Joint TAS/SC and power allocation for IAF relaying D2D cooperative networks

In this paper, the outage probability (OP) performance of multiple-relay-based incremental amplify-and-forward relaying device-to-device networks with transmit antenna selection (TAS) over N-Nakagami fading channels is investigated. The exact closed-form expressions for OP of the optimal and suboptimal TAS schemes are derived. The power allocation problem is formulated for performance optimization. Then the OP performance under different conditions is evaluated through numerical simulations to verify the analysis. The simulation results showed that optimal TAS scheme has a better OP performance than suboptimal TAS scheme, but the performance gap between the optimal and suboptimal schemes diminishes by increasing the number of antennas at the source; the fading coefficient, the number of cascaded components, the relative geometrical gain, the number of antennas, and the power-allocation parameter have an important influence on the OP performance.     

Computation of diffusion function measures in q-space using magnetic resonance hybrid diffusion imaging

The distribution of water diffusion in biological tissues may be estimated by a 3-D Fourier transform (FT) of diffusion-weighted measurements in q-space. In this study, methods for estimating diffusion spectrum measures (the zero-displacement probability, the mean-squared displacement, and the orientation distribution function) directly from the q-space signals are described. These methods were evaluated using both computer simulations and hybrid diffusion imaging (HYDI) measurements on a human brain. The HYDI method obtains diffusion-weighted measurements on concentric spheres in q-space. Monte Carlo computer simulations were performed to investigate effects of noise, q-space truncation, and sampling interval on the measures. This new direct computation approach reduces HYDI data processing time and image artifacts arising from 3-D FT and regridding interpolation. In addition, it is less sensitive to the noise and q-space truncation effects than conventional approach. Although this study focused on data using the HYDI scheme, this computation approach may be applied to other diffusion sampling schemes including Cartesian diffusion spectrum imaging.     

Printing Reconfigurable Bundles of Dielectric Elastomer Fibers

Active soft materials that change shape on demand are of interest for a myriad of applications, including soft robotics, biomedical devices, and adaptive systems. Despite recent advances, the ability to rapidly design and fabricate active matter in complex, reconfigurable layouts remains challenging. Here, the 3D printing of core-sheath-shell dielectric elastomer fibers (DEF) and fiber bundles with programmable actuation is reported. Complex shape morphing responses are achieved by printing individually addressable fibers within 3D architectures, including vertical coils and fiber bundles. These DEF devices exhibit resonance frequencies up to 700 Hz and lifetimes exceeding 2.6 million cycles. The multimaterial, multicore-shell 3D printing method opens new avenues for creating active soft matter with fast programable actuation.     

Magnetic field spatial Fourier analysis: A new opportunity for high resolution current localization

Magnetic microscopy has proven its usefulness throughout the years. It allows current localization with a certain degree of precision by using an inversion algorithm to invert the Biot–Savart law. The goal is to obtain the current distribution once the magnetic field is given. However, in order to obtain a stable solution, the magnetic data is severely low-pass filtered in the spatial Fourier domain, and some important information is lost. In this paper, the contribution given by the different spatial frequencies was studied: it was demonstrated how this information can be used to obtain additional information regarding the position of the currents. A comparative study between the theoretical approach and the application to the measurements is also shown.     

Performance and Modeling of the MWIR HgCdTe Electron Avalanche Photodiode

The operation of the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) HgCdTe cylindrical electron injection avalanche photodiode (e-APD) is described. The measured gain and excess noise factor are related to the collection region fill factor. A two-dimensional diffusion model calculates the time-dependent response and steady-state pixel point spread function for cylindrical diodes, and predicts bandwidths near 1 GHz for small geometries. A 2 μm diameter spot scan system was developed for point spread function and crosstalk measurements at 80 K. An electron diffusion length of 13.4 μm was extracted from spot scan data. Bandwidth data are shown that indicate bandwidths in excess of 300 MHz for small unit cells geometries. Dark current data, at high gain levels, indicate an effective gain normalized dark density count as low as 1000 counts/μs/cm² at an APD gain of 444. A junction doping profile was determined from capacitance–voltage data. Spectral response data shows a gain-independent characteristic.     

