University of Texas at Dallas

About: University of Texas at Dallas is a education organization based out in Richardson, Texas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Computer science. The organization has 14986 authors who have published 35589 publications receiving 1293714 citations. The organization is also known as: UT-Dallas & UT Dallas.

Exploiting Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces in NOMA Networks: Joint Beamforming Optimization

Abstract: This paper investigates a downlink multiple-input single-output intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) aided non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system, where a base station (BS) serves multiple users with the aid of IRSs. Our goal is to maximize the sum rate of all users by jointly optimizing the active beamforming at the BS and the passive beamforming at the IRS, subject to successive interference cancellation decoding rate conditions and IRS reflecting elements constraints. In term of the characteristics of reflection amplitudes and phase shifts, we consider ideal and non-ideal IRS assumptions. To tackle the formulated non-convex problems, we propose efficient algorithms by invoking alternating optimization, which design the active beamforming and passive beamforming alternately. For the ideal IRS scenario, the two subproblems are solved by invoking the successive convex approximation technique. For the non-ideal IRS scenario, constant modulus IRS elements are further divided into continuous phase shifts and discrete phase shifts. To tackle the passive beamforming problem with continuous phase shifts, a novel algorithm is developed by utilizing the sequential rank-one constraint relaxation approach, which is guaranteed to find a locally optimal rank-one solution. Then, a quantization-based scheme is proposed for discrete phase shifts. Finally, numerical results illustrate that: i) the system sum rate can be significantly improved by deploying the IRS with the proposed algorithms; ii) 3-bit phase shifters are capable of achieving almost the same performance as the ideal IRS; iii) the proposed IRS-aided NOMA systems achieve higher system sum rate than the IRS-aided orthogonal multiple access system.

Production and integration of the ATLAS Insertable B-Layer

Abstract: During the shutdown of the CERN Large Hadron Collider in 2013-2014, an additional pixel layer was installed between the existing Pixel detector of the ATLAS experiment and a new, smaller radius beam pipe. The motivation for this new pixel layer, the Insertable B-Layer (IBL), was to maintain or improve the robustness and performance of the ATLAS tracking system, given the higher instantaneous and integrated luminosities realised following the shutdown. Because of the extreme radiation and collision rate environment, several new radiation-tolerant sensor and electronic technologies were utilised for this layer. This paper reports on the IBL construction and integration prior to its operation in the ATLAS detector.

Search for squarks and gluinos with the ATLAS detector in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum using √s = 8 TeV proton-proton collision data

Abstract: A search for squarks and gluinos in final states containing high-p T jets, missing transverse momentum and no electrons or muons is presented. The data were recorded in 2012 by the ATLAS experiment in s√=8 TeV proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, with a total integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1. Results are interpreted in a variety of simplified and specific supersymmetry-breaking models assuming that R-parity is conserved and that the lightest neutralino is the lightest supersymmetric particle. An exclusion limit at the 95% confidence level on the mass of the gluino is set at 1330 GeV for a simplified model incorporating only a gluino and the lightest neutralino. For a simplified model involving the strong production of first- and second-generation squarks, squark masses below 850 GeV (440 GeV) are excluded for a massless lightest neutralino, assuming mass degenerate (single light-flavour) squarks. In mSUGRA/CMSSM models with tan β = 30, A 0 = −2m 0 and μ > 0, squarks and gluinos of equal mass are excluded for masses below 1700 GeV. Additional limits are set for non-universal Higgs mass models with gaugino mediation and for simplified models involving the pair production of gluinos, each decaying to a top squark and a top quark, with the top squark decaying to a charm quark and a neutralino. These limits extend the region of supersymmetric parameter space excluded by previous searches with the ATLAS detector.

Requirement for nitric oxide activation of p21ras/extracellular regulated kinase in neuronal ischemic preconditioning

Abstract: The mechanisms underlying neuronal ischemic preconditioning, a phenomenon in which brief episodes of ischemia protect against the lethal effects of subsequent periods of prolonged ischemia, are poorly understood. Ischemia can be modeled in vitro by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). We report here that OGD preconditioning induces p21ras (Ras) activation in an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor- and NO-dependent, but cGMP-independent, manner. We demonstrate that Ras activity is necessary and sufficient for OGD tolerance in neurons. Pharmacological inhibition of Ras, as well as a dominant negative mutant Ras, block OGD preconditioning whereas a constitutively active form of Ras promotes neuroprotection against lethal OGD insults. In contrast, the activity of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase is not required for OGD preconditioning because inhibition of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase with a chemical inhibitor or with a dominant negative mutant does not have any effect on the development of OGD tolerance. Furthermore, using recombinant adenoviruses and pharmacological inhibitors, we show that downstream of Ras the extracellular regulated kinase cascade is required for OGD preconditioning. Our observations indicate that activation of the Ras/extracellular regulated kinase cascade by NO is a critical mechanism for the development of OGD tolerance in cortical neurons, which may also play an important role in ischemic preconditioning in vivo.

Stability and Hydrolyzation of Metal Organic Frameworks with Paddle-Wheel SBUs upon Hydration

Abstract: Instability of most prototypical metal organic frameworks (MOFs) in the presence of moisture is always a limita- tion for industrial scale development. In this work, we examine the dissociation mechanism of microporous paddle wheel frameworks M(bdc)(ted)0.5 [M=Cu, Zn, Ni, Co; bdc= 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate; ted= triethylenediamine] in controlled humidity environments. Combined in-situ IR spectroscopy, Raman, and Powder x-ray diffraction measurements show that the stability and modification of isostructual M(bdc)(ted)0.5 compounds upon exposure to water vapor critically depend on the central metal ion. A hydrolysis reaction of water molecules with Cu-O-C is observed in the case of Cu(bdc)(ted)0.5. Displacement reactions of ted linkers by water molecules are identified with Zn(bdc)(ted)0.5 and Co(bdc)(ted)0.5. In contrast,. Ni(bdc)(ted)0.5 is less suscept- ible to reaction with water vapors than the other three compounds. In addition, the condensation of water vapors into the framework is necessary to initiate the dissociation reaction. These findings, supported by supported by first principles theoretical van der Waals density functional (vdW-DF) calculations of overall reaction enthalpies, provide the necessary information for de- termining operation conditions of this class of MOFs with paddle wheel secondary building units and guidance for developing more robust units.