Implementation of mmWave long-range backhaul for UAV-BS

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become a vital element in nonterrestrial networks, especially with respect to 5G communication systems and beyond. The use of UAVs in support of 4G/5G base station (uncrewed aerial vehicle base station [UAV-BS]) has proven to be a practical solution for extending cellular network services to areas where conventional infrastructures are unavailable. In this study, we introduce a UAV-BS system that utilizes a high-capacity wireless backhaul operating in millimeter-wave frequency bands. This system can achieve a maximum throughput of 1.3 Gbps while delivering data at a rate of 300 Mbps, even at distances of 10 km. We also present the details of our testbed implementation alongside the performance results obtained from field tests.     

Reversible switching of high-speed air-liquid two-phase flows using electrowetting-assisted flow-pattern change

This work is the first demonstration of electrical modulation of surface energy to reversibly switch dynamic high-speed gas-liquid two-phase microfluidic flow patterns. Manipulation of dynamic two-phase systems with continuous high-speed flows is complex and interesting due to the multiple types of forces that need to be considered. Here, distinct stable flow patterns are formed through a multipronged approach: both surface tension forces generated by surface chemistry modulation as well as viscous and inertial forces produced by fluid flows are employed. The novel fluidic actuation mechanism provides insights into better understanding microscale two-phase flow dynamics and offers new opportunities for the development of two-phase biochemical microsystems that are mechanically simple and operational at high speeds.     

The role of metrology communities under the WTO system: measurement science and conformity assessment procedures

Technical barrier to trade (TBT) has become one of the significant non-tariff measures with the advent of the WTO system in 1995. The key issue in TBT is that technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment should not be used as barriers to trade. Regarding conformity assessment, the WTO/TBT Agreement recommends members to enter into negotiations for the mutual recognition of results of each other’s conformity assessment, as well as to permit participation of conformity assessment bodies located in other members. In this paper, it will be reviewed why the role of measurement science is important in terms of international effort to eliminate technical barriers to trade particularly in the area of conformity assessment.     

Strain effects in CdTe (111) epitaxial layers grown on GaAs (100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

Spectroscopic ellipsometry and photoreflectance measurements on CdTe/GaAs strained heterostructures grown by moleculclr beam epitaxy were carried out to investigate the effect of the strain and the dependence of the lattice parameter on the CdTe epitaxial layer thicknesses. Compressive strains exist in CdTe layers thinner than 2 μm. As the strain increases, the value of the critical-point energy shift increases linearly. These results indicate that the strains in the CdTe layers grown on GaAs substrates are strongly dependent on the CdTe layer thickness. Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed.     

Asymptotic analysis of blind multiuser detection with blind channel estimation

The analytical performance of the subspace-based blind linear minimum mean-square error (MMSE) multiuser detection algorithm in general multipath multi-antenna code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems is investigated. In blind multiuser detection, the linear MMSE detector of a given user is estimated from the received signals, based on the knowledge of only the spreading sequence of that user. Typically, the channel of that user must be estimated first, based on the orthogonality between the signal and noise subspaces. An asymptotic limit theorem for the estimate of the blind linear detector (when the received signal sample size is large) is obtained, based on which approximate expressions of the average output signal-to-inference plus noise ratios (SINRs) and bit error rates (BERs) for both binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and quaternary phase-shift keying (QPSK) modulations are given. Corresponding results for group-blind multiuser detectors are also obtained. Examples are provided to demonstrate the excellent match between the theory developed in this paper and the simulation results.     

Data retention characteristics of MANOS-type flash memory device with different metal gates at various levels of charge injection

We investigated the impact of charge injection and metal gates (Al and Pt) on the data retention characteristics of metal–alumina–nitride–oxide–silicon (MANOS) devices for NAND flash memory application. Through the theoretical and experimental results, the highly injected charge (ΔV_TH) could cause the band bending of Al₂O₃, which reduced the tunneling distance across Al₂O₃. Thus, the dominant charge loss path is not only toward SiO₂ but also toward Al₂O₃ direction. Compared to low-metal work function (Ф_M), ONA stack with high-Ф_M showed better data retention characteristics, even if ΔV_TH is high. This could be explained by Fermi level alignment for different Ф_M, which results in the reduction of electric field across the Al₂O₃ compensated by the ΔФ_M (Ф_Pt ? Ф_Al).     

