Graphene Gold Nanoparticle Hybrid Based Near Infrared Photodetector

This paper presents novel and simplistic approach towards the development of graphene based near infrared (NIR) photodetectors. The developed device comprises of Au nanoparticles integrated within the channel of the back-gated graphene field effect transistors. The introduction of Au nanoparticles enhanced response of the device under IR illumination due improved NIR absorption. Further, dynamic response of the device under IR illumination is presented. This study will trigger the development of novel hybrid graphene device for graphene based photodetectors in IR regime

Data Placement in Object Storage Based Multiple Containers in Cloud Environment

Cloud computing is an Internet based processing where virtual shared servers give programming and different resources. Cloud storage is only capacity of information on outsider cloud servers. The benefits are boundless capacity, backup and recovery. The bad marks are specialized issues, cost and absence of backing in security. In This paper, we made to build an application for cloud security in IBM bluemix cloud to partition the data and storing them into multiple containers of object storage. Object storage is a resource which is used in IBM bluemix cloud to store a data. Hence the data is retrieve when needed by merging it. An proposed efficient data placement algorithm is used. This will consider how to place the files efficiently to the containers in object storage. Beside, the files will merge when client needs it back. So some additional algorithms is also used for partitioning and merging of files. Our goal is to achieve good security for cloud storage system, through proposed algorithm by using multiple containers of object storage in cloud

Tuning Electrical Conductivity of CNT-PDMS Nanocomposites for Flexible Electronic Applications

This paper presents a study into the electrical conductivity of multi-wall carbon nanotube-polydimethylsiloxane (MWNT-PDMS) nanocomposite and their dependence on the filler concentration. It is observed that the electrical conductivity of the composites can be tailored by altering the filler concentration. Accordingly, the nanocomposites with filler weight ratio ranging from 1% to 8% were prepared and tested. Finally, the significance of results presented here for flexible pressure sensors and stretchable interconnects for electronic skin applications have been discussed

Primary care morbidity in Eastern Cape Province

Background. Primary health care in rural South Africa is predominantly provided by remote clinics and health centres. In 1994, health centres were upgraded and new health centres developed to serve as a health care filter between community clinics and district hospitals.Aim. To describe the spectrum of clinical problems encountered at a new health centre in an area of high economic deprivation and compare this with an adjacent community clinic and district hospital.Design. Cross-sectional survey.Setting. A rural clinic, health centre and district hospital in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.Methods. The International Classification of Primary Care-2(ICPC-2) was used to code data collected over a 13-week period from patients presenting at a community clinic, health centre and district hospital.Results. Altogether, 4 383 patient encounters were recorded across all three sites. Most contacts at the clinic (97%) and the health centre (80%) were with a nurse. Females over 15 years of age comprised over half of all contacts at health facilities (53%). The most common diagnosis category was respiratory (23%). Cough was the most common symptom.Thirty per cent of children up to 5 years of age were seen for immunisations. Most childhood immunisations (79%) werecarried out at the health centre.Conclusion. Of all the health care facilities surveyed, the health centre had the highest throughput of patients, indicating that the health centre is an efficient filter between the community and hospital. The ICPC-2 can be successfully used to monitor encounters at similar African health care facilities.S Afr Med J 2010; 100: 309-312

Piezoelectric graphene field effect transistor pressure sensors for tactile sensing

This paper presents graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) based pressure sensors for tactile sensing. The sensing device comprises GFET connected with a piezoelectric metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor in an extended gate configuration. The application of pressure on MIM generates a piezo-potential which modulates the channel current of GFET. The fabricated pressure sensor was tested over a range of 23.54–94.18 kPa, and it exhibits a sensitivity of 4.55 × 10−3 kPa−1. Further, the low voltage (∼100 mV) operation of the presented pressure sensors makes them ideal for wearable electronic applications

