The Use of Poro-Elastic Finite Elements to Model the Structural Damping Effect of Fibrous Acoustical Treatments

Recently, new models for limp, fibrous sound absorbing materials have been proposed and verified. It has also been shown that these models may be used to optimize the sound absorption and barrier performance of layered acoustical systems. During that work, it was noticed that layers of fibrous materials can, under some circumstances, provide significant damping when they are applied to panel structures. It has since been shown that that structural damping effect may be predicted analytically by using a modal expansion procedure. The latter approach, however, can only conveniently be applied in circumstances when the vibrating structure has a simple shape and boundary conditions. Thus, in the work reported here it was of interest to demonstrate that the damping effect created by fibrous materials could also be predicted by using a finite element procedure. Successful application of the finite element method would then allow the damping effect of fibrous materials on arbitrarily shaped vibrating bodies to be studied. The poro-elastic finite element model that was used here to model the fibrous material has been described extensively elsewhere. That model has now been incorporated into a software package known as SAFE (Structural Acoustic Finite Element), an analysis module of the finite/boundary element package, COMET/Acoustics. The SAFE package was used to make the calculations reported here. The detailed objectives of the present work were first to duplicate analytical structural damping predictions by using a finite element approach, and thus to verify the earlier predictions. Secondly, it was desired to gain experience with modeling limp, fibrous materials by using SAFE. Finally, it was of interest to begin to optimize the acoustical behavior of acoustical materials by using numerical tools, and to examine the impact of these materials on the structural vibration of automotive panels, for example

Frame-based mapping mechanism for energy-efficient MPEG-4 video transmission over IEEE 802.11e networks with better quality of delivery

Recent developments in hardware, software and communication technologies have resulted in increasing interest in the use of wireless local area networks (WLANs). Mobile devices with embedded WLAN functionality are becoming increasingly popular. Such devices must be designed to support applications that require high quality of service (QoS) and have favorable to maximize battery capacity. The resources of queues in IEEE 802.11e networks may be wasted by the transmission of information that is useless to the receiver. This work develops a frame-based mapping mechanism (FBM) that exploits different methods to process I/P/B (Intra/Predictive/Bipredictive) video frame packets. FBM refers to the dropping of arriving packets if the preceding packets in the same video frame have been dropped. When fragmented packets of a single frame are allocated to different access categories (AC) queues, out-of order delivery may occur. Hence, FBM tries to treat all fragmented packets of each video frame equally and allocates them to the same AC queue if possible. The simulation results demonstrate that transmission by the FBM is more efficient than that by other mechanisms, such as EDCA (Enhanced Distributed Channel Access), static mapping and adaptive mapping, suggesting that the energy of a device is not wasted in the transmission of useless video data in WLANs. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Foundation item: The National Project of Taiwan (No.: MOST 103-2221-E507-001). Authors are grateful to Ministry of Science and Technology Grant no. (MOST 103-2221-E507-001), Government of Taiwan for financial support to carry out this work.Ke, C.; Yang, C.; Chen, J.; Ghafoor, KZ.; Lloret, J. (2015). Frame-based mapping mechanism for energy-efficient MPEG-4 video transmission over IEEE 802.11e networks with better quality of delivery. Journal of Network and Computer Applications. 58:280-286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnca.2015.08.005S2802865

Formation polarity dependent improved resistive switching memory characteristics using nanoscale (1.3 nm) core-shell IrOx nano-dots

Improved resistive switching memory characteristics by controlling the formation polarity in an IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-ND/Al2O3/WOx/W structure have been investigated. High density of 1 × 1013/cm2 and small size of 1.3 nm in diameter of the IrOx nano-dots (NDs) have been observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The IrOx-NDs, Al2O3, and WOx layers are confirmed by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy. Capacitance-voltage hysteresis characteristics show higher charge-trapping density in the IrOx-ND memory as compared to the pure Al2O3 devices. This suggests that the IrOx-ND device has more defect sites than that of the pure Al2O3 devices. Stable resistive switching characteristics under positive formation polarity on the IrOx electrode are observed, and the conducting filament is controlled by oxygen ion migration toward the Al2O3/IrOx top electrode interface. The switching mechanism is explained schematically based on our resistive switching parameters. The resistive switching random access memory (ReRAM) devices under positive formation polarity have an applicable resistance ratio of > 10 after extrapolation of 10 years data retention at 85°C and a long read endurance of 105 cycles. A large memory size of > 60 Tbit/sq in. can be realized in future for ReRAM device application. This study is not only important for improving the resistive switching memory performance but also help design other nanoscale high-density nonvolatile memory in future

