Joint AoA and Channel Estimation for SIMO- OFDM Systems: A Compressive-Sensing Approach

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) transmission has been considered in future fifth generation (5G) communication systems. Since the pathloss in mmWave is severe, beamforming with antenna arrays, an enabling technology in the 5G era, will become a must. To conduct receive beamforming, however, we need to know the information about the angle-of-arrival (AoA). In this paper, we consider joint AoA and channel estimation for single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) OFDM systems. As known, wireless channels are sparse, and this is particularly true for mmWave environments. Conventional compressive-sensing (CS) based channel estimation methods only consider single-input-single-output systems. We propose new matching-pursuit-based CS methods for channel estimation in SIMO-OFDM systems, using frequency-domain pilots. With the estimated channels, AoA’s are then estimated by the maximum-likelihood method. Since a hidden parameter is involved in the problem, an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is then employed. The Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) is also derived for the AoA estimation. Simulation results show that the proposed channel estimation can significantly outperform existing methods while the proposed AoA estimation attains the CRLB.     

Fast photochemical oxidation of proteins for comparing structures of protein-ligand complexes: the calmodulin-peptide model system

Fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP) is a mass spectrometry-based protein footprinting method that modifies proteins on the microsecond time scale. Highly reactive (?)OH, produced by laser photolysis of hydrogen peroxide, oxidatively modifies the side chains of approximately one-half the common amino acids on this time scale. Because of the short labeling exposure, only solvent-accessible residues are sampled. Quantification of the modification extent for the apo and holo states of a protein-ligand complex provides structurally sensitive information at the amino-acid level to compare the structures of unknown protein complexes with known ones. We report here the use of FPOP to monitor the structural changes of calmodulin in its established binding to M13 of the skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase. We use the outcome to establish the unknown structures resulting from binding with melittin and mastoparan. The structural comparison follows a comprehensive examination of the extent of FPOP modifications as measured by proteolysis and LC-MS/MS for each protein-ligand equilibrium. The results not only show that the three calmodulin-peptide complexes have similar structures but also reveal those regions of the protein that became more or less solvent-accessible upon binding. This approach has the potential for relatively high throughput, information-dense characterization of a series of protein-ligand complexes in biochemistry and drug discovery when the structure of one reference complex is known, as is the case for calmodulin and M13 of the skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase, and the structures of related complexes are not.     

A one-unit photovoltaic electrolysis system based on a triple stack of amorphous silicon (pin) cells

An arrangement is suggested in one-unit photovoltaic electrolysis whereby the land area needed can be halved.     

Characteristics of multistack multiquantum barrier and itsapplication to graded-index separate confinement heterostructure lasers

The enhancement of electron barrier height by multistack multiquantum barrier structure is simulated using the transfer matrix method. The validity and feasibility of this concept is verified by the experimental results on GaAs-AlAs multistack multiquantum barriers. Based on the simulated results, both 0.78 and 1.3 μm graded-index separate confinement heterostructure (GRIN-SCH) lasers with predicted enhanced carrier and optical confinements using graded multistack multiquantum barriers are designed. Lower threshold current, higher modulation bandwidth as well as higher characteristic temperature are expected for these lasers     

Optimal Sequential Paging in Cellular Wireless Networks

In a high-capacity cellular network with limited spectral resources, it is desirable to minimize the radio bandwidth costs associated with paging when locating mobile users. Sequential paging, in which cells in the coverage area are partitioned into groups and paged in a non-increasing order of user location probabilities, permits a reduction in the average radio costs of paging at the expense of greater delay in locating the users. We present a polynomial time algorithm for minimizing paging cost under the average delay constraint, a problem that has previously been considered intractable. We show the conditions under which cluster paging, a simple heuristic technique proposed for use with dynamic location update schemes, is optimal. We also present analytical results on the average delay and paging cost obtained with sequential paging, including tight bounds.     

