A Differentiated Service Model for Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) of IEEE 802.11e WLANs

In this paper, we propose a new differentiated service model, referred to as Differentiated Service-EDCA (DS-EDCA), for the Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) of IEEE 802.11e wireless local area networks (WLANs). With DS-EDCA, both strict priority and weighted fair service can be provided. The strict priority service is provided for high priority traffic through carefully setting the EDCA parameter sets of lower priority traffic; the proportional fairness service is enabled by determining the backoff intervals according to the distributed scheduling discipline (DFS). We also propose a hierarchical link sharing model for IEEE 802.11e WLANs, in which AP and mobile stations are allocated different amounts of link resource. The performance of DS-EDCA and EDCA is compared via ns-2 simulations. The results show that DS-EDCA outperforms the original EDCA in terms of its support for both strict priority and weighted fair service. More importantly, DS-EDCA can be easily implemented, and is compatible to the IEEE 802.11 Standard.

A solution study on the local and global structure changes of cytochrome c: an unfolding process induced by urea

The local and global structural changes of cytochrome c induced by urea in aqueous solution have been studied using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). According to the XAS result, both the native (folded) protein and the unfolded protein exhibit the same preedge features taken at Fe K-edge, indicating that the Fe(III) in the heme group of the protein maintains a six-coordinated local structure in both the folded and unfolded states. Furthermore, the discernible differences in the X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) of these two states are attributed to a possible spin transition of the Fe(III) from a low-spin state to a high-spin state during the unfolding process. The perseverance of six-coordination and the spin transition of the iron are reconciled by a proposed ligand exchange, with urea and water molecules replacing the methionine-80 and histidine-18 axial ligands, respectively. The SAXS result reveals a significant morphology change of cytochrome c from a globular shape of a radius of gyration R(g) = 12.8 A of the native protein to an elongated ellipsoid shape of R(g) = 29.7 A for the unfolded protein in the presence of concentrated urea. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data unveil the coordination geometries of Fe(III) in both the folded and unfolded state of cytochrome c. An initial spin transition of Fe(III) followed by an axial ligand exchange, accompanied by the change in the global envelope, is proposed for what happened in the protein unfolding process of cytochrome c.     

Using high-concentration trypsin-immobilized magnetic nanoparticles for rapid in situ protein digestion at elevated temperature

We describe an innovative approach - using a high concentration of trypsin-modified magnetic nanoparticles (TMNPs) - for the rapid and efficient digestion of proteins at elevated temperature. The required digestion time could be reduced to less than 10 s. After digestion, the TMNPs were collected magnetically from the sample solution for reuse and the digested peptides were characterized using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Protein digestion was optimized when using the TMNPs (5 microg/microL) at 57 degrees C; a significantly high peptide coverage was achieved for protein identification (e.g., 98% for lysozyme). Although a high concentration of TMNPs was used for digestion, the short digestion time led to much lower amounts of trypsin peptides being produced through self-digestion. As a result, interference in the mass spectrometric detection of the peptide ions was reduced significantly.     

A new optical fiber reactor for the photocatalytic degradation of gaseous organic contaminants

The main objective of this study was to develop a simple, energy-efficient photoreactor for operating at room temperature. In this work, the design of a new gas-phase optical fiber photoreactor (OFP) was introduced which operated under various parameters, such as the UV light intensity and the initial concentration for the photocatalytic decomposition of acetone. Experimental results indicated that increasing the UV light intensity or decreasing the initial concentrations of acetone by a UV/TiO₂ process would result in improving the decomposition and mineralization efficiencies. The apparent quantum yield of the novel optical fiber reactor is about 2 to 3 times greater than that of the traditional annular reactor.     

Two New Labdane‐Type Diterpene Acids from the Wood of Cunninghamia konishii

Two new labdane‐type diterpene acids, (12S)‐12‐hydroxylabda‐8(17),13(16),14‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 1 ) and (12R)‐12‐hydroxy‐15,16‐epoxylabda‐8(17),13‐dien‐18‐oic acid ( 2 ), along with a known labdane‐type diterpene, (11E)‐15,16‐bisnor‐13‐oxolabda‐8(17),11‐dien‐19‐oic acid ( 3 ), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the wood of Cunninghamia konishii. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the data of known analogs.     

