Optimized bandwidth allocation with fairness and service differentiation in multimedia wireless networks

In this article we present an optimal Markov Decision‐based Call Admission Control (MD‐CAC) policy for the multimedia services that characterize the next generation of wireless cellular networks. A Markov decision process (MDP) is used to represent the CAC policy. The MD‐CAC is formulated as a linear programming problem with the objectives of maximizing the system utilization while ensuring class differentiation and providing quantitative fairness guarantees among different classes of users. Through simulation, we show that the MD‐CAC policy potentially achieves the optimal decisions. Hence our proposed MD‐CAC policy satisfies its design goals in terms of call‐class‐differentiation, fairness and system utilization. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Manufacture of dry‐ and brine‐salted soft camel cheeses for the camel dairy industry

Two experiments were conducted in a camel cheese study to (i) compare camel cheese to bovine cheese made from bovine milk standardised to simulate camel milk, and (ii) describe the technology for manufacture of dry (SCC‐D) and brine‐salted soft camel cheese (SCC‐B). Comparable cheese yield (camel: 7.4 ± 0.15, cow: 7.3 ± 0.55 kg/100 kg of milk) and levels of dry matter loss in whey were observed. Clotting time was 234 s for both cheeses which were made using thermophillic starters. Cheese yield was 9.31 ± 0.64 kg/100 kg with 425.6 ± 38.2 g/kg cheese dry matter for SCC‐D and 8.22 ± 0.90 kg/100 kg with 469 ± 73.8 g/kg dry matter for SCC‐B.     

The use of elastography to measure quality characteristics of pork semimembranosus muscle

The objectives of this study were to determine if ultrasonic strain image analysis could estimate pork eating quality parameters (such as fresh color, drip loss, and Warner/Bratzler shear). Intact semimembranosus (SM) muscles (cap off) were analyzed for ultimate pH (pH(ult)). Forty-five SM muscles were selected from the larger allotment of fresh hams over a 3-week period. The SM muscles were selected based on high and low pH(ult) in an attempt to represent a wide range of pork quality. Ultrasonic strain images were obtained perpendicular to the SM muscle fibers of an 8-cm cube. Radio-frequency data from each SM were obtained from a field-of-view (FOV) of 40×30 mm(2) and digitized for each compression step. Tissue displacements were computed for each compression step. Tissue strains were computed from displacement data located in the FOV representing areas of harder and softer muscle tissue and converted to gray scale images at 256 levels. Tissue irregularity of hardness and softness was measured using Fractal dimension and Haralicks parameters. Twenty-one Fractal dimension (FR) parameters, at two neighborhood distances (N), from each strain image and nine Haralick's (HAR) textural parameters (inter-pixel distance=1) were analyzed for each image. The variable FR4N4 had a -0.279 correlation with SM ultimate pH (p<0.10); FR6N8 correlated to WB shear force at 0.325 (p<0.05); and FR21N8 had a correlation coefficient of 0.364 with intramuscular fat (p<0.01). Linear regression equations generated from FRN and HAR parameters for intramuscular fat (R(2)=0.468), Warner/Bratzler shear (R(2)=0.360), and 30 h drip loss (R(2)=0.208). Although elastographic measurement was significantly correlated to shear (p<0.05), a better understanding of physical meat texture is necessary before elastography can be used to identify superior quality pork.     

Investigating different diffuse solar radiation models to analyse solar radiation on inclined surfaces in Oman

In this paper, a detailed analysis of the solar radiation on horizontal and tilted surfaces for six locations in Oman is presented. The locations are (from North to South): Majis/Sohar, Sur, Fahud, Masira, Marmul, and Salalah. These locations spread over Oman and cover different types of landscape. The method is validated through the use of measured data. The effect of tilt angle and orientation on the incident solar radiation is presented along with optimum surface tilt angles and directions for maximum solar radiation collection in these six locations. The solar radiation models used in this paper show good agreement with measured data. The results presented in this paper are extremely useful for quick estimation of solar radiation for calculations of buildings’ cooling load and solar collector system performance. This can be easily extended for other locations with similar landscapes and geographical conditions.     

