A new high performance phase shifter using BaxSr1-xTiO3 thin films

In this paper, a new device topology has been proposed to implement parallel plate capacitors using Ba_xSr_1-xTiO₃ (BST) thin films. The device layout utilizes a single parallel capacitor and minimizes conductor losses in the base electrode. The new design simplifies the monolithic process and overcomes the problems associated with electrode patterning. An X-band 180° phase shifter has been implemented using the new device design. The circuit provided 240° phase shift with an insertion loss of only 3 dB at 10 GHz at room temperature. We have shown a figure of merit 93°/dB at 6.3 GHz and 87°/dB at 8.5 GHz. To our knowledge, these are the best figure of merit results reported in the literature for distributed phase shifters implemented using BST films at room temperature     

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer science data system, its products, tools, and performance

Ground processing of data from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument, part of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS), exploits new and unique science algorithms not previously used operationally. A range of data products from Level 1 through Level 3 is being produced. Because of MISR's unprecedented design, extensive prototyping was required from a relatively early stage. The data throughput is large, necessitating an innovative software design approach that maximizes performance. The systematic science processing software was developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with data processing occurring at the NASA Langley Research Center using the EOS Core System, a collaborative arrangement that works well. With the availability of actual mission data following launch on the Terra spacecraft in December 1999, MISR's computational needs have become better known, and many improvements have been made to both the science software and the production system to achieve a successful overall data processing capability. This paper provides information about MISR data for the science user, and describes the nature and scope of implementation and operations activities.     

Electric Properties of Semiconductor Nanopillars

We studied the electrical transport through epitaxial, 8 nm long and about 100 nm diameter, GaAs pillars. They are fabricated with molecular beam epitaxy using a self-assembling method called local droplet etching. The nanopillars are embedded in an AlGaAs tunneling barrier between two epitaxial GaAs layers. Because of the epitaxial growth, the pillars are connected to these GaAs layers without additional interfaces. They thus can be considered as electronic point contacts between three-dimensional electron reservoirs. Voltage-current characteristics of the structures feature a characteristic asymmetry that is not observed in reference samples. Furthermore, the behavior of the resistance in magnetic fields applied parallel and perpendicular to the current direction is compared for samples with and without pillars. Clear differences are found that are associated with current-carrying states in the pillars.     

Effects of genotype and harvest year on content and composition of dietary fibre in rye (Secale cereale L) grain

The aim of this study was to measure the variation in dietary fibre (DF) content and composition among different rye varieties grown in the same location in three successive years and to estimate the contributions of genotype and harvest year to this variation. The study included grain from 19 different varieties of rye, of which seven varieties were analysed in all three years. The content of total DF in all samples ranged from 147 to 209 g kg^?1 dry matter (dm), with 34–66 g kg^?1 being water‐extractable (WE) DF and 108–159 g kg^?1 being water‐unextractable (WUE) DF. The main DF component was arabinoxylan (AX) with a content of 80–121 g kg^?1 dm, of which 26–41 g kg^?1 dm was WE AX. The ratio of arabinose to xylose (ara/xyl) of total AX ranged from 0.59 to 0.69. The content of β‐glucan was 13–22 g kg^?1 dm and that of fructan was 45–64 g kg^?1 dm. Analysis of the data from seven varieties and three harvest years showed a highly significant influence of harvest year on most DF components. Significant genotype effects were found for the contents of total DF, total AX, β‐glucan and fructan and for the ara/xyl ratio of total and WUE AX. Estimation of variance components showed that yearly variations in the contents of total DF, total AX, WUE DF, WUE AX and β‐glucan were generally higher (27–55% of total variance) than genotype effects (14–19%). The ara/xyl ratio of total and WUE AX showed a high influence of genotype (46 and 43% respectively). Non‐adapted rye varieties with small kernel size had the highest contents of total DF and total AX. The content of β‐glucan was positively correlated with kernel weight (r = 0.68), whereas no overall correlation was found between kernel size and the content of DF. As a conclusion, the variation in DF content and composition in this study was significantly influenced by both harvest year and rye genotype. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparison of candicidin, levorin and trichomycin by means of high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of individual components of polyene macrolide antibiotics has been developed. The three heptaene macrolide antibiotics, candicidin, levorin and trichomycin, have been investigated and compared. In all instances these compounds proved to be complex mixtures. It is demonstrated that candicidin and levorin are identical, whereas trichomycin differs in composition from these two substances.     

Detection and estimation of azomethane in expired air of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-treated rats

Azomethane (AM) gas was identified as a major metabolite of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (1,2-DMH) in the expired air of F344 rats. The compound was characterized by high-pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry, in comparison to a synthetic standard. At a dose of 21 mg 1,2-DMH/kg sc, approximately 14 and 11% of the dose were exhaled as AM and CO2, respectively, in 24 hours. At 200 mg 1,2-DMH/kg, 23 and 4% of the dose appeared as AM and CO2, respectively, in the respired air within the same period. Most AM was seen in the first 6 hours, but the CO2 evolution was more progressive, especially after the higher dose of 1,2-DMH.     

Survey of impaired drivers, fatally injured or surviving, who caused fatal highway accidents in Alberta in 1970-72

In 1970-72, 456 (53.4%) of 854 drivers responsible for a motor vehicle accident in which either they or other persons were killed had been drinking beforehand. Of surviving culpable drivers tested for blood alcohol concentration 81.7% were found to be legally impaired; however, only 24.8% of these drivers were tested. Because surviving culpable drivers pose a possible future hazard to highway safety it is important that data on this group be collected and analysed.     

Intellectual deficits after transient tyrosinemia in the term neonate

An analysis was made of the obstetric history of 1,360 patients who were delivered in 1971. It involved 3,185 pregnancies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of spontaneous termination of the pregnancy, worked out from its demographic aspect. Several ideas are worthy of consideration. The risk of spontaneous intra-uterine death is cumulative, sharply increased by a repetition of such cessation of pregnancy. The same patients often undergo intentional abortion repeatedly. The respective risks of spontaneous and provoked interruption of pregnancy have been studied in greater detail as a function of parity.