Throughput maximization in electromagnetic energy harvesting cognitive radio sensor networks

In the near future, billions of wireless devices are expected to be operational. To enable the required machine to machine communications, two major problems must be addressed. How to obtain the required spectrum efficiency, and how to deliver the required power to these devices. The most promising answers to these questions are cognitive radio and energy harvesting, respectively. Energy harvesting enables deployment of sensors and devices without having to worry about their battery lifetime. Cognitive radio increases the utilization of spectrum by accessing unused spectrum dynamically. Energy harvesting from electromagnetic waves is suitable for these low power, low cost devices used in machine to machine communications because only minimal additional hardware is required for such energy harvesting. With this idea as the starting point, we first present an analysis on how much throughput can be obtained from a cognitive, electromagnetic energy harvesting wireless network. Then, we show when and how cooperation among network nodes may increase performance. We believe that our results will provide insight for the development of future cooperative cognitive energy harvesting networks. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electro-Optics and Band Gap Energies of Nanosilver-Coated TiO_2 Nanotubes on Titanium Metal

TiO_2 nanotubes on Ti metal surface were prepared by the electrochemical anodization method. Then, nanosilver was deposited onto the nanotubes by the electroless dip coating and the anodization. The obtained TiO2 nanotubes were examined by using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, and UV–Vis. The electrochemical band gap(E_g~(CV)) of the nanosilver-coated TiO_2 nanotubes prepared by the anodization was found as 1.54 eV. Using the UV–Vis measurements, the optical band gap energy(E_g~(op).) was calculated as 1.51 eV for the Ag/TiO_2 nanotubes obtained by electroless dip coating. The electrical conductivity of the TiO_2 nanotubes also increased from 3.0 9 10-4 to 34.7 S/cm after nano Ag deposition by the anodization method.These Ag/TiO_2 nanotubes with low band gap and high electrical conductivity are desirable for the applications in electronics, Li-ion batteries, and solar cells.     

Hot topic: Geographical distribution and strain diversity of Lactobacillus wasatchensis isolated from cheese with unwanted gas formation

Lactobacillus wasatchensis, an obligate heterofermentative nonstarter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) implicated in causing gas defects in aged cheeses, was originally isolated from an aged Cheddar produced in Logan, Utah. To determine the geographical distribution of this organism, we isolated slow-growing NSLAB from cheeses collected in different regions of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. Seven of the cheeses showed significant gas defects and 12 did not. Nonstarter lactic acid bacteria were isolated from these cheeses on de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe medium supplemented with ribose, a preferred substrate for Lb. wasatchensis. Identification was confirmed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the API50CH (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) carbohydrate panel. Isolates were also compared with one another by using repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR). Lactobacillus wasatchensis was isolated only from cheeses demonstrating late-gas development and was found in samples from 6 of the 7 cheeses. This supports laboratory evidence that this organism is a causative agent of late gas production defects. The rep-PCR analysis produced distinct genetic fingerprints for isolates from each cheese, indicating that Lb. wasatchensis is found in several regions across the United States and is not a local phenomenon.     

Biofuels from algae for sustainable development

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that can produce lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in large amounts over short periods of time. These products can be processed into both biofuels and useful chemicals. Two algae samples (Cladophora fracta and Chlorella protothecoid) were studied for biofuel production. Microalgae appear to be the only source of renewable biodiesel that is capable of meeting the global demand for transport fuels. Microalgae can be converted to biodiesel, bioethanol, bio-oil, biohydrogen and biomethane via thermochemical and biochemical methods. Industrial reactors for algal culture are open ponds, photobioreactors and closed systems. Algae can be grown almost anywhere, even on sewage or salt water, and does not require fertile land or food crops, and processing requires less energy than the algae provides. Microalgae have much faster growth-rates than terrestrial crops. the per unit area yield of oil from algae is estimated to be from 20,000 to 80,000 liters per acre, per year; this is 7–31 times greater than the next best crop, palm oil. Algal oil can be used to make biodiesel for cars, trucks, and airplanes. The lipid and fatty acid contents of microalgae vary in accordance with culture conditions. The effect of temperature on the yield of hydrogen from two algae (C. fracta and C. protothecoid) by pyrolysis and steam gasification were investigated in this study. In each run, the main components of the gas phase were CO₂, CO, H₂, and CH₄.The yields of hydrogen by pyrolysis and steam gasification processes of the samples increased with temperature. The yields of gaseous products from the samples of C. fracta and C. protothecoides increased from 8.2% to 39.2% and 9.5% to 40.6% by volume, respectively, while the final pyrolysis temperature was increased from 575 to 925 K. The percent of hydrogen in gaseous products from the samples of C. fracta and C. protothecoides increased from 25.8% to 44.4% and 27.6% to 48.7% by volume, respectively, while the final pyrolysis temperature was increased from 650 to 925 K. The percent of hydrogen in gaseous products from the samples of C. fracta and C. protothecoides increased from 26.3% to 54.7% and 28.1% to 57.6% by volume, respectively, while the final gasification temperature was increased from 825 to 1225 K. In general, algae gaseous products are higher quality than gaseous products from mosses.