Multilayered Distributed Routing for Power Efficient MANET Performance

In this paper a new power efficient routing algorithm for MANETs with self-organizing and self-routing features is described and its performance analyzed in different simulation scenarios. The algorithm has the logic of a non-cooperative routing algorithm based on the evaluation of a weight parameter, the latter being a function of properties of the MANET nodes related to the nominal available power and the transmission range. A self-estimation of this weight parameter for each node is introduced in the routing process based on the status and functional history of the node. The routing is based on network layering, formation of service areas in each layer and choice of nodes from these areas to have the functionality of default gateways. The proposed algorithm, named service zone gateway prediction (SZGP), is a hybrid type of routing mechanism, incorporating pre-computed multipath hop-by-hop distributed routing, with a periodically updated hierarchical multilayered structure. The results from the simulation experiments show that the performance of the proposed SZGP algorithm in relation to the basic performance parameters such as packet delivery ratio, delay and throughput are similar to those of the well-known AODV algorithm, but in relation to power efficiency the proposed algorithm outperforms AODV significantly. This is due to the fact that such an approach reduces the overall number of broadcasts in the network and ensures a reliable and energy efficient connection by balancing the load among the nodes.     

An ecosystemic approach for assessing the urban water self-sufficiency potential: lessons from the Mediterranean

Frequent water stress episodes affecting urban hubs have caused a shift in urban water management towards integrated approaches and motivated a search for alternative water resources. Large-scale rainwater harvesting on the municipal scale can overcome the disadvantages of climate dependence and the volume restrictions associated with small-scale collection facilities. In this paper, two tools based on the urban metabolism concept are used to determine the water self-sufficiency potential of urban systems from urban runoff: a simple water self-sufficiency potential indicator and a socioeconomic water flow accounting scheme, which includes water losses. Both tools are applied to a densely populated coastal area that exemplifies urban centres in the Mediterranean. This approach is useful for regions with restricted data availability on water use and facilitates information dissemination to policy makers. The results indicate a significant water self-sufficiency potential for the area of study, even under projections of reduced precipitation in the area.     

Gelatin as a promising printable feedstock for microbial fuel cells (MFC)

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an energy transducer that can directly produce electricity from bacterial oxidation of organic matter. MFCs consist of two reaction chambers (anode and cathode) separated by a semipermeable membrane. This study describes the work carried out towards the optimization of critical MFC components, with 3D fabricated materials. The response of the optimized fuel cells, which were fed with soft materials such as gelatin, alginate and Nafion?, is also reported. The optimised components were the membrane and the cathode electrode. A conventional Nafion membrane was substituted with a custom made terracotta sheet and the electrode used was a single sheet of carbon veil coated with an activated carbon paste. The results showed that among the soft materials tested within the anodic chamber, gelatin performed the best; it also revealed that even after a 10-day starvation period gelatin demonstrated better longevity. These results show that MFCs have the potential to be 3D-printed monolithically using the EVOBOT platform.     

Parenteral Lipid Emulsions in Guinea Pigs Differentially Influence Plasma and Tissue Levels of Fatty Acids,Squalene, Cholesterol,and Phytosterols

Lipid emulsions are made by mixing vegetable and/or fish oils with egg yolk and contain different types and amounts of fatty acids and sterols. This study assessed the effects of oral diet, soybean oil (SO)-, fish oil (FO)-, a mixture of olive and soybean oil (OOSO)-, and a mixture of fish, olive, coconut, and soybean oil (FOCS)-based emulsions on plasma triacylglycerols and plasma and tissue fatty acid and sterol content following acute and chronic intravenous administration in the guinea pig. Upon acute administration, peak triacylglycerols were highest with SO and lowest with OOSO. Upon chronic administration, the plasma triglyceride levels did not increase in any group over that of the controls. Fatty acid levels varied greatly between organs of animals on the control diets and organs of animals following acute or chronic lipid administration. Squalene levels increased in plasma following acute administration of OOSO, but plasma squalene levels were similar to control in all emulsion groups following chronic administration. Total plasma phytosterol levels were increased in the SO, OOSO, and FOCS groups following both acute and chronic infusions, whereas phytosterols were not increased following FO infusion. Total phytosterol levels were higher in liver, lung, kidney and adipose tissue following SO and OOSO. Levels were not increased in tissues after FO and FOCS infusion. These results indicate that fatty acid and sterol contents vary greatly among organs and that no one tissue reflects the fatty acid or sterol composition of other tissues, suggesting that different organs regulate these compounds differently.     

Changes in Phenotypes and DNA Methylation of In Vitro Aging Sperm in Common Carp Cyprinus carpio

The purpose of the current study was to analyze phenotypic and functional characteristics of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) spermatozoa during in vitro aging and to investigate whether global DNA methylation is affected by sperm aging. Milt was collected from five individual males, stored in vitro on ice in a refrigerator for up to 96 h post stripping (HPS) and used to fertilize eggs with intervals of 1, 24 and 96 h. Computer-assisted sperm analysis and a S3e Cell Sorter was employed to determine the spermatozoa phenotypic characteristics (motility, velocity, concentration and viability). In addition, pH and osmolality of the seminal fluid and the capacity of the spermatozoa to fertilize, hatching rate and health of the resulting embryos were examined at different aging times. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was used to compare the global and gene-specific DNA methylation in fresh and aged spermatozoa. The results demonstrated that spermatozoa aging in common carp significantly affects their performance and thus the success of artificial fertilization. The methylation level at the cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites increased significantly with 24 HPS spermatozoa compared to the fresh group at 1 HPS and then decreased significantly at 96 HPS. A more detailed investigation of gene specific differences in the DNA methylation was hindered by incomplete annotation of the C. carpio genome in the public databases.     

A Comparison of Word- and Sense-Based Text Categorization Using Several Classification Algorithms

Most of the text categorization algorithms in the literature represent documents as collections of words. An alternative which has not been sufficiently explored is the use of word meanings, also known as senses. In this paper, using several algorithms, we compare the categorization accuracy of classifiers based on words to that of classifiers based on senses. The document collection on which this comparison takes place is a subset of the annotated Brown Corpus semantic concordance. A series of experiments indicates that the use of senses does not result in any significant categorization improvement.