CMODLB: an efficient load balancing approach in cloud computing environment

The Journal of Supercomputing - A hybrid of supervised (artificial neural network), unsupervised (clustering) machine learning, and soft computing (interval type 2 fuzzy logic system)-based load...     

C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 9 and Its CXCR3 Receptor Are the Salt and Pepper for T Cells Trafficking in a Mouse Model of Gaucher Disease

Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disease, which happens due to mutations in GBA1/Gba1 that encodes the enzyme termed as lysosomal acid β-glucosidase. The major function of this enzyme is to catalyze glucosylceramide (GC) into glucose and ceramide. The deficiency of this enzyme and resultant abnormal accumulation of GC cause altered function of several of the innate and adaptive immune cells. For example, augmented infiltration of T cells contributes to the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, (e.g., IFNγ, TNFα, IL6, IL12p40, IL12p70, IL23, and IL17A/F). This leads to tissue damage in a genetic mouse model (Gba1^9V/−) of Gaucher disease. The cellular mechanism(s) by which increased tissue infiltration of T cells occurs in this disease is not fully understood. Here, we delineate role of the CXCR3 receptor and its exogenous C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9) in induction of increased tissue recruitment of CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T cells in Gaucher disease. Intracellular FACS staining of macrophages (Mϕs) and dendritic cells (DCs) from Gba1^9V/− mice showed elevated production of CXCL9. Purified CD4⁺ T cells and the CD8⁺ T cells from Gba1^9V/− mice showed increased expression of CXCR3. Ex vivo and in vivo chemotaxis experiments showed CXCL9 involvement in the recruitment of Gba1^9V/− T cells. Furthermore, antibody blockade of the CXCL9 receptor (CXCR3) on T cells caused marked reduction in CXCL9- mediated chemotaxis of T cells in Gba1^9V/− mice. These data implicate abnormalities of the CXCL9-CXCR3 axis leading to enhanced tissue recruitment of T cells in Gaucher disease. Such results provide a rationale for blockade of the CXCL9/CXCR3 axis as potential new therapeutic targets for the treatment of inflammation in Gaucher disease.     

Scheduling and power control for MAC layer design in multihop IR‐UWB networks

Recently, a number of researchers have proposed media access control (MAC) designs for ultra‐wideband (UWB) networks. Among them, designs based on scheduling and power control seem to be of great promise, particularly for quality‐of‐service (QoS) traffic. We investigate the efficiencies of many different choices for scheduling and power allocation for QoS traffic in a multihop impulse radio (IR)‐UWB network, with the objective of achieving both high spectral efficiency and low transmission power. Specifically, we compare different scheduling schemes employing a protocol interference‐based contention graph as well as a physical interference‐based contention graph. We propose a relative distance to determine adjacency in the protocol interference‐based contention graph. Using our improved protocol interference model with graph‐based scheduling, we obtained better performance than the physical interference‐based approach employing link‐by‐link scheduling. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi-Resonating Structures for Broadband Impedance Matching in Ultrawideband Antenna

Wireless Personal Communications - The feature of Dynamic topology configuration of MANET reciprocates the security constraints and bring in many security threats that hamper the routing and time...     

Mammography dosimetry using an in-house developed polymethyl methacrylate phantom

Phantom-based measurements in mammography are well-established for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures involving equipment performance and comparisons of X-ray machines. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is among the best suitable materials for simulation of the breast. For carrying out QA/QC exercises in India, a mammographic PMMA phantom with engraved slots for keeping thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLD) has been developed. The radiation transmission property of the developed phantom was compared with the commercially available phantoms for verifying its suitability for mammography dosimetry. The breast entrance exposure (BEE), mean glandular dose (MGD), percentage depth dose (PDD), percentage surface dose distribution (PSDD), calibration testing of automatic exposure control (AEC) and density control function of a mammography machine were measured using this phantom. MGD was derived from the measured BEE following two different methodologies and the results were compared. The PDD and PSDD measurements were carried out using LiF: Mg, Cu, P chips. The in-house phantom was found comparable with the commercially available phantoms. The difference in the MGD values derived using two different methods were found in the range of 17.5-32.6 %. Measured depth ranges in the phantom lie between 0.32 and 0.40 cm for 75 % depth dose, 0.73 and 0.92 cm for 50 % depth dose, and 1.54 and 1.78 cm for 25 % depth dose. Higher PSDD value was observed towards chest wall edge side of the phantom, which is due to the orientation of cathode-anode axis along the chest wall to the nipple direction. Results obtained for AEC configuration testing shows that the observed mean optical density (O.D) of the phantom image was 1.59 and O.D difference for every successive increase in thickness of the phantom was within±0.15 O.D. Under density control function testing, at -2 and -1 density settings, the variation in film image O.D was within±0.15 O.D of the normal density setting '0' and at +2 and +1 density setting, it was observed to be within±0.30 O.D. This study indicates that the locally made PMMA TLD slot phantom can be used to measure various mammography QC parameters which are essentially required for better outcomes in mammography.     

