Mitigation of signal quality degradation induced by PMD using synchronous modulation

In-line synchronous modulation as a way of mitigating the signal quality degradation induced by polarization mode dispersion (PMD) was experimentally studied using 10-Gb/s return to zero signal. Bit error rate of the degraded signal and the synchronously modulated signal under the differential group delay (DGD) values of 10, 20, 34, and 70 ps was measured and compared. The experimental results showed that in-line synchronous modulation is useful to mitigate the signal quality degeneration induced by PMD. 1-dB power penalty reduction was obtained even when the PMD was as high as 70% of the bit interval. The limitation of method is also discussed.     

Electron emission degradation of nano-structured sp^2-bonded amorphous carbon films

The initial field electron emission degradation behaviour of original nano-structured sp^2-bonded amorphous carbon films has been observed, which can be attributed to the increase of the work function of the film in the field emission process analysed using a Fowler-Nordheim plot. The possible reason for the change of work function is suggested to be the desorption of hydrogen from the original hydrogen termination film surface due to field emission current-induced local heating. For the explanation of the emission degradation behaviour of the nano-structured sp2-bonded amorphous carbon film, a cluster model with a series of graphite （0001） basal surfaces has been presented, and the theoretical calculations have been performed to investigate work functions of graphite （0001） surfaces with different hydrogen atom and ion chemisorption sites by using first principles method based on density functional theory-local density approximation.     

Integrated heterogeneous sono–photo Fenton processes for the degradation of phenolic aqueous solutions

The removal of organic compounds from aqueous solutions has been tackled by a novel integrated heterogeneous system. The efficacy of the different systems has been assessed using Fenton-like processes (H₂O₂/Fe₂O₃–SBA-15) and phenol as model pollutant. Sono- and photo-Fenton processes separately applied as well as combined systems were studied in order to evaluate of possible beneficial effects on the use of coupled systems. The sequential system evidences an enhancement in terms of phenol and TOC conversions compared to the ultrasound or UV–light irradiation processes. A total phenol degradation and ca. 90% TOC reduction are achieved by sequentially ultrasound followed by UV–visible light irradiation. These effects are ascribed cavitation effect of ultrasound producing a reduction of particle size that provides a higher amount of available active sites due to an increased surface area for the subsequent photo-Fenton system. These encouraging results open new paths for the existing oxidation technologies for potable water and wastewater treatment.     

Effect of gate length on the parameter degradation relations of PMOSFET under NBTI stress

The influence of PMOSFET gate length on the parameter degradation relations under negative bias temperature instability(NBTI) stress is studied. The threshold voltage degradation increases with reducing the gate length. By calculating the relations between the threshold voltage and the linear/saturation drain current, we obtain their correlation coefficients.Comparing the test result with the calculated linear/saturation current value, we obtain the ratio factors. The ratio factors decrease differently when the gate length diminishes. When the gate length reduces to some degree, the linear ratio factor decreases from greater than 1 to nearly 1, but the saturation factor decreases from greater than 1 to smaller than 1. This results from the influence of mobility and the velocity saturation effect. Moreover, due to the un-uniform distribution of potential damages along the channel, the descending slopes of the curve are different.     

Simulation of dual carbon–bromine stable isotope fractionation during 1,2-dibromoethane degradation*

We performed a model-based investigation to simultaneously predict the evolution of concentration, as well as stable carbon and bromine isotope fractionation during 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB, ethylene dibromide) transformation in a closed system. The modelling approach considers bond-cleavage mechanisms during different reactions and allows evaluating dual carbon–bromine isotopic signals for chemical and biotic reactions, including aerobic and anaerobic biological transformation, dibromoelimination by Zn(0) and alkaline hydrolysis. The proposed model allowed us to accurately simulate the evolution of concentrations and isotope data observed in a previous laboratory study and to successfully identify different reaction pathways. Furthermore, we illustrated the model capabilities in degradation scenarios involving complex reaction systems. Specifically, we examined (i) the case of sequential multistep transformation of EDB and the isotopic evolution of the parent compound, the intermediate and the reaction product and (ii) the case of parallel competing abiotic pathways of EDB transformation in alkaline solution.     

