In this work, simple, low profile, compact quarter-mode substrate-integrated waveguide (QMSIW)-based antennas are proposed for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) at 5.2/5.5 GHz and Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) at 5.8 GHz, respectively. By implementing QMSIW technique, the electrical size of the antenna is reduced up to 1/4th of the conventional circular SIW cavities. Thanks to the quarter mode concept, the antenna size is reduced significantly by preserving its dominant mode. The resonant frequency of the dominant mode TM010 is independently tuned at 5.2, 5.5, and 5.8 GHz after loading the QMSIW cavity with metalized via holes, subsequently. The on-body performance of the antenna is verified on pork tissues at 5.8 GHz and it is found to be insensitive with respect to surroundings. The measured gain and simulated efficiency of the proposed antenna at 5.8 GHz in free space are 4.8 dBi and 92%, while in the proximity of pork tissues values are 3.25 dBi and 57%, respectively. Moreover, the measurement results demonstrate a good matching with the simulation results.

An approach to enhance the performance of probe traps in detecting Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) adults in stored wheat is described. The repellent property of protein-enriched pea flour is exploited to increase the efficiency of the probe trap by treating the stored grain with the flour. The enhancement in performance of the traps was evaluated by placing the traps in wheat grains treated with protein-enriched pea flour at concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10% (w/w) and observing the number of adult beetles trapped in comparison with the trap catch in untreated wheat. The traps kept in wheat treated with protein-enriched pea flour caught more beetles than traps placed in untreated wheat. The practical implications of this work are discussed with reference to sampling for C. ferrugineus.

Block copolymers are considered to be highly attractive materials with regards to future applications of nanomaterials and nanostructures owing to their self-assembling nature. Block copolymers, when supplied with sufficient energy, phase separate at the nanoscales to form periodically ordered structures in the nanometer-scale range. A diversity of architectures can be accessed via composition control of individual block components. An exciting area of application for block copolymer self assembly is organic photovoltaic devices (OPV‟s) where it is expected that the very high interfacial area of the blocks with ∼10-20 nm domain spacing would be highly advantageous for exciton diffusion and separation. For this purpose BCPs composed of amorphous (non-conjugated) polymers can also serve as a template for directed assembly of nanoparticles. Zone annealing is a well established method predominantly utilized for metallurgical and semi-conductor purification processes, where recrystallization and oriented grain growth occur on the planar front formed by the cooling-edge of the zone. We have previously applied this process to create highly ordered BCP cylinders that are parallel to the substrate with orientational control, long range order and faster ordering kinetics than conventional thermal annealing. In the present paper, we extend this idea to block copolymer - [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend system and report how the presence of PCBM nanoparticles influence the micro-phase separation behavior of cylinder forming poly(styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine) under a dynamic thermal gradient field. A range of scattering techniques have been on the BCP:PCBM blend system, including grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) experiments to characterize in-plane and lateral ordering of BCP-PCBM blend system.

The stability of liquid layers in a porous medium under the action of viscous and surface forces is described. An extension of previous studies on the stability of a single interface in a porous medium is presented as the basis for solutions to many problems of practical interest where flow in porous media are involved.

In copper CMP, transitions from copper to barrier as well as barrier to dielectric layer are typically sensed in situ using an optical reflectance technique. Spectroscopic techniques such as Raman, which allow monitoring the vibrational modes of silicon and low-k layers, have interesting potential for detecting these transitions. In this paper the use of Raman spectroscopy in detecting in situ removal of barrier layers from CDO materials is reported. Intensities of Raman peaks characteristic of Si-Si vibrations from Si substrate and C-H vibrations from low-k materials have been used for monitoring CDO layer thickness and detecting removal of Ta overlayer. An abrasion cell is integrated with a Raman spectrometer to demonstrate the feasibility of Raman monitoring in-situ. Capabilities and limitations of the Raman spectroscopic method are discussed.

This study focuses on the role of chemistry of onium salt(s) used in functionalizing clay and the processing conditions in achieving exfoliated clay vinyl ester nanocomposites. Two different clay treatments were added to vinyl ester resin and three different processing conditions were examined in the formulation of nanocomposite. Through this study, we demonstrate that the degree of exfoliation and dispersion of layered silicate nanocomposite is affected by both processing and the clay chemical treatment. At an organoclay loading of only 3.5wt%, the modulus improved by 20% in partially reactive organoclay system, while the modulus improved by 10% in nonreactive organoclay system compared to that of pristine vinyl ester resin.

The stability of a Pd40Cu30Ni10P20 bulk metallic glass (BMG) against structural relaxation is investigated by isothermal and isochronal annealing heat treatments below and above its glass transition temperature, Tg, for varying periods. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the annealed samples shows an excess endotherm at Tg, irrespective of the annealing temperature. This recovery peak evolves exponentially with annealing time and is due to the destruction of anneal-induced compositional short range ordering. The alloy exhibits a high resistance to crystallization on annealing below Tg and complex Pd- and Ni-phosphides evolve on annealing above Tg.

