Time interleaved counter analog to digital converters

The work explores extending time interleaving in A/D converters, by applying a high-level of parallelism to one of the slowest and simplest types of data-converters, the counter ADC. The motivation for the work is to realise high-performance re-configurable A/D converters for use in multi-standard and multi-PHY communication receivers with signal bandwidths in the 10s to 100s of MHz. The counter ADC requires only a comparator, a ramp signal, and a digital counter, where the comparator compares the sampled input against all possible quantisation levels sequentially. This work explores arranging counter ADCs in large time-interleaved arrays, building a Time Interleaved Counter (TIC) ADC. The key to realising a TIC ADC is distributed sampling and a global multi-phase ramp generator realised with a novel figure-of-8 rotating resistor ring. Furthermore Counter ADCs allow for re-configurability between effective sampling rate and resolution due to their sequential comparison of reference levels in conversion. A prototype TIC ADC of 128-channels was fabricated and measured in 0.13μm CMOS technology, where the same block can be configured to operate as a 7-bit 1GS/s, 8-bit 500MS/s, or 9-bit 250MS/s dataconverter. The ADC achieves a sub 400fJ/step FOM in all modes of configuration

Paranasal sinuses malignancies : a 12-year review of clinical characteristics

Inadequate epidemiologic investigations of the paranasal sinuses malignancies prompted this retrospective study with special emphasis on a major group of 111 tumors. Clinical records of 111 patients with histologically confirmed malignant tumors of the paranasal sinuses were investigated retrospectively from April 2000 to January 2012. Collection of data included demographic information, clinical manifestations, treatment plans, and histopathology of the tumor. There were 69 (62.16%) male and 42 (37.83%) female patients (male-to-female ratio of 1.6:1), with a median age of 49±12.2 years (range 21 to 88 years). A high level of occurrence was noticed in the fifth (26.3%) decade of life. The most frequent histological types were squamous cell carcinoma (43.5%) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (19%). Among clinical manifestations, nasal obstruction was the most frequent followed by diplopia, and facial swelling. Fifty three patients (47.74%) were treated with combined approach of surgery and radiation therapy. Paranasal sinuses malignancies are rare conditions with nonspecific symptoms which make early diagnosis of the lesions more challenging. The optimal therapeutic protocol for patients suffering from these tumors is still a somewhat controversial entity and requires further studies

Towards a highly customizable framework for release planning process

U razvoju softvera, planiranjem puštanja u promet izabiru se važna svojstva i zahtjevi temeljeni na tehničkim ograničenjima i ograničenjima sredstava te odnosima između zahtjeva. Planiranje puštanja u promet usmjereno je na pronalaženje optimalnog rješenja traženjem raznih stanja. Takav način traženja rješenja otkriva dvije stvari. Prvo, pokazuje da postoje različiti nejasni i nesigurni parametri koji utječu na rješenje. Drugo, da ne postoji samo jedno rješenja za neki problem. Mogu postojati različita rješenja koja se razlikuju po svojim karakteristikama (na pr. u odnosu na trajanje, složenost itd.). Stoga su mnoge metode planiranja puštanja u promet često specifične za samo neke aspekte problema. U ovom se radu istražuju razne postojeće metode za planiranje pokretanja u svrhu pronalaženja nekih općih razmišljanja i aktivnosti za uspostavljanje prilagodljivog okvira za planiranje puštanja u promet. Prilagodba se postiže identificiranjem učinkovitih parametara ili primjera parametara i njihovih odnosa tako da se može izabrati pravi algoritam ili metoda za svaku aktivnost. Karakteristike projekta mogu se odrediti na osnovu primjera parametara te se oni tada primjenjuju za određivanje odgovarajuće metode za izvršavanje pojedine aktivnosti u okviru čitavog postupka planiranja puštanja u promet, a čiji se rezultati bilježe. Taj predloženi okvir vrlo prilagodljivog postupka sa svojim mogućim obilježjima prilagođavanja zatim se ocjenjuje u nekoliko softverskih poduzeća. U 85 % slučajeva predloženi okvir za svaku aktivnost u skladu je s uvjetima poduzeća i pomaže u ubrzanju postupka planiranja puštanja u promet.In software development, release planning is performed to select important features and requirements based on resource and technical constraints and the relationships between requirements. Release planning focuses on finding an optimal solution by seeking various states. This kind of solution finding reveals two remarks. First, it shows that there are various, ambiguous and uncertain parameters that influence the solution. Second, there is not only one solution to any problem. Various solutions can be found that differ in their performance (e.g. time performance, complexity performance, etc.). Consequently, many methods for release planning are often specific to only certain problem domains. This paper examines various current release planning methods to extract the common activities and thoughts in order to establish a customizable framework for release planning. Customization is done by identifying effective parameters, parameter instances and their relationships so that they can affect the selection of the right algorithm or method for each activity. Project characteristics can be specified based on the parameter instances and they are then used to determine the suitable method for achieving each activity within the whole release planning process and the results of which are recorded. This proposed highly customizable process framework with its possible customization features is then validated in several software companies. In 85 % of the cases, the suggested framework for every activity of the process fits the companies’ circumstances and helps to hasten the process of release planning

