Decision-directed maximum-likelihood estimation of OFDM framesynchronisation offset

The authors propose a method to estimate the synchronisation offset for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame alignment without resort to pilot tones. A decision-directed maximum-likelihood estimation of frame synchronisation offset is derived, and the performance of the proposed scheme is confirmed by computer simulation for QAM systems     

Genetic definition of a new bovine papillomavirus type 1 open reading frame, E5B, that encodes a hydrophobic protein involved in altering host-cell protein processing

We have previously observed that bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) induces the appearance of five cellular proteins in C127 mouse fibroblasts, four of which appear to arise by altered processing of resident endoplasmic reticulum proteins. Studies of various cell lines revealed that expression of the 3' end of the BPV early region was sufficient for induction of these changes. To identify the BPV gene responsible, we have utilized the simian virus 40 (SV40)/BPV-1 recombinant virus Pava-1, which expresses the 3' end of the BPV early region behind an SV40 early promoter. C127 cells infected with Pava-1 for 48 h show the expected BPV-associated alterations, as do cells infected with Pava constructs mutated in the E5 or E2 genes. However, a mutation in the start codon of a previously ignored open reading frame extending from nucleotides 4013 to 4170 (E5B) eliminated the BPV-associated changes. Similar results were obtained with COS cells infected with the Pava mutants and C127 cells transformed by full-length mutated BPV. Despite its influence on the processing of cellular endoplasmic reticulum proteins, this mutation in E5B did not alter BPV-transforming efficiency or the ability of transformants to form colonies in soft agar. The E5B open reading frame encodes a hydrophobic 52-amino-acid polypeptide that shares structural similarities with HPV6 E5A and HPV16 E5. Speculations on a role for E5B in the viral life cycle are discussed.     

Classification of pixels in a noisy grayscale image of polar ice

Often, in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of polar ice, one encounters shadow-like features across the images. Such features make it difficult to classify pixels into ice and water. Accordingly, it becomes a challenge to determine the true size and boundaries of ice floes in an SAR image of polar ice. We develop a simple statistical procedure which classifies pixels of an image by eliminating the effects of shadow-like features. Methodology developed in this paper is illustrated using some noisy SAR images of ice floes in the Arctic sea.     

A new MMIC broadside coupler using an array of air-bridges for directivity enhancement

A new quadrature broadside coupler is proposed, which employs an array of air-bridges to enhance directivity via its phase-equalization effect on the c-mode and /spl pi/-modes. The realization of air-bridges follows a standard MMIC fabrication process. An experimental chip fabricated on the 75-/spl mu/m GaAs substrate verifies the air-bridge effect and shows wideband characteristics of the coupling of 3.2/spl plusmn/0.4 dB, the insertion loss of 3.9/spl plusmn/0.4 dB, the output phase deviation from quadrature less than 6/spl deg/, and the isolation greater than 18 dB from 20 to 40 GHz.     

Test data compression and test time reduction using an embedded microprocessor

Systems-on-a-chip (SOCs) with many complex intellectual property cores require a large volume of data for manufacturing test. The computing power of the embedded processor in a SOC can be used to test the cores within the chip boundary, reducing the test time and memory requirements. This paper discusses techniques that use the computing power of the embedded processor in a more sophisticated way. The processor can generate and reuse random numbers to construct test patterns and selectively apply only those patterns that contribute to the fault coverage, significantly reducing the pattern generation time, the total number of test applications and, hence, the test time. It can also apply deterministic test patterns that have been compressed using the characteristics of the random patterns as well as those of the deterministic patterns themselves, which leads to high compression of test data. We compare three fast run-length coding schemes which are easily implemented and effective for test-data compression. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach by applying it to some benchmark circuits and by comparing it with other available techniques.     

A graphic approach to performance analysis of multistage linear interference canceller in long-code CDMA systems

The signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio performance of the multistage linear parallel and successive interference cancellers (LPIC and LSIC) in a long-code code-division multiple-access system is analyzed using a graphical approach. The decision statistic is modeled as a Gaussian random variable, whose mean and variance can be expressed as functions of moments of R for the LPIC and L for the LSIC, respectively, where R is the correlation matrix of signature sequences and L is the strict lower triangular part of R. Since the complexity of calculating these moments increases rapidly with the growth of the stage index, a graphical representation of moments is developed to facilitate the computation. Propositions are presented to relate the moment calculation problem to several well-known problems in graph theory, i.e., the coloring, the graph decomposition, the biconnected component finding, and the Euler tour problems. It is shown that the derived analytic results match well with simulation results.     

Deactivation of copper-ion-exchanged hydrogen-mordenite-type zeolite catalyst by SO2 for no reduction by NH3

Deactivation of copper-ion-exchanged hydrogen-mordenite-type zeolite catalyst by SO₂ for NO reduction by NH₃ was examined in a fixed-bed flow reactor. The deactivation of the catalyst was strongly dependent on reaction temperature. At high reaction temperatures over 300°C, the catalyst did not lose its initial activity up to 50 h of operation, regardless of SO₂ feed concentration from 500 to 20,000 ppm. However, at low reaction temperatures near 250°C, apparent deactivation did occur. Changes in the physicochemical properties such as surface area and sulfur content of deactivated catalyst well correlated with catalyst activity, depending upon reaction temperatures. The deactivation was due to pore blocking and/or filling by deactivating agents, which plugged and/or filled the pores of catalyst. The deactivating agents deposited on the catalyst surface were presumed to be (NH₄)₂SO₄ and/or (NH₄)HSO₄ from the results of TGA and ion-chromatography measurement.