Swapped (OTIS) Networks Built of Connected Basis Networks Are Maximally Fault Tolerant

An optical transpose interconnection system (OTIS) network with n^2 nodes is a two-level swapped architecture built of n copies of an n-node basis network that constitute its clusters. A simple rule for intercluster connectivity (node j in cluster i connected to node i in cluster j) leads to regularity, modularity, packageability, fault tolerance, and algorithmic efficiency of the resulting networks. We prove that an OTIS (swapped) network with a connected basis network possesses maximal fault tolerance, regardless of whether its basis network is maximally fault tolerant. We also show how the corresponding maximal number of node-disjoint paths between two nodes of a swapped network can be algorithmically constructed in a manner that is independent of the existence and construction of node-disjoint paths within its basis network. Our results are stronger than previously published results and they replace a number of proofs and constructions in the literature for specific basis networks. Additionally, we use our parallel path constructions to establish that the fault diameter and wide diameter of an OTIS network is no more than 4 units greater than its diameter.     

Graphene/Ni–Fe layered double hydroxide nano composites as advanced electrode materials for glucose electro oxidation

NickelIron Layered Double Hydroxide nano composites were electrochemically synthesized on graphene/glassy carbon electrode at a constant potential. The surface morphology and the structure of the electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), elemental mapping analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). This electrode was studied for glucose electro-oxidation reaction using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Results confirmed high catalytic activity, stability of the graphene/NiFe LDH electrode and glucose electro oxidation reaction on this electrode is under the effect of diffusion process. Also in comparison of some previous reported methods for the glucose electro oxidation, graphene/NiFe LDH shows a high diffusion coefficient as an electro catalyst for glucose electro oxidation. Electrical equivalent circuits for electrodes is obtained by using the Zview software. The low electrochemical charge transfer resistance (R_ct) was obtained on the graphene/NiFe LDH due to the presence of NiFe LDH nano composite.     

Carbon-air fuel cell without a reforming process

This paper describes a direct carbon-air fuel cell (DCFC) which uses a molten hydroxide electrolyte. In DCFCs, carbon is electrochemically directly oxidized to generate the power without a reforming process. Despite its compelling cost and performance advantages, the use of molten metal hydroxide electrolytes has been ignored by DCFC researches, primarily due to the potential lack of invariance of the molten hydroxide electrolyte caused by its reaction with carbon dioxide. This paper describes the electrochemistry of a patented medium-temperature DCFC based on molten hydroxide electrolyte, which overcomes the historical carbonate formation.To date, four successive generations of DCFC prototypes have been built and tested to demonstrate the technology, all using graphite rods as their fuel source. These cells all used a simple design in which the cell containers served as the air cathodes and successfully demonstrated delivering more than 40 A with the current density exceeding 250 mA/cm². The cathode is of non-porous structure made of an inexpensive Fe-Ti alloy, and gaseous oxygen is introduced into the cell by bubbling humid air through the electrolyte. Results obtained indicated that the cell operation was under a mixed Ohmic-mass transfer control. Anode and cathode reaction mechanisms are also discussed.     

Solving the current element problem over lossy half-space without Sommerfeld integrals

An approach is presented for efficient computation of the vector potentials arising in the problem of a current element radiating over a lossy half-space. The present approach departs from the conventional ones in that it works primarily with the transform domain representations rather than with the Sommerfeld integrals which are the corresponding spatial domain counterparts. The key step in the present method is to approximate the transforms using a suitable approximation which is valid for a wide range of parameters of practical interest. The approximated transforms can be inverted in a closed form for the horizontal component of the vector potentials (Pi_{z}) and can be expressed in a computationally efficient form for the vertical component (Pi_{z}). Numerical results illustrating the accuracy of the method are presented and some estimates of comparative computational times are also included.     

Extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles using four fungal species isolated from lichens

Extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using five fungal species including Fusarium oxysporum and four others isolated from native lichens (Kerman, Iran) was investigated in this study. These fungal species were identified as Arctoparmelia incurva, Penicillium chrysogenum, Uncultured root‐associated fungus, and Caloplaca arnoldii by using ITS rRNA sequence analysis. These species were then cultivated in four common industrial wastes, namely a combination of yeast and malt extract, sugar beet molasses, whey, and wastewater of beverage industry, prior to their use for biosynthesis. The synthesis of the nanoparticles was monitored by UV–visible spectroscopy. It was found to be significantly affected by both fungal species and their cultivation media. C. arnoldii cultivated in the yeast and malt extract resulted in the best performance regarding reaction kinetics, particle mean diameter and size distribution. The mean diameter and variance of the nanoparticles were determined to be about 11 nm and 24 by using transmission electron microscopy and powder X‐ray diffraction techniques, respectively. The zeta potential of the nanoparticles was measured to be −21.5 mV confirming their long‐term stability. These findings suggest a new biosynthetic route towards eco‐friendly and inexpensive production of the nanoparticles in bulk.Inspec keywords: silver, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, microorganisms, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, X‐ray diffractionOther keywords: silver nanoparticles, fungal species, extracellular biosynthesis, Fusarium oxysporum, native lichens, Arctoparmelia incurva, Penicillium chrysogenum, uncultured root‐associated fungus, Caloplaca arnoldii, ITS rRNA sequence analysis, industrial wastes, yeast, malt extract, sugar beet molasses, whey, wastewater, beverage industry, UV–visible spectroscopy, Ag     

cAMP stimulates osteoblast-like differentiation of calcifying vascular cells. Potential signaling pathway for vascular calcification

The role of the cAMP signaling pathway in vascular calcification was investigated using calcifying vascular cells (CVC) derived from primary aortic medial cell cultures. We previously showed that CVC have fibroblastic morphology and express several osteoblastic differentiation markers. After confluency, they aggregate into cellular condensations, which later mature into nodules where mineralization is localized. Here, we investigated the effects of cAMP on CVC differentiation because it plays a role in both osteoblastic differentiation and vascular disease. Dibutyryl-cAMP or forskolin treatment of CVC for 3 days induced osteoblast-like "cuboidal" morphology, inhibited proliferation, and enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity, all early markers of osteoblastic differentiation. Isobutylmethylxanthine and cholera toxin had the same effects. Treatment of CVC with pertussis toxin, however, did not induce the morphological change or increase alkaline phosphatase activity, although it inhibited CVC proliferation to a similar extent. cAMP also increased type I procollagen production and gene expression of matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein, recently shown to play a role in in vivo vascular calcification. cAMP inhibited the expression of osteopontin but did not affect the expression of osteocalcin and core binding factor. Prolonged cAMP treatment enhanced matrix calcium-mineral incorporation but inhibited the condensations resulting in diffuse mineralization throughout the monolayer of cells. Treatment of CVC with a protein kinase A-specific inhibitor, KT5720, inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization during spontaneous CVC differentiation. These results suggest that the cAMP pathway promotes in vitro vascular calcification by enhancing osteoblast-like differentiation of CVC.     

Load-balancing on swapped or OTIS networks

Existing local iterative algorithms for load-balancing are ill-suited to many large-scale interconnection networks. The main reasons are complicated Laplace spectrum computations and flow scheduling strategies. Many large-scale networks are modular and/or hierarchically structured, a prime example being the class of swapped or OTIS networks that have received much attention in recent years. We propose a new local scheme, called DED-X, for load-balancing on homogeneous and heterogeneous swapped/OTIS networks. Our scheme needs spectral information only for the much smaller basis or factor graph, which is of size O(n)$O\left(n\right)$ rather than O(n²)$O\left(n^2\right)$, and it schedules load flow on intragroup and intergroup links separately. We justify the improvements offered by DED-X schemes over traditional X schemes analytically and verify the advantages of our approach, in terms of efficiency and stability, via simulation.     

DIRECT ELECTROCHEMICAL POWER GENERATION FROM CARBON IN FUEL CELLS WITH MOLTEN HYDROXIDE ELECTROLYTE

Historically, despite its compelling cost and performance advantages, the use of a molten metal hydroxide electrolyte has been ignored by direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) researchers, primarily due to the potential for formation of carbonate salt in the cell. This article describes the electrochemistry of a patented medium-temperature DCFC based on a molten hydroxide electrolyte, which overcomes the historical carbonate formation.

An important technique discovered for significantly reducing carbonate formation in the DCFC is to ensure a high water content of the electrolyte. To date, four successive generations of DCFC prototypes have been built and tested to demonstrate the technology - all using graphite rods as their fuel source. These cells all used a simple design in which the cell containers served as the air cathodes and successfully demonstrated the ability to deliver more than 40 A with the current density exceeding 250 mA/cm². Conversion efficiency greater than 60% was achieved.