Coupled AGC-Costas Loops with AM/PM Conversion

Costas loops are invariably designed in conjunction with an automatic gain control (AGC) loop for stabilizing performance. In such systems an inherent coupling between the AGC and Costas loops develops, complicating the standard phase referencing analysis. This coupling is further emphasized if the gain control amplifier introduces an AM/PM conversion, which causes power variations to enter the Costas loop as phase variations. In this paper the coupling effect between AGC and Costas loops is developed, leading to a pair of joint, interconnected dynamical tracking loops. Some degree of solution is attainable by assuming a first order AGC loop, and resorting to quasi-stationary analysis for evaluating the phase referencing generation. Results with and without AM/PM are presented, and illustrate how an improper AGC may in fact degrade the phase referencing from the expected performance.     

Signal Design for Digital Multiple Access Communications

In this concise paper we examine the signal design problem associated with a multiple access communication channel in which several binary digital links are operated simultaneously over a common channel. Receiver noise is neglected but the channel is confined in dimension, so that signal crosstalk is the only source of bit errors. An encoder is assumed to exist prior to channel transmission for converting the bit waveforms from all transmitters into a common channel signal available to all receivers. The encoder selects the channel signal during each bit so as to maximize the average detection probability per bit, where the average is taken over all links and all possible bit patterns. Two classes of receivers are considered. In the first the receivers are confined to only signal correlations with the corresponding transmitter signals. In the second the encoder and receivers are matched to arbitrary signal sets. For both type receivers, optimal channel signal selection is shown to be related to minimal hamming distance mappings. Values and bounds for the resulting detection probabilities in terms of numbers of transmitters and channel dimension are reported.     

Application of the Cell Method to the Simulation of Unsaturated Flow

The present work shows an alternative to the classical methods to solve the Richards' Equation (RE), used to model flow in unsaturated porous media. This alternative is named Cell Method (CM). The CM is based on a preliminary reformulation of the mathematical model in a partially discrete form, which preserves as much as possible the physical and geometrical content of the original problem, and is made possible by the existence and properties of a common mathematical structure of field theories. The goal is to maintain the focus, both in the modelling and discretization steps, on the physics of the problem. The present work derives the discrete formulation of the RE. Because of the nonlinearities involved, RE is often solved using low-order numerical approximation methods, such as Finite Difference (FDM) or Finite Element Methods (FEM). These types of solution methods are used in many of the existing unsaturated flow codes. We show how the CM can be applied in this problem. We have solved a number of test cases, available in literature, to verify the ability of our model to reproduce these results. We have used the Newton-iterative methods which use iterative linear solvers, such as the Bi-CGSTAB. Numerical results, as it is possible to see in the verification exercise section, show the CM to be effective compared with the classical approaches (FDM and FEM) to solve the flow in unsaturated porous media. The procedure presented here is not peculiar to groundwater hydraulics but also applicable in fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, heat conduction and electromagnetism.     

Sequential decision making with partially ordered preferences

This paper presents new insights and novel algorithms for strategy selection in sequential decision making with partially ordered preferences; that is, where some strategies may be incomparable with respect to expected utility. We assume that incomparability amongst strategies is caused by indeterminacy/imprecision in probability values. We investigate six criteria for consequentialist strategy selection: Γ-Maximin, Γ-Maximax, Γ-Maximix, Interval Dominance, Maximality and E-admissibility. We focus on the popular decision tree and influence diagram representations. Algorithms resort to linear/multilinear programming; we describe implementation and experiments.     

Does skilled migration foster innovative performance? Evidence from British local areas

What is the effect of an increase in the stock of human capital due to skilled immigration on the innovative performance of recipient economies? Combining firm‐level micro‐data with area‐level labour force information, this paper investigates the impact of skilled international migration inflows on firms' product and process innovation in British local labour market areas. The paper supports the evidence in favour of a causal link between immigration and innovation. Results also show that the nature of the innovative process and the typology of innovative activities performed by local firms play a key role in the relation between immigration and innovation.     

On-farm and postharvest processing sources of bacterial contamination to melon rinds

