Enabling Disaster Resilient 4G Mobile Communication Networks

The 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the cellular technology expected to outperform the previous generations and to some extent revolutionize the experience of the users by taking advantage of the most advanced radio access techniques (i.e. OFDMA, SC-FDMA, MIMO). However, the strong dependencies between user equipments (UEs), base stations (eNBs) and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) limit the flexibility, manageability and resiliency in such networks. In case the communication links between UEs-eNB or eNB-EPC are disrupted, UEs are in fact unable to communicate. In this article, we reshape the 4G mobile network to move towards more virtual and distributed architectures for improving disaster resilience, drastically reducing the dependency between UEs, eNBs and EPC. The contribution of this work is twofold. We firstly present the Flexible Management Entity (FME), a distributed entity which leverages on virtualized EPC functionalities in 4G cellular systems. Second, we introduce a simple and novel device-todevice (D2D) communication scheme allowing the UEs in physical proximity to communicate directly without resorting to the coordination with an eNB.Comment: Submitted to IEEE Communications Magazin

Selective Conversion of Ethane to Ethene via Oxidative Dehydrogenation Over Ca-doped ThO2 Using CO2 as Oxidant

Ca-doped ThO2, synthesized by solution combustion method was tested for dehydrogenation of ethane with CO2. Doping ThO2 with Ca resulted in the creation of oxide ion vacancies and an increased conversion of ethane compared to pure ThO2. On Th0.75Ca0.25O2 selectivity to ethene was 97 at 46% ethane conversion at 725°C. Well-known reference catalysts like 5%Cr/TS-1 or OMS-2 showed significantly lower selectivity, but the former was more active under the same condition

SDN and NFV for satellite infrastructures

The integration of SDN and NFV enablers into the satellite network could prove to be an essential means to save on physical sites, improve the time to bring new services to the market and open new ways to improve network resiliency, availability and efficiency. It can be considered that the above two enablers can play a central role in the integration of satellite to terrestrial technologies by using federated management of the network resources.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

On the virtualization and dynamic orchestration of satellite communication services

Key features of satellite communications such as wide-scale coverage, broadcast/multicast support and high availability, together with significant amounts of new satellite capacity coming online, anticipate new opportunities for satellite communications services as an integral part within upcoming 5G systems. To materialize these opportunities, satellite communications services have to be provisioned and operated in a more flexible, agile and cost-effective manner than done today. In this context, this paper describes a solution for the virtualization and dynamic orchestration of satellite communication services that builds on the introduction of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies within the satellite ground segment systems. Along with the description of the main system architecture traits, the flowchart of a general procedure for the dynamic instantiation of virtualized satellite networks on top of a SDN/NFV-enabled satellite ground segment system is provided. The paper also presents experimental results for the dynamic customization of satellite network services through the implementation of a set of virtualized satellite network functions that can be orchestrated over general purpose open virtual platforms.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

SDN/NFV-enabled satellite communications networks: opportunities, scenarios and challenges

In the context of next generation 5G networks, the satellite industry is clearly committed to revisit and revamp the role of satellite communications. As major drivers in the evolution of (terrestrial) fixed and mobile networks, Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) technologies are also being positioned as central technology enablers towards improved and more flexible integration of satellite and terrestrial segments, providing satellite network further service innovation and business agility by advanced network resources management techniques. Through the analysis of scenarios and use cases, this paper provides a description of the benefits that SDN/NFV technologies can bring into satellite communications towards 5G. Three scenarios are presented and analysed to delineate different potential improvement areas pursued through the introduction of SDN/NFV technologies in the satellite ground segment domain. Within each scenario, a number of use cases are developed to gain further insight into specific capabilities and to identify the technical challenges stemming from them.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Hydrothermally Stable WO3/ZrO2-Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 Catalyst for the Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3

A new catalyst WO3/ZrO2-Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 (15 wt% WO3/ZrO2:Ce0.6Zr0.4O2=50:50) has been developed for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3. The redox component Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 was dispersed on the surface of acidic WO3/ZrO2 by the solution combustion method showing the best NO x reduction efficiency among the catalysts prepared by various modes of mixing of the components. The catalyst has been characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy and NH3-TPD. A NO x reduction efficiency of more than 90% was obtained between 300 and 500°C at α=NH3,in/NO x,in=1. The catalyst showed stable NO x reduction efficiency after hydrothermal ageing at 700°C. Sulfur poisoning promoted the NO x reduction efficiency at high temperatures at the expense of a reduced activity at lower temperatures, but the catalyst could be fully regenerated by heating in O2 at 650°