Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in children

The authors presented the cases of two children with inflammatory myofibroblastic (IMF) tumor and reviewed the literature to facilitate the preoperative recognition, delineate the clinical features, and describe the natural history of this entity. The first child had IMF tumor arising from the mesentery of the small intestine. He presented with an abdominal mass associated with severe inflammatory response manifested by fever, impaired growth, thrombocytosis, and microcytic, hypochromic anemia. After surgical resection, his fever resolved and his growth rate and the laboratory abnormalities normalized. Five months after initial diagnosis, the fever, anemia, and thrombocytosis recurred along with two tumors arising from the omentum and the abdominal soft tissue. After the second surgery, he remains free of recurrent disease for 30 months. The second child presented with a lung mass that was radiologically indistinguishable from pulmonary sequestration. After surgical resection, she remains free of recurrent disease for 18 months. IMF tumor should be considered in any solid tumor that occurs in association with a chronic inflammatory response. IMF tumor should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration.     

Structural evolution of a Ta-filament during hot-wire chemical vapour deposition of Silicon investigated by electron backscatter diffraction

We report on the application of electron backscatter diffraction to investigate the structural changes of a tantalum filament operated at typical hot-wire chemical vapour deposition conditions for the synthesis of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon. Various tantalum-silicides, identified by electron backscatter diffraction, form preferentially along the length of the filament. The filament has a recrystallized Ta inner core and a TaSi₂ layer encapsulated with a Si layer at the cooler ends. The αTa₅Si₃, metastable Ta₅Si₃ and Ta₂Si phases formed in addition to recrystallized Ta and TaSi₂ at the centre regions. Cracks and porosity were prevalent throughout the length of the filament. The microstructural evolution of the aged tantalum filament can be ascribed to the thermal gradient along the filament length, recrystallization of Ta and the variation of silicon content within the filament.     

Accuracy of scatterometer-derived winds using the Cramer-Rao bound

A wind scatterometer makes measurements of the normalized radar-backscatter coefficient σ° of the ocean surface. To retrieve the wind, a geophysical model function (GMF), which relates σ° to the near-surface wind, is used. The wind vector can be estimated using maximum-likelihood techniques from several σ° measurements made at different azimuth angles. The probability density of the measured σ° is assumed to be Gaussian with a variance that depends on the true σ° and therefore, depends on the wind through the GMF. With this model for wind estimation, the Cramer-Rao (C-R) bound is derived for wind estimation, and its implications for wind retrieval are discussed. As part of this discussion, the role of geophysical modeling error is considered and shown to play a significant role in the performance of near-surface wind estimates. The C-R bound is illustrated using parameters from the ERS AMI, NSCAT, and Sea Winds scatterometers     

Radio interfaces make the difference in 3G cellular systems

Third-generation cellular telephony is on its way-not, unfortunately, as a single worldwide system, but as three incompatible ones. The main difference between the three lies in their choice of radio interface technology. This fact is crucial for several reasons, since the radio interface determines not only the fundamental capacity of a mobile radio network, but also how it deals with such issues as interference, multipath distortion, and handing off calls from one base station to another as users move around. Consequently, as might be expected, the choice of radio interface has a dramatic effect on the complexity of the system and its cost. Also, global travellers will need more than one phone with which to communicate, at least until trimode phones reach the market. To understand what is being developed, and why, the author begins with one of the stated goals of third-generation (3G) systems, namely to support variable user data rates as high as 2 Mb/s. In one way or another, all three approaches provide for adaptive bandwidth-on-demand. Two of the systems use wideband code-division multiple access (WCDMA) for the radio interface. The other uses two variations of time-division multiple access (TDMA)     

The use of cryogenically ground rubber tires as a filler in polyolefin blends

The effects of cryogenically ground rubber tires (CGT) on some of the mechanical properties of blends with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are presented. Precoating the CGT particles with an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer is shown to overcome most of the deleterious effects of adding CGT to LLDPE, while still retaining composite processability. A blend of 40 wt% EAA coated CGT particles with LLDPE is shown to have impact and tensile strengths that are 90% of those for the pure LLDPE, representing increases of 60 and 20%, respectively, over blends with uncoated particles. Blends of LLDPE with ground tire bladders demonstrate that even better mechanical properties can be obtained with similar large rubber particle size but somewhat better adhesion. For HDPE, however, it is shown that with large rubber particles, moderate adhesion is not sufficient to produce useful composites.     

XRD analysis and microstructure of milled and sintered V, W, C, and Co powders

In the current study, results of the milled and sintered V, W, C, Co powders are presented. Analytical techniques such as SEM equipped with EDS and XRD were used to study microstructure and phase evolution, respectively. In addition to B1 (VW)C solid solution, a rhombohedral V₂O₃ and new τ-type (Cr₂₃C₆) carbide were formed after sintering. The possible formation mechanisms behind detected phases are discussed. It is evident that complete MA process depends strongly on the starting compositions of pure elements, their lattice coherency according to Hume-Rothery rules on crystal structure and atomic size, and enough milling time that provides adequate kinetics.     

Growth kinetics of nc-Si:H deposited at 200 °C by hot-wire chemical vapour deposition

We report on the growth kinetics of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon, with specific focus on the effects of the deposition time and hydrogen dilution on the nano-structural properties. The growth in the crystallite size, attributed to the agglomeration of smaller nano-crystallites, is accompanied by a reduction in the compressive strain within the crystalline region and an improved ordering and reduction in the tensile stress in the amorphous network. These changes are intimately related to the absorption characteristics of the material. Surface diffusion determines the growth in the amorphous regime, whereas competing reactions between silicon etching by atomic hydrogen and precursor deposition govern the film growth at the high-dilution regime. The diffusion of hydrogen within the film controls the growth during the transition from amorphous to nanocrystalline silicon.     

Broadband CPN demonstrator using wavelength and time divisionmultiplexing

RACE Project 1036 is developing the technology for a broadband customer premises network (CPN) using wavelength and time division multiplexing (WTDM). Features include close wavelength spacing (4 nm in the 1500 nm band), high-speed time multiplexing (2.5 Gbit/s, STM-16), and a layered control protocol. An initial demonstrator with two wavelengths carrying TV signals at 155 Mbit/s was exhibited in the autumn of 1990 and is now evolving into the final demonstrator due at the end of 1992 which will show 16 wavelengths and a 2.5 Gbit/s multiplex of HDTV, TV, and sound. The authors describe the devices made in the Project, the demonstrators, and the performance results achieved so far