High Performance GNRFET Devices for High-Speed Low-Power Analog and Digital Applications

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Recent ULSI (ultra large scale integration) technology emphasizes small size devices, featuring low power and high switching speed. Moore's law has been followed successfully in scaling down the silicon device in order to enhance the level of integration with high performances until conventional devices failed to cop up with further scaling due to limitations with ballistic effects, and challenges with accommodating dopant fluctuation, mobility degradation, among other device parameters. Recently, Graphene based devices o ered alternative approach, featuring small size and high performances. This includes high carrier mobility, high carrier density, high robustness, and high thermal conductivity. These unique characteristics made the Graphene devices attractive for high speed electronic architectures. In this research, Graphene devices were integrated into applications with analog, digital, and mixed signals based systems. Graphene devices were briefly explored in electronics applications since its first model developed by the University of Illinois, Champaign in 2013. This study emphasizes the validation of the model in various applications with analog, digital, and mixed signals. At the analog level, the model was used for voltage and power amplifiers; classes A, B, and AB. At the digital level, the device model was validated within the universal gates, adders, multipliers, subtractors, multiplexers, demultiplexers, encoders, and comparators. The study was also extended to include Graphene devices for serializers, the digital systems incorporated into the data structure storage. At the mixed signal level, the device model was validated for the DACs/ADCs. In all components, the features of the new devices were emphasized as compared with the existing silicon technology. The system functionality and dynamic performances were also elaborated. The study also covered the linearity characteristics of the devices within full input range operation. GNRFETs with a minimum channel length of 10nm and an input voltage 0.7V were considered in the study. An electronic design platform ADS (Advanced Design Systems) was used in the simulations. The power amplifiers showed noise figure as low as 0.064dbs for class A, and 0.32 dbs for class B, and 0.69 dbs for class AB power amplifiers. The design was stable and as high as 5.12 for class A, 1.02 for class B, and 1.014 for class AB. The stability factor was estimated at 2GHz operation. The harmonics were as low as -100 dbs for class A, -60 dbs for class B, and -50dbs for class AB, all simulated at 1GHz. The device was incorporated into ADC system, and as low as 24.5 micro Watt power consumption and 40 nsec rise time were observed. Likewise, the DAC showed low power consumption as of 4.51 micro Watt. The serializer showed as minimum power consumption of the order of 0.4mW. These results showed that these nanoscale devices have potential future for high-speed communication systems, medical devices, computer architecture and dynamic Nano electromechanical (NEMS) which provides ultra-level of integration, incorporating embedded and IoT devices supporting this technology. Results of analog and digital components showed superiority over other silicon transistor technologies in their ultra-low power consumption and high switching speed

Sceletium Plant Species: Alkaloidal Components, Chemistry and Ethnopharmacology

The genus Sceletium, classified under the Aizoaceae family, is indigenous to the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape province of South Africa. There are currently eight reported species divided into two main “types” with five species in the tortuosum and three in the emarcidum type. It has been observed that, in general, mesembrine‐type alkaloids such as mesembrenol, Δ7mesembrenone, mesembranol, mesembrenone, mesembrine and epimesembranol as well as some non‐mesembrine type such as Sceletium A4, tortuosamine and joubertiamine occur in the tortuosum type; the emarcidum type is devoid of alkaloids. Morphological identification of species type presents a formidable challenge, where subtle differences are found in the secondary veins that branch off from the middle vein toward the leaf margin. In view of the fact that the plant contains a complex mixture of closely related compounds, in particular alkaloidal components, separation techniques and their application to evaluate specific chemical components are an important aspect which permits accurate characterization and quantification. In addition, the development of appropriate analytical methods for chemotaxonomic studies has provided valuable information to confirm specific plant identity. Importantly, these methods are also required for the quality control of plant material used to manufacture complementary and traditional medicines containing Sceletium

Ten years follow up of a chronic tubercular osteomyelitis of the proximal tibia in infancy

