bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Microorganisms in Bioremediation of Pesticides
Authors: Wahla Verinder , Shukla Shruti
Published: May 2018

This chapter describes how exposure to pesticides has become one of the most prominent components of current agriculture. Pesticides have high impact on farmer's economy as they prevent and minimize agricultural losses due to pests (insects, fungi, nematode), improve yield and quality food in terms of superficial appeal. However, these synthetic pesticides have serious environmental concerns and create a variety of toxic effects in living beings. In this regard, the bioremediation approach can be a suitable alternative over the conventional treatment methods for the treatment of pesticides-contaminated sites. Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms or their enzymes to degrade and detoxify the pesticide from the environment. Microbial interactions greatly influence natural bio remedial processes occurring in soil. Microorganisms involved various biochemical mechanisms for the degradation of pesticides, such as oxidation and reduction reactions. This chapter provides an overview on the nature, characteristics and toxicity of pesticides in environment and role of microbes in bioremediation of pesticides.
Sources of Soil Pollution
Authors: Khelfi Abderrezak
Published: May 2018

Soil, though often overlooked, is a critical component of the earth and is essential for human existence. Soil pollution has deteriorated large areas of agricultural land around the globe. Human health is at risk due to the high concentration of pollutants found in soils and food produced in polluted lands. Soil pollution may arise from a wide range of sources that can be discrete point sources, or diffuse sources. It is usually due to domestic, municipal, industrial, mining, and agricultural wastes as well as agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. Each source has specific characteristics, briefly presented below. The most dangerous categories of soil pollutants are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyl, pesticides, heavy metals, and radionuclides. New soil pollutants, such as veterinary medicines, have emerged with industrialization and globalization. This chapter deals with sources of soil pollution, pollutants generated from these sources and their possible adverse effects on the environment.
Microbial Bioreactor Systems for Dehalogenation of Organic Pollutants
Authors: Satpathy Raghunath
Published: May 2018

Halogenated organic compounds having many beneficial applications, both in industries and agriculture sectors. Basically, the uses are as pesticides, solvents, surfactants, and plastics. However, their large, widespread uses throughout the world have resulted the negative impact on the environment. Considering their treatment process are widely accepted by using the bioreactor systems. The large variety of microorganisms present in the bioreactor and their interaction is the key to the effective treatment and removal of these compounds. Usually the microbes produce the enzymes known as dehalogenase to remove the halogen form the compounds to make it non-toxic. Many of the different steps and about the microbial groups in degradation process of halogenated compounds are well understood, but more details concerning the microbial community are yet to be discovered. This chapter describes about the different dehalogenation systems available in microbes and their ultimate application in different bioreactor systems for the degradation analysis of several harmful halogenated compounds.
Microbial Degradation of Azo Dyes
Authors: Tischler Dirk , Qi Jingxian , Ngo Anna Christina R. , Schlömann Michael
Published: May 2018

Azo dyes are considered as xenobiotic compounds, which are often recalcitrant to be biodegraded. Many dyes are relevant for staining in industries, especially textile and food related. Among other environmental problems, one obvious issue is the coloring effect on effluents from industrial sites and thus the release of xenobiotics into nature. Microorganisms (algae, fungi, yeast, and bacteria) have been found to decolorize a number of azo dyes. Decolorization of azo dyes by microbial cultures is summarized and this is mostly linked to initial activation or even cleavage of the azo bond (e.g., by azoreductases). However, it does not necessarily mean that the compound is degraded to non-toxic products. Various mechanisms of microbial decolorization processes were discovered, including adsorption, enzymatic degradation, or a combination of both. Oxidases and reductases were found to be involved, which contain azoreductase, lignin peroxidase, Mn peroxidase, laccase, tyrosinase, and so on. A focus is on the azoreductases including classification, activity, and applicability.
Design and Development of a Sanitary Landfill for Low Income Countries for Optimal Waste Management
Authors: Manyuchi Musaida Mercy , Muzenda Edison , Mbohwa Charles
Published: May 2018

Proper waste management in developing countries is increasingly becoming popular, especially the use of engineered sanitary landfills. In this study, the classification, design, and operation of sanitary landfills are stated and suggestions made. The landfills were classified in accordance to waste type and population size. Leachate control mechanisms were put in place in a bid to avoid surface and underground water pollution. Several liner materials such as clay and geotextile material are recommended to avoid leachate perforating into the ground. Waste management is encouraged to be done through the cell system which must be compacted and covered on a daily basis. Resource recovery of biogas for power generation is recommended to recovery value from the waste as well as to lower landfill operation costs. Post-closure monitoring of the landfill must be done and recreation centers can be developed on the landfill as a rehabilitation strategy. Land filling is essential for proper waste management and is also governed by local acts.
Weaving Health Literacy Strategies Throughout the Fabric of Healthcare Organizations
Authors: Parnell Terri Ann
Published: May 2018

