Priority Aware and Spectrum Efficient Scheduling of Co-existing Wireless Body Area Networks

Real-time continuous and remote health monitoring has become widespread due to the developments in Wireless body area networks (WBANs). Based on the criticality of health data to be transmitted, regular healthcare data and critical emergency health data must be provided differential service. In this paper, we consider the beyond WBAN communication in a system comprising multiple WBANs with different quality of service (QoS) requirements and multiple access points (APs), and propose two hybrid approaches for resource allocation. In the first approach, the AP association to the WBANs and channel allocation to the APs are done jointly and is modelled as an optimization problem, which is computationally complex and it also requires global network information. In order to reduce the involvement of APs in making decisions for resource allocations of WBANs, the problem is reformulated as a Stackelberg game with price update, which guarantees QoS of the critical users. A learning based algorithm, namely distributed learning for Pareto optimality, is used by the normal users, in this second approach. The performance of both the proposed approaches are evaluated and compared, in terms of the throughput of the critical and normal users as well as the QoS guarantee of the critical users.

     

Superconducting Quantum Metamaterials from High Pressure Melt Infiltration of Metals into Block Copolymer Double Gyroid Derived Ceramic Templates

Mesoscale order can lead to emergent properties including phononic bandgaps or topologically protected states. Block copolymers offer a route to mesoscale periodic architectures, but their use as structure directing agents for metallic materials has not been fully realized. A versatile approach to mesostructured metals via bulk block copolymer self-assembly derived ceramic templates, is demonstrated. Molten indium is infiltrated into mesoporous, double gyroidal silicon nitride templates under high pressure to yield bulk, 3D periodic nanocomposites as free-standing monoliths which exhibit emergent quantum-scale phenomena. Vortices are artificially introduced when double gyroidal indium metal behaves as a type II superconductor, with evidence of strong pinning centers arrayed on the order of the double gyroid lattice size. Sample behavior is reproducible over months, showing high stability. High pressure infiltration of bulk block copolymer self-assembly based ceramic templates is an enabling tool for studying high-quality metals with previously inaccessible architectures, and paves the way for the emerging field of block-copolymer derived quantum metamaterials.     

Metallocene QACs: The Incorporation of Ferrocene Moieties into monoQAC and bisQAC Structures

Inspired by the incorporation of metallocene functionalities into a variety of bioactive structures, particularly antimicrobial peptides, we endeavored to broaden the structural variety of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) by the incorporation of the ferrocene moiety. Accordingly, 23 ferrocene-containing mono- and bisQACs were prepared in high yields and tested for activity against a variety of bacteria, including Gram-negative strains and a panel of clinically isolated MRSA strains. Ferrocene QACs were shown to be effective antiseptics with some displaying single-digit micromolar activity against all bacteria tested, demonstrating yet another step in the expansion of structural variety of antiseptic QACs.     

A cathode support structure for use in a magnetron oscillator experiment

A low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material system has been used to develop a protype field emission cathode structure for use in an experimental magnetron oscillator. The structure is designed for used with 30 gated field emission array (GFEA) die electrically connected through silver metal traces and electrical vias. To approximate a cylinder, the cathode structure (48 mm long and 13.7 mm in diameter) is comprised of 10 faceted plates which cover the GFEA dies. Slits in the facet plates allow electron injection. The GFEA die (3 mm × 8 mm) are placed in axial columns of 3 and spaced azimuthally around a cylindrical support structure in a staggered configuration resulting in 10 azimuthal locations. LTCC manufacturing techniques were developed in order to fabricate the newly designed cathode with seven layers wrapped to form the cylinder with electrical traces and vias. Two different cathode wrapping techniques and two different via filling techniques were studied and compared. Two different facet plate manufacturing techniques were studied. Finally, four different support stand configurations for firing the cylindrical structure were also compared with a square post stand having the best circularity and linearity measurements of the fired structure.     

Capitalizing on the Koran to fuel online violent radicalization: A taxonomy of Koranic references in ISIS’s Dabiq

The current study set out to investigate to what extent ISIS is bolstering its jihadist ideology on a ‘cut-and-paste’ or ‘cherry-picked’ version of Islam in their renowned online propaganda magazine Dabiq. The main objective was to examine in a systematic and quantitative way to what extent ISIS utilizes the Koran in an atomistic, truncated and tailored manner to bolster its religious legitimacy. A total of 15 issues of Dabiq and 700 Koranic references were scrutinized. By means of a quantitative analysis we developed an innovative taxonomy of Koranic chapters and verses (i.e. surahs and ayat, respectively) on the basis of their appearance in Dabiq. Our large-scale data analysis provide consistent empirical evidence for severe decontextualization practices of the Koran in three ways: (1) a thin, Medinan-dominated religious layer, (2) ayah mutilation, and (3) clustered versus exclusive mentions. Limitations and implications for future research, policy makers and CVE initiatives are discussed.     

Synthesis and thermal decomposition of potassium tetraamidoboranealuminate,K[Al(NH2BH3)4]

A new potassium tetraamidoboranealuminate, K[Al(NH₂BH₃)₄], has been synthesized by a mechanochemical reaction between KAlH₄ and NH₃BH₃. The compound, K[Al(NH₂BH₃)₄], crystallizes in a triclinic unit cell with space group symmetry P?1. The crystal structure consists of [K(NH₂BH₃)₆]^5? octahedra which facilitate the bridging between K⁺ in 1D chains, while also bridging K⁺ to Al³⁺ to connect the 1D chains in a 3D network. Thermal analysis reveals that K[Al(NH₂BH₃)₄] decomposes in two exothermic steps at T ～ 94 and 138 °C and releases primarily hydrogen. The total gas release amounts to ～6.0 wt% H₂. The decomposition products are investigated ex situ by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and ¹¹B and ²⁷Al NMR and identified as KBH₄ and amorphous phases, possibly BN₃, N₂BH, and/or NBH₂ whereas aluminum is found in four-, five-, and six-fold coordination. Unfortunately, the decomposed sample shows no hydrogen absorption at T = 260 °C and p(H₂) = 110 bar.     

Design of a thermal management system for a battery pack in an electric vehicle using Dymola

As the world moves toward more green and efficient means of modes of transport, electric vehicles are the most suitable and ideal choice to fulfill this requirement. Rapid developments in the field of battery technology are the main reason for their progress, but thermal management in such systems has been an area of concern for a long time. The work undertaken is to design and develop a battery management system (BMS) with a specific focus on the thermal behavior of the battery pack with varying vehicle loads as well as environmental conditions. To design an efficient BMS, one needs to model the battery behavior covering the thermal as well as electrical aspects of the battery. Apart from the battery model, a mathematical model of the electrical vehicle to mimic the various road load conditions for battery also needs to be modeled. Depending on the need for cooling based on battery behavior, the cooling circuit is modeled for the battery pack used. The entire study has been carried out using Dymola, a mathematical modeling software.     

Protection through property: from private to river-held rights

ABSTRACT

This article explores how private owners can protect bodies of water through private property rights. It compares the use of conventional property rights in the Netherlands and New Zealand with a novel approach whereby a New Zealand river owns itself.