Closed Form Solution for Maximizing the Sum Capacity of Reverse-Link CDMA System with Rate Constraints

In this paper, we work on maximizing the capacity of the reverse link of a CDMA wireless network. Oh and Soong (2006) presented an information-theoretic capacity model for analyzing this system. That formulation produces solutions that often result in unfairness allocation of power to most users. Here, we propose the addition of a maximum capacity constraint into the problem, thereby creating a more fair power allocation scheme. First, we improve on the algorithm presented in (Oh and Soong, 2006) by proposing a closed form solution and an algorithm which works nine times faster. Then, we propose a closed form algorithm for solving the new enhanced problem.     

Algorithmic approach to studying models of multirate systems with queues

Models of multirate systems that handle narrowband and broadband calls are investigated. Narrowband calls are serviced by a single channel, whereas m > 1 channels are required simultaneously for broadband calls. When the necessary number of idle channels is absent, broadband calls are queued but narrowband calls are not buffered and are accepted only if the number of idle channels is larger than a given threshold. An algorithmic approach is proposed to the calculation of service quality indices for such models, and results of numerical experiments are presented. Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 1, pp. 85–93, January–February 2009.     

Reliability and safety of tension leg platforms

This paper is concerned with structural safety of tension leg platforms (TLPs) in extreme storm waves. Based upon selected statistical models for the distributions of water surface elevation during a storm, mean storm wind velocity, structural strength and storm arrivals, a reliability model for the mooring system of the TLP is presented. It is used to assess the probability of progressive failure of the legs at each corner and the reliability of the mooring system during the service life of the platform as a function of various design parameters.     

Evidence of Epstein-Barr virus in lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a case report

The prevalence of Loa loa infections in non-endemic areas such as Korea is very low, even though it is quite common in the endemic regions of West and Central Africa. We describe a patient who presented with temporary localized edema (classical Calabar swellings) after travelling to Cameroon and in whom the diagnosis of loiasis was made by ELISA. This is the second reported case of loiasis in Korea. As international travel is becoming more frequent, Loa loa infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with eosinophilia and Calabar swellings in Korea.     

An Integrated Cluster-Based Multi-Channel MAC Protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

This paper proposes a novel joint clustering and multi-channel medium access control (MAC) protocol for mobile ad hoc networks, based on a scalable two-phase coding scheme. It employs the first-phase codes for differentiating the clusters and the second-phase codes for distinguishing the nodes in a specific cluster. The proposed protocol effectively integrates the procedure of code assignment with dynamic clustering and henceforth substantially reduces the control overhead of code assignment in a code division multiple access (CDMA) based multi-channel MAC protocol while simultaneously combating the hidden terminal problem. Furthermore, the confliction detection and resolution mechanism for the allocation of the first-phase codes as well as the collision avoidance mechanism for the allocation of the second-phase codes in the control channel are also introduced. Analytical framework and extensive simulation results, in terms of control overhead and delay, are provided and compared to the traditional distributed CDMA based multichannel MAC algorithms with or without clustering.     

EGFR Fragmentation for Topological Transformation Nanobarcoding

As the market for personalized lung cancer medicine expands, the demand for molecular diagnostic tools in general, and methods of detecting multiple genes with qualitative, quantitative, and high specificity in particular, have grown. Here, we propose a system for the effective detection of lung cancer-specific, long-length epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations by using a topological transformation nano-barcoding technique (TNT). In former TNT studies, EGFR was successfully detected in cell environments and at test stages in the presence of a reference gene. However, because typical EGFR target concentrations are significantly lower at the clinical stage and the probe-binding ability of long-length targets is lower that of short targets, our system employs polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, restriction, and filtering (PRF) for EGFR fragmentation to maximize performance. In a PRF system, the target is amplified by PCR, cut to a suitable size by a restriction enzyme, and filtered by a magnetic bead. With detection limits of 0.3555 % and 1.500 % for EGFR Del 19 and L858R mutations, respectively, the proposed TNT with PRF can effectively distinguish mutant cell lines and efficiently detect various lengths of genetic variations in clinical trials.     

C2 OXYGENATES BY CHLOROMETHANE ADDITION TO SYNGAS

Abstract

A novel two-stage process capable of producing acetaldehyde from methane and syngas (CO and H₂) has been studied. Methane, oxygen, and hydrogen chloride react over an oxyhydrochlorination catalyst in a first stage to produce chloromethane and water. In the second stage, chloromethane is added to a syngas mixture and catalytically converted to C₁ to C₄4 hydrocarbons and acetaldehyde.     

Adsorption Parameter and Heat of Adsorption of Activated Carbon/HFC-134a Pair

This article presents the adsorption isotherms of HFC-134a and activated carbon Maxsorb III measured using the constant-volume–variable-pressure method. The adsorption isotherms cover temperature ranges from 293 to 338 K and pressures up to 0.7 MPa. The trends of the experimental isotherms for activated carbon are found to be identical in all cases with previous studies except that the vapor uptake is slightly higher. The adsorption characteristic of the Dubinin–Ashtakov equation has been regressed from the experimental isotherms data and the maximum specific uptake is 2.15 kg of adsorbate adsorbed per kilogram of activated carbon. The heat of adsorption, which is concentration and temperature dependent, has also been extracted from the experiments.     

Interbilayer-crosslinked multilamellar vesicles as synthetic vaccines for potent humoral and cellular immune responses

Vaccines based on recombinant proteins avoid the toxicity and antivector immunity associated with live vaccine (for example, viral) vectors, but their immunogenicity is poor, particularly for CD8(+) T-cell responses. Synthetic particles carrying antigens and adjuvant molecules have been developed to enhance subunit vaccines, but in general these materials have failed to elicit CD8(+) T-cell responses comparable to those for live vectors in preclinical animal models. Here, we describe interbilayer-crosslinked multilamellar vesicles formed by crosslinking headgroups of adjacent lipid bilayers within multilamellar vesicles. Interbilayer-crosslinked vesicles stably entrapped protein antigens in the vesicle core and lipid-based immunostimulatory molecules in the vesicle walls under extracellular conditions, but exhibited rapid release in the presence of endolysosomal lipases. We found that these antigen/adjuvant-carrying vesicles form an extremely potent whole-protein vaccine, eliciting endogenous T-cell and antibody responses comparable to those for the strongest vaccine vectors. These materials should enable a range of subunit vaccines and provide new possibilities for therapeutic protein delivery.