Direct sunlight responsive Ag–ZnO heterostructure photocatalyst: Enhanced degradation of rhodamine B

The catalytic activity of Ag–ZnO heterostructure on the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B was investigated. It demonstrated that Ag–ZnO heterostructure exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pure ZnO nanoparticles under direct sunlight. The possible factors to the photocatalytic acitivity of the sample were explored, including Ag content, dispersity and calcination temperature. It was shown that the sample dispersed by PVP, with 5% mol ratio Ag content, calcined at 400 °C showed the highest photocatalytic acitivity and this catalyst was reusable.     

Effect of radiation dose with low dose rate on degradation of propylene–ethylene copolymer

Medical grade propylene–ethylene (P–E) copolymer was irradiated by gamma rays. The radicals generated in the irradiated P–E copolymer were identified by using electron spin resonance (ESR) technique and the structural changes in the polymer were monitored with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The ESR spectra were analysed with computer simulations. The ESR studies show the formation of macro (～CH₂–?H–CH₂～), peroxy (POO˙), methyl and acyl (R–?=O) radicals and the asymmetric doublet, characteristic of peroxy radicals in the case of the sample irradiated at low dose (1 Mrad) and high doses (30 and 40 Mrad), respectively. The FTIR spectra of irradiated P–E copolymer indicate an increase in the concentration of peroxide groups. The absorption bands of –C=O and –OH groups were increased and the decline in the intensity of –CH₃ group absorption band is reported.     

Differential degradation of antbird songs in a neotropical rainforest: adaptation to perch height?

Habitat characteristics that affect transmission and degradation of acoustical signals should influence strongly the evolution of bird songs. In this study propagation properties of songs of five antbird species were measured in a rainforest in southern Venezuela. The investigated species (Myrmothera campanisona, Thamnophilus aethiops, Thamnophilus amazonicus, Myrmotherula axillaris, and Herpsilochmus dorsimaculatus) use different song post heights at all levels of the rainforest. Because there is a height-specific pattern in degradation, it is hypothesized that their songs are adapted to species-specific transmission paths. To test this assumption, transmission parameters (excess attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio, and blur ratio) were measured for the songs at five different heights and at three different distances. In three of the five species, the results indicate a strong influence of environmental conditions on the design of the vocalizations. Degradation was minimized by the concentration of the signal to a narrower frequency range, the usage of lower frequencies, or a slower time structure for the songs near the ground. The results are discussed in relation to acoustical models of sound propagation and physiology, and it is suggested that height-dependent degradation within a forest is an important selection pressure for transmissibility in avian communication.     

Impact of substrate injected hot electrons on hot carrier degradation in a 180-nm NMOSFET

Although hot carriers induced degradation of NMOSFETs has been studied for decades, the role of hot electron in this process is still debated. In this paper, the additional substrate hot electrons have been intentionally injected into the oxide layer to analyze tile role of hot electron in hot carrier degradation. The enhanced degradation and the decreased time exponent appear with the injected hot electrons increasing, the degradation increases from 21.80% to 62.00% and the time exponent decreases from 0.59 to 0.27 with Vb decreasing from 0 V to -4 V, at the same time, the recovery also becomes remarkable and which strongly depends on the post stress gate bias Vg. Based on the experimental results, more unrecovered interface traps are created by the additional injected hot electron from the breaking Si-H bond, but the oxide trapped negative charges do not increase after a rapid recovery.     