The trajectory of health literacy has been shifting in an attempt to include the context of where patients receive their healthcare and treatment. Healthcare professionals and organizations that prioritize health literacy will redesign the way that they practice and deliver care to better align with the skills and abilities of those accessing care and services. This chapter suggests using the health literacy tapestry conceptual model along with the ten attributes of health literate healthcare organizations in a multifaceted approach to assess, plan, and implement sustainable health literacy strategies throughout the fabric of the entire healthcare organization.
Health Literacy in Non-Communicable Diseases
Authors: Zarcadoolas Christina , Kondilis Barbara K.
Published: May 2018

The chapter highlights some of the methods used to embed health literacy principles into patient outreach and education materials about non-communicable diseases: chronic conditions including mental health conditions. A person's or population's understanding and engagement with health represents its health literacy. Health literacy is a form social capital. The authors use an ecological, socially contextualized model of health literacy and demonstrate how it guides the structure and content of health education material in case examples from New York City, United States, and Greece in Europe. While the specific methods used in these cases vary, the essential principal is that it is critical to identify and build on information about an individual's health literacy contextualized in the individual's or group's socio-cultural and lived experiences. Only this way can an individual's or group's health literacy be advanced so that they can engage in behavior changes for both short- and long-term health outcomes.
Back to the Basics
Authors: Prashad Reshma , Chen Mei
Published: May 2018

Health literacy is a critical foundation that needs to be considered prior to the development and deployment of consumer e-health technologies. The authors indicate the problems associated with the lack of effective health literacy strategies in current consumer e-health interventions and then present a patient-centered, disease-specific, task-relevant, and contextualized health literacy approach. The goal of such an approach is to help patients better understand their illnesses make sense of their health data, make informed decisions, and more effectively manage their health conditions. The authors make five recommendations concerning health literacy in order to make e-health interventions effective. They also describe next-generation health literacy interventions that take advantage of emerging technologies such as speech recognition, natural language processing, artificial intelligence, automatic translation, and augmented reality. Finally, the authors point out a research and development direction towards an intelligent, integrated, and connected consumer e-health solution.
Health Literacy in the Development of Kidney Transplantation Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Jewitt-Harris Jennie A. L. , Ready Andrew R.
Published: May 2018

The need to introduce complex medical technologies in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is increasing, to improve quality of life and life expectancy. Despite improvements in medical infrastructure, many countries do not have the skills required to implement such technologies and need support from overseas organizations. Transplant Links (TLC) is a UK charity supporting the development of sustainable kidney transplant programs in LMIC countries. TLC's experience demonstrates health literacy challenges encountered in introducing a complex medical technology, of which transplantation is a good example. Such challenges were found to be wide-ranging, in a specialty already associated with low levels of health literacy. Nevertheless, such challenges need to be addressed and measures undertaken to improve the level of understanding of renal failure and transplantation by patients, families, healthcare workers, and other stakeholders including politicians, healthcare managers, and the media. These measures may be transferable to the development of other complex medical technologies.
Psychosocial Perspectives of Persons With Aphasia
Authors: Ravi Sunil Kumar , Chilakalapudi Anusha , George Krupa Saira , Divya P.  , Chengappa Shyamala K.
Published: May 2018

Psychosocial problems are one of the major issues seen in persons with aphasia (PWA), but the severity of these psychosocial problems vary depending upon age, socioeconomic status, nature of job pre-morbidly, family support, emotional factors, and quality of life. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) by World Health Organization in the field of communication disorders, specifically for aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders, provided clear guidelines and information about the importance of assessment and treatment of PWA in terms of body functions and structures, activities and participation, and environmental and personal factors affecting the quality of life in these individuals. The present chapter is primarily focused on studying the psychosocial aspects in PWA, specifically the quality of life and other psychosocial disturbances in the Indian context.
Subjective Fatigue in Children and Adults
Authors: Jain Saransh , Raju Suma
Published: May 2018

Fatigue is a common yet poorly understood topic. The psychological, physiological, social, emotional, and cognitive wellbeing of a person may be affected due to fatigue. Despite a century of research in understanding the effect of fatigue on human systems, there is no concrete explanation as how fatigue affects the perception of speech. Fatigue impairs auditory cognition and the reduced cognitive abilities further increase mental and physical fatigue. Since cognition is markedly affected in individuals experiencing mental fatigue, its consequences are widespread. According to the top-down approach of auditory processing, there is a direct link between cognition and speech perception. Thus, in the present chapter, the influence of fatigue on perception is reviewed. It is noted that the impact of fatigue on cognition and quality of life is different for children and adults. Training in music, meditation, and exposure to more than one language are some of the measures that help to reduce the effect of fatigue and improve cognitive abilities in both children as well as in adults.
Assessment of Significant Other's Burden and Their Communication Strategies to Enhance the Treatment Outcome in Aphasia
Authors: Singh Pinki , Pauranik Apoorva
Published: May 2018

