RESOURCE DIMENSIONING OF BROADBAND SATELLITE RETURN NETWORKS AFFECTED BY RAIN FADE

The use of Ka-band in satellite links has made rain attenuation a major concern in satellite network design. Fade mitigation techniques come at the expense of higher satellite resource consumption, such as bandwidth and power. An accurate estimation of this consumption is essential for the satellite service providers' business case, product strategy, and overall service pricing. However, the spatial correlation of rain fade introduces a high level of model complexity, and no method is currently available to compute its impact on resource consumption. Focusing on the return link of satellite broadband networks, this dissertation proposes a satellite resource dimensioning process that accounts for such a correlation in several scenarios, depending on the network's adaptability to rain fade. Firstly, we investigate nonadaptive network scenarios and answer the following question: how can the long-term bandwidth requirement of the network be minimized, given a set of ground terminals, modulations and codings, and discrete bandwidths? We formally define the long-term carrier allocation problem and analyze current practical solutions. We subsequently investigate two other potential solutions, found to be more bandwidth-efficient: one based on heuristics and another based on mixed integer linear programming. Finally, we look at the impact of several parameters on the performance of those three methods. Overall, we observe marginal reductions in bandwidth, however, significant (>10%) gains are reached for networks with small return links with low committed information rates. Secondly, we investigate semi-adaptive network scenarios with the introduction of adaptive coding and modulation. However, these technologies come at the cost of higher complexity when designing the network's carrier plan and user terminals. Taking into account those issues is even more important when the satellite link uses frequencies in Ka-band and above, where rain attenuation is a major concern. To consider such phenomena, we reformulate the previously presented solutions to factor in spatially correlated attenuation time series, in the form of a mixed integer linear programming optimization problem. The numerical results for a test scenario in Europe show significant bandwidth improvements. Lastly, we investigate fully-adaptive network scenarios and introduce multibeam aspects. We formulate a quantile estimation problem based on the broadband service level agreements. Then, we solve this problem for a given confidence relative interval using spatially correlated rain fade sample generators. Finally, we provide numerical results for residential and enterprise broadband satellite scenarios, allowing us to determine the underestimation and overestimation of satellite resource consumption made by optimistic (independent) and pessimistic (fully correlated) rain fade assumptions, respectively. Results show that for both assumptions, the satellite resource consumption can be significantly underestimated or overestimated, thus proving the importance of considering the spatial correlation of rain fade in the satellite resource dimensioning problem.Resource dimensioning of broadband satellite return networks affected by rain fade9. Industry, innovation and infrastructur

Tannin Gels and Their Carbon Derivatives: A Review

International audienceTannins are one of the most natural, non-toxic, and highly reactive aromatic biomolecules classified as polyphenols. The reactive phenolic compounds present in their chemical structure can be an alternative precursor for the preparation of several polymeric materials for applications in distinct industries: adhesives and coatings, leather tanning, wood protection, wine manufacture, animal feed industries, and recently also in the production of new porous materials (i.e., foams and gels). Among these new polymeric materials synthesized with tannins, organic and carbon gels have shown remarkable textural and physicochemical properties. Thus, this review presents and discusses the available studies on organic and carbon gels produced from tannin feedstock and how their properties are related to the different operating conditions, hence causing their cross-linking reaction mechanisms. Moreover, the steps during tannin gels preparation, such as the gelation and curing processes (under normal or hydrothermal conditions), solvent extraction, and gel drying approaches (i.e., supercritical, subcritical, and freeze-drying) as well as the methods available for their carbonization (i.e., pyrolysis and activation) are presented and discussed. Findings from organic and carbon tannin gels features demonstrate that their physicochemical and textural properties can vary greatly depending on the synthesis parameters, drying conditions, and carbonization methods. Research is still ongoing on the improvement of tannin gels synthesis and properties, but the review evaluates the application of these highly porous materials in multidisciplinary areas of science and engineering, including thermal insulation, contaminant sorption in drinking water and wastewater, and electrochemistry. Finally, the substitution of phenolic materials (i.e., phenol and resorcinol) by tannin in the production of gels could be beneficial to both the bioeconomy and the environment due to its low-cost, bio-based, non-toxic, and non-carcinogenic characteristics

Functional Disconnection and Compensation in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Evidence from DLPFC Connectivity Using Resting-State fMRI

The known regional abnormality of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and its role in various neural circuits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has given prominence to its importance in studies on the disconnection associated with MCI. The purpose of the current study was to examine the DLPFC functional connectivity patterns during rest in MCI patients and the impact of regional grey matter (GM) atrophy on the functional results. Structural and functional MRI data were collected from 14 MCI patients and 14 age, gender-matched healthy controls. We found that both the bilateral DLPFC showed reduced functional connectivity with the inferior parietal lobule (IPL), superior/medial frontal gyrus and sub-cortical regions (e.g., thalamus, putamen) in MCI patients when compared with healthy controls. Moreover, the DLPFC connectivity with the IPL and thalamus significantly correlated with the cognitive performance of patients as measured by mini-mental state examination (MMSE), clock drawing test (CDT), and California verbal learning test (CVLT) scores. When taking GM atrophy as covariates, these results were approximately consistent with those without correction, although there may be a decrease in the statistical power. These results suggest that the DLPFC disconnections may be the substrates of cognitive impairments in MCI patients. In addition, we also found enhanced functional connectivity between the left DLPFC and the right prefrontal cortex in MCI patients. This is consistent with previous findings of MCI-related increased activation during cognitive tasks, and may represent a compensatory mechanism in MCI patients. Together, the present study demonstrated the coexistence of functional disconnection and compensation in MCI patients using DLPFC functional connectivity analysis, and thus might provide insights into biological mechanism of the disease

