Efficient sign based normalized adaptive filtering techniques for cancelation of artifacts in ECG signals: Application to wireless biotelemetry

In this paper, several simple and efficient sign based normalized adaptive filters, which are computationally superior having multiplier free weight update loops are used for cancelation of noise in electrocardiographic (ECG) signals. The proposed implementation is suitable for applications such as biotelemetry, where large signal to noise ratios with less computational complexity are required. These schemes mostly employ simple addition, shift operations and achieve considerable speed up over the other least mean square (LMS) based realizations. Simulation studies shows that the proposed realization gives better performance compared to existing realizations in terms of signal to noise ratio and computational complexity.     

Recent Advances in Poly (Amide-B-Ethylene) Based Membranes for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Capture: A Review

Polyamide-b-ethylene (Pebax) is a promising material for membrane-based gas separation application with excellent CO₂ capturing potential. Pebax is a rubbery elastomer which offers good mechanical support with its hard crystalline phase and excellent gas transport through its amorphous polyether phase. This review article includes recent advances in Pebax based membrane synthesis, solvent selection for membrane synthesis, compatible fillers with Pebax matrix and the improved gas separation performance of the prepared membranes. The literature review shows that Pebax based membranes are a good candidate for separation of CO₂ from flue gases and can be used for commercial applications.     

Computationally Efficient Motion Estimation Algorithm for HEVC

In this paper, we present a novel computationally efficient motion estimation (ME) algorithm for high-efficiency video coding (HEVC). The proposed algorithm searches in the hexagonal pattern with a fixed number of search points at each grid. It utilizes the correlation between contiguous pixels within the frame. In order to reduce the computational complexity, the proposed algorithm utilizes pixel truncation, adaptive search range, sub-sampling and avoids some of the asymmetrical prediction unit techniques. Simulation results are obtained by using the reference software HM (e n c o d e r_l o w d e l a y_P_m a i n and e n c o d e r_r a n d o m a c c e s s_m a i n profile) and shows 55.49% improvement on search points with approximately the same PSNR and around 1% increment in bit rate as compared to the Test Zonal Search (TZS) ME algorithm. By utilizing the proposed algorithm, the BD-PSNR loss for the video sequences like B a s k e t b a l l P a s s_416 × 240@50 and J o h n n y_1280 × 720@60 is 0.0804 dB and 0.0392 dB respectively as compared to the HM reference software with the e n c o d e r_l o w d e l a y_P_m a i n profile.     

Property elucidation of vacuum-evaporated zinc telluride thin film towards optoelectronic devices

A thermal vacuum evaporation system has been used to deposit zinc telluride (ZnTe) thin film on glass substrate in order to investigate the structural, morphological, optoelectronic and electrical properties of the deposited film. The deposited film has been characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer. The polycrystalline and cubic structure of the sample has been confirmed by XRD. The order parameter(s), which determines the crystallinity and good environmental stability of the sample, has been obtained for the peak (1 1 1) to peak (2 0 0) and is found to be 0.83. The XRD patterns and Bragg’s law have been examined to determine the microstructural parameters (lattice parameter, inter-planar spacing, crystallite size, number of crystallites per unit area, strain, dislocation density) of the investigated film. Optical properties (transmittance, absorbance, refractive index, absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, optical density) of ZnTe thin film were extensively studied in incident photon energy range of 0.5–3.5 eV, where direct optical transition has been obtained with a band gap of 2.63 eV. The surface morphology of the evaporated ZnTe thin film has been checked by AFM.     

Efficient implementation of Jacobi iterative method for large sparse linear systems on graphic processing units

In this paper, an original Jacobi implementation is considered for the solution of sparse linear systems of equations. The proposed algorithm helps to optimize the parallel implementation on GPU. The performance analysis of GPU-based (using CUDA) algorithm of the implementation of this algorithm is compared to the corresponding serial CPU-based algorithm. Numerical experiments performed on a set of matrices arising from the finite element discretization of various equations (3D Laplace equation, 3D gravitational potential equation, 3D Heat equation) with different meshes, illustrate the performance, robustness and efficiency of our algorithm, with a speed up to 23\(\times \) in double-precision arithmetics.     

Fumed SiO2 nanoparticle reinforced biopolymer blend nanocomposites with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss for flexible organic electronics

In the present study, fumed silica (SiO₂) nanoparticle reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) blend nanocomposite films were prepared via a simple solution‐blending technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to elucidate the successful incorporation of SiO₂ nanoparticles in the PVA/PVP blend matrix. A thermogravimetric analyzer was used to evaluate the thermal stability of the nanocomposites. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant (?) and dielectric loss (tan δ) of the PVA/PVP/SiO₂ nanocomposite films were evaluated in the broadband frequency range of 10^?2 Hz to 20 MHz and for temperatures in the range 40–150 °C. The FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopy results implied the presence of hydrogen bonding interaction between SiO₂ and the PVA/PVP blend matrix. The XRD and SEM results revealed that SiO₂ nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in the PVA/PVP blend matrix. The dielectric property analysis revealed that the dielectric constant values of the nanocomposites are higher than those of PVA/PVP blends. The maximum dielectric constant and the dielectric loss were 125 (10^?2 Hz, 150 °C) and 1.1 (10^?2 Hz, 70 °C), respectively, for PVA/PVP/SiO₂ nanocomposites with 25 wt % SiO₂ content. These results enable the preparation of dielectric nanocomposites using a facile solution‐casting method that exhibit the desirable dielectric performance for flexible organic electronics. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 44427.     

