Experimental Analysis and Evaluation of RaptorQ Codes for Video Multicasting Over Wi-Fi

This paper presents a reliable and efficient high quality video streaming solution for use in challenging outdoor environments over Wi-Fi. An application layer forward error correction based on RaptorQ codes was implemented in a practical Wi-Fi based server and client system to enhance reliability. Thus, this paper presents the first detailed analysis on the implementation of RaptorQ codes for streaming high definition video over Wi-Fi. The measurements were performed in central Bristol with parameters such as RaptorQ symbol size, code rate, buffering time and modulation and coding scheme, and user quality of experience based on these parameters was evaluated. For multicast live video streaming it is demonstrated that system performance is mostly dominated by hardware and software limitations on constrained host platforms where the incoming packet rate exceeds the device`s ability to consume the traffic, i.e., Wi-Fi clients are a major source of packet loss, even in ideal channel conditions. Client limitations were found to be a function of modulation and coding schemes and RaptorQ coding parameters. Therefore, the optimum system design parameters such as RaptorQ symbol size, code rate and buffering time with respect to modulation and coding schemes were suggested considering practical limitations from real-world measurements.

     

A haar wavelet approximation for two-dimensional time fractional reaction–subdiffusion equation

Engineering with Computers - In this study, we established a wavelet method, based on Haar wavelets and finite difference scheme for two-dimensional time fractional reaction–subdiffusion...     

Potential of pulsed electric field to control Aspergillus parasiticus,aflatoxin and mutagenicity levels: Sesame seed quality

Seed processing technologies are essential for seed safety and functionality through protection of physicochemical quality, pathogen inactivation, aflatoxin detoxification and alleviation of mutagenicity. Design of a pilot-scale unit of pulsed electric fields (PEF) to treat sesame seeds with respect to quality parameters, Aspergillus parasiticus inactivation and aflatoxin reduction as well as alleviation of aflatoxin mutagenicity were prompted in this study. PEF energy ranged from 0.97 to 17.28 J achieved maximum reductions of peroxide value and acidity number of 67.4 and 85.7%, respectively, and did not change color L*, a*, b* and hue values. A 60% reduction of A. parasiticus counts occurred at the maximum PEF energy. Aflatoxins G1, G2, B1, and B2 contents decreased by 94.7, 92.7, 86.9, and 98.7%, respectively. Except for the samples treated by 2.16 J with 100 μg/plate and by 6.80 J with 10 μg/plate, PEF treatment provided elimination of aflatoxin mutagenity. It is concluded that PEF treatment can be used to treat sesame seeds with preservation of physicochemical properties, inactivation of A. parasiticus and decomposition of aflatoxins with reduced mutagenicity.     

The influence of nitrogen doping on reduced graphene oxide as highly cyclable Li-ion battery anode with enhanced performance

A straightforward, one-step route has been established to fabricate reduced- (rGO) and nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (NrGO) with remarkable lithium-ion storage properties. The graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized as starting material by improved Hummers’ method. Thereafter, thermally annealing GO with NH₃ at elevated temperature to synthesize NrGO was yielded a more open structure with nitrogen sites suitable for enhanced Li intercalation. NrGO exhibited a reversible capacity of 240 mAhg^?1 at 10 Ag^-1 after 500 cycles with 90% capacity retention, which is the best result achieved among graphene oxide-based anodes at this current density. In contrast to rGO, NrGO cells exhibited a gradually increasing capacity profile, reaching up to 114% of the initial capacity at 0.1, 2, and 10 Ag^-1 current densities. Results showed that high occupancy of pyridinic N within NrGO enhanced battery performance and cell kinetics upon cycling which offers long-time operability at high current density.     

A novel mixing method for powder metallurgy copper-carbon nanotube composites

In this study, copper matrix composite materials with different ratios of carbon nanotubes were produced. The biggest problem faced in the production of carbon nanotube-reinforced composites is that carbon nanotubes do not distribute homogeneously in the matrix. A novel mixing technique was applied to overcome this problem. Hot pressing was used in sample production. A second high-pressure densification process was applied following the hot pressing process for enhancing the properties. The properties of both the hot-pressed specimens and the specimens to which a second high-pressure densification process was applied were characterized with the density measurements, microstructure examinations, and mechanical tests. The microstructure examinations showed that carbon nanotubes could be distributed homogeneously in the copper matrix with the mixing process applied. It was found out that the high-pressure densification process applied following the hot-pressing process increased the relative density and thus, all mechanical properties.     

