Abstract: Units of forward error correction (FEC) encoded bits each represent a one-bit data value and include correctness bits that together reflect a probability that the one-bit data value represented by the unit is correct. The units of FEC encoded bits are decoded by using the correctness bits to perform soft-decision convolution decoding on the units of FEC bits. Subsequences of units that are prone to erroneous soft-decision convolution decoding are detected by determining, whether the distribution of quality bits indicate the units are below a threshold level of correctness, and by comparing characteristics of that distribution to a given set of characteristics predetermined to be prone to result in incorrect decoding. Among the symbols produced for block decoding, symbols that correspond to units that were in detected subsequences are flagged or tagged for erasure during subsequent soft-decision block decoding.

Abstract: A chemical or biological containment apparatus having a seal to contain contaminants in an inside thereof from passing to an outside, including an outer envelope; a port disposed in the envelope, the port including an outer portion having a circumferential portion extending away from the envelope and a flange extending from the circumferential portion and attached to the envelope, and an inner portion. The inner portion includes a circumferential surface corresponding to the circumferential portion, a plurality of grooves formed in the circumferential surface, and a plurality of O-rings respectively received in the grooves to form the seal with the outer portion.

Abstract: A collapsible, protective containment device isolates a patient in a controlled environment. The containment device has a flexible containment wall, a closure device an air ventilation device and a plurality of ribs. The flexible containment wall is expandable from a collapsed state to define an interior region for receiving at least a portion of a patient therein and providing an impermeable barrier about the portion of the patient, for at least a selected contaminant. The closure device closes the containment wall about the patient to provide a substantially airtight interior region. The air ventilation device provides a gas comprising oxygen to the substantially airtight interior. The plurality of inflatable ribs provided along a length of the containment wall, the inflatable ribs defining one or more air compartments separate from the interior region within the containment wall, the one or more inflatable ribs supporting the containment wall away from the patient.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for the detection of bacterial agents such agents as Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum with high sensitivity and selectivity. More specifically, methods and devices are based on a phosphorescence-emission detection system using chelate-stabilized lanthanides (e.g, Eu(III), Tb(III), and Sm(III)) to detect various spore-specific small organic molecules (e.g., dipicolinic acid, diaminopimelic acid, n-acetlymuramic acid, and the like). By careful selection of the chelating agent or ligand coordinated to the lanthanide, both high specificity and selectivity can be obtained. Examples of suitable and preferred sensor systems include N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA) and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (HEIDA) combined with europium (III) and/or terbium (III). The chelate-stabilized lanthanides react with the spore-specific “target” molecules to form a characteristically phosphorescent product which can then be detected.

Abstract: At least one amplifier is selected from a first bank of non-linear amplifiers. At least one amplifier is selected from a second bank of non-linear amplifiers. The number of amplifiers selected from the first and second banks remains constant. Using the selected amplifiers, first and second components of a digital symbol are amplified using the first and second banks, respectively. The outputs produced by first and second banks are combined to produce an analog representation of the digital symbol.