Memory Defect Tolerance Architectures for Nanotechnologies

Memory Built In Self Repair (BISR) is gaining importance since several years. Because defect densities are increasing in future submicron technologies, more advanced solutions may be required for memories to be produced in the upcoming nanometric CMOS process generations. Moreover, this problem will be exacerbated with nanotechnologies, where defect densities are predicted to reach levels of several orders of magnitude higher than in current CMOS technologies. For such defect densities, traditional memory repair is not adequate. This work presents several Built-In Self Repair techniques addressing memories affected by high defect densities as well as an evaluation of the area cost and yield. Statistical fault injection simulations were conducted and the obtained results show that BISR architectures can be used for future high defect technologies, providing close to 100% memory yield, by means of reasonable hardware cost. Thus, the extreme defect densities that many authors predict for nanotechnologies do not represent a show-stopper, at least as concerning memories.     

Diagnostics and active species formation in an atmospheric pressure helium sterilization plasma source

Systematic spectroscopic studies and diagnostics of an atmospheric pressure radiofrequency (13.56 MHz) He plasma is presented. The discharge is an intrinsic part of the resonant circuit of the radiofrequency oscillator and was obtained using a monoelectrode type torch, at various gas flow-rates (0.1-6.0 l/min) and power levels (0-2 W). As function of He flow-rate and power the discharge has three developing stages: point-like plasma, spherical plasma and ellipsoidal plasma. The emission spectra of the plasma were recorded and investigated as function of developing stages, flow-rates and plasma power. The most important atomic and molecular components were identified and their evolution was studied as function of He flow-rate and plasma power towards understanding basic mechanisms occurring in this type of plasma. The characteristic temperatures (vibrational T_vibr, rotational T_rot and excitation T_exc) and the electron number density (n_e) were determined.     

A review of cardiac image registration methods

In this paper, the current status of cardiac image registration methods is reviewed. The combination of information from multiple cardiac image modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, and ultrasound, is of increasing interest in the medical community for physiologic understanding and diagnostic purposes. Registration of cardiac images is a more complex problem than brain image registration because the heart is a nonrigid moving organ inside a moving body. Moreover, as compared to the registration of brain images, the heart exhibits much fewer accurate anatomical landmarks. In a clinical context, physicians often mentally integrate image information from different modalities. Automatic registration, based on computer programs, might, however, offer better accuracy and repeatability and save time.     

Contract analysis: A performance measures and profit evaluation within two-echelon supply chains

Coordination is regarded as key in managing dependencies between distinctive members of a supply chain through the benefits of coordination mechanisms. Such coordination mechanisms are contracts, implemented to increase total supply chain profit, reduce costs and share risk among supply chain members. However, by contract implementation the retailer is constrained in his purchase by bearing the entire risk of holding the inventory (wholesale price contract) or by limited risk allocated to the supplier (buyback, revenue sharing and quantity flexibility contracts). By implementing an advanced purchase system the risk of inventory is fairly divided between the supplier and the retailer. In order to observe inventory implications on the supply chain bottom line, this article is directed towards the evaluation of performance measures and supply chain profit behavior under buyback, revenue sharing, quantity flexibility and advanced purchase discount contracts versus no coordination and wholesale price systems.     

Thick-boundary-film formation by friction modifier additives

The addition of friction modifiers to lubricants has been the subject of study for a number of years. Two main models have emerged, a thick-film and a thin-film or monolayer model, but it is uncertain which materials and conditions produce which results. The present work, therefore, looked at whether certain additives form thin or thick films in rolling and/or rolling-sliding contacts; the practical effect of any thick-film formation behaviour; and the nature and structure of boundary films formed. Using ultrathin-film interferometry, tests were performed on a rig, with two commercial friction modifiers, a copper carboxylate soap, and a dimerised unsaturated carboxylic acid, in hexadecane and in a solvent-refined mineral oil. The results showed that both additives formed thick films in high-pressure rolling and sliding contacts at slow speeds. However, the nature of the films is determined by temperature and speed, and under certain conditions they can be destroyed.     

