Enabling autonomicity in wireless mesh networks with the ETSI AFI GANA reference model

The distributed nature of wireless mesh networks (WMNs) allows them to benefit from multiple autonomic functionalities. However, the existing landscape of self‐x solutions (eg, self‐configuration) is fragmented and the lack of a standardized framework through which interoperable autonomics can be developed has been hampering adoption and deployment of autonomics in real‐world service networks. There is a need for a standardized architectural framework that enables to comprehensively support and integrate interoperable components for autonomicity in WMNs. Such an architecture (autonomicity‐enabled wireless mesh architecture) is currently being standardized by the working group called Evolution of Management towards Autonomic Future Internet (AFI) in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute within the Network Technologies Technical Committee. The proposed autonomic wireless mesh architecture is an instantiation of the AFI GANA (Generic Autonomic Network Architecture) reference model, a standards‐based approach to autonomics. This paper complements and extends the early version of the architecture by further detailing the architectural principles and providing experimental and validation results. First, we provide a brief overview of the AFI GANA reference model and then show how each of its building blocks can be instantiated for WMNs. We evaluate the proposed architecture by implementing and testing the 4 basic self‐x functionalities defined by the GANA model. The provided guidelines can now help researchers and engineers build autonomicity‐enabled WMNs using a standardized framework that enables adoption and deployment of autonomics by industry, thereby enabling researchers and engineers to contribute to the further evolution of the standard in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.     

Surface roughness analysis of hardened steel after high-speed milling

The work refers to analysis of various factors affecting surface roughness after end milling of hardened steel in high-speed milling (HSM) conditions. Investigations of milling parameters (cutting speed v(c) , axial depth of cut a(p) ) and the process dynamics that influence machined surface roughness were presented, and a surface roughness model, including cutter displacements, was elaborated. The work also involved analysis of surface profile charts from the point of view of vibrations and cutting force components. The research showed that theoretic surface roughness resulting from the kinematic-geometric projection of cutting edge in the workpiece is significantly different from the reality. The dominant factor in the research was not feed per tooth f(z) (according to the theoretical model) but dynamical phenomena and feed per revolution f.     

Analog filter pair design on the basis of a gyrator–capacitor prototype circuit

The paper presents an algorithmic approach to a low‐sensitivity design strategy for analog filter pairs based on a gyrator–capacitor prototype circuit. The general structure of the prototype circuit is proposed. It assumed that the generic structure of the prototype circuit can evolve, with the use of additional gyrators, into a circuit with increased redundancy. It is shown that symbolic analysis of the prototype circuit, used to formulate a set of nonlinear algebraic equations, is necessary to achieve a sufficiently high algorithm operation speed. To find a solution to this specific system of nonlinear algebraic equations, different numerical methods are compared. The modified Hooke and Jeeves algorithm is found to be the most effective. The elaborated algorithms and programs are illustrated with the seventh‐order filter pair example. The obtained filter is better than the filter obtained using LC ladder structures with respect to chip area and power consumption, and these improvements are obtained without loss of sensitivity properties. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physicochemical and Biological Characterisation of Diclofenac Oligomeric Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) Hybrids as β-TCP Ceramics Modifiers for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Nowadays, regenerative medicine faces a major challenge in providing new, functional materials that will meet the characteristics desired to replenish and grow new tissue. Therefore, this study presents new ceramic-polymer composites in which the matrix consists of tricalcium phosphates covered with blends containing a chemically bounded diclofenac with the biocompatible polymer—poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), P(3HO). Modification of P(3HO) oligomers was confirmed by NMR, IR and XPS. Moreover, obtained oligomers and their blends were subjected to an in-depth characterisation using GPC, TGA, DSC and AFM. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the hydrophobicity and surface free energy values of blends decreased with the amount of diclofenac modified oligomers. Subsequently, the designed composites were used as a substrate for growth of the pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1). An in vitro biocompatibility study showed that the composite with the lowest concentration of the proposed drug is within the range assumed to be non-toxic (viability above 70%). Cell proliferation was visualised using the SEM method, whereas the observation of cell penetration into the scaffold was carried out by confocal microscopy. Thus, it can be an ideal new functional bone tissue substitute, allowing not only the regeneration and restoration of the defect but also inhibiting the development of chronic inflammation.     

