Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a high data rate signal are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of data processing units and a switching arrangement to repeatedly switch a received high first data rate signal between inputs of the plurality of data processing units on a time division basis. Each of the data processing units is operable to process the first signal at a second data rate less than said high first data rate to form respective second signals, and the apparatus further includes a combining arrangement operable to switch between outputs of the plurality of data processing units to form a processed high data rate signal from a combination of said respective second signals. A receiver apparatus is operable to cooperate with the apparatus to receive a processed signal and to undo each of the processing steps performed by the apparatus to convert the processed signal into an original high first data rate signal.

Abstract: The invention provides the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein associated with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). The cDNA sequence is designated as MEFV. The invention is also directed towards fragments of the DNA sequence, as well as the corresponding sequence for the RNA transcript and fragments thereof. Another aspect of the invention provides the amino acid sequence for a protein (pyrin) associated with FMF. The invention is directed towards both the full length amino acid sequence, fusion proteins containing the amino acid sequence and fragments thereof. The invention is also directed towards mutants of the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences associated with FMF. In particular, the invention discloses three missense mutations, clustered in within about 40 to 50 amino acids, in the highly conserved rfp (B30.2) domain at the C-terminal of the protein. These mutants include M6801, M694V, K695R, and V726A.