High speed low complexity radix-16 Max-Log-MAP SISO decoder

International audienceAt present, the main challenge for hardware implementation turbo decoders is to achieve the high data rates required by current and future communication system standards. In order to address this challenge, a low complexity radix-16 SISO decoder for the Max-Log- MAP algorithm is proposed in this paper. Based on the elimination of parallel paths in the radix-16 trellis diagram, architectural solutions to reduce the hardware complexity of the different blocks of a SISO decoder are detailed. Moreover, two complementary techniques are introduced order to overcome BER/FER performance degradation when turbo decoders based on the proposed SISO decoder are considered. Thus, a penalty lower than 0.05dB is observed for a 8 state binary turbo code with respect to a traditional radix-2 turbo decoder for 6 decoding iterations

Liste commentée des Tenebrionoidea (Coleoptera) de Suisse. Partie 1: Aderidae, Anthicidae, (Boridae), Melandryidae, Meloidae, Mycetophagidae, Mycteridae, Prostomidae, Pyrochroidae, Pythidae, Ripiphoridae, Salpingidae, Tenebrionidae, Tetratomidae, Zopheridae Commented Checklist of Swiss Tenebrionoidea (Coleoptera). Part 1: Aderidae, Anthicidae, (Boridae), Melandryidae, Meloidae, Mycetophagidae, Mycteridae, Prostomidae, Pyrochroidae, Pythidae, Ripiphoridae, Salpingidae, Tenebrionidae, Tetratomidae, Zopheridae

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Nanocrystalline cellulose reinforced poly(ethylene oxide) electrolytes for lithium-metal batteries with excellent cycling stability

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) based polymer electrolytes are still the state of the art for commercial lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) despite their remaining challenges such as the limited ionic conductivity at ambient temperature. Accordingly, the realization of thin electrolyte membranes and, thus, higher conductance is even more important, but this requires a sufficiently high mechanical strength. Herein, the incorporation of nanocrystalline cellulose into PEO-based electrolyte membranes is investigated with a specific focus on the electrochemical properties and the compatibility with lithium-metal and LiFePO$_4$-based electrodes. The excellent cycling stability of symmetric Li||Li cells, including the complete stripping of lithium from one electrode to the other, and Li||LiFePO$_4$ cells renders this approach very promising for eventually yielding thin high-performance electrolyte membranes for LMBs

DEMON: a Proposal for a Satellite-Borne Experiment to study Dark Matter and Dark Energy

We outline a novel satellite mission concept, DEMON, aimed at advancing our comprehension of both dark matter and dark energy, taking full advantage of two complementary methods: weak lensing and the statistics of galaxy clusters. We intend to carry out a 5000 sqdeg combined IR, optical and X-ray survey with galaxies up to a redshift of z~2 in order to determine the shear correlation function. We will also find ~100000 galaxy clusters, making it the largest survey of this type to date. The DEMON spacecraft will comprise one IR/optical and eight X-ray telescopes, coupled to multiple cameras operating at different frequency bands. To a great extent, the technology employed has already been partially tested on ongoing missions, therefore ensuring improved reliability.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in the SPIE conference proceeding

III-V-on-silicon photonic devices for optical communication and sensing

In the paper, we review our work on heterogeneous III-V-on-silicon photonic components and circuits for applications in optical communication and sensing. We elaborate on the integration strategy and describe a broad range of devices realized on this platform covering a wavelength range from 850 nm to 3.85 μm

Three alien bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) new to Switzerland

Identifying alien species is important to ensure the early detection of biological invasions and survey shifts in species distributions in the context of global change. Here, we report on three alien bark and ambrosia beetles newly detected in Switzerland: Cyclorhipidion distinguendum (Eggers, 1930), C. pelliculosum (Eichhoff, 1878), and Hypothenemus eruditus (Westwood, 1834). These species were recorded for the first time during a comprehensive survey of saproxylic beetles accross major forest types and along an altitudinal gradient during the entire growing season in the southern Alps, in the canton of Ticino. Their local abundance and number of occurrences accross different lowland forest habitats, including alluvial forests of national importance, indicates that all three species are already naturalized. Given their polyphagy, it is likely that all three species will become more extensively distributed across Switzerland, with a yet unknown environmental impact