Heuristics for the integer one-dimensional cutting stock problem: A computational study

In this paper the problem of generating integer solutions to the standard one-dimensional cutting stock problem is treated. In particular, we study a specific class of heuristic approaches that have been proposed in the literature, and some straightforward variants. These methods are compared with respect to solution quality and computing time. Our evaluation is based on having solved 4,000 randomly generated test problems. Not only will it be shown that two methods are clearly superior to the others but also that they solve almost any instance of the standard one-dimensional cutting stock problem to an optimum.     

Factors affecting metering accuracy in reaction injection molding

Several parameters affecting the metering accuracy in reaction injection molding (RIM) are identified and their effects evaluated on a laboratory-scale machine (mini-RIM HP-6. Polyurethane Technology of America). The experimental results show that the delay time must be greater than a critical value in order for the system pressure to attain the steady-state value; that the matching of the recirculation and pouring pressure is necessary to have consistent amounts of materials at the calibration or mixing head; and that a variable momentum ratio can have an adverse effect on the metering accuracy. Two approaches are used in the determination of the optimum process parameters for the mini-RIM machine and an attempt is made to explain the effect of momentum ratio variation on the metering accuracy in RIM.     

Blank optimization for sheet metal forming using multi-step finite element simulations

The present study aims to determine the optimum blank shape design for deep drawing of arbitrary shaped cups with a uniform trim allowance at the flange, i.e., cups without ears. The earing, or non-uniform flange, is caused by non-uniform material flow and planar anisotropy in the sheet. In this research, a new method for optimum blank shape design using finite element analysis is proposed. The deformation process is first divided into multiple steps. A shape error metric is defined to measure the amount of earing and to compare the deformed shape and target shape set for each stage of the analysis. This error metric is then used to decide whether the blank needs to be modified. The blank geometry change is based on material flow. The cycle is repeated until the converged results are achieved. This iterative design process leads to optimal blank shape. To test the proposed method, three examples of cup drawing are presented. In every case converged results are achieved after a few iterations. The proposed systematic method for optimal blank design is found to be very effective in the deep drawing process and can be further applied to other sheet metal forming applications such as stamping processes.     

14C dating of the Early to Late Bronze Age stratigraphic sequence of Aegina Kolonna,Greece

Aegina Kolonna, located in the center of the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Mediterranean (Greece), is one of the major archaeological sites of the Aegean Bronze Age with a continuous stratigraphic settlement sequence from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. Due to its position next to the maritime cross roads between central mainland Greece, the northeast Peloponnese, the Cyclades and Crete, the island played an important role in the trade between these regions. In the course of new excavations, which focused on the exploration of the Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age at Kolonna, several short lived samples from different settlement phases have been ¹⁴C-dated with the AMS method at the VERA laboratory. Bayesian sequencing of the ¹⁴C data according to the stratigraphic position of the samples in the profile was performed to enable estimates of the transition time between the cultural phases. The Aegina Kolonna ¹⁴C sequence is one of the longest existing so far for the Aegean Bronze Age, and therefore of major importance for the absolute Bronze Age chronology in this region. Preliminary results indicate that the Middle Helladic period seems to have started earlier and lasted longer than traditionally assumed. Further, at the present stage of our investigation we can give also a very tentative time frame for the Santorini volcanic eruption which seems to be in agreement with the science derived VDL date.     

Evaluation of the Enzymatic Saccharification Efficiency of an Energy Crop,Erianthus arundinaceus,Pretreated with Ca(OH)2 Using both Countercurrent Washing System and pH Adjustment by Nonpressurized CO2

Erianthus arundinaceus (ER) is greatly appreciated among domestic energy crops in Japan for the production of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic polysaccharides. In this study, we developed an efficient Ca(OH)₂-based pretreatment of both stems and leaves of ER at ambient temperature with the addition of a washing step for enzymatic saccharification. The recoveries of glucans and xylans in the pretreated ER after four countercurrent washing cycles were 91 and 76 %, respectively, the former being considerably higher than that of rice straw (RS) (72 %). Their saccharification ratios in the washed sample under the pressure of 1 atm CO₂ were 80 and 92.5 %, respectively. The application of this simple sugar production process from ER would further support the domestic bioprocess development. ER is also foreseen to provide the additional feedstock favorable for harvesting from winter to spring in Japan, preventing a risk for feedstock shortage generated by single harvesting such as RS.