Sonocatalytic–Fenton reaction for enhanced OH radical generation and its application to lignin degradation

The present study demonstrated that the combined use of the sonocatalytic reaction (using ultrasound and titanium dioxide) and the Fenton reaction exhibited synergistically enhanced hydroxyl (OH) radical generation. Dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) concentration as index of OH radical generation was 13 and 115 μM at 10 min in the sonocatalytic reaction and Fenton reaction, respectively. On the other hand, the DHBA concentration was 378 μM at 10 min in the sonocatalytic–Fenton reaction. The sonocatalytic–Fenton reaction was used for degradation of lignin. The lignin degradation ratio was 1.8%, 49.9%, and 60.0% at 180 min in the sonocatalytic reaction, Fenton reaction, and sonocatalytic–Fenton reaction, respectively. Moreover, the sonocatalytic–Fenton reaction was applied to pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass to enhance subsequent enzymatic saccharification. The cellulose saccharification ratio was 11%, 14%, 16% and 25% at 360 min of pretreatment by control reaction, the sonocatalytic reaction, Fenton reaction, and sonocatalytic–Fenton reaction, respectively.     

Ultrasonically induced ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite for degradation of a textile dye in aqueous phase

In the present study, a porous clay-like support with unique characteristics was used for the synthesis and immobilization of ZnO nanostructures to be used as sonocatalyst for the sonocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue (MB) dye in the aqueous phase. As a result, the sonocatalytic activity of ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite (77.8%) was higher than that of pure ZnO nanostructures (53.6%). Increasing the initial pH from 3 to 10 led to increasing the color removal from 41.8% to 88.2%, respectively. Increasing the sonocatalyst dosage from 0.5 to 2.5 g/L resulted in increasing the color removal, while further increase up to 3 g/L caused an obvious drop in the color removal. The sonocatalysis of MB dye over ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite was temperature-dependent. The presence of methanol produced the most adverse effect on the sonocatalysis of MB dye. The addition of chloride and carbonate ions had a negligible effect on the sonocatalysis, while the addition of persulfate ion led to increasing the color removal from 77.8% to 99.4% during 90 min. The reusability test exhibited a 15% drop in the color removal (%) within three consecutive experimental runs. A mineralization efficiency of 63.2% was obtained within 4 h.     

Microstructural studies on degradation of interface between LSM–YSZ cathode and YSZ electrolyte in SOFCs

The changes in the cathode/electrolyte interface microstructure have been studied on anode-supported technological solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that were subjected to long-term (1500 h) testing at 750 °C under high electrical loading (a current density of 0.75 A/cm²). These cells exhibit different cathode degradation rates depending on, among others, the composition of the cathode gas, being significantly smaller in oxygen than in air. FE-SEM and high resolution analytical TEM were applied for characterization of the interface on a submicron- and nano-scale. The interface degradation has been identified as the loss of LSM coverage and the loss of three-phase-boundary (TPB) length. Firstly, the degradation is caused by the size reduction of the individual LSM/YSZ electrolyte contact points (areas) that are initially of 100–200 nm in diameter. Quantitative microstructure evaluation shows that in the cell tested in air this mechanism contributes to an estimated overall reduction in the LSM coverage and the TPB length by 50 and 30%, respectively. For the cell tested in oxygen the corresponding values are 10 and 4%. Secondly, in the cell tested in air the LSM coverage and the TPB length appear to decrease further due to the more pronounced formation of insulating zirconate phases that are present locally and preferably in LSM/YSZ electrolyte contact areas. The effects of the cathode gas on the interface degradation are discussed considering the change of oxygen activity at the interface, possible changes in the Mn diffusion pattern as well as the LSM/YSZ reactivity. Finally, based on thermodynamic calculations a T–p(O₂) diagram predicting the safe and risky operation conditions in terms of the zirconate formation is presented and compared with the experimental observations.     

The study on mechanism and model of negative bias temperature instability degradation in P-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors

Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) has become one of the most serious reliability problems of metal- oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). The degradation mechanism and model of NBTI are studied in this paper. From the experimental results, the exponential value 0.25-0.5 which represents the relation of NBTI degradation and stress time is obtained. Based on the experimental results and existing model, the reaction-diffusion model with H+ related species generated is deduced, and the exponent 0.5 is obtained. The results suggest that there should be H+ generated in the NBTI degradation. With the real time method, the degradation with an exponent 0.5 appears clearly in drain current shift during the first seconds of stress and then verifies that H+ generated during NBTI stress.     

