Application of Information Theory to the Design of 4th Generation Cellular Communication Systems

The design of 4th Generation Cellular Communication Systems will face manychallenges, including the need to achieve very high spectrum efficiency whencompared to 3rd Generation cellular systems. In this paper, we investigate thefundamental limits of DSSS-CDMA versus TDMA for achieving high spectrumefficiency by presenting the capacity regions for each including the effectsof multiple transmit and receive antennas. To assess the channel capacityregion for local area and wide area coverage, a channel model based uponuncorrelated Rayleigh fading and model with a strong spatial correlation andRicean component are evaluated. For multiple transmit and receive antennas,both open loop and closed loop capacity regions are assessed, where the closedloop capacity assumes channel state information at the transmitter and optimumpower allocation. Conclusions from the work include an assessment of whatapproaches hold the best promise for achieving high spectrum efficiency forfuture cellular communication systems. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Accurate computing of facial expression recognition using a hybrid feature extraction technique

The Journal of Supercomputing - Facial expression recognition (FER) serves as an essential tool for understanding human emotional behaviors. Facial expressions provide a wealth of information about...     

A novel, one-pot method for the synthesis of dimeric and monomeric phthalocyanine silicon complexes from free-base phthalocyanines

A novel method for the synthesis of dimeric and monomeric phthalocyanine silicon complexes using a one-pot method, from tetra-substituted free-base phthalocyanines in the presence of HSiCl₃ at room temperature, is described. Silation was carried out using different bases and the reaction time and the order of addition of the chemicals were varied. It was found that by changing the reaction conditions, it was possible to synthesize either monomers or dimeric complexes with direct Si–Si bonds, selectively.     

可再分散聚合物粉末改性瓷砖胶微的结构及其与宏观性能的联系

介绍对新拌和硬化状态下经可再分散聚合物粉末改性的砂浆微结构进行定量研究的一种新方法。数字化光学、荧光和电子显微镜的复合运用,可以观察到砂浆在新拌状态下的不同组成,如特定的聚合物组分、空隙、水泥相和填料。试验结果表明,砂浆在施工和硬化过程中各微小部分是有差别的,包括各种相的富集或耗损。这些微结构不均匀性的出现说明微结构对砂浆体系的物理性能可以产生关键影响。可再分散胶粉对迁移的抵抗性说明聚合物改性砂浆在强度、内聚性、粘结性和柔性等方面保持了均匀性。     

Children's Mental Health in Times of Economic Recession: Replication and Extension of the Family Economic Stress Model in Finland.

This study evaluated the applicability of the family economic stress model (FESM) in understanding the influences of economic hardship on child mental health during a nationwide economic recession in Finland. The information was gathered from 527 triads of 12-year-olds and their mothers and fathers from a population sample. The structural equation models showed that the FESM fit the data well, indicating its generalizability in Finnish society. The results confirmed that a reduction in disposable family income constitutes a risk for child mental health through increased economic pressure and negative changes in parental mental health, marital interaction, and parenting quality. Controlling the children's prerecession mental health substantiated that economic hardship can lead to deterioration in children's mental health. Alternative models based on fully recursive analyses revealed reciprocal influences between parents and their children over time: Children's prerecession mental health problems predicted compromised parenting, which in turn contributed to children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms during the recession. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

媒体技能研讨会:打破科学家和记者之间的壁垒

科学家与记者之间存在着文化和行业方面的壁垒。这些壁垒阻碍了科学通过媒体得到有效的传播。克服这一困难的方法是对科学家进行媒体技能的培训。文章介绍了一种在澳大利亚进行了12年之久的行之有效的培训方法,论证的是这些研讨会是如何打破在科学家和记者之间的壁垒,并能确保科学信息通过媒体有效地传播到普通大众。该方法在包括南非、新西兰和菲律宾等其他国家都得到成功的应用。     

Atomic layer deposition and post-deposition annealing of PbTiO3 thin films

Lead titanate thin films were deposited by atomic layer deposition on Si(100) using Ph₄Pb and Ti(O-i-Pr)₄ as metal precursors and O₃ and H₂O as oxygen sources. The influence of the Ti : Pb precursor pulsing ratio on the film growth, stoichiometry and quality was studied at two different temperatures, i.e. 250 and 300 °C. Uniform and stoichiometric films were obtained using a Ti : Pb precursor pulsing ratio of 1 : 10 at 250 °C or 1 : 28 at 300 °C. The as-deposited films were amorphous but the crystalline PbTiO₃ phase was obtained by rapid thermal annealing at 600-900 °C both in N₂ and O₂ ambient. Thin PbTiO₃ films were visually uniform and roughness values for as-deposited and annealed films were observed by atomic force microscopy.     

Potato peeling costreams as raw materials for biopolymer film preparation

Potato peel mass is a costream produced in large quantities by the food industry. Its availability and the presence of starch (46%), pectin, and cellulose make it a potential renewable raw material for polymer products. In this study, biopolymer films were produced from potato peel mass and glycerol. High‐pressure homogenization (HPH) and HPH combined with heat treatment were investigated as pretreatment technologies before film casting. HPH‐treated potato peel mass yielded biopolymer films with similar barrier and mechanical properties as films prepared from pure potato starch, including complete impermeability to grease. Additional heat treatment of the peel mass enhanced starch gelatinization, resulting in improved barrier properties and smoother surface topography of the films. Films with similar appearance and quality were also obtained from starch‐free potato peel mass, indicating that potato fiber rich in pectin and cellulose is likewise a suitable material for biopolymer film preparation after HPH treatment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42862.     

Exploring the molecular forces within and between CbsA S-layer proteins using single molecule force spectroscopy

We used single molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM) to gain insight into the molecular forces driving the folding and assembly of the S-layer protein CbsA. Force curves recorded between tips and supports modified with CbsA proteins showed sawtooth patterns with multiple force peaks of 58+/-26pN that we attribute to the unfolding of alpha-helices, in agreement with earlier secondary structure predictions. The average unfolding force increased with the pulling speed but was independent on the interaction time. Force curves obtained for CbsA peptides truncated in their C-terminal region showed similar periodic features, except that fewer force peaks were seen. Furthermore, the average unfolding force was 83+/-45pN, suggesting the domains were more stable. By contrast, cationic peptides truncated in their N-terminal region showed single force peaks of 366+/-149pN, presumably reflecting intermolecular electrostatic bridges rather than unfolding events. Interestingly, these large intermolecular forces increased not only with pulling speed but also with interaction time. We expect that the intra- and intermolecular forces measured here may play a significant role in controlling the stability and assembly of the CbsA protein.