Dynamical effects of time delays and time delay compensation inpower controlled DS-CDMA

Transmission power control is essential in systems of the third-generation (3G) in order to optimize the bandwidth utilization, which is critical when variable data rates are used. One remaining problem is oscillations in the output powers, due to round-trip delays in the power control loops together with the power up-down command device. The oscillations are naturally quantified using discrete time-describing functions, which are introduced and applied. More importantly, time delay compensation (TDC) is proposed to mitigate the oscillations. When employing TDC, the power control algorithm exhibits greater stability, which is important from a network perspective. Simulations illustrate the oscillations and the benefits of TDC. Moreover, the fading tracking capability is improved, and thus, less fading margin is needed. The results apply not only to wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), but to other direct-sequence (DS) CDMA systems power controlled in a similar manner as well     

Sufficient output conditions for identifiability in blindequalization

The problem of input identifiability in blind deconvolution is considered where the input belongs to a known discrete alphabet. Input identifiability is an algorithm independent property, which does not necessarily imply channel identifiability. Sufficient conditions for input identifiability are derived in terms of algebraic relations on the observed output. It is shown how these new results relate to and unify other known sufficient conditions     

Composition and properties of bovine milk: A study from dairy farms in northern Sweden; Part II. Effect of monthly variation

This study investigated the influence of monthly variation on the composition and properties of raw farm milk collected as part of a full-scale cheese-making trial in a region in northern Sweden. In our companion paper, the contribution of on-farm factors to the variation in milk quality attributes is described. In total, 42 dairy farms were recruited for the study, and farm milk samples were collected monthly over 1 yr and characterized for quality attributes of importance for cheese making. Principal component analysis suggested that milk samples collected during the outdoor period (June–September) were different from milk samples collected during the indoor period. Despite the interaction with the milking system, the results showed that fat and protein concentrations were lower in milk collected during May through August, and lactose concentration was higher in milk collected during April through July than for the other months. Concentrations of free fatty acids were generally low, with the highest value (0.86 mmol/100 g of fat) observed in February and the lowest (0.70 mmol/100 g of fat) observed in June. Plasmin and plasminogen-derived activities varied with sampling month without a clear seasonal pattern. The pH of farm tank milk ranged from 6.60 to 6.82, with the lowest and highest values in September and February, respectively. The highest somatic cell count was observed in August (201 × 10³ cells/mL) and the lowest in April (143 × 10³ cells/mL). The highest value of gel strength, was recorded in December (88 Pa) and the lowest in July (64 Pa). Rennet coagulation time and gel strength were inversely correlated, with the lowest rennet coagulation time value observed in December. Orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS) and discriminant analysis adaptation of OPLS identified casein micelle size and total proteolysis as the milk quality attributes with major responses to sampling month, with smaller casein micelle size and higher total proteolysis associated with the outdoor months. Using discriminant analysis adaptation of OPLS to further investigate causes behind the variation in milk traits revealed that there were factors in addition to feeding on pasture that differed between outdoor and indoor months. Because fresh grass was seldom the primary feed in the region during the outdoor period, grazing was not considered the sole reason for the observed difference between outdoor and indoor periods in raw milk quality attributes.     

A distributed image-processing system for measurements of intracellular calcium in living cells.

During the last decade, image-processing techniques have been introduced as a valuable tool in biologically oriented research. In combination with novel fluorescent probes, these techniques permit assessment of subcellular distributions of several intracellularly important cations, such as free calcium ions and protons. Typically, systems used for image processing are located centrally around the experimental setup. This configuration has drawbacks, mainly because the laborious extraction and processing of data that generally follow an experimental session limits the access to the system for other investigators. We describe here the principles of a distributed image processing system, based on IBM-compatible personal computers (PCs), that without extra hardware can cope with all the necessary image processing involved in imaging of intracellular cations. The potential of the PC as an image processor, however, reaches beyond this specific application and many image processing tasks can be carried out successfully on a standard PC. Thus, the centrally located dedicated image processor is used only for image acquisition in the experimental situation. This in turn optimizes the utilization of expensive resources and increases efficiency. The mouse-operated software is described in detail, so that interested investigators can extract useful parts for integration into their own applications and experimental environment.     

A systemic downregulation of gamma interferon production is associated with acute shigellosis

Production of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Shigella-infected patients was assessed. The frequencies of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-beta, and transforming growth factor beta mRNA-expressing cells were persistently upregulated during the course of shigellosis in comparison to those of healthy controls. In contrast, the frequency of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) mRNA-expressing cells was significantly reduced during the acute stage compared to that during the convalescent stage and to that of healthy Bangladeshi controls (P < 0.01). Constitutive IFN-gamma production in Bangladeshi controls was significantly upregulated compared to that in Swedish controls.     

Intensified treatment of acute childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia has improved prognosis, especially in non-high-risk patients: the Nordic experience of 2648 patients diagnosed between 1981 and 1996. Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO)

In a multinational, population-based study from the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), 2648 children below 15 y of age were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in the years 1981-1996. The annual incidence was 3.9/100000 children and was stable throughout the study period. The development from regional or national protocols to common Nordic treatment protocols for all risk groups was completed in 1992 through a successive intensification of therapy, based on multidrug chemotherapy including pulses of methotrexate in high doses and avoidance of cranial irradiation in most children. For children with non-B-cell ALL (n=2602), the event-free survival (p-EFS) increased from 0.53+/-0.02 (diagnosed 7/81-6/86) to 0.67+/-0.02 (7/86-12/91) to 0.78+/-0.02 (1/92-12/96). The corresponding p-EFS values at 5 y were 0.57, 0.70 and 0.78, respectively. The main improvements were seen in the group of children with non-high risk leukaemia, with 5-y p-EFS values increasing from 0.60 to 0.76 and 0.85 for the three periods. In high-risk patients, progress has been moderate, especially in children with high white blood cell values at diagnosis. During the last 5-y period, only 10% of the patients received cranial irradiation in first remission while 90% of the patients received high doses of cytostatic infusions (methotrexate isolated or combined with cytarabinoside) and multiple intrathecal injections of methotrexate as CNS-adjusted treatment without any indication of an increased CNS relapse rate.     

Record output power (25 mW) across C-band from widely tunable GCSR lasers without additional SOA

A GCSR laser with optimised coupler design and tailored reflector grating is presented. Output power is larger than 25 mW across the C-band with 40 dB SMSR and only 1.4 dB power variation without additional SOA.     

XLPE compound for fast cable line speed

The results point in the direction that an XLPE with an increased number of vinyl groups can be used to achieve a higher cable line speed, compared with present technology, without defined major drawbacks. The economic benefits of a higher output from a cable vulcanization line and the impact this would have on the possibilities in cable manufacturing justify further work in this field. We will continue our research and development in order to define the limits and possibilities of this technology