Comprehensive identification of sensitive and stable ISFET sensing layer high-k gate based on ISFET/electrolyte models

The ISFET sensing membrane is in direct contact with the electrolyte solution, determining the starting sensitivity of these devices. A SiO2 gate dielectric shows a low response sensitivity and poor stability. This paper proposes a comprehensive identification of different high-k materials which can be used for this purpose, rather than SiO2. The Gouy-Chapman and Gouy-Chapman-Stern models were combined with the Site-binding model, based on surface potential sensitivity, to achieve the work objectives. Five materials, namely Al2O3, Ta2O5, Hfo2, Zro2 and SN2O3, which are commonly considered for micro-electronic applications, were compared. This study has identified that Ta2O5 have a high surface potential response at around 59mV/pH, and also exhibits high stability in different electrolyte concentrations. The models used have been validated with real experimental data, which achieved excellent agreement. The insights gained from this study may be of assistance to determine the suitability of different materials before progressing to expensive real ISFET fabrication

Studying The Optical Properties of CdO and CdO: Bi Thin Films

Cadmium Oxide and Bi doped Cadmium Oxide thin films are prepared by using the chemical spray pyrolysis technique a glass substrate at a temperature of (400?C) with volumetric concentration (2,4)%. The thickness of all prepared films is about (400±20) nm. Transmittance and Absorbance spectra are recorded in the wave length ranged (400-800) nm. The nature of electronic transitions is determined, it is found out that these films have directly allowed transition with an optical energy gap of (2.37( eV for CdO and ) 2.59, 2.62) eV for (2% ,4%) Bi doped CdO respectively. The optical constants have been evaluated before and after doping

Near-sea-level langley calibration algorithm

As compared to other methods, measurement of aerosol optical depth (AOD) using sunphotometers offer several advantages. However, it suffers a drawback as calibration of the instrument required to be performed at high altitude due to temporal drifts in the atmospheric condition during the calibration. To solve this, a new Langley calibration algorithm has been designed for AOD measurement using spectroradiometer instrument. The key advantages of the proposed algorithm are its objectivity, computational efficiency and the ability to detect short intervals of cloud transits. It avoids travelling to high altitude mountain that the conventional calibration procedure always practiced for frequent calibration. Most importantly, neither it requires priori knowledge of the instrument calibration nor a collocated calibrated instrument for nominal calibration transfer to perform the cloud-screening procedure

Prediction of signal attenuation due to duststorms using mie scattering

The present trend in radio design calls for the use of frequencies above 40 GHz for short links carrying wide-band digital communication signals. In order to utilize the new frequency band efficiently, signal attenuation studies due to duststorms is needed urgently for desert areas. This paper presents a mathematical model which has been developed to predict the signal attenuation due to duststorm. The proposed model enables the convenient calculation of the signal path attenuation based on Mie solution of Maxwell's equations for the scattering of electromagnetic wave by dust particles. The predicted values from the proposed mathematical model are compared with the measured values observed in Saudi Arabia and Sudan and show relatively close agreement

Susceptibility Status of The Malaria Vector Anopheles Arabiensis To Insecticides in Khartoum State, Sudan

Background: Increasing insecticide resistancein the major anopheline vectors remain the main obstacle for malaria control programmes in African countries including Sudan.Objectives: To assess the susceptibility status of Anopheles arabiensis the malaria vector to different classes of insecticides in Khartoum State.Materials and Methods: Using WHO procedure, susceptibility tests were conducted on adults of An.arabiensis from nine sentinel sites in Khartoum State. Mortality rates and knockdown times of insecticides for An. arabiensis were calculated.Results: A total of 8345 females of An.arabiensis were tested againsteight insecticides, these wereDDT 4%, fenitrothion 1%, malathion 5%, propoxur 0.1%, permethrin 0.75%, deltamethrin 0.05% and lambdacyhalothrin 0.05%. Of these insecticides tested, An. arabiensis from Khartoum State wassusceptible to only fenitrothion 1% and lambdacyhalothrin 0.05% with overall mean percentage mortalities 99±0.12 and 100±0.45 respectively.In addition, the overall results, revealed a low mean mortality rates in An. arabiensis indicating resistance to the other remaining insecticides.Furthermore, all populations of An. arabiensis from different sentinel sites showed variation in mortality rates for the tested insecticides. The exception were for fenitrothion 1% and lambdacyhalothrin 0.05% which were resulted in 100% mean mortality in An. Arabiensis in each sentinel sites. Similarly, the knock down time (KDT) of all insecticide tested for 50% and 95% of An. arabiensis varied between populations of sentinel sites.Conclusion: In conclusion, An. arabiensis the main malariavector in Khartoum State is mainly susceptible to fenitrothion and lambdacyhalothrin. Therefore, these two insecticides could be the more suitable for malaria vector control in Khartoum State.Key Words: Anopheles arabiensis; susceptibility; KDT, Khartoum State, Suda

Value of SSTR2A and Claudin - 1 in Differentiating Meningioma from Schwannoma and Hemangiopericytoma

