A simple method to estimate the maximum nontrivial correlation of some sets of sequences

Code division multiple access and many other applications require large families of sequences with good correlation properties. In this paper we show that the moduli of certain character sums can be estimated in an easy way by using a method of Sidelnikov. These results yield a simple method to estimate the maximum nontrivial correlations of several well-known sets of sequences.Supported by the Technology Development Center of Finland, Elektrobit Company, Finnish Air Force, Nokia Mobile Phones Inc. and Nokia Cellular Systems Inc.Partially supported by the Academy of Finland     

Sphingosine 1-phosphate mobilizes sequestered calcium, activates calcium entry, and stimulates deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in thyroid FRTL-5 cells

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (SPP) potently mobilizes sequestered calcium and is a mitogen in several cell types. In the present investigation, we have evaluated the effect of SPP on intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and synthesis of DNA in thyroid FRTL-5 cells. SPP rapidly and transiently mobilized sequestered calcium and stimulated entry of extracellular calcium. The entry of calcium, but not the mobilization, was in part inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (Ptx), and by activation of protein kinase C. SPP did not stimulate the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. SPP stimulated the incorporation of 3H-thymidine in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effect was not inhibited by Ptx. Furthermore, SPP stimulated the activation of the proto-oncogene c-fos. SPP rapidly tyrosine-phosphorylated an approximately 66 kDa protein. This phosphorylation persisted for at least 1 h. Pretreatment of the cells with genistein abolished the SPP-evoked tyrosine phosphorylation, and attenuated the SPP-evoked increase in [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, the SPP-evoked activation of Na+-H+ exchange was inhibited by genistein. The phosphorylation was not attenuated by pretreatment of the cells with Ptx. SPP per se did not affect cellular cAMP levels but attenuated the TSH-evoked increase in cAMP. As the effect of SPP might be due to activation of phospholipase D, we tested whether phosphatidic acid (PA) mobilized calcium or stimulated the incorporation of 3H-thymidine. PA mobilized sequestered calcium but did not stimulate calcium entry. PA very modestly enhanced the incorporation of 3H-thymidine. Our results suggest, that SPP stimulates DNA synthesis and activates entry of calcium in FRTL-5 cells. The effect on calcium entry appears to be dependent, at least in part, on one or several tyrosine kinases.     

Impaired response to hepatitis B vaccine in children receiving anticancer chemotherapy

Serologic responses to hepatitis B vaccine were investigated in 197 pediatric cancer patients. The patients, ages 1 to 21 years, comprised 66 with solid tumors, 101 with hematologic malignancies and 30 with various benign conditions. Of them 51 were receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy and 114 had not received chemotherapy for 0.2 to 11 years. Three doses of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine (20 micrograms) were given at 0, 1 and 6 months; and antibody concentrations to hepatitis B surface antigen were determined at 3, 6 and 8 months. The geometric mean antibody concentration after 3 vaccine doses was 1076 mIU/ml in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and 18,833 mIU/ml in cancer patients not receiving chemotherapy. The protective titer of antibody (> or = 10 mIU/ml) was reached after 3 doses of vaccine by 67% of patients receiving chemotherapy and by 97% of those not receiving chemotherapy. The patients being treated for solid tumors had weaker responses than those being treated for hematologic malignancies: after 3 vaccine doses no response was observed in 6 of 11 patients with solid tumors compared with 3 of 25 of patients with hematologic malignancies. Children receiving anticancer chemotherapy have essentially weaker responses to hepatitis B vaccine than children not receiving chemotherapy or those with benign conditions. This reflects the profound immunosuppression during chemotherapy. The effect of more intensive immunization schedules should be investigated.     

Greencast-process, a new ceramic technology for plastics processing

The Greencast process is a new lost-core technology for the production of hollow parts from thermoplastics and thermosets using water soluble cores [patent: Valmet Transmec Ltd./Greencast Project Ltd.]; [inventor: Harri S. Sahari].The core moulding material consists of an inorganic core sand and inorganic binder. Cores must be coated with a material that is made especially for these cores. The cores as well as the coating are inorganic, ecologically safe, water soluble and recyclable.The whole process from mixing of the core material to the dissolving of the cores can be automated. The core production time is approximately equal to that required for injection moulding. As the investment and material costs are small, large scale production of lost cores is not necessary to achice economic production of moulded parts made from either thermosets or thermoplastics using the Greencast process.     

Miniaturized humidity and temperature sensing RFID enabled tags

A compact 27‐bit linearly polarized chipless radio frequency identification tag is presented in this research. The proposed tag is designed with an overall tag dimension of 23 × 23 mm². The tag comprises of metallic (copper) rings‐based structure loaded with slots. These slots correspond to a particular sequence of bits. The circular tag is analysed using 2 different substrates, that is, Rogers RT/duroid/5870 and flexible Rogers RT/duroid/5880. The radar cross‐section response of frequency signatured tag is analysed for humidity and temperature sensor designs. Humidity sensing is achieved by deploying a DuPont Kapton HN heat resistant sheet on the shortest slot of the tag, that is, the sensing slot. Temperature sensing is attained using Rogers RT/duroid/5870 and Stanyl polyamide as a combined substrate. Hence, the miniaturized, robust, and flexible tag can be deployed over irregular surfaces for sensing purposes.     

Characterization of a chromate-inhibited primer by doppler broadening energy spectroscopy

A chromate-inhibited primer has been characterized by Doppler broadening energy spectroscopy (DBES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The S-parameter obtained by DBES exhibited a three-layer depth profile, which is attributed to the presence of a “skin” layer in the polymer matrix of the primer and a concentration gradient in the inorganic phases distributed through the primer. The primer was also examined by DBES following immersion in solution. The change observed in the S-parameter upon immersion indicated water filling the molecular free volumes in the primer. The ability to monitor the depth of water uptake as a function of immersion time illustrates that the primer does not need to be fully saturated for chromate release to occur.     

Muscular,cardiorespiratory and thermal strain of mast and pole workers

This field study evaluated the level of muscular, cardiorespiratory and thermal strain of mast and pole workers. We measured the muscular strain using electromyography (EMG), expressed as a percentage in relation to maximal EMG activity (%MEMG). Oxygen consumption (VO₂) was indirectly estimated from HR measured during work and expressed as a percentage of maximum VO₂ (%VO₂max). Skin and deep body temperatures were measured to quantify thermal strain. The highest average muscular strain was found in the wrist flexor (24 ± 1.5%MEMG) and extensor (21 ± 1.0%MEMG) muscles, exceeding the recommendation of 14%MEMG. Average cardiorespiratory strain was 48 ± 3%VO₂max. Nearly half (40%) of the participants exceeded the recommended 50%VO₂max level. The core body temperature varied between 36.8°C and 37.6°C and mean skin temperature between 28.6°C and 33.4°C indicating possible occasional superficial cooling. Both muscular and cardiorespiratory strain may pose a risk of local and systemic overloading and thus reduced work efficiency. Thermal strain remained at a tolerable level.     

Building Product Modelling Using Relational Databases,Hypermedia Software and CAD Systems*

Abstract: A framework for a national building product data model standard, the RA TAS-model, was proposed in an industry-wide cooperation project in Finland in 1987. The model structures the information describing a building using an object-oriented semantic data model. In follow-up projects a number of prototypes have been developed using different software tools. These prototypes have aimed at illustrating the potential of the product data model approach for facilitating data exchange between heterogeneous computing applications in construction, as well as at testing the implementation of the data structures (attributes, object classes, relationships between objects) of the product data models. The prototypes have been based on relational databases, hypermedia software, CAD-systems and combinations of these.