Post-stroke management of person with aphasia (PWA) needs the crucial involvement of significant others (SOs) or caregivers of PWA. The manners in which SOs perceive the burden and execute their supportive communication strategies (SCS) are highly variable and are influenced by many factors like their motivation, emotional attachment, constraints of time and economy, self-confidence, and the clinical and individualistic attributes of the PWA herself or himself. There are variations regarding motivation, supportive communication strategies (SCS), significance and burden of communication to PWA by SO. These variations lead to a prognosis of a PWA, which needs to be evaluated for a better understanding of the diversity of burden and SCS before incorporating tailor-made treatment planning. These aspects have a significant bearing on the prognosis of aphasia, hence must be evaluated prior to treatment planning.
Manual for Adult Aphasia Therapy
Authors: Goswami S. P. , Rachel V.
Published: May 2018

This chapter is a treatment manual developed to aid professionals working in the field of rehabilitation of persons with aphasia in India. It is clinically field tested and has proved to be effective in the treatment of persons with fluent and non-fluent aphasia. This chapter provides a brief and comprehensive overview of the manual, information on its contents, and an outline about its use in clinical settings. The reader can also develop an understanding of how to assess baseline, document progress, and systematically record the outcomes of therapy. This chapter is a clinically invaluable therapy material for speech-language pathologists working in the country.
Overview of Surgical Instruments for the Operation Theatre
Authors: Bag Sandip
Published: May 2018

There are several classes of surgical instruments such as graspers, clamps, and occluders for blood vessels and other organs; retractors used to spread open skin, ribs, and other tissue; distractors, positioners, and stereotactic devices; mechanical cutters (scalpels, lancets, surgical scissors, etc.); dilators and specula for access to narrow passages or incisions; suction tips and tubes for removal of bodily fluids; sealing devices such as surgical staplers; irrigation and injection needles, tips, and tubes for introducing fluid; powered devices, such as drills, dermatomes; scopes and probes, including fiber optic endoscopes and tactile probes; carriers and appliers for optical, electronic, and mechanical devices; ultrasound tissue disruptors, cryotomes, and cutting laser guides; measurement devices, such as rulers and calipers; and many more. This chapter overviews surgical instruments for the operation theatre.
Optimization Techniques Applications in Biochemical Engineering and Controlled Drug Delivery
Authors: Jujjavarapu Satya Eswari , Singh Bikesh Kumar
Published: May 2018

Before starting semi-pilot/pilot production plants for biochemical metabolites production, it is essential to optimize the fermentation media. This chapter discusses the classical and advanced techniques of media optimization. The statistical approaches save experimental time for developing processing and improving quality. Recent years have seen the growth of integrated approaches of microbial cultures. Optimization techniques such as response surface methodology, artificial neural network, genetic algorithms, differential evolution, ant colony optimization, etc. have received attention recently because of their major applications in various fields. Controlled release formulations have so many versatile applications in the field of pharmaceutical drugs that they have become important tools to apply the modern concept of therapeutic treatment. Process optimization of such formulations, mathematical modelling can play an important role. This chapter discusses various methodologies for optimization of formulation conditions for drug delivery.
Applications of Machine Learning Techniques in Disease Classification From Medical Images
Authors: Singh Bikesh Kumar , Jujjavarapu Satya Eswari
Published: May 2018

Machine learning techniques such as artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), radial basis function network (RBFN), random forest (RF), naive Bayes classifier, etc. have gained much attention in recent years due to their widespread applications in diverse fields. This chapter is focused on providing a comprehensive insight of various techniques employed for key areas of medical image processing and analysis. Different applications covered in this chapter include feature extraction, feature selection, and cancer classification in medical images. The authors present current practices and evaluation measures used for objective evaluation of different machine learning methods in context to above-mentioned applications. Various factors associated with acceptance/rejection of such automated systems by medical research community are discussed. The authors also discuss how the interaction between automated analysis systems and medical professionals can be improved for its acceptance in clinical practice. They conclude the chapter by presenting research gaps and future challenges.
Lifecycle for MOOC Development and Management
Authors: Sanchez-Gordon Sandra , Luján-Mora Sergio
Published: May 2018

