Fast search techniques for use in vector quantisation and related pattern matching applications

Two techniques for the design and fast search of a vector quantiser codebook are proposed. These classify speech data vectors according to (i) the sign and (ii) the slope between successive samples. With both techniques the performance obtained is superior to that obtained from a conventional gain/shape vector quantiser and comparable to that of a full search vector quantiser. A major attraction of both approaches is that they significantly reduce the number of computations required for the codebook search.     

Bilateral control of teleoperators with time delay

A control law for teleoperators is presented which overcomes the instability caused by time delay. By using passivity and scattering theory, a criterion is developed which shows why existing bilateral control systems are unstable for certain environments, and why the proposed bilateral control law is stable for any environment and any time delay. The control law has been implemented on a single-axis force-reflecting hand controller, and preliminary results are shown. To keep the presentation clear, a single-degree-of-freedom (DOF) linear time-invariant (LTI) teleoperator system is discussed. Nevertheless, results can be extended, without loss of generality, to an n-DOF nonlinear teleoperation system     

Influence of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and of Manufacturing Technique on in Vitro Performance of Selected Antacids

Factors affecting the performance of antacids F-MA 11, dihydroxy aluminum aminoacetate, magaldrate and magnesium hydroxide were studied in vitro using Schaub's acid neutralization test, a modified Reheis reaction velocity test and the USP test. From the results obtained it was evident that type and combination of antacid, the adjuvants and formulation techniques used in preparation of antacids affect their performance. The USP preliminary antacid test and acid neutralization test are not optimal in vitro tests to evaluate in vitro onset and duration of action of antacids.     

Visual insights into high-resolution earthquake Simulations.

This study focuses on the visualization of a series of large earthquake simulations collectively called TeraShake. The simulation series aims to assess the impact of San Andreas Fault earthquake scenarios in Southern California. We discuss the role of visualization in gaining scientific insight and aiding unexpected discoveries.     

Exploiting ILP, TLP, and DLP with the polymorphous trips architecture

The Tera-op reliable intelligently adaptive processing system (TRIPS) architecture seeks to deliver system-level configurability to applications and runtime systems. It does so by employing the concept of polymorphism, which permits the runtime system to configure the hardware execution resources to match the mode of execution and demands of the compiler and application.     

A Low-Complexity Circuit for On-Sensor Concurrent A/D Conversion and Compression

A low-complexity circuit for on-sensor compression is presented. The proposed circuit achieves complexity savings by combining a single-slope analog-to-digital converter with a Golomb-Rice entropy encoder and by implementing a low-complexity adaptation rule. The adaptation rule monitors the output codewords and minimizes their length by incrementing or decrementing the value of the Golomb-Rice coding parameter k. Its hardware implementation is one order of magnitude lower than existing adaptive algorithms. The compression circuit has been fabricated using a 0.35 muM CMOS technology and occupies an area of 0.0918 . Test measurements confirm the validity of the design.     

Synthesis and Properties of Photoisomerizable Derivatives of Isosorbide and Their Use in Cholesteric Filters

This paper describes the synthesis of photoisomerizable derivatives of isosorbide. These derivatives contain a stilbene or cinnamate moiety and can therefore be used as photoisomerizable chiral compounds in cholesteric liquid‐crystalline mixtures. The reflection wavelength of cholesteric layers made from these mixtures is increased by UV irradiation due to the fact that the Z‐isomers of these derivatives exhibit a lower helical twisting power than the corresponding E‐isomers. The cinnamate derivatives are very suitable for use in cholesteric color filters that find application in liquid‐crystal displays.     

GaAs pHEMT-based technology for microwave applications in a volume MMIC production environment on 150-mm wafers

The establishment of a 150-mm (6-in) gallium arsenide (GaAs) facility is described together with the development of very high yielding and cost-effective semiconductor device technologies and a manufacturing capacity of over 40000 wafers/annum. The background to the demand for very high volumes of RF products for this market is discussed, together with the prospects for future growth. The paper describes recent process development by the utilization of a data-driven yield management system to support the delivery of high-quality RF products to customers. Finally, "end of line" DC and RF testing of finished 150-mm GaAs pHEMT foundry wafers is described, enabling scalar measurements of power, noise, and intermodulation products as well as vector measurements of S-parameters and noise parameters at frequencies of up to 40 GHz.     

The nature and role of incoherent interphase interfaces in diffusional solid-solid phase transformations

In this article, some views on the nature of incoherent interphase interfaces, and their role in the nucleation and growth processes governing the evolution of microstructure in solid-state diffusional transformations (reconstructive transformations), are explored. It is argued that essentially incoherent interfaces can be involved in the initiation and propagation of polymorphic transformations and massive transformations as well as in various precipitation phenomena in metallic and ceramic systems. Similar views have already been advanced earlier in connection with studies of massive transformations. Faceting along the interphase interface during nucleation and growth can derive from thermodynamic, kinetic, and crystallographic factors independent of the bicrystallography of the conjugate phases. This idiomorphic behavior can be relevant to both intergranular and intragranular phase formation. The concept of one-dimensional (1-D) commensuration of phases through plane edge-to-edge/row matching is an interesting extension of the classic ideas of coherency and bicrystallography and potentially important in characterizing the behavior of certain types of boundaries. However, the general importance of these geometrical relations in real and reciprocal space will depend on the depth of the energy wells in orientation space associated with these special boundaries. This article is based on a presentation made in the “Hume-Rothery Symposium on Structure and Diffusional Growth Mechanisms of Irrational Interphase Boundaries,” which occurred during the TMS Winter meeting, March 15–17, 2004, in Charlotte, NC, under the auspices of the TMS Alloy Phases Committee and the co-sponsorship of the TMS-ASM Phase Transformations Committee.