Ant-based service selection framework for a smart home monitoring environment

Selecting ambient media services in a smart home monitoring environment is challenging. Services in such an environment should be ubiquitous, adaptive, and robust with respect to access and delivery. Many different techniques exist for selecting services in smart environments, for example, dynamic programming, genetic algorithms, and fuzzy logic. However, existing approaches to service selection fail to address the dynamic nature of the services and the requirement of considering the user context and user satisfaction. We address this issue by proposing an ant-inspired service selection framework based on dynamic user preferences and satisfaction. This ant-inspired approach is robust to failures and adaptive to dynamic context. The proposed framework enables different categories of residents (e.g., elderly people, fathers with children, mothers, and so on) to access various media services in such a way that their experiences are optimized with regard to their surrounding environment. Experimental results demonstrate the viability of the proposed framework.     

Theory and methodology on the global optimal solution to a General Reverse Logistics Inventory Model for deteriorating items and time-varying rates

In this paper, we present a unified general inventory model for integrated production of new items and remanufacturing of returned items for an infinite planning horizon. Our model considers a production environment that consists of three shops. The first shop is for remanufacturing returned items, the second shop is for manufacturing new items, while the third shop is for collecting returned items to be remanufactured in the first shop. The system is subject to joint production and remanufacturing options, the first one is to produce new items while the second one is to reproduce/recycle the returned items “as-good-as new”. Items deteriorate while they are in storage, and production, remanufacturing, demand, return, and deterioration rates are arbitrary functions of time. A closed form for the total relevant costs as well as a rigorous mathematical proof, which shows the global optimality of the solution to the underlying inventory system are introduced. Illustrative examples, which explain the application of the theoretical results as well as their numerical verifications, are also given.     

AR-based serious game framework for post-stroke rehabilitation

Stroke is considered one of the main causes of death around the world. Survivors often suffer different kinds of disabilities in terms of their cognitive and motor capabilities, and are therefore unable to perform their day-to-day activities. To regain some of their cognitive as well as motor abilities, they require rehabilitation. To this end, we present a serious game framework based on augmented reality technology that may motivate the patients’ involvement in the rehabilitation exercise. Additionally, we analyze the requirements for such a framework and describe the concept and implementation of the proposed approach. Furthermore, we designed a wireless vibrotactile output device that is attached to a tangible object. The tangible object that is connected to the framework can give haptic as well as audio-visual feedback to the patient in a more motivating and entertaining environment for rehabilitation exercises. The suitability and utility of the proposed framework was evaluated with real stroke patients and compared against the performance of a healthy control group, thus facilitating occupational therapists in assessing a patient’s progress. Our evaluations show that the serious games with vibrotactile feedback are well accepted by patients.     

Detection of Fat Concentration in Milk Using Ternary Photonic Crystal

Silicon - Rapid and sensitive detection of fat concentration in milk is a necessary part for citizens in each country. Bio-photonic sensing techniques are an accurate best way to detect biosensing...     

Anti-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Biomolecules: Molecular Targets Insights

This report explores the available curative molecules directed against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Limited efficiency as well as other drawbacks of existing molecules led to the search for promising potential alternatives. Understanding of the cell signaling mechanisms propelling carcinogenesis and driven by cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis can offer valuable information for the investigation of efficient treatment strategies. The complexity of the mechanisms behind carcinogenesis inspires researchers to explore the ability of various biomolecules to target specific pathways. Natural components occurring mainly in food and medicinal plants, are considered an essential resource for discovering new and promising therapeutic molecules. Novel biomolecules normally have an advantage in terms of biosafety. They are also widely diverse and often possess potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Based on quantitative structure–activity relationship studies, biomolecules can be used as templates for chemical modifications that improve efficiency, safety, and bioavailability. In this review, we focus on anti-HCC biomolecules that have their molecular targets partially or completely characterized as well as having anti-cancer molecular mechanisms that are fairly described.     

A lightweight and cost effective edge intelligence architecture based on containerization technology

World Wide Web - The integration of Cloud computing and Internet of Things led to rapid growth in the edge computing field. This would not be achievable without combining the data centers’...     

Hydrochloric acid extractable minerals and phytate and polyphenols contents of sprouted faba and white bean cultivars

Two faba bean (Hudieba-72 and Bsabir) and three white bean (Serge, Giza and RO21) cultivars were sprouted for 6 days. The sprouted grains were dried and milled. Phytic acid and polyphenols contents and hydrochloric acid (HCl) extractability of minerals from the malt flours were determined at intervals of 2 days during sprouting. Phytic acid and polyphenols contents decreased significantly (P ? 0.01) with increase in sprouting time with concomitant increase in HCl extractable major and trace minerals. The contents of both major and trace minerals were slightly increased with sprouting time. When faba bean seeds were sprouted for 6 days, Bsabir had higher extractable Ca, while Hudieba-72 had higher P, whereas Fe and Mn recorded high level in Hudieba-72. When white bean seeds were sprouted for 6 days, RO21 cultivar had higher extractable Ca, while Giza-3 cultivar had higher P, whereas Fe and Mn recorded high levels in Serge and RO21 cultivars, respectively. There was a good correlation between phytate and polyphenols reduction and increase in extractable minerals with increase in sprouting time for all cultivars.     

Enthalpic Relaxation of Vital and Protease-Treated Wheat Gluten

Commercially available vital wheat gluten was purified with α-amylase and treated with protease in a one-step process. The supernatant of the protease-treated gluten was freeze dried, quench cooled, and aged for 2 weeks and analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry, sodium dodecyl sulfate poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis, reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography, capillary zone electrophoresis, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The differential scanning calorimetry profile of the aged (un-purified or un-modified) gluten sample exhibited enthalpic relaxation beneath its glass transition (Tg) indicating molecular relaxation. Samples treated with 0.006 g protease/g gluten showed Tg at 49.11°C with ΔCp = 0.12 (J/°C g). Higher protease levels and longer aging time caused high Tg temperature, ΔCp, and ΔH of enthalpic relaxation. The size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography profile of the protease-treated gluten clearly showed differences in molecular size between the supernatant and the precipitate, while reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography profiles signified more hydrophilic gluten molecules than the control. The small difference in gluten molecular size after protease treatments (0.024 g protease versus 0.032 g) appeared to have a significant effect on the enthalpic relaxation, where the two treatments showed different degrees of enthalpic relation. The capillary zone electrophoresis data confirmed the insignificant difference between 0.024 and 0.032 g protease/g gluten regarding the size to charge ratio. The molecular interactions for protease-treated gluten were much weaker than vital gluten, as indicated by much weaker network and sensitivity to temperature, especially above Tg. The weaker network was evidenced by higher G″ versus G′, which explained the fluid like behavior of the protease-treated gluten.