Experimental Generation of Spin-Photon Entanglement in Silicon Carbide

A solid-state approach for quantum networks is advantages, as it allows the integration of nanophotonics to enhance the photon emission and the utilization of weakly coupled nuclear spins for long-lived storage. Silicon carbide, specifically point defects within it, shows great promise in this regard due to the easy of availability and well-established nanofabrication techniques. Despite of remarkable progresses made, achieving spin-photon entanglement remains a crucial aspect to be realized. In this paper, we experimentally generate entanglement between a silicon vacancy defect in silicon carbide and a scattered single photon in the zero-phonon line. The spin state is measured by detecting photons scattered in the phonon sideband. The photonic qubit is encoded in the time-bin degree-of-freedom and measured using an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Photonic correlations not only reveal the quality of the entanglement but also verify the deterministic nature of the entanglement creation process. By harnessing two pairs of such spin-photon entanglement, it becomes straightforward to entangle remote quantum nodes at long distance.Comment: 8 pages in total, 4 figures in the main text, 1 figure in the supplemental materia

Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor γ Level Contributes to Structural Integrity and Component Production of Elastic Fibers in the AortaNovelty and Significance

Loss of integrity and massive disruption of elastic fibers are key features of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has been shown to attenuate AAA through inhibition of inflammation and proteolytic degradation. However, its involvement in elastogenesis during AAA remains unclear. PPARγ was highly expressed in human AAA within all vascular cells, including inflammatory cells and fibroblasts. In the aortas of transgenic mice expressing PPARγ at 25% normal levels (PpargC/− mice), we observed the fragmentation of elastic fibers and reduced expression of vital elastic fiber components of elastin and fibulin-5. These were not observed in mice with 50% normal PPARγ expression (Pparg+/− mice). Infusion of a moderate dose of angiotensin II (AngII) (500 ng/kg/min) did not induce AAA but Pparg+/− aorta developed flattened elastic lamellae, while PpargC/− aorta showed severe destruction of elastic fibers. After infusion of AngII at 1000 ng/kg/min, 73% of PpargC/− mice developed atypical suprarenal aortic aneurysms: superior mesenteric arteries were dilated with extensive collagen deposition in adventitia and infiltrations of inflammatory cells. Although matrix metalloproteinase inhibition by doxycycline somewhat attenuated the dilation of aneurysm, it did not reduce the incidence nor elastic lamella deterioration in AngII-infused PpargC/− mice. Furthermore, PPARγ antagonism down-regulated elastin and fibulin-5 in fibroblasts, but not in vascular smooth muscle cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated PPARγ binding in the genomic sequence of fibulin-5 in fibroblasts. Our results underscore the importance of PPARγ in AAA development though orchestrating proper elastogenesis and preserving elastic fiber integrity

Measurements of branching fractions for inclusive K0~/K0 and K*(892)+- decays of neutral and charged D mesons

Using the data sample of about 33 pb-1 collected at and around 3.773 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC collider, we have studied inclusive K0~/K0 and K*(892)+- decays of D0 and D+ mesons. The branching fractions for the inclusive K0~/K0 and K*(892)- decays are measured to be BF(D0 to K0~/K0 X)=(47.6+-4.8+-3.0)%, BF(D+ to K0~/K0 X)=(60.5+-5.5+-3.3)%, BF(D0 to K*- X)=(15.3+- 8.3+- 1.9)% and BF(D+ to K*- X)=(5.7+- 5.2+- 0.7)%. The upper limits of the branching fractions for the inclusive K*(892)+ decays are set to be BF(D0 to K*+ X)<3.6% and BF(D+ to K*+ X) <20.3% at 90% confidence level

Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Asian Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Consensus Recommendations by the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology on Strategies for Thrombotic and Bleeding Risk Management

The disease burden of AF is greater in Asia-Pacific than other areas of the world. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as effective alternatives to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for preventing thromboembolic events in patients with AF. The Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology developed this consensus statement to guide physicians in the management of AF in Asian populations. Statements were developed by an expert consensus panel who reviewed the available data from patients in Asia-Pacific. Consensus statements were developed then put to an online vote. The resulting 17 statements provide guidance on the assessment of stroke risk of AF patients in the region, the appropriate use of DOACs in these patients, as well as the concomitant use of DOACs and antiplatelets, and the transition to DOACs from VKAs and vice versa. The periprocedural management of patients on DOAC therapy and the management of patients with bleeding while on DOACs are also discussed