BACKGROUND: The distinction between meningioma, schwannoma and solitary fibrous tumour/ hemangiopericytoma can be challenging in some cases. This study evaluates the expression of Somatostatin receptor 2A (SSTR2A) and Claudin-1 in these different tumours.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five cases of meningioma, 10 cases of intracranial schwannoma and 10 cases of hemangiopericytoma were assessed. The immunohistochemical expression of SSTR2A and Claudin-1 was evaluated and scored according to the percentage of immunostained tumour cells (0: 1+, 2+ and 3). The intensity of staining was classified as weak, moderate and strong.RESULTS: Positivity for SSTR2A and Claudin-1 was encountered in 89% and 49% of meningiomas respectively. None of the schwannomas or hemangiopericytomas was positive for any of both markers. All grade I and II meningiomas were positive for SSTR2A, and only 20% of grade III showed positive staining (p < 0.05). Claudin-1 positivity was detected in 50%, 43% and 60% of grade I, II and III meningioma respectively, with significantly higher intensity in grade III (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: SSTR2A is highly sensitive and specific for meningioma. Claudin-1 is highly specific for meningioma, with low sensitivity. The adjunctive use of both markers can be very helpful in the diagnosis of meningioma and its distinction from schwannoma and hemangiopericytoma

Effects of Ketosis and Hypocalcemia on The Biochemical Parameters and Subsequent Postpartum Reproductive Performance in Buffaloes

Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical countries that include the Indian sub-continent and some Mediterranean countries such as Egypt. The transition period is the most stressful period for buffaloes, and it is considered as a turning point in the productive cycle from one lactation to the next and includes different metabolic, physiological, and nutritional changes. Metabolic disorders are common causes of lower productivity in buffaloes. Of these metabolic disorders, ketosis and hypocalcemia are most prevalent. This study aimed to study the ketosis- and hypocalcemia-related biochemical changes during the transition period and their impacts on the postpartum reproductive fertility in Buffaloes. Out of 120 total number of examined buffaloes, 40 buffaloes were used in this study; control group (n=10), hypocalcemia-affected (n=15), and ketosis-affected group (n=15). All buffaloes were subjected to thorough clinical and gynecological examination. Both urine and blood samples were collected from all groups. The amounts of ketone bodies were detected in urine. Biochemical parameters were evaluated including concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, albumin, total protein, urea and progesterone hormone (P4) in blood the following time-points (2-weeks prepartum, 1-week prepartum, partum, 1-week postpartum, and 2-weeks postpartum). Both hypocalcemia- and ketosis affected buffaloes had lower glucose, phosphorus, sodium and albumin and higher NEFA than control group. Hypocalcemia-affected buffaloes showed lower calcium and higher total protein than control group, while, ketosis-affected buffaloes showed lower cholesterol and total protein than control group. Moreover, metabolic disorders negatively affected the reproductive performance. Both ketosis and hypocalcemia significantly prolonged the duration to first estrus, increased both the number of days-open and the number of services per conceptio

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer had a very bioluminescent nose. A reply to van der Hoven et al. 2012

Research published in Deinsea by van der Hoven et al. (2012) identifies the cause of Rudolph’s infamous red nose to be the consequence of hyperemia of the nasal mucosa induced by the exertion of pulling a heavy load. Van der Hoven et al. (2012) claim that the excessive stresses endured whilst flying with Santa Claus and the sleigh in tow resulted in cerebral and bodily hyperthermia, overworking the nasal cooling system, causing the nose to glow. Whilst we recognise van der Hoven et al.’s (2012) central tenet of highly vascularized nasal mucosa in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus Linnaeus, 1758) helping regulate nasal heat exchange, we concluded that this is unlikely to be the causal factor of Rudolph’s particularly iridescent appendage for multiple reasons

Serological and molecular identification of Leptospira spp. in swine and stray dogs from Malaysia

Leptospirosis is endemic in Malaysia with Leptospira species extensively isolated from domestic and wild animals. Rats were found to be the principal maintenance hosts followed by cattle, pigs, and dogs. The objectives of this study were to isolate and identify Leptospira serovars circulating among swine from three different farms and also from stray dogs and cats from Klang valley, Selangor, Malaysia. Urine and kidney samples collected from 150 stray dogs, 50 cats and 81 swine were inoculated into semi-solid Ellinghausen McCullough Johnson and Harris (EMJH) media supplemented with additional 5-Fluorouracil. Dark field microscopy revealed only one positive culture of Leptospira from dog and swine samples, but all cat samples were negative. The PCR technique using published primers detected 11 positives in urine samples of dogs and 5 positives from swine. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) confirmed the presence of two serovars in both dog and swine populations namely, L. interrogans serovar Canicola and L. interrogans serovar Pomona (MAT > 100), with Not I-PFGE analyses separating these two serovars into distinct profiles. Despite the low prevalence in stray dogs, the latter may play an important role in the contamination of the environment. Swine can also pose a potential risk of infection to humans and other domestic animals, especially those living close to swine farms. Thus improving hygiene and eradication of rodents in swine farms are likely to reduce the risk of infection