TOPOLINANO & MAGCAD: A DESIGN AND SIMULATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE EXPLORATION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

We developed a design framework that enables the exploration and analysis of emerging beyond-CMOS technologies. It is composed of two powerful tools: ToPoliNano and MagCAD. Different technologies are supported, and new ones could be added thanks to their modular structure. ToPoliNano starts from a VHDL description of a circuit and performs the place&route following the technological constraints. The resulting circuit can be simulated both at logical or physical level. MagCAD is a layout editor where the user can design custom circuits, by plac-ing basic elements of the selected technology. The tool can extract a VHDL netlist based on compact models of placed elements derived from experiments or physical simulations. Circuits can be verified with standard VHDL simulators. The design workflow will be demonstrated at the U-booth to show how those tools could be a valuable help in the studying and development of emerging technologies and to obtain feedbacks from the scientific community

FUNCODE: Effective Device-to-System Analysis of Field Coupled Nanocomputing Circuit Designs

Many beyond-CMOS technologies, based on different switching mechanisms, are arising. Field-coupled technologies are the most promising as they can guarantee an extremely low-power consumption and combine logic and memory into the same device. However, circuit-level explorations, like layout verification and analysis of the circuit performance, considering the constraints of the target technology, cannot be done using existing tools. Here, we propose a methodology to take on this challenge. We present FUNCODE (FUNction & COnnection DEtection), an algorithm that can detect element connections, functions and errors of custom-layouts and generate its corresponding VHDL netlist. It is proposed for in-plane and perpendicular Nano Magnetic Logic as a case study. FUNCODE netlists, which take into account the physical behavior of the technology, were verified using circuits with increasing complexity, from 6 up to 1400 gates with a number of layout elements varying from 200 to 2.3e6

ToPoliNano and fiction: Design Tools for Field-coupled Nanocomputing

Field-coupled Nanocomputing (FCN) is a computing concept with several promising post-CMOS candidate implementations that offer tremendously low power dissipation and highest processing performance at the same time. Two of the manifold physical implementations are Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) and Nanomagnet Logic (NML). Both inherently come with domain-specific properties and design constraints that render established conventional design algorithms inapplicable. Accordingly, dedicated design tools for those technologies are required. This paper provides an overview of two leading examples of such tools, namely fiction and ToPoliNano. Both tools provide effective methods that cover aspects such as placement, routing, clocking, design rule checking, verification, and logical as well as physical simulation. By this, both freely available tools provide platforms for future research in the FCN domain

Ta/CoFeB/MgO analysis for low power nanomagnetic devices

The requirement of high memory bandwidth for next-generation computing systems moved the attention to the development of devices that can combine storage and logic capabilities. Domain wall-based spintronic devices intrinsically combine both these requirements making them suitable both for non-volatile storage and computation. CoPt and CoNi were the technology drivers of perpendicular Nano Magnetic Logic devices (pNML), but for power constraints and depinning fields, novel CoFeBMgO layers appear more promis- ing. In this paper, we investigate the Ta2CoFeB1MgO2Ta3 stack at the simulation and experimental level, to show its potential for the next generation of magnetic logic devices. The micromagnetic simulations are used to support the experiments. We focus, first, at the experimental level measuring the switching field distribution of patterned magnetic islands, Ms via VSM and the domain wall speed on magnetic nanowires. Then, at the simulation level, we focus on the magnetostatic analysis of magnetic islands quantifying the stray field that can be achieved with different layout topologies. Our results show that the achieved coupling is strong enough to realize logic computation with magnetic islands, moving a step forward in the direction of low power perpendicularly magnetized logic devices

Ga+ Ion Irradiation-Induced Tuning of Artificial Pinning Sites to Control Domain Wall Motion

