Full-duplex overlay cognitive wireless powered communication network using RF energy harvesting

In this paper, a novel full-duplex overlay cognitive wireless powered communication network (FD-OCWPCN) is proposed where a full-duplex (FD) hybrid-access point (H-AP) supports the full access of all battery-free secondary users (SUs). The H-AP broadcasts wireless power to empower the nearby SUs in the downlink (DL) phase while decoding the information transmitted uplink (UL) phase by the SUs, simultaneously. To overcome the self-interference (SI) phenomenon in FD-OCWPCN, the problem of maximizing the system sum-throughput with optimal UL-DL transmission/reception time and H-AP’s transmit power allocation is considered. This problem is non-convex under perfect/imperfect SI cancelation (SIC), so we employ the active interference temperature control and the gradient projection techniques to effectively reduce it into a convex problem. Closed-form expressions for the perfect/imperfect SIC cases are also derived. To assess the performance of the FD-OCWPCN, a comparison with a half-duplex OCWPCN (HD-OCWPCN) is provided. The achievable average sum-throughput for different FD/HD-OCWPCN is compared in the context of the average and peak transmit power at the H-AP, the number of SUs, path loss exponent and fairness metric. The simulation results depict the superiority of the FD-OCWPCN over the HD-OCWPCN for the perfect SIC and the effective imperfect SIC.

     

Knowledge Diffusion of the Internet of Things (IoT): A Main Path Analysis

Wireless Personal Communications - The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that has attracted significant attention since the emergence of wireless technology. The knowledge diffusion of IoT...     

Computerized transcutaneous control of a multichannel implantableurinary prosthesis

In the present paper we describe a personal computer interface of a multichannel implantable urinary prosthesis. This system is composed of two main parts: the first one is internal and consists of an implant using a 4-microns CMOS gate array chip controlling a wide variety of waveforms via eight monopolar channels. The second, an external controller featuring a versatile software, a PCB card plugged in a portable microcomputer, and a radiofrequency-coupled technique. This device is used to transmit the power, the data and the synchronization clock to the implant by a simple binary signal modulating a 20 MHz carrier. We also report the features of implant encapsulation and electrode design and fabrication. In the experimental phase, we studied the effect of early electric stimulation of the bladder during the spinal shock phase in the dog. We present the operative techniques that enabled us to perform chronic electrostimulation of the sacral roots and discuss the results.     

System integration of high voltage electrostatic MEMS actuators

A system integration for High Voltage (HV) electrostatic MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) actuators is introduced on a micro-Printed Circuit Board. The system includes a programmable microcontroller, a programmable DC/DC converter, a multi output HV interface and electrostatic MEMS actuators. The system produces high output voltages (10–300 V) and can control a large variety of MEMS capacitive loads (1 to 50 pF) by combining diverse semiconductor technologies. This system proves that technologies, such as low voltage CMOS of different processes, high voltage DMOS and MEMS, can interact, communicate and even be integrated as a System In Package (SIP), providing significant size and cost reductions. The system was programmed to control electrostatic MEMS actuator. The DC/DC converter was made from components of different technologies and two addressable high voltage CMOS interfaces were fabricated with DALSA's 0.8 μm High Voltage process. A prototype of the global system has been built and tested.     

Moisture susceptibility of warm mixed-reclaimed asphalt pavement containing Sasobit and Zycotherm additives

In this research, the influence of Sasobit and Zycotherm on the properties of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP)-warm mix asphalt (WMA) was investigated. Moisture susceptibility was evaluated applying the resilient modulus ratio, the indirect tensile strength ratio, and the fracture energy ratio. Laboratory testing results indicated that Zycotherm mixtures had more resistance to moisture damage than Sasobit WMA and hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures. The stiffness of mixtures increased dramatically by increasing the amount of RAP and using Sasobit exacerbated this problem.     

Photovoltaic characteristics of phosphorus-doped amorphous carbon films grown by r.f. plasma-enhanced CVD

The phosphorus-doped amorphous carbon (n-C:P) films were grown by r.f. power-assisted plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at room temperature using solid phosphorus target. The influence of phosphorus doping on material properties of n-C:P based on the results of simultaneous characterization are reported. Moreover, the solar cell properties such as series resistance, short circuit current density (J_sc), open circuit current voltage (V_oc), fill factor (FF) and conversion efficiency (η) along with the spectral response are reported for the fabricated carbon based n-C:P/p-Si heterojunction solar cell were measured by standard measurement technique. The cells performances have been given in the dark I–V rectifying curve and I–V working curve under illumination when exposed to AM 1.5 illumination condition (100 mW/cm², 25 °C). The maximum of V_oc and J_sc for the cells are observed to be approximately 236 V and 7.34 mA/cm², respectively for the n-C:P/p-Si cell grown at lower r.f. power of 100 W. The highest η and FF were found to be approximately 0.84% and 49%, respectively. We have observed the rectifying nature of the heterojunction structures is due to the nature of n-C:P films.     

