-like structure in nanometer size so as to give new materials with unprecedented optical properties for applications. Biommicking from the biological photonic structures of butterfly wings, a double gyroid (DG) structure in nanometer size is obtained from the self-assembly of polystyrene-b-poly(L-lactide) (PS-PLLA). To acquire robust backbone networks, inorganic networks in polymer matrix are fabricated by using the hydrolyzed PS-PLLA with DG structure as a template for sol-gel reaction. Owing to the soft polymer matrix, two co-continuous inorganic networks embedded in the polymer matrix can be rearranged by thermal annealing at temperature above the glass transition of the polymer. Consequently, the rearrangement of these inorganic networks leads the formation of SG-like structure possessing unique nanohybrids with ordered texture. This unique nanomaterials with SG-like structure is referred as a pseudo-SG (p-SG) nanohybrids.

  13. Design of double gate vertical tunnel field effect transistor using HDB and its performance estimation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Seema; Chauhan, Sudakar Singh

    2018-05-01

    In this paper, we demonstrate the double gate vertical tunnel field-effect transistor using homo/hetero dielectric buried oxide (HDB) to obtain the optimized device characteristics. In this concern, the existence of double gate, HDB and electrode work-function engineering enhances DC performance and Analog/RF performance. The use of electrostatic doping helps to achieve higher on-current owing to occurrence of higher tunneling generation rate of charge carriers at the source/epitaxial interface. Further, lightly doped drain region and high- k dielectric below channel and drain region are responsible to suppress the ambipolar current. Simulated results clarifies that proposed device have achieved the tremendous performance in terms of driving current capability, steeper subthreshold slope (SS), drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL), hot carrier effects (HCEs) and high frequency parameters for better device reliability.

  14. Performance analysis of junction-less double Gate n-p-n impact ionization MOS transistor (JLDG n-IMOS)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chauhan, Manvendra Singh; Chauhan, R. K.

    2018-04-01

    This paper demonstrates a Junction-less Double Gate n-p-n Impact ionization MOS transistor (JLDG n-IMOS) on a very light doped p-type silicon body. Device structure proposed in the paper is based on charge plasma concept. There is no metallurgical junctions in the proposed device and does not need any impurity doping to create the drain and source regions. Due to doping-less nature, the fabrication process is simple for JLDG n-IMOS. The double gate engineering in proposed device leads to reduction in avalanche breakdown via impact ionization, generating large number of carriers in drain-body junction, resulting high ION current, small IOFF current and great improvement in ION/IOFF ratio. The simulation and examination of the proposed device have been performed on ATLAS device simulatorsoftware.

  15. Optimal control of universal quantum gates in a double quantum dot

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Castelano, Leonardo K.; de Lima, Emanuel F.; Madureira, Justino R.; Degani, Marcos H.; Maialle, Marcelo Z.

    2018-06-01

    We theoretically investigate electron spin operations driven by applied electric fields in a semiconductor double quantum dot (DQD) formed in a nanowire with longitudinal potential modulated by local gating. We develop a model that describes the process of loading and unloading the DQD taking into account the overlap between the electron wave function and the leads. Such a model considers the spatial occupation and the spin Pauli blockade in a time-dependent fashion due to the highly mixed states driven by the external electric field. Moreover, we present a road map based on the quantum optimal control theory (QOCT) to find a specific electric field that performs two-qubit quantum gates on a faster timescale and with higher possible fidelity. By employing the QOCT, we demonstrate the possibility of performing within high efficiency a universal set of quantum gates {cnot, H, and T } , where cnot is the controlled-not gate, H is the Hadamard gate, and T is the π /8 gate, even in the presence of the loading/unloading process and charge noise effects. Furthermore, by varying the intensity of the applied magnetic field B , the optimized fidelity of the gates oscillates with a period inversely proportional to the gate operation time tf. This behavior can be useful to attain higher fidelity for fast gate operations (>1 GHz) by appropriately choosing B and tf to produce a maximum of the oscillation.

  16. Local Gate Control of a Carbon Nanotube Double Quantum Dot

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-04-04

    Nanotube Double Quantum Dot N. Mason,*† M. J. Biercuk,* C. M. Marcus† We have measured carbon nanotube quantum dots with multiple electro- static gates and...computation. Carbon nanotubes have been considered lead- ing candidates for nanoscale electronic applica- tions (1, 2). Previous measurements of nano- tube...electronics have shown electron confine- ment (quantum dot) effects such as single- electron charging and energy-level quantization (3–5). Nanotube

  17. On the influence of the local maxima of total pressure on the current sheet stability to the kink-like (flapping) mode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Korovinskiy, D. B.; Erkaev, N. V.; Semenov, V. S.; Ivanov, I. B.; Kiehas, S. A.; Ryzhkov, I. I.

    2018-02-01

    The stability of the Fadeev-like current sheet with respect to transversally propagating kink-like perturbations (flapping mode) is considered in terms of two-dimensional linear magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations. It is found that the current sheet is stable when the total pressure minimum is located in the sheet center and unstable when the maximum value is reached there. It is shown that an unstable spot of any size enforces the whole sheet to be unstable, though the increment of instability decreases with the reduction of the unstable domain. In unstable sheets, the dispersion curve of instability shows a good match with the double-gradient (DG) model prediction. Here, the typical growth rate (short-wavelength limit) is close to the DG estimate averaged over the unstable region. In stable configurations, the typical frequency matches the maximum DG estimate. The dispersion curve of oscillations demonstrates a local maximum at wavelength ˜0.7 sheet half-width, which is a new feature that is absent in simplified analytical solutions.

  18. Capacitorless one-transistor dynamic random-access memory based on asymmetric double-gate Ge/GaAs-heterojunction tunneling field-effect transistor with n-doped boosting layer and drain-underlap structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yoon, Young Jun; Seo, Jae Hwa; Kang, In Man

    2018-04-01

    In this work, we present a capacitorless one-transistor dynamic random-access memory (1T-DRAM) based on an asymmetric double-gate Ge/GaAs-heterojunction tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET) for DRAM applications. The n-doped boosting layer and gate2 drain-underlap structure is employed in the device to obtain an excellent 1T-DRAM performance. The n-doped layer inserted between the source and channel regions improves the sensing margin because of a high rate of increase in the band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) probability. Furthermore, because the gate2 drain-underlap structure reduces the recombination rate that occurs between the gate2 and drain regions, a device with a gate2 drain-underlap length (L G2_D-underlap) of 10 nm exhibited a longer retention performance. As a result, by applying the n-doped layer and gate2 drain-underlap structure, the proposed device exhibited not only a high sensing margin of 1.11 µA/µm but also a long retention time of greater than 100 ms at a temperature of 358 K (85 °C).

  19. Undoped Si/SiGe Depletion-Mode Few-Electron Double Quantum Dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Borselli, Matthew; Huang, Biqin; Ross, Richard; Croke, Edward; Holabird, Kevin; Hazard, Thomas; Watson, Christopher; Kiselev, Andrey; Deelman, Peter; Alvarado-Rodriguez, Ivan; Schmitz, Adele; Sokolich, Marko; Gyure, Mark; Hunter, Andrew

    2011-03-01

    We have successfully formed a double quantum dot in the sSi/SiGe material system without need for intentional dopants. In our design, a two-dimensional electron gas is formed in a strained silicon well by forward biasing a global gate. Lateral definition of quantum dots is established with reverse-biased gates with ~ 40 nm critical dimensions. Low-temperature capacitance and Hall measurements confirm electrons are confined in the Si-well with mobilities > 10 4 cm 2 / V - s . Further characterization identifies practical gate bias limits for this design and will be compared to simulation. Several double dot devices have been brought into the few-electron Coulomb blockade regime as measured by through-dot transport. Honeycomb diagrams and nonlinear through-dot transport measurements are used to quantify dot capacitances and addition energies of several meV. Sponsored by United States Department of Defense. Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited.

  20. Nanowire systems: technology and design

    PubMed Central

    Gaillardon, Pierre-Emmanuel; Amarù, Luca Gaetano; Bobba, Shashikanth; De Marchi, Michele; Sacchetto, Davide; De Micheli, Giovanni

    2014-01-01

    Nanosystems are large-scale integrated systems exploiting nanoelectronic devices. In this study, we consider double independent gate, vertically stacked nanowire field effect transistors (FETs) with gate-all-around structures and typical diameter of 20 nm. These devices, which we have successfully fabricated and evaluated, control the ambipolar behaviour of the nanostructure by selectively enabling one type of carriers. These transistors work as switches with electrically programmable polarity and thus realize an exclusive or operation. The intrinsic higher expressive power of these FETs, when compared with standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology, enables us to realize more efficient logic gates, which we organize as tiles to realize nanowire systems by regular arrays. This article surveys both the technology for double independent gate FETs as well as physical and logic design tools to realize digital systems with this fabrication technology. PMID:24567471

  1. Efficient Multi-Dimensional Simulation of Quantum Confinement Effects in Advanced MOS Devices

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biegel, Bryan A.; Rafferty, Conor S.; Ancona, Mario G.; Yu, Zhi-Ping

    2000-01-01

    We investigate the density-gradient (DG) transport model for efficient multi-dimensional simulation of quantum confinement effects in advanced MOS devices. The formulation of the DG model is described as a quantum correction to the classical drift-diffusion model. Quantum confinement effects are shown to be significant in sub-100nm MOSFETs. In thin-oxide MOS capacitors, quantum effects may reduce gate capacitance by 25% or more. As a result, the inclusion or quantum effects in simulations dramatically improves the match between C-V simulations and measurements for oxide thickness down to 2 nm. Significant quantum corrections also occur in the I-V characteristics of short-channel (30 to 100 nm) n-MOSFETs, with current drive reduced by up to 70%. This effect is shown to result from reduced inversion charge due to quantum confinement of electrons in the channel. Also, subthreshold slope is degraded by 15 to 20 mV/decade with the inclusion of quantum effects via the density-gradient model, and short channel effects (in particular, drain-induced barrier lowering) are noticeably increased.

  2. Toward Efficient Design of Reversible Logic Gates in Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata with Power Dissipation Analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sasamal, Trailokya Nath; Singh, Ashutosh Kumar; Ghanekar, Umesh

    2018-04-01

    Nanotechnologies, remarkably Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA), offer an attractive perspective for future computing technologies. In this paper, QCA is investigated as an implementation method for designing area and power efficient reversible logic gates. The proposed designs achieve superior performance by incorporating a compact 2-input XOR gate. The proposed design for Feynman, Toffoli, and Fredkin gates demonstrates 28.12, 24.4, and 7% reduction in cell count and utilizes 46, 24.4, and 7.6% less area, respectively over previous best designs. Regarding the cell count (area cover) that of the proposed Peres gate and Double Feynman gate are 44.32% (21.5%) and 12% (25%), respectively less than the most compact previous designs. Further, the delay of Fredkin and Toffoli gates is 0.75 clock cycles, which is equal to the delay of the previous best designs. While the Feynman and Double Feynman gates achieve a delay of 0.5 clock cycles, equal to the least delay previous one. Energy analysis confirms that the average energy dissipation of the developed Feynman, Toffoli, and Fredkin gates is 30.80, 18.08, and 4.3% (for 1.0 E k energy level), respectively less compared to best reported designs. This emphasizes the beneficial role of using proposed reversible gates to design complex and power efficient QCA circuits. The QCADesigner tool is used to validate the layout of the proposed designs, and the QCAPro tool is used to evaluate the energy dissipation.

  3. Development of a Si/ SiO 2-based double quantum dot charge qubit with dispersive microwave readout

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    House, M. G.; Henry, E.; Schmidt, A.; Naaman, O.; Siddiqi, I.; Pan, H.; Xiao, M.; Jiang, H. W.

    2011-03-01

    Coupling of a high-Q microwave resonator to superconducting qubits has been successfully used to prepare, manipulate, and read out the state of a single qubit, and to mediate interactions between qubits. Our work is geared toward implementing this architecture in a semiconductor qubit. We present the design and development of a lateral quantum dot in which a superconducting microwave resonator is capacitively coupled to a double dot charge qubit. The device is a silicon MOSFET structure with a global gate which is used to accumulate electrons at a Si/ Si O2 interface. A set of smaller gates are used to deplete these electrons to define a double quantum dot and adjacent conduction channels. Two of these depletion gates connect directly to the conductors of a 6 GHz co-planar stripline resonator. We present measurements of transport and conventional charge sensing used to characterize the double quantum dot, and demonstrate that it is possible to reach the few-electron regime in this system. This work is supported by the DARPA-QuEST program.

  4. Wavelength-dependence of double optical gating for attosecond pulse generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tian, Jia; Li, Min; Yu, Ji-Zhou; Deng, Yong-Kai; Liu, Yun-Quan

    2014-10-01

    Both polarization gating (PG) and double optical gating (DOG) are productive methods to generate single attosecond (as) pulses. In this paper, considering the ground-state depletion effect, we investigate the wavelength-dependence of the DOG method in order to optimize the generation of single attosecond pulses for the future application. By calculating the ionization probabilities of the leading edge of the pulse at different driving laser wavelengths, we obtain the upper limit of duration for the driving laser pulse for the DOG setup. We find that the upper limit duration increases with the increase of laser wavelength. We further describe the technical method of choosing and calculating the thickness values of optical components for the DOG setup.

  5. Design architecture of double spiral interdigitated electrode with back gate electrode for biosensor application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fathil, M. F. M.; Arshad, M. K. Md.; Hashim, U.; Ruslinda, A. R.; Gopinath, Subash C. B.; M. Nuzaihan M., N.; Ayub, R. M.; Adzhri, R.; Zaki, M.; Azman, A. H.

    2016-07-01

    This paper presents the preparation method of photolithography chrome mask design used in fabrication process of double spiral interdigitated electrode with back gate biasing based biosensor. By learning the fabrication process flow of the biosensor, the chrome masks are designed through drawing using the AutoCAD software. The overall width and length of the device is optimized at 7.0 mm and 10.0 mm, respectively. Fabrication processes of the biosensor required three chrome masks, which included back gate opening, spiral IDE formation, and passivation area formation. The complete chrome masks design will be sent for chrome mask fabrication and for future use in biosensor fabrication.

  6. A reconfigurable gate architecture for Si/SiGe quantum dots

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zajac, D. M.; Hazard, T. M.; Mi, X.

    2015-06-01

    We demonstrate a reconfigurable quantum dot gate architecture that incorporates two interchangeable transport channels. One channel is used to form quantum dots, and the other is used for charge sensing. The quantum dot transport channel can support either a single or a double quantum dot. We demonstrate few-electron occupation in a single quantum dot and extract charging energies as large as 6.6 meV. Magnetospectroscopy is used to measure valley splittings in the range of 35–70 μeV. By energizing two additional gates, we form a few-electron double quantum dot and demonstrate tunable tunnel coupling at the (1,0) to (0,1) interdot charge transition.

  7. Automatic alternative phase-shift mask CAD layout tool for gate shrinkage of embedded DRAM in logic below 0.18 μm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ohnuma, Hidetoshi; Kawahira, Hiroichi

    1998-09-01

    An automatic alternative phase shift mask (PSM) pattern layout tool has been newly developed. This tool is dedicated for embedded DRAM in logic device to shrink gate line width with improving line width controllability in lithography process with a design rule below 0.18 micrometers by the KrF excimer laser exposure. The tool can crete Levenson type PSM used being coupled with a binary mask adopting a double exposure method for positive photo resist. By using graphs, this tool automatically creates alternative PSM patterns. Moreover, it does not give any phase conflicts. By adopting it to actual embedded DRAM in logic cells, we have provided 0.16 micrometers gate resist patterns at both random logic and DRAM areas. The patterns were fabricated using two masks with the double exposure method. Gate line width has been well controlled under a practical exposure-focus window.

  8. Large-current-controllable carbon nanotube field-effect transistor in electrolyte solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Myodo, Miho; Inaba, Masafumi; Ohara, Kazuyoshi; Kato, Ryogo; Kobayashi, Mikinori; Hirano, Yu; Suzuki, Kazuma; Kawarada, Hiroshi

    2015-05-01

    Large-current-controllable carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNT-FETs) were fabricated with mm-long CNT sheets. The sheets, synthesized by remote-plasma-enhanced CVD, contained both single- and double-walled CNTs. Titanium was deposited on the sheet as source and drain electrodes, and an electrolyte solution was used as a gate electrode (solution gate) to apply a gate voltage to the CNTs through electric double layers formed around the CNTs. The drain current came to be well modulated as electrolyte solution penetrated into the sheets, and one of the solution gate CNT-FETs was able to control a large current of over 2.5 A. In addition, we determined the transconductance parameter per tube and compared it with values for other CNT-FETs. The potential of CNT sheets for applications requiring the control of large current is exhibited in this study.

  9. State-conditional coherent charge qubit oscillations in a Si/SiGe quadruple quantum dot

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ward, Daniel R.; Kim, Dohun; Savage, Donald E.

    Universal quantum computation requires high-fidelity single-qubit rotations and controlled two-qubit gates. Along with high-fidelity single-qubit gates, strong efforts have been made in developing robust two-qubit logic gates in electrically gated quantum dot systems to realise a compact and nanofabrication-compatible architecture. Here we perform measurements of state-conditional coherent oscillations of a charge qubit. Using a quadruple quantum dot formed in a Si/SiGe heterostructure, we show the first demonstration of coherent two-axis control of a double quantum dot charge qubit in undoped Si/SiGe, performing Larmor and Ramsey oscillation measurements. We extract the strength of the capacitive coupling between a pair of doublemore » quantum dots by measuring the detuning energy shift (≈75 μeV) of one double dot depending on the excess charge configuration of the other double dot. Finally, we further demonstrate that the strong capacitive coupling allows fast, state-conditional Landau–Zener–Stückelberg oscillations with a conditional π phase flip time of about 80 ps, showing a promising pathway towards multi-qubit entanglement and control in semiconductor quantum dots.« less

  10. State-conditional coherent charge qubit oscillations in a Si/SiGe quadruple quantum dot

    DOE PAGES

    Ward, Daniel R.; Kim, Dohun; Savage, Donald E.; ...

    2016-10-18

    Universal quantum computation requires high-fidelity single-qubit rotations and controlled two-qubit gates. Along with high-fidelity single-qubit gates, strong efforts have been made in developing robust two-qubit logic gates in electrically gated quantum dot systems to realise a compact and nanofabrication-compatible architecture. Here we perform measurements of state-conditional coherent oscillations of a charge qubit. Using a quadruple quantum dot formed in a Si/SiGe heterostructure, we show the first demonstration of coherent two-axis control of a double quantum dot charge qubit in undoped Si/SiGe, performing Larmor and Ramsey oscillation measurements. We extract the strength of the capacitive coupling between a pair of doublemore » quantum dots by measuring the detuning energy shift (≈75 μeV) of one double dot depending on the excess charge configuration of the other double dot. Finally, we further demonstrate that the strong capacitive coupling allows fast, state-conditional Landau–Zener–Stückelberg oscillations with a conditional π phase flip time of about 80 ps, showing a promising pathway towards multi-qubit entanglement and control in semiconductor quantum dots.« less

  11. Double optical gating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gilbertson, Steve

    The observation and control of dynamics in atomic and molecular targets requires the use of laser pulses with duration less than the characteristic timescale of the process which is to be manipulated. For electron dynamics, this time scale is on the order of attoseconds where 1 attosecond = 10 -18 seconds. In order to generate pulses on this time scale, different gating methods have been proposed. The idea is to extract or "gate" a single pulse from an attosecond pulse train and switch off all the other pulses. While previous methods have had some success, they are very difficult to implement and so far very few labs have access to these unique light sources. The purpose of this work is to introduce a new method, called double optical gating (DOG), and to demonstrate its effectiveness at generating high contrast single isolated attosecond pulses from multi-cycle lasers. First, the method is described in detail and is investigated in the spectral domain. The resulting attosecond pulses produced are then temporally characterized through attosecond streaking. A second method of gating, called generalized double optical gating (GDOG), is also introduced. This method allows attosecond pulse generation directly from a carrier-envelope phase un-stabilized laser system for the first time. Next the methods of DOG and GDOG are implemented in attosecond applications like high flux pulses and extreme broadband spectrum generation. Finally, the attosecond pulses themselves are used in experiments. First, an attosecond/femtosecond cross correlation is used for characterization of spatial and temporal properties of femtosecond pulses. Then, an attosecond pump, femtosecond probe experiment is conducted to observe and control electron dynamics in helium for the first time.

  12. Engineering activity and stability of Thermotoga maritima glutamate dehydrogenase. I. Introduction of a six-residue ion-pair network in the hinge region.

    PubMed

    Lebbink, J H; Knapp, S; van der Oost, J; Rice, D; Ladenstein, R; de Vos, W M

    1998-07-10

    Comparison of the recently determined three-dimensional structures of several glutamate dehydrogenases allowed for the identification of a five-residue ion-pair network in the hinge region of Pyrococcus furiosus glutamate dehydrogenase (melting temperature 113 degrees C), that is not present in the homologous glutamate dehydrogenase from Thermotoga maritima (melting temperature 93 degrees C). In order to study the role of this ion-pair network, we introduced it into the T. maritima enzyme using a site-directed mutagenesis approach. The resulting T. maritima glutamate dehydrogenases N97D, G376 K and N97D/G376 K as well as the wild-type enzyme were overproduced in Escherichia coli and subsequently purified. Elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of the double mutant N97D/G376 K at 3.0 A, showed that the designed ion-pair interactions were indeed formed. Moreover, because of interactions with an additional charged residue, a six-residue network is present in this double mutant. Melting temperatures of the mutant enzymes N97D, G376 K and N97D/G376 K, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry, did not differ significantly from that of the wild-type enzyme. Identical transition midpoints in guanidinium chloride-induced denaturation experiments were found for the wild-type and all mutant enzymes. Thermal inactivation at 85 degrees C occured more than twofold faster for all mutant enzymes than for the wild-type glutamate dehydrogenase. At temperatures of 65 degrees C and higher, the wild-type and the three mutant enzymes showed identical specific activities. However, at 58 degrees C the specific activity of N97D/G376 K and G376 K was found to be significantly higher than that of the wild-type and N97D enzymes. These results suggest that the engineered ion-pair interactions in the hinge region do not affect the stability towards temperature or guanidinium chloride-induced denaturation but rather affect the specific activity of the enzyme and the temperature at which it functions optimally. Copyright 1998 Academic Press

  13. Double optical gating of high-order harmonic generation with carrier-envelope phase stabilized lasers.

    PubMed

    Mashiko, Hiroki; Gilbertson, Steve; Li, Chengquan; Khan, Sabih D; Shakya, Mahendra M; Moon, Eric; Chang, Zenghu

    2008-03-14

    We demonstrated a novel optical switch to control the high-order harmonic generation process so that single attosecond pulses can be generated with multiple-cycle pulses. The technique combines two powerful optical gating methods: polarization gating and two-color gating. An extreme ultraviolet supercontinuum supporting 130 as was generated with neon gas using 9 fs laser pulses. We discovered a unique dependence of the harmonic spectra on the carrier-envelope phase of the laser fields, which repeats every 2 pi radians.

  14. Double Optical Gating of High-Order Harmonic Generation with Carrier-Envelope Phase Stabilized Lasers

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mashiko, Hiroki; Gilbertson, Steve; Li, Chengquan

    2008-03-14

    We demonstrated a novel optical switch to control the high-order harmonic generation process so that single attosecond pulses can be generated with multiple-cycle pulses. The technique combines two powerful optical gating methods: polarization gating and two-color gating. An extreme ultraviolet supercontinuum supporting 130 as was generated with neon gas using 9 fs laser pulses. We discovered a unique dependence of the harmonic spectra on the carrier-envelope phase of the laser fields, which repeats every 2{pi} radians.

  15. Pinch-off mechanism in double-lateral-gate junctionless transistors fabricated by scanning probe microscope based lithography

    PubMed Central

    Dehzangi, Arash; Abedini, Alam; Abdullah, Ahmad Makarimi; Saion, Elias; Hutagalung, Sabar D; Hamidon, Mohd N; Hassan, Jumiah

    2012-01-01

    Summary A double-lateral-gate p-type junctionless transistor is fabricated on a low-doped (1015) silicon-on-insulator wafer by a lithography technique based on scanning probe microscopy and two steps of wet chemical etching. The experimental transfer characteristics are obtained and compared with the numerical characteristics of the device. The simulation results are used to investigate the pinch-off mechanism, from the flat band to the off state. The study is based on the variation of the carrier density and the electric-field components. The device is a pinch-off transistor, which is normally in the on state and is driven into the off state by the application of a positive gate voltage. We demonstrate that the depletion starts from the bottom corner of the channel facing the gates and expands toward the center and top of the channel. Redistribution of the carriers due to the electric field emanating from the gates creates an electric field perpendicular to the current, toward the bottom of the channel, which provides the electrostatic squeezing of the current. PMID:23365794

  16. DG TO FT - AUTOMATIC TRANSLATION OF DIGRAPH TO FAULT TREE MODELS

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Iverson, D. L.

    1994-01-01

    Fault tree and digraph models are frequently used for system failure analysis. Both types of models represent a failure space view of the system using AND and OR nodes in a directed graph structure. Each model has its advantages. While digraphs can be derived in a fairly straightforward manner from system schematics and knowledge about component failure modes and system design, fault tree structure allows for fast processing using efficient techniques developed for tree data structures. The similarities between digraphs and fault trees permits the information encoded in the digraph to be translated into a logically equivalent fault tree. The DG TO FT translation tool will automatically translate digraph models, including those with loops or cycles, into fault tree models that have the same minimum cut set solutions as the input digraph. This tool could be useful, for example, if some parts of a system have been modeled using digraphs and others using fault trees. The digraphs could be translated and incorporated into the fault trees, allowing them to be analyzed using a number of powerful fault tree processing codes, such as cut set and quantitative solution codes. A cut set for a given node is a group of failure events that will cause the failure of the node. A minimum cut set for a node is any cut set that, if any of the failures in the set were to be removed, the occurrence of the other failures in the set will not cause the failure of the event represented by the node. Cut sets calculations can be used to find dependencies, weak links, and vital system components whose failures would cause serious systems failure. The DG TO FT translation system reads in a digraph with each node listed as a separate object in the input file. The user specifies a terminal node for the digraph that will be used as the top node of the resulting fault tree. A fault tree basic event node representing the failure of that digraph node is created and becomes a child of the terminal root node. A subtree is created for each of the inputs to the digraph terminal node and the root of those subtrees are added as children of the top node of the fault tree. Every node in the digraph upstream of the terminal node will be visited and converted. During the conversion process, the algorithm keeps track of the path from the digraph terminal node to the current digraph node. If a node is visited twice, then the program has found a cycle in the digraph. This cycle is broken by finding the minimal cut sets of the twice visited digraph node and forming those cut sets into subtrees. Another implementation of the algorithm resolves loops by building a subtree based on the digraph minimal cut sets calculation. It does not reduce the subtree to minimal cut set form. This second implementation produces larger fault trees, but runs much faster than the version using minimal cut sets since it does not spend time reducing the subtrees to minimal cut sets. The fault trees produced by DG TO FT will contain OR gates, AND gates, Basic Event nodes, and NOP gates. The results of a translation can be output as a text object description of the fault tree similar to the text digraph input format. The translator can also output a LISP language formatted file and an augmented LISP file which can be used by the FTDS (ARC-13019) diagnosis system, available from COSMIC, which performs diagnostic reasoning using the fault tree as a knowledge base. DG TO FT is written in C-language to be machine independent. It has been successfully implemented on a Sun running SunOS, a DECstation running ULTRIX, a Macintosh running System 7, and a DEC VAX running VMS. The RAM requirement varies with the size of the models. DG TO FT is available in UNIX tar format on a .25 inch streaming magnetic tape cartridge (standard distribution) or on a 3.5 inch diskette. It is also available on a 3.5 inch Macintosh format diskette or on a 9-track 1600 BPI magnetic tape in DEC VAX FILES-11 format. Sample input and sample output are provided on the distribution medium. An electronic copy of the documentation in Macintosh Microsoft Word format is provided on the distribution medium. DG TO FT was developed in 1992. Sun, and SunOS are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. DECstation, ULTRIX, VAX, and VMS are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. System 7 is a trademark of Apple Computers Inc. Microsoft Word is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

  17. Gate-tunable resonant tunneling in double bilayer graphene heterostructures.

    PubMed

    Fallahazad, Babak; Lee, Kayoung; Kang, Sangwoo; Xue, Jiamin; Larentis, Stefano; Corbet, Christopher; Kim, Kyounghwan; Movva, Hema C P; Taniguchi, Takashi; Watanabe, Kenji; Register, Leonard F; Banerjee, Sanjay K; Tutuc, Emanuel

    2015-01-14

    We demonstrate gate-tunable resonant tunneling and negative differential resistance in the interlayer current-voltage characteristics of rotationally aligned double bilayer graphene heterostructures separated by hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) dielectric. An analysis of the heterostructure band alignment using individual layer densities, along with experimentally determined layer chemical potentials indicates that the resonance occurs when the energy bands of the two bilayer graphene are aligned. We discuss the tunneling resistance dependence on the interlayer hBN thickness, as well as the resonance width dependence on mobility and rotational alignment.

  18. Scalable photonic quantum computing assisted by quantum-dot spin in double-sided optical microcavity.

    PubMed

    Wei, Hai-Rui; Deng, Fu-Guo

    2013-07-29

    We investigate the possibility of achieving scalable photonic quantum computing by the giant optical circular birefringence induced by a quantum-dot spin in a double-sided optical microcavity as a result of cavity quantum electrodynamics. We construct a deterministic controlled-not gate on two photonic qubits by two single-photon input-output processes and the readout on an electron-medium spin confined in an optical resonant microcavity. This idea could be applied to multi-qubit gates on photonic qubits and we give the quantum circuit for a three-photon Toffoli gate. High fidelities and high efficiencies could be achieved when the side leakage to the cavity loss rate is low. It is worth pointing out that our devices work in both the strong and the weak coupling regimes.

  19. Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity Regulation in Solution-Gated Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide Electric-Double-Layer Transistors.

    PubMed

    Wan, Chang Jin; Liu, Yang Hui; Zhu, Li Qiang; Feng, Ping; Shi, Yi; Wan, Qing

    2016-04-20

    In the biological nervous system, synaptic plasticity regulation is based on the modulation of ionic fluxes, and such regulation was regarded as the fundamental mechanism underlying memory and learning. Inspired by such biological strategies, indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) electric-double-layer (EDL) transistors gated by aqueous solutions were proposed for synaptic behavior emulations. Short-term synaptic plasticity, such as paired-pulse facilitation, high-pass filtering, and orientation tuning, was experimentally emulated in these EDL transistors. Most importantly, we found that such short-term synaptic plasticity can be effectively regulated by alcohol (ethyl alcohol) and salt (potassium chloride) additives. Our results suggest that solution gated oxide-based EDL transistors could act as the platforms for short-term synaptic plasticity emulation.

  20. Gate protective device for SOS array

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Meyer, J. E., Jr.; Scott, J. H.

    1972-01-01

    Protective gate device consisting of alternating heavily doped n(+) and p(+) diffusions eliminates breakdown voltages in silicon oxide on sapphire arrays caused by electrostatic discharge from person or equipment. Diffusions are easily produced during normal double epitaxial processing. Devices with nine layers had 27-volt breakdown.

  1. Scalable quantum computing based on stationary spin qubits in coupled quantum dots inside double-sided optical microcavities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Hai-Rui; Deng, Fu-Guo

    2014-12-01

    Quantum logic gates are the key elements in quantum computing. Here we investigate the possibility of achieving a scalable and compact quantum computing based on stationary electron-spin qubits, by using the giant optical circular birefringence induced by quantum-dot spins in double-sided optical microcavities as a result of cavity quantum electrodynamics. We design the compact quantum circuits for implementing universal and deterministic quantum gates for electron-spin systems, including the two-qubit CNOT gate and the three-qubit Toffoli gate. They are compact and economic, and they do not require additional electron-spin qubits. Moreover, our devices have good scalability and are attractive as they both are based on solid-state quantum systems and the qubits are stationary. They are feasible with the current experimental technology, and both high fidelity and high efficiency can be achieved when the ratio of the side leakage to the cavity decay is low.

  2. Scalable quantum computing based on stationary spin qubits in coupled quantum dots inside double-sided optical microcavities.

    PubMed

    Wei, Hai-Rui; Deng, Fu-Guo

    2014-12-18

    Quantum logic gates are the key elements in quantum computing. Here we investigate the possibility of achieving a scalable and compact quantum computing based on stationary electron-spin qubits, by using the giant optical circular birefringence induced by quantum-dot spins in double-sided optical microcavities as a result of cavity quantum electrodynamics. We design the compact quantum circuits for implementing universal and deterministic quantum gates for electron-spin systems, including the two-qubit CNOT gate and the three-qubit Toffoli gate. They are compact and economic, and they do not require additional electron-spin qubits. Moreover, our devices have good scalability and are attractive as they both are based on solid-state quantum systems and the qubits are stationary. They are feasible with the current experimental technology, and both high fidelity and high efficiency can be achieved when the ratio of the side leakage to the cavity decay is low.

  3. Extended-gate-type IGZO electric-double-layer TFT immunosensor with high sensitivity and low operation voltage

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Lingyan; Zhang, Shengnan; Wu, Weihua; Zhu, Liqiang; Xiao, Hui; Liu, Yanghui; Zhang, Hongliang; Javaid, Kashif; Cao, Hongtao

    2016-10-01

    An immunosensor is proposed based on the indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) electric-double-layer thin-film transistor (EDL TFT) with a separating extended gate. The IGZO EDL TFT has a field-effect mobility of 24.5 cm2 V-1 s-1 and an operation voltage less than 1.5 V. The sensors exhibit the linear current response to label-free target immune molecule in the concentrations ranging from 1.6 to 368 × 10-15 g/ml with a detection limit of 1.6 × 10-15 g/ml (0.01 fM) under an ultralow operation voltage of 0.5 V. The IGZO TFT component demonstrates a consecutive assay stability and recyclability due to the unique structure with the separating extended gate. With the excellent electrical properties and the potential for plug-in-card-type multifunctional sensing, extended-gate-type IGZO EDL TFTs can be promising candidates for the development of a label-free biosensor for public health applications.

  4. Resonant and nondissipative tunneling in independently contacted graphene structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vasko, F. T.

    2013-02-01

    The tunneling processes between independently contacted graphene sheets separated by thin insulator are restricted by the momentum and energy conservation laws. Because of this, both dissipative tunneling transitions, with momentum transfer due to disorder scattering, and nondissipative regime of tunneling, which appears due to intersection of electron and hole branches of energy spectrum, must be taken into account. The tunneling current density is calculated for the graphene-boron nitride-graphene layers, which is described by the tight-binding approach, and for the predominant momentum scattering by static disorder. Dependencies of current on concentrations in top and bottom graphene layers, which are governed by the voltages applied through independent contacts and gates, are considered for the back- and double-gated structures. The current-voltage characteristics of the back-gated structure are in agreement with the recent experiment [ScienceSCIEAS0036-807510.1126/science.1218461 335, 947 (2012)]. For the double-gated structures, the resonant dissipative tunneling causes a 10-fold enhancement of response which is important for transistor applications.

  5. Electrofluidic gating of a chemically reactive surface.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Zhijun; Stein, Derek

    2010-06-01

    We consider the influence of an electric field applied normal to the electric double layer at a chemically reactive surface. Our goal is to elucidate how surface chemistry affects the potential for field-effect control over micro- and nanofluidic systems, which we call electrofluidic gating. The charging of a metal-oxide-electrolyte (MOE) capacitor is first modeled analytically. We apply the Poisson-Boltzmann description of the double layer and impose chemical equilibrium between the ionizable surface groups and the solution at the solid-liquid interface. The chemically reactive surface is predicted to behave as a buffer, regulating the charge in the double layer by either protonating or deprotonating in response to the applied field. We present the dependence of the charge density and the electrochemical potential of the double layer on the applied field, the density, and the dissociation constants of ionizable surface groups and the ionic strength and the pH of the electrolyte. We simulate the responses of SiO(2) and Al(2)O(3), two widely used oxide insulators with different surface chemistries. We also consider the limits to electrofluidic gating imposed by the nonlinear behavior of the double layer and the dielectric strength of oxide materials, which were measured for SiO(2) and Al(2)O(3) films in MOE configurations. Our results clarify the response of chemically reactive surfaces to applied fields, which is crucial to understanding electrofluidic effects in real devices.

  6. Effect of gate bias sweep rate on the threshold voltage of in-plane gate nanowire transistor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, H. X.; Li, J.; Tan, R. R.

    2018-01-01

    In2O3 nanowire electric-double-layer (EDL) transistors with in-plane gate gated by SiO2 solid-electrolyte are fabricated on transparent glass substrates. The gate voltage sweep rates can effectively modulate the threshold voltage (Vth) of nanowire device. Both depletion mode and enhancement mode are realized, and the Vth shift of the nanowire transistors is estimated to be 0.73V (without light). This phenomenon is due to increased adsorption of oxygen on the nanowire surface by the slower gate voltage sweep rates. Adsorbed oxygens capture electrons and cause a surface of nanowire channel was depleted. The operation voltage of transistor was 1.0 V, because the EDL gate dielectric can lead to high gate dielectric capacitance. These transparent in-plane gate nanowire transistors are promising for “see-through” nanoscale sensors.

  7. Non-scaling behavior of electroosmotic flow in voltage-gated nanopores

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lian, Cheng; Gallegos, Alejandro; Liu, Honglai

    2017-01-01

    Ionic size effects and electrostatic correlations result in the non-monotonic dependence of the electrical conductivity on the pore size. For ion transport at a high gating voltage, the conductivity oscillates with the pore size due to a significant overlap of the electric double layers.

  8. Self-Organization of Ions at the Interface between Graphene and Ionic Liquid DEME-TFSI.

    PubMed

    Hu, Guangliang; Pandey, Gaind P; Liu, Qingfeng; Anaredy, Radhika S; Ma, Chunrui; Liu, Ming; Li, Jun; Shaw, Scott K; Wu, Judy

    2017-10-11

    Electrochemical effects manifest as nonlinear responses to an applied electric field in electrochemical devices, and are linked intimately to the molecular orientation of ions in the electric double layer (EDL). Herein, we probe the origin of the electrochemical effect using a double-gate graphene field effect transistor (GFET) of ionic liquid N,N-diethyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-N-methylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (DEME-TFSI) top-gate, paired with a ferroelectric Pb 0.92 La 0.08 Zr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 (PLZT) back-gate of compatible gating efficiency. The orientation of the interfacial molecular ions can be extracted by measuring the GFET Dirac point shift, and their dynamic response to ultraviolet-visible light and a gate electric field was quantified. We have observed that the strong electrochemical effect is due to the TFSI anions self-organizing on a treated GFET surface. Moreover, a reversible order-disorder transition of TFSI anions self-organized on the GFET surface can be triggered by illuminating the interface with ultraviolet-visible light, revealing that it is a useful method to control the surface ion configuration and the overall performance of the device.

  9. Stereological Investigation of the Effects of Treadmill Running Exercise on the Hippocampal Neurons in Middle-Aged APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice.

    PubMed

    Chao, Fenglei; Jiang, Lin; Zhang, Yi; Zhou, Chunni; Zhang, Lei; Tang, Jing; Liang, Xin; Qi, Yingqiang; Zhu, Yanqing; Ma, Jing; Tang, Yong

    2018-01-01

    The risk of cognitive decline during Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be reduced if physical activity is maintained; however, the specific neural events underlying this beneficial effect are still uncertain. To quantitatively investigate the neural events underlying the effect of running exercise on middle-aged AD subjects, 12-month-old male APP/PS1 mice were randomly assigned to a control group or running group, and age-matched non-transgenic littermates were used as a wild-type group. AD running group mice were subjected to a treadmill running protocol (regular and moderate intensity) for four months. Spatial learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze. Hippocampal amyloid plaques were observed using Thioflavin S staining and immunohistochemistry. Hippocampal volume, number of neurons, and number of newborn cells (BrdU+ cells) in the hippocampus were estimated using stereological techniques, and newborn neurons were observed using double-labelling immunofluorescence. Marked neuronal loss in both the CA1 field and dentate gyrus (DG) and deficits in both the neurogenesis and survival of new neurons in the DG of middle-aged APP/PS1 mice were observed. Running exercise could improve the spatial learning and memory abilities, reduce amyloid plaques in the hippocampi, delay neuronal loss, induce neurogenesis, and promote the survival of newborn neurons in the DG of middle-aged APP/PS1 mice. Exercise-induced protection of neurons and adult neurogenesis within the DG might be part of the important structural basis of the improved spatial learning and memory abilities observed in AD mice.

  10. Reversible logic gates based on enzyme-biocatalyzed reactions and realized in flow cells: a modular approach.

    PubMed

    Fratto, Brian E; Katz, Evgeny

    2015-05-18

    Reversible logic gates, such as the double Feynman gate, Toffoli gate and Peres gate, with 3-input/3-output channels are realized using reactions biocatalyzed with enzymes and performed in flow systems. The flow devices are constructed using a modular approach, where each flow cell is modified with one enzyme that biocatalyzes one chemical reaction. The multi-step processes mimicking the reversible logic gates are organized by combining the biocatalytic cells in different networks. This work emphasizes logical but not physical reversibility of the constructed systems. Their advantages and disadvantages are discussed and potential use in biosensing systems, rather than in computing devices, is suggested. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  11. Ruminal and intestinal degradability of distillers grains plus solubles varies by source.

    PubMed

    Kleinschmit, D H; Anderson, J L; Schingoethe, D J; Kalscheur, K F; Hippen, A R

    2007-06-01

    Currently in the dairy industry, there is a concern about the variability in the nutrient content among sources of distillers grains plus solubles (DG), but little research has evaluated the variability in metabolizable AA among sources. The ruminal degradability of crude protein (CP) in soybean meal (SBM), dried DG from 5 sources (DG1, DG2, DG3, DG4, and DG5), and 1 source of wet DG (WDG) were determined using 2 lactating ruminally cannulated Holstein cows. Feeds were incubated in the rumen for 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 h. Intestinal CP digestibility via pepsin and pancreatin and AA profiles were measured on residue from 12-h ruminal incubation of feeds. Ruminal undegradable protein (RUP) was less for SBM (46.4%) than for DG. The WDG (53.6%) had less RUP than dried DG. The RUP concentrations of DG3 (59.1%) and DG5 (60.3%) were lower than DG1 (71.7%) and DG4 (67.5%), with DG1 having more than DG2 (63.7%) and DG4. Intestinal digestibility of RUP was greater for SBM (86.7%) than DG. The DG2 (76.8%) and DG3 (74.2%) had greater intestinal digestibility compared with DG1 (59.2%), DG4 (63.0%), and DG5 (68.1%). The intestinal digestibility in WDG (65.8%) was similar to all other DG except for DG1, which was lower. Total digestibility of CP was greater in SBM (93.9%) compared with DG. Among the DG sources, the CP in DG2 (85.3%) and DG3 (84.9%) was more digestible compared with DG1 (70.7%), DG4 (74.9%), and DG5 (80.8%) but not WDG (81.9%). Based on the milk protein score (MPS), which is an estimate of the proportion of milk protein that a protein source can sustain until the first limiting AA is depleted, Met was the first limiting AA in SBM and Lys in DG. The concentrations of essential AA in the RUP were not different among DG sources, but the greater MPS in WDG (0.306) compared with the dried DG (0.240) sources indicated that WDG may have been the more ideal RUP source; but, the MPS of the metabolizable protein indicated that the protein quality of WDG was similar to that in DG2, DG3, and DG5. In conclusion, protein degradability and digestibility differed greatly among DG sources, but these differences were actually not as prominent in the concentrations of metabolizable AA and MPS among these sources.

  12. Ellipticity dependence of high harmonics generated using 400 nm driving lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cheng, Yan; Khan, Sabih; Zhao, Kun; Zhao, Baozhen; Chini, Michael; Chang, Zenghu

    2011-05-01

    High order harmonics generated from 400 nm driving pulses hold promise of scaling photon flux of single attosecond pulses by one to two orders of magnitude. We report ellipticity dependence and phase matching of high order harmonics generated from such pulses in Neon gas target and compared them with similar measurements using 800 nm driving pulses. Based on measured ellipticity dependence, we predict that double optical gating (DOG) and generalized double optical gating (GDOG) can be employed to extract intense single attosecond pulses from pulse train, while polarization gating (PG) may not work for this purpose. This material is supported by the U.S. Army Research Office under grant number W911NF-07-1-0475, and by the Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy.

  13. Variable N-type negative resistance in an injection-gated double-injection diode

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kapoor, A. K.; Henderson, H. T.

    1981-01-01

    Double-injection (DI) switching devices consist of p+ and n+ contacts (for hole and electron injection, respectively), separated by a near intrinsic semiconductor region containing deep traps. Under proper conditions, these devices exhibit S-type differential negative resistance (DNR) similar to silicon-controlled rectifiers. With the added influence of a p+ gate appropriately placed between the anode (p+) and cathode (n+), the current-voltage characteristic of the device has been manipulated for the first time to exhibit a variable N-type DNR. The anode current and the anode-to-cathode voltage levels at which this N-type DNR is observed can be varied by changing the gate-to-cathode bias. In essence, the classical S-type DI diode can be electronically transformed into an N-type diode. A first-order phenomenological model is proposed for the N-type DNR.

  14. The organization of orientation selectivity throughout macaque visual cortex.

    PubMed

    Vanduffel, Wim; Tootell, Roger B H; Schoups, Aniek A; Orban, Guy A

    2002-06-01

    A double-label deoxyglucose technique was used to study orientation columns throughout visual cortex in awake behaving macaques. Four macaques were trained to fixate while contrastreversing, stationary gratings or one-dimensional noise of a single orientation or an orthogonal orientation were presented, during uptake of [14C]deoxyglucose ([14C]DG) or [3H]DG, respectively. The two orthogonal stimulus orientations produced DG-labeled columns that were maximally separated in the two isotope maps (inter-digitated) in four areas: V1, V2, V3 and VP. The topographic change from interdigitated to overlapping columns occurred abruptly rather than gradually, at corresponding cortical area borders (e.g. VP and V4v, respectively). In addition, the data suggest that orientation column topography systematically changes with retinotopic eccentricity. In V1, the orientation columns systematically avoided the cytochrome oxidase blobs in the parafoveal representation, but converged closer to the blobs in the foveal representation. A control experiment indicated that this was unlikely to reflect eccentricity-dependent differences in cortical spatial frequency sensitivity. A similar eccentricity-dependent change in the topography of orientation columns occurred in V2. In parafoveal but not foveal visual field representations of V2, the orientation columns were centered on the thick cytochrome oxidase stripes, extended into the adjacent interstripe region, but were virtually absent in the thin stripes.

  15. CNOT sequences for heterogeneous spin qubit architectures in a noisy environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferraro, Elena; Fanciulli, Marco; de Michielis, Marco

    Explicit CNOT gate sequences for two-qubits mixed architectures are presented in view of applications for large-scale quantum computation. Different kinds of coded spin qubits are combined allowing indeed the favorable physical properties of each to be employed. The building blocks for such composite systems are qubit architectures based on the electronic spin in electrostatically defined semiconductor quantum dots. They are the single quantum dot spin qubit, the double quantum dot singlet-triplet qubit and the double quantum dot hybrid qubit. The effective Hamiltonian models expressed by only exchange interactions between pair of electrons are exploited in different geometrical configurations. A numerical genetic algorithm that takes into account the realistic physical parameters involved is adopted. Gate operations are addressed by modulating the tunneling barriers and the energy offsets between different couple of quantum dots. Gate infidelities are calculated considering limitations due to unideal control of gate sequence pulses, hyperfine interaction and unwanted charge coupling. Second affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali, University of Milano Bicocca, Via R. Cozzi, 55, 20126 Milano, Italy.

  16. 77 FR 19063 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-03-30

    ... Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department... (AD) for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-500 Elan Orion, DG-500 Elan Trainer, DG-500/ 20 Elan, DG-500/22... identified in this AD, contact DG- Flugzeugbau GmbH, Otto-Lilienthal-Weg 2, 76646 Bruchsal, Federal Republic...

  17. Junctionless Thin-Film Transistors Gated by an H₃PO₄-Incorporated Chitosan Proton Conductor.

    PubMed

    Liu, Huixuan; Xun, Damao

    2018-04-01

    We fabricated an H3PO4-incorporated chitosan proton conductor film that exhibited the electric double layer effect and showed a high specific capacitance of 4.42 μF/cm2. Transparent indium tin oxide thin-film transistors gated by H3PO4-incorporated chitosan films were fabricated by sputtering through a shadow mask. The operating voltage was as low as 1.2 V because of the high specific capacitance of the H3PO4-incorporated chitosan dielectrics. The junctionless transparent indium tin oxide thin film transistors exhibited good performance, including an estimated current on/off ratio and field-effect mobility of 1.2 × 106 and 6.63 cm2V-1s-1, respectively. These low-voltage thin-film electric-double-layer transistors gated by H3PO4-incorporated chitosan are promising for next generation battery-powered "see-through" portable sensors.

  18. Rodney Hunt supplies gates to Idaho Power's Swan Falls

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1993-02-01

    Rodney Hunt Co. shipped two 30-foot by 28-foot fabricated steel roller gates to Idaho Power Co.'s Swan Falls Dam Project, where they will be installed as draft tube gates. Rodney Hunt said the gates, each weighing approximately 55 tons, are the largest roller gates the company has manufactured. The company supplied the gates under the terms of a contract worth more than $500,000. The gates were ordered as part of Idaho Power's rehabilitation of Swan Falls Dam, which will double the power plant's capacity to 25 MW. New units will begin producing power in 1993, and the project will bemore » completed in 1994. Elsewhere on the Snake River, Idaho Power intends to increase the capacity of its Twin Falls project to 52 MW from 10 MW. Construction is scheduled to start in June 1993.« less

  19. Controllable Hysteresis and Threshold Voltage of Single-Walled Carbon Nano-tube Transistors with Ferroelectric Polymer Top-Gate Insulators

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Yi-Lin; Xie, Dan; Xu, Jian-Long; Zhang, Cheng; Dai, Rui-Xuan; Li, Xian; Meng, Xiang-Jian; Zhu, Hong-Wei

    2016-01-01

    Double-gated field effect transistors have been fabricated using the SWCNT networks as channel layer and the organic ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) film spin-coated as top gate insulators. Standard photolithography process has been adopted to achieve the patterning of organic P(VDF-TrFE) films and top-gate electrodes, which is compatible with conventional CMOS process technology. An effective way for modulating the threshold voltage in the channel of P(VDF-TrFE) top-gate transistors under polarization has been reported. The introduction of functional P(VDF-TrFE) gate dielectric also provides us an alternative method to suppress the initial hysteresis of SWCNT networks and obtain a controllable ferroelectric hysteresis behavior. Applied bottom gate voltage has been found to be another effective way to highly control the threshold voltage of the networked SWCNTs based FETs by electrostatic doping effect. PMID:26980284

  20. Plasmid-derived DNA Strand Displacement Gates for Implementing Chemical Reaction Networks.

    PubMed

    Chen, Yuan-Jyue; Rao, Sundipta D; Seelig, Georg

    2015-11-25

    DNA nanotechnology requires large amounts of highly pure DNA as an engineering material. Plasmid DNA could meet this need since it is replicated with high fidelity, is readily amplified through bacterial culture and can be stored indefinitely in the form of bacterial glycerol stocks. However, the double-stranded nature of plasmid DNA has so far hindered its efficient use for construction of DNA nanostructures or devices that typically contain single-stranded or branched domains. In recent work, it was found that nicked double stranded DNA (ndsDNA) strand displacement gates could be sourced from plasmid DNA. The following is a protocol that details how these ndsDNA gates can be efficiently encoded in plasmids and can be derived from the plasmids through a small number of enzymatic processing steps. Also given is a protocol for testing ndsDNA gates using fluorescence kinetics measurements. NdsDNA gates can be used to implement arbitrary chemical reaction networks (CRNs) and thus provide a pathway towards the use of the CRN formalism as a prescriptive molecular programming language. To demonstrate this technology, a multi-step reaction cascade with catalytic kinetics is constructed. Further it is shown that plasmid-derived components perform better than identical components assembled from synthetic DNA.

  1. A double tyrosine motif in the cardiac sodium channel domain III-IV linker couples calcium-dependent calmodulin binding to inactivation gating.

    PubMed

    Sarhan, Maen F; Van Petegem, Filip; Ahern, Christopher A

    2009-11-27

    Voltage-gated sodium channels maintain the electrical cadence and stability of neurons and muscle cells by selectively controlling the transmembrane passage of their namesake ion. The degree to which these channels contribute to cellular excitability can be managed therapeutically or fine-tuned by endogenous ligands. Intracellular calcium, for instance, modulates sodium channel inactivation, the process by which sodium conductance is negatively regulated. We explored the molecular basis for this effect by investigating the interaction between the ubiquitous calcium binding protein calmodulin (CaM) and the putative sodium channel inactivation gate composed of the cytosolic linker between homologous channel domains III and IV (DIII-IV). Experiments using isothermal titration calorimetry show that CaM binds to a novel double tyrosine motif in the center of the DIII-IV linker in a calcium-dependent manner, N-terminal to a region previously reported to be a CaM binding site. An alanine scan of aromatic residues in recombinant DIII-DIV linker peptides shows that whereas multiple side chains contribute to CaM binding, two tyrosines (Tyr(1494) and Tyr(1495)) play a crucial role in binding the CaM C-lobe. The functional relevance of these observations was then ascertained through electrophysiological measurement of sodium channel inactivation gating in the presence and absence of calcium. Experiments on patch-clamped transfected tsA201 cells show that only the Y1494A mutation of the five sites tested renders sodium channel steady-state inactivation insensitive to cytosolic calcium. The results demonstrate that calcium-dependent calmodulin binding to the sodium channel inactivation gate double tyrosine motif is required for calcium regulation of the cardiac sodium channel.

  2. WATER VAPOR IN THE PROTOPLANETARY DISK OF DG Tau

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Podio, L.; Dougados, C.; Thi, W.-F.

    2013-03-20

    Water is key in the evolution of protoplanetary disks and the formation of comets and icy/water planets. While high-excitation water lines originating in the hot inner disk have been detected in several T Tauri stars (TTSs), water vapor from the outer disk, where most water ice reservoirs are stored, was only reported in the nearby TTS TW Hya. We present spectrally resolved Herschel/HIFI observations of the young TTS DG Tau in the ortho- and para-water ground-state transitions at 557 and 1113 GHz. The lines show a narrow double-peaked profile, consistent with an origin in the outer disk, and are {approx}19-26more » times brighter than in TW Hya. In contrast, CO and [C II] lines are dominated by emission from the envelope/outflow, which makes H{sub 2}O lines a unique tracer of the disk of DG Tau. Disk modeling with the thermo-chemical code ProDiMo indicates that the strong UV field, due to the young age and strong accretion of DG Tau, irradiates a disk upper layer at 10-90 AU from the star, heating it up to temperatures of 600 K and producing the observed bright water lines. The models suggest a disk mass of 0.015-0.1 M{sub Sun }, consistent with the estimated minimum mass of the solar nebula before planet formation, and a water reservoir of {approx}10{sup 2}-10{sup 3} Earth oceans in vapor and {approx}100 times larger in the form of ice. Hence, this detection supports the scenario of ocean delivery on terrestrial planets by the impact of icy bodies forming in the outer disk.« less

  3. Ghrelin-induced hippocampal neurogenesis and enhancement of cognitive function are mediated independently of GH/IGF-1 axis: lessons from the spontaneous dwarf rats.

    PubMed

    Li, Endan; Kim, Yumi; Kim, Sehee; Park, Seungjoon

    2013-01-01

    We recently have reported that ghrelin modulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis. However, there is a possibility that the action of ghrelin on hippocampal neurogenesis could be, in part, due to the ability of ghrelin to stimulate the GH/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 axis, where both GH and IGF-1 infusions are known to increase hippocampal neurogenesis. To explore this possibility, we assessed the impact of ghrelin on progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in the dentate gyrus (DG) of spontaneous dwarf rats (SDRs), a dwarf strain with a mutation of the GH gene resulting in total loss of GH. Double immunohistochemical staining revealed that Ki-67-positive progenitor cells and doublecortin (DCX)-positive neuroblasts in the DG of the SDRs expressed ghrelin receptors. We found that ghrelin treatment in the SDRs significantly increased the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen- and BrdU-labeled cells in the DG. The number of DCX-labeled cells in the DG of ghrelin-treated SDRs was also significantly increased compared with the vehicle-treated controls. To test whether ghrelin has a direct effect on cognitive performance independently of somatotropic axis, hippocampus-dependent learning and memory were assessed using the Y-maze and novel object recognition (NOR) test in the SDRs. Ghrelin treatment for 4 weeks by subcutaneous osmotic pump significantly increased alternation rates in the Y-maze and exploration time for novel object in the NOR test compared to vehicle-treated controls. Our results indicate that ghrelin-induced adult hippocampal neurogenesis and enhancement of cognitive function are mediated independently of somatotropic axis.

  4. DREADD in parvalbumin interneurons of the dentate gyrus modulates anxiety, social interaction and memory extinction.

    PubMed

    Zou, D; Chen, L; Deng, D; Jiang, D; Dong, F; McSweeney, C; Zhou, Y; Liu, L; Chen, G; Wu, Y; Mao, Y

    2016-01-01

    Parvalbumin (PV)-positive interneurons in the hippocampus play a critical role in animal memory, such as spatial working memory. However, how PV-positive interneurons in the subregions of the hippocampus affect animal behaviors remains poorly defined. Here, we achieved specific and reversible activation of PV-positive interneurons using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) technology. Inducible DREADD expression was demonstrated in vitro in cultured neurons, in which co-transfection of the hM3D-Gq-mCherry vector with a Cre plasmid resulted in a cellular response to hM3Dq ligand clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) stimulation. In addition, the dentate gyrus (DG) of PV-Cre mice received bilateral injection of control lentivirus or lentivirus expressing double floxed hM3D-Gq-mCherry. Selective activation of PV-positive interneurons in the DG did not affect locomotor activity or depression-related behavior in mice. Interestingly, stimulation of PV-positive interneurons induced an anxiolytic effect. Activation of PVpositive interneurons appears to impair social interaction to novelty, but has no effect on social motivation. However, this defect is likely due to the anxiolytic effect as the exploratory behavior of mice expressing hM3DGq is significantly increased. Mice expressing hM3D-Gq did not affect novel object recognition. Activation of PV-positive interneurons in the DG maintains intact cued and contextual fear memory but facilitates fear extinction. Collectively, our results demonstrated that proper control of PV interneurons activity in the DG is critical for regulation of the anxiety, social interaction and fear extinction. These results improve our fundamental understanding of the physiological role of PV-positive interneurons in the hippocampus.

  5. Abstract probabilistic CNOT gate model based on double encoding: study of the errors and physical realizability

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gueddana, Amor; Attia, Moez; Chatta, Rihab

    2015-03-01

    In this work, we study the error sources standing behind the non-perfect linear optical quantum components composing a non-deterministic quantum CNOT gate model, which performs the CNOT function with a success probability of 4/27 and uses a double encoding technique to represent photonic qubits at the control and the target. We generalize this model to an abstract probabilistic CNOT version and determine the realizability limits depending on a realistic range of the errors. Finally, we discuss physical constraints allowing the implementation of the Asymmetric Partially Polarizing Beam Splitter (APPBS), which is at the heart of correctly realizing the CNOT function.

