24,727 research outputs found
Performance analysis of contention based bandwidth request mechanisms in WiMAX networks
This article is posted here with the permission of IEEE. The official version can be obtained from the DOI below - Copyright @ 2010 IEEEWiMAX networks have received wide attention as they support high data rate access and amazing ubiquitous connectivity with great quality-of-service (QoS) capabilities. In order to support QoS, bandwidth request (BW-REQ) mechanisms are suggested in the WiMAX standard for resource reservation, in which subscriber stations send BW-REQs to a base station which can grant or reject the requests according to the available radio resources. In this paper we propose a new analytical model for the performance analysis of various contention based bandwidth request mechanisms, including grouping and no-grouping schemes, as suggested in the WiMAX standard. Our analytical model covers both unsaturated and saturated traffic load conditions in both error-free and error-prone wireless channels. The accuracy of this model is verified by various simulation results. Our results show that the grouping mechanism outperforms the no-grouping mechanism when the system load is high, but it is not preferable when the system load is light. The channel noise degrades the performance of both throughput and delay.This work was supported by the U.K. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under Grant EP/G070350/1 and
by the Brunel University’s BRIEF Award
Variable-frequency-controlled coupling in charge qubit circuits: Effects of microwave field on qubit-state readout
To implement quantum information processing, microwave fields are often used
to manipulate superconuducting qubits. We study how the coupling between
superconducting charge qubits can be controlled by variable-frequency magnetic
fields. We also study the effects of the microwave fields on the readout of the
charge-qubit states. The measurement of the charge-qubit states can be used to
demonstrate the statistical properties of photons.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
SDF1 Gene Variation Is Associated with Circulating SDF1 alpha Level and Endothelial Progenitor Cell Number-The Bruneck Study
BACKGROUND: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) and its receptor CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) play a critical role in progenitor cell homing, mobilization and differentiation. It would be interesting to assess the predictive value of SDF-1alpha level for EPC number, and to ascertain whether there is a relationship between SDF1 gene variation, plasma SDF-1alpha level, and the number and function of circulating EPCs. We also tested whether EPC number and function was related to CXCR4 gene variation.
METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We genotyped a cohort of individuals who participated in the Bruneck Study for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SDF1 and CXCR4 genes, and measured blood SDF1alpha level as well as EPC number and function. SDF1alpha levels were correlated with age, gender, alcohol consumption, circulating reticulocyte numbers, and concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9, C-reactive protein, cystatin C, fibrinogen and homocytein. In blood samples taken in 2005, EPC number was inversely associated with SDF1alpha level (p<0.001). EPC number in 2005 was also inversely associated with SDF1alpha level in 2000 (p = 0.009), suggesting a predictive value of plasma SDF1alpha level for EPC number. There was an association between the SDF1 gene rs2297630 SNP A/A genotype, increased SDF1alpha level (p = 0.002) and lower EPC number (p = 0.006).
CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that a SDF1 gene variation (rs2297630) has an influence on SDF1alpha level and circulating EPC number, and that plasma SDF1alpha level is a predictor of EPC number
Partition Function Expansion on Region-Graphs and Message-Passing Equations
Disordered and frustrated graphical systems are ubiquitous in physics,
biology, and information science. For models on complete graphs or random
graphs, deep understanding has been achieved through the mean-field replica and
cavity methods. But finite-dimensional `real' systems persist to be very
challenging because of the abundance of short loops and strong local
correlations. A statistical mechanics theory is constructed in this paper for
finite-dimensional models based on the mathematical framework of partition
function expansion and the concept of region-graphs. Rigorous expressions for
the free energy and grand free energy are derived. Message-passing equations on
the region-graph, such as belief-propagation and survey-propagation, are also
derived rigorously.Comment: 10 pages including two figures. New theoretical and numerical results
added. Will be published by JSTAT as a lette
Association of serum-soluble heat shock protein 60 with carotid atherosclerosis: clinical significance determined in a follow-up study
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous work has shown that soluble heat shock protein 60 (HSP60; sHSP60), present in circulating blood, is associated with carotid atherosclerosis. In the current evaluation, we tested the hypothesis that sHSP60 levels are associated with the progression of carotid arteriosclerosis, prospectively. METHODS: The association of sHSP60 with early atherogenesis (5-year development and progression of nonstenotic carotid plaques) was investigated as part of the population-based prospective Bruneck Study. The current study focused on the follow-up period between 1995 and 2000 and, thus, included 684 subjects. RESULTS: sHSP60 levels measured in 1995 and 2000 were highly correlated (r=0.40; P<0.001), indicating consistency over a 5-year period. Circulating HSP60 levels were significantly correlated with antilipopolysaccharide and anti-HSP60 antibodies. It was also elevated in subjects with chronic infection (top quintile group of HSP60, among subjects with and without chronic infection: 23.8% versus 17.0%; P=0.003 after adjustment for age and sex). HSP60 levels were significantly associated with early atherogenesis, both in the entire population (multivariate odds ratio, for a comparison between quintile group V versus I+II: 2.0 [1.2 to 3.5] and the subgroup free of atherosclerosis at the 1995 baseline: 3.8 [1.6 to 8.9]). The risk of early atherogenesis was additionally amplified when high-sHSP60 and chronic infection were present together. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides the first prospective data confirming an association between high levels of sHSP60 and early carotid atherosclerosis. This possibly indicates an involvement of sHSP60 in activating proinflammatory processes associated with early vessel pathology
Effect of iron content and potassium substitution in AFeSe (A = K, Rb, Tl) superconductors: a Raman-scattering investigation
We have performed Raman-scattering measurements on high-quality single
crystals of the superconductors KFeSe ( = 32 K),
TlKFeSe ( = 29 K), and
TlRbFeSe ( = 31 K), as well as of the
insulating compound KFeSe. To interpret our results, we have made
first-principles calculations for the phonon modes in the ordered iron-vacancy
structure of KFeSe. The modes we observe can be assigned
very well from our symmetry analysis and calculations, allowing us to compare
Raman-active phonons in the AFeSe compounds. We find a clear frequency
difference in most phonon modes between the superconducting and
non-superconducting potassium crystals, indicating the fundamental influence of
iron content. By contrast, substitution of K by Tl or Rb in
AFeSe causes no substantial frequency shift for any modes
above 60 cm, demonstrating that the alkali-type metal has little effect
on the microstructure of the FeSe layer. Several additional modes appear below
60 cm in Tl- and Rb-substituted samples, which are vibrations of heavier
Tl and Rb ions. Finally, our calculations reveal the presence of "chiral"
phonon modes, whose origin lies in the chiral nature of the
KFeSe structure.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures and 2 table
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