Parameterization of the MISO IFC rate region: the case of partial channel state information

We study the achievable rate region of the multipleinput single-output (MISO) interference channel (IFC), under the assumption that all receivers treat the interference as additive Gaussian noise. We assume the case of two users, and that the channel state information (CSI) is only partially known at the transmitters. Our main result is a characterization of Paretooptimal transmit strategies, for channel matrices that satisfy a certain technical condition. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the theoretical results.     

Effect of acid deposition on quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter in soil-water

The aim of this study was to explore how acid deposition may affect the concentration and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil-water. This was done by a small-scale acidification experiment during two years where 0.5 × 0.5 m(2) plots were artificially irrigated with water with different sulfuric acid content, and soil-water was sampled using zero-tension lysimeters under the O-horizon. The DOM was characterized using absorbance, fluorescence, and size exclusion chromatography analyses. Our results showed lower mobility of DOM in the high acid treatment. At the same time, there was a significant change in the DOM quality. Soil-water in the high acid treatment exhibited DOM that was less colored, less hydrophobic, less aromatic, and of lower molecular weight, compared to the low acid treatment. This supports the hypothesis that reduction in sulfur deposition is an important driver behind the ongoing brownification of surface waters in many regions.     

Acetylation of solid wood using microwave heating Part 1: Studies of dielectric properties

ɛ ′) and relative loss factor (ɛ′′) give information on how the microwaves can penetrate into the wood object and of possible thermal gradient effects on the wood during modification. This investigation shows that microwave energy effectively heats the acetic anhydride used for modification by acetylation and that the power penetration depth (d _p) of the microwaves is about 10 cm in acetic anhydride impregnated wood. The relative permittivity and the relative loss factor were found to decrease with increasing temperature, which indicates that the energy absorption will preferably be directed to less heated parts of the wood object. This will promote a more uniform heat distribution, and, accordingly, a more uniform acetylation of the wood.

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d _p) für das getr?nkte Holz etwa 10 cm betr?gt. Dielektrizit?tskonstante und Verlustfaktor nehmen mit steigender Temperatur ab; d.h. die Energieaufnahme wird vorzugsweise zu den weniger erhitzten Teilen des Holzes gelenkt. Das wiederum f?rdert eine gleichf?rmige Acetylierung des Holzes.

     

Estimation of process parameter variations in a pre-defined process window using a Latin hypercube method

The aim of this paper is to present a methodology that provides an analytical tool for estimation of robustness and response variation within a pre-defined process window. To exemplify the developed methodology, the stochastic simulation technique is used for a sheet-metal forming application. A sampling plan based on the Latin hypercube sampling method for variation of design parameters is utilized, and the thickness reduction is specified as the response. Moreover, the response surface methodology is applied for understanding the quantitative relationship between design parameters and response value. The conclusions of this study are that the applied method gives a possibility to illustrate and interpret the variation of the response versus a design parameter variation. Consequently, it gives significant insights into the usefulness of individual design parameters. It has been shown that the method enables us to estimate the admissible design parameter variations and to predict the actual safe margin for given process parameters. Furthermore, the dominating design parameters can be predicated using sensitivity analysis, and this in its turn clarifies how the reliability criteria are met. Finally, the developed software can be used as an additional module for set-up of stochastic finite element simulations and to collect the numerical results from different solvers within different applications.     

Prodrugs for targeting hypoxic tissues: regiospecific elimination of aspirin from reduced indolequinones

We report the cases of three patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) who each recovered rapidly after experiencing a life-threatening episode with severe thrombocytopenia. All three cases were the typical restricting-type of AN, occurring in adolescence. They refused to be admitted to a hospital until their general condition had been severely deteriorated. Their lowest platelet counts were 2.9, 4.6, and 2.3 x 10(4)/mm3, respectively. Apparent hemorrhagic tendencies, such as purpura, gingival and nasal bleeding, and gastrointestinal bleeding were observed. The bone marrow examination showed apparent hypoplasia in two patients. No evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation or autoantibody to platelets was detected. The platelet counts recovered rapidly by water and nutritional supplementation. The recovery from the AN itself was excellent in all three patients without specific psychotherapy.     

