A 16-Mbit/s adapter chip for the IBM token-ring local area network

The authors describe a 9.02×9.02-mm chip built in 1-μm CMOS with two levels of metal and an additional mask level for fabricating capacitors. It contains both analog and digital circuits and has provisions for self-test. The function includes the transmitter, receiver, protocol handler, an microprocessor, as well as interfaces for RAM/ROM storage, IBM PC bus, IBM PS/2 bus, IBM 3174 bus, and Motorola 68000 bus. The physical design terrains are formed by 24K circuits of standard cell gates, a 10K-circuit equivalent hand-honed custom microprocessor, and an analog macro. The chip operates from a single 5-V supply, and the power consumption is 0.8 W nominal at 16 Mb/s. The chip can also be operated at 4 Mb/s     

Effects of Sodium Hydroxide and Selected Inorganic Phosphates on the Characteristics of Reduced Sodium Meat Emulsions

The effects of adding sodium hydroxide (NaOH), separately or in combinastion with various inorganic phosphates, on meat emulsion characteristics were studied. In comparing the addition of either NaPP or NaOH, 0.075% NaOH resulted in a higher raw emulsion pH and greater solubilized protein than 0.30% NaPP, but NaPP resulted in a more stable emulsion. The combination of 0.075% NaOH and 0.30% NaPP resulted in a soluble protein level less than when the ingredients were added individually and only slightly higher than if neither were present. The addition of NaOH (at 1 part NaOH to 4 parts phosphate) decreased cooked yields. With NaAPP and NaPP, NaOH reduced yields below that of the control.     

Optimisation of thermal processing — A review

The mathematical methods for optimising the effects of heat processing food products are reviewed in relation to microbial destruction, nutrient destruction, cooking value and loss of quality. Some data are presented for the kinetics of the various thermal effects. The results obtained by various workers are presented with particular reference to nutrient retention.     

Separation, identification and determination of lumichrome in swine feed and kidney.

During surveillance of hog carcasses from Manitoba for antibiotic residues by the Health of Animals Laboratory, Agriculture Canada, Saskatoon, an unknown substance was found which produced tetracycline-like results with the methods used. This same substance was found in an implicated swine feed premix. Using various HPLC systems and columns, UV spectroscopy, reverse-phase TLC, and mass spectrometry, the substance was isolated from the feed premix, and identified as lumichrome, a photodegradation product of riboflavin. Traces of the same substance were found in riboflavin standard. Analysis of swine kidney, previously found to contain the unknown, showed the same substance was present at a level of about 1 ppm.     

A Statistical Method for Reconfiguration of Cognitive Radios

Recent developments in computer technology have enabled radio developers to accomplish in software what traditionally was performed with application-specific integrated circuits. A radio that has the core of its functionality implemented in software is called a software-defined radio. When an SDR has the capability to sense, reason, and dynamically adapt to requirements and environmental change, we call this more capable device a cognitive radio. Many private and public agencies are investing in the promise of CR to improve the utilization of radio frequency spectrum. They envision devices that can sense frequency vacancies and dynamically reconfigure to utilize idle channels. The promise of CR depends on the capability of a radio to change operating frequencies, power, and/or modulation schemes (physical layer flexibility). In addition to this physical layer flexibility, there are a large number of opportunities to capitalize on the interplay of the CR physical layer configuration and other parameters in the radio network protocol stack. At the core of CR functionality is the ability to select from thousands of potential configurations to maximize performance-be it in terms of spectrum use, throughput, or reliability. In this article, we describe a method for selecting from a number of potential configurations to fulfill the communication requirements of a CR network. By using accepted statistical methods, we show how parameters at the physical, data link, network, and application layers interact to affect performance. We build upon this parametric insight with our presentation of a technique for predicting radio performance.     

Digital forecasting control with the use of neural predictors

The use of prognostic control methods in the digital systems controlling asynchronous electric drives are considered. The methodology for synthesizing predictors on the basis of neural networks is explained. An example of the synthesis of a numeral predictor for a closed control loop is considered.     

Development of an undergraduate course – Internet-based instrumentation and control

The objective, strategy, and implementation details of a new undergraduate course, Internet-based Instrumentation and Control, are presented. The course has a companion laboratory that is supported by the National Science Foundation and industry. The combination is offered to senior-level undergraduate engineering students interested in sensing, instrumentation, control, and web programming that want to learn more about the integration of these technologies for solving real-world engineering problems. The course will also be offered to gifted high school seniors with similar interests and can serve as a vehicle to attract them to engineering disciplines. Preliminary assessment of the first offering of the course is encouraging and has shown that the course has achieved success in helping students understand concepts and master basic technologies for developing Internet-based automatic systems.     

Stand and deliver

Poor service provision within the global software services industryis contributing to a profound rethink in many firms that offerinformation and technology services. Recent press reports suggestthat all but a few software providers are willing to committhe organisation and its resources to high volume high riskservice provision.     

Water-soluble copolymers: 22. Copolymers of acrylamide with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanedimethylammonium chloride: Aqueous solution properties of a polycation

The viscometric, turbidimetric and potentiometric properties of copolymers of acrylamide (AM) with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanedimethylammonium chloride (AMPDAC) were studied in aqueous solutions. The AMPDAC polymers exhibit poor salt tolerance and large, negative viscosity/temperature coefficients. Furthermore, the polymers were found to be sensitive to changes in pH. The AMPDAC polymers undergo phase separation in the presence of dianions as a function of temperature and AMPDAC composition.