An Improved LEACH Routing Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Network

Optimization of energy consumption is major concern for the design and planning of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Recent research has demonstrated that organizing nodes in clusters has higher energy efficiency. LEACH is the most popular routing protocol for cluster-based in WSNs, and FCM algorithm is used for the optimum number of the clusters and their location. Aiming at the shortcomings of LEACH and FCM-LEACH, which including inaccurate cluster centers, unreasonable clustering and sole data transmission mode. This paper proposes a new energy efficient routing algorithm (NF-LEACH). In the new algorithm, There are many factors have considered to prolong the network life cycle that they are the degree of membership, residual energy, base station distance and data transmission mode. Finally, the comparison among LEACH, FCM-LEACH, and NF-LEACH has been done. The results show that the NF-LEACH has the longest lifetime and the most evenly distributed amongst three algorithms.     

Cross-Layer Optimization of Dynamic Packet Assignment for Video Transmission Over IEEE 802.11e Networks

Video transmission over IEEE 802.11e wireless networks still shows poor performance for large bandwidth demand and frequently changed environments. Thus, several enhancements of IEEE 802.11e were proposed. On the other hand, big frames and simultaneous sending of adjacent frames always cause packet dropping for buffer overflow. In the past, we proposed an IEEE 802.11e enhancement named DFAA and a content aware mechanism to solve the above problems. The motivation of this paper is to find a proper way to integrate these two mechanisms. A DFAA enhancement (DFAA-E) is proposed to make up the insufficiency of content aware mechanism. Experiments results show that the combination of DFAA-E and content aware mechanism improves the video decoded quality greatly. And its performance can be further enhanced by selecting the suitable settings of certain parameters.     

Novel Near‐Infrared Squaraine Sensitizers for Stable and Efficient Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A new molecular design strategy for tuning the energy levels of cis‐configured squaraine sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells is described. The Hammett substituent constant and the π‐conjugation length are used as quantitative indicators to modify the central squarate moiety of the sensitizer dyes; specifically, novel near‐infrared squaraine dyes HSQ3 and HSQ4 are synthesized by incorporation of an electron‐withdrawing and π‐extending ethyl cyanoacetate unit on the central squarate moiety. The solution absorption maximum of HSQ4 occurs at 703 nm, and the energy levels of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and the highest occupied molecular orbital are in the ideal range for energetically efficient electron injection and regeneration of the oxidized dye. A solar cell sensitized with HSQ4 exhibits a broad incident photo­n‐to‐current conversion efficiency spectrum, extending into the near‐infrared region with a maximum value of 80% at 720 nm, which is is the highest value reported for a squaraine dye–based dye‐sensitized solar cell. The HSQ4‐sensitized solar cell also exhibits excellent durability during light soaking, owing to the double anchors attaching the dye to the TiO₂ surface and to the long alkyl chains extending outward from the surface.     

Hierarchical Carbon–Nitrogen Architectures with Both Mesopores and Macrochannels as Excellent Cathodes for Rechargeable Li–O2 Batteries

Lithium–oxygen batteries are attracting more and more interest; however, their poor rechargeability and low efficiency remain critical barriers to practical applications. Herein, hierarchical carbon–nitrogen architectures with both macrochannels and mesopores are prepared through an economical and environmentally benign sol–gel route, which show high electrocatalytic activity and stable cyclability over 160 cycles as cathodes for Li–O₂ batteries. Such good performance owes to the coexistence of macrochannels and mesopores in C–N hierarchical architectures, which greatly facilitate the Li⁺ diffusion and electrolyte immersion, as well as provide an effective space for O₂ diffusion and O₂/Li₂O₂ conversion. Additionally, the mechanism of oxygen reduction reactions is discussed with the N‐rich carbon materials through first‐principles computations. The lithiated pyridinic N provides excellent O₂ adsorption and activation sites, and thus catalyzes the electrode processes. Therefore, hierarchical carbon–nitrogen architectures with both macrochannels and mesopores are promising cathodes for Li–O₂ batteries.     

