The role of histone acetylation in the allelic expression of the imprinted human insulin-like growth factor II gene

This study examines the relationship between the first cycle of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and subsequent cycles. The results of all IVF cycles conducted at The Hammersmith Hospital or The Royal Masonic Hospital between 1988 and 1995 were studied including those cycles where egg recovery was abandoned due to poor ovarian response. All patients underwent a standardized treatment protocol. Of those women who achieved a clinical pregnancy during their first IVF attempt, 33% achieved a pregnancy during their second cycle, statistically significantly different from the 24% of patients conceiving during a second cycle who had failed to conceive during their first. 36% of those who achieved a biochemical pregnancy in their first cycle became pregnant in their second. Age was an important factor in the success of IVF treatment, with pregnancy rates of 48% in the 20-25 year age group falling to 8% in those aged > or =41 years. Cumulative pregnancy rates were 26% after one cycle, increasing to 43% after two cycles and reached 80% after seven cycles. A previous pregnancy significantly improved a couple's probability of conception in a later IVF cycle. Overall pregnancy rates per cycle were constant for the first three attempts. Cumulative pregnancy rates continued to rise to 72% after six cycles. Thus the more cycles a couple undergo (up to six) the greater their chance of a pregnancy.     

Single phase power factor correction — A review

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the past and recent developments in the area of single-phase power factor correction (PFC) techniques. The motivation for the research in this area, and the manifold directions into which the research has gained impetus, are clearly brought out. The various PFC techniques are broadly classified into (1) passive, (2) active, and (3) active-passive PFC techniques. The active PFC techniques, based on the output dynamics, are further classified into (1) conventional techniques which have slow output dynamics and (2) techniques with fast output dynamics. The critical issues within each PFC technique are discussed in detail. An extensive list of references is also provided at the end.     

Dual-mode control of tri-state boost converter for improved performance

A tri-state boost converter with an additional boost-inductor free-wheeling interval was proposed earlier to eliminate the right-half-plane (RHP) zero that occurs in the control-to-output transfer function of a classical boost converter under continuous-conduction mode of operation. A "constant-D/sub o/" control scheme, in which the "capacitor-charging" interval of the converter was kept constant, was employed. This resulted in a relatively large inductor current, especially under high line and load conditions, thereby causing high circuit losses. This paper proposes two variations of a novel dual-mode control (DMC) scheme that vary both the "boost" and the "capacitor-charging" intervals. Control analysis, design, and limitations of the proposed DMC schemes are presented. Through computer simulations and hardware experiments the performance of the tri-state boost converter with DMC schemes are compared with those of the tri-state boost converter with "constant-D/sub o/" control scheme, and the classical PI-controlled boost converter. The DMC schemes achieve a significant (about 10%) improvement in converter's efficiency for a wide load range over the "constant-D/sub o/" control scheme.     

良好FPGA信号完整性的实现方法

简介 信号完整性是高速系统设计的关键因素.较差的信号完整性会导致工程成本增加,延缓产品发布,降低产品收益.在当今要求产品能够及时面市的半导体市场上,忽略信号完整性可能会造成高达几百万美元的代价.高速系统中如何保持信号完整性无疑取决于对FPGA的选型.     

Soft-switched DC/DC converter with PWM control

In this paper, a new power converter with two variations is proposed. A novel asymmetrical pulse-width-modulation (PWM) control scheme is used to control the power converter under constant switching frequency operation. The modes of operation for both variations are discussed. The DC characteristics, which can be used in the design of the power converters, are also presented. Two 50 W power converters were built to verify the characteristics of the converters. Due to the zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) operation of the switches and low device voltage and current stresses, these power converters have high full- and partial-load efficiencies. They are, therefore, potential candidates for high-efficiency high-density power supply applications     

Implementation of optimal trajectory control of series resonantconverter

Optimal trajectory control was proposed based on the insight gained from a state-plane analysis, which is summarized. By utilizing the required transistor trajectory as the control law, this control method attempts to reach its steady-state operation in a time-optimal manner. The control automatically selects the optimum sequence of device conduction under all dynamic conditions. An implementation scheme for this control method was presented. The scheme reduces the complexity of the control method by making efficient use of the control circuit elements. The scaling procedure used to determine and set the scaling factors in the control scheme was also described. The transient response of the converter with optimal trajectory control was excellent as predicted. Comparison with the frequency-control method confirms the superior dynamic performance of the optimal trajectory control     

Difference expansion based reversible data embedding and edge detection

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Difference Expansion (DE) based techniques are evolving in the last decade. The DE based techniques aims at reversibly embedding the data into cover content....     

Extension of inductor voltage control to three-phase buck-typeAC-DC converter

A novel inductor voltage control (IVC) method capable of achieving near unity power factor is being proposed for buck-type AC-DC pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) converters. In this method, the input inductor voltages are kept within a hysteresis band about a sinusoidal template, thus ensuring sinusoidal input currents. This control method is much less sensitive to parameter and control variations than the existing delta modulation control (DMC) method. A companion paper has introduced the IVC method for the case of a single-phase buck-type converter. In the present paper, problems involved in direct extension of the IVC method to a three-phase buck converter are discussed first. Following this, a new switching logic scheme is proposed which enables these problems to be overcome and for IVC (as well as DMC) to be extended to a three-phase converter as well. Detailed simulation and experimental results have been provided to verify the expected good performance with IVC. The proposed IVC method has potential in applications such as those requiring AC-DC rectifiers with current limiting     

Resonant-tank control of parallel resonant converter

A control method called resonant-tank control (RTC) is proposed for a parallel resonant converter operating above resonance. Using a simple linear combination of tank variables, it has potential for high-frequency DC-DC converter applications. RTC controls the tank in a near-time-optimal manner and is shown to have better dynamics than conventional frequency control. Experimental results that confirm the superior transient performance of the RTC method are provided. The principle of operation of the RTC can be extended to operation below resonance as well as to series resonant converter control