F-LEACH: a fuzzy-based data aggregation scheme for healthcare IoT systems

The Journal of Supercomputing - Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging paradigm that consists of numerous connected and interrelated devices with embedded sensors, exchanging data with each other...     

Acrylamide in Foods: Chemistry and Analysis. A Review

Acrylamide is a potential cause of a wide spectrum of toxic effects and is classified as probably “carcinogenic in humans”. The discovery of acrylamide in human foods has given rise to extensive studies exploring its formation mechanisms and levels of exposure and has spurred search into suitable analytical procedures for its determination in foodstuffs. However, the exact chemical mechanisms governing acrylamide formation are not yet known and cheap, convenient, and rapid screening methods are still to be developed. Acrylamide in food is produced by heat-induced reactions between the amino group of asparagine and the carbonyl group of reducing sugars along with thermal treatment of early Maillard reaction products (N-glycosides). Similarly, the decarboxylated Schiff base and decarboxylated Amadori compounds of asparagine as well as the Strecker aldehyde have been proposed as direct precursors and intermediates of acrylamide. Corresponding chromatographic methods are used to determine various structural groups present in Maillard reaction model systems. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis are both acknowledged as the main, useful, and authoritative methods for acrylamide determination. This review is an attempt to summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge of acrylamide chemistry, formation mechanisms, and analytical methods. Special attention is given to comparison of different chromatographic techniques, particularly the novel, simple, and low-cost methods of its determination.     

A new, simple method for the production of meat-curing pigment under optimised conditions using response surface methodology

The production of cured meat pigment using nitrite and ascorbate in acidic conditions was evaluated. HCl, ascorbate and nitrite concentrations were optimised at three levels using the response surface method (RSM). The effects of process variables on the nitrosoheme yield, the wavelength of maximum absorbance (λ(max)), and L*, a* and b* values were evaluated. The response surface equations indicate that variables exerted a significant effect on all dependent factors. The optimum combinations for the reaction were HCl=-0.8, ascorbate=0.46 and nitrite=1.00 as coded values for conversion of 1mM hemin to nitrosoheme, by which a pigment yield of 100%, which was similar to the predicted value of 99.5%, was obtained. Likewise, the other parameters were not significantly different from predicted values as the λ(max), L*, a* and b* values were 558nm, 47.03, 45.17 and 17.20, respectively. The structure of the pigment was identified using FTIR and ESI/MS.     

Exploring a Local Linear Model Tree Approach to Car‐Following

Because car‐following (CF) models are fundamental to replicating traffic flow they have received considerable attention over the last 50 years. They are in a continuous state of improvement due to their significant role in traffic microsimulations, intelligent transportation systems, and safety engineering models. This article uses the local linear model tree (LOLIMOT) approach to model driver's CF behavior to incorporate human perceptual imperfections into a CF model. This model defines some localities in the input space. These localities are fuzzy and have overlaps with each other. Specific models for each of the localities are then defined and combined in a fuzzy manner to predict the final output. The model was developed using real world dynamic data sets. Three different data sets were used for training, testing, and validating the model. The performance of the model was compared to a number of existing CF models. The results showed very close agreement between the real data and the LOLIMOT outputs.     

Biosynthesis of waste pistachio shell supported silver nanoparticles for the catalytic reduction processes

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) are immobilised on pistachio shell surface by Cichorium intybus L. leaves extract as an antioxidant media. The Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope analyses confirmed the support of silver NPs on the pistachio shell (Ag NPs/pistachio shell). Ag NPs on the pistachio shell had a diameter basically in the 10–15 nm range. Reduction reactions of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP), and organic dyes at ambient condition were used in the investigation of the catalytic performance of the prepared catalyst. Through this research, the Ag NPs/pistachio shell shows a high activity and recyclability, and reusability without loss of its catalytic activity.Inspec keywords: transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticles, X‐ray diffraction, catalysis, nanofabrication, dyes, X‐ray chemical analysis, reduction (chemical), silver, catalysts, Fourier transform infrared spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopyOther keywords: waste pistachio shell, silver nanoparticles, catalytic reduction processes, pistachio shell surface, antioxidant media, infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope analyses, reduction reactions, catalytic performance, catalytic activity, Cichorium intybus L. leaves extract, size 10.0 nm to 15.0 nm, Ag     

