Reduced ML-Decoding Complexity, Full-Rate STBCs for 4 Transmit Antenna Systems

For an n(t) transmit, n(r) receive antenna system (n(t) x nr system), a full-rate space time block code (STBC) transmits min(n(t), n(r)) complex symbols per channel use. In this paper, a scheme to obtain a full-rate STBC for 4 transmit antennas and any n(r), with reduced ML-decoding complexity is presented. The weight matrices of the proposed STBC are obtained from the unitary matrix representations of a Clifford Algebra. By puncturing the symbols of the STBC, full rate designs can be obtained for n(r) < 4. For any value of n(r), the proposed design offers the least ML-decoding complexity among known codes. The proposed design is comparable in error performance to the well known Perfect code for 4 transmit antennas while offering lower ML-decoding complexity. Further, when n(r) < 4, the proposed design has higher ergodic capacity than the punctured Perfect code. Simulation results which corroborate these claims are presented.

Structural and surface features of multiwall carbon nanotube

We present the direct evidence of defective and disorder places on the surface of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), visualizing the presence of amorphous carbon at those sites. These defective surfaces being higher in energy are the key features of functionalization with different materials. The interaction of the pi orbital electrons of different carbon atoms of adjacent layers is more at the bent portion, than that of regular portion of the CNT. Hence the tubular structure of the bent portion of nanotubes is spaced more than that of regular portion of the nanotubes, minimizing the stress. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydrogen-bond-directed self-assembly of D-(+)-dibenzoyltartaric acid and 4-aminopyridine: optical nonlinearities and stoichiometry-dependent novel structural features

Attempts to prepare hydrogen-bond-directed nonlinear optical materials from a 1:1 molar mixture Of D-(+)-dibenzoyltartaric acid (DBT, I) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, II) resulted in two salts of different stoichiometry. One of them crystallizes in an unusual 1.5:1 (acid:base) monohydrate salt form III while the other one crystallizes as 1:1 (acid:base) salt IV. Crystal structures of both of the salts were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The salt III crystallizes in a monoclinic space group C2 with a = 30.339(l), b = 7.881(2), c = 14.355(1) angstrom, beta = 97.48(1)degrees, V = 3403.1(9) angstrom3, Z = 4, R(w) = 0.058, R(w)= 0.058. The salt IV also crystallizes in a monoclinic space group P2(1) with a = 7.500(1), b = 14.968(2), c = 10.370(1) angstrom, beta = 102.67(1)degrees, V = 1135.9(2) angstrom3, Z = 2, R = 0.043, R(w) = 0.043. Interestingly, two DBT molecules with distinctly different conformation are present in the same crystal lattice of salt III. Extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions are found in both of the salts, and both of them show SHG intensity 1.4-1.6 times that of urea.

Preparation, Structural, and Electrical Studies of Polyaniline/ZnFe2O4 Nanocomposites

Polyaniline/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites were synthesized by a simple and inexpensive one-step in situ polymerization method in the presence of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles. The structural, morphological, and electrical properties of the samples were characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). WAXD and SEM revealed the formation of polyaniline/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites. Infrared spectroscopy indicated that there was some interaction between the ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and polyaniline. The dc electrical conductivity measurements were carried in the temperature range of 80 to 300 K. With increase in the doping concentration of ZnFe2O4, the conductivity of the nanocomposites found to be decreasing from 5.15 to 0.92 Scm(-1) and the temperature dependent resistivity follows ln rho(T) similar to T-1/2 behavior. The nanocomposites (80 wt % of ZnFe2O4) show a more negative magnetoresistance compared with that of pure polyaniline (PANI). These results suggest that the interaction between the polymer matrix PANI and zinc nanoparticles take place in these nanocomposites. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 2856-2862, 2011

A Low-Complexity, Full-Rate, Full-Diversity 2 x 2 STBC with Golden Code's Coding Gain

This paper presents a low-ML-decoding-complexity, full-rate, full-diversity space-time block code (STBC) for a 2 transmit antenna, 2 receive antenna multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, with coding gain equal to that of the best and well known Golden code for any QAM constellation. Recently, two codes have been proposed (by Paredes, Gershman and Alkhansari and by Sezginer and Sari), which enjoy a lower decoding complexity relative to the Golden code, but have lesser coding gain. The 2 x 2 STBC presented in this paper has lesser decoding complexity for non-square QAM constellations, compared with that of the Golden code, while having the same decoding complexity for square QAM constellations. Compared with the Paredes-Gershman-Alkhansari and Sezginer-Sari codes, the proposed code has the same decoding complexity for non-rectangular QAM constellations. Simulation results, which compare the codeword error rate (CER) performance, are presented.