Massive open online courses (MOOC) are online courses in which there are no requirements for students to enroll and that have the capacity to serve thousands or even hundreds of thousands of students simultaneously. MOOCs are complex to develop due to their dual nature: on the one hand, they are an educational product; on the other hand, they are a software product hosted on a web platform. Due to the novelty of MOOCs, there is a lack of proven methodologies for their development. In this chapter, the authors propose a lifecycle for the development and management of MOOCs that allows educators to focus on teaching, interaction with their students, and other elements indispensable for the success of the learning experience. The proposed lifecycle includes three stages: development, management, and improvement of the MOOC.
Differentiated Instruction Supporting MOOC
Authors: Tahiri Jihane Sophia , Bennani Samir , Idrissi Mohammed Khalidi
Published: May 2018

MOOC have opened up learning opportunities to a wide public. With these advantages, they have emerged in the development, promotion, and delivery of courses from leading American universities. Nevertheless, in parallel with this potential, several problems have arisen. The dropout of learners is the most common problem. Therefore, this chapter highlights the high dropout rate in MOOC, according to two visions: learners' heterogeneity and diversification of the learning theories supporting MOOC. On this basis, the authors propose the introduction of differentiated instruction within MOOC to overcome this problem. The main purpose of this chapter is to discuss MOOC from pedagogical and organizational perspectives. More specifically, it is interesting to emphasize how differentiated instruction can be implemented in these courses. The interest is to propose a MOOC model that is more effective and more aligned with the learning objectives and preferences of each learner in order to improve the success rate.
Investigating MOOC Arabic Learners' Motivation in Language Online Courses (MOOCs)
Authors: Lusta Amel Frag
Published: May 2018

When designing MOOCs, learner motivation cannot be treated as a minor issue but as a major issue to guarantee the success and encouragement for completing these online courses. The question under study is to explore the motivation of Arabic learners in language online courses in light of the self-determination theory. The research sample consisted of 106 students from different Arabic countries. This chapter employed the quantitative research approach and administered academic motivation scale (AMS) among MOOC learners to assess their academic motivation. Findings showed that majority of participants were extrinsically motivated while others were intrinsically motivated.
Selection of Plagiarism Detection Software and Its Integration Into Moodle for Universities
Authors: Önaçan Mehmet Bilge Kağan , Uluağ Mesut , Önel Tolga , Medeni Tunç Durmuş
Published: May 2018

Plagiarism detection software packages have an important role in detection of plagiarism in exams, assignments, projects, and scientific researches. The main goal of this chapter is the selection of plagiarism detection software (PDS) and its integration into Moodle, an open source learning management system (LMS), for the use of a higher education institution. For this reason, first, the selection criteria are determined by nominal group technique (NGT) and then the most appropriate PDS is selected. At the end of the study, Crot, an open source PDS, is determined and integrated into Moodle. The suggested selection criteria would be useful for other higher education institutions in Turkey and other countries that rely on open software.
Women Entrepreneurship in MENA and Europe
Authors: Çetin Işın , Keser Hilal Yıldırır
Published: May 2018

Women entrepreneurs greatly benefit from the development of economies on both the local and national level. They employ themselves as well as people in the community. Today, microcredit, as part of the microfinance system, has become one of the most successful economic development tools for aid agencies and non-governmental organizations all over the world. Within this framework, this chapter discusses 1) the importance of women to economic development; 2) the significance of microfinance practices for women's empowerment; and 3) the specific influence of microcredit on women's empowerment in Asian and European countries, as determined by spatial econometric analysis with respect to different microfinance variables for the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and European zones. Using data from 1990-2016, and employing panel spatial econometric models to analyze the changes in women's empowerment over the years, the study has observed that the microfinance indicators are statistically and economically effective in promoting women empowerment in both MENA and European regions.
Role of Microfinance Institutions in Development of India
Authors: Manzoor Amir
Published: May 2018

The role and contribution of microfinance institutions (MFIs) is very important in development. Microfinance is a very important source of financial services for people and microenterprises that do not have easy access to banking and related services. The objective of this chapter is to assess empirically the impact of MFIs on development of India. This study aims to fill a gap in econometric assessments of microfinance institutions. Using data of MFIs operating in India and using savings of client as proxy for development, this chapter found empirical evidence for significant positive impact of microfinance institutions on development. While development in rural regions generally lags behind urban areas, this chapter found no statistical evidence for differences in the marginal impact of microfinance institutions subject to geographical positions. It can therefore be concluded that impact of MFIs on development in rural areas is positive and independent of environment.
An Introspective Study on the Governance Practices of Major Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in India
Authors: Majumder Amit , Bhattacharyya Ruma
Published: May 2018

In microfinance literature, the term governance first appeared in 1997 with respect to the relationship between the board of directors and the management of an MFI. A few studies have been made regarding the issues concerning governance and leadership of the MFIs operating in India. The objective of the chapter is to study the governance practices of the major MFIs in India. The study is based on top 50 MFIs as rated by CRISIL. For analyzing governance practices of these selected MFIs, the recommendations of nationally and internationally acclaimed codes/guidelines for good governance have been considered. The study reveals that overall governance practices of MFIs operating in India are not quite satisfactory. Although a few MFIs have appointed a few independent directors in their board, yet the majority of the boards of these MFIs are dominated by the promoter groups. Regarding formation of board committees a few MFIs had shown a commendable performance where the majority have been lagging behind.
Effect and Effectiveness of Microfinance in the Presence of Political Environment
Authors: Chakraborty Saptarshi
Published: May 2018

