An efficient technique for detecting catastrophic convolutional codes

Catastrophic convolutional codes (CC) cause an infinite number of decoded data bit errors when decoding a finite number of code symbols. A CC displays a catastrophic error propagation if the generating polynomials have a common factor. An efficient algorithm for polynomial factorization in GF(2^m) is used for detecting catastrophic CC for any rate n/m and constraint length k. A general formula is derived to calculate the number of catastrophic codes in any (m, n, k) CC.     

聚合物载体－稀土金属络合物的研究 ⅩⅢ．聚［苯乙烯－甲基丙烯酸β（甲基亚硫酰基）乙酯］的结构与其稀土金属络合物催化丁二烯聚合的活性

从测得的竞聚率计算了单体链节在聚［苯乙烯－甲基丙烯酸β（甲基亚硫酰基）乙酯］（ＰＳＭ）中的序列分布。苯乙烯（Ｓ）或甲基丙烯酸β（甲基亚硫酰基）乙酯（Ｍ）的长序列的概率随着ＰＳＭ中相应单体含量的增加而增加。对于Ｓ和Ｍ摩尔分数大致相等的ＰＳＭ，单体链节的长序列分布函数值相接近。用与此结构相近的ＰＳＭ合成的稀土金属络合物，其催化活性不佳。在Ｍ短序列分布和Ｓ长序列分布较高的情况下，络合物的催化活性最好。所得聚丁二烯的微观结构与ＰＳＭ中单体单元的分布无关。     

New concept for applying edge line phase-shifting masks to arbitrary mask layouts

This paper explains the principle of a method which avoids printing of phantom resist lines due to undesired intensity minima appearing on Cr-less edge line phase-shifting masks. The method combines principles of grey-tone lithography and attenuated phase-shifting masks to give, what we call, a Cr-Less Attenuated Phase-shifting mask (CLAP). Rules for generating a CLAP design and a paradigm setup of a CLAP mask are presented. The capabilities and possible limitations of the CLAP method based on simulated results for a standard wafer stepper setup using the SOLID lithography simulator are being assessed.     

Suppressive effect of corticosteroids on the gene expression of interleukin-5 and eosinophil activation in asthmatics

Although cortico steroids are effective anti-inflammatory agents in ameliorating asthma symptoms and bronchial hperreactivity, their mechanism of action is unknown. Interleukin (IL)-5 is known to play a key role in regulating eosinophil proliferation and activation. Therefore, we examined the changes of IL-5 mRNA expressions in PBMC semi-quantitatively with RT-PCR as well as serum ECP levels and MCH-PC20 values in asthmatics before and after being treated with corticosteroids. The results revealed that there were significant decrease in the level of IL-5 mRNA and serum ECP concentration after therapy (P < 0.05) and there was remarkable improvement in the values of MCH-PC20 and FEV1% (P < 0.05). It was also found that the changes of serum ECP levels or MCH-PC20 values were accompanied by a reduction in IL-5 mRNA expression (r = 0.5426 or 0.4857, P < 0.05). These results suggested that the therapeutic effects of corticosteroids in asthma may result from modulation of IL-5 gene expression with consequent inhibition of eosinophil activation.     

A new monitoring system for piping systems in fossil fired power plants

A CEC-funded project has been performed to tackle the problem of producing an advanced Life Monitoring System (LMS) which would calculate the creep and fatigue damage experienced by high temperature pipework components. Four areas were identified where existing Life Monitoring System technology could be improved:

1. 1. the inclusion of creep relaxation

2. 2. the inclusion of external loads on components

3. 3. a more accurate method of calculating thermal stresses due to temperature transients

4. 4. the inclusion of high cycle fatigue terms.

The creep relaxation problem was solved using stress reduction factors in an analytical in-elastic stress calculation. The stress reduction factors were produced for a number of common geometries and materials by means of non-linear finite element analysis. External loads were catered for by producing influence coefficients from in-elastic analysis of the particular piping system and using them to calculate bending moments at critical positions on the pipework from load and displacement measurements made at the convenient points at the pipework. The thermal stress problem was solved by producing a completely new solution based on Green's Function and Fast Fourier transforms. This allowed the thermal stress in a complex component to be calculated from simple non-intrusive thermocouple measurements made on the outside of the component. The high-cycle fatigue problem was dealt with precalculating the fatigue damage associated with standard transients and adding this damage to cumulative total when a transient occurred.

The site testing provided good practical experience and showed up problems which would not otherwise have been detected.     

Study of photosensitive mixtures of TMAE and helium, hydrocarbon or CF4-based carrier gases

Among the photocathodes used for particle identification based on the Cherenkov Ring Imaging technique, the TMAE molecule is still the best in terms of quantum efficiency. Despite the fact that TMAE gaseous photocathodes have already been used in a number of large experiments, one still seeks answers to many detailed questions. We present a systematic study of gaseous photocathodes based on TMAE mixed with helium, hydrocarbon and CF₄-based gases at normal pressure. The study includes a measurement of the electron drift velocity, gas quenching properties, single electron pulse height spectra and anode wire aging. The paper makes recommendations for carrier gas mixtures to obtain the best quenching, and suggests how to manage TMAE wire aging. This study was motivated by a specific particle identification detector proposal, the Fast Drift CRID proposed for the B-factory at SLAC.     

A Special Structure in Al-Mg-Li Alloy (01420) Weld Metal

A large quantity of laminated fine grain zones were observed in the Al-Mg-Li alloy weld metal by manual TIG, which was not found in ordinary Al alloy welds. The fine grain zone is formed because of the Al3(Zr,Ti) particles in the filler metal and the manual filling of filler metal in welding process     

CA／PAN中空纤维血浆分离膜的结构与性能

本研究以CA及PAN的共混溶液,通过干-湿法纺丝制取中空纤维,利用共混高聚物各组分在凝固剂中相分离速度的差异,形成具有稳定结构的中空纤维孔膜,该膜用于分离血液中的血浆成分具有良好效果。讨论了成型条件及添加剂等对膜结构、性能的影响,用SEM及图相分析仪、MAP压汞仪及DSC等分析手段,对膜的微孔结构、形态、孔尺寸及中空纤维膜的血浆通量和水通量等进行了系统的考查。     

A multi-agent decision support system for stock trading

A distributed problem solving system can be characterized as a group of individual cooperating agents running to solve common problems. As dynamic application domains continue to grow in scale and complexity, it becomes more difficult to control the purposeful behavior of agents, especially when unexpected events may occur. This article presents an information and knowledge exchange framework to support distributed problem solving. From the application viewpoint the article concentrates on the stock trading domain; however, many presented solutions can be extended to other dynamic domains. It addresses two important issues: how individual agents should be interconnected so that their resources are efficiently used and their goals accomplished effectively; and how information and knowledge transfer should take place among the agents to allow them to respond successfully to user requests and unexpected external situations. The article introduces an architecture, the MASST system architecture, which supports dynamic information and knowledge exchange among the cooperating agents. The architecture uses a dynamic blackboard as an interagent communication paradigm to facilitate factual data, business rule, and command exchange between cooperating MASST agents. The critical components of the MASST architecture have been implemented and tested in the stock trading domain, and have proven to be a viable solution for distributed problem solving based on cooperating agents