Adaptive scheduling mechanism for IPTV over WiMAX IEEE 802.16j networks

A WiMAX technology is a very promising Broadband Wireless Access technology that is able to transmit different service types. This latter can have different constraints such as traffic rate, maximum latency, and tolerated jitter. The IEEE 802.16 Medium Access Control specifies five types of QoS classes: UGS, rtPS, ertPS, nrtPS, and BE. However, the IEEE 802.16 standard does not specify the scheduling algorithm to be used. Operators have the choice among many existing scheduling techniques. Also, they can propose their own scheduling algorithms. In this paper, we propose a scheduling strategy (Adaptive Weighted Round Robin, AWRR) for various Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services traffic over 802.16j networks. Our scheme adapts dynamically the scheduler operation to according queue load and quality of service constraints. In particular, the proposed mechanism gives more priority to high definition television and standard definition television traffic by using two schedulers. The proposed scheduling algorithm has been simulated using the QualNet network simulator. The experimental results show that our scheduler schemes AWRR have a better performance than the traditional scheduling techniques for rtPS traffic, which allows ensuring QoS requirements for IPTV application. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New Power Semiconductor Devices for Future Generations of Power Supplies

Power Semiconductors are still the driving force for many power electronic systems.In this paper the development of the key power semiconductors devices for power supplies are shown,and their electrical performance discussed.Future directions of the major power semiconductor devices like the IGBT,Super Junction technology and SiC device will be explained.     

Dynamic optimization for grade transition processes using orthogonal collocation on molecular weight distribution

To meet the demands of a competitive market, an industrial plant often produces several grades of polymer product through the same process in an economical way. As molecular weight distribution (MWD) is a crucial quality index of polymers, dynamic optimization for grade transition based on MWD is highly important, but challenging. This study considers the development of optimization models for MWD-based grade transition. An MWD reconstruction method using orthogonal collocation in two dimensions is developed to capture the dynamic feature of MWD in time and the distributive feature in chain length. The simultaneous collocation approach is adopted to discretize the model. Two optimization formulations are proposed to describe minimizing the transition time as well as off-spec production. Both formulations inherit the advantages of the simultaneous collocation approach. The numerical results show that the proposed methods can efficiently solve the grade transition problem with MWD specification, and obtain high performance control profiles to reduce the production cost. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 1198–1210, 2019     

Chronologie des EHEC O104:H4 Ausbruchsgeschehens bis zur Gründung der l?nderübergreifenden Task Force EHEC aus Sicht der Lebensmittelüberwachung in Schleswig-Holstein am Beispiel des Kreises Schleswig-Flensburg

Im Folgenden wird über die Chronologie der Ereignisse im Rahmen des EHEC O104:H4 Ausbruchsgeschehen aus Sicht der Lebensmittelüberwachung in Schleswig-Holstein bis zur Gründung der nationalen Task Force EHEC berichtet. Am Beispiel des Kreises Schleswig-Flensburg wird die Zusammenarbeit und der Informationsaustausch zwischen Gesundheitsbeh?rde und Lebensmittelüberwachung dargestellt. Die erste Information über einen Anstieg an Erkrankungen mit blutigem Durchfall und HUS-Symptomatik in den Kreisen anliegend an und aus Hamburg erhielt das Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und l?ndliche R?ume des Landes Schleswig-Holstein am 19. Mai 2011. Der Fachdienst Veterin?rmedizin und Verbraucherschutz des Kreises Schleswig-Flensburg wurde ebenfalls am 19. Mai 2011 über eine solche H?ufung im Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg in Kenntnis gesetzt. Daraufhin wurden auf Landes- und Kreisebene Ma?nahmen eingeleitet, um zusammen mit den Gesundheitsbeh?rden diesen lebensmittelassoziierten Ausbruch aufzukl?ren. Am 01. Juni 2011 fand erstmalig in Schleswig-Holstein eine Telefonkonferenz zwischen den betroffenen Ministerien und allen Lebensmittelüberwachungs- und Gesundheitsbeh?rden der Kreise und kreisfreien St?dte statt, um das weitere Vorgehen gemeinsam zu koordinieren. Am 03. Juni 2011 wurde in Berlin am Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (BVL) die nationale Task Force EHEC gegründet. Zwei Wochen nachdem die Gesundheitsbeh?rden von geh?uften und l?nderübergreifenden Erkrankungsf?llen Kenntnis hatten, geht damit die Koordinierung der Aufkl?rung von den Gesundheitsbeh?rden auf das BVL über. Am 07. Juni 2011 wurde durch das MLUR ein Mitarbeiter des Kreises Schleswig-Flensburg als Vertreter für Schleswig-Holstein in die Task-Force EHEC nach Berlin entsandt. Als Ergebnis ist aus diesem Erkrankungsgeschehen auch die Lehre zu ziehen, dass vermehrt pflanzliche Lebensmittel zu den „gef?hrlichen Lebensmitteln“ geh?ren. Diese müssen in Zukunft viel st?rker in den Fokus genommen werden.     

