Minimum-energy multicast in mobile ad hoc networks using network coding

The minimum energy required to transmit one bit of information through a network characterizes the most economical way to communicate in a network. In this paper, we show that, under a layered model of wireless networks, the minimum energy-per-bit for multicasting in a mobile ad hoc network can be found by a linear program; the minimum energy-per-bit can be attained by performing network coding. Compared with conventional routing solutions, network coding not only allows a potentially lower energy-per-bit to be achieved, but also enables the optimal solution to be found in polynomial time, in sharp contrast with the NP-hardness of constructing the minimum-energy multicast tree as the optimal routing solution. We further show that the minimum energy multicast formulation is equivalent to a cost minimization with linear edge-based pricing, where the edge prices are the energy-per-bits of the corresponding physical broadcast links. This paper also investigates minimum energy multicasting with routing. Due to the linearity of the pricing scheme, the minimum energy-per-bit for routing is achievable by using a single distribution tree. A characterization of the admissible rate region for routing with a single tree is presented. The minimum energy-per-bit for multicasting with routing is found by an integer linear program. We show that the relaxation of this integer linear program, studied earlier in the Steiner tree literature, can now be interpreted as the optimization for minimum energy multicasting with network coding. In short, this paper presents a unifying study of minimum energy multicasting with network coding and routing.     

Auto-correlation function analysis of phase formation in iron ion-implanted amorphous silicon layers

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) in conjunction with autocorrelation function (ACF) analysis have been applied to investigate the evolution of structural order in iron ion-implanted amorphous silicon layers. β-FeSi₂ nanocrystallites as small as 5 nm in size were detected in 600 °C annealed for 60 min a-Si layers. The embedded nanocrystalline β-FeSi₂ was found to grow in the interlayer with annealing temperature.     

Dynamic programming implementation on array processor architectures

Dynamic Programming (DP) applies to many signal and image processing applications including boundary following, the Viterbi algorithm, dynamic time warping, etc. This paper presents an array processor implementation of generic dynamic programming. Our architecture is a SIMD array attached to a host computer. The processing element of the architecture is based on an ASIC design opting for maximum speed-up. By adopting a torus interconnection network, a dual buffer structure, and a multilevel pipeline, the performance of the DP chip is expected to reach the order of several GOPS. The paper discusses both the dedicated hardware design and the data flow control of the DP chip and the total array.This work was supported in part by the NATO, Scientific and Environmental Affairs Division, Collaborative Research Grant SA.5-2-05(CRG.960201)424/96/JARC-501.     

Scanning the controls: genomics and nanotechnology

We outline some of the possible applications of nanotechnology to modern molecular biology and discuss several technologies that can be used to make nanoscale confining environments (channels or post arrays) for long polymers such as DNA. A particular emphasis is placed on making large arrays using non-electron beam lithography methods. We then discuss how focused ion beam (FIB) milling can be used to construct nearfield slits for examining molecules     

Hydriding and Dehydriding Characteristics of Mechanically Alloyed LaMg_(17) Ni Composite Material

Magnesiumandmagnesiumalloyshavebeenin vestigatedashydrogenstoragematerialsforseveralde cadesbecausefarmorehydrogenbyweightcanbestoredinthemthaninmostoftheothercurrentlyknownhydrogenstoragealloys .Moreover ,thehighnaturalabundanceofMg ,itslightmassandenviron mentalcompatibilitypotentiallymakemagnesiumoneofthemostprospectivecandidatesforfuturehydrogenstoragematerials .Unfortunately ,thepracticalappli cationofMganditsalloyshasbeenlimitedonlytocertainstoragedevicebecauseoftheirpoorhydriding dehydr…     

Formation and Characterization of 1.5-Monolayer Self-Assembled InAs/GaAs Quantum Dots Using Postgrowth Annealing

