An Analytical Framework for Imperfect DS‐CDMA Closed‐Loop Power Control over Flat Fading

This letter presents an analytical framework for a performance analysis of the imperfect direct‐sequence code division multiple access (DS‐CDMA) closed‐loop power control (CLPC) loop with loop delay, channel estimation error, and power control command bit error as the parameters under a Rayleigh flat fading environment. The proposed model is verified through a comparison between analytical results and simulation ones.     

A higher order FDTD method in Integral formulation

We present a fourth-order (4, 4) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)-like algorithm based on the integral form of Maxwell's equations. The algorithm, which is called the integro-difference time-domain (IDTD) method, achieves its fourth-order accuracy in space and time by taking into account the spatial and temporal variations of electromagnetic fields within each computational cell. In the algorithm, the electromagnetic fields within each cell are represented by space and time integrals (or integral averages) of the fields, i.e., the electric and magnetic fluxes (D,B) are represented by the surface-integral average, and the electric and magnetic fields (E,H) by the line and time integral average. In order to relate the integral average fields in the staggered update equations, we have obtained constitutive relations for these fields. It is shown that the IDTD update equations combined with the constitutive relations are fourth-order accurate both in space and time. The fourth-order correction terms are represented by the modified coefficients in the update equations; the numerical structure remains the same as the conventional second-order update equations and more importantly does not require the storage of field variables at the previous time steps to obtain the fourth-order accuracy in time. Furthermore, the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) stability criteria of this fourth-order algorithm turns out to be identical to the stability limits of conventional second-order FDTD scheme based on differential formulation.     

Rational and Facile Construction of 3D Annular Nanostructures with Tunable Layers by Exploiting the Diffraction and Interference of Light

This paper reports a rational and facile approach to fabricating arrays of 3D annular nanostructures with tunable layers by utilizing the diffraction and interference of UV light. Based on discretized Fresnel bright spots and standing waves formed within a photoresist film, the structures with nanoscale features are realized using simple, conventional photolithography. The 3D annular nanostructures are produced in arrays of single‐, double‐, and triple‐layered ring structures with the height of single layer on a 100 nm scale. The structural formation process and features of the nanostructures are analyzed and explained through 3D modeling that integrates the effects of both UV exposure dose and chemical kinetics. The approach to generating 3D annular nanostructures with tunable layers and discrete heights can be adapted for various applications that require the 3D structures fabricated over a large area with high throughput.     

Vanadium oxide supported γ-alumina with bimodal porous structure for intra-particle diffusion enhancement in styrene oxidation reaction

Porous γ-alumina with well arranged secondary mesopores has been contrived using nanosized templating units. The pore size of templated mesopores is precisely controlled as the pore shrinkage is insignificant. The primary pore diameter is ca. 4 nm and the secondary pore diameter is ca. 50 nm. The porous material was characterized using N₂ adsorption/desorption, TEM, XRD and FT-IR. γ-alumina with bimodal pore size distribution shows improved intra-particle diffusion compared to γ-alumina with unimodal pore size distribution in a simple dye adsorption test. γ-alumina with different porous structures were then impregnated with vanadium oxide for catalytic effect comparison. It was perceived that secondary pores improve the styrene oxidation rate after the conversion of styrene reaches 30%.     

Blockchain Network Based Topic Mining Process for Cognitive Manufacturing

Wireless Personal Communications - Cognitive manufacturing has brought about an innovative change to the 4th industrial revolution based technology in combination with blockchain distributed...     

Quality of frankfurter-type sausages with added pig skin and wheat fiber mixture as fat replacers

Pig skin and wheat fiber mixture (PSFM) were assessed as fat replacers in frankfurter-type sausages. The addition of PSFM increased the moisture and protein content in the sausage because of the water binding capacity in wheat fiber and protein content in pig skin. The sausage sample containing 20% PSFM had 50% less fat, 32% fewer calories, and showed 39.5% less cooking loss than those of the control (p < 0.05). High PSFM content resulted in more stable meat emulsions and increased hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness. No significant differences were observed in color, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, warm-off flavor, and overall acceptability between the control and sausage sample with PSFM by the sensory panel. Therefore, PSFM could be used as fat replacers to obtain lower calories, and higher moisture, protein contents, and emulsion stability than in low-fat frankfurter-type sausages without PSFM.     