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic monitoring of sol-gel process in synthesis of PbS-TiO2 hybrid nanostructures

A typical hybrid nanostructure was prepared consisting of lead sulfide (PbS) nano-crystals, embedded in titanium oxide (TiO₂) using sol-gel method. The synthesis procedure was monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Spectroscopic investigations indicated that PbS nano-crystals are embedded in the TiO₂ matrix with no strong Ti-O-Pb-S bonding. The size of PbS hybrid nanostructures decreased with diminishing lead and sulfur mole concentrations. The smallest size of NCs has been obtained in 10% of mole concentration (30-45 nm particle size for the hybrid nanostructure). The morphology and microstructure of the nano hybrid was investigated by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction.     

Measurement matrix design for CS-MIMO radar using multi-objective optimization

In this paper, we design a measurement matrix for a compressive sensing-multiple-input multiple-output radar in the presence of clutter and interference. To optimize the measurement matrix, three main criteria are considered simultaneously to improve detection and sparse recovery performance while suppressing clutter and interference. To this end, we consider three well-known criteria including Bhattacharyya distance, mutual coherency of sensing matrix, and signal-to-clutter-plus-interference ratio. Due to the use of simultaneous multi-objective functions, a multi-objective optimization (MOO) framework is exploited. Some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the achieved improvement of our proposed method in target detection and sparse recovery performance. Simulation results show that the proposed MOO technique for measurement matrix design can achieve superior performance in target detection compared with Gaussian random measurement matrix technique.     

Mass transfer from nanofluid drops in a pulsed liquid–liquid extraction column

Mass transfer in gas–liquid systems has been significantly enhanced by recent developments in nanotechnology. However, the influence of nanoparticles in liquid–liquid systems has received much less attention. In the present study, both experimental and theoretical works were performed to investigate the influence of nanoparticles on the mass transfer behaviour of drops inside a pulsed liquid–liquid extraction column (PLLEC). The chemical system of kerosene–acetic acid–water was used, and the drops were organic nanofluids containing hydrophobic SiO₂ nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 vol%. The experimental results indicate that the addition of 0.1 vol% nanoparticles to the base fluid improves the mass transfer performance by up to 60%. The increase in mass transfer with increased nanoparticle content was more apparent for lower pulsation intensities (0.3–1.3 cm/s). At high pulsation intensities, the Sauter mean diameter (d₃₂) decreased to smaller sizes (1.1–2.2 mm), leading to decreased Brownian motion in the nanoparticles. Using an analogy for heat and mass transfer, an approach for determining the mass diffusion coefficient was suggested. A new predictive correlation was proposed to calculate the effective diffusivity and mass transfer coefficient in terms of the nanoparticle volume fraction, Reynolds number, and Schmidt number. Finally, model predictions were directly compared with the experimental results for different nanofluids. The absolute average relative error (%AARE) of the proposed correlation for the mass transfer coefficient and effective diffusivity were 5.3% and 5.4%, respectively.     

Economic investigation on the use of internal coating for natural gas trunk-lines

Natural gas transmission through pipeline is the most common method for high capacity gas transmission especially when LNG technology is impossible or uneconomical. These systems are too cost intensive mainly due to fuel consumption of compressor stations. To cope with this problem, internally coated pipeline is considered as an effective approach. A mathematical model was developed in previous study and a visual program was compiled to reach optimum design of natural gas trunk-lines. Effect of different parameters such as pressure, diameter, and material grade can be investigated by developed model. This paper aims to study the effect of surface roughness from economic viewpoint. Results show that internal coating has an insignificant effect on pipeline Life Cycle Cost while it has a considerable decreasing effect on pressure drop and consequently fuel consumption cost. This study shows a coated pipeline is not ever profitable. Internal coating is disadvantageous before breakeven flow rate and breakeven point is a function of other operating conditions. The profitability will increase by increasing flow rate especially at high flow rates. This behavior is a direct result of decrease in laminar sublayer's thickness. Therefore, a detailed economic research seems indispensable over the whole project's lifetime before making any decision about using of internal coating.