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Mousses rigides de tannins de type procyanidine : formulation et caractérisation

Rigid foams contitute a very important class of materials considering their wide application range and their considerable economic impact. The development of tannin-based foams provided materials made from 90% natural products.In this work, a type of tannins highly reactive, namely « procyanidin », was used. First, tannins composition and reactivity were studied. Then, the foaming process investigation of tannin-based resins leads to a wide pannel of tannin-furanic rigid foams. Their excellent fire resistance, mechanical resistance and high thermal performance make them high quality insulation materials. These foams are also suitable for other applications such acoustic absorption. Thus, new cellular solids from tannin and protein were also developped, offering a new type of materials derived from natural productsLes mousses rigides constituent une classe très importante de matériaux de par leur large champ d’applications et de leur poids économique considérable. Le développement de mousses à base de tannins a permis d’obtenir des matériaux issus à 90% de produits naturels. Dans ce travail, un type de tannins très réactif dit « procyanidine », a été employé. Les formulations et la technologie de fabrication de mousses rigides ont été développées à partir de tannins extraits d’écorce de pin et d’épicéa. Dans un premier temps, la composition et la réactivité des tannins ont été étudiées. Ensuite, l’étude du processus de moussage des résines à base de ces tannins a permis l’élaboration d’une large gamme de mousses rigides tannin-furanique. Leur excellente résistance au feu, leur résistance mécanique et leur haute performance thermique en font des matériaux d’isolation de haute qualité. Ces mousses peuvent également être employées comme absorbeurs acoustiques. De plus, de nouveaux solides cellulaires à base de tannins et de protéine ont également été développés, proposant ainsi un nouveau type de matériaux issu de produits naturel

Procyanidin rigid tannin-based foams : formulation and characterization

Les mousses rigides constituent une classe très importante de matériaux de par leur large champ d’applications et de leur poids économique considérable. Le développement de mousses à base de tannins a permis d’obtenir des matériaux issus à 90% de produits naturels. Dans ce travail, un type de tannins très réactif dit « procyanidine », a été employé. Les formulations et la technologie de fabrication de mousses rigides ont été développées à partir de tannins extraits d’écorce de pin et d’épicéa. Dans un premier temps, la composition et la réactivité des tannins ont été étudiées. Ensuite, l’étude du processus de moussage des résines à base de ces tannins a permis l’élaboration d’une large gamme de mousses rigides tannin-furanique. Leur excellente résistance au feu, leur résistance mécanique et leur haute performance thermique en font des matériaux d’isolation de haute qualité. Ces mousses peuvent également être employées comme absorbeurs acoustiques. De plus, de nouveaux solides cellulaires à base de tannins et de protéine ont également été développés, proposant ainsi un nouveau type de matériaux issu de produits naturelsRigid foams contitute a very important class of materials considering their wide application range and their considerable economic impact. The development of tannin-based foams provided materials made from 90% natural products.In this work, a type of tannins highly reactive, namely « procyanidin », was used. First, tannins composition and reactivity were studied. Then, the foaming process investigation of tannin-based resins leads to a wide pannel of tannin-furanic rigid foams. Their excellent fire resistance, mechanical resistance and high thermal performance make them high quality insulation materials. These foams are also suitable for other applications such acoustic absorption. Thus, new cellular solids from tannin and protein were also developped, offering a new type of materials derived from natural product

Stratégies pour l’amélioration des propriétés mécaniques et de la réaction au feu des biocomposites par des traitements de surface des fibres naturelles

National audienc

Stratégies pour l’amélioration des propriétés mécaniques et de la réaction au feu des biocomposites par des traitements de surface des fibres naturelles

National audienc

Optimization of the Return Link Carrier Planning for a Constant Coding and Modulation Satellite Network

In this paper, we propose an approach to optimize the frequency plan and associated bandwidth allocation in the return link of a broadband satellite network, by exploring several design techniques for carrier allocation plans. Since bandwidth is a limited resource in satellite telecommunications, the minimization of bandwidth usage is a core issue that satellite communication service providers must solve, in particular for networks using a constant coding and modulation plan, which lacks the flexibility found in newer satellite communication products and can be subject to hardware constraints. This problematic led us to raise the following question: how can the long term bandwidth requirement of the network be minimized, given a set of ground terminals, of Modulations and Codings, and of discrete bandwidths. In this document we formally define the long-term carrier allocation problem and analyze current practical solutions. We subsequently investigate two other potential solutions, found to be more bandwidth-efficient: one based on heuristics and another based on integer linear programming. Finally, we look at the impact of several parameters on the performance of those three methods. Overall we observed marginal reductions in bandwidth, however significant gains were reached for networks with small return links with low committed information rate, a case in which some constant coding and modulation networks could fall. We concluded that those networks could benefit from our methods and see a significant reduction in bandwidth, and subsequently operational costs, at low implementation costs

Physical Properties of Tannin/Furanic Resin Foamed With Different Blowing Agents

International audienceTannin/furanic rigid foam made from raw materials of natural origin could be used to replace polyurethane and phenolic foams in many future applications. In this study, diethyl ether, pentane, and a mixture of the two were used to prepare tannin/furanic foams having different microstructures. It was found that the bulk density of the foam could be significantly extended, up to 180 kg/m 3. The cell size of the pentane foam was larger than that of diethyl ether foam with comparable density; however, both presented a sudden increase in cell size when the density decreased. The thermal conductivity and mechanical properties were determined for the two foam types at the same density but different cell size. The minimum thermal conductivity for diethyl ether and pentane foams were presented, along with a suggested method for lowering the thermal conductivity of such foam. Additionally, the results of mechanical tests indicate that cell size does not play a role in compressive strength