Differential space time block codes using nonconstant modulus constellations

We propose differential space time block codes (STBC) using nonconstant modulus constellations, e.g., quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), which cannot be utilized in the conventional differential STBC. Since QAM constellations have a larger minimum distance compared with the phase shift keying (PSK), the proposed method has the advantage of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain compared with conventional differential STBC. The QAM signals are encoded in a manner similar to that of the conventional differential STBC. To decode nonconstant modulus signals, the received signals are normalized by the channel power estimated forgoing training symbols and then decoded with a conventional QAM decoder. Assuming the knowledge of the channel power at the receiver, the symbol error rate (SER) bound of the proposed method under independent Rayleigh fading assumption is derived, which shows better SER performance than the conventional differential STBC. When the transmission rate is more than 3 bits/channel use in time-varying channels, the simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method with the channel power estimation outperforms the conventional differential STBC. Specifically, the posed method using the channel power estimation obtains a 7.3 dB SNR gain at a transmission rate of 6 bits/channel use in slow fading channels. Although the performance gap between the proposed method and the conventional one decreases as the Doppler frequency increases, the proposed method still exhibits lower SER than the conventional one, provided the estimation interval L is chosen carefully.     

Photogenerated base as catalyst for imidization reactions

The photogeneration of free amines or diamines from soluble organic precursors such as photoactive 2-nitrobenzyl carbamates is useful for the imidization of polymers containing amic acid or amic ester moieties. The base-catalyzed reaction occurs at lower temperatures than the non-catalyzed thermal process and is applicable to the patterning of polymer coatings or thin films.     

1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adducts: potential new biomarkers of smoking-induced DNA damage in human oral tissue

Diarrhea is a non-specific symptom which may be associated with Addison's disease and several causes had been demonstrated in the aetiology. We describe a patient with Addison's disease who was suffering from chronic diarrhea for three months. She was diagnosed as having collagenous colitis and successfully treated with Sulphasalazine, 2 g/day. Collagenous colitis is an uncommon cause of chronic diarrhea and the association of collagenous colitis with Addison's disease has not previously been described. We think that collagenous colitis may play a role in the aetiology of diarrhea in patients with Addison's disease and therefore we suggest a full colonoscopic examination in other patients with Addison's disease and diarrhea to determine the incidence of collagenous colitis in the aetiology of diarrhea.     

Granulocytic sarcoma as isolated extramedullary relapse after donor lymphocyte infusion in a patient with CML who relapsed after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: a case report

Nineteen patients with spina bifida and bilateral dislocation of the hips were studied with a minimal follow-up of 10 years. The average age at review was 21 years (range, 10-31). Ten patients had an upper neurologic level (thoracic to L3), and nine had a low lesion (L4 to sacrum). Three patients had no hip surgery. A closed or open reduction was performed in 12 hips, supplemented by one or more surgical procedures. Of these, 10 remained enlocated, and two had redislocated. In all other hips, several surgical procedures were performed, aimed at improvement of hip-flexion deformity or stability. At follow-up, one patient had occasional pain in one hip, which was dysplastic. Of the 10 patients with a high lesion, only two were walkers, but both had bilateral dislocation of the hips at follow-up. In contrast, all nine patients were walkers, but four of these had bilateral dislocation at follow-up. We found that a level pelvis and good range of motion of the hips are more important for ambulation than is reduction of bilateral hip dislocation.     

Preparation of sorbitol fatty acid polyesters,potential fat substitutes: Optimization of reaction conditions by response surface methodology

Effects of the reaction temperature, reaction time, mole ratio of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) to sorbitol, and mole ratio of fatty acid sodium soaps (FASS) to sorbitol on yields of sorbitol fatty acid polyester (SFPE) were examined with a response surface methodology. The optimum reaction conditions selected with response surface analysis were as follows: reaction temperature, 144°C; reaction time, 6.65 h; mole ratio of FAME to sorbitol, 10.7∶1; and mole ratio of FASS to sorbitol, 0.77∶1. Under these reaction conditions, the experimental yield of sorbitol fatty acid polyester (mean value: 92% range: 89–94%) obtained from seven replications was close to the predicted value (94%) calculated from the polynomial response surface model equation. The response surface methodology approach used in this study was able to predict the reaction conditions necessary for a high yield of sorbitol fatty acid polyester.     

Monte-Carlo simulation and performance optimization for the cathode microstructure in a solid oxide fuel cell

A 3D micro-scale model is developed to simulate the transport and electrochemical reaction in a composite cathode. This model takes into account the details of the specific cathode microstructure such as random pore structure, active TPB (three phase boundary) site distribution, particle size and composition and their interrelationship to the charge transfer and mass transport processes. Especially, the pore structure and mass diffusion were incorporated into this model. Influence of the microsturcture parameters on the performance was investigated by numerical simulations.     

MINIMAL VALID AUTOMATA OF SAMPLE SEQUENCES FOR DISCRETE EVENT SYSTEMS

Minimal valid automata (MVA) refer to valid automata models that fit a given input‐output sequence sample from a Mealy machine model. They are minimal in the sense that the number of states in these automata is minimal. Critical to system identification problems of discrete event systems, MVA can be considered as a special case of the minimization problem for incompletely specified sequential machine (ISSM). While the minimization of ISSM in general is an NP‐complete problem, various approaches have been proposed to alleviate computational requirement by taking special structural properties of the ISSM at hand. In essence, MVA is to find the minimal realization of an ISSM where each state only has one subsequent state transition defined. This paper presents an algorithm that divides the minimization process into two phases: first to give a reduced machine for the equivalent sequential machine, and then to minimize the reduced machine into minimal realization solutions. An example with comprehensive coverage on how the associated minimal valid automata are derived is also included.