Synchronous Full-Scan for Asynchronous Handshake Circuits

Handshake circuits form a special class of asynchronous circuits that has enabled the industrial exploitation of the asynchronous potential such as low power, low electromagnetic emission, and increased cryptographic security. In this paper we present a test solution for handshake circuits that brings synchronous test-quality to asynchronous circuits. We add a synchronous mode of operation to handshake circuits that allows full controllability and observability during test. This technique is demonstrated on some industrial examples and gives over 99% stuck-at fault coverage, using test-pattern generators developed for synchronous circuits. The paper describes how such a full-scan mode can be achieved, including an approach to minimize the number of dummy latches in case latches are used in the data path of the handshake circuit.     

Three-Stage Thin-Film Superlattice Thermoelectric Multistage Microcoolers with a Δ<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Subscript>max</Subscript> of 102 K

Thin-film Bi₂Te₃- and Sb₂Te₃-based superlattice (SL) thermoelectric (TE) devices are an enabling technology for high-power and low-temperature applications, which include low-noise amplifier cooling, electronics hot-spot cooling, radio frequency (RF) amplifier thermal management, and direct sensor cooling. Bulk TE devices, which can pump heat loads on the order of 10 W/cm², are not suitable in these applications due to their large size and low heat pumping capacity. Recently, we have demonstrated an external maximum temperature difference, ΔT _max, as high as 58 K in an SL thin-film p–n couple. This state-of-the-art couple exhibited a cold-side minimum temperature, T _cmin, of −30.9°C. We regularly attain ΔT _max values in excess of 53 K, in spite of the many significant electrical and thermal parasitics that are unique to thin-film devices. These measurements do not use any complex thermal management at the heat sink to remove the heat flux from the TE device’s hot side. We describe here multistage SL cooling technologies currently being developed at RTI that can provide useful microcooling cold-side temperatures of 200 K. This effort includes a three-stage module employing independently powered stages which produced a ΔT _max of 101.6 K with a T _cmin of −75°C, as well as a novel two-wire three-stage SL cascade which demonstrated a T _cmin of −46°C and a ΔT _max of nearly 74 K. These RTI modules are only 2.5 mm thick, significantly thinner than a similar commercial three-stage module (5.3 mm thick) that produces a ΔT _max of 96 K. In addition, TE coolers fabricated from these thin-film SL materials perform significantly better than the extrapolated performance of similar thickness bulk alloy materials.     

A fully pipelined RLS-based array for channel equalization

It is shown that several recursive least squares (RLS) type equalization algorithms such as, e.g., decisiondirected schemes and orthogonalized constant modulus algorithms, possess a common algorithmic structure and are therefore rather straightforwardly implemented on an triangular array (filter structure) for RLS estimation with inverse updating. While the computational complexity for such algorithms isO(N ²), whereN is the problem size, the throughput rate for the array implementation isO(1), i.e., independent of the problem size. Such a throughput rate cannot be achieved with standard (Gentleman-Kung-type) RLS/QR-updating arrays because of feedback loops in the computational schemes.     

部署40G技术正当时

当今业内普遍达成的一个共识是运营商不应单纯为追求高速度的虚名而采用40G技术，应该等待40G技术具备与现有技术相当的性价比，也就是说，当40G技术的成本降至10G技术的四倍以下时才予以采用。然而，对于何时能够降至四倍以下，则众说纷纭。例如，有人指出当前40G技术的成本是10G技术的十倍。在本文中，我们将分析40G传输技术应用障碍如何被夸大或误解，同时指出目前已投入商用的40G产品的成本已不足10G技术的四倍。从理论上讲，40G线路信号所要求的光信噪比（OSNR）高出10G信号6分贝，这意味着10G信号可以不经再生传输更远的距离。…     

A Methodology for Architecture Exploration of Heterogeneous Signal Processing Systems

We present a methodology for the exploration of signal processing architectures at the system level. The methodology, named SPADE, provides a means to quickly build models of architectures at an abstract level, to easily map applications, modeled as Kahn Process Networks, onto these architecture models, and to analyze the performance of the resulting system by simulation. The methodology distinguishes between applications and architectures, and uses a trace-driven simulation technique for co-simulation of application models and architecture models. As a consequence, architecture models need not be functionally complete to be used for performance analysis while data dependent behavior is still handled correctly. We have used the methodology for the exploration of architectures and mappings of an MPEG-2 video decoder application.     

Detail preserving impulsive noise removal

Most image processing applications require noise elimination. For example, in applications where derivative operators are applied, any noise in the image can result in serious errors. Impulsive noise appears as a sprinkle of dark and bright spots. Transmission errors, corrupted pixel elements in the camera sensors, or faulty memory locations can cause impulsive noise. Linear filters fail to suppress impulsive noise. Thus, non-linear filters have been proposed. Windyga's peak-and-valley filter, introduced to remove impulsive noise, identifies noisy pixels and then replaces their values with the minimum or maximum value of their neighbors depending on the noise (dark or bright). Its main disadvantage is that it removes fine image details. In this work, a variation of the peak-and-valley filter is proposed to overcome this problem. It is based on a recursive minimum–maximum method, which replaces the noisy pixel with a value based on neighborhood information. This method preserves constant and edge areas even under high impulsive noise probability. Finally, a comparison study of the peak-and-valley filter, the median filter, and the proposed filter is carried-out using different types of images. The proposed filter outperforms other filters in the noise reduction and the image details preservation. However, it operates slightly slower than the peak-and-valley filter.     

