3HA: Hybrid Hole Healing Algorithm in a Wireless Sensor Networks

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the appearance of coverage holes over a large target field is mostly possible. Those holes reduce network performance and may affect the network efficiency. Several approaches were proposed to heal coverage holes in WSNs, but they still suffer from some weaknesses. In this paper we suggest a distributed algorithm, named hybrid hole healing algorithm (3HA), to find the minimum effective patching positions to deploy additional nodes to cover the holes. A hole manager node of each hole is responsible for operating the 3HA algorithm which requires two phases. The first phase finds all candidate patching positions using a Voronoi diagram. It takes all Voronoi vertices within the hole as the initial patching positions list. The second phase reduces as much as possible this list based on integer linear programming and on a probabilistic sensor model. The 3HA algorithm repeats the above phases in rounds, until all Voronoi vertices are covered. Simulation results show that our solution offers a high coverage ratio for various forms and sizes of holes and reduces the number of additional sensors when compared to some algorithms like the Perimeter-based, the Delaunay triangulation-based, the Voronoi-based, and the Trees-based coverage hole healing methods.

     

HiSQL: A Front-end Query System for Historical Relational Databases

The paper describes a prototype system called HiSQL (Historical SQL) which extends the functionality of SQL in manipulating historical data, by providing functions for spatial and temporal processing. Conceptually the paper is divided into three parts: the first part deals with the design and architecture of the system; the second part introduces a case study (the defters); and the third part describes specific functions for spatial and temporal processing of serial documents. The paper concludes with a comparison between HiSQL and SQL and suggestions for further work. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of thin walled structures using the boundary element method

In this article the direct boundary element formulations of stretching and bending plate problems are combined together to solve thin walled structures and other similar frames. The final system is obtained by assuming each individual plane structural element as a subregion. After the necessary transforms of these equations they can be combined together taking into account the displacement compatibility and equilibrium conditions.     

Determination of water activities and osmotic and activity coefficients of the system NaCl–BaCl2–H2O at 298.15 K

The water activities of the mixed aqueous electrolyte NaCl–BaCl₂(aq) are measured at total molalities from 0.25 mol kg⁻¹ to about saturation for different ionic strength fractions (y) of NaCl with y=0.33,0.50,0.67. The results allow the deduction of osmotic coefficients. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of the Zdanovskii, Stokes, and Robinson (ZSR), Kusik and Meissner (KM), Robinson and Stokes (RS), Lietzke and Stoughton (LSII), Reilly, Wood, and Robinson (RWR), and Pitzer models. From these measurements, the Pitzer mixing ionic parameters are determined and used to predict the solute activity coefficients in the mixture. The excess Gibbs energy is also determined.     

Orientation of miscible and immiscible polymer blends

Polystyrene (PS) and poly(vinylmethylether) (PVME) were used to study the orientation of miscible and immiscible polymer blends. A miscible blend containing 60 wt% PS was prepared by casting the sample from a benzene solution. The immiscible blend was made by annealing the initially miscible mixture above its lower critical solution temperature for different times and temperatures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and birefringence were used to measure the orientation of PS and PVME, before and after phase separation. Stress-strain curves were also measured for the two types of systems. It was found that the two polymers orient differently and that phase separation induces an increase in the overall orientation of the mixture, in the modulus and in PS orientation. The differences observed between pure PS and PS in the blend were attributed to changes in specific interactions and density of entanglements. The variations with phase separation were attributed to a change in the morphology of the system.     

Synthesis of Organotin Polyamine Ethers Containing Acyclovir and their Preliminary Anticancer and Antiviral Activity

Organotin polyamine ethers containing acyclovir in their backbone were synthesized in moderate to high yield employing the aqueous interfacial polycondensation system. The products are high molecular weight polymers. Infrared spectroscopy of the products shows new bands characteristic of the formation of Sn–N and Sn–O bonds consistent with the proposed structure. MALDI-TOF MS below 2000 Da shows the presence of organotin and acyclovir units containing these two moieties. The products show moderate inhibition of a number of cancer cell lines and exhibit the ability to inhibit a number of viruses, particularly the herpes simplex virus-1 and varicella zoster virus that are responsible for herpes, chicken pox and shingles.     

Compressive strength and hydration of wastepaper sludge ash-ground granulated blastfurnace slag blended pastes

Compressive strength and hydration characteristics of wastepaper sludge ash-ground granulated blastfurnace slag (WSA-GGBS) blended pastes were investigated at a water to binder (w/b) ratio of 0.5. The strength results are compared to those of normal Portland cement (PC) paste and relative strengths are reported. Early relative strengths (1 day) of WSA-GGBS pastes were very low but a marked gain in relative strength occurred between 1 and 7 days and this increased further after 28 and 90 days. For the 50% WSA-50% GGBS blended paste, the strength achieved at 90 days was nearly 50% of that of the PC control paste. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis were carried out to identify the mineral components in the WSA and the hydration products of WSA and WSA-GGBS pastes. The principal crystalline components in the WSA are gehlenite, calcium oxide, bredigite and α′-C₂S (stabilised with Al and Mg) together with small amounts of anorthite and calcium carbonate and traces of calcium hydroxide and quartz. The α′-C₂S and bredigite, which phase separate from liquid phase that forms a glass on cooling, are difficult to distinguish by XRD. The hydration products identified in WSA paste are CH, C₄AH₁₃, C₃A.0.5CC?.0.5CH.H_11.5 and C-S-H gel plus possible evidence of small amounts of C₂ASH₈ and C₃A.3CS?.H₃₂. Based upon the findings, a hydration mechanism is presented, and a model is proposed to explain the observed strength development.