Simplified Multiuser Detection for SCMA with Sum-Product Algorithm

Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) is a novel non-orthogonal multiple access technique, which fully exploits the shaping gain of multi-dimensional codewords. However, the lack of simplified multiuser detection algorithm prevents further implementation due to the inherently high computation complexity. In this paper, general SCMA detector algorithms based on Sum-product algorithm are elaborated. Then two improved algorithms are proposed, which simplify the detection structure and curtail exponent operations quantitatively in logarithm domain. Furthermore, to analyze these detection algorithms fairly, we derive theoretical expression of the average mutual information (AMI) of SCMA (SCMA-AMI), and employ a statistical method to calculate SCMA-AMI based specific detection algorithm. Simulation results show that the performance is almost as well as the based message passing algorithm in terms of both BER and AMI while the complexity is significantly decreased, compared to the traditional Max-Log approximation method

Iterative detection and decoding for SCMA systems with LDPC codes

Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) is a promising multiplexing approach to achieve high system capacity. In this paper, we develop a novel iterative detection and decoding scheme for SCMA systems combined with Low-density Parity-check (LDPC) decoding. In particular, we decompose the output of the message passing algorithm (MPA) based SCMA multiuser detection into intrinsic part and prior part. Then we design a joint detection and decoding scheme which iteratively exchanges the intrinsic information between the detector and the decoder, yielding a satisfied performance gain. Moreover, the proposed scheme has almost the same complexity compared to the traditional receiver for LDPC-coded SCMA systems. As numerical results demonstrate, the proposed scheme has a substantial gain over the traditional SCMA receiver on AWGN channels and Rayleigh fading channels

Investigation of the Scanning Microarc Oxidation Process

Scanning microarc oxidation (SMAO) is a coating process which is based on conventional microarc oxidation (MAO). The key difference is that deposition in SMAO is achieved by using a stainless steel nozzle to spray an electrolyte stream on the substrate surface as opposed to immersing the workpiece in an electrolyzer. In the present study, SMAO discharge characteristics, coating morphology, and properties are analyzed and compared to results obtained from MAO under similar conditions. Results show that MAO and SMAO have comparable spark and microarc lifetimes and sizes, though significant differences in incubation time and discharge distribution were evident. Results also showed that the voltage and current density for MAO and SMAO demonstrate similar behavior but have markedly different transient and steady-state values. Results obtained from coating A356 aluminum sheet show that oxide thickness and growth rate in SMAO are strongly dependent on interelectrode spacing and travel speed. Analysis of the SMAO coating morphology and structure showed that a denser and slightly harder layer was deposited in comparison to MAO and is attributed to reduced porosity and increased formation of α-Al2O3. Preliminary results indicate that SMAO represents a viable process for coating of aluminum surfaces

A comparative study of natural immune responses against Plasmodium vivax C-terminal merozoite surface protein-1 (PvMSP-1) and apical membrane antigen-1 (PvAMA-1) in two endemic settings

The mechanisms of cellular and humoral immune responses against P. vivax parasite remain poorly understood. Several malaria immunological studies have been conducted in endemic regions where both P. falciparum and P. vivax parasites co-exist. In this study, a comparative analysis of immunity to Plasmodium vivax antigens in different geography and incidence of Plasmodium spp. infection was performed. We characterised antibodies against two P. vivax antigens, PvMSP-1 and PvAMA-1, and the cross-reactivity between these antigens using plasma from acute malaria infected patients living in the central region of China and in the western border of Thailand. P. vivax endemicity is found in central China whereas both P. vivax and P. falciparum are endemic in Thailand. There was an increased level of anti-PvMSP-1/anti-PvAMA-1 in both populations. An elevated level of antibodies to total P. vivax proteins and low level of antibodies to total P. falciparum proteins was found in acute P. vivax infected Chinese, suggesting antibody cross-reactivity between the two species. P. vivax infected Thai patients had both anti-P. vivax and anti-P. falciparum antibodies as expected since both species are present in Thailand. More information on humoral and cell mediated immunity during acute P. vivax-infection in the area where only single P. vivax species existed is of great interest in the relation of building up anti-disease severity caused by P. falciparum. This knowledge will support vaccine development in the future