Techniques for the Synthesis of Reversible Toffoli Networks

This paper presents novel techniques for the synthesis of reversible networks of Toffoli gates, as well as improvements to previous methods. Gate count and technology oriented cost metrics are used. Our synthesis techniques are independent of the cost metrics. Two new iterative synthesis procedure employing Reed-Muller spectra are introduced and shown to complement earlier synthesis approaches. The template simplification suggested in earlier work is enhanced through introduction of a faster and more efficient template application algorithm, updated (shorter) classification of the templates, and presentation of the new templates of sizes 7 and 9. A novel ``resynthesis'' approach is introduced wherein a sequence of gates is chosen from a network, and the reversible specification it realizes is resynthesized as an independent problem in hopes of reducing the network cost. Empirical results are presented to show that the methods are effective both in terms of the realization of all 3x3 reversible functions and larger reversible benchmark specifications.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

Cascode buffer for monolithic voltage conversion operating at high input supply voltages

A high-to-low switching DC-DC converter that operates at input supply voltages up to two times as high as the maximum voltage permitted in a nanometer CMOS technology is proposed in this paper. The circuit technique is based on a cascode bridge that maintains the steady-state voltage differences among the terminals of all of the transistors within a range imposed by a specific fabrication technology. The proposed circuit technique permits the full integration of active and passive devices of a switching DC-DC converter with a high voltage conversion ratio in a standard low voltage CMOS process. An efficiency of 87.8 % is achieved for 3.6 volts to 0.9 volts conversion assumin

Using cognitive agent-based simulation for the evaluation of indoor wayfinding systems: A case study

This paper presents a novel approach to simulate human wayfinding behaviour incorporating visual cognition into a software agent for a computer aided evaluation of wayfinding systems in large infrastructures. The proposed approach follows the Sense-Plan-Act paradigm comprised of a model for visual attention, navigation behaviour and pedestrian movement. Stochastic features of perception are incorporated to enhance generality and diversity of the developed wayfinding simulation to reflect a variety of behaviours. The validity of the proposed approach was evaluated based on empirical data collected through wayfinding experiments with 20 participants in an immersive virtual reality environment using a life-sized 3D replica of Vienna's new central railway station. The results show that the developed cognitive agent-based simulation provides a further contribution to the simulation of human wayfinding and subsequently a further step to an effective evaluation tool for the pl anning of wayfinding and signage

Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Cardiovascular Disease Endotypes Identified by Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Mean Platelet Volume

In a subset of psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, the skin and/or joint lesions appear to generate biologically significant systemic inflammation. Red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) are readily available clinical tests that reflect responses of the bone marrow and/or plasma thrombogenicity (e.g., inflammation), and can be markers for major adverse cardiac events (MACE). We aimed to evaluate if RDW and MPV may be employed as inexpensive, routinely obtained biomarkers in predicting myocardial infarction (MI), atrial fibrillation (AF), and chronic heart failure (CHF) in psoriatic and psoriatic arthritis patients. The study was divided into two parts: (a) case control study employing big data (Explorys) to assess MPV and RDW in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and control cohorts; (b) a clinical observational study to validate the predictive value of RDW and to evaluate RDW response to anti-psoriatic therapies. We used Explorys, an aggregate electronic database, to identify psoriatic patients with available MPV and RDW data and compared them to gender and age matched controls. The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), atrial fibrillation (AF), and chronic heart failure (CHF) was highest among patients with both elevated RDW and MPV, followed by patients with high RDW and normal MPV. RDW elevation among PsA patients was associated with an increased risk of MI, AF, and CHF. In a local clinical cohort, high RDWs were concentrated in a subset of patients who also had elevated circulating resistin levels. Among a small subset of participants who were treated with various systemic and biologic therapies, and observed over a year, and in whom RDW was elevated at baseline, a sustained response to therapy was associated with a decrease in RDW. RDW and MPV, tests commonly contained within routine complete blood count (CBC), may be a cost-effective manner to identify PsO and PsA patients at increased risk of MACE

VISTA Status Report

this paper was partially supported by the Special Research Program SFB F011 "AURORA" of the Austrian Research Fund. Contents 1 Lithography Simulation in VISTA