An efficient method for the identification of the modified Cockroft–Latham fracture criterion at elevated temperature

The paper presents the theoretical part of a method for the identification of the modified Cockroft–Latham ductile fracture criterion at elevated temperature. Quite a general viscoplastic model is adopted to describe material behavior. The original criterion is path-dependent and involves stresses. Therefore, the identification of constitutive parameters of this criterion, as well as many other ductile fracture criteria, is rather a difficult task that usually includes experimental research and numerical simulation. The latter is impossible without a precisely specified material model and boundary conditions. It is shown in the present paper that for a wide class of material models usually used to describe the behavior of materials at elevated temperatures, the criterion is significantly simplified when the site of fracture initiation is located on traction-free surfaces. In particular, this reduced criterion solely depends on two in-surface logarithmic strains. Since there are well-established experimental procedures to measure surface strains, the result obtained can be considered as a theoretical basis for the efficient method for the identification of the modified Cockroft–Latham ductile fracture criterion at elevated temperature.     

Wave-current-induced soil response in marine sediments

This letter presents a new analytical approximation for wave (current)-induced dynamic soil response in marine sediments. In the model, the third-order approximation for wave-current interactions is employed for the flow model, while Biot's dynamic poro-elastic model is used to simulate the porous flow in a seabed. The newly analytical solution is validated with the field observations. Based on the solution, effects of currents and wave-nonlinearity on soil response are examined and a parametric study will be carried out to examine the influence of currents on the liquefaction potential.     

Dielectric study of ferroelectric side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes with broad temperature ranges of the chiral smectic C phase 1. Structure dependence of dielectric relaxation

The dielectric behavior of a series of ferroelectric side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing 1–3 oligooxyethylene units as spacers, and 4-(S)-2-methyl-1-butyl[[[(4-hydroxy-biphenyl-4′-yl)]carbonyl]oxy] benzoate or 4-(S)-2-methyl-1-butyl[[(4-hydroxy-biphenyl-4′-yl)carbonyl]oxy]-3-fluoro benzoate side groups was studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The increase of the spacer length, and incorporation of a strong dipole moment fluoro-substituent into the mesogenic group, resulted in a decrease of the relaxation activation energy and an increase in the intensity of the relaxation. Moreover, the relaxation peak of the Goldstone mode has only been observed for the FLCP with a lateral fluoro-substituent. The relationship between the thermal dynamic behavior and chemical structure is discussed in detail. Furthermore, analysis of the dielectric relaxation behavior of these FLCPs showed that the molecular relaxations could be described by the Cole-Cole equation. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chemical and Cytotoxic Constituents from the Stem of Machilus zuihoensis

Five new compounds, including a novel lactone, machilactone (=rel‐(2R,3aR,6E,6aS)‐2‐heptadecyl‐3a‐methyl‐6‐octadecylidene‐6,6a‐dihydrofuro[2,3‐d][1,3]dioxol‐5(3aH)‐one; 1 ), a new sesquiterpene, 3,4‐dihydroxy‐β‐bisabolol (=rel‐(1R,2S,4R)‐1‐[(1R)‐1,5‐dimethylhex‐4‐enyl]‐1‐methylcyclohexane‐1,2,4‐triol; 2 ), a new secobutyrolactone, methyl (2E)‐2‐(1‐hydroxy‐2‐oxopropyl)eicos‐2‐enoate ( 3 ), two new butyrolactones, machicolide A ( 4 ) and machicolide B ( 5 ) (=3E,4R,5R)‐ and (3Z,4R,5R)‐4,5‐dihydro‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxy‐5‐methyl‐3‐octadecylidenefuran‐2(3H)‐one, resp.) as a mixture, together with known caryophyllene oxide (=4,12,12‐trimethyl‐9‐methylene‐5‐oxatricyclo[8.2.0.0^4,6]dodecane), hexacosane, tetracosanoic acid, isomahubanolide‐23 (=(3E,4R)‐4,5‐dihydro‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methylidene‐3‐octadecylidenefuran‐2(3H)‐one), and β‐bisabolol (=(1S)‐1‐[(1S)‐1,5‐dimethylhex‐4‐enyl]‐4‐methylcyclohex‐3‐en‐1‐ol) were isolated from the stem wood of Machilus zuihoensis. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic studies. The eicos‐2‐enoate ( 3 ) and β‐bisabolol exhibited marginal cytotoxicity against NUGC and HONE‐1 cancer cell lines in vitro.     

Enhanced Temporal Stability of an NLO Polyurethane via a Two‐Dimensional Chromophore

A new NLO‐active polyurethane (T_g = 145°C) based on a two‐dimensional NLO chromophore has been investigated. Two ends of this lambda‐shaped chromophore can be directly bound to the main chain of polyurethane. After poling, fast relaxation of the effective second harmonic (SH) coefficient was observed at temperatures higher than 122°C. Moreover, excellent temporal stability at 100°C was obtained despite the operating temperature being very close to the fast relaxation temperature. This is due to the fact that embedding the rigid lambda‐shaped chromophores into the polymer backbone effectively restricts molecular motion at temperatures close to T_g.