Towards a generalized TLM algorithm for solving arbitraryreciprocal and nonreciprocal planar structures

A generalized transmission line matrix (TLM) algorithm is developed in the frequency domain to tackle arbitrary both reciprocal and nonreciprocal anisotropic waveguiding problems. In particular, the modeling issue for arbitrary planar structures is stressed in this work. A new three-dimensional (3-D) condensed node is used to consider the effect of both electric and magnetic constitutive tensors. Various results indicate how the modal dispersive behavior can be manipulated by changing not only the anisotropic characteristics of the substrate, but also the strip/slot geometry as well as the magnitude and orientation of the applied static magnetic field. The present algorithm is useful for CAD and simulation of a large class of gyrotropic waveguide-based microwave and millimeter-wave circuits     

An analytical grain-barrier height model and its characterizationfor intrinsic poly-Si thin-film transistor

An analytical model for the grain-barrier height of the intrinsic poly-Si thin-film transistors (TFTs) is developed, in which the grain-barrier height for the applied gate voltage smaller than the threshold voltage is obtained by solving the charge neutrality equation and the grain-barrier height for the applied gate voltage larger than the threshold voltage is obtained by using the quasi-two-dimensional (2-D) method. Good agreements between experimental and simulation results are obtained for a wide gate voltage range     

A microprocessor-based toggle-control lighting system

Analysis, design, practical consideration, and implementation of a microprocessor-based toggle-control lighting system are presented. The system is primarily configured with a power factor corrector (PFC), a square-wave voltage generator, a manually controlled toggle switch, and two relays. Toggling the toggle switch can select a different number of lamps in operation, resulting in a mutual dimming feature. A fluorescent lamp lighting system with this specific ballast gains the merits of lower system cost and more flexibilities in lighting fixture design, as compared to conventional systems     

Transdermal Iontophoretic Delivery of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Across Excised Rabbit Pinna Skin

Enhanced transport of a model peptide drug thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a tripeptide of molar mass 362 g and a pK_a 6.2, through excised rabbit pinna skin was achieved by means of iontophoresis with continuous current or monophase periodically pulsed current. The resulting flux in the steady state was proportional to the applied current density. In the transdermal iontophoretic delivery of TRH, the pulsed iontophoretic flux exceeded that obtained with a continuous current. At a low ionic strength, an increased degree of protonation in TRH increased the rate of permeation. The flux of TRH in a buffer at pH 4 is greater than that at pH 8 when the ionic strength is 0.1 M. At a greater ionic strength, the trend is reversed. The enhanced flux of unprotonated TRH during transdermal iontophoresis is attributed largely to electro-osmotic volume flow. An increased rate of permeation of TRH crossing the skin is achieved at low ionic strength, moderate pH, and a large duly cycle of current; the frequency of pulsed current had no significant influence on the rate of transdermal iontophoretic delivery of TRH.     

The As-prepared surfaces of C-axis-oriented Nd1Ba2Cu3Oy thin films characterized using scanning probe microscopes

Recently, superconducting Nd₁Ba₂Cu₃O_y (Ndl23) thin films with high superconducting transition temperature (T _c) have been successfully fabricated at our institute employing the standard laser ablation method. In this paper, we report the results of surface characterization of the Nd123 thin films using an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope/spectroscopy (UHV-STM/STS) and an atomic force microscope (AFM) system operated in air. Clear spiral pattern is observed on the surfaces of Nd123 thin films by STM and AFM, suggesting that films are formed by two-dimensional island growth mode. Contour plots of the spirals show that the step heights of the spirals are not always the integer or half-integer number of thec-axis parameter of the structure. This implies that the surface natural termination layer of the films may not be unique. This result is supported byI-V STS measurements. The surface morphology of the Nd123 thin films is compared with that of thec-axis-oriented Y₁Ba₂Cu₃S_y thin films. Surface atomic images of the as-prepared Nd123 thin films are obtained employing both STM and AFM. STS measurements show that most of the surfaces are semiconductive. The results of STS measurements together with the fact that we are able to see the surface atomic images using scanning probe microscopes suggest that exposure to air does not cause serious degradation to the as-prepared surfaces of Nd123 thin films.     

Nutrient removal performance of an anaerobic–anoxic–aerobic process as a function of influent C/P ratio

The laboratory scale anaerobic–anoxic–aerobic (A²O) process fed with synthetic brewage wastewater was designed to investigate the effects of changing feed C/P ratio on the performance of biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes. In the experiment, the influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration was kept at approximately 300 mg L^?1 while the total phosphorus concentration was varied to obtain the desired C/P ratio. Results showed that when the C/P ratio was lower than 32, phosphorus removal efficiency increased as C/P ratio increased linearly, while when the C/P ratio was higher than 32, the P removal efficiency was maintained at 90–98%, and effluent P concentration was lower than 0.5 mg L^?1. However, regardless of the C/P ratio, excellent COD removal (90% or higher) and good total nitrogen removal (75–84%) were maintained throughout the experiments. It was also found that very good linear correlation was obtained between COD uptake per unit P released in the anaerobic zone and C/P ratio. In addition, the P content in the wasted activated sludge increased with the decrease in the C/P ratio. Based on the results, it was recommended that the wastewater C/P ratio and its effects be incorporated into BNR design and operational procedures, appropriate C/P ratios were used to achieve the effluent treatment goals. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Modeling Power Supply Noise in Delay Testing

Excessive power supply noise during test can cause overkill. This article discusses two models for supply noise in delay testing and their application to test compaction. The proposed noise models avoid complicated power network analysis, making them much faster than existing power noise analysis tools. can cause performance degradation and