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Myocardial contusion is a rare and potentially fatal complication of chest trauma. There is no unique definition for this entity: some authors define myocardial contusion as a mild increase in cardiac biomarkers in the context of chest trauma, while for others the diagnosis requires evidence of pathologic findings at cardiac imaging. Consequently, the real incidence of myocardial contusion remains unknown, varying in reports between 8% and 71%. We describe a case of cardiac contusion secondary to a low-energy blunt chest trauma, manifesting as persistent ST-elevation associated with elevation of myocardial necrosis markers, with consequent myocardial stunning of the right ventricular free wall. As there is no consensus regarding the diagnostic pathway, it is essential to integrate first-level exams (ECG and laboratory findings) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, to define the presence of cardiac contusion and its extent, particularly if the echocardiographic data are unconclusive.

Objective- Aim of this study was to evaluate changes in LCAT (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase) concentration and activity in patients with an acute coronary syndrome, to investigate if these changes are related to the compromised capacity of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) to promote endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production, and to assess if rhLCAT (recombinant human LCAT) can rescue the defective vasoprotective HDL function. Approach and Results- Thirty ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients were enrolled, and plasma was collected at hospital admission, 48 and 72 hours thereafter, at hospital discharge, and at 30-day follow-up. Plasma LCAT concentration and activity were measured and related to the capacity of HDL to promote NO production in cultured endothelial cells. In vitro studies were performed in which STEMI patients' plasma was added with rhLCAT and HDL vasoprotective activity assessed by measuring NO production in endothelial cells. The plasma concentration of the LCAT enzyme significantly decreases during STEMI with a parallel significant reduction in LCAT activity. HDL isolated from STEMI patients progressively lose the capacity to promote NO production by endothelial cells, and the reduction is related to decreased LCAT concentration. In vitro incubation of STEMI patients' plasma with rhLCAT restores HDL ability to promote endothelial NO production, possibly related to significant modification in HDL phospholipid classes. Conclusions- Impairment of cholesterol esterification may be a major factor in the HDL dysfunction observed during acute coronary syndrome. rhLCAT is able to restore HDL-mediated NO production in vitro, suggesting LCAT as potential therapeutic target for restoring HDL functionality in acute coronary syndrome.

Furfural is a high-value chemical, being the precursor of compounds such as furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Pt is known as active for furfural hydrogenation, but the high price limits its exploitation and imposes the search for alternatives. Here we presented a Pt/Mo bimetallic system with enhanced catalytic activity for furfural hydrogenation. For comparison, monometallic Mo- and Pt-supported on activated carbon have been prepared by impregnation and sol-immobilization. The bimetallic Pt/Mo was prepared impregnating the Mo-AC catalyst with Pt, using Na2PtCl4 as a precursor, PVA, and NaBH4 as reducing agent. HR-TEM analyses on Pt/Mo catalyst showed Mo-containing agglomerates embedded in the carbon matrix, displaying diffraction fringes with spacing typical of Mo4O11 in the orthorhombic phase, as well as Pt nanoparticles more evenly dispersed in the Mo-AC system compared to bare AC. The Pt/Mo catalyst showed higher activity than both monometallic ones, and it converted 92% of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and ethyl furfuryl ether with 20% and 80% selectivity, respectively. However, despite a lower initial activity, the monometallic Mo/AC catalyst showed a complete selectivity to the ether.

TiO2 powders can be employed as both photocatalytic and structural materials, leading to applications in external coatings or in interior furnishing devices, including cement mortar, tiles, floorings, and glass supports. The technology of photocatalytic building materials is connected with the widespread production of photocatalytic active tiles. All the techniques proposed in the study involve the employment of nanosized TiO2: this represents a new problem to be dealt with, as inhaling nanoparticles exposes workers during industrial production and people in everyday locations to their dangerousness. Only very recently the employment of microsized TiO2 has been proposed, and the authors in this manuscript report the use of micrometric titania materials, but employing a new deposition technique, which is digital inkjet printing. It represents an improvement of the classical spray coating methods, as it requires piezoelectric heads to precisely direct the deposition of the suspension with an electrostatic field. The mixture contains aqueous/ organic components containing micrometric TiO2: to form a suspension, which is printed onto the surface of porcelain grès, large slabs using a digital printer. Many advantages are immediately evident, namely rapid and precise deposition, (almost) no waste of raw materials, thereby highlighting the economy, environmental friendliness, and sustainability of the process. All the materials we obtained have been thoroughly characterized by means of several experimental physico-chemical techniques, such as Raman microspectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with elemental analysis. Two different model VOCs, ethanol and toluene, and NOx have been selected to test the photocatalytic performances of the abovementioned tiles. Moreover, the antibacterial properties of the tiles have been determined, using Escherichia coli as example. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) for the two processes were modeled for 1 m2 of tiles produced in M

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.

