A redundant multivalued logic for a 10-Gb/s CMOS demultiplexer IC

A redundant multivalued logic is proposed for high-speed communication ICs. In this logic, serial binary data are received and converted into parallel redundant multivalued data. Then they are restored into parallel binary data. Because of the multivalued data conversion, this logic makes it possible to achieve higher operating speeds than that of a conventional binary logic. Using this logic, a 1:4 demultiplexer (DEMUX, serial-parallel converter) IC was fabricated using a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The IC achieved an operating speed of 10 Gb/s with a supply voltage of only 1.3 V and with power consumption of 38 mW. This logic may achieve CMOS communication ICs with an operating speed several times greater than 10 Gb/s.     

Oxidation of doped europium in BaMgAl10O17 by annealing studied by x‐ray‐absorption fine‐structure measurements

Abstract— We studied the influence of annealing in air on doped europium in BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇ by performing x‐ray absorption fine‐structure measurements. We determined the oxidation of doped divalent europium by annealing in air at over 500°C. The interatomic distance between the europium and the surrounding oxygen atoms was compressed by oxidation. It also appears that the oxidation process of europium is determined by the diffusion of oxygen into BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇.     

Mechanical properties of SiNxCx ceramic films prepared by plasma CVD

The mechanical properties of Si₃N₄-SiC, SiN_x and SiC_y films prepared at a low temperature of 400 °C by plasma chemical vapour deposition are reported. Microhardness, internal stress of the film and adhesive strength between the film and glass or stainless steel substrate were evaluated as principal mechanical properties. Microhardness was measured to be about 10 to 20 G Pa dependent on the film composition in each system. Internal stress of the films on borosilicate glass substrates extensively varied from tensile to compressive with the film composition change from Si₃N₄ to SiC. Adhesive strength, as ascertained by the scratch test, was about 580 to 800 MPa for crown glass substrates, and about 210 to 310 M Pa for 316 stainless steel substrates. It is pointed out that tensile stress in these films brought about more abrupt decreases of the adhesive strength than did compressive stress.     

Comfort limits for asymmetric thermal radiation

Groups of 32 and 16 subjects of both sexes were exposed in an environmental chamber to radiant asymmetry caused by a cool wall, a warm wall, and a cool ceiling. Each subject was tested individually while seated and clothed at 0.6 clo. During each 3.5-hour experiment the subject was exposed to six radiant temperature asymmetries. He was asked whether and where he experienced any local cool or warm sensation, and whether it was felt to be uncomfortable. During the entire experiment he was kept thermally neutral by changing the air temperature according to his wishes.For cool walls, warm walls, and cool ceilings curves have been established showing the percentage of dissatisfied subjects as a function of the radiant asymmetry. Radiant asymmetry at a warm wall caused less discomfort than a cool wall. A cool ceiling caused less discomfort than a warm ceiling. Accepting that 5% of the subjects may feel uncomfortable. a radiant temperature asymmetry of 10°C is allowable at a cool wall, 23°C at a warm wall, and 14°C under a cool ceiling. A previous study showed that 4°C is allowable under a warm ceiling. Radiant asymmetry had no significant impact on the operative temperatures preferred by the subjects. No significant differences were observed between the responses of men and women exposed to radiant asymmetry.     

A flow simulation for the epoxy casting process using a 3D finite‐element method

A three‐dimensional flow simulation for epoxy casting has been developed. A control‐volume‐based finite‐element method is employed, containing a conservative upwind formulation for the advection terms and equal order interpolations for all variables. This simulation predicts the non‐isothermal and reactive flow behavior under the gravity. The viscosity and reaction‐rate parameters were estimated by using a dynamic rheometer and a differential scanning calorimeter. The predicted flow front advancement and temperature profiles in the calculation domain similar to the mold cavity were in close agreement with the corresponding experimental results. The variation of epoxy surface configuration with flow rate also showed the same tendency between the prediction and the experiment. This simulation seems to be applicable not only to the epoxy casting, but also to other molding processes of various thermoset resins. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 45:364–374, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Practical method for generation expansion planning based on dynamic programming

This paper presents an efficient method which provides the optimal generation mix and the optimal generation construction process. The approximation method in which the dynamic programming technique and gradient method are combined is applied to determine the optimal generation mix with hydropower generation technologies. The successive approximations dynamic programming (SADP) technique, which is very suitable for high-dimensional multistage decision process problems, is used for obtaining the optimal generation construction process. The effectiveness and feasibility of the developed technique are demonstrated on a practical power system model which has five types of generation technologies including a hydropower generation technology.     

