1.04 GBd low EMI digital video interface system using small swingserial link technique

In a high-resolution flat panel system, a conventional interface that directly connects a liquid crystal display (LCD) controller to a flat panel cannot overcome the problems of excess EMI (electromagnetic interference) and power caused by full-swing transmission signals in parallel lines. This paper presents a high-speed digital video interface system implemented with a low-cost standard CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology that can mitigate EMI and power problems in high-resolution flat panel display systems. The combined architecture of the high-speed, small number of parallel lines and low-voltage swing serial interface can support resolutions from VGA (640×480 pixels) up to XGA (1024×768 pixels) with significant power improvement and drastic EMI reduction. To support high-speed, low-voltage swing signaling and overcome channel-to-channel skew problems, a robust data recovery system is required. The proposed digital phase-locked loop enables robust skew-insensitive data recovery of up to 1.04 GBd     

A Metallographic Study of the High-Temperature Decomposition of Austenite in Alloy Steels Containing Mo and Cr

Optical and electron microscopy have been used to study the complex microstructures developed during the isothermal decomposition of austenite above 550°C in Fe-4Mo-0.2C and Fe-10Cr-0.4C alloy steels. As the transformation temperature is decreased, the decomposition products change from the disordered growth of nodular alloy pearlites to blocky ferrite structures containing fine dispersions of alloy carbide, and finally to acicular ferrite structures also containing alloy carbide. The branched M₆C and M₂₃C₆ of the high-temperature pearlite is replaced by Mo₂C and M₇C₃ with a fibrous or lath morphology in the lower temperature structures. The decomposition microstructures are explained in terms of a model which takes account of the growth of particular alloy carbides at the interfaces of ferrite allotriomorphs, where the growth mechanism, and hence the morphology, is sensitive to transformation temperature.     

Red-green colour blindness in the Tormes-Alberche Valley (Avila-Central Spain)

A population from a Central Spanish region (Tormes-Alberche Valley) has been investigated for the presence of red-green colour vision defects. A sample of 998 subjects (469 male and 529 female) was analyzed. To identify colour vision defects, Ishihara test plates were used. The red-green colour blindness percentage obtained was 4.69 +/- 0.976% for males (2.13% protan and 2.56% deutan types) and none of the females tested were found to be colour blind. These results are within the variation range of Mediterranean populations and lower than the usual frequencies among non-Mediterranean European samples.     

Effect of race on outcome after kidney and kidney-pancreas transplantation in type 1 diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE: The racial impact on graft outcome is not well defined in diabetic recipients. The purpose of this study is to analyze our experience with kidney-alone (A) and kidney-pancreas (KP) transplantation in type 1 diabetic recipients and evaluate the impact of racial disparity on outcome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The records of 217 kidney transplants (118 KA, 99 KP) performed on type 1 diabetic patients between 1985 and 1995 at the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of Texas Medical Branch were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 53 (31%) white patients and 15 (33%) black patients experienced at least one episode of biopsy-proven acute rejection of the renal graft (NS). Patient survival at 1, 2, and 5 years was similar in white (92, 87, 69%) and black (91, 91, 69%) patients (NS). Kidney graft survival at 1, 2, and 5 years in the KA group was 72, 62, and 42% in blacks, compared with 79, 76, and 53% in whites (NS). Kidney graft survival at 1, 2, and 5 years in the KP group was 92, 92, and 74% in blacks, compared with 83, 77, and 58% in whites (NS). Pancreas graft survival at 1, 2, and 5 years was 81, 81, and 81% in blacks, compared with 81, 75, and 62% in whites (NS). Cox regression analysis revealed that donor age > or = 40 years increased the risk of renal graft failure 6.2-fold (P = 0.0001), whereas the addition of a pancreas transplant to a kidney and a living-related transplant decreased the risk of failure of the kidney graft 0.2 (P = 0.005) and 0.1 times (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that when compared with whites, there may be a trend toward an improved kidney and pancreas graft outcome in blacks undergoing KP transplants. These findings suggest that diabetes may override the risk factors that account for the pronounced disparity in outcome observed between nondiabetic white and black recipients.     