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. Index Terms — TSV, 3D circuit model, inversion layer, inversion behavior of TSV capacitance, noise coupling.

Radiotherapy for breast cancer may expose heart and vessels to late radiation-induced complications. Although recent technical progress in radiation therapy (RT) has been associated with drastic reduction in cardiovascular (CV) mortality, the prolonged life expectancy of patients with cancer requires CV evaluation for many years. The aim of our study was to evaluate local changes in vascular and cardiac function because of previous breast RT. We enrolled 43 patients treated with RT 15 years ago for breast cancer. CV risk factors and atherosclerotic carotid damage were investigated in all women. We divided patients into 2 groups: R (n = 25) treated to right breast and L (n = 18) to left breast. All subjects were submitted to standard echocardiography and functional arteries evaluation by carotid-radial pulse-wave velocity (crPWV; Complior) and AIx (Sphygmocor; Atcor Medical). Global mean age was 69.5 ± 8 years old. CV risk factors were equally allocated in 2 groups. No patients had history of cardiac or artery disease. R had a significantly increased crPWV (9.9 ± 1.4 vs 8.9 ± 1.1, p = 0.001) on right arm compared with left arm, and in L group, crPWV was similarly higher on the left arm than on right arm (9.6 ± 1.5 vs 8.9 ± 1.4, p = 0.011). AIx was significantly increased in the ipsilateral arm only in L (32.1 ± 7.6 vs 28.3 ± 6.8, p = 0.05). Central blood pressure estimation was not different in the right and left arms. No correlations were found with hormone therapy or chemotherapy. Our data show a local arterial stiffening because of radiation that can be involved in increased CV risk in breast cancer–treated patients.

BACKGROUND In the last 2 decades, new drugs that oppose the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and thus angiogenesis, have considerably improved treatment of solid tumors. These anti-VEGFR drugs, however, are burdened by several side effects, particularly relevant on heart and vessels. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in cardiovascular structure and function associated with use of anti-VEGFR drugs. METHODS Twenty-nine patients (27 affected by renal and 2 by thyroid cancer), received treatment with anti-VEGFR drugs. Brachial blood pressure (BP), central BP, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), augmentation index (Aix), and several echocardiographic markers of systolic and diastolic left ventricular functions including global longitudinal strain were measured before starting treatment (T0), after 2 (T1), and 6 weeks (T2) of treatment. RESULTS Anti-VEGFR treatment was accompanied by a significant increase of both peripheral (systolic BP +13±15.5mm Hg, diastolic BP +7.1±9.3mm Hg, P < 0.001) and central BP (systolic BP +14±14.2mm Hg, diastolic BP +7.3±10.4mm Hg, P < 0.001) and a significant raise of cfPWV (+1.3±1.8 m/sec, P = 0.003). There was also a significant alteration of markers of diastolic and subclinical left ventricular systolic function, including global longitudinal strain (-19.9±3.8% at T0, -17.8±2.6% at T2, P < 0.05). All the changes were already evident at T1, worsened at T2 in patients who maintained oncological treatment, but disappeared at T2 in patients in whom treatment was stopped. CONCLUSIONS All the changes regarding BP and cfPWV appear early after treatment initiation and seem to be reversible if treatment is stopped, instead diastolic and systolic left ventricular function are persistently altered by anti-VEGFR drugs.