Microfinance is an integrating factor of the potentiality of the local poor masses to the formation of GDP. It is the deciding factor whether economic growth is supply leading or demand following. Confronting with adverse selection, moral hazard, and collateral issues, it is to be studied whether microfinance thrives when it is administered well. This chapter intends to examine a case study of success and viability of microfinance in some places of the state of West Bengal, India with special reference to change in the political regime. In this light, assets, deposit liabilities, loans, and advances of microfinance banks are used as proxy for the activities of microfinance institutions while repayment of priority sector loans is used as a proxy for viability of microfinance activities. Results show that microfinance is successful not when large amount of loans are given out but when loans are actually repaid successfully, which is ensured by good political environment in the remote area.
An Innovative Company in a Smart City
Authors: Culasso Francesca , Mauro Sara Giovanna
Published: May 2018

The aim of this chapter is to analyze the business model of an innovative company in the context of a smart city. Specifically, this research investigates key components and challenges concerning the operationalization of a business model originally conceived to be sustainable. This chapter relies on the analysis of the empirical evidence collected at the organizational level by combining different data sources, including official and internal documents, face-to-face interviews, and questionnaires. It is thus designed to contribute to the lively debate on sustainability by providing empirical evidence and shedding light on the operationalization of the concept of sustainable business model. Further, in light of the smart context where the company operates, this research paves the way for further investigation into the potential win-win collaboration between innovative companies and smart cities to foster sustainability consistent with a systems approach to the topic.
Integration of Sustainability and Management Control Systems
Authors: Vola Paola
Published: May 2018

In order to support family SMEs in developing more responsible, innovative, and competitive business models, this chapter proposes to study the role and interaction between sustainability control systems (SCSs) and management control systems (MCSs). The chapter will examine management control and family business literature with the purpose of discussing the following research issues: What are the interactions between different forms of social responsibility in family SMESs? How can we transfer the family firms' attitude to social responsibility in a sustainable business model? What are main elements of a sustainable business model that can leverage on family firms business model? The conceptual framework will be defined through literature review: the main aim is to convey the meaning of sustainability and investigating the integration between SCSs and MCSs in family SMEs.
Original Ligand for LTβR Is LIGHT: Insight into Evolution of the LT/LTβR System
Authors: Maeda Tomoki , Suetake Hiroaki , Odaka Tomoyuki , Miyadai Toshiaki
Published: May 2018

The lymphotoxin (LT)/LTβ receptor (LTβR) axis is crucial for the regulation of immune responses and development of lymphoid tissues in mammals. Despite the importance of this pathway, the existence and function of LT and LTβR remain obscure for nonmammalian species. In this study, we report a nonmammalian LTβR and its ligand. We demonstrate that TNF-New (TNFN), which has been considered orthologous to mammalian LT, was expressed on the cell surface as a homomer in vitro. This different protein structure indicates that TNFN is not orthologous to mammalian LTα and LTβ. Additionally, we found that LTβR was conserved in teleosts, but the soluble form of recombinant fugu LTβR did not bind to membrane TNFN under the circumstance tested. Conversely, the LTβR recombinant bound to another ligand, LIGHT, similar to that of mammals. These findings indicate that teleost LTβR is originally a LIGHT receptor. In the cytoplasmic region of fugu LTβR, recombinant fugu LTβR bound to the adaptor protein TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) 2, but little to TRAF3. This difference suggests that teleost LTβR could potentially activate the classical NF-κB pathway with a novel binding domain, but would have little ability to activate an alternative one. Collectively, our results suggested that LIGHT was the original ligand for LTβR, and that the teleost immune system lacked the LT/LTβR pathway. Acquisition of the LT ligand and TRAF binding domain after lobe-finned fish may have facilitated the sophistication of the immune system and lymphoid tissues.
Organic Hybrids for Circuit Assemblies – Initial environmental testing of a low cost alternative to ceramic substrate based assemblies
Authors: Wickham Martin , Clayton Kate , Robador Ana , Thorogood Christine
Published: May 2018

