Optical characteristics of waste stabilization ponds: recommendations for monitoring.

The optical character of waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) is of concern for several reasons. Algal photosynthesis, which produces oxygen for waste oxidation in WSPs, is influenced by attenuation of sunlight in ponds. Disinfection in WSPs is influenced by optical characteristics because solar UV exposure usually dominates inactivation. The optical nature of WSPs effluent also affects assimilation by receiving waters. Despite the importance of light behaviour in WSPs, few studies have been made of their optical characteristics. We discuss simple optical measures suitable for routine monitoring of WSPs (including at sites remote from laboratories): optical density of filtrates - an index of dissolved coloured organic (humic) matter, visual clarity - to provide an estimate of the beam attenuation coefficient (a fundamental quantity needed for optical modelling) colour (hue) - as an indicator of general WSP 'condition' and irradiance attenuation quantifying depth of light penetration. The value of optical characterisation of WSPs is illustrated with reference to optical data for WSPs in NZ (including high-rate algal ponds) treating dairy cattle wastewater versus domestic sewage. We encourage increased research on optical characteristics of WSPs and the incorporation of optical measures in monitoring and modelling of WSP performance.     

The impact of new product development acceleration approaches on speed and profitability: lessons for pioneers and fast followers

This work investigates the impact of nine new product development (NPD) acceleration approaches (supplier involvement, lead user involvement, speeding up activities and tasks, reduction of parts and components, training and rewarding of employees, implementation of support systems and techniques, stimulating interfunctional cooperation, emphasis on the customer, and simplification of organizational structure) on development speed and new product profitability. Our findings from 233 manufacturing firms show that lead user involvement and training/rewarding of employees increase both development speed and profitability. Supplier involvement, speeding up activities and tasks, and a simplification of the organizational structure also enhance development speed, while an emphasis on the customer has an additional positive impact on new product profitability. Both new product speed and profitability increase firm financial performance. Our results further show that pioneers and fast followers should not select the same NPD acceleration approaches as the speed and profitability impact of the majority of the acceleration approaches depends on the new product strategy of the firm. These results are important as they provide guidance for pioneers and fast followers regarding which NPD acceleration approaches to select in order to enhance speed and profitability and, hence, firm financial performance.     

Study of specific absorption rate (SAR) induced in two child head models and in adult heads using mobile phones

This paper gives a first comparison of specific absorption rate (SAR) induced in a child-sized (CS) head and an adult head using a dual-band mobile phone. In the second study, the visible human head is considered and comparison of SAR induced in a CS or child-like (CL) head and an adult head using a dual-band mobile phone is given. All the peaks of average SAR over a mass of 10 and 1 g in the head and the power budget are determined in the two comparisons using the finite-difference time-domain method. The differences between the results for adult and CS or CL heads are given at 900 and 1800 MHz. No important differences are noted for the peak SAR averaged over 10 g (SAR10 g), between the two adult head models, as well as between the two child head models. The peak SAR10 g in the brain of the CS or CL head is slightly more significant than that for the adult one.     

Reverse short channel effects in high-k gated nMOSFETs

Anomalous threshold voltage roll-up behavior, commonly referred as reverse short channel effect (RSCE), has been observed in high-k (HfO₂ on SiON buffer, Al₂O₃ on SiON buffer) gated submicron nMOSFETs, while the SiO₂ or SiON control samples show normal short channel effect (SCE) behavior. The possible causes such as inhomogeneous channel doping profile and gate oxide thickness variation near S/D ends have been ruled out. The results indicate that interface trap density that dependents on channel length is the main cause of the RSCE observed here. In addition, oxide charge also plays a role.     

Dielectric reliability of stacked Al2O3–HfO2 MIS capacitors with cylinder type for improving DRAM data retention characteristics

Dielectric reliability in Al₂O₃(2–3.1nm)–HfO₂(3nm) stack capacitor with Metal–Insulator–Si(MIS) structure is investigated in this paper. We propose an optimized capacitor process through the Time–Dependent Dielectric Breakdown (TDDB) data under various process conditions. Furthermore, due to asymmetric current at both negative and positive voltage stress polarities, we show different lifetime extrapolation by a fluence–driven model. As a result, the maximum allowed operating voltage is projected to be 1.7V (failure rate 10ppm during 10year @ 85°C) for Data “0” retention lifetime.     

