Ultra Low Power CORDIC Processor for Wireless Communication Algorithms

We designed and implemented an ultra low power CORDIC processor which targets the implementation of advanced wireless communications algorithms based on Givens rotations and Householder reflections. We propose a modified CORDIC algorithm and architecture, and we elaborate on the low power architectural and algorithmic techniques for minimizing its power consumption. Our CORDIC implementation consumes, in rotate mode, on average 50 W @ 10 MHz under 1 V supply voltage in a .25 m technology.     

The structure of NADH in the enzyme dTDP-d-glucose dehydratase (RmlB)

The structure of Streptococcus suis serotype type 2 dTDP-d-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (RmlB) has been determined to 1.5 A resolution with its nicotinamide coenzyme and substrate analogue dTDP-xylose bound in an abortive complex. During enzyme turnover, NAD(+) abstracts a hydride from the C4' atom of dTDP-glucose-forming NADH. After elimination of water, hydride is then transferred back to the C6' atom of dTDP-4-keto-5,6-glucosene-regenerating NAD(+). Single-crystal spectroscopic studies unambiguously show that the coenzyme has been trapped as NADH in the crystal. Electron density clearly demonstrates that in contrast to native structures of RmlB where a flat nicotinamide ring is observed, the dihydropyridine ring of the reduced cofactor in this complex is found as a boat. The si face, from which the pro-S hydride is transferred, has a concave surface. Ab initio electronic structure calculations demonstrate that the presence of an internal hydrogen bond, between the amide NH on the nicotinamide ring and one of the oxygen atoms on a phosphate group, stabilizes this distorted conformation. Additionally, calculations show that the hydride donor ability of NADH is influenced by the degree of bending in the ring and may be influenced by an active-site tyrosine residue (Tyr 161). These results demonstrate the ability of dehydratase enzymes to fine-tune the redox potential of NADH through conformational changes in the nicotinamide ring.     

Modulation of the reduction potentials of fullerene derivatives

The cyclic voltammetric (CV) study of a series of novel bisfulleropyrrolidines (3) and bisfulleropyrrolidinium ions (4) is reported. The eight possible stereoisomers of each series were systematically investigated under strictly aprotic conditions that allowed the observation of up to four and five subsequent reversible reductions in 3 and 4, respectively. Because of the stabilizing effect of positive charges, a significant enhancement of the electronegative properties was observed in 4. In fact, 4-trans-2 and 4-trans-1 result among the strongest reversible electron-accepting C(60) oligoadducts. Furthermore, the study evidenced that, in both 3 and 4, the CV pattern, and in particular the potential separation between the second and third reductions, changes significantly with the addition pattern. A sequential pi-electron model that simulates the effect of subsequent reductions of C(60) bis-adducts gives a good correlation (r > 0.96) with the cyclic voltammetry data when the molecules are divided in two sets dependent on the location of the addends in the same or in opposite hemispheres.     

Investigation of carbon incorporation in znse: Effects on morphology,electrical, and photoluminescence properties

Observations of carbon incorporation in epitaxial ZnSe films grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition are presented. Carbon is detected by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) measurements in all ZnSe films grown from methylallylselenide and dimethylzinc. The presence of carbon in the films is correlated with a new bound excitonic emission appearing at 2.7920 eV which dominates the near-band-edge low-temperature photoluminescence spectra of all carbon contaminated films. This peak is also observed when growth is commenced from diethylselenide, under certain growth conditions, but not from hydrogen selenide. The effect of the carbon contamination is discussed in terms of variations in surface morphology, electrical and luminescence properties of as-grown films. Control of the carbon concentration is demonstrated by alternating between hydrogen selenide and methylallylselenide during growth. Strategies to avoid carbon contamination in ZnSe are also proposed. Author to whom correspondence should be addressed     

Nonpreorganized neutral acyclic anion receptors: Structural investigations of N,N′-diphenyl-1, 3-benzenedisulfonamide and N,N′bis(4-t-butylphenyl)-1, 3-benzenedisulfonamide

The structure of N,N-diphenyl-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (1) was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in P2₁/n with cell dimensions: a = 11.8390(6) Å, b = 12.3950(10) Å, c = 12.1184(10) Å, = 94.388(6)°, and V = 1773.1(2) ų. Its di-t-butyl derivative, N,N-bis(4-t-butylphenyl)-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (2), was prepared and structurally characterized as two solvated structures. Both crystallize in P with cell dimensions: 2 CF₃CH₂OH, a = 9.469(2) Å, b = 10.0039(18) Å, c = 16.385(3) Å, = 85.561(16)°, = 83.035(18)°, = 72.459(16), and V = 1467.7(5) ų; 2 ClCH₂CH₂Cl, a = 9.559(2) Å, b = 9.8125(12) Å, c = 17.100(6) Å, = 82.495(19)°, = 83.47(2)°, = 70.100(15), and V = 1491.1(6) ų. The structures exhibit hydrogen-bonding, and are evaluated in terms of preorganization for anion binding.     

Direct Catalytic Conversion of Ethanol to C5+ Ketones: Role of Pd–Zn Alloy on Catalytic Activity and Stability

Ethanol can be used as a platform molecule for synthesizing valuable chemicals and fuel precursors. Direct synthesis of C₅₊ ketones, building blocks for lubricants and hydrocarbon fuels, from ethanol was achieved over a stable Pd-promoted ZnO-ZrO₂ catalyst. The sequence of reaction steps involved in the C₅₊ ketone formation from ethanol was determined. The key reaction steps were found to be the in situ generation of the acetone intermediate and the cross-aldol condensation between the reaction intermediates acetaldehyde and acetone. The formation of a Pd–Zn alloy in situ was identified to be the critical factor in maintaining high yield to the C₅₊ ketones and the stability of the catalyst. A yield of >70 % to C₅₊ ketones was achieved over a 0.1 % Pd-ZnO-ZrO₂ mixed oxide catalyst, and the catalyst was demonstrated to be stable beyond 2000 hours on stream without any catalyst deactivation.     

A new burst assembly scheme based on the average packet delay and its performance for TCP traffic

We propose and evaluate a new burst assembly algorithm based on the average delay of the packets comprising a burst. This method fixes the average delay of the packets belonging to an assembled burst to a desired value $T_{\mathrm{AVE}}$ that may be different for each forwarding equivalence class (FEC). We show that the proposed method significantly improves the delay jitter experienced by the packets during the burst assembly process, when compared to that of timer-based and burst length-based assembly policies. Minimizing packet delay jitter is important in a number of applications, such as real-audio and streaming-video applications. We also find that the improvement in the packet delay jitter yields a corresponding significant improvement in the performance of TCP, whose operation depends critically on the ability to obtain accurate estimates of the round-trip times (RTT).