  6. Evaluation of modified dichloran 18% glycerol (DG18) agar for enumerating fungi in wheat flour: a collaborative study.

    PubMed

    Beuchat, L R; Hwang, C A

    1996-04-01

    Dichloran 18% glycerol agar base supplemented with 100 micrograms of chloramphenicol ml-1 (DG18 agar) was compared to DG18 agar supplemented with 100 micrograms of Triton X-301 ml-1 (DG18T) and DG18 agar supplemented with 1 microgram of iprodione [3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-N-(1-methyl-ethyl)-2,4-dioxo-1-imidazolidine- carboxamide] ml-1 (DG18I agar) for enumeration of fungi in ten brands of wheat flour. As the flours contained low fungal populations, all were inoculated with two to four strains of xerophilic fungi (Aspergillus candidus, A. penicillioides, Eurotium amstelodami, E. intermedium, E. repens, E. rubrum, E. tonophilum, E. umbrosum and Wallemia sebi), after which counts ranged from 3.87 to 6.37 log10 CFU g-1. Significantly higher populations (p < 0.05) were detected in four flours: three were on DG18T compared to DG18 and DG18I agar. A. candidus had been inoculated into all three flours. E. amstelodami, E. intermedium, E. repens or E. tonophilum had also been inoculated into at least one of the three flours showing significantly higher numbers of CFU on DG18T agar. Analysis of collapsed data from all samples showed that DG18T agar was significantly better than DG18 or DG18I agars at p < 0.10 but not at p < 0.05. Coefficients of variation for reproducibility (among-laboratory variation) were 8.4%, 7.5% and 8.6%, respectively, for DG18, DG18T and DG18I agars. DG18I agar restricted colony development most, especially for Eurotium species. Naturally occurring Penicillium species grew equally well on DG18 and DG18T agars, whereas W. sebi grew well on all three media. DG18T agar was judged to be superior to DG18 and DG18I agars for enumerating fungi in wheat flours.

  7. 77 FR 21400 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Sailplanes

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-10

    ... Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Sailplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA... directive (AD) for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-500 Elan Orion, DG-500 Elan Trainer, DG-500/ 20 Elan, and...., Washington, DC 20590. For service information identified in this AD, contact DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, Otto...

  8. Gates Fund Creates Plan for College Completion

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gose, Ben

    2008-01-01

    The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to spend several hundred million dollars over the next five years to double the number of low-income young people who complete a college degree or certificate program by age 26. Foundation officials described the ambitious plan to an exclusive group of education leaders, citing 2025 as a target goal. If…

  9. Effects of alternate-day feeding of dried distiller's grain plus solubles to forage-fed beef cows in mid- to late gestation.

    PubMed

    Klein, S I; Steichen, P L; Islas, A; Goulart, R S; Gilbery, T C; Bauer, M L; Swanson, K C; Dahlen, C R

    2014-06-01

    Forty-six nonlactating beef cows were used to examine effects of dried distiller's grains plus solubles (DG) supplementation strategies to cows fed grass hay during mid- to late gestation on BW, ultrasound body composition characteristics, concentrations of serum NEFA and urea, feeding behavior, and calf birth weight. Cows were assigned to dietary treatments in a completely randomized design: 1) control, where hay was fed each day of the week (CON), 2) both hay and DG fed daily during the week (DG7), 3) hay fed daily but DG fed 3 d of the week (DG3), and 4) hay fed 4 d of the week alternating with DG fed on the remaining 3 d (DGA). Hay was offered ad libitum on days it was fed. The DG were fed at 0.40% of BW when offered daily and 0.93% of BW when offered 3 d per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Feed intake was monitored continuously over the 84-d feeding period. Hay intake and total DMI were reduced (P < 0.05) in DGA compared with DG7 and DG3. Gain and G:F were decreased (P < 0.05) for CON compared with other treatments. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed among treatments for change in BCS, intramuscular fat, rib fat, or rump fat from d 1 to 84. On a day when DG7, DG3, and DGA all received DG (Friday), DGA had reduced (P < 0.05) concentrations of urea compared with DG3 and DG7. On a day when only DG7 received DG (Saturday), urea was greater (P < 0.01) for DG3 and DGA compared with DG7, and concentrations of NEFA were greater (P < 0.01) in CON and DGA compared with DG7. On the second consecutive day when only DG7 received DG (Sunday), concentrations of NEFA were less (P < 0.001) for DG7 compared with other treatments. On days when all cows received hay, DGA spent more time eating (P < 0.05) compared with DG7 and DG3. Cows fed DGA had greater (P < 0.05) hay intake per meal and time per meal compared with other treatments. On days when DG7, DG3, and DGA all received DG, cows in the DG3 and DGA treatments had greater (P < 0.05) number of DG meals, time spent eating, intake per meal, and time per meal but a slower (P < 0.05) rate of DG intake compared with DG7. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in calf birth weights among treatments. The alternate-day feeding strategy reduced hay and total intake, altered concentrations of serum urea and NEFA, and altered feeding behavior compared with other supplementation methods.

  10. Low-power logic computing realized in a single electric-double-layer MoS2 transistor gated with polymer electrolyte

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Junjie; Xie, Dingdong; Yang, Bingchu; Jiang, Jie

    2018-06-01

    Due to its mechanical flexibility, large bandgap and carrier mobility, atomically thin molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) has attracted widespread attention. However, it still lacks a facile route to fabricate a low-power high-performance logic gates/circuits before it gets the real application. Herein, we reported a facile and environment-friendly method to establish the low-power logic function in a single MoS2 field-effect transistor (FET) configuration gated with a polymer electrolyte. Such low-power and high-performance MoS2 FET can be implemented by using water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer as proton-conducting electric-double-layer (EDL) dielectric layer. It exhibited an ultra-low voltage (1.5 V) and a good performance with a high current on/off ratio (Ion/off) of 1 × 105, a large electron mobility (μ) of 47.5 cm2/V s, and a small subthreshold swing (S) of 0.26 V/dec, respectively. The inverter can be realized by using such a single MoS2 EDL FET with a gain of ∼4 at the operation voltage of only ∼1 V. Most importantly, the neuronal AND logic computing can be also demonstrated by using such a double-lateral-gate single MoS2 EDL transistor. These results show an effective step for future applications of 2D MoS2 FETs for integrated electronic engineering and low-energy environment-friendly green electronics.

  11. Enabling Delay of Gratification Behavior in Those Not So Predisposed: The Moderating Role of Social Support

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Xiaoyan; Wang, Lei; Liao, Jiangqun

    2016-01-01

    The presence of delay of gratification (DG) in childhood is correlated with success later in a person's life. Is there any way of helping adults with a low level of DG to obtain similar success? The present research examines how social support helps those low in DG nonetheless to act similarly to those high in DG. This research includes both correlational studies and experiments that manipulate social support as well as both field studies and a laboratory study. The results show that with high social support, employees (Study 1) and university students (Study 2) low in DG report vocational and academic DG behavioral intentions, respectively, similar to those high in DG. Study 3 found that participants low in DG who were primed with high social support expressed job-choice DG similar to those high in the DG. Study 4 controlled for mood and self-image and found that participants low in DG who were primed with high social support expressed more money-choice DG than those high in the DG. Study 5 showed that social support moderated the relationship between DG and actual DG behaviors. These findings provide evidence for a moderating role of social support in the expression of DG behavior. PMID:27047408

  12. Oxidation behavior of NiCoCrAlY coatings deposited by double-Glow plasma alloying

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cui, Shiyu; Miao, Qiang; Liang, Wenping; Li, Baiqiang

    2018-01-01

    The NiCoCrAlY coatings were deposited on the Inconel 718 alloy substrates by a novel method called double-glow plasma alloying (DG). The phases and microstructure of the coatings were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis while their chemical composition was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The morphology of the NiCoCrAlY coatings was typical of coatings formed by DG, with their structure consisting of uniform submicron-sized grains. Further, the coatings showed high adhesion strength (critical load >46 N). In addition, the oxidation characteristics of the coatings and the substrate were examined at three different temperatures (850, 950, and 1050 °C) using a muffle furnace. The coatings showed a lower oxidation rate, which was approximately one-tenth of that of the substrate. Even after oxidation for 100 h, the Al2O3 phase was the primary phase in the surface coating (850 °C), with the thickness of the oxide film increasing to 0.65 μm at 950 °C. When the temperature was increased beyond 1050 °C, the elemental Al and Ni were consumed in the formation of the oxide scale, which underwent spallation at several locations. The oxidation products of Cr, which were produced in large amounts and had a prism-like structure, controlled the subsequent oxidation behavior at the surface.

  13. ORACLE (Oversight of Resources and Capability for Logistics Effectiveness) and Requirements Forecasting. Volume 3. Predicting the Peacetime Spares Requirements.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-05-01

    Shearing Machines WR/MMI DG 3446 Forging Machinery and Hammers WR/MMI DG 3447 Wire and Metal Ribbon Forming Machines WR/MMI DG 3448 Riveting Machines ...R/MN1I DG 3449 Miscellaneous Secondary Metal Forming & Cutting WR/MMI DG Machinery 3450 Machine Tools, Portable WR/MMI DG 3455 Cutting Tools for...Secondary Metalworking Machinery WR/MMI DG WR 3465 Production Jigs, Fixtures and Templates WR/MMI DG WR 3470 Machine Shop Sets, Kits, and Outfits WR/MMI DG

  14. Triple helical polynucleotidic structures: an FTIR study of the C+ .G. Ctriplet.

    PubMed

    Akhebat, A; Dagneaux, C; Liquier, J; Taillandier, E

    1992-12-01

    Triple helixes containing one homopurine poly dG or poly rG strand and two homopyrimidine poly dC or poly rC strands have been prepared and studied by FTIR spectroscopy in H2O and D2O solutions. The spectra are discussed by comparison with those of the corresponding third strands (auto associated or not) and of double stranded poly dG.poly dC and poly rG.poly rC in the same concentration range and salt conditions. The triplex formation is characterized by the study of the base-base interactions reflected by changes in the spectral domain involving the in-plane double bond vibrations of the bases. Modifications of the initial duplex conformation (A family form for poly rG.poly rC, B family form for poly dG.poly dC) when the triplex is formed have been investigated. Two spectral domains (950-800 and 1450-1350 cm-1) containing absorption bands markers of the N and S type sugar geometries have been extensively studied. The spectra of the triplexes prepared starting with a double helix containing only riboses (poly rC+.poly rG.poly rC and poly dC+.poly rG.poly rC) as well as that of poly rC+.poly dG.poly dC present exclusively markers of the North type geometry of the sugars. On the contrary in the case of the poly dC+.poly dG.poly dC triplex both N and S type sugars are shown to coexist. The FTIR spectra allow us to propose that in this case the sugars of the purine (poly dG) strand adopt the S type geometry.

  15. Reconfigurable quadruple quantum dots in a silicon nanowire transistor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Betz, A. C., E-mail: ab2106@cam.ac.uk; Broström, M.; Gonzalez-Zalba, M. F.

    2016-05-16

    We present a reconfigurable metal-oxide-semiconductor multi-gate transistor that can host a quadruple quantum dot in silicon. The device consists of an industrial quadruple-gate silicon nanowire field-effect transistor. Exploiting the corner effect, we study the versatility of the structure in the single quantum dot and the serial double quantum dot regimes and extract the relevant capacitance parameters. We address the fabrication variability of the quadruple-gate approach which, paired with improved silicon fabrication techniques, makes the corner state quantum dot approach a promising candidate for a scalable quantum information architecture.

  16. Disorder from the Bulk Ionic Liquid in Electric Double Layer Transistors

    DOE PAGES

    Petach, Trevor A.; Reich, Konstantin V.; Zhang, Xiao; ...

    2017-07-28

    Ionic liquid gating has a number of advantages over solid-state gating, especially for flexible or transparent devices and for applications requiring high carrier densities. But, the large number of charged ions near the channel inevitably results in Coulomb scattering, which limits the carrier mobility in otherwise clean systems. We develop a model for this Coulomb scattering. We then validate our model experimentally using ionic liquid gating of graphene across varying thicknesses of hexagonal boron nitride, demonstrating that disorder in the bulk ionic liquid often dominates the scattering.

  17. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hsu, Chih-Hao; Yue, Kan; Wang, Jing

    Controlling self-assembled nanostructures in thin films allows the bottom-up fabrication of ordered nanoscale patterns. Here we report the unique thickness-dependent phase behavior in thin films of a bolaform-like giant surfactant, which consists of butyl- and hydroxyl-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (BPOSS and DPOSS) cages telechelically located at the chain ends of a polystyrene (PS) chain with 28 repeating monomers on average. In the bulk, BPOSS-PS28-DPOSS forms a double gyroid (DG) phase. Both grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy techniques are combined to elucidate the thin film structures. Interestingly, films with thicknesses thinner than 200 nm exhibit anmore » irreversible phase transition from hexagonal perforated layer (HPL) to compressed hexagonally packed cylinders (c-HEX) at 130 °C, while films with thickness larger than 200 nm show an irreversible transition from HPL to DG at 200 °C. The thickness-controlled transition pathway suggests possibilities to obtain diverse patterns via thin film self-assembly.« less

  18. Antigastric parietal cell and antithyroid autoantibodies in patients with desquamative gingivitis.

    PubMed

    Chang, Julia Yu-Fong; Chiang, Chun-Pin; Wang, Yi-Ping; Wu, Yang-Che; Chen, Hsin-Ming; Sun, Andy

    2017-04-01

    Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is principally associated with erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP), mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), and pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Serum autoantibodies including antigastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), antithyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and antithyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) were measured in 500 patients with DG, 287 EOLP without DG (EOLP/DG - ) patients, and 100 healthy control subjects. The 500 patients with DG were diagnosed as having EOLP in 455 (91%), PV in 40 (8%), and MMP in five (1%) patients. We found that 37.0%, 43.6%, and 42.6% of 500 patients with DG, 39.6%, 46.4%, and 45.1% of 455 EOLP with DG (EOLP/DG) patients, and 18.5%, 27.5%, and 30.3% of 287 EOLP/DG - patients had the presence of GPCA, TGA, and TMA in their sera, respectively. DG, EOLP/DG, and EOLP/DG - patients all had a significantly higher frequency of GPCA, TGA, or TMA positivity than healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.001). Moreover, 455 EOLP/DG patients had a significantly higher frequency of GPCA, TGA, or TMA positivity than 287 EOLP/DG - patients (all P-values < 0.001). Of 210 TGA/TMA-positive patients with DG whose serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured, 84.3%, 6.7%, and 9.0% patients had normal, lower, and higher serum TSH levels, respectively. We conclude that 73.4% DG, 77.1% EOLP/DG, and 47.4% EOLP/DG - patients may have GPCA/TGA/TMA positivity in their sera. Because part of GPCA-positive patients may develop pernicious anemia, autoimmune atrophic gastritis, and gastric carcinoma, and part of TGA/TMA-positive patients may have thyroid dysfunction, these patients should be referred to medical department for further management. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  19. Super-resolution depth information from a short-wave infrared laser gated-viewing system by using correlated double sampling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Göhler, Benjamin; Lutzmann, Peter

    2017-10-01

    Primarily, a laser gated-viewing (GV) system provides range-gated 2D images without any range resolution within the range gate. By combining two GV images with slightly different gate positions, 3D information within a part of the range gate can be obtained. The depth resolution is higher (super-resolution) than the minimal gate shift step size in a tomographic sequence of the scene. For a state-of-the-art system with a typical frame rate of 20 Hz, the time difference between the two required GV images is 50 ms which may be too long in a dynamic scenario with moving objects. Therefore, we have applied this approach to the reset and signal level images of a new short-wave infrared (SWIR) GV camera whose read-out integrated circuit supports correlated double sampling (CDS) actually intended for the reduction of kTC noise (reset noise). These images are extracted from only one single laser pulse with a marginal time difference in between. The SWIR GV camera consists of 640 x 512 avalanche photodiodes based on mercury cadmium telluride with a pixel pitch of 15 μm. A Q-switched, flash lamp pumped solid-state laser with 1.57 μm wavelength (OPO), 52 mJ pulse energy after beam shaping, 7 ns pulse length and 20 Hz pulse repetition frequency is used for flash illumination. In this paper, the experimental set-up is described and the operating principle of CDS is explained. The method of deriving super-resolution depth information from a GV system by using CDS is introduced and optimized. Further, the range accuracy is estimated from measured image data.

  20. Gate-Sensing the Potential Landscape of a GaAs Two-Dimensional Electron Gas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Croot, Xanthe; Mahoney, Alice; Pauka, Sebastian; Colless, James; Reilly, David; Watson, John; Fallahi, Saeed; Gardner, Geoff; Manfra, Michael; Lu, Hong; Gossard, Arthur

    In situ dispersive gate sensors hold potential as a means of enabling the scalable readout of quantum dot arrays. Sensitive to quantum capacitance, dispersive sensors have been used to detect inter- and intra-dot transitions in GaAs double quantum dots, and can distinguish the spin states of singlet triplet qubits. In addition, the gate-sensing technique is likely of value in probing the physics of Majorana zero modes in nanowire devices. Beyond the readout signatures associated with charge and spin configurations of qubits, gate-sensing is sensitive to trapped charge in the potential landscape. Here, we report gate-sensing signals arising from tunnelling of electrons between puddles of trapped charge in a GaAs 2DEG. We examine these signals in a family of different devices with varying mobilities, and as a function of temperature and bias. Implications for qubit readout using the gate-sensing technique are discussed.

  1. Performance analysis of InGaAs/GaAsP heterojunction double gate tunnel field effect transistor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahish, S.; Sharma, Dheeraj; Vasantha, M. H.; Kumar, Y. B. N.

    2017-03-01

    In this paper, analog/RF performance of InGaAs/GaAsP heterojunction double gate tunnel field effect transistor (HJTFET) has been explored. A highly doped n+ layer is placed at the Source-Channel junction in order to improve the horizontal electric field component and thus, improve the realiability of the device. The analog performance of the device is analysed by extracting current-voltage characteristics, transcondutance (gm), gate-to-drain capacitance (Cgd) and gate-to-source capacitance (Cgs). Further, RF performance of the device is evaluated by obtaining cut-off frequency (fT) and Gain Bandwidth (GBW) product. ION /IOFF ratio equal to ≈ 109, subthreshold slope of 27 mV/dec, maximum fT of 2.1 THz and maximum GBW of 484 GHz were achieved. Also, the impact of temperature variation on the linearity performance of the device has been investigated. Furthermore, the circuit level performance of the device is performed by implementing a Common Source (CS) amplifier; maximum gain of 31.11 dB and 3-dB cut-off frequency equal to 91.2 GHz were achieved for load resistance (RL) = 17.5 KΩ.

  2. Highly flexible SRAM cells based on novel tri-independent-gate FinFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Chengsheng; Zheng, Fanglin; Sun, Yabin; Li, Xiaojin; Shi, Yanling

    2017-10-01

    In this paper, a novel tri-independent-gate (TIG) FinFET is proposed for highly flexible SRAM cells design. To mitigate the read-write conflict, two kinds of SRAM cells based on TIG FinFETs are designed, and high tradeoff are obtained between read stability and speed. Both cells can offer multi read operations for frequency requirement with single voltage supply. In the first TIG FinFET SRAM cell, the strength of single-fin access transistor (TIG FinFET) can be flexibly adjusted by selecting five different modes to meet the needs of dynamic frequency design. Compared to the previous double-independent-gate (DIG) FinFET SRAM cell, 12.16% shorter read delay can be achieved with only 1.62% read stability decrement. As for the second TIG FinFET SRAM cell, pass-gate feedback technology is applied and double-fin TIG FinFETs are used as access transistors to solve the severe write-ability degradation. Three modes exist to flexibly adjust read speed and stability, and 68.2% larger write margin and 51.7% shorter write delay are achieved at only the expense of 26.2% increase in leakage power, with the same layout area as conventional FinFET SRAM cell.

  3. Single attosecond pulse generation by using plasmon-driven double optical gating technology in crossed metal nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Feng, Liqiang; Liu, Katheryn

    2018-05-01

    An effective method to obtain the single attosecond pulses (SAPs) by using the multi-cycle plasmon-driven double optical gating (DOG) technology in the specifically designed metal nanostructures has been proposed and investigated. It is found that with the introduction of the crossed metal nanostructures along the driven and the gating polarization directions, not only the harmonic cutoff can be extended, but also the efficient high-order harmonic generation (HHG) at the very highest orders occurs only at one side of the region inside the nanostructure. As a result, a 93 eV supercontinuum with the near stable phase can be found. Further, by properly introducing an ultraviolet (UV) pulse into the driven laser polarization direction (which is defined as the DOG), the harmonic yield can be enhanced by two orders of magnitude in comparison with the singe polarization gating (PG) technology. However, as the polarized angle or the ellipticity of the UV pulse increase, the enhancement of the harmonic yield is slightly reduced. Finally, by superposing the selected harmonics from the DOG scheme, a 30 as SAP with intensity enhancement of two orders of magnitude can be obtained.

  4. A Test Fixture for Simulating Human Limb Physiology and Soft Tissue Biomechanics

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-04-14

    Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not promu!gated performance standards for vital signs monitors that determine blood pressure and heart rate...static char answer[] = "" double f~ttnun~pts, single, doubleit, triple; int single_ -leftover, doubleit I eftover , triple-Leftover; double sin

  5. Ferroelectric polarization induces electric double layer bistability in electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors.

    PubMed

    Fabiano, Simone; Crispin, Xavier; Berggren, Magnus

    2014-01-08

    The dense surface charges expressed by a ferroelectric polymeric thin film induce ion displacement within a polyelectrolyte layer and vice versa. This is because the density of dipoles along the surface of the ferroelectric thin film and its polarization switching time matches that of the (Helmholtz) electric double layers formed at the ferroelectric/polyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte/semiconductor interfaces. This combination of materials allows for introducing hysteresis effects in the capacitance of an electric double layer capacitor. The latter is advantageously used to control the charge accumulation in the semiconductor channel of an organic field-effect transistor. The resulting memory transistors can be written at a gate voltage of around 7 V and read out at a drain voltage as low as 50 mV. The technological implication of this large difference between write and read-out voltages lies in the non-destructive reading of this ferroelectric memory.

  6. Role of Electrical Double Layer Structure in Ionic Liquid Gated Devices.

    PubMed

    Black, Jennifer M; Come, Jeremy; Bi, Sheng; Zhu, Mengyang; Zhao, Wei; Wong, Anthony T; Noh, Joo Hyon; Pudasaini, Pushpa R; Zhang, Pengfei; Okatan, Mahmut Baris; Dai, Sheng; Kalinin, Sergei V; Rack, Philip D; Ward, Thomas Zac; Feng, Guang; Balke, Nina

    2017-11-22

    Ionic liquid gating of transition metal oxides has enabled new states (magnetic, electronic, metal-insulator), providing fundamental insights into the physics of strongly correlated oxides. However, despite much research activity, little is known about the correlation of the structure of the liquids in contact with the transition metal oxide surface, its evolution with the applied electric potential, and its correlation with the measured electronic properties of the oxide. Here, we investigate the structure of an ionic liquid at a semiconducting oxide interface during the operation of a thin film transistor where the electrical double layer gates the device using experiment and theory. We show that the transition between the ON and OFF states of the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide transistor is accompanied by a densification and preferential spatial orientation of counterions at the oxide channel surface. This process occurs in three distinct steps, corresponding to ion orientations, and consequently, regimes of different electrical conductivity. The reason for this can be found in the surface charge densities on the oxide surface when different ion arrangements are present. Overall, the field-effect gating process is elucidated in terms of the interfacial ionic liquid structure, and this provides unprecedented insight into the working of a liquid gated transistor linking the nanoscopic structure to the functional properties. This knowledge will enable both new ionic liquid design as well as advanced device concepts.

  7. Role of Electrical Double Layer Structure in Ionic Liquid Gated Devices

    DOE PAGES

    Black, Jennifer M.; Come, Jeremy; Bi, Sheng; ...

    2017-10-24

    Ionic liquid gating of transition metal oxides has enabled new states (magnetic, electronic, metal–insulator), providing fundamental insights into the physics of strongly correlated oxides. However, despite much research activity, little is known about the correlation of the structure of the liquids in contact with the transition metal oxide surface, its evolution with the applied electric potential, and its correlation with the measured electronic properties of the oxide. Here, we investigate the structure of an ionic liquid at a semiconducting oxide interface during the operation of a thin film transistor where the electrical double layer gates the device using experiment andmore » theory. We show that the transition between the ON and OFF states of the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide transistor is accompanied by a densification and preferential spatial orientation of counterions at the oxide channel surface. This process occurs in three distinct steps, corresponding to ion orientations, and consequently, regimes of different electrical conductivity. The reason for this can be found in the surface charge densities on the oxide surface when different ion arrangements are present. Overall, the field-effect gating process is elucidated in terms of the interfacial ionic liquid structure, and this provides unprecedented insight into the working of a liquid gated transistor linking the nanoscopic structure to the functional properties. This knowledge will enable both new ionic liquid design as well as advanced device concepts.« less

  8. Role of Electrical Double Layer Structure in Ionic Liquid Gated Devices

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Black, Jennifer M.; Come, Jeremy; Bi, Sheng

    Ionic liquid gating of transition metal oxides has enabled new states (magnetic, electronic, metal–insulator), providing fundamental insights into the physics of strongly correlated oxides. However, despite much research activity, little is known about the correlation of the structure of the liquids in contact with the transition metal oxide surface, its evolution with the applied electric potential, and its correlation with the measured electronic properties of the oxide. Here, we investigate the structure of an ionic liquid at a semiconducting oxide interface during the operation of a thin film transistor where the electrical double layer gates the device using experiment andmore » theory. We show that the transition between the ON and OFF states of the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide transistor is accompanied by a densification and preferential spatial orientation of counterions at the oxide channel surface. This process occurs in three distinct steps, corresponding to ion orientations, and consequently, regimes of different electrical conductivity. The reason for this can be found in the surface charge densities on the oxide surface when different ion arrangements are present. Overall, the field-effect gating process is elucidated in terms of the interfacial ionic liquid structure, and this provides unprecedented insight into the working of a liquid gated transistor linking the nanoscopic structure to the functional properties. This knowledge will enable both new ionic liquid design as well as advanced device concepts.« less

  9. 76 FR 23169 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Glaser-Dirks Model DG-808C Gliders

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-04-26

    ... Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Glaser-Dirks Model DG-808C Gliders AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration... applies to DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Glaser-Dirks Models DG-808C gliders, serial numbers 8-316 B 216 X 1 through...

  10. Gate frequency sweep: An effective method to evaluate the dynamic performance of AlGaN/GaN power heterojunction field effect transistors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Santi, C. de; Meneghini, M., E-mail: matteo.meneghini@dei.unipd.it; Meneghesso, G.

    2014-08-18

    With this paper we propose a test method for evaluating the dynamic performance of GaN-based transistors, namely, gate-frequency sweep measurements: the effectiveness of the method is verified by characterizing the dynamic performance of Gate Injection Transistors. We demonstrate that this method can provide an effective description of the impact of traps on the transient performance of Heterojunction Field Effect Transistors, and information on the properties (activation energy and cross section) of the related defects. Moreover, we discuss the relation between the results obtained by gate-frequency sweep measurements and those collected by conventional drain current transients and double pulse characterization.

  11. A hydrogel capsule as gate dielectric in flexible organic field-effect transistors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dumitru, L. M.; Manoli, K.; Magliulo, M.

    2015-01-01

    A jellified alginate based capsule serves as biocompatible and biodegradable electrolyte system to gate an organic field-effect transistor fabricated on a flexible substrate. Such a system allows operating thiophene based polymer transistors below 0.5 V through an electrical double layer formed across an ion-permeable polymeric electrolyte. Moreover, biological macro-molecules such as glucose-oxidase and streptavidin can enter into the gating capsules that serve also as delivery system. An enzymatic bio-reaction is shown to take place in the capsule and preliminary results on the measurement of the electronic responses promise for low-cost, low-power, flexible electronic bio-sensing applications using capsule-gated organic field-effect transistors.

  12. Commissioning dose computation models for spot scanning proton beams in water for a commercially available treatment planning system

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhu, X. R.; Poenisch, F.; Lii, M.

    2013-04-15

    Purpose: To present our method and experience in commissioning dose models in water for spot scanning proton therapy in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS). Methods: The input data required by the TPS included in-air transverse profiles and integral depth doses (IDDs). All input data were obtained from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations that had been validated by measurements. MC-generated IDDs were converted to units of Gy mm{sup 2}/MU using the measured IDDs at a depth of 2 cm employing the largest commercially available parallel-plate ionization chamber. The sensitive area of the chamber was insufficient to fully encompass the entire lateralmore » dose deposited at depth by a pencil beam (spot). To correct for the detector size, correction factors as a function of proton energy were defined and determined using MC. The fluence of individual spots was initially modeled as a single Gaussian (SG) function and later as a double Gaussian (DG) function. The DG fluence model was introduced to account for the spot fluence due to contributions of large angle scattering from the devices within the scanning nozzle, especially from the spot profile monitor. To validate the DG fluence model, we compared calculations and measurements, including doses at the center of spread out Bragg peaks (SOBPs) as a function of nominal field size, range, and SOBP width, lateral dose profiles, and depth doses for different widths of SOBP. Dose models were validated extensively with patient treatment field-specific measurements. Results: We demonstrated that the DG fluence model is necessary for predicting the field size dependence of dose distributions. With this model, the calculated doses at the center of SOBPs as a function of nominal field size, range, and SOBP width, lateral dose profiles and depth doses for rectangular target volumes agreed well with respective measured values. With the DG fluence model for our scanning proton beam line, we successfully treated more than 500 patients from March 2010 through June 2012 with acceptable agreement between TPS calculated and measured dose distributions. However, the current dose model still has limitations in predicting field size dependence of doses at some intermediate depths of proton beams with high energies. Conclusions: We have commissioned a DG fluence model for clinical use. It is demonstrated that the DG fluence model is significantly more accurate than the SG fluence model. However, some deficiencies in modeling the low-dose envelope in the current dose algorithm still exist. Further improvements to the current dose algorithm are needed. The method presented here should be useful for commissioning pencil beam dose algorithms in new versions of TPS in the future.« less

  13. Commissioning dose computation models for spot scanning proton beams in water for a commercially available treatment planning system

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, X. R.; Poenisch, F.; Lii, M.; Sawakuchi, G. O.; Titt, U.; Bues, M.; Song, X.; Zhang, X.; Li, Y.; Ciangaru, G.; Li, H.; Taylor, M. B.; Suzuki, K.; Mohan, R.; Gillin, M. T.; Sahoo, N.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose: To present our method and experience in commissioning dose models in water for spot scanning proton therapy in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS). Methods: The input data required by the TPS included in-air transverse profiles and integral depth doses (IDDs). All input data were obtained from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations that had been validated by measurements. MC-generated IDDs were converted to units of Gy mm2/MU using the measured IDDs at a depth of 2 cm employing the largest commercially available parallel-plate ionization chamber. The sensitive area of the chamber was insufficient to fully encompass the entire lateral dose deposited at depth by a pencil beam (spot). To correct for the detector size, correction factors as a function of proton energy were defined and determined using MC. The fluence of individual spots was initially modeled as a single Gaussian (SG) function and later as a double Gaussian (DG) function. The DG fluence model was introduced to account for the spot fluence due to contributions of large angle scattering from the devices within the scanning nozzle, especially from the spot profile monitor. To validate the DG fluence model, we compared calculations and measurements, including doses at the center of spread out Bragg peaks (SOBPs) as a function of nominal field size, range, and SOBP width, lateral dose profiles, and depth doses for different widths of SOBP. Dose models were validated extensively with patient treatment field-specific measurements. Results: We demonstrated that the DG fluence model is necessary for predicting the field size dependence of dose distributions. With this model, the calculated doses at the center of SOBPs as a function of nominal field size, range, and SOBP width, lateral dose profiles and depth doses for rectangular target volumes agreed well with respective measured values. With the DG fluence model for our scanning proton beam line, we successfully treated more than 500 patients from March 2010 through June 2012 with acceptable agreement between TPS calculated and measured dose distributions. However, the current dose model still has limitations in predicting field size dependence of doses at some intermediate depths of proton beams with high energies. Conclusions: We have commissioned a DG fluence model for clinical use. It is demonstrated that the DG fluence model is significantly more accurate than the SG fluence model. However, some deficiencies in modeling the low-dose envelope in the current dose algorithm still exist. Further improvements to the current dose algorithm are needed. The method presented here should be useful for commissioning pencil beam dose algorithms in new versions of TPS in the future. PMID:23556893

  14. Commissioning dose computation models for spot scanning proton beams in water for a commercially available treatment planning system.

    PubMed

    Zhu, X R; Poenisch, F; Lii, M; Sawakuchi, G O; Titt, U; Bues, M; Song, X; Zhang, X; Li, Y; Ciangaru, G; Li, H; Taylor, M B; Suzuki, K; Mohan, R; Gillin, M T; Sahoo, N

    2013-04-01

    To present our method and experience in commissioning dose models in water for spot scanning proton therapy in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS). The input data required by the TPS included in-air transverse profiles and integral depth doses (IDDs). All input data were obtained from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations that had been validated by measurements. MC-generated IDDs were converted to units of Gy mm(2)/MU using the measured IDDs at a depth of 2 cm employing the largest commercially available parallel-plate ionization chamber. The sensitive area of the chamber was insufficient to fully encompass the entire lateral dose deposited at depth by a pencil beam (spot). To correct for the detector size, correction factors as a function of proton energy were defined and determined using MC. The fluence of individual spots was initially modeled as a single Gaussian (SG) function and later as a double Gaussian (DG) function. The DG fluence model was introduced to account for the spot fluence due to contributions of large angle scattering from the devices within the scanning nozzle, especially from the spot profile monitor. To validate the DG fluence model, we compared calculations and measurements, including doses at the center of spread out Bragg peaks (SOBPs) as a function of nominal field size, range, and SOBP width, lateral dose profiles, and depth doses for different widths of SOBP. Dose models were validated extensively with patient treatment field-specific measurements. We demonstrated that the DG fluence model is necessary for predicting the field size dependence of dose distributions. With this model, the calculated doses at the center of SOBPs as a function of nominal field size, range, and SOBP width, lateral dose profiles and depth doses for rectangular target volumes agreed well with respective measured values. With the DG fluence model for our scanning proton beam line, we successfully treated more than 500 patients from March 2010 through June 2012 with acceptable agreement between TPS calculated and measured dose distributions. However, the current dose model still has limitations in predicting field size dependence of doses at some intermediate depths of proton beams with high energies. We have commissioned a DG fluence model for clinical use. It is demonstrated that the DG fluence model is significantly more accurate than the SG fluence model. However, some deficiencies in modeling the low-dose envelope in the current dose algorithm still exist. Further improvements to the current dose algorithm are needed. The method presented here should be useful for commissioning pencil beam dose algorithms in new versions of TPS in the future.

  15. Purely electronic mechanism of electrolyte gating of indium tin oxide thin films

    DOE PAGES

    Leng, X.; Bozovic, I.; Bollinger, A. T.

    2016-08-10

    Epitaxial indium tin oxide films have been grown on both LaAlO 3 and yttria-stabilized zirconia substrates using RF magnetron sputtering. Electrolyte gating causes a large change in the film resistance that occurs immediately after the gate voltage is applied, and shows no hysteresis during the charging/discharging processes. When two devices are patterned next to one another and the first one gated through an electrolyte, the second one shows no changes in conductance, in contrast to what happens in materials (like tungsten oxide) susceptible to ionic electromigration and intercalation. These findings indicate that electrolyte gating in indium tin oxide triggers amore » pure electronic process (electron depletion or accumulation, depending on the polarity of the gate voltage), with no electrochemical reactions involved. Electron accumulation occurs in a very thin layer near the film surface, which becomes highly conductive. These results contribute to our understanding of the electrolyte gating mechanism in complex oxides and may be relevant for applications of electric double layer transistor devices.« less

  16. Multi-bit dark state memory: Double quantum dot as an electronic quantum memory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aharon, Eran; Pozner, Roni; Lifshitz, Efrat; Peskin, Uri

    2016-12-01

    Quantum dot clusters enable the creation of dark states which preserve electrons or holes in a coherent superposition of dot states for a long time. Various quantum logic devices can be envisioned to arise from the possibility of storing such trapped particles for future release on demand. In this work, we consider a double quantum dot memory device, which enables the preservation of a coherent state to be released as multiple classical bits. Our unique device architecture uses an external gating for storing (writing) the coherent state and for retrieving (reading) the classical bits, in addition to exploiting an internal gating effect for the preservation of the coherent state.

  17. 78 FR 67013 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-08

    ... Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION... Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-800A, DG-800B, DG-500MB gliders. This AD results from mandatory continuing... holidays. For service information identified in this AD, contact DG- Flugzeugbau GmbH, 76646 Bruchsal...

  18. 77 FR 2234 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-17

    ... Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department... new airworthiness directive (AD) for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Models DG-500 Elan Orion, DG-500 Elan Trainer... DG- Flugzeugbau GmbH, Otto-Lilienthal-Weg 2, 76646 Bruchsal, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone...

  19. Distributed Generation: Challenges and Opportunities, 7. edition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    NONE

    2007-10-15

    The report is a comprehensive study of the Distributed Generation (DG) industry. The report takes a wide-ranging look at the current and future state of DG and both individually and collectively addresses the technologies of Microturbines, Reciprocating Engines, Stirling Engines, Fuel Cells, Photovoltaics, Concentrating Solar, Wind, and Microgrids. Topics covered include: the key technologies being used or planned for DG; the uses of DG from utility, energy service provider, and customer viewpoints; the economics of DG; the benefits of DG from multiple perspectives; the barriers that exist to implementing DG; the government programs supporting the DG industry; and, an analysismore » of DG interconnection and net metering rules.« less

  20. Presynaptic dystroglycan-pikachurin complex regulates the proper synaptic connection between retinal photoreceptor and bipolar cells.

    PubMed

    Omori, Yoshihiro; Araki, Fumiyuki; Chaya, Taro; Kajimura, Naoko; Irie, Shoichi; Terada, Koji; Muranishi, Yuki; Tsujii, Toshinori; Ueno, Shinji; Koyasu, Toshiyuki; Tamaki, Yasuhiro; Kondo, Mineo; Amano, Shiro; Furukawa, Takahisa

    2012-05-02

    Dystroglycan (DG) is a key component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) at the neuromuscular junction postsynapse. In the mouse retina, the DGC is localized at the presynapse of photoreceptor cells, however, the function of presynaptic DGC is poorly understood. Here, we developed and analyzed retinal photoreceptor-specific DG conditional knock-out (DG CKO) mice. We found that the DG CKO retina showed a reduced amplitude and a prolonged implicit time of the ERG b-wave. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that bipolar dendrite invagination into the photoreceptor terminus is perturbed in the DG CKO retina. In the DG CKO retina, pikachurin, a DG ligand in the retina, is markedly decreased at photoreceptor synapses. Interestingly, in the Pikachurin(-/-) retina, the DG signal at the ribbon synaptic terminus was severely reduced, suggesting that pikachurin is required for the presynaptic accumulation of DG at the photoreceptor synaptic terminus, and conversely DG is required for pikachurin accumulation. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of pikachurin induces formation and clustering of a DG-pikachurin complex on the cell surface. The Laminin G repeats of pikachurin, which are critical for its oligomerization and interaction with DG, were essential for the clustering of the DG-pikachurin complex as well. These results suggest that oligomerization of pikachurin and its interaction with DG causes DG assembly on the synapse surface of the photoreceptor synaptic terminals. Our results reveal that the presynaptic interaction of pikachurin with DG at photoreceptor terminals is essential for both the formation of proper photoreceptor ribbon synaptic structures and normal retinal electrophysiology.

  1. Organic electrical double layer transistors gated with ionic liquids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Wei; Frisbie, C. Daniel

    2011-03-01

    Transport in organic semiconductors gated with several types of ionic liquids has been systematically studied at charge densities larger than 1013 cm-2 . We observe a pronounced maximum in channel conductance for both p-type and n-type organic single crystals which is attributed to carrier localization at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface. Carrier mobility, as well as charge density and dielectric capacitance are determined through displacement current measurement and capacitance-voltage measurement. By using a larger-sized and spherical anion, tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (FAP), effective carrier mobility in rubrene can be enhanced substantially up to 3.2 cm2 V-1 s -1 . Efforts have been made to maximize the charge density in rubrene single crystals, and at low temperature when higher gate bias can be applied, charge density can more than double the amount of that at room temperature, reaching 8*1013 cm-2 holes (0.4 holes per rubrene molecule). NSF MRSEC program at the University of Minnesota.

  2. Sub-50-as isolated extreme ultraviolet continua generated by 1.6-cycle near-infrared pulse combined with double optical gating scheme

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oguri, Katsuya; Mashiko, Hiroki; Ogawa, Tatsuya; Hanada, Yasutaka; Nakano, Hidetoshi; Gotoh, Hideki

    2018-04-01

    We demonstrate the generation of ultrabroad bandwidth attosecond continua extending to sub-50-as duration in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) region based on a 1.6-cycle Ti:sapphire laser pulse. The combination of the amplitude gating scheme with a sub-two-cycle driver pulse and the double optical gating scheme achieves the continuum generation with a bandwidth of 70 eV at the full width at half maximum near the peak photon energy of 140 eV, which supports a Fourier-transform-limited pulse duration as short as 32 as. The carrier-envelope-phase (CEP) dependence of the attosecond continua shows a single-peak structure originating from the half-cycle cut-off at appropriate CEP values, which strongly indicates the generation of a single burst of an isolated attosecond pulse. Our approach suggests a possibility for isolated sub-50-as pulse generation in the EUV region by compensating for the intrinsic attosecond chirp with a Zr filter.

  3. Hysteresis free negative total gate capacitance in junctionless transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gupta, Manish; Kranti, Abhinav

    2017-09-01

    In this work, we report on the hysteresis free impact ionization induced off-to-on transition while preserving sub-60 mV/decade Subthreshold swing (S-swing) using asymmetric mode operation in double gate silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) junctionless (JL) transistor. It is shown that sub-60 mV/decade steep switching due to impact ionization implies a negative value of the total gate capacitance. The performance of asymmetric gate JL transistor is compared with symmetric gate operation of JL device, and the condition for hysteresis free current transition with a sub-60 mV/decade switching is analyzed through the product of current density (J) and electric field (E). It is shown that asymmetric gate operation limits the degree of impact ionization inherent in the semiconductor film to levels sufficient for negative total gate capacitance but lower than that required for the occurrence of hysteresis. The work highlights new viewpoints related to the suppression of hysteresis associated with steep switching JL transistors while maintaining S-swing within the range 6-15 mV/decade leading to the negative value of total gate capacitance.

  4. Chrysanthemum WRKY gene DgWRKY5 enhances tolerance to salt stress in transgenic chrysanthemum.

    PubMed

    Liang, Qian-Yu; Wu, Yin-Huan; Wang, Ke; Bai, Zhen-Yu; Liu, Qing-Lin; Pan, Yuan-Zhi; Zhang, Lei; Jiang, Bei-Bei

    2017-07-06

    WRKY transcription factors play important roles in plant growth development, resistance and substance metabolism regulation. However, the exact function of the response to salt stress in plants with specific WRKY transcription factors remains unclear. In this research, we isolated a new WRKY transcription factor DgWRKY5 from chrysanthemum. DgWRKY5 contains two WRKY domains of WKKYGQK and two C 2 H 2 zinc fingers. The expression of DgWRKY5 in chrysanthemum was up-regulated under various treatments. Meanwhile, we observed higher expression levels in the leaves contrasted with other tissues. Under salt stress, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes in transgenic chrysanthemum were significantly higher than those in WT, whereas the accumulation of H 2 O 2 , O 2 - and malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced in transgenic chrysanthemum. Several parameters including root length, root length, fresh weight, chlorophyll content and leaf gas exchange parameters in transgenic chrysanthemum were much better compared with WT under salt stress. Moreover, the expression of stress-related genes DgAPX, DgCAT, DgNCED3A, DgNCED3B, DgCuZnSOD, DgP5CS, DgCSD1 and DgCSD2 was up-regulated in DgWRKY5 transgenic chrysanthemum compared with that in WT. These results suggested that DgWRKY5 could function as a positive regulator of salt stress in chrysanthemum.

  5. Improving pH sensitivity by field-induced charge regulation in flexible biopolymer electrolyte gated oxide transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Ning; Gan, Lu; Liu, Yu; Gui, Weijun; Li, Wei; Zhang, Xiaohang

    2017-10-01

    Electrical manipulation of charged ions in electrolyte-gated transistors is crucial for enhancing the electric-double-layer (EDL) gating effect, thereby improving their sensing abilities. Here, indium-zinc-oxide (IZO) based thin-film-transistors (TFTs) are fabricated on flexible plastic substrate. Acid doped chitosan-based biopolymer electrolyte is used as the gate dielectric, exhibiting an extremely high EDL capacitance. By regulating the dynamic EDL charging process with special gate potential profiles, the EDL gating effect of the chitosan-gated TFT is enhanced, and then resulting in higher pH sensitivities. An extremely high sensitivity of ∼57.8 mV/pH close to Nernst limit is achieved when the gate bias of the TFT sensor sweeps at a rate of 10 mV/s. Additionally, an enhanced sensitivity of 2630% in terms of current variation with pH range from 11 to 3 is realized when the device is operated in the ion depletion mode with a negative gate bias of -0.7 V. Robust ionic modulation is demonstrated in such chitosan-gated sensors. Efficiently driving the charged ions in the chitosan-gated IZO-TFT provides a new route for ultrasensitive, low voltage, and low-cost biochemical sensing technologies.

  6. High-fidelity gates in quantum dot spin qubits

    PubMed Central

    Koh, Teck Seng; Coppersmith, S. N.; Friesen, Mark

    2013-01-01

    Several logical qubits and quantum gates have been proposed for semiconductor quantum dots controlled by voltages applied to top gates. The different schemes can be difficult to compare meaningfully. Here we develop a theoretical framework to evaluate disparate qubit-gating schemes on an equal footing. We apply the procedure to two types of double-dot qubits: the singlet–triplet and the semiconducting quantum dot hybrid qubit. We investigate three quantum gates that flip the qubit state: a DC pulsed gate, an AC gate based on logical qubit resonance, and a gate-like process known as stimulated Raman adiabatic passage. These gates are all mediated by an exchange interaction that is controlled experimentally using the interdot tunnel coupling g and the detuning ϵ, which sets the energy difference between the dots. Our procedure has two steps. First, we optimize the gate fidelity (f) for fixed g as a function of the other control parameters; this yields an that is universal for different types of gates. Next, we identify physical constraints on the control parameters; this yields an upper bound that is specific to the qubit-gate combination. We show that similar gate fidelities should be attainable for singlet-triplet qubits in isotopically purified Si, and for hybrid qubits in natural Si. Considerably lower fidelities are obtained for GaAs devices, due to the fluctuating magnetic fields ΔB produced by nuclear spins. PMID:24255105

  7. Gates Foundation donates $25 million for AIDS vaccine.

    PubMed

    1999-05-07

    The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) received a $25 million five-year grant from Bill and Melinda Gates through the William H. Gates Foundation. This is the largest gift seen in the AIDS epidemic, and will allow IAVI to more than double vaccine development efforts. IAVI is currently developing two potential vaccines, hopes to study three others, and is working with the business community to insure that a successful vaccine is affordable in developing countries. With 16,000 new infections occurring daily, a vaccine is seen as the most effective way to stop the epidemic. The William H. Gates Foundation had donated $1.5 million to IAVI and $100 million for programs to speed the delivery of vaccines to children in poor countries. Internet addresses are included for both IAVI and the William H. Gates Foundation.

  8. Quantum ballistic analysis of transition metal dichalcogenides based double gate junctionless field effect transistor and its application in nano-biosensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shadman, Abir; Rahman, Ehsanur; Khosru, Quazi D. M.

    2017-11-01

    To reduce the thermal budget and the short channel effects in state of the art CMOS technology, Junctionless field effect transistor (JLFET) has been proposed in the literature. Numerous experimental, modeling, and simulation based works have been done on this new FET with bulk materials for various geometries until now. On the other hand, the two-dimensional layered material is considered as an alternative to current Si technology because of its ultra-thin body and high mobility. Very recently few simulation based works have been done on monolayer molybdenum disulfide based JLFET mainly to show the advantage of JLFET over conventional FET. However, no comprehensive simulation-based work has been done for double gate JLFET keeping in mind the prominent transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) to the authors' best knowledge. In this work, we have studied quantum ballistic drain current-gate voltage characteristics of such FETs within non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) framework. Our simulation results reveal that all these TMDC materials are viable options for implementing state of the art Junctionless MOSFET with emphasis on their performance at short gate lengths. Besides evaluating the prospect of TMDC materials in the digital logic application, the performance of Junctionless Double Gate trilayer TMDC heterostructure FET for the label-free electrical detection of biomolecules in dry environment has been investigated for the first time to the authors' best knowledge. The impact of charge neutral biomolecules on the electrical characteristics of the biosensor has been analyzed under dry environment situation. Our study shows that these materials could provide high sensitivity in the sub-threshold region as a channel material in nano-biosensor, a trend demonstrated by silicon on insulator FET sensor in the literature. Thus, going by the trend of replacing silicon with these novel materials in device level, TMDC heterostructure could be a viable alternative to silicon for potentiometric biosensing.

  9. Isolated Attosecond Pulse Generation without the Need to Stabilize the Carrier-Envelope Phase of Driving Lasers

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gilbertson, Steve; Khan, Sabih D.; Wu Yi

    2010-08-27

    Single isolated attosecond pulses can be extracted from a pulse train with an ultrafast gate in the generation target. By setting the gate width sufficiently narrow with the generalized double optical gating, we demonstrate that single isolated attosecond pulses can be generated with any arbitrary carrier-envelope phase value of the driving laser. The carrier-envelope phase only affects the photon flux, not the pulse duration or contrast. Our results show that isolated attosecond pulses can be generated using carrier-envelope phase unstabilized 23 fs pulses directly from chirped pulse amplifiers.

  10. A solid dielectric gated graphene nanosensor in electrolyte solutions.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Yibo; Wang, Cheng; Petrone, Nicholas; Yu, Jaeeun; Nuckolls, Colin; Hone, James; Lin, Qiao

    2015-03-23

    This letter presents a graphene field effect transistor (GFET) nanosensor that, with a solid gate provided by a high- κ dielectric, allows analyte detection in liquid media at low gate voltages. The gate is embedded within the sensor and thus is isolated from a sample solution, offering a high level of integration and miniaturization and eliminating errors caused by the liquid disturbance, desirable for both in vitro and in vivo applications. We demonstrate that the GFET nanosensor can be used to measure pH changes in a range of 5.3-9.3. Based on the experimental observations and quantitative analysis, the charging of an electrical double layer capacitor is found to be the major mechanism of pH sensing.

  11. Non-resonant Nanoscale Extreme Light Confinement

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Subramania, Ganapathi Subramanian; Huber, Dale L.

    2014-09-01

    A wide spectrum of photonics activities Sandia is engaged in such as solid state lighting, photovoltaics, infrared imaging and sensing, quantum sources, rely on nanoscale or ultrasubwavelength light-matter interactions (LMI). The fundamental understanding in confining electromagnetic power and enhancing electric fields into ever smaller volumes is key to creating next generation devices for these programs. The prevailing view is that a resonant interaction (e.g. in microcavities or surface-plasmon polaritions) is necessary to achieve the necessary light confinement for absorption or emission enhancement. Here we propose new paradigm that is non-resonant and therefore broadband and can achieve light confinement and fieldmore » enhancement in extremely small areas [~(λ/500)^2 ]. The proposal is based on a theoretical work[1] performed at Sandia. The paradigm structure consists of a periodic arrangement of connected small and large rectangular slits etched into a metal film named double-groove (DG) structure. The degree of electric field enhancement and power confinement can be controlled by the geometry of the structure. The key operational principle is attributed to quasistatic response of the metal electrons to the incoming electromagnetic field that enables non-resonant broadband behavior. For this exploratory LDRD we have fabricated some test double groove structures to enable verification of quasistatic electronic response in the mid IR through IR optical spectroscopy. We have addressed some processing challenges in DG structure fabrication to enable future design of complex sensor and detector geometries that can utilize its non-resonant field enhancement capabilities.].« less

  12. Transition-state destabilization reveals how human DNA polymerase β proceeds across the chemically unstable lesion N7-methylguanine

    PubMed Central

    Ouzon-Shubeita, Hala; Lee, Seongmin

    2014-01-01

    N7-Methyl-2′-deoxyguanosine (m7dG) is the predominant lesion formed by methylating agents. A systematic investigation on the effect of m7dG on DNA replication has been difficult due to the chemical instability of m7dG. To gain insights into the m7dG effect, we employed a 2′-fluorine-mediated transition-state destabilzation strategy. Specifically, we determined kinetic parameters for dCTP insertion opposite a chemically stable m7dG analogue, 2′-fluoro-m7dG (Fm7dG), by human DNA polymerase β (polβ) and solved three X-ray structures of polβ in complex with the templating Fm7dG paired with incoming dCTP or dTTP analogues. The kinetic studies reveal that the templating Fm7dG slows polβ catalysis ∼300-fold, suggesting that m7dG in genomic DNA may impede replication by some DNA polymerases. The structural analysis reveals that Fm7dG forms a canonical Watson–Crick base pair with dCTP, but metal ion coordination is suboptimal for catalysis in the polβ-Fm7dG:dCTP complex, which partially explains the slow insertion of dCTP opposite Fm7dG by polβ. In addition, the polβ-Fm7dG:dTTP structure shows open protein conformations and staggered base pair conformations, indicating that N7-methylation of dG does not promote a promutagenic replication. Overall, the first systematic studies on the effect of m7dG on DNA replication reveal that polβ catalysis across m7dG is slow, yet highly accurate. PMID:24966350

  13. Do Brief Motivational Interventions Reduce Drinking Game Frequency in Mandated Students? An analysis of data from two randomized controlled trials

    PubMed Central

    Fernandez, Anne C.; Yurasek, Allison M.; Merrill, Jennifer E.; Miller, Mary Beth; Zamboanga, Byron L.; Carey, Kate B.; Borsari, Brian

    2016-01-01

    Purpose College students frequently engage in drinking games (DG) and experience a variety of consequences as a result. It is currently unknown whether brief motivational interventions (BMI) that provide feedback on DG participation can reduce this high risk behavior. This study examined outcome data from two randomized clinical trials to examine whether BMIs facilitate change in DG frequency and how these changes may occur. Methods Mandated college students (Trial 1, N = 198, 46% female; Trial 2, N = 412; 32% female) were randomized to BMI or comparison control conditions. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to compare the BMI and comparison groups to determine whether the BMI reduced DG participation over time. Percent change talk (PCT) during the discussion of DG during the session was examined as a predictor of change in DG frequency, and gender was examined as a moderator of treatment effects. Results Controlling for regular drinking frequency, participants who received a BMI did not significantly reduce their DG frequency relative to the comparison group in either sample, and the BMI was equally ineffective at reducing DG behavior for men and women. DG-related PCT during the BMI was associated with lower DG frequency at the second follow-up in both Trials. In Trial 1, PCT during the BMI was associated with less steep increases in DG frequency across the course of all follow-ups. Effects of PCT on DG behavior were not moderated by gender. Conclusions Findings did not support hypothesized reductions in DG participation following a BMI. Future research should explore whether targeted DG-specific interventions could reduce DG participation and the role of in-session client language in facilitating such change. PMID:27936818

  14. Anomalous Coulomb oscillation in crossed carbon nanotubes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baek, Seung Jae; Lee, Dongsu; Park, Seung Joo; Park, Yung Woo; Svensson, Johannes; Jonson, Mats; Campbell, Eleanor E. B.

    2008-03-01

    Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) crossed junctions separated by an insulating layer were fabricated to investigate the double quantum dot modulated by a single gate (DQD-sG). Anomalous Coulomb oscillations were observed on the lower CNT at low temperature, where the behavior was interpreted by the concept of a double quantum dot (DQD) system http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id =APPLAB000089000023233107000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes [1]. To understand it more clearly, we have intentionally fabricated crossed CNTs without oxide layer in between. The observed anomalous Coulomb oscillations indicate that the contact resistance between the two tubes becomes a potential barrier splitting the initial single QD into the DQD, and the back-gate modulates the energy levels of the DQD.

  15. Electrical Double Layer Capacitance in a Graphene-embedded Al2O3 Gate Dielectric

    PubMed Central

    Ki Min, Bok; Kim, Seong K.; Jun Kim, Seong; Ho Kim, Sung; Kang, Min-A; Park, Chong-Yun; Song, Wooseok; Myung, Sung; Lim, Jongsun; An, Ki-Seok

    2015-01-01

    Graphene heterostructures are of considerable interest as a new class of electronic devices with exceptional performance in a broad range of applications has been realized. Here, we propose a graphene-embedded Al2O3 gate dielectric with a relatively high dielectric constant of 15.5, which is about 2 times that of Al2O3, having a low leakage current with insertion of tri-layer graphene. In this system, the enhanced capacitance of the hybrid structure can be understood by the formation of a space charge layer at the graphene/Al2O3 interface. The electrical properties of the interface can be further explained by the electrical double layer (EDL) model dominated by the diffuse layer. PMID:26530817

  16. Transport Properties of Anatase-TiO2 Polycrystalline-Thin-Film Field-Effect Transistors with Electrolyte Gate Layers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Horita, Ryohei; Ohtani, Kyosuke; Kai, Takahiro; Murao, Yusuke; Nishida, Hiroya; Toya, Taku; Seo, Kentaro; Sakai, Mio; Okuda, Tetsuji

    2013-11-01

    We have fabricated anatase-TiO2 polycrystalline-thin-film field-effect transistors (FETs) with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), ion-liquid (IL), and ion-gel (IG) gate layers, and have tried to improve the response to gate voltage by varying the concentration of mobile ions in these electrolyte gate layers. The increase in the concentration of mobile ions by doping NaOH into the PVA gate layer or reducing the gelator in the IG gate layer markedly increases the drain-source current and reduces the driving gate voltage, which show that the mobile ions in the PVA, IL, and IG gate layers cause the formation of electric double layers (EDLs), which act as nanogap capacitors. In these TiO2-EDL-FETs, the slow formation of EDLs and the oxidation reaction at the interface between the surface of the TiO2 film and the electrolytes cause unideal FET properties. In the optimized IL and IG TiO2-EDL-FETs, the driving gate voltage is less than 1 V and the ON/OFF ratios of the transfer characteristics are about 1×104 at RT, and the nearly metallic state is realized at the interface purely by applying a gate voltage.

  17. Dual-gate polysilicon nanoribbon biosensors enable high sensitivity detection of proteins.

    PubMed

    Zeimpekis, I; Sun, K; Hu, C; Ditshego, N M J; Thomas, O; de Planque, M R R; Chong, H M H; Morgan, H; Ashburn, P

    2016-04-22

    We demonstrate the advantages of dual-gate polysilicon nanoribbon biosensors with a comprehensive evaluation of different measurement schemes for pH and protein sensing. In particular, we compare the detection of voltage and current changes when top- and bottom-gate bias is applied. Measurements of pH show that a large voltage shift of 491 mV pH(-1) is obtained in the subthreshold region when the top-gate is kept at a fixed potential and the bottom-gate is varied (voltage sweep). This is an improvement of 16 times over the 30 mV pH(-1) measured using a top-gate sweep with the bottom-gate at a fixed potential. A similar large voltage shift of 175 mV is obtained when the protein avidin is sensed using a bottom-gate sweep. This is an improvement of 20 times compared with the 8.8 mV achieved from a top-gate sweep. Current measurements using bottom-gate sweeps do not deliver the same signal amplification as when using bottom-gate sweeps to measure voltage shifts. Thus, for detecting a small signal change on protein binding, it is advantageous to employ a double-gate transistor and to measure a voltage shift using a bottom-gate sweep. For top-gate sweeps, the use of a dual-gate transistor enables the current sensitivity to be enhanced by applying a negative bias to the bottom-gate to reduce the carrier concentration in the nanoribbon. For pH measurements, the current sensitivity increases from 65% to 149% and for avidin sensing it increases from 1.4% to 2.5%.