In this paper, we report that low-density InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) can be formed by postgrowth annealing the samples with 1.5-monolayer (ML) InAs coverage, which is thinner than the critical layer thickness for the Stranski-Krastanov growth. The annealing procedure was performed immediately after the deposition of the InAs layer. The effects of annealing time and annealing temperature on the dot density, dot size, and optical characteristics of the QDs were investigated. The optimum annealing conditions to obtain low-density QDs are longer than 60 s and higher than 500degC . Meanwhile, no luminescence can be observed for the wetting-layer, which may suggest that the postgrowth annealing will make the wetting layer thinner and thus reduce the effects of wetting layer on carrier relaxation and recombination. On the other hand, we observe that a decrease of the PL intensity at the annealing conditions of 60 s and 515degC , which is possibly due to the increasing surface dislocations resulted from the In adatom desorption at higher annealing temperature.     

Rolling and Lifting Probabilities for Sediment Entrainment

This study addresses the rolling and lifting probabilities for sediment entrainment by incorporating the probabilistic features of the turbulent fluctuation and bed grain geometry. The lognormally distributed instantaneous velocity and uniformly distributed initial grain position, along with a relation between lift coefficient and particle Reynolds number, are used to extend the theoretical formulation of the entrainment probabilities in smooth-bed flows. The two threshold conditions identified herein enable us to precisely define the probabilities of entrainment in the rolling and lifting modes. The results obtained in this study coincide well with the published data. The lifting probability increases monotonously with the dimensionless shear stress θ, which is consistent with the earlier results yet displays improved agreement with the experimental data. The maximum value of rolling probability, with a magnitude of 0.25, occurs at θ ≈ 0.15. For θ<0.05 (or θ>0.6), the rolling (or lifting) probability makes up more than 90% of the total entrainment probability and thus can be used as an approximation to the total probability of entrainment. The proposed rolling and lifting probabilities are further linked to the two separate criteria for incipient motion to explore the critical entrainment probabilities. The results reveal that a consistent probability corresponding to the critical state of sediment entrainment cannot be found.     

Hermetic Packaging Using Eutectic SnPb Solder and Cr/Ni/Cu Metallurgy Layer

We have developed an easy, low-cost, and low-temperature optoelectronic hermetic packaging technology utilizing the eutectic SnPb solder and the Cr/Ni/Cu bonding pad. Bonding characteristics of the design were investigated in three different setups: silicon-silicon, silicon-glass, and glass-glass samples. Hermeticity was achieved at 200 degC without flux for all samples during the final bonding process. The bonding pads did not dewet during or after the reflow process. By utilizing the eutectic SnPb solder, the self-alignment process can be achieved. Because the bonding process was conducted through visual alignment, original misalignment was estimated to be more than 100 mum. The surface tension of melting solder during the reflow process allowed the samples to self-align and obtain a misalignment of less than 20 mum after solidification, which was 4% of the entire solder width. The bonding strength of the three setups ranged from 3 to 10 MPa. Among the three setups, glass-glass samples appear to have the strongest bonding strength. This low-temperature and cost-effective soldering process has demonstrated its feasibility and potential utilization in optoelectronic packaging     

On Striping Traffic over Multiple IEEE 802.11(b) Wireless Channels

Due to interference, path loss, multipath fading, background noise, and many other factors, wireless communication normally cannot provide a wireless link with both a high data rate and a long transmission range. To address this problem, striping network traffic in parallel over multiple lower-data-rate but longer-transmission-range wireless channels may be used. In this paper, we propose a new striping method and evaluate its performances over multiple IEEE 802.11(b) channels under various conditions. Our extensive simulation results show that this method is quite effective for such an application. S.Y. Wang is an Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. He received his Master and Ph.D. degree in computer science from Harvard University in 1997 and 1999, respectively. His research interests include wireless networks, Internet technologies, network simulations, and operating systems. He is the author of the NCTUns 2.0 network simulator and emulator, which is being widely used by network and communication researchers. More information about the tool is available at http://NSL.csie.nctu.edu.tw/nctuns.html. C.H. Hwang received his master degree in computer science from NCTU in 2002 and currently is working for a network company. C.L. Chou currently is a third-year Ph.D. student at the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Chiao TungUniversity (NCTU), Taiwan. He received his master degree in computer science from NCTU in 2002.