Nanoinformatics: developing new computing applications for nanomedicine

Nanoinformatics has recently emerged to address the need of computing applications at the nano level. In this regard, the authors have participated in various initiatives to identify its concepts, foundations and challenges. While nanomaterials open up the possibility for developing new devices in many industrial and scientific areas, they also offer breakthrough perspectives for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this paper, we analyze the different aspects of nanoinformatics and suggest five research topics to help catalyze new research and development in the area, particularly focused on nanomedicine. We also encompass the use of informatics to further the biological and clinical applications of basic research in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and the related concept of an extended ?nanotype? to coalesce information related to nanoparticles. We suggest how nanoinformatics could accelerate developments in nanomedicine, similarly to what happened with the Human Genome and other -omics projects, on issues like exchanging modeling and simulation methods and tools, linking toxicity information to clinical and personal databases or developing new approaches for scientific ontologies, among many others

GPR56/ADGRG1 regulates development and maintenance of peripheral myelin

Myelin is a multilamellar sheath generated by specialized glia called Schwann cells (SCs) in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which serves to protect and insulate axons for rapid neuronal signaling. In zebrafish and rodent models, we identify GPR56/ADGRG1 as a conserved regulator of PNS development and health. We demonstrate that, during SC development, GPR56-dependent RhoA signaling promotes timely radial sorting of axons. In the mature PNS, GPR56 is localized to distinct SC cytoplasmic domains, is required to establish proper myelin thickness, and facilitates organization of the myelin sheath. Furthermore, we define plectin-a scaffolding protein previously linked to SC domain organization, myelin maintenance, and a series of disorders termed "plectinopathies"-as a novel interacting partner of GPR56. Finally, we show that Gpr56 mutants develop progressive neuropathy-like symptoms, suggesting an underlying mechanism for peripheral defects in some human patients with GPR56 mutations. In sum, we define Gpr56 as a new regulator in the development and maintenance of peripheral myelin

OC5 Project Phase II: Validation of Global Loads of the DeepCwind Floating Semisubmersible Wind Turbine

This paper summarizes the findings from Phase II of the Offshore Code Comparison, Collaboration, Continued, with Correlation project. The project is run under the International Energy Agency Wind Research Task 30, and is focused on validating the tools used for modeling offshore wind systems through the comparison of simulated responses of select system designs to physical test data. Validation activities such as these lead to improvement of offshore wind modeling tools, which will enable the development of more innovative and cost-effective offshore wind designs. For Phase II of the project, numerical models of the DeepCwind floating semisubmersible wind system were validated using measurement data from a 1/50th-scale validation campaign performed at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands offshore wave basin. Validation of the models was performed by comparing the calculated ultimate and fatigue loads for eight different wave-only and combined wind/wave test cases against the measured data, after calibration was performed using free-decay, wind-only, and wave-only tests. The results show a decent estimation of both the ultimate and fatigue loads for the simulated results, but with a fairly consistent underestimation in the tower and upwind mooring line loads that can be attributed to an underestimation of waveexcitation forces outside the linear wave-excitation region, and the presence of broadband frequency excitation in the experimental measurements from wind. Participant results showed varied agreement with the experimental measurements based on the modeling approach used. Modeling attributes that enabled better agreement included: the use of a dynamic mooring model; wave stretching, or some other hydrodynamic modeling approach that excites frequencies outside the linear wave region; nonlinear wave kinematics models; and unsteady aerodynamics models. Also, it was observed that a Morison-only hydrodynamic modeling approach could create excessive pitch excitation and resulting tower loads in some frequency bands.This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DEAC36- 08GO28308 with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Some of the funding for the work was provided by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Wind and Water Power Technologies Office