Multiple token‐based neighbor discovery for directional sensor networks

Directional sensor networks (DSNs) can significantly improve the performance of a network by employing energy efficient communication protocols. Neighbor discovery is a vital part of medium access control (MAC) and routing protocol, which influences the establishment of communication between neighboring nodes. Neighbor discovery is a challenging task in DSNs due to the limited coverage provided by directional antennas. Furthermore, in these networks, communication can only take place when the beams of the directional antennas are pointed toward each other. In this article, we propose a novel multiple token‐based neighbor discovery (MuND) protocol, in which multiple tokens are transmitted based on an area exploration algorithm. The performance of the protocol is evaluated using the Cooja simulator. The simulation results reveal that the proposed MuND protocol achieves lower neighbor discovery latency, with a 100% neighbor discovery ratio, and has a relatively low communication overhead and low energy consumption.     

Formation of bulk titanium boride (TiB) nano‐ceramic with Fe–Mo addition by electric‐field‐activated‐sintering

The present work is focused on optimization of Fe–Mo content, which is essential for transient liquid phase formation and densification, during in‐situ reaction sintering of nanostructured titanium boride (TiB) in the bulk form. The principle objective is to develop a systematic understanding of how the Fe–Mo additions affect the densification, microstructure, and hardness of the TiB nano‐ceramic. Various TiB ceramic compositions, with varying Fe–Mo content and retaining a high‐volume fraction of TiB in the final microstructure, were made by the electric‐field‐activated‐sintering (EFAS) technique. An increase in Fe–Mo content is found to decrease the beginning point of densification temperature/time during the consolidation process through transient liquid phase formation. It is shown that at the optimum level of Fe–Mo, which is around 1.5 wt%, the density and hardness reach maximum levels with a least amount of spatial segregation of Fe within the ceramic. Interestingly, it has been found that Mo is uniformly incorporated within the orthorhombic lattice of the boride, while Fe is largely segregated to β‐Ti phase. At the optimal Fe–Mo content (1.5 wt%), a relative density of 99.7% and a Vickers hardness of 2050 ± 40 kg/mm² were achieved. From microstructural and X‐ray diffraction analyses, it is found that a high proportion of TiB (>99 vol%), with a least amount of metallic ductile phase, is formed in this composition.     

Innovation systems in Malaysia: a perspective of university—industry R&D collaboration

Collaborative research and development (R&D) activities between public universities and industry are of importance for the sustainable development of the innovation ecosystem. However, policymakers especially in developing countries show little knowledge on the issues. In this paper, we analyse the level of university–industry collaboration in Malaysia. We further examine the fundamental conditions that hinder university–industry collaboration despite the government’s initiatives to improve such linkages. We show that the low collaboration  is a result of an R&D gap between the entities. While the universities engage in basic and fundamental R&D, the private sectors involved in incremental innovation that requires less R&D investments. The different nature of the industries’ R&D requires closer cooperation between firms namely buyers, suppliers and technical service providers and not the universities. Among others, the lack of an intermediary role, absorptive capacity and collaborative initiative by the industry also contribute to the problem. The study suggests that the collaborative activities can benefit both if deliberate and effective efforts on reducing the R&D mismatch are made between the universities and industry. Likewise, proper institutional arrangements in coordinating these activities are required. This result seems to reflect the nature of many developing countries’ national innovation systems, and therefore, lessons from Malaysia may serve as a good case study.     

Investigation of Thermal Striping in Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor Using Ten-Jet Water Model

A two-dimensional numerical analysis has been carried out to study the phenomenon of thermal striping in a prototype fast breeder reactor using a 10-jet water model that represents a row of the reactor core consisting of fuel and blanket zones. The above-core structures in the reactor are modeled with a porous lattice plate and solid core cover plate. The Reynolds stress model is used for simulating the turbulence characteristics of jet mixing phenomena. When the ratio of hot jet velocity to cold jet velocity is equal to 1, maximum fluctuations of temperature have been observed. Also the temperature fluctuations reduced gradually beyond a hot jet to cold jet velocity ratio of 1.0. The lattice plate is found to be more prone to thermal striping as compared to the core cover plate.     

