First-principles study of the lattice integration of palladium defects in doped germanium and silicon

Time-differential perturbed angular correlations spectroscopy of palladium in doped germanium has identified palladium-vacancy pairing in n-type antimony-doped, p-type gallium-doped and undoped germanium. In contrast, an equivalent study of palladium defects in doped silicon suggests a different scenario for the silicon host. Palladium-vacancy pairing has been proposed in n-type silicon irrespective of the dopant type (phosphorous, arsenic or antimony) but palladium–boron pairing has been speculated to occur in p-type boron-doped silicon. This thus raises the question: why does palladium pair with a dopant atom in p-type silicon, but with a vacancy in p-type germanium? Based on the density functional theory calculations carried out in this work, it is suggested that the size of the dopant and the host material both play a crucial role in determining the type of palladium-defect complex that is formed. The calculations predict a configuration with the palladium atom on a bond-centered interstitial site pairing with a semi-vacancy on either side in gallium-doped and antimony-doped silicon and germanium, respectively. Whereas, a configuration with the palladium atom on a bond-centered interstitial site pairing with the dopant was proposed in boron-doped silicon and germanium. In further support of the argument, in n-type phosphorous-doped materials the calculations predict a configuration with the palladium atom on a bond-centered interstitial site pairing with a semi-vacancy on either side in silicon, but a configuration with the palladium atom on a bond-centered interstitial site pairing with the phosphorous dopant in germanium.     

Alternating pressure control system for hydraulic robots

Hydraulics is a promising technology for robots. However, traditional hydraulic infrastructures are often large and power-inefficient, with large power sources that hinder mobility. In contrast, electro-hydrostatic actuators are relatively power efficient, but their cost and weight can be excessive in systems with a higher number of degrees of freedom. In this paper, we propose a new alternating pressure control system for hydraulic systems with a higher number of degrees of freedom based on an alternating pressure source system. In this system, the valves open and close in synchronization with a pump with sensor feedback, allowing either pressure or position in each actuator to be controlled independently. With the proposed system, a centralized pump can be used with simplified tubing and simple on–off valves. Moreover, we developed a dynamic duty ratio system that improves performance and reduces pump utilization time. The experimental results confirmed that both the position and pressure of each actuator can be controlled in parallel on a multi-degree-of-freedom system.     

Generating a plane wave with a linear array of line sources

Creating a plane wave across an antenna under test is important for accurate antenna measurements. This paper optimizes the location and weightings of an array of line sources in order to approximate a plane wave at a given location in space. The amplitude and phase ripples across a desired test aperture are optimized to be much less than that of a uniform array with the same number of elements. Results are presented for a nine-element array with optimized amplitude and phase weights, with optimized weights and spacing in the x-direction, and with optimized weights and spacing in the x and z directions. The optimized approximate plane wave is a significant improvement over a uniform array or a single line source.     

Adaptive–interpolative binarization with stroke preservation for restoration of faint characters in degraded documents

A novel technique for binarization with stroke preservation of faint characters in degraded documents is proposed. It works in a multi-scale framework with an adaptive–interpolative thresholding technique. Instead of computing a global threshold value, it computes the local threshold values for a small set of grid points by observing the intensity pattern of the pixels lying in the concerned grid cells. Estimated thresholds are used, in turn, to compute the threshold values of all the remaining pixels using a fast-yet-efficient interpolation procedure. To handle noises in degraded images, this grid-based adaptive thresholding is applied in successively reducing scales to obtain the near-optimal binarization as a set of connected components. After a post-processing meant for stroke preservation with these connected components, we get the final output. Exhaustive experimentation and comparison with other existing methods have been successfully carried out with benchmark datasets and also with our own datasets.     

Multicasting to multiple groups over broadcast channels

Multicasting is a communication mode in which a given source communicates with a subset of the entire network user population. Previous work in this area concentrated on the multicast problem of a single source that always communicates with the same destination group. In this paper we investigate a more natural case of multicast communication where a single source communicates with several different destination groups. Specially, we focus on the design and analysis of multicast data link protocols for this environment. Straightforward implementations of such protocols are inappropriate in the case of a large destination population, as a source will have to store a large amount of state information even if it maintains only a single variable per destination. In most typical applications, though. The total destination population is large, the number of destinations that any given source is in conversation with, is typically small. We propose a framework for adapting protocols so that memory requirement does not grow with the total destination population but depends upon the number of destinations actually in communication with the source. The savings in memory are achieved by slightly increasing the amount of communication. We address the performance of such a protocol in an environment of a broadcast channel. We analyze several strategies and control techniques and demonstrate the tradeoff between throughput and the amount of memory     