Associations between Oil Yield and Profile of Fatty Acids,Sterols, Squalene,Carotenoids, and Tocopherols in Seed Oil of Selected Japanese Quince Genotypes during Fruit Development

Tocopherols, phytosterols, carotenoids, and squalene are present in mature seeds of Japanese quince. Yet, little is known about the relationship between these compounds and oil yield during fruit and seed development. The profile change of lipophilic compounds during fruit and seed development in Japanese quince cultivars “Darius,” “Rondo,” and “Rasa” is investigated. It is shown here that during fruit and seed development, there is a significant reduction, three‐ to over tenfold, in the concentration of minor bioactive compounds in seed oil. It is recorded that delay between synthesis of tocopherols and oil in Japanese quince seeds during the fruit development results in a logarithmic relationship between the oil content and tocopherols concentration in the seed oil (R² = 0.980). Similar trends are observed between oil yield and phytosterols, and carotenoids (R² = 0.927 and R² = 0.959, respectively). The profile of fatty acids during the development of the seeds significantly is changed. The reduction of linoleic, palmitic, and gondoic acids levels and increment of oleic acid is noted. The oil content, profile of fatty acids, and concentration of bioactive compounds in all three genotypes of Japanese quince do not change significantly statistically during the last month of fruit development. Practical Applications: Some fruits are harvested at different degrees of maturity mainly due to a logistic issue and uneven ripening of fruits, which affects the chemical composition of whole fruit including seeds. Therefore, it would be good to know how the chemical composition is changing in plant material during development especially in the last month before harvest. Production of Japanese quince continues to rise year to year and with it the volume of generated by‐products such as seeds. This study demonstrates how it changes the oil content, profile of fatty acid, and concentration of tocopherols, squalene, phytosterols, and carotenoids in the seeds and seed oil of three Japanese quince cultivars “Rondo,” “Darius,” and “Rasa” during plant development. The provided information can be very useful for the manufactories oriented on the processing of by‐products, mainly seeds, generated by other branches of industry, for instance, fruit‐processing.     

Candidate Gene Discovery in Hereditary Colorectal Cancer and Polyposis Syndromes–Considerations for Future Studies

To discover novel high-penetrant risk loci for hereditary colorectal cancer (hCRC) and polyposis syndromes many whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing (WES/WGS) studies have been performed. Remarkably, these studies resulted in only a few novel high-penetrant risk genes. Given this observation, the possibility and strategy to identify high-penetrant risk genes for hCRC and polyposis needs reconsideration. Therefore, we reviewed the study design of WES/WGS-based hCRC and polyposis gene discovery studies (n = 37) and provide recommendations to optimize discovery and validation strategies. The group of genetically unresolved patients is phenotypically heterogeneous, and likely composed of distinct molecular subtypes. This knowledge advocates for the screening of a homogeneous, stringently preselected discovery cohort and obtaining multi-level evidence for variant pathogenicity. This evidence can be collected by characterizing the molecular landscape of tumors from individuals with the same affected gene or by functional validation in cell-based models. Together, the combined approach of a phenotype-driven, tumor-based candidate gene search might elucidate the potential contribution of novel genetic predispositions in genetically unresolved hCRC and polyposis.     

Turbidity study of the process of film formation of thin films of aqueous acrylic dispersions

This study was directed towards determining the factors that define the process of film formation of binder particles in drying aqueous dispersion coatings, based on acrylic polymers. The work described focuses on the infrastructure of drying and ageing thin films of acrylic latices.

In concentrated latices the binder particles are arranged in closely packed structures which cause colored light patterns, the so-called Bragg diffractions. The light waves move within the latex film, where the waves are scattered by the internal structure composed of the spheres and water voids. The pattern of light transmission reveals the internal structure of the latex film. From the change in interference during the drying process of a thin latex film, it is possible to follow the internal movement and deformation of polymer spheres (coalescence process). Further coalescence results in a transparent film. When this film is immersed in water, the remaining internal interfaces between the adhered binder particles swell, thus regenerating the interference pattern. It is expected that during ageing of the film, the proportion of internal interfaces will decrease with time, so that when the aged film is immersed in water the remaining internal interfaces will swell. The resulting interference pattern reveals the decrease in the interfaces between the deformed polymer particles in the dried latex film (auto-adhesion process).     

Enzymic Hydrolysis Of Lignin—Carbohydrate Complexes Isolated From Kraft Pulp

Four carbohydrate samples extracted from kraft pulps are used as model substrates for studying the mechanism by which xylanase enhances subsequent bleaching of kraft pulp. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms that small amounts of aromatic molecules, probably lignin, remain associated with these carbohydrate samples. When the extracts are hydrolyzed with xylanase or acid, size exclusion chromatography shows a decrease in the molecular mass of their UV-absorbing constituents, as well as their carbohydrate constituents as determined by pulsed amperometric detection. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that xylanase prebleaching hydrolyzes the xylan portion of lignin-carbohydrate complexes to leave smaller lignin-containing macromolecules in pulp fiber, thus facilitating the removal of lignin components by bleaching chemicals.