High-Rate Space-Time Coded Large MIMO Systems: Low-Complexity Detection and Performance

Large MIMO systems with tens of antennas in each communication terminal using full-rate non-orthogonal space-time block codes (STBC) from Cyclic Division Algebras (CDA) can achieve the benefits of both transmit diversity as well as high spectral efficiencies. Maximum-likelihood (ML) or near-ML decoding of these large-sized STBCs at low complexities, however, has been a challenge. In this paper, we establish that near-ML decoding of these large STBCs is possible at practically affordable low complexities. We show that the likelihood ascent search (LAS) detector, reported earlier by us for V-BLAST, is able to achieve near-ML uncoded BER performance in decoding a 32x32 STBC from CDA, which employs 32 transmit antennas and sends 32(2) = 1024 complex data symbols in 32 time slots in one STBC matrix (i.e., 32 data symbols sent per channel use). In terms of coded BER, with a 16x16 STBC, rate-3/4 turbo code and 4-QAM (i.e., 24 bps/Hz), the LAS detector performs close to within just about 4 dB from the theoretical MIMO capacity. Our results further show that, with LAS detection, information lossless (ILL) STBCs perform almost as good as full-diversity ILL (FD-ILL) STBCs. Such low-complexity detectors can potentially enable implementation of high spectral efficiency large MIMO systems that could be considered in wireless standards.

Composite material and piezoelectric coefficient uncertainty effects on structural health monitoring using feedback control gains as damage indicators

This article addresses uncertainty effect on the health monitoring of a smart structure using control gain shifts as damage indicators. A finite element model of the smart composite plate with surface-bonded piezoelectric sensors and actuators is formulated using first-order shear deformation theory and a matrix crack model is integrated into the finite element model. A constant gain velocity/position feedback control algorithm is used to provide active damping to the structure. Numerical results show that the response of the structure is changed due to matrix cracks and this change can be compensated by actively tuning the feedback controller. This change in control gain can be used as a damage indicator for structural health monitoring. Monte Carlo simulation is conducted to study the effect of material uncertainty on the damage indicator by considering composite material properties and piezoelectric coefficients as independent random variables. It is found that the change in position feedback control gain is a robust damage indicator.

Design and development of a self-supported polymer electrolyte fuel cell system with anodic dead-end operation

Design and operational details for a self-supported polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) system with anodic dead-end fuel supply and internally humidified cathodic oxidant flow are described. During the PEFC operation, nitrogen and water back diffuse across the Nafion membrane from the cathode to the anode and accumulate in the anode flow channels affecting stack performance. The accumulated inert species are flushed from the stack by purging the fuel cell stack with a timer-activated purge valve to address the aforesaid problem. To minimize the system complexity, stack is designed in such a way that all the inert species accumulate in only one cell called the purge cell. A pulsed purge sequence comprises opening the valve for purge duration followed by purge-valve closing for the hold period and repeating the sequence in cycles. Since self-humidification is inadequate to keep the membrane wet, the anodic dead-end-operated PEFC stack with composite membrane comprising perflourosulphonic acid (Nafion) and silica is employed for keeping the membrane humidified even while operating the stack with dry hydrogen and internally humidified air.

Effect of substitution of Y on the structural, magnetic, and thermal properties of hexagonal DyMnO3 single crystals

We investigate the structural, magnetic, and specific heat behavior of the hexagonal manganite Dy0.5Y0.5MnO3 in order to understand the effect of dilution of Dy magnetism with nonmagnetic yttrium. In this compound, the triangular Mn lattice orders antiferromagnetic at T-N(Mn) approximate to 68 K observed experimentally in the derivative of magnetic susceptibility as well as in specific heat. In addition, a low-temperature peak at T-N(Dy) similar to 3 K is observed in specific heat which is attributed to rare earth order. The T-N(Mn) increases by 9 K compared to that of hexagonal (h) DyMnO3 while T-N(Dy) is unchanged. A change in slope of thermal evolution of lattice parameters is observed to occur at temperature close to T-N(Mn). This hints at strong magnetoelastic coupling in this geometric multiferroic. In magnetization measurements, steplike features are observed when the magnetic field is applied along the c axis which shift to higher fields with temperature and vanish completely above 40 K. The presence of different magnetic phases at low temperature and strong magnetoelastic effects can lead to such field-induced transitions which resemble metamagnetic transitions. This indicates the possibility of strong field-induced effects in dielectric properties of this material, which is unexplored to date.

Structural Behavior of Story-High Cement-Stabilized Rammed-Earth Walls under Compression

A rammed-earth wall is a monolithic construction made by compacting processed soil in progressive layers in a rigid formwork. There is a growing interest in using this low-embodied-carbon building material in buildings. The paper investigates the strength and structural behavior of story-high cement-stabilized rammed-earth (CSRE) walls, reviews literature on the strength of CSRE, and discusses results of the compressive strength of CSRE prisms, wallettes, and story-high walls. The strength of the story-high wall was compared with the strength of wallettes and prisms. There is a nearly 30% reduction in strength as the height-to-thickness ratio increases from about 5 to 20. The ultimate compressive strength of CSRE walls predicted using the tangent modulus theory is in close agreement with the experimental values. The shear failures noticed in the story-high walls resemble the shear failures of short-height prism and wallette specimens. The paper ends with a discussion of structural design and characteristic compressive strength of CSRE walls. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000155. (C) 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Fracture Analysis of Concrete Structural Components Accounting for Tension Softening Effect

