Methods of Testing Discrete Semiconductors in the 1149.4 Environment

This paper describes measurement methods for testing discrete semiconductors in the environment defined by the IEEE 1149.4 standard for a mixed-signal bus. First, the paper introduces and illustrates measurement procedures for obtaining such essential electrical parameters of diodes and transistors as can be used for testing and identification. Then, the procedures are carried out and the achieved measurement results presented. To demonstrate the usability of the measurement procedures, the paper then presents test methods and measurement results for discrete component blocks. The results indicate that testing and measuring some of the electrical parameters of discrete semiconductors is possible in the 1149.4 environment. These parameters allow the determination of whether the component under test is working properly or not. Our tests only covered the semiconductors’ DC features, disregarding their AC features. Also discussed are limitations of the 1149.4 environment in discrete semiconductor testing.

High-level parameterizable area estimation modeling for ASIC designs

Architectural design space exploration and early area budgeting for ASIC and IP block development require accurate high level gate count estimation methods without requiring the hardware being fully specified. The proposed method uses hierarchical and parameterizable models requiring minimal amount of information about the implementation technology to meet this goal. The modeling process flow is to: (1) create a block diagram of the design, (2) create a model for each block, and (3) sum up estimates of all sub-blocks by supplying the correct parameters to each sub-model. We discuss the model creation for a few parameterized library blocks as well as three communication blocks and a processor core from real IC projects ranging from 22 to 250 kgates. The average relative estimation error of the proposed method for the library blocks is 3.2% and for the real world examples 4.0%. The best application of this method is early in the design phase when different implementation architectures are compared.     

X-ray microbeam transmission/fluorescence method for non-destructive characterization of tungsten coated carbon materials

Tungsten erosion, its subsequent transport and redeposition are of great interest, because a full tungsten divertor is foreseen to be used during the deuterium–tritium operational phase of ITER. The erosion of tungsten and carbon marker layers was extensively studied in the outer divertor of ASDEX Upgrade (AUG), and work is currently in progress to completely replace the existing JET CFC tiles with tungsten-coated tiles within the JET ITER-like wall project. The need for fast and non-destructive method which allows the quantitative determination of the thickness of a tungsten coating on a carbon material on large areas led us to evaluate a combined absorption/fluorescence X-ray (XRTF) technique. The method can provide fast analysis, high spatial resolution and a material selective detection of deposited layers and inclusions. It was applied on W coated fine grain graphite (FGG) tiles from AUG's divertor. It is proved that the method is able to provide information about the uniformity of the tungsten coating on a graphite or CFC substrate whilst the technique can be used to determine the thickness of the tungsten and other marker materials coatings. It represents a unique instrument for the post-mortem analysis of the coatings.     

Stereochemical and steric control of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase-catalyzed conjugation reaction: a rational approach for the design of inhibitors for the human UGT2B7

A set of 76 derivatives of the epimeric tricyclic sesquiterpenols longifolol and isolongifolol was subjected to inhibition and glucuronidation assays employing the human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7. Detailed structure-activity relationships (SARs) with respect to functionality, stereochemical properties, and steric features were derived. To gain further insight into the SARs of UGT2B7 ligands herein, we have developed a 3D-quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) using Comparative Molecular Similarity Analysis (CoMSIA). The formation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex was predominantly controlled by spatially directed hydrophobic interactions. The glucuronidation rate was significantly influenced by the steric demand of substituents in proximity of the nucleophilic hydroxy group. The glucuronidation of the compounds was prevented by the introduction of bulky substituents such as isopropyl, tert-butyl, and phenyl groups. The epimeric longifolol derivatives of series D were the best inhibitors displaying IC(50) values as low as 4.6 nM. This study shows that high-potency substrates can be turned into potent inhibitors by addressing functional, stereochemical, and steric properties.     

