On Striping Traffic over Multiple IEEE 802.11(b) Wireless Channels

Due to interference, path loss, multipath fading, background noise, and many other factors, wireless communication normally cannot provide a wireless link with both a high data rate and a long transmission range. To address this problem, striping network traffic in parallel over multiple lower-data-rate but longer-transmission-range wireless channels may be used. In this paper, we propose a new striping method and evaluate its performances over multiple IEEE 802.11(b) channels under various conditions. Our extensive simulation results show that this method is quite effective for such an application. S.Y. Wang is an Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. He received his Master and Ph.D. degree in computer science from Harvard University in 1997 and 1999, respectively. His research interests include wireless networks, Internet technologies, network simulations, and operating systems. He is the author of the NCTUns 2.0 network simulator and emulator, which is being widely used by network and communication researchers. More information about the tool is available at http://NSL.csie.nctu.edu.tw/nctuns.html. C.H. Hwang received his master degree in computer science from NCTU in 2002 and currently is working for a network company. C.L. Chou currently is a third-year Ph.D. student at the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Chiao TungUniversity (NCTU), Taiwan. He received his master degree in computer science from NCTU in 2002.     

On inversive maximal period polynomials over finite fields

Over finite field GF(q) withq a power of an odd primep, we characterize inversive maximal period polynomials in terms of polynomials of orderq + 1, and then we study some properties of polynomials of orderq + 1.This paper was written while the author was visiting the Institute of Information Processing, Austrian Academy of Sciences, AustriaThe author would like to thank the Institute of Information Processing, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria, for its hospitality and for using its facilities     

LT348电路的研制

本文介绍了ＬＴ３４８的电路、版图和工艺设计。ＬＴ３４８是由四个功能和７４１组件等同而又各自独立的高增益、内补偿、低功耗运放器组成，并且它的电源电流可以和单个的７４１典型运放器相比拟。此外，它还具有比标准７４正低得多的输入失调电流和输入偏流的特征。     

Cerebral blood flow relationships associated with a difficult tone recognition task in trained normal volunteers

Tone recognition is partially subserved by neural activity in the right frontal and primary auditory cortices. First we determined the brain areas associated with tone perception and recognition. This study then examined how regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in these and other brain regions correlates with the behavioral characteristics of a difficult tone recognition task. rCBF changes were assessed using H2(15)O positron emission tomography. Subtraction procedures were used to localize significant change regions and correlational analyses were applied to determine how response times (RT) predicted rCBF patterns. Twelve trained normal volunteers were studied in three conditions: REST, sensory motor control (SMC) and decision (DEC). The SMC-REST contrast revealed bilateral activation of primary auditory cortices, cerebellum and bilateral inferior frontal gyri. DEC-SMC produced significant clusters in the right middle and inferior frontal gyri, insula and claustrum; the anterior cingulate gyrus and supplementary motor area; the left insula/claustrum; and the left cerebellum. Correlational analyses, RT versus rCBF from DEC scans, showed a positive correlation in right inferior and middle frontal cortex; rCBF in bilateral auditory cortices and cerebellum exhibited significant negative correlations with RT These changes suggest that neural activity in the right frontal, superior temporal and cerebellar regions shifts back and forth in magnitude depending on whether tone recognition RT is relatively fast or slow, during a difficult, accurate assessment.     

Differences in risk factors for being either a hepatitis B carrier or anti-hepatitis C+ in a hepatoma-hyperendemic area in rural Taiwan

