Channel Acquisition for Massive MIMO-OFDM with Adjustable Phase Shift Pilots

We propose adjustable phase shift pilots (APSPs) for channel acquisition in wideband massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems employing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) to reduce the pilot overhead. Based on a physically motivated channel model, we first establish a relationship between channel space-frequency correlations and the channel power angle-delay spectrum in the massive antenna array regime, which reveals the channel sparsity in massive MIMO-OFDM. With this channel model, we then investigate channel acquisition, including channel estimation and channel prediction, for massive MIMO-OFDM with APSPs. We show that channel acquisition performance in terms of sum mean square error can be minimized if the user terminals' channel power distributions in the angle-delay domain can be made non-overlapping with proper phase shift scheduling. A simplified pilot phase shift scheduling algorithm is developed based on this optimal channel acquisition condition. The performance of APSPs is investigated for both one symbol and multiple symbol data models. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed APSP approach can provide substantial performance gains in terms of achievable spectral efficiency over the conventional phase shift orthogonal pilot approach in typical mobility scenarios.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in the IEEE Transactions on Signal Processin

Exploration of Resonant Continuum and Giant Resonance in the Relativistic Approach

Single-particle resonant-states in the continuum are determined by solving scattering states of the Dirac equation with proper asymptotic conditions in the relativistic mean field theory (RMF). The regular and irregular solutions of the Dirac equation at a large radius where the nuclear potentials vanish are relativistic Coulomb wave functions, which are calculated numerically. Energies, widths and wave functions of single-particle resonance states in the continuum for ^{120}Sn are studied in the RMF with the parameter set of NL3. The isoscalar giant octupole resonance of ^{120}Sn is investigated in a fully consistent relativistic random phase approximation. Comparing the results with including full continuum states and only those single-particle resonances we find that the contributions from those resonant-states dominate in the nuclear giant resonant processes.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure

From ab initio quantum mechanics to molecular neurobiology: A cation-pi binding site in the nicotinic receptor

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is the prototype ligand-gated ion channel. A number of aromatic amino acids have been identified as contributing to the agonist binding site, suggesting that cation-pi interactions may be involved in binding the quaternary ammonium group of the agonist, acetylcholine. Here we show a compelling correlation between: (i) ab initio quantum mechanical predictions of cation-pi binding abilities and (ii) EC50 values for acetylcholine at the receptor for a series of tryptophan derivatives that were incorporated into the receptor by using the in vivo nonsense-suppression method for unnatural amino acid incorporation. Such a correlation is seen at one, and only one, of the aromatic residues-tryptophan-149 of the alpha subunit. This finding indicates that, on binding, the cationic, quaternary ammonium group of acetylcholine makes van der Waals contact with the indole side chain of alpha tryptophan-149, providing the most precise structural information to date on this receptor. Consistent with this model, a tethered quaternary ammonium group emanating from position alpha 149 produces a constitutively active receptor

Practices of strength and conditioning coaches across Chinese high–performance sports

This study used an online survey to investigate the practices and perspectives of strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) across different high–performance sports in China. The survey comprised of the following sections: (a) background information, (b) muscular strength and power, (c) speed, (d) endurance, (e) plyometrics, (f) flexibility, (g) physical testing, (h) technology use, and (i) programing. In total, 93 SCCs from 44 high–performance sports across 25 provinces/municipalities participated in this study (age 31.5 ± 6.9 yrs, experience as a SCC 5.5 ± 4.4 yrs). Periodization strategies were used by 97% of SCCs. Clean and derivatives (37%) were deemed the most important exercises for strength and power development. Heart rate (85%) and repetition maximum (72%) were the most used methods for determining set loads in endurance and strength training, respectively. Box drills (91%) were the most prescribed plyometric exercise, and dynamic stretching (91%) was the most prescribed flexibility exercise. All SCCs physically tested their athletes and 95% frequently used technology–based equipment. For open–ended questions, 30% of SCCs would change their programs by improving monitoring, testing, equipment, and facilities. Thirty-nine percent of SCCs believed digitization and monitoring will be prominent future trends. The results indicated that most practices of SCCs in Chinese high performance–sports were dissimilar to those of SCCs in other countries. SCCs generally prescribe training according to the needs of sports. However, the interferences of many external factors also affected the scientific nature of training prescription

Partition function of the eight-vertex model with domain wall boundary condition

We derive the recursive relations of the partition function for the eight-vertex model on an $N\times N$ square lattice with domain wall boundary condition. Solving the recursive relations, we obtain the explicit expression of the domain wall partition function of the model. In the trigonometric/rational limit, our results recover the corresponding ones for the six-vertex model.Comment: Latex file, 20 pages; V2, references adde

Nano-yarn carbon nanotube fiber based enzymatic glucose biosensor

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.A novel brush-like electrode based on carbon nanotube (CNT) nano-yarn fiber has been designed for electrochemical biosensor applications and its efficacy as an enzymatic glucose biosensor demonstrated. The CNT nano-yarn fiber was spun directly from a chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) gas flow reaction using a mixture of ethanol and acetone as the carbon source and an iron nano-catalyst. The fiber, 28 µm in diameter, was made of bundles of double walled CNTs (DWNTs) concentrically compacted into multiple layers forming a nano-porous network structure. Cyclic voltammetry study revealed a superior electrocatalytic activity for CNT fiber compared to the traditional Pt–Ir coil electrode. The electrode end tip of the CNT fiber was freeze-fractured to obtain a unique brush-like nano-structure resembling a scale-down electrical 'flex', where glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme was immobilized using glutaraldehyde crosslinking in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). An outer epoxy-polyurethane (EPU) layer was used as semi-permeable membrane. The sensor function was tested against a standard reference electrode. The sensitivities, linear detection range and linearity for detecting glucose for the miniature CNT fiber electrode were better than that reported for a Pt–Ir coil electrode. Thermal annealing of the CNT fiber at 250 °C for 30 min prior to fabrication of the sensor resulted in a 7.5 fold increase in glucose sensitivity. The as-spun CNT fiber based glucose biosensor was shown to be stable for up to 70 days. In addition, gold coating of the electrode connecting end of the CNT fiber resulted in extending the glucose detection limit to 25 µM. To conclude, superior efficiency of CNT fiber for glucose biosensing was demonstrated compared to a traditional Pt–Ir sensor.Brunel University, the Royal Society and the National Institute of Health