Adjuvant Intravesical Chemohyperthermia Versus Passive Chemotherapy in Patients with Intermediate-risk Non–muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (HIVEC-II): A Phase 2, Open-label, Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: Adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy following tumour resection is recommended for intermediate-risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of adjuvant intravesical chemohyperthermia (CHT) for intermediate-risk NMIBC. Design, setting, and participants: HIVEC-II is an open-label, phase 2 randomised controlled trial of CHT versus chemotherapy alone in patients with intermediate-risk NMIBC recruited at 15 centres between May 2014 and December 2017 (ISRCTN 23639415). Randomisation was stratified by treating hospital. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to adjuvant CHT with mitomycin C at 43°C or to room-temperature mitomycin C (control). Both treatment arms received six weekly instillations of 40 mg of mitomycin C lasting for 60 min. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary endpoint was 24-mo disease-free survival as determined via cystoscopy and urinary cytology. Analysis was by intention to treat. Results: A total of 259 patients (131 CHT vs 128 control) were randomised. At 24 mo, 42 patients (32%) in the CHT group and 49 (38%) in the control group had experienced recurrence. Disease-free survival at 24 mo was 61% (95% confidence interval [CI] 51–69%) in the CHT arm and 60% (95% CI 50–68%) in the control arm (hazard ratio [HR] 0.92, 95% CI 0.62–1.37; log-rank p = 0.8). Progression-free survival was higher in the control arm (HR 3.44, 95% CI 1.09–10.82; log-rank p = 0.02) on intention-to-treat analysis but was not significantly higher on per-protocol analysis (HR 2.87, 95% CI 0.83–9.98; log-rank p = 0.06). Overall survival was similar (HR 2.55, 95% CI 0.77–8.40; log-rank p = 0.09). Patients undergoing CHT were less likely to complete their treatment (n =75, 59% vs n = 111, 89%). Adverse events were reported by 164 patients (87 CHT vs 77 control). Major (grade III) adverse events were rare (13 CHT vs 7 control). Conclusions: CHT cannot be recommended over chemotherapy alone for intermediate-risk NMIBC. Adverse events following CHT were of low grade and short-lived, although patients were less likely to complete their treatment. Patient summary: The HIVEC-II trial investigated the role of heated chemotherapy instillations in the bladder for treatment of intermediate-risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We found no cancer control benefit from heated chemotherapy instillations over room-temperature chemotherapy. Adverse events following heated chemotherapy were low grade and short-lived, although these patients were less likely to complete their treatment

Wear Analysis When Machining AISI 304 with Ethylene Glycol/TIO2 Nanoparticle-based Coolant

This paper discuss the tool life and wear mechanism in the end-milling of AISI304 stainless steel using a TiN-coated carbide insert with water-soluble coolant and nanoparticle-based coolant (TiO2/EG). The cutting variables are cutting speed, feed rate, and axial depth. The end-milling operation using nanoparticle-based coolant (TiO2/EG) obtains a high tool life compared with the end-milling operation using water-soluble coolant. In general, the tool failure when milling with water-soluble coolant was flank wear, cracking, chipping, and fracture at a cutting distance of 720 mm, but the milling process with nanoparticle-based coolant (TiO2/EG) showed chipping and fracture at a cutting distance of 1200 mm. According to ISO 8688-2-1989 (E), the wear criterion for milling with water-soluble coolant is reached at an average cutting distance of 800 mm, but milling with nanoparticle-based coolant (TiO2/EG) reached the ISO 8688-2-1989 (E) wear criterion at a cutting distance of 1300 mm. The SEM and EDX spectra show that there are nanolayers of Ti nanoparticles from the nanofluid embedded in and filling the holes in the insert, forming a layer which acts as a thermal bridge for the cutting insert. Attrition and oxidation at the cutting edge were the main tool wear mechanisms present during the end-milling operation with nanoparticle-based coolant (TiO2/EG). An oxide layer formed during the oxidation wear which shielded the cutting tool from impact during the milling process

Bending Effects in a Flexible Dual Gated Graphene FET: A Verilog-A Model Implementation

This paper presents the Verilog-A implementation of charge control based model of dual gated graphene field effect transistor (GFET) and initial results towards bending induced changes in their electrical response. The ambipolar region of the device has been described using the saturation and displacement current models. The output characteristics derived from Verilog - A simulation is in good agreement with the reported experimental results. The model has been extended to study the behaviour of a bendable GFET and the simulation indicates negligible change in the electrical properties in the test range of bending

Simulation study of junctionless silicon nanoribbon FET for high-performance printable electronics

High-performance electronics on flexible substrates along with low-cost fabrication by printing has gained interest recently. For this purpose, the printing of inorganic semiconductors based micro/nanostructures such as nanowires etc. are being explored. However, due to thermal budget, the controlled selective source/drain doping needed to obtain transistors from such structure remains a bottleneck post transfer printing. This paper presents an attractive solution to address this challenge. The solution is based on junctionless FETs (JLFET), which do not require selective doping. Unlike conventional JLFETs, which use nanowires, the devices presented here are based on nanoribbons as this enable larger channel width and hence high drive current. Studied through simulation, the JLFETs presented here show high-performance with current high enough to drive micro-LED. The TCAD simulation has been carried out to study the effect of single and dual metal gate (top and bottom side) of JLFETs as well as that of doping and nanoribbon thickness on the electrical characteristics. The simulation results indicate that the proposed devices will be suitable for high performance printable electronics applications