Multi-gateway association in wireless mesh networks

Most traditional models of wireless mesh networks involve a mobile device connecting to the backbone through one of the available gateways in a wireless mesh network. In this paper, we present an alternate model, in which mobile devices are allowed to connect through more than one of the available gateways. We call the model multi-gateway association (MGA). We present arguments for why such a model can result in better capacity, fairness, diversity and security when compared to the default single-association model. We also identify the primary challenges that need to be addressed when using multiple-gateway associations, and propose solutions to handle these challenges. Using simulations, we show that throughput benefits ranging from 10% to 125% can be obtained by the proposed model as compared to a default single association model with just two gateways and more importantly, benefits linear in the number of gateways are obtainable. Through simulations and analysis, we establish why only intelligent multi-gateway association and neither single or simple multi-gateway association strategies can yield significant benefits.     

Powder Processing, Rheology, and Mechanical Properties of Feedstock for Fused Deposition of Si3N4 Ceramics

Fused deposition of ceramics (FDC) is a technique in which green parts are fabricated directly from CAD designs. The feedstock for FDC is a 1.778 mm diameter filament that requires a low viscosity and high column strength. This study explores the powder processing science, as well as the rheological and mechanical properties required for a successful FDC feedstock material. GS44 Si₃N₄ powders were dispersed in RU9 binder using oleyl alcohol (OA). The viscosity of the RU9/OA/Si₃N₄ mixture was measured as a function of temperature, solids loading, and OA concentration. The mechanical properties of the filament feedstock were evaluated in compression to establish FDC process limits. The feedstock material shows a shear thinning behavior with OA acting mainly as a plasticizer. The viscosity of GS44-filled RU9 decreases with temperature, and increases with solids content. At 185°C and 55 vol% loading, the viscosity was found to be in the range of 49–7 Pa·s for a corresponding shear rate of 70–1128 s⁻¹. This was sufficiently low for FDC. Based on pressure requirements for FDC extrusion (Δ P ), and maximum sustainable stress without buckling by the filament (σ_E), it has been found that for successful FDC of RU955, 1.1Δ P < σ_E.     

Optically Stimulated Artificial Synapse Based on Layered Black Phosphorus

The translation of biological synapses onto a hardware platform is an important step toward the realization of brain‐inspired electronics. However, to mimic biological synapses, devices till?date continue to rely on the need for simultaneously altering the polarity of an applied electric field or the output of these devices is photonic instead of an electrical synapse. As the next big step toward practical realization of optogenetics inspired circuits that exhibit fidelity and flexibility of biological synapses, optically?stimulated synaptic devices without a need to apply polarity?altering electric field are needed. Utilizing a unique photoresponse in black phosphorus (BP), here reported is an all?optical pathway to emulate excitatory and inhibitory action potentials by exploiting oxidation?related defects. These optical synapses are capable of imitating key neural functions such as psychological learning and forgetting, spatiotemporally correlated dynamic logic and Hebbian spike?time dependent plasticity. These functionalities are also demonstrated on a flexible platform suitable for wearable electronics. Such low‐power consuming devices are highly attractive for deployment in neuromorphic architectures. The manifestation of cognition and spatiotemporal processing solely through optical stimuli provides an incredibly simple and powerful platform to emulate sophisticated neural functionalities such as associative sensory data processing and decision making.     

Ambient Protection of Few‐Layer Black Phosphorus via Sequestration of Reactive Oxygen Species

Few‐layer black phosphorous (BP) has emerged as a promising candidate for next‐generation nanophotonic and nanoelectronic devices. However, rapid ambient degradation of mechanically exfoliated BP poses challenges in its practical deployment in scalable devices. To date, the strategies employed to protect BP have relied upon preventing its exposure to atmospheric conditions. Here, an approach that allows this sensitive material to remain stable without requiring its isolation from the ambient environment is reported. The method draws inspiration from the unique ability of biological systems to avoid photo‐oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Since BP undergoes similar photo‐oxidative degradation, imidazolium‐based ionic liquids are employed as quenchers of these damaging species on the BP surface. This chemical sequestration strategy allows BP to remain stable for over 13 weeks, while retaining its key electronic characteristics. This study opens opportunities to practically implement BP and other environmentally sensitive 2D materials for electronic applications.     

