Efficient Spectrum Handoff Using Hybrid Priority Queuing Model in Cognitive Radio Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - Cognitive radio networks can achieve high spectrum efficiency through dynamic spectrum allocation to the secondary users (SU) by way of using primary user (PU)...     

Challenges and Developments in Secure Routing Protocols for Healthcare in WBAN: A Comparative Analysis

Wireless Personal Communications - The rise in life expectancy of humans, COVID-19 pandemic and growing cost of medical services has brought up huge challenges for the government and healthcare...     

Design and analysis of optimal material distribution policies in flexible manufacturing systems using a single AGV

Modern automated manufacturing processes employ Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) for material handling, which serve several machine centres (MC) in a factory. Waiting time for resources such as AGVs are the longest elements that make up the Manufacturing Lead Time (MLT). Hence, optimal scheduling of AGVs can significantly help to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process by minimizing the idle time of MCs waiting for the raw materials. In this paper, we will analyse the requirements for an optimal schedule and then provide a mathematical framework for an efficient schedule of material delivery by an AGV. The optimal schedule depends on several factors, such as the processing speeds of MCs, the speed and the material carrying capacity of the AGV, and system dependent overheads (such as loading and unloading time, machine set-up time, distance travelled, etc). A mathematical model is developed and then a strategy for optimal material distribution of the available raw material to the MCs is derived. With this model, the optimal number of MCs to be utilized will also be determined. Finally, the material delivery schedule employing multiple journeys to the MCs by the AGV will be carried out. Through rigorous analysis and simulation experiments, we shall show that such a delivery strategy will optimize the overall performance.     

Micellization of Some Bile Salts in Binary Aqueous Solvent Mixtures

The micellization behavior of bile salts—sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate was studied in aqueous methanol, ethanol and ethylene glycol mixtures (10–20 % v/v) over a temperature range (300–320 K) by surface tension and conductivity methods. Critical micelle concentration, extent of counter ion binding (α), interfacial property (A _min, ζ_max, π-CMC, $ \Updelta G_{\text{ad}}^{ \circ } $ ) and thermodynamic parameters ( $ \Updelta G_{\text{m}}^{ \circ } $ , $ \Updelta H_{\text{m}}^{ \circ } $ , $ \Updelta S_{\text{m}}^{ \circ } $ ) for the micellization process are reported and discussed.     

On-chip millionfold sample stacking using transient isotachophoresis

We present a simple and robust isotachophoresis (ITP) method that can be integrated with microchip-based capillary electrophoresis (CE) devices to achieve millionfold sample stacking. We performed an experimental parametric study to show the effects of initial sample ion concentration, leading ion concentration, and trailing ion concentration on ITP stacking. We also discuss the usefulness and limitations of a simple one-dimensional nondispersive model and a scaling analysis for dispersion rate. We found that a single-column ITP configuration together with electroosmotic flow suppression and high leading ion concentration provide high-performance ITP and can be integrated readily with CE separation. We demonstrated detection of trace of 100 fM Alexa Fluor 488 (signal-to-noise ratio of 11) with a concentration increase of a factor of 2 x 10(6). Application of our ITP/CE protocol to the stacking and separation of negatively charged fluorescent tracers (Alexa Fluor 488 and bodipy) resulted in a concentration increase of 6.4 x 10(4) and a signal increase of 4.5 x 10(5). The ITP/CE protocol can be performed with a standard microchannel cross design or simple flow control. The method can be implemented with available off-the-shelf chip systems using off-the-shelf voltage control systems and buffer chemistries.     

Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic H2 generation over ternary indium titanate nanoparticles

A low temperature surfactant-free solution-phase method has been successfully developed for the synthesis of ternary In2TiO5, nanoparticles using a solvothermal route. The mechanistic aspects of synthesis of In2TiO5 nanoparticles from precursors, In(acac)3 and Ti(IV) isopropoxide in benzyl alcohol at 220 degrees C under solvothermal conditions, were investigated by GC-MS and 13C{1H} NMR analysis. The N2-BET surface area of the 5-8 nm sized In2TiO5 nanoparticles was found to be 60 m2 g(-1), which decreased with increase in calcination temperature; 38 m2 g(-1) at 800 degrees C; 5 m2 g(-1) at 1200 degrees C. The High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) shows well-developed lattice fringes of the crystalline nanoparticles, and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), pattern was indexed to be orthorhombic In2TiO5. The nanoparticles show better photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water-methanol mixtures over bulk In2TiO5, anatase TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by identical route and commercial TiO2 photocatalyst (Degussa, P25) under UV-visible irradiation (16% UV + 84% visible). Photocatalytic properties as a function of crystallinity and surface area of indium titanate nanoparticles have also been investigated. The high photoactivity obtained is correlated with the electronic and crystal structure of In2TiO5.     

Evaluation of castor (Ricinus communis) seed cake in the total mixed ration for sheep

BACKGROUND: Castor (Ricinus communis) seed cake (CSC), a byproduct of the vegetable‐oil industry, contains fairly good amounts of protein (crude protein, 290–390 g kg^?1) which could be a suitable substitute of conventional oil cakes like soybean meal (SBM) in livestock diets but for the presence of a toxic glycoprotein, ricin. Efforts were, therefore, made to determine the feasibility of feeding CSC as such or after detoxification with lime (4%, wt/wt) by incorporating it into a total mixed ration (TMR) containing 65 and 35 parts ragi (Eleucine coracana) straw and concentrate mixture, respectively, with 11 g kg^?1 CP and 50 g kg^?1 TDN in which the SBM of a control diet was isonitrogenously replaced with either raw or lime‐treated CSC in test diets. The control and two test TMRs were fed to 24 sheep, respectively, divided at random into three dietary groups having equal number of animals for 150 days. RESULTS: Although lime treatment had a positive effect in reducing ricin by 58%, no adverse effect could be noticed by feeding raw or lime‐treated CSC in terms of body weight changes, macro‐ and micro‐nutrient utilisation, blood biochemical and mineral profile, rumen fermentation pattern, carcass traits, except the level of plasma immunoglobulins which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in sheep fed CSC diets. No pathological lesions could be noticed in the tissues of visceral organs due to feeding the raw or treated CSC. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest no adverse effect in the nutritional performance of adult sheep due to feeding the raw or treated CSC when incorporated into TMRs, probably due to a dilution of the ricin concentration or the development of immunity to the glycoprotein ricin, warranting long‐term growth‐cum‐production studies. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Building a successful relationship in business process outsourcing: an exploratory study

In the past decade, business process outsourcing (BPO) has emerged as an important economic and business issue. Successful offshoring and outsourcing of business processes to low-cost destinations has made BPO a strategic decision. Inconsistencies at the client and service provider levels globally are requiring clients to build competencies in outsourcing management. Clients are further pushing service providers to build capabilities such as business process management and information technology management competencies. A research survey is carried out with European clients to identify the critical competencies of the service provider and clients for building a successful relationship. The survey indicates that the clients’ focus is on BPO outcome delivery for building successful relationship and not so much on the service provider's competencies.