Correlation among tardiness-based measures for scheduling using priority dispatching rules

One of the most commonly used methods to schedule manufacturing systems is to use priority dispatching rules (pdrs). It is frequently desired to distinguish the behaviour of pdrs with regard to tardiness-based performance measures. However, the relation among these performance measures is generally not obvious even for simple scheduling strategies such as pdrs. In this paper, we first focus on the maximum tardiness, which is a very interesting performance measure for the decision-maker on the shop floor. However, because of its singularity, it is not trivial to assess. We conducted a simulation study on a benchmark model of a dynamic job-shop system to evaluate the relative performance of a set of pdrs chosen either because they are used extensively or because they exhibit very good performance. Based upon the distribution of the maximum tardiness of these benchmark pdrs, we identify two sub-sets of pdrs. From this, we conducted experiments on the root-mean-square tardiness, which is used to distinguish a system with a few very tardy jobs from a system with a lot of less tardy jobs. The experiments show a positive correlation between maximum tardiness and root-mean-square tardiness. Because of the fact that the root-mean-square tardiness is an aggregate measure, it is much easier to assess than the maximum tardiness. This provides an opportunity to predict the relative performance of pdrs with regard to the maximum tardiness as well as the width of the tardiness by evaluating the root-mean-square tardiness only.     

Prediction of Gas Flow Through Short and Long 2-D Micro- and Nanochannels Using a Generalized Slip Model

This article reports the outcome of our recent effort in prediction of gas slip flow through micro- and nanochannels. Slip nitrogen flow through short (length to height ratio of 20) and long (length to height ratio of 2,500) microchannels is analyzed and discussed using the spectral element method and the generalize slip model boundary condition of Karniadakis and Beskok. The well-known curvature in pressure distribution, due to the compressible behavior of the gas flow, is observed. Comparison of numerical results with the experimental and direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) data as well as previous reported numerical results showed that the generalized slip model is able to produce reliable results for both short and long microchannels.     

Fault detection of wind energy conversion systems using recurrent neural networks

Structure of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) must be robust against faults. In order to accurately study WECSs during occurrence of faults and to explore the impact of faults on each component of the WECSs, a detailed model is required in which both mechanical and electrical parts of the WECSs are properly involved. In addition, a fault detection system (FDS) is required to diagnose the occurred faults at the appropriate time in order to ensure a safe system operation, avoid heavy economic losses, prevent damage to adjacent relevant systems and facilitate timely repair of failed components. This can be performed by subsequent actions through fast and accurate detection of faults. In this paper, by utilising a comprehensive dynamic model of the WECS, an FDS is presented using dynamic recurrent neural networks. In industrial processes, dynamic neural networks are known as a good mathematical tool for fault detection. The proposed FDS detects faults of the generator's angular velocity sensor, pitch angle sensors and pitch actuators. The presented FDS has high capability of fault detection in short time and it has much low false alarms rate. Simulation results verify validity and usefulness of the proposed fault detection scheme.     

Platinum(VI) dihydroxo tetramesitylporphyrin; characterization and chemical reactivity

Tetramesitylporphyrin platinum(VI) dihydroxo complex, TMPPt(OH)₂ · 2 benzoate was synthesized by addition of two equivalent of meta-chloroperbenzoic acid molecules to the tetramesitylporphyrin platinum(II). This complex was characterized by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods, and is capable to convert two molecules of triphenylphosphine to triphenylphosphine oxide.     

Physiochemical characterizations of nanobelts consisting of three mixed oxides (Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>, CuO,and MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>) prepared by electrospinning technique

In this work, nanobelt mats consisting of three potential metal oxides have been produced using the electrospinning technique. An aqueous solution of cobalt acetate tetra-hydrate, copper acetate mono-hydrate, and manganese acetate tetra-hydrate was mixed with poly(vinyl alcohol) solution to prepare a sol–gel which was electrospun at 20 kV. The obtained nanofiber mats have been vacuously dried at 80 °C for 24 h and then calcined in air atmosphere at different temperatures and soaking times. The utilized physiochemical characterizations have affirmed that nanobelts composed of three oxides (Co₃O₄, CuO, and MnO₂) can be prepared by calcination at a temperature of 600 °C for 1 h. High-resolution transmission electron microscope and selected area electron pattern images revealed good crystallinity for the synthesized nanobelts.