A/I Net: a network that integrates ATM and IP

Future networks need both connectionless and connection-oriented services. IP and ATM are major examples of the two types. Connectionless IP is more efficient for browsing, e-mail, and other non-real-time services; but for services demanding quality and real-time delivery, connection-oriented ATM is a much better candidate. Given the popularity of the Internet and the established status of ATM as the broadband transport standard, it is unlikely that one can replace the other. Therefore, the challenge we face lies in finding an efficient way to integrate the two. This article describes a research project reflecting this trend. The project aims at efficient integration of the two to eliminate the deficiencies of a standalone ATM or IP network     

Simulation evaluation of Gibbs prior distributions for use in maximum a posteriori SPECT reconstructions

The effects of several of Gibbs prior distributions in terms of noise characteristics, edge sharpness, and overall quantitative accuracy of the final estimates obtained from an iterative maximum a posteriori (MAP) procedure applied to data from a realistic chest phantom are demonstrated. The effects of the adjustable parameters built into the prior distribution on these properties are examined. It is found that these parameter values influence the noise and edge characteristics of the final estimate and can generate reconstructions closer to the actual solution than maximum likelihood (ML). In addition, it is found that the choice of the shape of the prior distribution affects the noise characteristics and edge sharpness in the final estimate.     

Study of BiCMOS logic gate configurations for improved low-voltageperformance

A simple BiCMOS configuration employing the source-well tie PMOS/n-p-n pull-down combination is proposed for low-voltage, high-performance operations. The improved BiCMOS gate delay time over that of the NMOS/n-p-n (conventional) BiCMOS gate is confirmed by means of inverter simulations and measured ring oscillator data. The source-well tie PMOS/n-p-n BiCMOS gate outperforms its conventional BiCMOS counterpart in the low-voltage supply range, at both high and low temperatures. A critical speed path from the 68030 internal circuit is used as a benchmark for the proposed BiCMOS design technique. The measured propagation delay of the BiCMOS speed path is faster than its CMOS counterpart down to 2.3 V supply voltage at -10°C and sub-2 V at 110°C     

Principal axes and surface fitting methods for three-dimensional image registration

We evaluated the effect of the image acquisition parameters on the accuracy of the principal axes and surface-fitting techniques for three-dimensional image registration. Using two types of phantom objects, MR brain image and a mathematically defined ellipsoid, we simulated pairs of scans with known acquisition parameters, including longitudinal coverage, magnitude of mis-registration, number of sections and section thickness. Both methods are sensitive to the systematic deformation of contours. The principal axes method is also sensitive to incomplete scan coverage and to the x-axis and y-axis misangulation. Both methods are insensitive to the number of sections, section thickness and the number of points per section. Surface fitting performed well without user supervision. There is no need for routine inclusion of the scaling factors as search parameters. The results confirm the feasibility of three-dimensional multimodality registration of brain scans with accuracy 1-2 mm, with surface fitting being the method of choice.     

Fluorescence in situ hybridization mapping of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene to 7q31.3

We have used the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique to refine the localization of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene on human chromosome 7. The result shows that the gene is most likely located within band q31.3.     

Failure Process of Granite

The initiation, development, and coalescence of cracks when a rock specimen is loaded have been studied by various researchers. The current consensus is that such complex process is however not yet fully understood. In the present study, the problem has been revisited by carrying out extensive testing on granite specimens. Each specimen was loaded under uniaxial loading condition to various load levels in both prepeak and postpeak ranges. After unloading, the crack patterns were printed onto the surface of a piece of resin. The images of the patterns were then captured using a digital camera through optical microscope or scanning electron microscope. Statistical analyses on these images were then carried out using an image analysis software. The study focuses on the cracking behavior of the various mineral components of the granite and their respective roles in the failure process. In addition, a numerical model was developed to simulate the test results and parametric study was carried out to investigate the effects of various factors (heterogeneity index, C/T ratio, grain arrangement, and grain size, etc.) on the failure behavior of the granite. The study has provided insight on the development of cracks, especially in the postpeak range. A better understanding on the roles of the major minerals in failure process of the granite has been achieved.     

Attenuation compensation for cardiac single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging: Part 1. Impact of attenuation and methods of estimating attenuation maps

Attenuation is believed to be one of the major causes of false-positive cardiac single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) perfusion images. This article reviews the physics of attenuation, the artifacts produced by attenuation, and the need for scatter correction in combination with attenuation correction. The review continues with a comparison of the various configurations for transmission imaging that could be used to estimate patient specific attenuation maps, and an overview of how these are being developed for use on multiheaded SPECT systems, including discussions of truncation, noise, and spatial resolution of the estimated attenuation maps. Ways of estimating patient specific attenuation maps besides transmission imaging are also discussed.