There are an increasing number of electronics applications in aerospace, automotive, shale/gas and power management, which are required to operate at or above 200 °C. Organic matrix reinforced substrates such as polyimide, have maximum operating temperatures in the region of 175 °C. Reliable operation of electronics at temperatures higher than this requires a combination of performance improvements in components, interconnects and substrates. Ceramic based substrate options are based on alumina substrates with printed inks fired at ~ 600 °C and can be costly, heavy and prone to mechanical damage. Printed circuit board (PCB) options are restricted to lower working temperatures of the organic resins and degradation of their conductive copper tracks through oxidation. This paper highlights earlier work undertaken by the authors and partners to understand the deficiencies of copper-clad PCB technology and details work to develop a low cost alternative to ceramic substrate based assemblies. The authors have investigated replacing the alumina substrates with high temperature engineering thermoplastics such as PEEK. The high temperature fired inks conventionally used in hybrid circuit manufacture have been replaced with screen-printable silicone based ink systems curing at 250 °C. The specially developed electrically conductive and dielectric inks were utilised to produce a multilayer system demonstrator with high temperature compatible components attached using a high temperature conductive adhesive. Such an assembly system has the potential to benefit from reductions in substrate cost and assembly weight. Energy cost associated with manufacture are significantly reduced. In addition the organic substrate is easier to machine and form into complex shapes and offers the possibility of integrating thermal management solutions. Environmental testing has been undertaken to determine the suitability of the system to operate for extended periods at 250 °C and the results of the electrical and mechanical performance for continuous ageing of test assemblies at 250 °C will be given.
Influence of Initial Shear Strength on Time-to-Failure of Copper (Cu) Wire Bonds in Thermal Aging Condition
Authors: Manoharan Subramani , Patel Chandradip , Hunter Stevan , McCluskey Patrick
Published: May 2018

Copper (Cu) wire bond is used in a majority of microelectronic devices but has not been fully accepted by all industries due to potential reliability issues. Good quality bond is believed to provide high reliability. Shear strength and intermetallic (IMC) coverage are being used as indicators, however there is no developed model. High shear strength is a result of large IMC coverage laterally under the ball, but the reliability of the bond is also related to IMC longitudinal growth (thickness). This work involves studying effect of shear strength on reliability of a variety of experimental Cu ball bonds by performing temperature aging experiments on test devices, in QFN packages. The ball bonds are made by altering ultrasonic power and time to obtain different IMC coverage. All test packages are monitored for resistance change at specific intervals by performing four point resistance measurement. Resistance increase is analyzed with initial shear strength to determine whether “good quality” bonds always lead to high reliability.
Environmentally Hardening IC Die Previously Assembled in Plastic Packages through Die Removal, Bond Pad Replating and Reassembly into Hermetic Packages
Authors: Beebout Charlie , Spory Erick M.
Published: May 2018

Many integrated circuits (ICs) will operate well above their maximum rated temperature of +70°C or +125°C, but are often not packaged appropriately to reliably endure temperatures above +150C. Specifically, the original gold or copper bonds on the aluminum die bond pads are prone to Kirkendall or Horsting voiding, particularly at temperatures greater than +150°C. Also the mold compounds used in plastic packaging for IC assembly can degrade at these elevated temperatures. In some cases, commercial demand for higher temperature reliability can justify a separate offering of ICs assembled in hermetic, ceramic packages from the original component manufacturer (OCM). However, in most cases, the market demand is deemed insufficient.

Global Circuit Innovations (GCI) has developed a high-yielding process, which can remove a semiconductor die (i.e., computer chip) from a plastic package, remove the original bond wires and/or ball bonds, plate the aluminum die bond pads with Electroless Nickel, Electroless Palladium, and Immersion Gold (ENEPIG), and then reassemble the now improved semiconductor die into a hermetic, ceramic package. Device Extraction, ENEPIG die bond pad plating and Repackaging (DEER) provides an improved die bond pad surface such that works well with either gold or aluminum bond wires in applications up to +250°C without mechanical or electrical connectivity degradation. GCI routinely exposes sample devices to +250°C bakes with 100% post bake yields so as to continuously ensure that any device processed with the DEER technology will reliably perform in high-temperature environments.

Although the oil and gas industry has already expressed significant interest in the DEER process, with excellent lifetest and production application results demonstrating dramatically increased component lifetimes at elevated temperatures, this technology can also be leveraged for any application exposing ICs to harsh environments. Not only is the high-temperature reliability dramatically increased, but also the new hermetic, ceramic package protects the IC from a variety of elements and environments (i.e., corrosives and moisture).
Novel solder-mesh interconnection design for power module applications
Authors: Lis Adrian , Tatsumi Hiroaki , Matsuda Tomoki , Sano Tomokazu , Kashiba Yoshihiro , Hirose Akio
Published: May 2018

