Power-based admission control for multiclass calls in QoS-sensitive CDMA networks

In this letter, we propose a power-based call admission control (CAC) scheme to accommodate multiclass traffic by directly extending the number-based CAC scheme in multicode CDMA networks, and develop some related mathematical properties. Against the conventional findings, we demonstrate that complete partitioning (CP) of the received signal power at a basestation for each traffic class can be an approach as useful as complete sharing (CS) in accommodating an appropriate number of users. The main advantage of CP scheme over CS scheme is its simplicity in resource management     

The presence of a Sar1 gene family in Brassica campestris that suppresses a yeast vesicular transport mutation Sec12-1

Two new members (Bsar1a and Bsar1b) of the Sar1 gene family have been identified from a flower bud cDNA library of Brassica campestris and their functional characteristics were analyzed. The two clones differ from each other at 14 positions of the 193 amino acid residues deduced from their coding region. The amino acid sequences of Bsar1a and Bsar1b are most closely related to the Sar1 family, genes that function early in the process of vesicle budding from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The sequences contain all the conserved motifs of the Ras superfamily (G1-G4 motifs) as well as the distinctive structural feature near the C-terminus that is Sar1 specific. Our phylogenetic analysis confirmed that these two clones can indeed be considered members of the Sar1 family and that they have a close relationship to the ARF family. The Bsar1 proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli, cross-reacted with a polyclonal antibody prepared against Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sar1 protein. It also exhibited GTP-binding activity. Genomic Southern blot analysis, using the 3'-gene-specific regions of the Bsar1 cDNAs as probes, revealed that the two cDNA clones are members of a B. campestris Sar1 family that consists of 2 to 3 genes. RNA blot analysis, using the same gene-specific probes, showed that both genes are expressed with similar patterns in most tissues of the plant, including leaf, stem, root, and flower buds. Furthermore, when we placed the two Bsar1 genes under the control of the yeast pGK1 promoter into the temperature-sensitive mutant yeast strain S. cerevisiae Sec12-1, they suppressed the mutation which consists of a defect in vesicle transport. The amino acid sequence similarity, the GTP-binding activity, and the functional suppression of the yeast mutation suggest that the Bsar1 proteins are functional homologues of the Sar1 protein in S. cerevisiae and that they may perform similar biological functions.     

Dual-head pinhole bone scintigraphy

This article describes dual-head pinhole bone scintigraphy (DHPBS), which makes use of two opposing pinhole-collimated detectors to obtain one pair of magnified images of bone and joint at one time. The aims are to reduce scan time and solve the problem of the blind zone that is created in the background in single-head pinhole bone scintigraphy. METHODS: DHPBS was used for normal hip and knee joints and one case each of lumbar spondylosis, vertebral compression fracture and pyoankle. The gamma camera used was a digital dual-head SPECT camera (Sopha Camera DST; Sopha Medical Vision International, Buc Cedex, France) connected to an XT data processor and a printer. Each of two opposing detectors was collimated with either a 3- or 5-mm pinhole collimator. The scan was performed 2-3 hr postinjection of 12-25 mCi 99mTc-oxidronate. Some 1500-2000 Kilocounts were accumulated at 15-40 min per pair. Anterior and posterior views were taken for the spine and hip and medial and lateral views for the knee and ankle. DHPBS images were correlated to radiographs. RESULTS: DHPBS produced a pair of high-resolution bone and joint images at one time, reducing scan time by nearly half for each image. The paired DHPBS images clearly visualized both foreground and background objects, which effectively eliminated the blind zone. CONCLUSION: DHPBS can significantly improve efficiency and diagnostic acumen.     

The influence of a dispersion of particles on the sintering of metal powders and wires

A dispersion of fine, stable particles is known to inhibit the sintering of metal powders and wires. This can be understood as an effect of the dispersed particles on the efficiency of the sources and sinks between which matter flows during sintering. Well-wetted particles cause the free surface of the metal containing them to become less effective as a source of matter because, as the surface recedes, particles are exposed and a new, high energy interface is created. Particles on grain boundaries, too, make the removal of matter from the boundary more difficult because they pin the boundary dislocations which (at a microscopic level) are the sites from which atoms are detached.The result is that sintering can proceed only if a threshold driving force is exceeded. This threshold depends on the size and volume fraction of particles; its magnitude is different for free surfaces and grain boundaries; and it may change as sintering proceeds. Because of this, some mechanisms of sintering—particularly those leading to desinfication—are inhibited more strongly than others.These ideas are developed quantitatively, and the results presented as sintering maps which show the degree to which each mechanism of sintering is inhibited. The predictions of the model are compared with the results of published experimental observations of inhibited sintering. There is broad agreement, though certain interesting discrepancies remain.     

On-shot focal-spot characterization technique using phase retrieval

We present an on-shot focal-spot characterization technique based on a phase-retrieval scheme that retrieves near-field phase from multiplane focal-spot measurements in an experimental target chamber. The technique is easy to implement inside a target chamber and is demonstrated in a multiterawatt laser system. It is also found that phase retrieval can quantitatively detect residual angular dispersion coming from the pulse compressor misalignment.     

Modeling the combined effect of temperature and relative humidity on Escherichia coli O157:H7 on lettuce

The effect of relative humidity (RH) and temperature on the microbial behavior of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on lettuce was investigated. Experimental data obtained under different combined conditions of RH (60, 70, and 80%) and temperature (15, 25, and 35°C) were fitted into the Logistic model with delay to estimate specific growth rate (SGR) with high coefficients of determination (R ²s >0.98). The estimated SGR values were used to develop a Gamma-concept model. Then, several statistic characteristics were employed to verify the performance and reliability of the developed model, which demonstrated that the predictive model was not biased and had high accuracy in prediction. Besides, the analysis of relative importance of temperature and RH indicated that temperature is much more influential on the growth of E. coli O157:H7 on lettuce than the ambient RH changes.     

Development of Predictive Models for the Growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Cabbage in Korea

Abstract: Cabbage is the main material of coleslaw, a popular side dish in Korea as well as many other countries. In the present study, the combined effect of temperature (15, 25, and 35 °C) and relative humidity (60%, 70%, and 80%) on the growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on cabbage was investigated. The polynomial models for growth rate (GR), lag time (LT), and maximum population density (MPD) estimated from the Baranyi model were conducted with high coefficients of determination (R²> 0.98). Subsequently, performance and reliability of the models were assessed through external validation, employing three indices as bias factor (B_f), accuracy factor (A_f), and the standard error of prediction expressed in percentage (%SEP). The B_f, A_f, and %SEP values of the predictive models for GR were 1.008, 1.127 and 18.70%, while 1.033, 1.187 and 20.79% for LT and 0.960, 1.044 and 5.22% for MPD, respectively. The results demonstrated that the developed secondary models showed a good agreement between the observed and predicted values. Therefore, the established models can be suitable to estimate and control E. coli O157:H7 growth risk on cabbage at some steps from farm to table in Korea as a valuable tool. Practical Application: The combined effect of temperature and relative humidity on the growth or survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on cabbage was investigated. The validated predictive models are qualified to provide good predictions for E. coli O157:H7 growth, which can help to conduct the quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) of E. coli O157:H7 on cabbage from farm to table in Korea.     

Exploiting Multiuser MIMO in the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Systems

By adopting multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technologies, IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs are evolving into high speed systems. While only one user can transmit at a time in the conventional IEEE 802.11 systems, we investigate the possibility of multiuser transmission by using MIMO antennas, which is now known as multiuser MIMO. The multiuser MIMO technique enables multiple users to receive packets over the downlink simultaneously, but it should be carefully used in the IEEE 802.11 systems for interoperation with non-MIMO legacy terminals. Through analysis and simulation evaluation, we demonstrate that multiuser transmission with a scheduling algorithm and single-user transmission with enhanced spatial multiplexing achieve enhanced performance by exploiting multiuser diversity in the space and time domains. Especially, when the number of stations is large, multiuser transmission shows better performance than enhanced single-user transmission.     

Aerobic plate counts as a measure of hazard analysis critical control point effectiveness in a pork processing plant

A hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) system was designed to identify specific hazards so that preventive and control measures to ensure the safety of a food could be implemented. Microbiological data generated through sampling were used to characterize the hygienic performance and to validate and verify the various HACCP plans. Aerobic plate counts (APCs) often are chosen as an indicator of the effectiveness of HACCP plans, because data for all aerobic bacteria are more easily collected than are data for pathogens of concern or other indicator organisms. However, it is not clear whether APCs are useful in verifying that a HACCP plan is working satisfactorily. In this study, APC data were collected from one pork-cutting plant in Korea both before and after the company initiated its HACCP plan. These APC data were used to compare microbiological differences and to determine the effect of any changes before and after implementing the HACCP plan. For this pork plant, after the HACCP plan was implemented the proportion of samples exceeding the 3 log CFU/cm2 limit dropped from 73.39 to 4.29% for the overall process. These results indicate that this plant improved its hygienic performance considerably and that the HACCP plan was an effective and valuable tool for achieving this improvement. The APC data were sufficient for validation and verification of the HACCP system that was successfully implemented to improve hygienic performance.