3HA: Hybrid Hole Healing Algorithm in a Wireless Sensor Networks

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the appearance of coverage holes over a large target field is mostly possible. Those holes reduce network performance and may affect the network efficiency. Several approaches were proposed to heal coverage holes in WSNs, but they still suffer from some weaknesses. In this paper we suggest a distributed algorithm, named hybrid hole healing algorithm (3HA), to find the minimum effective patching positions to deploy additional nodes to cover the holes. A hole manager node of each hole is responsible for operating the 3HA algorithm which requires two phases. The first phase finds all candidate patching positions using a Voronoi diagram. It takes all Voronoi vertices within the hole as the initial patching positions list. The second phase reduces as much as possible this list based on integer linear programming and on a probabilistic sensor model. The 3HA algorithm repeats the above phases in rounds, until all Voronoi vertices are covered. Simulation results show that our solution offers a high coverage ratio for various forms and sizes of holes and reduces the number of additional sensors when compared to some algorithms like the Perimeter-based, the Delaunay triangulation-based, the Voronoi-based, and the Trees-based coverage hole healing methods.

     

Numerical study of elliptical cracks in cylinders with a thickness transition

The paper deals with elliptical cracks in a cylinder with a thickness transition. This structure is an assembly of two cylinders of thickness t and t₂ (t<t₂). In the transition zone, the thickness varies linearly. The purpose is to check whether tabulated data used for SIF calculations in a cylinder of uniform thickness t can be used for the cylinder with a thickness transition. A comparative study is made on the effect of a crack in a cylinder with a thickness transition and in a uniform thickness cylinder. Loads considered are pure tensile stress and bending moment. A numerical analysis was performed considering elastic behaviour at the crack tip. A crack mesh was designed and validated for 3D models. The results show that SIF calculations in the transition assuming a uniform thickness cylinder are conservative but not precise. The comparative study shows that the cylinder with a thickness transition is more vulnerable to a defect.     

A Novel Speech Enhancement Method Using Fourier Series Decomposition and Spectral Subtraction for Robust Speaker Identification

Wireless Personal Communications - This paper presents a novel speech enhancement approach by combining Fourier series expansion and spectral subtraction. This approach is implemented in speaker...     

Silicene Nanoribbons on an Insulating Thin Film

Silicene, a new 2D material has attracted intense research because of the ubiquitous use of silicon in modern technology. However, producing free-standing silicene has proved to be a huge challenge. Until now, silicene could be synthesized only on metal surfaces where it naturally forms strong interactions with the metal substrate that modify its electronic properties. Here, the authors report the first experimental evidence of silicene nanoribbons on an insulating NaCl thin film. This work represents a major breakthrough, for the study of the intrinsic properties of silicene, and by extension to other 2D materials that have so far only been grown on metal surfaces.     

Benchmarking of lightweight cryptographic algorithms for wireless IoT networks

Wireless Networks - Cryptographic algorithms that can provide both encryption and authentication are increasingly required in modern security architectures and protocols (e.g. TLS v1.3). Many...     

Effect of Annealing on the Dark and Illuminated I(V ) Characterization of a ZnO:Ga|Cu2O Hetero-Junction Prepared by Ultrasonic Spray System

Semiconductors - This paper presents the Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis system fabrication of gallium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Ga)|cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin film hetero-junction. The deposition parameters...     

Efficiency of granulated blast furnace slag replacement of cement according to the equivalent binder concept

The strength development of slag cement has a great consideration for the scheduling of formwork removal, prestressing operations, and other practical aspects of slag cement usage. The prediction of slag concrete strength, using the Feret’s model has been studied by introducing the concept of the equivalent binder. This has led to define an efficiency coefficient of slag which distinguishes the latter with the regard to the cement. Thus, this obtained coefficient characterizes well the slag and lets to predict the slag concrete strength from strength values of a normal concrete made without slag for a given age and replacement rate. At 90 days age, the test results show that for 15% replacement rate, the slag is activated completely and gives 67% of efficiency more than the cement. For higher replacement rate, the efficiency of the slag decreases and becomes similar to that of cement for 50% replacement rate.     

Synthesis of MIL-101@g-C<Subscript>3</Subscript>N<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanocomposite for enhanced adsorption capacity towards CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

MIL-101@g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite was prepared by solvothermal synthesis and used for CO₂ adsorption. The parent materials (MIL-101 and g-C₃N₄) and the MIL-101@g-C₃N₄ were characterized by X-ray diffraction, argon adsorption/desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TG/DTA), transmission electronic microscopy, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results confirmed the formation of well-defined MIL-101@g-C₃N₄ with interesting surface area and pore volume. Furthermore, both MIL-101 and MIL-101@g-C₃N₄ were accomplished in carbon dioxide capture at different temperatures (280, 288, 273 and 298 K) at lower pressure. The adsorption isotherms show that the nanocomposite has a good CO₂ adsorption affinity compared to MIL-101. The best adsorption capacity is about 1.6 mmol g^?1 obtained for the nanocomposite material which is two times higher than that of MIL-101, indicating strong interactions between CO₂ and MIL-101@g-C₃N₄. This difference in efficacy is mainly due to the presence of the amine groups dispersed in the nanocomposite. Finally, we have developed a simple route for the preparation of an effective and new adsorbent for the removal of CO₂, which can be used as an excellent candidate for gas storage, catalysis, and adsorption.     

Digestive enzymes characterization of krill (Euphausia superba) residues deoiled by supercritical carbon dioxide and organic solvents

In this study, Enzyme activities of krill were characterized before and after lipid extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) and organic solvent, n-hexane and acetone. Krill SC-CO₂ extraction was performed under the conditions of temperature range from 35 to 45 °C and pressure, 150–250 bar for 2.5 h with a constant flow rate of 22 g/min. Extraction yields of lipids increased with pressure and temperature. The digestive enzyme activities of protease, lipase and amylase of SC-CO₂ treated krill residues were slightly decreased comparing to organic solvent, n-hexane and acetone treated residues. In SC-CO₂ treated samples, all of the digestive enzymes showed slightly higher temperature stability. In the other hand the crude extracts of SC-CO₂ and n-hexane treated krill samples showed almost same optimum pH and pH stability for each of the digestive enzymes. It was also found in SDS-PAGE that there are no significant differences in protein patterns of the crude extracts of untreated, SC-CO₂, n-hexane and acetone treated krill indicating no denaturation of proteins.