  18. Dual-gate polysilicon nanoribbon biosensors enable high sensitivity detection of proteins

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zeimpekis, I.; Sun, K.; Hu, C.; Ditshego, N. M. J.; Thomas, O.; de Planque, M. R. R.; Chong, H. M. H.; Morgan, H.; Ashburn, P.

    2016-04-01

    We demonstrate the advantages of dual-gate polysilicon nanoribbon biosensors with a comprehensive evaluation of different measurement schemes for pH and protein sensing. In particular, we compare the detection of voltage and current changes when top- and bottom-gate bias is applied. Measurements of pH show that a large voltage shift of 491 mV pH-1 is obtained in the subthreshold region when the top-gate is kept at a fixed potential and the bottom-gate is varied (voltage sweep). This is an improvement of 16 times over the 30 mV pH-1 measured using a top-gate sweep with the bottom-gate at a fixed potential. A similar large voltage shift of 175 mV is obtained when the protein avidin is sensed using a bottom-gate sweep. This is an improvement of 20 times compared with the 8.8 mV achieved from a top-gate sweep. Current measurements using bottom-gate sweeps do not deliver the same signal amplification as when using bottom-gate sweeps to measure voltage shifts. Thus, for detecting a small signal change on protein binding, it is advantageous to employ a double-gate transistor and to measure a voltage shift using a bottom-gate sweep. For top-gate sweeps, the use of a dual-gate transistor enables the current sensitivity to be enhanced by applying a negative bias to the bottom-gate to reduce the carrier concentration in the nanoribbon. For pH measurements, the current sensitivity increases from 65% to 149% and for avidin sensing it increases from 1.4% to 2.5%.

  19. Fluoxetine attenuates the impairment of spatial learning ability and prevents neuron loss in middle-aged APPswe/PSEN1dE9 double transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice.

    PubMed

    Ma, Jing; Gao, Yuan; Jiang, Lin; Chao, Feng-Lei; Huang, Wei; Zhou, Chun-Ni; Tang, Wei; Zhang, Lei; Huang, Chun-Xia; Zhang, Yi; Luo, Yan-Min; Xiao, Qian; Yu, Hua-Rong; Jiang, Rong; Tang, Yong

    2017-04-25

    Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been reported to increase cognitive performance in some clinical studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is a lack of evidence supporting the efficacy of SSRIs as cognition enhancers in AD, and the role of SSRIs as a treatment for AD remains largely unclear. Here, we characterized the impact of fluoxetine (FLX), a well-known SSRI, on neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) and in CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus of middle-aged (16 to 17 months old) APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) transgenic AD model mice. We found that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of FLX (10 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks effectively alleviated the impairment of spatial learning ability in middle-aged APP/PS1 mice as evaluated using the Morris water maze. More importantly, the number of neurons in the hippocampal DG was significantly increased by FLX. Additionally, FLX reduced the deposition of beta amyloid, inhibited GSK-3β activity and increased the level of β-catenin in middle-aged APP/PS1 mice. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that FLX delayed the progression of neuronal loss in the hippocampal DG in middle-aged AD mice, and this effect may underlie the FLX-induced improvement in learning ability. FLX may therefore serve as a promising therapeutic drug for AD.

  20. Fluoxetine attenuates the impairment of spatial learning ability and prevents neuron loss in middle-aged APPswe/PSEN1dE9 double transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice

    PubMed Central

    Ma, Jing; Gao, Yuan; Jiang, Lin; Chao, Feng-lei; Huang, Wei; Zhou, Chun-ni; Tang, Wei; Zhang, Lei; Huang, Chun-xia; Zhang, Yi; Luo, Yan-min; Xiao, Qian; Yu, Hua-rong; Jiang, Rong; Tang, Yong

    2017-01-01

    Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been reported to increase cognitive performance in some clinical studies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, there is a lack of evidence supporting the efficacy of SSRIs as cognition enhancers in AD, and the role of SSRIs as a treatment for AD remains largely unclear. Here, we characterized the impact of fluoxetine (FLX), a well-known SSRI, on neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) and in CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus of middle-aged (16 to 17 months old) APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) transgenic AD model mice. We found that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of FLX (10 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks effectively alleviated the impairment of spatial learning ability in middle-aged APP/PS1 mice as evaluated using the Morris water maze. More importantly, the number of neurons in the hippocampal DG was significantly increased by FLX. Additionally, FLX reduced the deposition of beta amyloid, inhibited GSK-3β activity and increased the level of β-catenin in middle-aged APP/PS1 mice. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that FLX delayed the progression of neuronal loss in the hippocampal DG in middle-aged AD mice, and this effect may underlie the FLX-induced improvement in learning ability. FLX may therefore serve as a promising therapeutic drug for AD. PMID:28430602

  1. LaAlO{sub 3}/Si capacitors: Comparison of different molecular beam deposition conditions and their impact on electrical properties

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pelloquin, Sylvain; Baboux, Nicolas; Albertini, David

    2013-01-21

    A study of the structural and electrical properties of amorphous LaAlO{sub 3} (LAO)/Si thin films fabricated by molecular beam deposition (MBD) is presented. Two substrate preparation procedures have been explored namely a high temperature substrate preparation technique-leading to a step and terraces surface morphology-and a chemical HF-based surface cleaning. The LAO deposition conditions were improved by introducing atomic plasma-prepared oxygen instead of classical molecular O{sub 2} in the chamber. An Au/Ni stack was used as the top electrode for its electrical characteristics. The physico-chemical properties (surface topography, thickness homogeneity, LAO/Si interface quality) and electrical performance (capacitance and current versus voltagemore » and TunA current topography) of the samples were systematically evaluated. Deposition conditions (substrate temperature of 550 Degree-Sign C, oxygen partial pressure settled at 10{sup -6} Torr, and 550 W of power applied to the O{sub 2} plasma) and post-depositions treatments were investigated to optimize the dielectric constant ({kappa}) and leakage currents density (J{sub Gate} at Double-Vertical-Line V{sub Gate} Double-Vertical-Line = Double-Vertical-Line V{sub FB}- 1 Double-Vertical-Line ). In the best reproducible conditions, we obtained a LAO/Si layer with a dielectric constant of 16, an equivalent oxide thickness of 8.7 A, and J{sub Gate} Almost-Equal-To 10{sup -2}A/cm{sup 2}. This confirms the importance of LaAlO{sub 3} as an alternative high-{kappa} for ITRS sub-22 nm technology node.« less

  2. Improved linearity in AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors with nonlinear polarization dielectric

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Tao; Xu, Ruimin; Kong, Yuechan; Zhou, Jianjun; Kong, Cen; Dong, Xun; Chen, Tangsheng

    2015-06-01

    We demonstrate highly improved linearity in a nonlinear ferroelectric of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)-gated AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistor (MIS-HEMT). Distinct double-hump feature in the transconductance-gate voltage (gm-Vg) curve is observed, yielding remarkable enhancement in gate voltage swing as compared to MIS-HEMT with conventional linear gate dielectric. By incorporating the ferroelectric polarization into a self-consistent calculation, it is disclosed that in addition to the common hump corresponding to the onset of electron accumulation, the second hump at high current level is originated from the nonlinear polar nature of ferroelectric, which enhances the gate capacitance by increasing equivalent dielectric constant nonlinearly. This work paves a way for design of high linearity GaN MIS-HEMT by exploiting the nonlinear properties of dielectric.

  3. Laser-induced dental caries and plaque diagnosis on patients by sensitive autofluorescence spectroscopy and time-gated video imaging: preliminary studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koenig, Karsten; Schneckenburger, Herbert

    1994-09-01

    The laser-induced in vivo autofluorescence of human teeth was investigated by means of time- resolved/time-gated fluorescence techniques. The aim of these studies was non-contact caries and plaque detection. Carious lesions and dental plaque fluoresce in the red spectral region. This autofluorescence seems to be based on porphyrin-producing bacteria. We report on preliminary studies on patients using a novel method of autofluorescence imaging. A special device was constructed for time-gated video imaging. Nanosecond laser pulses for fluorescence excitation were provided by a frequency-doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Autofluorescence was detected in an appropriate nanosecond time window using a video camera with a time-gated image intensifier (minimal time gate: 5 ns). Laser-induced autofluorescence based on porphyrin-producing bacteria seems to be an appropriate tool for detecting dental lesions and for creating `caries-images' and `dental plaque' images.

  4. VLSI Implementation of Fault Tolerance Multiplier based on Reversible Logic Gate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahmad, Nabihah; Hakimi Mokhtar, Ahmad; Othman, Nurmiza binti; Fhong Soon, Chin; Rahman, Ab Al Hadi Ab

    2017-08-01

    Multiplier is one of the essential component in the digital world such as in digital signal processing, microprocessor, quantum computing and widely used in arithmetic unit. Due to the complexity of the multiplier, tendency of errors are very high. This paper aimed to design a 2×2 bit Fault Tolerance Multiplier based on Reversible logic gate with low power consumption and high performance. This design have been implemented using 90nm Complemetary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology in Synopsys Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Tools. Implementation of the multiplier architecture is by using the reversible logic gates. The fault tolerance multiplier used the combination of three reversible logic gate which are Double Feynman gate (F2G), New Fault Tolerance (NFT) gate and Islam Gate (IG) with the area of 160μm x 420.3μm (67.25 mm2). This design achieved a low power consumption of 122.85μW and propagation delay of 16.99ns. The fault tolerance multiplier proposed achieved a low power consumption and high performance which suitable for application of modern computing as it has a fault tolerance capabilities.

  5. 77 FR 2236 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Sailplanes

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-17

    ...H Sailplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT... are revising an earlier NPRM for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH DG-500 Elan series sailplanes and Models DG-500M... information identified in this proposed AD, DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, Otto-Lilienthal-Weg 2, 76646 Bruchsal...

  6. A dystroglycan mutation (p.Cys667Phe) associated to muscle-eye-brain disease with multicystic leucodystrophy results in ER-retention of the mutant protein.

    PubMed

    Signorino, Giulia; Covaceuszach, Sonia; Bozzi, Manuela; Hübner, Wolfgang; Mönkemöller, Viola; Konarev, Petr V; Cassetta, Alberto; Brancaccio, Andrea; Sciandra, Francesca

    2018-02-01

    Dystroglycan (DG) is a cell adhesion complex composed by two subunits, the highly glycosylated α-DG and the transmembrane β-DG. In skeletal muscle, DG is involved in dystroglycanopathies, a group of heterogeneous muscular dystrophies characterized by a reduced glycosylation of α-DG. The genes mutated in secondary dystroglycanopathies are involved in the synthesis of O-mannosyl glycans and in the O-mannosylation pathway of α-DG. Mutations in the DG gene (DAG1), causing primary dystroglycanopathies, destabilize the α-DG core protein influencing its binding to modifying enzymes. Recently, a homozygous mutation (p.Cys699Phe) hitting the β-DG ectodomain has been identified in a patient affected by muscle-eye-brain disease with multicystic leucodystrophy, suggesting that other mechanisms than hypoglycosylation of α-DG could be implicated in dystroglycanopathies. Herein, we have characterized the DG murine mutant counterpart by transfection in cellular systems and high-resolution microscopy. We observed that the mutation alters the DG processing leading to retention of its uncleaved precursor in the endoplasmic reticulum. Accordingly, small-angle X-ray scattering data, corroborated by biochemical and biophysical experiments, revealed that the mutation provokes an alteration in the β-DG ectodomain overall folding, resulting in disulfide-associated oligomerization. Our data provide the first evidence of a novel intracellular mechanism, featuring an anomalous endoplasmic reticulum-retention, underlying dystroglycanopathy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  7. Ca2+ toxicity due to reverse Na+/Ca2+ exchange contributes to degeneration of neurites of DRG neurons induced by a neuropathy-associated Nav1.7 mutation

    PubMed Central

    Estacion, M.; Vohra, B. P. S; Liu, S.; Hoeijmakers, J.; Faber, C. G.; Merkies, I. S. J.; Lauria, G.; Black, J. A.

    2015-01-01

    Gain-of-function missense mutations in voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 have been linked to small-fiber neuropathy, which is characterized by burning pain, dysautonomia and a loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers. However, the mechanistic cascades linking Nav1.7 mutations to axonal degeneration are incompletely understood. The G856D mutation in Nav1.7 produces robust changes in channel biophysical properties, including hyperpolarized activation, depolarized inactivation, and enhanced ramp and persistent currents, which contribute to the hyperexcitability exhibited by neurons containing Nav1.8. We report here that cell bodies and neurites of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons transfected with G856D display increased levels of intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]) and intracellular [Ca2+] following stimulation with high [K+] compared with wild-type (WT) Nav1.7-expressing neurons. Blockade of reverse mode of the sodium/calcium exchanger (NCX) or of sodium channels attenuates [Ca2+] transients evoked by high [K+] in G856D-expressing DRG cell bodies and neurites. We also show that treatment of WT or G856D-expressing neurites with high [K+] or 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) does not elicit degeneration of these neurites, but that high [K+] and 2-DG in combination evokes degeneration of G856D neurites but not WT neurites. Our results also demonstrate that 0 Ca2+ or blockade of reverse mode of NCX protects G856D-expressing neurites from degeneration when exposed to high [K+] and 2-DG. These results point to [Na+] overload in DRG neurons expressing mutant G856D Nav1.7, which triggers reverse mode of NCX and contributes to Ca2+ toxicity, and suggest subtype-specific blockade of Nav1.7 or inhibition of reverse NCX as strategies that might slow or prevent axon degeneration in small-fiber neuropathy. PMID:26156380

  8. Discontinuous Galerkin method for multicomponent chemically reacting flows and combustion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lv, Yu; Ihme, Matthias

    2014-08-01

    This paper presents the development of a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method for application to chemically reacting flows in subsonic and supersonic regimes under the consideration of variable thermo-viscous-diffusive transport properties, detailed and stiff reaction chemistry, and shock capturing. A hybrid-flux formulation is developed for treatment of the convective fluxes, combining a conservative Riemann-solver and an extended double-flux scheme. A computationally efficient splitting scheme is proposed, in which advection and diffusion operators are solved in the weak form, and the chemically stiff substep is advanced in the strong form using a time-implicit scheme. The discretization of the viscous-diffusive transport terms follows the second form of Bassi and Rebay, and the WENO-based limiter due to Zhong and Shu is extended to multicomponent systems. Boundary conditions are developed for subsonic and supersonic flow conditions, and the algorithm is coupled to thermochemical libraries to account for detailed reaction chemistry and complex transport. The resulting DG method is applied to a series of test cases of increasing physico-chemical complexity. Beginning with one- and two-dimensional multispecies advection and shock-fluid interaction problems, computational efficiency, convergence, and conservation properties are demonstrated. This study is followed by considering a series of detonation and supersonic combustion problems to investigate the convergence-rate and the shock-capturing capability in the presence of one- and multistep reaction chemistry. The DG algorithm is then applied to diffusion-controlled deflagration problems. By examining convergence properties for polynomial order and spatial resolution, and comparing these with second-order finite-volume solutions, it is shown that optimal convergence is achieved and that polynomial refinement provides advantages in better resolving the localized flame structure and complex flow-field features associated with multidimensional and hydrodynamic/thermo-diffusive instabilities in deflagration and detonation systems. Comparisons with standard third- and fifth-order WENO schemes are presented to illustrate the benefit of the DG scheme for application to detonation and multispecies flow/shock-interaction problems.

  9. High-fidelity gates in quantum dot spin qubits.

    PubMed

    Koh, Teck Seng; Coppersmith, S N; Friesen, Mark

    2013-12-03

    Several logical qubits and quantum gates have been proposed for semiconductor quantum dots controlled by voltages applied to top gates. The different schemes can be difficult to compare meaningfully. Here we develop a theoretical framework to evaluate disparate qubit-gating schemes on an equal footing. We apply the procedure to two types of double-dot qubits: the singlet-triplet and the semiconducting quantum dot hybrid qubit. We investigate three quantum gates that flip the qubit state: a DC pulsed gate, an AC gate based on logical qubit resonance, and a gate-like process known as stimulated Raman adiabatic passage. These gates are all mediated by an exchange interaction that is controlled experimentally using the interdot tunnel coupling g and the detuning [Symbol: see text], which sets the energy difference between the dots. Our procedure has two steps. First, we optimize the gate fidelity (f) for fixed g as a function of the other control parameters; this yields an f(opt)(g) that is universal for different types of gates. Next, we identify physical constraints on the control parameters; this yields an upper bound f(max) that is specific to the qubit-gate combination. We show that similar gate fidelities (~99:5%) should be attainable for singlet-triplet qubits in isotopically purified Si, and for hybrid qubits in natural Si. Considerably lower fidelities are obtained for GaAs devices, due to the fluctuating magnetic fields ΔB produced by nuclear spins.

  10. Surface Modification of Solution-Processed ZrO2 Films through Double Coating for Pentacene Thin-Film Transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kwon, Jin-Hyuk; Bae, Jin-Hyuk; Lee, Hyeonju; Park, Jaehoon

    2018-03-01

    We report the modification of surface properties of solution-processed zirconium oxide (ZrO2) dielectric films achieved by using double-coating process. It is proven that the surface properties of the ZrO2 film are modified through the double-coating process; the surface roughness decreases and the surface energy increases. The present surface modification of the ZrO2 film contributes to an increase in grain size of the pentacene film, thereby increasing the field-effect mobility and decreasing the threshold voltage of the pentacene thin-film transistors (TFTs) having the ZrO2 gate dielectric. Herein, the molecular orientation of pentacene film is also studied based on the results of contact angle and X-ray diffraction measurements. Pentacene molecules on the double-coated ZrO2 film are found to be more tilted than those on the single-coated ZrO2 film, which is attributed to the surface modification of the ZrO2 film. However, no significant differences are observed in insulating properties between the single-and the double-coated ZrO2 dielectric films. Consequently, the characteristic improvements of the pentacene TFTs with the double-coated ZrO2 gate dielectric film can be understood through the increase in pentacene grain size and the reduction in grain boundary density.

  11. Frequency-Stable Ionic-Type Hybrid Gate Dielectrics for High Mobility Solution-Processed Metal-Oxide Thin-Film Transistors

    PubMed Central

    Heo, Jae Sang; Choi, Seungbeom; Jo, Jeong-Wan; Kang, Jingu; Park, Ho-Hyun; Kim, Yong-Hoon; Park, Sung Kyu

    2017-01-01

    In this paper, we demonstrate high mobility solution-processed metal-oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) by using a high-frequency-stable ionic-type hybrid gate dielectric (HGD). The HGD gate dielectric, a blend of sol-gel aluminum oxide (AlOx) and poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP), exhibited high dielectric constant (ε~8.15) and high-frequency-stable characteristics (1 MHz). Using the ionic-type HGD as a gate dielectric layer, an minimal electron-double-layer (EDL) can be formed at the gate dielectric/InOx interface, enhancing the field-effect mobility of the TFTs. Particularly, using the ionic-type HGD gate dielectrics annealed at 350 °C, InOx TFTs having an average field-effect mobility of 16.1 cm2/Vs were achieved (maximum mobility of 24 cm2/Vs). Furthermore, the ionic-type HGD gate dielectrics can be processed at a low temperature of 150 °C, which may enable their applications in low-thermal-budget plastic and elastomeric substrates. In addition, we systematically studied the operational stability of the InOx TFTs using the HGD gate dielectric, and it was observed that the HGD gate dielectric effectively suppressed the negative threshold voltage shift during the negative-illumination-bias stress possibly owing to the recombination of hole carriers injected in the gate dielectric with the negatively charged ionic species in the HGD gate dielectric. PMID:28772972

  12. Hetero-Material Gate Doping-Less Tunnel FET and Its Misalignment Effects on Analog/RF Parameters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Anand, Sunny; Sarin, R. K.

    2018-03-01

    In this paper, with the use of a hetero-material gate technique, a tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) subject to charge plasma technique is proposed, named as hetero-material gate doping-less tunnel FET (HMG-DLTFET) and a brief study has been done on the effects due to misalignment of the bottom gate towards drain (GMAD) and towards source (GMAS). The proposed devices provide better performance as the drive current increased by three times as compared to conventional doping-less TFET (DLTFET). The results are then analyzed and compared with conventional doped hetero-material gate double-gate tunnel FET (HMG-DGTFET). The analog/radiofrequency (RF) performance has been studied for both devices and comparative analysis has been done for different parameters such as drain current (I D), transconductance (g m), output conductance (g d), total gate capacitance (C gg) and cutoff frequency (f T). Both devices performed similarly in different misalignment configurations. When the bottom gate is perfectly aligned, the best performance is observed for both devices, but the doping-less device gives slightly more freedom for fabrication engineers as the amount of tolerance for HMG-DLTFET is better than that of HMG-DGTFET.

  13. Three-input gate logic circuits on chemically assembled single-electron transistors with organic and inorganic hybrid passivation layers

    PubMed Central

    Majima, Yutaka; Hackenberger, Guillaume; Azuma, Yasuo; Kano, Shinya; Matsuzaki, Kosuke; Susaki, Tomofumi; Sakamoto, Masanori; Teranishi, Toshiharu

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Single-electron transistors (SETs) are sub-10-nm scale electronic devices based on conductive Coulomb islands sandwiched between double-barrier tunneling barriers. Chemically assembled SETs with alkanethiol-protected Au nanoparticles show highly stable Coulomb diamonds and two-input logic operations. The combination of bottom-up and top-down processes used to form the passivation layer is vital for realizing multi-gate chemically assembled SET circuits, as this combination enables us to connect conventional complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technologies via planar processes. Here, three-input gate exclusive-OR (XOR) logic operations are demonstrated in passivated chemically assembled SETs. The passivation layer is a hybrid bilayer of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and pulsed laser deposited (PLD) aluminum oxide (AlOx), and top-gate electrodes were prepared on the hybrid passivation layers. Top and two-side-gated SETs showed clear Coulomb oscillation and diamonds for each of the three available gates, and three-input gate XOR logic operation was clearly demonstrated. These results show the potential of chemically assembled SETs to work as logic devices with multi-gate inputs using organic and inorganic hybrid passivation layers. PMID:28634499

  14. Three-input gate logic circuits on chemically assembled single-electron transistors with organic and inorganic hybrid passivation layers.

    PubMed

    Majima, Yutaka; Hackenberger, Guillaume; Azuma, Yasuo; Kano, Shinya; Matsuzaki, Kosuke; Susaki, Tomofumi; Sakamoto, Masanori; Teranishi, Toshiharu

    2017-01-01

    Single-electron transistors (SETs) are sub-10-nm scale electronic devices based on conductive Coulomb islands sandwiched between double-barrier tunneling barriers. Chemically assembled SETs with alkanethiol-protected Au nanoparticles show highly stable Coulomb diamonds and two-input logic operations. The combination of bottom-up and top-down processes used to form the passivation layer is vital for realizing multi-gate chemically assembled SET circuits, as this combination enables us to connect conventional complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technologies via planar processes. Here, three-input gate exclusive-OR (XOR) logic operations are demonstrated in passivated chemically assembled SETs. The passivation layer is a hybrid bilayer of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and pulsed laser deposited (PLD) aluminum oxide (AlO[Formula: see text]), and top-gate electrodes were prepared on the hybrid passivation layers. Top and two-side-gated SETs showed clear Coulomb oscillation and diamonds for each of the three available gates, and three-input gate XOR logic operation was clearly demonstrated. These results show the potential of chemically assembled SETs to work as logic devices with multi-gate inputs using organic and inorganic hybrid passivation layers.

  15. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Schmandt, Nicolaus; Velisetty, Phanindra; Chalamalasetti, Sreevatsa V.

    Recent high resolution structures of several pentameric ligand–gated ion channels have provided unprecedented details of their molecular architecture. However, the conformational dynamics and structural rearrangements that underlie gating and allosteric modulation remain poorly understood. We used a combination of electrophysiology, double electron–electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography to investigate activation mechanisms in a novel functional chimera with the extracellular domain (ECD) of amine-gated Erwinia chrysanthemi ligand–gated ion channel, which is activated by primary amines, and the transmembrane domain of Gloeobacter violaceus ligand–gated ion channel, which is activated by protons. We found that the chimera was independently gated by primarymore » amines and by protons. The crystal structure of the chimera in its resting state, at pH 7.0 and in the absence of primary amines, revealed a closed-pore conformation and an ECD that is twisted with respect to the transmembrane region. Amine- and pH-induced conformational changes measured by DEER spectroscopy showed that the chimera exhibits a dual mode of gating that preserves the distinct conformational changes of the parent channels. Collectively, our findings shed light on both conserved and divergent features of gating mechanisms in this class of channels, and will facilitate the design of better allosteric modulators.« less

  16. Do brief motivational interventions reduce drinking game frequency in mandated students? An analysis of data from two randomized controlled trials.

    PubMed

    Fernandez, Anne C; Yurasek, Ali M; Merrill, Jennifer E; Miller, Mary Beth; Zamboanga, Byron L; Carey, Kate B; Borsari, Brian

    2017-02-01

    College students frequently engage in drinking games (DGs) and experience a variety of consequences as a result. It is currently unknown whether brief motivational interventions (BMIs) that provide feedback on DG participation can reduce this high risk behavior. This study examined outcome data from 2 randomized clinical trials to examine whether BMIs facilitate change in DG frequency and how these changes may occur. Mandated college students (Trial 1, N = 198, 46% female; Trial 2, N = 412; 32% female) were randomized to BMI or comparison control conditions. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to compare the BMI and comparison groups to determine whether the BMI reduced DG participation over time. Percent change talk (PCT) during the discussion of DG during the session was examined as a predictor of change in DG frequency, and gender was examined as a moderator of treatment effects. Controlling for regular drinking frequency, participants who received a BMI did not significantly reduce their DG frequency relative to the comparison group in either sample, and the BMI was equally ineffective at reducing DG behavior for men and women. DG-related PCT during the BMI was associated with lower DG frequency at the second follow-up in both trials. In Trial 1, PCT during the BMI was associated with less steep increases in DG frequency across the course of all follow-ups. Effects of PCT on DG behavior were not moderated by gender. Findings did not support hypothesized reductions in DG participation following a BMI. Future research should explore whether targeted DG-specific interventions could reduce DG participation and the role of in-session client language in facilitating such change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

  17. Air quality impacts of projections of natural gas-fired distributed generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Horne, Jeremy R.; Carreras-Sospedra, Marc; Dabdub, Donald; Lemar, Paul; Nopmongcol, Uarporn; Shah, Tejas; Yarwood, Greg; Young, David; Shaw, Stephanie L.; Knipping, Eladio M.

    2017-11-01

    This study assesses the potential impacts on emissions and air quality from the increased adoption of natural gas-fired distributed generation of electricity (DG), including displacement of power from central power generation, in the contiguous United States. The study includes four major tasks: (1) modeling of distributed generation market penetration; (2) modeling of central power generation systems; (3) modeling of spatially and temporally resolved emissions; and (4) photochemical grid modeling to evaluate the potential air quality impacts of increased DG penetration, which includes both power-only DG and combined heat and power (CHP) units, for 2030. Low and high DG penetration scenarios estimate the largest penetration of future DG units in three regions - New England, New York, and California. Projections of DG penetration in the contiguous United States estimate 6.3 GW and 24 GW of market adoption in 2030 for the low DG penetration and high DG penetration scenarios, respectively. High DG penetration (all of which is natural gas-fired) serves to offset 8 GW of new natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) units, and 19 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations by 2030. In all scenarios, air quality in the central United States and the northwest remains unaffected as there is little to no DG penetration in those states. California and several states in the northeast are the most impacted by emissions from DG units. Peak increases in maximum daily 8-h average ozone concentrations exceed 5 ppb, which may impede attainment of ambient air quality standards. Overall, air quality impacts from DG vary greatly based on meteorological conditions, proximity to emissions sources, the number and type of DG installations, and the emissions factors used for DG units.

  18. A computational model of pattern separation efficiency in the dentate gyrus with implications in schizophrenia

    PubMed Central

    Faghihi, Faramarz; Moustafa, Ahmed A.

    2015-01-01

    Information processing in the hippocampus begins by transferring spiking activity of the entorhinal cortex (EC) into the dentate gyrus (DG). Activity pattern in the EC is separated by the DG such that it plays an important role in hippocampal functions including memory. The structural and physiological parameters of these neural networks enable the hippocampus to be efficient in encoding a large number of inputs that animals receive and process in their life time. The neural encoding capacity of the DG depends on its single neurons encoding and pattern separation efficiency. In this study, encoding by the DG is modeled such that single neurons and pattern separation efficiency are measured using simulations of different parameter values. For this purpose, a probabilistic model of single neurons efficiency is presented to study the role of structural and physiological parameters. Known neurons number of the EC and the DG is used to construct a neural network by electrophysiological features of granule cells of the DG. Separated inputs as activated neurons in the EC with different firing probabilities are presented into the DG. For different connectivity rates between the EC and DG, pattern separation efficiency of the DG is measured. The results show that in the absence of feedback inhibition on the DG neurons, the DG demonstrates low separation efficiency and high firing frequency. Feedback inhibition can increase separation efficiency while resulting in very low single neuron’s encoding efficiency in the DG and very low firing frequency of neurons in the DG (sparse spiking). This work presents a mechanistic explanation for experimental observations in the hippocampus, in combination with theoretical measures. Moreover, the model predicts a critical role for impaired inhibitory neurons in schizophrenia where deficiency in pattern separation of the DG has been observed. PMID:25859189

  19. Adaptive Discontinuous Galerkin Methods in Multiwavelets Bases

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Archibald, Richard K; Fann, George I; Shelton Jr, William Allison

    2011-01-01

    We use a multiwavelet basis with the Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method to produce a multi-scale DG method. We apply this Multiwavelet DG method to convection and convection-diffusion problems in multiple dimensions. Merging the DG method with multiwavelets allows the adaptivity in the DG method to be resolved through manipulation of multiwavelet coefficients rather than grid manipulation. Additionally, the Multiwavelet DG method is tested on non-linear equations in one dimension and on the cubed sphere.

  20. Nanotoxicological and teratogenic effects: A linkage between dendrimer surface charge and zebrafish developmental stages.

    PubMed

    Calienni, Maria Natalia; Feas, Daniela Agustina; Igartúa, Daniela Edith; Chiaramoni, Nadia Silvia; Alonso, Silvia Del Valle; Prieto, Maria Jimena

    2017-12-15

    This article reports novel results about nanotoxicological and teratogenic effects of the PAMAM dendrimers DG4 and DG4.5 in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish embryos and larvae were used as a rapid, high-throughput, cost-effective whole-animal model. The objective was to provide a more comprehensive and predictive developmental toxicity screening of DG4 and DG4.5 and test the influence of their surface charge. Nanotoxicological and teratogenic effects were assessed at developmental, morphological, cardiac, neurological and hepatic level. The effect of surface charge was determined in both larvae and embryos. DG4 with positive surface charge was more toxic than DG4.5 with negative surface charge. DG4 and DG4.5 induced teratogenic effects in larvae, whereas DG4 also induced lethal effects in both zebrafish embryos and larvae. However, larvae were less sensitive than embryos to the lethal effects of DG4. The platform of assays proposed and data obtained may contribute to the characterization of hazards and differential effects of these nanoparticles. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Glucose metabolism-weighted imaging with chemical exchange-sensitive MRI of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) in brain: Sensitivity and biological sources.

    PubMed

    Jin, Tao; Mehrens, Hunter; Wang, Ping; Kim, Seong-Gi

    2016-12-01

    Recent proof-of-principle studies have demonstrated the feasibility of measuring the uptake and metabolism of non-labeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) by a chemical exchange-sensitive spin-lock (CESL) MRI approach. In order to gain better understanding of this new approach, we performed dynamic in vivo CESL MRI on healthy rat brains with an intravenous injection of 2DG under various conditions at 9.4T. For three 2DG doses of 0.25, 0.5 and 1g/kg, we found that 2DG-CESL signals increased linearly with injection dose at the initial (<20min) but not the later period (>40min) suggesting time-dependent differential weightings of 2DG transport and metabolism. Remaining 2DG-CESL studies were performed with 0.25g/kg 2DG. Since a higher isoflurane level reduces glucose metabolism and increases blood flow, 2DG-CESL was measured under 0.5%, 1.5% and 2.2% isoflurane. The 2DG-CESL signal was reduced at higher isoflurane levels correlating well with the 2DG phosphorylation in the intracellular space. To detect regional heterogeneities of glucose metabolism, 2DG-CESL with 0.33×0.33×1.50mm 3 resolution was obtained, which indeed showed a higher response in the cortex compared to the corpus callosum. Lastly, unlike CESL MRI with the injection of non-transportable mannitol, the 2DG-CESL response decreased with an increased spin-lock pulse power confirming that 2DG-CESL is dominated by chemical exchange processes in the extravascular space. Taken together, our results showed that 2DG-CESL MRI signals mainly indicate glucose transport and metabolism and may be a useful biomarker for metabolic studies of normal and diseased brains. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. A manufacturable process integration approach for graphene devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vaziri, Sam; Lupina, Grzegorz; Paussa, Alan; Smith, Anderson D.; Henkel, Christoph; Lippert, Gunther; Dabrowski, Jarek; Mehr, Wolfgang; Östling, Mikael; Lemme, Max C.

    2013-06-01

    In this work, we propose an integration approach for double gate graphene field effect transistors. The approach includes a number of process steps that are key for future integration of graphene in microelectronics: bottom gates with ultra-thin (2 nm) high-quality thermally grown SiO2 dielectrics, shallow trench isolation between devices and atomic layer deposited Al2O3 top gate dielectrics. The complete process flow is demonstrated with fully functional GFET transistors and can be extended to wafer scale processing. We assess, through simulation, the effects of the quantum capacitance and band bending in the silicon substrate on the effective electric fields in the top and bottom gate oxide. The proposed process technology is suitable for other graphene-based devices such as graphene-based hot electron transistors and photodetectors.

  3. A chimeric prokaryotic pentameric ligand–gated channel reveals distinct pathways of activation

    DOE PAGES

    Schmandt, Nicolaus; Velisetty, Phanindra; Chalamalasetti, Sreevatsa V.; ...

    2015-09-28

    Recent high resolution structures of several pentameric ligand–gated ion channels have provided unprecedented details of their molecular architecture. However, the conformational dynamics and structural rearrangements that underlie gating and allosteric modulation remain poorly understood. We used a combination of electrophysiology, double electron–electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography to investigate activation mechanisms in a novel functional chimera with the extracellular domain (ECD) of amine-gated Erwinia chrysanthemi ligand–gated ion channel, which is activated by primary amines, and the transmembrane domain of Gloeobacter violaceus ligand–gated ion channel, which is activated by protons. We found that the chimera was independently gated by primarymore » amines and by protons. The crystal structure of the chimera in its resting state, at pH 7.0 and in the absence of primary amines, revealed a closed-pore conformation and an ECD that is twisted with respect to the transmembrane region. Amine- and pH-induced conformational changes measured by DEER spectroscopy showed that the chimera exhibits a dual mode of gating that preserves the distinct conformational changes of the parent channels. Collectively, our findings shed light on both conserved and divergent features of gating mechanisms in this class of channels, and will facilitate the design of better allosteric modulators.« less

  4. A chimeric prokaryotic pentameric ligand–gated channel reveals distinct pathways of activation

    PubMed Central

    Schmandt, Nicolaus; Velisetty, Phanindra; Chalamalasetti, Sreevatsa V.; Stein, Richard A.; Bonner, Ross; Talley, Lauren; Parker, Mark D.; Mchaourab, Hassane S.; Yee, Vivien C.; Lodowski, David T.

    2015-01-01

    Recent high resolution structures of several pentameric ligand–gated ion channels have provided unprecedented details of their molecular architecture. However, the conformational dynamics and structural rearrangements that underlie gating and allosteric modulation remain poorly understood. We used a combination of electrophysiology, double electron–electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography to investigate activation mechanisms in a novel functional chimera with the extracellular domain (ECD) of amine-gated Erwinia chrysanthemi ligand–gated ion channel, which is activated by primary amines, and the transmembrane domain of Gloeobacter violaceus ligand–gated ion channel, which is activated by protons. We found that the chimera was independently gated by primary amines and by protons. The crystal structure of the chimera in its resting state, at pH 7.0 and in the absence of primary amines, revealed a closed-pore conformation and an ECD that is twisted with respect to the transmembrane region. Amine- and pH-induced conformational changes measured by DEER spectroscopy showed that the chimera exhibits a dual mode of gating that preserves the distinct conformational changes of the parent channels. Collectively, our findings shed light on both conserved and divergent features of gating mechanisms in this class of channels, and will facilitate the design of better allosteric modulators. PMID:26415570

  5. α-dystroglycan is a potential target of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-2.

    PubMed

    Sbardella, Diego; Sciandra, Francesca; Gioia, Magda; Marini, Stefano; Gori, Alessandro; Giardina, Bruno; Tarantino, Umberto; Coletta, Massimo; Brancaccio, Andrea; Bozzi, Manuela

    2015-01-01

    Dystroglycan (DG) is a member of the glycoprotein complex associated to dystrophin and composed by two subunits, the β-DG, a transmembrane protein, and the α-DG, an extensively glycosylated extracellular protein. The β-DG ectodomain degradation by the matrix metallo-proteinases (i.e., MMP-2 and MMP-9) in both, pathological and physiological conditions, has been characterized in detail in previous publications. Since the amounts of α-DG and β-DG at the cell surface decrease when gelatinases are up-regulated, we investigated the degradation of α-DG subunit by MMP-2. Present data show, for the first time, that the proteolysis of α-DG indeed occurs on a native glycosylated molecule enriched from rabbit skeletal muscle. In order to characterize the α-DG portion, which is more prone to cleavage by MMP-2, we performed different degradations on tailored recombinant domains of α-DG spanning the whole subunit. The overall bulk of results casts light on a relevant susceptibility of the α-DG to MMP-2 degradation with particular reference to its C-terminal domain, thus opening a new scenario on the role of gelatinases (in particular of MMP-2) in the degradation of this glycoprotein complex, taking place in the course of pathological processes. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  6. Effects of consecutive irradiation and bias temperature stress in p-channel power vertical double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Davidović, Vojkan; Danković, Danijel; Ilić, Aleksandar; Manić, Ivica; Golubović, Snežana; Djorić-Veljković, Snežana; Prijić, Zoran; Prijić, Aneta; Stojadinović, Ninoslav

    2018-04-01

    The mechanisms responsible for the effects of consecutive irradiation and negative bias temperature (NBT) stress in p-channel power vertical double-diffused MOS (VDMOS) transistors are presented in this paper. The investigation was performed in order to clarify the mechanisms responsible for the effects of specific kind of stress in devices previously subjected to the other kind of stress. In addition, it may help in assessing the behaviour of devices subjected to simultaneous irradiation and NBT stressing. It is shown that irradiation of previously NBT stressed devices leads to additional build-up of oxide trapped charge and interface traps, while NBT stress effects in previously irradiated devices depend on gate bias applied during irradiation and on the total dose received. In the cases of low-dose irradiation or irradiation without gate bias, the subsequent NBT stress leads to slight further device degradation. On the other hand, in the cases of devices previously irradiated to high doses or with gate bias applied during irradiation, NBT stress may have a positive role, as it actually anneals a part of radiation-induced degradation.

  7. Enhancing analog performance and suppression of subthreshold swing using hetero-junctionless double gate TFETs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chauhan, Sudakar Singh; Sharma, Neha

    2017-12-01

    This paper proposes hetero-junctionless double gate tunnel field effect transistor (HJLDG-TFETs) for suppression of subthreshold swing (SS) using an InAs compound semiconductor material. The proposed device with high dielectric material, gives an excellent performance when InAs uses at source side. Because of low band gap of 0.36 eV , it reduces the potential barrier height of source channel interface causing higher band to band tunneling. Whereas, Si at the drain side with higher band gap of 1.12 eV , increasing the barrier height of drain channel interface causing lower quantum tunneling. As a result, the proposed device with high-k (HfO2) at 30 nm channel section provides a tremendous characteristics with high ION /IOFF ratio of 2 ×1011 , a point SS of 43.30 mV / decade and moderate SS of 56.75 mV / decade . All the above results show that the proposed device is assured for a low power switching application. The variation in gate supply voltage also analyzed for transconductance property of the device.

  8. Finger-gate manipulated quantum transport in Dirac materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kleftogiannis, Ioannis; Tang, Chi-Shung; Cheng, Shun-Jen

    2015-05-01

    We investigate the quantum transport properties of multichannel nanoribbons made of materials described by the Dirac equation, under an in-plane magnetic field. In the low energy regime, positive and negative finger-gate potentials allow the electrons to make intra-subband transitions via hole-like or electron-like quasibound states (QBS), respectively, resulting in dips in the conductance. In the high energy regime, double dip structures in the conductance are found, attributed to spin-flip or spin-nonflip inter-subband transitions through the QBSs. Inverting the finger-gate polarity offers the possibility to manipulate the spin polarized electronic transport to achieve a controlled spin-switch.

  9. Distributed Generators Allocation in Radial Distribution Systems with Load Growth using Loss Sensitivity Approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, Ashwani; Vijay Babu, P.; Murty, V. V. S. N.

    2017-06-01

    Rapidly increasing electricity demands and capacity shortage of transmission and distribution facilities are the main driving forces for the growth of distributed generation (DG) integration in power grids. One of the reasons for choosing a DG is its ability to support voltage in a distribution system. Selection of effective DG characteristics and DG parameters is a significant concern of distribution system planners to obtain maximum potential benefits from the DG unit. The objective of the paper is to reduce the power losses and improve the voltage profile of the radial distribution system with optimal allocation of the multiple DG in the system. The main contribution in this paper is (i) combined power loss sensitivity (CPLS) based method for multiple DG locations, (ii) determination of optimal sizes for multiple DG units at unity and lagging power factor, (iii) impact of DG installed at optimal, that is, combined load power factor on the system performance, (iv) impact of load growth on optimal DG planning, (v) Impact of DG integration in distribution systems on voltage stability index, (vi) Economic and technical Impact of DG integration in the distribution systems. The load growth factor has been considered in the study which is essential for planning and expansion of the existing systems. The technical and economic aspects are investigated in terms of improvement in voltage profile, reduction in total power losses, cost of energy loss, cost of power obtained from DG, cost of power intake from the substation, and savings in cost of energy loss. The results are obtained on IEEE 69-bus radial distribution systems and also compared with other existing methods.

  10. Diacylglycerol-enriched structured lipids containing CLA and capric acid alter body fat mass and lipid metabolism in rats.

    PubMed

    Kim, Hye-Jin; Lee, Ki-Teak; Lee, Mi-Kyung; Jeon, Seon-Min; Choi, Myung-Sook

    2006-01-01

    The present study compared the effect of corn oil, diacylglycerol (DG) oil, and DG-enriched structured lipids (SL-DG) produced from corn oil, capric and conjugated linoleic acid on adiposity in rats fed an AIN-76 diet (5% fat) for 6 weeks. The plasma and hepatic lipids, adipose tissue weight, and enzyme activities related to fatty acid metabolism were determined. The weights of the epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT), perirenal WAT, and interscapular WAT were significantly lower in the SL-DG group than in the DG group. Reduction of fat mass in the SL-DG group was related to suppressing fatty acid synthase activities and enhancing beta-oxidation activity in perirenal WAT. The plasma leptin was lower in the SL-DG group than in the DG group, plus a lower plasma TG level was accompanied by an increase in adipocyte LPL activity. Meanwhile the SL-DG supplement lowered the plasma and hepatic cholesterol level. In addition, the hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT activities were significantly lower in the SL-DG group than in the other groups. The DG-enriched SL used in this study was effective in enhancing triglyceride metabolism in adipose tissue, especially as regards reducing the abdominal fat mass and cholesterol metabolism in the liver. Copyright 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  11. Inhibition of murine splenic T lymphocyte proliferation by 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced metabolic stress

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miller, E. S.; Klinger, J. C.; Akin, C.; Koebel, D. A.; Sonnenfeld, G.

    1994-01-01

    Female Swiss-Webster mice were injected with the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), which when administered to rodents induces acute periods of metabolic stress. A single or multiple injections of 2-DG invoked a stress response, as evidenced by increases in serum corticosterone levels. The influence of this metabolic stressor on the blastogenic potential of splenic T lymphocytes was then examined. It was found that one, two, or three injections of 2-DG resulted in depressed T cell proliferative responses, with an attenuation of the effect occurring by the fifth injection. The 2-DG-induced inhibition of T cell proliferation was not attributable to 2-DG-induced cytolysis, as in vitro incubation of naive T cells with varying concentrations of 2-DG did not result in a reduction in cell number or viability, and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that percentages of CD3, CD4, and CD8 splenic T cells were not altered as a result of 2-DG-induced stress. Incubating naive T cells in varying concentrations of 2-DG resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of T cell blastogenic potential. Following in vivo exposure to 2-DG, T cell proliferation did not return to normal levels until 3 days after the cessation of 2-DG injections. Administering the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol did not reverse the inhibited lymphoproliferation in 2-DG-treated mice. The inhibition in T cell proliferation was not observed, however, in mice that had been adrenalectomized or hypophysectomized and injected with 2-DG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).

  12. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bluestein, J.; Horgan, S.; Eldridge, M. M.

    Relatively small projects for generating electrical power at or near the point of use--distributed generation (DG)--offer unique opportunities for enhancing the U.S. electric system. This report finds that current air quality regulatory practices are inappropriately inhibiting the development of DG through a failure to recognize the environmental benefits offered by DG or by imposing requirements designed for larger systems that are not appropriate to DG systems. The report recommends that air quality regulation be made more efficient and appropriate for DG by establishing national standards for DG equipment. This report also recommends that DG projects be evaluated on a''net'' emissionsmore » basis by being given credit for any emission sources that they displace. Air quality regulation should also recognize the benefits of combined heat and power (CHP).« less

  13. Atiyah classes and dg-Lie algebroids for matched pairs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Batakidis, Panagiotis; Voglaire, Yannick

    2018-01-01

    For every Lie pair (L , A) of algebroids we construct a dg-manifold structure on the Z-graded manifold M = L [ 1 ] ⊕ L / A such that the inclusion ι : A [ 1 ] → M and the projection p : M → L [ 1 ] are morphisms of dg-manifolds. The vertical tangent bundle Tp M then inherits a structure of dg-Lie algebroid over M. When the Lie pair comes from a matched pair of Lie algebroids, we show that the inclusion ι induces a quasi-isomorphism that sends the Atiyah class of this dg-Lie algebroid to the Atiyah class of the Lie pair. We also show how (Atiyah classes of) Lie pairs and dg-Lie algebroids give rise to (Atiyah classes of) dDG-algebras.

  14. Logical qubit fusion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moussa, Jonathan; Ryan-Anderson, Ciaran

    The canonical modern plan for universal quantum computation is a Clifford+T gate set implemented in a topological error-correcting code. This plan has the basic disparity that logical Clifford gates are natural for codes in two spatial dimensions while logical T gates are natural in three. Recent progress has reduced this disparity by proposing logical T gates in two dimensions with doubled, stacked, or gauge color codes, but these proposals lack an error threshold. An alternative universal gate set is Clifford+F, where a fusion (F) gate converts two logical qubits into a logical qudit. We show that logical F gates can be constructed by identifying compatible pairs of qubit and qudit codes that stabilize the same logical subspace, much like the original Bravyi-Kitaev construction of magic state distillation. The simplest example of high-distance compatible codes results in a proposal that is very similar to the stacked color code with the key improvement of retaining an error threshold. Sandia National Labs is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

  15. Age effects on preattentive and early attentive auditory processing of redundant stimuli: is sensory gating affected by physiological aging?

    PubMed

    Gmehlin, Dennis; Kreisel, Stefan H; Bachmann, Silke; Weisbrod, Matthias; Thomas, Christine

    2011-10-01

    The frontal hypothesis of aging predicts an age-related decline in cognitive functions requiring inhibitory or attentional regulation. In Alzheimer's disease, preattentive gating out of redundant information is impaired. Our study aimed to examine changes associated with physiological aging in both pre- and early attentive inhibition of recurrent acoustic information. Using a passive double-click paradigm, we recorded mid-latency (P30-P50) and late-latency (N100 and P200) evoked potentials in healthy young (26 ± 5 years) and healthy elderly subjects (72 ± 5 years). Physiological aging did not affect auditory gating in amplitude measures. Both age groups exhibited clear inhibition in preattentive P50 and attention-modulated (N100) components, whereas P30 was not attenuated. Irrespective of age, the magnitude of inhibition differed significantly, being most pronounced for N100 gating. Inhibition of redundant information seems to be preserved with physiological aging. Early attentive N100 gating showed the maximum effect. Further studies are warranted to evaluate sensory gating as a suitable biomarker of underlying neurodegenerative disease.

  16. Gate modulation of proton transport in a nanopore.

    PubMed

    Mei, Lanju; Yeh, Li-Hsien; Qian, Shizhi

    2016-03-14

    Proton transport in confined spaces plays a crucial role in many biological processes as well as in modern technological applications, such as fuel cells. To achieve active control of proton conductance, we investigate for the first time the gate modulation of proton transport in a pH-regulated nanopore by a multi-ion model. The model takes into account surface protonation/deprotonation reactions, surface curvature, electroosmotic flow, Stern layer, and electric double layer overlap. The proposed model is validated by good agreement with the existing experimental data on nanopore conductance with and without a gate voltage. The results show that the modulation of proton transport in a nanopore depends on the concentration of the background salt and solution pH. Without background salt, the gated nanopore exhibits an interesting ambipolar conductance behavior when pH is close to the isoelectric point of the dielectric pore material, and the net ionic and proton conductance can be actively regulated with a gate voltage as low as 1 V. The higher the background salt concentration, the lower is the performance of the gate control on the proton transport.

  17. SNW 2000 Proceedings. Oxide Thickness Variation Induced Threshold Voltage Fluctuations in Decanano MOSFETs: a 3D Density Gradient Simulation Study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Asenov, Asen; Kaya, S.; Davies, J. H.; Saini, S.

    2000-01-01

    We use the density gradient (DG) simulation approach to study, in 3D, the effect of local oxide thickness fluctuations on the threshold voltage of decanano MOSFETs in a statistical manner. A description of the reconstruction procedure for the random 2D surfaces representing the 'atomistic' Si-SiO2 interface variations is presented. The procedure is based on power spectrum synthesis in the Fourier domain and can include either Gaussian or exponential spectra. The simulations show that threshold voltage variations induced by oxide thickness fluctuation become significant when the gate length of the devices become comparable to the correlation length of the fluctuations. The extent of quantum corrections in the simulations with respect to the classical case and the dependence of threshold variations on the oxide thickness are examined.

  18. Improved linearity in AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors with nonlinear polarization dielectric

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gao, Tao; Science and Technology on Monolithic Integrated Circuits and Modules Laboratory, Nanjing Electronic Devices Institute, Nanjing 210016; Xu, Ruimin

    2015-06-15

    We demonstrate highly improved linearity in a nonlinear ferroelectric of Pb(Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48})-gated AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistor (MIS-HEMT). Distinct double-hump feature in the transconductance-gate voltage (g{sub m}-V{sub g}) curve is observed, yielding remarkable enhancement in gate voltage swing as compared to MIS-HEMT with conventional linear gate dielectric. By incorporating the ferroelectric polarization into a self-consistent calculation, it is disclosed that in addition to the common hump corresponding to the onset of electron accumulation, the second hump at high current level is originated from the nonlinear polar nature of ferroelectric, which enhances the gate capacitance by increasing equivalent dielectricmore » constant nonlinearly. This work paves a way for design of high linearity GaN MIS-HEMT by exploiting the nonlinear properties of dielectric.« less

  19. Effects of ultra-thin Si-fin body widths upon SOI PMOS FinFETs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liaw, Yue-Gie; Chen, Chii-Wen; Liao, Wen-Shiang; Wang, Mu-Chun; Zou, Xuecheng

    2018-05-01

    Nano-node tri-gate FinFET devices have been developed after integrating a 14 Å nitrided gate oxide upon the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers established on an advanced CMOS logic platform. These vertical double gate (FinFET) devices with ultra-thin silicon fin (Si-fin) widths ranging from 27 nm to 17 nm and gate length down to 30 nm have been successfully developed with a 193 nm scanner lithography tool. Combining the cobalt fully silicidation and the CESL strain technology beneficial for PMOS FinFETs was incorporated into this work. Detailed analyses of Id-Vg characteristics, threshold voltage (Vt), and drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) illustrate that the thinnest 17 nm Si-fin width FinFET exhibits the best gate controllability due to its better suppression of short channel effect (SCE). However, higher source/drain resistance (RSD), channel mobility degradation due to dry etch steps, or “current crowding effect” will slightly limit its transconductance (Gm) and drive current.

  20. Novel technique of source and drain engineering for dual-material double-gate (DMDG) SOI MOSFETS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yadav, Himanshu; Malviya, Abhishek Kumar; Chauhan, R. K.

    2018-04-01

    The dual-metal dual-gate (DMDG) SOI has been used with Dual Sided Source and Drain Engineered 50nm SOI MOSFET with various high-k gate oxide. It has been scrutinized in this work to enhance its electrical performance. The proposed structure is designed by creating Dual Sided Source and Drain Modification and its characteristics are evaluated on ATLAS device simulator. The consequence of this dual sided assorted doping on source and drain side of the DMDG transistor has better leakage current immunity and heightened ION current with higher ION to IOFF Ratio. Which thereby vesting the proposed device appropriate for low power digital applications.

  1. Nonvolatile memory with graphene oxide as a charge storage node in nanowire field-effect transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baek, David J.; Seol, Myeong-Lok; Choi, Sung-Jin; Moon, Dong-Il; Choi, Yang-Kyu

    2012-02-01

    Through the structural modification of a three-dimensional silicon nanowire field-effect transistor, i.e., a double-gate FinFET, a structural platform was developed which allowed for us to utilize graphene oxide (GO) as a charge trapping layer in a nonvolatile memory device. By creating a nanogap between the gate and the channel, GO was embedded after the complete device fabrication. By applying a proper gate voltage, charge trapping, and de-trapping within the GO was enabled and resulted in large threshold voltage shifts. The employment of GO with FinFET in our work suggests that graphitic materials can potentially play a significant role for future nanoelectronic applications.

  2. Histamine release factor from Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer): characterization and in vitro assessment as a protective antigen.

    PubMed

    Bartley, Kathryn; Nisbet, Alasdair J; Offer, Jill E; Sparks, Nicholas H C; Wright, Harry W; Huntley, John F

    2009-03-01

    A cDNA encoding a 174-amino-acid orthologue of a tick histamine release factor (HRF) was identified from the haematophagous poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae. The predicted D. gallinae HRF protein (Dg-HRF-1) sequence is highly conserved with the tick HRFs (identity 52-54%) and to a lesser degree with translationally controlled tumour proteins (TCTP) from mammals and other invertebrates (range 38-47%). Phylogenetically, Dg-HRF-1 partitions with the tick HRF clade suggesting a shared linage and potentially similar function(s). A recombinant Dg-HRF-1 protein (rDg-HRF-1) was produced and shown to induce degranulation of rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro, confirming conservation of the histamine-releasing function in D. gallinae. Polyclonal antibodies were generated in rabbits and hens to rDg-HRF-1. Western blotting demonstrated that native Dg-HRF is a soluble protein and immunohistochemical staining of mite sections revealed that the distribution of Dg-HRF, although ubiquitous, is more common in mite reproductive, digestive and synganglion tissues. A survey of hens housed continuously in a mite-infested commercial poultry unit failed to identify IgY specific for recombinant or native Dg-HRF, indicating that Dg-HRF is not exposed to the host during infestation/feeding and may therefore have potential as a vaccine using the concealed antigen approach. To test the protective capability of rDg-HRF-1, fresh heparinised chicken blood was enriched with yolk-derived anti-Dg-HRF IgY antibodies and fed to semi-starved mites using an in vitro feeding system. A statistically significant increase in mortality was shown (P=0.004) in mites fed with anti-Dg-HRF IgY after just one blood meal. The work presented here demonstrates, to our knowledge for the first time, the feasibility of vaccinating hens with recombinant D. gallinae antigens to control mite infestation and the potential of rDg-HRF-1 as a vaccine antigen.

  3. Neurogenin 2 has an essential role in development of the dentate gyrus.

    PubMed

    Galichet, Christophe; Guillemot, François; Parras, Carlos M

    2008-06-01

    The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus has a central role in learning and memory in adult rodents. The DG is generated soon after birth, although new neurons continue to be generated in the DG throughout life. The proneural factors Mash1 (Ascl1) and neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) are expressed during formation of the DG but their role in the development of this structure has not yet been addressed. Here, we show that Ngn2 is essential for the development of the DG. Ngn2 mutant mice have fewer DG progenitors and these cells present defects in neuronal differentiation. By contrast, the DG is normal in Mash1 mutant mice at birth, and loss of both Mash1 and Ngn2 does not aggravate the defect observed in Ngn2 single mutants. These data establish a unique role of Ngn2 in DG neurogenesis during development and raise the possibility that Ngn2 has a similar function in adult neurogenesis.

  4. All-optical transistor based on Rydberg atom-assisted optomechanical system.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yi-Mou; Tian, Xue-Dong; Wang, Jing; Fan, Chu-Hui; Gao, Feng; Bao, Qian-Qian

    2018-04-30

    We study the optical response of a double optomechanical cavity system assisted by two Rydberg atoms. The target atom is only coupled with one side cavity by a single cavity mode, and gate one is outside the cavities. It has been realized that a long-range manipulation of optical properties of a hybrid system, by controlling the Rydberg atom decoupled with the optomechanical cavity. Switching on the coupling between atoms and cavity mode, the original spatial inversion symmetry of the double cavity structure has been broken. Combining the controllable optical non-reciprocity with the coherent perfect absorption/transmission/synthesis effect (CPA/CPT/CPS reported by [ X.-B.Yan Opt. Express 22, 4886 (2014)], we put forward the theoretical schemes of an all-optical transistor which contains functions such as a controllable diode, rectifier, and amplifier by controlling a single gate photon.

  5. High mobility back-gated InAs/GaSb double quantum well grown on GaSb substrate

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nguyen, Binh-Minh, E-mail: mbnguyen@hrl.com, E-mail: MSokolich@hrl.com; Yi, Wei; Noah, Ramsey

    2015-01-19

    We report a backgated InAs/GaSb double quantum well device grown on GaSb substrate. The use of the native substrate allows for high materials quality with electron mobility in excess of 500 000 cm{sup 2}/Vs at sheet charge density of 8 × 10{sup 11} cm{sup −2} and approaching 100 000 cm{sup 2}/Vs near the charge neutrality point. Lattice matching between the quantum well structure and the substrate eliminates the need for a thick buffer, enabling large back gate capacitance and efficient coupling with the conduction channels in the quantum wells. As a result, quantum Hall effects are observed in both electron and hole regimes across the hybridizationmore » gap.« less

  6. Advanced analytical modeling of double-gate Tunnel-FETs - A performance evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Graef, Michael; Hosenfeld, Fabian; Horst, Fabian; Farokhnejad, Atieh; Hain, Franziska; Iñíguez, Benjamín; Kloes, Alexander

    2018-03-01

    The Tunnel-FET is one of the most promising devices to be the successor of the standard MOSFET due to its alternative current transport mechanism, which allows a smaller subthreshold slope than the physically limited 60 mV/dec of the MOSFET. Recently fabricated devices show smaller slopes already but mostly not over multiple decades of the current transfer characteristics. In this paper the performance limiting effects, occurring during the fabrication process of the device, such as doping profiles and midgap traps are analyzed by physics-based analytical models and their performance limiting abilities are determined. Additionally, performance enhancing possibilities, such as hetero-structures and ambipolarity improvements are introduced and discussed. An extensive double-gate n-Tunnel-FET model is presented, which meets the versatile device requirements and shows a good fit with TCAD simulations and measurement data.