This is a study of the differences in the risk factors for being either hepatitis B surface antigen positive [HBsAg(+)] or antibody to hepatitis C virus positive [Anti-HCV(+)] in A-Lein, a rural area in southern Taiwan, an area which also has a high hepatoma mortality rate. Three hundred eighty-five patients age > or =40 years participated in hepatoma screening at the A-Lein Community Health Center during 1995. Those who were HBsAg(-) and anti-HCV(-) or had coinfection of HBsAg(+) and anti-HCV(+) were excluded, leaving 293 patients: 109 HBsAg(+) and 184 anti-HCV(+). The anti-HCV(+) patients had a lower socioeconomic status (as defined by level of education and type of occupation) and were older than HBsAg(+) patients (P < 0.05). Those with higher alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) also had a higher anti-HCV(+) to HBsAg(+) odds ratio (OR), and a dose response relationship was found, P < 0.0001. Anti-HCV(+) patients were more likely than HBsAg(+) patients to have a spouse who shared the infection, OR = 5.11; 95% CI, 2.30-11.28. Anti-HCV(+) patients were more likely than HBsAg(+) patients to have had blood transfusions (OR = 2.66; 95% CI, 1.20-5.89), frequent medical injections (OR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.62-4.31), or injections by non-licensed medical providers (OR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.18-3.09). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the significant factors for anti-HCV(+) patients vs. HBsAg(+) patients are drinking habit (OR = 3.45; 95% CI, 1.02-11.60), age (OR = 6.33; 95% CI, 2.93-13.68), and frequent medical injections (OR = 2.88; 95% CI, 1.65-5.03). The transmission of hepatitis C in A-Lein is closely related to low socioeconomic status, age, alcohol abuse, spouses being anti-HCV(+), and frequent medical injections, especially from non-licensed medical providers, including both pharmacists and those with no medical licensing whatsoever. These nonlicensed medical providers sometimes reuse needles to save money, which is a likely route of infection.     

Temporary antibiotic-loaded cemented prosthesis for two-stage septic hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myofascial pain is the leading cause of chronic low back pain and in most cases can be successfully resolved with trigger point injections of local anesthetics. This type of pain can exist during pregnancy and exceed the analgesia provided by an epidural for labor. METHODS: A 31-year-old primiparous woman received an epidural infusion for labor analgesia. Despite complete resolution of labor pain and a solid, bilateral T10 block, the patient reported discomfort at two discrete locations in her right lumbar paraspinous muscle. RESULTS: The administration of local anesthetic via trigger point injections resulted in successful palliation of the myofascial pain. CONCLUSIONS: Myofascial pain can be an etiology of back pain in the parturient. Trigger point injections, even when used concomitantly with a functioning epidural infusion, can be a valuable aid for the provision of complete analgesia.     

Haemophilia A: mutation type determines risk of inhibitor formation

The formation of factor VIII antibodies is a major problem for replacement therapy of haemophilia A patients. Antibodies occur in 5-30% of patients with severe haemophilia A. The reason for antibody formation is still unknown. In this study we correlate for the first time different factor VIII gene mutations, stop- and missense mutations, large and small deletions and intrachromosomal intron 22 recombinations to antibody formation. A total of 364 patients with known inhibitor status of our institute, of the database, and of 3 studies representing intron-22-inversion data are included. The results show that the risk for developing factor VIII antibodies is strongly related to stop mutations. large deletions and intrachromosomal recombinations. A probable explanation could be the complete lack of endogenous circulating factor VIII protein in these cases. Other factors that might be important for the pathogenesis of inhibitor formation, e. g. the antenatal period, as well as possible therapeutic effects, are discussed.     

MR monitoring of focused ultrasonic surgery of renal cortex: experimental and simulation studies

The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided and -monitored noninvasive ultrasonic surgery can be performed in highly perfused tissues from outside the body. A simulation study was performed to evaluate the optimal sonication parameters. An MR-compatible positioning device was then used to manipulate a focused ultrasound transducer in an MR imager, which was used to sonicate kidneys of five rabbits at various power levels and different durations. Temperature elevation during sonication was monitored with a T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo sequence. The simulation study demonstrated that a sharply focused transducer and relatively short sonication times (30 seconds or less) are necessary to prevent damage to the overlying skin and muscle tissue, which have a much lower blood perfusion rate than kidney. The experiments showed that the imaging sequence was sensitive enough to show temperature elevation during sonication, thereby indicating the location of the beam focus. Histologic evaluations showed that kidney necrosis could be consistently induced without damage to overlying skin and muscle. The study demonstrated that highly perfused tissues such as the renal cortex can be coagulated from outside the body with focused ultrasound and that MR imaging can be used to guide and monitor this surgery.