Primary tuberculous osteomyelitis accounts for less than 10% of extra pulmonary tuberculosis in childhood.In about 50% of the patients, the vertebrae are the sites of skeletal involvement. Solitary bone TB is rare in infancy and has non specific findings and can be misdiagnosed easily. A 12 month old infant, presented with fever, pain, swelling in left knee, difficulty in moving left lower limb and inability to bear weight for 15 days at Nizam's institute of medical sciences, Hyderabad, in 2010. She was managed conservatively with injectable antibiotics, initially. After 15 days fever and swelling recurred. A biopsy was performed which showed plenty of polymorphs. A month later with second recurrence she was operated by means of debridement and curettage. Subsequent biopsy and culture revealed active Mycobacterial tuberculous infection. Anti-tubercular treatment titrated to her body weight was administered for 12 months and patient was followed up. The patient’s general condition improved with betterment in laboratory parameters, resolution of the lesion, without any sequelae. Upon a close follow up of 10 years (2010-2020), no residual deformity was noted and excellent clinical outcome achieved. Skeletal TB without spinal involvement in children is rare and it does not have any pathognomonic radiographic or clinical characteristics. Physis can heal gradually and full range of motion of the adjacent joints can be maintained. Tuberculosis should be an essential differential diagnosis while addressing cases with similar presentation in endemic regions like India. As clinical and radiological findings may be indistinguishable from malignant disease, tuberculous osteitis should be excluded in infants presenting with undiagnosed bone lesions despite been vaccinated with Bacille Calmette Guerin at birth

Multi-way Cloud-Side Access Control for Encrypted Cloud Storage

Individuals support the incredible intensity of cloud computing, however can't completely believe the cloud providers to have protection delicate data, because of the nonattendance of client to-cloud controllability. To guarantee confidentiality, data administrators redistribute scrambled data rather than plaintexts. To impart the scrambled files to different clients, ciphertext-strategy attribute-based encryption can be used to direct fine-grained and administrator driven access control. Yet, this doesn't adequately get secure against different assaults. Numerous past schemes didn't concede the cloud supplier the capacity to check whether a downloader can decode. Along these lines, these files ought to be accessible to everybody open to the cloud storage. A noxious aggressor can download a great many files to dispatch monetary refusal of supportability assaults, which will to a great extent expend the cloud asset. The payer of the cloud service bears the cost. These worries ought to be settled in true open cloud storage. In this paper, we propose an answer for secure encoded cloud storages from EDoS assaults and give asset utilization responsibility. We present two conventions for various settings, trailed by execution and security examination. Furthermore, attribute-based control in the framework additionally empowers the cloud server to confine the entrance to those clients with a similar arrangement of attributes while protecting client security, i.e., the cloud server just realizes that the client satisfies the necessary predicate, however has no clue on the specific identity of the client

Creating digital materials for Antimicrobial Resistance One Health awareness and behaviour change for Rhodes University peer educators

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an urgent, global health problem that stems from the inappropriate use of and poor adherence to antibiotics that treat diseases in human beings. It is further exacerbated by the proliferation of antibiotics into the food chain, particularly from the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in agricultural, meat, and dairy production. The recently developed World Health Organisation (WHO) One Health (OH) approach encompasses and acknowledges the various interconnected pathways that drive AMR between the human, animal, and environmental spheres. Until recently, AMR health challenges have been viewed primarily through a biomedical lens, but this study draws on the more holistic perspective that the One Health approach offers. AMR from food sources (AMR-OH) is an underrepresented topic of research. Creating digital health communication for low-literate end-users on this topic using the One Health approach is an emerging field of research. AMR-OH has not been extensively covered in health communication campaigns and requires developing context-specific digital educational materials, such as the ones this study presents. This study draws on Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) theory elements to create a suggested approach to disseminate AMR-OH information. This intervention was aimed at low-health-literate end-users to accomplish two objectives. First, create awareness and improve knowledge about AMR-OH via a video. Second, offer feasible, easily implementable behaviour change actions in the form of an infographic comprising four food safety steps (Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill). The study was conducted in three phases. First, recruit participants and conduct a literature review to identify the effective SBCC elements of health communication intervention design. Second, conduct a needs assessment to gauge the volunteering participants’ familiarity with digital media and their current health literacy on AMR-OH. Third, conceptualise and design the two AMR-OH digital educational materials (a video and accompanying infographic). The materials were first evaluated by the researcher using the Clear Communication Index (CCI) test, and then shared with the participants via WhatsApp to be evaluated by them, using two end-user tests: the Patient Education Material Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) test. These two tests assessed the materials’ readability, understandability, and actionability. A post-evaluation, semi-structured interview (SSI) was then conducted with the participants. Deductive thematic analysis was conducted on the SSI data and analysed using the five design benchmarks as themes: Ease of Use of Technology, Clarity of Content, Appropriate Format, Target Audience Resonance (Appropriate for target audience), and Clear calls to Action (Actionable). The rapid onset of COVID-19 restrictions forced the project to scale down and shift entirely online. The study could be conducted due to the active and enthusiastic virtual participation of two Rhodes University Peer Educators (PEs) whose contribution was vital to developing and evaluating the materials. The needs assessment showed that the PEs were comfortable using WhatsApp, had reliable internet connection when on campus, and used this social media platform for professional and personal communication. This assessment also showed that they had prior knowledge of AMR but only from the human health perspective. The video and infographic scored high on the Clear Communication Index, 93.3% and 94.4%, respectively. The PEs’ evaluation of the materials was also high on the PEMAT and SAM assessments: video narration (100%, 80% respectively), video (100%, 99% respectively), and infographic (86%, 90% respectively). This study produced an easy-to-use, accessible and appropriate online repository of AMR-OH information in a novel format with actionable steps. The post-evaluation SSI revealed that the materials and the channel of delivery were welcomed. The PEs expressed their confidence in receiving, using, and sharing this novel presentation of evidence and solutions-based information about AMR-OH. They further highlighted that this is the first time they have received and evaluated context-specific digital multimedia about AMR-OH and that this information equipped them to adopt the food safety behaviours – namely, the four food safety steps. This study demonstrates that the theory-informed creation of engaging digital media for AMR-OH is feasible and viable. Furthermore, it affirms that engaging digital media for AMR-OH can be created to enhance the knowledge of end-users about this health issue. The scaled-down approach created a blueprint to implement a more extensive intervention in the future, informed by this intervention’s methods and tools. Lastly, this blueprint for a particular conceptualisation of an AMR-OH digital media intervention provides effective and empowering tools with which the PEs can disseminate this information to the university's support staff.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 202