Photoluminescence degradation mechanism of BaMgAl10O17：Eu2＋ phosphor by vacuum ultraviolet irradiation

<正>A real high power vacuum ultraviolet light source is applied to the investigation on the vacuum ultraviolet irradiation degradation of BaMgA₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺ phosphor.The degradations of emission intensity and color quality of the sample are clearly observed after irradiation.It reveals that the oxidation of Eu²⁺ during irradiation is partly responsible for the degradations.The excitation and absorption spectra show that some traps generated during irradiation have negative influence on the luminescence of sample and these traps have been identified as positively charged oxygen vacancies by positron annihilation.The investigations on host emission and decay curve further confirm that these oxygen vacancies are involved in the perturbation of energy transfer from the host to Eu²⁺ and finally result in the degradation.     

Origin of effectiveness degradation in active drag reduction control of turbulent channel flow at Reτ = 1000

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flows are performed with opposition control at Re_τ = 180 and 1000. The drag reduction rate at the higher Reynolds number is reduced by 25% compared with that at the lower Reynolds number. In order to investigate the reason for the degradation of the control effectiveness, we examine the response of Reynolds stresses and coherent structures in both the outer and inner regions to the control and the role that large-scale motions play therein. In the outer region, the Reynolds stresses at different length scales are reduced at the same rate as the drag reduction rate, and conditionally averaged large-scale motions with spanwise scale larger than half channel width are still large-scale low-speed streaks flanked by a pair of large-scale counter-rotating streamwise vortices but with reduced velocity amplitudes. In the inner region, the effectiveness of the control in suppressing the turbulence deteriorates at the higher Reynolds number. In response to the superimposition effect of large-scale motions, the contribution to near-wall wall-parallel velocity fluctuations from large-scale motions becomes larger at the higher Reynolds number, while the suppression of large-scale motions by the control is weaker than that of near-wall coherent structures. In both controlled and uncontrolled cases, large-scale motions can modulate the amplitudes of near-wall coherent structures, and the attenuation of streamwise vortices by the control under large-scale high-speed streaks is significantly less effective than that under large-scale low-speed streaks. As a result, the effectiveness of control in suppressing near-wall coherent structures and Reynolds shear stresses becomes weaker at the higher Reynolds number. The quantitative analysis of the contributions to the drag reduction rate from outer and inner regions shows that the effectiveness of the control is mainly determined by the suppression degree of near-wall motions. Furthermore, budgets of streamwise enstrophy are analysed to reveal the interaction of large-scale motions with near-wall streamwise vorticity. The titling effect induced by large-scale motions is positive under large-scale high-speed streaks, but negative under large-scale low-speed streaks, which could be a possible way of large-scale motion to modulate streamwise vorticity. In the controlled cases, the positive titling effect induced by large-scale motions under large-scale high-speed streaks is even enhanced, while other terms in the budgets are reduced, which could explain the degradation of control effectiveness in suppressing near-wall streamwise vortices under large-scale high-speed streaks. Therefore, the loss in the drag reduction rate at the higher Reynolds number is due to the weakened control effectiveness on near-wall coherent structures, which are exposed to the modulation effect of large-scale motions.     

Efficient photocatalytic degradation of acid orange 7 on metal oxide p–n junction composites under visible light

MO(=CuO, Co₃O₄, NiO)/BiVO₄ p–n junction composites were synthesized by urea-precipitation and wet impregnation method. The physicochemical and optical properties of the as-prepared materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectra. The photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared materials was investigated for decomposition of azo dye, acid orange 7. The CuO/BiVO₄ and Co₃O₄/BiVO₄ p–n junction composite photocatalysts exhibited the higher photocatalytic degradation of acid orange 7 than those of BiVO₄ and NiO/BiVO₄ as-prepared samples under visible light irradiation. We also discussed the mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity of p–n junctioned composites based on their energy band structures.     

