Distributed compression in a dense microsensor network

Distributed nature of the sensor network architecture introduces unique challenges and opportunities for collaborative networked signal processing techniques that can potentially lead to significant performance gains. Many evolving low-power sensor network scenarios need to have high spatial density to enable reliable operation in the face of component node failures as well as to facilitate high spatial localization of events of interest. This induces a high level of network data redundancy, where spatially proximal sensor readings are highly correlated. We propose a new way of removing this redundancy in a completely distributed manner, i.e., without the sensors needing to talk, to one another. Our constructive framework for this problem is dubbed DISCUS (distributed source coding using syndromes) and is inspired by fundamental concepts from information theory. We review the main ideas, provide illustrations, and give the intuition behind the theory that enables this framework.We present a new domain of collaborative information communication and processing through the framework on distributed source coding. This framework enables highly effective and efficient compression across a sensor network without the need to establish inter-node communication, using well-studied and fast error-correcting coding algorithms     

Electricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment of Oil Refinery in Microbial Fuel Cells Using Pseudomonas putida

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a novel platform for treating wastewater and at the same time generating electricity. Using Pseudomonas putida (BCRC 1059), a wild-type bacterium, we demonstrated that the refinery wastewater could be treated and also generate electric current in an air-cathode chamber over four-batch cycles for 63 cumulative days. Our study indicated that the oil refinery wastewater containing 2213 mg/L (ppm) chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be used as a substrate for electricity generation in the reactor of the MFC. A maximum voltage of 355 mV was obtained with the highest power density of 0.005 mW/cm² in the third cycle with a maximum current density of 0.015 mA/cm² in regard to the external resistor of 1000 Ω. A maximum coulombic efficiency of 6 × 10⁻²% was obtained in the fourth cycle. The removal efficiency of the COD reached 30% as a function of time. Electron transfer mechanism was studied using cyclic voltammetry, which indicated the presence of a soluble electron shuttle in the reactor. Our study demonstrated that oil refinery wastewater could be used as a substrate for electricity generation.     

A Proteomic Analysis of Human Follicular Fluid: Comparison between Younger and Older Women with Normal FSH Levels

The follicular fluid (FF) is produced during folliculogenesis and contains a variety of proteins that play important roles in follicle development and oocyte maturation. Age-related infertility is usually considered as a problem that can be solved by assisted reproduction technology. Therefore, the identification of novel biomarkers that are linked to reproductive aging is the subject of this study. FF was obtained from healthy younger (20–32 years old) and older (38–42 years old) women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) due to male factor infertility. The FF was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The power of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the identification of proteins were exploited using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) mass spectrometry. Twenty three protein spots showed reproducible and significant changes in the aged compared to the young group. Of these, 19 protein spots could be identified using MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS. As a result of MASCOT search, five unique downregulated proteins were identified in the older group. These were identified as serotransferrin, hemopexin precursor, complement C3, C4 and kininogen. A number of protein markers were found that may help develop diagnostic methods of infertility.     

Mode shapes and frequencies of radially symmetric vibrations of annular sandwich plates of variable thickness

An analysis and numerical results of radially symmetric vibrations of annular sandwich plates with core of linearly varying thickness are presented. The face sheets are treated as membranes of constant thickness, and the core is assumed to be solid as well as moderately thick. Due to linear thickness variation in the core, the face sheets take the shape of a truncated conical shell and because of this the face sheets membrane forces contribute to the bending and transverse shear of the core of the sandwich plate. Keeping this in view, the equations of motion for such a plate are developed by Hamilton’s energy principle. The frequency equations for three different combinations of boundary conditions, namely clamped at the inner edge and clamped or simply supported or free at the outer edge, are obtained by employing the differential quadrature method. The lowest three roots of these frequency equations have been reported as the frequencies for the first three modes of vibration. The effect of various plate parameters such as taper parameter, thickness of the core at the center, face thickness, and radii ratio on the natural frequencies has been analyzed. Three-dimensional mode shapes for a specified plate for all the three boundary conditions are illustrated. A comparison of results is presented.     

