A fast parallel squarer based on divide-and-conquer

Journal ArticleFast and small squarers are needed in many applications such as image compression. A new family of high performance parallel squarers based on the divide-and-conquer method is reported. Our main result was realizing the basis cases of the divide-and-conquer recursion by using optimized n-bit primitive squarers, where n is in the range of 2 to 6. This method reduced the gate count and provided shorter critical paths. A chip implementing an 8-bit squarer was designed, fabricated and successfully tested, resulting in 24 MOPS using a 2-p CMOS fabrication technology. This squarer had two additional features: increased number of squaring operations per unit circuit area, and the potential for reduced power consumption per squaring operation

Automatic rapid prototyping of semi-custom VLSI circuits using FPGAs

Journal ArticleWe describe a technique for translating semi-custom VLSI circuits automatically, integrating two design environments, into field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for rapid and inexpensive prototyping. The VLSI circuits are designed using a cell-matrix based environment that produces chips with density comparable to full custom VLSI design. These circuits are translated automatically into FPGAs for testing and system development. A four-bit pipelined array multiplier is used as an example of this translation. The multiplier is implemented in CMOS in both synchronous and asynchronous pipelined versions, and translated into Actel FPGAs both automatically, and by hand for comparison. The six test chips were all found to be fully functional, and the translation efficiency in terms of chip speed and area is shown. This result demonstrates the potential of this approach to system development

Stratospheric measurements of continuous absorption near 2400 cm^-1

Solar occultation spectra obtained with a balloon-borne interferometer have been used to study continuous absorption by N2 and CO2 near 2400 cm^-1 in the lower stratosphere. Synthetic continuum transmittances, calculated from published coefficients for far-wing absorption by CO2 lines and for pressure-induced absorption by the fundamental band of N2, are in fair agreement with the observed stratospheric values. The continuum close to the ν3 R-branch band head of CO2 is sensitive to the CO2 far-wing line shape. Therefore, given highly accurate knowledge of the N2 continuum from laboratory data, high-resolution stratospheric spectra provide a sensitive means for in situ testing of various air-broadened CO2 line shapes at low temperatures

Acute Stent Thrombosis Following Concomitant Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty is often used as a palliative measure or as a bridge to transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the management of aortic stenosis in high risk or inoperable patients. Severe aortic stenosis coexisting with coronary artery disease is not uncommon. In these circumstances, adjuvant percutaneous coronary intervention may be warranted. The safety and efficacy of combined valve and coronary intervention strategies has been recently studied. An increased incidence of complications when both procedures are performed in the same setting may throw new challenges. We report a case of fatal acute stent thrombosis following balloon aortic valvuloplasty and percutaneous coronary intervention

Junior Recital

List of performers and performances

Association between Arthritis and Migraine: A US Nationally Representative Study Including 2649 Adults

This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between arthritis and migraine in a large representative sample of the US adult population. The study used data from adults who participated in the RAND American Life Panel (ALP). Arthritis (excluding rheumatoid arthritis) and migraine were self-reported. Control variables included sex, age, ethnicity, marital status, education, employment, annual family income, stroke, epilepsy, coronary artery disease, asthma, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and alcohol dependence. The association between arthritis and migraine was investigated using multivariable logistic regression models, while sex and age interaction analyses were also conducted. This study included 2649 adults (51.7% women; mean (SD) age 50.6 (15.9 years). The prevalence of migraine was 10.7% in the sample. After adjusting for several potential confounders, there was a significant association between arthritis and migraine (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.20-2.81). Further sensitivity analyses revealed that the association was significant in women, adults aged ≤45 years, and those aged >65 years. The mere fact that arthritis and migraine may coexist is problematic, as this could lead to an important medical and economic burden. Therefore, strategies should be implemented to reduce the cooccurrence of these two chronic conditions

A Compact Vertical Scanner for Atomic Force Microscopes

A compact vertical scanner for an atomic force microscope (AFM) is developed. The vertical scanner is designed to have no interference with the optical microscope for viewing the cantilever. The theoretical stiffness and resonance of the scanner are derived and verified via finite element analysis. An optimal design process that maximizes the resonance frequency is performed. To evaluate the scanner’s performance, experiments are performed to evaluate the travel range, resonance frequency, and feedback noise level. In addition, an AFM image using the proposed vertical scanner is generated