High drive current NMOS with Si-SiGe heterostructure low electric field channel

A drive-current enhancement in NMOS with a compressively strained SiGe structure, which had been a difficult challenge for CMOS integration with strained SiGe high-hole-mobility PMOS, was successfully achieved using a Si-SiGe heterostructure low electric field channel of optimum thickness. A 4-nm-thick Si low-field-channel NMOS with a 4-nm-thick Si/sub 0.8/Ge/sub 0.2/ layer improved drive current by 10% with a 20% reduction in gate leakage current compared with Si-control, while suppressing threshold-voltage rolloff characteristic degradation, and demonstrated excellent I/sub on/--I/sub off/ characteristics of I/sub on/ = 1 mA//spl mu/m for I/sub off/ = 100 nA//spl mu/m. These results are the best in ever reported NMOS with a compressively strained SiGe structure and indicate that a Si-SiGe heterostructure low-field-channel NMOS integrated with a compressively strained SiGe channel PMOS is a promising candidate for high-speed CMOS in 65-nm node logic technology.     

Reduction of lateral diffusion of photoelectrons in silicon photodiode imager arrays by internal gettering

The lateral diffusion of photoelectrons to adjacent picture elements in a silicon linear photodiode array is reduced in substrates with a high density of oxygen precipitates formed by internal gettering. The signal due to diffusion in adjacent pixels, normalized to the illuminated pixel signal, was reduced by a factor of 1.6 for pixels with centers 48 µm apart and by a factor of 10 for pixels farther apart; there was no significant decrease in sensor quantum efficiency. These results are interpreted with a numerical model that solves the three-dimensional diffusion equation for a substrate with different lifetimes in the surface and internal regions.     

A fast-settling CMOS op amp for SC circuits with 90-dB DC gain

A technique that combines the high-frequency behavior of a single-stage op amp with the high DC gain of a multistage design is presented. This technique is based on the concept that a very high DC gain can be achieved in combination with any unity-gain frequency achievable by a (folded-) cascode design. Bode-plot measurements for an op amp realized in a 1.6-μm process show a DC gain of 90 dB and a unity-gain frequency of 116 MHz (16-pF load). Settling measurements with a feedback factor of 1/3 show a fast single-pole settling behavior corresponding to a closed-loop bandwidth of 18 MHz (35-pF load) and a settling accuracy better than 0.03%. This technique does not cause any loss in output voltage swing. At a supply voltage of 5.0 V an output swing of about 4.2 V is achieved without loss in DC gain. The above advantages are achieved with a 30% increase in chip area and a 15% increase in power consumption     

Ion currents through mutant phospholemman channel molecules

Phospholemman (PLM), a small membrane protein with a single transmembrane domain, is a major substrate for protein kinases in muscle. In lipid bilayers, PLM forms ion channels with two unusual features--selectivity for the zwitterion taurine, and switching among cation- and anion-selective conformations. To investigate the molecular determinants of channel behavior, we measured ion currents through (1) PLM channels with point mutations in the extracellular and cytoplasmic domains, (2) chimeric PLM channels with the transmembrane domain of IsK, a K channel subunit, and (3) truncated PLM channels lacking the cytoplasmic domain. Truncated channels and those with a mutation at the cytoplasmic face had altered selectivity. Channels with a point mutation near the extracellular face were non-selective. Switching among channel conformations was less frequent in truncated channels and in channels with point mutations in either the extracellular or cytoplasmic domain. Chimeric channels with a different transmembrane domain had only a small reduction in conductance. We conclude that both the extracellular and cytoplasmic domains play roles in channel selectivity and conformational changes. Cation-binding sites appear to lie in the cytoplasmic domain, and an anion-binding site may reside in the extracellular domain. The cytoplasmic domain may function as a "ball and chain" to regulate channel selectivity.     

A Diffuse Interface Model of Intermediate-Phase Growth Under the Influence of Electromigration

A diffuse interface model has been developed to investigate intermediate-phase growth in a binary two-phase system under the influence of electromigration. Simulation results show that, besides the polarity effect, at longer times there is a linear growth behavior when the electron flow aids in the diffusion of atoms; however, there is a limiting thickness when the electron flow hinders diffusion. The longer time behavior is found in binary systems with both one and two intermediate phases present. It is also shown that the interface with a larger difference in resistivity migrates at a higher rate compared with the interface with a smaller difference in resistivity, under the influence of electromigration and with the effective charge numbers assumed constant.     

Power-Combining Transformer Techniques for Fully-Integrated CMOS Power Amplifiers

Fully integrated CMOS power amplifiers (PAs) with parallel power-combining transformer are presented. For the high power CMOS PA design, two types of transformers, series-combining and parallel-combining, are fully analyzed and compared in detail to show the parasitic resistance and the turn ratio as the limiting factor of power combining. Based on the analysis, two kinds of parallel-combining transformers, a two-primary with a 1:2 turn ratio and a three-primary with a 1:2 turn ratio, are incorporated into the design of fully-integrated CMOS PAs in a standard 0.18-mum CMOS process. The PA with a two-primary transformer delivers 31.2 dBm of output power with 41% of power-added efficiency (PAE), and the PA with a three-primary transformer achieves 32 dBm of output power with 30% of PAE at 1.8 GHz with a 3.3-V power supply.     

