Energy efficient VLSI decoder chip with reduced PAPR in FECG monitoring

ABSTRACT

Medical data transmission is a major challenge in wireless communication to preserve their integrity and coherence. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has emerged as a modulation scheme that can achieve high data rates over frequency selective fading channel by multipath effects. As the foetal ECG (FECG) signal is large to process, the dimensionality of the data is reduced by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and is then sent through the space time block coded (STBC) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) upon using cockroach swarm pptimisation algorithm as a classifier to demarcate the FECG signal from noise. This paper also proposes decoder design for STBC transmission over frequency-selective time-variant channels with data recovery at the receiver by using proposed error prediction and correction adders (EPD) to achieve reduced peak to average power ration (PAPR). The simulation results prove that the PAPR reduces by 1.3 dB and the sensitivity of classifier is 96.4%. The implementations are carried out over 200 data sets taken from MIT-BIH arrhythmia using simulation tools such as MATLAB 2013b, ModelSim 10.0b and Cadence Virtuoso under 65 nm. The finally fabricated and tested decoder chip consumes an average power of 0.64 µW.     

A Caged,Destabilized, Free Radical Intermediate in the Q‐Cycle

The Rieske/cytochrome b complexes, also known as cytochrome bc complexes, catalyze a unique oxidant‐induced reduction reaction at their quinol oxidase (Q_o) sites, in which substrate hydroquinone reduces two distinct electron transfer chains, one through a series of high‐potential electron carriers, the second through low‐potential cytochrome b. This reaction is a critical step in energy storage by the Q‐cycle. The semiquinone intermediate in this reaction can reduce O₂ to produce deleterious superoxide. It is yet unknown how the enzyme controls this reaction, though numerous models have been proposed. In previous work, we trapped a Q‐cycle semiquinone anion intermediate, termed SQ_o, in bacterial cytochrome bc₁ by rapid freeze‐quenching. In this work, we apply pulsed‐EPR techniques to determine the location and properties of SQ_o in the mitochondrial complex. In contrast to semiquinone intermediates in other enzymes, SQ_o is not thermodynamically stabilized, and can even be destabilized with respect to solution. It is trapped in Q_o at a site that is distinct from previously described inhibitor‐binding sites, yet sufficiently close to cytochrome b_L to allow rapid electron transfer. The binding site and EPR analyses show that SQ_o is not stabilized by hydrogen bonds to proteins. The formation of SQ_o involves “stripping” of both substrate ‐OH protons during the initial oxidation step, as well as conformational changes of the semiquinone and Q_o proteins. The resulting charged radical is kinetically trapped, rather than thermodynamically stabilized (as in most enzymatic semiquinone species), conserving redox energy to drive electron transfer to cytochrome b_L while minimizing certain Q‐cycle bypass reactions, including oxidation of prereduced cytochrome b and reduction of O₂.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymeric ionic liquid poly(imidazolium chloride-1,3-diylbutane-1,4-diyl)

Polymeric ionic liquid poly(imidazolium chloride-1,3-diylbutane-1,4-diyl) with imidazolium cation groups built into the main chain was prepared using two different routes in 92–95% yield, and characterized by FT-IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, TGA, and elemental analysis. The first method involved the heating of neat 1-(4-chlorobutyl)-1H-imidazole, whereas the second method involved the heating of an equimolar mixture of 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)-bis-imidazole and 1,4-dichlorobutane.     

Spatio-temporal object relationships in image sequences using adjacency matrices

In this work, we bring together object tracking and digital watermarking to solve the spatio-temporal object adjacency problem in image sequences. Spatio-temporal relationships are established by embedding objects with unique digital watermarks and then by propagating the watermark frame by frame. Watermark propagation is accomplished by an existing object tracking module so that a tracked object acquires its watermark from the correspondences established by the object tracker. The spatio-temporally marked image sequences can then be searched to establish spatial and temporal adjacency among objects without using traditional spatio-temporal graphs. Borrowing from graph theory, we construct binary adjacency matrices among tracked objects and develop interpretation rules to establish a track history for each object. Track history can be used to determine the arrival of new objects in frames or the changing of spatial and temporal positions of objects with respect to each other as they move through time and space.     