Solitary plasmacytoma of the paranasal sinuses are uncommon neoplasms of B lymphocyte origin. They comprise one per cent of all head and neck tumours of the upper respiratory tract. They can be solitary plasmacytomas of the bone (SPB), an extramedullary plasmacytoma or a local manifestation of multiple myeloma. Conversion to multiple myeloma happens more frequently in SPB. Radiotherapy is the common modality of treatment with, or without, adjuvant chemotherapy. Extramedullary plasmacytoma carries a better prognosis than a solitary plasmacytoma of the bone. We report four cases of solitary plasmacytoma of the bone and an extramedullary plasmacytoma of the paranasal sinuses and soft palate.

Multiple congenital dehiscence of the skull base is rare and can give rise to spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea. A search of the world literature revealed only five reports of CSF leak with more than one concomitant skull base defect. When treating a patient with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea the possibility of its originating from the middle ear and eustachian tube should be considered. An intrathecal injection of fluorescein is useful in establishing the site of a CSF leak especially when a computed tomography scan (CT) or magnetic resonance image (MRI) has not localized the site. We discuss a case of a 72-year-old lady presenting with CSF rhinorrhoea, who had an anterior skull base defect localized with the help of intrathecal fluorescein and repaired surgically. Subsequent to this she had a further episode of CSF rhinorrhoea that originated from a middle-ear meningocele that was then repaired.

We present our experience using conchal composite grafts in major and minor nasal reconstruction. We believe that composite grafts have an important and under-utilized role as an adjunct to the paramedian forehead flap on total and subtotal nasal reconstruction, as well as in providing an internal lining and support in stenosis of the nasal vestibule. The use of a composite conchal graft as an inner lining and support is often preferential to a septal composite or hinge flap that often results in a septal perforation with its associated morbidity.

We recognize that a composite conchal graft used for reconstruction of the alar margin provides a suboptimal result after several months. This is because it is not always possible to replace a whole aesthetic subunit and whilst the site the graft is harvested from often allows the correct contour to be chosen, the quality of skin is often different and this can be seen after several weeks when any post-operative oedema has settled.

Over two-thirds of patients have tried a complementary therapy before seeking conventional medical help. In view of this it is important that doctors keep abreast of developments in this area and of the range of therapies which are now being offered. The interaction between drugs and herbal remedies is one example where this is of particular importance. This review assesses the current evidence base for complementary therapies in nasal disease. Contemporary medicine can learn much from the patient-centred approach that is central to many complementary therapies. There is, as yet, little evidence to support the effect of complementary therapy over those of the placebo effect, cognitive dissonance and the natural resolution of many disease processes.

The technique of onlay sandwich grafting of tympanic membrane perforations fashioned by the use of pedicle flap raised from the posterior deep meatal skin and autologous temporalis fascia is described. The results of a series of 124 ears operated between 1987 and 1999 are the basis of this report. Of these 106 patients had myringoplasty for the first time. The operation was successful in 102 (96.23 per cent) patients. Eighteen patients had revision myringoplasty, with a successful result in 14 (77.78 per cent). None of the patients developed complications usually associated with onlay grafting. A preliminary report of this work was presented at the XVI World Congress of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Sydney in 1997.

An attempt has been made to study the film-substrate interface by using a sensitive, non- conventional tool. Because of the prospective use of gate oxide in MOSFET devices, we have chosen to study alumina films grown on silicon. Film-substrate interface of alumina grown by MOCVD on Si(100) was studied systematically using spectroscopic ellipsometry in the range 1.5-5.0 eV, supported by cross-sectional SEM, and SIMS. The (ε1,ε2) versus energy data obtained for films grown at 600°C, 700°C, and 750°C were modeled to fit a substrate/interface/film “sandwich”. The experimental results reveal (as may be expected) that the nature of the substrate -film interface depends strongly on the growth temperature. The simulated (ε1,ε2) patterns are in excellent agreement with observed ellipsometric data. The MOCVD precursors results the presence of carbon in the films. Theoretical simulation was able to account for the ellipsometry data by invoking the presence of “free” carbon in the alumina films.

An investigation was undertaken to characterize the electrochemical behavior of copper in tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) based solutions. The effect of hydrogen peroxide and abrasion with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) brush on the corrosion of copper in alkaline solutions were characterized. Galvanic interactions between copper and tantalum in TMAH as well as in ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) solutions were investigated. The experimental results have shown that the corrosion of copper in TMAH is lower than that in NH4OH, especially at pH values higher than 10. Even in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, TMAH corrodes copper at a lower rate than NH4OH.