Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Microelectronics at Boise State University

Several opportunities exist for undergraduates in the Microelectronics area at Boise State University. This paper will describe the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program funded by the National Science Foundation and other opportunities that have resulted for undergraduates due to external support. BSU became a NSF REU site for Microelectronics research in 1999. Each year 10 students are recruited nation-wide from various engineering and science disciplines to come to BSU for 8 weeks. The students work intensively with various faculty advisors and graduate student mentors. Another unique feature of our program is the tie to local industry. In 1999-2001, three students have and will benefit from an interaction with a local company, SCP Global Technologies, and this will be described

Eliminating Non-Logical States from Linear Quantum-Dot-Cellular Automata

Quantum-dot-cellular automata are a method of computing with small numbers of electrons. The static shape of a particular automaton corresponds to a problem to be solved while the time-dependent evolution of the distribution of electrons within the automaton corresponds to a computation to solve the problem. The final distribution of electrons within the automaton represents a solution. The robustness of an automaton is characterized as the absolute energy difference between the lowest energy state and the first excited state. For computing IDENTITY, a basis for translating values across a larger system, it is shown that the robustness of the automaton can be improved dramatically by redesigning to eliminate non-logical states. By such redesign, the states that populate the energy levels between the logically correct answer and logically incorrect answers are prohibited, thereby increasing the energy gap between the ground state and the first excited state

Thunder: a private cloud architecture designed for high usability

Cloud computing is a technological strategy for saving time, money, and resources within an organization. Underfunded and understaffed organizations benefit the most from a cloud architecture because it can help to alleviate a cost burden allowing funds to be used more effectively. Therefore, we believe that non-profit organizations, such as schools, libraries, non-profit medical facilities, and others have the most to gain from cloud computing. Cloud computing has played a major role in shaping large for-profit businesses like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. Research has suggested that cultural barriers make it difficult for professionals in non-profits to adopt cloud computing technology. One key challenge faced by organizations for which a cloud architecture would be beneficial is the deployment and management process. In order for private cloud computing to become a viable solution for struggling organizations, much work needs to be done to simplify and improve the deployment process. We describe a new cloud architecture called THUNDER, which is a recursive backronym meaning ``THUNDER Helps Underfunded Nonprofits Distribute Electronic Resources.'' THUNDER introduces strategies which are meant to help struggling organizations to decrease costs. Virtual machine load balancing attempts to distribute the load across multiple nodes in order to maximize potential performance of virtual machines. Virtual machine consolidation attempts to utilize as few computational resources as possible in order to maximize the potential cost savings of maintaining idle nodes. We present an evaluation of THUNDER using metrics designed to compare its ease of use with that of other architectures. We also present an empirical evaluation of THUNDER by which users deploy and use the architecture, and then participate in a survey. THUNDER utilizes a new load balancing algorithm, which we have called ``RAIN'', meaning ``Rating Assisted Instantiation Negotiation''. RAIN attempts to optimize virtual machine instance placement by choosing compute nodes that have the best potential based on real-time metrics aggregation and a rating algorithm. Results show that the THUNDER is preferable for inexperienced users when compared to that of OpenStack and Eucalyptus. Additionally, experimental results show that RAIN is more efficient at placing virtual machines than the more typical approach of round-robin. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

Wood machining with a focus on French research in the last 50 years

International audienceContext: Woodcutting is a very old technology but scientific research is scarce on the subject. In the last 50 years much work on basic mechanisms as well as industrial processes has been done in France. Aims: The specific nature of wood introduces strong differences between wood and metal cutting processes. The paper focuses on French teams' contributions. Results: The basic aspects of the tool–material interaction for different basic modes in woodcutting are highlighted. In primary conversion such as sawing, veneer cutting or green wood chipping, huge progress comes from automation and the possibility of linking the process to log and product quality through new sensors. In secondary processing much has been done on the links between the cutting process, surface qualification and the properties of these surfaces for further processing, such as gluing or coating. Tool wear depends on the cutting process, timber quality, and species. Trade-offs are required in tool technology and coating technologies may improve tool life. Conclusion: A large amount of knowledge and innovation has come from 50 years of worldwide research effort, with France being particularly active in this period. The transfer of skills from metals cutting industry was often a key, but much is needed to move closer to both metal cutting sector and woodcutting skills among craftsmen