Performance of Hybrid ARQ Schemes with ML Code Combining over a Block-Fading Rayleigh Channel

This paper considers two well-known selective-repeat retransmission schemes, namely, hybrid type-I ARQ and hybrid type-II ARQ, using convolutional coding, in conjunction with maximum-likelihood code combining. Our theoretical analysis, based upon the concept of generalized weight distribution, shows that the use of code combining yields a significant throughput at very high channel error rates not only in constant AWGN channels but also in fading channels. To demonstrate this, we consider a widely-used block-fading Rayleigh channel model, in which the channel is assumed to be constant during each block of data and the fading is assumed to be independent from block to block. A key parameter in designing retransmission protocols for delay-limited applications in such channels is the minimum number of retransmissions, needed to achieve error-free decoding at almost all channel conditions (low outage probability). This number can be reduced significantly when code combining is employed.     

Development of Graphene Oxide/Polyaniline Inks for High Performance Flexible Microsupercapacitors via Extrusion Printing

Extrusion printing of interdigitated electrodes for flexible microsupercapacitors (fMSCs) offers an attractive route to the fabrication of flexible devices where cost, scalability, and processability of ink formulations are critical. In this work, highly concentrated, viscous, and water‐dispersible inks are developed based on graphene oxide (GO)/polyaniline (PANi) composite for extrusion printing. The optimized GO/PANi‐based all‐solid‐state symmetric fMSCs obtained by extrusion printing interdigitated microelectrodes can deliver outstanding areal capacitance of 153.6 mF cm^?2 and volumetric capacitance of 19.2 F cm^?3 at 5 mV s^?1. It is shown that by fabricating asymmetric fMSCs using the GO/PANi as positive electrode and a graphene‐based negative electrode, the voltage window can be widened from 0.8 to 1.2 V and improvements can be achieved in energy density (from 3.36 to 4.83 mWh cm^?3), power density (from 9.82 to 25.3 W cm^?3), and cycling stability (from 75% to 100% capacitance retention over 5000 cycles) compared with the symmetric counterpart. The simple ink preparation and facile device fabrication protocols reported here make the scalable fabrication of extrusion printed fMSCs a promising technology.     

On the code and interleaver design of broadband OFDM systems

In this letter, we study the performance of space-frequency-coded orthogonal frequency-division modulation systems over multiple-input multiple-output frequency-selective channels. The diversity and coding advantages are derived in terms of the minimum Hamming distance and the minimum squared product distance of the code as well as the relative frequency locations (tones) where a pair of codewords with the minimum Hamming distance differ. These relationships between performance and well-defined code parameters provide new insight to code construction and interleaving design. In addition, we propose a block interleaver that yields nearly optimal coding advantage for space-frequency trellis codes.     

Performance evaluation of multihop ad hoc WLANs

Ongoing technological advances in portable devices, coupled with the need for continuous connectivity while mobile, have made ad hoc networks a compelling research and development topic, particularly in a challenging multimedia multihop scenario. The ability of IEEE 802.11's ad hoc mode of operation, as a dominating wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol, to serve multihop networks requires thorough investigation. In this article, through considering crucial real-life physical phenomena and avoiding as many confining assumptions as possible, system performance measures such as delay and packet failure rate are evaluated. As a result, the importance of adequate selection of the system parameters toward performance improvement is underscored. Moreover, the simulation results imply that by complementing through priority provisions, coordination, route reservation, clustering, and optimum channel coding considerations, the IEEE 802.11 medium access control (MAC) protocol can survive in a multihop scenario. The custom simulation environment developed features modularity, comprising traffic generator, mobility, wireless channel, and IEEE 802.11 protocol modules, and is capable of accommodating many more of the physical phenomena involved.     

Low‐Cost Chitosan‐Derived N‐Doped Carbons Boost Electrocatalytic Activity of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

An effective strategy is proposed to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in both acid and alkaline electrolytes by coating them with a layer of biomass derivative N‐doped hydrothermal carbons. The N‐doped amorphous carbon coating plays triple roles: it (i) promotes the assembly of MWCNTs into a 3D network therefore improving the mass transfer and thus increasing the catalytic activity; (ii) protects the Fe‐containing active sites, present on the surface of the MWCNTs, from H₂O₂ poisoning; (iii) creates nitrogenated active sites and hence further enhances ORR activity and robustness.     

Quantitative Comparison Between Dislocation Densities in Offcut 4H-SiC Wafers Measured Using Synchrotron X-ray Topography and Molten KOH Etching

Molten KOH etching and x-ray topography have been well established as two of the major characterization techniques used for observing as well as analyzing the various crystallographic defects in both substrates and homoepitaxial layers of silicon carbide. Regarding assessment of dislocation density in commercial wafers, though the two techniques show good consistency in threading dislocation density analysis, significant discrepancy is found in the case of basal plane dislocations (BPDs). In this paper we compare measurements of BPD densities in 4-inch 4H-SiC commercial wafers assessed using both etching and topography methods. The ratio of the BPD density calculated from topographic images to that from etch pits is estimated to be larger than 1/sinθ, where θ is the offcut angle of the wafer. Based on the orientations of the defects in the wafers, a theoretical model is put forward to explain this disparity and two main sources of errors in assessing the BPD density using chemical etching are discussed.     

Decoding Reed-Solomon codes generated by any generator polynomial

A Reed-Solomon code can be generated by n=2/sup m/-1 different generator polynomials, where 2/sup m/ is the size of the field. In the letter a structure for a Reed-Solomon decoder is introduced which can decode a Reed-Solomon code generated by any generator polynomial.<>     

Design of Reed-Solomon (16,12) codec for North American AdvancedTrain Control System

The design of the codec for the ATCS radio data link is considered. The code is defined. The encoding algorithm, the decoding algorithm, and Galois field arithmetic are discussed. Implementation of the Reed-Solomon codec as a stand-alone system in order to provide a possibility of real-time bit-rate measurement is discussed. The implementation of this codec using three different 8-b and 16-b microprocessors/microcomputers is described. Their complexity and throughput are discussed     

Colposcopic evaluation of patients with abnormal cervical cytology

A total of 1580 new patients underwent colposcopic evalution in the Dysplasia Clinic at Nassau County Medical Center. Of these patients, 186 had abnormal Papanicolaou smears associated with pregnancy, 150 were referred because of in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol, and 1244 were referred because of abnormal cervical cytologic smear or suspicious cervical or vaginal lesion. Further analysis of this latter group revealed that 1184 (95%) patients had satisfactory colposcopic evaluation, and directed biopsy showed the following: 10 cases of invasive cervical carcinoma, 9 of carcinoma in situ with microinvasion, 118 of cervical carcinoma in situ, 110 of severe dysplasia, and 424 cases of mild to moderate cervical dysplasia. All of these patients subsequently were treated accordingly. Evaluation of final histologic specimen revealed a very high correlation with colposcopically guided biopsies. In 54 patients, where colposcopic evaluation was unsatisfactory, diagnostic cold knife conization was performed. Final histologic diagnosis disclosed a more advanced lesion in 30 patients (or 56%) of this group. The result of this study shows that satisfactory colposcopic evaluation is a highly accurate method of evaluation of abnormal cervical and vaginal cytologic smear.