A precise sensor fault detection technique using statistical techniques for wireless body area networks

One of the major challenges in wireless body area networks (WBANs) is sensor fault detection. This paper reports a method for the precise identification of faulty sensors, which should help users identify true medical conditions and reduce the rate of false alarms, thereby improving the quality of services offered by WBANs. The proposed sensor fault detection (SFD) algorithm is based on Pearson correlation coefficients and simple statistical methods. The proposed method identifies strongly correlated parameters using Pearson correlation coefficients, and the proposed SFD algorithm detects faulty sensors. We validated the proposed SFD algorithm using two datasets from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care database and compared the results to those of existing methods. The time complexity of the proposed algorithm was also compared to that of existing methods. The proposed algorithm achieved high detection rates and low false alarm rates with accuracies of 97.23% and 93.99% for Dataset 1 and Dataset 2, respectively.     

Rheological cure characterization of phosphazene–triazine polymers

Cyclomatrix phosphazene–triazine network polymers were synthesized by co‐curing a blend of tris(2‐allylphenoxy), triphenoxy cyclotriphosphazene (TAP), and tris(2‐allylphenoxy) s‐triazine (TAT) with bis(4‐maleimido phenyl) methane (BMM). The co‐curing of the three‐component resin was investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis using rheometry. The cure kinetics of the Diels–Alder step was studied by examining the evolution of the rheological parameters, such as storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), and complex viscosity (η*), for resins of varying compositions at different temperatures. The curing conformed to an overall second‐order phenomenological equation, taking into account a self‐acceleration effect. The kinetic parameters were evaluated by multiple‐regression analysis. The absence of a definite trend in the cure process with blend composition ratio was attributed to the occurrence of a multitude of competitive reactions whose relative rates depend on the reactant ratio and the concentration of the products formed from the initial phase of reaction. The cure was accelerated by temperature for a given composition, whereas the self‐acceleration became less prominent at higher temperature. Gelation was accelerated by temperature. The gel conversion decreased with increase in maleimide concentration and, for a given composition, it was independent of the cure temperature. The activation energy for the initial reaction and the crosslinking process were estimated for a composition with a maleimide‐to‐allyl ratio of 2 : 1. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 908–914, 2003     

Nonlinear protein binding and enzyme heterogeneity: effects on hepatic drug removal

The kinetics of substrate removal by the liver and the resulting nonlinear changes in unbound fraction along the flow path at varying input drug concentrations were examined by a model simulation study. Specifically, we varied the binding association constant, KA, and the Michaelis-Menten constants (Km and Vmax) to examine the steady state drug removal (expressed as hepatic extraction ratio E) and changes in drug binding for (i) unienzyme systems and (ii) simple, parallel metabolic pathways; zonal metabolic heterogeneity was also added as a variable. At low KA, E declined with increasing input drug concentration, due primarily to saturation of enzymes; only small differences in binding were present across the liver. At high KA, a parabolic profile for E with concentration was observed; changes in unbound fraction between the inlet and the outlet of the liver followed in parallel fashion. Protein binding was the rate-determining step at low input drug concentrations, whereas enzyme saturation was the rate-controlling factor at high input drug concentration. Heterogeneous enzymic distribution modulated changes in unbound fraction within the liver and at the outlet. Despite marked changes in unbound fraction occurring within the liver for different enzymic distributions, the overall transhepatic differences were relatively small. We then investigated the logarithmic average unbound concentration and the length averaged concentration as estimates of substrate concentration in liver in the presence of nonlinear drug binding. Fitting of simulated data, with and without assigned random error (10%), to the Michaelis-Menten equation was performed; fitting was repeated for simulated data obtained with presence of a specific inhibitor of the high-affinity, anteriorly distributed pathway. Results were similar for both concentration terms: accurate estimates were obtained for anterior, high affinity pathways; an overestimation of parameters was observed for the lower affinity posteriorly distributed pathways. Improved estimations were found for posteriorly distributed pathways upon inhibition with specific inhibitors; with added random error, however, the improvement was much decreased. We applied the method for fitting of several sets of metabolic data obtained from rat liver perfusion studies performed with salicylamide (SAM) (i) without and (ii) with the presence of 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol (DCNP), a SAM sulfation inhibitor. The fitted results showed that SAM sulfation was a high-affinity high-capacity pathway; SAM glucuronidation was of lower affinity but comparable capacity as the sulfation pathway, whereas SAM hydroxylation was of lower affinity and lower capacity.     