Resource allocation for OFDM relay systems with statistical QoS guarantees

By integrating the concept of effective capacity, we propose the resource allocation schemes for subcarrier‐pair based OFDM decode‐and‐forward and amplify‐and‐forward relay systems for quality‐of‐service (QoS) guarantees. The objective is to maximize the system throughput subject to a given statistical delay QoS constraint. First, we pair the subcarriers over the source‐relay channel and the relay‐destination channel by the descending order of the subcarriers' channel gains. Second, by making use of the derived equivalent end‐to‐end channel gains of the subcarrier pairs, we apply joint water‐filling power allocation over the subcarrier pairs and then partition the power of the subcarrier pairs between the source and the relay. We prove that as the equivalent end‐to‐end channel gains of the subcarrier pairs are given, the combination of sorted subcarrier pairing and joint water‐filling power allocation is jointly optimal to maximize the effective capacity. The simulation results show that our proposed schemes achieve the highest effective capacity for OFDM decode‐and‐forward and amplify‐and‐forward relay systems as compared with other existing schemes. The results also verify that our proposed schemes can efficiently provide different levels of delay QoS guarantees, even if under the stringent delay QoS constraints. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于紫铜填充中间层的黄铜激光焊接气孔控制

采用中间过渡层的新方法研究了黄铜焊接气孔的控制,对比分析了以紫铜为中间层的黄铜激光焊接和常规激光焊接获得的焊缝的气孔率,结果表明:在中间层条件下,焊缝表面和内部的气孔率均大幅降低;随着焊接速率增大,气孔率逐渐减小,当焊接速率为2.2 mm/s时,气孔率几乎为零;当焊接参数相同时,中间层条件下的焊缝气孔率仅为常规激光焊接的1/3,焊接接头的力学性能优于常规激光焊接。在焊缝成形良好的前提下,验证了采用紫铜为中间层的焊接方法控制黄铜激光焊接气孔缺陷的有效性。     

Thermodynamically Controlled Self‐Assembly of Hierarchically Staggered Architecture as an Osteoinductive Alternative to Bone Autografts

Osteoinductive synthetic biomaterials for replacing autografts can be developed by mimicking bone hierarchy and surface topography for host cell recruitment and differentiation. Until now, it has been challenging to reproduce a bone‐like staggered hierarchical structure since the energy change underlying synthetic pathways in vitro is essentially different from that of the natural process in vivo. Herein, a bone‐like hierarchically staggered architecture is reproduced under thermodynamic control involving two steps: fabrication of a high‐energy polyacrylic acid‐calcium intermediate and selective mineralization in collagenous gap regions driven by an energetically downhill process. The intermediate energy interval could easily be adjusted to determine different mineralization modes, with distinct morphologies and biofunctions. Similar to bone autografts, the staggered architecture offers a bone‐specific microenvironment for stem cell recruitment and multidifferentiation in vitro, and induces neo‐bone formation with bone marrow blood vessels by host stem cell homing in vivo. This work provides a novel perspective for an in vitro simulating biological mineralization process and proof of concept for the clinical application of smart biomaterials.     

Combating Biofilm Associated Infection In Vivo: Integration of Quorum Sensing Inhibition and Photodynamic Treatment based on Multidrug Delivered Hollow Carbon Nitride Sphere

Recently, quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors (QSIs) have been combined with antibiotics to enhance antibiofilm efficacy in vitro and in vivo. However, targeting QS signals alone is not enough to prevent bacterial infections. Drug resistance and recurrence of biofilms makes it difficult to eradicate. Herein, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is selected to unite QSIs and antibiotics. A synergistically antibiofilm system, which combines QSIs, antibiotics, and PDT based on hollow carbon nitride spheres (HCNSs) is envisaged. First, HCNS provides the multidrug delivering ability, enabling QSIs and antibiotics to be released in sequence. Subsequently, multistage releases sensitize bacteria effectively, potentiating the chemotherapeutic effects of the antibiotics. Finally, the integration of QSIs and PDT not only minimizes the possibility of drug resistance, but also overcomes the problem of limited mass and extension of PDT. Even after 48 h of incubation, the bacterial biofilm is obviously inhibited. And its biofilm disperse efficiency exceeds 48% (compared with QSI‐potentiated chemotherapy group) and 40% (compared with PDT group). Besides, the inhibition of the QS system influences phenotypes related to virulence factor production and surface hydrophobicity, which weaken biofilm invasion and formation. Eventually, this system is applied to disperse bacterial biofilm in vivo. Overall, PDT and QS modulation are devoted to eradicate drug resistance and recurrence of the biofilm.     

2D Black Phosphorus–Based Biomedical Applications

Black phosphorus (BP) has increasingly attracted scientific attention since its first applications in biomedicine due to its unique properties and excellent biocompatibility. In particular, its layer‐dependent bandgap, moderate carrier mobility, large surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio, biodegradability, intrinsic photoacoustic properties, and biocompatibility make it an ideal candidate for use in photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, drug delivery, 3D printing, bioimaging, biosensing, and theranostics, which are reviewed here. In addition, the article discusses strategies to overcome challenges related to surface instability due to chemical degradation, a major obstacle for its application. This review not only provides a comprehensive summary on BP preparation and biomedical applications but also summarizes recent research and future possibilities.