Report on workshop on high performance computing and communicationsfor grand challenge applications: computer vision, speech and naturallanguage processing, and artificial intelligence

The findings of a workshop, the goals of which were to identify applications, research problems, and designs of high performance computing and communications (HPCC) systems for supporting applications are discussed. In computer vision, the main scientific issues are machine learning, surface reconstruction, inverse optics and integration, model acquisition, and perception and action. In speech and natural language processing (SNLP), issues were identified statistical analysis in corpus-based speech and language understanding, search strategies for language analysis, auditory and vocal-tract modeling, integration of multiple levels of speech and language analyses, and connectionist systems. In AI, important issues that need immediate attention include the development of efficient machine learning and heuristic search methods that can adapt to different architectural configurations, and the design and construction of scalable and verifiable knowledge bases, active memories, and artificial neural networks     

Automatic Phase Alignment for the Karhunen-Loève Expansion

A procedure for automatic phase alignment of training waveforms prior to computation of K-L basis functions is described. Two computer algorithms for accomplishing the phase alignment which have been developed and applied to electrocardiogram waveforms are discussed. One is a local maximum seeking algorithm which works well for waveforms which are already nearly aligned. The other, a global maximum seeking algorithm, has been successfully applied to highly misaligned sets of waveforms. Extension of the procedure to automatic frequency alignment is also discussed.     

Electrodermal habituation and subjective response: Effects of manifest anxiety and autonomic arousal.

Studied the effects of cortical function and individual differences on galvanic skin response (GSR) habituation to tones of low and moderate intensity. 40 female undergraduates were divided into high- and low-anxious groups, on the basis of their Taylor Manifest Anxiety scale scores, and into high- and low-arousal groups, on the basis of their resting-level GSR activity. High-anxious Ss perceived nonchanging, nonnoxious moderate and low tones as increasing in intensity over trials while their electrodermal responses to the tones were habituating. Although the low-anxious group and the high- and low-arousal groups also showed electrodermal habituation, there were no significant effects of trials for intensity ratings. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between men's sexual aggression inside and outside the laboratory.

The purpose of this study was to develop a laboratory analog of sexually aggressive behavior. Ss viewed neutral, sexual-violent, and violent-sexual film vignettes and chose a vignette to show to a female confederate. Among highly sexually aggressive men (n?=?25) according to the Coercive Sexuality Scale (CSS; K. Rapaport and B. R. Burkhart; see record 1984-23391-001), 24% showed the sexual-violent vignette and 28% showed the violent-sexual vignette. Among men who did not report being sexually aggressive on the CSS (n?=?13), none showed the sexual-violent vignette and only one showed the violent-sexual vignette. The between-group difference in vignette showing was statistically significant. Ss who showed the sexually aggressive vignettes reported that the female confederate was upset and uncomfortable in viewing these vignettes more than the Ss did who showed the neutral vignette. These results support the validity of this film-showing procedure as a laboratory analog of sexually aggressive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conceptually derived treatments for sexual aggressors.

The relative absence of theoretical models has interfered with progress in the assessment and treatment of sexual aggressors. G. C. Hall and R. Hirschman (see record 1992-05851-001) have proposed a conceptual model of sexual aggression that has treatment implications. Physiological, cognitive, affective, and developmentally related personality precursors correspond to subtypes of sexual aggressors. Each subtype, the associated primary motivational precursor, a case example, and treatment methods that could be used for treating each subtype are presented here. There is some evidence of effective interventions for each of the motivational precursors. However, additional research is needed on the effectiveness of treatments in reducing recidivism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diffusion barrier cladding in Si/SiGe resonant interband tunneling diodes and their patterned growth on PMOS source/drain regions

Si/SiGe resonant interband tunnel diodes (RITDs) employing /spl delta/-doping spikes that demonstrate negative differential resistance (NDR) at room temperature are presented. Efforts have focused on improving the tunnel diode peak-to-valley current ratio (PVCR) figure-of-merit, as well as addressing issues of manufacturability and CMOS integration. Thin SiGe layers sandwiching the B /spl delta/-doping spike used to suppress B out-diffusion are discussed. A room-temperature PVCR of 3.6 was measured with a peak current density of 0.3 kA/cm/sup 2/. Results clearly show that by introducing SiGe layers to clad the B /spl delta/-doping layer, B diffusion is suppressed during post-growth annealing, which raises the thermal budget. A higher RTA temperature appears to be more effective in reducing defects and results in a lower valley current and higher PVCR. RITDs grown by selective area molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) have been realized inside of low-temperature oxide openings, with performance comparable with RITDs grown on bulk substrates.     

A supplier's response to IDR

This paper discusses the evolutionary development of the IDR series of modem products from 1986 to the present. User-friendly features are stressed. Market forces and the availability of complex custom VLSI logic shape the design of the high performance modem products of the future.     

Solvent Detection and Water Monitoring With a Macroporous Silicon Field-Effect Sensor

Integration of electrical and fluidic systems for the design and fabrication of a system-on-chip (SOC) capable of sensing various liquid phase solvents is reported. A monolithic integration strategy makes use of macroporous silicon (MPS) as a gateway to interface the electrical and fluidic domains. In this application, the MPS material, acting as a sensing membrane, is used in a flow-through structure to transport an analyte from fluidic channels on one side of the chip to sensing electrodes on the other. A fluid-oxide-semiconductor interface results in the modulation of a space charge region in the semiconductor where real-time measurements are used to detect and distinguish between the presences of various solvents. The fluidic system has delivered sample volumes as small as 2 mul. Selected test solvents (i.e. acetone, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, methanol, and toluene) have generated a measured change in capacitance up to 11%. A practical application of this sensor was demonstrated by monitoring various concentrations of isopropyl alcohol in a water supply. Undiluted samples provide characteristic responses that can be used for signature identification. The sensing device has a high degree of reusability and does not require heating or other solvent removal methods often necessitated in other sensing devices     

Light-emitting porous silicon: materials science, properties, anddevice applications

Silicon-based, light-emitting devices (LED's) should find numerous uses in optoelectronics. For example, the integration of silicon LED's with silicon microelectronics could lead to reliable and inexpensive optical displays and optical interconnects. Until recently, however, it had not been possible to obtain efficient room-temperature luminescence from silicon. The demonstration in 1990 that a form of silicon called “porous” can emit bright photoluminescence in the red region of the spectrum triggered worldwide research efforts aimed at establishing the mechanisms for the unexpected luminescence and at fabricating efficient and durable LED's. In less than five years, significant progress has been achieved on both fronts, LED's emitting throughout the visible spectrum have been demonstrated, and the best measured external electroluminescence efficiency has risen from 10^-5% to ~0.01% at room temperature. The photoluminescence efficiency of the best samples is near 10% at room temperature, and light-emitting porous silicon (LEPSi) that luminesces from the blue part of the spectrum to the infrared beyond 1.5 μm has been produced. In this article, we first review why silicon is a poor light emitter and then define porous silicon and its main properties. We then focus on the properties of the three luminescence bands (“red,” “blue,” and “infrared”) and present the results of femtosecond time-resolved optical measurements. Next, we report progress toward the fabrication of LED's and discuss some specific device structures. Finally, we outline what is necessary for commercial LEPSi LED's to become a reality and report on experimental results that suggest the possible integration of LEPSI with standard microelectronic devices