Electrical phase change of CVD-grown Ge-Sb-Te thin film device

A prototype Ge-Sb-Te thin film phase-change memory device has been fabricated and reversible threshold and phase change switching demonstrated electrically, with a threshold voltage of 1.5 – 1.7 V. The Ge-Sb-Te thin film was fabricated by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) at atmospheric pressure using GeCl4, SbCl5, and Te precursors with reactive gas H2 at reaction temperature 780 °C and substrate temperature 250 °C. The surface morphology and composition of the CVD-grown Ge-Sb-Te thin film has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The CVD-grown Ge-Sb-Te thin film shows promise for the phase change memory applications

Cultural Perspective on Parenting, Trait Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health in Taiwanese Children

The current study aims to clarify the associations as well as the pathways through which parenting and children's emotional intelligence (EI) may influence children's mental health with a cross-sectional sample of 675 school pupils (fourth grade, mean age = 10.4 years, 310 boy, 356 girls and 9 unidentified) in Taiwan. Hierarchical regression and path analyses were used to examine the relationships between parenting styles, children's trait EI, and their psychological symptoms, with children's psychological symptoms as the dependent variable. The results showed that authoritative parenting was positively associated with children‟s trait EI, which in turn had a negative effect on children‟s psychological symptoms, whereas authoritarian and Chinese-specific parenting styles had direct negative effect on children‟s psychological symptoms. These findings shed light on the pathways of the interrelations between different parenting styles, children's trait EI, and psychological symptoms, providing theoretical as well as practical implications for children's emotional development and mental health

Towards QoS provisioning in a heterogeneous carrier-grade wireless mesh access networks using unidirectional overlay cells

Proceedings of: 6th International ICST Conference on Heterogeneous Networking for Quality, Reliability, Security and Robustness, QShine 2009 and 3rd International Workshop on Advanced Architectures and Algorithms for Internet Delivery and Applications, AAA-IDEA 2009, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, November 23-25, 2009The visibility and success ofWireless Mesh Network (WMN) deployments has raised interest among commercial operators in this technology. Compared to traditional operator access networks WMNs have the potential to offer easier deployment and flexible self-reconfiguration at lower costs. A WMN-type architecture considered as an alternative for an operator access network must meet similar requirements such as high availability and guaranteed QoS in order to support triple-play content provisioning. In this paper we introduce an architecture of such a Carrier-grade Wireless Mesh Access Network (CG-WMAN). We then present our contribution, an approach to seamlessly integrate unidirectional broadcast cells (i.e. DVB-T) into such a CG-WMAN. This allows higher layer protocols to utilize broadcast cells like regular mesh links, where beneficial for a given payload and receiver distribution. We then present a typical use case and discuss for which combinations of traffic type, user distribution and QoS requirements the use of longer range broadcast technologies can help to improve the overall CG-WMAN performance in terms of throughput and reliability.European Community's Seventh Framework ProgramPublicad

Propiedades antioxidantes de dos nuevos derivados lipofílicos del ácido gálico

The effectiveness of two lipophilic derivatives of the natural phenol, gallic acid (GA), synthesized using methyl gallate as starting material was investigated. The antioxidant activities of these novel phenolics compared to GA, tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were evaluated in bulk oil, emulsion and the DPPH systems. The results showed that the new compounds effectively delayed lipid oxidation much better than GA and other antioxidants under Rancimat (100-140 °C) and emulsion tests. In the bulk oil system at 65 °C, they still behaved better than GA, but TBHQ had the highest activity. Thus, replacing the electron-withdrawing carboxylic group on GA by covalently linking sterically hindered phenols to its phenyl ring increased its lipophilicity and also resulted in synergistic effects which improved overall antioxidant activity through stabilization of the phenoxy radical. These new antioxidant variants satisfy industrial demands for bioactive ingredients with strong antioxidant potentials under different food processing conditions.Se aporta información sobre de la eficacia de dos derivados lipofílicos de fenoles naturales derivados del ácido gálico (GA) y sintetizados utilizando galato de metilo como material de partida. Las actividades antioxidantes de estos nuevos compuestos fenólicos en comparación con el GA, terc-butilhidroquinona (TBHQ) y butil hidroxitolueno (BHT) se evaluaron en aceites, sistemas emulsionados y mediante DPPH. Los resultados mostraron que los nuevos compuestos retrasaron efectivamente la oxidación de lípidos mucho más fuerte que el GA y otros antioxidantes mediante Rancimat (100-140 °C) y pruebas de emulsión. En el aceite a 65 °C, se comportaron mejor que el GA, pero el TBHQ tuvo la actividad más alta. Por lo tanto, reemplazar el grupo carboxílico en GA al unir covalentemente fenoles impedidos estéricamente a su anillo de fenilo ayudó a aumentar su lipofilia y también dio como resultado efectos sinérgicos que mejoraron la actividad antioxidante general a través de la estabilización del radical fenoxi. Estas nuevas variantes de antioxidantes satisfacen la demanda industrial de ingredientes bioactivos con un fuerte potencial antioxidante en diferentes condiciones de procesamiento de alimentos

Final Technical Report Microwave Assisted Electrolyte Cell for Primary Aluminum Production

