BER performance analysis of a direct conversion receiver

Direct conversion receivers are increasingly popular for use in mobile terminals. This is due to advantages over other architectures such as heterodyne receivers in terms of cost, electrical current, and physical size. However, a direct conversion receiver often generates a DC-offset that has to be taken care of either by suppressing the DC-offset in the radio-frequency part of the receiver, or by taking care of it during baseband processing. A theoretical analysis of the bit error rate (BER) performance in a direct conversion receiver with different levels of DC-offset suppression is presented. Explicit results are presented on how the BER depends on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the signal-to-DC-level, and the choice of pilot symbols both with M-QAM and M-PSK in a slow, flat Rayleigh fading channel. A design rule, which applies to the design of DC-compensation in direct conversion receivers, is also presented     

Control Mechanisms in Network Structures

Formulation of the problem of designing the optimal structure of an active system was considered within the framework of the game-theoretical model of interaction of its participants. Solution and the results of studying the control mechanisms in applications such as in-house management and multiagent systems were presented.     

Mechanism analysis of gate-induced drain leakage in off-state n-MOSFET

An analytical expression for both band-to-band and band-trap-band indirect tunnelings is used to study the gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) current of MOSFETs measured before and after hot-carrier stress. The voltage and temperature dependence of GIDL are characterized. Both results show that interface traps situated near the midgap participate in the conduction of GIDL, and band-trap-band indirect tunneling could be the major mechanism. This is further supported by the fact that the percentage increase in GIDL induced by hot-carrier stress is about the same as the corresponding increase in interface-trap density. On the other hand, under low-field conditions, trap-assisted Poole–Frenkle emission dominates over tunneling for temperatures even well below room temperature.     

Extracorporeal cholelithotripsy, is it still justified as treatment of cholecystolithiasis?

This prospective study evaluates the results of extracorporal shock-wave piezoelectric lithotripsy in 52 patients, 41 with radiolucent and 11 with calcified shell gallstones. The fragmentation rate was above 90% and the complication rate 31% particularly with pains or intolerance to the adjuvant dissolution therapy. At the end of the treatment, seven cholecystectomies were carried out among the 31 patients for who lithotripsy failed. After 18 months, the success rate was 23% and 12 patients only remained stone free. Nowadays, thanks to the new laparoscopic therapy, extracorporal shock-wave lithotripsy is no longer judged appropriate, especially because of its poor cost-effectiveness and high recurrence ratio.     

A statistical analysis of the received signal from blood duringlaminar flow

In order to determine the limiting velocity resolution that can be achieved using ultrasound, and to provide a model which can be generalized for the analysis of disturbed flow, a theoretical and experimental evaluation of the statistics of the received signal from laminar flow following the transmission of a train of short pulses is presented. The authors derive the autocorrelation function and determine the length of the correlated signal for various flow rates, comparing experimental measurements to theoretical predictions. High resolution experimental RF M-mode images are used to verify the theoretical model. Using a fluid with a density, viscosity, volume concentration, particle size, and speed of sound which is similar to that of blood, the authors show that the signal remains correlated for a long interval under many conditions of clinical interest. Including a comparison with experimental data, the effect of the lateral transit time through the sample volume and the axial velocity spread within the sample volume on the correlation of the received signal is evaluated. When a significant range of velocity components is present within the sample volume, this range is the limiting factor in the length of the correlated signal interval. Therefore, the use of a wideband signal, which reduces the sample volume size, produces a returned signal that may be correlated for a larger number of pulses, or for a longer time     

Enhancement Effects in the Percutaneous Absorption of Alprazolam Through Human Skin in vitro

The enhancement effects of some chemicals on the percutaneous absorption of alprazolam through human skin was investigated in vitro. Linoleic acid, oleic acid, Comperlan F® (linoleic acid diethanolamide), Comperlan KD® (coconut fatty acid diethanolamide) and Ethomeen C12® (bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)cocamine) were evaluated for their enhancing effect either as neat solvents or combined with propylene glycol. The effects of skin pretreatment with the enhancers on the percutaneous absorption of alprazolam from a drug suspension in an aqueous gel were also investigated: skin pretreatment with some enhancers has shown potentially interesting aspects. The determination of alprazolam partitioning into untreated and pretreated horny layer supported the idea that, with oleic and linoleic acid, a contribution to the modification of the diffusional resistance of the skin was given by an increase of the drug solubility in the stratum coraeum.     

Nature of terpenoids of aTaxodioxylon gypsaceum from the fossil forest of Dunarobba (Italy)

A specimen fromt he fossil forest of Dunarobba (Central Italy) attributed toTaxodioxylon gypsaceum was chemically analyzed particularly for its terpene content. Main chemical constituents show variations related to ageing and carbonization process, while terpene content exhibits a drop of mono- and sesquiterpenes in favour of diterpenes and higher MW compounds. All components are exclusively hydrocarbons and represent alicyclic or partially aromatic structures. The identified families include abietane, phyllocladane, norabietane and norpimarane among diterpenes and traces of cadinane and selinane among sesquiterpenes.