Intermittency study of charged particles generated in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN= 2.76 TeV\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}\text{= 2.76 TeV} using EPOS3

Charged particle multiplicity fluctuations in Pb-Pb collisions are studied for the central events generated using EPOS3 (hydro and hydro+cascade) at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}\text{ = 2.76 TeV}$. Intermittency analysis is performed in the mid-rapidity region in two-dimensional ($\eta$, $\phi$) phase space within the narrow transverse momentum (p_\rm{{T}}) bins in the low p_\rm{{T}}~region (p_\rm{{T}}~\leq~1.0~GeV/\textit{c}). Power-law scaling of the normalized factorial moments with the number of bins is not observed to be significant in any of the p_\rm{{T}}-bin. Scaling exponent $\nu$, deduced for a few p_\rm{{T}} bins is greater than that of the value 1.304, predicted for the second order phase-transition by the Ginzburg-Landau theory. The link in the notions of fractality is also studied. Fractal dimensions, $D_{q}$ are observed to decrease with the order of the moment $q$ suggesting the multifractal nature of the particle generation in EPOS3.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Optimal Base Station Placement: A Stochastic Method Using Interference Gradient In Downlink Case

In this paper, we study the optimal placement and optimal number of base stations added to an existing wireless data network through the interference gradient method. This proposed method considers a sub-region of the existing wireless data network, hereafter called region of interest. In this region, the provider wants to increase the network coverage and the users throughput. In this aim, the provider needs to determine the optimal number of base stations to be added and their optimal placement. The proposed approach is based on the Delaunay triangulation of the region of interest and the gradient descent method in each triangle to compute the minimum interference locations. We quantify the increase of coverage and throughput.Comment: This work has been presented in the 5th International ICST Conference on Performance Evaluation Methodologies and Tools (Valuetools 2011

On the Throughput-Delay Trade-off in Georouting Networks

We study the scaling properties of a georouting scheme in a wireless multi-hop network of $n$ mobile nodes. Our aim is to increase the network capacity quasi linearly with $n$ while keeping the average delay bounded. In our model, mobile nodes move according to an i.i.d. random walk with velocity $v$ and transmit packets to randomly chosen destinations. The average packet delivery delay of our scheme is of order $1/v$ and it achieves the network capacity of order $\frac{n}{\log n\log\log n}$. This shows a practical throughput-delay trade-off, in particular when compared with the seminal result of Gupta and Kumar which shows network capacity of order $\sqrt{n/\log n}$ and negligible delay and the groundbreaking result of Grossglausser and Tse which achieves network capacity of order $n$ but with an average delay of order $\sqrt{n}/v$. We confirm the generality of our analytical results using simulations under various interference models.Comment: This work has been submitted to IEEE INFOCOM 201

Persistent infeksjon av Piscine orthoreovirus-1 (PRV-1) i atlantisk laks (Salmo salar)

