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This thesis is about Turbo codes - codes constructed via parallel concatenation of two recursive convolutional encoders linked by an interleaver. The focus of the work is on the understanding and design of Turbo codes. This includes thorough investigation of central components that influence Turbo code performances, such as the constituent encoders and the interleaver, as well as the procedure of
Emergence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) populations that switch or broaden coreceptor usage from CCR5 to CXCR4 is intimately coupled to CD4(+) cell depletion and disease progression toward AIDS. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the coreceptor switch, we determined the nucleotide sequences of 253 V1 to V3 env clones from 27 sequential HIV-1 subtype B isolat
Objectives: It has been well established that male erectile dysfunction is frequently associated with vascular diseases. The normal function of cavernous arteries is considered a prerequisite to maintain sufficient blood flow to the trabecular spaces in order to enable penile erection. Contractility of cavernous arteries is regulated by the peripheral autonomic nervous system and endogenous factor
A diagnosis/antibiotic prescribing study was performed in 5 counties in Sweden for 1 week in November 2000. As part of this study, the characteristics and clinical management of patients with upper respiratory tract infections ( n = 2899) in primary care were analyzed. Almost half of the patients were aged < 15 y and one-fifth of the patients consulted out of hours. Of all patients seeking primary
This study applies Closed-Loop Combustion Control (CLCC) using Fast Thermal Management (FTM) on a multi-cylinder Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) engine together with load control, to achieve a favorable combustion phasing and load at all times. Step changes of set points for combustion phasing, Compression Ratio (CR), and load together with ramps of engine speed with either constant load, i.e., l
In the work presented in the thesis laser diagnostics was employed primarily in the investigation of engines, but was also used to study soot in flames. Quantitative measurements were performed for visualizing both in-cylinder soot formation and DME sprays in a combustion vessel. The DME sprays inside a diesel truck engine were also qualitatively investigated. The combustion process in the HCCI en
Seven of eight women who had given birth to infants with early onset or intrauterine infection caused by group B streptococci remained carriers of the same serotype of group B streptococci up to 38 months after their pregnancy. In contrast, only 34 of 88 group B streptococci carriers who had given birth to healthy infants harbored the same serotype at the 34 months' follow-up (P = .009). Among the
Human cystatin C, a protein with amyloidogenic properties and a potent inhibitor of papain-like mammalian proteases, has been produced in its full-length form by recombinant techniques and crystallized in two polymorphic forms: cubic and tetragonal. A selenomethionyl derivative of the protein, obtained by Escherichia coli expression and with complete Met→Se-Met substitution confirmed by mass spect
Defocus changes the visual contrast sensitivity function, thereby creating a complex curve with local dips and peaks. Since underwater vision in humans is severely defocused, we used optical theory and the phenomenon of spurious resolution to predict how well humans can see in this environment. The values obtained correspond well with experimental measurements of underwater human acuity from earli
Background: The aim of this study was to provide normative data of bone mineral density (BMD; g/cm(2)) of the forearm and the calcaneus, evaluated by peripheral dual X ray absorbtiometry (DXA), in children aged 6 to 7 years of age and to evaluate the association with anthropometrics and sex. Materials and methods: 368 boys and 326 girls with a mean age of 6.7 +/- 0.4 years participated. BMD was me
Seed bank is a plant life history strategy against the unpredictability of the biotic and the abiotic environment. We simulated competition between a seed banking and a non-banking morph of an annual plant. A constant fraction of the banker morph seeds was allocated to the seed bank, where they had a constant mortality and germination rate. All surviving seeds of the non-banker morph germinated in
Popular Abstract in Swedish Varje dag bildas ca 10^12 nya blodceller i människokroppen. Denna enorma produktion av celler utgår från benmärgen och pågår under hela vårt liv. Ytterst sett är denna process beroende av en till antalet liten cellpopulation av sk blodstamceller eller hematopoietiska stamceller. Den enorma potential som vilar i detta system illustreras av det faktum att en enda blodstamHematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in the bone marrow (BM) of adult individuals and are ultimately responsible for the continuous production of blood cells throughout life. The regulation of HSCs in vivo is tightly regulated by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The Smad-signaling pathway is an evolutionary conserved signaling circuitry with critical functions during embryogenesis and throu
Recent climate change has sparked an interest in the timing of biological events, which is a general problem in life-history evolution. Reproduction in many organisms breeding in seasonal environments, e. g. migratory birds, is dependent on the exploitation of a short but rich food supply. If the seasonal timing of the food peak advances owing to climate change, then one would expect the bird to t
The paper is based on an inventory of crofts and cottages that was made in the parish of Länghem in the southern part of the province of Västergötland, Sweden at the end of the 1950ies and the beginning of the 1960ies. The parish of Länghem has both manors (the medieval Torpa and Hofsnäs and the 17th century Sällerås) and independent villages. The inventory was made quite traditionally. We tried t
Effects of A-322312 (alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor (AR) antagonist), A-119637 (alpha(1D)-AR antagonist), prazosin (non-selective alpha(1)-AR antagonist), and yohimbine (alpha(2)-AR antagonist) were studied in rat corpus cavernosum (CC) and cavernous artery (Acc) preparations. Effects of intracavernous (i.c.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of alpha(1)-AR antagonists on apomorphine-induced erecti
Purpose: We compared ProstaLund Feedback Treatment(R) (PLFT(R)) to transurethral prostate resection (TURP) in terms of efficacy and safety in a pooled analysis of 3 clinical studies with 1-year followup. Materials and Methods: Overall raw data on 183 patients with PLFT(R) and 65 with TURP were pooled. All studies had identical inclusion criteria, and the efficacy and safety of the method were eval
