Computer-aided analysis of free-running microwave oscillators

The authors present a newly developed free-running steady-state oscillator analysis algorithm suited to large-signal oscillator analysis. Kurokawa's oscillation condition is coupled with the modified nodal admittance form of the circuit equations to avoid degenerate solutions. The algorithm was implemented by using both harmonic balance and frequency-domain spectral balance techniques. It was used in the simulation of monolithically integrated varactor-tuned MESFET oscillator. Good agreement between simulated power and oscillation frequency results was obtained     

On the capacity of a cellular CDMA system

It is shown that, particularly for terrestrial cellular telephony, the interference-suppression feature of CDMA (code division multiple access) can result in a many-fold increase in capacity over analog and even over competing digital techniques. A single-cell system, such as a hubbed satellite network, is addressed, and the basic expression for capacity is developed. The corresponding expressions for a multiple-cell system are derived. and the distribution on the number of users supportable per cell is determined. It is concluded that properly augmented and power-controlled multiple-cell CDMA promises a quantum increase in current cellular capacity     

Analysis of plane and axisymmetric flows of incompressible fluids with the stream tube method: Numerical simulation by trust-region optimization algorithm

New concepts for the study of incompressible plane or axisymmetric flows are analysed by the stream tube method. Flows without eddies and pure vortex flows are considered in a transformed domain where the mapped streamlines are rectilinear or circular. The transformation between the physical domain and the computational domain is an unknown of the problem. In order to solve the non-linear set of relevant equations, we present a new algorithm based on a trust region technique which is effective for non-convex optimization problems. Experimental results show that the new algorithm is more robust compared to the Newton-Raphson method.     

Simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid by HPLC with postcolumn derivatisation and fluorometric detection

Summary A reproducible method is described for the separation and simultaneous and specific quantitation of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid by ion-pairing reversed-phase HPLC with fluorometric detection. Copper sulphate and copper acetate were compared as oxidizing reagents for ascorbic acid and 1,2-diaminobenzene dihydrochloride and 1,2-diamino-3,4-dimethylbenzene dihydrochloride as derivatising reagents. The HPLC-method was applied to human plasma. The detection limit reaches 16 ng for ascorbic acid and 3 ng for dehydroascorbic acid. Sample preparation is carried out by solid phase extraction with a recovery of 98%; it is compared with conventional precipitation of plasma proteins by metaphosphoric acid.     

Growth of InP/InGaAs multiple quantum well structures by chemical beam epitaxy

InP/InGaAs multiple quantum well structures with up to 200 periods have been grown by CBE. These structures exhibit exceptional lateral uniformity, measured as ±1 Å in period, ±13 ppm in lattice mismatch and ±0.5 nm in wavelength across a 2 inch wafer. Good surface morphology, sharp interfaces and excellent growth control have all been demonstrated.     

A parallel systems approach to universal receivers

The problem of communication over a channel with unknown characteristics is addressed. The true channel is from a known set of channels, but the transmitter and receiver do not know which of these channels is actually in effect. The goal of a universal receiver is to provide nearly optimal demodulation regardless of the channel that is actually in effect. A parallel receiver implementation is proposed for a universal scheme to cope with such uncertainty. The parallel system consists of a finite number of receivers with the property that, for each channel in the set, the performance of at least one of the receivers will be within a specified performance range. Data verification is accomplished by an appropriate coding system. Sufficient conditions for the existence of such a universal receiver for a prescribed set of channels are established, procedures are outlined for the receiver design, and an example is given to illustrate the applicability of the theory. For M-ary signaling it is shown that, from an information-theoretic viewpoint, the data verification can be achieved at no extra cost by use of the intrinsic side information that is provided by an appropriate coding scheme that also provides error correction     

Efficacy of the accent method of voice therapy

The management of voice disorders may follow one of four approaches: surgical, pharmacological, technical aid, and/or voice therapy. The latter approach offers a wide variety of techniques, each based on certain theoretical beliefs. One of these techniques is the Smith Accent Method. The principles and goals of the Accent Method are presented. The results of its application are discussed. This technique proved effective for cases of functional voice disorders, vocal nodules, and some degrees of vocal fold paralysis.     

Barrier Discharge The Transferred Charge and Ozone Synthesis

We have undertaken an experimental investigation of the influence of the conditions of barrier discharge implementation such as: the discharge gap value, the type of gas, and the polarity and dielectric permittivity of the dielectric electrode on the value of charge transferred in a micro-discharge. It is shown that the increase in the specific capacitance of the electrodes leads to proportional increase in the transferred charge value, reaching 100–200 nC in a discharge gap 1 mm, in air. In this case the amplitude and duration of a current pulse in the microdischarge reach, respectively, 10 to 15 A and 40 ns. It is also demonstrated that in air with increase in the discharge gap value one can observe a decrease in the efficiency of the ozone synthesis whereas in oxygen there exists a more complicated dependence: the maximum of efficiency is observed at a discharge gap value of 0.7 to 1.0 mm.     

Theory of main chain nematic polymers with spacers of varying degree of flexibility

Main chain liquid crystal polymers are modelled as either worms or jointed rods. In reality they are composed of mesogenic units (rods) linked by spacers with varying degrees of flexibility. We present a molecular model to describe non-homogeneous nematic polymers. The model takes account of molecular parameters, such as the lengths of the mesogenic group and the spacer units, and the interactions between them. The spacers are found to have an order differing from the mesogenic units. If the spacer is not very long and thus in effect is inflexible, one end of the spacer can retain to some extent the orientation of the other end, allowing orientational correlation between spacers mediated by the intermediate mesogenic unit. This is important in giving the chain a global rod-like behaviour as the nematic field becomes strong or the temperature low. The nematic order of the two components (mesogens and spacers), the nematic-isotropic transition as well as the latent entropy are examined. Furthermore, the anisotropic conformations of the polymers are investigated, which show either rod-like or random walk behaviour. Comparison of our results with experiment is found to be satisfactory.