A user-friendly tool for image analysis

A new graphical tool (Multimedia University’s RSIMANA—Remote-Sensing Image Analyzer) developed for image analysis is described in this paper. MATLAB and ENVI are some of the commercially available tools in the market that aid in image processing and analysis. But their current versions are of limited assistance in image analysis; for example, MATLAB can extract the area of irregular objects and patterns in images, but not their length. ENVI is more focused on image processing than on image analysis functions. Other commercially available tools are also prohibitively expensive. This indicates the need to develop a userfriendly graphical tool that meets research objectives in the educational environment. The text was submitted by the author in English. Hema Nair. Born 1965. Educational qualifications: B.Tech. (Electrical Engineering) from Government Engineering College affiliated to University of Calicut, Kerala State, India, 1986; MSc (Electrical Engineering) from National University of Singapore, 1993; MSc (Computer Science) from Clark Atlanta University, USA, 1996. Previous employment: Researcher and Project Leader in AT & T, New Jersey, USA, for about 5 years. Also worked in Bangalore, India, before that in Apple Information Technology Ltd. as Teaching Faculty. Current employment: lecturer, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Multimedia University, Malaysia. Current research: the final stages of her PhD in Computer Science at Multimedia University. Scientific interests are image analysis, pattern recognition, databases, AI, data mining. Member of IEEE (USA) since 1997, Professional Member of ACM (USA) since 1997, Member of Institution of Engineers (India) since 1986. Reviewer for IASTED International Conference 2004. Current PhD project entitled “Pattern Extraction and Concept Clustering in Linguistic Terms from Mined Images” is funded by an Intensive Research in Priority Area (IRPA) grant from Government of Malaysia. Research for MSc in Computer Science from USA was funded by a research grant from the US Army. Author of three International Conference papers accepted in Portugal, Belgium, and India.     

High char‐yielding poly[acrylonitrile‐co‐(itaconic acid)‐co‐(methyl acrylate)]: synthesis and properties

Polyacrylonitrile terpolymers of various compositions consisting of acrylonitrile (AN), itaconic acid (IA) and methyl acrylate (MA) were synthesized by solution polymerization in dimethylsulfoxide. Increase in concentration of either IA or MA retarded the overall polymerization rate and the polymer molecular weight. The system consisting of AN + MA and varying IA concentration was more prone to retardation in comparison with the system composed of AN + IA with variable MA concentration. The retardation factors were quantified. Minor quantities of MA boost the reactivity of IA in the terpolymer system. The terpolymer was richer in MA vis‐à‐vis the feed. The thermal characteristics of the terpolymer were examined as a function of its composition. In contrast to the copolymer of AN and IA requiring 1–1.5 mol% IA, the terpolymer required an IA content of approximately 2.5 mol% for optimum thermal stability. The polymer with 90 mol% AN, 2.5 mol% IA and 7.5 mol% MA exhibited reasonably good char‐forming characteristics and thermal stability. The overall crystallinity and crystallite size of the polymers were found to decrease on incorporation of the comonomers. The ‘aromatization index’ of the copolymer increased with the temperature of pyrolysis through re‐organization of the tetrahydropyridine ladder structure. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

High yield formation of carbon nanotubes using a rotating cathode in open air

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been synthesized using the arc discharge method with a rotating graphite disc as the cathode. Arcing was carried out in open air and without the use of catalysts. The current density was maintained constant through out the experiment, while, the rate of rotation of the cathode and atmosphere under which arcing was carried out were changed during experimentation. Characterization of the samples produced indicates that rotation of the cathode has a significant impact on the quality and yield of the process. It is proposed that rotation of the cathode drags plasma formed between two electrodes away from high temperature region. This results in a sudden quenching of the reactive plasma. The time available for nucleation and growth phenomena is significantly reduced and thus leads to the formation of highly graphitic multi walled CNTs (yield 60%) and traces of double walled CNTs.     

