DSP-based bottleneck bandwidth estimation

This paper presents a new passive technique for estimating the bottleneck bandwidth based on transferring the Gaussian kernel density estimation of the packets inter-arrival times to the frequency domain. The resulting spectrum contains information about the transmission time of the bottleneck link and can reveal information about multiple bottlenecks if they exist along the end-to-end path. The advantage of the technique is that it provides a model that can be manipulated by the digital signal processing methods and, unlike prior work in the area, it relies less on statistical methods. The proposed technique was validated using the ns2 network simulator [1] on several topologies and traffic sources. Further experiments were conducted to test the strength of the patterns between flows that share a bottleneck by applying K-means algorithm to cluster the average packet inter-arrival times of these flows. The paper also presents a set of results from real traffic experiments conducted in order to infer both the bottleneck bandwidth and the capacity of the path using a passive approach.     

Interactions between Polymeric Dispersants and Calcium Silicate Hydrates

To better understand the mechanism of interaction between hydrating silicate-based cements and polymeric dispersants of the type used as "superplasticizers" in modern construction concretes, two different types of polymeric dispersant were added (at concentrations of 1 and 10 g/L) during the synthesis of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) via the "pozzolanic reaction" in dilute slurries of lime and reactive silica, at Ca/Si ratios in the range of 0.66–1.50. Although both polymers gave degrees of adsorption of >79% in all cases studied, no significant structural modifications of the resulting C-S-H products were observed via X-ray diffraction or ²⁹Si magic angle spinning–nuclear magnetic resonance. These results differ from recent work in which it was shown that similar types of polymer could intercalate into the interlayers of C-S-H that was made using an alternative process. It is suggested that the process by which the C-S-H is formed may have a strong influence on whether C-S-H can intercalate polymers. This observation is relevant to understanding the fate of such polymers in concrete.     

A study into first and second order thermal transitions of materials using Spectral-DSC

Thermal and spectral analysis is conducted routinely to characterise a large range of materials and compounds. However, tests are often conducted independently on separate samples where comparison between essentially the same material can provide conflicting results. Simultaneous thermal and spectral measurements have the advantage of being able to directly compare results using the same sample. A novel design of a simultaneous thermal and spectral technique is described along with application examples that highlight the benefits of this technique. The thermal analysis was conducted using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and the in situ spectral analysis was conducted using a Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometer. Two examples are used to illustrate the versatility and potential advantages of the combined thermal and spectral method. Analysis of the first and second order transitions of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is presented along with the pharmaceutical polymorphic conversion of carbamazepine from Form III to Form I through an isothermal hold at 160 °C.     

Calcium Silicate Hydrates Studied by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS)

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to study calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) formed via pozzolanic reaction between calcium oxide and ultrafine silica in water or polymer solutions at a temperature of 20°C. The SANS profile of this product was consistent with a structure that consisted of platelets with maximum diameters of ∼20 nm (± 5 nm) in the x – y plane, which was similar to a structure that had been deduced in previous work via X-ray diffractometry. The presence of two different types of superplasticizer in solution (at a concentration of 10 g/L) had no significant effect on its formation kinetics or its SANS profile.     

Spatiotemporal investigations of DNA damage repair using microbeams

Cellular response to radiation damage is made by a complex network of pathways and feedback loops whose spatiotemporal organisation is still unclear despite its decisive role in determining the fate of the damaged cell. Revealing the dynamic sequence of the repair proteins is therefore critical in understanding how the DNA repair mechanisms work. There are also still open questions regarding the possible movement of damaged chromatin domains and its role as trigger for lesion recognition and signalling in the DNA repair context. The single-cell approach and the high spatial resolution offered by microbeams provide the perfect tool to study and quantify the dynamic processes associated with the induction and repair of DNA damage. We have followed the development of radiation-induced foci for three DNA damage markers (i.e. γ-H2AX, 53BP1 and hSSB1) using normal fibroblasts (AG01522), human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF7) and human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080) stably transfected with yellow fluorescent protein fusion proteins following irradiation with the QUB X-ray microbeam (carbon X-rays <2 μm spot). The size and intensity of the foci has been analysed as a function of dose and time post-irradiation to investigate the dynamics of the above-mentioned DNA repair processes and monitor the remodelling of chromatin structure that the cell undergoes to deal with DNA damage.     

Segmentation of the left ventricle of the heart in 3-D+t MRI data using an optimized nonrigid temporal model

Modern medical imaging modalities provide large amounts of information in both the spatial and temporal domains and the incorporation of this information in a coherent algorithmic framework is a significant challenge. In this paper, we present a novel and intuitive approach to combine 3-D spatial and temporal (3-D + time) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in an integrated segmentation algorithm to extract the myocardium of the left ventricle. A novel level-set segmentation process is developed that simultaneously delineates and tracks the boundaries of the left ventricle muscle. By encoding prior knowledge about cardiac temporal evolution in a parametric framework, an expectation-maximization algorithm optimally tracks the myocardial deformation over the cardiac cycle. The expectation step deforms the level-set function while the maximization step updates the prior temporal model parameters to perform the segmentation in a nonrigid sense.     

Spectral characterization of eucalyptus wood

The main difficulties in wood and pulp analyses arise principally from their numerous components with different chemical structures. Therefore, the basic problem in a specific analytical procedure may be the selective separation of the main carbohydrate-derived components from lignin due to their chemical association and structural coexistence. The processing of the wood determines some structural modification in its components depending on the type of wood and the applied procedure. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry and X-ray diffraction have been applied to analyze Eucalyptus g. wood chips and unbleached and chlorite-bleached pulp. The differences between samples have been established by examination of the spectra of the fractions obtained by successive extraction (acetone extractives, acetone free extractive samples, hemicelluloses, and lignins) by evaluating the derivative spectra, band deconvolution, etc. The energy and the hydrogen bonding distance have been evaluated. The relationship between spectral characteristics and sample composition has been established, as well as the variation of the degree of crystallinity after pulping and bleaching. The integral absorption and lignin/carbohydrate ratios calculated from FT-IR spectra of the IR bands assigned to different bending or stretching in lignin groups are stronger in the spectrum of eucalyptus chips than those from brown stock (BS) pulp spectra because of the smaller total amount of lignin in the latter. FT-IR spectra clearly show that after chlorite bleaching the structure of the wood components is partially modified or removed. Along with FT-IR data, the X-ray results confirmed the low content of lignin in the pulp samples by increasing the calculated values of the crystalline parameters. It was concluded that FT-IR spectroscopy can be used as a quick method to differentiate Eucalyptus globulus samples.     

Implications of carbon cap-and-trade for US voluntary renewable energy markets

Many consumers today are purchasing renewable energy in large part for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions benefits that they provide. Emerging carbon regulation in the US has the potential to affect existing markets for renewable energy. Carbon cap-and-trade programs are now under development in the Northeast under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and in early stages of development in the West and Midwest. There is increasing discussion about carbon regulation at the national level as well. While renewable energy will likely benefit from carbon cap-and-trade programs because compliance with the cap will increase the costs of fossil fuel generation, cap-and-trade programs can also impact the ability of renewable energy generation to affect overall CO₂ emissions levels and obtain value for those emissions benefits. This paper summarizes key issues for renewable energy markets that are emerging with carbon regulation, such as the implications for emissions benefits claims and voluntary market demand and the use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in multiple markets. It also explores policy options under consideration for designing carbon policies to enable carbon markets and renewable energy markets to work together.