Solution-processed white graphene-reinforced ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites with improved thermal conductivity and dielectric properties for electronic encapsulation

The recent surge in graphene research has stimulated interest in the investigation of various two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, including 2D boron nitride (BN) nanostructures. Among these, hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (h-BNNs; also known as white graphene, as their structure is similar to that of graphene) have emerged as potential nanofillers for preparing thermally conductive composites. In this work, hexagonal boron nitride nanoparticles (h-BNNPs) approximately 70 nm in size were incorporated into a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix with different loadings (0–25 wt.%). The PVDF/h-BNNP nanocomposites were prepared by a solution blending technique and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the thermal conductivity and dielectric properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. The incorporation of h-BNNPs in the PVDF matrix resulted in enhanced thermal conductivity. The highest value, obtained at 25 wt.% h-BNNP loading, was 2.33 W/mK, which was five times that of the neat PVDF (0.41 W/mK). The thermal enhancement factor (TEF) at 5 wt.% h-BNNP loading was 78%, increasing to 468% at 25 wt.% h-BNNP loading. The maximum dielectric constant of approximately 36.37 (50Hz, 150 °C) was obtained at 25 wt.% h-BNNP loading, which was three times that of neat PVDF (11.94) at the same frequency and temperature. The aforementioned results suggest that these multifunctional and high-performance nanocomposites hold great promise for application in electronic encapsulation.     

The magnitude of arsenic contamination in groundwater and its health effects to the inhabitants of the Jalangi--one of the 85 arsenic affected blocks in West Bengal, India

To better understand the magnitude of arsenic contamination in groundwater and its effects on human beings, a detailed study was carried out in Jalangi, one of the 85 arsenic affected blocks in West Bengal, India. Jalangi block is approximately 122 km2 in size and has a population of 215538. Of the 1916 water samples analyzed (about 31% of the total hand tubewells) from the Jalangi block, 77.8% were found to have arsenic above 10 microg l(-1) [the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended level of arsenic in drinking water], 51% had arsenic above 50 microg l(-1) (the Indian standard of permissible limit of arsenic in drinking water) and 17% had arsenic at above 300 microg l(-1) (the concentration predicting overt arsenical skin lesions). From our preliminary medical screening, 1488 of the 7221 people examined in the 44 villages of Jalangi block exhibit definite arsenical skin lesions. An estimation of probable population that may suffer from arsenical skin lesions and cancer in the Jalangi block has been evaluated comparing along with international data. A total of 1600 biologic samples including hair, nail and urine have been analyzed from the affected villages of Jalangi block and on an average 88% of the biologic samples contain arsenic above the normal level. Thus, a vast population of the block may have arsenic body burden. Cases of Bowen's disease and cancer have been identified among adults who also show arsenical skin lesions and children in this block are also seriously affected. Obstetric examinations were also carried out in this block.     

Environmental exposure to lead and its correlation with biochemical indices in children

Lead is a global concern because of its ubiquity in the environment and known to be associated with abnormal neurobehavioral and cognitive development of young children. There is no study from India to describe a composite profile of blood lead and its biochemical influences in children. The present study was aimed at determining the proportion of children with >10 mug/dL blood lead levels (BLLs), association between BLLs, and sociodemographic characteristics, if any, and alterations in biochemical indices in the blood as an underlying mechanism of lead intoxication. A total of 62 children (4--12 y) of Lucknow and nearby areas were recruited to determine BLLs, delta-amimolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALAD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the blood. Mean level of blood lead was 7.47+/-3.06 microg/dL (2.78--15.0) and 29%-exceeded 10 microg/dL, CDC intervention level. The BLLs were found to be significantly influenced by social status, area of residence, source of water supply, maternal educational status (p<0.001), type of house, and proximity to traffic density (p<0.01). delta-ALAD was significantly lower in the group of children with BLLs 11.39+/-1.39 microg/dL when compared to children with BLLs 7.11+/-1.25 microg/dL and 3.93+/-0.61 microg/dL (p=0.0007, 0.0005, respectively). However, CAT activity was higher in the groups of children with higher blood levels than with lower BLLs (p=0.0159, 0.0001, respectively). There was an increase in MDA level with a concomitant decrease of GSH in children with BLLs 11.39+/-1.39 microg/dL compared with those of children with BLLs 7.11+/-1.25 microg/dL and 3.93+/-0.61 microg/dL (p=0.0001, 0.0002, and p=0.0001, respectively). There was statistically significant correlation of BLLs with delta-ALAD (r=-0.44, p=0.00035), MDA (r=0.46, p=0.00018), GSH (r=-0.62, p=0.00001), and CAT (r=0.44, p=0.00035). Significantly, CAT activity, MDA, and GSH levels were in turn, found to be correlated with delta-ALAD (r=-0.45, p=0.00024; r=-0.43, p=0.00053; r=0.43, p=0.00053, respectively). Results of the present study indicate a declining trend of BLLs in children when compared with those reported from metropolitan cities of India when leaded gasoline was in practice and that the BLLs were significantly associated with biochemical indices in the blood which have the potential to be used as biomarkers of lead intoxication.