  7. C-H Activation and Alkyne Annulation via Automatic or Intrinsic Directing Groups: Towards High Step Economy.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Liyao; Hua, Ruimao

    2018-06-01

    Direct transformation of carbon-hydrogen bond (C-H) has emerged to be a trend for construction of molecules from building blocks with no or less prefunctionalization, leading high atom and step economy. Directing group (DG) strategy is widely used to achieve higher reactivity and selectivity, but additional steps are usually needed for installation and/or cleavage of DGs, limiting step economy of the overall transformation. To meet this challenge, we proposed a concept of automatic DG (DG auto ), which is auto-installed and/or auto-cleavable. Multifunctional oxime and hydrazone DG auto were designed for C-H activation and alkyne annulation to furnish diverse nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Imidazole was employed as an intrinsic DG (DG in ) to synthesize ring-fused and π-extended functional molecules. The alkyne group in the substrates can also be served as DG in for ortho-C-H activation to afford carbocycles. In this account, we intend to give a review of our progress in this area and brief introduction of other related advances on C-H functionalization using DG auto or DG in strategies. © 2018 The Chemical Society of Japan & Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  8. Dystroglycan loss disrupts polarity and beta-casein induction inmammary epithelial cells by perturbing laminin anchoring

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Weir, M. Lynn; Oppizzi, Maria Luisa; Henry, Michael D.

    2006-02-17

    Precise contact between epithelial cells and their underlying basement membrane is critical to the maintenance of tissue architecture and function. To understand the role that the laminin receptor dystroglycan (DG) plays in these processes, we assayed cell responses to laminin-111 following conditional ablation of DG expression in cultured mammary epithelial cells (MECs). Strikingly, DG loss disrupted laminin-111-induced polarity and {beta}-casein production, and abolished laminin assembly at the step of laminin binding to the cell surface. DG re-expression restored these deficiencies. Investigations of mechanism revealed that DG cytoplasmic sequences were not necessary for laminin assembly and signaling, and only when themore » entire mucin domain of extracellular DG was deleted did laminin assembly not occur. These results demonstrate that DG is essential as a laminin-111 co-receptor in MECs that functions by mediating laminin anchoring to the cell surface, a process that allows laminin polymerization, tissue polarity, and {beta}-casein induction. The observed loss of laminin-111 assembly and signaling in DG-/-MECs provides insights into the signaling changes occurring in breast carcinomas and other cancers, where DG's laminin-binding function is frequently defective.« less

  9. Assessment of cathepsin D and L-like proteinases of poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer), as potential vaccine antigens.

    PubMed

    Bartley, Kathryn; Huntley, John F; Wright, Harry W; Nath, Mintu; Nisbet, Alasdair J

    2012-05-01

    Vaccination is a feasible strategy for controlling the haematophagous poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae. A cDNA library enriched for genes upregulated after feeding was created to identify potential vaccine antigens. From this library, a gene (Dg-CatD-1) encoding a 383 amino acid protein (Dg-CatD-1) with homology to cathepsin D lysosomal aspartyl proteinases was identified as a potential vaccine candidate. A second gene (Dg-CatL-1) encoding a 341 amino acid protein (Dg-CatL-1) with homology to cathepsin L cysteine proteinases was also selected for further study. IgY obtained from naturally infested hens failed to detect Dg-CatD-1 suggesting that it is a concealed antigen. Conversely, Dg-CatL-1 was detected by IgY derived from natural-infestation, indicating that infested hens are exposed to Dg-CatL-1. Mortality rates 120 h after mites had been fed anti-Dg-CatD-1 were significantly higher than those fed control IgY (PF<0·01). In a survival analysis, fitting a proportional hazards model to the time of death of mites, anti-Dg-CatD-1 and anti-Dg-CatL-1 IgY had 4·42 and 2·13 times higher risks of dying compared with controls (PF<0·05). Dg-CatD-1 and L-1 both have potential as vaccine antigens as part of a multi-component vaccine and have the potential to be improved as vaccine antigens using alternative expression systems.

  10. 78 FR 9792 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-12

    ... Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department... (AD) for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000T gliders equipped with Solo Kleinmotoren Model 2350 C..., contact Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 60 01 52, D 71050 Sindelfingen, Germany; telephone: +49 07031-301...

  11. Meeting DG's

    ScienceCinema

    None

    2017-12-09

    Le DG J.Adams commente les 3 thèmes de la réunion: 1.) le prochain DG du Cern (qui sera H.Schopper) 2.) le LEP 3.) les conclusions du comité des finances concernant salaires, allocations etc. Discussion entre le DG J.Adams, Mons.Ullmann, chef du personel et l'auditoire

  12. Measurements of undoped accumulation-mode SiGe quantum dot devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eng, Kevin; Borselli, Mathew; Holabird, Kevin; Milosavljevic, Ivan; Schmitz, Adele; Deelman, Peter; Huang, Biqin; Sokolich, Marko; Warren, Leslie; Hazard, Thomas; Kiselev, Andrey; Ross, Richard; Gyure, Mark; Hunter, Andrew

    2012-02-01

    We report transport measurements of undoped single-well accumulation-mode SiGe quantum dot devices with an integrated dot charge sensor. The device is designed so that individual forward-biased circular gates have dominant control of dot charge occupancy, and separate intervening gates have dominant control of tunnel rates and exchange coupling. We have demonstrated controlled loading of the first electron in single and double quantum dots. We used magneto-spectroscopy to measure singlet-triplet splittings in our quantum dots: values are typically ˜0.1 meV. Tunnel rates of single electrons to the baths can be controlled from less than 1 Hz to greater than 10 MHz. We are able to control the (0,2) to (1,1) coupling in a double quantum dot from under-coupled (tc < kT˜ 5μeV) to over-coupled (tc ˜ 0.1 meV) with a bias control of one exchange gate. Sponsored by the United States Department of Defense. Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited. The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

  13. Counterfactual distributed controlled-phase gate for quantum-dot spin qubits in double-sided optical microcavities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Qi; Cheng, Liu-Yong; Chen, Li; Wang, Hong-Fu; Zhang, Shou

    2014-10-01

    The existing distributed quantum gates required physical particles to be transmitted between two distant nodes in the quantum network. We here demonstrate the possibility to implement distributed quantum computation without transmitting any particles. We propose a scheme for a distributed controlled-phase gate between two distant quantum-dot electron-spin qubits in optical microcavities. The two quantum-dot-microcavity systems are linked by a nested Michelson-type interferometer. A single photon acting as ancillary resource is sent in the interferometer to complete the distributed controlled-phase gate, but it never enters the transmission channel between the two nodes. Moreover, we numerically analyze the effect of experimental imperfections and show that the present scheme can be implemented with high fidelity in the ideal asymptotic limit. The scheme provides further evidence of quantum counterfactuality and opens promising possibilities for distributed quantum computation.

  14. Optical imaging through turbid media with a degenerate four-wave mixing correlation time gate

    DOEpatents

    Sappey, Andrew D.

    1998-04-14

    Optical imaging through turbid media is demonstrated using a degenerate four-wave mixing correlation time gate. An apparatus and method for detecting ballistic and/or snake light while rejecting unwanted diffusive light for imaging structures within highly scattering media are described. Degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) of a doubled YAG laser in rhodamine 590 is used to provide an ultrafast correlation time gate to discriminate against light that has undergone multiple scattering and therefore has lost memory of the structures within the scattering medium. Images have been obtained of a test cross-hair pattern through highly turbid suspensions of whole milk in water that are opaque to the naked eye, which demonstrates the utility of DFWM for imaging through turbid media. Use of DFWM as an ultrafast time gate for the detection of ballistic and/or snake light in optical mammography is discussed.

  15. Back bias induced dynamic and steep subthreshold swing in junctionless transistors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Parihar, Mukta Singh; Kranti, Abhinav, E-mail: akranti@iiti.ac.in

    In this work, we analyze back bias induced steep and dynamic subthreshold swing in junctionless double gate transistors operated in the asymmetric mode. This impact ionization induced dynamic subthreshold swing is explained in terms of the ratio between minimum hole concentration and peak electron concentration, and the dynamic change in the location of the conduction channel with applied front gate voltage. The reason for the occurrence of impact ionization at sub-bandgap drain voltages in silicon junctionless transistors is also accounted for. The optimum junctionless transistor operating at a back gate bias of −0.9 V, achieves over 5 orders of change inmore » drain current at a gate overdrive of 200 mV and drain bias of 1 V. These results for junctionless transistors are significantly better than those exhibited by silicon tunnel field effect transistors operating at the same drain bias.« less

  16. Non-scaling behavior of electroosmotic flow in voltage-gated nanopores

    DOE PAGES

    Lian, Cheng; Gallegos, Alejandro; Liu, Honglai; ...

    2016-11-17

    Ionic transport through nanopores is of fundamental importance for the design and development of nanofiltration membranes and novel electrochemical devices including supercapacitors, fuel cells and batteries. Recent experiments have shown an unusual variation of electrical conductance with the pore size and the electrolyte parameters that defies conventional scaling relations. Here ionic transport through voltage-gated nanopores was studied by using the classical density functional theory for ion distributions in combination with the Navier–Stokes equation for the electroosmotic flow. We also identified a significant influence of the gating potential on the scaling behavior of the conductance with changes in the pore sizemore » and the salt concentration. Finally, for ion transport in narrow pores with a high gating voltage, the conductivity shows an oscillatory dependence on the pore size owing to the strong overlap of electric double layers.« less

  17. Polarity control in WSe2 double-gate transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Resta, Giovanni V.; Sutar, Surajit; Balaji, Yashwanth; Lin, Dennis; Raghavan, Praveen; Radu, Iuliana; Catthoor, Francky; Thean, Aaron; Gaillardon, Pierre-Emmanuel; de Micheli, Giovanni

    2016-07-01

    As scaling of conventional silicon-based electronics is reaching its ultimate limit, considerable effort has been devoted to find new materials and new device concepts that could ultimately outperform standard silicon transistors. In this perspective two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, such as MoS2 and WSe2, have recently attracted considerable interest thanks to their electrical properties. Here, we report the first experimental demonstration of a doping-free, polarity-controllable device fabricated on few-layer WSe2. We show how modulation of the Schottky barriers at drain and source by a separate gate, named program gate, can enable the selection of the carriers injected in the channel, and achieved controllable polarity behaviour with ON/OFF current ratios >106 for both electrons and holes conduction. Polarity-controlled WSe2 transistors enable the design of compact logic gates, leading to higher computational densities in 2D-flatronics.

  18. 75 FR 45677 - Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1216,”Plant-Specific Applicability of Transition Break Size Specified...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-03

    ... NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2010-0229] Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1216,''Plant-Specific... Commission (NRC) is extending the public comment period for DG-1216 from August 25, 2010 to November 8, 2010... [email protected] . The Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1216, ``Plant- Specific Applicability of...

  19. Dystroglycan and Protein O-Mannosyltransferases 1 and 2 Are Required to Maintain Integrity of Drosophila Larval Muscles

    PubMed Central

    Seabrooke, Sara; Stewart, Bryan A.

    2007-01-01

    In vertebrates, mutations in Protein O-mannosyltransferase1 (POMT1) or POMT2 are associated with muscular dystrophy due to a requirement for O-linked mannose glycans on the Dystroglycan (Dg) protein. In this study we examine larval body wall muscles of Drosophila mutant for Dg, or RNA interference knockdown for Dg and find defects in muscle attachment, altered muscle contraction, and a change in muscle membrane resistance. To determine if POMTs are required for Dg function in Drosophila, we examine larvae mutant for genes encoding POMT1 or POMT2. Larvae mutant for either POMT, or doubly mutant for both, show muscle attachment and muscle contraction phenotypes identical to those associated with reduced Dg function, consistent with a requirement for O-linked mannose on Drosophila Dg. Together these data establish a central role for Dg in maintaining integrity in Drosophila larval muscles and demonstrate the importance of glycosylation to Dg function in Drosophila. This study opens the possibility of using Drosophila to investigate muscular dystrophy. PMID:17881734

  20. A Reconstructed Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the Compressible Euler Equations on Arbitrary Grids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hong Luo; Luquing Luo; Robert Nourgaliev

    2009-06-01

    A reconstruction-based discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method is presented for the solution of the compressible Euler equations on arbitrary grids. By taking advantage of handily available and yet invaluable information, namely the derivatives, in the context of the discontinuous Galerkin methods, a solution polynomial of one degree higher is reconstructed using a least-squares method. The stencils used in the reconstruction involve only the van Neumann neighborhood (face-neighboring cells) and are compact and consistent with the underlying DG method. The resulting DG method can be regarded as an improvement of a recovery-based DG method in the sense that it shares the samemore » nice features as the recovery-based DG method, such as high accuracy and efficiency, and yet overcomes some of its shortcomings such as a lack of flexibility, compactness, and robustness. The developed DG method is used to compute a variety of flow problems on arbitrary meshes to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method. The numerical results indicate that this reconstructed DG method is able to obtain a third-order accurate solution at a slightly higher cost than its second-order DG method and provide an increase in performance over the third order DG method in terms of computing time and storage requirement.« less

  1. Subgingival Microbiota in White Patients With Desquamative Gingivitis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

    PubMed

    Arduino, Paolo G; Romano, Federica; Sasia, Danilo; Broccoletti, Roberto; Ricceri, Fulvio; Barbui, Anna Maria; Brossa, Silvia; Cipriani, Raffaella; Cricenti, Luca; Cabras, Marco; Aimetti, Mario

    2017-07-01

    Presence of epithelial desquamation, erythema, and erosions on gingival tissue is usually described in the literature as desquamative gingivitis (DG). A wide range of autoimmune/dermatologic disorders can manifest as DG, although the two more common are oral lichen planus and mucous membrane pemphigoid. The aim of this study is to investigate prevalence of 11 periodontopathogenic microorganisms in patients with DG and to compare it with the microbiologic status of individuals affected by plaque-induced gingivitis (pGI). Cross-sectional clinical and microbiologic data were obtained from 66 patients (33 in each group). Subgingival plaque samples were analyzed using semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Statistically significant difference, but with little clinical significance, was observed in gingival conditions between the two groups, probably due to the worse home control hygiene of patients with DG. Prevalence and levels of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Eikenella corrodens, and Fusobacterium nucleatum/periodonticum were statistically higher in samples from patients with DG than in those with pGI. In multivariate regression models, subgingival colonization of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum/periodonticum was not statistically associated with DG, whereas, high levels of E. corrodens were associated with 13-fold increased odds for DG. Microbiologic differences were found in subgingival plaque for patients with DG and pGI. This may suggest possible association between periodontal pathogens and DG.

  2. Structural characterization by NMR of the natively unfolded extracellular domain of beta-dystroglycan: toward the identification of the binding epitope for alpha-dystroglycan.

    PubMed

    Bozzi, Manuela; Bianchi, Marzia; Sciandra, Francesca; Paci, Maurizio; Giardina, Bruno; Brancaccio, Andrea; Cicero, Daniel O

    2003-11-25

    Dystroglycan (DG) is an adhesion molecule playing a crucial role for tissue stability during both early embriogenesis and adulthood and is composed by two tightly interacting subunits: alpha-DG, membrane-associated and highly glycosylated, and the transmembrane beta-DG. Recently, by solid-phase binding assays and NMR experiments, we have shown that the C-terminal domain of alpha-DG interacts with a recombinant extracellular fragment of beta-DG (positions 654-750) independently from glycosylation and that the linear binding epitope is located between residues 550 and 565 of alpha-DG. In order to elucidate which moieties of beta-DG are specifically involved in the complex with alpha-DG, the ectodomain has been recombinantly expressed and purified in a labeled ((13)C,(15)N) form and studied by multidimensional NMR. Although it represents a natively unfolded protein domain, we obtained an almost complete backbone assignment. Chemical shift index, (1)H-(15)N heteronuclear single-quantum coherence and nuclear Overhauser effect (HSQC-NOESY) spectra and (3)J(HN,H)(alpha) coupling constant values confirm that this protein is highly disordered, but (1)H-(15)N steady-state NOE experiments indicate that the protein presents two regions of different mobility. The first one, between residues 659 and 722, is characterized by a limited degree of mobility, whereas the C-terminal portion, containing about 30 amino acids, is highly flexible. The binding of beta-DG(654-750) to the C-terminal region of the alpha subunit, alpha-DG(485-620), has been investigated, showing that the region of beta-DG(654-750) between residues 691 and 719 is involved in the interaction.

  3. Dentate Gyrus Contributes to Retrieval as well as Encoding: Evidence from Context Fear Conditioning, Recall, and Extinction

    PubMed Central

    Krasne, Franklin B.

    2017-01-01

    Dentate gyrus (DG) is widely thought to provide a teaching signal that enables hippocampal encoding of memories, but its role during retrieval is poorly understood. Some data and models suggest that DG plays no role in retrieval; others encourage the opposite conclusion. To resolve this controversy, we evaluated the effects of optogenetic inhibition of dorsal DG during context fear conditioning, recall, generalization, and extinction in male mice. We found that (1) inhibition during training impaired context fear acquisition; (2) inhibition during recall did not impair fear expression in the training context, unless mice had to distinguish between similar feared and neutral contexts; (3) inhibition increased generalization of fear to an unfamiliar context that was similar to a feared one and impaired fear expression in the conditioned context when it was similar to a neutral one; and (4) inhibition impaired fear extinction. These effects, as well as several seemingly contradictory published findings, could be reproduced by BACON (Bayesian Context Fear Algorithm), a physiologically realistic hippocampal model positing that acquisition and retrieval both involve coordinated activity in DG and CA3. Our findings thus suggest that DG contributes to retrieval and extinction, as well as to the initial establishment of context fear. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Despite abundant evidence that the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) plays a critical role in memory, it remains unclear whether the role of DG relates to memory acquisition or retrieval. Using contextual fear conditioning and optogenetic inhibition, we show that DG contributes to both of these processes. Using computational simulations, we identify specific mechanisms through which the suppression of DG affects memory performance. Finally, we show that DG contributes to fear extinction learning, a process in which learned fear is attenuated through exposures to a fearful context in the absence of threat. Our data resolve a long-standing question about the role of DG in memory and provide insight into how disorders affecting DG, including aging, stress, and depression, influence cognitive processes. PMID:28546308

  4. Nuclear Import of β-Dystroglycan Is Facilitated by Ezrin-Mediated Cytoskeleton Reorganization

    PubMed Central

    Vásquez-Limeta, Alejandra; Wagstaff, Kylie M.; Ortega, Arturo; Crouch, Dorothy H.; Jans, David A.; Cisneros, Bulmaro

    2014-01-01

    The β-dystroglycan (β-DG) protein has the ability to target to multiple sites in eukaryotic cells, being a member of diverse protein assemblies including the transmembranal dystrophin-associated complex, and a nuclear envelope-localised complex that contains emerin and lamins A/C and B1. We noted that the importin α2/β1-recognised nuclear localization signal (NLS) of β-DG is also a binding site for the cytoskeletal-interacting protein ezrin, and set out to determine whether ezrin binding might modulate β-DG nuclear translocation for the first time. Unexpectedly, we found that ezrin enhances rather than inhibits β-DG nuclear translocation in C2C12 myoblasts. Both overexpression of a phosphomimetic activated ezrin variant (Ez-T567D) and activation of endogenous ezrin through stimulation of the Rho pathway resulted in both formation of actin-rich surface protrusions and significantly increased nuclear translocation of β-DG as shown by quantitative microscopy and subcellular fractionation/Western analysis. In contrast, overexpression of a nonphosphorylatable inactive ezrin variant (Ez-T567A) or inhibition of Rho signaling, decreased nuclear translocation of β-DG concomitant with a lack of cell surface protrusions. Further, a role for the actin cytoskeleton in ezrin enhancement of β-DG nuclear translocation was implicated by the observation that an ezrin variant lacking its actin-binding domain failed to enhance nuclear translocation of β-DG, while disruption of the actin cytoskeleton led to a reduction in β-DG nuclear localization. Finally, we show that ezrin-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization enhances nuclear translocation of the cytoplasmic but not the transmembranal fraction of β-DG. This is the first study showing that cytoskeleton reorganization can modulate nuclear translocation of β-DG, with the implication that β-DG can respond to cytoskeleton-driven changes in cell morphology by translocating from the cytoplasm to the nucleus to orchestrate nuclear processes in response to the functional requirements of the cell. PMID:24599031

  5. 2-Deoxyglucose induces the expression of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) by increasing O-GlcNAcylation – Implications for targeting the Warburg effect in cancer cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hong, Shin Yee; Hagen, Thilo, E-mail: bchth@nus.edu.sg

    2015-10-02

    The high proliferation rate of cancer cells and the microenvironment in the tumor tissue require the reprogramming of tumor cell metabolism. The major mechanism of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells is the Warburg effect, defined as the preferential utilization of glucose via glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen. Targeting the Warburg effect is considered as a promising therapeutic strategy in cancer therapy. In this regard, the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) has been evaluated clinically. 2DG exerts its effect by directly inhibiting glycolysis at the level of hexokinase and phosphoglucoisomerase. In addition, 2DG is also known to induce the expressionmore » of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), a tumor suppressor protein and an important negative regulator of cellular glucose uptake. Hence, characterization of the mechanism through which 2DG regulates TXNIP expression may reveal novel approaches to target the Warburg effect in cancer cells. Therefore, in this study we sought to test various hypotheses for the mechanistic basis of the 2DG dependent TXNIP regulation. We have shown that 2DG induced TXNIP expression is independent of carbohydrate response element mediated transcription. Furthermore, the induction of TXNIP is neither dependent on the ability of 2DG to deplete cellular ATP nor to cause endoplasmic reticulum stress. We found that the 2DG induced TXNIP expression is at least in part dependent on the inhibition of the O-GlcNAcase enzyme and the accumulation of O-GlcNAc modified proteins. These results have implications for the identification of therapeutic targets to increase TXNIP expression in cancer. - Highlights: • 2DG increases TXNIP expression at the mRNA and protein level. • The effect of 2DG on TXNIP is independent of ChoRE mediated transcription. • 2DG induces TXNIP independent of ER stress induction and ATP depletion. • 2DG inhibits OGA and leads to accumulation of O-GlcNAcylated proteins. • The upregulation of TXNIP by 2DG is partially due to an increase in O-GlcNAcylation.« less

  6. A Monte Carlo model for mean glandular dose evaluation in spot compression mammography.

    PubMed

    Sarno, Antonio; Dance, David R; van Engen, Ruben E; Young, Kenneth C; Russo, Paolo; Di Lillo, Francesca; Mettivier, Giovanni; Bliznakova, Kristina; Fei, Baowei; Sechopoulos, Ioannis

    2017-07-01

    To characterize the dependence of normalized glandular dose (DgN) on various breast model and image acquisition parameters during spot compression mammography and other partial breast irradiation conditions, and evaluate alternative previously proposed dose-related metrics for this breast imaging modality. Using Monte Carlo simulations with both simple homogeneous breast models and patient-specific breasts, three different dose-related metrics for spot compression mammography were compared: the standard DgN, the normalized glandular dose to only the directly irradiated portion of the breast (DgNv), and the DgN obtained by the product of the DgN for full field irradiation and the ratio of the mid-height area of the irradiated breast to the entire breast area (DgN M ). How these metrics vary with field-of-view size, spot area thickness, x-ray energy, spot area and position, breast shape and size, and system geometry was characterized for the simple breast model and a comparison of the simple model results to those with patient-specific breasts was also performed. The DgN in spot compression mammography can vary considerably with breast area. However, the difference in breast thickness between the spot compressed area and the uncompressed area does not introduce a variation in DgN. As long as the spot compressed area is completely within the breast area and only the compressed breast portion is directly irradiated, its position and size does not introduce a variation in DgN for the homogeneous breast model. As expected, DgN is lower than DgNv for all partial breast irradiation areas, especially when considering spot compression areas within the clinically used range. DgN M underestimates DgN by 6.7% for a W/Rh spectrum at 28 kVp and for a 9 × 9 cm 2 compression paddle. As part of the development of a new breast dosimetry model, a task undertaken by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and the European Federation of Organizations of Medical Physics, these results provide insight on how DgN and two alternative dose metrics behave with various image acquisition and model parameters. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

  7. Sparse and Specific Coding during Information Transmission between Co-cultured Dentate Gyrus and CA3 Hippocampal Networks

    PubMed Central

    Poli, Daniele; Thiagarajan, Srikanth; DeMarse, Thomas B.; Wheeler, Bruce C.; Brewer, Gregory J.

    2017-01-01

    To better understand encoding and decoding of stimulus information in two specific hippocampal sub-regions, we isolated and co-cultured rat primary dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 neurons within a two-chamber device with axonal connectivity via micro-tunnels. We tested the hypothesis that, in these engineered networks, decoding performance of stimulus site information would be more accurate when stimuli and information flow occur in anatomically correct feed-forward DG to CA3 vs. CA3 back to DG. In particular, we characterized the neural code of these sub-regions by measuring sparseness and uniqueness of the responses evoked by specific paired-pulse stimuli. We used the evoked responses in CA3 to decode the stimulation sites in DG (and vice-versa) by means of learning algorithms for classification (support vector machine, SVM). The device was placed over an 8 × 8 grid of extracellular electrodes (micro-electrode array, MEA) in order to provide a platform for monitoring development, self-organization, and improved access to stimulation and recording at multiple sites. The micro-tunnels were designed with dimensions 3 × 10 × 400 μm allowing axonal growth but not migration of cell bodies and long enough to exclude traversal by dendrites. Paired-pulse stimulation (inter-pulse interval 50 ms) was applied at 22 different sites and repeated 25 times in each chamber for each sub-region to evoke time-locked activity. DG-DG and CA3-CA3 networks were used as controls. Stimulation in DG drove signals through the axons in the tunnels to activate a relatively small set of specific electrodes in CA3 (sparse code). CA3-CA3 and DG-DG controls were less sparse in coding than CA3 in DG-CA3 networks. Using all target electrodes with the three highest spike rates (14%), the evoked responses in CA3 specified each stimulation site in DG with optimum uniqueness of 64%. Finally, by SVM learning, these evoked responses in CA3 correctly decoded the stimulation sites in DG for 43% of the trials, significantly higher than the reverse, i.e., how well-recording in DG could predict the stimulation site in CA3. In conclusion, our co-cultured model for the in vivo DG-CA3 hippocampal network showed sparse and specific responses in CA3, selectively evoked by each stimulation site in DG. PMID:28321182

  8. Temperature dependency of double material gate oxide (DMGO) symmetric dual-k spacer (SDS) wavy FinFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pradhan, K. P.; Priyanka; Sahu, P. K.

    2016-01-01

    Symmetric Dual-k Spacer (SDS) Trigate Wavy FinFET is a novel hybrid device that combines three significant and advanced technologies i.e., ultra-thin-body (UTB), FinFET, and symmetric spacer engineering on a single silicon on insulator (SOI) platform. This innovative architecture promises to enhance the device performance as compared to conventional FinFET without increasing the chip area. For the first time, we have incorporated two different dielectric materials (SiO2, and HfO2) as gate oxide to analyze the effect on various performance metrics of SDS wavy FinFET. This work evaluates the response of double material gate oxide (DMGO) on parameters like mobility, on current (Ion), transconductance (gm), transconductance generation factor (TGF), total gate capacitance (Cgg), and cutoff frequency (fT) in SDS wavy FinFET. This work also reveals the presence of biasing point i.e., zero temperature coefficient (ZTC) bias point. The ZTC bias point is that point where the device parameters become independent of temperature. The impact of operating temperature (T) on above said various performances are also subjected to extensive analysis. This further validates the reliability of DMGO-SDS FinFET and its application opportunities involved in modeling analog/RF circuits for a broad range of temperature applications. From extensive 3-D device simulation, we have determined that the inclusion of DMGO in SDS wavy FinFET is superior in performance.

  9. In operando evidence of deoxygenation in ionic liquid gating of YBa2Cu3O7-X

    PubMed Central

    Perez-Muñoz, Ana M.; Schio, Pedro; Poloni, Roberta; Fernandez-Martinez, Alejandro; Rivera-Calzada, Alberto; Salas-Colera, Eduardo; Kinney, Joseph; Leon, Carlos; Santamaria, Jacobo; Garcia-Barriocanal, Javier; Goldman, Allen M.

    2017-01-01

    Field-effect experiments on cuprates using ionic liquids have enabled the exploration of their rich phase diagrams [Leng X, et al. (2011) Phys Rev Lett 107(2):027001]. Conventional understanding of the electrostatic doping is in terms of modifications of the charge density to screen the electric field generated at the double layer. However, it has been recently reported that the suppression of the metal to insulator transition induced in VO2 by ionic liquid gating is due to oxygen vacancy formation rather than to electrostatic doping [Jeong J, et al. (2013) Science 339(6126):1402–1405]. These results underscore the debate on the true nature, electrostatic vs. electrochemical, of the doping of cuprates with ionic liquids. Here, we address the doping mechanism of the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-X (YBCO) by simultaneous ionic liquid gating and X-ray absorption experiments. Pronounced spectral changes are observed at the Cu K-edge concomitant with the superconductor-to-insulator transition, evidencing modification of the Cu coordination resulting from the deoxygenation of the CuO chains, as confirmed by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) simulations. Beyond providing evidence of the importance of chemical doping in electric double-layer (EDL) gating experiments with superconducting cuprates, our work shows that interfacing correlated oxides with ionic liquids enables a delicate control of oxygen content, paving the way to novel electrochemical concepts in future oxide electronics. PMID:28028236

  10. In operando evidence of deoxygenation in ionic liquid gating of YBa2Cu3O7-X.

    PubMed

    Perez-Muñoz, Ana M; Schio, Pedro; Poloni, Roberta; Fernandez-Martinez, Alejandro; Rivera-Calzada, Alberto; Cezar, Julio C; Salas-Colera, Eduardo; Castro, German R; Kinney, Joseph; Leon, Carlos; Santamaria, Jacobo; Garcia-Barriocanal, Javier; Goldman, Allen M

    2017-01-10

    Field-effect experiments on cuprates using ionic liquids have enabled the exploration of their rich phase diagrams [Leng X, et al. (2011) Phys Rev Lett 107(2):027001]. Conventional understanding of the electrostatic doping is in terms of modifications of the charge density to screen the electric field generated at the double layer. However, it has been recently reported that the suppression of the metal to insulator transition induced in VO 2 by ionic liquid gating is due to oxygen vacancy formation rather than to electrostatic doping [Jeong J, et al. (2013) Science 339(6126):1402-1405]. These results underscore the debate on the true nature, electrostatic vs. electrochemical, of the doping of cuprates with ionic liquids. Here, we address the doping mechanism of the high-temperature superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-X (YBCO) by simultaneous ionic liquid gating and X-ray absorption experiments. Pronounced spectral changes are observed at the Cu K-edge concomitant with the superconductor-to-insulator transition, evidencing modification of the Cu coordination resulting from the deoxygenation of the CuO chains, as confirmed by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) simulations. Beyond providing evidence of the importance of chemical doping in electric double-layer (EDL) gating experiments with superconducting cuprates, our work shows that interfacing correlated oxides with ionic liquids enables a delicate control of oxygen content, paving the way to novel electrochemical concepts in future oxide electronics.

  11. Photovoltaic and photothermoelectric effect in a double-gated WSe2 device.

    PubMed

    Groenendijk, Dirk J; Buscema, Michele; Steele, Gary A; Michaelis de Vasconcellos, Steffen; Bratschitsch, Rudolf; van der Zant, Herre S J; Castellanos-Gomez, Andres

    2014-10-08

    Tungsten diselenide (WSe2), a semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC), shows great potential as active material in optoelectronic devices due to its ambipolarity and direct bandgap in its single-layer form. Recently, different groups have exploited the ambipolarity of WSe2 to realize electrically tunable PN junctions, demonstrating its potential for digital electronics and solar cell applications. In this Letter, we focus on the different photocurrent generation mechanisms in a double-gated WSe2 device by measuring the photocurrent (and photovoltage) as the local gate voltages are varied independently in combination with above- and below-bandgap illumination. This enables us to distinguish between two main photocurrent generation mechanisms, the photovoltaic and photothermoelectric effect. We find that the dominant mechanism depends on the defined gate configuration. In the PN and NP configurations, photocurrent is mainly generated by the photovoltaic effect and the device displays a maximum responsivity of 0.70 mA/W at 532 nm illumination and rise and fall times close to 10 ms. Photocurrent generated by the photothermoelectric effect emerges in the PP configuration and is a factor of 2 larger than the current generated by the photovoltaic effect (in PN and NP configurations). This demonstrates that the photothermoelectric effect can play a significant role in devices based on WSe2 where a region of strong optical absorption, caused by, for example, an asymmetry in flake thickness or optical absorption of the electrodes, generates a sizable thermal gradient upon illumination.

  12. Simulation study of short-channel effects of tunnel field-effect transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fukuda, Koichi; Asai, Hidehiro; Hattori, Junichi; Mori, Takahiro; Morita, Yukinori; Mizubayashi, Wataru; Masahara, Meishoku; Migita, Shinji; Ota, Hiroyuki; Endo, Kazuhiro; Matsukawa, Takashi

    2018-04-01

    Short-channel effects of tunnel field-effect transistors (FETs) are investigated in detail using simulations of a nonlocal band-to-band tunneling model. Discussion is limited to silicon. Several simulation scenarios were considered to address different effects, such as source overlap and drain offset effects. Adopting the drain offset to suppress the drain leakage current suppressed the short channel effects. The physical mechanism underlying the short-channel behavior of the tunnel FETs (TFETs) was very different from that of metal-oxide-semiconductor FETs (MOSFETs). The minimal gate lengths that do not lose on-state current by one order are shown to be 3 nm for single-gate structures and 2 nm for double gate structures, as determined from the drain offset structure.

  13. Leakage of The Quantum Dot Hybrid Qubit in The Strong Driving Regime

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Yuan-Chi; Friesen, Mark; Coppersmith, S. N.

    Recent experimental demonstrations of high-fidelity single-qubit gates suggest that the quantum dot hybrid qubit is a promising candidate for large-scale quantum computing. The qubit is comprised of three electrons in a double quantum dot, and can be protected from charge noise by operating in an extended sweet-spot regime. Gate operations are based on exchange interactions mediated by an excited state. However, strong resonant driving causes unwanted leakage into the excited state. Here, we theoretically analyze leakage caused by strong driving, and explore methods for increasing gate fidelities. This work was supported in part by ARO (W911NF-12-0607), NSF (PHY-1104660), ONR (N00014-15-1-0029), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  14. Interface-Dependent Effective Mobility in Graphene Field-Effect Transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahlberg, Patrik; Hinnemo, Malkolm; Zhang, Shi-Li; Olsson, Jörgen

    2018-03-01

    By pretreating the substrate of a graphene field-effect transistor (G-FET), a stable unipolar transfer characteristic, instead of the typical V-shape ambipolar behavior, has been demonstrated. This behavior is achieved through functionalization of the SiO2/Si substrate that changes the SiO2 surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, in combination with postdeposition of an Al2O3 film by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Consequently, the back-gated G-FET is found to have increased apparent hole mobility and suppressed apparent electron mobility. Furthermore, with addition of a top-gate electrode, the G-FET is in a double-gate configuration with independent top- or back-gate control. The observed difference in mobility is shown to also be dependent on the top-gate bias, with more pronounced effect at higher electric field. Thus, the combination of top and bottom gates allows control of the G-FET's electron and hole mobilities, i.e., of the transfer behavior. Based on these observations, it is proposed that polar ligands are introduced during the ALD step and, depending on their polarization, result in an apparent increase of the effective hole mobility and an apparent suppressed effective electron mobility.

  15. Fabrication of quantum dots in undoped Si/Si 0.8Ge 0.2 heterostructures using a single metal-gate layer

    DOE PAGES

    Lu, T. M.; Gamble, J. K.; Muller, R. P.; ...

    2016-08-01

    Enhancement-mode Si/SiGe electron quantum dots have been pursued extensively by many groups for their potential in quantum computing. Most of the reported dot designs utilize multiple metal-gate layers and use Si/SiGe heterostructures with Ge concentration close to 30%. Here, we report the fabrication and low-temperature characterization of quantum dots in the Si/Si 0.8Ge 0.2 heterostructures using only one metal-gate layer. We find that the threshold voltage of a channel narrower than 1 μm increases as the width decreases. The higher threshold can be attributed to the combination of quantum confinement and disorder. We also find that the lower Ge ratiomore » used here leads to a narrower operational gate bias range. The higher threshold combined with the limited gate bias range constrains the device design of lithographic quantum dots. We incorporate such considerations in our device design and demonstrate a quantum dot that can be tuned from a single dot to a double dot. Furthermore, the device uses only a single metal-gate layer, greatly simplifying device design and fabrication.« less

  16. Effects of charge noise on a pulse-gated singlet-triplet S - T_ qubit

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Qi, Zhenyi; Wu, X.; Ward, D. R.

    Here, we study the dynamics of a pulse-gated semiconductor double-quantum-dot qubit. In our experiments, the qubit coherence times are relatively long, but the visibility of the quantum oscillations is low. We also show that these observations are consistent with a theory that incorporates decoherence arising from charge noise that gives rise to detuning fluctuations of the double dot. Because effects from charge noise are largest near the singlet-triplet avoided level crossing, the visibility of the oscillations is low when the singlet-triplet avoided level crossing occurs in the vicinity of the charge degeneracy point crossed during the manipulation, but there ismore » only modest dephasing at the large detuning value at which the quantum phase accumulates. This theory also agrees with experimental data and predicts that the visibility can be increased greatly by appropriate tuning of the interdot tunneling rate.« less

  17. Electric double-layer capacitance between an ionic liquid and few-layer graphene.

    PubMed

    Uesugi, Eri; Goto, Hidenori; Eguchi, Ritsuko; Fujiwara, Akihiko; Kubozono, Yoshihiro

    2013-01-01

    Ionic-liquid gates have a high carrier density due to their atomically thin electric double layer (EDL) and extremely large geometrical capacitance Cg. However, a high carrier density in graphene has not been achieved even with ionic-liquid gates because the EDL capacitance CEDL between the ionic liquid and graphene involves the series connection of Cg and the quantum capacitance Cq, which is proportional to the density of states. We investigated the variables that determine CEDL at the molecular level by varying the number of graphene layers n and thereby optimising Cq. The CEDL value is governed by Cq at n < 4, and by Cg at n > 4. This transition with n indicates a composite nature for CEDL. Our finding clarifies a universal principle that determines capacitance on a microscopic scale, and provides nanotechnological perspectives on charge accumulation and energy storage using an ultimately thin capacitor.

  18. Electric double-layer capacitance between an ionic liquid and few-layer graphene

    PubMed Central

    Uesugi, Eri; Goto, Hidenori; Eguchi, Ritsuko; Fujiwara, Akihiko; Kubozono, Yoshihiro

    2013-01-01

    Ionic-liquid gates have a high carrier density due to their atomically thin electric double layer (EDL) and extremely large geometrical capacitance Cg. However, a high carrier density in graphene has not been achieved even with ionic-liquid gates because the EDL capacitance CEDL between the ionic liquid and graphene involves the series connection of Cg and the quantum capacitance Cq, which is proportional to the density of states. We investigated the variables that determine CEDL at the molecular level by varying the number of graphene layers n and thereby optimising Cq. The CEDL value is governed by Cq at n < 4, and by Cg at n > 4. This transition with n indicates a composite nature for CEDL. Our finding clarifies a universal principle that determines capacitance on a microscopic scale, and provides nanotechnological perspectives on charge accumulation and energy storage using an ultimately thin capacitor. PMID:23549208

  19. A carrier-based analytical theory for negative capacitance symmetric double-gate field effect transistors and its simulation verification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Chunsheng; Liang, Renrong; Wang, Jing; Xu, Jun

    2015-09-01

    A carrier-based analytical drain current model for negative capacitance symmetric double-gate field effect transistors (NC-SDG FETs) is proposed by solving the differential equation of the carrier, the Pao-Sah current formulation, and the Landau-Khalatnikov equation. The carrier equation is derived from Poisson’s equation and the Boltzmann distribution law. According to the model, an amplified semiconductor surface potential and a steeper subthreshold slope could be obtained with suitable thicknesses of the ferroelectric film and insulator layer at room temperature. Results predicted by the analytical model agree well with those of the numerical simulation from a 2D simulator without any fitting parameters. The analytical model is valid for all operation regions and captures the transitions between them without any auxiliary variables or functions. This model can be used to explore the operating mechanisms of NC-SDG FETs and to optimize device performance.

  20. Effects of charge noise on a pulse-gated singlet-triplet S - T_ qubit

    DOE PAGES

    Qi, Zhenyi; Wu, X.; Ward, D. R.; ...

    2017-09-11

    Here, we study the dynamics of a pulse-gated semiconductor double-quantum-dot qubit. In our experiments, the qubit coherence times are relatively long, but the visibility of the quantum oscillations is low. We also show that these observations are consistent with a theory that incorporates decoherence arising from charge noise that gives rise to detuning fluctuations of the double dot. Because effects from charge noise are largest near the singlet-triplet avoided level crossing, the visibility of the oscillations is low when the singlet-triplet avoided level crossing occurs in the vicinity of the charge degeneracy point crossed during the manipulation, but there ismore » only modest dephasing at the large detuning value at which the quantum phase accumulates. This theory also agrees with experimental data and predicts that the visibility can be increased greatly by appropriate tuning of the interdot tunneling rate.« less

  1. Reduced distribution of threshold voltage shift in double layer NiSi2 nanocrystals for nano-floating gate memory applications.

    PubMed

    Choi, Sungjin; Lee, Junhyuk; Kim, Donghyoun; Oh, Seulki; Song, Wangyu; Choi, Seonjun; Choi, Eunsuk; Lee, Seung-Beck

    2011-12-01

    We report on the fabrication and capacitance-voltage characteristics of double layer nickel-silicide nanocrystals with Si3N4 interlayer tunnel barrier for nano-floating gate memory applications. Compared with devices using SiO2 interlayer, the use of Si3N4 interlayer separation reduced the average size (4 nm) and distribution (+/- 2.5 nm) of NiSi2 nanocrystal (NC) charge traps by more than 50% and giving a two fold increase in NC density to 2.3 x 10(12) cm(-2). The increased density and reduced NC size distribution resulted in a significantly decrease in the distribution of the device C-V characteristics. For each program voltage, the distribution of the shift in the threshold voltage was reduced by more than 50% on average to less than 0.7 V demonstrating possible multi-level-cell operation.

  2. Dynamic superconcentration at critical-point double-layer gates of conducting nanoporous granules due to asymmetric tangential fluxes

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Shau-Chun; Wei, Hsien-Hung; Chen, Hsiao-Ping; Tsai, Min-Hsuan; Yu, Chun-Ching; Chang, Hsueh-Chia

    2008-01-01

    A transient 106-fold concentration of double-layer counterions by a high-intensity electric field is demonstrated at the exit pole of a millimeter-sized conducting nanoporous granule that permits ion permeation. The phenomenon is attributed to a unique counterion screening dynamics that transforms half of the surface field into a converging one toward the ejecting pole. The resulting surface conduction flux then funnels a large upstream electro-osmotic convective counterion flux into the injecting hemisphere toward the zero-dimensional gate of the ejecting hemisphere to produce the superconcentration. As the concentrated counterion is ejected into the electroneutral bulk electrolyte, it attracts co-ions and produce a corresponding concentration of the co-ions. This mechanism is also shown to trap and concentrate co-ion microcolloids of micron sizes too (macroions) and hence has potential application in bead-based molecular assays. PMID:19693364

  3. Optimization of pentacene double floating gate memories based on charge injection regulated by SAM functionalization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, S.; Guérin, D.; Lenfant, S.; Lmimouni, K.

    2018-02-01

    Pentacene based double nano-floating gate memories (NFGM) by using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets as charge trapping layers are prepared and demonstrated. Particularly, the NFGM chemically treated by 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzenethiol (PFBT) self-assembled monolayers (SAM) exhibits excellent memory performances, including high mobility of 0.23 cm2V-1s-1, the large memory window of 51 V, and the stable retention property more than 108 s. Comparing the performances of NFGM without treating with PFBT SAM, the improving performances of the memory devices by SAM modification are explained by the increase of charge injection, which could be further investigated by XPS and UPS. In particular, the results highlight the utility of SAM modulations and controlling of charge transport in the development of organic transistor memories.

  4. Exploring the Short-Channel Characteristics of Asymmetric Junctionless Double-Gate Silicon-on-Nothing MOSFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saha, Priyanka; Banerjee, Pritha; Dash, Dinesh Kumar; Sarkar, Subir Kumar

    2018-03-01

    This paper presents an analytical model of an asymmetric junctionless double-gate (asymmetric DGJL) silicon-on-nothing metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). Solving the 2-D Poisson's equation, the expressions for center potential and threshold voltage are calculated. In addition, the response of the device toward the various short-channel effects like hot carrier effect, drain-induced barrier lowering and threshold voltage roll-off has also been examined along with subthreshold swing and drain current characteristics. Performance analysis of the present model is also demonstrated by comparing its short-channel behavior with conventional DGJL MOSFET. The effect of variation of the device features due to the variation of device parameters is also studied. The simulated results obtained using 2D device simulator, namely ATLAS, are in good agreement with the analytical results, hence validating our derived model.

  5. Monolithically integrated all-optical gate switch using intersubband transition in InGaAs/AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells.

    PubMed

    Akimoto, Ryoichi; Gozu, Shin-ichiro; Mozume, Teruo; Ishikawa, Hiroshi

    2011-07-04

    We have developed a compact all-optical gate switch with a footprint less than 1 mm2, in which an optical nonlinear waveguide using cross-phase-modulation associated with intersubband transition in InGaAs/AlGaAs/AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells and a Michelson interferometer (MI) are monolithically integrated on an InP chip. The MI configuration allows a transverse magnetic pump light direct access to an MI arm for phase modulation while passive photonic integrated circuits serve a transverse electric signal light. Full switching of the π-rad nonlinear phase shift is achieved with a pump pulse energy of 8.6 pJ at a 10-GHz repetition rate. We also demonstrate all-optical demultiplexing of a 160-Gb/s signal to a 40-Gb/s signal.

  6. Drinking game play among first-year college student drinkers: an event-specific analysis of the risk for alcohol use and problems.

    PubMed

    Ray, Anne E; Stapleton, Jerod L; Turrisi, Rob; Mun, Eun-Young

    2014-09-01

    College students who play drinking games (DGs) more frequently report higher levels of alcohol use and experience more alcohol-related harm. However, the extent to which they are at risk for increased consumption and harm as a result of DG play on a given event after accounting for their typical DG participation, and typical and event drinking, is unclear. We examined whether first-year students consumed more alcohol and were more likely to experience consequences on drinking occasions when they played DGs. Participants (n = 336) completed up to six web-based surveys following weekend drinking events in their first semester. Alcohol use, DG play, and consequences were reported for the Friday and Saturday prior to each survey. Typical DG tendencies were controlled in all models. Typical and event alcohol use were controlled in models predicting risk for consequences. Participants consumed more alcohol on DG versus non-DG events. All students were more likely to experience blackout drinking consequences when they played DGs. Women were more likely to experience social-interpersonal consequences when they played DGs. DG play is an event-specific risk factor for increased alcohol use among first-year students, regardless of individual DG play tendencies. Further, event DG play signals increased risk for blackout drinking consequences for all students, and social-interpersonal consequences for women, aside from the amount of alcohol consumed on those occasions as well as typical drinking behaviors. Prevention efforts to reduce high-risk drinking may be strengthened by highlighting both event- and person-specific risks of DG play.

  7. Apigenin-7-diglucuronide protects retinas against bright light-induced photoreceptor degeneration through the inhibition of retinal oxidative stress and inflammation.

    PubMed

    Bian, Minjuan; Zhang, Yong; Du, Xiaoye; Xu, Jing; Cui, Jingang; Gu, Jiangping; Zhu, Weiliang; Zhang, Teng; Chen, Yu

    2017-05-15

    Vision impairment in retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration is primarily associated with photoreceptor degeneration, in which oxidative stress and inflammatory responses are mechanistically involved as central players. Therapies with photoreceptor protective properties remain to be developed. Apigenin-7-diglucuronide (A7DG), a flavonoid glycoside, is present in an assortment of medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory or ant-oxidant activities. However, the pharmacological significance of A7DG remains unknown in vivo. The current study isolated A7DG from Glechoma longituba (Nakai) Kuprian and investigated the retinal protective effect A7DG in mice characterized by bright light-induced photoreceptor degeneration. The results showed that A7DG treatment led to remarkable photoreceptor protection in bright light-exposed BALB/c mice. Moreover, A7DG treatment alleviated photoreceptor apoptosis, mitigated oxidative stress, suppressed reactive gliosis and microglial activation and attenuated the expression of proinflammatory genes in bright light-exposed retinas. The results demonstrated for the first time remarkable photoreceptor protective activities of A7DG in vivo. Inhibition of bright light-induced retinal oxidative stress and retinal inflammatory responses was associated with the retinal protection conferred by A7DG. The work here warrants further evaluation of A7DG as a pharmacological candidate for the treatment of vision-threatening retinal degenerative disorders. Moreover, given the general implication of oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, A7DG could be further tested for the treatment of other neurodegenerative disorders. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Hexose transport by brain slices: further studies on energy dependence

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kyle-Lillegard, J.; Gold, B.I.

    1983-04-01

    We studied the uptake of (/sup 3/H)2-deoxyglucose ((/sup 3/H)2DG) by slices of rat cerebral cortex in vitro as a model of glucose transport by brain. Slices were incubated with (/sup 3/H)2DG, or with L-(/sup 3/H)glucose as a marker for diffusion; the difference between (/sup 3/H)2DG uptake and L-(/sup 3/H)glucose uptake was defined as net (/sup 3/H)2DG transport. Net (/sup 3/H)2DG transport was a function of incubation temperature, with an estimated temperature coefficient of 1.87 from 15 degrees C to 25 degrees C. The net uptake of (/sup 3/H)2DG was not inhibited by phlorizin or phloretin in concentrations well above themore » reported Ki of these inhibitors for hexose uptake in other systems. To examine the hypothesis that (/sup 3/H)2DG transport by brain slices is dependent on mitochondrial energy, we studied net (/sup 3/H)2DG uptake by slices which had been preincubated in media designed to alter intracellular ATP stores. The transport process was very sensitive to inhibition by DNP, but the correlation between (/sup 3/H)2DG transport and ATP levels was unclear. In contrast to our published hypothesis that the transport process required mitochondrial energy, these data indicate that dependence on energy is not absolute.« less

  9. Comparison of (/sup 14/C)glucose and (/sup 14/C)deoxyglucose as tracers of brain glucose use

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hawkins, R.A.; Mans, A.M.; Davis, D.W.

    1988-03-01

    Because glucose metabolism and functional activity in brain regions are normally coupled, knowledge of regional brain glucose use can yield insights into regional functional activity. The deoxyglucose (DG) method is widely used for this purpose in experimental animals and humans but questions have arisen regarding its limits and accuracy. Therefore an experiment was designed to compare the DG method on a structure-by-structure basis with another tracer of glucose use, (6-/sup 14/C)glucose, in normal rats. The cerebral metabolic rates obtained using the two tracers were similar in the telencephalon, but the results using DG were substantially lower in the midbrain andmore » hindbrain (diencephalon, 18%; mesencephalon, 20%; metencephalon, 29%; and myelencephalon, 35%). The primary DG metabolite, DG 6-phosphate (DG-6-P) was found to disappear in a non-uniform manner from the major brain structures: telencephalon less than diencephalon less than mesencephalon = metencephalon less than myelencephalon. Thus a correlation was found between the rate of DG-6-P loss and the extent to which the DG method gave lower values of glucose use. Thus this may explain, at least in part, the discrepancies between the two methods.« less

  10. Illustration of distributed generation effects on protection system coordination

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alawami, Hussain Adnan

    Environmental concerns, market forces, and emergence of new technologies have recently resulted in restructuring electric utility from vertically integrated networks to competitive deregulated entities. Distributed generation (DG) is playing a major role in such deregulated markets. When they are installed in small amounts and small sizes, their impacts on the system may be negligible. When their penetration levels increase as well as their sizes, however, they may start affecting the system performance from more than one aspect. Power system protection needs to be re-assessed after the emergence of DG. This thesis attempts to illustrate the impact of DG on the power system protection coordination. It will study the operation of the impedance relays, fuses, reclosers and overcurrent relays when a DG is added to the distribution network. Different DG sizes, distances from the network and locations within the distribution system will be considered. Power system protection coordination is very sensitive to the DG size where it is not for the DG distance. DG location has direct impact on the operation of the protective devices especially when it is inserted in the middle point of the distribution system. Key Words, Distributed Generation, Impedance relay, fuses, reclosers, overcurrent relays, power system protection coordination.

  11. Simplicial Descent Categories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rodriguez Gonzalez, Beatriz

    2008-04-01

    Much of the homotopical and homological structure of the categories of chain complexes and topological spaces can be deduced from the existence and properties of the 'simple' functors Tot : {double chain complexes} -> {chain complexes} and geometric realization : {sSets} -> {Top}, or similarly, Tot : {simplicial chain complexes} -> {chain complexes} and | | : {sTop} -> {Top}. The purpose of this thesis is to abstract this situation, and to this end we introduce the notion of '(co)simplicial descent category'. It is inspired by Guillen-Navarros's '(cubical) descent categories'. The key ingredients in a (co)simplicial descent category D are a class E of morphisms in D, called equivalences, and a 'simple' functor s : {(co)simplicial objects in D} -> D. They must satisfy axioms like 'Eilenberg-Zilber', 'exactness' and 'acyclicity'. This notion covers a wide class of examples, as chain complexes, sSets, topological spaces, filtered cochain complexes (where E = filtered quasi-isomorphisms or E = E_2-isomorphisms), commutative differential graded algebras (with s = Navarro's Thom-Whitney simple), DG-modules over a DG-category and mixed Hodge complexes, where s = Deligne's simple. From the simplicial descent structure we obtain homotopical structure on D, as cone and cylinder objects. We use them to i) explicitly describe the morphisms of HoD=D[E^{-1}] similarly to the case of calculus of fractions; ii) endow HoD with a non-additive pre-triangulated structure, that becomes triangulated in the stable additive case. These results use the properties of a 'total functor', which associates to any biaugmented bisimplicial object a simplicial object. It is the simplicial analogue of the total chain complex of a double complex, and it is left adjoint to Illusie's 'decalage' functor.

  12. A new approach for design and investigation of junction-less tunnel FET using electrically doped mechanism

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nigam, Kaushal; Kondekar, Pravin; Sharma, Dheeraj; Raad, Bhagwan Ram

    2016-10-01

    For the first time, a distinctive approach based on electrically doped concept is used for the formation of novel double gate tunnel field effect transistor (TFET). For this, the initially heavily doped n+ substrate is converted into n+-i-n+-i (Drain-Channel-Source) by the selection of appropriate work functions of control gate (CG) and polarity gate (PG) as 4.7 eV. Further, the formation of p+ region for source is performed by applying -1.2 V at PG. Hence, the structure behave like a n+-i-n+-p+ gated TFET, whereas, the control gate is used to modulate the effective tunneling barrier width. The physical realization of delta doped n+ layer near to source region is a challenging task for improving the device performance in terms of ON current and subthreshold slope. So, the proposed work will provide a better platform for fabrication of n+-i-n+-p+ TFET with low cost and suppressed random dopant fluctuation (RDF) effects. ATLAS TCAD device simulator is used to carry out the simulation work.

  13. A mixed solution-processed gate dielectric for zinc-tin oxide thin-film transistor and its MIS capacitance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Hunho; Kwack, Young-Jin; Yun, Eui-Jung; Choi, Woon-Seop

    2016-09-01

    Solution-processed gate dielectrics were fabricated with the combined ZrO2 and Al2O3 (ZAO) in the form of mixed and stacked types for oxide thin film transistors (TFTs). ZAO thin films prepared with double coatings for solid gate dielectrics were characterized by analytical tools. For the first time, the capacitance of the oxide semiconductor was extracted from the capacitance-voltage properties of the zinc-tin oxide (ZTO) TFTs with the combined ZAO dielectrics by using the proposed metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure model. The capacitance evolution of the semiconductor from the TFT model structure described well the threshold voltage shift observed in the ZTO TFT with the ZAO (1:2) gate dielectric. The electrical properties of the ZTO TFT with a ZAO (1:2) gate dielectric showed low voltage driving with a field effect mobility of 37.01 cm2/Vs, a threshold voltage of 2.00 V, an on-to-off current ratio of 1.46 × 105, and a subthreshold slope of 0.10 V/dec.

  14. Phase-matching of attosecond XUV supercontinuum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gilbertson, Steve; Mashiko, Hiroki; Li, Chengquan; Khan, Sabih; Shakya, Mahendra; Moon, Eric; Chang, Zenghu

    2008-05-01

    Adding a weak second harmonic field to an ellipticity dependent polarization gating field allowed for the production of XUV supercontinua from longer (˜10 fs) input pulses in argon. The spectra support 200 as single isolated pulses. This technique, dubbed double optical gating (DOG), demonstrated a large enhancement of the harmonic yield as compared with polarization gating. These results can be attributed to the reduced depletion of the ground state of the target from the leading edge of the pulse and the increased intensity inside the polarization gate width. Through optimization of the harmonic generation process under the phase matching conditions, we were able to further increase the harmonic flux. The parameters included the target gas pressure, laser focus position, input pulse duration, and polarization gate width. By varying the CE phase of the pulse, we were able to verify that the results were indeed from DOG due to its unique 2 pi dependence on the harmonic spectrum. We were able to extend our results to neon. Its higher ionization potential allowed an extension of the harmonic cutoff for the production of even shorter pulses.

  15. A mixed solution-processed gate dielectric for zinc-tin oxide thin-film transistor and its MIS capacitance

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Hunho; Kwack, Young-Jin; Yun, Eui-Jung; Choi, Woon-Seop

    2016-01-01

    Solution-processed gate dielectrics were fabricated with the combined ZrO2 and Al2O3 (ZAO) in the form of mixed and stacked types for oxide thin film transistors (TFTs). ZAO thin films prepared with double coatings for solid gate dielectrics were characterized by analytical tools. For the first time, the capacitance of the oxide semiconductor was extracted from the capacitance-voltage properties of the zinc-tin oxide (ZTO) TFTs with the combined ZAO dielectrics by using the proposed metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure model. The capacitance evolution of the semiconductor from the TFT model structure described well the threshold voltage shift observed in the ZTO TFT with the ZAO (1:2) gate dielectric. The electrical properties of the ZTO TFT with a ZAO (1:2) gate dielectric showed low voltage driving with a field effect mobility of 37.01 cm2/Vs, a threshold voltage of 2.00 V, an on-to-off current ratio of 1.46 × 105, and a subthreshold slope of 0.10 V/dec. PMID:27641430

  16. Dentate Gyrus Contributes to Retrieval as well as Encoding: Evidence from Context Fear Conditioning, Recall, and Extinction.