An efficient workload-based data layout scheme for multidimensional data

Physical data layout is a crucial factor in the performance of queries and updates in large data warehouses. Data layout enhances and complements other performance features such as materialized views and dynamic caching of aggregated results. Prior work has identified that the multidimensional nature of large data warehouses imposes natural restrictions on the query workload. A method based on a “uniform” query class approach has been proposed for data clustering and shown to be optimal. However, we believe that realistic query workloads will exhibit data access skew. For instance, if time is a dimension in the data model, then more queries are likely to focus on the most recent time interval. The query class approach does not adequately model the possibility of multidimensional data access skew. We propose the affinity graph model for capturing workload characteristics in the presence of access skew and describe an efficient algorithm for physical data layout. Our proposed algorithm considers declustering and load balancing issues which are inherent to the multidisk data layout problem. We demonstrate the validity of this approach experimentally.     

Collimation testing with linear dual-field, spiral, and evolute gratings: a comparative study

A comparative study of the performance of linear dual-field, spiral, and evolute gratings for collimation testing with Talbot interferometry is reported.     

Operator-Schmidt decomposition and the geometrical edges of two-qubit gates

Nonlocal two-qubit quantum gates are represented by canonical decomposition or equivalently by operator-Schmidt decomposition. The former decomposition results in geometrical representation such that all the two-qubit gates form tetrahedron within which perfect entanglers form a polyhedron. On the other hand, it is known from the later decomposition that Schmidt number of nonlocal gates can be either 2 or 4. In this work, some aspects of later decomposition are investigated. It is shown that two gates differing by local operations possess same set of Schmidt coefficients. Employing geometrical method, it is established that Schmidt number 2 corresponds to controlled unitary gates. Further, all the edges of tetrahedron and polyhedron are characterized using Schmidt strength, a measure of operator entanglement. It is found that one edge of the tetrahedron possesses the maximum Schmidt strength, implying that all the gates in the edge are maximally entangled.     

Collecting Statistics Over Runtime Executions

We present an extension to linear-time temporal logic (LTL) that combines the temporal specification with the collection of statistical data. By collecting statistics over runtime executions of a program we can answer complex queries, such as “what is the average number of packet transmissions' in a communication protocol, or “how often does a particular process enter the critical section while another process remains waiting' in a mutual exclusion algorithm. To decouple the evaluation strategy of the queries from the definition of the temporal operators, we introduce algebraic alternating automata as an automata-based intermediate representation. Algebraic alternating automata are an extension of alternating automata that produce a value instead of acceptance or rejection for each trace. Based on the translation of the formulas from the query language to algebraic alternating automata, we obtain a simple and efficient query evaluation algorithm. The approach is illustrated with examples and experimental results.     

Effect of cerium addition on the corrosion behaviour of carbon-alloyed iron aluminides

The effect of Ce addition on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of carbon-alloyed iron aluminides Fe-20.0Al-2.0C, Fe-18.5Al-3.6C and Fe-19.2Al-3.3C-0.07Ce (in at.%) has been studied. The potentiodynamic polarization behaviour of the alloys was evaluated in freely aerated 0.25 mol/l H₂SO₄. A 0.05% C steel was used for comparison purposes. All the alloys exhibited active-passive behaviour in the acidic solution. The addition of Ce destroyed passivity as indicated by lower breakdown potentials in polarization studies. This has been related to the finer distribution of the carbides in the microstructure. Corrosion rates were evaluated by immersion testing. The iron aluminide with Ce addition exhibited a lower corrosion rate compared to the aluminides without Ce addition. This has been attributed to modifications in surface film with Ce addition. Scanning electron microscopy of corroded surfaces indicated that the carbon-alloyed intermetallics were susceptible to localized galvanic corrosion due to the presence of carbides in the microstructure.