Multistate and international foodborne illness outbreaks, particularly involving cantaloupe and often involving rare Salmonella spp., have increased dramatically over the past 13 years. This study assessed the sources and extent of melon rind contamination in production fields and at processing and packing facilities. In the spring of 1999, cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. [reticulatus group] cv. Cruiser) sampled from two sites in the Rio Grande River Valley showed that postharvest-processed melon rinds often had greater plate counts of bacterial contaminants than field-fresh melons. Cantaloupe in the field had 2.5 to 3.5 log CFU g(-1) rind total coliforms by aerobic plate counts, whereas washed melons had 4.0 to 5.0 log CFU g(-1). In the fall of 1999, coliforms on honeydew melons (C. melo [inodorous group] cv. Honey Brew) ranged from 2.6 to 3.7 log CFU g(-1) after processing, and total and fecal coliforms and enterococci never fell below 2.5 log CFU g(-1). A hydrocooler at another site contaminated cantaloupe rinds with up to 3.4 log CFU g(-1) total and fecal enterococci; a secondary rinse with chlorinated water incompletely removed these bacteria. Sources of coliforms and enterococci were at high levels in melon production soils, especially in furrows that were flood irrigated, in standing water at one field, and in irrigation water at both sites. At one processing facility, wash water pumped from the Rio Grande River may not have been sufficiently disinfected prior to use. Because soil, irrigation water, and process water were potential sources of bacterial contamination, monitoring and management on-farm and at processing and packing facilities should focus on water quality as an important control point for growers and packers to reduce bacterial contamination on melon rinds.     

Simulation of dye solar cells: through and beyond one dimension

In this work we present a Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, called TiberCAD, to simulate Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSC). DSCs are particularly interesting devices due to their high efficiency (more than 11% on small area and 8% on large area) and long stability. Since their first development, much progress has been made in terms of efficiency, stability, lifespan and engineering of the device. However, the field of DSCs still lacks a complete model able to simulate the entire device over a general domain including all its components. In our model a drift-diffusion set of equations for the different charge carriers coupled to Poisson equation has been implemented within finite element method. The model takes into account also trap assisted transport for electrons in the mesoporous titanium dioxide with a phenomenological model derived from multi-trapping model.     

Characterization of Mitochondrial Alterations in Aicardi–Goutières Patients Mutated in RNASEH2A and RNASEH2B Genes

Aicardi–Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a rare encephalopathy characterized by neurological and immunological features. Mitochondrial dysfunctions may lead to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release and consequent immune system activation. We investigated the role of mitochondria and mtDNA in AGS pathogenesis by studying patients mutated in RNASEH2B and RNASEH2A genes. Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from RNASEH2A- and RNASEH2B-mutated patients and healthy control were used. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and flow cytometry were used to assess morphological alterations, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential variations. Seahorse Analyzer was used to investigate metabolic alterations, and mtDNA oxidation and VDAC1 oligomerization were assessed by immunofluorescence. Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to quantify mtTFA protein and mtDNA release. Morphological alterations of mitochondria were observed in both mutated LCLs, and loss of physiological membrane potential was mainly identified in RNASEH2A LCLs. ROS production and 8-oxoGuanine levels were increased in RNASEH2B LCLs. Additionally, the VDAC1 signal was increased, suggesting a mitochondrial pore formation possibly determining mtDNA release. Indeed, higher cytoplasmic mtDNA levels were found in RNASEH2B LCLs. Metabolic alterations confirmed mitochondrial damage in both LCLs. Data highlighted mitochondrial alterations in AGS patients’ LCLs suggesting a pivotal role in AGS pathogenesis.     

The Hedgehog-GLI Pathway Regulates MEK5-ERK5 Expression and Activation in Melanoma Cells

Malignant melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, with a poor prognosis in advanced stages. We recently showed that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5), encoded by the MAPK7 gene, plays a pivotal role in melanoma by regulating cell functions necessary for tumour development, such as proliferation. Hedgehog-GLI signalling is constitutively active in melanoma and is required for proliferation. However, no data are available in literature about a possible interplay between Hedgehog-GLI and ERK5 pathways. Here, we show that hyperactivation of the Hedgehog-GLI pathway by genetic inhibition of the negative regulator Patched 1 increases the amount of ERK5 mRNA and protein. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that GLI1, the major downstream effector of Hedgehog-GLI signalling, binds to a functional non-canonical GLI consensus sequence at the MAPK7 promoter. Furthermore, we found that ERK5 is required for Hedgehog-GLI-dependent melanoma cell proliferation, and that the combination of GLI and ERK5 inhibitors is more effective than single treatments in reducing cell viability and colony formation ability in melanoma cells. Together, these findings led to the identification of a novel Hedgehog-GLI-ERK5 axis that regulates melanoma cell growth, and shed light on new functions of ERK5, paving the way for new therapeutic options in melanoma and other neoplasms with active Hedgehog-GLI and ERK5 pathways.     

Switching devices in sol-gel hybrid thin film technology

Development of non-volatile memories based on organic soft materials is one of two main trends in industry for flash-memories. The electrical bistability of such materials makes them ideal candidates for cost-effective, fast programming switching devices. SiO₂-Rose Bengal (bis-triethylammonium) hybrid thin films are reported here together with their characterizations. The technology yields well reproducible films with good current-voltage switching characteristics. Owing to their physical and chemical stability the films are suited to standard micro-photolitography technology, rendering their fabrication cost-effective.