OBJECTIVE: After transplantation heart is denervated, resulting in increased resting heart rate (HR) and altered physiologic response to exercise. In heart transplant (HTX) recipients, absence of blood pressure (BP) dipping phenomenon has been reported, but information on central blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and Augmentation Index (Aix) is scanty. Aim of our study was to investigate 24 h modulation not only of brachial BP but also of central-aortic BP (CABPM), HR, PWV and Aix in hypertensive HTX patients. DESIGN AND METHOD: We enrolled 24 hypertensive patients, 12 HTX recipients (Ht-HTX), at a mean time after HTX of 10,4 years, and 12 matched controls (Ht-C). All the patients were clinically stable and had normal LV systolic function. Ambulatory brachial BP, CABPM, PWV and Aix were recorded over 24 hours by Mobilograph device. RESULTS: Baseline brachial and central BP were similar in Ht-HTX vs Ht-C, as were 24 h brachial (128/78 mmHg ± 11/8Vs124/79mmHg ± 14/2) and central BP (119/81 mmHg ± 12/8 vs114/79 mmHg ± 13/7), HR (74.5 ± 11 vs 69 ± 10 bpm), PWV (8.15 ± 1.8 vs 8.2 ± 1.3 m/s) and Aix (23.6 ± 7.5 vs 22.8 ± 5.8%). PWV showed a dipping phenomenon in Ht-C (daily 8.3 ± 1.2, night 7.9 ± 1.4 m/s), p < 0.001) but not in Ht-HTX (daily 8.15 ± 1.8, night 8.15 ± 1.8). This was the case also for HR. Central systolic BP remained unchanged from day to night in Ht-HTX (118 ± 12 vs 119 ± 16 mmHg) but not in Ht-C (117 ± 15 vs 95 ± 33 mmHg), with night central systolic BP being higher in Ht-HTX vs Ht-C (p < 0.05). An index of 24 h variability (standard deviation) of BP and HR was lower in Ht-HTX than in Ht-C, reaching statistical significance only for 24h-HR (4.3 ± 1.7 vs 6.7 ± 2.3, p: 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows for the first time that in Ht-HTX there is no nocturnal dipping not only of brachial BP and HR but also of CABPM, and PWV up to 10 years after HTX, probably due to persistent cardiac denervation and/or interference by immunosuppressant drugs. Altered

OBJECTIVE: In the last two decades new drugs that oppose the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and thus angiogenesis, have considerably improved treatment of solid tumors. These anti-VEGFR drugs, however, are burdened by several side effects, particularly relevant on heart and vessels. Aim of this study was to analyze the changes in cardiovascular structure and function associated with use of anti-VEGFR drugs. DESIGN AND METHOD: 29 patients (27 affected by renal and 2 by thyroid cancer), received treatment with antiVEGFR drugs. Hemodynamic, non invasive arterial investigation (Pulse Wave velocity -cfPWV-, Augmentation Index-Aix- and Aortic Pressure) and echocardiography with global longitudinal strain (gLS) were performed before starting therapy (T0), after 2 (T1) and 6 weeks (T2). Oncologic outcome was determined by the assessment of the neoplastic lesions at CT scans, according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Guidelines. RESULTS: A significant increase of both peripheral and central blood pressure (BP) was observed. We documented a significant raise of cfPWV from T0 (9.9 ± 2.5m/sec) to T1 (10.6 ± 2.3m/sec); at T2 cfPWV still increased in patients who continued treatment (10.8 ± 2.3m/sec), while decreased in patients who stopped therapy (9.8 ± 1.9m/sec). At the on-treatment CT scan (available in 22 patients) 12 patients had a stable disease (StD), 5 showed a reduction of the lesions (responders -PR-) and 5 showed a disease progression (PD). PD patients showed a lower cfPWV at T2 than StD-PR patients (cfPWV: 9.3 ± 2.8 Vs 13.3 ± 1.5 m/sec; p value 0.02). Aix at T1 was higher in PD than in StD-PR (Aix: 36 ± 2.8% Vs 24.6 ± 9.2%; p value 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-VEGFR treatment is associated with a marked increase in both brachial and central BP. Moreover it early induces an aortic reversible stiffening. The evidence that cfPWV and AIx changes are early and sensitive cardio-vascular effects of anti-angiogenic treatment and t

Early vascular aging is a process characterized by a reduction in arterial elastin with an increase in collagen that has been related to cardiovascular risk factor and can determine an increased arterial stiffness and central blood pressure. It can be measured by several non invasive methods and in different arterial segment. The present paper will focus on functional (local stiffness parameter) and structural (intima media thickness) carotid arteries alterations typically evaluated by ultrasound methods. Methodological, research and clinical issue has been reviewed.