Two geometrical isomers of linoleic acid: Improved total syntheses

The total syntheses of 9(Z),12(E)- and 9(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acids have been carried out. A useful intermediate in both syntheses, 8-bromo-octanoic acid, recently has become available from commercial sources. This compound has been used to expedite the preparation of these isomers. The remaining carbon atoms were derived from propargyl alcohol along with either 1-heptyne or acetylene and 1-bromopentane. Because the overall yield for each sequence was roughly 15% and there were no extraordinary reaction conditions in any of the synthetic steps, the compounds could be prepared readily in multiple gram quantities. The syntheses of the two compounds were supported by data from a variety of spectroscopic techniques.     

A case of macrocystic cervical neurinoma diagnosed by MRI with Gd-DTPA

The authors report a rare case of a large cystic cervical neurinoma. A 45-year-old female was admitted to our clinic because of motor weakness of the right upper extremity, numbness of the right fingers and right posterior cervical pain. Metrizamide CT myelography demonstrated the outline of a low density mass. MRI showed a mass revealing low signal intensity on T1-weighted image, high signal intensity on T2-weighted image and marginal enhancement on contrast image with Gd-DTPA. The mass which was diagnosed as cystic tumor, was located in the intradural extramedullary space between C4 to C5 segments. After C4 through C5 laminectomy, the tumor was found to originate from the C5 anterior motor root. The tumor consisted mostly of a cystic part with a very thin solid compartment beneath the capsule. Postoperative course of the patient was uneventful. Although spinal neurinoma is one of the most common spinal tumors, an almost completely degenerated large cystic spinal neurinoma is extremely rare. MRI with Gd-DTPA was useful for the diagnosis of the cystic neurinoma by clearly enhancing the margin of the tumor.     

Effects of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mediator production from monocytes in vitro

M-CSF is a macrophage-lineage-specific growth factor that causes proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells in the bone marrow. To investigate the effects of M-CSF on more matured cells, human monocytes were cultured in the presence or absence of M-CSF for 6 days. Addition of M-CSF at more than 10(2) U/ml resulted in higher viability and caused morphological differentiation to large macrophage-like cells. LPS-induced mediator production was also compared between M-CSF-treated and control cell. Monocytes were incubated with or without M-CSF for 3 days, and were stimulated with 1 microgram/ml of LPS for 2 days. IL-1 beta was not detected in the both culture supernatants, and PGE2 production was not influenced by M-CSF. However, amounts of G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-6, and TNF-alpha produced in response to 1 microgram/ml of LPS were 1.5 to 2 times greater from monocytes treated with 10(4) U/ml of M-CSF than from control cells. The priming effect of M-CSF on LPS-induced cytokine production was found to require 3-day preincubation, and reached a maximum at the concentration of 10(4) U/ml. M-CSF-treated cells responded to a 10 times lower concentration of LPS than control cells in terms of cytokine production. M-CSF was also shown by flowcytometric analysis to influence the expression of CD14, a receptor for LPS, which might render monocytes more sensitive to LPS.     

Distribution of higher-order structures in injection-molded polypropylenes

Flexural test specimens were injection-molded from six homoisotactic polypropylenes with MFI = 0.49-25.1 dg/min under cylinder temperatures of 200-320°C. Distributions in the flow direction of higher-order structures such as crystallinity X_c, thickness of skin layer, a*-axis-oriented component fraction [A*], and crystalline orientation functions and distributions in the thickness direction of higher-order structures such as X_c, β-crystal contents, [A*], and crystalline orientation functions were studied. These higher-order structures are inhomogeneous in the flow and thickness directions, which strongly influences the product properties such as mechanical and thermal properties. Molecular orientation process in injection molding was theoretically analyzed from a viewpoint of growth of recoverable shear strain at the gate and its relaxation in the cavity, which could considerably well explain the variations in the flow and thickness directions of the quantities such as thickness of the skin layer and crystalline orientation functions which express the degree of molecular orientation.