Comparison of CMS Resistive Plate Chambers performance during LHC RUN-1 and RUN-2

The Resistive Plate Chambers detector system at the CMS experiment at the LHC provides robustness and redundancy to the muon trigger. A total of 1056 double-gap chambers cover the pseudo-rapidity region < 1.6. The main detector parameters and environmental conditions are constantly and closely monitored to achieve operational stability and high quality data in the harsh conditions of the second run period of the LHC with center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. First results of overall detector stability with 2015 data and comparisons with data from the LHC RUN-1 period at 8 TeV are presented

DDH-MAC: a novel dynamic de-centralized hybrid MAC protocol for cognitive radio networks

The radio spectrum (3kHz - 300GHz) has become saturated and proven to be insufficient to address the proliferation of new wireless applications. Cognitive Radio Technology which is an opportunistic network and is equipped with fully programmable wireless devices that empowers the network by OODA cycle and then make intelligent decisions by adapting their MAC and physical layer characteristics such as waveform, has appeared to be the only solution for current low spectrum availability and under utilization problem. In this paper a novel Dynamic De-Centralized Hybrid “DDH-MAC” protocol for Cognitive Radio Networks has been presented which lies between Global Common Control Channel (GCCC) and non-GCCC categories of cognitive radio MAC protocols. DDH-MAC is equipped with the best features of GCCC MAC protocols but also overcomes the saturation and security issues in GCCC. To the best of authors' knowledge, DDH-MAC is the first protocol which is hybrid between GCCC and non-GCCC family of protocols. DDH-MAC provides multiple levels of security and partially use GCCC to transmit beacon which sets and announces local control channel for exchange of free channel list (FCL) sensed by the co-operatively communicating cognitive radio nodes, subsequently providing secure transactions among participating nodes over the decided local control channel. This paper describes the framework of the DDH-MAC protocol in addition to its pseudo code for implementation; it is shown that the pre-transmission time for DDH-MAC is on average 20% better while compared to other cognitive radio MAC protocols

Synthesis of Novel Nano-Strawberry TiO2 Structures with the Aid of Microwave Inverter System: Growth Time Effect on Optical Absorption Intensity

A novel anatase TiO2 with nanostrawberry-like structure with high porosity has been synthesised on ITO, with the aid of microwave power in a very short duration of 6 minutes. The growth of these novel TiO2nanostructures on ITO is attained stoichiometrically by using ammonium hexafluoro titanate, Hexamethylenetetramine, and Boric acid as precursor, capping agent, and reducing agent, respectively. Optical absorption intensity and thickness of these nanostructure layers can be varied by the growth time. A highly porous, 2.25 µm thickest layer has been successfully synthesised on ITO, and the average diameter of these nanostructures was found approximately 70±2.5nm. These highly porous nanostructures are expected to be good candidate for photocatlysis applications and efficient photovoltaic performances of dye sensitised solar cells

A novel multi-fold security framework for cognitive radio wireless ad-hoc networks

Cognitive Radio (CR) Technology has emerged as a smart and intelligent technology to address the problem of spectrum scarcity and its under-utilization. CR nodes sense the environment for vacant channels, exchange control information, and agree upon free channels list (FCL) to use for data transmission and conclusion. CR technology is heavily dependent on the control channel to dialogue on the exchanged control information which is usually in the Industrial-Scientific-Medical (ISM) band. As the ISM band is publically available this makes the CR network more prone to security vulnerabilities and flaws. In this paper a novel multi-fold security framework for cognitive radio wireless ad-hoc networks has been proposed. Multiple security levels, such as, encryption of beacon frame and privately exchanging the FCL, and the dynamic and adaptive behaviour of the framework makes the proposed protocol more resilient and secure against the traditional security attacks when compared with existing protocols

Combined Effects of Psychological Capital and Psychological Contract on Employees’ Job Level Outcomes

This study examined the direct effect of psychological capital on employees’ job level outcomes. In addition, the study also examined the moderating role of psychological contract types (relational and transactional contract) on the direct relationship between PsyCap and job level outcomes. Longitudinal research design was adopted for this study and data were collected from employees working at different organizations in telecom sector. After deleting incomplete and invalid survey instruments the remaining sample size left with 411 respondents. Findings of the study revealed that PsyCap was positively related with employees’ behaviors and in-role- performance. The results also showed that psychological contract types (Relational and Transactional contract) moderated the direct relationship between PsyCap and counterproductive work behavior; however, psychological contract types (Relational Contract and Transactional contract) did not moderate the direct relationship of PsyCap with OCB, and in-role performance.Future research directions and implications of the study are also discussed. Keywords: PsyCap, relational contract, transactional contract, OCB, CWB, in-role-performance