173 research outputs found
Comparison of code rate and transmit diversity in MIMO systems
A thesis submitted in ful lment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Science in the Centre of Excellence in Telecommunications and Software School of Electrical and Information Engineering, March 2016In order to compare low rate error correcting codes to MIMO schemes with transmit
diversity, two systems with the same throughput are compared. A VBLAST MIMO
system with (15; 5) Reed-Solomon coding is compared to an Alamouti MIMO system
with (15; 10) Reed-Solomon coding. The latter is found to perform signi cantly better,
indicating that transmit diversity is a more e ective technique for minimising errors than
reducing the code rate. The Guruswami-Sudan/Koetter-Vardy soft decision decoding
algorithm was implemented to allow decoding beyond the conventional error correcting
bound of RS codes and VBLAST was adapted to provide reliability information.
Analysis is also performed to nd the optimal code rate when using various MIMO
systems.MT201
3D techniques and fossil identification: An elephant shrew hemi-mandible from the Malapa site.
Conventional methods for extracting fossilised bones from calcified clastic sediments, using air drills or chemical preparations, can damage specimens to the point of rendering them unidentifiable. As an alternative, we tested an in silico approach that extended preparation and identification possibilities beyond those realisable using physical methods, ultimately proving to be crucial in identifying a fragile fossil. Image data from a matrix-encased hemi-mandible of a micromammal that was collected from the Plio-Pleistocene site of Malapa, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa, were acquired using microtomography. From the resultant images, a 3D rendering of the fossil was digitally segmented. Diagnostic morphologies were evaluated on the rendering for comparison with extant comparative specimens, positively identifying the specimen as an elephant shrew (Elephantulus sp.). This specimen is the first positively identified micromammal in the Malapa faunal assemblage. Cutting-edge in silico preparation technology provides a novel tool for identifying fossils without endangering bone integrity, as is commonly risked with physical preparation.NCS2016
Starch analysis using hydrodynamic chromatography with a mixed-bed particle column
Columns packed with commercial glass beads 5 and 19 lm average size and a mixture of both (0.7 volume
fraction of large particles) were used to analyse starch composition by hydrodynamic chromatography
(HDC), applying water as mobile phase. To obviate retrogradation, experiments were carried out at
column temperatures of 15 and 3 °C and several types of starch were assayed. In what concerns amylopectin
and amylose separation, a better resolution and a lower pressure drop were obtained for the mixed
binary packing when compared with the packing containing uniform 5 lm glass beads. A more efficient
cooling of the mobile phase was also obtained with the mixed packing, which was determinant for
improving resolution. For the Hylon VII starch the relative retention times (RRT) were 0.777 and 0.964
for amylopectin and amylose, respectively, while for the Tapioca starch the obtained RRTs were 0.799
and 0.923. Application of unbound glass beads as column packing not only might reduce equipment
and running costs in preparative scale separations, but also proved to be useful as a fast and reliable
method to monitor the amylose and amylopectin content of starch samples of different sources.FEDERThe authors wish to thank FCT for the grant provided to Dr. Alexander Yelshin (Yelshyn). This work was developed under the framework of the project POCI-EQU-58337/2004, partially funded by FEDER
Binarity and multiperiodicity in high-amplitude delta Scuti stars
We have carried out a photometric and spectroscopic survey of bright
high-amplitude delta Scuti (HADS) stars. The aim was to detect binarity and
multiperiodicity (or both) in order to explore the possibility of combining
binary star astrophysics with stellar oscillations. Here we present the first
results for ten, predominantly southern, HADS variables. We detected the
orbital motion of RS Gru with a semi-amplitude of ~6.5 km/s and 11.5 days
period. The companion is inferred to be a low-mass dwarf star in a close orbit
around RS Gru. We found multiperiodicity in RY Lep both from photometric and
radial velocity data and detected orbital motion in the radial velocities with
hints of a possible period of 500--700 days. The data also revealed that the
amplitude of the secondary frequency is variable on the time-scale of a few
years, whereas the dominant mode is stable. Radial velocities of AD CMi
revealed cycle-to-cycle variations which might be due to non-radial pulsations.
We confirmed the multiperiodic nature of BQ Ind, while we obtained the first
radial velocity curves of ZZ Mic and BE Lyn. The radial velocity curve and the
O-C diagram of CY Aqr are consistent with the long-period binary hypothesis. We
took new time series photometry on XX Cyg, DY Her and DY Peg, with which we
updated their O-C diagrams.Comment: 15 pages, 16 pages, accepted for publication in MNRA
Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)—a powerful separation technique
Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) provides an alternative approach to effectively separate small polar compounds on polar stationary phases. The purpose of this work was to review the options for the characterization of HILIC stationary phases and their applications for separations of polar compounds in complex matrices. The characteristics of the hydrophilic stationary phase may affect and in some cases limit the choices of mobile phase composition, ion strength or buffer pH value available, since mechanisms other than hydrophilic partitioning could potentially occur. Enhancing our understanding of retention behavior in HILIC increases the scope of possible applications of liquid chromatography. One interesting option may also be to use HILIC in orthogonal and/or two-dimensional separations. Bioapplications of HILIC systems are also presented
Studies of molecular-weight distribution for hydrolysis products from some Klebsiella capsular polysaccharides
A comparative examination of two polysaccharide components from the gum of Acacia mabellae
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