CMOS array design automation techniques

A low cost, quick turnaround technique for generating custom metal oxide semiconductor arrays using the standard cell approach was developed, implemented, tested and validated. Basic cell design topology and guidelines are defined based on an extensive analysis that includes circuit, layout, process, array topology and required performance considerations particularly high circuit speed

Magnetoresistivity Behavior of some Dilute Cu-Fe, Cu-Mn, and Cu-Zn Alloys at Liquid Helium Temperatures

Resistance measurements in magnetic fields up to 100 kilo-oersteds have been made on some Cu-Fe, Cu-Mn, and Cu-Zn alloys in the liquid helium temperature range, where the Cu alloys containing paramagnetic impurities exhibit resistance anomalies. The sign of both the transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistivity in Cu-Fe alloys at 4.2°K is positive for alloys containing less than 0.04 at. % Fe and negative for alloys containing more than this concentration of iron. For all of the Cu-Fe alloys studied the magnitude of the magnetoresistance normalized to the zero-field resistivity is larger at 4.2°K than at lower temperatures. The sign of both the transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistivity in a Cu-0.007 at. % Mn alloy at 4.2°K is positive for all magnetic field values. However, at lower temperatures (1.3°K) the same alloy has a negative magnetoresistivity at low fields, which saturates and becomes positive at higher field values. The rate of change of the normalized transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistivity for Cu-Mn is also larger at 4.2°K than at lower temperatures. The magnetoresistivity of the Cu-Zn alloys decreases with decreasing field strength and increasing Zn concentration, with a modified Kohler law fitting the experimental data. The transverse magnetoresistivity is always larger than the longitudinal one, and for the most dilute Cu-Zn alloy the magnitude of both components is of the same order as that of pure Cu. It is found possible empirically to separate the Cu-Mn magnetoresistivity data into a positive and negative component ; however, for the Cu-Fe alloys studied the present analysis proves the existence of a negative component for the more concentrated alloys but does not permit a separation from the total magnetoresistivity effect

A kinetic study of the basic hydrolysis of 2-phenylethyl nitrite in the presence of borate buffer and β-cyclodextrin

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Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Transanal Irrigation for Managing Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is a common sequela in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients. Bowel dysfunction symptoms have a significant negative impact on quality of life (QOL) and are often socially disabling. Transanal irrigation (TAI) is a bowel management procedure that significantly mitigates NBD symptoms in patients refractory to standard bowel care (SBC) by reducing the incidence of fecal incontinence, ameliorating constipation, and improving QOL. TAI devices are used across many countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, and introduction of the devices is being considered in Japan. In this context, a cost-effectiveness analysis specific to Japanese settings is relevant. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the cost-effectiveness of TAI for bowel management of SCI patients with NBD in a Japanese clinical setting. Methods: A modified version of a previously developed and published Markov model was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of TAI. In the model, SCI patients using TAI due to NBD were compared with SCI patients not responding to TAI and continuing with SBC. Quality-adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were used as the primary effectiveness measure, and the analysis was conducted from the payer's perspective. RESULTS: The model predicts a lifetime incremental cost of TAI to be 3 198 687 yen compared with SBC. TAI provided an additional 0.8 QALY, which leads to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of TAI vs SBC of 4 016 287 yen/QALY. CONCLUSIONS: An ICER of 4 million yen falls within the range of reported willingness to pay (WTP) per QALY gain (5-6.7 million yen) in Japan, and TAI is therefore found to be a cost-effective treatment strategy compared to SBC. The result should be further corroborated in future Japanese trials of TAI