Disruption of Membrane Integrity as a Molecular Initiating Event Determines the Toxicity of Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Phosphate Depending on the Routes of Exposure

Polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-P), a cationic biocide, is widely used in household products due to its strong bactericidal activity and low toxicity. However, it causes fatal lung damage when inhaled. In this study, we investigated why PHMG-P causes fatal lung injury when inhaled, and demonstrated that the disruption of membrane integrity through ionic interaction—a molecular initiating event of PHMG-P—determines toxicity. Mice were injected intravenously with 0.9 or 7.2 mg/kg PHMG-P (IV group), or instilled intratracheally with 0.9 mg/kg PHMG-P (ITI group); they were euthanatized at 4 h and on days 1 and 7 after treatment. Increased total BAL cell count and proinflammatory cytokine production, along with fibrotic changes in the lungs, were detected in the ITI group only. Levels of hepatic enzymes and hepatic serum amyloid A mRNA expression were markedly upregulated in the 7.2 mg/kg IV and ITI groups at 4 h or day 1 after treatment, but returned to baseline. No pathological findings were detected in the heart, liver, or kidneys. To simulate the IV injection, A549, THP-1, and HepG2 cells were treated with PHMG-P in cell culture media supplemented with different serum concentrations. Increased serum concentration was associated with an increase in cell viability. These results support the idea that direct contact between PHMG-P and cell membranes is necessary for PHMG-induced toxicity.     

Influence of mixing cycle on the degree of mixing of calcite‐filled polyethylene upon stretching

The mixing cycle‐dependent degree of dispersion and degree of mixing of a calcite (calcium carbonate) agglomerate in high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), and linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrices upon stretching was investigated using three different techniques: mechanical property, morphological behavior, and image analyzer analyses. The mechanical properties analyzed in terms of the tensile strength and maximum elongation resulted in that the second mixing was the best for giving a better property for all systems except the LDPE system, which exhibited no significant difference between the second and third mixings. The morphological behavior of the three compounds were different, but no distinctive difference was observed to differentiate the degree of mixing from system to system. The number‐, weight‐, and z + 1‐average diameters of the air hole and the aspect ratio upon the stretching and mixing cycle were calculated to analyze the degree of mixing of the calcite‐filled composites. As a consequence, no difference in the average diameter of the air hole was obtained among the three systems, but the aspect ratios of the air hole varied significantly. Thus, the degree of dispersion and the degree of mixing may be influenced by the average calcite agglomerate size, the average diameter of the air hole, and the aspect ratio upon stretching and mixing cycles. Those factors would be formed by the difference in chemical characteristics upon various microstructures of polyethylene and its molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 311–321, 2003     

Plasma deposition of a silicone-like layer for the corrosion protection of magnesium

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys are widely used for biodegradable implant materials due to their degradability and mechanical properties similar to bone. However, the high corrosion rate and release of hydrogen gas hinder its clinical application. In this study, plasma-polymerization was used to deposit the hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) polymeric films on Mg surface using low temperature radio frequency discharge plasma. The chemical and physical properties of the HMDSO films were characterized by contact angle measurements, field emission scanning electron microscope, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Contact angle results show that the contact angle and the plasma discharge powers are strongly correlated. ATR-FTIR results indicate that plasma-polymerized HMDSO films have a chemical structure close to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The weight loss test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed immersion in 0.9% NaCl solution in order to investigate corrosion protective properties of the coating layer. It was found that HMDSO plasma-polymerized coating layer showed good anti-corrosion properties than that of untreated samples. These results that the polymeric films coated on Mg may be potentially applied for clinical use.     

The influence of filler on the emission properties and rheology of carbon nanotube paste

CNT paste consists of organic solution, inorganic binder and filler. Organic solution contains organic resins and solvent including surfactants which finely disperse CNTs. Filler affects surface morphology, electron emission property, viscosity, and rheological characteristics of CNT paste. We used different fillers such as silver and alumina in CNT paste for special function. The emission properties of CNT paste with silver are similar to those of CNT paste with alumina if filler portion is the same. From the scanning electron microscope (SEM) different morphologies of CNTs was observed depending on the type of filler. CNT paste which showed good emission property had vertically well-aligned CNTs on the surface after surface treatment using adhesive tape. We measured viscosity and rheological properties with rheometer RS600 from HAAKE. Emission property of CNT paste was evaluated in vacuum chamber of 10^{− 6} Torr with pulse generator and duty was 1/500.