A quaternary partial-response class-IV transceiver for 125 Mbit/sdata transmission over unshielded twisted-pair cables: principles ofoperation and VLSI realization

The paper describes an experimental transceiver for full-duplex transmission at a rate of 125 Mbit/s over unshielded twisted-pair cables of ordinary voice-grade quality, intended for use in a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) network. Quaternary partial-response class-IV (QPRIV) overall-channel signaling with near-end crosstalk (NEXT) cancellation and maximum-likelihood sequence detection is employed. The spectral shape of the QPRIV signals facilitates equalization and achieving compliance with EMC regulations. Since in an FDDI system each transmitter can be clocked independently, the receiver must cope with phase drift between NEXT signals to be cancelled and signals received from the remote transmitter. With the chosen transceiver architecture, digital-to-analog conversion of transmit signals, analog-to-digital conversion of receive signals, and adaptive NEXT cancellation are performed synchronously with the transmitter clock. The rate change from transmit timing to controlled receive timing is accomplished by an adaptive equalizer in conjunction with an elastic buffer and occasional coefficient shifts. The equalizer is adjusted rapidly enough to allow for a maximal phase drift of ±100 ppm. The implementation of all digital signal-processing functions in a single 0.5 μm CMOS VLSI prototype chip is discussed. The employed standard-cell design resulted in a power consumption of 6 W. Significantly lower power consumption can be achieved by custom design of highly repetitive processing elements     

Using neural networks to select wavelet features for breast cancerdiagnosis

This study focuses on improving microcalcification classification by establishing an efficient computer-aided diagnosis system that extracts Daubechies-4 and biorthogonal wavelet features. These wavelets were chosen because they have been used in military target recognition and fingerprint recognition research with images characterized by low contrast, similar to mammography. Feature selection techniques are employed to further increase classification performance. The artificial neural network feature selection techniques are complemented by a conventional decision boundary-based feature selection method. The results using the wavelet features are compared to more conventional measures of image texture, angular second moment, and Karhunen Loeve coefficients. The use of alternative signal processing to compare wavelet and neural techniques allows for a measure of the problem difficulty. It is concluded that advances and contributions have been made with the introduction of two novel feature extraction methods for breast cancer diagnosis, wavelets and eigenmasses. Additionally, feature selection techniques are demonstrated, compared, and validated, transforming adequate discrimination power into promising classification results     

High-resolution analysis of T-cell receptor beta-chain repertoires using DNA heteroduplex tracking: generally stable, clonal CD8+ expansions in all healthy young adults

Harringtonine (HT), an anticancer drug with high chemotherapeutic efficiency to human chronic granulocytic/myelomonocytic leukemia, has been reported to rapidly induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells in a wide scope/range of dosage by investigators from our lab and others. In the present studies, by using video enhancement contrast (VEC) microscopy, we dynamically analyzed changes in intracellular calcium distribution in a single HL-60 cell over the period from the initiation of apoptosis to the obvious appearance of chromatin condensation. The results from this paper demonstrated the striking distinction of intracellular calcium distribution at different time points after treatment with HT. Before treatment in normal HL-60 cells the highest [Ca2+]i accumulation was observed in the peri-nuclear area and the lowest was observed in the nucleus; after treatment with 1 microg/ml HT for 30 min intracellular calcium diffused all over the cell compartments, while intranuclear calcium increased comparatively and significantly. The phenomenon of intranuclear calcium accumulation was further confirmed by using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). In addition, co-localization of the highest calcium region with condensed chromatin in apoptotic HL-60 cells was also observed by LSCM. Our results suggest that two sequential alterations of intracellular calcium distribution occurred in apoptotic HL-60 cells induced by HT, i.e. (a) accumulation of calcium in the nucleus and (b) regionalization in a specific nuclear region.     

Korrosionsverhalten von Plasma- Heißdraht-Auftrag-Schweißungen. Teil I: Beständigkeit von auftraggeschweißten Nickelbasislegierungen gegen Loch- und interkristalline Korrosion

The corrosion properties of Plasma-Hot-Wire-Surfacing Part one: resistance of Nickel-base-alloy claddings against pitting and intergranular attack This paper describes measurements at claddings of nickel-based-alloys C 276, C 4 and C 22 on the St 52-3 steel substrat produced by Plasma-Hot-Wire-Surfacing (PHS). The correct heat control during the welding process is a crucial factor for the preparation of nearly precipitate-free claddings. For this reason it was necessary to optimize all the process data. The claddings itself as well as the rolled reference material (both of nearly the same chemical composition) were examined by means of metallografical and microanalytical techniques. Corrosion measurements show, that the composite materials exhibit high resistance both against pitting and intergranular corrosion and comparable to the properties of the rolled reference material. This was shown by determination of the critical pitting temperature in quinary salt solution, by electrochemical techniques in acidic chloride solution and by investigation in iron-(III)-sulfate-sulphuric acid solution.     

An algorithm for combined cell-site selection and power control tomaximize cellular spread spectrum capacity

There is much current interest in spread spectrum wireless mobile communications and in particular the issue of spread spectrum wireless capacity. We characterize spread spectrum cellular capacity and provide a combined power control, cell-site selection algorithm that enables this capacity to be achieved. The algorithm adapts users' transmitter power levels and switches them between cell-sites, and it is shown that the algorithm converges to an allocation of users to cells that is optimal in the sense that interference is minimized. The algorithm is decentralized, and can be considered as a mechanism for cell-site diversity and handover. We provide numerical examples to show how effectively the algorithm relieves local network congestion, by switching users in a heavily congested cell to adjacent, less congested cells     

Caring for dying children: nurses' experiences

Interviews with 25 nurses in this grounded theory study show that when nurses recognized that a child's death was inevitable, they struggled with both grief distress and moral distress. Their distress occurred within the context of the nurse-patient relationship. Nurses employed a range of strategies to manage their distress. Several conditions facilitated or constrained nurses' strategies, and resulted in far-reaching implications both professionally and personally.