Analysis of switched diversity TCM-MPSK systems on Nakagami fadingchannels

Space diversity reception and forward-error correction coding are powerful techniques to combat multipath fading encountered in mobile radio communications. In this paper, we analyze the performance of a discrete-time switched diversity system using trellis-coded modulation multiple phase-shift keying (TCM-MPSK) on slow, nonselective correlated Nakagami (1960) fading channels. Analytical upper bounds using the transfer function bounding technique are obtained and illustrated by several numerical examples. A simple integral expression for calculating the exact pairwise error probability is presented. The use of optimum adaptive and fixed switching thresholds is considered. Monte Carlo simulation results, which are more indicative of the exact system performance, are also given     

Intra-Period (Within-Day) Dynamic Models for Continuous Services

To simulate important aspect of some transportation systems (e.g. demand peaks, temporary capacity variations, temporary over-saturation of supply elements, and formation and dispersion of queues) a new class of models, referred to in the literature as Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) models, have been recently developed. Although Dynamic Traffic Assignment to networks is a relatively new research subject, a great number of models have been proposed in the last two decades. These can be divided in two main classes according to the typology of service they aim at simulating. These are continuous services, considering transportation services available at any time and accessible from several points, such as the services offered by individual road modes (car, bicycle etc.), and scheduled services simulating services available only at certain times and that can be accessed only at certain locations (terminals, stations, airports etc.). In this paper the focus is on continuous services. Models proposed in the literature are reviewed and classified according to basic assumptions on the flow structure, i.e. whether a continuous or a discrete approach is followed, and on the representation of time (discrete vs. continuous). A general modeling framework consisting of supply, demand, and demand-supply interaction models, and including most of the existing specifications is presented both for the discrete time-discrete flow and continuous time continuous flow cases.     

Alternative approaches to trip distribution modelling: A retrospective review and suggestions for combining different approaches

Abstract.  Various alternative approaches are available in the literature for modelling trip distribution. The objective of this paper is to provide a review of this literature with the view of summarising the general nature of the current state of practise and what is now available for practical modelling work. Both aggregate and disaggregate destination choice models are considered, a classification of them will be proposed and suggestions for further research will be given as well. One outcome of this review is that significant contributions are emerging from mixed models (e.g., gravity-opportunity, random utility, intervening opportunities models, etc). In particular, the review will highlight the benefit of integrating different approaches like the introduction of intervening opportunities factors within random utility models.     

Coalgebraic Description of Generalized Binary Methods

We extend the Reichel-Jacobs coalgebraic account of specification and refinement of objects and classes in Object Oriented Programming to (generalized) binary methods. These are methods that take more than one parameter of a class type. Class types include sums and (possibly infinite) products type constructors. We study and compare two solutions for modeling generalized binary methods, which use purely covariant functors. In the first solution, which applies when we already have a class implementation, we reduce the behaviour of a generalized binary method to that of a bunch of unary methods. These are obtained by freezing the types of the extra class parameters to constant types. The bisimulation behavioural equivalence induced on objects by this model amounts to the greatest congruence w.r.t method application. Alternatively, we treat binary methods as graphs instead of functions, thus turning contravariant occurrences in the functor into covariant ones.     

Computational aspects of the mechanics of complex materials

Summary Bodies with exotic properties display material substructural complexity from nano to meso-level. Various models have been built up in condensed matter physics to represent the behavior of special classes of complex bodies. In general, they fall within the setting of an abstract model building framework which is not only a unifying structure of existing models but—above all—atool to construct special models of new exotic materials. We describe here basic elements of this framework, the one ofmultifield theories, trying to furnish a clear idea of the subtle theoretical and computational problems arising within it. We present the matter in a form that allows one to construct appropriate algorithms in special cases of physical interest. We discuss also issues related to the construction of compatible and mixed finite elements in linearized setting, the extension of extended finite element methods to analyze the influnce of material substructures on crack growth, the evolution of sharp discontinuity surfaces in complex bodies. Concrete examples of complex bodies are also presented with a number of details. Dedicated to Gianfranco Capriz on occasion of his eightieth birthday     

Zirconium oxide regulates RNA interfering of osteoblast-like cells

Zirconium oxide (ZO) has outstanding mechanical properties, high biocompatibility and high resistance to scratching. Since dental implants are made with ZO and the genetic effects of ZO on osteoblasts are incompletely understood, we used microRNA microarray techniques to investigate the translation process in osteoblasts exposed to ZO. By using miRNA microarrays containing 329 probes designed from Human miRNA sequences, we identified in osteoblast-like cells line (MG-63) cultured on ZO disks several miRNA whose expression was significantly modified. The most notable regulated genes acting on osteoblasts are: NOG, SHOX, IGF1, BMP1 and FGFR1. The data reported below represent the first study on translation regulation in osteoblasts exposed to zirconium and one in which the effect of ZO on bone formation has been detected.     

An experimental intercomparison of gas meter calibrations

This paper presents four calibrations carried out in four different, independent, metrological accredited laboratories, on six diaphragm gas meters for domestic use (G4). The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of metrological agreement among different calibration results, by means of the assessment of suitable factors (compatibility index, also known as normalized error). This application study is quite interesting in the field of “legal metrology”, when often conformity assessment are requested in order to assure the adequate behavior of a domestic gas meter. The six gas meters were calibrated in four different laboratories, each of them characterized by different values of the calibration uncertainty (also called CMC = Calibration and Measurement Capability, or BMC = Best Measurement Capability, or Minimum Uncertainty). Two alternative approaches about the metrological compatibility are introduced: a quantitative approach and a qualitative approach. The calibration results show that for diaphragm gas meters for domestic use, the metrological agreement should be preferable by means of the qualitative approach.     

Evaluation of antioxidant capacity of some fruit and vegetable foods: efficiency of extraction of a sequence of solvents

All methods for assessing the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of food samples are strongly affected by the solvents used during extraction. In recent years a sequential solvent extraction procedure utilising water and acetone has been widely used for TAC measurements of foods. To better understand the efficiency of this procedure in terms of the amount of extracted antioxidants and the subsequent measurement of TAC, two vegetables (onion and spinach) and two fruits (orange and tomato) were sequentially extracted with water, acetone and chloroform. Each extract fraction was analysed separately for its content of known antioxidant compounds by specific procedures and for its TAC by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay. The results showed that the compounds in the water and acetone extracts were the main contributors to TAC. The chloroform extracts did not contribute to TAC, with the exception of the spinach extract, owing to the presence of low levels of carotenoids. In conclusion, the analysed extraction procedure was more effective for foods rich in water‐soluble antioxidants than for those rich in lipid‐soluble antioxidants. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry