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.     

Conformational Changes in the BSA-LT4 Complex Induced by the Presence of Vitamins: Spectroscopic Approach and Molecular Docking

Levothyroxine (LT4) is known for its use in various conditions including hypothyroidism. LT4 interaction with serum albumin may be influenced by the presence of vitamins. For this reason, we investigated the effect of vitamin C, vitamin B12, and folic acid on the complex of Bovine Serum Albumin with LT4 (BSA-LT4). UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to monitor the influence of vitamins on the BSA-LT4 complex. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed a static quenching mechanism of the fluorescence of BSA-LT4 complex by the vitamin C and folic acid and a combined mechanism for vitamin B12. The interaction of vitamin C and folic acid with BSA-LT4 was moderate, while the binding of vitamin B12 was much stronger, extending the storage time of LT4 in blood plasma. Synchronous fluorescence found that the vitamins were closer to the vicinity of Trp than to Tyr and the effect was more pronounced for the binding of vitamin B12. The thermal stability of the BSA-LT4 complex was more evident, but no influence on the stability of BSA-LT4 complex was obtained for vitamin C. Molecular docking studies showed that vitamin C and folic acid bound the same site of the protein, while vitamin B12 bonded to a different site.     

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.