Use of a neural network to link AFM etch patterns to plasma parameters

Plasmas play a critical role in depositing thin films or etching fine patterns while manufacturing integrated circuits. A new model for plasma diagnosis is presented. This was accomplished by linking atomic force microscopy (AFM) to plasma parameters using a neural network. Experimental AFM data were collected during the etching of silicon oxynitride films in C₂F₆ inductively coupled plasma. Surface roughness of etched patterns was characterized by means of discrete wavelet transformation. This led to the construction of three vertical (type I), diagonal (type II), and horizontal (type III) wavelet coefficient-based models. The performance of diagnosis models was evaluated in terms of the prediction and recognition accuracies. Both accuracies were optimized as a function of the number of hidden neurons. Comparisons revealed that the type I model yielded the largest recognition and the smallest prediction error. This was demonstrated even under stricter monitoring conditions. More improved diagnosis is expected by enhancing AFM resolution.     

Strategic appraisal of energy models for Mozambique

The needs that an energy supply system must meet are constantly changing, due to technological, social and political reasons. Effective energy planning is a dynamic process that is repeated periodically and adjusts to changing conditions. Energy decision makers and planners are no longer able to rely on inductive decision making since they have to investigate the effect of various decision parameters and possible future changes. To help in this process, models have been developed where estimates of future load growth, candidate power plants, fuels and other key factors can be introduced, from which the planners can evaluate decision parameters and the available alternatives. The paper presents the different methodologies and practices that are used by 11 energy models for energy demand forecasting, supply side management and generation expansion planning, demand side management and integrated resource planning. The paper concludes to the presentation of a strategic appraisal of the examined energy models appropriate for energy planning in Mozambique. Three models are proposed for conducting demand forecasting, generation expansion planning and demand side management. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The value of certification: an empirical assessment of the perceptions of end-users of local area networks

Abstract. Certification is one criterion that employers seek when hiring network professionals. Many employers assume a certified network professional is better able to manage networked resources than is a non-certified counterpart. Therefore, employers often offer a monetary premium to attract certified network professionals. By measuring end-user perceptions, the current study empirically assesses the popular industry assumption that certified network professionals are more adept managers of network resources than those individuals who are not certified network professionals. Analyses of a data derived from 299 end-users of 11 separate local area networks indicate no statistically significant difference exists between the capabilities of certified network professionals and non-certified network professionals.     

奥里油在电力工业的应用及环保处理

委内瑞拉富藏奥里油约469亿t，中国政府与委内瑞拉政府签订了合作生产和供应每年650万t奥里油的合作协议。介绍了奥里油的特性和在全球以及中国的应用情况，分析了奥里油燃烧发电带来的特殊的环保问题和处理方法。     

Cognitive Operations in the Generation Effect on a Recall Test: Role of Aging and Divided Attention.

Generation effect (generated words are better memorized than read words) of anagrams, rhymes, and associates of target words was examined in young, elderly, and very old subjects. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that only young subjects benefit from the generation effect in a free-recall test when the rule is of a phonological nature. Experiments 3, 4, and 5 showed that the generation effect of rhymes was due to a resources-dependent self-initiated process. Experiments 4 and 5 showed that in a divided-attention situation, generation effect of rhymes is not significant in young subjects, but that the generation effect of semantic associates remains significant for both groups (Experiment 5). The results are discussed within the environmental support framework and the transfer-appropriate processing framework. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

EPON媒体接入控制的关键技术研究

文章简要介绍了基于以及太网的无源光网络（EPON）这种新型的接入网技术，将其与基于ATM技术的无源光网络（APON）的优缺点进行了比较，并对其媒体接入控制（MAC）的关键技术测距及上行接入进行了讨论，初步提出了光网络单元（ONU）的软、硬件实现方案。     

光纤接入网步入快速发展期

光纤接入一直是多年来人们不断追求的梦想和探索的技术方向，但由于成本、技术、需求等方面的障碍，至今还没有得到大规模推广与发展。然而，这种局面最近有了很大的改观，出现可迅速发展的势头。主要是因为一些国家政策的扶持、运营商竞争的需要、对收入的追求，以及设备本身价格的下降，光纤接入技术由于各种原因，至今尚未在全球广泛应用，但在日本、美国、瑞典和意大利等国都获得了较多的应用。在中国，光纤接入也有了良好的开端，将在大城市广泛应用，并逐渐推广到全国。     

Layered Video and Differentiated Coding for Adaptive QoS in Mixed Wired-Satellite Networks

Mobile networks are becoming nothing but a way to allow ubiquitous access to multimedia services. To allow efficient use of resources, new systems provide flexible bandwidth and different error protection techniques to match channel behavior. As the backbone network is increasingly becoming based on packet techniques and in particular on IP and related transport protocols, end to end service quality must be analyzed considering both the fixed and the mobile part. Source scalability may help in coping with a mixed and heterogeneous environment. In this work we present some results of a transmission chain comprising a scalable MPEG-2 coder, an IP network and a radio access exploiting the availability of satellites. It is shown that for a given target rate, differentiated coding can be exploited to achieve decodability and good quality at a channel SNR much lower that single layer streams. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Role of Network Topologies in the Optical Core of IP-over-WDM Networks with Static Wavelength Routing

In this paper, we present a performance analysis of network topologies for the optical core of IP-over-WDM networks with static wavelength routing. The performance analysis is focused on regular degree four topologies, and, for comparison purposes, degree three topologies are also considered. It is shown that the increase of the nodal degree from three (degree three topology with smallest diameter) to four (degree four topology with smallest diameter) improves the network performance if a larger number of wavelengths per link is available. However, the influence of wavelength interchange on the nodal degree gain is small. The performance of regular degree four topologies with smallest diameter is also compared with the performance of mesh–torus topologies (which are also degree four topologies), and it is shown that the blocking probability of degree four topologies with smallest diameter is about two orders of magnitude lower than the blocking probability of mesh–torus topologies. It is also presented a performance comparison of WDM-based networks with nodal degrees ranging from two to five and it is shown that the increase of the nodal degree from two to three leads to high nodal degree gains, while de increase of the nodal degree from four to five leads to low nodal degree gains. These results show that degree three and degree four topologies are very attractive for use in the optical core of IP-over-WDM networks.