LISP-MN: Mobile Networking Through LISP

The current Internet architecture was not designed to easily accommodate mobility because IP addresses are used both to identify and locate hosts. The Locator/Identifier Separation Protocol (LISP) decouples them by considering two types of addresses: EIDs that identify hosts, and RLOCs that identify network attachment points and are used as routing locators. LISP, with such separation in place, can also offer native mobility. LISP-MN is a particular case of LISP which specifies mobility. In this paper we provide a comprehensive tutorial on LISP-MN, showing its main features and how it compares to existing mobility protocols.     

Seasonal behaviour of NCEP-NCAR longwave cloud radiative forcing and its relationship with all-India summer monsoon rainfall

Using National Center for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) longwave cloud radiative forcing (LWCRF) reanalysis at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) for the period 1949–2006, the seasonal behaviour of the LWCRF and its relationship with the all-India summer monsoon rainfall (AISMR) during the winter (December–January–February, DJF), pre-monsoon (March–April–May, MAM) and summer monsoon (June– July–August–September, JJAS) seasons has been examined. The LWCRF over the Bay of Bengal region (15–20° N and 87.5–92.5° E) during the pre-monsoon season (MAM) is found to be significantly related to AISMR. The correlation coefficient (CC) between AISMR and LWCRF is 0.419, significant at the 1% level. The composite anomalies for excess minus deficient rainfall years of the LWCRF during MAM over the same region strongly support a significant relationship between LWCRF and AISMR. Thus, the LWCRF over the Bay of Bengal region in the pre-monsoon season appears to be a good indicator of the forthcoming monsoon rainfall.     

Exploiting Unique Alignment of Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles,Mild Hyperthermia,and Controlled Intrinsic Cobalt Toxicity for Cancer Therapy

Nanoparticle-based magnetic hyperthermia is a well-known thermal therapy platform studied to treat solid tumors, but its use for monotherapy is limited due to incomplete tumor eradication at hyperthermia temperature (45 °C). It is often combined with chemotherapy for obtaining a more effective therapeutic outcome. Cubic-shaped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (Co–Fe NCs) serve as magnetic hyperthermia agents and as a cytotoxic agent due to the known cobalt ion toxicity, allowing the achievement of both heat and cytotoxic effects from a single platform. In addition to this advantage, Co–Fe NCs have the unique ability to form growing chains under an alternating magnetic field (AMF). This unique chain formation, along with the mild hyperthermia and intrinsic cobalt toxicity, leads to complete tumor regression and improved overall survival in an in vivo murine xenograft model, all under clinically approved AMF conditions. Numerical calculations identify magnetic anisotropy as the main Co–Fe NCs’ feature to generate such chain formations. This novel combination therapy can improve the effects of magnetic hyperthermia, inaugurating investigation of mechanical behaviors of nanoparticles under AMF, as a new avenue for cancer therapy.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen production using TiO2 coated iron-oxide core shell particles

Photocatalytic water splitting plays a challenging role as it is one of the most important reactions for solving energy, environmental problems and sustainability. Photocatalytic water splitting was improved by using a novel kind of magnetically separable core shell nano photocatalyst TiO₂/Fe₂O₃, prepared by co-precipitation method. It was characterised for particle size (XRD), band gap (UV-DRS), morphology (SEM), particle size (HRTEM), elemental composition (EDS) and electrochemical studies. Photocatalytic splitting of water was examined in tubular reactor of 500 mL capacity with various sacrificial agents viz., methanol, ethanol, acetic acid, lactic acid, EDTA and triethanolamine. To enhance the hydrogen production, various operating parameters viz., effect of sacrificial agents, catalytic dosage, light irradiation and recycle flow rate were optimized. With the optimized operating parameters (0.2 g catalyst dosage, 60 mL/min recycle flow rate, 96 W/m² light irradiation and EDTA as sacrificial agent) the maximum hydrogen achieved was 2700 μmol/h for the quantum yield of 3.86% at 550 nm. The reusability studies were conducted and the TiO₂ coated Fe₂O₃ core shell particles were found to be stable than the plain TiO₂ nano particles. Effective charge transfer from TiO₂ to Fe₂O₃ and the suppression of e^?/h⁺ pair recombination attributed significant enhancement in photoactivity, thereby increasing the hydrogen production.     

CD137 agonist potentiates the abscopal efficacy of nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy for melanoma

Despite the promise of immunotherapy such as the immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 for advanced melanoma,only 26％-52％of patients respo...