Bounds and Approximations for Rapid Evaluation of Coherent MPSK Error Probabilities

The error probability for MPSK detection is expressed here as a sum of a familiar upper-bound approximation and a correction term which is well suited for numerical integration. An asymptotic expansion of the correction term is derived, from which simple and extremely tight upper and lower bounds are obtained. Relative errors in using these bounds and approximations of them are graphed for cases of practical interest.     

Determination of polysorbates in foods by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple and rapid method using refractive index high-performance liquid chromatography (RI-HPLC) was developed for the determination of polysorbates (PS) in processed foods. PS were extracted with ethyl acetate containing 5% methanol. The extract was cleaned up on a multimode cartridge (300 mg) and an Alumina-N cartridge (500 mg) to remove fats and food color. HPLC separation was performed on a C18 column (4.6 i.d. x 150 mm) with methanol as the mobile phase. The recoveries of PS80 from nine kinds of foods fortified at the levels 1-5 g/kg were 80-99%. The limit of quantitation for PS80 in foods was 0.10 g/kg. The proposed method was applied to Worcestershire sauce that was PS-positive by TLC, and PS was confirmed to be present as PS80 at the concentration of 0.13 g/kg.     

Demonstration of loss reduction effect of 66 kV‐classed 30 MVA three phase hybrid‐core transformer by trial manufacture

To realize larger‐capacity “Hybrid‐core transformer: HBT”, this research has assembled a 30‐MVA three‐phase trial HBT and evaluated the loss performances. The hybrid‐core consisting of the wound amorphous‐ and the stacked silicon steel‐cores, is expected having advantages of lower iron loss of the iron‐based amorphous material and the higher mechanical strength and saturation magnetic flux density of the silicon steels simultaneously. Three‐dimensional finite‐element method analysis revealed that the silicon steel core prevented over‐saturation of the amorphous core. The hybrid configuration enabled the design to have an approximately 10% higher magnetic flux density than configurations with only an amorphous core. We then assembled a prototype 30‐MVA three‐phase HBT designed on the basis of our investigation results. Operation tests demonstrated that the HBT has 62%‐reduced iron loss and 0.10%‐higher 50%‐loaded power efficiency from the conventional silicon steel core transformer.     

HREF: a highest remaining energy first adaptive clustering algorithm for wireless sensor/mesh networks

A simple mechanism to prolong the life cycle of the network by balancing nodes’ energy consumption is to rotate the active dominating set (DS) through a set of legitimate DSs. This paper proposes a novel adaptive clustering algorithm named HREF (Highest Remaining Energy First). In the HREF algorithm, cluster formation is performed cyclically and each node can declare itself as a cluster head autonomously if it has the largest residual energy among all its adjacent nodes. The performance effectiveness of the HREF algorithm is investigated and compared to the D-WCDS (Disjoint Weakly Connected Dominating Set) algorithm. In this paper, we assume the network topology is fixed and does not require sensor mobility. This allows us to focus on the impact of clustering algorithms on communication between network nodes rather than with the base station. Simulation results show that in the D-WCDS algorithm energy depletion is more severe and the variance of the node residual energy is also much larger than that in the HREF algorithm. That is, nodes’ energy consumption in the HREF algorithm is in general more evenly distributed among all network nodes. This may be regarded as the main advantage of the HREF adaptive clustering algorithm.     

Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystals Increase the Granulocyte/Monocyte Progenitor (GMP) and Enhance Granulocyte and Monocyte Differentiation In Vivo

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals are formed locally within the joints, leading to pseudogout. Although the mobilization of local granulocytes can be observed in joints where pseudogout has manifested, the mechanism of this activity remains poorly understood. In this study, CPPD crystals were administered to mice, and the dynamics of splenic and peripheral blood myeloid cells were analyzed. As a result, levels of both granulocytes and monocytes were found to increase following CPPD crystal administration in a concentration-dependent manner, with a concomitant decrease in lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. In contrast, the levels of other cells, such as dendritic cell subsets, T-cells, and B-cells, remained unchanged in the spleen, following CPPD crystal administration. Furthermore, an increase in granulocytes/monocyte progenitors (GMPs) and a decrease in megakaryocyte/erythrocyte progenitors (MEPs) were also observed in the bone marrow. In addition, CPPD administration induced production of IL-1β, which acts on hematopoietic stem cells and hematopoietic progenitors and promotes myeloid cell differentiation and expansion. These results suggest that CPPD crystals act as a “danger signal” to induce IL-1β production, resulting in changes in course of hematopoietic progenitor cell differentiation and in increased granulocyte/monocyte levels, and contributing to the development of gout.     

