An Adaptive Transmission Mode Selection Scheme for Cellular Underlaid D2D Communication

In this paper, we propose to use Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) optimization to solve the joint mode selection, channel assignment, and power allocation (JMSCPA) problem to maximize system throughput and spectral efficiency. JMSCPA is a problem where the allocation of channel and power depends on the mode selection. Such problems require two step solution and are called bi-level optimization problems. As bi-level optimization increases the complexity and computational time, we propose a modified version of single-level ABC algorithm aided with the adaptive transmission mode selection algorithm to allocate the cellular, reuse, and dedicated modes to the DUs along with channel and power allocation based on the network traffic load scenarios. A single variable, represented by the users (CUs and DUs) is used to allocate mode selection, and channel allocation to solve the JMSCPA problem, leading to a simpler solution with faster convergence, and significant reduction in the computational complexity which scales linearly with the number of users. Further, the proposed solution avoids premature stagnation of conventional ABC into local minima by incorporating a modification in its update procedure. The efficacy of the ABC-aided approach, as compared to the results reported in the literature, is validated by extensive numerical investigations under different simulation scenarios.

     

Magnetically Modified Waste Bark of Aegle marmelos Tree as a Promising Biosorbent for Uranium(VI) Sorption

Radiochemistry - Magnetically modified waste bark of the Aegle marmelos tree was prepared by using green synthesis method and was used in a batch system for U(VI) removal from aqueous solution. The...     

Nonlinear model predictive control with polytopic invariant sets

Ellipsoidal invariant sets have been widely used as target sets in model predictive control (MPC). These sets can be computed by constructing appropriate linear difference inclusions together with additional constraints to ensure that the ellipsoid lies within a given inclusion polytope. The choice of inclusion polytope has a significant effect on the size of the target ellipsoid, but the optimal inclusion polytope cannot in general be computed systematically. This paper shows that use of polytopic invariant sets overcomes this difficulty, allowing larger stabilizable sets without loss of performance. In the interests of online efficiency, consideration is focused on interpolation-based MPC.     

CARD: A Contact-based Architecture for Resource Discovery in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Traditional protocols for routing in ad hoc networks attempt to obtain optimal or shortest paths, and in doing so may incur significant route discovery overhead. Such approaches may be appropriate for routing long-lived transfers where the initial cost of route discovery may be amortized over the life of the connection. For short-lived connections, however, such as resource discovery and small transfers, traditional shortest path approaches may be quite inefficient. In this paper we propose a novel architecture, CARD, for resource discovery in large-scale wireless ad hoc networks. Our mechanism is suitable for resource discovery as well as routing very small data transfers or transactions in which the cost of data transfer is much smaller than the cost of route discovery. Our architecture avoids expensive mechanisms such as global flooding and complex hierarchy formation and does not require any location information. In CARD resources within the vicinity of a node, up to a limited number of hops, are discovered using a proactive scheme. For resources beyond the vicinity, each node maintains a few distant nodes called contacts. Contacts help in creating a small world in the network and provide an efficient way to query for distant resources. Using contacts, the network view (or reachability) of the nodes increases, reducing the discovery overhead and increasing the success rate. On the other hand, increasing the number of contacts also increases control overhead. We study such trade-off in depth and present mechanisms for contact selection and maintenance that attempt to increase reachability with reduced overhead. Our schemes adapt gracefully to network dynamics and mobility using soft-state periodic mechanisms to validate and recover paths to contacts. Our simulation results show that CARD is scalable and can be configured to provide desirable performance for various network sizes. Comparisons with other schemes show overhead savings reaching over 93% (vs. flooding) and 80% (vs. bordercasting or zone routing) for high query rates in large-scale networks.     

