Resistive random access memory (RRAM) is considered an attractive candidate for next generation memory devices due to its competitive scalability, low-power operation and high switching speed. The technology however, still faces several challenges that overall prohibit its industrial translation, such as low yields, large switching variability and ultimately hard breakdown due to long-term operation or high-voltage biasing. The latter issue is of particular interest, because it ultimately leads to device failure. In this work, we have investigated the physicochemical changes that occur within RRAM devices as a consequence of soft and hard breakdown by combining full-field transmission x-ray microscopy with soft x-ray spectroscopic analysis performed on lamella samples. The high lateral resolution of this technique (down to 25 nm) allows the investigation of localized nanometric areas underneath permanent damage of the metal top electrode. Results show that devices after hard breakdown present discontinuity in the active layer, Pt inclusions and the formation of crystalline phases such as rutile, which indicates that the temperature increased locally up to 1000 K.

The research includes analysis of: pH value, organic matter content, and the total concentration of manganese in eleven soil samples from different localities northeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sequential extractions of soil samples were also performed to determine the content of some form of binding manganese. Concentration of manganese in the flowers of calendula were also found and tested at these sites. From the obtained measurement, BCF (Bioconcentration Factor) values were calculated for the tested metal. Soil pH had values from 7.84 to 8.54, which puts them in the category of alkaline and strongly alkaline soil. The total concentration of manganese measured in soil samples do not exceed the limit values or are above average values. In the analyzed soil samples, the minimum content of manganese in the exchangeable fraction and the largest in the residual fraction and bound for oxides of manganese and iron. The concentrations of manganese in the flowers of calendula have not exceeded the permitted value. Statistical analysis of the results showed a weak linear correlation between pH value of an aqueous solution of the soil and the content of manganese in the flower, and linear correlation between manganese in the exchangeable fraction and the content of manganese in the flower. The calculated BCF values are very low and suggest that calendula growing on alkaline soil hasn’t got an expressed potential for accumulation of manganese.

Introduction: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of water extracts of leaves and barks from Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., A. incana (L.) Moench, and A. viridis (Chaix) DC.Methods: The antimicrobial activities of extracts were tested against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well as yeast strains by the agar diffusion method. The cell viability was determined by the Trypan blue dye exclusion method.Results: The largest diameters of inhibition zone (DIZ) were recorded with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Bacillus subtilis 168M. The highest percentage of cell viability was observed with water bark extracts of A. glutinosa (97.46%).Conclusions: Potential antimicrobial properties of A. glutinosa, A. incana, and A. viridis demonstrated in this study, as well as their low levels of toxicity, make them an interesting subject for further studies.

This PhD research aims to integrate group decision making into a personality based recommender systems in a domain with complex and emotional products i.e., e-tourism domain. In this domain, decisions, especially in groups, are often non rational. Based on the ongoing research on picture-based recommender systems at the e-commerce group, TU Wien and the software of Pixtri OG, the research will develop new methods to model group recommendations and support emotion-aware group decision processes, based on and evaluated by a world-wide study.