Decision Combining in Relay Networks

We consider non-coherent detection of M-ary FSK modulated signals transmitted over a slow, Rayleigh fading channel in a wireless relay network. The network consists of a single source-destination pair and a number of relays (L), which employ cooperative diversity. Performances of a counting rule and square law combiner are studied. We derive closed form expressions for probabilities of error for equal relay channel average SNR. For unequal relay channel SNRs, we resort to Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the error probabilities. We examine different combinations of M and L for a range of average SNR values. Although the square law combiner outperforms the counting rule for equal and small average SNRs, the loss in performance is not high. Simplicity of counting rule may be advantageous in these cases

Ruthenium and osmium carbonyl clusters incorporating stannylene and stannyl ligands

The reaction of [Ru₃ (CO)₁₂] with Ph₃SnSPh in refluxing benzene furnished the bimetallic Ru-Sn compound [Ru₃(CO)₈(μ-SPh)₂(μ3-SnPh₂)(SnPh₃)₂] 1 which consists of a SnPh₂ stannylene bonded to three Ru atoms to give a planar tetra-metal core, with two peripheral SnPh₃ ligands. The stannylene ligand forms a very short bond to one Ru atom [Sn-Ru 2.538(1) Å] and very long bonds to the other two [Sn-Ru 3.074(1) Å]. The germanium compound [Ru₃(CO)₈(μ-SPh)₂(μ₃-GePh₂)(GePh₃)₂] 2 was obtained from the reaction of [Ru₃ (CO)₁₂] with Ph₃GeSPh and has a similar structure to that of 1 as evidenced by spectroscopic data. Treatment of [Os₃(CO)₁₀(MeCN)₂] with Ph₃SnSPh in refluxing benzene yielded the bimetallic Os-Sn compound [Os₃(CO)₉(μ-SPh)(μ₃-SnPh₂)(MeCN)(ƞ¹-C₆H₅)] 3. Cluster 3 has a superficially similar planar metal core, but with a different bonding mode with respect to that of 1. The Ph₂Sn group is bonded most closely to Os(2) and Os(3) [2.7862(3) and 2.7476(3) Å respectively] with a significantly longer bond to Os(1), 2.9981(3) Å indicating a weak back-donation to the Sn. The reaction of the bridging dppm compound [Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-dppm)] with Ph₃SnSPh afforded [Ru₃(CO)₆(μ-dppm)(μ₃-S)(μ₃-SPh)(SnPh₃)] 5. Compound 5 contains an open triangle of Ru atoms simultaneously capped by a sulfido and a PhS ligand on opposite sides of the cluster with a dppm ligand bridging one of the Ru-Ru edges and a Ph₃Sn group occupying an axial position on the Ru atom not bridged by the dppm ligand

An electron-deficient triosmium cluster containing the thianthrene ligand: Synthesis, structure and reactivity of [Os₃(CO)₉(μ3-η2-C₁₂H₇S₂)(μ-H)]

Reaction of [Os₃(CO)₁₀(CH₃CN)₂] with thianthrene at 80 °C leads to the nonacarbonyl dihydride compound [Os₃(CO)₉(μ-3,4-η²-C₁₂H₆S₂)(μ-H)₂] (1) and the 46-electron monohydride compound [Os₃(CO)₉(μ₃-η²-C₁₂H₇S₂)(μ-H)] (2). Compound 2 reacts reversibly with CO to give the CO adduct [Os₃(CO)₁₀(μ-η²-C₁₂H₇S₂)(μ-H)] (3) whereas with PPh₃ it gives the addition product [Os₃(CO)₉)(PPh₃)(μ-η²-C₁₂H₇S₂)(μ-H)] (4) as well as the substitution product 1,2-[Os₃(CO)₁₀ ((PPh₃)₂] (5) Compound 2 represents a unique example of an electron-deficient triosmium cluster in which the thianthrene ring is bound to cluster by coordination of the sulfur lone pair and a three-center-two-electron bond with the C(2) carbon which bridges the same edge of the triangle as the hydride. Electrochemical and DFT studies which elucidate the electronic properties of 2 are reported

Reactions of Rhenium and Manganese Carbonyl Complexes with 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene: Ligand Chelation, C–H and C–P bond-cleavage Reactions

Reaction of [Re2(CO)8(MeCN)2] with 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene (dppn) afforded three mono-rhenium complexes fac-[Re(CO)3(κ1:η1-PPh2C10H6)(PPh2H)] (1), fac-[Re(CO)3{κ1:κ1:η1-(O)PPh2C10H6(O)PPh(C6H4)}] (2) and fac-[ReCl(CO)3(κ2-PPh2C10H6PPh2)] (3). Compounds 1–3 are formed by Re–Re bond cleavage and P–C and C–H bond activation of the dppn ligand. Each of these three complexes have three CO groups arranged in facial fashion. Compound 1 contains a chelating cyclometalated diphenylnaphthylphosphine ligand and a terminally coordinated PPh2H ligand. Compound 2 consists of an orthometalated dppn-dioxide ligand coordinated in a κ1:κ1:η1-fashion via both the oxygen atoms and ortho-carbon atom of one of the phenyl rings. Compound 3 consists of an unchanged chelating dppn ligand and a terminal Cl ligand. Treatment of [Mn2(CO)8(MeCN)2] with a slight excess of dppn in refluxing toluene at 72 °C, gave the previously reported [Mn2(CO)8(μ-PPh2)2] (4), formed by cleavage of C–P bonds, and the new compound fac-[MnCl(CO)3(κ2-PPh2C10H6PPh2)] (5), which has an unaltered chelating dppn and a terminal Cl ligand. In sharp contrast, reaction of [Mn2(CO)8(MeCN)2] with slight excess of dppn at room temperature yielded the dimanganese [Mn2(CO)9{κ1-PPh2(C10H7)}] (6) in which the diphenylnaphthylphosphine ligand, formed by facile cleavage of one of the P–C bonds, is axially coordinated to one Mn atom. Compound 6 was also obtained from the reaction of [Mn2(CO)9(MeCN)] with dppn at room temperature. The XRD structures of complexes 1–3, 5, 6 are reported

