Gated lateral silicon p-i-n junction photodiodes

Research in silicon photonics has recently seen a significant push to develop complete silicon-based optical components for optical communications. Silicon has shown its potential to overcome the bandwidth limitations of microprocessor interconnect, whereas, the silicon platform has already displayed the benefits of low manufacturing costs and CMOS compatibility. The work on “gated lateral silicon p-i-n junction photodiodes” has demonstrated the silicon potential, to detect optical radiations, compatibility to standard CMOS process flow and tuneable spectral response. The lateral structure of gated p-i-n junction photodiodes contributes to high responsivity to short wavelength radiations in these single and dual gate devices. The final objective of this work was to develop high responsivity, CMOS-compatible silicon photodiodes, where the spectral response can be modulated. The lateral p-i-n junction architecture led to high responsivity values, whereas, the MOS gate structure became the basis for tuneable spectral response. The MOS gate structure, made the devices appear as a transistor to the surrounding circuitry and the gate structure in dual gate devices can be used to modulate the spectral response of the device. Single gate devices showed higher responsivity values and comparatively high blue and ultraviolet (UV) response as compared to conventional photodiodes. Surface depletion region in these devices is utilized by placing a MOS gate structure and by patterning an integrated metal grating to detect polarized light. Single and dual gate devices with two variations were fabricated to characterise the device response. Novel lateral architecture of p-i-n junction photodiodes provides a surface depletion region. It is generally anticipated that photodetectors with surface depletion region might produce higher noise. In these devices the surface depletion region has a lateral continuation of gate dielectric which acts as a passivation layer and thus considerably reduced the noise. Physical device modelling studies were performed to verify the experimentally obtained results, which are provided in the relevant measurement chapters. In these devices the speed of operation is a compromise over the high responsivity, CMOS compatibility and tuneable spectral response

Leakage analysis of gasketed flange joints under combined internap pressure and thermal loading

Leakage in Gasketed Flanged Joints (GFJs) have always been a great problem for the process industry. The sealing performance of a GFJ depends on its installation and applied loading conditions. This paper aims to finding the leak rate through ANSI class#150 flange joints using a compressed asbestos sheet (CAS) gasket under combined structural and thermal transient loading conditions using two different leak rate models and two different bolt-up levels. The first model is a Gasket Compressive Strain model in which strains are determined using finite element analysis. The other model is based on Porous Media Theory in which gasket is considered as porous media. Leakage rates are determined using both leak rate models and are compared against appropriate tightness classes and the effectiveness of each approach is presented

Gated lateral silicon p-i-n junction photodiodes

Research in silicon photonics has recently seen a significant push to develop complete silicon-based optical components for optical communications. Silicon has shown its potential to overcome the bandwidth limitations of microprocessor interconnect, whereas, the silicon platform has already displayed the benefits of low manufacturing costs and CMOS compatibility. The work on “gated lateral silicon p-i-n junction photodiodes” has demonstrated the silicon potential, to detect optical radiations, compatibility to standard CMOS process flow and tuneable spectral response. The lateral structure of gated p-i-n junction photodiodes contributes to high responsivity to short wavelength radiations in these single and dual gate devices. The final objective of this work was to develop high responsivity, CMOS-compatible silicon photodiodes, where the spectral response can be modulated. The lateral p-i-n junction architecture led to high responsivity values, whereas, the MOS gate structure became the basis for tuneable spectral response. The MOS gate structure, made the devices appear as a transistor to the surrounding circuitry and the gate structure in dual gate devices can be used to modulate the spectral response of the device. Single gate devices showed higher responsivity values and comparatively high blue and ultraviolet (UV) response as compared to conventional photodiodes. Surface depletion region in these devices is utilized by placing a MOS gate structure and by patterning an integrated metal grating to detect polarized light. Single and dual gate devices with two variations were fabricated to characterise the device response. Novel lateral architecture of p-i-n junction photodiodes provides a surface depletion region. It is generally anticipated that photodetectors with surface depletion region might produce higher noise. In these devices the surface depletion region has a lateral continuation of gate dielectric which acts as a passivation layer and thus considerably reduced the noise. Physical device modelling studies were performed to verify the experimentally obtained results, which are provided in the relevant measurement chapters. In these devices the speed of operation is a compromise over the high responsivity, CMOS compatibility and tuneable spectral response.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy: Effect of H. pylori infection and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth treatment on clinical outcomes

The effect Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and small intestinal bacterial over growth (SIBO) in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is not well understood. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of eradication of Hp infection and SIBO treatment on MHE in patients with cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis were enrolled and MHE was determined by psychometric tests and critical flicker frequency analysis. Hp infection and SIBO were assessed by urea breath and Hydrogen breath tests respectively in patients with cirrhosis and in healthy volunteers. Patients with Hp infection and SIBO were given appropriate treatment. At six weeks follow-up, presence of Hp infection, SIBO and MHE status was reassessed. Ninety patients with cirrhosis and equal number of healthy controls were included. 55 (61.1%) patients in the cirrhotic group were diagnosed to have underlying MHE. Among cirrhotic group, Hp infection was present in 28 with MHE (50.9%) vs. in 15 without MHE (42.8%) (p = 0.45). Similarly, SIBO was present in 17 (30.9%) vs. 11 (31.4%) (p = 0.95) in patients with and without MHE respectively. In comparison with healthy controls, patients with cirrhosis were more frequently harboring Hp and SIBO (47.7% vs. 17.7% (p \u3c 0.001) and 31.1% vs. 4.4% (p \u3c 0.001) respectively. On follow-up, all patients showed evidence of eradication of Hp and SIBO infection. Treatment of SIBO significantly improved the state of MHE in cirrhotics, however eradication of Hp infection did not improve MHE significantly. Additionally, patients with low Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and belonging to Child class B had significantly better improvement in MHE. A large number of patients with cirrhosis had either active Hp infection or SIBO with or without MHE, compared to healthy controls. Treatment of SIBO significantly improved MHE in patients with cirrhosis, whereas eradication of Hp did not affect the outcome of MHE in these patients

