On self-routing in Clos connection networks

A self-routing connection network is a switching device where the routing of each switch can be determined in terms of the destination addresses of its inputs alone, i.e. independent of the routing information regarding the other switches in the network. One family of connection networks that were considered in the literature for self-routing are Clos networks. Earlier studies indicate that some Clos networks can be self-routed for certain permutations. In this paper, it is proved that the only category of Clos networks that can be self-routed for all permutations are those with at most two switches in their outer stages     

A bidding decision index for construction contractors

Results from applying the model on a sample of contractors, the majority of whom were international and operating in Egypt, reinforces the credibility of the developed methodology, claim the authors.     

Verification of wind resource study of a Scottish region

In a survey of the practical wind energy resource present in the Tayside Region of Scotland it was estimated that over 1500 km² of land is suitable for wind energy development in the Region after consideration of a range of physical, technical and institutional factors. Wind speed data for this survey was obtained from the Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU) UK Wind Speed Data Package. To verify the wind speeds obtained from the ETSU package a representative sample of sites in and around the identified areas of potential in Tayside were modelled for mean annual wind speed using the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WA^sP). The wind speeds for the sites obtained from the WA^sP analysis were compared with those obtained from the ETSU UK Wind Speed Data Package and conclusions drawn as to the reliability of the Tayside wind energy survey and the general applicability of the ETSU package for broad wind energy resource assessment.     

Effect of repositioning of rhodium direct-charge detectors in a RBMK-1000 reactor on fuel and emitter-material burnup coefficients

Scientific-Technical Center “Atomtekhénergo.” Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant. N. V. Sultanov Institute of Nuclear Reactors, Russian Scientific Center “Kurchatovskii institut.” Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 76, No. 6, pp. 470–473, June, 1994.     

Vacuum heating of spherical alumina particles

Heating of spherical alumina particles by high-intensity laser radiation under vacuum conditions to the melting temperature is investigated with account for the nonuniform distribution of energy sources with respect to the particle volume.B. I. Stepanov Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk. Translated fron Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 67, Nos. 3–4, pp. 307–312, September–October, 1994.     

Preparation of Metal-Coated Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites and Their Electromagnetic Properties

Medium temperature curing by infrared radiation was used to prepare electromagnetic wave absorbing multilayered plastic matrix composite materials containing metal-coated carbon fibers (MCFs). The electromagnetic properties of the materials were investigated by frequency scanning tests with microwave vector network analyzer. It is found that the electromagnetic parameters, mainly permittivity of the composites increase significantly with the addition of MCFs, which gives the composites good designability as thin, light-weight EM wave absorbers. It is also shown that MCFs can improve on the EM wave energy attenuating property of the composites by widening the work frequency band width and raising the absorptive peak     

ACT3: a high-speed, high-precision electrical impedance tomograph

Presents the design, implementation, and performance of Rensselaer's third-generation adaptive current tomograph, ACT3. This system uses 32 current sources and 32 phase-sensitive voltmeters to make a 32-electrode system that is capable of applying arbitrary spatial patterns of current. The instrumentation provides 16 b precision on both the current values and the real and reactive voltage readings and can collect the data for a single image in 133 ms. Additionally, the instrument is able to automatically calibrate its voltmeters and current sources and adjust the current source output impedance under computer control. The major system components are discussed in detail and performance results are given. Images obtained using stationary agar targets and a moving pendulum in a phantom as well as in vivo resistivity profiles showing human respiration are shown     

Excitation loss of open resonators

Reported here are the results on level and structure of the radiated field of an open resonator at and off resonance. On the basis of the modelling problem rigorous solution and the measurements at 4-millimeter wavelength we find there are no ways to compensate the radiated field from an open electromagnetic structure at resonance. Analysis of open resonator excitation efficiency shows that the mismatch loss of a slot-fed open resonator runs to 34% while at the aperture-feed excitation this is not more than 6% for the same-geometry resonator.     

Study of the beta -delayed neutron decay of 18N

The shortage of suitable liver donors for children has motivated the use of ABO-incompatible (ABO-I) grafts for transplantation in urgent situations. However, survival after ABO-I liver grafts has been reported at about 30% as compared with 80% in cases of ABO-identical or -compatible liver grafts. This difference has been attributed to antibody-mediated, hyperacute or chronic liver rejection, due to preformed ABO antibodies (alloantibodies). In this study, we report our results with ABO-I livers in children without alloantibodies at the time of transplantation. From January 1988 to June 1993, 143 OLT were performed in 122 children. Eight children received 8 ABO-I liver grafts. Of these, 7 patients were included in the study. All 7 were alloantibody free before OLT. Five children were spontaneously alloantibody free, while in 2 children, the plasma alloantibodies were eliminated before and after transplantation using intravenous infusion of specific blood group antigens of the donor blood group (soluble antigens). Immunosuppression consisted of a triple-drug treatment combining CsA, AZA, and steroids. The follow-up period was between 10 and 48 months. One child died from a surgical complication. Six children survived, but 1 died 10 months later from intestinal obstruction. There were no graft losses and no episodes of hyperacute or chronic rejection. The graft and patient survival rate was 71%. There was a 28% incidence of rejection, but all were mild (requiring steroid boluses only). Our results suggest that the absence of ABO alloantibodies at the time of and after transplantation can protect ABO-I liver grafts against antibody-mediated rejection, whether hyperacute or chronic, and that soluble antigens are effective in eliminating alloantibodies in children.     

Inclusion body fibromatosis of the breast. Two cases with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings

Two cases of fibromatosis of the breast, characterized by a proliferation of spindle cells containing intracytoplasmic, spherical, eosinophilic inclusion bodies, are reported. The light and electron microscopic features, as well as the immunohistochemical features, are indistinguishable from those found in infantile digital fibromatosis. The proliferating spindle cells are characterized as myofibroblasts, whereas the inclusion bodies show an immunohistochemically nonreactive, hollow-like pattern with peripheral reactivity for actin filaments. This lesion, observed for the first time in the breast, expands the number of extradigital inclusion body fibromatoses.