Diversity of free-living and attached bacteria in offshore Western Mediterranean waters as depicted by analysis of genes encoding 16S rRNA

In a previous study (S. G. Acinas, F. Rodríguez-Valera, and C. Pedrós-Alió, FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 24:27-40, 1997), community fingerprinting by 16S rDNA restriction analysis applied to Mediterranean offshore waters showed that the free-living pelagic bacterial community was very different from the bacterial cells aggregated or attached to particles of more than about 8 micrometer. Here we have studied both assemblages at three depths (5, 50, and 400 m) by cloning and sequencing the 16S rDNA obtained from the same samples, and we have also studied the samples by scanning electron microscopy to detect morphology patterns. As expected, the sequences retrieved from the assemblages were very different. The subsample of attached bacteria contained very little diversity, with close relatives of a well-known species of marine bacteria, Alteromonas macleodii, representing the vast majority of the clones at every depth. On the other hand, the free-living assemblage was highly diverse and varied with depth. At 400 m, close relatives of cultivated gamma Proteobacteria predominated, but as shown by other authors, near the surface most clones were related to phylotypes described only by sequence, in which the alpha Proteobacteria of the SAR11 cluster predominated. The new technique of rDNA internal spacer analysis has been utilized, confirming these results. Clones representative of the A. macleodii cluster have been completely sequenced, producing a picture that fits well with the idea that they could represent a genus with at least two species and with a characteristic depth distribution.     

Identification of seven Treponema species in health- and disease-associated dental plaque by nested PCR

Species-specific nested PCR was used to detect Treponema amylovorum, Treponema denticola, Treponema maltophilum, Treponema medium, Treponema pectinovorum, Treponema socranskii, and Treponema vincentii in dental plaque. Subjects with periodontitis harbored all species, but T. pectinovorum and T. vincentii were not found in plaque from disease-free subjects.     

Comparison of a radioallergosorbent (RAST) inhibition method and a monoclonal enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for aeroallergen measurement

BACKGROUND: Mouse and rat urinary proteins are potent occupational allergens for exposed personnel. Methods of measuring airborne allergens differ greatly, and reported levels of allergens vary considerably between laboratories. OBJECTIVES: To compare the values obtained using two different methods of allergen detection. METHODS: Air samples were collected in rat rooms in Sweden and the United Kingdom at 2 L/min on to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters and extracted in buffer containing 0.5% v/v Tween 20. Airborne rat urinary allergen (RUA) was measured in all samples by both RAST inhibition using a polyclonal human serum pool (UK) and a two monoclonal antibody sandwich ELISA employing antibodies specific for Rat n 1.02 (alpha2u-globulin) (Sweden). RESULTS: The two methods gave values which were correlated (r2 log values = 0.72, P<0.0001), but differed by several orders of magnitude (median [range] ratio of RAST inhibition/ELISA = 316 [7-26(80)]. There was a systematic bias: as the absolute values increased, the difference in the measurements increased. The rat urine standards used were antigenically similar. CONCLUSIONS: A large contrast in RUA values obtained from the two assays was observed in this study. This may be primarily due to methodological differences, but variations in antibody specificities or composition of allergenic epitopes in the air samples may contribute. The results demonstrate that standardization of methods and antibodies is necessary before interlaboratory comparisons can be made.     

Lifelong teetotallers, ex-drinkers and drinkers: mortality and the incidence of major coronary heart disease events in middle-aged British men

A simplified method for the preparation and long-term cultivation of granulosa-luteal cells in serum-free medium is described. The cells were harvested from women undergoing in-vitro fertilization, enriched by sedimentation and dissociated by enzymatic treatment. We demonstrated, by introducing a synthetic serum replacement (SSR2), that these primary cell cultures cultivated in monolayers on an extracellular matrix may be used in experiments exceeding 7 days with low cell loss and cell death. No adverse effect on progesterone production was found. There was a high diversity in progesterone production between cells from individual patients. After several days in culture, the cells were challenged with human chorionic gonadotrophin which revived the rapidly decreasing progesterone production. We were unable to demonstrate an increase in cell number after 7 days of cultivation when the cells were grown in medium supplemented with either serum or SSR2. The mitogens epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor had no influence on proliferation. We also found that the present method prevents leukocyte contamination in the granulosa-luteal cell cultures. Compared with the common method based on the enrichment of granulosa-luteal cells on a density gradient (Ficoll/Percoll), this method saves time, labour and expense, in addition to augmenting purity.