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This paper investigates the influence of TSV noise coupling on nearby devices based on an extended 3D TSV circuit model. This model not only takes into account the complex RF field distributions in bulk Si, but also incorporates the anomalous TSV capacitance inversion behavior, which has been found to occur due to the presence of fixed charges in the backside passivation layer after wafer thinning. The extended 3D TSV circuit model is validated by the excellent agreement between the simulation results and experimental data. It demonstrates that the inversion behavior of the TSV capacitance increases the noise coupling to adjacent devices mainly in the low frequency range. Furthermore, we show that noise mitigation techniques can be easily implemented in this 3D circuit model to predict the extent of noise coupling alleviation.

Major advancements in the directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers have shown the technique's strong potential for via layer patterning in advanced technology nodes. Molecular scale pattern precision along with low cost processing promotes DSA technology as a great candidate for complementing conventional photolithography. Our studies show that decomposition of via layers with 193-nm immersion lithography in realistic circuits below the 7-nm node would require a prohibitive number of multiple patterning steps. The grouping of vias through templated DSA can resolve local conflicts in high density areas, limiting the number of required masks, and thus cutting a great deal of the associated costs. A design method for DSA via patterning in sub-7-nm nodes is discussed. We present options to expand the list of usable DSA templates and we formulate cost functions and algorithms for the optimal DSA-aware via layout decomposition. The proposed method works a posteriori, after place-and-route, allowing for fast practical implementation. We tested this method on a fully routed 32-bit processor designed for sub-7 nm technology nodes. Our results demonstrate a reduction of up to four lithography masks when compared to conventional non-DSA-aware decomposition. © 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

International audience; Hundreds of fossil marine vertebrates cropping out at Cerro Colorado (Pisco Basin, Peru) are identified and reported on a 1:6500 scale geological map and in a joined stratigraphic section. All the fossils are from the lower strata of the Pisco Formation, dated in this area to the late middle or early late Miocene. They are particularly concentrated (88%) in the stratigraphic interval from 40 to 75 m above the unconformity with the underlying Chilcatay Formation. The impressive fossil assemblage includes more than 300 specimens preserved as bone elements belonging mostly to cetaceans (81%), represented by mysticetes (cetotheriids and balaenopteroids) and odontocetes (kentriodontid-like delphinidans, pontoporiids, ziphiids, and physeteroids, including the giant raptorial sperm whale Livyatan melvillei). Seals, crocodiles, sea turtles, seabirds, bony fish, and sharks are also reported. Isolated large teeth of Carcharocles and Cosmopolitodus are common throughout the investigated stratigraphical interval, whereas other shark teeth, mostly of carcharinids, are concentrated in one sandy interval. This work represents a first detailed census of the extraordinary paleontological heritage of the Pisco Basin and the basis for future taphonomic, paleoecological, and systematic studies, as well as a much needed conservation effort for this extremely rich paleontological site.

Background Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs) often go unrecognised in both healthy individuals and in pathological conditions. Few data exist on VFs in patients hospitalised in Internal Medicine Units (IMUs), who often suffer from multiple concomitant chronic disorders. Aim of the study This multicentre cross-sectional study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of VFs in an unselected population of patients referring to IMUs. Correlations between VFs and the main coexisting diseases were also investigated. Methods Information on demographic, clinical and laboratory findings, and on the presence of known risk factors for osteoporosis was recorded. The Genant's semi-quantitative method was used to evaluate, in a central reading centre, the presence and severity of VFs in the thoracic and lumbar spine. Results A cohort of 995 patients was evaluated. At least one VF of any grade was found in 47.5% of patients, with similar prevalence between females (48.1%) and males (46.7%). Older age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and previous diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a significant association with VFs in multivariable analysis. However, 79.7% of the VFs were observed in patients without previous diagnosis of osteoporosis. Moreover, a VF of grade 2 or greater was found in 20.8% of patients. Conclusions Fragility VFs is a very frequent finding in patients hospitalised in IMUs. Consequently, more attention should be devoted in this clinical setting to this comorbidity, which is known to be an additional factor for mortality and, when localised in the thoracic part of the spine, may negatively influence a concomitant respiratory insufficiency.

This paper describes the present status of using lattice gauge and ghost field methods for the simulation of on-chip interconnects and integrated passive components at low and high frequencies. Test structures have been developed and characterized in order to confront the simulation techniques with experimental data. The solution method gives results that are in agreement with the measurements.

We present an initiative aimed at fulfilling the requirement of the Ordnance 3274 (20 March 2003, Annex 1) of the Italian Prime Minister. This law established that a new seismic hazard map of the Italian territory be prepared within one year (April 2004) and stated the general compilation criteria. To comply with this request, INGV involved scientists and engineers from Italian scientific institutions along with its own researchers. Despite the tight schedule, the initiative utilised and further elaborated original information and knowledge acquired during the past few years. In particular, we compiled a new set of source zones (ZS9) - acknowledging new evidence of active faulting and recently acquired evaluations on seismogenic potential - and a new earthquake catalogue (CPTI04) extended to 2002. A limited-scale logical tree approach was adopted to explore epistemic uncertainties related to: i) the assessment of catalogue completeness based on historical and statistical methods; ii) the evaluation of seismicity rates, based on activity rates and G-R rates; iii) the assessment of Mmax, partly constrained by geological evidence; iv) the ground-motion attenuation models, where regional relationships have been used to complement the classical European and Italian relationships. The results consists of a map displaying the median values of 16 weighted branches in terms of PGA with 10% exceedance probability in 50 years, related to very stiff soil conditions. Although in many steps we made conservative choices, the resulting PGA distribution exhibits lower maximum values with respect to previous country-scale hazard maps. This is mainly due to: a) magnitude re-assessment; b) larger size of the source zones; c) more realistic completeness time-intervals; d) use of different depth in the source zones. The map was compiled under the review of an international board and will serve as input

In the frame of the European Commission project "Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe" (SHARE), aiming at harmonizing seismic hazard at a European scale, the compilation of a homogeneous, European parametric earthquake catalogue was planned. The goal was to be achieved by considering the most updated historical dataset and assessing homogenous magnitudes, with support from several institutions. This paper describes the SHARE European Earthquake Catalogue (SHEEC), which covers the time window 1000-1899. It strongly relies on the experience of the European Commission project "Network of Research Infrastructures for European Seismology" (NERIES), a module of which was dedicated to create the European "Archive of Historical Earthquake Data" (AHEAD) and to establish methodologies to homogenously derive earthquake parameters from macroseismic data. AHEAD has supplied the final earthquake list, obtained after sorting duplications out and eliminating many fake events; in addition, it supplied the most updated historical dataset. Macroseismic data points (MDPs) provided by AHEAD have been processed with updated, repeatable procedures, regionally calibrated against a set of recent, instrumental earthquakes, to obtain earthquake parameters. From the same data, a set of epicentral intensity-to-magnitude relations has been derived, with the aim of providing another set of homogeneous Mw estimates. Then, a strategy focussed on maximizing the homogeneity of the final epicentral location and Mw, has been adopted. Special care has been devoted also to supply location and Mw uncertainty. The paper focuses on the procedure adopted for the compilation of SHEEC and briefly comments on the achieved results. © 2012 The Author(s).