Nodal-based finite-element modeling of Maxwell's equations

Weak forms are derived for Maxwell's equations which are suitable for implementation on conventional C⁰ elements with scalar bases. The governing equations are expressed in terms of general vector and scalar potentials for the electric field intensity vector. Gauge theory is invoked to close the system and dictates the continuity requirements for the potentials at material interfaces as well as the blend of boundary conditions at exterior boundaries. Two specific gauges are presented, both of which lead to Helmholtz weak forms which are parasite-free and enjoy simple, physically meaningful boundary conditions. A general and numerically efficient procedure for enforcing the jump discontinuities on the normal components of vector fields at dielectric interfaces and boundary conditions on curved surfaces is also given     

Iterative joint source–channel decoding of H.264 compressed video

This paper proposes an Iterative Joint Source–Channel Decoding (IJSCD) scheme for error resilient transmission of H.264 compressed video over noisy channels by using the available H.264 compression, e.g., Context-based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC), and channel coding, i.e., rate-1/2 Recursive Systematic Convolutional (RSC) code, in transmission. At the receiver, the turbo decoding concept is explored to develop a joint source–channel decoding structure using a soft-in soft-out channel decoder in conjunction with the source decoding functions, e.g., CABAC-based H.264 semantic verification, in an iterative manner. Illustrative designs of the proposed IJSCD scheme for an Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel, including the derivations of key parameters for soft information are discussed. The performance of the proposed IJSCD scheme is shown for several video sequences. In the examples, for the same desired Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), the proposed IJSCD scheme offers a savings of up to 2.1 dB in required channel Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) as compared to a system using the same RSC code alone. The complexity of the proposed scheme is also evaluated. As the number of iterations is controllable, a tradeoff can be made between performance improvement and the overall complexity.     

Low-Power Constant-Coefficient Multiplier Generator

Constant-coefficient multipliers are used in many DSP cores. A new low-power constant multiplier, with detailed design procedure, is presented. By using canonical sign-digit (CSD) number system, and introducing new simplification techniques and identities, the multiplier features a new algorithm to reduce logic depth for the Wallace-tree implementation. The method also reduces area and complexity.A generator written in C++ is used to generate technology-independent VHDL code of the constant multiplier for different input specifications. Synthesis results indicate the new design has smaller area and less power consumption while offering similar speed performance when compared with other multipliers.     

14-bit 2.2-MS/s sigma-delta ADC's

This paper presents the design and test results of a fourth-order and sixth-order 14-bit 2.2-MS/s sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The analog modulator and digital decimator sections were implemented in a 0.35 μm CMOS double-poly triple-level metal 3.3-V process. The design objective for these ADC's was to achieve 85 dB signal-to-noise distortion ratio (SNDR) with less than 200 mW power dissipation. Both modulators employ a cascade sigma-delta topology. The fourth-order modulator consists of two cascaded second-order stages which include 1-bit and 5-bit quantizers, respectively. The sixth-order modulator has a 2-2-2 cascade structure and 1-bit quantizer at the end of each stage. An oversampling ratio of 24 was selected to give the best SNDR and power consumption with realizable gain-matching requirements between the analog and digital sections     

Self-pulsation dynamics in narrow stripe semiconductor lasers

In this paper, we address the physical origin of self-pulsation in narrow stripe edge emitting semiconductor lasers. We present both experimental time-averaged polarization-resolved near-field measurements performed with a charged-coupled device camera and picosecond time resolved near-field measurements performed with a streak camera. These results demonstrate dynamic spatial-hole burning during pulse formation and evolution. We conclude from these experimental results that the dominant process which drives the self-pulsation in this type of laser diode is carrier induced effective refractive index change induced by the spatial-hole burning.     

Neuropeptide Y attenuates satiety: evidence from a detailed analysis of patterns ingestion

Centrally injected neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a potent stimulant of ingestive behavior capable of augmenting both food and fluid intake in fully satiated animals. To gain further insight into NPY's mechanism of action, we recorded patterns of licking behavior in rats drinking sweetened condensed milk solutions immediately after lateral ventricular injection of NPY (10 micrograms) or vehicle. In a separate study, we examined licking patterns after 23 h food deprivation (FD) that produced approximately the same total intake as NPY. Consistent with previous reports, we found NPY stimulated intake by increasing total ingestion time and total volume consumed during a 1-h test. Although NPY increased the number of bouts of licking and shortened pauses between bouts, it also decreased mean bout size, bout duration and within-bout lick rate (local rate). It had no significant effect on start latency or lick efficiency (licks/ml). Further analyses revealed that NPY attenuated satiety (reduced slope of lick-rate functions with session time) but had no significant effect on the beginning lick rate, a measure related to orosensory excitation. In contrast to NPY, FD increased both the beginning lick rate and individual bout size without changing either the mean number of bouts or the pause between bouts. In general, NPY stimulated an intermittent pattern of licking and delayed satiation whereas FD increased the initial rate of licking and the size of individual bouts without changing the basic licking pattern. The increase in initial lick rate suggests that FD, unlike NPY, enhances orosensory stimulation. These data compliment previous results showing that NPY increases the motivation to eat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)