Effect of Ce Doping on the Magnetic Properties of NiFe2O4 Nanoparticles

In the present work, effect of different concentration of Ce ions on the magnetic properties of nickel ferrite nanoparticles is discussed. A series of NiCe _x Fe_2?x O₄ (x=0.0–0.10) samples were prepared by a chemical route. XRD patterns show that all the samples are in pure spinel phase except that with x=0.10. This indicates that rare earth ions have limited solubility in the spinel lattice. Magnetic properties are studied by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and the results are explained in terms of a magnetic moment obtained by a vibrating sample magnetometer. Mössbauer spectroscopy was performed to have an idea about the distribution of ions between the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. Magnetic moment is found to decrease after doping with Ce ions. It was found that the samples show mixed spinel nature rather than the pure inverse character. Doping with Ce ions reduces the EPR linewidth of pure nickel ferrite, which indicates that eddy current losses are reduced.     

Mirage formation in the thermal region

Formation of a mirage in the 8-12-μm band has been observed with a high-resolution thermal camera designed and developed by us. Thermal imagery recorded under actual field conditions is presented to illustrate the mirage phenomenon. Further analysis is in progress to estimate the effect of mirages in this waveband for civil and military applications.     

Sensitive and selective detection of adenine using fluorescent ZnS nanoparticles

We have used fluorescent ZnS nanoparticles as a probe for the determination of adenine. A typical 2 × 10(-7) M concentration of adenine quenches 39.3% of the ZnS fluorescence. The decrease in ZnS fluorescence as a function of adenine concentration was found to be linear in the concentration range 5 × 10(-9)-2 × 10(-7) M. The limit of detection (LOD) of adenine by this method is 3 nM. Among the DNA bases, only adenine quenched the fluorescence of ZnS nanoparticles in the submicromolar concentration range, thus adding selectivity to the method. The amino group of adenine was important in determining the quenching efficiency. Steady-state fluorescence experiments suggest that one molecule of adenine is sufficient to quench the emission arising from a cluster of ZnS consisting of about 20 molecules. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements indicate that the adenine molecules block the sites on the surface of ZnS responsible for emission with the longest lifetime component. This method may be applied for the determination of adenine in biological samples since the measurements have been carried out at pH 7.     

Measurement of trust over time in hybrid inspection systems

A study was conducted to measure the effects of human trust and to determine how it develops over time in a hybrid inspection system given different types of errors (i.e., false alarms and misses). The study also looked at which of the four dimensions of trust (competence, predictability, reliability, and faith) were the best predictors of overall trust. Results from the study showed that trust is sensitive to the type of errors made by a system. There was a significant change in overall trust between the stages for the conservative and risky systems, but no significant change in the neutral system. In regards to the best predictors of trust, faith appeared as one of the predictors in all three trial blocks for the conservative and risky systems. As time progressed, predictability emerged in the second and third trial blocks for the conservative system. Competence played an important role in the development of trust for the risky system, whereas reliability played an important role for the neutral system. These results suggest that subjective ratings of trust and the properties of the system can be used to predict the allocation of functions in hybrid inspection systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 15: 177–196, 2005.     

Performance characteristics of spray-pyrolysed selective cobalt-oxide coated tubular absorber operated with a linear solar concentrator

Spray-pyrolysed selective cobalt-oxide (CoO_x) coatings were prepared on the surface of a bright nickel-plated copper tubular absorber (α = 0.89–0.91 and ?_100°C = 0.18) for operation in conjunction with a prototype linear Fresnel reflector solar concentrator (LFRSC). Some preliminary tests were conducted to study the optical and thermal performance characteristics of the selective cobalt-oxide coated absorber in the concentrated solar flux. The tests conducted included determination of the overall heat loss coefficient U_L of the absorber at temperatures from 50 to ～ 120°C, and the optical efficiency η_o of the concentrator-absorber system, and measurement of the stagnation temperature of the absorber with the prototype solar concentrator. Based on the results of U_L and η_o measurements, the thermal efficiency η of the concentrator-absorber system at a working temperature of 115°C has been determined for a typical beam radiation I_b of 600 W/m². Further, comparison of the results of this study with those obtained using a dimensionally identical black-painted absorber indicates that the performance of the selective cobalt-oxide coated absorber is considerably superior to that of an ordinary black-painted absorber.