On providing location privacy for mobile sinks in wireless sensor networks

A common practice in sensor networks is to collect sensing data and report them to the sinks or to some pre-defined data rendezvous points via multi-hop communications. Attackers may locate the sink easily by reading the destination field in the packet header or predicting the arrival of the sink at the rendezvous points, which opens up vulnerabilities to location privacy of the sinks. In this paper, we propose a random data collection scheme to protect the location privacy of mobile sinks in wireless sensor networks. Data are forwarded along random paths and stored at the intermediate nodes probabilistically in the network. The sinks will move around randomly to collect data from the local nodes occasionally, which prevents the attackers from predicting their locations and movements. We analyze different kind of attacks threatening the location privacy of the sinks in sensor networks. We also evaluate the delivery rate, data collection delay and protection strength of our scheme by both analysis and simulations. Both analytical and simulation results show that our scheme can protect location privacy of mobile sinks effectively, while providing satisfactory data collection services.     

Fractals,fuzzy logic and expert systems to assist in the construction of musical pieces

The authors present a suite to assist in the creation of musical pieces, whose foundation lies on fractals, fuzzy logic and expert systems. Even though algorithmic music has been explored, some gaps still exist. The favored approach has consisted in mapping numbers to notes to create appealing pieces. This, we contend, is a necessary but not a sufficient condition. Our suite, besides the necessary mapping, possesses the following advantages. First, it is possible to define notes, tempos, and notes durations. Notes evolve according to the selected fractal. Tempos and durations can remain fixed or they also can follow a fractal. Second, it is possible to translate the resultant fractal notes into notes belonging to a musical scale. This is done by firing appropriate rules in a rule base. Third, interpretation templates are provided. Also, melodies or harmonies are available. The suite currently contains several known fractal systems, and we also proposed one dynamical, recursive computation based on Mamdani fuzzy rule bases. The suite we present helps promoting and monitoring the creative process of composing musical scores. The actual implementation of the suite was done on the Java language.     

Study on Lake Izvorul Muntelui rehabilitation

In the actual economical and ecological context the rehabilitation of aquatic ecosystems represents one of the most important concerns all over the world. The physical, chemical and biological processes that take place inside a lake are very complex. A simple analysis of the field data is not enough. Even if those dates offers an appreciation of the global functioning of the ecosystem under the influence of certain factors, it does not allow to predict the system evolution, the optimization of the water arrangement, in order to respect and to assure the water quality criteria or to propose solutions for diminishing the lakes eutrophication.In the recent years, Lake Izvorul Muntelui, which is the largest artificial lake on the interior waters of Romania, experienced eutrophication problems. This paper analyzes the apparition condition, its effects onto water quality in the lake and the solutions for the rehabilitation of the ecosystem. Since systematic measured data are not available for this ecosystem, the mathematical modelling it is used.The simulation is done by considering the ecosystem dynamic and the stipulation of the spatial and temporal variation domains for the natural processes to appear and act onto perturbation factors to modify the ecological succession.Thus, different scenarios will be created allowing us to offer solutions for the eutrophication phenomenon and, in the same time, to identify solutions for the rehabilitation of the Izvorul Muntelui Lake.     

Processing Ti-25Ta-5Zr Bioalloy via Anodic Oxidation Procedure at High Voltage

The current paper reports the processing of Ti-25Ta-5Zr bioalloy via anodic oxidation in NH4BF4 solution under constant potentiostatic conditions at high voltage to obtain more suitable properties for biomedical application. The maximum efficiency of the procedure is reached at highest applied voltage, when the corrosion rate in Hank’s solution is decreased approxomately six times. The topography of the anodic layer has been studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the results indicated that the anodic oxidation process increases the surface roughness. The AFM images indicated a different porosity for the anodized surfaces as well. After anodizing, the hydrophilic character of Ti-25Ta-5Zr samples has increased. A good correlation between corrosion rate obtained from potentiodynamic curves and corrosion rate from ions release analysis was obtained.     

