Pricing based adaptive scheduling method for bandwidth allocation

In this paper we present a packet scheduling method which guarantees bandwidth of the connection and optimizes revenue of the network service provider. A closed form formula for updating the adaptive weights of a packet scheduler is derived from a revenue-based optimization problem. The weight updating procedure is fast and independent on the assumption of the connections’ statistical behavior. The features of the algorithm are simulated and analyzed with and without a call admission control (CAC) mechanism. We also show in context with the CAC procedure a mechanism for guaranteeing a specified mean bandwidth for different service classes.     

On an algorithm for Vision-based hand gesture recognition

A vision-based static hand gesture recognition method which consists of preprocessing, feature extraction, feature selection and classification stages is presented in this work. The preprocessing stage involves image enhancement, segmentation, rotation and filtering. This work proposes an image rotation technique that makes segmented image rotation invariant and explores a combined feature set, using localized contour sequences and block-based features for better representation of static hand gesture. Genetic algorithm is used here to select optimized feature subset from the combined feature set. This work also proposes an improved version of radial basis function (RBF) neural network to classify hand gesture images using selected combined features. In the proposed RBF neural network, the centers are automatically selected using k-means algorithm and estimated weight matrix is recursively updated, utilizing least-mean-square algorithm for better recognition of hand gesture images. The comparative performances are tested on two indigenously developed databases of 24 American sign language hand alphabet.     

A Micropower Interface ASIC for a Capacitive 3-Axis Micro-Accelerometer

In this paper, a micropower interface IC for a capacitive 3-axis micro-accelerometer implemented in a 0.13- BiCMOS process is presented. The sensor interface consists of a front-end that converts the acceleration signal to voltage, two algorithmic ADCs, two frequency references, and a voltage, current, and temperature reference circuit. Die area and power dissipation are reduced by using time-multiplexed sampling and varying duty cycles down to 0.3%. The chip with a 0.51 active area draws 62 from a 1.8 V supply while sampling temperature at 100 Hz, and four proof masses, each at 1.04 kHz. With a 4-g capacitive 3-axis accelerometer, the measured noise floors in the x-, y-, and z-directions are 482 , 639 , and 662 , respectively.     

Study of the potential distribution in a forward-biased silicon diode using electrostatic force microscopy

Electrostatic force microscopy was used to study the potential distribution in a forward-biased epitaxial-diffused n ⁺-n-p-p ⁺ silicon diode. Distributions of potential and capacitance were determined across the cleaved surface, which intersected the layers in the diode structure. Variations in the surface potential and capacitance were preliminarily measured with a submicrometer spatial resolution and were used to determine the position and width of the n-p junction; the distribution of applied forward bias in the diode was also assessed. It is shown that an additional potential barrier for injected charge carriers may exist in the vicinity of the n ⁺-n junction in the diode under consideration. For an injection-current density exceeding 100 mA/cm², the voltage drop across this barrier becomes comparable with the voltage variations across the operating n-p junction.     

Fast and Compact 16 by 16 Cellular Neural Network Implementation

The paper presents a Cellular Neural Network implementation based on a high gain sigmoid operation. The required simplifications to the original theory are described that allow the use of high gain. With this design black and white images can be processed. The basic building blocks in a cell are described. A 16×16 cells network has been designed and processed with 1.2 micron CMOS technology. Measurement results which show the operation of the network are presented.     

Disruption and phenotypic analysis of seven ORFs from the left arm of chromosome XV of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have disrupted seven open reading frames (ORFs) located in the left arm of chromosome XV of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These ORFs, previously discovered by our laboratory during the programme of systematic sequencing of the yeast genome, are YOL152w, YOL151w, YOL149w, YOL130w, YOL128c, YOL125w and YOL124c. In most cases, the short flanking homology (SFH) replacement technique has been used. The mutants were analysed for different phenotypic tests. Disruption of YOL130w (also known as ALR1) produced a lethal phenotype, despite the presence of a highly similar gene in the yeast genome (ALR2/YFL050C). Disruption of YOL149w (also known as DCP1, and encoding an mRNA decapping enzyme) results in lethality in the FY1679 background, although it allows slow growth in the CEN.PK141 background. Disruption of the remaining ORFs did not result in readily detectable phenotypic changes.     

