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.

     

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.     

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.     

Investigations on the Corrosion Properties of Sn–1Cu–1Ni–xAg Lead Free Solders in 3.5% NaCl Solution

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - Due to the directions and environmental legislations from RoHS (Restrictions of Hazardous Substances), WEEE (World Electrical and...     

Salmonella in eggs: From shopping to consumption—A review providing an evidence-based analysis of risk factors

Nontyphoidal salmonellae are among the most prevalent foodborne pathogens causing gastrointestinal infections worldwide. A high number of cases and outbreaks of salmonellosis are associated with the consumption of eggs and egg products, and several of these occur at the household level. The aim of the current study is to critically evaluate the current status of knowledge on Salmonella in eggs from a consumer's perspective, analyzing the hazard occurrence and the good practices that should be applied to reduce salmonellosis risk. Following a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) based approach, some steps along the food journey were identified as Critical Consumer Handling (CCH)—steps in which consumers, through their behavior or choice, can significantly reduce the level of Salmonella in eggs and egg products. From shopping/collecting to consumption, each of these steps is discussed in this review to provide an evidence-based overview of risk factors of human salmonellosis related to egg consumption. The main message to consumers is to choose Salmonella-free eggs (those that some official entity or producer guarantees that does not contain Salmonella), when available, especially for dishes that are not fully heat treated. Second, as guaranteed Salmonella-free eggs are only available in a few countries, refrigerated storage from the point of collection and proper cooking will significantly reduce the risk of salmonellosis. This will require a revision of the actual recommendations/regulations, as not all ensure that eggs are maintained at temperatures that prevent growth of Salmonella from collection until the time of purchasing.     

Sintering,microwave properties,and circulator applications of textured Sc-substituted M-type ferrite thick films

Sc³⁺ substituted M-type ferrites are effective microwave magnetic materials with a ferromagnetic resonance frequency in the range of 20 GHz–50 GHz. We report on the fabrication of oriented ferrite thick films as microwave components for application in the K_a-band at 30 GHz. Films of BaFe_11.5.Sc_0.5O₁₉ were prepared by screen-printing on alumina substrates, drying in an external magnetic field, and sintering at 900 °C. Low-temperature sintering is achieved through use of a mixed BBSZ/CuO sintering aid. A strong anisotropy of the sintered ferrite films is revealed by XRD analysis. Microwave properties of the films were determined in a coplanar waveguide setup. The ferromagnetic resonance frequency of the films is at 30 GHz and the textured films possess good nonreciprocal properties which scale with film thickness. The films were tested in a Y-junction circulator, and represent promising materials for self-biased microwave components fabricated in thick film technology.     

A longitudinal observational study of the dynamics of Mycoplasma bovis antibodies in naturally exposed and diseased dairy cows

Mycoplasma bovis is an important pathogen causing disease and substantial economic losses in cattle. However, knowledge of the dynamics of antibody responses in individual cows in the face of an outbreak is currently extremely limited. The use of commercial antibody tests to support clinical decision-making and for surveillance purposes is therefore challenging. Our objective was to describe the dynamics of M. bovis antibody responses in 4 Danish dairy herds experiencing an acute outbreak of M. bovis-associated disease, and to compare the antibody dynamics between dairy cows with different disease manifestations. A total of 120 cows were examined using a standardized clinical protocol and categorized into 4 disease groups: “mastitis,” “systemic,” “nonspecific,” and “none.” Paired blood and milk samples were collected and tested using a commercial M. bovis antibody–detecting ELISA. Plots of raw data and generalized additive mixed models with cow and herd as random effects were used to describe serum and milk antibody dynamics relative to the estimated time of onset of clinical disease. Cows with mastitis had high optical density measurement (ODC%) of antibodies in both milk and serum at disease onset. The estimated mean ODC% in milk was below the manufacturer's cut-off for the other groups for the entire study period. The estimated mean serum ODC% in the “systemic” group was high at onset of disease and stayed above the cut-off until 65 d after disease onset. However, the lower 95% confidence interval (CI) for the mean ODC% was only above the manufacturer's cut-off between 7 and 17 d after onset of disease. The CI of the “systemic” and “none” groups did not overlap at any time between the day of disease onset and 65 d after disease onset, and the estimated mean ODC% for both the “nonspecific” and “none” groups were generally below the cut-off for the majority of the study period. In conclusion, the serum antibody responses were highly dynamic and showed a high level of variation between individual cows. This strongly suggests that serology is unlikely to be useful for individual diagnosis of M. bovis-associated disease in dairy cows. However, it might still be useful for herd- or group-level diagnosis. Antibodies in milk were only increased in cows with M. bovis mastitis, indicating that milk antibody measurements only have diagnostic utility for cows with mastitis.