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 aimof 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.

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 aimof 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.

INTRODUCTION: Lifestyle change is a main goal of primary and secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent studies showed that a personalized communication, tailored on patients’ needs, preferences, and psychological characteristics, is more effective in promoting behavioral change compared to a generic communication. AIM: Of our study are: to investigate patients’ psychological characteristics, to identify types of patients through the clusterization of these characteristics; to verify the effectiveness of tailored vs. generic communication. METHODS: We plan to enroll 50 patients undergoing a cycle of CV rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome or MI. Psychological characteristics, lifestyle, and information needs/preferences are assessed through questionnaire. Patients are then randomly assigned to two groups, respectively receiving through ordinary mail generic and tailored informative brochures focused on lifestyle changes. Patients are then interviewed to test the effectiveness of the two kinds of brochures. RESULTS: We expect to identify types of patients differently characterized in terms of lifestyle, information needs and clinical condition; to confirm the higher effectiveness, in terms of understanding, utility and pleasantness, of tailored brochures compared to generic ones. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study will contribute to the personalization of CVD management toward a more effective and patient-oriented health care.

La tesi riguarda gli aspetti giuridici in materia di security nel trasporto aereo. Partendo da una analisi della normativa internazionale (in particolare l'Annesso XVII alla Convenzione di Chicago del 1944), lo scritto si concentra sulla normativa comunitaria e nazionale sviluppatasi a seguito degli attentati dell'11 settembre 2001. I compiti dei soggetti coinvolti (dalle organizzazioni internazionali ai singoli operatori) delineano anche i profili di responsabilità, con tutte le conseguenze civilistiche anche in termini di responsabilità extracontrattuale. L'applicazione delle norme di security si basa su un continuo bilanciamento di interessi contrastanti. Il diritto alla sicurezza va a coincidere con il diritto all'incolumità, che ogni stato deve garantire, e il diritto alla mobilità, tenuto anche conto del fatto che nella nuova forma di terrorismo viene messa a repentaglio la vita dei passeggeri e dell’equipaggio. Dall'altra parte, l'applicazione della normativa di security, alcune volte segreta per garantirne gli effetti, va confliggere con il diritto alla privacy, alla riservatezza, alla certezza del diritto e a volte (ad esempio nell'applicazione dei body scanner) al diritto alla salute. Infine, la tesi tratta gli aspetti penalistici connessi con la violazione delle norme connesse con la sicurezza del trasporto aereo. Purtroppo i profili sanzionatori conseguenti al compimento di atti di interferenza illecita sono irrisori rispetto alle conseguenze dannose ipotizzabili. La nuova strategia dei terroristi impone una prevalenza dell'aspetto preventivo rispetto a quello repressivo-sanzionatorio, posto che l'obbiettivo principale è la creazione del maggior numero di danni possibile, anche a costo di sacrificare la propria vita.

The number of different macroseismic scales that have been used to express earthquake shaking in the course of the last 200 years is not known; it may reach three figures. The number of important scales that have been widely adopted is much smaller, perhaps about eight, not counting minor variants. Where data sets exist that are expressed in different scales, it is often necessary to establish some sort of equivalence between them, although best practice would be to reassign intensity values rather than convert them. This is particularly true because difference between workers in assigning intensity is often greater than differences between the scales themselves, particularly in cases where one scale may not be very well defined. The extent to which a scale guides the user to arrive at a correct assessment of the intensity is a measure of the quality of the scale. There are a number of reasons why one should prefer one scale to another for routine use, and some of these tend in different directions. If a scale has many tests (diagnostics) for each degree, it is more likely that the scale can be applied in any case that comes to hand, but if the diagnostics are so numerous that they include ones that do not accurately indicate any one intensity level, then the use of the scale will tend to produce false values. The purpose of this paper is chiefly to discuss in a general way the principles involved in the analysis of intensity scales. Conversions from different scales to the European Macroseismic Scale are discussed.

