On the performance of turbo codes and convolutional codes of low rate

Recently two new classes of low-rate codes have been presented. The first class is the super-orthogonal turbo codes (SOTCs) and the second is the maximum free distance (MFD) convolutional codes. In this paper we present an evaluation of the performance vs. arithmetic decoding complexity for these codes and compare them with the previously reported super-orthogonal convolutional codes (SOCCs). For all classes of codes, the arithmetic decoding complexity is estimated, and the error performance on the additive white Gaussian noise channel is simulated. The SOCCs offer performance comparable to that of the MFD codes. However, the existence of good SOCCs is restricted to a small number of rates while the MFD codes give high performance for a multitude of rates. For the parameters used in this investigation the SOTCs yield higher performance at lower arithmetic decoding complexity than the MFD code

On the performance of turbo codes and convolutional codes of low rate

Recently two new classes of low-rate codes have been presented. The first class is the super-orthogonal turbo codes (SOTCs) and the second is the maximum free distance (MFD) convolutional codes. In this paper we present an evaluation of the performance vs. arithmetic decoding complexity for these codes and compare them with the previously reported super-orthogonal convolutional codes (SOCCs). For all classes of codes, the arithmetic decoding complexity is estimated, and the error performance on the additive white Gaussian noise channel is simulated. The SOCCs offer performance comparable to that of the MFD codes. However, the existence of good SOCCs is restricted to a small number of rates while the MFD codes give high performance for a multitude of rates. For the parameters used in this investigation the SOTCs yield higher performance at lower arithmetic decoding complexity than the MFD code

Grafts Derived from an α-Synuclein Triplication Patient Mediate Functional Recovery but Develop Disease-Associated Pathology in the 6-OHDA Model of Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have been proposed as an alternative source for cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) and they provide the option of using the patient's own cells. A few studies have investigated transplantation of patient-derived dopaminergic (DA) neurons in preclinical models; however, little is known about the long-term integrity and function of grafts derived from patients with PD.OBJECTIVE: To assess the viability and function of DA neuron grafts derived from a patient hiPSC line with an α-synuclein gene triplication (AST18), using a clinical grade human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line (RC17) as a reference control.METHODS: Cells were differentiated into ventral mesencephalic (VM)-patterned DA progenitors using an established GMP protocol. The progenitors were then either terminally differentiated to mature DA neurons in vitro or transplanted into 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rats and their survival, maturation, function, and propensity to develop α-synuclein related pathology, were assessed in vivo.RESULTS: Both cell lines generated functional neurons with DA properties in vitro. AST18-derived VM progenitor cells survived transplantation and matured into neuron-rich grafts similar to the RC17 cells. After 24 weeks, both cell lines produced DA-rich grafts that mediated full functional recovery; however, pathological changes were only observed in grafts derived from the α-synuclein triplication patient line.CONCLUSION: This data shows proof-of-principle for survival and functional recovery with familial PD patient-derived cells in the 6-OHDA model of PD. However, signs of slowly developing pathology warrants further investigation before use of autologous grafts in patients

Liability of a Surgeon for the Extension of an Authorized Operation

Polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate the voltage dependence of several voltage-gated ion channels, thereby being potent modifiers of cellular excitability. Detailed knowledge of this molecular mechanism can be used in designing a new class of small-molecule compounds against hyperexcitability diseases. Here, we show that arginines on one side of the helical K-channel voltage sensor S4 increased the sensitivity to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), whereas arginines on the opposing side decreased this sensitivity. Glutamates had opposite effects. In addition, a positively charged DHA-like molecule, arachidonyl amine, had opposite effects to the negatively charged DHA. This suggests that S4 rotates to open the channel and that DHA electrostatically affects this rotation. A channel with arginines in positions 356, 359, and 362 was extremely sensitive to DHA: 70 mu M DHA at pH 9.0 increased the current greater than500 times at negative voltages compared with wild type (WT). The small-molecule compound pimaric acid, a novel Shaker channel opener, opened the WT channel. The 356R/359R/362R channel drastically increased this effect, suggesting it to be instrumental in future drug screening

