A Spectral Factorization Approach to Pseudo-QMF Design

A new approach to the design of M-channel pseudoquadrature-mirror-filter (QMF) banks is presented. In this approach, the prototype filter is obtained as a spectral factor of a 2Mth band filter. This completely eliminates the need for optimization whereas in conventional pseudo-QMF designs, the main computational effort is in optimization of the prototype. As in the conventional approach, the aliasing cancellation (AC) constraint ensures that all the significant aliasing terms are canceled. The overall transfer function T(z) of the analysis/synthesis system has a linear phase and an approximately “flat” magnitude response in the frequency region ε ≤ ω ≤ (π - ε), where ε depends on the transition bandwidth of the prototype and 0 < ε < (π/2M). Three design examples are included

Helicopter rotor loads using matched asymptotic expansions: User's manual

Computer programs were developed to implement the computational scheme arising from Van Holten's asymptotic method for calculating airloads on a helicopter rotor blade in forward flight, and a similar technique which is based on a discretized version of the method. The basic outlines of the two programs are presented, followed by separate descriptions of the input requirements and output format. Two examples illustrating job entry with appropriate input data and corresponding output are included. Appendices contain a sample table of lift coefficient data for the NACA 0012 air foil and listings of the two programs

On arbitrary-level IIR and FIR filters

A recently published method for designing IIR (infinite-impulse-response) digital filters with multilevel magnitude responses is reinterpreted from a different viewpoint. On the basis of this interpretation, techniques for extending these results to the case of finite-impulse-response (FIR) filters are developed. An advantage of the authors' method is that, when the arbitrary-level filter is implemented, its power-complementary filter, which may be required in specific applications, is obtained simultaneously. Also, by means of a tuning factor (a parameter of the scaling matrix), it is possible to generate a whole family of arbitrary-level filters

Breakthroughs in Shared Measurement and Social Impact

A surprising new breakthrough is emerging in the social sector: A handful of innovative organizations have developed web-based systems for reporting the performance, measuring the outcomes, and coordinating the efforts of hundreds or even thousands of social enterprises within a field. These nascent efforts carry implications well beyond performance measurement, foreshadowing the possibility of profound changes in the vision and effectiveness of the entire nonprofit sector. This paper, based on six months of interviews and research by FSG Social Impact Advisors, examines twenty efforts to develop shared approaches to performance, outcome, or impact measurement across multiple organizations. The accompanying appendices include a short description of each system and four more in-depth case studies

Helicopter rotor loads using discretized matched asymptotic expansions

The numerical practicality of a matched asymptotic expansion approach for the computation of unsteady three dimensional airloads on a helicopter rotor was improved. This effort utilizes a discretized repesentation of the doublet strength distribution and helical streamlines to decrease the computational requirements of the original analysis. The continuous variation of the doublet strength was approximated by piecewise constant or piecewise quadratic distributions, and the helical trajectory of a fluid particle was approximated by connected straight line segments. As a direct result of these simplified representations the computational time required for the execution of a typical flight condition was reduced by an order of magnitude with respect to the requirements of the original analysis. Airloads which were computed using the discretized method for a two bladed model rotor and a full scale four bladed rotor are in close agreement with measured results and airloads from the original asymptotic analysis. For conditions characterized by significant rotor/wake interaction the piecewise constant representation requires a reduced azimuth spacing to maintain acceptable accuracy

Theory and design of perfect reconstruction transmultiplexers and their relation to perfect reconstruction QMF banks

The theory of transmultiplexers involves the design of filters for interconversion between Time Domain Multiplexing (TDM) and Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), such that the undesirable Crosstalk is minimized. In TDM → FDM → TDM conversion, the perfect reconstruction trans-multiplexer (PR-TMUX) achieves complete Crosstalk Cancellation (CC) and is distortion-free. In this paper, we present an analysis of the PR-TMUX based on the polyphase component matrices of the filter banks used in TDM → FDM and FDM → TDM conversion respectively. Using that, a necessary and sufficient condition for complete CC is obtained. The close relation between PR-TMUX filters and PR-QMF banks is used to obtain a direct design procedure for PR-TMUX filters