Frequency notched printed slot antenna with parasitic open-circuit stub

A new frequency notched ultra-wideband microstrip slot antenna with a parasitic tuning stub is proposed. The antenna is similar in configuration to a conventional microstrip slot antenna; by introducing a parasitic open-circuit tuning stub, flexible frequency notched function is achieved. Several properties of the antenna, such as frequency notched function, antenna transfer function and gain, have been investigated. As is reported, the operation bandwidth of the antenna is 2.91-11.16 GHz, in which a frequency notched band of 5.10-5.85 GHz has been achieved. Furthermore, good ultra-wideband linear transmission performance over the entire operation frequency range has also been achieved.     

An integrated system to remote monitor and control anaerobic wastewater treatment plants through the internet.

The TELEMAC project brings new methodologies from the Information and Science Technologies field to the world of water treatment. TELEMAC offers an advanced remote management system which adapts to most of the anaerobic wastewater treatment plants that do not benefit from a local expert in wastewater treatment. The TELEMAC system takes advantage of new sensors to better monitor the process dynamics and to run automatic controllers that stabilise the treatment plant, meet the depollution requirements and provide a biogas quality suitable for cogeneration. If the automatic system detects a failure which cannot be solved automatically or locally by a technician, then an expert from the TELEMAC Control Centre is contacted via the internet and manages the problem.     

Nanoscale structural characteristics and electron field emission properties of transition metal–fullerene compound TiC60 films

Transition-metal compound TiC₆₀ thin films were grown by co-deposition from two separated sources of fullerene C₆₀ powder and titanium. Study of structural properties of the films, by Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals that the films have a deformed C₆₀ structure with certain amount of sp³ bonds and a rough surface with a large number of nanoclusters. z–V tunnelling spectroscopic measurements suggest that several charge transport mechanisms are involved in as the tip penetrates into the thin film. Conventional field electron emission (FEE) measurements show a high emission current density of 10 mA/cm² and a low turn-on field less than 8 V/μm, with the field enhancement factors being 659 and 1947 for low-field region and high-field region, respectively. By exploiting STM tunneling spectroscopy, local FEE on nanometer scale has also been characterized in comparison with the conventional FEE. The respective field enhancement factors are estimated to be 99–355 for a gap varying from 36 to 6 nm. The enhanced FEE of TiC₆₀ thin films can be ascribed to structural variation of C₆₀ in the films and the electrical conducting paths formed by titanium nanocrystallites embedded in C₆₀ matrix.     

Remotely powered addressable UHF RFID integrated system

This paper presents a fully integrated remotely powered and addressable radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder working at 2.45 GHz. The achieved operating range at 4 W effective isotropically radiated power (EIRP) base-station transmit power is 12 m. The integrated circuit (IC) is implemented in a 0.5 /spl mu/m silicon-on-sapphire technology. A state-of-the-art rectifier design achieving 37% of global efficiency is embedded to supply energy to the transponder. The necessary input power to operate the transponder is about 2.7 /spl mu/W. Reader to transponder communication is obtained using on-off keying (OOK) modulation while transponder to reader communication is ensured using the amplitude shift keying (ASK) backscattering modulation technique. Inductive matching between the antenna and the transponder IC is used to further optimize the operating range.     

Video Compression - From Concepts to the H.264/AVC Standard

Over the last one and a half decades, digital video compression technologies have become an integral part of the way we create, communicate, and consume visual information. In this paper, techniques for video compression are reviewed, starting from basic concepts. The rate-distortion performance of modern video compression schemes is the result of an interaction between motion representation techniques, intra-picture prediction techniques, waveform coding of differences, and waveform coding of various refreshed regions. The paper starts with an explanation of the basic concepts of video codec design and then explains how these various features have been integrated into international standards, up to and including the most recent such standard, known as H.264/AVC.