On the impact of physical layer awareness on scheduling and resource allocation in broadband multicellular IEEE 802.16 systems [Radio Resource Management and Protocol Engineering for IEEE 802.16]

Multicellular networks based on the IEEE 802.16 standard appear to be very promising candidates to provide end users with broadband wireless access. However, they also pose interesting challenges in terms of radio resource management, where several design choices are not specified in the standard, intentionally left open to implementors. For this reason, we focus in this article on scheduling and resource allocation, and investigate how they could operate in a cross-layer fashion. In particular, we describe the principles of joint scheduling and resource allocation for IEEE 802.16 operating in AMC mode, and discuss the critical role played by physical layer considerations, especially intercell interference estimation and channel state awareness, in the obtained performance. This leads to identifying key open issues and possible general solutions     

The oral glucose minimal model: estimation of insulin sensitivity from a meal test

Recently, a new approach has been proposed to estimate insulin sensitivity (S(I)) from an oral glucose tolerance test or a meal using an "integral equation". Here, we improve on the "integral equation" by resorting to a "differential equation" approach. The classic glucose kinetics minimal model was used with the addition of a parametric model for the rate of appearance into plasma of oral glucose (Ra). Three behavioral models of Ra were proposed: piecewise-linear (P), spline (S) and dynamic (D). All three models performed satisfactorily allowing a precise estimation of S(I) and a plausible reconstruction of Ra. Mean S(I) estimates were virtually identical: S(I)P = 6.81 +/- 0.87 (SE); S(I)S = 6.53 +/- 0.80; and S(I)D = 6.62 +/- 0.79. S(I) strongly correlated with the integral-equation index (I) S(I)I: r = 0.99, p < 0.01 for models D and S, and r 0.97, p < 0.01 for P. Also, SI compared well with insulin sensitivity estimated from intravenous glucose tolerance test in the same subjects (r = 0.75, p < 0.01; r = 0.71, p < 0.01; r = 0.73, p < 0.01, respectively, for P, S, and D models versus s(I)IVGTT). Finally, the novel approach allows estimation of SI from a shorter test (120 min): model P yielded S(I)R = 7.16 +/- 1.0 (R for reduced) which correlated very well with S(I)P and S(I)I (respectively, r = 0.94, p < 0.01; r = 0.95, p < 0.01) and still satisfactorily with S(I)IVGTT (r = 0.77, p < 0.01).     

Normative three-dimensional patellofemoral and tibiofemoral kinematics: a dynamic, in vivo study.

In order to advance biomechanical modeling, knee joint implant design and clinical treatment of knee joint pathology, accurate in vivo kinematic data of the combined patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joint during volitional activity are critical. For example, one cause of the increased prevalence of anterior knee pain in the female population is hypothesized to be altered tibiofemoral kinematics, resulting in pathological patellofemoral kinematics. Thus, the objectives of this paper were to test the hypothesis that knee joint kinematics vary based on gender and to explore the correlation between the 3-D kinematics of the patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints. In order to accomplish these goals, a large (n = 34) normative database of combined six degree of freedom patellofemoral and tibiofemoral kinematics, acquired noninvasively during volitional knee extension-flexion using fast-PC (dynamic) magnetic resonance imaging, was established. In this normative database, few correlations between tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematics were found. Specifically, tibial external rotation did not predict lateral patellar tilt, as has been stated in previous studies. In general, significant differences could not be found based on gender. Further investigation into these relationships in the presence of pathology is warranted.     

LTE‐based satellite communications in LEO mega‐constellations

The integration of satellite and terrestrial networks is a promising solution for extending broadband coverage to areas not connected to a terrestrial infrastructure, as also demonstrated by recent commercial and standardisation endeavours. However, the large delays and Doppler shifts over the satellite channel pose severe technical challenges to traditional terrestrial systems, as long‐term evolution (LTE) or 5G. In this paper, 2 architectures are proposed for a low Earth orbit mega‐constellation realising a satellite‐enabled LTE system, in which the on‐ground LTE entity is either an eNB (Sat‐eNB) or a relay node (Sat‐RN). The impact of satellite channel impairments as large delays and Doppler shifts on LTE PHY/MAC procedures is discussed and assessed. The proposed analysis shows that, while carrier spacings, random access and RN attach procedures do not pose specific issues and hybrid automatic repeat request requires substantial modifications. Moreover, advanced handover procedures will be also required due to the satellites' movement.     

