Cog-MAC Protocol: Channel Allocation in Cognitive Ad Hoc Networks Based on the Game of Learning Automata

Wireless Personal Communications - Spectrum allocation is a major challenge in wireless ad hoc networks due to restrictions on the number of available communication channels and also passive...     

Conjugated linoleic acid: A potent fatty acid linked to animal and human health

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a mixture of isomers of linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6), which is mostly found in the ruminant meat and dairy products. The CLA is known to have many potential health benefits, and considered a potent powerful fatty acid, which is linked to animal and human health. The present work aims to discuss the source and production, mechanism of action, and effects of CLA on humans, poultry, and ruminants by reviewing the recent studies carried out on CLA. Despite most of the recent studies indicating beneficial effects of CLA on improving body weight control parameters, its effects on reducing risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), inflammation, blood glucose, and insulin are still controversial, and need to be further studied in different hosts.     

Parameters optimization of recombinant hepatitis B antigen adsorption–desorption in purification process on three different kinds of diatomaceous earth matrix

The purpose of this study was to compare adsorptive capacity of three kinds of celite for r-HBsAg. The experimental design methodology was used to optimize the parameters which affect adsorption efficiency. The examined parameters were the adsorption/desorption temperature, pH, time, agitation speed and antigen concentration.     

Optimizing mechanical and morphological properties of biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer based on epoxidized natural rubber and poly(butylene succinate) blends

Biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer (BTPE) blends of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) were prepared by the melt mixing process. Influences of the processing parameters mixing temperature, rotor speed, and mixing time on mechanical and morphological properties of BTPE were investigated. Taguchi method was applied to improve the mechanical and morphological properties by optimizing the processing parameters. That is, the experimental design adopted the L9 Taguchi orthogonal array with three manipulated factors (i.e., mixing temperature, rotor speed, and mixing time). Analysis of mean and analysis of variance were also exploited and the mixing temperature was found to be the most significant processing parameter regarding mechanical properties. The mixing temperature showed large contributions to Young's modulus, 100% modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break, namely 45.33, 40.38, 49.31, and 36.04%, respectively. Furthermore, the optimum conditions found for mixing temperature, rotor speed, and mixing time were 140 °C, 100 rpm and 10 min, respectively. The result was confirmed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy micrographs showing fine‐grained co‐continuous phase morphology of the ENR/PBS blends. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46541.     

Engineering of Mature Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell‐Derived Cardiomyocytes Using Substrates with Multiscale Topography

Producing mature and functional cardiomyocytes (CMs) by in vitro differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using only biochemical cues is challenging. To mimic the biophysical and biomechanical complexity of the native in vivo environment during the differentiation and maturation process, polydimethylsiloxane substrates with 3D topography at the micrometer and sub‐micrometer levels are developed and used as cell‐culture substrates. The results show that while cylindrical patterns on the substrates resembling mature CMs enhance the maturation of iPSC‐derived CMs, sub‐micrometer‐level topographical features derived by imprinting primary human CMs further accelerate both the differentiation and maturation processes. The resulting CMs exhibit a more‐mature phenotype than control groups—as confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, and the magnitude of beating signals—and possess the shape and orientation of mature CMs in human myocardium—as revealed by fluorescence microscopy, Ca²⁺ flow direction, and mitochondrial distribution. The experiments, combined with a virtual cell model, show that the physico‐mechanical cues generated by these 3D‐patterned substrates improve the phenotype of the CMs via the reorganization of the cytoskeletal network and the regulation of chromatin conformation.     

The integration of the output controllability index within the dynamic operability framework in process system design

This paper presents the integration of the output controllability index within the dynamic operability framework to facilitate controllability and economic assessment of process system design for regulatory cases. The framework utilises the geometric representation of feasible operating region as well as input, output and disturbance spaces, in terms of their convex hulls. The geometric operations amongst these convex hulls replace most of the inequalities on the original framework. In addition to the best feasible operating conditions, which are the original outcome, the framework also provides a controllability index involving all of the output variables (generalised integral absolute error, GIAE) and the expected variation of profit on disturbance rejection dynamics. The applicability of the proposed framework is demonstrated on a nonlinear chemical process system with a fixed control structure.     

Two materials S-frame representation for improving crashworthiness and lightening

In this paper, different designs of a simplified front side rail structure of an automobile body (S-frame) from the point of view of crashworthiness and weight efficiency is studied. Various possible models of S-frame is presented and characteristics of each models are compared and discussed. It is shown that a hybrid S-frame made of steel and aluminum shows better characteristics from the point of view of passenger safety and weight efficiency.