4- and 13-GHz tuned amplifiers implemented in a 0.1-μm CMOStechnology on SOI, SOS, and bulk substrates

Four- and 13-GHz tuned amplifiers have been implemented in a partially scaled 0.1-1 μm CMOS technology on bulk, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), and silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) substrates. The 4-GHz bulk, SOI, and SOS amplifiers exhibit forward gains of 14, 11, and 12.5 dB and F_min's of 4.5 (bulk) and 3.5 db (SOS). The 13-GHz SOS and SOI amplifiers exhibit gains of 15 and 5.3 dB and F_unn's of 4.9 and 7.8 dB. The 4-GHz bulk amplifier has the highest resonant frequency among reported bulk CMOS amplifiers, while the 13-GHz SOS and SOI amplifiers are the first in a CMOS technology to have tuned frequencies greater than 10 GHz. These and other measurement results suggest that it may be possible to implement 20-GHz tuned amplifiers in a fully scaled 0.1-1 μm CMOS process     

Multigrid computation for curve fitting in the wavelet domain

A multi-layer multigrid algorithm for curve fitting in the wavelet domain is presented. This algorithm is achieved by applying a wavelet transform to each grid of the conventional multigrid structure. Using a wavelet transform, the convergent rate in each grid is improved and the total system can converge more quickly     

Eight-channel bidirectional WDM add/drop multiplexer

The authors propose and demonstrate an eight-channel reconfigurable bidirectional wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) add-drop multiplexer in which all channels can be added/dropped independently in either direction. The performance of the bidirectional WDM add/drop multiplexer is experimentally studied for a data rate of 10 Gbit/s per channel, providing an overall capacity of 80 Gbit/s. It is found that the performance of the add/drop multiplexer is not degraded by a backward propagating signal     

Improvements of spreading codes utilisation efficiency forintegrated multimedia services in CDMA network

A wireless MAC protocol for the CDMA network is proposed which provides the various bit rates required to support the integrated multimedia services. The proposed method improves the spreading codes utilisation efficiency by sharing limited spreading codes among all mobile terminals     

An unbiased parametric imaging algorithm for nonuniformly sampled biomedical system parameter estimation

An unbiased algorithm of generalized linear least squares (GLLS) for parameter estimation of nonuniformly sampled biomedical systems is proposed. The basic theory and detailed derivation of the algorithm are given. This algorithm removes the initial values required and computational burden of nonlinear least regression and achieves a comparable estimation quality in terms of the estimates' bias and standard deviation. Therefore, this algorithm is particular useful in image-wide (pixel-by-pixel based) parameter estimation, e.g., to generate parametric images from tracer dynamic studies with positron emission tomography. An example is presented to demonstrate the performance of this new technique. This algorithm is also generally applicable to other continuous system parameter estimation.     

Nanofabrication of 1-D photonic bandgap structures along a photonic wire

A strongly-guided one-dimensional (1-D) waveguide called a photonic wire has high spontaneous emission coupling efficiency, enabling one to realize low-threshold lasers. Combined with the use of 1-D photonic bandgap structures consisting of arrays of holes etched within the photonic wire, novel microcavity lasers can be realized. We report the nanofabrication of a photonic bandgap structure for 1.5 /spl mu/m wavelength along a InGaAsP photonic wire, and discuss numerical simulations for its electrodynamics.     

Directional light output from photonic-wire microcavity semiconductor lasers

We have obtained directional light output from a recently realized InGaAsP photonic-wire microcavity ring lasers. The output was achieved by fabricating a 0.45-/spl mu/m-wide U-shape waveguide next to a 10-/spl mu/m diameter microcavity ring laser. The laser has a threshold pump power of around 124 /spl mu/W when optically pumped at 514 nm. It is comparable to the former structure without output coupling. The output coupling efficiency can be controlled carefully by choosing the spacing between the laser cavity and the waveguide.     

A complementary electrochromic device based on polyaniline and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

In this study, two conducting polymers, polyaniline (PANI) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), were used to construct an electrochromic device (ECD). PANI was employed as the anodic coloring polymer while PEDOT was used as the cathodic coloring polymer. The electrochemical and optical properties of PANI, which has a coloration efficiency of 25 cm²/C at 570 nm, were coupled with the complementary coloring material, PEDOT, which has a coloration efficiency of 206 cm²/C at 570 nm. A suitable operating potential window was switched between −0.6 and 1.0 V to explore the cycle life of the ECD. We tested the PANI–PEDOT ECD, which consisted of PANI, PEDOT, and an organic electrolyte containing 0.1 M LiClO₄ in propylene carbonate and 1 mM HClO₄. The transmittance of the ECD at 570 nm changed from 58% (−0.6 V) to 14% (1.0 V) with a coloration efficiency of 285 cm²/C. Within the selected operating voltage range, the PANI–PEDOT ECD could be cycled for up to 2×10⁴ cycles.     

Lycopodium Spores: A Naturally Manufactured,Superrobust Biomaterial for Drug Delivery

Herein, the exploration of natural plant‐based “spores” for the encapsulation of macromolecules as a drug delivery platform is reported. Benefits of encapsulation with natural “spores” include highly uniform size distribution and materials encapsulation by relatively economical and simple versatile methods. The natural spores possess unique micromeritic properties and an inner cavity for significant macromolecule loading with retention of therapeutic spore constituents. In addition, these natural spores can be used as advanced materials to encapsulate a wide variety of pharmaceutical drugs, chemicals, cosmetics, and food supplements. Here, for the first time a strategy to utilize natural spores as advanced materials is developed to encapsulate macromolecules by three different microencapsulation techniques including passive, compression, and vacuum loading. The natural spore formulations developed by these techniques are extensively characterized with respect to size uniformity, shape, encapsulation efficiency, and localization of macromolecules in the spores. In vitro release profiles of developed spore formulations in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids have also been studied, and alginate coatings to tune the release profile using vacuum‐loaded spores have been explored. These results provide the basis for further exploration into the encapsulation of a wide range of therapeutic molecules in natural plant spores.     

Graphene Quantum Sheet Catalyzed Silicon Photocathode for Selective CO2 Conversion to CO

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into chemical feedstock is drawing increasing attention as a prominent method of recycling atmospheric CO₂. Although many studies have been devoted in designing an efficient catalyst for CO₂ conversion with noble metals, low selectivity and high energy input still remain major hurdles. One possible solution is to use the combination of an earth‐abundant electrocatalyst with a photoelectrode powered by solar energy. Herein, for the first time, a p‐type silicon nanowire with nitrogen‐doped graphene quantum sheets (N‐GQSs) as heterogeneous electrocatalyst for selective CO production is demonstrated. The photoreduction of CO₂ into CO is achieved at a potential of ?1.53 V versus Ag/Ag⁺, providing 0.15 mA cm^?2 of current density, which is 130 mV higher than that of a p‐type Si nanowire decorated with well‐known Cu catalyst. The faradaic efficiency for CO is 95%, demonstrating significantly improved selectivity compared with that of bare planar Si. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed, which suggest that pyridinic N acts as the active site and band alignment can be achieved for N‐GQSs larger than 3 nm. The demonstrated high efficiency of the catalytic system provides new insights for the development of nonprecious, environmentally benign CO₂ utilization.