Combined EBSD and Computer-Assisted Quantitative Analysis of the Impact of Spark Plasma Sintering Parameters on the Structure of Porous Materials

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - The paper presents the experimental, numerical, and theoretical investigation of the microstructure of nickel aluminide samples manufactured by spark...     

The evolution of spatial patterns of residential segregation in Central European Cities: The Łódź Functional Urban Region from mature socialism to mature post-socialism

Two themes dominated the study of socio-spatial change in Central Eastern Europe (CEE) after 1990. One was that the development of urban regions in CEE after the demise of socialism is characterized by suburbanization. The second topic raises the issue of growing residential segregation. Unfortunately, studies on patterns of residential segregation are still scarce in the CEE context, in particular those that employ traditional measures of segregation. Relying on solid empirical materials from the 1988 and 2002 National Censuses, the purpose of this paper is to map and analyze the patterns of residential segregation in the ?ód? Functional Urban Region, an old industrial urban region in Poland undergoing a rapid deconcentration and shrinkage of the core area. This contribution concludes that the first decade of systemic transition resulted in decreasing residential segregation, as gauged by global measures of segregation.     

Effect of different concentration of rapeseed‐oil‐based polyol and water on structure and mechanical properties of flexible polyurethane foams

Flexible polyurethane foams (FPURFs) with varied concentration of water from 3.2 to 4.2% and rapeseed oil based polyol (ROP) in the range of 13–22% in polyol premix were obtained. Effects of changes in polyurethane (PUR) formulation on the foaming process and mechanical properties of FPURFs were analyzed. It was found that the change of water content in PUR formulation influences its foaming process. Higher water content in the PUR formulation increases the growth velocity and the temperature of reaction mixture. In the case of foams modified with ROP, an opposite effect can be observed, where higher content of that component resulted in overall downturn of the foaming process and decreases of registered temperature inside the foams core. An addition of ROP beneficially influences on foams cellular structure favoring creation of finer cells. Such modification of PUR formulation with ROP increased apparent density, reduced hardness, and resilience of flexible foams. What is more the support factor of FPURFs with ROP was higher in comparison to the reference foam. Along with higher water content in the PUR formulation, apparent density and hardness has decreased and foams ability to absorb energy has been increased. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42372.     

Discrete element modeling and experimental investigation of hot pressing of intermetallic NiAl powder

This paper presents the numerical and experimental analysis of hot pressing of NiAl powder with an emphasis on the best possible representation of its main stages: initial powder compaction and pressure-assisted sintering. The numerical study has been performed within the discrete element framework. In the paper, an original viscoelastic model of hot pressing has been used. In order to ensure that the applied values of material parameters in numerical simulations are appropriate, the reference literature has been reviewed. It produced the relations and equations to estimate the values of all required sintering material parameters of the considered viscoelastic model. Numerical simulations have employed the geometrical model of the initial dense specimen generated by a special algorithm which uses the real grain distribution of powder. The numerical model has been calibrated and validated through simulations of the real process of hot pressing of intermetallic NiAl material. The kinetics of compaction, sintering and cooling stage indicated by the evolution of density, shrinkage and densification rate have been studied. The comparison of numerical and experimental results has shown a good performance of the developed numerical model.     

CE-MS-based proteomics in biomarker discovery and clinical application

CE-MS is applied in clinical proteomics for both the identification of biomarkers of disease and assessment of biomarkers in clinical diagnosis. The analysis is reproducible, fast, and requires only small sample volumes. However, successful CE-MS analysis depends on several critical steps that can be consolidated as follows: (i) proper sample preparation and fractionation, (ii) application of suitable capillary coating and appropriate CE-MS interfaces, to ensure the reproducibility and stability of the analysis, and (iii) an optimized clinical and statistical study design to increase the chances for obtaining clinically relevant results. In this review, we cover all these aspects, and present several examples of the application of CE-MS in clinical proteomics.