On the efficient simulation of electrical circuits with constant phase elements: The Warburg element as a test case

The constant phase Element (CPE) concept naturally emerges as a model for describing a range of electrical phenomena where ionic diffusion is involved. We suggest a new method for modelling the transient behavior of electrical circuits that contain CPE elements. Without loss of generality, we study the Warburg element to demonstrate the method, but the method can be easily extended to any CPE. Transient simulations of such elements require the numerical evaluation of a computationally expensive convolution integral that links the voltage drop across the element, with the current that passed through it. In our work we suggest a new method for reducing the computational cost of the numerical evaluation of the convolution integral. We show that the computational cost can be reduced by one order of magnitude.     

A Simulation Framework for Evaluating Interference Mitigation Techniques in Heterogeneous Cellular Environments

Femtocells present an attractive solution for the improvement of a mobile network’s services providing better data rates and coverage. Since their deployment results to a heterogeneous network where two layers must utilize the available spectrum, issues of interference arise. A method to address this challenge, is investigating the locations of the newly installed FBS, and enforcing a power controlled transmission of all FBSs that achieves optimal and fair overall performance. Another option that becomes available in inter-cell interference cancellation (ICIC) macrocell environments, is utilizing the available spectrum to complete or partly avoid co-channel operation. In this work, we provide a simulation framework that allows the creation of custom, high configurable, user defined topologies of femtocells with power control and frequency allocation capabilities. It allows the investigation of the margin of improvement in interference when these methods are applied and may work as a decision tool for planning and evaluating heterogeneous networks. To showcase the framework’s capabilities, we evaluate and study the behaviour of custom deployed femtocells/macrocells networks and examine the cross-tier interference issues. Facilitated by the framework, we enforce and evaluate each interference mitigation technique for different femtocells’ deployment densities. Finally, we compare the results of each method in terms of total throughput, spectral efficiency and cell-edge users’ performance.     

Non-van der Waals 2D Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage

The development of advanced electrode materials for the next generation of electrochemical energy storage (EES) solutions has attracted profound research attention as a key enabling technology toward decarbonization and electrification of transportation. Since the discovery of graphene's remarkable properties, 2D nanomaterials, derivatives, and heterostructures thereof, have emerged as some of the most promising electrode components in batteries and supercapacitors owing to their unique and tunable physical, chemical, and electronic properties, commonly not observed in their 3D counterparts. This review particularly focuses on recent advances in EES technologies related to 2D crystals originating from non-layered 3D solids (non-van der Waals; nvdW) and their hallmark features pertaining to this field of application. Emphasis is given to the methods and challenges in top-down and bottom-up strategies toward nvdW 2D sheets and their influence on the materials’ features, such as charge transport properties, functionalization, or adsorption dynamics. The exciting advances in nvdW 2D-based electrode materials of different compositions and mechanisms of operation in EES are discussed. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of nvdW 2D systems are highlighted not only in electrochemical energy storage but also in other applications, including spintronics, magnetism, and catalysis.     

Cost optimization of MBSFN and PTM transmissions for reliable multicasting in LTE networks

Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems have been specified and designed to accommodate small, high performance, power-efficient, end-user devices. The evolved Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (e-MBMS) feature is introduced by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as a complement to the existing MBMS service in order to accommodate multicast groups that are interested in receiving the same data. MBMS service is provided by MBMS over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) and/or Point-To-Multipoint (PTM) transmission methods. One of the challenges of MBMS is the complete error recovery of the transmitted files, a matter of great importance since the distribution of binary data must result in 100% error-free download. To fulfill this tight requirement, Forward Error Correction (FEC) mechanism has been proposed by 3GPP. In this work, we investigate the reliable multicasting by introducing a transmission method that combines the advantages of MBSFN and PTM transmission methods. We compare several FEC-based file recovery methods and evaluate them against various network parameters in a realistic simulation environment. The comparison is based on a cost-oriented analysis of MBMS service that takes into account the transmission cost over all the interfaces and nodes of the LTE architecture. The simulation results are performed with the aid of a new simulation tool and show that the performance of the file repair schemes depend on the network configuration.     

An improved mechanism for multiple MBMS sessions assignment in B3G cellular networks

In Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), the downlink capacity is limited by the base station transmission power. Therefore, power control plays an important role to minimize the transmitted power shared among unicast and multicast users within a cell. In Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS), power control targets to the efficient utilization of radio and network resources. However, the expected high demand for such services stresses the need for an efficient scheme, capable of dynamically allocating radio resources to parallel MBMS sessions. This paper proposes a power control mechanism for efficient MBMS session assignment in next generation UMTS networks. The mechanism shares efficiently the available power resources of UMTS base stations to MBMS sessions running in the network. Furthermore, the mechanism is evaluated through several realistic scenarios and the results indicate the ability of the mechanism to utilize efficiently the radio resources and to ensure the service continuity when parallel MBMS services run in the network. Our approach is compared with current 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) approaches, such as these presented in TS 25.346 and in TR 25.922, in order to highlight the enhancements that it provides.     

A Machine Learning Approach for the Mean Flow Velocity Prediction in Alluvial Channels

Water Resources Management - In natural alluvial channels, the determination of the flow resistance constitutes a problem with additional complexity compared to rigid bed channels, due to the bed...