A cluster-based power-efficient MAC scheme for event-driven sensing applications

In developing an architecture for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) that is extensible to hundreds of thousands of heterogeneous nodes, fundamental advances in energy efficient communication protocols must occur. In this paper, we first propose an energy-efficient and robust intra-cluster communication bit-map assisted (BMA) MAC protocol for large-scale cluster-based WSNs and then derive energy models for BMA, conventional TDMA, and energy efficient TDMA (E-TDMA) using two different approaches. We use simulation to validate these analytical models. BMA is intended for event-driven sensing applications, that is, sensor nodes forward data to the cluster head only if significant events are observed. It has low complexity and utilizes a dynamic scheduling scheme. Clustering is a promising distributing technique used in large-scale WSNs, and when combined with an appropriate MAC scheme, high energy efficiency can be achieved. The results indicate that BMA can improve the performance of wireless sensor networks by reducing energy expenditure and packet latency. The performance of BMA as an intra-cluster MAC scheme relative to E-TDMA depends on the sensor node traffic offer load and several other key system parameters. For most sensor-based applications, the values of these parameters can be constrained such that BMA provides enhanced performance.     

Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation in WDM Passive Star Networks with Asymmetric Traffic

When asymmetric traffic is offered to a WDM passive star network, the offered bandwidth must be allocated is such a way that each station takes a portion of the available bandwidth proportional to its needs. When the traffic characteristics are fixed and a priori known, then, the bandwidth allocation scheme can be based on these characteristics. Unfortunately, the traffic characteristics are often unknown and time-variable. In this paper, a dynamic bandwidth allocation scheme is presented, which is based on the network feedback information in order to be capable of adapting to the changing traffic characteristics. According to the proposed scheme, a set of learning automata processes the network feedback information and dynamically allocates the available bandwidth to the stations according to their needs.     

A PKI approach for deploying modern secure distributed e-learning and m-learning environments

While public key cryptography is continuously evolving and its installed base is growing significantly, recent research works examine its potential use in e-learning or m-learning environments. Public key infrastructure (PKI) and attribute certificates (ACs) can provide the appropriate framework to effectively support authentication and authorization services, offering mutual trust to both learners and service providers. Considering PKI requirements for online distance learning networks, this paper discusses the potential application of ACs in a proposed trust model. Typical e-learning trust interactions between e-learners and providers are presented, demonstrating that robust security mechanisms and effective trust control can be obtained and implemented. The application of ACs to support m-learning is also presented and evaluated through an experimental test-bed setup, using the general packet radio service network. The results showed that AC issuing is attainable in service times while simultaneously can deliver flexible and scalable solutions to both learners and e-learning providers.     

Unraveling a Force-Generating Allosteric Pathway of Actomyosin Communication Associated with ADP and Pi Release

The actomyosin system generates mechanical work with the execution of the power stroke, an ATP-driven, two-step rotational swing of the myosin-neck that occurs post ATP hydrolysis during the transition from weakly to strongly actin-bound myosin states concomitant with P_i release and prior to ADP dissociation. The activating role of actin on product release and force generation is well documented; however, the communication paths associated with weak-to-strong transitions are poorly characterized. With the aid of mutant analyses based on kinetic investigations and simulations, we identified the W-helix as an important hub coupling the structural changes of switch elements during ATP hydrolysis to temporally controlled interactions with actin that are passed to the central transducer and converter. Disturbing the W-helix/transducer pathway increased actin-activated ATP turnover and reduced motor performance as a consequence of prolonged duration of the strongly actin-attached states. Actin-triggered P_i release was accelerated, while ADP release considerably decelerated, both limiting maximum ATPase, thus transforming myosin-2 into a high-duty-ratio motor. This kinetic signature of the mutant allowed us to define the fractional occupancies of intermediate states during the ATPase cycle providing evidence that myosin populates a cleft-closure state of strong actin interaction during the weak-to-strong transition with bound hydrolysis products before accomplishing the power stroke.     

Site-Controlled Uniform Ge/Si Hut Wires with Electrically Tunable Spin–Orbit Coupling

Semiconductor nanowires have been playing a crucial role in the development of nanoscale devices for the realization of spin qubits, Majorana fermions, single photon emitters, nanoprocessors, etc. The monolithic growth of site-controlled nanowires is a prerequisite toward the next generation of devices that will require addressability and scalability. Here, combining top-down nanofabrication and bottom-up self-assembly, the growth of Ge wires on prepatterned Si (001) substrates with controllable position, distance, length, and structure is reported. This is achieved by a novel growth process that uses a SiGe strain-relaxation template and can be potentially generalized to other material combinations. Transport measurements show an electrically tunable spin–orbit coupling, with a spin–orbit length similar to that of III–V materials. Also, charge sensing between quantum dots in closely spaced wires is observed, which underlines their potential for the realization of advanced quantum devices. The reported results open a path toward scalable qubit devices using nanowires on silicon.     