Common Molecular Targets of a Quinolone Based Bumped Kinase Inhibitor in Neospora caninum and Danio rerio

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, and causes abortions, stillbirths and/or fetal malformations in livestock. Target-based drug development has led to the synthesis of calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 inhibitors, collectively named bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs). Previous studies have shown that several BKIs have excellent efficacy against neosporosis in vitro and in vivo. However, several members of this class of compounds impair fertility in pregnant mouse models and cause embryonic malformation in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. Similar to the first-generation antiprotozoal drug quinine, some BKIs have a quinoline core structure. To identify common targets in both organisms, we performed differential affinity chromatography with cell-free extracts from N. caninum tachyzoites and D. rerio embryos using the 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide (AC) compound BKI-1748 and quinine columns coupled to epoxy-activated sepharose followed by mass spectrometry. BKI-binding proteins of interest were identified in eluates from columns coupled to BKI-1748, or in eluates from BKI-1748 as well as quinine columns. In N. caninum, 12 proteins were bound specifically to BKI-1748 alone, and 105 proteins, including NcCDPK1, were bound to both BKI-1748 and quinine. For D. rerio, the corresponding numbers were 13 and 98 binding proteins, respectively. In both organisms, a majority of BKI-1748 binding proteins was involved in RNA binding and modification, in particular, splicing. Moreover, both datasets contained proteins involved in DNA binding or modification and key steps of intermediate metabolism. These results suggest that BKI-1748 interacts with not only specific targets in apicomplexans, such as CDPK1, but also with targets in other eukaryotes, which are involved in common, essential pathways.     

Acrylic blends based on polyaniline. Factorial design

Processable conducting materials for large-scale utilization were prepared by mechanical mixing of polyaniline (PANI) paste and commercially acrylic resin. Doped PANI with organic phosphorus acid was synthesized. These blends can be used for the production of semiconductive paints with good corrosion resistance. By mixing doped PANI with commercially acrylic acid (SMP 63 AZUR SA) hard semiconducting and low elastic films are obtain. The effect of four variables was simultaneously studied: PANI (concentration), stirring speed (ST), mixing time (MT), dispersing agent (DA). Due to the number of variables, a factorial-design was chosen in order to reduce the number of experiments required in order to obtain coatings with high hardness and elasticity and semiconductive behavior. The results indicated that the influences of control factors decrease in order: PANI (concentration), mixing time (MT), dispersing agent (DA) and stirring speed (ST). From the studied variables, the resistance is significantly influenced by the two control factors PANI and MT.     

Scalable general high voltage MOSFET model including quasi-saturation and self-heating effects

In this work, we present for the first time, a highly scalable general high voltage MOSFET model, which can be used for any high voltage MOSFET with extended drift region. This model includes physical effects like the quasi-saturation, impact-ionization and self-heating, and a new general model for drift resistance. The model is validated on the measured characteristics of two widely used high voltage devices in the industry i.e. LDMOS and VDMOS devices, and implemented on commercial circuit simulators like SABER (Synopsys), ELDO (Mentor Graphics), Spectre (Cadence) and UltraSim (Cadence). The accuracy of the model is better than 10% for DC I–V and g–V characteristics and shows good behavior for all capacitances which are unique for these devices showing peaks and shift of peaks with bias variation. The model also exhibits excellent scalability with transistor width, drift length, number of fingers and temperature.     

Influence of octyl substituted octakis(dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane on the morphology and thermal and mechanical properties of low density polyethylene

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) was melt blended with octyl substituted octakis(dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane (AS8) prepared in high yield by hydrosilylation of octene with octakis(hydrodimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane. Two procedures were used to incorporate AS8 into LDPE at nanolevel and their efficiency was investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and mechanical characterization. A slight increase of crystallite mean dimensions was observed by XRD in both types of LDPE‐AS8 composites compared with neat LDPE. Better AS8 dispersion was observed by AFM in the composite prepared by the first procedure and the increase of both tensile strength and elongation at break in this composite confirmed the nanolevel dispersion and interface improvement in this case. AS8 influence in the final stages of polyethylene fracture was illustrated by AFM of elongated tensile specimens and a new mechanism of AS8 action was suggested. An interesting behavior consisting of simultaneous improvement of elastic modulus, strength and ductility was detected in the low range of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane concentration in LDPE (0.5 wt%). © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry