Scalar quantisation of LSF parameters using vector measurement

A new form of line spectral frequency (LSF), bounded line spectral frequency, is presented. It is shown that the new representation is more efficient than the direct line spectral frequency and the differential line spectral frequency (DLSF). By using a vector measure, the scalar quantisation of tenth-order linear predictive coding (LPC) parameters can be coded at 28 bit/frame with a transparent quantisation quality     

Offset dual-disk dielectric resonator antenna of very highpermittivity

An aperture-coupled offset dual-disk dielectric resonator antenna of very high permittivity is investigated experimentally. It is found that the new configuration offers an impedance bandwidth 4.6 times wider than that of the single element. The voltage standing wave ratio, radiation patterns, and antenna gain of the configuration are studied     

Analogue implementation of a neural network controller for UPSinverter applications

An analogue neural-network controller for UPS inverter applications is presented. The proposed neural-network controller is trained off-line using patterns obtained from a simulated controller, which had an idealized load-current-reference. Simulation results show that the proposed neural-network controller can achieve low total harmonic distortion under nonlinear loading condition and good dynamic responses under transient loading condition. To verify the performance of the proposed NN controller, a hardware inverter with an analogue neural network (NN) controller (using mainly operational amplifiers and resistors) is built. Additionally, for comparison purposes, a PI controller with optimized parameters is built. Experimental results confirm the simulation results and show the superior performance of the NN controller especially under rectifier-type loading condition. Implementing the analogue neural-network controller using programmable integrated circuits is also discussed     

Detection of Anti-Ulcer Drugs and Their Metabolites in Horse Urine by Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry

This paper describes a convenient method for the extraction and detection of eight anti-ulcer drugs simultaneously in horse urine, a relatively complex and viscous matrix, using a single-step liquid-liquid extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Anti-ulcer drugs were isolated from horse urine by salting out and liquid-liquid extraction. Detection of these drugs at concentrations below 1 ng mL^?1 could be achieved using LC-MS-MS in the positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) mode. The above analysis was also extended to elimination studies of horses administered with ranitidine and omeprazole. The urinary elimination data of these two drugs suggest that ranitidine was eliminated from horse urine at a much slower rate than omeprazole. In addition, three ranitidine metabolites and six omeprazole metabolites were identified for the first time in equine urine samples.     

Fluorescence detection and quantitation of recombinant proteins containing oligohistidine tag sequences directly in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels

Two fluorophore-nitrilotriacetic acid conjugates, Pro-Q Sapphire 365 and Pro-Q Sapphire 488 oligohistidine gel stains, have been developed for the fluorescence detection of fusion proteins containing oligohistidine tags directly in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, without the requirement for electroblotting, reporter enzymes or secondary detection reagents. Pro-Q Sapphire 365 oligohistidine gel stain exhibits bright-blue fluorescence (emission maximum = 450 nm) when illuminated with UV-A or UV-B light from a standard ultraviolet transilluminator. Pro-Q Sapphire 488 oligohistidine gel stain exhibits bright-green fluorescence (emission maximum = 515 nm) when illuminated with visible light from a laser-based gel scanner equipped with a 470 nm second-harmonic generation (SHG) or 488 nm argon-ion laser source. Typically, 25-65 ng of oligohistidine-tagged fusion protein in whole cell lysates is detectable using either stain. After documenting the fluorescence signal from the Pro-Q Sapphire dyes, gels may be post-stained with the red-fluorescent SYPRO Ruby protein gel stain in order to reveal the total protein pattern.     

Half-sandwich titanium(IV) complexes with Kläui's tripod ligand

Treatment of [Ti(O-i-Pr)(2)Cl(2)] with NaL(OEt) (L(OEt)(-) = [CpCo[P(O)(OEt)(2)](3)](-), Cp = eta(5)-C(5)H(5)) afforded [L(OEt)Ti(O-i-Pr)(2)Cl] that reacted with HCl in ether to give [L(OEt)TiCl(3)] (1). The average Ti-O and Ti-Cl distances in 1 are 1.975 and 2.293 A, respectively. Reaction of titanyl sulfate with NaL(OEt) in water followed by addition of HBF(4) afforded [L(OEt)TiF(3)] (2), the Ti-O and Ti-F distances of which are 2.020(2) and 1.792(2) A, respectively. The Zr(IV) analogue [L(OEt)ZrF(3)] (3) was prepared similarly from zirconyl nitrate, NaL(Oet), and HBF(4) in water. The Zr-O and average Zr-F distances in 3 are 2.139(2) and 1.938(2) A, respectively. Treatment of 1 with tetrachlorocatechol (H(2)Cl(4)cat) afforded [L(OEt)Ti(Cl(4)cat)Cl] (4). The average Ti-O(P), Ti-O(C), and Ti-Cl distances in 4 are 1.972, 1.926, and 2.334 A, respectively. Hydrolysis of 4 in the presence of Et(3)N yielded the mu-oxo dimer [(L(OEt))(2)Ti(2)(Cl(4)cat)(2)(mu-O)] (5). The average Ti-O(P), Ti-O(C), and Ti-O(Ti) distances in 5 are 2.027, 1.926, and 1.7977(9) A. Treatment of 1 with 1,1'-binaphthol (BINOLH(2)) in the presence of Et(3)N afforded [(L(OEt))(2)Ti(2)(mu-O)(2)(mu-BINOL)] x 2BINOLH(2) (6.2BINOLH(2)). Complex 1 is capable of catalyzing ring opening of epoxides with Me(3)SiN(3) under solvent-free conditions presumably via a Ti-azide intermediate.     

Molecular mass distribution of sodium alginate by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography

A sensitive high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) method with simple UV detection was developed for the molecular mass analysis of sodium alginate. It was used to evaluate alginates of varying molecular mass and the results were compared with the viscosity measurements. This HPSEC method was sensitive to serve as the stability indicating method for alginate after storage under different conditions. The information of relative molecular mass distribution of alginate was provided with reference to pullulan molecular mass standards. The comparison of the HPSEC chromatograms of alginate, pullulan and dextran revealed the effect of chemical composition of a polysaccharide and its effect on apparent molecular mass distribution.