Enabling differentiated services using generalized power control model in optical networks

This paper considers a generalized framework to study OSNR optimization-based end-to-end link level power control problems in optical networks. We combine favorable features of game-theoretical approach and central cost approach to allow different service groups within the network. We develop solutions concepts for both cases of empty and nonempty feasible sets. In addition, we derive and prove the convergence of a distributed iterative algorithm for different classes of users. In the end, we use numerical examples to illustrate the novel framework.     

Using Faster Gas Chromatography Analyses in Brewing Analytics

Dominant trends in analytical chemistry include miniaturization in sample preparation techniques and faster run times to provide high‐throughput screening, fast process monitoring and fast method development. This study focused on the application of narrow bore gas chromatographic capillary columns, 0.18 mm internal diameter, for brewing analyses. On these capillary columns, faster analyses could be performed compared to conventional GC capillary columns using 0.32 to 0.53 mm internal diameters. The robustness of the state‐of‐the‐art faster capillary gas chromatography, without compromising resolution, has been demonstrated with the analyses of beer flavour compounds such as lower and higher alcohols, esters and other volatile compounds such as acetaldehyde and dimethyl sulphide in beer. These methods were able to reduce sample run times by 60%.     

Extraction of Bitter Acids from Hops and Hop Products Using Pressurized Solvent Extraction (PSE)

The EBC method 7.7, currently used for determination of bitter acids in hop products, is a time‐consuming and laborious extraction technique. In this paper, our aim was to propose a new extraction method based on Pressurized Solvent Extraction (PSE) sometimes also called Pressurized Fluid Extraction (PFE) or Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE). Compared to conventional extractions, PSE offers a number of important benefits. PSE on OnePSE^® automated extractor was used for extraction of α‐ and β‐acids from hops and hop products and the parameters influencing extraction efficiency and the influence of the sample preparation method were studied. The quantitative determination of α‐ and β‐acids in the extracts was accomplished by using an HPLC apparatus equipped with diode array detector. The experimental results were compared with those obtained by the standard EBC 7.7 method and the two methods were found to be fully compatible     

Design and performance analysis of a nanoscaled inverter based on wrap-aroundgate nanowire MOSFETs

The design and analysis of a silicon nanowire inverter with a wrap-around-gate nMOS is presented and its performance is compared with that of a conventional inverter. The analysis shows that the nano-channel structure design can improve carrier mobility by suppressing the transverse component of the electric field. This results in an enhancement in the current drive of the nMOS, and contributes to lowering power consumption and the switching delay. Simulated power consumption and rise time of the proposed design was found to be about 20 μW and 0.5 ns, respectively, compared with 2.5 mW and 1.5 ns achievable with conventional planar MOSFETs. Investigation of the gate length shows that a nMOS with shorter gates have an improved switching response compared with long channel devices.     

The Rengen Grassland Experiment: soil contamination by trace elements after 65 years of Ca,N, P and K fertiliser application

The Rengen Grassland Experiment (RGE) was established in the Eifel Mts. (Germany) on a low productive Nardetum in 1941. Since then, the following fertiliser treatments have been applied along with a two cut system: unfertilised control, Ca, CaN, CaNP, CaNP–KCl and CaNP–K₂SO₄ with basic slag (syn. Thomas phosphate) as the only P fertiliser. The effect of long-term fertilisation on plant-available (extracted with 0.01 mol l⁻¹ CaCl₂), easily-mobilisable (extracted with 0.05 mol l⁻¹ EDTA), potentially-mobilisable (extracted with 2 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃) and total concentrations of trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the top 0–10 and 10–20 cm of soil were investigated in 2006. According to redundancy analysis (RDA), the effect of treatment on the concentrations of risk elements was significant and explained 82.3 and 90.6% of the variability in the data in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil layers, respectively. Basic slag supplied the soil with considerable amounts of As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. Following 65 years of fertiliser application the concentrations of risk elements in the soil profile had increased substantially, especially with basic slag. However, threshold limits for total trace element concentration in soil permitted by Czech national legislation were exceeded only in the case of As. The increase in plant-available As concentrations was most critical as it increased the potential uptake of As by plants in plots fertilised with P. Although P treatments received more than 300 g of Cr ha⁻¹ annually, no effect on plant-available Cr soil content was detected. This contrasted with the accumulation of total Cr in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil layers. Furthermore, plant availability of Cd, Fe, Mn and Zn was affected by soil pH and generally decreased with the application of quick lime. Plant availability of these elements was not correlated with amounts supplied by fertilisers.     

Physico-chemical properties of ethanol – Compilation of existing data

Physico-chemical properties of ethanol and aqueous solutions of ethanol are important for chemical engineering calculation, modelling and evaluation of processes during ethanol production and its use for food and non-food applications. The majority of these properties are possible to find in handbooks and tables as Yaws (1999): Chemical Properties Handbook; Miller and Yaws (1976): Correlation constants for liquids; Lide (2007–2008): CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics; Hole?ek (2007): Chemical-engineering tables; Critical Data Tables and other literature. Some of them are also accessible online. The goal of this paper is to present the formulas and developed algorithms for calculation of extended properties of ethanol collected from literature. Extended properties include density, vapor pressure, surface tension, viscosity, molar and specific heat capacity, enthalpy of vaporization, thermal conductivity and static relative permittivity (dielectric constant) of ethanol.     

Poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyacrylonitrile dispersions stabilized by gelatin

Methyl methacrylate was polymerized in an aqueous medium in the presence of gelatin using potassium persulfate as initiator. The dispersion mode of polymerization, when the monomer is completely miscible with water, was investigated and compared with an emulsion process, which proceeds at higher monomer concentration. Spherical and relatively uniform polymer particles were formed. Macroscopic precipitation of polymer is prevented by combination of the steric stabilization by grafted gelatin and of repulsive electrostatic interactions from the initiator residues attached to the particle surface. Static and dynamic light scattering have been used to determine the molar mass (molar mass of the whole dispersion particle, M_wD ～ 10⁸-10⁹ g mol^?1) and hydrodynamic radius (R_hD ～ 50-120 nm) of the particles. The number of particles per unit volume does not depend on overall monomer concentration, and it is higher, and therefore the particle size is smaller, than that observed for the soapless emulsion polymerization. The addition of gelatin may be thus used to modify the particle size. Acrylonitrile dispersions were prepared under similar conditions. Unlike methyl methacrylate, this monomer does not swell the polymer particles. While poly(methyl methacrylate) particles are spherical and relatively uniform, the polyacrylonitrile dispersions consist of polydisperse aggregates of tiny polymer particles.     

Characterization of six-coordinated iron (V) in an oxide lattice

On the basis of a discussion of the correlations between the stability of the d³ configuration and the symmetry and size of the cation site, six-coordinated iron (V) has been stabilized in the La₂LiFeO₆ perovskite-type oxide and characterized by magnetic susceptibility, Mössbauer resonance and EPR measurements.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of features selected by discriminant analysis methods

New theoretical and practical results concerning the use of discriminant analysis for feature selection are presented in the paper. Numerical values for the eigenvalues of the matrix SW_W⁻¹ S_B (within-class and between-class scatter matrices) are investigated. An analytic expression for their minimum value representing the minimum effectiveness is derived. Differences between real values and these minimum values are important for the evaluation of the effectiveness of features and thus for feature selection.