Experimental and theoretical approaches for electrical,magnetic, micromechanical,and structural characterization of BSCCO ceramic superconductors

This study investigates how the preparation and re-pelletization of BSCCO ceramic superconductors affects their structural, magnetic, electrical, and mechanical properties. Samples were prepared using conventional methods including the dry solid state (SS) reaction and wet ammonium nitrate (AN) precipitation, with three variations prepared for each technique. The fabricated samples were then characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. The density, resistance vs. temperature characteristics, AC susceptibility vs. temperature characteristics, and magnetic hysteresis properties were measured. In addition, Vicker's microhardness was measured and revealed that all six samples exhibit the reverse indentation size effect (RISE). Microhardness modeling was also conducted. Calculations with Meyer's law, the Hays and Kendall model, and the proportional sample resistance model indicate that the samples are far from the plateau region, whereas the indentation-induced cracking model was consistent with the experimental results. The elastic modulus, Young's modulus, yield strength, and brittleness index were also calculated for each sample.     

Quinoxaline derivatives as long wavelength photosensitizers in photoinitiated cationic polymerization of diaryliodonium salts

The present paper is focused on visible light initiated cationic polymerizations. Photoinitiated polymerization of representative vinyl ether and oxirane monomers using two quinoxaline derivatives; namely (2-(2,3-dihydrobenzo [b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-3-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]-[1,4]dioxin-7-yl)-5-(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-8-(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-7yl) quinoxaline) (DBQEd) and 2,3,5,8-tetra(thiophen-2-yl)quinoxaline (TTQ) are studied. Novel dyes based on the quinoxaline skeleton are employed as efficient photosensitizers in cationic photopolymerizations. Polymerizations were initiated at room temperature upon irradiation with long-wavelength UV and visible lights in the presence of diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (Ph₂I⁺PF₆^?). The progress of the polymerizations was monitored by optical pyrometry (OP). Solar irradiation is also employed to carry out the cationic polymerization of a diepoxide monomer in the presence of air.     

A novel indicator system for catalytic spectrophotometric determination and speciation of inorganic selenium species (Se(Ⅳ), Se(Ⅵ)) at trace levels in natural lake and river water samples

A novel catalytic kinetic method is proposed for the determination of Se(Ⅳ), Se(Ⅵ), and total inorganic selenium in water based on the catalytic effect of Se(Ⅳ) on the reduction of Celestine blue by sodium sulfide at pH 7.0 phosphate buffer. The fixed-time method was adopted for the determination and speciation of inorganic selenium. Under the optimum conditions, the two calibration graphs are linear with a good correlation coefficient in the range 2-20 and 20-200 μg·L-1 of Se(Ⅳ) for the fixed-time method a...     

Sleep scheduling with expected common coverage in wireless sensor networks

Sleep scheduling, which is putting some sensor nodes into sleep mode without harming network functionality, is a common method to reduce energy consumption in dense wireless sensor networks. This paper proposes a distributed and energy efficient sleep scheduling and routing scheme that can be used to extend the lifetime of a sensor network while maintaining a user defined coverage and connectivity. The scheme can activate and deactivate the three basic units of a sensor node (sensing, processing, and communication units) independently. The paper also provides a probabilistic method to estimate how much the sensing area of a node is covered by other active nodes in its neighborhood. The method is utilized by the proposed scheduling and routing scheme to reduce the control message overhead while deciding the next modes (full-active, semi-active, inactive/sleeping) of sensor nodes. We evaluated our estimation method and scheduling scheme via simulation experiments and compared our scheme also with another scheme. The results validate our probabilistic method for coverage estimation and show that our sleep scheduling and routing scheme can significantly increase the network lifetime while keeping the message complexity low and preserving both connectivity and coverage.