Coding region of NKX3.1, a prostate-specific homeobox gene on 8p21, is not mutated in human prostate cancers

Loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 8p21-22 is common in human prostate cancer, suggesting the presence of one or more tumor suppressor genes at this locus. A homeobox gene that is expressed specifically in adult human prostate, NKX3.1, the expression of which is regulated by androgen, maps to chromosome 8p21. Fine structure in situ mapping showed that NKX3.1 is proximal to MSR32 (macrophage scavenger receptor type II) and LPL (human lipoprotein lipase) and very close to NEFL (human neurofilament light chain) on 8p21. Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of 48 radical prostatectomy cancer specimens and 3 metastases for the entire coding region of NKX3.1 showed no tumor-specific sequence alterations in 50 specimens and total absence of the gene in 1 specimen known to have a biallelic deletion of 8p21. NKX3.1 was found to have a polymorphism at nucleotide 154 in codon 52 that resulted in a CGC-->TGC sequence change and an Arg-->Cys amino acid alteration (R52C). This polymorphism was present in 20% of DNA samples. If NKX3.1 is a target of the 8p21 LOH, it is not via disruption of the coding region of the gene.     

High-frequency performance of single quantum well infraredphotodetectors at high power densities

The high-frequency properties of quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIP's) based on a double-barrier single QW structure are studied theoretically. An analytical model of the QWIP is developed. The model takes into account the main processes responsible for the QWIP operation, namely, the electron tunneling from the emitter, capture of the electrons into the QW, their photoexcitation from the QW, and electron drift or ballistic transport across the QWIP structure. Analytical expressions for the QWIP responsivity as functions of the modulation frequency of infrared radiation, its power density, and the QWIP structural parameters are obtained from the rigorous self-consistent small-signal analysis. It is shown that there are two distinct ranges where the frequency dispersion of the responsivity is strong. At low frequencies, the responsivity dispersion is associated with the inertia of the process of recharging of the QW while at very high frequencies the dispersion is due to the electron transit-time effect. The influence of the electron transit-time effect on the QWIP admittance is also evaluated. The derivation of the QWIP high-frequency performance and, in particular, the estimates of 3-dB bandwidth show that the QWIP's have a great potential for devices utilizing both infrared radiation and millimeter or submillimeter wavelength microwave signals     

Simulation of frequency nonselective mobile channel with LOScomponent: a deterministic approach

A deterministic digital simulation model with finite sum of properly weighted sinusoids is used to simulate a frequency nonselective mobile channel with LOS component. Measurement data are used to optimise the parameters. Which are then used in the deterministic simulation model. The probability distribution and level cross rate (LCR) obtained from the measured data agree well with the analytical and simulation results     

Computerized determination of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in meningiomas. A comparison with non-automated method

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression has been proven to be a significant marker of cell proliferation in meningiomas, which correlates with growth rate and, as shown by several authors, possibly provides prognostic information concerning biologic behavior. However, the current method for determining PCNA labeling index (LI) is tedious and time consuming like all the nonautomated methods for evaluating cell kinetics, presenting high interobserver and interlaboratory variability and low reproducibility. In the present study, we introduce a semi-automated computer-assisted image analysis method for determining PCNA LI in 38 meningiomas, in parallel with the current nonautomated method. Image analysis technique permits unbiased cell counting, standardizes the degree of staining intensity and provides instant results. By calculating coefficient of variability, the method proved to be highly reproducible. The correlation between the results provided by the nonautomated and the semiautomated image analysis method showed a high agreement between them, with a correlation coefficient, r, of 0.82. In conclusion, we consider that image analysis contributes to the accuracy, reproducibility, and practicality of PCNA LI determination so that along with other useful parameters this significant marker may serve to predict the clinical behavior in meningiomas.     

Tuberculous duodenal obstruction--a case report

Proximal duodenal obstruction due to tuberculosis can masquarade as duodenal ulcer. Although commonest cause of duodenal obstruction is ulcer, other causes must be considered, particularly tuberculosis which is common in tropics.