Time-Domain Block and Per-Tone Equalization for MIMO–OFDM in Shallow Underwater Acoustic Communication

Shallow underwater acoustic (UWA) channel exhibits rapid temporal variations, extensive multipath spreads, and severe frequency-dependent attenuations. So, high data rate communication with high spectral efficiency in this challenging medium requires efficient system design. Multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (MIMO–OFDM) is a promising solution for reliable transmission over highly dispersive channels. In this paper, we study the equalization of shallow UWA channels when a MIMO–OFDM transmission scheme is used. We address simultaneously the long multipath spread and rapid temporal variations of the channel. These features lead to interblock interference (IBI) along with intercarrier interference (ICI), thereby degrading the system performance. We describe the underwater channel using a general basis expansion model (BEM), and propose time-domain block equalization techniques to jointly eliminate the IBI and ICI. The block equalizers are derived based on minimum mean-square error and zero-forcing criteria. We also develop a novel approach to design two time-domain per-tone equalizers, which minimize bit error rate or mean-square error in each subcarrier. We simulate a typical shallow UWA channel to demonstrate the desirable performance of the proposed equalization techniques in Rayleigh and Rician fading channels.     

Steady-state analysis of quantized distributed incremental LMS algorithm without Gaussian restriction

In this paper, we analyze the steady-state performance of the distributed incremental least mean-square (DILMS) algorithm when it is implemented in finite-precision arithmetic. Our analysis in this paper does not consider any distribution of input data. We first formulate the update equation for quantized DILMS algorithm, and then we use a spatial-temporal energy conservation argument to derive theoretical expressions that evaluate the steady-state performance of individual nodes in the network. We consider mean-square error, excess mean-square error, and mean-square deviation as the performance criteria. Simulation results are generated by using two types of signals, Gaussian and non-Gaussian distributed signals. As the simulation results show, there is a good match between the theory and simulation.     

Synthesis,characterization, and supercapacitor studies of manganese (IV) oxide nanowires

One-dimensional manganese (IV) oxide (MnO₂) (～20 nm in average diameter) were synthesized by cathodic electrodeposition and heat treatment. The mechanism of electrodeposition and nanowire formation were discussed. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Nanowires with varying lengths and diameters were found in TEM and SEM images of the sample. The results of N₂ adsorption–desorption analysis indicated that the BET surface area of the MnO₂ nanowires was 157 m² g^?1 and the pore size distributions were 2.5 and 4.5 nm. The electrochemical performances of the prepared MnO₂ as an electrode material for supercapacitors were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements in a solution of 0.5 M Na₂SO₄. The higher specific capacitance of 318 F g^?1 and good capacity retention of 86% were achieved after 1000 charge–discharge cycles had been observed for the MnO₂ nanowires electrode.     

Adaptive double recycling folded cascode amplifier

Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing - A new structure for improving the performance of recycling folded cascode (RFC) operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) is presented. The...     

Lossless,Passive Transportation of Low Surface Tension Liquids Induced by Patterned Omniphobic Liquidlike Polymer Brushes

Surfaces enabling directional liquid transportation are of great interest for a wide range of applications such as water collection, microfluidics, and heat transfer systems. Surfaces capable of lossless, long-range passive transportation of low surface tension (LST) liquids using wettability patterned, liquidlike coatings with minimal contact angle hysteresis are reported. Lossless LST droplet travel distances over 150 mm are achieved, enabled by a two-phase transportation mechanism: morphological transformation from a bulge to a channel shape, followed by directional transportation along the asymmetrical wedge-shaped channel. The developed surfaces can split, merge, and precisely transport various low-surface tension liquids, including alcohols, alkanes, and solvents. The developed transportation strategy can also enhance LST liquid dropwise condensation through continuous removal of the condensate, even on horizontally positioned surfaces without the assistance of gravity.     

