Wireless powered D2D communications underlying cellular networks: design and performance of the extended coverage

Because of the short battery life of user equipments (UEs), and the requirements for better quality of service have been more demanding, energy efficiency (EE) has emerged to be important in device-to-device (D2D) communications. In this paper, we consider a scenario, in which D2D UEs in a half-duplex decode-and-forward cognitive D2D communication underlying a traditional cellular network harvest energy and communicate with each other by using the spectrum allocated by the base station (BS). In order to develop a practical design, we achieve the optimal time switching (TS) ratio for energy harvesting. Besides that, we derive closed-form expressions for outage probability, sum-bit error rate, average EE and instantaneous rate by considering the scenario when installing the BS near UEs or far from the UEs. Two communication types are enabled by TS-based protocol. Our numerical and simulation results prove that the data rate of the D2D communication can be significantly enhanced.Web of Science58439939

A Study on High Performance Fine-Grained Concrete Containing Rice Husk Ash

Rice husk ash (RHA) is classified as a highly reactive pozzolan. It has a very high silica content similar to that of silica fume (SF). Using less-expensive and locally available RHA as a mineral admixture in concrete brings ample benefits to the costs, the technical properties of concrete as well as to the environment. An experimental study of the effect of RHA blending on workability, strength and durability of high performance fine-grained concrete (HPFGC) is presented. The results show that the addition of RHA to HPFGC improved significantly compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and chloride penetration resistance. Interestingly, the ratio of compressive strength to splitting tensile strength of HPFGC was lower than that of ordinary concrete, especially for the concrete made with 20 % RHA. Compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of HPFGC containing RHA was similar and slightly higher, respectively, than for HPFGC containing SF. Chloride penetration resistance of HPFGC containing 10–15 % RHA was comparable with that of HPFGC containing 10 % SF

Outage performance analysis of non-orthogonal multiple access with time-switching energy harvesting

In recent years, although non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has shown its potentials thanks to its ability to enhance the performance of future wireless communication networks, a number of issues emerge related to the improvement of NOMA systems. In this work, we consider a half-duplex (HD) relaying cooperative NOMA network using decode-and-forward (DF) transmission mode with energy harvesting (Ell) capacity, where we assume the NOMA destination (D) is able to receive two data symbols in two continuous time slots which leads to the higher transmission rate than traditional relaying networks. To analyse EH, we deploy time-switching (TS) architecture to comprehensively study the optimal transmission time and outage performance at D. In particular, we are going to obtain closed-form expressions for outage probability (OP) with optimal TS ratio for both data symbols with both exact and approximate forms. The given simulation results show that the placement of the relay (R) plays an important role in the system performance.Web of Science253918

A nonlinear concrete damaged plasticity model for simulation reinforced concrete structures using ABAQUS

The reinforced concrete structure is typical and widely used in many fields. The behavior of concrete is nonlinear and complex. Especially, when cracks/crushings occurred in softening phase. Thus, It is important to find a damaged model of concrete with high reliability in the numerical simulation. The nonlinear behavior of concrete is the most feature used in the simulation. This characteristic is expressed through the parameters defining the yield surface, the flow potential, and the nonlinear relationship of stress-strain in the cases of tension and compression. This paper introduces a damaged concrete model that applies to the simulation of reinforced concrete structures. The reinforced concrete beam and flat slab are selected as examples to evaluate the reliability of the model presented. Through the results achieved, the model used in this paper shows high reliability and can be used to simulate more complex reinforced concrete structures

Enabling non-linear energy harvesting in power domain based multiple access in relaying networks: Outage and ergodic capacity performance analysis

The Power Domain-based Multiple Access (PDMA) scheme is considered as one kind of Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) in green communications and can support energy-limited devices by employing wireless power transfer. Such a technique is known as a lifetime-expanding solution for operations in future access policy, especially in the deployment of power-constrained relays for a three-node dual-hop system. In particular, PDMA and energy harvesting are considered as two communication concepts, which are jointly investigated in this paper. However, the dual-hop relaying network system is a popular model assuming an ideal linear energy harvesting circuit, as in recent works, while the practical system situation motivates us to concentrate on another protocol, namely non-linear energy harvesting. As important results, a closed-form formula of outage probability and ergodic capacity is studied under a practical non-linear energy harvesting model. To explore the optimal system performance in terms of outage probability and ergodic capacity, several main parameters including the energy harvesting coefficients, position allocation of each node, power allocation factors, and transmit signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are jointly considered. To provide insights into the performance, the approximate expressions for the ergodic capacity are given. By matching analytical and Monte Carlo simulations, the correctness of this framework can be examined. With the observation of the simulation results, the figures also show that the performance of energy harvesting-aware PDMA systems under the proposed model can satisfy the requirements in real PDMA applications.Web of Science87art. no. 81

What Makes for an Effective Commune Health Center?

This report, based on the main findings from a large-scale longitudinal study of rural health care in Viet Nam from 2008 to 2016, aims to develop the basic components of effective commune health center (CHC) models for different rural areas in Viet Nam.CHCs form the grassroots public health care system in rural Viet Nam, where two-thirds of the country's people live. The centers provide basic preventive care along with initial diagnoses, treatments and referrals to public hospitals.The report includes:A toolkit for assessing CHCs in different contexts identifying best practicesAn analysis of three models for the effective CHCPolicy recommendations aimed at developing major components of CHC model

Effects of Mannan Oligosaccharide (MOS) on the Survival, Physiological, and Immunological Response of the Black Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798) when Challenged with two Different Stressors

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on the resistance of the black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) to two different stressors, bacterial infection by Vibrio alginolyticus, and the environmental pollutant ammonia (NH3). Prawns were fed two different diets, 0% (control diet) and 0.15% MOS, for 8 weeks prior to exposure to the stressors. They were then tested for survival, physiological, and immunological parameters, as indicators of health status. When the two groups were exposed to NH3 and bacterial infection, survival of prawns fed the MOS diet was significantly higher (P<0.05) than prawns fed the control diet. Similarly, the wet hepatosomatic index (Hiw), dry hepatosomatic index (Hid), hepatopancreatic moisture content (HM), total hemocyte count (THC), and granular cell percentage (GC%), of the MOS fed prawns was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in prawns fed the control diet. Bacteremia of the MOS fed prawns was lower (P<0.05) than the control diet-fed prawns after bacterial infection. Findings demonstrated the potential of MOS to improve the survival, health status, and immunity of black tiger prawns when challenged with bacterial infection and NH3 exposure