Performance of personal access communications system-unlicensed B

The FCC has allocated the band between 1920 MHz and 1930 MHz for unlicensed personal communications services (UPCS) using isochronous or circuit operation. The UPCS spectrum is between the licensed PCS spectrum bands of 1850-1910 MHz and 1930-1990 MHz. Terminal interoperability in both the UPCS spectrum on private indoor wireless systems and the licensed spectrum on public PCS systems is desirable and encouraged by the FCC. This paper presents a port channel assignment process for the personal access communications system-unlicensed B (PACS-UB) which abides by the FCC etiquette for UPCS and discusses the corresponding uplink and downlink performance. Uplink power control is employed to improve the uplink performance. PACS-UB has a high degree of commonality with licensed PACS to permit economical licensed/unlicensed terminals and common network services. The results of our simulation show that, at 1% to 2% blocking probability, 99% of downlink local-mean signal-to-noise plus interference ratio (SINR) values are above 17 dB for a 10 to 20 m port separation. For a three-dimensional office environment, the uplink limits the SINR performance, however, with uplink power control, a 5.5 to 7 dB improvement in the uplink SINR can be achieved even for high traffic load     

Development of augmented reality system for AFM-based nanomanipulation

Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a nanomanipulation tool has been discussed for more than a decade. However, its lack of real-time visual feedback during manipulation has hindered its wide application. Fortunately, this problem has been overcome by our recently developed augmented reality system. By locally updating the AFM image based on real-time force information during manipulation, not only can this new system provide real-time force feedback but also real-time visual feedback. The real-time visual display combined with the real-time force feedback provides an augmented reality environment, in which the operator not only can feel the interaction forces but also observe the real-time changes of the nano-environment. This augmented reality system capable of nanolithography and manipulation of nano-particles helps the operator to perform several operations without the need of a new image scan, which makes AFM-based nano-assembly feasible and applicable.     

Imposition of boundary conditions by modifying the weighting coefficient matrices in the differential quadrature method

One of the important issues in the implementation of the differential quadrature method is the imposition of the given boundary conditions. There may be multiple boundary conditions involving higher‐order derivatives at the boundary points. The boundary conditions can be imposed by modifying the weighting coefficient matrices directly. However, the existing method is not robust and is known to have many limitations. In this paper, a systematic procedure is proposed to construct the modified weighting coefficient matrices to overcome these limitations. The given boundary conditions are imposed exactly. Furthermore, it is found that the numerical results depend only on those sampling grid points where the differential quadrature analogous equations of the governing differential equations are established. The other sampling grid points with no associated boundary conditions are not essential. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Melt-textured Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O11 bulk superconductors fabricated in a simple tube furnace

Using the simplified version of the melt-textured growth (MTG) technology with a simple tube furnace, we have fabricated superconductors satisfying the nominal composition Bi_1.6Pb_0.4Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₁. We would note that the material used in the fabrication was prepared by mixing a precursor Bi_1.6Pb_0.4Sr₂Cu₃O _x and CaO powder. This two step technique was found to be superior to the single step solid state reaction method after many trials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) morphologies show that the melt-textured bulk samples are made up of stacks of highly textured single crystal-like layers. X-ray analysis as well as d.c. magnetization measurements were carried out and theJ _c value was found to be 1.3×10³ A cm^–2 at 77 K using the Bean model. At this stage, thoughJ _c is not so high as that of the best samples obtained from other complicated methods involving special (hot) pressing and sintering techniques, we do not need to apply any mechanical treatment at or after the heating procedure.     

A microwave scattering model for layered vegetation

A microwave scattering model was developed for layered vegetation based on an iterative solution of the radiative transfer equation up to the second order to account for multiple scattering within the canopy and between the ground and the canopy. The model is designed to operate over a wide frequency range for both deciduous and coniferous forest and to account for the branch size distribution, leaf orientation distribution, and branch orientation distribution for each size. The canopy is modeled as a two-layered medium above a rough interface. The upper layer is the crown, containing leaves, stems, and branches. The lower layer is the trunk region, modeled as randomly positioned cylinders with a preferred orientation distribution above an irregular soil surface. Comparisons of results obtained using this model with measurements from deciduous and coniferous forests show good agreement at several frequencies for both like and cross polarizations     

POCS-based algorithm for restoring colour-quantised images

The paper studies the restoration of colour-quantised images. Restoration of colour-quantised images is rarely addressed in the literature, and direct applications of existing restoration techniques are generally inadequate to deal with this problem. The authors propose a POCS-based restoration algorithm specific to colour-quantised images, which makes a good use of the available colour palette to derive useful a priori information for restoration. The proposed restoration algorithm is shown to be capable of improving the quality of a colour-quantised image to a certain extent.     

Higher‐order accurate time‐step‐integration algorithms by post‐integration techniques

In this paper, a framework to construct higher‐order‐accurate time‐step‐integration algorithms based on the post‐integration techniques is presented. The prescribed initial conditions are naturally incorporated in the formulations and can be strongly or weakly enforced. The algorithmic parameters are chosen such that unconditionally A‐stable higher‐order‐accurate time‐step‐integration algorithms with controllable numerical dissipation can be constructed for linear problems. Besides, it is shown that the order of accuracy for non‐linear problems is maintained through the relationship between the present formulation and the Runge–Kutta method. The second‐order differential equations are also considered. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the validity of the present formulation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Autologous lymphokine-activated killer cell therapy of Epstein-Barr virus-positive and -negative lymphoproliferative disorders arising in organ transplant recipients

Lymphoreticular malignancies, collectively called posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), eventually develop in 2-5% of organ transplant recipients. They frequently undergo regression when immunosuppression is reduced or stopped. This feature has been associated with a previous or de novo Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. We herein describe immunotherapy with autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in seven patients with PTLD (four EBV-positive patients and three EBV-negative patients). Autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained by leukapheresis, depleted of monocytes, and cultured in the presence of interleukin 2 for 10 to 11 days. A single dose of 5.2 x 10(9) to 5.6 x 10(10) LAK cells was given intravenously. Systemic interleukin 2 was not administered. The four patients with EBV+ PTLD had complete tumor regression; two of them developed controllable rejection. Three patients are well 13-16 months after treatment; the fourth patient died of pneumonia 41 days after infusion. Three patients with EBV- lymphomas had no response despite prior evidence that their tumors also were subject to immune surveillance. Two of these three patients died after being given other treatment, and the third patient has persistent tumor. In conclusion, autologous LAK cell infusion was effective for treatment of four EBV+ organ transplant recipients. LAK cell efficacy for three patients with EBV- PTLD was not evaluable under the management circumstances in which this treatment was utilized.