Heterogeneous network optimization using robust power-and-resource based algorithm

In order to meet the increasing mobile data-traffic, spatial densification of network with several low-power nodes, the high-power macro BS and HetNet are the major key enabling solution. However, the HetNet is unplanned in nature, causes irregularities and interferences that without any user association rules. The appropriate deployment of the femto-cell in HetNet can provide effective traffic offloading, where the alleviate mobbing in the macro-cells can decrease the power consumption therefore it optimizes the user experience. Moreover, the protection is also important for the macro and femto cell users in a network through maintaining the min-max level of interferences. In this paper, we proposed RPRA that comprises two robust approach such as robust power-controller and the robust channel-allocation approach, which can improve the spectral efficiency and user experiences at lower network coverage areas via eliminating the week coverage zones. Also provide high user rate connection by effective interference in an efficient spectrum, lowering in transmission power and cost-effectiveness via less time delay. To show the effectiveness of our proposed model we have compared with several existing techniques and we got significant improvement in throughput, also reduction in time delay and transmission power

Influence of coolant temperature on the performance of a four stroke spark ignition engine employing a dual circuit cooling system

Diesel engines have attracted attention because of their higher thermal efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline engines.  On the other hand, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) in the exhaust from diesel engines are difficult to be reduced simultaneously because a decrease in one is likely to result in an increase in the other.  In this paper, an attempt has been made to compare the effect of the heat lost to the coolant in the cylinder block, and in the cylinder head with a conventional cooling circuit with corresponding effects in an engine with a dual cooling circuit.  A dual cooling circuit employs separate cooling circuits for the cylinder block, and for the cylinder head.  A single cylinder, four-stroke, water cooled, naturally aspirated spark ignition engine test rig was developed for the purpose.  The influences of the cylinder block and cylinder head temperatures on brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc) and on exhaust emissions were measured.  The results show that raising the temperature of the coolant in the engine block can produce significant improvements in bsfc with a corresponding reduction in the hydrocarbon (HC) emissions.  Similarly, lowering the coolant temperature in the cylinder head can increase the knock limit of the engine with a corresponding reduction in the levels of NOx in the exhaust emissions.   The objective of this investigation was to access the magnitude of the likely benefits of the dual circuit cooling system.Keywords: dual circuit cooling system, spark ignition engine, heat transfer, engine cooling Citation: Rehman A., R. M. Sarviya, S. Dixit, and R. K. Pandey.  Influence of coolant temperature on the performance of a four stroke spark ignition engine employing a dual circuit cooling system.  Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(1): 84-90.&nbsp

Revised Stellar Properties of Kepler Targets for the Q1-17 (DR25) Transit Detection Run

The determination of exoplanet properties and occurrence rates using Kepler data critically depends on our knowledge of the fundamental properties (such as temperature, radius and mass) of the observed stars. We present revised stellar properties for 197,096 Kepler targets observed between Quarters 1-17 (Q1-17), which were used for the final transiting planet search run by the Kepler Mission (Data Release 25, DR25). Similar to the Q1--16 catalog by Huber et al. the classifications are based on conditioning published atmospheric parameters on a grid of Dartmouth isochrones, with significant improvements in the adopted methodology and over 29,000 new sources for temperatures, surface gravities or metallicities. In addition to fundamental stellar properties the new catalog also includes distances and extinctions, and we provide posterior samples for each stellar parameter of each star. Typical uncertainties are ~27% in radius, ~17% in mass, and ~51% in density, which is somewhat smaller than previous catalogs due to the larger number of improved logg constraints and the inclusion of isochrone weighting when deriving stellar posterior distributions. On average, the catalog includes a significantly larger number of evolved solar-type stars, with an increase of 43.5% in the number of subgiants. We discuss the overall changes of radii and masses of Kepler targets as a function of spectral type, with particular focus on exoplanet host stars.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures. ApJS in pres

Revised Stellar Properties of Kepler Targets for the Quarter 1-16 Transit Detection Run