Coupling of conductivity to the relaxation process in polymer electrolytes

Conductivity relaxation using modulus formalism has been used to explore the coupling of ionic conductivity to dielectric relaxation in polymer electrolyte based on polyethylene oxide complexed with various content of LiAsF₆. The temperature dependence of conductivity followed the VTF behavior suggesting close correlation between conductivity and the segmental relaxation process in polymer electrolytes. The coupling of conductivity to the segmental process has been discussed in terms of coupling index. For all compositions studied, the coupling index was within the range of 1–11 in the temperature range of investigation, which was in agreement with the coupled systems.     

Titanium–vanadium oxide nanocomposite thin films: Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial activity

A sol–gel based deposition method was successfully developed to produce a series of crack-free, spatially homogeneous undoped/silver doped titania–vanadia oxide nanocomposite thin films. Thin films were characterized using Glancing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Ultraviolet Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis). It was determined via both XRD and XPS that when calcined at 450 °C the nanocomposite crystallinity was a function of sol composition. Additionally, it was determined via GIXRD that upon silver doping, silver was incorporated into the vanadia structure or present in silver oxide form in crystalline films. A red shift within the UV–Vis spectra was observed with an increase of vanadia concentration from 0 to 100% respectively. Antibacterial analysis conducted on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis demonstrated that films exposed to light showed greater antibacterial properties.     

Suggested diagnostic reference levels for paediatric X-ray examinations in India

Exposure of children to ionising radiation is considered to carry higher risk than that of adults; therefore a need to suggest diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for the common paediatric diagnostic X-ray procedures was recognised for the X-ray machines meeting the requirements of the recently implemented Safety Code for Medical Diagnostic X-ray Equipment and Installations in India. Measurements were carried out for entrance surface air kerma (free in air) in conventional paediatric X-ray diagnostic examinations among four age groups: <1, 1-4, 5-9 and 10-15 y. A total of 2240 air kerma measurements at different fixed focus to skin distances were studied for 7 paediatric diagnostic examinations with 11 different projections on 62 X-ray machines installed in 22 selected hospitals in the country. The third quartile values of air kerma per paediatric examination for the age group of 5-9 y were considered as values of paediatric DRLs. The suggested values of DRLs are 0.2 mGy for chest AP/PA, 0.3 mGy for chest LAT, 0.7 mGy for lumber spine AP, 1.3 mGy for lumber spine LAT, 0.3 mGy for thoracic spine AP, 0.6 mGy for thoracic spine LAT, 0.5 mGy for abdomen AP, 0.7 mGy for pelvis AP, 0.6 mGy for skull PA, 0.5 mGy for skull LAT and 0.8 mGy for hip joints AP.     

Vertically aligned ZnO nanowire arrays in Rose Bengal-based dye-sensitized solar cells

We fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) using vertically oriented, high density, and crystalline array of ZnO nanowires, which can be a suitable alternative to titanium dioxide nanoparticle films. The vertical nanowires provide fast routes or channels for electron transport to the substrate electrode. As an alternative to conventional ruthenium complex, we introduce Rose Bengal dye, which acts as a photosensitizer in the dye-sensitized solar cells. The dye energetically matches the ZnO with usual KII₂ redox couple for dye-sensitized solar cell applications.     

Low noise wide bandgap SiC based IMPATT diodes at sub-millimeter wave frequencies and at high temperature

We have presented a comparative account of the high frequency prospective as well as noise behaviors of wide-bandgap 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC based on different structures of IMPATT diodes at sub-millimeter-wave frequencies up to 2.18 THz. The computer simulation study establishes the feasibility of the SiC based IMPATT diode as a high power density terahertz source. The most significant feature lies in the noise behavior of the SiC IMPATT diodes. It is noticed that the 6H-SiC DDR diode shows the least noise measure of 26.1 dB as compared to that of other structures. Further, it is noticed that the noise measure of the SiC IMPATT diode is less at a higher operating frequency compared to that at a lower operating frequency.