An Overview on SARS‑CoV‑2(COVID‑19)and Other Human Coronaviruses and Their Detection Capability via Amplification Assay,Chemical Sensing,Biosensing,Immunosensing,and Clinical Assays

A novel coronavirus of zoonotic origin(SARSCoV-2)has recently been recognized in patients with acute respiratory disease.COVID-19 causative agent is structurally and genetically similar to SARS and bat SARS-like coronaviruses.The drastic increase in the number of coronavirus and its genome sequence have given us an unprecedented opportunity to perform bioinformatics and genomics analysis on this class of viruses.Clinical tests like PCR and ELISA for rapid detection of this virus are urgently needed for early identification of infected patients.However,these techniques are expensive and not readily available for point-of-care(POC)applications.Currently,lack of any rapid,available,and reliable POC detection method gives rise to the progression of COVID-19 as a horrible global problem.To solve the negative features of clinical investigation,we provide a brief introduction of the general features of coronaviruses and describe various amplification assays,sensing,biosensing,immunosensing,and aptasensing for the determination of various groups of coronaviruses applied as a template for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.All sensing and biosensing techniques developed for the determination of various classes of coronaviruses are useful to recognize the newly immerged coronavirus,i.e.,SARS-CoV-2.Also,the introduction of sensing and biosensing methods sheds light on the way of designing a proper screening system to detect the virus at the early stage of infection to tranquilize the speed and vastity of spreading.Among other approaches investigated among molecular approaches and PCR or recognition of viral diseases,LAMP-based methods and LFAs are of great importance for their numerous benefits,which can be helpful to design a universal platform for detection of future emerging pathogenic viruses.     

Dual-Function Semaphorin 4D Released by Platelets: Suppression of Osteoblastogenesis and Promotion of Osteoclastogenesis

Effects of the antiosteoblastogenesis factor Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D), expressed by thrombin-activated platelets (TPs), on osteoblastogenesis, as well as osteoclastogenesis, were investigated in vitro. Intact platelets released both Sema4D and IGF-1. However, in response to stimulation with thrombin, platelets upregulated the release of Sema4D, but not IGF-1. Anti-Sema4D-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) upregulated TP-mediated osteoblastogenesis in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast precursors. MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to TPs induced phosphorylation of Akt and ERK further upregulated by the addition of anti-sema4D-mAb, suggesting the suppressive effects of TP-expressing Sema4D on osteoblastogenesis. On the other hand, TPs promoted RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in the primary culture of bone-marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMCs). Among the known three receptors of Sema4D, including Plexin B1, Plexin B2 and CD72, little Plexin B2 was detected, and no Plexin B1 was detected, but a high level of CD72 mRNA was detected in RANKL-stimulated BMMCs by qPCR. Both anti-Sema4D-mAb and anti-CD72-mAb suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorptive activity, suggesting that Sema4D released by TPs promotes osteoclastogenesis via ligation to a CD72 receptor. This study demonstrated that Sema4D released by TPs suppresses osteogenic activity and promotes osteoclastogenesis, suggesting the novel property of platelets in bone-remodeling processes.     

Siloxane‐based segmented poly(urethane‐urea) elastomer: Synthesis and characterization

A series of segmented poly(urethane‐urea) block copolymers were synthesized with varying proportions of polydimethylsiloxane diols in combination with polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG) using 4,4'‐methylenediphenyl diisocyanate followed by chain extension with a (50:50 mol %) mixture of 4,4'‐methylene‐bis(3‐chloro‐2,6‐diethylaniline) (M‐CDEA) and 1,4‐butanediol (BD). The molecular structures of polydimethylsiloxane urethane‐ureas were characterized by ATR‐FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopic techniques. Distribution of siloxane domain and its influence on surface roughness were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic forced microscopy (AFM), respectively. The mechanical and thermal properties of the elastomers were studied by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamical mechanical thermal analysis, and tensile measurement. The results showed that by incorporation of polydimethylsiloxane diol and M‐CDEA chain extender in polyurethane formulation, some improvements in thermal stability, fire resistance and surface hydrophilicity were achieved. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1743–1751, 2013