STOPE‐based approach for e‐readiness assessment case studies

The STOPE‐based approach is used here for practical e‐readiness assessment case studies. The approach integrates and evaluates the various e‐readiness assessment issues, over its well‐structured domains: strategy, technology, organization, people, and environment. The case studies considered concern three Saudi organizations: a government organization, a bank, and a private sector company. The results obtained provide e‐readiness indicators that illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of each organization with regard to e‐readiness strategic development issues, information and communication technology (ICT) issues, management and organization issues, people issues, and environment issues within which the organization operates. The work shows how the approach can be practically used, and it also provides practical results that direct the organizations concerned toward enhancing their e‐readiness in response to the current trend of globalizing e‐business. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A GACS modeling approach for MPEG broadcast video

Accurate MPEG source models are needed to support high speed networks such as ATM and Internet. In this paper, we propose a video model called Gaussian auto-regressive and chi-square processes (GACS) for MPEG coded video traffic. The GACS models the sizes of MPEG I, P, and B frames according to the MPEG syntax I-frame>P-frame>B-frame. This is done by decomposing the process of each frame size into a weighted sum of a number of chi-square sequences. Each chi-square sequence is then obtained by squaring a Gaussian process, which is efficiently generated by using an auto-regressive (AR) model whose parameters are determined from an estimated covariance matrix. We evaluate the effectiveness of our model by conducting a series of experiments using a wide variety of long empirical video sequences. The results show that the proposed model leads to excellent data fit and accurate prediction of queuing performance.     

A novel methodology for robust VBR video transmission in an ATM system

A dynamic FEC (DFEC) scheme for VBR video in ATM networks is proposed. The scheme combines the design of source encoder, error control, and the network. In the design, we will develop a methodology to vary FEC redundancy dynamically. The methodology considers the fluctuations in video source and network utilisation to adjust the FEC redundancy levels. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme by examining its performance with three existing schemes in terms of loss rates, throughput, and quality degradation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CoFe-LDH nanowire arrays on graphite felt: A high-performance oxygen evolution electrocatalyst in alkaline media

Developing non-noble-metal oxygen evolution reaction(OER) electrocatalysts with high performance is critical to electrocatalytic water splitting. In this work, we fabricated Co Fe-layered double hydroxide(LDH) nanowire arrays on graphite felt(Co Fe-LDH/GF) via a hydrothermal method. The Co Fe-LDH/GF, as a robust integrated 3 D OER anode, exhibits excellent catalytic activity with the need of low overpotential of 252 and 285 m V to drive current densities of 10 and 100 m A/cm2 in 1.0 mol/L KOH, r...     

DFT-assisted design and evaluation of bifunctional copper(I) catalysts for the direct intermolecular addition of aldehydes and ketones to alkynes

Bifunctional catalysts containing discrete metal pi-acid and amine sites were designed and investigated for the direct intermolecular addition of aldehydes and ketones to unactivated alkynes. Copper(I)-based catalysts were prioritized based on intramolecular (Conia-ene type) reactions, and complexes were designed with tridentate ligands and potentially hemilabile heterocyclic spacers. The structures of the designed catalysts were computed using density functional theory (DFT), and the relative energies of putative catalytic intermediates were estimated and used to prioritize catalyst designs. Novel bifunctional precatalysts containing a thiazole spacer were synthesized via a 9-step sequence and combined with transition metals before screening for the direct addition of aldehydes and ketones to several internal and terminal alkynes. Despite the lack of desired intermolecular reactions, DFT calculations of putative catalyst intermediates appears to be a promising strategy for the design and prioritization of bifunctional catalysts for CC bond formation.     

A simple approach for optimum channel reservation for hand‐over calls in cellular systems

In cellular mobile communication systems, while an active subscriber is moving from one cell to another, the service of his call needs to be handed over to the base station of the new cell. In such a case, cutting the service, due to all channels being busy at the new base station, would be more annoying to subscribers than normal congestion at the first initiation of calls. This paper is concerned with providing a simple approach for choosing the optimum set of channels that need to be reserved for hand‐over calls, while maintaining an acceptable overall system performance. The approach evaluates channel reservation at the cell level, taking into account the offered traffic, that is both the newly initiated original traffic and the hand‐over traffic. The approach produces a simple mathematical solution based on Erlang‐B formula. It uses the concept of ‘Combined Failure Rate’ to evaluate the required reservation. The approach is supported by a simulation study that verifies its validity. Applications of the approach to illustrate its use are also presented. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An integrated simple approach for the analysis of Internet backbone networks

