Joint Effect of MLSE and Receiver Filters Optimization on Dispersion Robustness of IMDD, DPSK, DQPSK, and Duobinary Modulation

We analyze the effectiveness of a 32-state maximum-likelihood sequence-estimation (MLSE) receiver on chromatic dispersion robustness of optical transmission based on several binary modulation formats: intensity modulation direct detection, differential phase-shift keying, and duobinary line coding. Multilevel differential quadrature phase-shift keying modulation is also analyzed using a four-state 2-bit/symbol joint MLSE processor. For all modulation formats, receiver filters are optimized together with the use of the MLSE technique.     

Volatile N-nitrosamines in sausage products

The authors studied the content of volatile N-nitrosamines (NA) in the most common sausage products. It was established that the total content of NA in sausage products is not high and ranges from trace amounts up to 10 micrograms/kg product. The allowable doses of nitrite in the sausage manufacture being low, no relationship was discovered between the content of NA and residual nitrite in meat products.     

STAyING ALIVE: STREET TREE SURVIVAL IN THE INNER-CITy1

A study was conducted from 1978 to late 1984 of the survival of inner-city street trees planted by the Oakland, California urban forestry program. The tree survival rate of approximately 60 to 70 percent from the trees planted in neighborhood parkways through urban forestry sponsored block parties contrasted sharply with less than one percent survival of trees planted earlier by the Model Cities program without community participation or ceremonial plantings. Explanations for the high tree survival were tested using participant observation, interviews with residents, and a small panel. Tree survival was not found to be related to the explanations provided by urban forestry ideology; namely, that residents had been educated to hold both instrumental and expressive values toward trees. Rather, the explanation appeared to be the function of an unintended solution to the issue of parkway ownership. The tree planting process which included species selection meetings and tree planting ceremonies tended to define the parkway trees as a resident's property, thus decreasing the significance of the parkway-property barrier. The generality of the Oakland illustration is discussed.     

Dynamics of nanosecond laser annealing of silicon

On the basis of a numerical solution of the Stefan problem, the dynamics of nanosecond laser annealing of silicon is investigated.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 306–312, February, 1985.     

Multivariate statistical analysis of a high rate biofilm process treating kraft mill bleach plant effluent.

This study reports on a multivariate analysis of the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) wastewater treatment system at a Canadian pulp mill. The modelling approach involved a data overview by principal component analysis (PCA) followed by partial least squares (PLS) modelling with the objective of explaining and predicting changes in the BOD output of the reactor. Over two years of data with 87 process measurements were used to build the models. Variables were collected from the MBBR control scheme as well as upstream in the bleach plant and in digestion. To account for process dynamics, a variable lagging approach was used for variables with significant temporal correlations. It was found that wood type pulped at the mill was a significant variable governing reactor performance. Other important variables included flow parameters, faults in the temperature or pH control of the reactor, and some potential indirect indicators of biomass activity (residual nitrogen and pH out). The most predictive model was found to have an RMSEP value of 606 kgBOD/d, representing a 14.5% average error. This was a good fit, given the measurement error of the BOD test. Overall, the statistical approach was effective in describing and predicting MBBR treatment performance.     

Technique to correct yellowing and foxing in antique books

New algorithms for the automatic restoration of antique documents affected by foxing and by yellowing deterioration processes are proposed in the paper. The physical restoration of such objects is both expensive and hard to carry out by nonspecialised library personnel. The proposed algorithms ensure fast and less expensive results, and can be used also by nonqualified operators. Moreover, these techniques improve the performance of optical character recognition operators.     

Thyroxine,Triiodothyronine, Reverse-Triiodothyronine,and Other Physiological Characteristics of Periparturient Cows Fed Restricted Energy

Eighty-six cows were assigned to two equal groups with group A fed according to National Research Council recommendations for total digestible nutrients for the 8 wk before parturition and group B was fed 21% higher energy in the first 6 wk and 15% higher in the last 2 preparturient wk. Thyroxine in blood serum decreased in both groups 14 days before and on the day of delivery. It was significantly lower in group A. Findings were similar with triiodothyronine. Blood serum concentrations of reverse-triiodothyronine of group A was significantly higher in group A on day 28 and 14 than group B before delivery. Energy intake had little influence on the serum concentrations of other constituents (albumin, total protein, immunoglobulin G, total and free cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids). Restricted energy intake that does not alter thyrotropin-thyrotropin-releasing hormone secretion results in higher rate of production of reverse-triiodothyronine and in decreased serum concentration of triiodothyronine. Slight changes of energy balance might be indicated readily by reverse-triiodothyronine concentration in blood serum.