Power efficient uplink scheduling in SC-FDMA: benchmarking by column generation

We study resource allocation in cellular systems and consider the problem of finding a power efficient scheduling in an uplink single carrier frequency division multiple access system. Due to the discrete nature of this problem and its computational difficulty, particularly in a real-time setting, the use of suboptimal algorithms is common practice. We aim at an effective way of gauging the performance of suboptimal algorithms by finding tight bounds on the global optimum. Toward this end, we first provide a basic integer linear programming formulation. Then we propose a significantly stronger column-oriented formulation and a corresponding column generation method, as well as an enhanced column generation scheme. The latter extends the first scheme through the inclusion of a stabilization technique, an approximate column generation principle, and a tailored heuristic that is embedded in the column generation scheme to find high-quality though not necessarily global optimal solutions. The computational evaluation demonstrates that compared with a poor performance by the integer linear programming formulation, the column generation method can produce near-optimal schedules that enable a sharp bounding interval. The enhanced column generation method significantly sharpens the bounding interval. Hence the column generation approach serves well for the purpose of benchmarking results for large-scale instances.     

Differential Disrupting Effects of Prolonged Low-Dose Exposure to Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane on Androgen and Estrogen Production in Males

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is the most widespread, persistent pollutant and endocrine disruptor on the planet. Although DDT has been found to block androgen receptors, the effects of its low-dose exposure in different periods of ontogeny on the male reproductive system remain unclear. We evaluate sex steroid hormone production in the pubertal period and after maturation in male Wistar rats exposed to low doses of o,p’-DDT, either during prenatal and postnatal development or postnatal development alone. Prenatally and postnatally exposed rats exhibit lower testosterone production and increased estradiol and estriol serum levels after maturation, associated with the delayed growth of gonads. Postnatally exposed rats demonstrate accelerated growth of gonads and higher testosterone production in the pubertal period. In contrast to the previous group, they do not present raised estradiol production. All of the exposed animals exhibit a reduced conversion of progesterone to 17OH-progesterone after sexual maturation, which indicates putative attenuation of sex steroid production. Thus, the study reveals age-dependent outcomes of low-dose exposure to DDT. Prenatal onset of exposure results in the later onset of androgen production and the enhanced conversion of androgens to estrogens after puberty, while postnatal exposure induces the earlier onset of androgen secretion.     

Observations on the uniformity of immersion tin coatings on copper

The development of chemical tin coatings by a replacement reaction Cu+Sn²⁺Cu²⁺+Sn from hydrochloric acid based and methanesulphonic acid based baths on the inner surface of a copper tube was studied by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in order to explore the factors influencing the uniformity of tin coatings. Despite the fact that tin coatings develop in different ways in studied baths, uniform coatings are equally plated from both these baths when the substrate surface is clean and smooth. However, differences in the surface-sensitivity, i.e. the dependence of coating uniformity on the substrate surface condition, of plating baths materialise when plated on irregular or improperly cleaned substrate. A hydrochloric acid based bath may yield non-uniform coatings on irregular or improperly cleaned substrate, since large-sized grains develop immediately after coating initiation. These large grains are suggested to orientate to follow the contours of impurity particles or surface irregularities introducing misalignment in grain columns and, thus, non-uniformity into coatings. In contrast, a methanesulphonic acid based bath is still able to produce uniform tin coatings on contaminated or rough surfaces, as the coating is proposed to accommodate to substrate surface irregularities by the build-up of a nanocrystalline zone at the early stages of tin coating deposition. Sulfur-containing elements in this methanesulphonic acid based plating bath play the central role in the nanocrystalline layer formation.     

Expert system for analysis of quality in production of electronics

Quality issues have become increasingly important in the production of electronics, especially when dealing with electronic products not assimilated to the mainstream of consumer electronics, but rather to the group of industrial electronic devices and machinery designed to last for years or even decades. In this paper, an intelligent optimization and modeling system for electronics production is demonstrated. The system exploits real production data and can be used to diagnose and optimize the manufacturing processes. It contains three modules consisting of appropriate mathematical tools specifically tailored to each task: (1) preprocessing, (2) variable selection, and (3) optimization modules. Moreover, concrete examples are presented from the latter two modules, by using a wave soldering process as a case study. Currently, the system works on the Matlab platform, but can be programmed into standalone software and automated in the future. The results illustrate that the system can offer an efficient tool for diagnostics and process optimization in the electronics industry.     

6G and the UN SDGs: Where is the Connection?

