Overview of the architecture, circuit design, and physical implementation of a first-generation cell processor

This paper reviews the design challenges that current and future processors must face, with stringent power limits, high-frequency targets, and the continuing system integration trends. This paper then describes the architecture, circuit design, and physical implementation of a first-generation Cell processor and the design techniques used to overcome the above challenges. A Cell processor consists of a 64-bit Power Architecture processor coupled with multiple synergistic processors, a flexible IO interface, and a memory interface controller that supports multiple operating systems including Linux. This multi-core SoC, implemented in 90-nm SOI technology, achieved a high clock rate by maximizing custom circuit design while maintaining reasonable complexity through design modularity and reuse.     

Vapor phase polymerization of vinyl chloride

A study of the polymerization of vinyl chloride was made at conditions under which the monomer exists in the gas phase. In the presence of a bed of poly(vinyl chloride) particles, free-flowing product was obtained. By using free-radical initiators, such as dialkylperoxy dicarbonates or acetylcyclohexane sulfonyl peroxide, high initiator productivities were obtained in reaction periods of 1.5 to 3 hr. Although some modifiers, such as ethyl bromomalonate and bromoform, were demonstrated to lower molecular weight, satisfactory molecular weight modification was accomplished by adjusting polymerization temperature. Several peroxy compounds of different reactivity were studied. Hydrocarbon additives improve the polymerization rate. It is believed that the hydrocarbon and initiator are absorbed on the PVC particle surface and allow the monomer concentration to be increased at the polymerization locus. PVC particles of small size may be prepared in a liquid bulk polymerization for use as seed polymer for the vapor phase process. This provides a seed of high porosity which enables one to prepare a vapor phase product with suitable plasticizer absorption. The physical properties of products prepared by the vapor phase process were evaluated in a rigid formulation.     

Adapting to the stigmatizing label of mental illness: Foregone but not forgotten.

In a study with 30 female undergraduates that was ostensibly about memory ability, a condition was created experimentally in which half of the Ss believed that they were participating in the study with mental patients and half believed they were participating with physical injury patients. Behavioral measures of each S were made, and Ss provided self-reports of their perceptions of the other people who were in the study. Results indicate that the label of mental illness was stigmatizing even in the absence of bizarre behaviors. Although Ss interacted with the mental patients normally when in the adaptively unimportant waiting room situation, Ss scored higher on the adaptively significant memory test when participating in the study with "mental patients." Implications for stigma theory, social adaptation, and community placement programs are discussed. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A structural equation test of the value-attitude-behavior hierarchy.

The role of values has received limited empirical attention relative to its potential significance, especially within a causal modeling approach. A series of multivariate and structural equation analyses supported the hypotheses that values have internal and external dimensions that influence attitudes. In turn, attitudes were found to influence behaviors, as the final phase in the value-attitude-behavior hierarchy. These analyses were performed on data derived from a survey about natural food shopping. As hypothesized, we found that people who have more internally oriented and less externally oriented value structures like natural foods more than other people, and these attitudes then lead to behaviors appropriate to the structure. Theoretical implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Color enhancement of highly correlated images. I. Decorrelation and HSI contrast stretches

Conventional enhancements for the color display of multispectral images are based on independent contrast modifications or “stretches” of three input images. This approach is not effective if the image channels are highly correlated or if the image histograms are strongly bimodal or more complex. Any of several procedures that tend to “stretch” color saturation while leaving hue unchanged may better utilize the full range of colors for the display of image information. Two conceptually different enhancements are discussed: the “decorrelation stretch”, based on principal-component (PC) analysis, and the “stretch” of “hue”-“saturation”-intensity (HSI) transformed data. The PC transformation is scene-dependent, but the HSI transformation is invariant. Examples of images enhanced by conventional linear stretches, decorrelation stretch, and by stretches of HSI transformed data are compared. Schematic variation diagrams or two- and three-dimensional histograms are used to illustrate the “decorrelation stretch” method and the effect of the different enhancements.     

Viscoelastic and dielectric studies on comb- and brush-shaped poly(n-butyl acrylate)

The dynamic compliances J′(ω) and J″(ω) and the dielectric permittivities ?′(ω) and ?″(ω) are reported over a wide range of frequency ω and temperature for comb-branched and brush-shaped poly(n-butyl acrylate) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization. The analysis here of the viscosity η for the comb- and brush-shaped polymers indicates the need to account for an increase of the persistence length with increasing density of the side chains. Enhanced values of J_S are attributed to a dilution effect arising from the side chains on the values that would otherwise arise from the backbone chain. The dielectric loss ?″(ω) demonstrates a deviation from frequency-temperature superposition at a certain range of frequency, with the deviation increasing with increasing density of the side chains. The deviation occurs for a frequency range for which J′(ω) and J″(ω) are approaching their terminal response, but no corresponding deviation from frequency-temperature superposition is noted for these functions. The dielectric behavior in this region is attributed to a δ-relaxation at frequencies lower than the principal α-relaxation, similar to behavior reported for certain polymers with mesogenic side chains.     

Autonomous atmospheric compensation (AAC) of high resolution hyperspectral thermal infrared remote-sensing imagery

Atmospheric emission and absorption significantly modify the thermal infrared (TIR) radiation spectra from Earth's land surface. A new algorithm, autonomous atmospheric compensation (AAC), was developed to estimate and compensate for the atmospheric effects. The algorithm estimates from hyperspectral TIR measurements two atmospheric index parameters, the transmittance ratio, and the path radiance difference between strong and weak absorption channels near the 11.73 /spl mu/m water band. These two parameters depend on the atmospheric water and temperature distribution profiles, and thus, from them, the complete atmospheric transmittance and path radiance spectra can be predicted. The AAC algorithm is self-contained and needs no supplementary data. Its accuracy depends largely on instrument characteristics, particularly spectral and spatial resolution. Atmospheric conditions, especially humidity and temperature, and other meteorological parameters, also have some secondary impacts. The AAC algorithm was successfully applied to a hyperspectral TIR data set, and the results suggest its accuracy is comparable to that based on the in situ radiosonde measurements.