    PubMed

    Bernier, Brian E; Lacagnina, Anthony F; Ayoub, Adam; Shue, Francis; Zemelman, Boris V; Krasne, Franklin B; Drew, Michael R

    2017-06-28

    Dentate gyrus (DG) is widely thought to provide a teaching signal that enables hippocampal encoding of memories, but its role during retrieval is poorly understood. Some data and models suggest that DG plays no role in retrieval; others encourage the opposite conclusion. To resolve this controversy, we evaluated the effects of optogenetic inhibition of dorsal DG during context fear conditioning, recall, generalization, and extinction in male mice. We found that (1) inhibition during training impaired context fear acquisition; (2) inhibition during recall did not impair fear expression in the training context, unless mice had to distinguish between similar feared and neutral contexts; (3) inhibition increased generalization of fear to an unfamiliar context that was similar to a feared one and impaired fear expression in the conditioned context when it was similar to a neutral one; and (4) inhibition impaired fear extinction. These effects, as well as several seemingly contradictory published findings, could be reproduced by BACON (Bayesian Context Fear Algorithm), a physiologically realistic hippocampal model positing that acquisition and retrieval both involve coordinated activity in DG and CA3. Our findings thus suggest that DG contributes to retrieval and extinction, as well as to the initial establishment of context fear. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Despite abundant evidence that the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) plays a critical role in memory, it remains unclear whether the role of DG relates to memory acquisition or retrieval. Using contextual fear conditioning and optogenetic inhibition, we show that DG contributes to both of these processes. Using computational simulations, we identify specific mechanisms through which the suppression of DG affects memory performance. Finally, we show that DG contributes to fear extinction learning, a process in which learned fear is attenuated through exposures to a fearful context in the absence of threat. Our data resolve a long-standing question about the role of DG in memory and provide insight into how disorders affecting DG, including aging, stress, and depression, influence cognitive processes. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/376359-13$15.00/0.

  17. Network Capacity Assessment of CHP-based Distributed Generation on Urban Energy Distribution Networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Xianjun

    The combined heat and power (CHP)-based distributed generation (DG) or dis-tributed energy resources (DERs) are mature options available in the present energy market, considered to be an effective solution to promote energy efficiency. In the urban environment, the electricity, water and natural gas distribution networks are becoming increasingly interconnected with the growing penetration of the CHP-based DG. Subsequently, this emerging interdependence leads to new topics meriting serious consideration: how much of the CHP-based DG can be accommodated and where to locate these DERs, and given preexisting constraints, how to quantify the mutual impacts on operation performances between these urban energy distribution networks and the CHP-based DG. The early research work was conducted to investigate the feasibility and design methods for one residential microgrid system based on existing electricity, water and gas infrastructures of a residential community, mainly focusing on the economic planning. However, this proposed design method cannot determine the optimal DG sizing and siting for a larger test bed with the given information of energy infrastructures. In this context, a more systematic as well as generalized approach should be developed to solve these problems. In the later study, the model architecture that integrates urban electricity, water and gas distribution networks, and the CHP-based DG system was developed. The proposed approach addressed the challenge of identifying the optimal sizing and siting of the CHP-based DG on these urban energy networks and the mutual impacts on operation performances were also quantified. For this study, the overall objective is to maximize the electrical output and recovered thermal output of the CHP-based DG units. The electricity, gas, and water system models were developed individually and coupled by the developed CHP-based DG system model. The resultant integrated system model is used to constrain the DG's electrical output and recovered thermal output, which are affected by multiple factors and thus analyzed in different case studies. The results indicate that the designed typical gas system is capable of supplying sufficient natural gas for the DG normal operation, while the present water system cannot support the complete recovery of the exhaust heat from the DG units.

  18. Hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in antigastric parietal cell antibody-positive erosive oral lichen planus patients with desquamative gingivitis.

    PubMed

    Chang, Julia Yu-Fong; Wang, Yi-Ping; Wu, Yang-Che; Wu, Yu-Hsueh; Tseng, Chih-Huang; Sun, Andy

    2016-10-01

    Erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP) patients with desquamative gingivitis (DG) are sometimes encountered in our oral mucosal disease clinic. This study assessed hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in antigastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA)-positive EOLP patients with DG (GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients). The blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine concentrations and serum GPCA levels in 92 GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients and 184 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were measured and compared between the two groups. We found that 27 (29.3%), 16 (17.4%), and 27 (29.3%) of 92 GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients had hemoglobin (men < 13 g/dL and women < 12 g/dL), iron (< 60 μg/dL), and vitamin B12 (< 200 pg/mL) deficiencies, respectively. Moreover, 37 (40.2%) of 92 GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients had an abnormally high blood homocysteine level (> 12.1μM). GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients had a significantly higher frequency of hemoglobin, iron, or vitamin B12 deficiency and an abnormally high blood homocysteine level than healthy control individuals (all p < 0.001). Of 27 anemic GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients, 13 (48.2%) had pernicious anemia, five (18.5%) had iron deficiency anemia, one (3.7%) had thalassemia trait, and the remaining eight (29.6%) had normocytic anemia. Moreover, of the 92 GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients, 24 had macrocytosis, and only 13 (54.2%) of these 24 patients had pernicious anemia. We conclude that GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients may have vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency, and an abnormally high blood homocysteine level. In addition to pernicious anemia, GPCA + /DG + /EOLP patients may sometimes have normocytic anemia or iron deficiency anemia. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  19. Combined effect of CVR and penetration of DG in the voltage profile and losses of lowvoltage secondary distribution networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bokhari, Abdullah

    Demarcations between traditional distribution power systems and distributed generation (DG) architectures are increasingly evolving as higher DG penetration is introduced in the system. The concerns in existing electric power systems (EPSs) to accommodate less restrictive interconnection policies while maintaining reliability and performance of power delivery have been the major challenge for DG growth. In this dissertation, the work is aimed to study power quality, energy saving and losses in a low voltage distributed network under various DG penetration cases. Simulation platform suite that includes electric power system, distributed generation and ZIP load models is implemented to determine the impact of DGs on power system steady state performance and the voltage profile of the customers/loads in the network under the voltage reduction events. The investigation designed to test the DG impact on power system starting with one type of DG, then moves on multiple DG types distributed in a random case and realistic/balanced case. The functionality of the proposed DG interconnection is designed to meet the basic requirements imposed by the various interconnection standards, most notably IEEE 1547, public service commission, and local utility regulation. It is found that implementation of DGs on the low voltage secondary network would improve customer's voltage profile, system losses and significantly provide energy savings and economics for utilities. In a network populated with DGs, utility would have a uniform voltage profile at the customers end as the voltage profile becomes more concentrated around targeted voltage level. The study further reinforced the concept that the behavior of DG in distributed network would improve voltage regulation as certain percentage reduction on utility side would ensure uniform percentage reduction seen by all customers and reduce number of voltage violations.

  20. Is Monoglucosyldiacylglycerol a Precursor to Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol in All Cyanobacteria?

    PubMed

    Sato, Naoki

    2015-10-01

    Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) is ubiquitous in the photosynthetic membranes of cyanobacteria and chloroplasts. It is synthesized by galactosylation of diacylglycerol (DAG) in the chloroplasts, whereas it is produced by epimerization of monoglucosyldiacylglycerol (GlcDG) in at least several cyanobacteria that have been analyzed such as Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. A previous study, however, showed that the mgdE gene encoding the epimerase is absent in some cyanobacteria such as Gloeobacter violaceus, Thermosynechococcus elongatus and Acaryochloris marina. In addition, the N-terminal 'fatty acid hydroxylase' domain is lacking in the MgdE protein of Prochlorococcus marinus. These problems may cast doubt upon the general (or exclusive) role of MgdE in the epimerization of GlcDG to MGDG in cyanobacteria. In addition, GlcDG is usually present at a very low level, and the structural determination of endogenous GlcDG has not been accomplished with cyanobacterial samples. In this study, I determined the structure of GlcDG from Anabaena variabilis by (1)H- and (13)C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. I then showed that G. violaceus, T. elongatus, A. marina and P. marinus contain GlcDG. In all cases, GlcDG consisted of fewer unsaturated molecular species than MGDG, providing further evidence that GlcDG is a precursor to MGDG. The conversion of GlcDG to MGDG was also demonstrated by radiolabeling and chase experiments in G. violaceus and P. marinus. These results demonstrate that all the analyzed cyanobacteria contain GlcDG, which is converted to MGDG, and suggest that an alternative epimerase is required for MGDG synthesis in these cyanobacteria. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  1. The enzymatic processing of α-dystroglycan by MMP-2 is controlled by two anchoring sites distinct from the active site

    PubMed Central

    Fasciglione, Giovanni Francesco; Sbardella, Diego; Sciandra, Francesca; Casella, MariaLuisa; Camerini, Serena; Crescenzi, Marco; Gori, Alessandro; Tarantino, Umberto; Cozza, Paola; Brancaccio, Andrea; Coletta, Massimo; Bozzi, Manuela

    2018-01-01

    Dystroglycan (DG) is a membrane receptor, belonging to the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) and formed by two subunits, α-dystroglycan (α-DG) and β-dystroglycan (β -DG). The C-terminal domain of α-DG and the N-terminal extracellular domain of β -DG are connected, providing a link between the extracellular matrix and the cytosol. Under pathological conditions, such as cancer and muscular dystrophies, DG may be the target of metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, contributing to disease progression. Previously, we reported that the C-terminal domain α-DG (483–628) domain is particularly susceptible to the catalytic activity of MMP-2; here we show that the α-DG 621–628 region is required to carry out its complete digestion, suggesting that this portion may represent a MMP-2 anchoring site. Following this observation, we synthesized an α-DG based-peptide, spanning the (613–651) C-terminal region. The analysis of the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the whole and the isolated catalytic domain of MMP-2 (cdMMP-2) has shown its inhibitory properties, indicating the presence of (at least) two binding sites for the peptide, both located within the catalytic domain, only one of the two being topologically distinct from the catalytic active groove. However, the different behavior between whole MMP-2 and cdMMP-2 envisages the occurrence of an additional binding site for the peptide on the hemopexin-like domain of MMP-2. Interestingly, mass spectrometry analysis has shown that α-DG (613–651) peptide is cleavable even though it is a very poor substrate of MMP-2, a feature that renders this molecule a promising template for developing a selective MMP-2 inhibitor. PMID:29447293

  2. A high order compact least-squares reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin method for the steady-state compressible flows on hybrid grids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cheng, Jian; Zhang, Fan; Liu, Tiegang

    2018-06-01

    In this paper, a class of new high order reconstructed DG (rDG) methods based on the compact least-squares (CLS) reconstruction [23,24] is developed for simulating the two dimensional steady-state compressible flows on hybrid grids. The proposed method combines the advantages of the DG discretization with the flexibility of the compact least-squares reconstruction, which exhibits its superior potential in enhancing the level of accuracy and reducing the computational cost compared to the underlying DG methods with respect to the same number of degrees of freedom. To be specific, a third-order compact least-squares rDG(p1p2) method and a fourth-order compact least-squares rDG(p2p3) method are developed and investigated in this work. In this compact least-squares rDG method, the low order degrees of freedom are evolved through the underlying DG(p1) method and DG(p2) method, respectively, while the high order degrees of freedom are reconstructed through the compact least-squares reconstruction, in which the constitutive relations are built by requiring the reconstructed polynomial and its spatial derivatives on the target cell to conserve the cell averages and the corresponding spatial derivatives on the face-neighboring cells. The large sparse linear system resulted by the compact least-squares reconstruction can be solved relatively efficient when it is coupled with the temporal discretization in the steady-state simulations. A number of test cases are presented to assess the performance of the high order compact least-squares rDG methods, which demonstrates their potential to be an alternative approach for the high order numerical simulations of steady-state compressible flows.

  3. Beneficial effect of diosgenin as a stimulator of NGF on the brain with neuronal damage induced by Aβ-42 accumulation and neurotoxicant injection.

    PubMed

    Koh, Eun-Kyoung; Yun, Woo-Bin; Kim, Ji-Eun; Song, Sung-Hwa; Sung, Ji-Eun; Lee, Hyun-Ah; Seo, Eun-Ji; Jee, Seung-Wan; Bae, Chang-Joon; Hwang, Dae-Youn

    2016-06-01

    To investigate the beneficial effects of diosgenin (DG) on the multiple types of brain damage induced by Aβ-42 peptides and neurotoxicants, alterations in the specific aspects of brain functions were measured in trimethyltin (TMT)-injected transgenic 2576 (TG) mice that had been pretreated with DG for 21 days. Multiple types of damage were successfully induced by Aβ-42 accumulation and TMT injection into the brains of TG mice. However, DG treatment significantly reduced the number of Aβ-stained plaques and dead cells in the granule cells layer of the dentate gyrus. Significant suppression of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and Bax/Bcl-2 expression was also observed in the DG treated TG mice (TG+DG group) when compared with those of the vehicle (VC) treated TG mice (TG+VC group). Additionally, the concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF) was dramatically enhanced in TG+DG group, although it was lower in the TG+VC group than the non-transgenic (nTG) group. Furthermore, the decreased phosphorylation of downstream members in the TrkA high affinity receptor signaling pathway in the TG+VC group was significantly recovered in the TG+DG group. A similar pattern was observed in p75(NTR) expression and JNK phosphorylation in the NGF low affinity receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was enhanced in the TG+DG group, while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, was lower in the TG+DG group than the TG+VC group. These results suggest that DG could exert a wide range of beneficial activities for multiple types of brain damage through stimulation of NGF biosynthesis.

  4. Beneficial effect of diosgenin as a stimulator of NGF on the brain with neuronal damage induced by Aβ-42 accumulation and neurotoxicant injection

    PubMed Central

    Koh, Eun-Kyoung; Yun, Woo-Bin; Kim, Ji-Eun; Song, Sung-Hwa; Sung, Ji-Eun; Lee, Hyun-Ah; Seo, Eun-Ji; Jee, Seung-Wan

    2016-01-01

    To investigate the beneficial effects of diosgenin (DG) on the multiple types of brain damage induced by Aβ-42 peptides and neurotoxicants, alterations in the specific aspects of brain functions were measured in trimethyltin (TMT)-injected transgenic 2576 (TG) mice that had been pretreated with DG for 21 days. Multiple types of damage were successfully induced by Aβ-42 accumulation and TMT injection into the brains of TG mice. However, DG treatment significantly reduced the number of Aβ-stained plaques and dead cells in the granule cells layer of the dentate gyrus. Significant suppression of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and Bax/Bcl-2 expression was also observed in the DG treated TG mice (TG+DG group) when compared with those of the vehicle (VC) treated TG mice (TG+VC group). Additionally, the concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF) was dramatically enhanced in TG+DG group, although it was lower in the TG+VC group than the non-transgenic (nTG) group. Furthermore, the decreased phosphorylation of downstream members in the TrkA high affinity receptor signaling pathway in the TG+VC group was significantly recovered in the TG+DG group. A similar pattern was observed in p75NTR expression and JNK phosphorylation in the NGF low affinity receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was enhanced in the TG+DG group, while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, was lower in the TG+DG group than the TG+VC group. These results suggest that DG could exert a wide range of beneficial activities for multiple types of brain damage through stimulation of NGF biosynthesis. PMID:27382379

  5. Drinking game play among first-year college student drinkers: An event-specific analysis of the risk for alcohol use and problems

    PubMed Central

    Ray, Anne E.; Stapleton, Jerod L.; Turrisi, Rob; Mun, Eun-Young

    2014-01-01

    Background College students who play drinking games (DGs) more frequently report higher levels of alcohol use and experience more alcohol-related harm. However, the extent to which they are at risk for increased consumption and harm as a result of DG play on a given event after accounting for their typical DG participation, and typical and event drinking, is unclear. Objectives We examined whether first-year students consumed more alcohol and were more likely to experience consequences on drinking occasions when they played DGs. Methods Participants (N = 336) completed up to six web-based surveys following weekend drinking events in their first semester. Alcohol use, DG play, and consequences were reported for the Friday and Saturday prior to each survey. Typical DG tendencies were controlled in all models. Typical and event alcohol use were controlled in models predicting risk for consequences. Results Participants consumed more alcohol on DG versus non-DG events. All students were more likely to experience blackout drinking consequences when they played DGs. Women were more likely to experience social-interpersonal consequences when they played DGs. Conclusion DG play is an event-specific risk factor for increased alcohol use among first-year students, regardless of individual DG play tendencies. Further, event DG play signals increased risk for blackout drinking consequences for all students, and social-interpersonal consequences for women, aside from the amount of alcohol consumed on those occasions as well as typical drinking behaviors. Prevention efforts to reduce high-risk drinking may be strengthened by highlighting both event- and person-specific risks of DG play. PMID:25192202

  6. Homological dimensions and Van den Bergh isomorphisms for nuclear Fréchet algebras

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pirkovskii, Alexei Yu

    2012-08-01

    We prove the equation \\operatorname{w{.}dg} A=\\operatorname{w{.}db} A for every nuclear Fréchet-Arens-Michael algebra A of finite weak bidimension, where \\operatorname{w{.}dg} A is the weak global dimension and \\operatorname{w{.}db} A the weak bidimension of A. Assuming that A has a projective bimodule resolution of finite type, we establish the estimate \\operatorname{db}A\\le\\operatorname{dg}A+1, where \\operatorname{dg} A is the global dimension and \\operatorname{db} A the bidimension of A. We also prove that \\operatorname{dg}A=\\operatorname{db}A=\\operatorname{w{.}dg}A=\\operatorname{w{.}db} A=n for all nuclear Fréchet-Arens-Michael algebras satisfying the Van den Bergh conditions \\operatorname{VdB}(n). As an application, we calculate the homological dimensions of smooth and complex-analytic quantum tori.

  7. EPA or DHA enhanced oxidative stress and aging protein expression in brain of d-galactose treated mice.

    PubMed

    Hsu, Yuan-Man; Yin, Mei-Chin

    2016-06-01

    Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) upon fatty acid composition, oxidative and inflammatory factors and aging proteins in brain of d-galactose (DG) treated aging mice were examined. Each fatty acid at 7 mg/kg BW/week was supplied for 8 weeks. Brain aging was induced by DG treatment (100 mg/kg body weight) via daily subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks. DG, EPA and DHA treatments changed brain fatty acid composition. DG down-regulated brain Bcl-2 expression and up-regulated Bax expression. Compared with DG groups, EPA and DHA further enhanced Bax expression. DG decreased glutathione content, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) production, the intake of EPA or DHA caused greater ROS and GSSG formation. DG treatments up-regulated the protein expression of p47(phox) and gp91(phox), and the intake of EPA or DHA led to greater p47(phox) and gp91(phox) expression. DG increased brain prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and activity, the intake of EPA or DHA reduced brain COX-2 activity and PGE2 formation. DG enhanced brain p53, p16 and p21 expression. EPA and DHA intake led to greater p21 expression, and EPA only caused greater p53 and p16 expression. These findings suggest that these two PUFAs have toxic effects toward aging brain.

  8. The Effect of Glycolytic Modulation on Prostate Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-07-01

    this paradigm in the clinic, we completed a phase I study of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), and assessed 2DG uptake with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron ...efficacy. In vitro studies with 2DG have demonstrated activity in osteosarcoma cells that were defective in oxidative phosphorylation implying that cells...diagnostic studies developing positron emission tomography (PET), which uses a trapped glucose analogue, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), for detec- tion of

  9. An Investigation of Run-Time Operations in a Heterogeneous Desktop Grid Environment: The Texas Tech University Desktop Grid Case Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Perez, Jerry F.

    2013-01-01

    The goal of the dissertation study was to evaluate the existing DG scheduling algorithm. The evaluation was developed through previously explored simulated analyses of DGs performed by researchers in the field of DG scheduling optimization and to improve the current RT framework of the DG at TTU. The author analyzed the RT of an actual DG, thereby…

  10. Dual-scale Galerkin methods for Darcy flow

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Guoyin; Scovazzi, Guglielmo; Nouveau, Léo; Kees, Christopher E.; Rossi, Simone; Colomés, Oriol; Main, Alex

    2018-02-01

    The discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method has found widespread application in elliptic problems with rough coefficients, of which the Darcy flow equations are a prototypical example. One of the long-standing issues of DG approximations is the overall computational cost, and many different strategies have been proposed, such as the variational multiscale DG method, the hybridizable DG method, the multiscale DG method, the embedded DG method, and the Enriched Galerkin method. In this work, we propose a mixed dual-scale Galerkin method, in which the degrees-of-freedom of a less computationally expensive coarse-scale approximation are linked to the degrees-of-freedom of a base DG approximation. We show that the proposed approach has always similar or improved accuracy with respect to the base DG method, with a considerable reduction in computational cost. For the specific definition of the coarse-scale space, we consider Raviart-Thomas finite elements for the mass flux and piecewise-linear continuous finite elements for the pressure. We provide a complete analysis of stability and convergence of the proposed method, in addition to a study on its conservation and consistency properties. We also present a battery of numerical tests to verify the results of the analysis, and evaluate a number of possible variations, such as using piecewise-linear continuous finite elements for the coarse-scale mass fluxes.

  11. Role of dystroglycan in limiting contraction-induced injury to the sarcomeric cytoskeleton of mature skeletal muscle.

    PubMed

    Rader, Erik P; Turk, Rolf; Willer, Tobias; Beltrán, Daniel; Inamori, Kei-Ichiro; Peterson, Taylor A; Engle, Jeffrey; Prouty, Sally; Matsumura, Kiichiro; Saito, Fumiaki; Anderson, Mary E; Campbell, Kevin P

    2016-09-27

    Dystroglycan (DG) is a highly expressed extracellular matrix receptor that is linked to the cytoskeleton in skeletal muscle. DG is critical for the function of skeletal muscle, and muscle with primary defects in the expression and/or function of DG throughout development has many pathological features and a severe muscular dystrophy phenotype. In addition, reduction in DG at the sarcolemma is a common feature in muscle biopsies from patients with various types of muscular dystrophy. However, the consequence of disrupting DG in mature muscle is not known. Here, we investigated muscles of transgenic mice several months after genetic knockdown of DG at maturity. In our study, an increase in susceptibility to contraction-induced injury was the first pathological feature observed after the levels of DG at the sarcolemma were reduced. The contraction-induced injury was not accompanied by increased necrosis, excitation-contraction uncoupling, or fragility of the sarcolemma. Rather, disruption of the sarcomeric cytoskeleton was evident as reduced passive tension and decreased titin immunostaining. These results reveal a role for DG in maintaining the stability of the sarcomeric cytoskeleton during contraction and provide mechanistic insight into the cause of the reduction in strength that occurs in muscular dystrophy after lengthening contractions.

  12. A Functional Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Modified with PLA-PEG-DG as Tumor-Targeted MRI Contrast Agent.

    PubMed

    Xiong, Fei; Hu, Ke; Yu, Haoli; Zhou, Lijun; Song, Lina; Zhang, Yu; Shan, Xiuhong; Liu, Jianping; Gu, Ning

    2017-08-01

    Tumor targeting could greatly promote the performance of magnetic nanomaterials as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) agent for tumor diagnosis. Herein, we reported a novel magnetic nanoparticle modified with PLA (poly lactic acid)-PEG (polyethylene glycol)-DG (D-glucosamine) as Tumor-targeted MRI Contrast Agent. In this work, we took use of the D-glucose passive targeting on tumor cells, combining it on PLA-PEG through amide reaction, and then wrapped the PLA-PEG-DG up to the Fe 3 O 4 @OA NPs. The stability and anti phagocytosis of Fe 3 O 4 @OA@PLA-PEG-DG was tested in vitro; the MRI efficiency and toxicity was also detected in vivo. These functional magnetic nanoparticles demonstrated good biocompatibility and stability both in vitro and in vivo. Cell experiments showed that Fe 3 O 4 @OA@PLA-PEG-DG nanoparticles exist good anti phagocytosis and high targetability. In vivo MRI images showed that the contrast effect of Fe 3 O 4 @OA@PLA-PEG-DG nanoparticles prevailed over the commercial non tumor-targeting magnetic nanomaterials MRI agent at a relatively low dose. The DG can validly enhance the tumor-targetting effect of Fe 3 O 4 @OA@PLA-PEG nanoparticle. Maybe MRI agents with DG can hold promise as tumor-targetting development in the future.

  13. Efficient construction of unified continuous and discontinuous Galerkin formulations for the 3D Euler equations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abdi, Daniel S.; Giraldo, Francis X.

    2016-09-01

    A unified approach for the numerical solution of the 3D hyperbolic Euler equations using high order methods, namely continuous Galerkin (CG) and discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods, is presented. First, we examine how classical CG that uses a global storage scheme can be constructed within the DG framework using constraint imposition techniques commonly used in the finite element literature. Then, we implement and test a simplified version in the Non-hydrostatic Unified Model of the Atmosphere (NUMA) for the case of explicit time integration and a diagonal mass matrix. Constructing CG within the DG framework allows CG to benefit from the desirable properties of DG such as, easier hp-refinement, better stability etc. Moreover, this representation allows for regional mixing of CG and DG depending on the flow regime in an area. The different flavors of CG and DG in the unified implementation are then tested for accuracy and performance using a suite of benchmark problems representative of cloud-resolving scale, meso-scale and global-scale atmospheric dynamics. The value of our unified approach is that we are able to show how to carry both CG and DG methods within the same code and also offer a simple recipe for modifying an existing CG code to DG and vice versa.

  14. Dunye Guanxinning Improves Acute Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Neutrophil Infiltration and Caspase-1 Activity

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Q. G.; Wang, S. R.; Chen, X. M.; Guo, H. N.

    2018-01-01

    Acute myocardial infarction is the most serious manifestation of cardiovascular disease, and it is a life-threatening condition. Dunye Guanxinning (DG) is a protective traditional Chinese patent herbal medicine with high clinical efficacy and suitable for the treatment of myocardial infarction. However, the mechanism through which it is beneficial is unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that DG improves acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and caspase-1 activity. We found that DG administration decreased infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improved left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, end-systolic volume index, end-systolic diameter, and carotid arterial blood flow output in rats. DG administration also improved hemorheological parameters, myocardial damage biomarkers, and oxidative stress indexes. The findings showed that DG administration inhibited neutrophil infiltration and reduced the serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) level and myocardial IL-1β maturation. Moreover, DG administration inhibited caspase-1 activity and activated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in rat hearts. These results suggested that DG administration inhibits inflammasome activity and IL-1β release through the AMPK pathway. Our findings support the clinical efficacy of DG and partially reveal its mechanism, which is beneficial for understanding the therapeutic effects of this protective traditional Chinese patent drug. PMID:29674944

  15. Epigenetic regulation of starvation-induced autophagy in Drosophila by histone methyltransferase G9a.

    PubMed

    An, Phan Nguyen Thuy; Shimaji, Kouhei; Tanaka, Ryo; Yoshida, Hideki; Kimura, Hiroshi; Fukusaki, Eiichiro; Yamaguchi, Masamitsu

    2017-08-04

    Epigenetics is now emerging as a key regulation in response to various stresses. We herein identified the Drosophila histone methyltransferase G9a (dG9a) as a key factor to acquire tolerance to starvation stress. The depletion of dG9a led to high sensitivity to starvation stress in adult flies, while its overexpression induced starvation stress resistance. The catalytic domain of dG9a was not required for starvation stress resistance. dG9a plays no apparent role in tolerance to other stresses including heat and oxidative stresses. Metabolomic approaches were applied to investigate global changes in the metabolome due to the loss of dG9a during starvation stress. The results obtained indicated that dG9a plays an important role in maintaining energy reservoirs including amino acid, trehalose, glycogen, and triacylglycerol levels during starvation. Further investigations on the underlying mechanisms showed that the depletion of dG9a repressed starvation-induced autophagy by controlling the expression level of Atg8a, a critical gene for the progression of autophagy, in a different manner to that in cancer cells. These results indicate a positive role for dG9a in starvation-induced autophagy.

  16. Realization of a double-barrier resonant tunneling diode for cavity polaritons.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, H S; Vishnevsky, D; Sturm, C; Tanese, D; Solnyshkov, D; Galopin, E; Lemaître, A; Sagnes, I; Amo, A; Malpuech, G; Bloch, J

    2013-06-07

    We report on the realization of a double-barrier resonant tunneling diode for cavity polaritons, by lateral patterning of a one-dimensional cavity. Sharp transmission resonances are demonstrated when sending a polariton flow onto the device. We show that a nonresonant beam can be used as an optical gate and can control the device transmission. Finally, we evidence distortion of the transmission profile when going to the high-density regime, signature of polariton-polariton interactions.

  17. Operation of a quantum dot in the finite-state machine mode: Single-electron dynamic memory

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Klymenko, M. V.; Klein, M.; Levine, R. D.

    2016-07-14

    A single electron dynamic memory is designed based on the non-equilibrium dynamics of charge states in electrostatically defined metallic quantum dots. Using the orthodox theory for computing the transfer rates and a master equation, we model the dynamical response of devices consisting of a charge sensor coupled to either a single and or a double quantum dot subjected to a pulsed gate voltage. We show that transition rates between charge states in metallic quantum dots are characterized by an asymmetry that can be controlled by the gate voltage. This effect is more pronounced when the switching between charge states correspondsmore » to a Markovian process involving electron transport through a chain of several quantum dots. By simulating the dynamics of electron transport we demonstrate that the quantum box operates as a finite-state machine that can be addressed by choosing suitable shapes and switching rates of the gate pulses. We further show that writing times in the ns range and retention memory times six orders of magnitude longer, in the ms range, can be achieved on the double quantum dot system using experimentally feasible parameters, thereby demonstrating that the device can operate as a dynamic single electron memory.« less

  18. A novel nanoscaled Schottky barrier based transmission gate and its digital circuit applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, Sunil; Loan, Sajad A.; Alamoud, Abdulrahman M.

    2017-04-01

    In this work we propose and simulate a compact nanoscaled transmission gate (TG) employing a single Schottky barrier based transistor in the transmission path and a single transistor based Sajad-Sunil-Schottky (SSS) device as an inverter. Therefore, just two transistors are employed to realize a complete transmission gate which normally consumes four transistors in the conventional technology. The transistors used to realize the transmission path and the SSS inverter in the proposed TG are the double gate Schottky barrier devices, employing stacks of two metal silicides, platinum silicide (PtSi) and erbium silicide (ErSi). It has been observed that the realization of the TG gate by the proposed technology has resulted into a compact structure, with reduced component count, junctions, interconnections and regions in comparison to the conventional technology. The further focus of this work is on the application part of the proposed technology. So for the first time, the proposed technology has been used to realize various combinational circuits, like a two input AND gate, a 2:1 multiplexer and a two input XOR circuits. It has been observed that the transistor count has got reduced by half in a TG, two input AND gate, 2:1 multiplexer and in a two input XOR gate. Therefore, a significant reduction in transistor count and area requirement can be achieved by using the proposed technology. The proposed technology can be also used to perform the compact realization of other combinational and sequential circuitry in future.

  19. A high-performance channel engineered charge-plasma-based MOSFET with high-κ spacer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shan, Chan; Wang, Ying; Luo, Xin; Bao, Meng-tian; Yu, Cheng-hao; Cao, Fei

    2017-12-01

    In this paper, the performance of graded channel double-gate MOSFET (GC-DGFET) that utilizes the charge-plasma concept and a high-κ spacer is investigated through 2-D device simulations. The results demonstrate that GC-DGFET with high-κ spacer can effectively improve the ON-state driving current (ION) and reduce the OFF-leakage current (IOFF). We find that reduction of the initial energy barrier between the source and channel is the origin of this ION enhancement. The reason for the IOFF reduction is identified to be the extension of the effective channel length owing to the fringing field via high-κ spacers. Consequently, these devices offer enhanced performance by reducing the total gate-to-gate capacitance (Cgg) and decreasing the intrinsic delay (τ).

  20. Multi-objective route planning for dangerous goods using compromise programming

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Rongrong; Leung, Yee

    2011-09-01

    The transportation of dangerous goods (DG) can significantly affect the human and natural environment if accidents occur during the transportation process. Hong Kong is a large city with high population density and narrow streets. Due to the land constraints, vehicles carrying DG inevitably have to pass through densely populated areas or their vicinities. Therefore, safe DG transportation is of paramount importance. There is thus an urgent need to review and improve the way trucks carrying DG are being routed on the road networks. Routing of such vehicles should consider not only the operating cost, but also the safety of travelers in the network, the population potentially exposed, and the possible damage inflicted to the surrounding properties and facilities in the event of a DG incident. This research develops a novel methodology for the determination of optimal routes for DG transportation under conflicting objectives by means of the compromise programming approach. With the support of geographical information system (GIS), a case study is carried out for the transportation of DG in the road network of Hong Kong. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

  1. An adhesome comprising laminin, dystroglycan and myosin IIA is required during notochord development in Xenopus laevis.

    PubMed

    Buisson, Nicolas; Sirour, Cathy; Moreau, Nicole; Denker, Elsa; Le Bouffant, Ronan; Goullancourt, Aline; Darribère, Thierry; Bello, Valérie

    2014-12-01

    Dystroglycan (Dg) is a transmembrane receptor for laminin that must be expressed at the right time and place in order to be involved in notochord morphogenesis. The function of Dg was examined in Xenopus laevis embryos by knockdown of Dg and overexpression and replacement of the endogenous Dg with a mutated form of the protein. This analysis revealed that Dg is required for correct laminin assembly, for cell polarization during mediolateral intercalation and for proper differentiation of vacuoles. Using mutations in the cytoplasmic domain, we identified two sites that are involved in cell polarization and are required for mediolateral cell intercalation, and a site that is required for vacuolation. Furthermore, using a proteomic analysis, the cytoskeletal non-muscle myosin IIA has been identified for the first time as a molecular link between the Dg-cytoplasmic domain and cortical actin. The data allowed us to identify the adhesome laminin-Dg-myosin IIA as being required to maintain the cortical actin cytoskeleton network during vacuolation, which is crucial to maintain the shape of notochordal cells. © 2014. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  2. Incongruity of imaging using fluorescent 2-DG conjugates compared to 18F-FDG in preclinical cancer models.

    PubMed

    Tseng, Jen-Chieh; Wang, Yuchuan; Banerjee, Pallab; Kung, Andrew L

    2012-10-01

    We compared the use of near-infrared conjugates of 2-deoxyglucose (NIR 2-DG) to 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (18F-FDG) for the purposes of imaging tumors, as well as response to therapy. Uptake of both 18F-FDG and NIR 2-DG within gastrointestinal stromal tumor xenografts were imaged before and after nilotinib treatment. Confocal microscopy was performed to determine NIR 2-DG distribution in tumors. Treatment with nilotinib resulted in a rapid reduction in 18F-FDG uptake and reduced tumor cell viability which was predictive of long-term antitumor efficacy. In contrast, optical imaging with NIR 2-DG probes was unable to differentiate control from niltonib-treated animals, and microscopic analysis revealed no change in probe distribution as a result of treatment. These results suggest that conjugation of large bulky fluorophores to 2-DG disrupts the facilitated transport and retention of these probes in cells. Therefore, optical imaging of NIR 2-DG probes cannot substitute for 18F-FDG positron emission tomography imaging as a biomarker of tumor cell viability and metabolism.

  3. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Xin, Qiaoling, E-mail: xinqiaoling0923@163.com; Jiang, Lining, E-mail: jianglining@bit.edu.cn

    Let G be a finite group and H a normal subgroup. D(H; G) is the crossed product of C(H) and CG which is only a subalgebra of D(G), the double algebra of G. One can construct a C*-subalgebra F{sub H} of the field algebra F of G-spin models, so that F{sub H} is a D(H; G)-module algebra, whereas F is not. Then the observable algebra A{sub (H,G)} is obtained as the D(H; G)-invariant subalgebra of F{sub H}, and there exists a unique C*-representation of D(H; G) such that D(H; G) and A{sub (H,G)} are commutants with each other.

  4. Effects of Distributed Generation on Overcurrent Relay Coordination and an Adaptive Protection Scheme

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ilik, Semih C.; Arsoy, Aysen B.

    2017-07-01

    Integration of distributed generation (DG) such as renewable energy sources to electrical network becomes more prevalent in recent years. Grid connection of DG has effects on load flow directions, voltage profile, short circuit power and especially protection selectivity. Applying traditional overcurrent protection scheme is inconvenient when system reliability and sustainability are considered. If a fault happens in DG connected network, short circuit contribution of DG, creates additional branch element feeding the fault current; compels to consider directional overcurrent (OC) protection scheme. Protection coordination might get lost for changing working conditions when DG sources are connected. Directional overcurrent relay parameters are determined for downstream and upstream relays when different combinations of DG connected singular or plural, on radial test system. With the help of proposed flow chart, relay parameters are updated and coordination between relays kept sustained for different working conditions in DigSILENT PowerFactory program.

  5. No fear, just relax and play: social anxiety, alcohol expectancies, and drinking games among college students.

    PubMed

    Ham, Lindsay S; Zamboanga, Byron L; Olthuis, Janine V; Casner, Hilary G; Bui, Ngoc

    2010-01-01

    The authors examined the association between social anxiety and drinking game (DG) involvement as well as the moderating role of social anxiety-relevant alcohol outcome expectancies (AOE) in social anxiety and DG involvement among college students. Participants were 715 students (74.8% women, Mage = 19.46, SD = 1.22) from 8 US colleges. Data were collected via self-report survey from Fall 2005 to Spring 2007. Tension Reduction and Liquid Courage AOE moderated the association between social anxiety and DG participation. Tension Reduction AOE and DG participation were positively related among those with high social anxiety, but were associated negatively for those with low social anxiety. Liquid Courage AOE were associated with increased DG participation for those with low social anxiety, but not for those with high social anxiety. Findings suggest that social anxiety acts as a protective or a risk factor for DG participation among college students, depending upon AOE.

  6. Stochastic DG Placement for Conservation Voltage Reduction Based on Multiple Replications Procedure

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, Zhaoyu; Chen, Bokan; Wang, Jianhui

    2015-06-01

    Conservation voltage reduction (CVR) and distributed-generation (DG) integration are popular strategies implemented by utilities to improve energy efficiency. This paper investigates the interactions between CVR and DG placement to minimize load consumption in distribution networks, while keeping the lowest voltage level within the predefined range. The optimal placement of DG units is formulated as a stochastic optimization problem considering the uncertainty of DG outputs and load consumptions. A sample average approximation algorithm-based technique is developed to solve the formulated problem effectively. A multiple replications procedure is developed to test the stability of the solution and calculate the confidence interval ofmore » the gap between the candidate solution and optimal solution. The proposed method has been applied to the IEEE 37-bus distribution test system with different scenarios. The numerical results indicate that the implementations of CVR and DG, if combined, can achieve significant energy savings.« less

  7. Water-Gated n-Type Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Complementary Integrated Circuits Operating in an Aqueous Environment.

    PubMed

    Porrazzo, Rossella; Luzio, Alessandro; Bellani, Sebastiano; Bonacchini, Giorgio Ernesto; Noh, Yong-Young; Kim, Yun-Hi; Lanzani, Guglielmo; Antognazza, Maria Rosa; Caironi, Mario

    2017-01-31

    The first demonstration of an n-type water-gated organic field-effect transistor (WGOFET) is here reported, along with simple water-gated complementary integrated circuits, in the form of inverting logic gates. For the n-type WGOFET active layer, high-electron-affinity organic semiconductors, including naphthalene diimide co-polymers and a soluble fullerene derivative, have been compared, with the latter enabling a high electric double layer capacitance in the range of 1 μF cm -2 in full accumulation and a mobility-capacitance product of 7 × 10 -3 μF/V s. Short-term stability measurements indicate promising cycling robustness, despite operating the device in an environment typically considered harsh, especially for electron-transporting organic molecules. This work paves the way toward advanced circuitry design for signal conditioning and actuation in an aqueous environment and opens new perspectives in the implementation of active bio-organic interfaces for biosensing and neuromodulation.

  8. Quasi-Two-Dimensional h-BN/β-Ga2O3 Heterostructure Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor.

    PubMed

    Kim, Janghyuk; Mastro, Michael A; Tadjer, Marko J; Kim, Jihyun

    2017-06-28

    β-gallium oxide (β-Ga 2 O 3 ) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) heterostructure-based quasi-two-dimensional metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MISFETs) were demonstrated by integrating mechanical exfoliation of (quasi)-two-dimensional materials with a dry transfer process, wherein nanothin flakes of β-Ga 2 O 3 and h-BN were utilized as the channel and gate dielectric, respectively, of the MISFET. The h-BN dielectric, which has an extraordinarily flat and clean surface, provides a minimal density of charged impurities on the interface between β-Ga 2 O 3 and h-BN, resulting in superior device performances (maximum transconductance, on/off ratio, subthreshold swing, and threshold voltage) compared to those of the conventional back-gated configurations. Also, double-gating of the fabricated device was demonstrated by biasing both top and bottom gates, achieving the modulation of the threshold voltage. This heterostructured wide-band-gap nanodevice shows a new route toward stable and high-power nanoelectronic devices.

  9. Fabrication and characterization of tensile In0.3Al0.7As barrier and compressive In0.7Ga0.3As channel pHEMTs having extremely low gate leakage for low-noise applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Packeer, F.; Mohamad Isa, M.; Mat Jubadi, W.; Ian, K. W.; Missous, M.

    2013-07-01

    This study focuses on the area of the epitaxial design, fabrication and characterization of a 1 µm gate-length InP-based pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) using InGaAs-InAlAs material systems. The advanced epitaxial layer design incorporates a highly strained aluminum-rich Schottky contact barrier, an indium-rich channel and a double delta-doped structure, which significantly improves upon the conventional low-noise pHEMT which suffers from high gate current leakage and low breakdown voltage. The outstanding achievements of the new design approach are 99% less gate current leakage and a 73% increase in breakdown voltage, compared with the conventional design. Furthermore, no degradation in RF performance is observed in terms of the cut-off frequency in this new highly tensile strained design. The remarkable performance of this advanced pHEMT design facilitates the implementation of outstanding low-noise devices.

  10. Water-Gated n-Type Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Complementary Integrated Circuits Operating in an Aqueous Environment

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    The first demonstration of an n-type water-gated organic field-effect transistor (WGOFET) is here reported, along with simple water-gated complementary integrated circuits, in the form of inverting logic gates. For the n-type WGOFET active layer, high-electron-affinity organic semiconductors, including naphthalene diimide co-polymers and a soluble fullerene derivative, have been compared, with the latter enabling a high electric double layer capacitance in the range of 1 μF cm–2 in full accumulation and a mobility–capacitance product of 7 × 10–3 μF/V s. Short-term stability measurements indicate promising cycling robustness, despite operating the device in an environment typically considered harsh, especially for electron-transporting organic molecules. This work paves the way toward advanced circuitry design for signal conditioning and actuation in an aqueous environment and opens new perspectives in the implementation of active bio-organic interfaces for biosensing and neuromodulation. PMID:28180187

  11. Solvothermal synthesis of gallium-indium-zinc-oxide nanoparticles for electrolyte-gated transistors.

    PubMed

    Santos, Lídia; Nunes, Daniela; Calmeiro, Tomás; Branquinho, Rita; Salgueiro, Daniela; Barquinha, Pedro; Pereira, Luís; Martins, Rodrigo; Fortunato, Elvira

    2015-01-14

    Solution-processed field-effect transistors are strategic building blocks when considering low-cost sustainable flexible electronics. Nevertheless, some challenges (e.g., processing temperature, reliability, reproducibility in large areas, and cost effectiveness) are requirements that must be surpassed in order to achieve high-performance transistors. The present work reports electrolyte-gated transistors using as channel layer gallium-indium-zinc-oxide nanoparticles produced by solvothermal synthesis combined with a solid-state electrolyte based on aqueous dispersions of vinyl acetate stabilized with cellulose derivatives, acrylic acid ester in styrene and lithium perchlorate. The devices fabricated using this approach display a ION/IOFF up to 1 × 10(6), threshold voltage (VTh) of 0.3-1.9 V, and mobility up to 1 cm(2)/(V s), as a function of gallium-indium-zinc-oxide ink formulation and two different annealing temperatures. These results validates the usage of electrolyte-gated transistors as a viable and promising alternative for nanoparticle based semiconductor devices as the electrolyte improves the interface and promotes a more efficient step coverage of the channel layer, reducing the operating voltage when compared with conventional dielectrics gating. Moreover, it is shown that by controlling the applied gate potential, the operation mechanism of the electrolyte-gated transistors can be modified from electric double layer to electrochemical doping.

  12. 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced metabolic stress enhances resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miller, E. S.; Bates, R. A.; Koebel, D. A.; Fuchs, B. B.; Sonnenfeld, G.

    1998-01-01

    Exposure to different forms of psychological and physiological stress can elicit a host stress response, which alters normal parameters of neuroendocrine homeostasis. The present study evaluated the influence of the metabolic stressor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG; a glucose analog, which when administered to rodents, induces acute periods of metabolic stress) on the capacity of mice to resist infection with the facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Female BDF1 mice were injected with 2-DG (500 mg/kg b. wt.) once every 48 h prior to, concurrent with, or after the onset of a sublethal dose of virulent L. monocytogenes. Kinetics of bacterial growth in mice were not altered if 2-DG was applied concurrently or after the start of the infection. In contrast, mice exposed to 2-DG prior to infection demonstrated an enhanced resistance to the listeria challenge. The enhanced bacterial clearance in vivo could not be explained by 2-DG exerting a toxic effect on the listeria, based on the results of two experiments. First, 2-DG did not inhibit listeria replication in trypticase soy broth. Second, replication of L. monocytogenes was not inhibited in bone marrow-derived macrophage cultures exposed to 2-DG. Production of neopterin and lysozyme, indicators of macrophage activation, were enhanced following exposure to 2-DG, which correlated with the increased resistance to L. monocytogenes. These results support the contention that the host response to 2-DG-induced metabolic stress can influence the capacity of the immune system to resist infection by certain classes of microbial pathogens.

  13. Analysis Impact of Distributed Generation Injection to Profile of Voltage and Short-Circuit Fault in 20 kV Distribution Network System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mulyadi, Y.; Sucita, T.; Rahmawan, M. D.

    2018-01-01

    This study was a case study in PT. PLN (Ltd.) APJ Bandung area with the subject taken was the installation of distributed generation (DG) on 20-kV distribution channels. The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of DG to the changes in voltage profile and three-phase short circuit fault in the 20-kV distribution system with load conditions considered to be balanced. The reason for this research is to know how far DG can improve the voltage profile of the channel and to what degree DG can increase the three-phase short circuit fault on each bus. The method used in this study was comparing the simulation results of power flow and short-circuit fault using ETAP Power System software with manual calculations. The result obtained from the power current simulation before the installation of DG voltage was the drop at the end of the channel at 2.515%. Meanwhile, the three-phase short-circuit current fault before the DG installation at the beginning of the channel was 13.43 kA. After the installation of DG with injection of 50%, DG power obtained voltage drop at the end of the channel was 1.715% and the current fault at the beginning network was 14.05 kA. In addition, with injection of 90%, DG power obtained voltage drop at the end of the channel was 1.06% and the current fault at the beginning network was 14.13%.

  14. PAMAM dendrimers as a carbamazepine delivery system for neurodegenerative diseases: A biophysical and nanotoxicological characterization.

    PubMed

    Igartúa, Daniela E; Martinez, Carolina S; Temprana, C Facundo; Alonso, Silvia Del V; Prieto, M Jimena

    2018-06-10

    Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an antiepileptic drug, which also could be used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as the Alzheimer's disease. However, its use has been limited due to its low solubility, inefficient pharmacokinetic profiles, and multiple side effects. PAMAM dendrimers, ethylenediamine core, generation 4.0 (amine terminal groups) and 4.5 (carboxylate terminal groups) (DG4.0 and DG4.5 respectively) are polymers that can increase drug solubility through complexation. Thus, the aim of this work was to obtain and characterize complexes between CBZ and dendrimers. Both DG4.0 and DG4.5 allowed the incorporation of ∼20 molecules of CBZ per dendrimer, into their hydrophobic pockets. DG4.0-CBZ and DG4.5-CBZ complexes were found to be stable for 90 days at 37 °C and resistant to a lyophilization process, presenting controlled drug release. Also, the complexes nanotoxicity was tested ex vivo (human red blood cells), in vitro (N2a cell line), and in vivo (zebrafish). No hemolytic effect was observed in the ex vivo model. As regards in vitro toxicity, the DG4.5-CBZ complexes significantly reduced the toxicity caused by the free drug. Moreover, the DG4.5-CBZ did not cause neurotoxicity or cardiotoxicity in zebrafish larvae. In conclusion, a stable and biocompatible drug delivery system based on the DG4.5 capable of complex the CBZ has been developed. This achievement highlights the advantages of using negatively charged dendrimers for nanomedicine. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Evidence for a role of dystroglycan regulating the membrane architecture of astroglial endfeet

    PubMed Central

    Noell, Susan; Wolburg-Buchholz, Karen; Mack, Andreas F; Beedle, Aaron M; Satz, Jakob S; Campbell, Kevin P; Wolburg, Hartwig; Fallier-Becker, Petra

    2011-01-01

    The dystrophin–dystroglycan complex (DDC) is a molecular array of proteins in muscle and brain cells. The central component of the DDC is dystroglycan, which comprises α- and β-subunits. α-Dystroglycan (α-DG) binds to extracellular matrix components such as agrin, whereas β-dystroglycan (β-DG) is a membrane-spanning protein linking α-DG to the cytoskeleton and other intracellular components such as α-syntrophin. In astrocytes, α-syntrophin binds to the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4). Recently, it has been shown that AQP4 expression is unaltered in agrin-knockout mice, but that formation of orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs), consisting of AQP4, is abnormal. As the brain-selective deletion of the DG gene causes a disorganization of the astroglial endfeet, we investigated whether DG deletion has an impact on AQP4. Western blotting revealed reduced AQP4 in the parenchymal but not in the superficial compartment of the astrocyte-conditioned DG-knockout mouse brain. Accordingly, immunohistochemical stainings of AQP4 revealed a selective loss of AQP4 in perivascular but not in superficial astroglial endfeet. In both superficial and perivascular endfeet of the DG-knockout brain, we observed a loss of OAPs. We conclude that in the absence of DG the majority of superficial AQP4 molecules did not form OAPs, and that expression of AQP4 in perivascular endfeet is compromised. However, the decreased number of perivascular AQP4 molecules obviously did form a few OAPs, even in the absence of DG. PMID:21501259

  16. TU-E-BRB-08: Dual Gated Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy.

    PubMed

    Wu, J; Fahimian, B; Wu, H; Xing, L

    2012-06-01

    Gated Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) is an emerging treatment modality for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT). However, gating significantly prolongs treatment time. In order to enhance treatment efficiency, a novel dual gated VMAT, in which dynamic arc deliveries are executed sequentially in alternating exhale and inhale phases, is proposed and evaluated experimentally. The essence of dual gated VMAT is to take advantage of the natural pauses that occur at inspiration and exhalation by alternatively delivering the dose at the two phases, instead of the exhale window only. The arc deliveries at the two phases are realized by rotating gantry forward at the exhale window and backward at the inhale in an alternative fashion. Custom XML scripts were developed in Varian's TrueBeam STx Developer Mode to enable dual gated VMAT delivery. RapidArc plans for a lung case were generated for both inhale and exhale phases. The two plans were then combined into a dual gated arc by interleaving the arc treatment nodes of the two RapidArc plans. The dual gated plan was delivered in the development mode of TrueBeam LINAC onto a motion phantom and the delivery was measured by using pinpoint chamber/film/diode array (delta 4). The measured dose distribution was compared with that computed using Eclipse AAA algorithm. The treatment delivery time was recorded and compared with the corresponding single gated plans. Relative to the corresponding single gated delivery, it was found that treatment time efficiency was improved by 95.5% for the case studied here. Pinpoint chamber absolute dose measurement agreed the calculation to within 0.7%. Diode chamber array measurements revealed that 97.5% of measurement points of dual gated RapidArc delivery passed the 3% and 3mm gamma-test criterion. A dual gated VMAT treatment has been developed and implemented successfully with nearly doubled treatment delivery efficiency. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

  17. Different Effects of Oral Contraceptive and Dydrogesterone Treatment on Oxidative Stress Levels in Premenopausal Women.

    PubMed

    Chen, Jui-Tung; Kotani, Kazuhiko

    2018-02-01

    The aim of the study was to observe the changes in blood oxidative stress levels by oral contraceptive (OC) and/or dydrogesterone (DG) treatment. A retrospective cohort of 27 premenopausal women with primary dysmenorrhea consisted of the OC treatment group (N = 17) and the DG treatment group (N = 10) by choice of the initial treatment. The OC group included two subgroups: patients with continuous OC treatment (treated for at least 15 months, N = 10) and patients with discontinuous OC treatment (switched to DG treatment after approximately 6 months of initial OC treatment: N = 7). The DG group had 15 months of continuous DG treatment. Blood parameters, including diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs: an oxidative stress marker), were measured. The d-ROMs level was elevated in the OC group 3 months after initial treatment (mean: from 321 (at baseline) to 512 Carratelli Units (Carr U); P < 0.01), while such changes were not observed in the DG group. The d-ROMs level was reduced in the discontinuous OC subgroup 15 months after initial treatment (from 508 (3 months after initial treatment) to 372 Carr U; P < 0.01), while such changes were not observed in the continuous OC subgroup. The DG group displayed unchanged the d-ROMs level. Replacing OC with DG can attenuate oxidative stress as elevated by OC, thereby alleviating the possible vascular risks with OC treatment.

  18. [Effect of 5-HT1A receptors in the hippocampal DG on active avoidance learning in rats].

    PubMed

    Jiang, Feng-ze; Lv, Jing; Wang, Dan; Jiang, Hai-ying; Li, Ying-shun; Jin, Qing-hua

    2015-01-01

    To investigate the effects of serotonin (5-HTIA) receptors in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) on active avoidance learning in rats. Totally 36 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, antagonist group and agonist group(n = 12). Active avoidance learning ability of rats was assessed by the shuttle box. The extracellular concentrations of 5-HT in the DG during active avoidance conditioned reflex were measured by microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. Then the antagonist (WAY-100635) or agonist (8-OH-DPAT) of the 5-HT1A receptors were microinjected into the DG region, and the active avoidance learning was measured. (1) During the active avoidance learning, the concentration of 5-HT in the hippocampal DG was significantly increased in the extinction but not establishment in the conditioned reflex, which reached 164.90% ± 26.07% (P <0.05) of basal level. (2) The microinjection of WAY-100635 (an antagonist of 5-HT1A receptor) into the DG did not significantly affect the active avoidance learning. (3) The microinjection of 8-OH-DPAT(an agonist of 5-HT1A receptor) into the DG significantly facilitated the establishment process and inhibited the extinction process during active avoidance conditioned reflex. The data suggest that activation of 5-HT1A receptors in hipocampal DG may facilitate active avoidance learning and memory in rats.

  19. Effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose administration on immune parameters in mice

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dreau, D.; Morton, D. S.; Foster, M.; Fowler, N.; Sonnenfeld, G.

    1998-01-01

    Physical exercise and diet alterations have been shown to affect immune parameters. Similar effects are also induced by the administration of the non-metabolizable glucose analog, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). The current study was designed to characterize the effects of glucoprivation induced by 2-DG administration on leukocyte subset distribution and function. BDF1 mice (n = 8 per group) were injected intraperitoneally one or three times with 0, 500, 750, 1000 or 1500 mg/kg of 2-DG. Two hours after the last injection of 2-DG, immunological parameters were analyzed. A dose-dependent increase in plasma glucose concentrations of mice injected once with up to 1500 mg/kg of 2-DG was observed (p < 0.001). After either one or three injections of up to 1500 mg/kg of 2-DG, corticosterone levels, leukocyte counts in the spleen, and CD3+ cells in the thymus increased. In vitro proliferation of partially purified lymphocytes from the spleen in the presence of both concanavalin-A and lipopolysaccharide decreased in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.05). In addition, after three injections, the proportion of both thymocytes and splenocytes bearing alphabeta-TCR increased as the concentration of 2-DG increased (p < 0.01). These results demonstrate that 2-DG administration induced dose-dependent changes in both thymus and spleen cell distribution and function.

  20. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose treatment induces ketogenesis, sustains mitochondrial function, and reduces pathology in female mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

    PubMed

    Yao, Jia; Chen, Shuhua; Mao, Zisu; Cadenas, Enrique; Brinton, Roberta Diaz

    2011-01-01

    Previously, we demonstrated that mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits preceded Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in the female triple-transgenic AD (3xTgAD) mouse model. In parallel, 3xTgAD mice exhibited elevated expression of ketogenic markers, indicating a compensatory mechanism for energy production in brain. This compensatory response to generate an alternative fuel source was temporary and diminished with disease progression. To determine whether this compensatory alternative fuel system could be sustained, we investigated the impact of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a compound known to induce ketogenesis, on bioenergetic function and AD pathology burden in brain. 6-month-old female 3xTgAD mice were fed either a regular diet (AIN-93G) or a diet containing 0.04% 2-DG for 7 weeks. 2-DG diet significantly increased serum ketone body level and brain expression of enzymes required for ketone body metabolism. The 2-DG-induced maintenance of mitochondrial bioenergetics was paralleled by simultaneous reduction in oxidative stress. Further, 2-DG treated mice exhibited a significant reduction of both amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomers, which was paralleled by significantly increased α-secretase and decreased γ-secretase expression, indicating that 2-DG induced a shift towards a non-amyloidogenic pathway. In addition, 2-DG increased expression of genes involved in Aβ clearance pathways, degradation, sequestering, and transport. Concomitant with increased bioenergetic capacity and reduced β-amyloid burden, 2-DG significantly increased expression of neurotrophic growth factors, BDNF and NGF. Results of these analyses demonstrate that dietary 2-DG treatment increased ketogenesis and ketone metabolism, enhanced mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity, reduced β-amyloid generation and increased mechanisms of β-amyloid clearance. Further, these data link bioenergetic capacity with β-amyloid generation and demonstrate that β-amyloid burden was dynamic and reversible, as 2-DG reduced activation of the amyloidogenic pathway and increased mechanisms of β-amyloid clearance. Collectively, these data provide preclinical evidence for dietary 2-DG as a disease-modifying intervention to delay progression of bioenergetic deficits in brain and associated β-amyloid burden.

  1. Five-dimensional motion compensation for respiratory and cardiac motion with cone-beam CT of the thorax region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sauppe, Sebastian; Hahn, Andreas; Brehm, Marcus; Paysan, Pascal; Seghers, Dieter; Kachelrieß, Marc

    2016-03-01

    We propose an adapted method of our previously published five-dimensional (5D) motion compensation (MoCo) algorithm1, developed for micro-CT imaging of small animals, to provide for the first time motion artifact-free 5D cone-beam CT (CBCT) images from a conventional flat detector-based CBCT scan of clinical patients. Image quality of retrospectively respiratory- and cardiac-gated volumes from flat detector CBCT scans is deteriorated by severe sparse projection artifacts. These artifacts further complicate motion estimation, as it is required for MoCo image reconstruction. For high quality 5D CBCT images at the same x-ray dose and the same number of projections as todays 3D CBCT we developed a double MoCo approach based on motion vector fields (MVFs) for respiratory and cardiac motion. In a first step our already published four-dimensional (4D) artifact-specific cyclic motion-compensation (acMoCo) approach is applied to compensate for the respiratory patient motion. With this information a cyclic phase-gated deformable heart registration algorithm is applied to the respiratory motion-compensated 4D CBCT data, thus resulting in cardiac MVFs. We apply these MVFs on double-gated images and thereby respiratory and cardiac motion-compensated 5D CBCT images are obtained. Our 5D MoCo approach processing patient data acquired with the TrueBeam 4D CBCT system (Varian Medical Systems). Our double MoCo approach turned out to be very efficient and removed nearly all streak artifacts due to making use of 100% of the projection data for each reconstructed frame. The 5D MoCo patient data show fine details and no motion blurring, even in regions close to the heart where motion is fastest.

