Measurement of PLL phase error caused by power supply noise

The measurement of the accumulated phase error of phase-locked loops (PLLs) in microprocessor systems is discussed. A system which creates controlled power supply noise and measures the PLL response is described. Examples of the use of this technique are shown for a PLL used in a 400 MHz microprocessor     

Insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene associated with macroangiopathy and blood pressure in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the search for new risk factors for diabetic macroangiopathy the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene was studied in 237 consecutive patients (125 men and 112 women) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The female population showed an excess of ischemic electrocardiographic changes or definite myocardial infarctions in the patients homozygous for the deletion [D/D; odds ratio (OR) 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-5.3] and in the insertion/deletion heterozygotes (I/D; OR 1.8; CI 1.1-3.1) compared with the patients homozygous for the insertion (I/I). In the total series coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and claudication were more often observed in the patients with I/D (OR 1.5; CI 1.0-2.2) or the D/D genotype patients (OR 1.7; CI 1.1-2.6) than in those with the genotype I/I. The systolic blood pressure was lower in patients with genotype I/I (138 +/- 19 mmHg) than in those with the genotype I/D (149 +/- 22 mmHg) or D/D (150 +/- 21 mmHg; P < 0.02). The prevalence of hypertension and the median urinary albumin excretion rate also tended to be lowest in the I/I genotype patients. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that in women the angiotensin-converting enzyme D/D genotype is independently associated with coronary heart disease. Our findings suggest that variation at the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene locus is one of the factors involved in the predisposition of diabetic patients to the development of arterial disease and hypertension.     

Multilevel optimization applied to hull girder design using three panel forms

A multilevel design scheme for ship's hull girders (longitudinal members between two adjacent transverse frames) is presented in this paper. This design scheme handles, very conveniently, the complexity of using an optimization algorithm for such complex design problems having a large number of design variables, nonlinear constraints dealing with different failure modes and interactions among substructures, and nonlinear design objectives. The conventional multilevel design technique is modified by introducing an approach called constraint coordination to increase the probability of achieving the overall optimum very efficiently.The scheme is demonstrated by application to the structural design of hull girders with simple structural modelling to represent inland waterway ships on which there was a special emphasis in the original research project (Rahman 1991). Three possible panel (consisting of one stiffener and its attached plating) forms; tee stiffened, flat-bar stiffened and corrugated, are optimized to synthesize the hull girder in order to achieve the most efficient structure. The effect of price-structure (labour rate to material price ratio) on the design is also investigated.     

On the influence of damping in a problem of dynamic stability optimization

A non-uniform, elastic cantilever, with Kelvin-Voigt internal damping and viscous external damping, subjected to a follower load at its free end, is considered. The mass/stiffness distribution of the column is described by a limited number of orthogonal design functions. For different values of internal and external damping, the mass distribution maximizing the critical load is found. The design improvements are based on analytical sensitivity analysis and the optimal linear combination of the design functions is found by sequential linear programming. Interaction of eigenvalues and the transference of the instability branch during optimization are discussed. Finally, the energy relations for the critical modes are considered.     

Staurosporine and its derivatives enhance f-Met-Leu-Phe-induced superoxide production via phospholipase D activation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Staurosporine (STAR) is one of the most potent inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC). It is known that in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), the phorbol ester-induced generation of superoxide anion (respiratory burst) is effectively inhibited by STAR in a dose-dependent manner, whereas superoxide generation induced by chemoattractants, e.g. n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or PAF, is regulated biphasically by STAR. We compared the effects of STAR and K252a on FMLP-induced superoxide production from PMNs and examined the effects of propranolol, a inhibitor of phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphohydrolase, on the potentiation of the production by STAR. We also examined the effects of some derivatives of STAR and K252a on the production and the alteration of the effects induced by propranolol pretreatment. When PMNs were stimulated with FMLP, STAR potentiated superoxide production by 240.5 +/- 30.9% at a low concentration (100 nmol/l). Propranolol pretreatment specifically inhibited the potentiation. When phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) was used as a stimulant, STAR inhibited superoxide production dose-dependently and did not enhance the production. K252a inhibited PMA or FMLP-induced superoxide production dose-dependently and did not enhance FMLP-induced superoxide production. STAR derivatives showed potentiation of FMLP-induced superoxide production similar to that of STAR at concentrations ranging from 10-100 nmol/l, and propranolol (200 mumol/l) effectively inhibited it. K252a derivative NA332 did not show any potentiative effect on the production. PMA-induced superoxide production was inhibited by all compounds dose-dependently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evidence for superantigen involvement in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus aetiology

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease whose onset is believed to be triggered by unknown environmental factors acting on a predisposing genetic background. Islet-infiltrating T (IIT) cells from two IDDM patients, who had died at the onset of the disease from brain swelling as a complication of ketoacidosis, were analysed. The results provided evidence for the involvement of a pancreatic islet cell membrane-bound superantigen as a diabetes aetiopathogenetic factor. There was a selective expansion of a T-cell receptor (TCR) variable segment of the beta-chain (V beta 7) in these IIT cells in association with unselected V alpha-chain segments; extensive junctional diversity of the TCR V beta 7 chains; and evidence of positive selection, after exposure to diabetic islet cell membrane preparations, of V beta 7+ T-cell clones among peripheral blood lymphocytes from non-diabetic individuals.     

Ventilatory response to severe acute hypoxia in guinea-pigs and rats with high hemoglobin-oxygen affinity induced by cyanate

Laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection has been applied as a minimally invasive staging technique for men with prostate cancer. This procedure has been shown to shorten markedly postoperative hospitalization, decrease analgesic requirements and shorten convalescence period compared to open pelvic node dissection. However, the laparoscopic procedure takes longer to perform and many disposable instruments are used, thus increasing the cost. We determine the overall cost of laparoscopic versus open pelvic lymph node dissection. Between January 1989 and April 1992, 61 men underwent only staging pelvic lymph node dissection for cancer of the prostate at a single university teaching hospital. Of these patients 11 and 50 underwent open and laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection, respectively. Information from the hospital business office was reorganized into preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative expenses. All individual charges were transformed up or down to the dollar amounts of the 1990 to 1991 fiscal year so as to correct for inflationary changes. Preoperative costs were not significantly different between the 2 operative approaches. Intraoperative expenses were 52% greater if laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection was performed and can be explained by the longer operative times and use of disposable instrumentation. However, the postoperative period lasted an average of 1.61 days following laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection. Postoperative nursing and analgesic requirements were significantly more for patients undergoing open pelvic lymph node dissection. The overall postoperative costs following open pelvic lymph node dissection were 280% more expensive than for the laparoscopic procedure. The overall total costs were approximately $1,250 more for laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection. Wages lost or earned during this period and rapid return to normal activity following laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection would, in our opinion, justify this additional cost.     

Comparative analysis of HIV-1 and HIV-2 indeterminate western blot patterns

A comparison of HIV-1 and HIV-2 indeterminate Western blot patterns of Ghanaian sera collected between 1989 and 1990 was made. Antibodies to group specific antigen (GAG) gene products were most frequently detected both HIV-1 and HIV-2 indeterminate sera. HIV-2 GAG gene product p26 was shown to be a non-specific indicator of infection. Antibody to gp120, and envelope gene product of HIV-1 never occurred in indeterminate sera whereas antibodies to all the envelope gene products of HIV-2 were detected in indeterminate sera.