Design And Analysis Of Modified-Proportional Fair Scheduler For LTELTE-Advanced

Nowadays, Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-Advanced) is well known as a cellular network that can support very high data rates in diverse traffic conditions. One of the key components of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Radio Resource Management (RRM), is critical in achieving the desired performance by managing key components of both PHY and MAC layers. The technique that can be done to achieve this is through packet scheduling which is the key scheme of RRM for LTE traffic processing whose function is to allocate resources for both frequency and time dimensions. Packet scheduling for LTE-Advanced has been a dynamic research area in recent years, because in evidence, the increasing demands of data services and number of users which is likely to explode the progress of the LTE system traffic. However, the existing scheduling system is increasingly congested with the increasing number of users and requires the new scheduling system to ensure a more efficient data transmission. In LTE system, Round Robin (RR) scheduler has a problem in providing a high data rate to User Equipment’s (UEs). This is because some resources will be wasted because it schedules the resources from/ to UEs while the UEs are suffering from severe deep fading and less than the required threshold. Meanwhile, for Proportional Fair (PF) scheduler, the process of maximizing scheme of data rate could be very unfair and UE that experienced a bad channel quality conditions can be starved. So, the mechanism applied in PF scheduler is to weight the current data rate achievable by a UE by the average rate received by a UE. The main contribution of this study is the design of a new scheduling scheme and its performance is compared with the PF and RR downlink schedulers for LTE by utilizing the LTE Downlink System Level Simulator. The proposed new scheduling algorithm, namely the Modified-PF scheduler, divides a single sub-frame into multiple time slots and allocates the resource block (RB) to the targeted UE in all time slots for each sub-frame based on the instantaneous Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) feedback received from UEs. Besides, the proposed scheduler is also capable to reallocate RB cyclically in turn to target UE within a time slot in order to ensure the process of distributing packet data consistently. The simulation results showed that the Modified-PF scheduler provided the best performance in terms of throughput in the range of up to 90% improvement and almost 40% increment for spectral efficiency with comparable fairness as compared to PF and RR schedulers. Although PF scheduler had the best fairness index, the Modified-PF scheduler provided a better compromise between the throughput in /spectral efficiency and fairness. This showed that the newly proposed scheme improved the LTE output performances while at the same time maintained a minimal required fairness among the UEs

Design a cutter prototype to separate date palm leaflets from fronds (Rachis)

This study was carried out, at Dept. of Agric. Eng., Faculty of Agric., Mansoura Univ., Egypt during 2014 spring season, to design and evaluate a cutting prototype performance and production as a date palm leaves components (fronds, leaflets and spines).  The tested treatments include saw speed (167.5, 251.2, 334.9 and 418.7 rad s-1), saw teeth inner spacing (4, 5 and 8 mm) and feeding speed ratio (1:1, 1:1.25, 1:1.67 and 1:2.50).  The study concluded that the optimum operation conditions of saw speed of 334.9 rad s-1, saw teeth inner spacing of 8 mm and 1:1.25 feeding speed ratio achieved cut fronds productivity of 1051.5 m h-1, cut leaflets and spines productivity of 183.86 kg h-1, cutting leaflets efficiency of 99.32%, leaflet losses of 0.68 %, frond cleaning quality of 100.03% and specific energy requirement of 0.08 kW h m-1.  The research recommended that the designed machine could be used for cutting date palm leaflets in a large scale to suitable amount for process palm wood, crina, baskets, fodder, and pectin extraction

Microwave Planar Sensor for Determination of the Permittivity of Dielectric Material

This paper proposed a single port rectangular microwave resonator sensor. This sensor operates at the resonance frequency of 4GHz. The sensor consists of micro-strip transmission line and applied the enhancement method. The enhancement method is able to improve the return loss of the sensor, respectively. Plus, the proposed sensor is designed and fabricated on Roger 5880 substrate. Based on the results, the percentage of error for the proposed rectangular sensor is 0.2% to 8%. The Q-factor of the sensor is 174

Academics as decision makers: what style do they adopt?

Many studies have focused on the decision-making styles (DMS) of managers, but very few have studied the DMS among academicians. Using the Rowe Decision Style Inventory, this study investigates the DMS of the academics in a public university in Malaysia. The objectives are to identify the common styles adopted by the academics and to determine their dominant styles in relation to their gender, age, faculty, qualifications, and years of service. This study employed a quantitative-questionnaire design that was distributed to 163 academics during an in-house training program. Four types of DMS—directive, analytical, conceptual, and behavioural styles—were identified with regard to gender, age, faculty, qualifications, and years of service. The results revealed that while the majority of the respondents have more than one dominant DMS, the conceptual and analytical styles predominate. Additionally, empirical evidence of variations in the types of DMS across demographic characteristics was found. These findings provide important implications for academics in making the most effective decisions within their professio

In search of the optimal management strategy for Arabian oryx

Extirpated from the wild in 1972 by overhunting, Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were re-introduced in Saudi Arabia in March 1990; 17 oryx were released into Mahazat as-Sayd, a 2244 km2 fenced reserve in westcentral Arabia, which lies at the periphery of their historical home range. The population has increased to 346 animals. The National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, and those that manage the herd, have recently asked, ‘What is the optimal management strategy to assure long-term persistence of the species, given the absence of immigration and predation?’ Food resources, determinants of rates of mortality and birth, covary with unpredictable rainfall in Mahazat as-Sayd. Using data-driven assumptions, we developed a computer model that evaluated the probability of extinction (Pex) under various management strategies: no intervention, removing a fixed number of animals each year, removing a fixed percentage of animals each year, and removing all individuals above a threshold. In addition, we explored the probability that oryx populations would decline below two thresholds, called the probability of quasi-extinction (Pq-ex) under various management schemes. Our analyses suggested that, without intervention, the oryx population had a high Pex. Removing 15% of the current population provided a low Pex, but this method also produced high values for Pq-ex and, as a by-product, wide fluctuations in population size (N). Although it required an assessment of both N and carrying capacity (K), the most successful management plan consisted of removing all oryx above 70% of K. Adoption of this plan resulted in low Pex, low Pq-ex, and smaller fluctuations in N. Our study may provide a useful model for evaluating management plans for a variety of threatened animal populations in desert ecosystems.Funding for this project was received from the National Wildlife Research Center, Taif, Saudi Arabia, and from the Columbus Zoo, Columbus, OH