  2. Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations: Structural Basis for the V567D Mutation-Induced Instability of Zebrafish Alpha-Dystroglycan and Comparison with the Murine Model

    PubMed Central

    Pirolli, Davide; Sciandra, Francesca; Bozzi, Manuela; Giardina, Bruno; Brancaccio, Andrea; De Rosa, Maria Cristina

    2014-01-01

    A missense amino acid mutation of valine to aspartic acid in 567 position of alpha-dystroglycan (DG), identified in dag1-mutated zebrafish, results in a reduced transcription and a complete absence of the protein. Lacking experimental structural data for zebrafish DG domains, the detailed mechanism for the observed mutation-induced destabilization of the DG complex and membrane damage, remained unclear. With the aim to contribute to a better clarification of the structure-function relationships featuring the DG complex, three-dimensional structural models of wild-type and mutant (V567D) C-terminal domain of alpha-DG from zebrafish were constructed by a template-based modelling approach. We then ran extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to reveal the structural and dynamic properties of the C-terminal domain and to evaluate the effect of the single mutation on alpha-DG stability. A comparative study has been also carried out on our previously generated model of murine alpha-DG C-terminal domain including the I591D mutation, which is topologically equivalent to the V567D mutation found in zebrafish. Trajectories from MD simulations were analyzed in detail, revealing extensive structural disorder involving multiple beta-strands in the mutated variant of the zebrafish protein whereas local effects have been detected in the murine protein. A biochemical analysis of the murine alpha-DG mutant I591D confirmed a pronounced instability of the protein. Taken together, the computational and biochemical analysis suggest that the V567D/I591D mutation, belonging to the G beta-strand, plays a key role in inducing a destabilization of the alpha-DG C-terminal Ig-like domain that could possibly affect and propagate to the entire DG complex. The structural features herein identified may be of crucial help to understand the molecular basis of primary dystroglycanopathies. PMID:25078606

  3. Insights from molecular dynamics simulations: structural basis for the V567D mutation-induced instability of zebrafish alpha-dystroglycan and comparison with the murine model.

    PubMed

    Pirolli, Davide; Sciandra, Francesca; Bozzi, Manuela; Giardina, Bruno; Brancaccio, Andrea; De Rosa, Maria Cristina

    2014-01-01

    A missense amino acid mutation of valine to aspartic acid in 567 position of alpha-dystroglycan (DG), identified in dag1-mutated zebrafish, results in a reduced transcription and a complete absence of the protein. Lacking experimental structural data for zebrafish DG domains, the detailed mechanism for the observed mutation-induced destabilization of the DG complex and membrane damage, remained unclear. With the aim to contribute to a better clarification of the structure-function relationships featuring the DG complex, three-dimensional structural models of wild-type and mutant (V567D) C-terminal domain of alpha-DG from zebrafish were constructed by a template-based modelling approach. We then ran extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to reveal the structural and dynamic properties of the C-terminal domain and to evaluate the effect of the single mutation on alpha-DG stability. A comparative study has been also carried out on our previously generated model of murine alpha-DG C-terminal domain including the I591D mutation, which is topologically equivalent to the V567D mutation found in zebrafish. Trajectories from MD simulations were analyzed in detail, revealing extensive structural disorder involving multiple beta-strands in the mutated variant of the zebrafish protein whereas local effects have been detected in the murine protein. A biochemical analysis of the murine alpha-DG mutant I591D confirmed a pronounced instability of the protein. Taken together, the computational and biochemical analysis suggest that the V567D/I591D mutation, belonging to the G beta-strand, plays a key role in inducing a destabilization of the alpha-DG C-terminal Ig-like domain that could possibly affect and propagate to the entire DG complex. The structural features herein identified may be of crucial help to understand the molecular basis of primary dystroglycanopathies.

  4. Ion-implanted WN 0.25{mu}m gate MESFET fabricated using I-line photolithography for application to MMIC and digital IC

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Oh, E.O.; Yang, J.W.; Park, C.S.

    1995-12-31

    Straightforward WN 0.25{mu}m gate MESFET process based on direct ion-implantation and i-line photolithography with double exposure process has produced high performance MESFETs. The maximum transconductance of 600mS/mm and the k-factor of 450ms/Vmm were obtained. As high as 65GHz of cut-off frequency has been realized without any deembedding of parasitic effects. The MESFET shows the minimum noise figure of 0.87 dB and the associated gain of 9.97dB at 12GHz.

  5. Electrically protected resonant exchange qubits in triple quantum dots.

    PubMed

    Taylor, J M; Srinivasa, V; Medford, J

    2013-08-02

    We present a modulated microwave approach for quantum computing with qubits comprising three spins in a triple quantum dot. This approach includes single- and two-qubit gates that are protected against low-frequency electrical noise, due to an operating point with a narrowband response to high frequency electric fields. Furthermore, existing double quantum dot advances, including robust preparation and measurement via spin-to-charge conversion, are immediately applicable to the new qubit. Finally, the electric dipole terms implicit in the high frequency coupling enable strong coupling with superconducting microwave resonators, leading to more robust two-qubit gates.

  6. Different Forms of Vanadate on Sugar Transport in Insulin Target and Nontarget Cells

    PubMed Central

    2002-01-01

    The effects of several vanadates (ie, orthovanadate, pervanadate, and two stable peroxovanadium compounds) on basal and insulin-stimulated 2-DG transport in insulin target and nontarget cell lines are reported, herein. In nontarget cells, exposure to vanadates (5 × 10−6 to 10−4 mol/L) resulted in 2-DG transport stimulatory responses similar to those observed in 2-DG transport post exposure to 667 nmol/L insulin alone, or insulin in combination with vanadates. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes, exposure to a vanadate compound or 67 nmol/L insulin, stimulated 2-DG transport dramatically. Again, this effect on stimulated transport was similar to 2-DG transport post-treatment with the effective vanadates in combination with insulin. While pervanadate or stable peroxovanadates stimulated 2-DG transport at 10−5 to 10−6 mol/L, orthovanadate up to 10−4 mol/L was not effective in stimulating 2-DG transport in any of the cell lines tested. The data indicate that the various peroxovanadates are clearly superior insulin mimetics while a more limited insulin mimesis is observed with orthovanadate over a wide variety of cell types. PMID:12488596

  7. Different Forms of Vanadate on Sugar Transport in Insulin Target and Nontarget Cells.

    PubMed

    Germinario, Ralph J.; Colby-Germinario, Susan P.; Posner, Barry I.; Nahm, K.

    2002-01-01

    The effects of several vanadates (ie, orthovanadate, pervanadate, and two stable peroxovanadium compounds) on basal and insulin-stimulated 2-DG transport in insulin target and nontarget cell lines are reported, herein. In nontarget cells, exposure to vanadates (5 x 10(-6) to 10(-4) mol/L) resulted in 2-DG transport stimulatory responses similar to those observed in 2-DG transport post exposure to 667 nmol/L insulin alone, or insulin in combination with vanadates. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes, exposure to a vanadate compound or 67 nmol/L insulin, stimulated 2-DG transport dramatically. Again, this effect on stimulated transport was similar to 2-DG transport post-treatment with the effective vanadates in combination with insulin. While pervanadate or stable peroxovanadates stimulated 2-DG transport at 10(-5) to 10(-6) mol/L, orthovanadate up to 10(-4) mol/L was not effective in stimulating 2-DG transport in any of the cell lines tested. The data indicate that the various peroxovanadates are clearly superior insulin mimetics while a more limited insulin mimesis is observed with orthovanadate over a wide variety of cell types.

  8. Resonant tunneling of 1-dimensional electrons across an array of 3-dimensionally confined potential wells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Allee, D. R.; Chou, S. Y.; Harris, J. S.; Pease, R. F. W.

    A lateral resonant tunneling field effect transistor has been fabricated with a gate electrode in the form of a railway such that the two rails form a lateral double barrier potential at the GaAs/AlGaAs interface. The ties confine the electrons in the third dimension forming an array of potential boxes or three dimensionally confined potential wells. The width of the ties and rails is 50nm; the spacings between the ties and between the two rails are 230nm and 150nm respectively. The ties are 750nm long and extend beyond the the two rails forming one dimensional wires on either side. Conductance oscillations are observed in the drain current at 4.2K as the gate voltage is scanned. Comparison with devices with a solid gate, and with a monorail gate with ties fabricated on the same wafer suggest that these conductance oscillations are electron resonant tunneling from one dimensional wires through the quasi-bound states of the three dimensionally confined potential wells. Comparison with a device with a two rail gate without ties (previously published) indicates that additional confinement due to the ties enhances the strength of the conductance oscillations.

  9. Effect of nanocomposite gate-dielectric properties on pentacene microstructure and field-effect transistor characteristics.

    PubMed

    Lee, Wen-Hsi; Wang, Chun-Chieh

    2010-02-01

    In this study, the effect of surface energy and roughness of the nanocomposite gate dielectric on pentacene morphology and electrical properties of pentacene OTFT are reported. Nanoparticles TiO2 were added in the polyimide matrix to form a nanocomposite which has a significantly different surface characteristic from polyimide, leading to a discrepancy in the structural properties of pentacene growth. A growth mode of pentacene deposited on the nanocomposite is proposed to explain successfully the effect of surface properties of nanocomposite gate dielectric such as surface energy and roughness on the pentacene morphology and electrical properties of OTFT. To obtain the lower surface energy and smoother surface of nanocomposite gate dielectric that is responsible for the desired crystalline, microstructure of pentacene and electrical properties of device, a bottom contact OTFT-pentacene deposited on the double-layer nanocomposite gate dielectric consisting of top smoothing layer of the neat polyimide and bottom layer of (PI+ nano-TiO2 particles) nanocomposite has been successfully demonstrated to exhibit very promising performance including high current on to off ratio of about 6 x 10(5), threshold voltage of -10 V and moderately high filed mobility of 0.15 cm2V(-1)s(-1).

  10. Energy metabolism of leukemia cells: glycolysis versus oxidative phosphorylation.

    PubMed

    Suganuma, Kazuto; Miwa, Hiroshi; Imai, Norikazu; Shikami, Masato; Gotou, Mayuko; Goto, Mineaki; Mizuno, Shohei; Takahashi, Miyuki; Yamamoto, Hidesuke; Hiramatsu, Akihito; Wakabayashi, Motohiro; Watarai, Masaya; Hanamura, Ichiro; Imamura, Akira; Mihara, Hidetsugu; Nitta, Masakazu

    2010-11-01

    For generation of energy, cancer cells utilize glycolysis more vigorously than oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria (Warburg effect). We examined the energy metabolism of four leukemia cell lines by using glycolysis inhibitor, 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) and inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, oligomycin. NB4 was relatively sensitive to 2-DG (IC(50): 5.75 mM), consumed more glucose and produced more lactate (waste product of glycolysis) than the three other cell lines. Consequently, NB4 was considered as a "glycolytic" leukemia cell line. Dependency on glycolysis in NB4 was confirmed by the fact that glucose (+) FCS (-) medium showed more growth and survival than glucose (-) FCS (+) medium. Alternatively, THP-1, most resistant to 2-DG (IC(50): 16.14 mM), was most sensitive to oligomycin. Thus, THP-1 was recognized to be dependent on oxidative phosphorylation. In THP-1, glucose (-) FCS (+) medium showed more growth and survival than glucose (+) FCS (-) medium. The dependency of THP-1 on FCS was explained, at least partly, by fatty acid oxidation because inhibitor of fatty acid β-oxidation, etomoxir, augmented the growth suppression of THP-1 by 2-DG. We also examined the mechanisms by which THP-1 was resistant to, and NB4 was sensitive to 2-DG treatment. In THP-1, AMP kinase (AMPK), which is activated when ATP becomes limiting, was rapidly phosphorylated by 2-DG, and expression of Bcl-2 was augmented, which might result in resistance to 2-DG. On the other hand, AMPK phosphorylation and augmentation of Bcl-2 expression by 2-DG were not observed in NB4, which is 2-DG sensitive. These results will facilitate the future leukemia therapy targeting metabolic pathways.

  11. Fructo-oligosaccharide attenuates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of JNK/Jun pathway in the lungs of D-galactose-treated Balb/cJ mice.

    PubMed

    Yeh, Shu-Lan; Wu, Tzu-Chin; Chan, Shu-Ting; Hong, Meng-Jun; Chen, Hsiao-Ling

    2014-01-01

    This study determined the effects of long-term D-galactose (DG) injection on the lung pro-inflammatory and fibrotic status and whether fructo-oligosaccharide (FO) could attenuate such effects. Forty Balb/cJ mice (12 weeks of age) were divided into four groups: control (s.c. saline) (basal diet), DG (s.c. 1.2 g DG/kg body weight) (basal diet), DG + FO (FO diet, 2.5% w/w FO), and DG + E (vitamin E diet, α-tocopherol 0.2% w/w) serving as an antioxidant control group. These animals were killed after 49 day of treatments. Another group of naturally aging (NA) mice without any injection was killed at 64 weeks of age to be an aging control group. D-galactose treatment, generally similar to NA, increased the lung pro-inflammatory status, as shown in the IL-6 and IL-1β levels and the expression of phospho-Jun and phospho-JNK, and the fibrotic status as shown in the hydroxyproline level compared to the vehicle. FO diminished the DG-induced increases in the lung IL-1β level and expressions of total Jun, phospho-JNK, and attenuated DG effects on lung IL-6 and hydroxyproline, while α-tocopherol exerted anti-inflammatory effects on all parameters determined. FO, as well as α-tocopherol, modulated the large bowel ecology by increasing the fecal bifidobacteria and cecal butyrate levels compared with DG. D-galactose treatment mimicked the lung pro-inflammatory status as shown in the NA mice. FO attenuated the DG-induced lung pro-inflammatory status and down-regulated JNK/Jun pathway in the lung, which could be mediated by the prebiotic effects and metabolic products of FO in the large intestine.

  12. Fructo-oligosaccharide systemically diminished D-galactose-induced oxidative molecule damages in BALB/cJ mice.

    PubMed

    Hsia, Chien-Hsun; Wang, Cheng-Hsin; Kuo, Yi-Wen; Ho, Ying-Jui; Chen, Hsiao-Ling

    2012-06-01

    Subcutaneous (s.c.) D-galactose (DG) treatment has been shown to facilitate the development of biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease in C57BL/6J mice. The aim of the present study was to determine whether this treatment in young BALB/cJ mice, another mouse strain, enhanced oxidative stress to similar extents shown in older mice, and to further determine the effects of fructo-oligosaccharide (FO), a prebiotic fibre and vitamin E (antioxidant control) on the DG-induced oxidative damage of lipids, proteins and mitochondrial DNA, and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities. Mice (12 weeks of age, n 40) were divided into four groups: vehicle (s.c. saline)+control (modified rodent chow); DG (s.c. 1·2 g/kg body weight)+control; DG+FO (5 %, w/w); DG+vitamin E (α-tocopherol, 0·2 %). Then, the animals were killed after 52 d of treatment. Another natural ageing (NA) group without any injection was killed at 47 weeks of age, which served as an aged control. The results indicated that the DG treatment enhanced malonaldehyde dimethyl acetal (MDA) levels in the plasma, liver and cerebral cortex, and protein carbonyl levels in the liver and hippocampus to similar levels shown in the NA group. FO, similar to α-tocopherol, systemically normalised DG-induced elevations in the levels of MDA in the plasma, liver and cerebral cortex, protein carbonyls in the liver and hippocampus, hepatic mitochondrial 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity. In conclusion, the s.c. DG treatment in younger BALB/cJ mice resembled the oxidative status in older mice. FO supplementation systemically prevented DG-induced oxidative stress, probably through its fermentation products and prebiotic effect.

  13. Homologs of the Xenopus developmental gene DG42 are present in zebrafish and mouse and are involved in the synthesis of Nod-like chitin oligosaccharides during early embryogenesis.

    PubMed

    Semino, C E; Specht, C A; Raimondi, A; Robbins, P W

    1996-05-14

    The Xenopus developmental gene DG42 is expressed during early embryonic development, between the midblastula and neurulation stages. The deduced protein sequence of Xenopus DG42 shows similarity to Rhizobium Nod C, Streptococcus Has A, and fungal chitin synthases. Previously, we found that the DG42 protein made in an in vitro transcription/translation system catalyzed synthesis of an array of chitin oligosaccharides. Here we show that cell extracts from early Xenopus and zebrafish embryos also synthesize chitooligosaccharides. cDNA fragments homologous to DG42 from zebrafish and mouse were also cloned and sequenced. Expression of these homologs was similar to that described for Xenopus based on Northern and Western blot analysis. The Xenopus anti-DG42 antibody recognized a 63-kDa protein in extracts from zebrafish embryos that followed a similar developmental expression pattern to that previously described for Xenopus. The chitin oligosaccharide synthase activity found in extracts was inactivated by a specific DG42 antibody; synthesis of hyaluronic acid (HA) was not affected under the conditions tested. Other experiments demonstrate that expression of DG42 under plasmid control in mouse 3T3 cells gives rise to chitooligosaccharide synthase activity without an increase in HA synthase level. A possible relationship between our results and those of other investigators, which show stimulation of HA synthesis by DG42 in mammalian cell culture systems, is provided by structural analyses to be published elsewhere that suggest that chitin oligosaccharides are present at the reducing ends of HA chains. Since in at least one vertebrate system hyaluronic acid formation can be inhibited by a pure chitinase, it seems possible that chitin oligosaccharides serve as primers for hyaluronic acid synthesis.

  14. Synergetic effects of double laser pulses for the formation of mild plasma in water: Toward non-gated underwater laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sakka, Tetsuo; Institute of Sustainability Science, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011; Tamura, Ayaka

    2012-05-07

    We experimentally study the dynamics of the plasma induced by the double-laser-pulse irradiation of solid target in water, and find that an appropriate choice of the pulse energies and pulse interval results in the production of an unprecedentedly mild (low-density) plasma, the emission spectra of which are very narrow even without the time-gated detection. The optimum pulse interval and pulse energies are 15-30 {mu}s and about {approx}1 mJ, respectively, where the latter values are much smaller than those typically employed for this kind of study. In order to clarify the mechanism for the formation of mild plasma we examine themore » role of the first and second laser pulses, and find that the first pulse produces the cavitation bubble without emission (and hence plasma), and the second pulse induces the mild plasma in the cavitation bubble. These findings may present a new phase of underwater laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.« less

  15. Coupling a single electron spin to a microwave resonator: Part I: controlling transverse and longitudinal couplings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lachance-Quirion, Dany; Beaudoin, Félix; Camirand Lemyre, Julien; Coish, William A.; Pioro-Ladrière, Michel

    Novel quantum technologies can be combined within hybrid systems to benefit from the complementary capabilities of individual components. For example, microwave-frequency superconducting resonators are ideally suited to perform qubit readout and to mediate two-qubit gates, while spin qubits offer long coherence times and high-fidelity single-qubit gates. In this talk, we consider strong coupling between a microwave resonator and an electron-spin qubit in a double quantum dot due to an inhomogeneous magnetic field generated by a nearby nanomagnet.. Considering realistic parameters, we estimate spin-resonator couplings of order 1 MHz. Further, we show that the position of the double dot relative to the nanomagnet allows us to select between purely longitudinal and transverse couplings. While the transverse coupling may be used for quantum state transfer between the spin qubit and the resonator, the longitudinal coupling could be used in a new qubit readout scheme recently introduced for superconducting qubits.

  16. Asymmetric underlap spacer layer enabled nanoscale double gate MOSFETs for design of ultra-wideband cascode amplifiers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roy, Debapriya; Biswas, Abhijit

    2017-10-01

    Using extensive numerical analysis we investigate effects of asymmetric sidewall spacers on various device parameters of 20-nm double gate MOSFETs associated with analog/RF applications. Our studies show that the device with underlap drain-side spacer length LED of 10 nm and source-side spacer length LES of 5 nm shows improvement in terms of the peak value of transconductance efficiency, voltage gain Av, unity-gain cut-off frequency fT and maximum frequency of oscillations fMAX by 8.6%, 51.7%, 5% and 10.3%, respectively compared to the symmetric 5 nm underlap spacer device with HfO2 spacer of dielectric constant k = 22. Additionally, a higher spacer dielectric constant increases the peak Av while decreasing both peak fT and fMAX. The detailed physical insight is exploited to design a cascode amplifier which yields an ultra-wide gain bandwidth of 2.48 THz at LED = 10 nm with a SiO2 spacer.

  17. Complete transposition of the great arteries with double outlet right ventricle in a dog.

    PubMed

    Koo, S T; LeBlanc, N L; Scollan, K F; Sisson, D D

    2016-06-01

    A 2-year old intact male Collie dog presented to the cardiology service at Oregon State University for evaluation of cyanosis and suspected congenital cardiac disease. Echocardiography revealed a constellation of cardiac abnormalities including a single large vessel exiting the right ventricle with a diminutive left ventricular outflow tract, a ventricular septal defect, and marked concentric right ventricular hypertrophy with moderate right atrial dilation. Cardiac-gated computed tomography confirmed the previous anomalies in addition to supporting a diagnosis of complete transposition of the great arteries, double outlet right ventricle, and pulmonic hypoplasia with a single coronary ostium. Prominent bronchoesophageal collateral vessels were concurrently identified. Clinically, the dog was stable despite mild cyanosis that worsened with exercise; no intervention was elected at the time. This case report describes a rare combination of congenital cardiac defects and the usefulness of cardiac-gated cross-sectional imaging in the anatomic diagnosis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Performance analysis of junctionless double gate VeSFET considering the effects of thermal variation - An explicit 2D analytical model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chaudhary, Tarun; Khanna, Gargi

    2017-03-01

    The purpose of this paper is to explore junctionless double gate vertical slit field effect transistor (JLDG VeSFET) with reduced short channel effects and to develop an analytical threshold voltage model for the device considering the impact of thermal variations for the very first time. The model has been derived by solving 2D Poisson's equation and the effects of variation in temperature on various electrical parameters of the device such as Rout, drain current, mobility, subthreshold slope and DIBL has been studied and described in the paper. The model provides a deep physical insight of the device behavior and is also very helpful in contributing to the design space exploration for JLDG VeSFET. The proposed model is verified with simulative analysis at different radii of the device and it has been observed that there is a good agreement between the analytical model and simulation results.

  19. Measuring the health of populations: the veil of ignorance approach.

    PubMed

    Pinto-Prades, José-Luis; Abellán-Perpiñán, José-María

    2005-01-01

    We report the results from two surveys designed to explore whether an application of Harsanyi's principle of choice form behind a veil of ignorance (VEI) can be used in order to measure the health of populations. This approach was tentatively recommended by Murray et al. (Bull. World Health Organ 2000; 78: 981-994; Summary Measures of population health: Concepts, Ethics, Measurement and Applications, WHO, 2002.) as an appropriate way of constructing summary measures of population health (SMPH) for comparative purposes. The operationalization of the VEI approach used in this paper was suggested by Nord (Summary Measures of Population Health: Concepts, Ethics, Measurement and Applications, WHO, 2002.). We test if VEI and person trade-off (PTO) methods generate similar quality-of-life weights. In addition, we compare VEI and PTO weights with individual utilities estimated by means of the conventional standard gamble (SG) and a variation of it we call double gamble. Finally, psychometric properties like feasibility, reliability, and consistency are examined. Our main findings are next: (1) VEI and PTO approaches generate very different weights; (2) it seems that differences between PTO and VEI are not due to the 'rule of rescue'; (3) the VEI resembled more a DG than a classical SG; (4) PTO, VEI, and DG exhibited good feasibility, reliability and consistency. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  20. Toward low-power electronics: tunneling phenomena in transition metal dichalcogenides.

    PubMed

    Das, Saptarshi; Prakash, Abhijith; Salazar, Ramon; Appenzeller, Joerg

    2014-02-25

    In this article, we explore, experimentally, the impact of band-to-band tunneling on the electronic transport of double-gated WSe2 field-effect transistors (FETs) and Schottky barrier tunneling of holes in back-gated MoS2 FETs. We show that by scaling the flake thickness and the thickness of the gate oxide, the tunneling current can be increased by several orders of magnitude. We also perform numerical calculations based on Landauer formalism and WKB approximation to explain our experimental findings. Based on our simple model, we discuss the impact of band gap and effective mass on the band-to-band tunneling current and evaluate the performance limits for a set of dichalcogenides in the context of tunneling transistors for low-power applications. Our findings suggest that WTe2 is an excellent choice for tunneling field-effect transistors.

  1. T-gate aligned nanotube radio frequency transistors and circuits with superior performance.

    PubMed

    Che, Yuchi; Lin, Yung-Chen; Kim, Pyojae; Zhou, Chongwu

    2013-05-28

    In this paper, we applied self-aligned T-gate design to aligned carbon nanotube array transistors and achieved an extrinsic current-gain cutoff frequency (ft) of 25 GHz, which is the best on-chip performance for nanotube radio frequency (RF) transistors reported to date. Meanwhile, an intrinsic current-gain cutoff frequency up to 102 GHz is obtained, comparable to the best value reported for nanotube RF transistors. Armed with the excellent extrinsic RF performance, we performed both single-tone and two-tone measurements for aligned nanotube transistors at a frequency up to 8 GHz. Furthermore, we utilized T-gate aligned nanotube transistors to construct mixing and frequency doubling analog circuits operated in gigahertz frequency regime. Our results confirm the great potential of nanotube-based circuit applications and indicate that nanotube transistors are promising building blocks in high-frequency electronics.

  2. All-optical XOR logic gate using intersubband transition in III-V quantum well materials.

    PubMed

    Feng, Jijun; Akimoto, Ryoichi; Gozu, Shin-ichiro; Mozume, Teruo

    2014-06-02

    A monolithically integrated all-optical exclusive-OR (XOR) logic gate is experimentally demonstrated based on a Michelson interferometer (MI) gating device in InGaAs/AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells (CDQWs). The MI arms can convert the pump data with return-to-zero ON-OFF keying (RZ OOK) to binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) format, then two BPSK signals can interfere with each other for realizing a desired logical operation. All-optical format conversion from the RZ OOK to BPSK is based on the cross-phase modulation to the transverse electric (TE) probe wave, which is caused by the intersubband transition excited by the transverse magnetic (TM) pump light. Bit error rate measurements show that error free operation for both BPSK format conversion and XOR logical operation can be achieved.

  3. Dystroglycan and muscular dystrophies related to the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex.

    PubMed

    Sciandra, Francesca; Bozzi, Manuela; Bianchi, Marzia; Pavoni, Ernesto; Giardina, Bruno; Brancaccio, Andrea

    2003-01-01

    Dystroglycan (DG) is an adhesion molecule composed of two subunits, alpha and beta, that are produced by the post-translational cleavage of a single precursor molecule. DG is a pivotal component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC), which connects the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton in skeletal muscle and many other tissues. Some muscular dystrophies are caused by mutations of DGC components, such as dystrophin, sarcoglycan or laminin-2, or also of DGC-associated molecules, such as caveolin-3. DG-null mice died during early embriogenesis and no neuromuscular diseases directly associated to genetic abnormalities of DG were identified so far. However, DG plays a crucial role for muscle integrity since its targeting at the sarcolemma is often perturbed in DGC-related neuromuscular disorders.

  4. Hydrophobic interactions between the voltage sensor and pore mediate inactivation in Kv11.1 channels

    PubMed Central

    Perry, Matthew D.; Wong, Sophia; Ng, Chai Ann

    2013-01-01

    Kv11.1 channels are critical for the maintenance of a normal heart rhythm. The flow of potassium ions through these channels is controlled by two voltage-regulated gates, termed “activation” and “inactivation,” located at opposite ends of the pore. Crucially in Kv11.1 channels, inactivation gating occurs much more rapidly, and over a distinct range of voltages, compared with activation gating. Although it is clear that the fourth transmembrane segments (S4), within each subunit of the tetrameric channel, are important for controlling the opening and closing of the activation gate, their role during inactivation gating is much less clear. Here, we use rate equilibrium free energy relationship (REFER) analysis to probe the contribution of the S4 “voltage-sensor” helix during inactivation of Kv11.1 channels. Contrary to the important role that charged residues play during activation gating, it is the hydrophobic residues (Leu529, Leu530, Leu532, and Val535) that are the key molecular determinants of inactivation gating. Within the context of an interconnected multi-domain model of Kv11.1 inactivation gating, our REFER analysis indicates that the S4 helix and the S4–S5 linker undergo a conformational rearrangement shortly after that of the S5 helix and S5P linker, but before the S6 helix. Combining REFER analysis with double mutant cycle analysis, we provide evidence for a hydrophobic interaction between residues on the S4 and S5 helices. Based on a Kv11.1 channel homology model, we propose that this hydrophobic interaction forms the basis of an intersubunit coupling between the voltage sensor and pore domain that is an important mediator of inactivation gating. PMID:23980196

  5. 77 FR 8751 - Guidance for Decommissioning Planning During Operations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-02-15

    ..., 40, 50, 70, and 72 [NRC-2011-0286] Guidance for Decommissioning Planning During Operations AGENCY... Guide, DG-4014, ``Decommissioning Planning During Operations'' in the Federal Register with a public... Guide DG-4014, ``Decommissioning Planning During Operations.'' This DG refers to NUREG-1757 Volume 3...

  6. IMEX HDG-DG: A coupled implicit hybridized discontinuous Galerkin and explicit discontinuous Galerkin approach for Euler systems on cubed sphere.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kang, S.; Muralikrishnan, S.; Bui-Thanh, T.

    2017-12-01

    We propose IMEX HDG-DG schemes for Euler systems on cubed sphere. Of interest is subsonic flow, where the speed of the acoustic wave is faster than that of the nonlinear advection. In order to simulate these flows efficiently, we split the governing system into stiff part describing the fast waves and non-stiff part associated with nonlinear advection. The former is discretized implicitly with HDG method while explicit Runge-Kutta DG discretization is employed for the latter. The proposed IMEX HDG-DG framework: 1) facilitates high-order solution both in time and space; 2) avoids overly small time stepsizes; 3) requires only one linear system solve per time step; and 4) relatively to DG generates smaller and sparser linear system while promoting further parallelism owing to HDG discretization. Numerical results for various test cases demonstrate that our methods are comparable to explicit Runge-Kutta DG schemes in terms of accuracy, while allowing for much larger time stepsizes.

  7. alpha-Dystroglycan does not play a major pathogenic role in autosomal recessive hereditary inclusion-body myopathy.

    PubMed

    Broccolini, Aldobrando; Gliubizzi, Carla; Pavoni, Ernesto; Gidaro, Teresa; Morosetti, Roberta; Sciandra, Francesca; Giardina, Bruno; Tonali, Pietro; Ricci, Enzo; Brancaccio, Andrea; Mirabella, Massimiliano

    2005-02-01

    Mutations of the GNE gene are responsible for autosomal recessive hereditary inclusion-body myopathy (HIBM). In this study we searched for the presence of any significant abnormality of alpha-dystroglycan (alpha-DG), a highly glycosylated component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, in 5 HIBM patients which were previously clinically and genetically characterized. Immunocytochemical and immunoblot analysis showed that alpha-DG extracted from muscle biopsies was normally expressed and displayed its typical molecular mass. Immunoblot analysis on the wheat germ lectin-enriched glycoprotein fraction of muscles and primary myotubes showed a reduced amount of alpha-DG in 4 out of 5 HIBM patients, compared to normal and other diseased muscles. However, such altered lectin-binding behaviour, possibly reflecting a partial hyposialylation of alpha-DG, did not affect the laminin binding properties of alpha-DG. Therefore, the subtle changes within the alpha-DG glycosylation pattern, detected in HIBM muscles, likely do not play a key pathogenic role in this disorder.

  8. Study on Distribution Reliability with Parallel and On-site Distributed Generation Considering Protection Miscoordination and Tie Line

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chaitusaney, Surachai; Yokoyama, Akihiko

    In distribution system, Distributed Generation (DG) is expected to improve the system reliability as its backup generation. However, DG contribution in fault current may cause the loss of the existing protection coordination, e.g. recloser-fuse coordination and breaker-breaker coordination. This problem can drastically deteriorate the system reliability, and it is more serious and complicated when there are several DG sources in the system. Hence, the above conflict in reliability aspect unavoidably needs a detailed investigation before the installation or enhancement of DG is done. The model of composite DG fault current is proposed to find the threshold beyond which existing protection coordination is lost. Cases of protection miscoordination are described, together with their consequences. Since a distribution system may be tied with another system, the issues of tie line and on-site DG are integrated into this study. Reliability indices are evaluated and compared in the distribution reliability test system RBTS Bus 2.

  9. Comparison of Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation without mucopexy and rubber band ligation for haemorrhoids.

    PubMed

    Pol, Robert A; van der Zwet, Wil C; Kaijser, Mirjam; Schattenkerk, Marinus Eeftinck; Eddes, Eric-Hans

    2011-12-01

    Recurrences after Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation (DG-HAL) tend to occur in patients with concurrent mucosal prolapse. We retrospectively compared the results of DG-HAL and rubber band ligation (RBL) for the treatment of haemorrhoidal disease. From 2005 to 2009, all patients who underwent either a DG-HAL procedure or RBL were selected. Follow-up was done by telephone using a standardised questionnaire survey to assess patient satisfaction and complaints. When recurrent disease was suspected, patients revisited the clinic for further examination and treatment. A total of 239 DG-HAL patients and 47 RBL patients were analysed. Sixty-seven percent in the DG-HAL group and 79% in the RBL group had an improvement in symptoms after one treatment (p=0.22). Forty-six DG-HAL patients (19%) needed a second procedure versus three patients (6%) in the RBL group (p<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed a significant difference in disease recurrence in favour of RBL (hazard ratio (HR) 3.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-12.2). Patients in the DG-HAL group with recurrent haemorrhoids had a higher incidence of mucosal prolapse. DG-HAL seems very effective in treating lower-grade haemorrhoids. In more advanced disease, recurrence occurs due to persisting mucosal prolapse. RBL seems much more effective in reducing the prolapse and the chance of recurrence. Copyright © 2011 Arab Journal of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Different Effects of Oral Contraceptive and Dydrogesterone Treatment on Oxidative Stress Levels in Premenopausal Women

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Jui-Tung; Kotani, Kazuhiko

    2018-01-01

    Background The aim of the study was to observe the changes in blood oxidative stress levels by oral contraceptive (OC) and/or dydrogesterone (DG) treatment. Methods A retrospective cohort of 27 premenopausal women with primary dysmenorrhea consisted of the OC treatment group (N = 17) and the DG treatment group (N = 10) by choice of the initial treatment. The OC group included two subgroups: patients with continuous OC treatment (treated for at least 15 months, N = 10) and patients with discontinuous OC treatment (switched to DG treatment after approximately 6 months of initial OC treatment: N = 7). The DG group had 15 months of continuous DG treatment. Blood parameters, including diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs: an oxidative stress marker), were measured. Results The d-ROMs level was elevated in the OC group 3 months after initial treatment (mean: from 321 (at baseline) to 512 Carratelli Units (Carr U); P < 0.01), while such changes were not observed in the DG group. The d-ROMs level was reduced in the discontinuous OC subgroup 15 months after initial treatment (from 508 (3 months after initial treatment) to 372 Carr U; P < 0.01), while such changes were not observed in the continuous OC subgroup. The DG group displayed unchanged the d-ROMs level. Conclusion Replacing OC with DG can attenuate oxidative stress as elevated by OC, thereby alleviating the possible vascular risks with OC treatment. PMID:29317960

  11. Abnormal processing of deontological guilt in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    PubMed

    Basile, Barbara; Mancini, Francesco; Macaluso, Emiliano; Caltagirone, Carlo; Bozzali, Marco

    2014-07-01

    Guilt plays a significant role in the occurrence and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Two major types of guilt have been identified: one deriving from the transgression of a moral rule (deontological guilt DG), another (altruistic guilt AG), relying on the assumption of having compromised a personal altruistic goal. Clinical evidence suggests that OCD patients are particularly sensitive to DG, but not AG. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated brain response of OCD patients while processing DG and AG stimuli. A previously validated fMRI paradigm was used to selectively evoke DG and AG, and anger and sadness, as control emotions in 13 OCD patients and 19 healthy controls. Patients' behavioral results showed a prominent attitude to experience guilt, compared to controls, while accomplishing task. fMRI results revealed that patients have reduced activation in the anterior cingulate (ACC) and frontal gyrus when experiencing guilt, regardless of its specific type (DG or AG). When separately considering each type of guilt (against each of its control), patients showed decreased activation in the ACC, the insula and the precuneus, for DG. No significant differences were observed between groups when processing AG, anger or sad stimuli. This study provides evidence for an abnormal processing of guilt, and specifically DG, in OCD patients. We suggest that decreased activation may reflect patients' cerebral efficiency, which derives from their frequent exposure to guilty feelings ("neural efficiency hypothesis"). In conclusion, our study confirms a selective abnormal processing of guilt, and specifically DG, in OCD.

  12. Gating the glutamate gate of CLC-2 chloride channel by pore occupancy

    PubMed Central

    De Jesús-Pérez, José J.; Castro-Chong, Alejandra; Shieh, Ru-Chi; Hernández-Carballo, Carmen Y.; De Santiago-Castillo, José A.

    2016-01-01

    CLC-2 channels are dimeric double-barreled chloride channels that open in response to hyperpolarization. Hyperpolarization activates protopore gates that independently regulate the permeability of the pore in each subunit and the common gate that affects the permeability through both pores. CLC-2 channels lack classic transmembrane voltage–sensing domains; instead, their protopore gates (residing within the pore and each formed by the side chain of a glutamate residue) open under repulsion by permeant intracellular anions or protonation by extracellular H+. Here, we show that voltage-dependent gating of CLC-2: (a) is facilitated when permeant anions (Cl−, Br−, SCN−, and I−) are present in the cytosolic side; (b) happens with poorly permeant anions fluoride, glutamate, gluconate, and methanesulfonate present in the cytosolic side; (c) depends on pore occupancy by permeant and poorly permeant anions; (d) is strongly facilitated by multi-ion occupancy; (e) is absent under likely protonation conditions (pHe = 5.5 or 6.5) in cells dialyzed with acetate (an impermeant anion); and (f) was the same at intracellular pH 7.3 and 4.2; and (g) is observed in both whole-cell and inside-out patches exposed to increasing [Cl−]i under unlikely protonation conditions (pHe = 10). Thus, based on our results we propose that hyperpolarization activates CLC-2 mainly by driving intracellular anions into the channel pores, and that protonation by extracellular H+ plays a minor role in dislodging the glutamate gate. PMID:26666914

  13. Catheter-based time-gated near-infrared fluorescence/OCT imaging system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Yuankang; Abran, Maxime; Cloutier, Guy; Lesage, Frédéric

    2018-02-01

    We developed a new dual-modality intravascular imaging system based on fast time-gated fluorescence intensity imaging and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for the purpose of interventional detection of atherosclerosis. A pulsed supercontinuum laser was used for fluorescence and OCT imaging. A double-clad fiber (DCF)- based side-firing catheter was designed and fabricated to have a 23 μm spot size at a 2.2 mm working distance for OCT imaging. Its single-mode core is used for OCT, while its inner cladding transports fluorescence excitation light and collects fluorescent photons. The combination of OCT and fluorescence imaging was achieved by using a DCF coupler. For fluorescence detection, we used a time-gated technique with a novel single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) working in an ultra-fast gating mode. A custom-made delay chip was integrated in the system to adjust the delay between the excitation laser pulse and the SPAD gate-ON window. This technique allowed to detect fluorescent photons of interest while rejecting most of the background photons, thus leading to a significantly improved signal to noise ratio (SNR). Experiments were carried out in turbid media mimicking tissue with an indocyanine green (ICG) inclusion (1 mM and 100 μM) to compare the time-gated technique and the conventional continuous detection technique. The gating technique increased twofold depth sensitivity, and tenfold SNR at large distances. The dual-modality imaging capacity of our system was also validated with a silicone-based tissue-mimicking phantom.

  14. 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles with Dual Functional Properties: Nanothermotherapy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Lingyun; Zheng, Yajing; Yan, Hao; Xie, WenSheng; Sun, Xiaodan; Li, Ning; Tang, Jintian

    2016-03-01

    Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with appropriate surface chemistry have attracted wild attention in medical and biological application because of their current and potential usefulness such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, magnetic mediated hyperthermia (MMH), immunoassay, and in drug delivery, etc. In this study, we investigated the MRI contrast agents and MMH mediators properties of the novel 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) modified SPIONs. As a non-metabolizable glucose analogue, 2-DG can block glycolysis and inhibits protein glycosylation. Moreover, SPIONs coated with 2-DG molecules can be particularly attractive to resource-hungry cancer cells, therefore to realize the targeting strategy for the SPIONs. SPIONs with amino silane as the capping agent for amino-group surface modification were synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method with modification. Glutaraldehyde was further applied as an activation agent through which 2-DG was conjugated to the amino-coated SPIONs. Physicochemical characterizations of the 2-DG-SPIONs, such as surface morphology, surface charge and magnetic properties were investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), ζ-Potential and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), etc. Magnetic inductive heating characteristics of the 2-DG-SPIONs were analyzed by exposing the SPIONs suspension (magnetic fluid) under alternative magnetic field (AMF). U-251 human glioma cells with expression of glucose transport proteins type 1 and 3 (GLUT1 and GLUT 3), and L929 murine fibroblast cell as negative control, were employed to study the effect of 2-DG modification on the cell uptake for SPIONs. TEM images for ultra-thin sections as well as ICP-MS were applied to evaluate the SPIONs internalization within the cells. In vitro MRI was performed after cells were co-incubated with SPIONs and the T2 relaxation time was measured and compared. The results demonstrate that 2-DG-SPIONs were supermagnetic and in spherical shape with -10 nm diameter. Possessing ideal magnetic inductive heating characteristics, which can generate very rapid and efficient heating while upon AMF exposure, 2-DG-SPIONs can be applied as novel candidature of magnetic nanothermotherapy for cancer treatment. Modification of 2-DG can greatly promote the cell uptake of SPIONs and such cellular uptake of 2-DG-SPIONs was time dependent. Surface coating by 2-DG can remarkably enhance the MR imaging ability for the SPIONs on the cells of U251 cancer cells. In summary, our investigation provides a novel glucose analogue modified SPIONs with potential application in the targeting cancer nanothermotherapy and MR imaging.

  15. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of an N2-Guanine Adduct Derived from the Tumorigen Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene in DNA: Impact of Adduct Stereochemistry, Size, and Local DNA Sequence on Solution Conformations

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    The dimensions and arrangements of aromatic rings (topology) in adducts derived from the reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) diol epoxide metabolites with DNA influence the distortions and stabilities of double-stranded DNA, and hence their recognition and processing by the human nucleotide excision repair (NER) system. Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) is a highly tumorigenic six-ring PAH, which contains a nonplanar and aromatic fjord region that is absent in the structurally related bay region five-ring PAH benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The PAH diol epoxide–DNA adducts formed include the stereoisomeric 14S and 14Rtrans-anti-DB[a,l]P-N2-dG and the stereochemically analogous 10S- and 10R-B[a]P-N2-dG (B[a]P-dG) guanine adducts. However, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) solution studies of the 14S-DB[a,l]P-N2-dG adduct in DNA have not yet been presented. Here we have investigated the 14S-DB[a,l]P-N2-dG adduct in two different sequence contexts using NMR methods with distance-restrained molecular dynamics simulations. In duplexes with dC opposite the adduct deleted, a well-resolved base-displaced intercalative adduct conformation can be observed. In full duplexes, in contrast to the intercalated 14R stereoisomeric adduct, the bulky DB[a,l]P residue in the 14S adduct is positioned in a greatly widened and distorted minor groove, with significant disruptions and distortions of base pairing at the lesion site and two 5′-side adjacent base pairs. These unique structural features are significantly different from those of the stereochemically analogous but smaller B[a]P-dG adduct. The greater size and different topology of the DB[a,l]P aromatic ring system lead to greater structurally destabilizing DNA distortions that are partially compensated by stabilizing DB[a,l]P-DNA van der Waals interactions, whose combined effects impact the NER response to the adduct. These structural results broaden our understanding of the structure–function relationship in NER. PMID:24617538

  16. Double gaps along Shaker S4 demonstrate omega currents at three different closed states.

    PubMed

    Gamal El-Din, Tamer M; Heldstab, Hansjakob; Lehmann, Claudia; Greeff, Nikolaus G

    2010-01-01

    The aim of the present study was to investigate in detail how the voltage sensor in the Shaker potassium channel moves during the gating process. After the publication of the open channel structure from the crystallized K(V)AP channel in 2003, an alternative so-called "paddle" model was put forward in contrast to the existing helical screw model. The voltage sensor S4 contains 4 arginine residues relevant for gating, R1(362), R2(365), R3(368) and R4(371), each separated by 2 neutral residues. These charged residues coil as one of three threads on the S4-alpha-helix. Based on a previous finding that the mutation R1S leads to the so-called omega leak current through a "gating-pore" in the closed state, we introduced gaps systematically along the arginine thread substituting long arginines by short serines. Mutations R2S or R3S did neither create transient nor steady leaks. The fact that the native residue A359, which is located three amino acids in front of R1, is a short one, motivated us to check its role. Mutation of A359 to arginine blocked the omega current in the R1S mutant indicating that the omega pore is occupied by A359 and R1. Introducing further double gaps (RR to SS) at sequential positions (0 + 1, 1 + 2, 2 + 3), produced clear leak currents which were remarkably stable over a wide voltage range. These leaks contradict that S4 would swing together with S3 in lipid according to the paddle hypothesis. Rather, our results show that during gating the S4 segment moves in 3 helical steps through a fixed pore formed by the channel protein.

  17. Nanoelectronics and Plasma Processing---The Next 15 Years and Beyond

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lieberman, Michael A.

    2006-10-01

    The number of transistors per chip has doubled every 2 years since 1959, and this doubling will continue over the next 15 years as transistor sizes shrink. There has been a 25 million-fold decrease in cost for the same performance, and in 15 years a desktop computer will be hundreds of times more powerful than one today. Transistors now have 37 nm (120 atoms) gate lengths and 1.5 nm (5 atoms) gate oxide thicknesses. The smallest working transistor has a 5 nm (17 atoms) gate length, close to the limiting gate length, from simulations, of about 4 nm. Plasma discharges are used to fabricate hundreds of billions of these nano-size transistors on a silicon wafer. These discharges have evolved from a first generation of ``low density'' reactors capacitively driven by a single source, to a second generation of ``high density'' reactors (inductive and electron cyclotron resonance) having two rf power sources, in order to control independently the ion flux and ion bombarding energy to the substrate. A third generation of ``moderate density'' reactors, driven capacitively by one high and one low frequency rf source, is now widely used. Recently, triple frequency and combined dc/dual frequency discharges have been investigated, to further control processing characteristics, such as ion energy distributions, uniformity, and plasma etch selectivities. There are many interesting physics issues associated with these discharges, including stochastic heating of discharge electrons by dual frequency sheaths, nonlinear frequency interactions, powers supplied by the multi-frequency sources, and electromagnetic effects such as standing waves and skin effects. Beyond the 4 nm transistor limit lies a decade of further performance improvements for conventional nanoelectronics, and beyond that, a dimly-seen future of spintronics, single-electron transistors, cross-bar latches, and molecular electronics.

  18. 77 FR 71359 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-30

    ...H Gliders AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION... DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000T gliders equipped with Solo Kleinmotoren Model 2350 C engines. This... proposed AD, contact Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 60 01 52, D 71050 Sindelfingen, Germany; telephone...

  19. Localization of alpha-dystroglycan on the podocyte: from top to toe.

    PubMed

    Vogtländer, Nils P J; Dijkman, Henry; Bakker, Marinka A H; Campbell, Kevin P; van der Vlag, Johan; Berden, Jo H M

    2005-11-01

    alpha-Dystroglycan (DG) is a negatively charged membrane-associated glycoprotein that links the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. Previously, we described that alpha-DG covers the whole podocyte cell membrane in the rat. However, our finding was challenged by the description of a strictly basolateral localization in human kidney biopsies, using a different antibody against alpha-DG. Therefore, we studied the exact localization of glomerular alpha-DG by using these two antibodies in both species. The studies were performed by using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) IIH6 and VIA4.1 in immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and immunoelectron microscopy on both rat and human kidney sections, as well as on cultured mouse podocytes. The apical localization of alpha-DG on podocytes was more dominant than the basolateral localization. The basolateral staining with MoAb VIA4.1 was more pronounced than that of MoAb IIH6. With both MoAbs, the staining in rat kidneys was more prominent, in comparison to human kidneys. We conclude that alpha-DG is expressed at both the basolateral and apical sides of the podocyte. This localization suggests that alpha-DG plays a dual role in the maintenance of the unique architecture of podocytes by its binding to the glomerular basement membrane, and in the maintenance of the integrity of the filtration slit, respectively.

  20. Locus Coeruleus Stimulation Facilitates Long-Term Depression in the Dentate Gyrus That Requires Activation of β-Adrenergic Receptors

    PubMed Central

    Hansen, Niels; Manahan-Vaughan, Denise

    2015-01-01

    Synaptic plasticity comprises a cellular mechanism through which the hippocampus most likely enables memory formation. Neuromodulation, related to arousal, is a key aspect in information storage. The activation of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons by novel experience leads to noradrenaline release in the hippocampus at the level of the dentate gyrus (DG). We explored whether synaptic plasticity in the DG is influenced by activation of the LC via electrical stimulation. Coupling of test-pulses that evoked stable basal synaptic transmission in the DG with stimulation of the LC induced β-adrenoreceptor-dependent long-term depression (LTD) at perforant path–DG synapses in adult rats. Furthermore, persistent LTD (>24 h) induced by perforant path stimulation also required activation of β-adrenergic receptors: Whereas a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist (propranolol) prevented, an agonist (isoproterenol) strengthened the persistence of LTD for over 24 h. These findings support the hypothesis that persistent LTD in the DG is modulated by β-adrenergic receptors. Furthermore, LC activation potently facilitates DG LTD. This suggests in turn that synaptic plasticity in the DG is tightly regulated by activity in the noradrenergic system. This may reflect the role of the LC in selecting salient information for subsequent synaptic processing in the hippocampus. PMID:24464942

  1. AuNP-DG: deoxyglucose-labeled gold nanoparticles as X-ray computed tomography contrast agents for cancer imaging.

    PubMed

    Aydogan, Bulent; Li, Ji; Rajh, Tijana; Chaudhary, Ahmed; Chmura, Steven J; Pelizzari, Charles; Wietholt, Christian; Kurtoglu, Metin; Redmond, Peter

    2010-10-01

    To study the feasibility of using 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG)-labeled gold nanoparticle (AuNP-DG) as a computed tomography (CT) contrast agent with tumor targeting capability through in vitro experiments. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were fabricated and were conjugated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. The human alveolar epithelial cancer cell line, A-549, was chosen for the in vitro cellular uptake assay. Two groups of cell samples were incubated with the AuNP-DG and the unlabeled AuNP, respectively. Following the incubation, the cells were washed with sterile PBS to remove the excess gold nanoparticles and spun to cell pellets using a centrifuge. The cell pellets were imaged using a microCT scanner immediately after the centrifugation. The reconstructed CT images were analyzed using a commercial software package. Significant contrast enhancement in the cell samples incubated with the AuNP-DG with respect to the cell samples incubated with the unlabeled AuNP was observed in multiple CT slices. Results from this study demonstrate enhanced uptake of 2-DG-labeled gold nanoparticle by cancer cells in vitro and warrant further experiments to study the exact molecular mechanism by which the AuNP-DG is internalized and retained in the tumor cells.

  2. Immunogenicity of a novel Clade B HIV-1 vaccine combination: Results of phase 1 randomized placebo controlled trial of an HIV-1 GM-CSF-expressing DNA prime with a modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine boost in healthy HIV-1 uninfected adults

    PubMed Central

    Grunenberg, Nicole A.; Sanchez, Brittany J.; Seaton, Kelly E.; Ferrari, Guido; Moody, M. Anthony; Frahm, Nicole; Montefiori, David C.; Hay, Christine M.; Goepfert, Paul A.; Baden, Lindsey R.; Robinson, Harriet L.; Yu, Xuesong; Gilbert, Peter B.; McElrath, M. Juliana; Huang, Yunda; Tomaras, Georgia D.

    2017-01-01

    Background A phase 1 trial of a clade B HIV vaccine in HIV-uninfected adults evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a DNA prime co-expressing GM-CSF (Dg) followed by different numbers and intervals of modified vaccinia Ankara Boosts (M). Both vaccines produce virus-like particles presenting membrane-bound Env. Methods Four US sites randomized 48 participants to receiving 1/10th the DNA dose as DgDgMMM given at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 months, or full dose DgDgM_M or DgDgMM_M regimens, given at 0, 2, 4, and 8 months, and 0, 2, 4, 6, and 10 months, respectively. Peak immunogenicity was measured 2 weeks post-last vaccination. Results All regimens were well tolerated and safe. Full dose DgDgM_M and DgDgMM_M regimens generated Env-specific IgG to HIV-1 Env in >90%, IgG3 in >80%, and IgA in <20% of participants. Responses to gp140 and gp41 targets were more common and of higher magnitude than to gp120 and V1V2. The gp41 antibody included reactivity to the conserved immunodominant region with specificities known to mediate virus capture and phagocytosis and did not cross-react with a panel of intestinal flora antigens. The 3rd dose of MVA increased the avidity of elicited antibody (7.5% to 39%), the ADCC response to Bal gp120 (14% to 64%), and the one-year durability of the IgG3 responses to gp41 by 4-fold (13% vs. 3.5% retention of peak response). The co-expressed GM-CSF did not enhance responses over those in trials testing this vaccine without GM-CSF. Conclusion This DNA/MVA prime-boost regimen induced durable, functional humoral responses that included ADCC, high antibody avidity, and Env IgG1 and IgG3 binding responses to the immunodominant region of gp41. The third, spaced MVA boost improved the overall quality of the antibody response. These products without co-expressed GM-CSF but combined with protein boosts will be considered for efficacy evaluation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01571960 PMID:28727817

  3. Structural and Functional Analysis of Sulfolobus solfataricus Y-Family DNA Polymerase Dpo4-Catalyzed Bypass of the Malondialdehyde−Deoxyguanosine Adduct

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Eoff, Robert L.; Stafford, Jennifer B.; Szekely, Jozsef

    2010-01-12

    Oxidative stress can induce the formation of reactive electrophiles, such as DNA peroxidation products, e.g., base propenals, and lipid peroxidation products, e.g., malondialdehyde. Base propenals and malondialdehyde react with DNA to form adducts, including 3-(2'-deoxy-{beta}-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-{alpha}]purin-10(3H)-one (M{sub 1}dG). When paired opposite cytosine in duplex DNA at physiological pH, M{sub 1}dG undergoes ring opening to form N{sup 2}-(3-oxo-1-propenyl)-dG (N{sup 2}-OPdG). Previous work has shown that M{sub 1}dG is mutagenic in bacteria and mammalian cells and that its mutagenicity in Escherichia coli is dependent on induction of the SOS response, indicating a role for translesion DNA polymerases in the bypass of M{sub 1}dG.more » To probe the mechanism by which translesion polymerases bypass M{sub 1}dG, kinetic and structural studies were conducted with a model Y-family DNA polymerase, Dpo4 from Sulfolobus solfataricus. The level of steady-state incorporation of dNTPs opposite M{sub 1}dG was reduced 260-2900-fold and exhibited a preference for dATP incorporation. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the full-length extension products revealed a spectrum of products arising principally by incorporation of dC or dA opposite M{sub 1}dG followed by partial or full-length extension. A greater proportion of -1 deletions were observed when dT was positioned 5' of M{sub 1}dG. Two crystal structures were determined, including a 'type II' frameshift deletion complex and another complex with Dpo4 bound to a dC-M{sub 1}dG pair located in the postinsertion context. Importantly, M{sub 1}dG was in the ring-closed state in both structures, and in the structure with dC opposite M{sub 1}dG, the dC residue moved out of the Dpo4 active site, into the minor groove. The results are consistent with the reported mutagenicity of M{sub 1}dG and illustrate how the lesion may affect replication events.« less

  4. Immunogenicity of a novel Clade B HIV-1 vaccine combination: Results of phase 1 randomized placebo controlled trial of an HIV-1 GM-CSF-expressing DNA prime with a modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine boost in healthy HIV-1 uninfected adults.

    PubMed

    Buchbinder, Susan P; Grunenberg, Nicole A; Sanchez, Brittany J; Seaton, Kelly E; Ferrari, Guido; Moody, M Anthony; Frahm, Nicole; Montefiori, David C; Hay, Christine M; Goepfert, Paul A; Baden, Lindsey R; Robinson, Harriet L; Yu, Xuesong; Gilbert, Peter B; McElrath, M Juliana; Huang, Yunda; Tomaras, Georgia D

    2017-01-01

    A phase 1 trial of a clade B HIV vaccine in HIV-uninfected adults evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a DNA prime co-expressing GM-CSF (Dg) followed by different numbers and intervals of modified vaccinia Ankara Boosts (M). Both vaccines produce virus-like particles presenting membrane-bound Env. Four US sites randomized 48 participants to receiving 1/10th the DNA dose as DgDgMMM given at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 months, or full dose DgDgM_M or DgDgMM_M regimens, given at 0, 2, 4, and 8 months, and 0, 2, 4, 6, and 10 months, respectively. Peak immunogenicity was measured 2 weeks post-last vaccination. All regimens were well tolerated and safe. Full dose DgDgM_M and DgDgMM_M regimens generated Env-specific IgG to HIV-1 Env in >90%, IgG3 in >80%, and IgA in <20% of participants. Responses to gp140 and gp41 targets were more common and of higher magnitude than to gp120 and V1V2. The gp41 antibody included reactivity to the conserved immunodominant region with specificities known to mediate virus capture and phagocytosis and did not cross-react with a panel of intestinal flora antigens. The 3rd dose of MVA increased the avidity of elicited antibody (7.5% to 39%), the ADCC response to Bal gp120 (14% to 64%), and the one-year durability of the IgG3 responses to gp41 by 4-fold (13% vs. 3.5% retention of peak response). The co-expressed GM-CSF did not enhance responses over those in trials testing this vaccine without GM-CSF. This DNA/MVA prime-boost regimen induced durable, functional humoral responses that included ADCC, high antibody avidity, and Env IgG1 and IgG3 binding responses to the immunodominant region of gp41. The third, spaced MVA boost improved the overall quality of the antibody response. These products without co-expressed GM-CSF but combined with protein boosts will be considered for efficacy evaluation. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01571960.

  5. Ionic liquid versus SiO 2 gated a-IGZO thin film transistors: A direct comparison

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pudasaini, Pushpa Raj; Noh, Joo Hyon; Wong, Anthony T.

