Design of a Link Control Protocol for Multimedia Services in Wireless Local Communication

The convergence of wireless systems with multimedia services is the challengeof future generation wireless networks. The large variety of QoS requirementsof different media as well as the maintenance of synchronization of thedifferent streams to be presented at receiver, demand from the Data link layersome extra functionalities. In this paper, we present an enhanced approach forthe efficient management of multimedia applications in third-generationwireless networks. We advocate the use of multiple connections, one for eachtraffic component of the application, as the effective solution for thetransport of multimedia applications in future-generation wireless networks.The effectiveness of this scheme is guaranteed by providing a new link controltechnique that works on top of a PRMA-type access protocol which jointlymanages different streams of a multimedia application. For this purpose, wepropose a two-level priority mechanism (static and dynamic priorities)specified by higher protocol layers for link activation, channel access, andadmission control procedures specific to a multimedia application and foroptimizing the sharing of radio channel resources and management of thereservation queue at the base station. We expect this priority-based mechanismto perform well, especially during periods in which system traffic load ishigh, and to react well to the deterioration of multimedia service quality,in terms of both QoS parameters and the synchronization of its trafficcomponents.     

A LP-based Admission Control Using Artificial Neural Networks for Integrated Services in Mobile Networks

In mobile networks the traffic fluctuation is unpredictable dueto mobility and varying resource requirements of multimedia applications.Henceit is essential to maintain the traffic within the network capacity to providethe service guarantees to running applications. Thispaper proposes an Admission Control (AC) scheme in a single mobile cellularenvironment supporting real-time and non-real-time application traffic. In thecase of a real-time and non-real-time multimedia applications, eachapplication has its own distinct range of acceptable Quality of Service (QoS)requirements(e.g., packet loss, delay, jitter, etc.). The network provides the service bymaintaining the application specified QoS range. We propose a LinearProgrammingResource Reduction (LP-RR) principle for admission control by maintainingQoSguarantees to existing applications and to increase the percentage ofadmissionto real-time and non-real-time applications. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs)are used to solve linear programming problem, which facilitates an on-lineadmissioncontrol decision in the practical systems.The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed AC schemeperforms well in terms of admitted applications and maintains lower percentageof rejection to hand-off and new applications of different traffic classes.The suggested principle also shown that it is appropriate for the fairresourceallocation with improved resource utilization.     

Sustained Release Tablet Formulation for a New Iron Chelator

Sustained release tablet formulations for a new orally active iron chelator (1, 2, dimethyl-3-hydroxy-pyrid-4-one, DMHP or L1) have been developed. Coprecipitates containing DMHP and polymer were prepared and compressed into matrix-type tablets. The dissolution profiles as a function of (1) the type of polymer, and (2) polymer content, were determined. Both Eudragit types (RLPM and RSPM) and all hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) grades (E4M, E10M, and K4M) exhibited significant sustained release activity. Above a certain ratio, increase in the polymer concentration did not provide any further decrease in the release rates. All grades of HPMC and both Eudragit RSPM and RLPM showed non-Fickian release kinetics. The role of HPMC and Eudragits in the formulation of a sustained release tablet of a water soluble drug is demonstrated.     

Differential Scanning Calorimetry as a Quick Scanning Technique for Solid State Stability Studies

The potential compatabilities of various commonly used excipients with Indomethacin (IMC) were compared using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Some agents were found to have no solid state interaction whereas others showed major changes in the thermograms signifying possible interactions in the solid state. The results show that DSC can be employed in preliminary preformulation studies for the evaluation of solid state interactions as an aid to excipient selection.     

Network restoration using recurrent neural networks

In this article, a method is proposed for network restoration using a centralized, static restoration after failure, where the restoration initiated at the local node or at the source uses a hybrid strategy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A LP-RR principle-based admission control for a mobile network

In mobile networks, the traffic fluctuation is unpredictable due to mobility and varying resource requirement of multimedia applications. Hence, it is essential to maintain traffic within the network capacity to provide service guarantees to running applications. This paper proposes an admission control (AC) scheme in a mobile cellular environment supporting hand-off and new application traffic. In the case of multimedia applications, each applications has its own distinct range of acceptable quality of service (QoS) requirements. The network provides the service by maintaining the application specified QoS range. We propose a linear programming resource reduction (LP-RR) principle for admission control by maintaining QoS guarantees to existing applications and to increase the percentage of admission to hand-off and new applications. Artificial neural networks are used to solve the linear programming problem, which facilitates in real time admission control decision in the practical systems. We present an analytical model and results for the proposed AC scheme with resource reduction principle and a simulation study of the AC for performance evaluation. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed AC scheme performs well in terms of increasing the number of admitted applications and maintains higher percentage of resource utilization. The suggested principle also shown that it is appropriate for the fair resource allocation with improved resource utilization.     

Prestress strengthens the shell of Norwalk virus nanoparticles

We investigated the influence of the protruding domain of Norwalk virus-like particles (NVLP) on its overall structural and mechanical stability. Deletion of the protruding domain yields smooth mutant particles and our AFM nanoindentation measurements show a surprisingly altered indentation response of these particles. Notably, the brittle behavior of the NVLP as compared to the plastic behavior of the mutant reveals that the protruding domain drastically changes the capsid's material properties. We conclude that the protruding domain introduces prestress, thereby increasing the stiffness of the NVLP and effectively stabilizing the viral nanoparticles. Our results exemplify the variety of methods that nature has explored to improve the mechanical properties of viral capsids, which in turn provides new insights for developing rationally designed, self-assembled nanodevices.