Performance Bound for LDPC Coded Unitary Space–Time Modulation

This paper is concerned with the bit error probability (BEP) of coded unitary space–time modulation systems based on finite-length low density parity check (LDPC) codes. The union bound on the BEP of the maximum likelihood (ML) decoding is derived for any code rate, unitary space–time constellation and mapping. The tightness of the bound is checked with simulation results of the ordered statistic decoding (OSD). Numerical and simulation results show that the union bound is also close to the error performance of the sum–product (SP) decoding at low BEP levels when Gray mapping is employed. The derived bound is useful to benchmark the error performance of finite-length coded unitary space–time modulation systems, especially for those that employ short-to-medium length LDPC codes.

The chemical and structural origin of efficient p-type doping in P3HT

We investigate the chemical and structural properties of solution-processed thin films of P3HT blended with p-type dopant F4TCNQ. The maximum in-plane electrical conductivity of doped films is observed at a molar doping fraction of 0.17, in agreement with the binding mechanism of F4TCNQ:P3HT complexes. Through the use of X-ray diffraction, a previously unreported crystalline phase is observed for P3HT films doped above a critical threshold concentration. This crystalline phase involves the incorporation of F4TCNQ molecules into ordered polymer regions and ultimately improves charge dissociation, leading to higher carrier density in thin film. Finally, optical absorption and X-ray diffraction reveal that the chemical state of P3HT in solution has a dramatic impact on the electrical and structural properties of the blended films.     

UPTIME: an IMS-based mobility framework for next generation mobile networks

Seamless inter-technology mobility is one of the fundamental requirements of next generation mobile networks. For seamless mobility, handover delay and packet loss should be minimized. However, existing solutions suffer from a number of shortcomings in satisfying these requirements: first, handover preparation schemes fail to minimize the handover delay as much as possible. Second, minimizing packet loss which is usually using soft handover (SHO) schemes are excessively wasteful of scarce resources. In this paper, we propose the uninterrupted proactive connection transfer for IMS mobility enhancement (UPTIME) mobility framework which achieves seamless mobility while minimizing excessive power and radio resource consumption. UPTIME incorporates two mechanisms; a proactive handover preparation method and an optimized SHO technique for handover execution. We demonstrate the benefits of the proposed framework through both analysis and simulation. Our simulation results for typical LTE/WiMAX handovers show that the handover preparation delay can be reduced by 70 %, and good packet loss performance can be achieved whilst saving 43 % of radio resources and 48 % of battery power.     

Mechanism of Crystallization and Implications for Charge Transport in Poly(3‐ethylhexylthiophene) Thin Films

In this work, crystallization kinetics and aggregate growth of poly(3‐ethylhexylthiophene) (P3EHT) thin films are studied as a function of film thickness. X‐ray diffraction and optical absorption show that individual aggregates and crystallites grow anisotropically and mostly along only two packing directions: the alkyl stacking and the polymer chain backbone direction. Further, it is also determined that crystallization kinetics is limited by the reorganization of polymer chains and depends strongly on the film thickness and average molecular weight. Time‐dependent, field‐effect hole mobilities in thin films reveal a percolation threshold for both low and high molecular weight P3EHT. Structural analysis reveals that charge percolation requires bridged aggregates separated by a distance of ≈2–3 nm, which is on the order of the polymer persistence length. These results thus highlight the importance of tie molecules and inter‐aggregate distance in supporting charge percolation in semiconducting polymer thin films. The study as a whole also demonstrates that P3EHT is an ideal model system for polythiophenes and should prove to be useful for future investigations into crystallization kinetics.     

Lubricant‐Infused Nanoparticulate Coatings Assembled by Layer‐by‐Layer Deposition

Omniphobic coatings are designed to repel a wide range of liquids without leaving stains on the surface. A practical coating should exhibit stable repellency, show no interference with color or transparency of the underlying substrate and, ideally, be deposited in a simple process on arbitrarily shaped surfaces. We use layer‐by‐layer (LbL) deposition of negatively charged silica nanoparticles and positively charged polyelectrolytes to create nanoscale surface structures that are further surface‐functionalized with fluorinated silanes and infiltrated with fluorinated oil, forming a smooth, highly repellent coating on surfaces of different materials and shapes. We show that four or more LbL cycles introduce sufficient surface roughness to effectively immobilize the lubricant into the nanoporous coating and provide a stable liquid interface that repels water, low‐surface‐tension liquids and complex fluids. The absence of hierarchical structures and the small size of the silica nanoparticles enables complete transparency of the coating, with light transmittance exceeding that of normal glass. The coating is mechanically robust, maintains its repellency after exposure to continuous flow for several days and prevents adsorption of streptavidin as a model protein. The LbL process is conceptually simple, of low cost, environmentally benign, scalable, automatable and therefore may present an efficient synthetic route to non‐fouling materials.     

Elevating Biomedical Performance of ZnO/SiO2@Amorphous Calcium Phosphate ‐ Bioinspiration Making Possible the Impossible

Here a biomimetic approach is presented to fabricate nanodragon fruits featured by a multitude of tiny quantum dot ZnO seeds embedded in mesosilica (SiO₂) flesh then enclosed in amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) shell. The nanodragon fruits give rise to a new class of hybrid ZnO/SiO₂@ACP nanocomplex with multimoidal capability: cellular delivering, intracellular targeting, and subcellular imaging. With this particular design, the unusual fluorescent stability of ZnO quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous solution, the specific color selection of the functional ZnO QD seeds, and the stability of transient ACP over a long period of time are made possible. In addition, the nanodragon fruits, capable of targeting mitochondria, have elevated biocompatibility, thus can be of enormous potential applications in treating mitochondrial diseases including inflammation, neurodegeneration, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. As numerous human disorders are often associated with cellular dysfunctions, this biocompatible carrying platform, capable of delivering, targeting, and imaging subcellular organelles, is therefore highly desirable for efficacious therapeutic and diagnostic treatment.