Computationally efficient methods for bit-error rate evaluation inweakly coherent optical systems

A semianalytical method to estimate the bit-error rate performance of nonsynchronous ASK and FSK optical heterodyne systems is presented. This approach takes into account numerous system details with an accuracy similar to Monte-Carlo simulation, but with a computation time reduced by several orders of magnitude. An analytical approximation, based on a closed-form expression for the decision variable moment generating function, is also presented. The results obtained with the semianalytical method and the analytical approximation are compared to Monte-Carlo simulation results and to measurements obtained on a practical FSK system     

A 20-Gb/s silicon bipolar 1:4-demultiplexer IC

This paper presents a 20-Gb/s 1:4-demultiplexer for future fiber-optic transmission systems. It uses an 0.4-μm emitter double polysilicon 21-GHz f_T Si bipolar foundry process. This is the highest data rate of a 1:4-DEMUX reported so far in any technology. The 1:4-DEMUX features a tree-type architecture with one frequency divider and a channel switch circuit. The circuit design was carefully optimized to achieve high speed and moderate power dissipation. It consumes 1.4 W with a single -4.5-V supply     

Ultrahigh and controllable drain current peak-to-valley ratio innegative resistance field-effect transistors with a strained InGaAschannel

Negative resistance field-effect transistor (NERFET) devices using either strained InGaAs or unstrained GaAs channel layers have been fabricated. The strained InGaAs channel NERFET's show strong negative differential resistance and large drain current peak-to-valley ratio. The peak-to-valley ratio of the InGaAs channel NERFET is more than 3000 at room temperature and larger than one million (10⁶) at 77 K. The peak-to-valley ratio is controllable by adjusting the collector voltage     

Large area GaInAsP solar cells grown by gas-source MBE on GaAssubstrates

Large area (1×1 cm²) Ga_0.84In_0.18 As_0.68P_0.32 solar cells with a band-gap of 1.50 eV were grown by gas-source MBE on GaAs substrates. Both n-on-p and p-on-n structures were fabricated and studied. The n-on-p cells showed significantly better total area conversion efficiencies (14.3% at AMO, 1-sun, with 20% of grid obscuration) than p-on-n structures (10.5%, same conditions) due to longer minority carrier lifetimes in the p-type base and heavily doped n-type emitter layers     

Integrated access to heterogeneous data from NCBI

The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) was created by Congress in 1988 to provide a stable government entity with a leadership role in coping with the information issues associated with this field. The NCBI Software Toolkit permits software tools to be developed in a heterogeneous environment. The use of abstract syntax notation (ASN.I) allows one to specify and exchange data across systems, and to reach biologists in whatever system they choose to work. However, the relevant data are still accumulated by different groups with different data models, different quality standards, in different subject domains, and with different time courses. NCBI has designed a data model to define a number of key data elements for molecular biology, including bibliographic data, nucleic acid sequence, protein sequence, genetic and physical maps, and the information about them. The model was constructed in as much detail as possible to accommodate the data contained in the heterogeneous sources, while still maintaining a common model     

Isotherm analyses for single component and multi-component metal sorption onto lignite

The adsorption of the three metal ions, copper, cadmium and zinc in single component and multi-component mixtures in aqueous solutions by lignite is reported. A comparison is made between the single component saturation uptake and the multi-component uptakes. The isotherms indicate a competitive uptake with copper being preferentially absorbed by the lignite in multi-component solutions. The isotherms are plotted to obtain the Langmuir constants, the Freundlich constants and the Redlich–Peterson constants. Lignite is shown to possess an affinity for the metal ions which make its use as an adsorbent a possible alternative to the use of more expensive activated carbons.     

Growth of CuInSe2 by metallorganic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD): new copper precursor

Metallorganic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) of Cu-In-Se ternary compounds is performed in a horizontal reactor at atmospheric pressure. A copper precursor has been specially developed for this purpose and is used around room temperature. It is hexafluoroacetylacetonato copper mixed with trimethylamine (Cu(hfa)₂, NMe₃). The other source materials are triethylindium (TEIn), trimethylindium (TMIn) and hydrogen selenide (H₂Se). Experimental parameters are detailed and related to the film composition. Properties of thin films are also investigated in the whole range of compositions obtained.     

Controlled-Release Matrix of Acetaminophen-Ethylcellulose Solid Dispersion

In this study ethylcellulose was evaluated as a carrier for preparation of prolonged release acetaminophen tablets. Solid dispersions containing three levels of ethylcellulose and acetaminophen (1:3; 1:1; 3:1) were prepared by the solvent method. Also physical mixtures at the same level of ethylcellulose and acetaminophen were prepared. Systems composed of solid dispersion or physical mixture containing the equivalent weight of 50 mg acetaminophen, Lactose fast-flo as diluent and 1% magnesium stearate as lubricant were compressed into tablets and tested for dissolution. The dissolution data showed that the drug release decreased as the level of ethylcellulose increased in the solid dispersion formulations. The drug release from tablets prepared with solid dispersion followed the diffusion controlled model for inert porous matrix, while the drug release from tablets prepared with physical mixture followed the first-order kinetic model.