This study introduces a novel concept that uses composite structures of thin metallic meshes and Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu (SAC305) solder alloys to interconnect semiconductor chips to DBC substrates. The feasibility was proven by bonding Cu-to-Cu substrates. The averaged shear strength was measured as 44.1, 44.7 and 51.4 MPa for samples bonded with SAC305 (reference), Ni mesh/SAC305 and Cu mesh/SAC305 composites, respectively. The solder-mesh joints revealed a specific fracture behavior where crack propagation occurred partly within the solder and partly at the solder-mesh interface. Microstructural analyses confirmed that the metallic meshes were bonded by the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMC) while almost no (larger) defects were found. The solder-mesh concept was subsequently applied on Si-to-DBC assemblies. A very good resistance of Cu mesh/SAC305 composite joints against cyclic temperature between 80 and 200 °C was observed when the bonded area only reduced by 4.2 % after 8000 cycles. Thermal finite element (FE) simulations indicated that in particular Cu mesh/SAC305 composites can significantly reduce the thermal resistance of the interconnections which is equivalent to a better heat dissipation through the bonding layer. Thus, solder-mesh composite joints seem to be an attractive solution for high-temperature applications up to 200 °C.
Performance Test Results of a Precision Data Acquisition and Control Platform for 200°C+ High Temperature Environments
Authors: Watson Jeff , Pachchigar Maithil , Bannatyne Ross , Merritt Clay , Conrad Christopher , Smollinger Glenn , Drack Earle
Published: May 2018

In recent years there has been an increasing selection of commercially available electronic components specified for very high temperature (200C+) operation, driven by the needs of harsh-environment applications such as oil and gas exploration/production, aerospace, heavy industrial, and automotive. However, there remains a significant technical challenge to integrate these components into reliable, high performance systems. We previously presented a complete reference design of a precision multichannel sensor data acquisition and control system rated to 200C, including characterized hardware, firmware, and software. The design is based around low power 16 bit SAR ADCs and an ARM® Cortex®-M0 processor and is optimized for high resolution and high throughput measurements while maintaining low power and a small footprint. In this paper we present the test results of this system over temperature. The reference platform is available off the shelf, including hardware design files, processor firmware source code, and PC software for data logging and display, providing engineers a rapid development tool for prototyping and a faster path to production for complex harsh-environment applications.
Lifetime and Failure Modes of High Temperature SOI Products
Authors: Maxwell Derek , Soares Marshall , Coreless Matt
Published: May 2018

RelChip has performed life test studies on its RAM and has shown that Silicon On Insulator (SOI) processing with Aluminum-Tungsten metal traces can operate for over 4000 hours at 350°C and do not fail due to electromigration. Three parts were randomly selected and functionally tested at the extreme temperature using accelerated testing (HAST). The parts were pulled periodically for in-depth testing and examination. Test results indicate failures are due to device failures, and not electromigration.
US Geothermal Funding Outlook (Reducing Cost Barriers for HT SOI Reservoir Monitoring Systems)
Authors: Normann Randy A.
Published: May 2018

The presentation of this paper will discuss the expected funding levels from the US Dept. of Energy available for geothermal research. However, at the time this paper submitted for publication at HiTEC, those funding levels have not been publically released.

This paper examines the use of Arduino systems for developing geothermal well monitoring systems and logging tools. The Arduino is a low cost, public domain micro processing system commonly used for teaching machine programming at the high school level. These systems enjoy open domain support and many levels of self-help books. The Arduino enjoys worldwide acceptance for teaching high school students how to build and program robotic machines. The Arduino system is so popular, Ebay.com lists 2,244 “Arduino Kits”. Kits for learning robotics, operating 3D printers, monitoring sensors and other general applications in electronics. This paper examines using the Arduino system for scientific measurement purposes. Two application examples are given: 275°C well monitoring tool interface and a simple, very low cost temperature logging tool. This paper highlights two new Arduino Shield for scientific measurements: a 22Bit ADC and a 12Bit DAC programmable power supply for powering high temperature downhole tools.
Using Blogs: authentic material and ranking quality for SLA
Authors: Coppens Xulian , Rico Mercedes , Agudo J. Enrique
Published: May 2018

Exposure real life language experiences forms an integral part of the acquisition process. Authentic materials – those derived from the culture of the target language rather than specially produced for language learners – increase the relevance of the learning experience by reusing texts taken directly from the target culture. Web 2.0 technologies increase opportunities for bringing authentic materials into formal language learning environments by allowing material to be collected, reused and shared amongst language teachers and learners. This paper aims to look at the role of blogs in facilitating the use of authentic material by English language teachers and learners and the impact of the most authoritative blogs in the wider Web and in Social Media.

To reach this objective, the blog ranking site Technorati was used to select the most popular blogs for English language learners and teachers and each blog was analysed according to the authenticity of the cultural material used for language learning. The analysis reveals that 100% of the material on 56.25% of the blogs selected was authentic material and over 70% of the material on a further 35.3% of blogs was authentic.