Domain-wall-based devices are considered one of the candidates for the next generation of storage memories and nanomagnetic logic devices due to their unique properties, such as nonvolatility, scalability, and low power consumption. Field or current-driven domain walls require a regular and controlled motion along the track in which they are stored in order to maintain the information integrity during operation. However, their dynamics can vary along the track due to film inhomogeneities, roughness of the edges, and thermal fluctuations. Consequently, the final position of the domain walls may be difficult to predict, making difficult the development of memory and logic applications. In this paper, we demonstrate how Ga+ ion irradiation can be used to locally modify the material properties of the Ta/ CoFeB/MgO thin film, creating regions in which the domain wall can be trapped, namely motion barriers. The aim is to push the domain wall to overcome thin-film inhomogeneities effects, while stopping its motion at artificially defined positions corresponding to the irradiated regions. Increasing the driving force strength, the domain wall can escape, allowing the shifting between consecutive irradiated regions. In this way, the correct positioning of the domain walls after the motion is ensured. The study shows that the driving force strength, namely current density or magnetic field amplitude, needed to overcome the irradiated regions depends on the ion dose. These results show a reliable approach for domain wall manipulation, enabling a precise control of the domain wall position along a track with synchronous motion

Performance testing of two new one-step real time PCR assays for detection of human influenza and avian influenza viruses isolated in humans and Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Introduction and Methods. Two real time one-step RT-PCRassays were developed for simultaneous detection and typingof influenza A and B viruses and detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). As regard influenza, primers were designedto amplify specific sequences of gene M of A/H1N1, A/H3N2,A/H5N1, A/H7N7 and A/H9N2 viruses and of gene NP of typeB viruses belonging both Yamagata and Victoria lineage. Specificity, analytical and clinical sensitivity, dynamic range, linearity of the new assays were evaluated.Results. Dynamic ranges for Influenza A and B, and RSV,were at least five logs and linearity was conserved. In orderto evaluate the specificity, 80 nasopharyngeal swabs resulting Influenza and RSV negative by multiplex nested PCR andcell culture, were tested and 79 resulted negative. The detection limits for influenza A and B, calculated by 95% probit,was 0,008 and 0,09 PFU, respectively, resulting more sensible than nested PCR. A total of 75 specimens (10 A/H1N1,

Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XX. Sonographic assessment of hand and wrist joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison between two- and three-dimensional ultrasonography.

none11Filippucci E; Meenagh G; Delle Sedie A; Salaffi F; Riente L; Iagnocco A; Scirè CA; Montecucco C; Bombardieri S; Valesini G; Grassi W.Filippucci, E; Meenagh, G; Delle Sedie, A; Salaffi, F; Riente, L; Iagnocco, A; Scirè, Ca; Montecucco, Carlomaurizio; Bombardieri, S; Valesini, G; Grassi, W

Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXII. Achilles tendon involvement in spondyloarthritis. A multi-centre study using high frequency volumetric probe

Three-dimensional (3D) US is a new sonographic modality which represents a promising tool in the assessment of joint and periarticular tissues abnormalities in rheumatic diseases. The available literature has recently underlined its advantages mainly related to the virtual operator independence due to image acquisition of infinite 3D data sets obtained by transducer automated sweeping. Shortening of the US examination time represents another notable advantage over conventional two-dimensional (2D) US. The aim of the present study was to investigate the validity of 3D US in assessing Achilles tendon enthesitis by comparing it with 2D US. US examinations were performed by using a Logiq 9 (General Electrics Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) equipment with a high-frequency (8-15 MHz) volumetric probe. One hundred and eighty-six Achilles tendon enthesis of 93 SpA patients were examined. The analysis of each basic US finding demonstrated from good to excellent agreement rates between 3D and 2D US, both in dichotomous assessment of sonographic lesions and in the use of semi-quantitative grading. Excellent agreement between the two modalities was demonstrated in the assessment of both inflammatory changes and structural lesions. Our study for the first time demonstrated that 3D US is a valid imaging modality for the assessment of Achilles tendon enthesitis