UNICORE 6 — Recent and Future Advancements

UNICORE is a European Grid Technology with more than 10 years of history. Originating from the Supercomputing domain, the latest version UNICORE 6 has turned into a general-purpose Grid technology that follows established standards and offers a rich set of features to its users. The paper starts with an architectural insight into UNICORE 6, highlighting the workflow features, standards and the different clients. Next, the current state of advancement is presented by describing recent developments. The paper closes with an outlook on future planned developments.     

Multi-Stage CMOS OTA Frequency Compensation: Genetic algorithm approach

Multistage amplifiers have become appropriate choices for high-speed electronics and data conversion. Because of the large number of high-impedance nodes, frequency compensation has become the biggest challenge in the design of multistage amplifiers. The new compensation technique in this study uses two differential stages to organize feedforward and feedback paths. Five Miller loops and a 500-pF load capacitor are driven by just two tiny compensating capacitors, each with a capacitance of less than 10 pF. The symbolic transfer function is calculated to estimate the circuit dynamics and HSPICE and TSMC 0.18 μm. CMOS technology is used to simulate the proposed five-stage amplifier. A straightforward iterative approach is also used to optimize the circuit parameters given a known cost function. According to simulation and mathematical results, the proposed structure has a DC gain of 190 dB, a gain bandwidth product of 15 MHz, a phase margin of 89°, and a power dissipation of 590 μW.     

Recapillarity: Electrochemically Controlled Capillary Withdrawal of a Liquid Metal Alloy from Microchannels

This paper describes the mechanistic details of an electrochemical method to control the withdrawal of a liquid metal alloy, eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn), from microfluidic channels. EGaIn is one of several alloys of gallium that are liquid at room temperature and form a thin (nm scale) surface oxide that stabilizes the shape of the metal in microchannels. Applying a reductive potential to the metal removes the oxide in the presence of electrolyte and induces capillary behavior; we call this behavior “recapillarity” because of the importance of electrochemical reduction to the process. Recapillarity can repeatably toggle on and off capillary behavior by applying voltage, which is useful for controlling the withdrawal of metal from microchannels. This paper explores the mechanism of withdrawal and identifies the applied current as the key factor dictating the withdrawal velocity. Experimental observations suggest that this current may be necessary to reduce the oxide on the leading interface of the metal as well as the oxide sandwiched between the wall of the microchannel and the bulk liquid metal. The ability to control the shape and position of a metal using an applied voltage may prove useful for shape reconfigurable electronics, optics, transient circuits, and microfluidic components.     

Signal Detection Performance of Overlapped FFT Scheme with Additional Frames Consisting of Non-continuous Samples in Indoor Environment

Overlapped FFT has been proposed as a signal detection scheme in dynamic spectrum access to reduce the variance of the noise and improve the detection probability. However, the improvement of the detection probability in the conventional overlapped FFT is bounded with the upper limit of the overlap ratio. This paper proposes a new overlapped FFT scheme using additional frames. In the proposed scheme, in addition to the original FFT frames, new frames that consist of multiple subframes with non-continuous samples are constructed and included. It can realize the increase of the number of the FFT frames and the improvement of the detection probability compared with the conventional scheme. Numerical results through computer simulation show that the proposed scheme improves the detection probability by up to 0.07. On indoor channel models the proposed scheme also improves the detection probability. In addition, it is clarified that as the delay spread increases the detection probability reduces due to the correlation between the frames.     

The Einstein relation for degenerate semiconductors with nonuniformband structures

Modification of the Einstein equation for semiconductors with nonparabolic energy bands and doped nonuniformly with impurity atoms is suggested. The suggestion is based on a new approximation of the Fermi-Dirac integral of order 1/2, namely, F_1/2(η_n), where η_n is the reduced Fermi level for electrons. The relation reduces to that for semiconductors with parabolic energy bands and doped uniformly with impurity atoms under appropriate boundary conditions. A comparison of the calculated and exact results for F_1/2(η) is found to be very encouraging