Mathematical analysis of dynamic channel selection in indoor mobilewireless communication systems

Dynamic channel selection (DCS) is an algorithm for flexible resource sharing in mobile radio systems. The digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) standard implements a version of DCS based on time as well as frequency multiplexing. In this paper, mathematical models are developed to evaluate the probabilities of channel availability, desired carrier power, and the carrier-to-interference ratio (CIR) for a constant traffic load. These results can be used to compute the call setup blocking probability. The models reported in this study are based on a decentralized DCS according to the DECT standard specifications. The results show that blocking due to availability of a channel (resource blocking), not interference blocking, generally is the most important factor in overall call blocking. Furthermore, it is seen that resource blocking is sensitive to the implementation of portable sets. Also, with homogeneous static traffic, this type of DCS ran be as good as fixed channel allocation (FCA) with respect to resource blocking     

Performance of a non‐load‐bearing steel stud gypsum board wall assembly: Experiments and modelling

A gypsum wall assembly was exposed to an intense real‐scale compartment fire. For the wall assembly, temperatures were measured at the exposed face, within the stud cavity, and at the unexposed face during the fire exposure. Total heat flux gauges were used to measure the temporal variation of the energy incident on the walls, and cameras, both visual and infrared, were used to image the unexposed face of the wall assembly during the fire exposure. The behaviour of the wall assembly under the fire load is discussed as are current model results for a simulation of the fire test. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrolysis of Fe(OH)SO4 in the presence of metallic iron

Hydrolysis of Fe(OH)SO₄ was carried out in the presence of metallic iron in order to prevent the formation of iron(III) oxides with strongly bonded sulphate. Under the conditions of the experiment, the products were found to be mixtures of ?-Fe₂O₃ and α-FeOOH. The occluded sulphate, if any, could be easily washed out with water. The hydrolysis reaction passes through an equilibrium state before coming to completion. The entropy with enthalpy of the hydrolysis corresponding to the equilibrium state were found to be 4 e.u. and 0·5 kJ/mol, respectively. The activation energy of the hydrolysis reaction was found to be 21 kJ/mol.     

Spectrophotometric determination of some antioxidants with potassium permanganate and metol

New spectrophotometric methods for the assay of some antioxidants have been developed using potassium permanganate and metol (p-N-methyl amino phenol). Metol is oxidised at pH 3.0 with potassium permanganate and coupled with antioxidants to give λ_max at 560 nm for propyl gallate and gallic acid and 510nm for butylated hydroxy anisole. The method is simple, sensitive, reproducible and accurate within ±1% and applicable to the assay of antioxidants (gallic acid, propyl gallate and butylated hydroxy anisole) in oils and fats.     

Synthesis and characterization of tungsten disulphide films grown by pulsed-laser deposition

The synthesis and characterization of tungsten disulphide (WS₂) films grown on 440C stainless steel substrates using the 248 nm line from a KrF excimer laser are reported. Film properties could be adjusted by controlling substrate temperature and by laser or thermal anneals. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, glancing angle XRD, Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate film chemistry, crystallinity and morphology. Films grown at room temperature were amorphous, near stoichiometric, and had a multiplicity of chemical states. Local order and bonding were improved most dramatically through post-deposition laser anneals. Crystallite size could be increased by raising the substrate temperature during deposition and, to a lesser degree, by post-deposition thermal anneals. Local disorder was observed within the larger crystallites compared to those that were laser annealed. Crystallinity was induced in amorphous films by mechanical rubbing at room temperature under conditions where frictional heating was negligible. The degree of control over film properties provided by PLD demonstrates its value for growing/designing tribological coatings.     

Modelling and experimental investigation of devolatilizing wood in a fluidized bed combustor

A two-dimensional model is developed for the determination of devolatilization time and char yield of cylindrical wood particles in a bubbling fluidized bed combustor. By using the concept of shape factor, the model is extended to particles of cuboid shape. The model prediction of the devolatilization time agrees with the measured data (present and those reported in the literature) for cylindrical and cuboidal shaped particles within ±20% while the char yield is predicted within ±17%. Influence of some important parameters namely, thermal diffusivity, external heat transfer coefficient and shrinkage, on the devolatilization time and char yield are studied. Thermal diffusivity shows noticeable influence on devolatilization time. The external heat transfer coefficient shows little influence beyond a value of 300 W/(m² K). However particle shrinkage shows negligible effect on the devolatilization time but has a significant influence on the char yield.     

Modeling Microwave Vacuum Drying Kinetics and Moisture Diffusivity of Carrot Slices

Carrot slices of 3.5 mm thickness were dried in a laboratory microwave vacuum dryer at five different microwave power density levels of 2, 4.66, 7.33, 10, and 12.66 W/g and at three vacuum chamber pressure levels of 6.66, 19.98, and 33.3 kPa to 4-6% d.b. moisture content. Inside the dryer the sample holding plate was rotated with the speed of 4 rpm for uniform microwaves application. The drying rates were increased with the increase in microwave power density at all pressure levels and the Page model was found to be the most suitable model to predict the drying behavior of carrot slices at all process conditions. The Page model drying rate constant (k, min^-1) showed high correlation with microwave power density at constant pressure by a power law equation and showed a logarithmic relationship with the microwave power density and pressure. Similar to the drying rate constant, the average moisture diffusivity at constant pressure was found to be function of microwave power density by power law equation as well as was also dependent on the power density and pressure by a logarithmic relationship.     

Establishment of human parotid pleomorphic adenoma cells in culture: morphological and biochemical characterization

This study reports the establishment of alpha-amylase-producing human parotid pleomorphic adenoma cell lines (2HP and 2HP1) which have been maintained in culture for over 1 yr. The procedures required preparation of cellular clumps from tumor tissue and plating them on plasma clot or precoated dishes. During the initial phase of growth they required modified MCDB-153 medium without serum. When cells showed signs of degeneration they were changed to MCDB-153 medium containing first 2% and then 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum. Although cells grew well in MCDB-153 containing 10% serum, the epithelial cell morphology was not distinct. Therefore, the growth and morphology of cells grown in MCDB-10% serum were compared with those in RPMI growth medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and F12 containing 10% agammaglobulin newborn bovine serum. Although the growth of cells was a little slower in F12 medium than those in MCDB and RPMI, the epithelial cell morphology was maintained better than in other growth media. The cells of 2HP and 2HP1 produce low levels of alpha-amylase and relatively high levels of alpha-amylase mRNAs of 1176 and 702 bp and contain neurofilament-160, a neuronal-specific marker. The cells of 2HP1 are tumorigenic when tested in athymic mice, but the cells of 2HP are not. The establishment of amylase-producing human parotid adenoma cell lines of different characteristics in culture provides a new opportunity to study the mechanisms of differentiation and transformation, and regulation of alpha-amylase in these cells.     

Localized swelling of Fe-Cr-Ni alloy rollers in high-temperature applications

Localized swelling has been observed in 24Cr-24Ni-Nb steel transportation rollers used in the normalizing furnace of a plate mill after prolonged service at high temperature. Due to high localized thermal and mechanical stresses, the chromia layer formed on the roller surface ruptures, exposing the roller substrate to furnace oxygen. Oxidation of second-phase carbides results in the formation of carbon monoxide at very high partial pressure. This leads to formation of voids, leading in turn to localized swelling of the roller material.