FPGA Based Implementation and Comparison of Beamformers for CDMA2000

For the integration of smart antennas into third generation code division multiple access (CDMA) base stations, it still remains as a challenging task to implement smart antenna algorithms on programmable processors. In this paper, we study implementations of some CDMA compatible beamforming algorithms, namely least mean square (LMS), constant modulus (CM), and space code correlator (SCC) algorithms, using Xilinx??s Virtex family FPGAs. This study exhibits feasibility of implementing even simple, practical, and computationally small algorithms based on today??s most powerful FPGA technologies. 16 and 32 bits floating point implementations of the algorithms are investigated using both Virtex II and Virtex IV FPGAs. CDMA2000 reverse link baseband signal format is used in the signal modeling. Randomly changing fading and Direction-of-arrivals (DOAs) of multipaths are considered as a channel condition. The implementation results in terms of beamforming accuracy, FPGA resource utilization, weight vector computation time, and DOA estimation error are presented. Beamformer weight vectors using LMS and CM can be computed within less than 20 ??s on Virtex II FPGA and 10 ??s on Virtex IV FPGA, and using SCC it can be achieved within less than 22 ??s on Virtex IV FPGA. These results show that FPGAs provide approximately 500 times faster speed in implementations than our previous work with DSPs.     

Ureteroscopic management of lower ureteral stones: two years'' experience

1. This study was to determine the effects of heat load early in life on thermoregulatory responses and whole blood viscosity of broilers during a subsequent exposure to high environmental temperature later in life. 2. The birds, which had been subjected to exposure to 38 degrees C for 24 h at 5-d-old, served as prior exposure group (group A). Both group A and control group B were exposed to 33 degrees C for 3 h when near marketable weight. 3. On exposure to 33 degrees C, although there were no significant differences in the increases in heat production (HP) between the two groups, abdominal temperature (Ta), temperature of external ear tract (Tee), shank skin temperature (Tss), standing-lying frequency and lying time were lower in group A than in group B. Heart rate (HR) and comb surface temperature (Tcs) did not differ but increased in both groups during exposure to 33 degrees C. Respiration rate (RR) was greater in group A. 4. Blood viscosity decreased markedly in both groups after exposure to 33 degrees C; the decrease was greater in group A. 5. These results suggest that early exposure may promote broilers' ability to cope with the subsequent heat load by altering thermoregulatory physiological responses and behavioural patterns, resulting in an alleviation of heat stress.     

Angle of Hertzian Cone Cracks

This paper discusses the difference between the experimentally observed angle of Hertzian cone cracks and the angle defined by the trajectories of the preexisting stress fields. It is argued that there is no reason why these angles should be the same, as has usually been assumed. A finite element method has been used to model the growth of cracks in the Hertzian stress fields. In this model, the crack is incrementally advanced along the direction of maximum strain energy release, as calculated by the evolving, rather than the preexisting, stress fields. For the modeled Hertzian indentation system, a cone crack is observed to grow, but at an angle which is significantly different from that defined by the normal to the maximum preexisting tensile stress. The angle of the cone crack, as grown in the model, is in excellent agreement with observations on experimentally grown cone cracks in glass, with the same Poisson's ration. It is proposed that, in general, cracks will grow along paths that result in the maximum release of strain energy. For asymmetric, nonuniform preexisting stress fields, such paths do not necessarily coincide with the normal to the maximum preexisting tensile stress.     

Improving the performance of retail stores subject to execution errors: coordination versus RFID technology

This paper analyzes a Newsvendor type inventory model in which a manufacturer sells a single product to a retailer store whose inventory is subject to errors stemming from execution problems. Hence, within the store, all of the products are not available on shelf for sales either because the replenishment of the shelf from the backroom is subject to execution errors that mainly result in products lost in the backroom or products misplaced on the other shelves of the store. We compare two situations: in the first situation, the two supply chain actors are aware of errors and optimize their ordering decisions by taking into account this issue. The second situation deals with the case where an advanced automatic identification system such as the Radio Frequency Identification technology is deployed in order to eliminate errors. Each situation is developed for three scenarios: in the centralized scenario, we consider a single decision-maker who is concerned with maximizing the entire supply chain’s profit; in the decentralized uncoordinated scenario, the retailer and the manufacturer act as different parties and do not cooperate. The third scenario is the decentralized coordinated scenario where we give conditions for coordinating the channel by designing a buyback contract. The authors would like to thank the editor, Prof. Dr. Hans-Otto Guenther, and two anonymous referees for their constructive comments to improve this article.     