The number of different macroseismic scales that have been used to express earthquake shaking in the course of the last 200 years is not known; it may reach three figures. The number of important scales that have been widely adopted is much smaller, perhaps about eight, not counting minor variants. Where data sets exist that are expressed in different scales, it is often necessary to establish some sort of equivalence between them, although best practice would be to reassign intensity values rather than convert them. This is particularly true because difference between workers in assigning intensity is often greater than differences between the scales themselves, particularly in cases where one scale may not be very well defined. The extent to which a scale guides the user to arrive at a correct assessment of the intensity is a measure of the quality of the scale. There are a number of reasons why one should prefer one scale to another for routine use, and some of these tend in different directions. If a scale has many tests (diagnostics) for each degree, it is more likely that the scale can be applied in any case that comes to hand, but if the diagnostics are so numerous that they include ones that do not accurately indicate any one intensity level, then the use of the scale will tend to produce false values. The purpose of this paper is chiefly to discuss in a general way the principles involved in the analysis of intensity scales. Conversions from different scales to the European Macroseismic Scale are discussed.

Evidence from seismic and bathymetric surveys along the passive margin of NW Europe indicates that there are a number of features suggestive of large earthquakes having occurred in geologically recent times, although the exact timing of these events is difficult to establish. It might be thought that, although such large earthquakes may have occurred, for example, in immediate post-glacial times in response to rapid isostatic readjustment, no earthquake in the UK area in historical times has exceeded a value of around 5.7 Mw. However, in past interpretations of regional seismicity, the possibility that some known historical earthquakes were in fact passive margin events has not really been canvassed. A large, distant, offshore earthquake is likely to be felt only at moderate strength over well-populated areas without any observable damage concentration. In a period when documentation of earthquakes is always sparse, such an occurrence is likely to lead to vague reporting that will not be easily interpretable. Looking at the historical record with this in mind, it is possible to identify some earthquakes that are at least compatible with an offshore interpretation, as shown in a series of case studies. However, in no case is such an interpretation the only one viable. Also, some cases that initially appear to be potentially passive margin events can in fact be discounted. While there is no unequivocal evidence for large earthquakes having occurred on the NW European passive margin in historical times, neither can the possibility be rejected, and examination of the record shows one event in particular (in 1508) which may be a large passive margin event. Thus the regional maximum magnitude could possibly be larger than has hitherto been assumed.

Evidence from seismic and bathymetric surveys along the passive margin of NW Europe indicates that there are a number of features suggestive of large earthquakes having occurred in geologically recent times, although the exact timing of these events is difficult to establish. It might be thought that, although such large earthquakes may have occurred, for example, in immediate post-glacial times in response to rapid isostatic readjustment, no earthquake in the UK area in historical times has exceeded a value of around 5.7 Mw. However, in past interpretations of regional seismicity, the possibility that some known historical earthquakes were in fact passive margin events has not really been canvassed. A large, distant, offshore earthquake is likely to be felt only at moderate strength over well-populated areas without any observable damage concentration. In a period when documentation of earthquakes is always sparse, such an occurrence is likely to lead to vague reporting that will not be easily interpretable. Looking at the historical record with this in mind, it is possible to identify some earthquakes that are at least compatible with an offshore interpretation, as shown in a series of case studies. However, in no case is such an interpretation the only one viable. Also, some cases that initially appear to be potentially passive margin events can in fact be discounted. While there is no unequivocal evidence for large earthquakes having occurred on the NW European passive margin in historical times, neither can the possibility be rejected, and examination of the record shows one event in particular (in 1508) which may be a large passive margin event. Thus the regional maximum magnitude could possibly be larger than has hitherto been assumed.

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.

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.

In this paper, a method for analysis and modeling of coplanar transmission interconnect lines that are placed on top of silicon-silicon oxide substrates is presented. The potential function is expressed by series expansions in terms of solutions of the Laplace equation for each homogeneous region of layered structure. The expansion coefficients of different series are related to each other and to potentials applied to the conductors via boundary conditions. In the plane of conductors, boundary conditions are satisfied at Nd discrete points with Nd being equal to the number of terms in the series expansions. The resulting system of inhomogeneous linear equations is solved by matrix inversion. No iterations are required. A discussion of the calculated line admittance parameters as functions of width of conductors, thickness of the layers, and frequency is given. The interconnect capacitance and conductance per unit length results are given and compared with those obtained using full wave solutions, and good agreement have been obtained in all the cases treated.