Electrical parameters extraction of CMOS floating-gate inverters

This work provides an accurate methodology for extracting the floating-gate gain factory, of CMOS floating-gate inverters with a clock-driven switch for accessing temporarilly to the floating-gate. With the methodology proposed in this paper, the γ factor and other parasitic capacitances coupled to the floating-gate can be easily extracted in a mismatch-free approach. This parameter plays an important role in modern analog and mixed-signal CMOS circuits, since it limits the circuit performance. Theoretical and measured values using two test cells, fabricated in a standard double poly double metal CMOS AMI-ABN process with 1.2 µm design rules, were compared. The extracted parameters can be incorporated into floating-gate PS pice macromodels for obtaining accurate electrical simulation

Quasi-Gaussian Multibeam Solar Laser Station for a Megawatt Solar Furnace

CEECIND/03081/2017An alternative multirod solar side-pumping concept for the production of multiple quasi-Gaussian beams is proposed. This scheme was based on the One-Megawatt solar furnace in Odeillo, France, which collected and concentrated the solar light into a multilayered pyramidal pumping cavity placed at the focal zone. Each layer was comprised of a square array of four laser heads, each composed of a biconic surface that reflected the solar rays towards a Nd:YAG rod fixed inside a fused silica flow tube. A pyramidal reflector was placed inside the pumping cavity to close it and maximize the harness of solar energy. Compared to the previous multibeam solar laser station design for the same solar furnace, considerable alleviation of thermal lensing effects was achieved with the present approach, allowing the improvement of the laser beam quality factors and, consequently, the possibility of a 32-laser-beam generation, each with a quasi-Gaussian profile. For this case, 9.44 kW total laser power was calculated. Additionally, 20.01 kW total multimode laser power was numerically determined, which corresponds to a 10.93 W/m2 collection efficiency and a 2.0% solar-to-laser power conversion efficiency.publishersversionpublishe

Bond strength of resin cements to leucite-reinforced ceramics: part 2 – after one-year aging in water

The aim of this study was to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of two resin cements bonded to four leucite-reinforced ceramics after one week and one year of aging. Material and methods: Forty ceramic blocks (4 mm wide, 14 mm length, and 2 mm thick) were used (1 week) and reused at the back side (1 year). The blocks were abraded with aluminum oxide (90 µm) and randomly divided into eight groups for each time. Two dual resin cements (RelyX ARC and RelyX U200 self-adhesive, 3M ESPE) were bonded to ceramics Creapress (CRE – Creation / Klema), Finesse All-Ceramic (FIN – Dentsply / Ceramco), IPS Empress Esthetic (IEE – Ivoclar Vivadent) and Vita PM9 (PM9-Vita). For each resin, time, and ceramic block, after applications of the 10% hydrofluoric acid (for 1 min) and silane, 3 Tygon cut tubes were positioned over each block and filled in with the resin cements (light-cured for 40 s). The tubing molds were removed to expose the bond specimens as cylinders (area=0.38 mm2) stored in relative humidity at 24±2°C for one week and at 37±2°C for one year. All bonds were tested in an Instron in shear (applied of the base cylinder with a thin wire - 0.25 mm) at speed of 0.5 mm/min, until failure. Results: The results were analyzed by ANOVA (resin cements, ceramic systems, and time) and Tukey test (p<0.05) for rank ordering of SBS. The FIN and IEE ceramics did not show significant SBS decreasing on aging with U200. The mean SBS decreasing for all the ceramics was 36% with ARC and 14% with U200 cement. Conclusion: The SBS of ARC cement were significantly lower for all ceramics with aging than that of U200 cement. The SBS of ARC cement was also weakened by aging. FIN ceramic + U200 cement proved to be the most stable and strongest bond strength, and PM9+ARC cement proved to be the weakest bond strength with low stability.The aim of this study was to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of two resin cements bonded to four leucite-reinforced ceramics after one week and one year of aging. Material and methods: Forty ceramic blocks (4 mm wide, 14 mm length, and 2 mm thick) were used (1 week) and reused at the back side (1 year). The blocks were abraded with aluminum oxide (90 µm) and randomly divided into eight groups for each time. Two dual resin cements (RelyX ARC and RelyX U200 self-adhesive, 3M ESPE) were bonded to ceramics Creapress (CRE – Creation / Klema), Finesse All-Ceramic (FIN – Dentsply / Ceramco), IPS Empress Esthetic (IEE – Ivoclar Vivadent) and Vita PM9 (PM9-Vita). For each resin, time, and ceramic block, after applications of the 10% hydrofluoric acid (for 1 min) and silane, 3 Tygon cut tubes were positioned over each block and filled in with the resin cements (light-cured for 40 s). The tubing molds were removed to expose the bond specimens as cylinders (area=0.38 mm2) stored in relative humidity at 24±2°C for one week and at 37±2°C for one year. All bonds were tested in an Instron in shear (applied of the base cylinder with a thin wire - 0.25 mm) at speed of 0.5 mm/min, until failure. Results: The results were analyzed by ANOVA (resin cements, ceramic systems, and time) and Tukey test (p<0.05) for rank ordering of SBS. The FIN and IEE ceramics did not show significant SBS decreasing on aging with U200. The mean SBS decreasing for all the ceramics was 36% with ARC and 14% with U200 cement. Conclusion: The SBS of ARC cement were significantly lower for all ceramics with aging than that of U200 cement. The SBS of ARC cement was also weakened by aging. FIN ceramic + U200 cement proved to be the most stable and strongest bond strength, and PM9+ARC cement proved to be the weakest bond strength with low stability