Evidence for Glass–glass Interfaces in a Columnar Cu–Zr Nanoglass

Comprehensive analyses of the atomic structure using advanced analytical transmission electron microscopy-based methods combined with atom probe tomography confirm the presence of distinct glass–glass interfaces in a columnar Cu-Zr nanoglass synthesized by magnetron sputtering. These analyses provide first-time in-depth characterization of sputtered film nanoglasses and indicate that glass–glass interfaces indeed present an amorphous phase with reduced mass density as compared to the neighboring amorphous regions. Moreover, dedicated analyses of the diffusion kinetics by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF SIMS) prove significantly enhanced diffusivity, suggesting fast transport along the low density glass–glass interfaces. The present results further indicate that sputter deposition is a feasible technique for reliable production of nanoglasses and that some of the concepts proposed for this new class of glassy materials are applicable.     

Noise performance comparison for third and fourth order cascaded sigma-delta modulators having parameter tolerance errors

A parameter tolerance, signal to noise ratio comparison is made between the MASH third order sigma-delta modulator structure and a new fourth order cascaded structure. The fourth order structure meets the required performance specification with wider parameter tolerances, allowing easier integration using hybrid CMOS technology.<>     

Single Small Molecule-Assembled Mitochondria Targeting Nanofibers for Enhanced Photodynamic Cancer Therapy In Vivo

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an attractive alternative in cancer therapy, but its therapeutic effects are limited by the nonselective subcellular localization and poor intratumoral retention of small-molecule photosensitizes. Here a fiber-forming nanophotosensitizer (PQC NF) that is composed of mitochondria targeting small molecules of amphiphilicity is reported. Harnessing the specific mitochondria targeting, the light-activated PQC NFs produce approximately 110-fold higher amount of reactive oxygen species in cells than free photosensitizers and can dramatically induce mitochondrial disruption to trigger intense apoptosis, showing 20–50 times better in vitro anticancer potency than traditional photosensitizers. As fiber-shaped nanomaterials, PQC NFs also demonstrated a long-term retention in tumor sites, solving the challenge of rapid clearance of small-molecule photosensitizers from tumors. With these advantages, PQC NFs achieve a 100% complete cure rate in both subcutaneous and orthotopic oral cancer models with the administration of only a single dose. This type of single small molecule-assembled mitochondria targeting nanofibers offers an advantageous strategy to improve the in vivo therapeutic effects of conventional PDT.     

Implementing policy in enterprise networks

There is a need for a general policy management architecture that can guide one in understanding and implementing policy in diverse management applications. The question of policy in network management has evolved since the early '70s concern with monitoring and controlling the access rights of multiple users and resources in large distributed systems. It is now generally acknowledged that policy also plays an important role in other areas of network management, including configuration, accounting, fault, and performance management. Furthermore, it is agreed that a general policy framework is needed for controlling the behavior of the agents the enterprise network comprises, including network users, administrators, troubleshooters, the applications running on the network, and the operational parameters of network hardware. The authors present a framework for understanding and implementing policy in the management of enterprise networks. We describe typical network scenarios in which policy plays a role, a general architecture for policy management and the components and operations of the architecture at a level of abstraction that renders it applicable to specific management tasks which require policy. We also provide an example of the architecture in configuration management. The article draws from work on policy management, including two ESPRIT projects     

Multiservice platforms for data services

The potential for broadband and data services is large and continues to expand for the foreseeable future. Consideration of the cost-effective delivery and support of both new, advanced services, as well as existing services, has led to the driver for multiservice platforms (MSPs). The cost effectiveness results from the MSP potential to share network bandwidth between services, offer a potential simplification of the operational support systems (OSS), and enable new service features and functions. A generic ATM-based MSP is described in this paper where issues of service support, service interworking, operations and maintenance, and network architecture are discussed. The paper is intended as a tutorial on the concepts.