Analysis of total knee replacements in a South Indian Institute

Background: Total knee replacement (TKR) is the most widely practised elective surgical procedure for advanced osteoarthritic patients globally. There is paucity of data on TKR’s in south Indian population. This study was aimed at analysing the peri-operative data of primary TKR’s to ease in customising the imported implants for our population.Methods: Data on 261 TKR’s performed in our institute over 40 months was collected. Categorical variables like age, gender, size of components used, co-morbidities and type of implants used were analysed.Results: Out of 220 patients with 261 knees, 141 were females (173 knees) and 79 were males (88 knees). The age group of the cohort was 60±11.2 years (Mean±SD). Diabetes and Hypertension (n=152) were the commonest co morbidities. The Cruciate Retaining (CR) type of prosthesis was used to the maximum extent (n=218). Size 3 femoral and tibial component was the commonly used in males and size 2 in females. 143(54.8%) knees had tibio-femoral component mismatch.  Conclusions: This study gives a reasonable insight into various aspects of the total knee replacements in a South Indian Institute. This data would be useful for manufacturing suitable implants customised for our population in the context of imported implants being in vogue. It also helps the operating surgeon to appropriately order for the desirable implants well in advance lest he should struggle intra operatively for want of better clinical outcome

Analysis of surgical fixation of displaced proximal humerus fractures using PHILOS plate

Background: The treatment of displaced proximal humeral injuries still throws challenges in identifying variables to prognosticate the outcome and optimizing a good clinical result. This study attempts to analyze the functional outcome of surgery of such fractures with proximal humeral interlocking system (PHILOS) plate and evaluate variables which help in predicting the prognosis.Methods: This is a retrospective and prospective study of 30 patients with displaced proximal humerus fractures - 2 part, 3 part, 4 part and fracture dislocations according to Neer classification, surgically treated using PHILOS plate during 2011 and 2014. Evaluation of patients was done on follow-up by an independent observer for union by radiographs and functional assessment by Constant-Murley score and DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) score.Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.4 years (range 18-65). 83.3% of the patients were male. The mean follow-up was 18.9 months (4-36 months). The mean Constant-Murley score and the DASH score were 76 and 16 respectively at the last follow-up. Our analysis showed that the patient’s age, delay in surgery, and Neer’s classification influenced the prognosis of the fracture. Medial metaphyseal extension in the fracture or an intact medial neck showed a better outcome. Complications were seen in 5 patients. Avascular necrosis was seen in 3 patients.Conclusions: Osteosynthesis of displaced proximal humeral fractures with PHILOS plate provides a good outcome, with low complication rate. Patient’s age and the type of fracture based on Neer’s classification prognosticate the outcome.