Performance of delay‐sensitive traffic in multi‐layered satellite IP networks with on‐board processing capability

In this article, performance of delay‐sensitive traffic in multi‐layered satellite Internet Protocol (IP) networks with on‐board processing (OBP) capability is investigated. With OBP, a satellite can process the received data, and according to the nature of application, it can decide on the transmission properties. First, we present a concise overview of relevant aspects of satellite networks to delay‐sensitive traffic and routing. Then, in order to improve the system performance for delay‐sensitive traffic, specifically Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a novel adaptive routing mechanism in two‐layered satellite network considering the network's real‐time information is introduced and evaluated. Adaptive Routing Protocol for Quality of Service (ARPQ) utilizes OBP and avoids congestion by distributing traffic load between medium‐Earth orbit and low‐Earth orbit layers. We utilize a prioritized queueing policy to satisfy quality‐of‐service (QoS) requirements of delay‐sensitive applications while evading non‐real‐time traffic suffer low performance level. The simulation results verify that multi‐layered satellite networks with OBP capabilities and QoS mechanisms are essential for feasibility of packet‐based high‐quality delay‐sensitive services which are expected to be the vital components of next‐generation communications networks. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence of Oxygen Ferromagnetism in ZnO Based Materials

Discoveries of room‐temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) in semiconductors hold great promise in future spintronics technologies. Unfortunately, this ferromagnetism remains poorly understood and the debate concerning the nature, carrier‐mediated versus defect‐mediated, of this ferromagnetism in semiconducting oxides is still open. Here, by using X‐ray absorption (XAS) and X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), it is demonstrated that the oxygen ions have a ferromagnetic response in different ZnO‐based compounds showing RTFM behavior: ZnO nanoparticles capped with organic molecules and ZnO/ZnS heterostructures. These results demonstrate the intrinsic occurrence of RTFM in these systems, and point out that it is not related to the metallic cation but it relays on the conduction band of the semiconductor.     

Spreading Codes Generator for Wireless CDMA Networks

The prime characteristic of spread spectrum modulated signals is that their bandwidth is greater than the information rate. In this way a redundancy is introduced that allows the severe levels of inteference inherent in the transmission of digital information over radio and satellite links to be overcome. Current spread spectrum applications are primarily in military communications; nevertheless, there is growing interest in this technique for third generation mobile radio networks (UMTS, FPLTS, etc.) with open discussion regarding the practicality of using a multiple access system based on spread spectrum techniques (CDMA). However, in order to support as many users in the same bandwidth as other multiple access techniques such as TDMA or FDMA, it is important how to generate large families of sequences that present low cross-correlation. The aim of this paper is to describe a spreading codes generator that can produce a large number of PN sequences with good properties of auto- and cross-correlation. Moreover, the codes generated shows high unpredictability and good statistical behaviour. This also allows the implementation of some features that are common on military networks such as message privacy (increasingly important in commercial networks) without additional cost. The structure presented shows itself to be advantageous for high speed generation of codes at a low cost, low power consumption (allowing longer life for batteries), small size and simplicity of implementation, essential ingredients for commercial equipment. Another attractive feature is its structural parallelism, useful in VLSI implementations. All of these features render it potentially suitable for the implementation of channel bandwidth sharing systems in future wireless personal communications networks.     

Analysis of an Approximate Decorrelating Detector

In this paper an approximate decorrelating detector is analyzed on the basis of a first order approximation to the inverse crosscorrelation matrix of signature waveforms. The approximation is fairly accurate for systems with low crosscorrelations and is exact in the two-user synchronous case. We present an exact as well as approximate analysis of the bit-error-rate performance of this detector on a channel that is subject to flat fading, and also specifically for the case of random signature waveforms. The detector outperforms the conventional matched filter receiver in terms of BER. The approximate decorrelator (while not being near-far resistant like the decorrelating detector) is fairly robust to imperfections in power control. Power trade-off regions are identified which characterize the significant advantage that the approximate decorrelator provides over the matched filter receiver. The reduced complexity of the approximate decorrelator and performance gains over the conventional matched filter makes it a viable alternative for implementation in practical CDMA systems, in particular in those where the signature waveforms span many symbol intervals.     

Colloid attachment by ILGAR-layers: Creating fluorescing layers to increase quantum efficiency of solar cells

A method for the fixation of colloids by an ion-layer-gas-reaction-“ILGAR”-oxide layer is presented. The embedding of CdS nano-particles in an ILGAR-ZnO/Zn(OH)₂-matrix is confirmed by transmission electron micrographs (TEM); the composition of the layer surface is analyzed by X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS). When these particles are fixed by an ILGAR-oxide layer on top of a solar cell the observed absorption and fluorescing properties of CdS nano-particles offer the possibility to reduce the absorption loss in the window layer. This is shown for a Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)₂-“CIGSSe”-based solar cell with an additional top CdS_particle/ILGAR-ZrO₂-layer as a first example. The improvement of the device performance is proven by J(V)-characteristics and the external quantum efficiency.     

Interface engineering in chalcopyrite thin film solar devices

Successful interface engineering requires compositional and electronic material characterization as a prerequisite for understanding and intentionally generating interfaces in photovoltaic devices. The paper gives an overview with several examples, all referring to Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)₂ (“CIGSSe”)-based solar cells, with an emphasis on characterization using highly specialized methods, such as elastic recoil detection analysis, X-ray emission spectroscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron and ultraviolet light for excitation, inverse photoemission spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy. First, the determination of the depth profile of the band gap energy E_g in the absorber layer is demonstrated. The modification of E_g towards both interfaces is discussed in terms of beneficial electronic effects. Next, the interface between absorber and buffer layers with alternative and promising non-toxic materials is considered. Between CIGSSe and a ZnSe buffer deposited by the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method a buried ZnS interface was found. For a Zn(O,OH) buffer processed with an ion layer gas reaction (ILGAR) the correlation of surface composition, valence band maximum and efficiency of the resulting solar cell is shown. In addition, another approach is considered where a ZnMgO window layer is sputtered directly on the absorber omitting any buffer layer. The determination of the potential distribution at the ZnMgO/CIGSSe interface supports the understanding of this new and simpler way to get good cell performances even without any buffer. Finally, monolithically integrated solar modules without encapsulation were investigated before and after accelerated aging tests and changes at the interconnects were identified.     

Study of the glucide fraction in ropy wines

Gas chromatography was used to study the polysaccharides present in samples that exhibited significant microbially induced viscosity values. Alterations in the media considered were related to the percentage glucose content and the total polysaccharide content.     

Artificial Neural Network Channel Estimation Based on Levenberg-Marquardt for OFDM Systems

The many advantages responsible for the widespread application of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems are limited by the multipath fading. In OFDM systems, channel estimation is carried out by transmitting pilot symbols generally. In this paper, we propose an artificial neural network (ANN) channel estimation technique based on levenberg-marquardt training algorithm as an alternative to pilot based channel estimation technique for OFDM systems over Rayleigh fading channels. In proposed technique, there are no pilot symbols which added to OFDM. Therefore, this technique is more bandwidth efficient compared to pilot-based channel estimation techniques. Also, this technique is making full use of the learning property of neural network. By using this feature, there is no need of any matrix computation and the proposed technique is less complex than the pilot based techniques. Simulation results show that ANN based channel estimator gives better results compared to the pilot based channel estimator for OFDM systems over Rayleigh fading channel.