This paper presents an integrated and simple approach for the analysis of Internet backbone networks, emphasizing the need for a balance between the network resources utilization requirements of the Internet services providers (ISPs) and the services delay constraints of the Internet users (IUs). The integration of the approach is achieved by putting together the various issues associated with the target analysis, including network topology, capacity, traffic load, routing, traffic flow, and performance; and by considering the analysis both at the link level and at the path level. The simplicity of the approach is achieved by eliminating unnecessary details; and by allowing the approach to be applied in easy steps, using an open source, straightforward computer program. A typical example is used to illustrate the practical application of the approach. The work would be useful to the designers and administrators of ISP networks facing the continuous challenge of newer e‐services and higher user traffic. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Recent advances in strategies for highly selective electrocatalytic N2 reduction toward ambient NH3 synthesis

Industrial NH₃ production mainly relies on the Haber–Bosch process, which is energy-intensive, heavily dependent on fossil fuels with massive greenhouse gas emission. Electrochemical N₂-to-NH₃ conversion is an attractive method to address this issue. The great challenge for this process is its limited selectivity because of the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction and the sluggish kinetics of N₂ reduction reaction. In this review, we summarize recent progress in strategies in improving the NH₃ selectivity for the electrochemical N₂ reduction reaction, including electrocatalyst tuning, electrolyte choice, and cell configuration design.     

Liposome-Mediated Delivery of MERS Antigen Induces Potent Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immune Response in Mice

The advancements in the field of nanotechnology have provided a great platform for the development of effective antiviral vaccines. Liposome-mediated delivery of antigens has been shown to induce the antigen-specific stimulation of the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Here, we prepared dried, reconstituted vesicles (DRVs) from DPPC liposomes and used them as the vaccine carrier system for the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus papain-like protease (DRVs-MERS-CoV PLpro). MERS-CoV PLpro emulsified in the Incomplete Freund’s Adjuvant (IFA-MERS-CoV PLpro) was used as a control. Immunization of mice with DRVs-MERS-CoV PLpro did not induce any notable toxicity, as revealed by the levels of the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood of immunized mice. Immunization with DRVs-MERS-CoV PLpro induced greater antigen-specific antibody titer and switching of IgG1 isotyping to IgG2a as compared to immunization with IFA-MERS-CoV PLpro. Moreover, splenocytes from mice immunized with DRVs-MERS-CoV PLpro exhibited greater proliferation in response to antigen stimulation. Moreover, splenocytes from DRVs-MERS-CoV PLpro-immunized mice secreted significantly higher IFN-γ as compared to splenocytes from IFA-MERS-CoV PLpro mice. In summary, DRVs-MERS-CoV PLpro may prove to be an effective prophylactic formulation to prevent MERS-CoV infection.     

Hierarchical Tubular Architecture Constructed by Vertically Aligned CoS2-MoS2 Nanosheets for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis

Developing efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for establishing a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system, but it is still a challenging issue. Herein, hierarchical tubular-structured CoS₂-MoS₂/C as efficient electrocatalysts are fabricated through a unique metal–organic framework (MOF) mediated self-sacrificial templating. Core–shell structured MoO₃@ZIF-67 nanorods are used both as a precursor and a sacrificial template to form the one-dimensional tubular heterostructure where vertically aligned two-dimensional CoS₂-MoS₂ nanosheets are formed on the MOF-derived carbon tube. Trace amounts of noble metals (Pd, Rh, and Ru) are successfully introduced to enhance the electrocatalytic property of the CoS₂-MoS₂/C nanocomposites. The as-synthesized hierarchical tubular heterostructures exhibit excellent HER catalytic performance owing to the merits of the hierarchical hollow architecture with abundantly exposed edges and the uniformly dispersed active sites. Impressively, the optimal Pd-CoS₂-MoS₂/C-600 catalyst delivers a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² at a low overpotential of 144 mV and a small Tafel slope of 59.9 mV/dec in 0.5 m H₂SO₄. Overall, this MOF-mediated strategy can be extended to the rational design and synthesis of other hollow heterogeneous catalysts for scalable hydrogen generation.