Excellent Switching Uniformity of Cu-Doped $hbox{MoO}_{x}/hbox{GdO}_{x}$ Bilayer for Nonvolatile Memory Applications

We have investigated a Cu-doped MoO_x/GdO_x bilayer film for nonvolatile memory applications. By adopting an ultrathin GdO_x layer, we obtained excellent device characteristics such as resistance ratio of three orders of magnitude, uniform distribution of set and reset voltages, switching endurance up to 10⁴ cycles, and ten years of data retention at 85degC. By adopting bilayer films of Cu-doped MoO_x/GdO_x, a local filament was formed by a two-step process. Improved memory characteristics can be explained by the formation of nanoscale local filament in the ultrathin GdO_x layer.     

Density‐adaptive network reprogramming protocol for wireless sensor networks

Network reprogramming is a process used to update program codes of sensor nodes that are already deployed. To deal with potentially unstable link conditions of wireless sensor networks, the epidemic approach based on 3‐way advertise‐request‐data handshaking is preferred for network reprogramming. Existing epidemic protocols, however, require a long completion period and high traffic overhead in high‐density networks, mainly due to the hidden terminal problem. In this paper, we address this problem by dynamically adjusting the frequency of advertisement messages in terms of the density of sensor nodes, which is the number of sensor nodes in a certain area. We compare the performance of the proposed scheme, called DANP (Density‐Adaptive Network Reprogramming Protocol), with a well‐known epidemic protocol, Deluge. Simulations indicate that, in the grid topologies, DANP outperforms Deluge by about 30% in terms of the completion time and about 50% in terms of the traffic overhead. Significant performance gain is observed in random topologies as well. The performance of DANP is further confirmed via measurements in an experimental test bed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Infrared-vacuum ultraviolet pulsed field ionization-photoelectron study of C2H4(+) using a high-resolution infrared laser

The infrared (IR)-vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)-pulsed field ionization-photoelectron (IR-VUV-PFI-PE) spectrum for C2H4(X1A(g), v11 = 1, N'(Ka'Kc') = 3(03)) in the VUV range of 83,000-84,800 cm(-1) obtained using a single mode infrared laser revealed 24 rotationally resolved vibrational bands for the ion C2H4(+)(X2B(3u)) ground state. The frequencies and symmetry of the vibrational bands thus determined, together with the anharmonic frequency predictions calculated at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ level, have allowed the unambiguous assignment of these vibrational bands. These bands are mostly combination bands. The measured frequencies of these bands yield the fundamental frequencies for v8+ = 1103 +/- 10 cm(-1) and v10+ = 813 +/- 10 cm(-1) of C2H4(+)(X2B(3u)), which have not been determined previously. The present IR-VUV-PFI-PE study also provides truly rovibrationally selected and resolved state-to-state cross sections for the photoionization transitions C2H4(X1A(g); v11, N'(Ka'Kc')) --> C2H4(+)(X2B(3u); vi+, N+(Ka+Kc+)), where N'(Ka'Kc') denotes the rotational level of C2H4(X1A(g); v11), and vi+ and N+(Ka+Kc+) represent the vibrational and rotational states of the cation.     

Gold nanoparticles enhance the anti-leukemia action of a 6-mercaptopurine chemotherapeutic agent

6-mercaptopurine and its riboside derivatives are some of the most widely utilized anti-leukemic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Their short biological half-life and severe side effects limit their use. A new delivery method for these drugs based on 4-5 nm gold nanoparticles can potentially resolve these issues. We have found substantial enhancement of the antiproliferative effect against K-562 leukemia cells of Au nanoparticles bearing 6-mercaptopurine-9-beta-d-ribofuranoside compared to the same drug in typically administered free form. The improvement was attributed to enhanced intracellular transport followed by the subsequent release in lysosomes. Enhanced activity and nanoparticle carriers will make possible the reduction of the overall concentration of the drug, renal clearance, and, thus, side effects. The nanoparticles with mercaptopurine also showed excellent stability over 1 year without loss of inhibitory activity.