Nanofibrous nonwovens based on dendritic‐linear‐dendritic poly(ethylene glycol) hybrids

Dendritic‐linear‐dendritic (DLD) hybrids are highly functional materials combining the properties of linear and dendritic polymers. Attempts to electrospin DLD polymers composed of hyperbranched dendritic blocks of 2,2‐bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid on a linear poly(ethylene glycol) core proved unsuccessful. Nevertheless, when these DLD hybrids were blended with an array of different biodegradable polymers as entanglement enhancers, nanofibrous nonwovens were successfully prepared by electrospinning. The pseudogeneration degree of the DLDs, the nature of the co‐electrospun polymer and the solvent systems used for the preparation of the electrospinning solutions exerted a significant effect on the diameter and morphology of the electrospun fibers. It is worth‐noting that aqueous solutions of the DLD polymers and only 1% (w/v) poly(ethylene oxide) resulted in the production of smoother and thinner nanofibers. Such dendritic nanofibrous scaffolds can be promising materials for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, multifunctionality, and advanced structural architecture. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45949.     

Near‐UV activated,photostable nanophosphors for in vitro dosimetry and dynamic bioimaging

Luminescent rare earth nanoparticles exhibit superior optical stability over commonly‐used organic dyes and higher biocompatibility over quantum dots, rendering them advantageous as bioimaging nanoprobes. However, their typical excitation inhibits their broad employment with conventional fluorescence microscopes and, thus, solutions are sought to shift their activation in the long‐wavelength (near‐UV) spectral region. Here, we synthesize YVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanophosphors by flame aerosol technology to systematically study the effect of Bi³⁺ codoping on their luminescence. That way, we identify an optimal Bi‐content for sufficient near‐UV activation. These nanophosphors are highly crystalline and appeared bright red under a conventional fluorescence microscope, facilitating bioimaging with HeLa cells and in vitro dosimetry correlations in the presence and absence of serum. The nanophosphor superiority over organic‐dye‐labeled silica nanoparticles is shown during dynamic imaging for 4 h without photobleaching for the former. These YVO₄:Eu³⁺/Bi³⁺ nanophosphors can provide a non‐photobleaching tool for further dynamic nanoparticle‐cell interaction studies with conventional fluorescence microscopes. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 2947–2957, 2018     

Green optical backbone networks: virtual topology adaptation using a page rank‐based rating system

An energy‐aware virtual topology rating system is proposed in this work, which can be utilized as a tool during the virtual topology reconfiguration procedure in an optical backbone network in order to reduce its energy consumption. It is well known that maintaining a static virtual topology in Internet Protocol (IP)‐over‐Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks is not energy‐efficient. To that end, virtual topology adaptation algorithms have been developed to adjust the virtual topology to the constantly fluctuating traffic load. While these algorithms achieve significant energy savings, further reduction on the total network energy consumption can be achieved through the proposed rating system. The proposed rating system is a modified version of the page rank algorithm, which ranks websites in the Internet based on their importance. The proposed rating system attributes ratings to lightpaths, which indicate the relative significance of a lightpath in the virtual topology in terms of energy consumption. The rating can be used during the routing procedure as an energy efficiency indicator, in order to increase the number of lightpaths that are deactivated from the reconfiguration mechanism and increase the utilization per lightpath. The proposed reconfiguration scheme (page rank‐based virtual topology reconfiguration) achieves up to 12% additional energy savings in comparison to an existing virtual topology reconfiguration algorithm at the cost of slightly increased average hop distance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of rosemary extract, chitosan and α-tocopherol on lipid oxidation and colour stability during frozen storage of beef burgers

The effect of rosemary extract, chitosan and α-tocopherol, added individually or in combination, on lipid oxidation and colour stability of frozen (−18 °C) beef burgers stored for 180 days was investigated. The burgers’ lipid oxidation and appearance were evaluated through measurement of primary (conjugated dienes and peroxide value) and secondary (malondialdehyde) oxidation products, together with visual assessment and instrumental measurement of colour. Chitosan alone and in combination with either rosemary or α-tocopherol had the best antioxidative effect (P ? 0.05) compared to individual use of rosemary or α-tocopherol, while the best results were obtained with the combination of chitosan and rosemary. The differences of antioxidative effects, however, between individual use of rosemary or α-tocopherol as compared to the controls were also significant (P ? 0.05). Chitosan added individually or in combination with either rosemary or α-tocopherol had also a noteworthy effect on the burgers’ appearance as it contributed to red colour retention for a much longer period (P ? 0.05) compared all other treatments and the controls. In conclusion, the best antioxidative effects were obtained with the combination of chitosan and rosemary extract.     

Buckling strength of multi-story sway, non-sway and partially-sway frames with semi-rigid connections

The objective of this paper is to propose a simplified approach to the evaluation of the critical buckling load of multi-story frames with semi-rigid connections. To that effect, analytical expressions and corresponding graphs accounting for the boundary conditions of the column under investigation are proposed for the calculation of the effective buckling length coefficient for different levels of frame sway ability. In addition, a complete set of rotational stiffness coefficients is derived, which is then used for the replacement of members converging at the bottom and top ends of the column in question by equivalent springs. All possible rotational and translational boundary conditions at the far end of these members, featuring semi-rigid connection at their near end as well as the eventual presence of axial force, are considered. Examples of sway, non-sway and partially-sway frames with semi-rigid connections are presented, where the proposed approach is found to be in excellent agreement with the finite element results, while the application of codes such as Eurocode 3 and LRFD leads to significant inaccuracies.