Impact of salt reduction on biogenic amines, fatty acids, microbiota, texure and sensory profile in traditional blood dry-cured sausages

Meat industry needs to reduce salt in their products due to healthy issues. The present study evaluated the effect of salt reduction from 6% to 3% in two Portuguese traditional blood dry-cured sausages. Physico-chemical and microbiological parameters, biogenic amines, fatty acids and texture profiles and sensory panel evaluations were considered. Differences to salt reduction were preceptible in a faint decline of water activity, which slightly favoured microbial growth. Total biogenic amines content ranged from 88.86 to 796.68 mg Kg-1 fresh matter, with higher amount, particularly of cadaverine, histamine and tyramine, in low-salt products. Still, histamine anda other vasoactive amines remained at low levels, thus not affecting consumers' health. Regarding fatty acids, no significant differences were observed due to salt. However, texture profile analysis revealed lower resilience and cohesiveness in low-salt products, although no textural changes were observed by the sensory panel. Nevertheless, low-salt sausages were clearly preferred by panellists

Characterisation of “Catalão” and “Salsichão” Portuguese traditional sausages with salt reduction

The present study evaluated the effect of salt reduction on traditional dry-cured sausages' safety, quality and product acceptance, comprising physicochemical and microbiological parameters, biogenic amines, fatty acids, texture profile and sensory analysis. According to our results, salt content had a major effect on microbiological counts, although not compromising the products' safety. Marked differences were identified regarding biogenic amines, in particular for histamine, tyramine and cadaverine,which were detected in larger amounts in products with 3%.Moreover, significant differences in the fatty acids profile have also been found, but only in less abundant components such as linoleic, lauric and heneicosanoic acids. Texture profile analysis of low-salt products, revealed a decrease in hardness and chewiness, along with an increase in adhesiveness values. Sensory evaluations revealed that despite the less intense aroma, products with 3% salt, had a more balanced salt perception. Our results suggest that salt content may be reduced to 50% in dry-cured products, with the obvious health-related advantages

Fowler-Nordheim tunneling characterization on Poly1-Poly2 capacitors for the implementation of analog memories in CMOS 0.5 m technology

The experimental results of the Fowler-Nordheim characterization using poly1-poly2 capacitors on CMOS ON Semi 0.5 m technology are presented. This characterization allows the development, design, and characterization of a newcurrent-mode analog nonvolatile memory. Experimental results of the memory cell architecture are presented and demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed architecture

