Cross-Layer Optimization of Dynamic Packet Assignment for Video Transmission Over IEEE 802.11e Networks

Video transmission over IEEE 802.11e wireless networks still shows poor performance for large bandwidth demand and frequently changed environments. Thus, several enhancements of IEEE 802.11e were proposed. On the other hand, big frames and simultaneous sending of adjacent frames always cause packet dropping for buffer overflow. In the past, we proposed an IEEE 802.11e enhancement named DFAA and a content aware mechanism to solve the above problems. The motivation of this paper is to find a proper way to integrate these two mechanisms. A DFAA enhancement (DFAA-E) is proposed to make up the insufficiency of content aware mechanism. Experiments results show that the combination of DFAA-E and content aware mechanism improves the video decoded quality greatly. And its performance can be further enhanced by selecting the suitable settings of certain parameters.     

Local body cooling to improve sleep quality and thermal comfort in a hot environment

The effects of local body cooling on thermal comfort and sleep quality in a hot environment were investigated in an experiment with 16 male subjects. Sleep quality was evaluated subjectively, using questionnaires completed in the morning, and objectively, by analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals that were continuously monitored during the sleeping period. Compared with no cooling, the largest improvement in thermal comfort and sleep quality was observed when the back and head (neck) were both cooled at a room temperature of 32°C. Back cooling alone also improved thermal comfort and sleep quality, although the effects were less than when cooling both back and head (neck). Mean sleep efficiency was improved from 84.6% in the no cooling condition to 95.3% and 92.8%, respectively, in these conditions, indicating good sleep quality. Head (neck) cooling alone slightly improved thermal comfort and subjective sleep quality and increased Stage N3 sleep, but did not otherwise improve sleep quality. The results show that local cooling applied to large body sections (back and head) could effectively maintain good sleep and improve thermal comfort in a hot environment.     

Airborne spread of expiratory droplet nuclei between the occupants of indoor environments: A review

This article reviews past studies of airborne transmission between occupants in indoor environments, focusing on the spread of expiratory droplet nuclei from mouth/nose to mouth/nose for non‐specific diseases. Special attention is paid to summarizing what is known about the influential factors, the inappropriate simplifications of the thermofluid boundary conditions of thermal manikins, the challenges facing the available experimental techniques, and the limitations of available evaluation methods. Secondary issues are highlighted, and some new ways to improve our understanding of airborne transmission indoors are provided. The characteristics of airborne spread of expiratory droplet nuclei between occupants, which are influenced correlatively by both environmental and personal factors, were widely revealed under steady‐state conditions. Owing to the different boundary conditions used, some inconsistent findings on specific influential factors have been published. The available instrumentation was too slow to provide accurate concentration profiles for time‐dependent evaluations of events with obvious time characteristics, while computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies were mainly performed in the framework of inherently steady Reynolds‐averaged Navier‐Stokes modeling. Future research needs in 3 areas are identified: the importance of the direction of indoor airflow patterns, the dynamics of airborne transmission, and the application of CFD simulations.     

筛孔型溢流管旋流器分离性能研究

旋流器在分离过程中由于短路流的存在造成溢流跑粗现象，针对此问题提出一种筛孔型溢流管旋流器，并进行数值模拟和试验研究。结果表明：与圆柱型溢流管相比，筛孔型溢流管结构可延长颗粒在旋流器内的分离时间，使短路流重新进入外旋流进行充分分离，减少溢流跑粗现象。对比试验结果表明，与圆柱型溢流管旋流器相比较，采用筛孔型溢流管分离效率显著提高，-25 μm分级质效率由47.59%提高到58.00%，分级量效率由48.74%提高到60.08%，溢流产物更细，粗颗粒减少，溢流跑粗现象得到有效改善；随着溢流管开孔率增大，溢流产率提高，溢流和底流产品粒度均有变粗的趋势。     

5CrNiMoV钢马氏体相变塑性和应力对其相变动力学的影响

利用DIL-805ADT动态相变膨胀仪测定了5CrNiMoV钢在低于奥氏体屈服强度的应力下的马氏体相变膨胀曲线,根据膨胀曲线分析并计算出了不同应力下Greenwood-Johnson相变塑性机制中的相变塑性系数k值和Koistinen-Marburger马氏体相变动力学模型中α和Ms的值,并且将Greenwood-Johnson模型和Leblond模型计算结果与实际试验值对比。结果显示:k值随应力的变化有所波动,但趋近于一个定值;通过对比,Leblond模型更符合试验结果;Ms点随着应力的增大呈现微小的上升趋势,说明小于或等于80 MPa 的应力对Ms点的影响不显著;拉应力下α值普遍大于无应力下的α值,压应力下α值普遍小于无应力下的α值,说明拉应力对相变有一定的促进作用,压应力对相变有一定的阻碍作用。     

Effect of Nepheline Syenite Additives on the Technological Behavior of Ceramics and Porcelain Stoneware Tiles

To study the effect of the Egyptian nepheline syenite raw materials on the sinterability of the ceramic tiles, four batches with concentrations of nepheline syenite (0, 5, 10 and 15%) were prepared. The four batches were ground, mixed, shaped, pressed and fired at temperatures from 1160 °C to 1260 °C. Some technological behaviors of the samples were measured in dry, green state and after firing at 1260 °C; including densfication parameters. Phase composition and microstructural studies refered that mullite was the newly crystallized phase after firing set in a glassy matrix enriched in alkalis. Technological properties of the fired batches revealed that the higher firing temperature and higher nepheline syenite contents produced larger amounts of glassy phase, and consequently bulk density and linear shrinkage increased, while apparent porosity and water adsorption as well as whiteness of fired batches decreased. It is concluded that nepheline syenite could be successfully used as flux in ceramic tiles, while it is not accepted in the production of porcelain bodies because of their coloration.