This thesis focuses on infection kinetics, infected cell types, viral shedding, and specific immune responses in persistently Piscine orthoreovirus-1 (PRV-1) infected Atlantic salmon. The aim is to enhance the understanding of viral pathogenesis. PRV-1 is ubiquitous in Norwegian Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture. PRV-1 causes an acute infection of erythrocytes of Atlantic salmon and thereafter the virus spreads to cardiomyocytes which induce the disease of heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI). PRV-1 is not cleared by the Atlantic salmon immune system after acute infection and persists life-long in the host. In Atlantic salmon focal melanized changes (black spots) of white skeletal muscle tissues, which histologically appear as granulomatous structures, are commonly observed in the fillet and is associated with chronic PRV-1 infection. Even if PRV-1 associates with the development of melanized focal changes (black spots), the causal relationship is questionable. Experimental challenge studies shows that PRV-1 establishes a productive and persistent infection at low level till the end of the trial. PRV-1 transcription level was high in blood cells in the acute phase and in the kidney during the persistent phase. PRV-1 caused plasma viremia that started in the acute phase and lasted for at least 18 weeks, i.e. the end of the experiment. In situ hybridization assays identified PRV-1 infection of Macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (MCSFR) positive macrophages in kidney and spleen and Erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) positive erythroid progenitor cells in the kidney, in both acute and persistent phases. The infected erythroid progenitor cells may represent a possible reservoir for PRV-1 as a continuous source of new generated erythrocytes. Macrophage polarization response (M1/M2) and cell mediated immune response was assessed both in HSMI and black spots formation. M1 macrophages were dominant in the red spots and almost all co-stained for PRV-1. In spots assessed as “late phase” of red spots melanized M2 melano-macrophages appeared, indicating a transition phase to melanized spots. In the melanized spots M2 macrophages were highly abundant. The M2 melano-macrophages of the black spot generally co-stained for PRV-1. In the initial development of HSMI, macrophages were not abundant. Heart and skeletal muscle tissues with characteristic lesions of HSMI showed low numbers of M1 macrophages that only partly co-localized with PRV-1. M2 macrophages, on the other hand, dominated in the heart tissue and were abundant even at the peak in pathologic lesions, which is supportive of a good regenerating ability of the salmon heart. Specific cell mediated responses represented by CD8+, granzyme A (GzmA) and MHC-I expressing cells were identified in heart tissue of fish with HSMI. Massive staining of CD8+ cells with GzmA transcripts were detected in the heart compared to the skeletal muscle after the peak infection of PRV-1. PRV-1 was detected in multiple CD8+ and MHC-1 expressing cells in the heart. Skeletal muscle tissue had a relatively moderate immune response with low number of CD8+ and MHC-I cells and no co-localization with PRV-1. The FISH method revealed the close interplay between PRV-1 infected and cytotoxic cells. A vaccination experiment was also performed by immunizing Atlantic salmon with the PRV subtypes PRV-2 or PRV-3 to study the protection potential against consecutive PRV-1 infection. This approach was also compared with an inactivated PRV-1 vaccine. The PRV-3 subtype cross-protected fish against secondary PRV-1 infection, while only partial protection was achieved by PRV-2 immunization and by the inactivated vaccine. Antibodies, cross reactive to PRV-1, were elevated in the PRV-3 immunized group, but low in PRV-2 immunized, and undetectable in the inactivated vaccine groups. Moreover, histopathological analysis showed no HSMI like heart lesions in the PRV-3 immunized group. The results provided sufficient evidence that PRV-3 can block the subsequent PRV-1 infection efficiently, at least for the ten-weeks period that the experiment lasted. To conclude, our studies show that 1) PRV-1 establishes a productive and persistent infection with plasma viremia in Atlantic salmon. 2) Renal erythroid progenitor cells and macrophages could be long-term cellular reservoirs for PRV-1. 3) PRV-1 infection correlates with macrophage polarization in melanized focal changes of skeletal muscle. 4) M1 polarized macrophages do not correlate with initial development of HSMI however, M2 macrophages are associated with high level of PRV-1. 5) A strong activation of cellular immune response is triggered in heart, followed by a drop in PRV- 1 levels. And finally, 6) we demonstrated that the PRV-3 subtype can cross-protect against PRV-1 infection in Atlantic salmon.Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) er en meget vanlig infeksjon i havbruk av norsk Atlantisk laks (Salmo salar). Tre varianter av PRV har vært beskrevet, PRV-1 og PRV-2 og PRV-3, som hovedsakelig har vært assosiert med sykdommer i henholdsvis Atlantisk laks, coholaks (Oncorhynchus kisutch) og regnbueørret (O. mykiss). PRV-1 gir en akutt infeksjon av erytrocytter i Atlantisk laks og spres deretter til kardiomyocytter. Dette kan utløse sykdommen i hjerte- og skjelettmuskulær betennelse (HSMB). PRV-1 er også funnet å infisere andre organer og vev, men forholdet til sykdommer eller lidelser bortsett fra HSMI er vagt. PRV-1 infeksjon er persistent i Atlantiske laks. Fokale melaniserte forandringer i hvit skjelettmuskulatur, forandringene kan histologisk fremstå som granulomer, utvikler seg fra røde flekker som inneholder ekstravasale erytrocytter. Mange av betennelsescellene i melaniserte flekker er infisert med PRV-1. Selv om PRV-1 kan assosieres med utviklingen av melaniserte fokale endringer, har vi ikke funnet at PRV-1 er årsaken til at flekkene oppstår. I artiklene i denne tesis ble det fokusert på infeksjonskinetikk, infiserte celletyper, og immunresponser i persistent PRV-1-infisert Atlantisk laks, for å gi en bedre forståelse av PRV-1 sin eventuelle rolle i utvikling av flekker

Optimal transmission schemes in wireless networks and their comparison with simple ALOHA based scheme

We present our analysis and results that allow us to conjecture that maximum capacity in wireless networks can be achieved if nodes transmitting simultaneously are positioned in a hexagonal grid pattern. But obviously, it is very difficult to realize such a protocol which ensures that active transmitters in the network are positioned in any specific grid pattern. We compare the optimal capacity in networks with grid positioned transmitters with the capacity of wireless networks where nodes are dispatched according to uniform distribution and use very simple ALOHA-based protocol for channel access. We will also extend this analysis to multi-hop case and characterize the maximum throughput achievable in wireless networks with ALOHA-based protocols and TDMA and grid based TDMA protocols

Shifting Patterns in Developmental Rank Ordering: A Case Study of the Districts of Sind Province

The primary objective of this paper is to observe the changing patterns in regional development and to highlight some of the major underlying phenomena. C).1t examination of changes in rank ordering over a short period of time reveals that only moderately developed districts have altered their position in either upward or downward direction. Larkana district moved from sixth to fourth rank, while Tharparkar district regressed considerably from fourth to eighth rank. The exercise will facilitate policy-makers in allocating development resources in districts where the deficiencies are evidently serious. It will also be helpful in locating research areas to determine partkular bottlenecks to development in districts which shifted downward in rank ordering

Building information modelling (BIM): now and beyond

Building Information Modeling (BIM), also called n-D Modeling or Virtual Prototyping Technology, is a revolutionary development that is quickly reshaping the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) industry. BIM is both a technology and a process. The technology component of BIM helps project stakeholders to visualize what is to be built in a simulated environment to identify any potential design, construction or operational issues. The process component enables close collaboration and encourages integration of the roles of all stakeholders on a project. The paper presents an overview of BIM with focus on its core concepts, applications in the project life cycle and benefits for project stakeholders with the help of case studies. The paper also elaborates risks and barriers to BIM implementation and future trends