Utility-based adaptive radio resource allocation in OFDM wireless networks with traffic prioritization

In this letter, a joint transmit scheduling and dynamic sub-carrier and power allocation method is proposed to exploit multi-user diversity in downlink packet transmission in an OFDM wireless network with mixed real-time and non-real-time traffic patterns. To balance efficiency and fairness and to satisfy the QoS requirements of real-time users, we utilize a utility-based framework and propose a polynomial-time heuristic algorithm to solve the formulated optimization problem. The distinguishing feature of the proposed method is that it gives in one shot, the transmission scheduling, the sub-carriers assigned to each user, and the power allocated to each sub-carrier, based on a fair and efficient framework while satisfying the delay requirements of real-time users.     

Effect of Al Doping on Structural, Electrical, Optical and Photoluminescence Properties of Nano-Structural ZnO Thin Films

The nano-structural Al-doped ZnO thin films of different morphologies deposited on glass substrate were successfully fabricated at substrate temperature of 350 C by an inexpensive spray pyrolysis method. The structural, electrical, optical and photoluminescence properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction study revealed the crystalline wurtzite (hexagonal) structure of the films with nano-grains. Scanning electron mi- croscopy (SEM) micrographs indicated the formation of a large variety of nano-structures during film growth. The spectral absorption of the films occurred at the absorption edge of ～410 nm. In the present study, the optical band gap energy 3.28 eV of ZnO decreased gradually to 3.05 eV for 4 mol% of Al doping. The deep level activation energy decreased and carrier concentrations increased substantially with increasing doping. Exciting with the energy 3.543 eV (λ=350 nm), a narrow and a broad characteristic photoluminescence peaks that correspond to the near band edge (NBE) and deep level emissions (DLE), respectively emerged.     

Efficient Image Transmission with Multi-Carrier CDMA

This paper presents a new approach for efficient image transmission over Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access (MC-CDMA) systems using chaotic interleaving. The chaotic interleaving scheme based on Baker map is applied on the image data prior to transmission. The proposed approach transmits images over wireless channels, efficiently, without posing significant constraints on the wireless communication system bandwidth and noise. The performance of the proposed approach is further improved by applying Frequency-Domain Equalization (FDE) at the receiver. Two types of frequency-domain equalizers are considered and compared for performance evaluation of the proposed MC-CDMA system; the Zero-Forcing equalizer and the Linear Minimum Mean Square Error (LMMSE) equalizer. Several experiments are carried out to test the performance of the image transmission with different sizes over the proposed MC-CDMA system. Simulation results show that image transmission over wireless channels using the proposed chaotic interleaving approach is much more immune to noise and fading. Moreover this chaotic interleaving process adds a degree of encryption to the transmitted data. The results also show a noticeable performance improvement in terms of the Root Mean Square Error and Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio values when applying FDE in the proposed approach, especially with the LMMSE equalizer.     

The Rising Costs of Floods: Examining the Impact of Planning and Development Decisions on Property Damage in Florida

The rising economic cost of floods in the United States cannot be explained solely by monetary inflation or growth in coastal populations. Damaging flood events are also influenced by the way society plans for and physically develops its communities, influencing where structures and impervious surfaces are concentrated and how hydrological systems are altered. We analyze 383 nonhurricane flood events in Florida counties between 1997 and 2001 to isolate how planning decisions and their effects on the built environment affect property damage caused by floods. Our results suggest that alteration of naturally occurring wetlands significantly increases the property damage caused by floods, all else equal. Also, nonstructural methods such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Community Rating System, while providing inexpensive means of reducing property damage directly, may also indirectly encourage more development in hazardous areas.     

EFFECT OF MTBE BLENDING ON THE PROPERTIES OF GASOLINE

The effect of blending MTBE in the gasoline was evaluated. MTBE effectively boost the octane numbers of gasoline without adversely effecting its other properties. However, MTBE is not as efficient as leadalkyl compounds as far as the specific octane number improvements are concerned. The addition of 5 to 30 volume percent MTBE increases 1.9 to 11.8 RON of a typical gasoline. MTBE addition also extends the volume of gasoline produces for a given crude by adding volume to the gasoline pool. MTBE provides much higher FEON to the gasoline in comparison with other gasoline components. A higher FEON increases the efficiency of the engine. MTBE is not affected by the lead level of the gasoline. For this reason, lost octane in future lead reductions of the gasoline in Saudi Arabia can be made up with MTBE. MTBE addition to the Saudi gasoline increases the RVP but within the specification of the gasoline. MTBE has favorable effect on the distillation characteristics of the gasoline. MTBE addition lowers the distillation temperature which improves driveability and cold engine operation. MTBEgasoline blends were found free of gums and peroxides after long term storage and pose no phase separation problems in the presence of water. MTBE is miscible in gasoline in all proportions and its solubility in water is low.     

Discovery of selective, small-molecule inhibitors of RNA complexes--I. The Tat protein/TAR RNA complexes required for HIV-1 transcription

We have developed a therapeutic program focusing on the inhibition of a human immunodeficiency virus-1 specific protein-RNA interaction. This program begins with a search for small organic molecules that would interfere with the binding of Tat protein to TAR RNA. The methodologies chosen to study the HIV-1 Tat-TAR interaction and inhibition include gel mobility shift assays, scintillation proximity assays, filtration assays, and mass spectrometry. These methods helped establish in vitro high-throughput screening assays which rapidly identified Tat-TAR inhibitors from our corporate compound library. Tat-activated reporter gene assays were then used to investigate the cellular activities of the Tat-TAR inhibitors. The cellular activity, selectivity, and toxicity data for select Tat-TAR inhibitors were determined. Evaluation of both the cellular data and the Tat-TAR inhibition results led to further testing in anti-HIV-1 infection assays.     

Enhancing ionic conductivity and flexibility in solid polymer electrolytes with rainforest honey as a green plasticizer

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) play a pivotal role in advancing electrochemical devices, such as proton batteries and supercapacitors, owing to their potential for enhancing safety and flexibility. In this work, employs a solution casting technique to prepare SPEs, utilizing chitosan-dextran blends as the polymer matrix. Ammonium thiocyanate (NH₄SCN) is incorporated as a charge carrier, while honey is introduced as a plasticizer. The interaction between these materials is confirmed through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the addition of 10 wt.% honey (H10) to the polymer blend results in the lowest degree of crystallinity (15.24%), emphasizing the pivotal role of plasticizers in modulating the structural properties of SPEs. Furthermore, by incorporating 40 wt.% NH₄SCN (SN40) into the plasticizer-polymer host (H10), the ambient temperature conductivity obtains its maximum value of (1.08 ± 0.19 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹) with the lowest degree of crystallinity of 10.44%, verify it is the most amorphous electrolyte. The observed trend in conductivity is influenced by the diffusion coefficient (D), ion density (n), and mobility of the ions (μ). Complementing these findings, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) is employed to investigate the surface morphology and cross section of the SPEs, providing a comprehensive understanding of their structural characteristics. From linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), SN40 is electrochemically stable up to 2.2 V and the t_ion is 0.97 indicating that the ions are the dominant charge carriers.