The effect of different formulations on physical properties of cakes baked with microwave and near infrared-microwave combinations.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different formulations on color and textural characteristics of different cakes during baking in microwave and near infrared-microwave combination ovens. For comparison, cakes were also baked in conventional ovens. Color and hardness for both types of baking schemes were found to be dependent on formulation. Cakes containing Simplesse, a fat replacer consisting mostly of whey protein, baked in microwave and near infrared-microwave combination ovens were found to be the firmest cakes.     

Performance optimization of RZ data format in WDM systems using tunable pulse-width management at the transmitter

Tunable pulse-width management is one of the efficient methods to enhance the robustness of return-to-zero (RZ) data formats for long-haul transmission systems. We demonstrate both single channel and 4 /spl times/ 10-Gb/s wavelength-division-multiplexed performance optimization using tunable pulse-width management. Pure RZ single with tunable pulse-width is generated by changing the driving voltages on a phase modulator and the dispersion values of a tunable dispersion element simultaneously according to our simulation results. Varying the pulse width from 50 to 10 ps at the transmitter can almost double the transmission distance with 4% variation in the residual link dispersion.     

SSX: a multigene family with several members transcribed in normal testis and human cancer

The behavioral effects were studied of monoclonal antibodies (MA) against A3G7 protein, which is known to be associated with the processes of nervous cell differentiation. Elaboration, storage, and retention of acoustic startle (ASR) habituation and freezing behavior were tested in adult rats. The MA applied in a dose of 50 ng on cerebellar vermis selectively impaired only the ASR long-term habituation storage whereas its dose of 5 mcg impaired both long-term habituation storage and fear-conditioned freezing. Application of 10 mcg of MA disrupted the elaboration and storage of the ASR short- and long-term habituation as well as fear-conditioned freezing. The results are considered as experimental verification of systemogenesis theory and hypothesis about a common molecular basis of learning and development.     

Optimal insulation of ducts in extraterrestrial applications

Optimum insulation thickness of a circular duct subjected to external radiative heat transfer is studied for a given amount of insulation material. A circular duct through which fluid is transported from one end to the other is considered. The thickness of the insulation is assumed to be linearly varying since this is easy to implement in practice. Thus the slope of the insulation thickness is considered as the parameter for optimum insulation. Variations of the bulk temperature of the fluid as well as the temperature of the outer surface of the insulation are evaluated. It is shown that linearly decreasing insulation thickness with minimum slope provides the best insulation under the radiation heat transfer condition. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen on normal and ischemic colon anastomoses

A pregnant woman with transient gastric obstruction was fed by enteral nutrition alone for 11 wk and 6 d. Her body mass index of 23.2 kg/m2 before pregnancy declined to 21.8 kg/m2 after delivery. Although she did not gain weight during enteral nutrition, fetal growth, estimated by ultrasonography, was normal, and she delivered a 3030-g female infant at 38 wk gestation. The blood laboratory data during pregnancy and the breast milk after pregnancy were also normal. The results suggest that factors other than maternal weight gain alone should be considered in the evaluation of nutritional status for the pregnant woman.     

Identification of dermatophytes as possible agents in clinically and microbiologically diagnosed dermatophytosis

In this study we have investigated the distribution of dermatophyte species clinically and microbiologically on 110 patients with dermatophytosis. The distribution of the dermatophytes according to the localization sites are: Tinea Capitis 13 (11.8%), T. Corporis 12 (10.9%), T. Inguinalis 22 (20%), T. Pedis et Manum 47 (42.7%), T. Unguinum 16 (14.5%). The species of dermatophytes which have been cultured were, Trichophyton rubrum 32 (29%), T. mentagrophytes 32 (29%), T. schoenleini 4 (3.6%), T. tonsurans 1 (0.9%), Epidermophyton floccosum 16 (14.5%), Microsporum canis 1 (0.9%), M. audouini 1 (0.9%), various molds 3 (2.7%) and also number of negative cultures obtained were 20 (18.1%).