Analog Devices (United States)

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based top–down proteomics (TDP) has emerged as a powerful tool for characterizing proteoforms to advance both fundamental and translational research. TDP requires high-efficiency liquid-phase separation, high-resolution MS, and tandem MS. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE)-MS has been proposed as a promising analytical technique for protein analysis decades ago because of its unique and valuable features, including high separation efficiency and high detection sensitivity. However, CZE-MS has not been widely adopted by the proteomics community, mainly due to concerns with its robustness and reproducibility. Here, we hypothesized that CZE-MS is sufficiently robust and reproducible for broad adoption due to the continued efforts of the community over the last three decades. In this work, for the first time, research teams from around the world validated the robustness, repeatability, and reproducibility of CZE-MS for TDP in both simple and complex model proteoform mixtures employing a full spectrum of commercially available capillary electrophoresis (CE)-MS interfaces, instrumentation, and compared CZE-MS performance with state-of-the-art liquid chromatography (LC)-MS methods. This study offers the research community an informative resource of ready-to-use experimental CE-MS techniques and a better understanding of the CZE-MS approach and its potential in TDP, accelerating the broad adoption of CZE-MS in proteoform research.

Abstract Uncovering circuit level high resistance to open circuit defect sites in integrated circuits require an extensive failure analysis approach. The electrical attributes of having low currents during electrical verification and high resistance to open I/V curve response during curve trace testing contribute to the complexity of the analysis. In most cases, missing normal photon emissions, resistance changing site and thermal spots are encountered though these data are relevant during circuit analysis. To effectively pinpoint the defect site, the recommended approach are schematics and layout reviews coupled with probing analysis, either through resistance measurements and/or voltage mappings, then further fault isolation analysis, commonly the OBIRCH technique. Three (3) case studies focusing on missing and damaged Thin Film Resistors (TFR) are discussed in this technical paper to demonstrate the effectiveness of the recommended FA approach.

Abstract This paper discusses the proper sample preparation through parallel lapping of a Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor (MIMCAP) within an integrated circuit (IC) device. By utilizing a proper nanoprobe Electron Beam Induced Resistive Change (EBIRCH) technique, a distinct hotspot can be created at the nanoscale, enabling precise defect localization. This technique significantly improves the accuracy of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) cross-sectioning, ensuring a more accurate cut at the defect site. Compared to the traditional OBIRCH method, which often produces large hotspots and may result in offsets, the proposed approach offers a more reliable and precise solution for defect identification for Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitors (MIMCAP).

Counterfeit integrated circuits (ICs) pose a significant challenge to the semiconductor industry, threatening supply chain integrity and product reliability. While cryptographic message authentication codes (MACs) and digital signatures are commonly used to establish part authenticity, resource-constrained edge devices lack security mitigations against side-channel and invasive attacks. This enables adversaries to extract the private key from an authentic part for use in counterfeit clones. In this work, we introduce a lightweight, unsupervised machine learning approach that authenticates ICs using analog fingerprints collected during power-up and memory write operations. Our method augments cryptographic authentication by identifying clones, providing an added layer of counterfeit detection. Leveraging the Cortex-M4 processors, we demonstrate compatibility across varying edge platforms. The proposed model requires less than 60 KB of memory and achieves 100% detection accuracy in initial testing, with ultra-low power consumption. This scalable, real-time solution enhances supply chain security in resource-constrained environments and aligns with the principles of secure, efficient edge AI.

Conductive Intracardiac Communication (CIC) uses cardiac tissue as a transmission medium for short-range wireless communication and is a potential method for enabling leadless multi-chamber pacing. However, the characterization of the intracardiac channel is significantly influenced by the experimental setup and conditions. The reported results in the literature vary depending on the measurement methods used, posing challenges in obtaining reliable channel characterization for CIC. In this paper, we aim to investigate the effects of different measurement devices and conditions on the intracardiac channel. By clarifying how impedance imbalance affects the gain measurement results, we design a weak-signal measurement circuit with high common-mode rejection. This new circuit provides a more accurate and effective gain measurement scheme for the CIC channel. An equivalent circuit model simulating cardiac biomechanical impedance is constructed to analyze how capacitive and resistive imbalances affect the gain measurement results. The effects of these imbalances are verified by intracardiac channel impedance imbalance experiments. A high common-mode rejection-high-resistance differential measurement circuit that can reduce the effects of capacitive and resistive imbalances simultaneously, is then designed to suppress the interference in the experiments. The results show that changes in the measurement equipment and isolation method lead to variations in the coupling circuit characteristics, causing differences of up to 16.65 dB in the measurement results. Experiments using the designed measurement circuits effectively mitigate interference from impedance imbalance on the measurement results. This study identifies the reasons behind the discrepancies in the experimental results of previous studies and provides a more reliable gain measurement scheme for CIC research.