Denaturation of egg antigens by cooking

Changes in egg protein contents by cooking were measured with an ELISA kit using Tris-HCl buffer in model foods including cake, meatballs, pasta and pudding made with whole egg, egg-white and egg-yolk. The egg protein contents were lowest in the deep-fried model foods of cakes and meatballs. Ovalbumin (OVA) was undetectable (<1 μg/g) and ovomucoid (OVM) was lowest in pouched meatballs, suggesting that processing temperature and uniform heat-treatment affect the detection of egg protein. Furthermore, egg protein contents were below 6 μg/g in the pouched meatballs and pasta made with egg-yolk, and OVA and OVM were not detected by Western blotting analysis with human IgE from patients' serum. On the other hand, processed egg proteins were detected with an ELISA kit using a surfactant and reductant in the extract buffer.     

Possible horizontal transmission of Salmonella via reusable egg trays in Thailand

Salmonella contamination of eggshells, egg contents, reusable egg trays, and various environmental samples was assessed. Although the overall Salmonella contamination rate from egg farms was low (3.2%), over a quarter (26.7%) of egg trays from farms and more than one third (36.7%) of trays from the market were contaminated. Salmonella strains isolated from reusable egg trays were analyzed by serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility test and XbaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing. Five serovars (S. Braenderup, S. Emek, S. Weltevreden, S. Stanley, and S. Derby) were isolated, and half of the strains assessed were found to be resistant to one or more of the six antimicrobial agents examined. The overall resistance rates to nalidixic acid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and ampicillin were 40.7%, 36.0%, 26.7% and 3.5%, respectively. The PFGE types were matched against sample location and drug resistance. S. Braenderup PFGE type A2 (susceptible to all tested drugs) was isolated from all sample sites; PFGE type A2 (resistant to nalidixic acid) was isolated from Farm C and the market. S. Braenderup PFGE type A1 (resistant to four drugs) was isolated from Farms A and C. S. Weltevreden PFGE type C3 (susceptible to all tested drugs) was isolated from Farms A and B and type C4 (susceptible to all tested drugs) was isolated from Farm A and the market. The distribution of the related genotypes and resistance patterns of Salmonella in egg farms and the market indicate drug-resistant strains of Salmonella may be spread on reusable egg trays.     

Polling of two queues with synchronized correlated inputs and zero walktime

Abstract

This paper studies the polling of two infinite queues by a synchronous server. The inputs to these queues are correlated and restricted to occur only at equally spaced time intervals. For simplicity, the walktime for the server to move from one queue to the other is assumed to be zero in this study. In essence, the problem studied in this paper is equivalent to a fixed service time queueing system which accepts two types of synchronized correlated inputs and adopts an alternating priority discipline. This paper contains a complete analysis of both the busy period and the waiting time. The validity of the analysis has been verified by computer simulations.     

Combined nongray radiative and conductive heat transfer in multiple glazing taking into account specular reflection and absorption

The problem of combined nongray radiative and conductive heat transfer in multiple glazing subjected to solar irradiation is analyzed. A spectral solar model proposed by Bird and Riordan is used to calculate direct and diffuse solar irradiance. The radiation element method by ray emission model, REM², is used to analyze the spectral dependence of radiative heat transfer. Specular reflection at boundary surfaces is taken into account. The spectral dependence of radiation properties of glass such as specular reflectivity, refraction angle, and absorption coefficient is taken into account. The steady‐state temperature and heat flux distributions in the glass layer are obtained and the insulating efficiency of multiple glazing is examined. The overall heat transfer coefficients predicted by the present method are compared with those based on the JIS method. The values obtained by the present method are slightly lower than those obtained by the JIS method. To investigate the spectral variation of radiative heat flux attenuated in the glass layer, the spectral heat flux at the room‐side surface and incident radiation are compared. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 32(8): 712–726, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10125