Performance of an Echo Canceller and Channel Estimator for On-Channel Repeaters in DVB-T/H Networks

This paper investigates the design and performance of an FIR echo canceller for on-channel repeaters in DVB-T/H network within the framework of the PLUTO project. The possible approaches for echo cancellation are briefly reviewed and the main guidelines for the design of such systems are presented. The main system parameters are discussed. The performance of an FIR echo canceller based on an open loop feedforward approach for channel estimation is tested for different radio channel conditions and for different number of taps of the FIR filter. It is shown that a minimum number of taps is recommended to achieve a certain mean rejection ratio or isolation depending on the type of channel. The expected degradation in performance due to the use of fixed point rather than floating point arithmetic in hardware implementation is presented for different number of bits. Channel estimation based on training sequences is investigated. The performance of Maximum Length Sequences and Constant Amplitude Zero Autocorrelation (CAZAC) Sequences is compared for different channels. Recommendations are given for training sequence type, length and level for DVB-T/H on-channel repeater deployment

Sintering Behavior of Magnesium-Substituted Fluorapatite Powders Prepared by Hydrothermal Method

Magnesium-substituted fluorapatite powders were synthesized by hydrothermal method, and their sintering behavior was investigated by dilatometry in the temperature range 25–1100°C. Analysis of the obtained powders by X-ray diffraction and 31P NMR spectroscopy showed that the powders consisted of a single apatite phase and no amorphous phase has been formed. Compared to pure fluorapatite, the shrinkage of the substituted samples occurred in two steps and the temperature at which the sintering rate was maximum is lower. In addition, the shrinkage was interrupted by an expansion of the samples due to the formation of a liquid phase. The latter phase led to the crystallization of needle-crystals by a dissolution-diffusion-reprecipitation process

Method and Apparatus for Characterizing Microscale Formability of Thin Sheet Materials

A method of predicting sheet formability at a microscale level includes the steps of providing a grid pattern on a test sheet, bulging the test sheet to a hemispherical shape until a crack is initiated on the surface of the test sheet, detecting the initiation of the crack, acquiring two images of the surface adjacent to the crack and calculating surface strains on the test sheet

Method and Apparatus for Characterizing Microscale Formability of Thin Sheet Materials

A method of predicting sheet formability at a microscale level includes the steps of providing a grid pattern on a test sheet, bulging the test sheet to a hemispherical shape until a crack is initiated on the surface of the test sheet, detecting the initiation of the crack, acquiring two images of the surface adjacent to the crack and calculating surface strains on the test sheet

Synthesis and physico-chemical studies of a novel noncentrosymmetric heptacoordinated cadmium(II) compound containing a tripodal amine, CdCl2[N(C2H6N)3]2

A new noncentrosymmetric Cd(II) complex with thetripodal amine tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, CdCl2[N(C2H6N)3]2, has been prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, solid state NMR and IR spectroscopies. In the complex, the Cd(II) ion is surrounded by sevennitrogen atoms. The organic molecule acts as both a tri-and a tetradentate ligand. The cationic complexes are linked to each other forming layers parallel to the (a, b)plan. The Cl- counter ions occupy the cavities created inside these layers. The 13C CP-MAS NMR spectra are in agreement with the X-ray structure. DFT calculations allow the attribution of the carbon peaks to the differentatoms.The vibrational absorption bands were identified by infrared spectroscopy and DFT calculations allowed their attributions

Laboratory measurement campaign of DVB-T signal with transmit delay diversity

The requirements for future DVB-T/H networks demand that broadcasters design and deploy networks that provide ubiquitous reception in challenging indoors and other obstructed situations. It is essential that such networks are designed cost-effectively and with minimized environmental impact. The EC funded project PLUTO has since its start in 2006 explored the use of diversity to improve coverage in these difficult situations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of Transmit Delay Diversity (DD) with two antennas to improve the reception of DVB-T/H systems operating in different realistic propagation conditions through a series of tests using a SPIRENT SR5500 dual channel emulator. The relationship between correlation coefficient between channels, receiver velocity and diversity gain is nvestigated. It is shown that transmit delay diversity significantly improves the quality of reception particularly in simulated fast fading mobile broadcasting applications. This paper documents research conducted by Brunel University and Broadreach Systems

Effects of amino acids and metabolizable energy on egg characteristics and broiler breeder performance

A study was conducted to determine the effects of diet formulation type on egg characteristics and reproductive performance of broiler breeder (50 to 64 weeks of age). 140 female and 20 male breeders in four treatments with five replicates (7 females : 1 male) were used in the randomized 2 × 2 factorial design. Four experimental diets were formulated based on two factors: two levels of apparent and true metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen of feedstuffs (AMEn and TMEn) and two levels of total amino acids (TAAF) and digestible (DAAF) feedstuffs. The results show that egg weight, egg production, fertility and hatchability were significantly different and affected by diet formulation based on energy (P<0.05). Diet formulation based on digestible amino acids of feedstuffs significantly increased albumen height and Haugh unit (HU). Hens on treatment 2 (AMEn + DAAF) were significantly different in egg weight (69.17 g), egg production (62.45%) and chicks/hen (40.23) (P<0.05). This study shows that the diets formulations for AMEn, TMEn, TAAF and DAAF have significant effects on egg characteristics and broiler breeders reproductive performance.Key words: Broiler breeders, reproduction, amino acids, fertility, chickens

Printed Multiband Antenna with Independent Setting Suitable for Fixed and Reconfigurable Wireless Communication Systems

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Degradation of human kininogens with the release of kinin peptides by extracellular proteinases of Candida spp.

The secretion of proteolytic enzymes by pathogenic microorganisms is one of the most successful strategies used by pathogens to colonize and infect the host organism. The extracellular microbial proteinases can seriously deregulate the homeostatic proteolytic cascades of the host, including the kinin-forming system, repeatedly reported to he activated during bacterial infection. The current study assigns a kinin-releasing activity to secreted proteinases of Candida spp. yeasts, the major fungal pathogens of humans. Of several Candida species studied, C. parapsilosis and C. albicans in their invasive filamentous forms are shown to produce proteinases which most effectively degrade proteinaceous kinin precursors, the kininogens. These enzymes, classified as aspartyl proteinases, have the highest kininogen-degrading activity at low pH (approx. 3.5), but the associated production of bradykinin-related peptides from a small fraction of kininogen molecules is optimal at neutral pH (6.5). The peptides effectively interact with cellular B2-type kinin receptors. Moreover, kinin-related peptides capable of interacting with inflammation-induced B1-type receptors are also formed, but with a reversed pH dependence. The presented variability of the potential extracellular kinin production by secreted aspartyl proteinases of Candida spp. is consistent with the known adaptability of these opportunistic pathogens to different niches in the host organism