Support vector machine-based expert system for reliable heartbeat recognition

This paper presents a new solution to the expert system for reliable heartbeat recognition. The recognition system uses the support vector machine (SVM) working in the classification mode. Two different preprocessing methods for generation of features are applied. One method involves the higher order statistics (HOS) while the second the Hermite characterization of QRS complex of the registered electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform. Combining the SVM network with these preprocessing methods yields two neural classifiers, which have been combined into one final expert system. The combination of classifiers utilizes the least mean square method to optimize the weights of the weighted voting integrating scheme. The results of the performed numerical experiments for the recognition of 13 heart rhythm types on the basis of ECG waveforms confirmed the reliability and advantage of the proposed approach.     

Different Directions of Switching of Chromium Oxide Thin Films

We have investigated the switching behavior of as-deposited CrO _x and post-annealed CrO _y films by use of a variety of electrodes (top electrode Ag, Ti; bottom electrode Pt, fluorine tin oxide (FTO)). Resistance switching is highly dependent on electrode material and post-annealing treatment. Among Pt devices, I–V hysteresis was observed for the Ag/CrO _x /Pt device only; no resistance switching was observed for Ag/CrO _y /Pt, Ti/CrO _x /Pt, and Ti/CrO _y /Pt devices. Among FTO devices, I–V hysteresis was observed for the Ag/CrO _x /FTO device whereas I–V hysteresis with the opposite switching direction was observed for Ag/CrO _y /FTO, Ti/CrO _x /FTO, and Ti/CrO _y /FTO devices. The direction of switching depends not only on electrode material but also on post-annealing treatment, which affects the density of grain boundaries. Thus, the density of grain boundaries determines the type of charge carrier involved in the switching process. For as-deposited CrO _x films with a high density of grain boundaries Ag filament paths mediated by electrochemical redox reaction were observed, irrespective of bottom electrode material (Pt or FTO). Post-annealed CrO _y films with a low density of grain boundaries suppressed electrochemical redox reaction in the Ag/CrO _y /Pt device but promoted short-range movement of O^2? ions through the bottom interface, resulting in resistance switching in the Ag/CrO _y /FTO device. Electrochemical redox reaction-controlled resistance switching occurred solely in oxides with a high density of grain boundaries or dislocations.     

High Performance Three‐Dimensional Chemical Sensor Platform Using Reduced Graphene Oxide Formed on High Aspect‐Ratio Micro‐Pillars

The sensing performance of chemical sensors can be achieved not only by modification or hybridization of sensing materials but also through new design in device geometry. The performance of a chemical sensing device can be enhenced from a simple three‐dimensional (3D) chemiresistor‐based gas sensor platform with an increased surface area by forming networked, self‐assembled reduced graphene oxide (R‐GO) nanosheets on 3D SU8 micro‐pillar arrays. The 3D R‐GO sensor is highly responsive to low concentration of ammonia (NH₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) diluted in dry air at room temperature. Compared to the two‐dimensional planar R‐GO sensor structure, as the result of the increase in sensing area and interaction cross‐section of R‐GO on the same device area, the 3D R‐GO gas sensors show improved sensing performance with faster response (about 2%/s exposure), higher sensitivity, and even a possibly lower limit of detection towards NH₃ at room temperature.     

Nonlinearity Limitations When Mixing 40-Gb/s Coherent PDM-QPSK Channels With Preexisting 10-Gb/s NRZ Channels

We investigate the penalties onto a 40-Gb/s polarization-division-multiplexing (PDM)-quadrature phase-shift keying caused by PDM, wavelength-division multiplexing and 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero neighbor channels. Besides, we optimize the carrier phase estimation process and introduce bandgaps in the multiplex in order to contain limitations caused by cross nonlinear effects.     

Ultra-Robust Flexible Electronics by Laser-Driven Polymer-Nanomaterials Integration

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most widely used polymer in the world. For the first time, the laser-driven integration of aluminum nanoparticles (Al NPs) into PET to realize a laser-induced graphene/Al NPs/polymer composite, which demonstrates excellent toughness and high electrical conductivity with the formation of aluminum carbide into the polymer is shown. The conductive structures show an impressive mechanical resistance against >10000 bending cycles, projectile impact, hammering, abrasion, and structural and chemical stability when in contact with different solvents (ethanol, water, and aqueous electrolytes). Devices including thermal heaters, carbon electrodes for energy storage, electrochemical and bending sensors show this technology's practical application for ultra-robust polymer electronics. This laser-based technology can be extended to integrating other nanomaterials and create hybrid graphene-based structures with excellent properties in a wide range of flexible electronics’ applications.     

