Power control in feedback communications over a fading channel

Pilot symbol assisted modulation and a minimum mean-square error (MMSE) channel predictor are used to employ feedback MMSE power control over a frequency nonselective slow Rayleigh fading channel. Feedback is assumed to be noiseless and delayless. First, the performance of the pilot symbol system using MMSE power control is derived in the case of the frame size of two. Lag error is noticed to cause severe performance degradation, even when the channel is very slowly fading. In order to decrease the lag error and to get a good system performance, the number of estimator coefficients is found to become quite large. The operating strategy of MMSE power control is studied by Monte Carlo simulations and compared to various strategies presented in the literature. Spectral efficiency of the pilot symbol system is increased by transmitting more than one data symbol in a given frame. Finally, the performance of the pilot symbol system using MMSE power control is derived in the case of an optimal frame size     

Endothelial cell-matrix interactions

Dynamic interactions between endothelial cells and components of their surrounding extracellular matrix are necessary for the invasion, migration, and survival of endothelial cells during angiogenesis. These interactions are mediated by matrix receptors that initiate intracellular signaling cascades in response to binding to specific extracellular matrix molecules. The interactions between endothelial cells and their environment are also modulated by enzymes that degrade different matrix components and thus enable endothelial invasion. Recent reports on gene targeting in mice have confirmed the role of two classes of matrix receptors, integrins and cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and a group of matrix degrading proteolytic enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases, in angiogenesis. The significance of endothelial cell-matrix interactions is further supported by several ongoing clinical trials that analyze the effects of drugs blocking this interaction on angiogenesis-dependent growth of human tumors.     

Sensor validation using minimum mean square error estimation

Sensor fault can be detected and corrected in a multichannel measurement system with enough redundancy using solely the measurement data. A single or multiple sensors can be estimated from the remaining sensors if training data from the functioning sensor network are available. The method is based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimation, which is applied to the time history data, e.g. accelerations. The faulty sensor can be identified and replaced with the estimated sensor. Both spatial and temporal correlation of the sensors can be utilized. Using the temporal correlation is justified if the number of active structural modes is larger than the number of sensors. The disadvantages of the temporal model are discussed. Experimental multichannel vibration measurements are used to verify the proposed method. Different, and also simultaneous, sensor faults are studied. The effects of environmental variability and structural damage are discussed.     

Impact of heat load location and strength on air flow pattern with a passive chilled beam system

A passive chilled beam is a source of natural convection, creating a flow of cold air directly into the occupied zone. Experiments were conducted in a mock-up of an office room to study the air velocities in the occupied spaces. In addition, velocity profiles are registered when underneath heat loads exist and the cool and warm air flows interact. Experimental laboratory study revealed that in the case of the underneath heat gains, even no upward plume was generated and the dummy only acted as a flow obstacle, having a significant effect on the velocity profile. Furthermore, in an actual occupied office environment, the thermal plumes and the supply air diffuser mixed effectively the whole air volume. The maximum air velocity measured was still below 0.25 m/s with the extremely high heat gain of 164 W/m². The results demonstrate that analysis methods were the interaction of convection flow and jet are not taken into account could not accurately describe air movement and draught risk in the occupied room space.     

Sphingosine 1-phosphate mobilizes sequestered calcium, activates calcium entry, and stimulates deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in thyroid FRTL-5 cells

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (SPP) potently mobilizes sequestered calcium and is a mitogen in several cell types. In the present investigation, we have evaluated the effect of SPP on intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and synthesis of DNA in thyroid FRTL-5 cells. SPP rapidly and transiently mobilized sequestered calcium and stimulated entry of extracellular calcium. The entry of calcium, but not the mobilization, was in part inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (Ptx), and by activation of protein kinase C. SPP did not stimulate the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. SPP stimulated the incorporation of 3H-thymidine in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effect was not inhibited by Ptx. Furthermore, SPP stimulated the activation of the proto-oncogene c-fos. SPP rapidly tyrosine-phosphorylated an approximately 66 kDa protein. This phosphorylation persisted for at least 1 h. Pretreatment of the cells with genistein abolished the SPP-evoked tyrosine phosphorylation, and attenuated the SPP-evoked increase in [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, the SPP-evoked activation of Na+-H+ exchange was inhibited by genistein. The phosphorylation was not attenuated by pretreatment of the cells with Ptx. SPP per se did not affect cellular cAMP levels but attenuated the TSH-evoked increase in cAMP. As the effect of SPP might be due to activation of phospholipase D, we tested whether phosphatidic acid (PA) mobilized calcium or stimulated the incorporation of 3H-thymidine. PA mobilized sequestered calcium but did not stimulate calcium entry. PA very modestly enhanced the incorporation of 3H-thymidine. Our results suggest, that SPP stimulates DNA synthesis and activates entry of calcium in FRTL-5 cells. The effect on calcium entry appears to be dependent, at least in part, on one or several tyrosine kinases.     

Integrating scenic and recreational amenities into numerical forest planning

This study proposes an operational way of computing the amenity value of a forest area that consists of several stands or compartments. Such a method produces an amenity index suitable for numerical optimization. With this method of computation, amenity is divided into scenic and recreation values. Scenic value of the forest depends on the visibility, area, and scenic beauty score of different compartments. Recreation value of the forest is a weighted mean of variety and the area-weighted mean recreation value of compartments. Variety is described by the total length of boundaries between distinctly different compartments. Recreation value of a compartment is the product of accessibility and recreation score of the compartment. Recreation and scenic beauty scores are computed from stand characteristics using empirical models. The study describes a complete planning system that uses the developed amenity index as a decision criterion, and relates a case study to illustrate the effect of amenity objective on choice of treatments for compartments.     

Syntax-directed compression of program files

Parsing can be applied to compress source programs. A suitably encoded parse tree, together with the symbol table, constitutes a very compact representation of the program. The paper reports a Prolog implementation of the method, including automatic, syntax-directed, encoder and decoder generators. The test results show compression gains of 50–60 per cent.