GaInAs/AlGaAs应变量子阱结构的荧光特性

本文报道了4—300K温度范围内量子阱宽度分别为20、40、90和130A的GaInAs/AlGaAs应变量子阱结构的光荧光特性。我们考虑量子尺寸对载流子子能带的影响和弹性应变引起带隙的移动,计算了量子阱中本征激子发光的能量位置,计算值与实验结果基本吻合。还研究了荧光峰强度随阱宽的变化以及不同温度下荧光峰的半高宽度。     

Fast and Ultraclean Approach for Measuring the Transport Properties of Carbon Nanotubes

In this work, a fast approach for the fabrication of hundreds of ultraclean field‐effect transistors (FETs) is introduced, using single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The synthesis of the nanomaterial is performed by floating‐catalyst chemical vapor deposition, which is employed to fabricate high‐performance thin‐film transistors. Combined with palladium metal bottom contacts, the transport properties of individual SWCNTs are directly unveiled. The resulting SWCNT‐based FETs exhibit a mean field‐effect mobility, which is 3.3 times higher than that of high‐quality solution‐processed CNTs. This demonstrates that the hereby used SWCNTs are superior to comparable materials in terms of their transport properties. In particular, the on–off current ratios reach over 30 million. Thus, this method enables a fast, detailed, and reliable characterization of intrinsic properties of nanomaterials. The obtained ultraclean SWCNT‐based FETs shed light on further study of contamination‐free SWCNTs on various metal contacts and substrates.     

Chemical and physical properties of short rotation tree species

The European Union’s growth strategy (Europe 2020) requires reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increases in both renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. Short rotation forestry (SRF) has achieved greater awareness due to these targets. Short rotations (1–12 years), rapid growth and the ability to coppice are typical for SRF. Salix, Populus, Alnus and Betula have smaller GHG emissions of biomass production than annual agricultural plant species, since management and harvesting are not needed every year. Physicochemical properties of these species must be known when their utilisation is planned and optimised. Seven tree species were studied: three willows (Salix myrsinifolia, Salix schwerinii and Klara), one aspen (Populus tremula), one alder (Alnus glutinosa) and two birches (Betula pendula and Betula pubescens). One stem wood (S) sample and one stem wood and bark (SB) sample of each tree were investigated. Furthermore, seven surface soil samples and four incineration ash samples (two S. myrsinifolia and two S. schwerinii) were also studied. Heating values, densities, ash contents as well as carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen contents of all short rotation biomass samples were usually quite typical for the corresponding tree species. Additional observations included the accumulation of cadmium in willow and aspen samples, small chloride content values, and higher ash- and element contents in SB samples than in the corresponding S samples. Nutrient content of ash was usually higher in the S sample, contradictory to biomass samples, and finally the cadmium content of the ash samples was very high.     

Antioxidant, lipolytic and proteolytic enzyme activities in pork meat from different genotypes

Oxidative processes in meat lead to meat quality deterioration. Meat has endogenous antioxidants and prooxidants, but information on factors influencing the activity of antioxidant enzymes in meat is limited. Lipolytic and proteolytic enzymes are involved in important aspects of meat quality. Our objective was to find differences between five different genotypes on the activity of antioxidant, lipolytic and proteolytic enzymes in meat. Forty Psoas major muscles of females of five different pig genotypes were used, Pietrain, Landrace, Large-White, lberian, and lberian×Duroc. Pre slaughter conditions were similar for all the genotypes. After slaughter, muscles were vacuum packed and frozen at -20?°C until required. Differences between genotypes were found for the activity of catalase and SOD, while GSH-Px showed no differences. The highest differences between breeds were found for the lberian breed where catalase had the highest activity. Catalase activity also showed differences between the white pigs, with large values for LR and lower activities in P. There were no differences in neutral lipase activities between the different genotypes while acid lipase and phospholipase showed significant differences. The activities of cathepsin B and H were significantly lower for Iberian pigs compared with other breeds except LR, while the ratio of cathepsin B+L/cathepsin B was higher in Iberian. The differences between genotypes found in enzyme activities suggest some genetic effects on the antioxidant, lipolytic and proteolitytic activity of pork meat.