Short packet communication in underlay cognitive network assisted by an intelligent reflecting surface

We propose short packet communication in an underlay cognitive radio network assisted by an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) composed of multiple reconfigurable reflectors. This scheme, called the IRS protocol, operates in only one time slot (TS) using the IRS. The IRS adjusts its phases to give zero received cumulative phase at the secondary destination, thereby enhancing the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio. The transmitting power of the secondary source is optimized to simultaneously satisfy the multi-interference constraints, hardware limitations, and performance improvement. Simulation and analysis results of the average block error rates (BLERs) show that the performance can be enhanced by installing more reconfigurable reflectors, increasing the blocklength, lowering the number of required primary receivers, or sending fewer information bits. Moreover, the proposed IRS protocol always outperforms underlay relaying protocols using two TSs for data transmission, and achieves the best average BLER at identical transmission distances between the secondary source and secondary destination. The theoretical analyses are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.     

Bio-Inspired Artificial Fast-Adaptive and Slow-Adaptive Mechanoreceptors With Synapse-Like Functions

Development of artificial mechanoreceptors capable of sensing and pre-processing external mechanical stimuli is a crucial step toward constructing neuromorphic perception systems that can learn and store information. Here, bio-inspired artificial fast-adaptive (FA) and slow-adaptive (SA) mechanoreceptors with synapse-like functions are demonstrated for tactile perception. These mechanoreceptors integrate self-powered piezoelectric pressure sensors with synaptic electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors (EGFETs) featuring a reduced graphene oxide channel. The FA pressure sensor is based on a piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) thin film, while the SA pressure sensor is enabled by a piezoelectric ionogel with the piezoelectric-ionic coupling effect based on P(VDF-TrFE) and an ionic liquid. Changes in post-synaptic current are achieved through the synaptic effect of the EGFET by regulating the amplitude, number, duration, and frequency of tactile stimuli (pre-synaptic pulses). These devices have great potential to serve as artificial biological mechanoreceptors for future artificial neuromorphic perception systems.     

Synergistic Enhancement of Luminescent and Ferroelectric Properties through Multi-Clipping of Tetraphenylethenes

Synergistically enhancing luminescent and ferroelectric ( SELF ) properties are observed from a tetraphenylethene ( TP ) substituted with clipping groups ( C ), where the C is consisting of a 4-[3,5-bis-(3-decyloxy-styryl)-styryl]-phenyl ( DOS ) unit. The DOS units of TPCn are self-assembled via intermolecular interaction to clip themselves and induce TP aggregation, as evidenced by clip-induced quenching of emission at DOS units ( E _clip ) accompanied by aggregation-induced emission enhancement of TPs ( E _AIE ). TPC4 demonstrates strong photoluminescence in a dilute chloroform solution and large E_AIE in aqueous (>50%) THF solution. TPCn demonstrates SELF properties in film state, with high quantum yields of photoluminescence (>80%) and ferroelectric switching. Due to the introduction of four clips, TPC4 has a higher remnant polarization ( P _r  =  2.27 µC cm⁻²) at room temperature than TPC1. TPC4 is successfully employed in a light-emitting electrochemical cell to achieve over 1290 cd m⁻² under pulsed current conditions. The TPC4 film on a flexible substrate produced a piezoelectric output voltage of up to 0.13 V and a current density of 1.14 nA cm⁻² upon bending. These results indicate that the side chain clipping and TP aggregation resulted in unprecedented flexible SELF properties in a single compound, offering simultaneous enhancement of electroluminescence, mechanical sensitivity, and energy harvesting capacity.     

Nanostructured β‐Bi2O3 Fractals on Carbon Fibers for Highly Selective CO2 Electroreduction to Formate

3D Bi₂O₃ fractal nanostructures (f‐Bi₂O₃) are directly self‐assembled on carbon fiber papers (CFP) using a scalable hot‐aerosol synthesis strategy. This approach provides high versatility in modulating the physiochemical properties of the Bi₂O₃ catalyst by a tailorable control of its crystalline size, loading, electron density as well as providing exposed stacking of the nanomaterials on the porous CFP substrate. As a result, when tested for electrochemical CO₂ reduction reactions (CO₂RR), these f‐Bi₂O₃ electrodes demonstrate superior conversion of CO₂ to formate (HCOO^?) with low onset overpotential and a high mass‐specific formate partial current density of ?52.2 mA mg^?1, which is ≈3 times higher than that of the drop‐casted control Bi₂O₃ catalyst (?15.5 mA mg^?1), and a high Faradaic efficiency (FE_HCOO^?) of 87% at an applied potential of ?1.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. The findings reveal that the high exposure of roughened β‐phase Bi₂O₃/Bi edges and the improved electron density of these fractal structures are key contributors in attainment of high CO₂RR activity.