Tunable,Grating-Gated,Graphene-On-Polyimide Terahertz Modulators

An electrically switchable graphene terahertz (THz) modulator with a tunable-by-design optical bandwidth is presented and it is exploited to compensate the cavity dispersion of a quantum cascade laser (QCL). Electrostatic gating is achieved by a metal grating used as a gate electrode, with an HfO₂/AlO_x gate dielectric on top. This is patterned on a polyimide layer, which acts as a quarter wave resonance cavity, coupled with an Au reflector underneath. The authors achieve 90% modulation depth of the intensity, combined with a 20 kHz electrical bandwidth in the 1.9–2.7 THz range. The modulator is then integrated with a multimode THz QCL. By adjusting the modulator operational bandwidth, the authors demonstrate that the graphene modulator can partially compensate the QCL cavity dispersion, resulting in an integrated laser behaving as a stable frequency comb over 35% of the operational range, with 98 equidistant optical modes and a spectral coverage ~1.2 THz. This paves the way for applications in the terahertz, such as tunable transformation-optics devices, active photonic components, adaptive and quantum optics, and metrological tools for spectroscopy at THz frequencies.     

Numerical and experimental characterization of antenna positioning in a dual-radio mesh router

This paper investigates the influence of the position of the antennas in a dual-radio mesh router by characterizing the router components from an electromagnetic point of view. Since the behavior of a wireless router equipped with multiple devices and antennas can be affected by mutual coupling among several close conducting bodies, numerical and experimental tests are carried out to provide some suggestions for an accurate positioning of the antennas. A reference configuration is implemented in an electromagnetic Computer-Aided Design (CAD) simulator. The most significant numerical results are validated by performing a campaign of measurements in anechoic chamber and deploying a testbed for the derivation of the experimental values of throughput, return loss, power density, and directivity.     

Culinary herbs inhibit lipid oxidation in raw and cooked minced meat patties during storage

The effect of dried spices and the ethanol extract of those spices was studied on the stability of fresh chicken minced meat, and fresh and cooked pork patties pretreated with NaCl during refrigerated and frozen storage. The antioxidant activities of the spices were measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxide value (POV) in meat samples. The lipid oxidation was effectively inhibited in the chicken meat treated with several dry spices diminishing the TBARS to a range of 32% and 83% of those found in the control samples in frozen stored meat for 6 months. Marjoram, wild marjoram and caraway were the most effective dry spices. Ethanolic extracts of the same spices were more potent as antioxidants by lowering the concentration of the TBARS to a range of 20–27% of those found in the control samples. Addition of sodium salt to the minced pork resulted very high concentrations of the oxidation products originated from the polyunsaturated fatty acids. The treatment with ethanolic extract of spices (sage, basil, thyme and ginger) significantly inhibited the lipid peroxidation in refrigerated and chilled pork patties pretreated with NaCl by reducing both POV and TBARS. Heat treatment with microwaves produced significantly elevated levels of both lipid peroxides and TBARS, but the amount of these oxidation products was less than 10% in spice‐treated salted meat samples compared to that in untreated ones. Lipid peroxidation also grew continuously during the storage period at −18°C in raw and cooked samples. Ethanolic extracts of spices had a very strong antioxidative effect inhibiting lipid peroxidation in heat‐treated meat products during frozen storage. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the case of ginger. High correlation coefficients were found between TBARS and POV both in raw and cooked pork patties (0.86, 0.91, respectively) during frozen storage. It is supposed that these compounds originated from the polyunsaturated fatty acids during oxidation processes but at different stages. Utilization of spices, spice mixtures or spice extracts in semi‐prepared meat products intended to be frozen for up to 6 months or more before consumption is proved to be advantageous in regard of shelf life of the food, as well as of human health, because of the beneficial effect of spices in inhibition of lipid peroxidation during heat treatment and chilling storage. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

An Integrated CMOS Front-End for Optical Absolute Rotary Encoders

This paper presents a front-end circuit for optical rotary encoders. The light pulses modulated by the encoder disc are transduced into current signals, which are pre-processed and converted into digital waveforms related to the disc angular position information. The proposed front-end circuit is compensated against temperature drifts. Digitally programmable calibration is provided to account for spreads in impinging light pulse power. Measurement results on integrated prototypes are shown, demonstrating correct operation of the front-end with an optical input power from 0.5 W to 3 W up to a signal frequency of 500 kHz in a temperature range from 0 °C to 80 °C.     

Immunocytochemical study of alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits of GABAA receptors in freehand isolated vestibular Deiters' neurons

Vestibular Deiters' neurons have been isolated from bovine brain by the Hydén's freehand dissection technique and challenged with monoclonal antibodies directed toward the alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits of the GABAA receptors. Subsequent challenge with fluorescent secondary antibodies and confocal microscopy allowed the study of the cellular distribution of such subunits. In Deiters' neurons the beta 2/3 subunit displayed a clear presence all along the cell body profile and the initial parts of the dendrites. The alpha 1 subunit was found highly present all over the cell interior except the nuclear profiles. The strong presence inside the cells possibly masked its presence on the plasma membrane. However, in part of the cells studied a distinct presence on the plasma membrane was evident. This subunit was visualized also all along the long dendrites of these neurons. The approach we describe here, involving freehand isolated mature neurons from adult animals, may allow a better characterization of the tridimensional distribution of different types of neuronal GABAA receptors in the respect of the approach with brain slices.