    Here, ionic liquid gated field effect transistors have been extensively studied due to their low operation voltage, ease of processing and the realization of high electric fields at low bias voltages. Here, we report ionic liquid (IL) gated thin film transistors (TFTs) based on amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (a-IGZO) active layers and directly compare the characteristics with a standard SiO 2 gated device. The transport measurements of the top IL gated device revealed the n-channel property of the IGZO thin film with a current ON/OFF ratio ~10 5, a promising field effect mobility of 14.20 cm 2V –1s –1,more » and a threshold voltage of 0.5 V. Comparable measurements on the bottom SiO2 gate insulator revealed a current ON/OFF ratio >108, a field effect mobility of 13.89 cm 2V –1s –1 and a threshold voltage of 2.5 V. Furthermore, temperature-dependent measurements revealed that the ionic liquid electric double layer can be “frozen-in” by cooling below the glass transition temperature with an applied electrical bias. Positive and negative freezing bias locks-in the IGZO TFT “ON” and “OFF” state, respectively, which could lead to new switching and possibly non-volatile memory applications.« less

  6. Ionic liquid versus SiO 2 gated a-IGZO thin film transistors: A direct comparison

    DOE PAGES

    Pudasaini, Pushpa Raj; Noh, Joo Hyon; Wong, Anthony T.; ...

    2015-08-12

    Here, ionic liquid gated field effect transistors have been extensively studied due to their low operation voltage, ease of processing and the realization of high electric fields at low bias voltages. Here, we report ionic liquid (IL) gated thin film transistors (TFTs) based on amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (a-IGZO) active layers and directly compare the characteristics with a standard SiO 2 gated device. The transport measurements of the top IL gated device revealed the n-channel property of the IGZO thin film with a current ON/OFF ratio ~10 5, a promising field effect mobility of 14.20 cm 2V –1s –1,more » and a threshold voltage of 0.5 V. Comparable measurements on the bottom SiO2 gate insulator revealed a current ON/OFF ratio >108, a field effect mobility of 13.89 cm 2V –1s –1 and a threshold voltage of 2.5 V. Furthermore, temperature-dependent measurements revealed that the ionic liquid electric double layer can be “frozen-in” by cooling below the glass transition temperature with an applied electrical bias. Positive and negative freezing bias locks-in the IGZO TFT “ON” and “OFF” state, respectively, which could lead to new switching and possibly non-volatile memory applications.« less

  7. Leukemia cells demonstrate a different metabolic perturbation provoked by 2-deoxyglucose.

    PubMed

    Miwa, Hiroshi; Shikami, Masato; Goto, Mineaki; Mizuno, Shohei; Takahashi, Miyuki; Tsunekawa-Imai, Norikazu; Ishikawa, Takamasa; Mizutani, Motonori; Horio, Tomohiro; Gotou, Mayuko; Yamamoto, Hidesuke; Wakabayashi, Motohiro; Watarai, Masaya; Hanamura, Ichiro; Imamura, Akira; Mihara, Hidetsugu; Nitta, Masakazu

    2013-05-01

    The shift in energy metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis can serve as a target for the inhibition of cancer growth. Here, we examined the metabolic changes induced by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), a glycolysis inhibitor, in leukemia cells by metabolome analysis. NB4 cells mainly utilized glucose as an energy source by glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, since metabolites in the glycolytic pathway and in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle were significantly decreased by 2-DG. In THP-1 cells, metabolites in the TCA cycle were not decreased to the same extent by 2-DG as in NB4 cells, which indicates that THP-1 utilizes energy sources other than glucose. TCA cycle metabolites in THP-1 cells may be derived from acetyl-CoA by fatty acid β-oxidation, which was supported by abundant detection of carnitine and acetylcarnitine in THP-1 cells. 2-DG treatment increased the levels of pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) metabolites and augmented the generation of NADPH by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. An increase in NADPH and upregulation of glutathione synthetase expression resulted in the increase in the reduced form of glutathione by 2-DG in NB4 cells. We demonstrated that a combination of 2-DG and inhibition of PPP by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) effectively suppressed the growth of NB4 cells. The replenishment of the TCA cycle by fatty acid oxidation by carnitine palmitoyltransferase in THP-1 cells, treated by 2-DG, might be regulated by AMPK, as the combination of 2-DG and inhibition of AMPK by compound C potently suppressed the growth of THP-1 cells. Although 2-DG has been effective in preclinical and clinical studies, this treatment has not been fully explored due to concerns related to potential toxicities such as brain toxicity at high doses. We demonstrated that a combination of 2-DG and DHEA or compound C at a relatively low concentration effectively inhibits the growth of NB4 and THP-1 cells, respectively. These observations may aid in the identification of appropriate combinations of metabolic inhibitors at low concentrations which do not cause toxicities.

  8. Two Sulfur Glycoside Compounds Isolated from Lepidium apetalum Willd Protect NRK52e Cells against Hypertonic-Induced Adhesion and Inflammation by Suppressing the MAPK Signaling Pathway and RAAS.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Peipei; Zheng, Xiaoke; Li, Meng; Ke, Yingying; Fu, Yang; Zhang, Qi; Wang, Xiaolan; Feng, Weisheng

    2017-11-12

    Lepidium apetalum Willd has been used to reduce edema and promote urination. Cis -desulfoglucotropaeolin ( cis -DG) and trans -desulfoglucotropaeolin ( trans -DG) were isolated from Lepidium apetalum Willd, and caused a significant increase in cell viability in a hypertonic model in NRK52e cells. In the hypertonic model, cis -DG and trans -DG significantly promoted the cell viability of NRK52e cells and inhibited the elevation of Na⁺ in the supernatant, inhibited the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) system, significantly reduced the levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) and aldosterone (ALD), and lowered aquaporin-2 (AQP2) and Na⁺-K⁺ ATP content in renal medulla. After treatment with cis -DG and trans -DG, expression of calcineurin (CAN) and Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) was decreased in renal tissue and Ca 2+ influx was inhibited, thereby reducing the secretion of transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), reversing the increase in adhesion and inflammatory factor E-selectin and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) induced by high NaCl, while reducing oxidative stress status and decreasing the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2). Furthermore, inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) expression also contributed to these improvements. The cis -DG and trans -DG reduced the expression of p-p44/42 MAPK, p-JNK and p-p38, inhibited the phosphorylation of the MAPK signaling pathway in NRN52e cells induced by high salt, decreased the overexpression of p-p38 and p-HSP27, and inhibited the overactivation of the p38-MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting that the p38-MAPK pathway may play a vital role in the hypertonic-induced adhesion and inflammatory response. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the mechanism of cis -DG and trans -DG may mainly be through inhibiting the p38-MAPK signaling pathway, inhibiting the excessive activation of the RAAS system, and thereby reducing adhesion and inflammatory factors.

  9. Mutations in GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase B cause congenital and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies associated with hypoglycosylation of α-dystroglycan.

    PubMed

    Carss, Keren J; Stevens, Elizabeth; Foley, A Reghan; Cirak, Sebahattin; Riemersma, Moniek; Torelli, Silvia; Hoischen, Alexander; Willer, Tobias; van Scherpenzeel, Monique; Moore, Steven A; Messina, Sonia; Bertini, Enrico; Bönnemann, Carsten G; Abdenur, Jose E; Grosmann, Carla M; Kesari, Akanchha; Punetha, Jaya; Quinlivan, Ros; Waddell, Leigh B; Young, Helen K; Wraige, Elizabeth; Yau, Shu; Brodd, Lina; Feng, Lucy; Sewry, Caroline; MacArthur, Daniel G; North, Kathryn N; Hoffman, Eric; Stemple, Derek L; Hurles, Matthew E; van Bokhoven, Hans; Campbell, Kevin P; Lefeber, Dirk J; Lin, Yung-Yao; Muntoni, Francesco

    2013-07-11

    Congenital muscular dystrophies with hypoglycosylation of α-dystroglycan (α-DG) are a heterogeneous group of disorders often associated with brain and eye defects in addition to muscular dystrophy. Causative variants in 14 genes thought to be involved in the glycosylation of α-DG have been identified thus far. Allelic mutations in these genes might also cause milder limb-girdle muscular dystrophy phenotypes. Using a combination of exome and Sanger sequencing in eight unrelated individuals, we present evidence that mutations in guanosine diphosphate mannose (GDP-mannose) pyrophosphorylase B (GMPPB) can result in muscular dystrophy variants with hypoglycosylated α-DG. GMPPB catalyzes the formation of GDP-mannose from GTP and mannose-1-phosphate. GDP-mannose is required for O-mannosylation of proteins, including α-DG, and it is the substrate of cytosolic mannosyltransferases. We found reduced α-DG glycosylation in the muscle biopsies of affected individuals and in available fibroblasts. Overexpression of wild-type GMPPB in fibroblasts from an affected individual partially restored glycosylation of α-DG. Whereas wild-type GMPPB localized to the cytoplasm, five of the identified missense mutations caused formation of aggregates in the cytoplasm or near membrane protrusions. Additionally, knockdown of the GMPPB ortholog in zebrafish caused structural muscle defects with decreased motility, eye abnormalities, and reduced glycosylation of α-DG. Together, these data indicate that GMPPB mutations are responsible for congenital and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies with hypoglycosylation of α-DG. Copyright © 2013 The American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Morphopathological features in tissues of alpha-mannosidosis guinea pigs at different gestational ages.

    PubMed

    Auclair, D; Hopwood, J J

    2007-10-01

    Alpha-mannosidosis is an inherited metabolic disorder characterized by a reduction in alpha-D-mannosidase and intralysosomal accumulation of undegraded mannose-containing oligosaccharides. The alpha-mannosidosis guinea pig exhibits pathological similarities to its human counterpart, which make it a valuable animal model. To trace the progression of alpha-mannosidosis during foetal development, brain and visceral organs from affected and unaffected guinea pigs at 30, 36, 38, 51 and 65 days of gestation (dg) were examined by light and electron microscopy (term: approximately 68 dg). In the affected brain, distended lysosomes (vacuoles) were scarce up to 38 dg and were seen in few differentiating neuronal cells but mostly in macrophages, pericytes and endothelial cells. At 51 and 65 dg, several vacuoles were observed in some neurones, in many Purkinje cells, pericytes, endothelial and microglial cells, and in few cerebellar internal granule cells. Myelination had started by 51 dg. Non-myelinated axonal spheroids were detected in the brainstem at 65 dg. In the kidney cortex and liver, an increase in vacuolation was noticed between 36 and 65 dg. Some vacuolated cells were also noticed in the lungs and spleen at 51 and 65 dg. Altogether, these histological observations suggest that alpha-mannosidosis is unlikely to affect ontogenesis before the second half of gestation in guinea pigs; however, the morphopathological features recorded during the last quarter of gestation (which may roughly correspond to the period covering near term to 1-2 years of age in human) were clearly noticeable and may have had some impact.

  11. An evaluation of total starch and starch gelatinization methodologies in pelleted animal feed.

    PubMed

    Zhu, L; Jones, C; Guo, Q; Lewis, L; Stark, C R; Alavi, S

    2016-04-01

    The quantification of total starch content (TS) or degree of starch gelatinization (DG) in animal feed is always challenging because of the potential interference from other ingredients. In this study, the differences in TS or DG measurement in pelleted swine feed due to variations in analytical methodology were quantified. Pelleted swine feed was used to create 6 different diets manufactured with various processing conditions in a 2 × 3 factorial design (2 conditioning temperatures, 77 or 88°C, and 3 conditioning retention times, 15, 30, or 60 s). Samples at each processing stage (cold mash, hot mash, hot pelletized feed, and final cooled pelletized feed) were collected for each of the 6 treatments and analyzed for TS and DG. Two different methodologies were evaluated for TS determination (the AOAC International method 996.11 vs. the modified glucoamylase method) and DG determination (the modified glucoamylase method vs. differential scanning calorimetry [DSC]). For TS determination, the AOAC International method 996.11 measured lower TS values in cold pellets compared with the modified glucoamylase method. The AOAC International method resulted in lower TS in cold mash than cooled pelletized feed, whereas the modified glucoamylase method showed no significant differences in TS content before or after pelleting. For DG, the modified glucoamylase method demonstrated increased DG with each processing step. Furthermore, increasing the conditioning temperature and time resulted in a greater DG when evaluated by the modified glucoamylase method. However, results demonstrated that DSC is not suitable as a quantitative tool for determining DG in multicomponent animal feeds due to interferences from nonstarch transformations, such as protein denaturation.

  12. Synthesis and structure of duplex DNA containing the genotoxic nucleobase lesion N7-methylguanine

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lee, S.; Bowman, B.R.; Ueno, Y.

    2008-11-03

    The predominant product of aberrant DNA methylation is the genotoxic lesion N7-methyl-2{prime}-deoxyguanosine (m{sup 7}dG). M{sup 7}dG is recognized and excised by lesion-specific DNA glycosylases, namely AlkA in E. coli and Aag in humans. Structural studies of m{sup 7}dG recognition and catalysis by these enzymes have been hampered due to a lack of efficient means by which to incorporate the chemically labile m{sup 7}dG moiety site-specifically into DNA on a preparative scale. Here we report a solution to this problem. We stabilized the lesion toward acid-catalyzed and glycosylase-catalyzed depurination by 2{prime}-fluorination and toward base-catalyzed degradation using mild, nonaqueous conditions in themore » DNA deprotection reaction. Duplex DNA containing 2{prime}-fluoro-m{sup 7}dG (Fm{sup 7}dG) cocrystallized with AlkA as a host-guest complex in which the lesion-containing segment of DNA was nearly devoid of protein contacts, thus enabling the first direct visualization of the N7-methylguanine lesion nucleobase in DNA. The structure reveals that the base-pairing mode of Fm{sup 7}dG:C is nearly identical to that of G:C, and Fm{sup 7}dG does not induce any apparent structural disturbance of the duplex structure. These observations suggest that AlkA and Aag must perform a structurally invasive interrogation of DNA in order to detect the presence of intrahelical m{sup 7}dG lesions.« less

  13. 2-Deoxyglucose impairs Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth by stimulating Snf1-regulated and α-arrestin-mediated trafficking of hexose transporters 1 and 3.

    PubMed

    O'Donnell, Allyson F; McCartney, Rhonda R; Chandrashekarappa, Dakshayini G; Zhang, Bob B; Thorner, Jeremy; Schmidt, Martin C

    2015-03-01

    The glucose analog 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) inhibits the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human tumor cells, but its modes of action have not been fully elucidated. Yeast cells lacking Snf1 (AMP-activated protein kinase) are hypersensitive to 2DG. Overexpression of either of two low-affinity, high-capacity glucose transporters, Hxt1 and Hxt3, suppresses the 2DG hypersensitivity of snf1Δ cells. The addition of 2DG or the loss of Snf1 reduces HXT1 and HXT3 expression levels and stimulates transporter endocytosis and degradation in the vacuole. 2DG-stimulated trafficking of Hxt1 and Hxt3 requires Rod1/Art4 and Rog3/Art7, two members of the α-arrestin trafficking adaptor family. Mutations in ROD1 and ROG3 that block binding to the ubiquitin ligase Rsp5 eliminate Rod1- and Rog3-mediated trafficking of Hxt1 and Hxt3. Genetic analysis suggests that Snf1 negatively regulates both Rod1 and Rog3, but via different mechanisms. Snf1 activated by 2DG phosphorylates Rod1 but fails to phosphorylate other known targets, such as the transcriptional repressor Mig1. We propose a novel mechanism for 2DG-induced toxicity whereby 2DG stimulates the modification of α-arrestins, which promote glucose transporter internalization and degradation, causing glucose starvation even when cells are in a glucose-rich environment. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  14. Air quality impacts of distributed power generation in the South Coast Air Basin of California 1: Scenario development and modeling analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rodriguez, M. A.; Carreras-Sospedra, M.; Medrano, M.; Brouwer, J.; Samuelsen, G. S.; Dabdub, D.

    Distributed generation (DG) is generally defined as the operation of many small stationary power generators throughout an urban air basin. Although DG has the potential to supply a significant portion of the increased power demands in California and the rest of the United States, it may lead to increased levels of in-basin pollutants and adversely impact urban air quality. This study focuses on two main objectives: (1) the systematic characterization of DG installation in urban air basins, and (2) the simulation of potential air quality impacts using a state-of-the-art three-dimensional computational model. A general and systematic approach is devised to construct five realistic and 21 spanning scenarios of DG implementation in the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) of California. Realistic scenarios reflect an anticipated level of DG deployment in the SoCAB by the year 2010. Spanning scenarios are developed to determine the potential impacts of unexpected outcomes. Realistic implementations of DG in the SoCAB result in small differences in ozone and particulate matter concentrations in the basin compared to the baseline simulations. The baseline accounts for population increase, but does not consider any future emissions control measures. Model results for spanning implementations with extra high DG market penetration show that domain-wide ozone peak concentrations increase significantly. Also, air quality impacts of spanning implementations when DG operate during a 6-h period are larger than when the same amount of emissions are introduced during a 24-h period.

  15. Absence of IDH1-R132H mutation predicts rapid progression of nonenhancing diffuse glioma in older adults.

    PubMed

    Olar, Adriana; Raghunathan, Aditya; Albarracin, Constance T; Aldape, Kenneth D; Cahill, Daniel P; Powell, Suzanne Z; Goodman, J Clay; Fuller, Gregory N

    2012-06-01

    Advanced age and contrast enhancement portend a poor prognosis in diffuse glioma (DG). Diffuse glioma may present as nonenhancing tumors that rapidly progress in weeks to months to a pattern of ring enhancement, characteristic of glioblastoma (GBM). Mutations involving isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) have recently emerged as important diagnostic and prognostic markers in DG. R132H is the most common mutation, expressed in more than 80% of DG and secondary GBM but in less than 10% of primary GBM. Adults older than 50 years with nonenhancing, rapidly progressing DG were identified. A comparison group comprised randomly selected, age-matched patients with nonenhancing, nonprogressing DG. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 status was evaluated using anti-IDH1-R132H antibodies (Dianova, Hamburg, Germany). The results were correlated with the clinical outcomes. We identified 4 patients who presented with nonenhancing DG that rapidly progressed to ring-enhancing lesions that were subsequently diagnosed on surgical resection as GBM. This group showed absent IDH1-R132H expression, which is characteristic of primary GBM. The comparison group of 5 patients presented with nonenhancing, nonprogressing DG, and all 5 tumors showed IDH1-R132H expression. In conclusion, negative IDH1-R132H mutation status in nonenhancing DG of older adults is a poor prognostic factor associated with rapid progression to ring-enhancing GBM. The shorter interval of progression and negative IDH1-R132H mutation status suggest a similar molecular pathway as seen in primary GBM. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Generation of tunable double Fano resonances by plasmon hybridization in graphene–metal metamaterial

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yan, Zhendong; Qian, Lina; Zhan, Peng; Wang, Zhenlin

    2018-07-01

    We proposed the excitation of double Fano resonances by the destructive interference between the narrow electric symmetric/antisymmetric resonant modes formed by plasmon hybridization and a broad magnetic dipole resonance in a novel hybrid metamaterial composed of periodically patterned stacked graphene–ribbon pairs and gold split-ring resonators. The double Fano transparency windows in this hybrid metamaterial can be actively controlled by tuning the Fermi energy of graphene through the use of electric gating and its electronic mobility. Our designed dual Fano resonances exhibit a large group index associated with the resonance response in the transparency windows, suggesting promising applications in nanophotonics, such as a slow light device.

  17. Domain activities of PapC usher reveal the mechanism of action of an Escherichia coli molecular machine.

    PubMed

    Volkan, Ender; Ford, Bradley A; Pinkner, Jerome S; Dodson, Karen W; Henderson, Nadine S; Thanassi, David G; Waksman, Gabriel; Hultgren, Scott J

    2012-06-12

    P pili are prototypical chaperone-usher pathway-assembled pili used by Gram-negative bacteria to adhere to host tissues. The PapC usher contains five functional domains: a transmembrane β-barrel, a β-sandwich Plug, an N-terminal (periplasmic) domain (NTD), and two C-terminal (periplasmic) domains, CTD1 and CTD2. Here, we delineated usher domain interactions between themselves and with chaperone-subunit complexes and showed that overexpression of individual usher domains inhibits pilus assembly. Prior work revealed that the Plug domain occludes the pore of the transmembrane domain of a solitary usher, but the chaperone-adhesin-bound usher has its Plug displaced from the pore, adjacent to the NTD. We demonstrate an interaction between the NTD and Plug domains that suggests a biophysical basis for usher gating. Furthermore, we found that the NTD exhibits high-affinity binding to the chaperone-adhesin (PapDG) complex and low-affinity binding to the major tip subunit PapE (PapDE). We also demonstrate that CTD2 binds with lower affinity to all tested chaperone-subunit complexes except for the chaperone-terminator subunit (PapDH) and has a catalytic role in dissociating the NTD-PapDG complex, suggesting an interplay between recruitment to the NTD and transfer to CTD2 during pilus initiation. The Plug domain and the NTD-Plug complex bound all of the chaperone-subunit complexes tested including PapDH, suggesting that the Plug actively recruits chaperone-subunit complexes to the usher and is the sole recruiter of PapDH. Overall, our studies reveal the cooperative, active roles played by periplasmic domains of the usher to initiate, grow, and terminate a prototypical chaperone-usher pathway pilus.

  18. Policy for Distributed Solar 101: What Makes a Solar DG Market? | State,

    Science.gov Websites

    Local, and Tribal Governments | NREL for Distributed Solar 101: What Makes a Solar DG Market ? Policy for Distributed Solar 101: What Makes a Solar DG Market? The Solar Technical Assistance Team (STAT develop solar "Distributed Generation" markets. Case studies and research illustrate the

  19. 77 FR 50722 - Software Unit Testing for Digital Computer Software Used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-22

    ... NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2012-0195] Software Unit Testing for Digital Computer Software...) is issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1208, ``Software Unit Testing for Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants.'' The DG-1208 is proposed...

  20. 78 FR 65869 - Airworthiness Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-04

    ... Directives; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final... Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000T glider equipped with a Solo Kleinmotoren Model 2350 C engine. This AD results... in this AD, contact Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 60 01 52, D 71050 Sindelfingen, Germany...

  1. Development and Implementation of High-Throughput SNP Genotyping in Barley

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Approximately 22,000 SNPs were identified from barley ESTs and sequenced amplicons; 4,596 of them were tested for performance in three pilot phase Illumina GoldenGate assays. Pilot phase data from three barley doubled haploid mapping populations supported the production of an initial consensus map, ...

  2. 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine suppresses NO production and COX-2 activity via Rac1/STATs signaling in LPS-induced brain microglia.

    PubMed

    Kim, Hong Sook; Ye, Sang-Kyu; Cho, Ik Hyun; Jung, Joo Eun; Kim, Dong-Hyun; Choi, Seongwon; Kim, Yong-Sik; Park, Chung-Gyu; Kim, Tae-Yoon; Lee, Jung Weon; Chung, Myung-Hee

    2006-11-01

    Free 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (oh(8)dG), a nucleoside of 8-hydroxyguanine (oh(8)Gua), present in cytosol is not incorporated into DNA. However, nothing is known about its biological function when it presents in cytosol as a free form. We demonstrate here for the first time that oh(8)dG inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity, and both gene transcriptions in microglia. Furthermore, oh(8)dG reduced mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine, such as IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, in activated BV2 cells. We also found that oh(8)dG suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through reduction of NADPH oxidase activity and blocked Rac1/STATs signal cascade. Finally, oh(8)dG suppressed recruitment of STATs and p300 to the iNOS and COX-2 promoters, and inhibited H3 histone acetylation. Taken together, these results provide new aspects of oh(8)dG as an anti-inflammatory agent.

  3. Optimization based on benefit of regional energy suppliers of distributed generation in active distribution network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huo, Xianxu; Li, Guodong; Jiang, Ling; Wang, Xudong

    2017-08-01

    With the development of electricity market, distributed generation (DG) technology and related policies, regional energy suppliers are encouraged to build DG. Under this background, the concept of active distribution network (ADN) is put forward. In this paper, a bi-level model of intermittent DG considering benefit of regional energy suppliers is proposed. The objective of the upper level is the maximization of benefit of regional energy suppliers. On this basis, the lower level is optimized for each scene. The uncertainties of DG output and load of users, as well as four active management measures, which include demand-side management, curtailing the output power of DG, regulating reactive power compensation capacity and regulating the on-load tap changer, are considered. Harmony search algorithm and particle swarm optimization are combined as a hybrid strategy to solve the model. This model and strategy are tested with IEEE-33 node system, and results of case study indicate that the model and strategy successfully increase the capacity of DG and benefit of regional energy suppliers.

  4. Effect of distributed generation installation on power loss using genetic algorithm method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hasibuan, A.; Masri, S.; Othman, W. A. F. W. B.

    2018-02-01

    Injection of the generator distributed in the distribution network can affect the power system significantly. The effect that occurs depends on the allocation of DG on each part of the distribution network. Implementation of this approach has been made to the IEEE 30 bus standard and shows the optimum location and size of the DG which shows a decrease in power losses in the system. This paper aims to show the impact of distributed generation on the distribution system losses. The main purpose of installing DG on a distribution system is to reduce power losses on the power system.Some problems in power systems that can be solved with the installation of DG, one of which will be explored in the use of DG in this study is to reduce the power loss in the transmission line. Simulation results from case studies on the IEEE 30 bus standard system show that the system power loss decreased from 5.7781 MW to 1,5757 MW or just 27,27%. The simulated DG is injected to the bus with the lowest voltage drop on the bus number 8.

  5. Control of nuclear β-dystroglycan content is crucial for the maintenance of nuclear envelope integrity and function.

    PubMed

    Vélez-Aguilera, Griselda; de Dios Gómez-López, Juan; Jiménez-Gutiérrez, Guadalupe E; Vásquez-Limeta, Alejandra; Laredo-Cisneros, Marco S; Gómez, Pablo; Winder, Steve J; Cisneros, Bulmaro

    2018-02-01

    β-Dystroglycan (β-DG) is a plasma membrane protein that has ability to target to the nuclear envelope (NE) to maintain nuclear architecture. Nevertheless, mechanisms controlling β-DG nuclear localization and the physiological consequences of a failure of trafficking are largely unknown. We show that β-DG has a nuclear export pathway in myoblasts that depends on the recognition of a nuclear export signal located in its transmembrane domain, by CRM1. Remarkably, NES mutations forced β-DG nuclear accumulation resulting in mislocalization and decreased levels of emerin and lamin B1 and disruption of various nuclear processes in which emerin (centrosome-nucleus linkage and β-catenin transcriptional activity) and lamin B1 (cell cycle progression and nucleoli structure) are critically involved. In addition to nuclear export, the lifespan of nuclear β-DG is restricted by its nuclear proteasomal degradation. Collectively our data show that control of nuclear β-DG content by the combination of CRM1 nuclear export and nuclear proteasome pathways is physiologically relevant to preserve proper NE structure and activity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Diethylentriaminepenta acetic acid glucose conjugates as a cell permeable iron chelator.

    PubMed

    Mosayebnia, Mona; Shafiee-Ardestani, Mehdi; Pasalar, Parvin; Mashayekhi, Mojgan; Amanlou, Massoud

    2014-01-01

    To find out whether DTPA-DG complex can enhance clearance of intracellular free iron. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-D-deoxy-glucosamine (DTPA-DG) was synthesized and examined for its activity as a cell-permeable iron chelator in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG2) cell line exposed to high concentration of iron sulfate and compared with deferoxamine (DFO), a prototype iron chelator. The effect of DTPA-DG on cell viability was monitored using the 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide MTT assay as well. There was a significant increase of iron level after iron overload induction in HEPG2 cell culture. DTPA-DG presented a remarkable capacity to iron burden reducing with estimated 50% inhibitory concentration value of 65.77 nM. In fact, glycosyl moiety was gained access of DTPA to intracellular iron deposits through glucose transporter systems. DTPA-DG, more potent than DFO to sequester deposits of free iron with no profound toxic effect. The results suggest the potential of DTPA-DG in chelating iron and permitting its excretion from primary organ storage.

  7. Progress towards two double-dot qubits in Si/SiGe: quadruple quantum dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Foote, Ryan H.; Ward, Daniel R.; Kim, Dohun; Thorgrimsson, Brandur; Smith, Luke; Savage, D. E.; Lagally, M. G.; Friesen, Mark; Coppersmith, S. N.; Eriksson, M. A.

    We present the fabrication and electrical characterization of two types of gate-defined quadruple quantum dot devices formed in Si/SiGe heterostructures. We compare two designs, one which uses three layers of tightly overlapping gates and is similar to the work found in, and one which uses only two layers of gates and has significantly more open space between neighboring gates. We demonstrate charge-state conditional quantum oscillations in the more open device, we compare the tunability of both devices with each other, and we discuss the implications of these measurements on a path towards larger numbers of coupled quantum dot qubits. This work is supported in part by ARO (W911NF-12-1-0607), NSF (DMR-1206915, PHY-1104660), ONR (N00014-15-1-0029) and the Department of Defense. Development and maintenance of the growth facilities used for fabricating samples supported by DOE (DE-FG02-03ER46028). DK acknowledges support from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Institutional Program (Project No. 2E26681). This research utilized facilities supported by the NSF (DMR-0832760, DMR-1121288).

  8. Probing Conformational Changes in Human DNA Topoisomerase IIα by Pulsed Alkylation Mass Spectrometry*

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Yu-tsung; Collins, Tammy R. L.; Guan, Ziqiang; Chen, Vincent B.; Hsieh, Tao-Shih

    2012-01-01

    Type II topoisomerases are essential enzymes for solving DNA topological problems by passing one segment of DNA duplex through a transient double-strand break in a second segment. The reaction requires the enzyme to precisely control DNA cleavage and gate opening coupled with ATP hydrolysis. Using pulsed alkylation mass spectrometry, we were able to monitor the solvent accessibilities around 13 cysteines distributed throughout human topoisomerase IIα by measuring the thiol reactivities with monobromobimane. Most of the measured reactivities are in accordance with the predicted ones based on a homology structural model generated from available crystal structures. However, these results reveal new information for both the residues not covered in the structural model and potential differences between the modeled and solution holoenzyme structures. Furthermore, on the basis of the reactivity changes of several cysteines located at the N-gate and DNA gate, we could monitor the movement of topoisomerase II in the presence of cofactors and detect differences in the DNA gate between two closed clamp enzyme conformations locked by either 5′-adenylyl β,γ-imidodiphosphate or the anticancer drug ICRF-193. PMID:22679013

  9. Interface passivation and trap reduction via hydrogen fluoride for molybdenum disulfide on silicon oxide back-gate transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Yaoqiao; San Yip, Pak; Tang, Chak Wah; Lau, Kei May; Li, Qiang

    2018-04-01

    Layered semiconductor molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has recently emerged as a promising material for flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices because of its finite bandgap and high degree of gate control. Here, we report a hydrogen fluoride (HF) passivation technique for improving the carrier mobility and interface quality of chemical vapor deposited monolayer MoS2 on a SiO2/Si substrate. After passivation, the fabricated MoS2 back-gate transistors demonstrate a more than double improvement in average electron mobility, a reduced gate hysteresis gap of 3 V, and a low interface trapped charge density of ˜5.8 × 1011 cm-2. The improvements are attributed to the satisfied interface dangling bonds, thus a reduction of interface trap states and trapped charges. Surface x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and first-principles simulation were performed to verify the HF passivation effect. The results here highlight the necessity of a MoS2/dielectric passivation strategy and provides a viable route for enhancing the performance of MoS2 nano-electronic devices.

  10. DC and analog/RF performance optimisation of source pocket dual work function TFET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raad, Bhagwan Ram; Sharma, Dheeraj; Kondekar, Pravin; Nigam, Kaushal; Baronia, Sagar

    2017-12-01

    We investigate a systematic study of source pocket tunnel field-effect transistor (SP TFET) with dual work function of single gate material by using uniform and Gaussian doping profile in the drain region for ultra-low power high frequency high speed applications. For this, a n+ doped region is created near the source/channel junction to decrease the depletion width results in improvement of ON-state current. However, the dual work function of the double gate is used for enhancement of the device performance in terms of DC and analog/RF parameters. Further, to improve the high frequency performance of the device, Gaussian doping profile is considered in the drain region with different characteristic lengths which decreases the gate to drain capacitance and leads to drastic improvement in analog/RF figures of merit. Furthermore, the optimisation is performed with different concentrations for uniform and Gaussian drain doping profile and for various sectional length of lower work function of the gate electrode. Finally, the effect of temperature variation on the device performance is demonstrated.

  11. Prophase pathway-dependent removal of cohesin from human chromosomes requires opening of the Smc3–Scc1 gate

    PubMed Central

    Buheitel, Johannes; Stemmann, Olaf

    2013-01-01

    Faithful transmission of chromosomes during eukaryotic cell division requires sister chromatids to be paired from their generation in S phase until their separation in M phase. Cohesion is mediated by the cohesin complex, whose Smc1, Smc3 and Scc1 subunits form a tripartite ring that entraps both DNA double strands. Whereas centromeric cohesin is removed in late metaphase by Scc1 cleavage, metazoan cohesin at chromosome arms is displaced already in prophase by proteolysis-independent signalling. Which of the three gates is triggered by the prophase pathway to open has remained enigmatic. Here, we show that displacement of human cohesin from early mitotic chromosomes requires dissociation of Smc3 from Scc1 but no opening of the other two gates. In contrast, loading of human cohesin onto chromatin in telophase occurs through the Smc1–Smc3 hinge. We propose that the use of differently regulated gates for loading and release facilitates unidirectionality of DNA's entry into and exit from the cohesin ring. PMID:23361318

  12. Gate-Tuned Thermoelectric Power in Black Phosphorus.

    PubMed

    Saito, Yu; Iizuka, Takahiko; Koretsune, Takashi; Arita, Ryotaro; Shimizu, Sunao; Iwasa, Yoshihiro

    2016-08-10

    The electric field effect is a useful means of elucidating intrinsic material properties as well as for designing functional devices. The electric-double-layer transistor (EDLT) enables the control of carrier density in a wide range, which is recently proved to be an effective tool for the investigation of thermoelectric properties. Here, we report the gate-tuning of thermoelectric power in a black phosphorus (BP) single crystal flake with the thickness of 40 nm. Using an EDLT configuration, we successfully control the thermoelectric power (S) and find that the S of ion-gated BP reached +510 μV/K at 210 K in the hole depleted state, which is much higher than the reported bulk single crystal value of +340 μV/K at 300 K. We compared this experimental data with the first-principles-based calculation and found that this enhancement is qualitatively explained by the effective thinning of the conduction channel of the BP flake and nonuniformity of the channel owing to the gate operation in a depletion mode. Our results provide new opportunities for further engineering BP as a thermoelectric material in nanoscale.

  13. Pseudo-diode based on protonic/electronic hybrid oxide transistor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fu, Yang Ming; Liu, Yang Hui; Zhu, Li Qiang; Xiao, Hui; Song, An Ran

    2018-01-01

    Current rectification behavior has been proved to be essential in modern electronics. Here, a pseudo-diode is proposed based on protonic/electronic hybrid indium-gallium-zinc oxide electric-double-layer (EDL) transistor. The oxide EDL transistors are fabricated by using phosphorous silicate glass (PSG) based proton conducting electrolyte as gate dielectric. A diode operation mode is established on the transistor, originating from field configurable proton fluxes within the PSG electrolyte. Current rectification ratios have been modulated to values ranged between ˜4 and ˜50 000 with gate electrode biased at voltages ranged between -0.7 V and 0.1 V. Interestingly, the proposed pseudo-diode also exhibits field reconfigurable threshold voltages. When the gate is biased at -0.5 V and 0.3 V, threshold voltages are set to ˜-1.3 V and -0.55 V, respectively. The proposed pseudo-diode may find potential applications in brain-inspired platforms and low-power portable systems.

  14. Resonant tunneling device with two-dimensional quantum well emitter and base layers

    DOEpatents

    Simmons, J.A.; Sherwin, M.E.; Drummond, T.J.; Weckwerth, M.V.

    1998-10-20

    A double electron layer tunneling device is presented. Electrons tunnel from a two dimensional emitter layer to a two dimensional tunneling layer and continue traveling to a collector at a lower voltage. The emitter layer is interrupted by an isolation etch, a depletion gate, or an ion implant to prevent electrons from traveling from the source along the emitter to the drain. The collector is similarly interrupted by a backgate, an isolation etch, or an ion implant. When the device is used as a transistor, a control gate is added to control the allowed energy states of the emitter layer. The tunnel gate may be recessed to change the operating range of the device and allow for integrated complementary devices. Methods of forming the device are also set forth, utilizing epoxy-bond and stop etch (EBASE), pre-growth implantation of the backgate or post-growth implantation. 43 figs.

  15. Resonant tunneling device with two-dimensional quantum well emitter and base layers

    DOEpatents

    Simmons, Jerry A.; Sherwin, Marc E.; Drummond, Timothy J.; Weckwerth, Mark V.

    1998-01-01

    A double electron layer tunneling device is presented. Electrons tunnel from a two dimensional emitter layer to a two dimensional tunneling layer and continue traveling to a collector at a lower voltage. The emitter layer is interrupted by an isolation etch, a depletion gate, or an ion implant to prevent electrons from traveling from the source along the emitter to the drain. The collector is similarly interrupted by a backgate, an isolation etch, or an ion implant. When the device is used as a transistor, a control gate is added to control the allowed energy states of the emitter layer. The tunnel gate may be recessed to change the operating range of the device and allow for integrated complementary devices. Methods of forming the device are also set forth, utilizing epoxy-bond and stop etch (EBASE), pre-growth implantation of the backgate or post-growth implantation.

  16. Single-shot readout of accumulation mode Si/SiGe spin qubits using RF reflectometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Volk, Christian; Martins, Frederico; Malinowski, Filip; Marcus, Charles M.; Kuemmeth, Ferdinand

    Spin qubits based on gate-defined quantum dots are promising systems for realizing quantum computation. Due to their low concentration of nuclear-spin-carrying isotopes, Si/SiGe heterostructures are of particular interest. While high fidelities have been reported for single-qubit and two-qubit gate operations, qubit initialization and measurement times are relatively slow. In order to develop fast read-out techniques compatible with the operation of spin qubits, we characterize double and triple quantum dots confined in undoped Si/Si0.7Ge0.3 heterostructures using accumulation and depletion gates and a nearby RF charge sensor dot. We implement a RF reflectometry technique that allows single-shot charge read-out at integration times on the order of a few μs. We show our recent advancement towards implementing spin qubits in these structures, including spin-selective single-shot read-out.

  17. Water-gel for gating graphene transistors.

    PubMed

    Kim, Beom Joon; Um, Soong Ho; Song, Woo Chul; Kim, Yong Ho; Kang, Moon Sung; Cho, Jeong Ho

    2014-05-14

    Water, the primary electrolyte in biology, attracts significant interest as an electrolyte-type dielectric material for transistors compatible with biological systems. Unfortunately, the fluidic nature and low ionic conductivity of water prevents its practical usage in such applications. Here, we describe the development of a solid state, megahertz-operating, water-based gate dielectric system for operating graphene transistors. The new electrolyte systems were prepared by dissolving metal-substituted DNA polyelectrolytes into water. The addition of these biocompatible polyelectrolytes induced hydrogelation to provide solid-state integrity to the system. They also enhanced the ionic conductivities of the electrolytes, which in turn led to the quick formation of an electric double layer at the graphene/electrolyte interface that is beneficial for modulating currents in graphene transistors at high frequencies. At the optimized conditions, the Na-DNA water-gel-gated flexible transistors and inverters were operated at frequencies above 1 MHz and 100 kHz, respectively.

  18. Comprehensive evaluation of impacts of distributed generation integration in distribution network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peng, Sujiang; Zhou, Erbiao; Ji, Fengkun; Cao, Xinhui; Liu, Lingshuang; Liu, Zifa; Wang, Xuyang; Cai, Xiaoyu

    2018-04-01

    All Distributed generation (DG) as the supplement to renewable energy centralized utilization, is becoming the focus of development direction of renewable energy utilization. With the increasing proportion of DG in distribution network, the network power structure, power flow distribution, operation plans and protection are affected to some extent. According to the main impacts of DG, a comprehensive evaluation model of distributed network with DG is proposed in this paper. A comprehensive evaluation index system including 7 aspects, along with their corresponding index calculation method is established for quantitative analysis. The indices under different access capacity of DG in distribution network are calculated based on the IEEE RBTS-Bus 6 system and the evaluation result is calculated by analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The proposed model and method are verified effective and validity through case study.

  19. Graphene quantum dots-three-dimensional graphene composites for high-performance supercapacitors.

    PubMed

    Chen, Qing; Hu, Yue; Hu, Chuangang; Cheng, Huhu; Zhang, Zhipan; Shao, Huibo; Qu, Liangti

    2014-09-28

    Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been successfully deposited onto the three-dimensional graphene (3DG) by a benign electrochemical method and the ordered 3DG structure remains intact after the uniform deposition of GQDs. In addition, the capacitive properties of the as-formed GQD-3DG composites are evaluated in symmetrical supercapacitors. It is found that the supercapacitor fabricated from the GQD-3DG composite is highly stable and exhibits a high specific capacitance of 268 F g(-1), representing a more than 90% improvement over that of the supercapacitor made from pure 3DG electrodes (136 F g(-1)). Owing to the convenience of the current method, it can be further used in other well-defined electrode materials, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon aerogels and conjugated polymers to improve the performance of the supercapacitors.

  20. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hudson, C.R.

    Industrial consumers of energy now have the opportunity to participate directly in electricity generation. This report seeks to give the reader (1) insights into the various types of generation services that distributed generation (DG) units could provide, (2) a mechanism to evaluate the economics of using DG, (3) an overview of the status of DG deployment in selected states, and (4) a summary of the communication technologies involved with DG and what testing activities are needed to encourage industrial application of DG. Section 1 provides details on electricity markets and the types of services that can be offered. Subsequent sectionsmore » in the report address the technical requirements for participating in such markets, the economic decision process that an industrial energy user should go through in evaluating distributed generation, the status of current deployment efforts, and the requirements for test-bed or field demonstration projects.« less

  1. Separation or binding? Role of the dentate gyrus in hippocampal mnemonic processing.

    PubMed

    Lee, Jong Won; Jung, Min Whan

    2017-04-01

    As a major component of the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit, the dentate gyrus (DG) relays inputs from the entorhinal cortex to the CA3 subregion. Although the anatomy of the DG is well characterized, its contribution to hippocampal mnemonic processing is still unclear. A currently popular theory proposes that the primary function of the DG is to orthogonalize incoming input patterns into non-overlapping patterns (pattern separation). We critically review the available data and conclude that the theoretical support and empirical evidence for this theory are not strong. We then review an alternative theory that posits a role for the DG in binding together different types of incoming sensory information. We conclude that 'binding' better captures the contribution of the DG to memory encoding than 'pattern separation'. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Malondialdehyde-Deoxyguanosine Adduct Formation in Workers of Pathology Wards. The Role of Air Formaldehyde Exposure

    PubMed Central

    Romanazzi, Valeria; Munnia, Armelle; Piro, Sara; Allione, Alessandra; Ricceri, Fulvio; Guarrera, Simonetta; Pignata, Cristina; Matullo, Giuseppe; Wang, Poguang; Giese, Roger W.; Peluso, Marco

    2010-01-01

    Background Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous pollutant to which humans are exposed. Pathologists can experience high formaldehyde exposure levels. Formaldehyde – among other properties – induce oxidative stress and free radicals, which react with DNA and lipids, leading to oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, respectively. We measured the levels of air-formaldehyde exposure in a group of Italian pathologists and controls. We analyzed the effect of formaldehyde exposure on leukocyte malondialdehyde-deoxyguanosine adducts (M1-dG), a biomarker of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. We studied the relationship between air-formaldehyde and M1-dG adducts. Methods Air-formaldehyde levels were measured by personal air samplers. M1-dG adducts were analyzed by 32P-postlabelling assay. Results Reduction rooms pathologists were significantly exposed to air-formaldehyde in respect to controls and to the pathologists working in other laboratory areas (p<0.001). A significant difference for M1-dG adducts between exposed pathologists and controls was found (p=0.045). The effect becomes stronger when the evaluation of air-formaldehyde exposure was based on personal samplers (p=0.018). Increased M1dG adduct levels were only found in individuals exposed to air-formaldehyde concentrations higher than 66 μg/m3. When the exposed workers and controls were subgrouped according to smoking, M1-dG tended to increase in all the subjects but a significant association between M1-dG and air-formaldehyde was only found in not smokers (p= 0.009). Air formaldehyde played a role positive but not significant (r = 0.355, p = 0.075, Pearson correlation) in the formation of M1-dG, only in not smokers. Conclusions Working in the reduction rooms and to be exposed to air-formaldehyde concentrations higher than 66 μg/m3 is associated with increased levels of M1-dG adducts. PMID:20707408

  3. High-Performance High-Order Simulation of Wave and Plasma Phenomena

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Klockner, Andreas

    This thesis presents results aiming to enhance and broaden the applicability of the discontinuous Galerkin ("DG") method in a variety of ways. DG was chosen as a foundation for this work because it yields high-order finite element discretizations with very favorable numerical properties for the treatment of hyperbolic conservation laws. In a first part, I examine progress that can be made on implementation aspects of DG. In adapting the method to mass-market massively parallel computation hardware in the form of graphics processors ("GPUs"), I obtain an increase in computation performance per unit of cost by more than an order of magnitude over conventional processor architectures. Key to this advance is a recipe that adapts DG to a variety of hardware through automated self-tuning. I discuss new parallel programming tools supporting GPU run-time code generation which are instrumental in the DG self-tuning process and contribute to its reaching application floating point throughput greater than 200 GFlops/s on a single GPU and greater than 3 TFlops/s on a 16-GPU cluster in simulations of electromagnetics problems in three dimensions. I further briefly discuss the solver infrastructure that makes this possible. In the second part of the thesis, I introduce a number of new numerical methods whose motivation is partly rooted in the opportunity created by GPU-DG: First, I construct and examine a novel GPU-capable shock detector, which, when used to control an artificial viscosity, helps stabilize DG computations in gas dynamics and a number of other fields. Second, I describe my pursuit of a method that allows the simulation of rarefied plasmas using a DG discretization of the electromagnetic field. Finally, I introduce new explicit multi-rate time integrators for ordinary differential equations with multiple time scales, with a focus on applicability to DG discretizations of time-dependent problems.

  4. The predictive power of the elimination of dioxin-like pollutants from pigs: an in vivo study.

    PubMed

    Shen, Heqing; Henkelmann, Bernhard; Rambeck, Walter Albert; Mayer, Richard; Wehr, Ulrich; Schramm, Karl-Werner

    2012-01-01

    Pigs accidentally given feed contaminated by dioxin-like pollutants are a serious public health issue. We have examined whether pigs with limited exposure during early periods of fattening would be categorized as non-compliant with the EU limit at slaughtering when growth-dilution, excretion and metabolism effects are considered. Sixteen female and sixteen castrated male weaned pigs were divided into four groups (e.g. DG0, DG1, DG2 and DG3) in week 2 after birth. From weeks 3 to 13, groups DG1, DG2, and DG3 pigs were fed with a polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture at dosages of 1, 10 and 100ng-toxic equivalent (TEQ) per kg dry mass feed in capsules, respectively. From weeks 13 to 23, the animals were nourished with clear feed. Control group DG0 was always fed with clear feed. Subcutaneous fat samples were collected at weeks 13, 18 and 23 by biopsies. The pollutant residues were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and quantified by a (13)C-isotope dilution method. The results showed the following: (1) when slaughtered at week 23, the TEQ for DG1 pigs (0.66±0.21pg/g fat) was under the EU limit of 1pg PCDD/F-TEQ/g fat; (2) PCDD/F congener-specific first-order elimination rates were linearly correlated with their toxicity equivalency factors (TEFs), and the rates were significantly dose-dependent for the more toxic congeners (TEF≥0.1). Therefore, the pigs' exposure above the EU limit during the early fattening stage did not necessarily lead to their categorization as non-compliant pork; and the residual TEQ for pork can be predicted from early exposure concentrations based on the models established here. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Defect Dynamics in Artificial Colloidal Ice: Real-Time Observation, Manipulation, and Logic Gate.

    PubMed

    Loehr, Johannes; Ortiz-Ambriz, Antonio; Tierno, Pietro

    2016-10-14

    We study the defect dynamics in a colloidal spin ice system realized by filling a square lattice of topographic double well islands with repulsively interacting magnetic colloids. We focus on the contraction of defects in the ground state, and contraction or expansion in a metastable biased state. Combining real-time experiments with simulations, we prove that these defects behave like emergent topological monopoles obeying a Coulomb law with an additional line tension. We further show how to realize a completely resettable "nor" gate, which provides guidelines for fabrication of nanoscale logic devices based on the motion of topological magnetic monopoles.

  6. Characterization of silicon-gate CMOS/SOS integrated circuits processed with ion implantation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Woo, D. S.

    1980-01-01

    The double layer metallization technology applied on p type silicon gate CMOS/SOS integrated circuits is described. A smooth metal surface was obtained by using the 2% Si-sputtered Al. More than 10% probe yield was achieved on solar cell controller circuit TCS136 (or MSFC-SC101). Reliability tests were performed on 15 arrays at 150 C. Only three arrays failed during the burn in, and 18 arrays out of 22 functioning arrays maintained the leakage current below 100 milli-A. Analysis indicates that this technology will be a viable process if the metal short circuit problem between the two metals can be reduced.

  7. A tour about existence and uniqueness of dg enhancements and lifts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Canonaco, Alberto; Stellari, Paolo

    2017-12-01

    This paper surveys the recent advances concerning the relations between triangulated (or derived) categories and their dg enhancements. We explain when some interesting triangulated categories arising in algebraic geometry have a unique dg enhancement. This is the case, for example, for the unbounded derived category of quasi-coherent sheaves on an algebraic stack or for its full triangulated subcategory of perfect complexes. Moreover we give an account of the recent results about the possibility to lift exact functors between the bounded derived categories of coherent sheaves on smooth schemes to dg (quasi-)functors.

  8. Definitive and differential diagnosis of desquamative gingivitis through direct immunofluorescence studies.

    PubMed

    Suresh, Lakshmanan; Neiders, Mirdza E

    2012-10-01

    Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a common clinical manifestation of oral autoimmune vesiculobullous diseases (VBDs). Their polymorphous clinical presentations coupled with similar histologic features make diagnosis indistinguishable among the different VBDs. Direct immunofluorescence (IF) studies are valuable gold-standard diagnostic tests that allow for discrimination among the various VBDs that present with DG. There have been no recent detailed analyses done that have used conventional light microscopy and direct IF in diagnosis to document the clinical associations of DG with various autoimmune oral diseases. The aim of this study is to examine retrospectively a large cohort of patients with DG for associated diseases and to determine the utility of direct IF and conventional light microscopy in establishing a definitive diagnosis. During a 14-month period, our laboratory in Buffalo, New York, received 239 consecutive archival cases of gingival biopsy with a clinical diagnosis of DG. These specimens were submitted to establish or rule out a diagnosis of a direct IF-positive VBD. The demographic, clinical, and microscopic findings were tabulated using established inclusion and diagnostic criteria. Approximately half the number (48.1%) of biopsies received for direct IF studies were submitted by periodontists. Slightly more than half of the patients (53%) previously had biopsies submitted for both hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and direct IF testing. There was a female predilection for all the diseases studied except for pemphigus and linear immunoglobulin A disease. Oral lichen planus was the most common disease presenting as DG, followed by pemphigoid. The clinical diagnosis of lichen planus correlated with the biopsy findings in 80% of the cases and with pemphigoid in 60%. Definitive diagnosis was rendered to ≈80% of the gingival biopsies submitted. Negative cases of direct IF presenting as DG had significant pathology, such as dysplasia and carcinoma, which would have been otherwise missed if H & E studies had not been performed. This study has the largest cohort of patients with DG suspected of VBD reported in the literature. The patients were predominantly females who had most often been seen by a periodontist. The definitive diagnosis of DG was most accurately achieved when H & E along with two biopsies for direct IF studies were submitted for testing. H & E studies were particularly important for definitive diagnosis of negative cases. Oral lichen planus was the most common disease presenting as DG, which is consistent with recent studies. Systemic connective tissue disorders that present as DG at initial clinical examination require direct IF and serum studies for a conclusive diagnosis. Clinical pathologic correlation, including history, presentation, H & E, and direct IF studies, are essential in establishing a definitive and differential diagnosis for cases presenting with DG.

  9. Increase in the Random Dopant Induced Threshold Fluctuations and Lowering in Sub 100 nm MOSFETs Due to Quantum Effects: A 3-D Density-Gradient Simulation Study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Asenov, Asen; Slavcheva, G.; Brown, A. R.; Davies, J. H.; Saini, S.

    2000-01-01

    In this paper we present a detailed simulation study of the influence of quantum mechanical effects in the inversion layer on random dopant induced threshold voltage fluctuations and lowering in sub 100 nm MOSFETs. The simulations have been performed using a 3-D implementation of the density gradient (DG) formalism incorporated in our established 3-D atomistic simulation approach. This results in a self-consistent 3-D quantum mechanical picture, which implies not only the vertical inversion layer quantisation but also the lateral confinement effects related to current filamentation in the 'valleys' of the random potential fluctuations. We have shown that the net result of including quantum mechanical effects, while considering statistical dopant fluctuations, is an increase in both threshold voltage fluctuations and lowering. At the same time, the random dopant induced threshold voltage lowering partially compensates for the quantum mechanical threshold voltage shift in aggressively scaled MOSFETs with ultrathin gate oxides.

  10. Terahertz light-emitting graphene-channel transistor toward single-mode lasing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yadav, Deepika; Tamamushi, Gen; Watanabe, Takayuki; Mitsushio, Junki; Tobah, Youssef; Sugawara, Kenta; Dubinov, Alexander A.; Satou, Akira; Ryzhii, Maxim; Ryzhii, Victor; Otsuji, Taiichi

    2018-03-01

    A distributed feedback dual-gate graphene-channel field-effect transistor (DFB-DG-GFET) was fabricated as a current-injection terahertz (THz) light-emitting laser transistor. We observed a broadband emission in a 1-7.6-THz range with a maximum radiation power of 10 μW as well as a single-mode emission at 5.2 THz with a radiation power of 0.1 μW both at 100 K when the carrier injection stays between the lower cutoff and upper cutoff threshold levels. The device also exhibited peculiar nonlinear threshold-like behavior with respect to the current-injection level. The LED-like broadband emission is interpreted as an amplified spontaneous THz emission being transcended to a single-mode lasing. Design constraints on waveguide structures for better THz photon field confinement with higher gain overlapping as well as DFB cavity structures with higher Q factors are also addressed towards intense, single-mode continuous wave THz lasing at room temperature.

  11. Refinement of Perioperative Feeding in a Mouse Model of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.

    PubMed

    Doerning, Carolyn M; Burlingame, Lisa A; Lewis, Alfor G; Myronovych, Andriy; Seeley, Randy J; Lester, Patrick A

    2018-05-01

    Provision of liquid enteral nutrition (LEN) during the perioperative period is standard practice for rodents undergoing bariatric surgery, yet these diets are associated with several challenges, including coagulation of the liquid diet within the delivery system and decreased postoperative consumption. We investigated the use of a commercially available high-calorie dietary gel supplement (DG) as an alternative food source for mice during the perioperative period. C57BL/6J male mice were fed high-fat diet for 8 to 10 wk prior to surgery. The study groups were: vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) +DG, VSG+LEN, sham surgery+DG, and sham+LEN. Food and water intakes, body weight, and body fat composition was monitored throughout the study. Mice that received DG lost significantly more weight preoperatively than those fed LEN. However, during the postoperative period, body weight, body fat composition, and water and caloric intake were similar among all experimental diet groups. Three mice in the VSG+LEN group were euthanized due to clinical illness during the course of the study. In summary, feeding a high-calorie DG to mice undergoing VSG surgery is a viable alternative to LEN, given that DG does not significantly affect the surgical model of weight loss or result in adverse clinical outcomes. We recommend additional metabolic characterization of DG supplementation to ensure that this novel diet does not confound specific research goals in the murine VSG model.

  12. A Reconstructed Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the Compressible Navier-Stokes Equations on Arbitrary Grids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hong Luo; Luqing Luo; Robert Nourgaliev

    2010-09-01

    A reconstruction-based discontinuous Galerkin (RDG) method is presented for the solution of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations on arbitrary grids. The RDG method, originally developed for the compressible Euler equations, is extended to discretize viscous and heat fluxes in the Navier–Stokes equations using a so-called inter-cell reconstruction, where a smooth solution is locally reconstructed using a least-squares method from the underlying discontinuous DG solution. Similar to the recovery-based DG (rDG) methods, this reconstructed DG method eliminates the introduction of ad hoc penalty or coupling terms commonly found in traditional DG methods. Unlike rDG methods, this RDG method does not need tomore » judiciously choose a proper form of a recovered polynomial, thus is simple, flexible, and robust, and can be used on arbitrary grids. The developed RDG method is used to compute a variety of flow problems on arbitrary meshes to demonstrate its accuracy, efficiency, robustness, and versatility. The numerical results indicate that this RDG method is able to deliver the same accuracy as the well-known Bassi–Rebay II scheme, at a half of its computing costs for the discretization of the viscous fluxes in the Navier–Stokes equations, clearly demonstrating its superior performance over the existing DG methods for solving the compressible Navier–Stokes equations.« less

  13. A Reconstructed Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the Compressible Navier-Stokes Equations on Arbitrary Grids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hong Luo; Luqing Luo; Robert Nourgaliev

    2010-01-01

    A reconstruction-based discontinuous Galerkin (RDG) method is presented for the solution of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations on arbitrary grids. The RDG method, originally developed for the compressible Euler equations, is extended to discretize viscous and heat fluxes in the Navier-Stokes equations using a so-called inter-cell reconstruction, where a smooth solution is locally reconstructed using a least-squares method from the underlying discontinuous DG solution. Similar to the recovery-based DG (rDG) methods, this reconstructed DG method eliminates the introduction of ad hoc penalty or coupling terms commonly found in traditional DG methods. Unlike rDG methods, this RDG method does not need tomore » judiciously choose a proper form of a recovered polynomial, thus is simple, flexible, and robust, and can be used on arbitrary grids. The developed RDG method is used to compute a variety of flow problems on arbitrary meshes to demonstrate its accuracy, efficiency, robustness, and versatility. The numerical results indicate that this RDG method is able to deliver the same accuracy as the well-known Bassi-Rebay II scheme, at a half of its computing costs for the discretization of the viscous fluxes in the Navier-Stokes equations, clearly demonstrating its superior performance over the existing DG methods for solving the compressible Navier-Stokes equations.« less

  14. Targeted Delivery of siRNA with pH-Responsive Hybrid Gold Nanostars for Cancer Treatment

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Hongyan; Liu, Wanwan; Cheng, Ziting; Yao, Ke; Yang, Yu; Xu, Bohui

    2017-01-01

    In this work, we report the engineering of gold nanostars (GNS) to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) into HepG2 cells. The ligand DG-PEG-Lipoic acid (LA)-Lys-9R (hydrazone) was designed to functionalize GNS, and create the nanoparticles named as 9R/DG-GNS (hydrazone). In the ligand, 2-deoxyglucose (DG) is the targeting molecule, polyethylene glycol (PEG) helps to improve the dispersity and biocompatibility, 9-poly-d-arginine (9R) is employed to provide a positive surface charge and adsorb negative siRNA, and hydrazone bonds are pH-responsive and can avoid receptor-mediated endosomal recycling. Compared to GNS alone, 9R/DG-GNS (hydrazone) showed superior transfection efficiency. The expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in HepG2 and SGC7901 cells were significantly suppressed by siRNA/9R/DG-GNS (hydrazone) complex. Notably, 9R/DG-GNS (hydrazone) possessed low cytotoxicity even at high concentrations in both normal cells and tumor cells. The combination treatment of siRNA/9R/DG-GNS (hydrazone) complex inhibited the cell growth rate by more than 75%. These results verified that the pH-responsive GNS complex is a promising siRNA delivery system for cancer therapy, and it is anticipated that near-infrared absorbing GNS with good photothermal conversion efficiency can be potentially used for photothermal therapy of tumors. PMID:28937584

  15. Impaired neurogenesis of the dentate gyrus is associated with pattern separation deficits: A computational study.

    PubMed

    Faghihi, Faramarz; Moustafa, Ahmed A

    2016-09-01

    The separation of input patterns received from the entorhinal cortex (EC) by the dentate gyrus (DG) is a well-known critical step of information processing in the hippocampus. Although the role of interneurons in separation pattern efficiency of the DG has been theoretically known, the balance of neurogenesis of excitatory neurons and interneurons as well as its potential role in information processing in the DG is not fully understood. In this work, we study separation efficiency of the DG for different rates of neurogenesis of interneurons and excitatory neurons using a novel computational model in which we assume an increase in the synaptic efficacy between excitatory neurons and interneurons and then its decay over time. Information processing in the EC and DG was simulated as information flow in a two layer feed-forward neural network. The neurogenesis rate was modeled as the percentage of new born neurons added to the neuronal population in each time bin. The results show an important role of an optimal neurogenesis rate of interneurons and excitatory neurons in the DG in efficient separation of inputs from the EC in pattern separation tasks. The model predicts that any deviation of the optimal values of neurogenesis rates leads to different decreased levels of the separation deficits of the DG which influences its function to encode memory.