A pattern-based release planning methodology for market-driven software / Amir Seyed Danesh

In software development, release planning is performed in order to select important features and requirements based on resource and technical constraints and the relationships between requirements. Several methods have been developed for release planning, but the most challenging part of release planning methods is dealing with unique complexities and varying characteristics of problem scope and domain. This has made the existing methods and approaches only applicable to a limited range of software projects. As a result, a more flexible and adaptive approach is required for release planning that can be customized in accordance to different domains and can be employed in a variety of software development projects. Achieving a highly customized release planning methodology requires an effective planning process that covers all release planning tasks and can be customized according to project specifications for each parameter. This study aims to, firstly, assemble a general and comprehensive process for release planning which covers all the important tasks and, secondly, identify parameters which can be used to customize the process for various projects, and thirdly introduce and apply release planning patterns based on process model steps and the identified parameters to facilitate customization. Thus, available release planning approaches have been studied and four common tasks i.e. requirements prioritization, resource estimation, release pre-planning, and trade-off analysis were identified and assembled in the form of a process model. Subsequently, various relevant parameters for each step which are related to project specifications were identified. In order to customize each step of the process model for various projects, each parameter was determined precisely and its current instances were identified. Some of the parameters are shared between process model steps. The notion of "pattern" was employed in order to facilitate the customization of the steps of the process model and several patterns were identified. Every release planning pattern has constraints based upon parameter instances of the step of process model, and suggests a solution as the selected method to apply to the step. Using this notion, the release planner only has to select a release planning pattern based on selected parameters that suit his circumstance. To validate the proposed methodology, two methods are used. At first, five software companies with 31 projects were used to implement method to their projects. The companies were asked to apply the pattern-based methodology to at least two releases and, for each step of the methodology, apply PRP tool suggested method. Secondly, numbers of 13 experts in the software development domain are answered questions in a survey on the results of the methodology and their satisfaction. Results showed that in most cases -more than 87% of the cases, the methodology suggested by the pattern release planner produce better releases and make the release planning process easier and faster than those used previously

Time interleaved counter analog to digital converters

The work explores extending time interleaving in A/D converters, by applying a high-level of parallelism to one of the slowest and simplest types of data-converters, the counter ADC. The motivation for the work is to realise high-performance re-configurable A/D converters for use in multi-standard and multi-PHY communication receivers with signal bandwidths in the 10s to 100s of MHz. The counter ADC requires only a comparator, a ramp signal, and a digital counter, where the comparator compares the sampled input against all possible quantisation levels sequentially. This work explores arranging counter ADCs in large time-interleaved arrays, building a Time Interleaved Counter (TIC) ADC. The key to realising a TIC ADC is distributed sampling and a global multi-phase ramp generator realised with a novel figure-of-8 rotating resistor ring. Furthermore Counter ADCs allow for re-configurability between effective sampling rate and resolution due to their sequential comparison of reference levels in conversion. A prototype TIC ADC of 128-channels was fabricated and measured in 0.13μm CMOS technology, where the same block can be configured to operate as a 7-bit 1GS/s, 8-bit 500MS/s, or 9-bit 250MS/s dataconverter. The ADC achieves a sub 400fJ/step FOM in all modes of configuration.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Preliminary Data on Mesenchymal Characteristics of Stem Cells Obtained from Human Dental Pulp and Dental Follicle of Wisdom Teeth

Aims and Objectives: Stem cells isolated from human dental follicle and dental pulp tissues were evaluated to determine their mesenchymal nature before differentiation. Material and Methods: Dental pulp and dental follicle tissues were gently collected from human third molars obtained from healthy patients and cultivated under specific conditions. Single cell-derived cell lines were evaluated in terms of surface marker expression and cell morphology. Results: Dental pulp and Dental follicle stem cell populations mainly composed of typical fibroblast-like cells. Assessment of surface marker expression by flow cytometric analysis revealed that dental pulp and dental follicle stem cells were positive for CD 105, CD 73, CD 90, but negative for hematopoietic markers such as CD 45 and CD 34, suggesting that these cells are mesenchymal-like stem cells. Conclusions: Dental pulp and dental follicle stem cells express typical surface antigens of mesenchymal stem cells and may be considered as valuable sources for apply in tissue engineering and transplant