High temperature pretreatment and hydrolysis of cotton stalk for producing sugars for bioethanol production

The aim of this work was to evaluate cotton stalk (waste plant material after harvesting the cotton) as feedstock for bioethanol production. Different pretreatment strategies were tried using sodium hydroxide in a high pressure reactor equipped with a pitch blade turbine stirrer, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using cellulases; the process optimization was carried out using Taguchi experimental design. Best results were achieved when the pretreatment was carried out at 180 °C for 45 min with mixing of substrate at 100 rpm. The sugar yield was evaluated based on pretreatment severity. The hydrolysis efficiency of pretreated cotton plant waste was very good (96%), showing the excellent efficiency of the method in removing the lignin. The material balance in each stage of the process was estimated and the total process efficiency was found to be 53% based on glucose conversion.     

Experimental and Therapeutic Opportunities for Stem Cells in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating neurodegenerative disorder of the brain and spinal cord that causes significant disability in young adults. Although the precise aetiopathogenesis of MS remains unresolved, its pathological hallmarks include inflammation, demyelination, axonal injury (acute and chronic), astrogliosis and variable remyelination. Despite major recent advances in therapeutics for the early stage of the disease there are currently no disease modifying treatments for the progressive stage of disease, whose pathological substrate is axonal degeneration. This represents the great and unmet clinical need in MS. Against this background, human stem cells offer promise both to improve understanding of disease mechanism(s) through in-vitro modeling as well as potentially direct use to supplement and promote remyelination, an endogenous reparative process where entire myelin sheaths are restored to demyelinated axons. Conceptually, stem cells can act directly to myelinate axons or indirectly through different mechanisms to promote endogenous repair; importantly these two mechanisms of action are not mutually exclusive. We propose that discovery of novel methods to invoke or enhance remyelination in MS may be the most effective therapeutic strategy to limit axonal damage and instigate restoration of structure and function in this debilitating condition. Human stem cell derived neurons and glia, including patient specific cells derived through reprogramming, provide an unprecedented experimental system to model MS “in a dish” as well as enable high-throughput drug discovery. Finally, we speculate upon the potential role for stem cell based therapies in MS.     

Influence of aeration and agitation modes on solid‐state fermentation of apple pomace waste by Phanerochaete chrysosporium to produce ligninolytic enzymes and co‐extract polyphenols

The effect of different types of agitation (i) continuous agitation (C); (ii) continuous, discontinuous, continuous agitation (C/D/C); (iii) discontinuous, continuous, discontinuous agitation (D/C/D) and aeration (0.87, 1.25, 1.66 vvm) on ligninolytic enzyme production and polyphenolic compounds extraction by solid‐state cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM‐F‐1767 was investigated. Higher production of manganese peroxidase (MnP) (1690.3 ± 87.6), lignin peroxidase (LiP) (387.9 ± 14.3) and laccase (898.9 ± 53.3 U gds^?1) and liberation of total polyphenolics (ranging from 12.22 ± 1.1 to 30.12 ± 0.88 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram DW) was obtained after 195, 147, 219 and 204 h of fermentation, respectively, using 1.66 vvm as airflow and (C/D/C) agitation mode. Maximal enzyme production and total polyphenolic content were influenced by aeration, and higher values were obtained using 1.66 vvm as airflow rate, followed by 1.25 and 0.83 vvm, respectively. They were also influenced by agitation, and maximal values were obtained using C/D/C, followed by D/C/D and continuous agitation, respectively. The agitation modes influenced the production of ligninolytic enzymes and simultaneous extraction of polyphenols.     

A novel dairy-derived isolate that inhibits adipogenesis and significantly reduces weight gain in a high fat animal model

A novel, highly enriched bioactive bovine whey protein fraction (LAP001) was shown to directly inhibit adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation over a wide concentration range. Further in vitro characterisation showed that LAP001 suppressed induction of PPARγ expression in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of LAP001 to rats maintained on a high-fat diet over a 28-day period led to a significant reduction in weight gain and prevented a rise in plasma glucose concentration without significantly affecting plasma insulin concentrations. In additional, there was a beneficial modulation of major serum adipokines (decreased leptin and increased adiponectin concentration) that impact on metabolic parameters related to obesity. As such, LAP001 represents a novel and potentially attractive dairy-derived fraction for further development and testing as an agent that can inhibit weight gain, and aid in the control of obesity-related metabolic disorders.