A Low-Power 114-GHz Push–Push CMOS VCO Using LC Source Degeneration

An LC source-degeneration negative-resistance cell of an LC VCO is investigated, which is capable of operating at millimeter-wave (MMW) range with low dc power consumption. Several negative-resistance cells in LC oscillators are also compared. The LC source-degenerated topology is demonstrated through a 114-GHz push-push fully integrated LC VCO implemented in TSMC 0.13-mum CMOS process. With core power consumption of 8.4 mW, the tuning range at the fundamental port is 56.4-57.6 GHz and at the push-push port is 112.8-115.2 GHz. The measured phase noise at the fundamental port is -13.6 dBc/Hz at 10-MHz offset. This VCO is believed to have the best figure of merit among MMW VCOs using bulk CMOS processes.     

Bidirectionality and Compartmentation of Metabolic Fluxes Are Revealed in the Dynamics of Isotopomer Networks

Isotope labeling is one of the few methods of revealing the in vivo bidirectionality and compartmentalization of metabolic fluxes within metabolic networks. We argue that a shift from steady state to dynamic isotopomer analysis is required to deal with these cellular complexities and provide a review of dynamic studies of compartmentalized energy fluxes in eukaryotic cells including cardiac muscle, plants, and astrocytes. Knowledge of complex metabolic behaviour on a molecular level is prerequisite for the intelligent design of genetically modified organisms able to realize their potential of revolutionizing food, energy, and pharmaceutical production. We describe techniques to explore the bidirectionality and compartmentalization of metabolic fluxes using information contained in the isotopic transient, and discuss the integration of kinetic models with MFA. The flux parameters of an example metabolic network were optimized to examine the compartmentalization of metabolites and and the bidirectionality of fluxes in the TCA cycle of Saccharomyces uvarum for steady-state respiratory growth.     

Circuit model for the GaAs m.e.s.f.e.t. valid to 12 GHz

A new equivalent circuit is given for the GaAs m.e.s.f.e.t., which includes resistive loss in the feed back elements. The circuit values are given for several 1 ?m-gate GaAs m.e.s.f.e.t.s. A method for fitting s12 to the measured data is described. Finally, the gain and stability factor of several GaAs m.e.s.f.e.t.s. are extrapolated to 24 GHz from the present model.     

Application of regularized Richardson-Lucy algorithm for deconvolution of confocal microscopy images

Although confocal microscopes have considerably smaller contribution of out-of-focus light than widefield microscopes, the confocal images can still be enhanced mathematically if the optical and data acquisition effects are accounted for. For that, several deconvolution algorithms have been proposed. As a practical solution, maximum-likelihood algorithms with regularization have been used. However, the choice of regularization parameters is often unknown although it has considerable effect on the result of deconvolution process. The aims of this work were: to find good estimates of deconvolution parameters; and to develop an open source software package that would allow testing different deconvolution algorithms and that would be easy to use in practice. Here, Richardson-Lucy algorithm has been implemented together with the total variation regularization in an open source software package IOCBio Microscope. The influence of total variation regularization on deconvolution process is determined by one parameter. We derived a formula to estimate this regularization parameter automatically from the images as the algorithm progresses. To assess the effectiveness of this algorithm, synthetic images were composed on the basis of confocal images of rat cardiomyocytes. From the analysis of deconvolved results, we have determined under which conditions our estimation of total variation regularization parameter gives good results. The estimated total variation regularization parameter can be monitored during deconvolution process and used as a stopping criterion. An inverse relation between the optimal regularization parameter and the peak signal-to-noise ratio of an image is shown. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the developed software by deconvolving images of rat cardiomyocytes with stained mitochondria and sarcolemma obtained by confocal and widefield microscopes.     

A tough noncombustible material prepared by grafting of poly(2‐ethylhexyl acrylate) with vinyl chloride

A noncombustible tough poly(vinyl chloride) (tPVC) was prepared by suspension‐grafted copolymerization of poly(2‐ethylhexyl acrylate) (poly‐EHA; elastomer) with vinyl chloride (VC). Elastomer (poly‐EHA) was prepared by emulsion, mainly homopolymerization of 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate at a temperature of 30 ± 0.1°C in the presence of a redox system and with the advantage of dosing the monomer into two portions. Grafted‐suspension copolymerization of poly‐EHA with VC was carried out at 54 ± 0.1°C, keeping other reaction conditions only slightly modified in comparison with those for the polymerization of pure VC. An optimum content of the incorporated poly‐EHA in PVC was found to be in the range 7.5–8.5 wt %, whereas notched toughness of 85–87 kJ m^?2 was reached. Both below and above the found range of the content of poly‐EHA, the toughness decreases. A copolymer prepared by a direct‐emulsion copolymerization of 2‐EHA and VC (poly‐EHA‐co‐VC) exhibited worse mechanical properties than the copolymer prepared by two polymerization steps. On the basis of experimental results, effects of the reaction procedure on the properties of resulting material are described. In addition to good mechanical properties, tPVC also shows its noncombustibly. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2355–2362, 2002     

Exact analysis of maximum available gain and unilateral gain including phase angle of S21

Exact formulae are presented for both maximum available gain (G/sub ma/) and unilateral gain (U), which include both the magnitude and phase angle of the S/sub 21/ parameter. The result for G/sub ma/ is not unique since there are many possible solutions to simultaneously match S/sub 11/ and S/sub 22/ when k>1. For the phase angle of U, the result tends to become 180/spl deg/ when using the topology of a variable coupler, a line stretcher, and a feedback amplifier. From the verifications, an amplifier using the unilateralizing technique will achieve 4-6 dB higher gain than that of the G/sub ma/ amplifier.