This paper presents methodologies for fracture analysis of concrete structural components with and without considering tension softening effect. Stress intensity factor (SIF) is computed by using analytical approach and finite element analysis. In the analytical approach, SW accounting for tension softening effect has been obtained as the difference of SIP obtained using linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) principles and SIP due to closing pressure. Superposition principle has been used by accounting for non-linearity in incremental form. SW due to crack closing force applied on the effective crack face inside the process zone has been computed using Green's function approach. In finite element analysis, the domain integral method has been used for computation of SIR The domain integral method is used to calculate the strain energy release rate and SIF when a crack grows. Numerical studies have been conducted on notched 3-point bending concrete specimen with and without considering the cohesive stresses. It is observed from the studies that SW obtained from the finite element analysis with and without considering the cohesive stresses is in good agreement with the corresponding analytical value. The effect of cohesive stress on SW decreases with increase of crack length. Further, studies have been conducted on geometrically similar structures and observed that (i) the effect of cohesive stress on SW is significant with increase of load for a particular crack length and (iii) SW values decreases with increase of tensile strength for a particular crack length and load.

Synthon polymorphism and pseudopolymorphism in co-crystals. The 4,4 `-bipyridine-4-hydroxybenzoic acid structural landscape

Co-crystals of 4,4'-bipyridine and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (1 : 2) show synthon polymorphism with the former being more stable. A 2 : 1 co-crystal is pseudopolymorphic within the same structural landscape with the structural roles of the two bipyridine N-atoms being distinct, as evidenced by mimicry by 4-phenylpyridine.

Low-Complexity Detection and Performance in Multi-Gigabit High Spectral Efficiency Wireless Systems

Recently, we reported a low-complexity likelihood ascent search (LAS) detection algorithm for large MIMO systems with several tens of antennas that can achieve high spectral efficiencies of the order of tens to hundreds of bps/Hz. Through simulations, we showed that this algorithm achieves increasingly near SISO AWGN performance for increasing number of antennas in Lid. Rayleigh fading. However, no bit error performance analysis of the algorithm was reported. In this paper, we extend our work on this low-complexity large MIMO detector in two directions: i) We report an asymptotic bit error probability analysis of the LAS algorithm in the large system limit, where N-t, N-r -> infinity keeping N-t = N-r, where N-t and N-r are the number of transmit and receive antennas, respectively. Specifically, we prove that the error performance of the LAS detector for V-BLAST with 4-QAM in i.i.d. Rayleigh fading converges to that of the maximum-likelihood (ML) detector as N-t, N-r -> infinity keeping N-t = N-r ii) We present simulated BER and nearness to capacity results for V-BLAST as well as high-rate non-orthogonal STBC from Division Algebras (DA), in a more realistic spatially correlated MIMO channel model. Our simulation results show that a) at an uncoded BER of 10(-3), the performance of the LAS detector in decoding 16 x 16 STBC from DA with N-t = = 16 and 16-QAM degrades in spatially correlated fading by about 7 dB compared to that in i.i.d. fading, and 19) with a rate-3/4 outer turbo code and 48 bps/Hz spectral efficiency, the performance degrades by about 6 dB at a coded BER of 10(-4). Our results further show that providing asymmetry in number of antennas such that N-r > N-t keeping the total receiver array length same as that for N-r = N-t, the detector is able to pick up the extra receive diversity thereby significantly improving the BER performance.

Rudiments of complexity theory for scientists and engineers

Complexity theory is an important and growing area in computer science that has caught the imagination of many researchers in mathematics, physics and biology. In order to reach out to a large section of scientists and engineers, the paper introduces elementary concepts in complexity theory in a informal manner, motivating the reader with many examples.

Structural characterization of gel-grown neodymium copper oxalate single crystals

Sparingly soluble neodymium copper oxalate (NCO) single crystals were grown by gel method, by the diffusion of a mixture of neodymium nitrate and cupric nitrate into the set gel containing oxalic acid. Tabular crystal, revealing well-defined dissolution figures has been recorded. X-ray diffraction studies of the powdered sample reveal that NCO is crystalline. Infrared absorption spectrum confirmed the formation of oxalato complex with water of crystallization, while energy dispersive X-ray analysis established the presence of neodymium dominant over copper in the sample. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies established the presence of Nd and Cu in oxide states besides (C2O4)(2-) oxalate group. The intensities of Nd (3d(5/2)) and Cu (2p(3/2)) peaks measured in terms of maximum photoelectron count rates also revealed the presence of Nd in predominance. The inductively coupled plasma analysis supports the EDAX and XPS data by the estimation of neodymium percentage by weight to that of copper present in the NCO sample. On the basis of these findings, an empirical structure for NCO has been proposed. The implications are discussed.