Wireless Personal Communications - Sustainability has entered all aspects of life, calling for an active approach from the wireless and mobile communications community to help in solving...     

Structural and Dynamical Insight into PPARγ Antagonism: In Silico Study of the Ligand-Receptor Interactions of Non-Covalent Antagonists

The structural and dynamical properties of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) nuclear receptor have been broadly studied in its agonist state but little is known about the key features required for the receptor antagonistic activity. Here we report a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in combination with free energy estimation of the recently discovered class of non-covalent PPARγ antagonists. Their binding modes and dynamical behavior are described in details. Two key interactions have been detected within the cavity between helices H3, H11 and the activation helix H12, as well as with H12. The strength of the ligand-amino acid residues interactions has been analyzed in relation to the specificity of the ligand dynamical and antagonistic features. According to our results, the PPARγ activation helix does not undergo dramatic conformational changes, as seen in other nuclear receptors, but rather perturbations that occur through a significant ligand-induced reshaping of the ligand-receptor and the receptor-coactivator binding pockets. The H12 residue Tyr473 and the charge clamp residue Glu471 play a central role for the receptor transformations. Our results also demonstrate that MD can be a helpful tool for the compound phenotype characterization (full agonists, partial agonists or antagonists) when insufficient experimental data are available.     

Dexamethasone Attenuates the Expression of MMP-13 in Chondrocytes through MKP-1

Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) is upregulated in inflammation and reduces the activity of proinflammatory mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) by dephosphorylation. MAP kinases are intracellular signaling pathways that mediate the cellular effects of proinflammatory cytokines. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone on the expression of catabolic enzymes in chondrocytes and tested the hypothesis that these effects are mediated through MKP-1. Dexamethasone was found to significantly attenuate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 in human OA chondrocytes as well as in chondrocytes from MKP-1 WT mice, but not in chondrocytes from MKP-1 KO mice. Dexamethasone also increased the expression of MKP-1 in murine and human OA chondrocytes. Furthermore, p38 MAP kinase inhibitors significantly attenuated MMP-13 expression in human OA chondrocytes, while JNK MAP kinase inhibitors had no effect. The results indicate that the effect of dexamethasone on MMP-13 expression in chondrocytes was mediated by an MKP-1 and p38 MAP kinase-dependent manner. These findings, together with previous results, support the concept of MKP-1 as a protective factor in articular chondrocytes in inflammatory conditions and as a potential drug target to treat OA.     

Concave π-prismand hydrocarbon [2.2.2]cyclophanes and their crystalline Ag-triflate complexes

New small concave hydrocarbon cyclophanes were prepared via the well-known HD-2SO₂-method. The cyclophanes obtained are isomers of the very well-known [2.2.2]p,p,p-cyclophane, C₂₄H₂₄, a π-prismand efficiently complexing Ag⁺-ion. X-ray crystal structure determinations showed the bis-sulfide 7 (1,10-dithia[3.3.2]m,p,p-cyclophane) to be helically chiral and that the conformation of the parent hydrocarbon cyclophane 13 ([2.2.2]m,p,p-cyclophane) does not change dramatically upon complexation with the Ag⁺-ion. The 16- and 17-membered [2.2.2]m,m,p- and [2.2.2]m,p,p-cyclophane ( 15 and 16 ) also act as π-prismands and form surprisingly similar crystalline 1:1 Ag-triflate complexes (π-prismates) as the well-known 18-membered p,p,p-isomer proved by the X-ray structure analysis.     

Low-Energy Laser-Driven Ultrashort Pulsed Electron Beam Irradiation-Induced Immune Response in Rats

The development of new laser-driven electron linear accelerators, providing unique ultrashort pulsed electron beams (UPEBs) with low repetition rates, opens new opportunities for radiotherapy and new fronts for radiobiological research in general. Considering the growing interest in the application of UPEBs in radiation biology and medicine, the aim of this study was to reveal the changes in immune system in response to low-energy laser-driven UPEB whole-body irradiation in rodents. Forty male albino Wistar rats were exposed to laser-driven UPEB irradiation, after which different immunological parameters were studied on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 28th day after irradiation. According to the results, this type of irradiation induces alterations in the rat immune system, particularly by increasing the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and elevating the DNA damage rate. Moreover, such an immune response reaches its maximal levels on the third day after laser-driven UPEB whole-body irradiation, showing partial recovery on subsequent days with a total recovery on the 28th day. The results of this study provide valuable insight into the effect of laser-driven UPEB whole-body irradiation on the immune system of the animals and support further animal experiments on the role of this novel type of irradiation.