Differential Game for Distributed Power Control in Device-to-Device Communications Underlaying Cellular Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - In the formulating of power control for wireless networks, the radio channel is commonly formulated using static models of optimization or game theory. In these...     

A bidding decision index for construction contractors

Results from applying the model on a sample of contractors, the majority of whom were international and operating in Egypt, reinforces the credibility of the developed methodology, claim the authors.     

Energy Metabolites as Biomarkers in Ischemic and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

With more than 25 million people affected, heart failure (HF) is a global threat. As energy production pathways are known to play a pivotal role in HF, we sought here to identify key metabolic changes in ischemic- and non-ischemic HF by using a multi-OMICS approach. Serum metabolites and mRNAseq and epigenetic DNA methylation profiles were analyzed from blood and left ventricular heart biopsy specimens of the same individuals. In total we collected serum from n = 82 patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and n = 51 controls in the screening stage. We identified several metabolites involved in glycolysis and citric acid cycle to be elevated up to 5.7-fold in DCM (p = 1.7 × 10⁻⁶). Interestingly, cardiac mRNA and epigenetic changes of genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes of these pathways could also be found and validated in our second stage of metabolite assessment in n = 52 DCM, n = 39 ischemic HF and n = 57 controls. In conclusion, we identified a new set of metabolomic biomarkers for HF. We were able to identify underlying biological cascades that potentially represent suitable intervention targets.     

An Eco-Friendly Approach to the Control of Pathogenic Microbes and Anopheles stephensi Malarial Vector Using Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles (Mg-NPs) Fabricated by Penicillium chrysogenum

The discovery of eco-friendly, rapid, and cost-effective compounds to control diseases caused by microbes and insects are the main challenges. Herein, the magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) are successfully fabricated by harnessing the metabolites secreted by Penicillium chrysogenum. The fabricated MgO-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, DLS, EDX, FT-IR, and XPS analyses. Data showed the successful formation of crystallographic, spherical, well-dispersed MgO-NPs with sizes of 7–40 nm at a maximum wavelength of 250 nm. The EDX analysis confirms the presence of Mg and O ions as the main components with weight percentages of 13.62% and 7.76%, respectively. The activity of MgO-NPs as an antimicrobial agent was investigated against pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, and exhibited zone of inhibitions of 12.0 ± 0.0, 12.7 ± 0.9, 23.3 ± 0.8, 17.7 ± 1.6, and 14.7 ± 0.6 mm respectively, at 200 µg mL⁻¹. The activity is decreased by decreasing the MgO-NPs concentration. The biogenic MgO-NPs exhibit high efficacy against different larvae instar and pupa of Anopheles stephensi, with LC50 values of 12.5–15.5 ppm for I–IV larvae instar and 16.5 ppm for the pupa. Additionally, 5 mg/cm² of MgO-NPs showed the highest protection percentages against adults of Anopheles stephensi, with values of 100% for 150 min and 67.6% ± 1.4% for 210 min.     

Face relighting using discriminative 2D spherical spaces for face recognition

As part of the face recognition task in a robust security system, we propose a novel approach for the illumination recovery of faces with cast shadows and specularities. Given a single 2D face image, we relight the face object by extracting the nine spherical harmonic bases and the face spherical illumination coefficients by using the face spherical spaces properties. First, an illumination training database is generated by computing the properties of the spherical spaces out of face albedo and normal values estimated from 2D training images. The training database is then discriminately divided into two directions in terms of the illumination quality and light direction of each image. Based on the generated multi-level illumination discriminative training space, we analyze the target face pixels and compare them with the appropriate training subspace using pre-generated tiles. When designing the framework, practical real-time processing speed and small image size were considered. In contrast to other approaches, our technique requires neither 3D face models nor restricted illumination conditions for the training process. Furthermore, the proposed approach uses one single face image to estimate the face albedo and face spherical spaces. In this work, we also provide the results of a series of experiments performed on publicly available databases to show the significant improvements in the face recognition rates.     

The solubility of CO2 in triethylene glycol monomethyl ether

The solubility of CO₂ in triethylene glycol monomethyl ether (TEGMME) has been measured at 40, 70 and 100°C at pressures up to 8.8 MPa. The results were correlated with the Peng-Robinson (1976) equation of state. The interaction parameters and Henry's constants were derived.     

Adaptive sorting: an information theoretic perspective

We present two algorithms that are near optimal with respect to the number of inversions present in the input. One of the algorithms is a variation of insertion sort, and the other is a variation of merge sort. The number of comparisons performed by our algorithms, on an input sequence of length n that has I inversions, is at most . Moreover, both algorithms have implementations that run in time . All previously published algorithms require at least comparisons for some c > 1. M. L. Fredman was supported in part by NSF grant CCR-9732689.     

Evaluation of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Plants Based on Clustering Methods

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are electric power systems designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics, which is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials. PV systems have gained much attention and are a very attractive energy resource nowadays. The substantial advantage of PV systems is the usage of the most abundant and free energy from the sun. PV systems play an important role in reducing feeder losses, improving voltage profiles and providing ancillary services to local loads. However, large PV grid-connected systems may have a destructive impact on the stability of the electric grid. This is due to the fluctuations of the output AC power generated from the PV systems according to the variations in the solar energy levels. Thus, the electrical distribution system with high penetration of PV systems is subject to performance degradation and instabilities. For that, this project attempts to enhance the integration process of PV systems into electrical grids by analyzing the impact of installing grid-connected PV plants. To accomplish this, an indicative representation of solar irradiation datasets is used for planning and power flow studies of the electric network prior to PV systems installation. Those datasets contain lengthy historical observations of solar energy data, that requires extensive analysis and simulations. To overcome that the lengthy historical datasets are reduced and clustered while preserving the original data characteristics. The resultant clusters can be utilized in the planning stage and simulation studies. Accordingly, studies related to PV systems integration into the electric grid are conducted in an efficient manner, avoiding computing resources and processing times with easier and practical implementation.     

Intelligent System Application to Monitor the Smart City Building Lighting

A smart city incorporates infrastructure methods that are environmentally responsible, such as smart communications, smart grids, smart energy, and smart buildings. The city administration has prioritized the use of cutting-edge technology and informatics as the primary strategy for enhancing service quality, with energy resources taking precedence. To achieve optimal energy management in the multidimensional system of a city tribe, it is necessary not only to identify and study the vast majority of energy elements, but also to define their implicit interdependencies. This is because optimal energy management is required to reach this objective. The lighting index is an essential consideration when evaluating the comfort indicators. In order to realize the concept of a smart city, the primary objective of this research is to create a system for managing and monitoring the lighting index. It is possible to identify two distinct phases within the intelligent system. Once data collection concludes, the monitoring system will be activated. In the second step, the operation of the control system is analyzed and its effect on the performance of the numerical model is determined. This evaluation is based on the proposed methodology. The optimized results were deemed satisfactory because they maintained the brightness index value (79%) while consuming less energy. The intelligent implementation system generated satisfactory outcomes, which were observed 1.75 times on average.