Metformin Preserves β-Cell Compensation in Insulin Secretion and Mass Expansion in Prediabetic Nile Rats

Prediabetes is a high-risk condition for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Pancreatic β-cells adapt to impaired glucose regulation in prediabetes by increasing insulin secretion and β-cell mass expansion. In people with prediabetes, metformin has been shown to prevent prediabetes conversion to diabetes. However, emerging evidence indicates that metformin has negative effects on β-cell function and survival. Our previous study established the Nile rat (NR) as a model for prediabetes, recapitulating characteristics of human β-cell compensation in function and mass expansion. In this study, we investigated the action of metformin on β-cells in vivo and in vitro. A 7-week metformin treatment improved glucose tolerance by reducing hepatic glucose output and enhancing insulin secretion. Although high-dose metformin inhibited β-cell glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro, stimulation of β-cell insulin secretion was preserved in metformin-treated NRs via an indirect mechanism. Moreover, β-cells in NRs receiving metformin exhibited increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones and alleviated apoptotic unfold protein response (UPR) without changes in the expression of cell identity genes. Additionally, metformin did not suppress β-cell mass compensation or proliferation. Taken together, despite the conflicting role indicated by in vitro studies, administration of metformin does not exert a negative effect on β-cell function or cell mass and, instead, early metformin treatment may help protect β-cells from exhaustion and decompensation.     

Fabrication of Ti3SiC2-based pastes for screen printing on paper-derived Al2O3 substrates

This paper describes the development and fabrication of pastes suitable for screen printing process using Ti₃SiC₂ as the ceramic filler and ethyl cellulose as the binder. With the aim of obtaining high quality screen printed films, the influence of different amounts of Ti₃SiC₂ filler (20–40?vol%) and binder (0–5?vol%) on the rheological properties of the pastes was investigated. Samples with higher viscosity, such as pastes containing 30?vol% and 40?vol% Ti₃SiC₂ filler, regardless of the amount of ethyl cellulose, showed a higher printing quality compared to the samples with other compositions. The different paste compositions were screen printed onto paper-derived Al₂O₃ substrates containing 28.6 ± 4.8% open porosity and sintered for 1?h under an argon atmosphere at 1600?°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the sintered films contained TiC as a primary phase and Ti₃SiC₂ as a secondary phase. The partial decomposition of Ti₃SiC₂ after sintering can be attributed to residual carbon from the organic additives, which decreases the thermal stability of this material.     

Hot corrosion of TBC-coated components upon combustion of low-sulfur fuels

Gas turbine reliability is a crucial requirement for passenger safety in aviation and a secure energy supply. Hence, corrosive degradation of combustor parts, vanes, and blades in gas turbines must be prevented. One of the most severe forms of corrosion is alkali-sulfate-induced hot corrosion, which is associated with internal sulfidation of components and is usually anticipated to fade in importance in the absence of sulfur. However, the literature suggests that hot corrosion might still occur in low-sulfur combustion gases. In this study, established thermodynamic modeling methods are used to analyze the low-sulfur hot corrosion regime. Liquid sodium chromate is found to be stable in these conditions. A comparison of calculation results and engine findings suggests that high alkali levels can negatively impact thermal barrier coating life even if sulfur is absent in the fuel. Laboratory tests are carried out to validate the chromate formation on MCrAlY-coated specimens. It is shown that molten sodium chromate can alter the oxidation behavior of MCrAlY, promoting the formation of voluminous spinel. This represents a new and different form of hot corrosion compared to type I hot corrosion.