Two bit correlation-an adaptive time delay estimation

Time delay estimation is a very important operation in ultrasound time-domain flow mapping and correction of phase aberration of an array transducer. As the interest increases in the application of one and a half-dimensional (1.5-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) array transducers to improving image quality and three-dimensional (3-D) imaging, the need of simple, fast, and sufficiently accurate algorithms for real-time time delay estimation becomes exceedingly crucial. In this paper, we present an adaptive time-delay estimation algorithm which minimizes the problem of noise sensitivity associated with the one bit correlation while retaining simplicity in implementation. This algorithm converts each sample datum into a two bit representation including the sign of the sample and an adaptively selected threshold. A bit pattern correlation operation is applied to find the time delay between two engaged signals. By using the criterion of misregistration as an indicator, we are able to show that the proposed algorithm is better than one bit correlation in susceptibility to noise level. Analytical results show that the improvement in reducing misregistration of the two bit correlation over its counterpart is consistent over a wide range of noise level. This is achieved by an adaptive adjustment of the threshold to accommodate signal corruption due to noise. The analytical results are corroborated by results from simulating the blood as a random distribution of red blood cells. Finally, we also present a memory-based architecture to implement the two bit correlation algorithm whose computation time does not depend upon the time delay of the signals to be correlated     

Numerical investigation of the convection of heat-emitting liquid reactor materials taking stratification into account

Conclusions The calculations for the different levels of volume heat release showed that the integral heat fluxes at the lateral and top surfaces are virtually independent of the scenario of convective flow. However, the maximum of the heat flux on the lateral surface in the homogeneous case is 1.5–1.6 times higher than the maximum heat flux in the stratified case. This could result in larger mechanical loads on the reactor vessel and therefore more stringent requirements on the cooling of the outer surface of the reactor vessel. Institute of Fast Reactors, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 76, No. 5, pp. 406–411, May, 1994.     

Topical use of aprotinin in open heart operations

Among various pharmacological agents used to reduce bleeding after open-heart operations, high-dose aprotinin therapy seems most promising. However, its long-term effects are still obscure; there is almost always possibility of bypass graft occlusions produced by the hypercoagulable state induced by aprotinin in coronary bypass operations. Topical application of aprotinin into the pericardial cavity could prevent the adverse effects. Fifty patients were prospectively studied to evaluate the effects of topical aprotinin. One million KIU of aprotinin was poured into the pericardial cavity before closure of the sternotomy in group 1 (n = 25). Patients in group 2 (n = 25) served as controls. Total postoperative bleeding was significantly reduced in group 1 when compared with that of group 2 (722.7 +/- 230.8 versus 1,282.6 +/- 225.7 mL; p < 0.01). The use of banked donor blood products was significantly less in group 1 than in group 2 (0.33 +/- 0.67 versus 1.36 +/- 0.86 units; p < 0.01). These results show that topical use of aprotinin reduces post-operative blood loss and need for transfusion. It seems promising and warrants further studies to be done.     

Effective index drift from molecular hydrogen diffusion inhydrogen-loaded optical fibres and its effect on Bragg gratingfabrication

When hydrogen loading is used to enhance the photosensitivity of silica-based optical waveguides and fibres, the presence of molecular hydrogen dissolved in the glass matrix changes the effective index of propagation of guided optical modes by as much as 0.05%. Real-time monitoring of the reflectivity spectrum of Bragg gratings written in such conditions shows that the centre wavelength follows the changes in hydrogen concentration due to diffusion and reaction with glass defects     

Measurement of the dielectric constant of highly absorbing polar liquids at microwave frequencies

Nomograms are given for claculating the dielectric constant and dielectric loss of polar liquids by measuring the standing wave ratio for an infinitely thick layer of fluid and the layer thickness at which wave reflection is minimum. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 2, pp. 46–47, February, 1996.     

Author index,vol. 70 (1994/1995)

Author index, vol. 70 (1994/1995)     

Cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase arachidonate metabolites synthesized by mouse peritoneal macrophages: in vitro effect of N-phenyllinoleamide from toxic oil samples

N-phenyllinoleamide (NPLA) has been detected as extraneous compound in adulterated cooking oils associated with a unique epidemic disease known as the Toxic Oil Syndrome (TOS). In this communication we report on the action of NPLA on the endogenous cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase arachidonate metabolism. Results show that mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) exposed to 1 mM NPLA for 2 h undergo significant increases of 6-keto prostaglandin F1a, prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids. MPM prelabelled with 3H-AA showed an enhanced release when exposed to NPLA. Thus, it is concluded that NPLA potentiates AA release from cell membrane phospholipids and the subsequent cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase oxidative metabolism of this precursor to various eicosanoids. This is in agreement with the implication of peroxidative process mediated by fatty acids anilides in TOS.