Asymptotic error probability analysis of quadratic receivers inRayleigh-fading channels with applications to a unified analysis ofcoherent and noncoherent space-time receivers

A general, asymptotic (high signal-to-noise (SNR)) error analysis is introduced for quadratic receivers in frequency-flat and multipath Rayleigh-fading channels with multiple transmit and receive antennas. Asymptotically tight expressions for the pairwise error probabilities are obtained for coherent, noncoherent, and differentially coherent space-time receivers. Not only is our unified analysis applicable to more general modulation schemes and/or channel models than previously considered, but it also reveals a hitherto unrecognized eigenvalue structure that is common to all of these problems. In addition to providing an easy recipe for computing the asymptotic pairwise error rates, we make some conclusions regarding criteria for the design of signal constellations and codes such as (a) the same design criteria apply for both correlated and independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) fading processes and (b) for noncoherent communications, unitary signals are optimal in the sense that they minimize the asymptotic union bound     

Diversity order gain for narrow-band multiuser communications withpre-combining group detection

In narrow-band multiuser communication systems with fading diversity, it is shown that pre-combining group detection can bridge the diversity-order gap in performance between the optimum and linear detectors. For a system with M diversity channels, the group detector diversity order is M-|G|, where |G| is the interfering group size, a design parameter. Group detection thus provides a more substantial improvement in performance in narrow-band channels over linear detection than in wide-band channels in which the diversity orders of the optimal and linear detectors are equal. Here, the complexity of the receiver is a new parameter which, in addition to the number of antennas, can be used to control the diversity order. Exact formulas for the pairwise-error probabilities and bounds for the bit-error rate are obtained, and numerical results are shown     

Rapid preparation of cellulose nanofibre sheet

Cellulose nanofibre sheet materials are of great interest in various applications because of their excellent properties, but are difficult to prepare rapidly and as large sheets. This paper describes a quick preparation procedure for preparing optically transparent, flat and smooth nanofibre sheets, which is much quicker than existing methods. Low permeability, optical transparency, high strength and high density show that nanofibres were well dispersed. The preparation time for the nanofibre sheet produced here was 10 min whereas the preparation times reported in literature is above 1 h. The decrease in sheet preparation time suggests that this method can be used for commercial applications.     

Rapid deceleration-driven wetting transition during pendant drop deposition on superhydrophobic surfaces

A hitherto unknown mechanism for wetting transition is reported. When a pendant drop settles upon deposition, there is a virtual "collision" where its center of gravity undergoes rapid deceleration. This induces a high water hammer-type pressure that causes wetting transition. A new phase diagram shows that both large and small droplets can transition to wetted states due to the new deceleration driven and the previously known Laplace mechanisms, respectively. It is explained how the attainment of a nonwetted Cassie-Baxter state is more restrictive than previously known.     

Blind multiuser detection via interference identification

Previous results on blind multiuser detection apply in situations where the signal parameters of the users of interest are known, and those of the interferers; are unknown. In this paper, we consider the new paradigm of an N-user system, in which K users are active, and the problem is to detect G users of interest out of those K active users when the signal parameters (codes, amplitudes) of the G users of interest are known, as are the codes of all N users. What is not known at the receiver, however, is K - G, the number of active interferers, and the identity of these interferers. A solution to such a problem could be to ignore the knowledge of the remaining N - G codes, and apply known blind multiuser detectors based on stochastic approximation or subspace tracking techniques. However, it is shown here that the additional knowledge of those codes can be used to obtain an interference-identification-based blind multiuser receiver that has much faster convergence properties. We illustrate the underlying principle in the context of blind group detection in synchronous direct-sequence/code-division multiple-access (DS/CDMA) systems operating in channels that exhibit frequency-selective fading.     

An error probability analysis of the optimum noncoherent multiuser detector for multipath and multiantenna diversity communications over Rayleigh-fading channels

The optimum noncoherent multiuser detector is obtained for generalized diversity symbol-synchronous communication systems that employ nonorthogonal multipulse modulation. A unified approach is adopted to simultaneously address various forms of diversity such as time, frequency, multipath, and/or receiver-amenna diversity. Upper and lower bounds on the average bit-error probability of the optimum noncoherent detector are derived. While these bounds are numerically computable, they are too complicated to give insights about the relative influence of system parameters on the essential behavior of the bit-error rate. To address this issue, an asymptotic (low noise) analysis of the bit-error probability is undertaken. It is shown that the upper and lower bounds are indeed asymptotically convergent. A formula for the asymptotic efficiency of the optimum noncoherent detector is thereby derived. Interestingly, the asymptotic efficiency is found to be positive, and independent of the signal strengths of the interfering users.     

Collision-broadened linewidths of tetrahedral molecules—III. Dispersion and induction interactions

Expressions for the interruption functions S₂(b) have been derived for the dispersion interaction between a tetrahedral molecule and a linear molecule, and for the interaction between the octopole moment of a tetrahedral molecule and the octopole-induced dipole moment in a perturbing molecule.     

Mitigation of cellulose recalcitrance to enzymatic hydrolysis by ionic liquid pretreatment

Efficient hydrolysis of cellulose-to-glucose is critically important in producing fuels and chemicals from renewable feedstocks. Cellulose hydrolysis in aqueous media suffers from slow reaction rates because cellulose is a water-insoluble crystalline biopolymer. The high-crystallinity of cellulose fibrils renders the internal surface of cellulose inaccessible to the hydrolyzing enzymes (cellulases) as well as water. Pretreatment methods, which increase the surface area accessible to water and cellulases are vital to improving the hydrolysis kinetics and conversion of cellulose to glucose. In a novel technique, the microcrystalline cellulose was first subjected to an ionic liquid (IL) treatment and then recovered as essentially amorphous or as a mixture of amorphous and partially crystalline cellulose by rapidly quenching the solution with an antisolvent. Because of their extremely low-volatility, ILs are expected to have minimal environmental impact. Two different ILs, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMC1) and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AMIMC1) were investigated. Hydrolysis kinetics of the IL-treated cellulose is significantly enhanced. With appropriate selection of IL treatment conditions and enzymes, the initial hydrolysis rates for IL-treated cellulose were up to 90 times greater than those of untreated cellulose. We infer that this drastic improvement in the "overall hydrolysis rates" with IL-treated cellulose is mainly because of a significant enhancement in the kinetics of the "primary hydrolysis step" (conversion of solid cellulose to soluble oligomers), which is the rate-limiting step for untreated cellulose. Thus, with IL-treated cellulose, primary hydrolysis rates increase and become comparable with the rates of inherently faster "secondary hydrolysis" (conversion of soluble oligomers to glucose).     

A molecular dynamics study and molecular level explanation of pressure dependence of ionic conductivity of potassium chloride in water

Experimental ionic conductivity of different alkali ions in water shows markedly different dependences on pressure. Existing theories such as that of Hubbard-Onsager are unable to explain these dependences on pressure of the ionic conductivity for all ions. We report molecular dynamics investigation of potassium chloride solution at low dilution in water at several pressures between 1 bar and 2 kbar. Two different potential models have been employed. One of the models successfully reproduces the experimentally observed trend in ionic conductivity of K(+) ions in water over the 0.001-2 kbar range. We also propose a theoretical explanation, albeit at a qualitative level, to account for the dependence of ionic conductivity on pressure in terms of the previously studied Levitation Effect. It also provides a microscopic picture in terms of the pore network in liquid water.