A technoeconomic analysis is performed to evaluate the economic benefits of implementing cell-level switches in a PEM electrolyzer stack used for hydrogen production. Cell-level switches coupled with in-situ monitoring have the potential to disconnect individual cells from the stack by shunting the stack current around the specific cell. Cell state parameters such as voltage, impedance etc coupled with insights into cell health or failure status are used to determine whether cell switches are turned on. Potential cost savings can be realized by switching off inefficient cells with higher degradation rates or cells with failures such as pinholes that would cause a stack failure and consequently a stack replacement.Models are developed in Python to compare electrolyzers including switches with conventional electrolyzers. A techno-economic model is built to capture the economic impacts of switches on hydrogen production costs as well as the net present value of stack replacement costs. Two scenarios are designed to study the economic impacts of potential benefits of electrically switching cells on and off. Scenario One is designed to capture the impact of switches on managing random stack failures by utilizing a cell failure model coupled to the electrolyzer model. Scenario Two is designed to isolate the impact of switches on managing cell degradation by using cell degradation models informed by lab-scale studies.The results of Scenario One are presented in Figure 1 in the attached image file. Up to 400,000$ (present value) in stack replacement costs can be saved (equivalent to 160% of uninstalled stack costs of $250k for a 1 MW stack in the simulation) over a 40-year operating period. Replacement costs are assumed to be 15% of the total system capital cost. Additional savings are realized with higher single cell failure rates as, more stack replacements are prevented over a fixed time period with increasing cell failures. There is a high likelihood that operational expenses can be reduced by operating electrolyzers with switches to address random stack failures under the assumptions and parameters considered in this study.The results of Scenario Two are presented in Figure 2 in the attached image where stack replacement costs are abbreviated as rep. There is an economic benefit to implementing switches across almost all simulations performed. The replacement cost savings range from the worst-case scenario where the switch costs are not recouped up to replacement cost savings of $250k to $3000k (present value) depending on the stack operating/performance assumptions and stack cost assumptions. This is equivalent to 100% to 1200% of uninstalled stack costs where uninstalled stack costs are $250k for a 1 MW stack.The results of the techno-economic analyses identify a clear parameter space where there is likely an economic benefit to implement switches that can turn off individual cells electrically in a stack. The economic impact of cell failures and degradation can be partially mitigated by implementing switches in a stack. Degradation and cell failure rates may be significantly reduced with innovation in the PEM electrolyzer space but, there are still a multitude of other benefits of switching electrolyzers that have not yet been quantified in this analysis. Stack failures, operational reliability, reduced downtime, and improved safety can all be realized in reduced operating capital costs. Thus under the assumptions and parameter spaces considered in this study show, there are potentially economic benefits from introducing cell-level switches within an electrolyzer stack. Figure 1

Abstract—This paper provides insight into the effectiveness of combining conventional laboratory classes in electronics with individual project assignments that require physical implementation and characterization of real-life circuits. All third-year students attending the course on Systems with Analog Integrated Circuits (SwAIC) at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca are required to complete a project that involves design and simulation-based verification and characterization of an individualized Analog Front-End. This year, a group of students was offered the option to perform an additional task: physical implementation, verification and de-bugging of their circuits by using a low-cost take-home experimental kit. Prior to taking their final exam, all students were asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding the SwAIC course and the direction they intend to develop their career in. Students who performed the physical implementation of circuits they designed were asked additional questions on their experience with this approach to the SwAIC project. Students’ answers are presented and analysed along with objective evaluation results extracted from their academic records.