Resistance of nanocrystalline vis-à-vis microcrystalline Fe–Cr alloys to environmental degradation and challenges to their synthesis

This paper presents a hypothesis and its experimental validation that a nanostructure can bring about dramatic improvements in the oxidation/corrosion resistance of iron–chromium alloys. More specifically, a nanocrystalline Fe–10 wt% Cr alloy was found to undergo oxidation at a rate that was an order of magnitude lower than its microcrystalline counterpart. Importantly, the oxidation resistance of nanocrystalline Fe–10 wt% Cr alloy was comparable with that of the common corrosion-resistant microcrystalline stainless steels (having 18–20 wt% chromium). The findings have the potential of leading to the next generation of oxidation-resistant alloys. However, due to poor thermal stability of nanocrystalline structure, synthesis/processing of such alloys is a challenge. Discs of nanocrystalline Fe–10% Cr alloy were produced by ball-milling of Fe and Cr powders and compaction of the powder without considerable grain growth by processing within a suitable time–temperature window. The paper also presents a theoretical treatise to arrive at the minimum chromium content required for establishing a protective layer of chromium oxide in an Fe–Cr alloy of a given nanometric grain size.     

Synthesis of β-Bi2O3 towards the application of photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange and its instability

Bismuth oxide carbonate was synthesized from bismuth nitrate and potassium carbonate and then converted to phase pure β-Bi₂O₃ form by means of thermal decomposition. X-ray diffraction, HR-SEM, diffuse reflectance UV–vis and photocatalytic degradation studies were carried out on both the samples. Bi₂O₂CO₃ exhibited a wide band gap of 3.406(5) eV while β-Bi₂O₃ had a lesser band gap of 2.589(3) eV. β-Bi₂O₃ degrades a higher amount of methyl orange because of its lesser band gap and its optimum loading was 0.1 g in 50 ml of 10 ppm solution. After photocatalytic degradation Bi₂O₂CO₃ remains in the stable form whereas β-Bi₂O₃ changes to Bi₂O₂CO₃.     

Sonochemical advanced oxidation process for the degradation of furosemide in water: Effects of sonication’s conditions and scavengers

The intensive consumption of pharmaceuticals and drugs in the last decades has led to their increased concentrations in wastewaters from industrial sources. The present paper deals, for the first time, with the sonochemical degradation and mineralization of furosemide (FSM) in water. FSM is a potent loop diuretic used to treat fluid build-up due to heart failure, liver scarring, or kidney disease. The influence of several operating parameters such as acoustic intensity, ultrasonic frequency, initial FSM concentration, solution’s pH, nature of the dissolved gas (Ar, air and N₂) and radical scavengers (2-propanol and tert-butanol) on the oxidation of FSM was assessed. The obtained results showed that the degradation rate of the drug increased significantly with the increase of the acoustic intensity in the range of 0.83 to 4.3 W cm⁻² and decreased with the augmentation of the frequency in the range of 585–1140 kHz. It was also found that the initial rate of the sonolytic degradation of FSM increased with the increase of its initial concentration (2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L). The most significant degradation was achieved in acidic conditions at pH 2, while in terms of saturating gas, the rate of FSM degradation decreased in the order of Ar > air > N₂. The FSM degradation experiments with radical scavengers showed that the diuretic molecule degraded mainly at the interfacial region of the bubble by hydroxyl radical attack. Additionally, in terms of acoustic conditions, the sono-degradation of 30.24 µmol L^-1 of FSM solution demonstrate an optimal performance at 585 kHz and 4.3 W/cm², the results indicated that even if the ultrasonic action eliminated the total concentration of FSM within 60 min, a low degree of mineralization was obtained due to the by-products formed during the sono-oxidation process. The ultrasonic process transforms FSM into biodegradable and environmentally friendly organic by-products that could be treated in a subsequent biological treatment. Besides, the efficiency of the sonolytic degradation of FSM in real environmental matrices such as natural mineral water and seawater was demonstrated. Consequently, the sonochemical advanced oxidation process represent a very interesting technique for the treatment of water contaminated with FSM.