A global view of protein expression in human cells, tissues, and organs

Defining the protein profiles of tissues and organs is critical to understanding the unique characteristics of the various cell types in the human body. In this study, we report on an anatomically comprehensive analysis of 4842 protein profiles in 48 human tissues and 45 human cell lines. A detailed analysis of over 2 million manually annotated, high-resolution, immunohistochemistry-based images showed a high fraction (>65%) of expressed proteins in most cells and tissues, with very few proteins (<2%) detected in any single cell type. Similarly, confocal microscopy in three human cell lines detected expression of more than 70% of the analyzed proteins. Despite this ubiquitous expression, hierarchical clustering analysis, based on global protein expression patterns, shows that the analyzed cells can be still subdivided into groups according to the current concepts of histology and cellular differentiation. This study suggests that tissue specificity is achieved by precise regulation of protein levels in space and time, and that different tissues in the body acquire their unique characteristics by controlling not which proteins are expressed but how much of each is produced

Privata skogsägares attityder och anpassningar till klimatförändringar : En fallstudie i Kronobergs län

Conditions for Swedish forestry are expected to change in the future due to the climate. Among other things, increased production is expected in a warmer climate, mainly because of a longer growing season. With the changing climate risk of damage by such as insects, fungi and storms are expected to increase. Hence, it is of highest importance for private forest owners to spread these risks in the way they cultivate their forest. In this study a qualitative method was used to examine ten private forest owners with forest properties within Kronoberg county, Sweden in their attitudes and actions to prepare in terms of climate change and if they have been affected by the climate change debate in their forest decisions. The study also examine differences in this between forest owners that have been educated by the swedish forest agency in the subject with those that haven’t. The results indicates a high belief that the forest will be affected by climate change, but the actions taken to prepare for it is lower. The result also shows that the educated forest owners more extensively have taken adaptive measures even if the measures not are taken because of the education. Reasons for action taken are identified as because of the climate change debate, self-interest in the subject, uncertainty in what factors will be most affected or that the forest have been hit hard by storms.Med ett i framtiden förändrat klimat förväntas förutsättningarna för svenskt skogsbruk framöver inte se ut som de gör idag. Bland annat förväntas i ett varmare klimat en ökad produktion med anledning av framförallt en längre vegetationsperiod. Med detta förväntas även skaderisken för såsom skadeinsekter, skadesvampar och stormfällning öka. Därför rekommenderas privata skogsägare att i större omfattning sprida dessa risker i sitt sätt att bruka skogen. Den här studien av kvalitativ typ analyserar tio privata skogsägares inställning till klimatförändringar och om man påverkats av klimatdebatteni sitt sätt att bruka skogen samt skillnader i detta mellan skogsägare som deltagit i skogsstyrelsens utbildning/rådgivning i klimatfrågor och de som inte gjort det. Samtliga intervjuade skogsägare äger skogsmark i Kronobergs län. Motiv till de val man gör som privat skogsägare har också studerats. Resultatet indikerar att tron på att skogen kommer påverkas av ett förändrat klimat är hög, men agerandet med att förbereda sig inför en förändring är lägre. Resultatet visar också att skogsägare som deltagit i skogsstyrelsens utbildning/rådgivning i klimatfrågor i större utsträckning genomfört klimatanpassningar även om dessa åtgärder inte direkt har gjorts med anledning av utbildningen/rådgivningen. Motiv till anpassning grundar sig i stället i klimatdiskussionen och genom prognoser om framtida klimat, eget intresse, osäkerhet i vad som kommer påverkas mest eller att skogen drabbats hårt av stormar