This research addresses the high priority research need for developing inert anode and wetted cathode technology, as defined in the Aluminum Industry Technology Roadmap and Inert Anode Roadmap, with the performance targets: a) significantly reducing the energy intensity of aluminum production, b) ultimately eliminating anode-related CO2 emissions, and c) reducing aluminum production costs. This research intended to develop a new electrometallurgical extraction technology by introducing microwave irradiation into the current electrolytic cells for primary aluminum production. This technology aimed at accelerating the alumina electrolysis reduction rate and lowering the aluminum production temperature, coupled with the uses of nickel based superalloy inert anode, nickel based superalloy wetted cathode, and modified salt electrolyte. Michigan Technological University, collaborating with Cober Electronic and Century Aluminum, conducted bench-scale research for evaluation of this technology. This research included three sub-topics: a) fluoride microwave absorption; b) microwave assisted electrolytic cell design and fabrication; and c) aluminum electrowinning tests using the microwave assisted electrolytic cell. This research concludes that the typically used fluoride compound for aluminum electrowinning is not a good microwave absorbing material at room temperature. However, it becomes an excellent microwave absorbing material above 550°C. The electrowinning tests did not show benefit to introduce microwave irradiation into the electrolytic cell. The experiments revealed that the nickel-based superalloy is not suitable for use as a cathode material; although it wets with molten aluminum, it causes severe reaction with molten aluminum. In the anode experiments, the chosen superalloy did not meet corrosion resistance requirements. A nicked based alloy without iron content could be further investigated

An Algorithm for Matching Perspective Views of 3-D Object by Using Composite Circuits

National Science Foundation / MCS 82-06926Ope

Preparación de sustitutos de grasa de leche humana y mejora de su estabilidad oxidativa

1,3-Dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OPO) was synthesized by enzymatic interesterification using palm stearin rich in tripalmitin (PPP) and ethyl oleate. Enzymatic interesterification parameters such as temperature, water content, enzyme load, and substrate molar ratio were optimized. High contents of C52 (primarily OPO and its isomeric compounds) production (46.7%) and sn-2 palmitic acid (PA) content of 75.3% were detected. In addition, OPO-human milk fat substitute (HMFS) was blended with coconut, soybean, algal and microbial oils at a weight ratio of 0.70:0.18:0.11:0.004:0.007 to simulate fatty acids in human milk fat (HMF) according to the mathematical model. The main and important fatty acids in the Final-HMFS were within the ranges of those present in HMF. The Final-HMFS could promote the absorption of fats and minerals and the development of retina tissues in infants. The mixture of L-ascorbyl palmitate (L-AP) and vitamin E (VE) resulted in a synergistic antioxidant effect both in OPO-HMFS and OPO-HMFS emulsions. This finding has great significance in improving the quality and extending shelf-life of HMFS.Se sintetizó el 1,3-dioleoil-2-palmitoilglicerol (OPO), utilizando estearina de palma rica en tripalmitina (PPP) y oleato de etilo, mediante interesterificación enzimática. Se optimizaron los parámetros de la interesterificación enzimática, como la temperatura, el contenido de agua, la carga de enzimas y la relación molar del sustrato. Se lograron altos rendimientos de C52 (principalmente OPO y sus isómeros, 46,7%) y un contenido de ácido palmítico (PA) en sn-2 del 75,3%. Además, el sustituto graso de leche humana OPO (HMFS), se mezcló con aceites de coco, soja, algas y microbianos, en una proporción en peso de 0,70:0,18:0,11:0,004:0,007 para simular los ácidos grasos de la leche humana (HMF) de acuerdo con un modelo matemático. Los ácidos grasos principales e importantes en HMFS-Final estaban casi dentro de los rangos de los presentes en HMF. El HMFS-Final podría promover la absorción de grasas y minerales y el desarrollo de los tejidos de la retina en los bebés. La mezcla de palmitato de L-ascorbilo (L-AP) y vitamina E (VE) resultó tener un efecto antioxidante sinérgico, tanto en la emulsión OPO-HMFS como en la OPO-HMFS. Este hallazgo tiene una gran importancia para mejorar la calidad y prolongar la vida útil de HMFS

Study of the Anti-Proliferative Activity of 5-Substituted 4,7-Dimethoxy-1,3-Benzodioxole Derivatives of SY-1 from Antrodia camphorata on Human COLO 205 Colon Cancer Cells

A set of 10 4,7-dimethoxy-1,3-benzodioxole derivatives based on a lead compound previously discovered by our group, SY-1, which was isolated from Antrodia camphorata, were evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory activity on human colorectal carcinoma cells (COLO 205). Structure-activity relationship studies of the 10 compounds indicated the importance of the chain length of the alkyl group at the 5-position, and the 2-propenyl substituent named “apiole” exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity. In the present study, we demonstrate that the SY-1 analogue “apiole” decreased the proliferation of COLO 205 cells, but not that of normal human colonic epithelial cells (FHC). The G0/G1 cell cycle arrest induced by apiole (75–225 μM) was associated with significantly increased levels of p53, p21 and p27 and decreased levels of cyclin D1. Concerning COLO 205 cell apoptosis, apiole (>150 μM) treatment significantly increased the levels of cleaved caspases 3, 8, 9 and bax/bcl-2 ratio and induced ladder formation in DNA fragmentation assay and sub-G1 peak in flow cytometry analysis. These findings suggest that apiole can suppress COLO 205 cell growth; however, the detailed mechanisms of these processes require further investigation