Energía gastada en el primer ciclo de histéresis como parámetro de selección de un biomaterial

Veinticuatro muestras de pericardio de ternera estabilizado, material similar al utilizado en la fabricación de velos de bioprótesis cardiacas, fueron sometidas a una prueba de esfuerzo a fatiga. Tras seis bloques de 100 ciclos a 1 MPa de presión máxima se rompieron 12 muestras, el 50%. La energía media gastada en este primer ciclo, en las muestras que sobrevivieron, fue de 0.16J, un valor inferior a la energía gastada en las muestra que terminaron rompiendo, 0.28J (p=0.005). Utilizando el cociente entre la energía disipada en el primer ciclo y el espesor medio de la muestra, con un valor de corte de 0.48J/mm para la selección de las mejores muestras, se obtiene un índice de validez del 87.5%, y un área bajo la curva ROC de 0.917. Este método no destructivo debe ayudar a los métodos ópticos en el reconocimiento y selección de las muestras más resistentes y en la obtención del material biológico más homogéne

A Primer on Resonances in Quantum Mechanics

After a pedagogical introduction to the concept of resonance in classical and quantum mechanics, some interesting applications are discussed. The subject includes resonances occurring as one of the effects of radiative reaction, the resonances involved in the refraction of electromagnetic waves by a medium with a complex refractive index, and quantum decaying systems described in terms of resonant states of the energy. Some useful mathematical approaches like the Fourier transform, the complex scaling method and the Darboux transformation are also reviewed.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, lectures presented at the Advanced Summer School in Physics 2008, Cinvestav, Mexic

ANTIOXIDANT AND EFFECTS OF PROCESSING USING BIXIN POTASSIUM SALT AS A NITRITE REPLACEMENT IN RESTRUCTURED MEAT PRODUCTS

This study aimed to evaluate bixin potassium salt as a replacement for sodium nitrite (NaNO2) in restructured meat products. Bixin was obtained from the chloroform extract of annatto seeds using a Soxhlet apparatus. Restructured meat samples were prepared using raw retail cuts of beef (vastus lateralis), stored at −16º C, and evaluated during storage at 60 days. The efficacy of bixin potassium salt as a NaNO2 replacement in restructured meat was evaluated by measuring residual concentrations of TBARS, color (L*, a*, and b* components), a sensory preference test, and microbiological parameters. Bixin potassium salt proved to be a viable alternative to nitrites for preserving the color and inhibiting the oxidative degradation of restructured meat. The outcomes showed that the effect of bixin potassium salt on microbiological stabilization was quite variable, depending on the bacterial species considered

CONCENTRATION OF BIXIN IN TWO VARIETIES OF Bixa orellana L. CULTURED IN PARANA

Urucum (urucum ou Bixa OrellanaL.), uma árvore pequena da família Bixaceae, é nativa da América do Sul e Central e é difundida nos trópicos. Embora a bixina pigmento natural da semente do urucum, representando 80% de todos carotenoides presentes, possui cadeia mais curta (25 C) do que os habituais carotenoides (C 40), a bixina também possui uma cadeia de  duplas ligações conjugadas, o que lhe confere algumas características especiais. Das metodologias utilizadas para extração, o Soxhlet é um dos que permite um rendimento maior. Esta extração resulta em produtos distintos quanto à qualidade e concentração de ativos.As sementes de duas variedades de Bixa orellana cultivadas em Morretes Paraná analisadas mostraram que a variedade vermelha apresentaram concentrações após a extração, fração hexano 6,59%, clorofórmio 5,07% de bixina isolada, acetato de eitla 0,75% e fração hidroalcólica 5,75%, enquanto a variedade verde fração hexano 6,79%, clorofórmio 3,28% de bixina isolada, acetato de eitla 0,87% e fração hidroalcólica 4,8%. Observou-se a presença cristais 1,378%, que foram identificados com sendo sacarose na variedade vermelha após algum tempo em repouso.