Three-dimensional reconstruction by scanning electron microscopy from serial epoxy resin semi-thin sections after ion-etching

Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed using scanning electron micrographs of serial semi-thin sections of Epon embedded specimens. Connective tissue in a rabbit ear chamber was fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide, and then embedded in Epon. One-microm-thick serial sections were cut with a diamond knife, mounted on glass slides and stained with toluidine blue. After observation with a light microscope, the sections were ion-etched with an ion-spatter coater. Following double staining with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, the consecutive sections were ion-coated with platinum. Each serial section was photographed with a scanning electron microscope. Profiles of a blood vessel and fibroblasts were digitized with a computer and computer reconstruction of the blood vessel was performed. Three-dimensional reconstructions showed that the newly formed blood vessel was a cylinder-like, bare endothelial tube with a rather smooth outer surface. Fibroblasts were situated around the endothelial tube. Several openings were found in the endothelial tube, suggesting the morphological feature of high permeability and fragility in newly formed blood vessels. The availability of three-dimensional reconstruction from scanning electron micrographs of serial semi-thin epoxy resin sections was discussed; structures of interest can be reconstructed (1) quickly and easily, (2) without skilful techniques, and (3) almost at the level of ultrastructure.     

Microwave-signal generation in a planar Gunn diode with radiation exposure taken into account

Microwave-signal generation in planar Gunn diodes with a two-dimensional electron gas, in which we previously studied steady-state electron transport, is theoretically studied. The applicability of a control electrode similar to a field-effect transistor gate to control the parameters of the output diode microwave signal is considered. The results of physical-topological modeling of semiconductor structures with different diode active-region structures, i.e., without a quantum well, with one and two quantum wells separated by a potential barrier, are compared. The calculated results are compared with our previous experimental data on recording Gunn generation in a Schottky-gate field-effect transistor. It is theoretically and experimentally shown that the power of the signal generated by the planar Gunn diode with a quantum well and a control electrode is sufficient to implement monolithic integrated circuits of different functionalities. It is theoretically and experimentally shown that the use of a control electrode on account of the introduction of corrective feedback allows a significant increase in the radiation resistance of a microwave generator with Schottky-gate field-effect transistors.     

A Waveguide‐Like Effect Observed in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Bundles

The delay time of nanosecond electromagnetic pulses is measured in multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) bundles and copper wires, with a length of up to 3 cm, as compared with that in standard coaxial cables of the same lengths. Under certain configurations, when the Cu core of a coaxial cable is replaced with a MWCNT bundle of the same length, the measured delay time of a pulsed signal is shortened. The difference between the delay time measured for a device with a Cu core and that of a device with a MWCNT bundle of the same length increases with the length of the samples. The results imply that, compared with Cu wires, MWCNT bundles may be more efficient in guiding the transmission of high‐frequency signals along their longitudinal axis, showing a waveguide‐like effect.     

On-Chip Power Distribution Grids With Multiple Supply Voltages for High-Performance Integrated Circuits

On-chip power distribution grids with multiple supply voltages are discussed in this paper. Two types of interdigitated and paired power distribution grids with multiple supply voltages and multiple grounds are presented. Analytic models are also developed to estimate the loop inductance in four types of proposed power delivery schemes. Two proposed schemes, fully and pseudo-interdigitated power delivery, reduce power supply voltage drops as compared to conventional interdigitated power distribution systems with dual supplies and a single ground by, on average, 15.3% and 0.3%, respectively. The performance of the proposed on-chip power distribution grids is compared to a reference power distribution grid with a single supply and a single ground. The voltage drop in fully interdigitated and fully paired power distribution grids with multiple supplies and multiple grounds is reduced, on average, by 2.7% and 2.3%, respectively, as compared to the voltage drop of an interdigitated power distribution grid with a single supply and a single ground. The proposed power distribution grids are a better alternative to a single supply voltage and a single ground power distribution system. On-chip resonances in power distribution grids with decoupling capacitors are intuitively explained in this paper, and circuit design implications are provided. It is also noted that fully interdigitated and fully paired power distribution grids with multiple supply voltages and multiple grounds are recommended to decouple power supply voltages.     