A HOLISTIC MODEL OF EMPLOYEE’S UNDERSTANDING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ISLAMIC ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract. As a country with a majority of Muslim population and recognizes Islam as the official religion, Malaysia is indeed has a large number of Islamic-based organizations offering shariah-compliant products and services. However, such organizations have been receiving criticism from the client and the public on the aspect of management executed by employee. They claimed that the execution of duties among the employee in the Islamic organization does not reflect the nature of the organization itself. The rapid development of such an organization requires a solid understanding among the employee in charge of the task entrusted. However, previous studies have found that the understanding of employee in carrying out their duties in the Islamic organization is quite unsatisfactory. Therefore, this study takes the initiative to study the understanding of the employee in the implementation of Islamic management in Islamic organization. The study was conducted using the qualitative method. The sample of this study consisted of 11 executives in three Islamic organizations. Among the organizations are Islamic Banking, Takaful and Islamic Property Management Company. The location of the study involved selected organizations in three states of the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia namely Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The study is expected to produce a holistic model of employee understanding in the management of an Islamic organization. The model involves several phases that aim to ensure that employee understanding covers all aspects such as goals, implementation and impact.Key words: employee understanding, Islamic management, Islamic organisation, Malaysia

Number of Iteration Analysis for Complex FSS Shape Using GA for Efficient ESG

ESG stand for Energy-Saving Glass is a special shielded glass with a metallic oxide layer to abuse undesirable of infrared and ultraviolet radiation into construction assemblies like our home. Firstly, different number of the iteration is the main thing to study a performance of the frequency selective surface shape using genetic algorithm (GA) for efficient energy saving glass (ESG). Three different values for the number of iterations were taken that is 1500, 2000 1nd 5000. Before that, the response of this complex FSS shape on incident electromagnetic wave with different symmetry shape are investigating. Three of them are no symmetrical shape, ¼ symmetrical shape, and 1/8 symmetrical shape. The 1500 number simulation considered about 89.000 per second, compared with 2000 iteration and 5000 iterations had consumed 105.09 per second and 196.00 per second, respectively. For 1/8 symmetry complex FSS shape, it demonstrations the improved performance of transmission loss at 1.2 GHz with - 40 dB. A 2 dB of transmission loss is achieved at WLAN application of 2.45 GHz with 0°, 30°, and 45° incidence angle shows

Design And Development Of Modified-Proportional Fair Scheduler For LTE/LTE-Advanced

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is well known as a cellular network that can support very high data rates in diverse traffic conditions. One way of achieving it is through packet scheduling which is the key scheme of Radio Resource Management (RRM) for LTE traffic processing that is functioning to allocate resources for both frequency and time dimensions. The main contribution of this paper is the design of a new scheduling scheme and its performance is compared with the Proportional Fair (PF) and Round Robin (RR) downlink schedulers for LTE by utilizing LTE Downlink System Level Simulator. The proposed new scheduling algorithm, namely the Modified-PF scheduler divides a single subframe into multiple time slots and allocates the resource block (RB) to the targeted User Equipment (UE) in all time slots for each subframe based on the instantaneous Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) feedback received from UEs. Simulation results show that the Modified-PF scheduler provides the best performance in terms of throughput and spectral efficiency with comparale fairness as compared to RR and PF schedulers. Although PF scheduler has the best fairness index, the Modified-PF scheduler provides a better compromise between the throughput/spectral efficiency and fairness. This shows that the newly proposed scheme improves the LTE output performances while at the same time maintains minimal required fairness among the UEs

Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) respond to increased ambient temperatures with a seasonal shift in the timing of their daily inactivity patterns

The Arabian oryx inhabits an environment where summer ambient temperatures can exceed 40 °C for extended periods of time. While the oryx uses a suite of adaptations that aid survival, the effects of this extreme environment on inactivity are unknown. To determine how the oryx manages inactivity seasonally, we measured the daily rhythm of body temperature and used fine-grain actigraphy, in 10 animals, to reveal when the animals were inactive in relation to ambient temperature and photoperiod. We demonstrate that during the cooler winter months, the oryx was inactive during the cooler parts of the 24-h day (predawn hours), showing a nighttime (nocturnal) inactivity pattern. In contrast, in the warmer summer months, the oryx displayed a bimodal inactivity pattern, with major inactivity bouts (those greater than 1 h) occurring equally during both the coolest part of the night (predawn hours) and the warmest part of the day (afternoon hours). Of note, the timing of the daily rhythm of body temperature did not vary seasonally, although the amplitude did change, leading to a seasonal alteration in the phase relationship between inactivity and the body temperature rhythm. Because during periods of inactivity the oryx were presumably asleep for much of the time, we speculate that the daytime shift in inactivity may allow the oryx to take advantage of the thermoregulatory physiology of sleep, which likely occurs when the animal is inactive for more than 1 h, to mitigate environmentally induced increases in body temperature.National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Award Number 11-ENV1918-02.http://jbr.sagepub.comhb2016Mammal Research Institut