Compact Modeling of Parasitic Internal Fringe Capacitance Effects on the Threshold Voltage of High-K Gate Dielectric Nanoscale SOI MOSFETs

A compact model for the effect of parasitic internal fringe capacitance on threshold voltage in high-K gate dielectric SOI MOSFETs is developed. Our model includes the effects of the gate dielectric permittivity, spacer oxide permittivity, spacer width, gate length and width of MOS structure. A simple expression for parasitic internal fringe capacitance from the bottom edge of the gate electrode is obtained and the charges induced in the source and drain regions due to this capacitance are considered. We demonstrate an increase in surface potential along the channel due to these charges resulting in a decrease in the threshold voltage with increase in gate dielectric permittivity. The accuracy of the results obtained using our analytical model is verified using 2-D device simulations.Comment: Journal Pape

COBE ground segment gyro calibration

Discussed here is the calibration of the scale factors and rate biases for the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) spacecraft gyroscopes, with the emphasis on the adaptation for COBE of an algorithm previously developed for the Solar Maximum Mission. Detailed choice of parameters, convergence, verification, and use of the algorithm in an environment where the reference attitudes are determined form the Sun, Earth, and star observations (via the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) are considered. Results of some recent experiments are given. These include tests where the gyro rate data are corrected for the effect of the gyro baseplate temperature on the spacecraft electronics

Application of Value Stream Mapping for Reduction of Cycle Time in a Machining Process

AbstractLean manufacturing initiative is being followed by various organizations in the recent years which mainly focuses on improving the efficiency of operations by eliminating and reducing wastes. This paper aimed to explain the implementation of lean manufacturing techniques in the crankshaft manufacturing system at an automotive manufacturing plant located in south India.. A multi criteria decision making model, analytical hierarchy process is applied to analyze the decision making process in the manufacturing system. The objective of the case industry was to increase the export sales. Lean manufacturing system was selected to meet the company“s quality, cost and delivery targets. Crankshaft was manufactured in a single piece flow system with the low cost machines developed indigenously and the results are that the crankshafts have passed the testing, validation and approval by the customer to produce any variant in the company. After implementing lean manufacturing system, the manufacturing lead time reduced by forty percent, defects were reduced, higher process capability achieved, quick response to the customer demand in small lots were achieved

EODC: An Energy Optimized Dynamic Clustering Protocol for Wireless Sensor Network using PSO approach

Wireless Sensor Network comprises of a number of small wireless nodes whose role is to sense, gather, process and communicate. One of the primary concerns of the network is to optimize the energy consumption and extend the network lifespan. Sensor nodes can be clustered to increase the network lifespan. This is done by selecting the cluster head for every cluster and by performing data fusion on the cluster head. The proposed system is using an energy efficient hierarchical routing protocol named Energy Optimized Dynamic Clustering (EODC) for clustering large ad-hoc WSN and route the data towards the sink. The sink receives the data collected from the set of cluster heads after every round. The cluster head was selected using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach and the cluster members are allocated based on Manhattan distance. The metrics used to find the fitness function are location, link quality, energy of active node and energy of inactive node. The system employs shortest path approach to communicate between the cluster heads till it reaches the base station. By this, we have increased the energy efficiency and lifetime of the network. The analysis and outcomes show that the EODC was found to outperform the existing protocol which compares with this algorithm

Variation of Radon Progeny Concentration over a Continental Location

Background: The variation of the radon progeny concentration in outdoor environment and meteorological parameters at fine resolution were studied for one year at a continental location, National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Gadanki, India.Materials and Methods: The concentrations were measured using Alpha Progeny Meter by collecting air samples at a height of 1 m above the Earth’s surface at a known flow rate. Results: Radon progeny concentration shows temporal variations on diurnal and monthly scales, and is due to mixing in the atmosphere. Peak in the early morning hours and low values during afternoon compared to nighttime are due to differential heat contrast between earth’s surface and its atmosphere. However, the activity during February shows maximum compared to June/July months.The diurnal variation of radon progeny shows positive correlation with the relative humidity and negative correlation with ambient temperature.The monthly mean activity of radon progeny for the year 2012 was found to be 4.76 ± 0.73 mWL. Conclusion: The mean concentration of radon progeny in the study region is relatively high compared to the other locations in India and may be due to the rocky terrains and trapping of air-masses near the observation site due to its topography

Does Earnings Quality Affect Information Asymmetry: Evidence from Trading Costs

Information asymmetry in financial markets relates to the idea that one party to a transaction has better information than the other. Since financial reporting involves the transmission of value relevant enterprise information, we investigate whether the quality of reported earnings can contribute to differentially informed financial market participants. Higher information asymmetry is costly as it increases the adverse selection risk for market participants and lowers liquidity. For a large sample of NYSE and NASDAQ firms, we show that (i) poor earnings quality is significantly and incrementally associated with higher information asymmetry, (ii) earnings quality disproportionately affects information asymmetry for firms with poor information environments, (iii) both innate and discretionary components of earnings quality increase information asymmetry, and (iv) poor earnings quality exacerbates the information asymmetry around earnings announcements. Our results suggest that the standard setters’ efforts to develop accounting standards that improve earnings quality should contribute to a better information environment for market participants and increase stock liquidity

Antiapoptotic Actions of Methyl Gallate on Neonatal Rat Cardiac Myocytes Exposed to H 2

Reactive oxygen species trigger cardiomyocyte cell death via increased oxidative stress and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The prevention of cardiomyocyte apoptosis is a putative therapeutic target in cardioprotection. Polyphenol intake has been associated with reduced incidences of cardiovascular disease and better overall health. Polyphenols like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) can reduce apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, resulting in better health outcomes in animal models of cardiac disorders. Here, we analyzed whether the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or polyphenols EGCG, gallic acid (GA) or methyl gallate (MG) can protect cardiomyocytes from cobalt or H2O2-induced stress. We demonstrate that MG can uphold viability of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes exposed to H2O2 by diminishing intracellular ROS, maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential, augmenting endogenous glutathione, and reducing apoptosis as evidenced by impaired Annexin V/PI staining, prevention of DNA fragmentation, and cleaved caspase-9 accumulation. These findings suggest a therapeutic value for MG in cardioprotection

Shot noise suppression at room temperature in atomic-scale Au junctions

Shot noise encodes additional information not directly inferable from simple electronic transport measurements. Previous measurements in atomic-scale metal junctions at cryogenic temperatures have shown suppression of the shot noise at particular conductance values. This suppression demonstrates that transport in these structures proceeds via discrete quantum channels. Using a high frequency technique, we simultaneously acquire noise data and conductance histograms in Au junctions at room temperature and ambient conditions. We observe noise suppression at up to three conductance quanta, with possible indications of current-induced local heating and $1/f$ noise in the contact region at high biases. These measurements demonstrate the quantum character of transport at room temperature at the atomic scale. This technique provides an additional tool for studying dissipation and correlations in nanodevices.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures + supporting information (6 pages, 6 figures