A bandwidth latency tradeoff for broadcast and reduction

The “fractional tree” algorithm for broadcasting and reduction is introduced. Its communication pattern interpolates between two well known patterns—sequential pipeline and pipelined binary tree. The speedup over the best of these simple methods can approach two for large systems and messages of intermediate size. For networks which are not very densely connected the new algorithm seems to be the best known method for the important case that each processor has only a single (possibly bidirectional) channel into the communication network.     

Linear array of woodpile EBG sectoral horn antennas

A technique is described for creating linear array antennas that conform to the natural stacking sequence of the woodpile electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) material. Each element in the linear array consists of a woodpile EBG sectoral horn antenna. The electromagnetic confinement mechanism within each horn antenna relies wholly on the 3-D EBG of the woodpile material. The array element has a typical sectoral horn pattern with a directional beam in one principal plane and a broader beam in the other. The bandwidth of the sectoral horn is almost equal to that of the defect EBG waveguide. Measured and theoretical results for radiation patterns, impedance bandwidth and gain of a sectoral horn antenna made from alumina are described, and theoretical results for a design made from silicon are presented. It is shown that the layer-by-layer nature of the woodpile EBG material enables sectoral horn antennas to be easily stacked together in the E-plane to create linear arrays. Analysis of the mutual coupling as a function of element separation and its effect on reflection coefficient are presented for a two-element linear array in silicon. Theoretical analyses for fixed and scanned beam linear arrays of silicon woodpile EBG sectoral horns are described and finite-difference time-domain results are compared with array theory. The fixed beam arrays are designed for high directivity while the scanned beam array enables wide angle beam steering through the use of parasitic array elements.     

Speed-sensorless vector torque control of induction machines usinga two-time-scale approach

Conditions for observability of a linearized smooth-airgap induction machine model are examined, and limitations of any speed-sensorless observer scheme based on such a model are discussed. An approach for speed-sensorless flux estimation based on singular perturbation theory is developed. This approach relies on the natural time-scale separation between the electrical and mechanical dynamics of the induction machine. A full-order observer of an induction machine is presented, incorporating a correction term which has an intuitive explanation when one considers steady-state stator currents. Using singular perturbation theory, convergence of the observer is shown for all open-loop stable operating points of the induction machine, with the exception of DC excitation. Sensitivity of the observer to parameter deviations is discussed. Experimental results are presented confirming the validity of the above approach     

Isolation and characterization of polymers in heated olestra and an olestra/triglyceride blend

High molecular weight components in thermally oxidized olestra (formerly called sucrose polyesters) and a mixture of olestra and soybean oil were characterized. The high molecular weight components of these oils were separated by preparative size exclusion chromatography and analyzed intact by mass spectrometry, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The materials isolated from the heated olestra were identified as olestra polymers. Materials isolated from the heated mixed oil (olestra and soybean oil) were identified as polymers of olestra and copolymers of olestra and triglycerides. Polymer linkages identified were identical to those resulting from thermal oxidation of natural vegetable oils of similar fatty acid composition.     

Controlled Nucleation of GaN Nanowires Grown with Molecular Beam Epitaxy

The location of GaN nanowires is controlled with essentially perfect selectivity using patterned SiN_x prior to molecular beam epitaxy growth. Nanowire growth is uniform within mask openings and absent on the mask surface for over 95% of the usable area of a 76 mm diameter substrate. The diameters of the resulting nanowires are controlled by the size of the mask openings. Openings of approximately 500 nm or less produce single nanowires with symmetrically faceted tips.     

Flexible Nanosomes (SECosomes) Enable Efficient siRNA Delivery in Cultured Primary Skin Cells and in the Viable Epidermis of Ex Vivo Human Skin

The extent to which nanoscale‐engineered systems cross intact human skin and can exert pharmacological effects in viable epidermis is controversial. This research seeks to develop a new lipid‐based nanosome that enables the effective delivery of siRNA into human skin. The major finding is that an ultraflexible siRNA‐containing nanosome—prepared using DOTAP, cholesterol, sodium cholate, and 30% ethanol—penetrates into the epidermis of freshly excised intact human skin and is able to enter into the keratinocytes. The nanosomes, called surfactant‐ethanol‐cholesterol‐osomes (SECosomes), show excellent size, surface charge, morphology, deformability, transfection efficiency, stability, and skin penetration capacity after complexation with siRNA. Importantly, these nanosomes have ideal characteristics for siRNA encapsulation, in that the siRNA is stable for at least 4 weeks, they enable highly efficient transfection of in vitro cultured cells, and are shown to transport siRNA delivery through intact human skin where changes in the keratinocyte cell state are demonstrated. It is concluded that increasing flexibility in nanosomes greatly enhances their ability to cross the intact human epidermal membrane and to unload their payload into targeted epidermal cells.     

The cardiovascular effects of diazepam and of diazepam and pancuronium during fentanyl and oxygen anaesthesia

A study of the physiological behaviour of the synthetic compound Orthonil (alpha-chloro-beta-(3-chloro-o-tolyl)-propionitrile revealed a strong auxin activity in higher plants. Otherwise, Orthonil appeared not to be a herbicide-auxin. It is metabolized intensively in plant tissues. Among the identified metabolites, two compounds were detected which also exert a high auxin activity. It is concluded that at least a part of the apparent auxin activity of Orthonil may be due to alpha-(3-chloro-o-tolyl) acetic acid, one metabolite of Orthonil. Although Orthonil strongly stimulates elongation growth, this growth is not accompanied by a stimulated ethylene evolution as is the case with other auxins. A possible metabolic pathway of Orthonil is discussed.     

Renal transport of urate during diuretic-induced hypouricemia

The effect of two weeks administration of a uricosuric diuretic (SKF-62698) on renal urate handling has been examined in 11 normal men. Plasma urate concentrations had declined by more than 60 per cent after two weeks. Urate excretion per unit of glomerular filtration rate and urate clearance (Curate) per unit of glomerular filtration rate were increased after the administration of SKF-62698. The importance of intact tubular secretion of urate in producing these changes was assessed by administering pyrazinamide, an agent that curtails urate secretion, to each participant. The decrements in urate excretion and clearance produced by pyrazinamide both increased significantly, whereas the residual urate excretion rates and clearances not suppressible by pyrazinamide were only minimally altered by SKF-62698 treatment. These results suggest that the excretion of secreted urate was enhanced by prolonged administration of SKF-62698, probably secondary to the inhibition of postsecretory urate reabsorption. In addition, because the nonsuppressible urate excretion did not decline despite a 63 per cent reduction in the plasma urate, it is likely that the reabsorption of filtered urate also was impaired by SKF-62698.