Stepwise-Graded Si3N4–SiC Ceramics with Improved Wear Properties

The processing of stepwise graded Si₃N₄/SiC ceramics by pressureless co-sintering is described. Here, SiC (high elastic modulus, high thermal expansion coefficient) forms the substrate and Si₃N₄ (low elastic modulus, low thermal expansion coefficient) forms the top contact surface, with a stepwise gradient in composition existing between the two over a depth of ∼1.7 mm. The resulting Si₃N₄ contact surface is fine-grained and dense, and it contains only 2 vol% yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) additive. This graded ceramic shows resistance to cone-crack formation under Hertzian indentation, which is attributed to a combined effect of the elastic-modulus gradient and the compressive thermal-expansion-mismatch residual stress present at the contact surface. The presence of the residual stress is corroborated and quantified using Vickers indentation tests. The graded ceramic also possesses wear properties that are significantly improved compared with dense, monolithic Si₃N₄ containing 2 vol% YAG additive. The improved wear resistance is attributed solely to the large compressive stress present at the contact surface. A modification of the simple wear model by Lawn and co-workers is used to rationalize the wear results. Results from this work clearly show that the introduction of surface compressive residual stresses can significantly improve the wear resistance of polycrystalline ceramics, which may have important implications for the design of contact-damage-resistant ceramics.     

Effect of temperature on the optical and electro-optical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)/E7 polymer-dispersed liquid crystal composites

Experiments on the effect of temperature on the optical and electro-optical behaviors of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are considered. Composite films composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and the nematic-type liquid crystal (LC) E7 were prepared by solvent casting in chloroform. The PDLC film contained droplets of E7 from 10 to 80 wt % in a PMMA matrix. Morphological studies illustrated the formation of isolated droplets of LC due to phase separation, and their homogeneous distribution increased with increasing E7 content. Thermo-optical studies showed an increase in the nematic–isotropic transition temperature of composites, which indicated preferential solvation during the phase-separation process. The electro-optical characteristics were studied under the conditions of an externally applied square wave electric field with a He–Ne laser (λ = 632.8 nm) as a light source. The responses improved as the E7 content in PMMA increased. Semipermanent memory effects were noticed in composites at higher temperatures. Changes in the transmittance due to thermal variations provided the possibility of using such a device as a temperature sensor. The results obtained indicate that under these experimental conditions, the output can be controlled to the desired level by the selection of a suitable loading of LC to prepare PDLC electro-optically active composite films with a response time on the order of only a few milliseconds. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis of polymeric pour point depressants for Nada crude oil (Gujarat,India) and its impact on oil rheology

Five flow improvers have been synthesized to study rheological properties of Nada crude oil (Gujarat, India). Anhydride copolymers were prepared making use of the copolymerization of acrylates of different alkyls with maleic anhydride and the Poly (n-alkyl acrylates-co-N-hexadecylmaleimide) were prepared by the reaction of copolymer with hexadecylamine. The additives were purified and characterized by FTIR, GPC. The prepared polymeric additives shows dual function both as wax dispersants and flow improvers and all of them acts as good pour point depressants. Yield stress and the viscosity of the crude oil at different temperatures and concentrations of additives were evaluated by zero friction advanced rheometer AR-500 of TA instrument. Comparison of morphologies and structures of wax crystals or aggregates in waxy crude oils beneficiated with and without a PPD was also done by micro photographic studies which show the modification in wax crystal morphology due to additives.     

Priority-based joint EDF–RM scheduling algorithm for individual real-time task on distributed systems

The Journal of Supercomputing - Multiple tasks arrive in the distributed systems that can be executed in either parallel or sequential manner. Before the execution, tasks are scheduled prioritywise...     

Low-Thermal-Conductivity Rare-Earth Zirconates for Potential Thermal-Barrier-Coating Applications

Rare-earth zirconates have been identified as a class of low-thermal-conductivity ceramics for possible use in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) for gas-turbine engine applications. To document and compare the thermal conductivities of important rare-earth zirconates, we have measured the thermal conductivities of the following hot-pressed ceramics: (i) Gd₂Zr₂O₇ (pyrochlore phase), (ii) Gd₂Zr₂O₇ (fluorite phase), (iii) Gd_2.58Zr_1.57O₇ (fluorite phase), (iv) Nd₂Zr₂O₇ (pyrochlore phase), and (v) Sm₂Zr₂O₇ (pyrochlore phase). We have also measured the thermal conductivity of pressureless-sintered 7 wt% yttria-stabilized zirconia (7YSZ)—the commonly used composition in current TBCs. All rare-earth zirconates investigated here showed nearly identical thermal conductivities, all of which were ∼30% lower than the thermal conductivity of 7YSZ in the temperature range 25°–700°C. This finding is discussed qualitatively with reference to thermal-conductivity theory.