Efficacy of qualitative response assessment interpretation criteria at 18F-FDG PET-CT for predicting outcome in locally advanced cervical carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy

Objectives: To evaluate the utility of a standardized qualitative scoring system for treatment response assessment at 18F-FDG PET-CT in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical carcinoma and correlate this with subsequent patient outcome. Methods: Ninety-six consecutive patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma treated with radical chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in a single centre between 2011 and 2014 underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT approximately 3 months post-treatment. Tumour metabolic response was assessed qualitatively using a 5-point scale ranging from background level activity only through to progressive metabolic disease. Clinical and radiological (MRI pelvis) follow-up was performed in all patients. Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method (Mantel-Cox log-rank) and correlated with qualitative score using Chi-squared test. Results: Forty patients (41.7 %) demonstrated complete metabolic response (CMR) on post-treatment PET-CT (Score 1/2) with 38 patients (95.0 %) remaining disease free after a minimum follow-up period of 18 months. Twenty-four patients (25.0 %) had indeterminate residual uptake (ID, Score 3) at primary or nodal sites after treatment, of these eight patients (33.3 %) relapsed on follow-up, including all patients with residual nodal uptake (n = 4Eleven11 of 17 patients (64.7 %) with significant residual uptake (partial metabolic response, PMR, Score 4) subsequently relapsed. In 15 patients (15.6 %) PET-CT demonstrated progressive disease (PD, Score 5) following treatment. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a highly statistically significant difference in PFS and OS between patients with CMR, indeterminate uptake, PMR and PD (Log-rank, P < 0.0001). Chi-squared test demonstrated a highly statistically significant association between increasing qualitative score and risk of recurrence or death (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Use of a 5-point qualitative scoring system to assess metabolic response to CRT in locally advanced cervical carcinoma predicts survival outcome and this prognostic information may help guide further patient management

Some results in the theory of crosstalk-free transmultiplexers

The crosstalk-free transmultiplexer (CF-TMUX) focuses on crosstalk cancellation (CC) rather than on suppressing it. The authors present an analysis of the CF-TMUX based on the polyphase component matrices of the filter banks used in TDM→FDM and FDM→TDM conversions, respectively. Thus a necessary and sufficient condition for complete CC is obtained. It is shown that the filters for a CF-TMUX are the same as the filters for a 1-skewed alias free QMF bank. In addition, if the QMF bank satisfies the perfect reconstruction (PR) property, then the TMUX also satisfies PR. The relation between CF-TMUX filters and alias-free QMF banks is used to obtain a direct design procedure for CF-TMUX filters (both FIR and IIR). It is also shown that approximately crosstalk-free TMUX filters can be obtained from any approximately alias-free QMC bank. Design examples and comparison tables are included

Fetal movements as a predictor of health

The key determinant to a fetus maintaining its health is through adequate perfusion and oxygen transfer mediated by the functioning placenta. When this equilibrium is distorted, a number of physiological changes including reduced fetal growth occur to favour survival. Technologies have been developed to monitor these changes with a view to prolong intrauterine maturity whilst reducing the risks of stillbirth. Many of these strategies involve complex interpretation, for example Doppler ultrasound for fetal blood flow and computerisedcomputerized analysis of fetal heart rate changes. However, even with these modalities of fetal assessment to determine the optimal timing of delivery, fetal movements remain integral to clinical decision making. In high risk cohorts with fetal growth restriction, the manifestation of a reduction in perceived movements may warrant an expedited delivery. Despite this, there remains has been little evolution in the development of technologies to objectively define evaluate normal fetal movement behavior for behavior, and where there has, there has been no linkage to clinical useapplication. In tThis review we is an attempt to understand synthesize currently available literature on the value of fetal movement analysis as a method of assessing fetal wellbeing, and show how interdisciplinary developments in this area may aid in improvements to clinical outcomes