Spring Step : Utvecklandet av fotsteg för yrkesfordon

Yrkeschaufförer som hämtar och levererar paket, använder sig ofta av LVC-fordon (Light Commercial Vehicle). Dessa fordon är vanligtvis försedda med skjutdörr på ena sidan, samt dörrar baktill. För att underlätta in-och urstigning bak på fordonet så är fotsteg monterat under dörrarna. När föraren ska hämta eller lämna paket backar de mot lastkajen för att kunna lasta in eller ur via bakdörren på fordonet. Man önskar att komma så nära intill lastkajen som möjligt och backar tills det att fotsteget där bak tar emot, detta ger föraren en smidig och effektiv indikator på att önskad position är uppnådd. Problemet som uppstår när denna manöver upprepas är att fotsteget tillslut backas sönder. Att åka till verkstad för att laga det trasiga fotsteget prioriteras bort eftersom det tar tid och kostar pengar.   Två utvecklingsingenjörer har i samarbete med företaget Modul-System HH AB tagit fram en lösning på detta problem. Med hjälp av vetenskapliga metoder, analyser och andra verktyg har produkten Spring Step utvecklats och är fotsteget med lång livslängd som hjälper företag att både spara tid och pengar.   Spring Step är det fjädrande fotsteget som med hjälp av bladfjädrar skjuts in under bilen när det utsätts för horisontella krafter. Produkten är anpassningsbar på alla typer av LVC-fordon eftersom det finns en skena på fotstegets undersida där ett justerbart skruvförband.Package delivery drivers often use Light Commercial Vehicles. This kind of vehicles are equipped with a sliding door on the side and two doors at the back. To make it easier to enter and exit the back of the vehicle, there is a step mounted to the chassis. When the driver picks up or delivers a package, he reverses towards the loading dock to able to load or unload through the back doors. You want to be as close as possible to the dock which is why you reverse until the step and the dock collides, this maneuver serves as an effective indicator to when the desired position is reached. The problem occur by repeating the maneuver is that step eventually breaks. Repairing the step is often not high priority due to high costs and long lead times.   Two Innovation engineers has in collaboration with Modul-System HH AB developed a solution to this problem. Using product- and project development models, Spring Step has been developed which has a longer life span and saves transportation companies a lot of time and money.   Spring Step is the resilient step that uses plate springs to shove the step under the vehicle during horizontal force. The product is customizable to any light commercial vehicle on the market due to the rail and bolts under the step

Optimization of Cavity Receiver Geometry with regards to Radiation Heat Loss

In order to maximize the e ciency of power generation in concentrated solar power systems (CSP) it is de- sired to achieve as high a tempera- ture in the receiver as possible due to the use of the Sterling cycle to gen- erate power. This report investigates three di↵erent geometries for cavity receivers in CSP systems; cylindrical, conical and truncated conical. The goal has been to minimize the heat loss due to radiation. This was achieved through mathematical mod- eling with the help of MATLAB. Five di↵erent cases with regards to oper- ating temperature and proportions of the receiver where investigated for each of the three chosen geometries. It was found that the conical geometry minimized this heat loss in all except one case.

Mandatory Rotation of Audit Firms : A study on the investors' viewpoints in the EU and the US

Background In 2010, the European Commission released a public consultation, Green Paper on Audit Policy, and a year later the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in the US also published a public consultation, Concept Release on Auditor Independence and Audit Firm Rotation, which both included questions about whether mandatory rotation of audit firms should be implemented or not. The main suggestion in both public consultations was that the rotation would enhance auditor independence and increase audit quality. However, in 2013 the legislators in the US decided to prohibit a regulation on mandatory rotation of audit firms whereas the EU legislators, in 2014, decided to adopt the regulation to force public interest entities to change audit firms within a maximum period of ten years. These two different decisions by the EU legislators and the US legislators are interesting since they both wish to achieve the same purpose; to improve audit quality and auditor independence. Still, they used two approaches that are contradictory to each other.   Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the replies from both EU investors and US investors in order to get their viewpoints about mandatory rotation of audit firms and to find out if the investors’ viewpoints have had any impact on the legislators’ decisions regarding the contradictory approaches in the EU and the US. The main research question is: Is there a difference between the investors’ viewpoints of mandatory rotation of audit firms in the EU and the US?   Method This thesis has studied the replies made by the investors to the Green Paper and the Concept Release, because investors are one of the primary stakeholders and those who should be most concerned with auditor independence and audit quality. The study consists of 42 replies, 22 replies to the Green Paper and 20 to the Concept Release.   Conclusion The study shows that mandatory rotation of audit firms is not supported, according to the investors’ viewpoints. A clear majority of the investors in the EU and all of the investors in the US opposed the rotation and similar arguments were used both by EU investors and US investors. The investors do not believe that regulations on mandatory rotation of audit firms will increase auditor independence or audit quality. The study further shows that legislators in the EU have not followed the investors’ viewpoints when they decided to regulate the rotation in 2014. However, it does not show why the legislators decided on two different approaches, only that the decision by the legislators in the EU did not agree with the investors’ point of view