Secondly, the impact of these blogs in the wider Web and Social Media was measured in order to draw some conclusions regarding the role of language learning blogs outside the world of blogging and the communities they serve and provide an image of the relationship between blogs and bloggers, the Web and Social Media.

The results show an inherent bias within Web 2.0 technologies towards providing contemporary authentic material for language learning – the technology itself encourages its use – and that sometimes blogs can have an impact beyond their communities through the Web and Social Media.
Química orgánica en contexto y argumentación científica: una secuencia de enseñanza aprendizaje, desafíos y compromisos
Authors: Morales Carla , Salgado Yimmy
Published: May 2018

Actualmente nuestro país presenta niveles de alfabetización científica por debajo de la media de países pertenecientes a la OCDE, visualizar esta realidad nacional nos motiva a colaborar en el desarrollo de competencias científicas, especialmente en la promoción de argumentación. Esta investigación, tiene por objetivo la implementación de una Secuencia bajo el enfoque CTS, específicamente en la competencia de argumentación científica. El diseño e implementación de la SEA permite utilizar al interior del aula metodologías de enseñanza que respondan a las necesidades del entorno, contextualizadas en la obtención y usos de los derivados del petróleo. A su vez, muestra el acercamiento de los estudiantes al conocimiento científico, especialmente en propiedades físico químicas de compuestos orgánicos, y a los niveles de argumentación científica. Con el fin de obtener información para su análisis e identificación, se aplican 6 sesiones de trabajo, de índole grupal, de las cuales contenían un apartado final que permite el trabajo en argumentación científica. Los resultados obtenidos en el desarrollo de la competencia argumentativa de los estudiantes presentan un leve aumento en el nivel de esta competencia, sin embargo, cabe destacar que este aumento es logrado por más del 40 % del estudiantado.
Evolución de la especie humana: ¿odisea o tragedia?
Authors: Spotorno Angel
Published: May 2018

La historia evolutiva de Homo sapiens ha sido modelada por múltiples factores sucesivos, los que son aquí revisados en el marco de teorías biológicas clásicas y modernas. Incluye adaptaciones reproductivas, metabólicas, cognitivas y sociales, que le permitieron conquistar la Tierra, proliferar en dos saltos poblacionales y modificar dramáticamente los biomas del planeta a escalas sin precedentes; emerge así una nueva época, el Antropoceno. Para explicar las causas mayores de esta odisea, describiremos algunos rasgos humanos relevantes en el marco de la teoría sintética de la evolución, sus consecuencias, y el surgimiento de diversos procesos: la revolución cognitiva, el poblamiento global, la domesticación, la tragedia de los comunes y la evolución cultural. Esta última exige un nuevo marco teórico más inclusivo: la teoría de construcción de nicho en ecología y la teoría sintética extendida, recientemente propuestas; la evolución es considerada entonces como un proceso interactivo organismo-ambiente, que incluye tanto herencias genética como no genéticas (cultural, material y ecológica). Las nuevas teorías integradoras muestran actualmente que la causa más relevante en la evolución humana ha sido la construcción sociocultural de múltiples nichos, expresados en una diversidad de culturas.
Noticias (Congresos, seminarios, talleres, escuela de invierno, resumen de tesis)
Authors: Candido Natalia
Published: May 2018

En esta sección se presentan resumenes de trabajos de titulación, revisión de artículos de autores Chilenos y eventos en el área de educación científica.
Characterizing biospheric carbon balance using CO2 observations from the OCO-2 satellite
Authors: Miller Scot M. , Michalak Anna M. , Yadav Vineet , Tadić Jovan M.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) satellite launched in summer of
2014. Its observations could allow scientists to constrain CO2 fluxes
across regions or continents that were previously difficult to monitor. This
study explores an initial step toward that goal; we evaluate the extent to
which current OCO-2 observations can detect patterns in biospheric CO2
fluxes and constrain monthly CO2 budgets. Our goal is to guide top-down,
inverse modeling studies and identify areas for future improvement. We find
that uncertainties and biases in the individual OCO-2 observations are
comparable to the atmospheric signal from biospheric fluxes, particularly
during Northern Hemisphere winter when biospheric fluxes are small. A series
of top-down experiments indicate how these errors affect our ability to
constrain monthly biospheric CO2 budgets. We are able to constrain budgets
for between two and four global regions using OCO-2 observations, depending
on the month, and we can constrain CO2 budgets at the regional level
(i.e., smaller than seven global biomes) in only a handful of cases (16 %
of all regions and months). The potential of the OCO-2 observations, however,
is greater than these results might imply. A set of synthetic data
experiments suggests that retrieval errors have a salient effect. Advances in
retrieval algorithms and to a lesser extent atmospheric transport modeling
will improve the results. In the interim, top-down studies that use current
satellite observations are best-equipped to constrain the biospheric carbon
balance across only continental or hemispheric regions.