Building resilient future: information technology and disaster management - a Malaysian perspective

The recent evets of flooding, earthquakes, uncontrolled wildfires, hurricanes, and deadly storms in world has considered a serious threat to mankind and preparing for devastating disasters has never been more critical and urgent. Emergency Events Database suggests that by year 2050 the damages to flood related incidents to coastal cities will cost near to US$1 trillion. Risk from acts of nature cannot be fully prevented but needs to minimize and safe the innocent lives and property by utilizing disaster management technique to mitigate the losses. This paper presents Information Technologies applications in disaster management phases such as Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing, mobile technology, drone, and satellite imagery and MOBILISE analytic platform considered as effective and efficient ways of strengthening resilience when disaster strikes and tremendously helpful for coordinating responses and accelerating the recovery of individuals and communities in the aftermath of recent natural disasters

Toward an integrated disaster management approach: How artificial intelligence can boost disaster management

Technical and methodological enhancement of hazards and disaster research is identified as a critical question in disaster management. Artificial intelligence (AI) applications, such as tracking and mapping, geospatial analysis, remote sensing techniques, robotics, drone technology, machine learning, telecom and network services, accident and hot spot analysis, smart city urban planning, transportation planning, and environmental impact analysis, are the technological components of societal change, having significant implications for research on the societal response to hazards and disasters. Social science researchers have used various technologies and methods to examine hazards and disasters through disciplinary, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary lenses. They have employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection and data analysis strategies. This study provides an overview of the current applications of AI in disaster management during its four phases and how AI is vital to all disaster management phases, leading to a faster, more concise, equipped response. Integrating a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) into disaster management enables higher planning, analysis, situational awareness, and recovery operations. GIS and RS are commonly recognized as key support tools for disaster management. Visualization capabilities, satellite images, and artificial intelligence analysis can assist governments in making quick decisions after natural disasters

Speak Pakistan: Challenges in Developing Pakistan Sign Language using Information Technology

Gesture based communication called Sign Language (SL) is the fundamental communication channel between hard of hearing individuals. Communication through signing is a visual motion dialect. Hard of hearing individuals use gesture based communication as their primary medium for correspondence. Different countries have their own sign language as the United States of America has American Sign Language (ASL), China has Chinese Sign Language (CSL), India has Indian Sign Language (ISL), and similarly Pakistan has Pakistan Sign Language (PSL). Most of the developed nations have addressed the issues of their hearing impaired people by launching projects involving Information Technology to reduce this gap between a deaf and a normal person. In central and south Asia, a considerable work has been conducted on ISL and CSL. However, Pakistan Sign Language is a linguistically under-investigated in the absence of any structured information about the language contents, grammar, and tools and services for communication. Hence, the major contributions of this research are to highlight the challenges to bridge this communication gap for Pakistani deaf community by using the existing literature, and to propose an Information Technology based architectural framework to identify major components to build applications which may help bridging the gap between the deaf and normal people of the country

Sports Culture in South Asia: Effects of Modern Bowling Action Rules on Cricket, an Information Technology Perspective

Cricket, a famous game played and watched at its peak in Asia. The game is governed by International Cricket Council (ICC). It is a team sport of eleven players in each side with different roles, of which one is bowler. The bowlers have followed different styles of bowling sinces game has started, of which some declared illegal initially. In our study, we have focused on the cases of illegality reported form South Asian region in post 1990 period a new era of biomechanics based bowling laws started. We have also investigated the updated ICC process for bowlers review and remedy along with biomechanics based labs established worldwide. Finally, we have proposed a new information technology based bowling action evaluation solution, lower in cost and affordable at domestic level. Such study will help bowlers, their coaches and viewers to understand the biomechanics based bowling laws, standings of South Asian bowling after these laws and alternative solutions to rescue it

A Strategy for the Promotion of Computer Programming Using Urdu Language in Pakistan

Software industry has proven to be a stepping stone towards changing the rank of a country in the comity of nations. In South Asian region, India has immensely excelled her economic growth by increasing its revenues with the help of software export. The development of software involves man power with technical support, where the premier focus in on computer programming. Therefore, producing a large number of skillful computer programmers in Pakistan would certainly help the cause of establishing software houses, which in turn, will attract the western world to outsource their software projects to Pakistan. Like India, this can certainly act like a game changer for Pakistan’s economy by earning a huge revenue. In this research we have presented a methodology to increase the interest of Pakistani people in computer programming by providing a bilingual computer program development environment in Urdu and English languages. This act may certainly open new dimensions of teaching computer programming, for instance, by introducing computer programming at school level. Furthermore, it may increase the interest of students and teachers to learn and teach computer programming while experiencing to program in their national language. Lastly, in technical terms, we have presented the visual design of such bilingual environment along with architectural modification in the preprocessor for C++ language to support both Urdu and English languages for writing computer program