Preparation of glucose oxidase immobilized in different carriers using radiation polymerization

Glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4) was immobilized on different polymeric materials using different immobilization techniques (entrapping by γ‐irradiation, and covalent binding using epichlorohydrin). Studies were carried out to increase the thermal stability of glucose oxidase (GOD) for different applications. The activity and stability of the resulting biopolymers have been compared with those of free GOD. The effect of different polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylamide (PVA/PAAm) compositions of the copolymer carrier on the enzymatic activity of the immobilized GOD was studied. The maximum enzymatic activity was obtained with the composition ratio of PVA/PAAm of 60:40. The behaviour of the free and immobilized enzyme was analysed as a function of pH. A broadening in the pH profile (5.5–8) was observed for immobilized preparations. The activity and stability of the resulting biopolymers produced by immobilization of GOD onto different carriers have been compared, in both aqueous and organic media, with those of the free GOD. The enzyme's tolerance toward both heat and organic solvent was enhanced by immobilization onto polymers. The addition of different concentrations of organic solvents (10–50%, v/v) to the enzyme at higher temperature (60 °C) was found to stabilize the enzyme molecule. The strongest stabilizing effect on the enzymatic activity was achieved at a concentration of 10%. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

High-dose busulfan, melphalan, thiotepa and peripheral blood stem cell infusion for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with high-dose busulfan (Bu), melphalan (Mel) and thiotepa (TT) followed by peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) infusion. Fifty-one patients with chemotherapy refractory (n = 32) or responsive (n = 19) metastatic breast cancer received Bu (12 mg/kg), Mel (100 mg/m2) and TT (500 mg/m2) followed by PBSC collected after chemotherapy and growth factor (n = 43) or growth factor alone (n = 8). The 100 day treatment-related mortality was 8% including one death from cytomegalovirus pneumonia, one from aspiration pneumonia and two from regimen-related toxicity (RRT). Seven of 28 refractory (25%) and 5/7 (71%) responsive patients with evaluable disease achieved a complete response of all measurable disease or all soft tissue disease with at least improvement in bone lesions (PR*). Fifteen of 51 patients (29%) are alive and progression-free a median of 423 days (range 353-934) after treatment, 5/32 (16%) with refractory disease and 10/19 (53%) with responsive disease. The probabilities of progression-free survival (PFS) at 1.5 years for the patients with refractory (n = 32) and responsive (n = 19) disease were 0.24 and 0.53, respectively. These preliminary data suggest that high-dose Bu/Mel/TT has significant activity in patients with advanced breast cancer and may be superior to some previously published regimens.     

Selective phosphorylation of adult tau isoforms in mature hippocampal neurons exposed to fibrillar A beta

How senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are linked represents a major gap in our understanding of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. We characterized a hippocampal neuronal culture system in which tau undergoes maturation in vivo; rat neurons maintained in culture for more than 3 weeks replicated the splicing and phosphorylation changes that tau undergoes upon maturation in situ. Using this model system, we induced an Alzheimer-like neuritic dystrophy following the application of fibrillar beta-amyloid. The dystrophy consisted of focal distortions and swellings within the neurites and an altered phosphorylation of the adult tau isoforms. Fibrillar beta-amyloid induced the concomitant activation of MAP kinase and GSK3 beta. The aberrant activation of several signaling pathways may lead to the abnormal phosphorylation of tau and neuritic degeneration.