Potent inhibitors of the human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B7 derived from the sesquiterpenoid alcohol longifolol

The tricyclic sesquiterpenol (+)-longifolol served as a lead structure for the design of inhibitors of the human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7. Twenty-four homochiral and epimeric longifolol derivatives were synthesized and screened for their ability to inhibit the enzyme. The absolute configuration at the stereogenic center C1' was determined by X-ray crystallography and 2D NMR spectroscopy (gHSQC, gNOESY). The phenyl-substituted secondary alcohol 16 b (beta-phenyllongifolol) displayed the highest affinity toward UGT2B7, and its inhibitory dissociation constant was 0.91 nM. The mode of inhibition was rapidly reversible and competitive. The inhibitor was not glucuronidated by UGT2B7 or other hepatic UGTs, presumably as a result of the high steric demand exerted by the phenyl group. Inhibition assays employing 14 other UGT isoforms suggested that inhibitor 16 b was highly selective for UGT2B7.     

Direct computation of critical equilibrium states for spatial beams and frames

In this paper, explicit formulas for second order derivatives of the residual vector with respect to the state variables for a geometrically exact 3D beam element based on the Reissner's model are presented. These derivatives are required when a direct non‐linear stability eigenvalue problem is solved by the Newton's method. If the external load is parametrized by a single parameter, such an eigenvalue problem consists of solving the critical state variables, the eigenmode, and the critical load parameter from the equation system consisting of the equilibrium equations, the criticality condition, and some auxiliary conditions depending on the type of a critical point. Copyright ©2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A super-oscillatory lens optical microscope for subwavelength imaging

The past decade has seen an intensive effort to achieve optical imaging resolution beyond the diffraction limit. Apart from the Pendry-Veselago negative index superlens, implementation of which in optics faces challenges of losses and as yet unattainable fabrication finesse, other super-resolution approaches necessitate the lens either to be in the near proximity of the object or manufactured on it, or work only for a narrow class of samples, such as intensely luminescent or sparse objects. Here we report a new super-resolution microscope for optical imaging that beats the diffraction limit of conventional instruments and the recently demonstrated near-field optical superlens and hyperlens. This non-invasive subwavelength imaging paradigm uses a binary amplitude mask for direct focusing of laser light into a subwavelength spot in the post-evanescent field by precisely tailoring the interference of a large number of beams diffracted from a nanostructured mask. The new technology, which--in principle--has no physical limits on resolution, could be universally used for imaging at any wavelength and does not depend on the luminescence of the object, which can be tens of micrometres away from the mask. It has been implemented as a straightforward modification of a conventional microscope showing resolution better than λ/6.     

Design of non-paraxial array illuminators by step-transition perturbation approach

Abstract

We introduce an efficient Fourier-domain formulation of an approximate method to model non-paraxial diffractive elements. The method is based on evaluation of local field perturbations caused by abrupt surface-profile transitions. It facilitates fast parametric optimization of binary and four-level diffractive array illuminators in the non-paraxial domain of diffractive optics. Comparison with rigorous electromagnetic theory of gratings shows that optimization with the perturbation method gives accurate results if the smallest feature size in the surface profile is larger than one wavelength. Some binary designs are demonstrated using electron beam lithography.     

Fusion technology activities at JET: Latest results

The JET Task Force Fusion Technology (TF-FT) was launched in 2000 to use the unique capabilities, facilities and operating experience at JET to provide significant contributions to the research programme on both JET and ITER. This paper presents the most recent results obtained within the JET TF-FT programme.The Tritium (T) retention measurements have confirmed high surface but little bulk T concentrations on the MKII-SRP divertor tiles and T thermal desorption tests confirmed the necessity to reach at least 600 °C. From the 2007 shutdown the MKII-HD (more ITER like) divertor has revealed some slight changes in the nature of the erosion/deposition. In order to improve analysis, time resolution devices such as quartz micro-balances and rotating collectors have been located beneath the divertor for deposition and plasma physics correlations. Due to improvement of dedicated models and technologies, in situ laser techniques for detritiation and characterisation/removal have provided encouraging results on quantitative characteristics (composition, thickness, adherence, temperature) of deposited films on plasma facing components. A particular effort on temperature control of the new metallic ITER-like wall (ILW) that is presently being installed in JET has been pursued with active laser infrared thermography. JET TF-FT also contributes to the operator strategy to comply with the safety agency requirements for T management. Recent results on two major topics purification of tritiated water and development of the ³He method for the determination of the T concentration in waste drums are presented. Finally, this paper also presents some activities in preparation of the ILW for the pre-characterisation of marker tiles and the refurbishment of diagnostics for deposition characterisation.