  16. A validated bioanalytical HPLC method for pharmacokinetic evaluation of 2-deoxyglucose in human plasma

    PubMed Central

    Gounder, Murugesan K.; Lin, Hongxia; Stein, Mark; Goodin, Susan; Bertino, Joseph R.; Kong, Ah-Ng Tony; DiPaola, Robert S.

    2015-01-01

    2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), an analog of glucose, is widely used to interfere with the glycolysis in tumor cells and studied as a therapeutic approach in clinical trials. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of 2-DG, we describe the development and validation of a sensitive HPLC fluorescent method for the quantitation of 2-DG in plasma. Plasma samples were deproteinized with methanol and the supernatant was dried at 45°C. The residues were dissolved in methanolic sodium acetate/boric acid solution. 2-DG and other monosaccharides were derivatized to 2-aminobenzoic acid derivatives in a single step in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride at 80°C for 45min. The analytes were separated on a YMC ODS C18 reversed-phase column using gradient elution. The excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 360 and 425nm. The 2-DG calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.63 to 300μg/mL with the limit of detection of 0.5μg/mL. The assay provided satisfactory intra-day and inter-day precision with RSD less than 9.8% and the accuracy ranged from 86.8% to 110.0%. The HPLC method is reproducible and suitable for the quantitation of 2-DG in plasma. The method was successfully applied to characterize the pharmacokinetics profile of 2-DG in patients with advanced solid tumors. PMID:21932382

  17. Localization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) in cells expressing the Ca2+-binding proteins calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the adult rat hippocampus

    PubMed Central

    Rivera, Patricia; Arrabal, Sergio; Vargas, Antonio; Blanco, Eduardo; Serrano, Antonia; Pavón, Francisco J.; Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando; Suárez, Juan

    2014-01-01

    The N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmithylethanolamide (PEA) are known to be endogenous ligands of PPARα receptors, and their presence requires the activation of a specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) associated with intracellular Ca2+ fluxes. Thus, the identification of a specific population of NAPE-PLD/PPARα-containing neurons that express selective Ca2+-binding proteins (CaBPs) may provide a neuroanatomical basis to better understand the PPARα system in the brain. For this purpose, we used double-label immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy for the characterization of the co-existence of NAPE-PLD/PPARα and the CaBPs calbindin D28k, calretinin and parvalbumin in the rat hippocampus. PPARα expression was specifically localized in the cell nucleus and, occasionally, in the cytoplasm of the principal cells (dentate granular and CA pyramidal cells) and some non-principal cells of the hippocampus. PPARα was expressed in the calbindin-containing cells of the granular cell layer of the dentate gyrus (DG) and the SP of CA1. These principal PPARα+/calbindin+ cells were closely surrounded by NAPE-PLD+ fiber varicosities. No pyramidal PPARα+/calbindin+ cells were detected in CA3. Most cells containing parvalbumin expressed both NAPE-PLD and PPARα in the principal layers of the DG and CA1/3. A small number of cells containing PPARα and calretinin was found along the hippocampus. Scattered NAPE-PLD+/calretinin+ cells were specifically detected in CA3. NAPE-PLD+ puncta surrounded the calretinin+ cells localized in the principal cells of the DG and CA1. The identification of the hippocampal subpopulations of NAPE-PLD/PPARα-containing neurons that express selective CaBPs should be considered when analyzing the role of NAEs/PPARα-signaling system in the regulation of hippocampal functions. PMID:24672435

  18. Localization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) in cells expressing the Ca(2+)-binding proteins calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the adult rat hippocampus.

    PubMed

    Rivera, Patricia; Arrabal, Sergio; Vargas, Antonio; Blanco, Eduardo; Serrano, Antonia; Pavón, Francisco J; Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando; Suárez, Juan

    2014-01-01

    The N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmithylethanolamide (PEA) are known to be endogenous ligands of PPARα receptors, and their presence requires the activation of a specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) associated with intracellular Ca(2+) fluxes. Thus, the identification of a specific population of NAPE-PLD/PPARα-containing neurons that express selective Ca(2+)-binding proteins (CaBPs) may provide a neuroanatomical basis to better understand the PPARα system in the brain. For this purpose, we used double-label immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy for the characterization of the co-existence of NAPE-PLD/PPARα and the CaBPs calbindin D28k, calretinin and parvalbumin in the rat hippocampus. PPARα expression was specifically localized in the cell nucleus and, occasionally, in the cytoplasm of the principal cells (dentate granular and CA pyramidal cells) and some non-principal cells of the hippocampus. PPARα was expressed in the calbindin-containing cells of the granular cell layer of the dentate gyrus (DG) and the SP of CA1. These principal PPARα(+)/calbindin(+) cells were closely surrounded by NAPE-PLD(+) fiber varicosities. No pyramidal PPARα(+)/calbindin(+) cells were detected in CA3. Most cells containing parvalbumin expressed both NAPE-PLD and PPARα in the principal layers of the DG and CA1/3. A small number of cells containing PPARα and calretinin was found along the hippocampus. Scattered NAPE-PLD(+)/calretinin(+) cells were specifically detected in CA3. NAPE-PLD(+) puncta surrounded the calretinin(+) cells localized in the principal cells of the DG and CA1. The identification of the hippocampal subpopulations of NAPE-PLD/PPARα-containing neurons that express selective CaBPs should be considered when analyzing the role of NAEs/PPARα-signaling system in the regulation of hippocampal functions.

  19. Combined inhibition of glycolysis and AMPK induces synergistic breast cancer cell killing

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Yong; Sarkissyan, Marianna; Mcghee, Eva; Lee, Sangkyu

    2015-01-01

    Targeting glycolysis for cancer treatment has been investigated as a therapeutic method but has not offered a feasible chemotherapeutic strategy. Our aim was to examine whether AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a conditional oncogene, rescues the energetic stress and cytotoxicity induced by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), a glycolytic inhibitor, and the related mechanisms. Luciferin/luciferase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) determination, Western analysis, qRT-PCR analyses, MTT growth assay, clonogenic assay, and statistical analysis were performed in this study. 2-DG decreased ATP levels and subsequently activated AMPK, which contribute to intracellular ATP recovery in MCF-7 cells thus exhibiting no apparent cytotoxicity. Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, further potentiates 2-DG-induced decrease in ATP levels and inhibits their recovery. 2-DG, via AMPK activation, stimulated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and activity and promoted nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1-beta (PGC-1β) and estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) protein expression, leading to augmented mitochondrial biogenesis and expression of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) genes including PPARα, MCAD, CPT1C, and ACO. This metabolic adaptation elicited by AMPK counteracts the ATP-depleting and cancer cell-killing effect of 2-DG. However, 2-DG in combination with AMPK antagonists or small interfering RNA caused a dramatic increase in cytotoxicity in MCF-7 but not in MCF-10A cells. Similarly, when combined with inhibition of CREB/PGC-1β/ERRα pathway, 2-DG saliently suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis and the expression of FAO genes, depleted ATP production, and enhanced cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Collectively, the combination of 2-DG and AMPK inhibition synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic potential in breast cancer cells with a relative nontoxicity to normal cells and may offer a promising, safe, and effective breast cancer therapeutic strategy. PMID:25975952

  20. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER-stress) by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) reduces cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and N-glycosylation and induces a loss of COX-2 activity via a Src kinase-dependent pathway in rabbit articular chondrocytes.

    PubMed

    Yu, Seon-Mi; Kim, Song-Ja

    2010-11-30

    Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress regulates a wide range of cellular responses including apoptosis, proliferation, inflammation, and differentiation in mammalian cells. In this study, we observed the role of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) on inflammation of chondrocytes. 2DG is well known as an inducer of ER stress, via inhibition of glycolysis and glycosylation. Treatment of 2DG in chondrocytes considerably induced ER stress in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which was demonstrated by a reduction of glucose regulated protein of 94 kDa (grp94), an ER stress-inducible protein, as determined by a Western blot analysis. In addition, induction of ER stress by 2DG led to the expression of COX-2 protein with an apparent molecular mass of 66-70kDa as compared with the normally expressed 72-74 kDa protein. The suppression of ER stress with salubrinal (Salub), a selective inhibitor of eif2-alpha dephosphorylation, successfully prevented grp94 induction and efficiently recovered 2DG- modified COX-2 molecular mass and COX-2 activity might be associated with COX-2 N-glycosylation. Also, treatment of 2DG increased phosphorylation of Src in chondrocytes. The inhibition of the Src signaling pathway with PP2 (Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor) suppressed grp94 expression and restored COX-2 expression, N-glycosylation, and PGE2 production, as determined by a Western blot analysis and PGE2 assay. Taken together, our results indicate that the ER stress induced by 2DG results in a decrease of the transcription level, the molecular mass, and the activity of COX-2 in rabbit articular chondrocytes via a Src kinase-dependent pathway.

  1. Adiponectin regulates contextual fear extinction and intrinsic excitability of dentate gyrus granule neurons through AdipoR2 receptors

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, D; Wang, X; Wang, B; Garza, J C; Fang, X; Wang, J; Scherer, P E; Brenner, R; Zhang, W; Lu, X-Y

    2017-01-01

    Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by exaggerated fear expression and impaired fear extinction. The underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of PTSD are largely unknown. The current pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for PTSD are either ineffective or temporary with high relapse rates. Here we report that adiponectin-deficient mice exhibited normal contextual fear conditioning but displayed slower extinction learning. Infusions of adiponectin into the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus in fear-conditioned mice facilitated extinction of contextual fear. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in brain slices revealed that intrinsic excitability of DG granule neurons was enhanced by adiponectin deficiency and suppressed after treatment with the adiponectin mimetic AdipoRon, which were associated with increased input resistance and hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, respectively. Moreover, deletion of AdipoR2, but not AdipoR1 in the DG, resulted in augmented fear expression and reduced extinction, accompanied by intrinsic hyperexcitability of DG granule neurons. Adiponectin and AdipoRon failed to induce facilitation of fear extinction and elicit inhibition of intrinsic excitability of DG neurons in AdipoR2 knockout mice. These results indicated that adiponectin action via AdipoR2 was both necessary and sufficient for extinction of contextual fear and intrinsic excitability of DG granule neurons, implying that enhancing or dampening DG neuronal excitability may cause resistance to or facilitation of extinction. Therefore, our findings provide a functional link between adiponectin/AdipoR2 activation, DG neuronal excitability and contextual fear extinction, and suggest that targeting adiponectin/AdipoR2 may be used to strengthen extinction-based exposure therapies for PTSD. PMID:27137743

  2. ANTICONVULSANT AND ANTIEPILEPTIC ACTIONS OF 2-DEOXY-DGLUCOSE IN EPILEPSY MODELS

    PubMed Central

    Stafstrom, Carl E.; Ockuly, Jeffrey C.; Murphree, Lauren; Valley, Matthew T.; Roopra, Avtar; Sutula, Thomas P.

    2009-01-01

    Objective Conventional anticonvulsants reduce neuronal excitability through effects on ion channels and synaptic function. Anticonvulsant mechanisms of the ketogenic diet remain incompletely understood. Since carbohydrates are restricted in patients on the ketogenic diet, we evaluated the effects of limiting carbohydrate availability by reducing glycolysis using the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) in experimental models of seizures and epilepsy. Methods Acute anticonvulsant actions of 2DG were assessed in vitro in rat hippocampal slices perfused with 7.5mM [K+]o, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), or bicuculline and in vivo against seizures evoked by 6 Hz stimulation in mice, audiogenic stimulation in Fring’s mice, and maximal electroshock and subcutaneous Metrazol in rats. Chronic antiepileptic effects of 2DG were evaluated in rats kindled from olfactory bulb or perforant path. Results 2DG (10mM) reduced interictal epileptiform bursts induced by high [K+]o, 4-AP and bicuculline, and electrographic seizures induced by high [K+]o in CA3 of hippocampus. 2DG reduced seizures evoked by 6 Hz stimulation in mice (ED50 = 79.7 mg/kg) and audiogenic stimulation in Fring’s mice (ED50 = 206.4 mg/kg). 2DG exerted chronic antiepileptic action by increasing afterdischarge thresholds in perforant path (but not olfactory bulb) kindling and caused a 2-fold slowing in progression of kindled seizures at both stimulation sites. 2DG did not protect against maximal electroshock or Metrazol seizures. Interpretation The glycolytic inhibitor 2DG exerts acute anticonvulsant and chronic antiepileptic actions and has a novel pattern of effectiveness in preclinical screening models. These results identify metabolic regulation as a potential therapeutic target for seizure suppression and modification of epileptogenesis. PMID:19399874

  3. Gambling, disordered gambling and their association with major depression and substance use: a web-based cohort and twin-sibling study.

    PubMed

    Blanco, C; Myers, J; Kendler, K S

    2012-03-01

    Relatively little is known about the environmental and genetic contributions to gambling frequency and disordered gambling (DG), the full continuum of gambling-related problems that includes pathological gambling (PG). A web-based sample (n=43,799 including both members of 609 twin and 303 sibling pairs) completed assessments of number of lifetime gambling episodes, DSM-IV criteria for PG, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine intake, and nicotine dependence (ND) and DSM-III-R criteria for lifetime major depression (MD). Twin modeling was performed using Mx. In the entire cohort, symptoms of DG indexed a single dimension of liability. Symptoms of DG were weakly related to caffeine intake and moderately related to MD, consumption of cigarettes and alcohol, and ND. In twin and sibling pairs, familial resemblance for number of times gambled resulted from both familial-environmental (c²=42%) and genetic factors (a²=32%). For symptoms of DG, resemblance resulted solely from genetic factors (a²=83%). Bivariate analyses indicated a low genetic correlation between symptoms of DG and MD (r(a)=+0.14) whereas genetic correlations with DG symptoms were substantially higher with use of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, and ND (ranging from +0.29 to +0.80). The results were invariant across genders. Whereas gambling participation is determined by shared environmental and genetic factors, DG constitutes a single latent dimension that is largely genetically determined and more closely related to externalizing than internalizing behaviors. Because these findings are invariant across genders, they suggest that the etiological factors of DG are likely to be similar in men and women.

  4. Adiponectin regulates contextual fear extinction and intrinsic excitability of dentate gyrus granule neurons through AdipoR2 receptors.

    PubMed

    Zhang, D; Wang, X; Wang, B; Garza, J C; Fang, X; Wang, J; Scherer, P E; Brenner, R; Zhang, W; Lu, X-Y

    2017-07-01

    Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by exaggerated fear expression and impaired fear extinction. The underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of PTSD are largely unknown. The current pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for PTSD are either ineffective or temporary with high relapse rates. Here we report that adiponectin-deficient mice exhibited normal contextual fear conditioning but displayed slower extinction learning. Infusions of adiponectin into the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus in fear-conditioned mice facilitated extinction of contextual fear. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in brain slices revealed that intrinsic excitability of DG granule neurons was enhanced by adiponectin deficiency and suppressed after treatment with the adiponectin mimetic AdipoRon, which were associated with increased input resistance and hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, respectively. Moreover, deletion of AdipoR2, but not AdipoR1 in the DG, resulted in augmented fear expression and reduced extinction, accompanied by intrinsic hyperexcitability of DG granule neurons. Adiponectin and AdipoRon failed to induce facilitation of fear extinction and elicit inhibition of intrinsic excitability of DG neurons in AdipoR2 knockout mice. These results indicated that adiponectin action via AdipoR2 was both necessary and sufficient for extinction of contextual fear and intrinsic excitability of DG granule neurons, implying that enhancing or dampening DG neuronal excitability may cause resistance to or facilitation of extinction. Therefore, our findings provide a functional link between adiponectin/AdipoR2 activation, DG neuronal excitability and contextual fear extinction, and suggest that targeting adiponectin/AdipoR2 may be used to strengthen extinction-based exposure therapies for PTSD.

  5. Breast dose in mammography is about 30% lower when realistic heterogeneous glandular distributions are considered

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hernandez, Andrew M., E-mail: amhern@ucdavis.edu; Seibert, J. Anthony; Boone, John M.

    2015-11-15

    Purpose: Current dosimetry methods in mammography assume that the breast is comprised of a homogeneous mixture of glandular and adipose tissues. Three-dimensional (3D) dedicated breast CT (bCT) data sets were used previously to assess the complex anatomical structure within the breast, characterizing the statistical distribution of glandular tissue in the breast. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of bCT-derived heterogeneous glandular distributions on dosimetry in mammography. Methods: bCT-derived breast diameters, volumes, and 3D fibroglandular distributions were used to design realistic compressed breast models comprised of heterogeneous distributions of glandular tissue. The bCT-derived glandular distributions were fitmore » to biGaussian functions and used as probability density maps to assign the density distributions within compressed breast models. The MCNPX 2.6.0 Monte Carlo code was used to estimate monoenergetic normalized mean glandular dose “DgN(E)” values in mammography geometry. The DgN(E) values were then weighted by typical mammography x-ray spectra to determine polyenergetic DgN (pDgN) coefficients for heterogeneous (pDgN{sub hetero}) and homogeneous (pDgN{sub homo}) cases. The dependence of estimated pDgN values on phantom size, volumetric glandular fraction (VGF), x-ray technique factors, and location of the heterogeneous glandular distributions was investigated. Results: The pDgN{sub hetero} coefficients were on average 35.3% (SD, 4.1) and 24.2% (SD, 3.0) lower than the pDgN{sub homo} coefficients for the Mo–Mo and W–Rh x-ray spectra, respectively, across all phantom sizes and VGFs when the glandular distributions were centered within the breast phantom in the coronal plane. At constant breast size, increasing VGF from 7.3% to 19.1% lead to a reduction in pDgN{sub hetero} relative to pDgN{sub homo} of 23.6%–27.4% for a W–Rh spectrum. Displacement of the glandular distribution, at a distance equal to 10% of the compressed breast width in the superior and inferior directions, resulted in a 37.3% and a −26.6% change in the pDgN{sub hetero} coefficient, respectively, relative to the centered distribution for the Mo–Mo spectrum. Lateral displacement of the glandular distribution, at a distance equal to 10% of the compressed breast width, resulted in a 1.5% change in the pDgN{sub hetero} coefficient relative to the centered distribution for the W–Rh spectrum. Conclusions: Introducing bCT-derived heterogeneous glandular distributions into mammography phantom design resulted in decreased glandular dose relative to the widely used homogeneous assumption. A homogeneous distribution overestimates the amount of glandular tissue near the entrant surface of the breast, where dose deposition is exponentially higher. While these findings are based on clinically measured distributions of glandular tissue using a large cohort of women, future work is required to improve the classification of glandular distributions based on breast size and overall glandular fraction.« less

  6. Optimization of a stand-alone Solar PV-Wind-DG Hybrid System for Distributed Power Generation at Sagar Island

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roy, P. C.; Majumder, A.; Chakraborty, N.

    2010-10-01

    An estimation of a stand-alone solar PV and wind hybrid system for distributed power generation has been made based on the resources available at Sagar island, a remote area distant to grid operation. Optimization and sensitivity analysis has been made to evaluate the feasibility and size of the power generation unit. A comparison of the different modes of hybrid system has been studied. It has been estimated that Solar PV-Wind-DG hybrid system provides lesser per unit electricity cost. Capital investment is observed to be lesser when the system run with Wind-DG compared to Solar PV-DG.

  7. Polyelectrolyte brush bilayers in weak interpenetration regime: Scaling theory and molecular dynamics simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Desai, Parth Rakesh; Sinha, Shayandev; Das, Siddhartha

    2018-03-01

    We employ molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and develop scaling theories to quantify the equilibrium behavior of polyelectrolyte (PE) brush bilayers (BBLs) in the weakly interpenetrated regime, which is characterized by d0

  8. Antitumor effect of degalactosylated gc-globulin on orthotopic grafted lung cancer in mice.

    PubMed

    Hirota, Keiji; Nakagawa, Yoshinori; Takeuchi, Ryota; Uto, Yoshihiro; Hori, Hitoshi; Onizuka, Shinya; Terada, Hiroshi

    2013-07-01

    Group-specific component (Gc)-globulin-derived macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) generated by a cascade of catalytic reactions with deglycosidase enzymes exerts antitumor activity. We hypothesized that degalactosyl Gc-globulin (DG3), a precursor of GcMAF, also plays a role in recovery from cancer as well as GcMAF due to progression of deglycosylation by generally resident sialidases and mannosidases. We prepared the subtypes of DG3, such as 1f1f and 1s1s and its 22 homodimers, by using vitamin D3-binding Sepharose CL-6B and examined their antitumor activity in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma cells, by counting the number of nodules formed in their lungs. Antitumor activity of DG3 was observed regardless of its subtype, being equivalent to that of GcMAF. The injection route of DG3 affected its antitumor activity, with subcutaneous and intramuscular administration being more favorable than the intraperitoneal or intravenous route. In order to obtain significant antitumor activity, more than 160 ng/kg of DG3 were required. DG3 proved to be promising as an antitumor agent, similarly to GcMAF.

  9. The Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element Method for Solving the MEG and the Combined MEG/EEG Forward Problem

    PubMed Central

    Piastra, Maria Carla; Nüßing, Andreas; Vorwerk, Johannes; Bornfleth, Harald; Oostenveld, Robert; Engwer, Christian; Wolters, Carsten H.

    2018-01-01

    In Electro- (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG), one important requirement of source reconstruction is the forward model. The continuous Galerkin finite element method (CG-FEM) has become one of the dominant approaches for solving the forward problem over the last decades. Recently, a discontinuous Galerkin FEM (DG-FEM) EEG forward approach has been proposed as an alternative to CG-FEM (Engwer et al., 2017). It was shown that DG-FEM preserves the property of conservation of charge and that it can, in certain situations such as the so-called skull leakages, be superior to the standard CG-FEM approach. In this paper, we developed, implemented, and evaluated two DG-FEM approaches for the MEG forward problem, namely a conservative and a non-conservative one. The subtraction approach was used as source model. The validation and evaluation work was done in statistical investigations in multi-layer homogeneous sphere models, where an analytic solution exists, and in a six-compartment realistically shaped head volume conductor model. In agreement with the theory, the conservative DG-FEM approach was found to be superior to the non-conservative DG-FEM implementation. This approach also showed convergence with increasing resolution of the hexahedral meshes. While in the EEG case, in presence of skull leakages, DG-FEM outperformed CG-FEM, in MEG, DG-FEM achieved similar numerical errors as the CG-FEM approach, i.e., skull leakages do not play a role for the MEG modality. In particular, for the finest mesh resolution of 1 mm sources with a distance of 1.59 mm from the brain-CSF surface, DG-FEM yielded mean topographical errors (relative difference measure, RDM%) of 1.5% and mean magnitude errors (MAG%) of 0.1% for the magnetic field. However, if the goal is a combined source analysis of EEG and MEG data, then it is highly desirable to employ the same forward model for both EEG and MEG data. Based on these results, we conclude that the newly presented conservative DG-FEM can at least complement and in some scenarios even outperform the established CG-FEM approaches in EEG or combined MEG/EEG source analysis scenarios, which motivates a further evaluation of DG-FEM for applications in bioelectromagnetism. PMID:29456487

  10. Control of excitons in multi-layer van der Waals heterostructures

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Calman, E. V., E-mail: ecalman@gmail.com; Dorow, C. J.; Fogler, M. M.

    2016-03-07

    We report an experimental study of excitons in a double quantum well van der Waals heterostructure made of atomically thin layers of MoS{sub 2} and hexagonal boron nitride. The emission of neutral and charged excitons is controlled by gate voltage, temperature, and both the helicity and the power of optical excitation.

  11. Direct detection of fibrinogen in human plasma using electric-double-layer gated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Regmi, Abiral; Sarangadharan, Indu; Chen, Yen-Wen; Hsu, Chen-Pin; Lee, Geng-Yen; Chyi, Jen-Inn; Shiesh, Shu-Chu; Lee, Gwo-Bin; Wang, Yu-Lin

    2017-08-01

    Fibrinogen found in blood plasma is an important protein biomarker for potentially fatal diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. This study focuses on the development of an assay to detect plasmatic fibrinogen using electrical double layer gated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor biosensors without complex sample pre-treatment methods used in the traditional assays. The test results in buffer solution and clinical plasma samples show high sensitivity, specificity, and dynamic range. The sensor exhibits an ultra-low detection limit of 0.5 g/l and a detection range of 0.5-4.5 g/l in 1× PBS with 1% BSA. The concentration dependent sensor signal in human serum samples demonstrates the specificity to fibrinogen in a highly dense matrix of background proteins. The sensor does not require complicated automation, and quantitative results are obtained in 5 min with <5 μl sample volume. This sensing technique is ideal for speedy blood based diagnostics such as POC (point of care) tests, homecare tests, or personalized healthcare.

  12. The active modulation of drug release by an ionic field effect transistor for an ultra-low power implantable nanofluidic system.

    PubMed

    Bruno, Giacomo; Canavese, Giancarlo; Liu, Xuewu; Filgueira, Carly S; Sacco, Adriano; Demarchi, Danilo; Ferrari, Mauro; Grattoni, Alessandro

    2016-11-10

    We report an electro-nanofluidic membrane for tunable, ultra-low power drug delivery employing an ionic field effect transistor. Therapeutic release from a drug reservoir was successfully modulated, with high energy efficiency, by actively adjusting the surface charge of slit-nanochannels 50, 110, and 160 nm in size, by the polarization of a buried gate electrode and the consequent variation of the electrical double layer in the nanochannel. We demonstrated control over the transport of ionic species, including two relevant hypertension drugs, atenolol and perindopril, that could benefit from such modulation. By leveraging concentration-driven diffusion, we achieve a 2 to 3 order of magnitude reduction in power consumption as compared to other electrokinetic phenomena. The application of a small gate potential (±5 V) in close proximity (150 nm) of 50 nm nanochannels generated a sufficiently strong electric field, which doubled or blocked the ionic flux depending on the polarity of the voltage applied. These compelling findings can lead to next generation, more reliable, smaller, and longer lasting drug delivery implants with ultra-low power consumption.

  13. Double-injection, deep-impurity switch development

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Whitson, D. W.

    1985-01-01

    The overall objective of this program was the development of device design and process techniques for the fabrication of a double-injection, deep-impurity (DI) sup 2 silicon switch that operates in the 2-10 kV range with conduction current values of 5 A at 2 kV and 1 A at 10 kV. Other major specifications include a holding voltage of 10 V with no gate current, 10 microsec switching time, and power dissipation of 50 W at 75 C. It was decided to concentrate on the lateral circular devices in order to optimize the gold diffusion. This resulted in devices that are much better switches (approx.1 micro sec switching time), and in a gold diffusion process that is much more controllable than those previously developed. Some results with injection-gated devices were also obtained. The current conduction for V less than VT was analyzed and seen to agree, for the most part, with Lampert's theory. Various sections of this report describe the device designs, wafer-processing techniques, and various measurements which include ac and dc characteristics and four-point probe.

  14. Gate-Induced Interfacial Superconductivity in 1T-SnSe2.

    PubMed

    Zeng, Junwen; Liu, Erfu; Fu, Yajun; Chen, Zhuoyu; Pan, Chen; Wang, Chenyu; Wang, Miao; Wang, Yaojia; Xu, Kang; Cai, Songhua; Yan, Xingxu; Wang, Yu; Liu, Xiaowei; Wang, Peng; Liang, Shi-Jun; Cui, Yi; Hwang, Harold Y; Yuan, Hongtao; Miao, Feng

    2018-02-14

    Layered metal chalcogenide materials provide a versatile platform to investigate emergent phenomena and two-dimensional (2D) superconductivity at/near the atomically thin limit. In particular, gate-induced interfacial superconductivity realized by the use of an electric-double-layer transistor (EDLT) has greatly extended the capability to electrically induce superconductivity in oxides, nitrides, and transition metal chalcogenides and enable one to explore new physics, such as the Ising pairing mechanism. Exploiting gate-induced superconductivity in various materials can provide us with additional platforms to understand emergent interfacial superconductivity. Here, we report the discovery of gate-induced 2D superconductivity in layered 1T-SnSe 2 , a typical member of the main-group metal dichalcogenide (MDC) family, using an EDLT gating geometry. A superconducting transition temperature T c ≈ 3.9 K was demonstrated at the EDL interface. The 2D nature of the superconductivity therein was further confirmed based on (1) a 2D Tinkham description of the angle-dependent upper critical field B c2 , (2) the existence of a quantum creep state as well as a large ratio of the coherence length to the thickness of superconductivity. Interestingly, the in-plane B c2 approaching zero temperature was found to be 2-3 times higher than the Pauli limit, which might be related to an electric field-modulated spin-orbit interaction. Such results provide a new perspective to expand the material matrix available for gate-induced 2D superconductivity and the fundamental understanding of interfacial superconductivity.

  15. Lactobacillus casei DG and its postbiotic reduce the inflammatory mucosal response: an ex-vivo organ culture model of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.

    PubMed

    Compare, Debora; Rocco, Alba; Coccoli, Pietro; Angrisani, Debora; Sgamato, Costantino; Iovine, Barbara; Salvatore, Umberto; Nardone, Gerardo

    2017-04-14

    The evidence on the role of gut microbiota in post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is convincing. Lactobacillus spp. positively affect IBS symptoms, although the mechanisms through which probiotics exert their beneficial effects are largely unknown. The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of Lactobacillus casei DG (LC-DG) and its postbiotic (PB) in modulating the inflammatory/immune-response in PI-IBS in an ex-vivo organ culture model. Ex vivo cultures of ileal and colonic mucosa from 10 PI-IBS, diarrhea predominant subtype (D) patients, and 10 healthy controls (HC) were treated with LPS, LC-DG and PB. Interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 mRNA levels were assessed by real-time PCR and Toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4) protein expression by Western blotting. At baseline, IL-1α, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels as well as TLR-4 protein expression were significantly higher while IL-10 mRNA levels were lower in PI-IBS D than in HC in both ileum and colon. LC-DG and PB significantly reduced the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and TLR-4 while increased that of IL-10 after LPS stimulation. The protective effect was more pronounced for PB than LC-DG treatment. LC-DG and its PB attenuate the inflammatory mucosal response in an ex-vivo organ culture model of PI-IBS D.

  16. A validated bioanalytical HPLC method for pharmacokinetic evaluation of 2-deoxyglucose in human plasma.

    PubMed

    Gounder, Murugesan K; Lin, Hongxia; Stein, Mark; Goodin, Susan; Bertino, Joseph R; Kong, Ah-Ng Tony; DiPaola, Robert S

    2012-05-01

    2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG), an analog of glucose, is widely used to interfere with glycolysis in tumor cells and studied as a therapeutic approach in clinical trials. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of 2-DG, we describe the development and validation of a sensitive HPLC fluorescent method for the quantitation of 2-DG in plasma. Plasma samples were deproteinized with methanol and the supernatant was dried at 45°C. The residues were dissolved in methanolic sodium acetate-boric acid solution. 2-DG and other monosaccharides were derivatized to 2-aminobenzoic acid derivatives in a single step in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride at 80°C for 45 min. The analytes were separated on a YMC ODS C₁₈ reversed-phase column using gradient elution. The excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 360 and 425 nm. The 2-DG calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.63-300 µg/mL with a limit of detection of 0.5 µg/mL. The assay provided satisfactory intra-day and inter-day precision with RSD less than 9.8%, and the accuracy ranged from 86.8 to 110.0%. The HPLC method is reproducible and suitable for the quantitation of 2-DG in plasma. The method was successfully applied to characterize the pharmacokinetics profile of 2-DG in patients with advanced solid tumors. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  17. A television scanner for the ultracentrifuge. II. Multiple cell operation.

    PubMed

    Rockholt, D L; Royce, C R; Richards, E G

    1976-07-01

    The "Optical Multichannel Analyzer" (OMA) is a commercially available instrument that with the absorption optical system of the ultracentrifuge, provides an entire 500 channel intensity profile of a cell in real time. With its own analog-todigital converter, the OMA integrates a selectable number of 32.8 msec scans to provide a time-averaged image in digital form. This paper describes an interface-controller for operation of the OMA with single- and double-sector cells in multi-cell rotors, simulating double-beam measurement required for absorbance determinations. The desired sector is selected by "gating" the intensifier stage of a "Silicon Intensified Target" vidicon (SIT) used as the light detector. The cell location in the rotor and the position of the gate relative to the cell centerline is obtained from a phase-locked loop circuit which divides each rotation of the rotor into 3600 parts independent of rotor speed. (This circuit employed with photo-multiplier scanners would select the gate position for integration of photomultiplier pulses.) From examination of appropriate signals with an oscilloscope, it was verified that gate positions and widths are located with an accuracy of 0.1degree or better and with a precision of +/- 0.1 mus. The light intensity profile for any desired cell can be examined in "real time", even during acceleration of the rotor. Additional circuits employing a 10 MHz crystal clock 1) control the automatic collection of data for all sectors in multicell rotors at digitally selected time intervals, 2) display the rotor speed, and 3) indicate the elapsed time of the experiment. Constructed but not tested are additional circuits for pulsing a laser into the absorption or Rayleigh optical system. The accuracy of the pulsed SIT has been demonstrated by measurement of absorbances of solutions and also by sedimentation equilibrium experiments with myoglobin. The estimated error is 0.003 for absorbances ranging from 0 to 1. The interface-controller operates extremely well, but problems related to the pulsed SIT (optimum gate position relative to the sector opening shape of high-voltage pulse, slight pincushion distortion) require more work.

  18. Local gate control in carbon nanotube quantum devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Biercuk, Michael Jordan

    This thesis presents transport measurements of carbon nanotube electronic devices operated in the quantum regime. Nanotubes are contacted by source and drain electrodes, and multiple lithographically-patterned electrostatic gates are aligned to each device. Transport measurements of device conductance or current as a function of local gate voltages reveal that local gates couple primarily to the proximal section of the nanotube, hence providing spatially localized control over carrier density along the nanotube length. Further, using several different techniques we are able to produce local depletion regions along the length of a tube. This phenomenon is explored in detail for different contact metals to the nanotube. We utilize local gating techniques to study multiple quantum dots in carbon nanotubes produced both by naturally occurring defects, and by the controlled application of voltages to depletion gates. We study double quantum dots in detail, where transport measurements reveal honeycomb charge stability diagrams. We extract values of energy-level spacings, capacitances, and interaction energies for this system, and demonstrate independent control over all relevant tunneling rates. We report rf-reflectometry measurements of gate-defined carbon nanotube quantum dots with integrated charge sensors. Aluminum rf-SETs are electrostatically coupled to carbon nanotube devices and detect single electron charging phenomena in the Coulomb blockade regime. Simultaneous correlated measurements of single electron charging are made using reflected rf power from the nanotube itself and from the rf-SET on microsecond time scales. We map charge stability diagrams for the nanotube quantum dot via charge sensing, observing Coulomb charging diamonds beyond the first order. Conductance measurements of carbon nanotubes containing gated local depletion regions exhibit plateaus as a function of gate voltage, spaced by approximately 1e2/h, the quantum of conductance for a single (non-degenerate) mode. Plateau structure is investigated as a function of bias voltage, temperature, and magnetic field. We speculate on the origin of this surprising quantization, which appears to lack band and spin degeneracy.

  19. Strategy for improved frequency response of electric double-layer capacitors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wada, Yoshifumi; Pu, Jiang; Takenobu, Taishi

    2015-10-01

    We propose a strategy for improving the response speed of electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) and electric double-layer transistors (EDLTs), based on an asymmetric structure with differently sized active materials and gate electrodes. We validate the strategy analytically by a classical calculation and experimentally by fabricating EDLCs with asymmetric Au electrodes (1:50 area ratio and 7.5 μm gap distance). The performance of the EDLCs is compared with that of conventional symmetric EDLCs. Our strategy dramatically improved the cut-off frequency from 14 to 93 kHz and this improvement is explained by fast charging of smaller electrodes. Therefore, this approach is particularly suitable to EDLTs, potentially expanding the applicability to medium speed (kHz-MHz) devices.

  20. Network-specific mechanisms may explain the paradoxical effects of carbamazepine and phenytoin.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Evan A; Petrou, Steven

    2013-07-01

    A common notion of the mechanism by which the antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) carbamazepine and phenytoin act is that they block sodium channels by binding preferentially to the inactivated state, thereby allowing normal neuronal firing while blocking ictal activity. However, these drugs have unpredictable efficacy and, in some cases, may exacerbate seizures. Previous studies have suggested that reducing sodium channel availability in the dentate gyrus (DG) paradoxically increases excitability. We used a biophysically detailed computer model of the DG to test the hypothesis that AEDs increase excitability by disproportionately reducing negative feedback mechanisms. We built a Markov model of sodium channel gating that reproduces responses to voltage clamp experiments in the presence of carbamazepine and phenytoin. We incorporated this validated Markov model into a biophysically realistic computer model of DG neurons and networks. Simulated drug concentrations were similar to those measured in cerebral spinal fluid in medicated patients. Single neuron models were stimulated with current injections, and networks were stimulated with perforant path synaptic input. In the network model, environmental effects were studied by introducing mossy fiber sprouting. As expected, drugs reduced sodium channel availability, which in turn reduced action potential amplitude. This had only a small effect on action potential (AP) firing rate during brief (100 msec) current injections. Paradoxically, long current injections (2,500 msec) increased AP firing rates. This was caused by reduced calcium entry and consequently reduced activation of calcium activated potassium channels. It is important to note that the main determinant of drug effect was resting membrane potential (RMP) and not action potential firing rate. Binding of phenytoin and carbamazepine is slow and, thus drug effects are largely determined by the long term state of the RMP. This paradoxical AP firing increase was dependent on the unusually large calcium-activated potassium conductances expressed by DG granule cells. This predicts that drug efficacy in a given network will depend on the precise makeup of conductances in the network. RMP is expected to vary with the level of activity in the network. We simulated the effects of drugs on single shot stimulus responses in networks with mossy fiber sprouting and varied the RMP in all neurons as a model for network activity. For an RMP of -50 mV, representing an active network, drugs had no effect, or in some cases, increased excitability. Drugs had an increasingly larger inhibitory effect on network responses as RMP decreased. An important prediction is that drugs will be unable to block ictal activity invading an active network. Our key findings are that drug effects depend on both intrinsic properties of the network and its behavioral state. This may explain the paradoxical and unpredictable effects of some AEDs on seizure control in some patients. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2013 International League Against Epilepsy.

  1. Enhanced stability of thin film transistors with double-stacked amorphous IWO/IWO:N channel layer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, Dong; Pi, Shubin; Yang, Jianwen; Tiwari, Nidhi; Ren, Jinhua; Zhang, Qun; Liu, Po-Tsun; Shieh, Han-Ping

    2018-06-01

    In this work, bottom-gate top-contact thin film transistors with double-stacked amorphous IWO/IWO:N channel layer were fabricated. Herein, amorphous IWO and N-doped IWO were deposited as front and back channel layers, respectively, by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. The electrical characteristics of the bi-layer-channel thin film transistors (TFTs) were examined and compared with those of single-layer-channel (i.e., amorphous IWO or IWO:N) TFTs. It was demonstrated to exhibit a high mobility of 27.2 cm2 V‑1 s‑1 and an on/off current ratio of 107. Compared to the single peers, bi-layer a-IWO/IWO:N TFTs showed smaller hysteresis and higher stability under negative bias stress and negative bias temperature stress. The enhanced performance could be attributed to its unique double-stacked channel configuration, which successfully combined the merits of the TFTs with IWO and IWO:N channels. The underlying IWO thin film provided percolation paths for electron transport, meanwhile, the top IWO:N layer reduced the bulk trap densities. In addition, the IWO channel/gate insulator interface had reduced defects, and IWO:N back channel surface was insensitive to the ambient atmosphere. Overall, the proposed bi-layer a-IWO/IWO:N TFTs show potential for practical applications due to its possibly long-term serviceability.

  2. Particle Simulation of Hypersonic Flow

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-04-24

    the small volume (this is the same basic concept used in setting up Eq. (2)). Using this interpretation, we can write Eq. (11) as follows zAB dgAt = S...it leads to the expression given by ZAB dgAt = S F(g)dg P, (18) where in this case, we have S nAnB’ (19) 1 + bAB’ and where P, is again given by (17

  3. Conversion of distiller's grain into fuel alcohol and a higher-value animal feed by dilute-acid pretreatment.

    PubMed

    Tucker, Melvin P; Nagle, Nicholas J; Jennings, Edward W; Ibsen, Kelly N; Aden, Andy; Nguyen, Quang A; Kim, Kyoung H; Noll, Sally L

    2004-01-01

    Over the past three decades ethanol production in the United States has increased more than 10-fold, to approx 2.9 billion gal/yr (mid-2003), with ethanol production expected to reach 5 billion gal/yr by 2005. The simultaneous coproduction of 7 million t/yr of distiller's grain (DG) may potentially drive down the price of DG as a cattle feed supplement. The sale of residual DG for animal feed is an important part of corn dry-grind ethanol production economics; therefore, dry-grind ethanol producers are seeking ways to improve the quality of DG to increase market penetration and help stabilize prices. One possible improvement is to increase the protein content of DG by converting the residual starch and fiber into ethanol. We have developed methods for steam explosion, SO2, and dilute-sulfuric acid pretreatment of DG for evaluation as a feedstock for ethanol production. The highest soluble sugar yields (approximately 77% of available carbohydrate) were obtained by pretreatment of DG at 140 degrees C for 20 min with 3.27 wt% H2SO4. Fermentation protocols for pretreated DG were developed at the bench scale and scaled to a working volume of 809 L for production of hydrolyzed distiller's grain (HDG) for feeding trials. The pretreated DG was fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae D5A, with ethanol yields of 73% of theoretical from available glucans. The HDG was air-dried and used for turkey-feeding trials. The inclusion of HDG into turkey poult (as a model non-ruminant animal) diets at 5 and 10% levels, replacing corn and soybean meal, showed weight gains in the birds similar to controls, whereas 15 and 20% inclusion levels showed slight decreases (-6%) in weight gain. At the conclusion of the trial, no negative effects on internal organs or morphology, and no mortality among the poults, was found. The high protein levels (58-61%) available in HDG show promising economics for incorporation of this process into corn dry-grind ethanol plants.

  4. SUBFIELD AND LAYER-SPECIFIC DEPLETION IN CALBINDIN-D28K, CALRETININ AND PARVALBUMIN IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN THE DENTATE GYRUS OF APP/PS1 TRANSGENIC MICE

    PubMed Central

    Popovi, Miroljub; Caballero-Bleda, María; Kadish, Inga; van Groen, Thomas

    2008-01-01

    The depletion of neuronal calcium binding proteins deprives neurons of the capacity to buffer high levels of intracellular Ca2+ and this leaves them vulnerable to pathological processes, such as those present in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of the calcium binding proteins, calbindin-D28K, calretinin and parvalbumin in the dentate gyrus (DG) of APP/PS1 transgenic mice and their non-Tg littermates, as well as the relation with the deposition of human Aβ. We measured the expression of these three proteins at seven different rostro-caudal levels, and in the molecular, granular and polymorphic layers of the DG. We found that, except in the most caudal part of the DG, there is a substantial loss of calbindin-D28K immunoreactivity in all three layers of the DG in APP/PS1 mice compared to the non-Tg mice. Significant loss of calretinin immunoreactivity is present in most of the polymorphic layer of the DG of APP/PS1 mice compared to the non-Tg mice, as well as in the rostral and intermediate part of the inner molecular layer. Compared to the non-Tg mice parvalbumin immunoreactivity is significantly reduced throughout the whole polymorphic layer as well as in the rostral and intermediate part of the granular layer of DG in APP/PS1 mice. The relatively preservation of calbindin immunoreactivity in the caudal part of molecular and granular layers as well as calretinin immunoreactivity in the caudal part of polymorphic layer of the DG is likely related to the lower Aβ expression in those parts of DG. The present data suggest an involvement of calcium-dependent pathways in the pathogenesis of AD and indicate that there exists a subfield and layer-specific decrease in immunoreactivity which is related to the type of calcium-binding protein in APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, it seems that APP expression affects more the calbindin expression then parvalbumin and calretinin expression in the DG of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. PMID:18583063

  5. ZnO thin film transistor immunosensor with high sensitivity and selectivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reyes, Pavel Ivanoff; Ku, Chieh-Jen; Duan, Ziqing; Lu, Yicheng; Solanki, Aniruddh; Lee, Ki-Bum

    2011-04-01

    A zinc oxide thin film transistor-based immunosensor (ZnO-bioTFT) is presented. The back-gate TFT has an on-off ratio of 108 and a threshold voltage of 4.25 V. The ZnO channel surface is biofunctionalized with primary monoclonal antibodies that selectively bind with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Detection of the antibody-antigen reaction is achieved through channel carrier modulation via pseudo double-gating field effect caused by the biochemical reaction. The sensitivity of 10 fM detection of pure EGFR proteins is achieved. The ZnO-bioTFT immunosensor also enables selectively detecting 10 fM of EGFR in a 5 mg/ml goat serum solution containing various other proteins.

  6. Development of a sensor to study the DNA conformation using molecular logic gates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roy, Arpan Datta; Dey, Dibyendu; Saha, Jaba; Chakraborty, Santanu; Bhattacharjee, D.; Hussain, Syed Arshad

    2015-02-01

    This communication reports our investigations on the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between two laser dyes Acriflavine and Rhodamine B in absence and presence of DNA at different pH. It has been observed that energy transfer efficiency is largely affected by the presence of DNA as well as the pH of the system. It is well known that with increase in pH, DNA conformation changes from double stranded to single stranded (denaturation) and finally form random coil. Based on our experimental results two different types of molecular logic gates namely, XOR and OR logic have been demonstrated which can be used to have an idea about DNA conformation in solution.

  7. Circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture for gate-defined quantum dots in silicon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mi, X.; Cady, J. V.; Zajac, D. M.; Stehlik, J.; Edge, L. F.; Petta, J. R.

    2017-01-01

    We demonstrate a hybrid device architecture where the charge states in a double quantum dot (DQD) formed in a Si/SiGe heterostructure are read out using an on-chip superconducting microwave cavity. A quality factor Q = 5400 is achieved by selectively etching away regions of the quantum well and by reducing photon losses through low-pass filtering of the gate bias lines. Homodyne measurements of the cavity transmission reveal DQD charge stability diagrams and a charge-cavity coupling rate g c / 2 π = 23 MHz. These measurements indicate that electrons trapped in a Si DQD can be effectively coupled to microwave photons, potentially enabling coherent electron-photon interactions in silicon.

  8. Impacts on the Voltage Profile of DC Distribution Network with DG Access

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tu, J. J.; Yin, Z. D.

    2017-07-01

    With the development of electronic, more and more distributed generations (DGs) access into grid and cause the research fever of direct current (DC) distribution network. Considering distributed generation (DG) location and capacity have great impacts on voltage profile, so use IEEE9 and IEEE33 typical circuit as examples, with DGs access in centralized and decentralized mode, to compare voltage profile in alternating and direct current (AC/DC) distribution network. Introducing the voltage change ratio as an evaluation index, so gets the general results on voltage profile of DC distributed network with DG access. Simulation shows that, in the premise of reasonable location and capacity, DC distribution network is more suitable for DG access.

  9. Frequency-doubled passively Q-switched microchip laser producing 225  ps pulses at 671  nm.

    PubMed

    Nikkinen, Jari; Korpijärvi, Ville-Markus; Leino, Iiro; Härkönen, Antti; Guina, Mircea

    2016-11-15

    We report a 671 nm laser source emitting 225 ps pulses with an average power of 55 mW and a repetition rate of 444 kHz. The system consists of a 1342 nm SESAM Q-switched Nd:YVO4 microchip master oscillator and a dual-stage Nd:YVO4 power amplifier. The 1342 nm signal was frequency-doubled to 671 nm using a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. This laser source provides a practical alternative for applications requiring high energy picosecond pulses, such as time-gated Raman spectroscopy.

  10. CosmosDG: An hp -adaptive Discontinuous Galerkin Code for Hyper-resolved Relativistic MHD

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Anninos, Peter; Lau, Cheuk; Bryant, Colton

    We have extended Cosmos++, a multidimensional unstructured adaptive mesh code for solving the covariant Newtonian and general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, to accommodate both discrete finite volume and arbitrarily high-order finite element structures. The new finite element implementation, called CosmosDG, is based on a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) formulation, using both entropy-based artificial viscosity and slope limiting procedures for the regularization of shocks. High-order multistage forward Euler and strong-stability preserving Runge–Kutta time integration options complement high-order spatial discretization. We have also added flexibility in the code infrastructure allowing for both adaptive mesh and adaptive basis order refinement to be performedmore » separately or simultaneously in a local (cell-by-cell) manner. We discuss in this report the DG formulation and present tests demonstrating the robustness, accuracy, and convergence of our numerical methods applied to special and general relativistic MHD, although we note that an equivalent capability currently also exists in CosmosDG for Newtonian systems.« less

  11. Overexpression of a novel chrysanthemum SUPERMAN-like gene in tobacco affects lateral bud outgrowth and flower organ development.

    PubMed

    Liu, Qing-Lin; Xu, Ke-Dong; Ma, Nan; Zhao, Liang-Jun; Xi, Lin

    2014-04-01

    Previous studies have shown that the SUP genes play important roles in flower development and plant growth and morphogenesis. In this study, we isolated and characterized a SUPERMAN-like gene DgSZFP from chrysanthemum. DgSZFP contains one conserved Cys2/His2-type zinc finger motifs in the N-terminal region and an EAR-box in C-terminus. Its expression was significantly higher in nodes, flower buds, disc stamens, and petals than in the other tissues. Overexpression of DgSZFP in tobacco resulted in enhanced branching, reduced plant height, increased the width of petal tubes, produced the staminoid petals and petaloid stamens in flowers, and enhanced the seed weight and size. In addition, DgSZFP-overexpression tobacco plants accumulated high concentrations of cytokinin and chlorophyll. These results suggest that DgSZFP may be the candidate gene for regulating branching and floral organ development in chrysanthemum. Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  12. CosmosDG: An hp-adaptive Discontinuous Galerkin Code for Hyper-resolved Relativistic MHD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Anninos, Peter; Bryant, Colton; Fragile, P. Chris; Holgado, A. Miguel; Lau, Cheuk; Nemergut, Daniel

    2017-08-01

    We have extended Cosmos++, a multidimensional unstructured adaptive mesh code for solving the covariant Newtonian and general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, to accommodate both discrete finite volume and arbitrarily high-order finite element structures. The new finite element implementation, called CosmosDG, is based on a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) formulation, using both entropy-based artificial viscosity and slope limiting procedures for the regularization of shocks. High-order multistage forward Euler and strong-stability preserving Runge-Kutta time integration options complement high-order spatial discretization. We have also added flexibility in the code infrastructure allowing for both adaptive mesh and adaptive basis order refinement to be performed separately or simultaneously in a local (cell-by-cell) manner. We discuss in this report the DG formulation and present tests demonstrating the robustness, accuracy, and convergence of our numerical methods applied to special and general relativistic MHD, although we note that an equivalent capability currently also exists in CosmosDG for Newtonian systems.

  13. Long-term Optical Activity of the Hard X-ray Flaring Star DG CVn

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Šimon, V.

    2017-04-01

    DG CVn is a young late-type star which displayed an X-ray and optical superflare in 2014. This paper presents an analysis of the long-term activity of this object in the optical band. I used the photographic data from DASCH (Digital Access to a Sky Century @ Harvard). These measurements from the years 1895-1989 cover the blue spectral region. CCD V-band ASAS data were used for several UV Cet-type stars to place the activity of DG CVn in the context of flaring stars. I show that three large brightenings (flares) of DG CVn by more than 1 mag were detected on the DASCH plates. The character of the long-term activity (regarding the histogram of brightness) of DG CVn is compatible with those of flaring stars UV Cet and V371 Ori. The flares brighter than ˜ 0.4 mag represent less than 1 percent of the observed data in all three objects

  14. Towards optimizing two-qubit operations in three-electron double quantum dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frees, Adam; Gamble, John King; Mehl, Sebastian; Friesen, Mark; Coppersmith, S. N.

    The successful implementation of single-qubit gates in the quantum dot hybrid qubit motivates our interest in developing a high fidelity two-qubit gate protocol. Recently, extensive work has been done to characterize the theoretical limitations and advantages in performing two-qubit operations at an operation point located in the charge transition region. Additionally, there is evidence to support that single-qubit gate fidelities improve while operating in the so-called ``far-detuned'' region, away from the charge transition. Here we explore the possibility of performing two-qubit gates in this region, considering the challenges and the benefits that may present themselves while implementing such an operational paradigm. This work was supported in part by ARO (W911NF-12-0607) (W911NF-12-R-0012), NSF (PHY-1104660), ONR (N00014-15-1-0029). The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Sandia National Laboratories Truman Fellowship Program, which is funded by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program. Sandia is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract No. DE-AC04-94AL85000.

  15. Universal non-adiabatic geometric manipulation of pseudo-spin charge qubits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Azimi Mousolou, Vahid

    2017-01-01

    Reliable quantum information processing requires high-fidelity universal manipulation of quantum systems within the characteristic coherence times. Non-adiabatic holonomic quantum computation offers a promising approach to implement fast, universal, and robust quantum logic gates particularly useful in nano-fabricated solid-state architectures, which typically have short coherence times. Here, we propose an experimentally feasible scheme to realize high-speed universal geometric quantum gates in nano-engineered pseudo-spin charge qubits. We use a system of three coupled quantum dots containing a single electron, where two computational states of a double quantum dot charge qubit interact through an intermediate quantum dot. The additional degree of freedom introduced into the qubit makes it possible to create a geometric model system, which allows robust and efficient single-qubit rotations through careful control of the inter-dot tunneling parameters. We demonstrate that a capacitive coupling between two charge qubits permits a family of non-adiabatic holonomic controlled two-qubit entangling gates, and thus provides a promising procedure to maintain entanglement in charge qubits and a pathway toward fault-tolerant universal quantum computation. We estimate the feasibility of the proposed structure by analyzing the gate fidelities to some extent.

  16. Characterization of the P. Brevis Polyether Neurotoxin Binding Component in Excitable Membranes

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-09-14

    International Conference on Ciguatera . (T. R. Tosteson and D. Ballantyne, Eds.) in press. Baden, D.G. (1991) The Polyether Brevetoxins and Site Five of the...Confomrations and Potency Correlations. Third Intl. Conf. Ciguatera , Puerto Rico 1990. Tosteson, T.R., and Baden, D.G. Polyether Dinoflagellate Toxins...and Caribbean Ciguatera : Correlation of Fish Toxins with Standard Toxins Third International Conference on Ciguatera , Peurto Rico 1990. Baden, D.G

  17. The Status and Outlook of Distributed Generation Public Policy in Mexico

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zinaman, Owen; Aznar, Alexandra Y.; Flores-Espino, Francisco

    Mexico is a regional leader in setting goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and distributed generation (DG) development is a key priority for the country's policymakers. Current DG policies have fostered growth but need to be modernized to serve current needs and accommodate higher penetration levels. In this report, NREL summarizes international DG policy experiences and best practices and identifies the potential opportunities for policy reform.

  18. Analysis of the Central X-ray Source in DG Tau

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schneider, P. Christian; Schmitt, Jürgen H. M. M.

    As a stellar X-ray source DG Tau shows two rather unusual features: A resolved X-ray jet [2] and an X-ray spectrum best described by two thermal components with different absorbing column densities, a so called "two-absorber X-ray (TAX)" morphology [1, 2]. In an effort to understand the properties of the central X-ray source in DG Tau a detailed position analysis was carried out.

  19. The Performance Analysis of a Uav Based Mobile Mapping System Platform

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsai, M. L.; Chiang, K. W.; Lo, C. F.; Ch, C. H.

    2013-08-01

    To facilitate applications such as environment detection or disaster monitoring, the development of rapid low cost systems for collecting near real-time spatial information is very critical. Rapid spatial information collection has become an emerging trend for remote sensing and mapping applications. This study develops a Direct Georeferencing (DG) based fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric platform where an Inertial Navigation System (INS)/Global Positioning System (GPS) integrated Positioning and Orientation System (POS) system is implemented to provide the DG capability of the platform. The performance verification indicates that the proposed platform can capture aerial images successfully. A flight test is performed to verify the positioning accuracy in DG mode without using Ground Control Points (GCP). The preliminary results illustrate that horizontal DG positioning accuracies in the x and y axes are around 5 m with 300 m flight height. The positioning accuracy in the z axis is less than 10 m. Such accuracy is good for near real-time disaster relief. The DG ready function of proposed platform guarantees mapping and positioning capability even in GCP free environments, which is very important for rapid urgent response for disaster relief. Generally speaking, the data processing time for the DG module, including POS solution generalization, interpolation, Exterior Orientation Parameters (EOP) generation, and feature point measurements, is less than one hour.

  20. Endogenous formation and repair of oxidatively induced G[8-5 m]T intrastrand cross-link lesion

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Jin; Cao, Huachuan; You, Changjun; Yuan, Bifeng; Bahde, Ralf; Gupta, Sanjeev; Nishigori, Chikako; Niedernhofer, Laura J.; Brooks, Philip J.; Wang, Yinsheng

    2012-01-01

    Exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) can give rise to the formation of various DNA damage products. Among them, d(G[8-5 m]T) can be induced in isolated DNA treated with Fenton reagents and in cultured human cells exposed to γ-rays, d(G[8-5m]T) can be recognized and incised by purified Escherichia coli UvrABC nuclease. However, it remains unexplored whether d(G[8-5 m]T) accumulates in mammalian tissues and whether it is a substrate for nucleotide excision repair (NER) in vivo. Here, we found that d(G[8-5 m]T) could be detected in DNA isolated from tissues of healthy humans and animals, and elevated endogenous ROS generation enhanced the accumulation of this lesion in tissues of a rat model of Wilson’s disease. Additionally, XPA-deficient human brain and mouse liver as well as various types of tissues of ERCC1-deficient mice contained higher levels of d(G[8-5 m]T) but not ROS-induced single-nucleobase lesions than the corresponding normal controls. Together, our studies established that d(G[8-5 m]T) can be induced endogenously in mammalian tissues and constitutes a substrate for NER in vivo. PMID:22581771

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