Improving resolution in photolithography with a phase-shifting mask

The phase-shifting mask consists of a normal transmission mask that has been coated with a transparent layer patterned to ensure that the optical phases of nearest apertures are opposite. Destructive interference between waves from adjacent apertures cancels some diffraction effects and increases the spatial resolution with which such patterns can be projected. A simple theory predicts a near doubling of resolution for illumination with partial incoherence σ < 0.3, and substantial improvements in resolution for σ < 0.7. Initial results obtained with a phase-shifting mask patterned with typical device structures by electron-beam lithography and exposed using a Mann 4800 10X tool reveals a 40-percent increase in usuable resolution with some structures printed at a resolution of 1000 lines/mm. Phase-shifting mask structures can be used to facilitate proximity printing with larger gaps between mask and wafer. Theory indicates that the increase in resolution is accompanied by a minimal decrease in depth of focus. Thus the phase-shifting mask may be the most desirable device for enhancing optical lithography resolution in the VLSI/VHSIC era.     

Field inhomogeneity correction based on gridding reconstruction for magnetic resonance imaging

Spatial variations of the main field give rise to artifacts in magnetic resonance images if disregarded in reconstruction. With non-Cartesian k-space sampling, they often lead to unacceptable blurring. Data from such acquisitions are usually reconstructed with gridding methods and optionally restored with various correction methods. Both types of methods essentially face the same basic problem of adequately approximating an exponential function to enable an efficient processing with fast Fourier transforms. Nevertheless, they have commonly addressed it differently so far. In the present work, a unified approach is pursued. The principle behind gridding methods is first generalized to nonequispaced sampling in both domains and then applied to field inhomogeneity correction. Three new algorithms, which are compatible with a direct conjugate phase and an iterative algebraic reconstruction, are derived in this way from a straightforward embedding of the data into a higher dimensional space. Their evaluation in simulations and phantom experiments with spiral k-space sampling shows that one of them promises to provide a favorable compromise between fidelity and complexity compared with existing algorithms. Moreover, it allows a simple choice of key parameters involved in approximating an exponential function and a balance between the accuracy of reconstruction and correction.     

聪脑益智针法联合精神运动康复 改善脑瘫认知障碍临床研究

摘 要:目的 观察聪脑益智针法联合精神运动康复改善脑瘫患儿认知功能障碍的临床疗效。方法 选取我院住院脑瘫患儿伴有认知功能障碍者100例为研究对象，以随机数字表法分为综合康复组、聪脑益智针法联合精神运动康复训练组各50例。两组患儿均以综合康复治疗为基础，治疗组在综合康复治疗基础上进行聪脑益智针刺联合精神运动康复训练治疗，两组患儿均治疗3个月，治疗前后均按参照有关文献拟定的疗效标准进行评定观察。结果 应用聪脑益智针法联合精神运动康复训练治疗脑瘫患儿认知功能障碍在提高智力方面亦优于常规综合治疗组，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 聪脑益智针法联合精神运动康复可有效改善脑瘫患儿认知障碍，临床疗效明显，值得在临床上推广应用。     

Algorithm for Scheduling Variable-Length Messages in WDM Networks

In this paper, we develop and analyze a simple algorithm for scheduling variable length messages in WDM networks with a passive star coupler. We base our schemes on a star topology with centralized control and use a scheduling algorithm similar to the process management in UNIX system. Every node and message have a scheduling priority associated with them. By comparing our algorithm with random select algorithm, we find that significant improvement in performance can be achieved with very little extra cost.     

B-scan based acoustic source reconstruction for magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction (MAT-MI)

We present in this study, an acoustic source reconstruction method using focused transducer with B-mode imaging for magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction (MAT-MI). MAT-MI is an imaging modality proposed for noninvasive conductivity imaging with high spatial resolution. In MAT-MI, acoustic sources are generated in a conductive object by placing it in a static and a time-varying magnetic field. The acoustic waves from these sources propagate in all directions and are collected with transducers placed around the object. The collected signal is then used to reconstruct the acoustic source distribution and to further estimate the electrical conductivity distribution of the object. A flat piston transducer acting as a point receiver has been used in earlier MAT-MI systems to collect acoustic signals. In this study, we propose to use B-mode scan scheme with a focused transducer that gives a signal gain in its focus region and improves the MAT-MI signal quality. A simulation protocol that can take into account different transducer designs and scan schemes for MAT-MI imaging is developed and used in our evaluation of different MAT-MI system designs. It is shown in our computer simulations that as compared to the earlier approach, the MAT-MI system using B-scan with a focused transducer allows MAT-MI imaging at a closer distance and has improved system sensitivity. In addition, the B-scan imaging technique allows reconstruction of the MAT-MI acoustic sources with a discrete number of scanning locations, which greatly increases the applicability of the MAT-MI approach, especially when a continuous acoustic window is not available in real clinical applications. We have also conducted phantom experiments to evaluate the proposed method, and the reconstructed image shows a good agreement with the target phantom.