Fertilizer value and nitrogen transfer efficiencies with clover-grass ley biomass based fertilizers

In temperate regions, legume-based green manures are a key element of organic rotations. However, specialized farms lack sufficient mobile organic fertilizers. To gain a better understanding of the N flows and the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer value of different clover-grass-based fertilizers (biogas digestate, compost, silage and fresh clover-grass obtained from clover-grass ley biomass), we assessed their fertilizer value. Nitrogen and P offtake by the ryegrass was used to assess the short-term effects. The data were completed using model calculations to assess the field-to-field N-transfer efficiencies and the overall N-transfer efficiencies. The greatest plant N offtake was achieved with digestates (64%) and the lowest from the compost (6%) and solid farmyard manure (14%). The mineralization rate was positively related to the NH₄ ⁺–N/total N ratio (P < 0.01, r² = 0.82). The model calculations indicate that the overall short-term N-transfer efficiencies are driven by the field-to-field N-transfer efficiency and the field-to-crop transfer efficiency. However, in the long term, model calculations indicate that a high field-to-field N-transfer efficiency is the key strategic approach when aiming to achieve cropping systems with a high overall long-term N-transfer efficiency. Consequently, the results showed that aerobic decomposition (composting) significantly lowered field-to-field as well as field-to-crop N-transfer rates. The relative P use efficiency strongly differed among the fertilizers. In particular, freshly cut clover-grass and solid manure increased P availability and led to an increase of plant P offtake that was higher than the amount of P supplied.     

New electromagnetic shielding materials based on viscose‐carbon nanotubes composites

A convenient approach for the preparation of cellulose ‐ carbon nanotubes (CNT) hybrid materials owning electromagnetic shielding properties, based on viscose (V) and TEMPO‐oxidized viscose fibers (VO) is proposed. Viscose ‐ carbon nanotubes (V‐CNT) and TEMPO‐oxidized viscose ‐ carbon nanotubes (VO‐CNT) composites were prepared by embedding carbon nanotubes on the surface of two types of cellulose fibers, that is, viscose and its C₆‐oxidized derivative. The chemical composition, morphology, and thermal stability of the prepared hybrid materials were thoroughly investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analyses. Moreover, electrical properties of the original and composite fibers were assessed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1499–1506 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activities of New Arylidene-Hydrazinyl-Thiazole Derivatives

New and known arylidene-hydrazinyl-thiazole derivatives have been synthesized by a convenient Hantzsch condensation. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity on two carcinoma cell lines, MDA-MB231 and HeLa. Significant antiproliferative activity for 2-(2-benzyliden-hydrazinyl)-4-methylthiazole on both MDA-MB-231 (IC₅₀: 3.92 µg/mL) and HeLa (IC₅₀: 11.4 µg/mL) cell lines, and for 2-[2-(4-methoxybenzylidene) hydrazinyl]-4-phenylthiazole on HeLa (IC₅₀: 11.1 µg/mL) cell line is reported. Electrophoresis experiments showed no plasmid DNA (pTZ57R) cleavage in the presence of the investigated thiazoles.     

Complexes With Biologically Active Ligands. Part 7 Synthesis and Fungitoxic Activity of Metal Complexes Containing 1,3,5-tris-(8-Hydroxyquinolino)- Trichlorocyclo-Triphosphazatriene

Complexes containing 1,3,5-tris-(8-hydroxyquinolino)-trichlorocyclotriphosphazatriene, a new cyclophosphazene ligand, and Co(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) were prepared. The new complexes, having the general formula [MLCl(2)], [ML(2)]Cl(2), (M=Cu, Co, Ni); [NiLAc], [NiL(2)Ac]Ac and [ML(3)]X(3) (M=Ni, Co, X=Cl, Ac) were characterised by elemental analysis, electronic-, IR spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity measurements. Some of them inhibited the growth of several fungi species (Aspergillus and Candida spp.).     

杭州RAFFLES城

杭州Raffles城发展坐落于浙江省省会杭州市的钱塘江边,是嘉德置地继新加坡、上海、北京、成都和巴林之后的第六栋,将零售店、办公楼、住户和酒店设施融于一体,成为新城区的文化地标。