Structural, thermal and dissolution properties of MgO- and CaO-containing borophosphate glasses: effect of Fe2O3 addition

This paper investigated manufacture of high-durability phosphate glass fibres for biomedical applications. Five different borophosphate glass formulations in the systems of 45P2O5–5B2O3–5Na2O–(29 − x)CaO–16MgO–(x)Fe2O3 and 45P2O5–5B2O3–5Na2O–24CaO–(21 − x)MgO–(x)Fe2O3 where x = 5, 8 and 11 mol% were produced via melt quenching. The compositions and amorphous nature of the glasses were confirmed by ICP-MS and XRD, respectively. FTIR results indicated depolymerisation of the phosphate chains with a decrease in Q2 units with increasing Fe2O3 content. DSC analyses showed an increase in Tg by ~5 °C with an increment of 3 mol% in Fe2O3 content. The thermal properties were also used to calculate processing window (i.e. Tc,ons—Tg) and another parameter, Kgl, to determine the suitability for fibre drawing directly from melt, which equals (Tc,ons—Tg)/(Tl—Tc,ons). The degradation study conducted in PBS solution at 37 °C showed a decrease of 25–47% in degradation rate with increasing Fe2O3 content. This confirmed that the chemical durability of the glasses had increased, which was suggested to be due to Fe2O3 addition. Furthermore, the density measured via Archimedes method revealed a linear increase with increasing Fe2O3 content

Predictors of Enteric Pathogens in the Domestic Environment from Human and Animal Sources in Rural Bangladesh.

Fecal indicator organisms are measured to indicate the presence of fecal pollution, yet the association between indicators and pathogens varies by context. The goal of this study was to empirically evaluate the relationships between indicator Escherichia coli, microbial source tracking markers, select enteric pathogen genes, and potential sources of enteric pathogens in 600 rural Bangladeshi households. We measured indicators and pathogen genes in stored drinking water, soil, and on mother and child hands. Additionally, survey and observational data on sanitation and domestic hygiene practices were collected. Log10 concentrations of indicator E. coli were positively associated with the prevalence of pathogenic E. coli genes in all sample types. Given the current need to rely on indicators to assess fecal contamination in the field, it is significant that in this study context indicator E. coli concentrations, measured by IDEXX Colilert-18, provided quantitative information on the presence of pathogenic E. coli in different sample types. There were no significant associations between the human fecal marker (HumM2) and human-specific pathogens in any environmental sample type. There was an increase in the prevalence of Giardia lamblia genes, any E. coli virulence gene, and the specific E. coli virulence genes stx1/2 with every log10 increase in the concentration of the animal fecal marker (BacCow) on mothers' hands. Thus, domestic animals were important contributors to enteric pathogens in these households

Vibrio cholerae Serogroup O139: Isolation from Cholera Patients and Asymptomatic Household Family Members in Bangladesh between 2013 and 2014.

BACKGROUND: Cholera is endemic in Bangladesh, with outbreaks reported annually. Currently, the majority of epidemic cholera reported globally is El Tor biotype Vibrio cholerae isolates of the serogroup O1. However, in Bangladesh, outbreaks attributed to V. cholerae serogroup O139 isolates, which fall within the same phylogenetic lineage as the O1 serogroup isolates, were seen between 1992 and 1993 and in 2002 to 2005. Since then, V. cholerae serogroup O139 has only been sporadically isolated in Bangladesh and is now rarely isolated elsewhere. METHODS: Here, we present case histories of four cholera patients infected with V. cholerae serogroup O139 in 2013 and 2014 in Bangladesh. We comprehensively typed these isolates using conventional approaches, as well as by whole genome sequencing. Phenotypic typing and PCR confirmed all four isolates belonging to the O139 serogroup. FINDINGS: Whole genome sequencing revealed that three of the isolates were phylogenetically closely related to previously sequenced El Tor biotype, pandemic 7, toxigenic V. cholerae O139 isolates originating from Bangladesh and elsewhere. The fourth isolate was a non-toxigenic V. cholerae that, by conventional approaches, typed as O139 serogroup but was genetically divergent from previously sequenced pandemic 7 V. cholerae lineages belonging to the O139 or O1 serogroups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that previously observed lineages of V. cholerae O139 persist in Bangladesh and can cause clinical disease and that a novel disease-causing non-toxigenic O139 isolate also occurs.This study was supported by a Grant OPP50419 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and National Institutes of Health (U01A1077883, R01AI106878 and U01AI058935). Additionally, the study was supported by the core grants of icddr,b. icddr,b is thankful to the Governments of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Sweden and the UK for providing core/unrestricted support. AEM and NRT were supported by Wellcome Trust grant 098051. AEM is supported by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council grant BB/M014088/1. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from PLOS via http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.000418

Microstrip Patch Antenna for GPS Application

The study and the design of rectangular microstrip patch antenna for multiband applications are presented in this paper. They can be simulated on antenna design software’s such as High Frequency Simulation Software (HFSS), Advanced Design System Momentum (ADS) and Agilent Vector Network Analyzer (E8361A) where different feeding techniques have been deployed to get the desired results. Two rectangular microstrip patch antennas of frequencies 1.5 GHz and 2.4 GHz are designed and simulated on HFSS