We present revised properties for 196,468 stars observed by the NASA Kepler Mission and used in the analysis of Quarter 1-16 (Q1-Q16) data to detect and characterize transiting exoplanets. The catalog is based on a compilation of literature values for atmospheric properties (temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity) derived from different observational techniques (photometry, spectroscopy, asteroseismology, and exoplanet transits), which were then homogeneously fitted to a grid of Dartmouth stellar isochrones. We use broadband photometry and asteroseismology to characterize 11,532 Kepler targets which were previously unclassified in the Kepler Input Catalog (KIC). We report the detection of oscillations in 2,762 of these targets, classifying them as giant stars and increasing the number of known oscillating giant stars observed by Kepler by ~20% to a total of ~15,500 stars. Typical uncertainties in derived radii and masses are ~40% and ~20%, respectively, for stars with photometric constraints only, and 5-15% and ~10% for stars based on spectroscopy and/or asteroseismology, although these uncertainties vary strongly with spectral type and luminosity class. A comparison with the Q1-Q12 catalog shows a systematic decrease in radii for M dwarfs, while radii for K dwarfs decrease or increase depending on the Q1-Q12 provenance (KIC or Yonsei-Yale isochrones). Radii of F-G dwarfs are on average unchanged, with the exception of newly identified giants. The Q1-Q16 star properties catalog is a first step towards an improved characterization of all Kepler targets to support planet occurrence studies.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables; accepted for publication in ApJS; electronic versions of Tables 4 and 5 are available as ancillary files (see sidebar on the right), and an interactive version of Table 5 is available at the NASA Exoplanet Archive (http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/

Characterization of a far-red analog of ghrelin for imaging GHS-R in P19-derived cardiomyocytes.

Ghrelin and its receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), are expressed in the heart, and may function to promote cardiomyocyte survival, differentiation and contractility. Previously, we had generated a truncated analog of ghrelin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate for the purposes of determining GHS-R expression in situ. We now report the generation and characterization of a far-red ghrelin analog, [Dpr(3)(octanoyl), Lys(19)(Cy5)]ghrelin (1-19), and show that it can be used to image changes in GHS-R in developing cardiomyocytes. We also generated the des-acyl analog, des-acyl [Lys(19)(Cy5)]ghrelin (1-19) and characterized its binding to mouse heart sections. Receptor binding affinity of Cy5-ghrelin as measured in HEK293 cells overexpressing GHS-R1a was within an order of magnitude of that of fluorescein-ghrelin and native human ghrelin, while the des-acyl Cy5-ghrelin did not bind GHS-R1a. Live cell imaging in HEK293/GHS-R1a cells showed cell surface labeling that was displaced by excess ghrelin. Interestingly, Cy5-ghrelin, but not the des-acyl analog, showed concentration-dependent binding in mouse heart tissue sections. We then used Cy5-ghrelin to track GHS-R expression in P19-derived cardiomyocytes. Live cell imaging at different time points after DMSO-induced differentiation showed that GHS-R expression preceded that of the differentiation marker aMHC and tracked with the contractility marker SERCA 2a. Our far-red analog of ghrelin adds to the tools we are developing to map GHS-R in developing and diseased cardiac tissues

Implementing research recognition award knowledge-based system (R2AKS)

In an effort to recognize the contributions of outstanding researchers within a university, a private university in Malaysia had introduced a Research Award.The process of identifying the candidates to be evaluated by a Selection Committee is currently carried out manually by personnel from the university's Research Enterprise Office (REO).Although the selection criteria are well-established, the manual process is tedious and time-consuming and more importantly it is subject to the discretion of the panel on the Selection Committee.The prototype implemented in this study is called Research Recognition Award Knowledge-based System (R2AKS) which aims to assist the REO personnel to select the winner for the Research Award.At the same time, R2AKS is able to capture the valuable knowledge residing in the researchers and REO personnel as well as from the university’s policies, procedures and templates.The prototype does not only serve as a DSS tool for helping REO personnel in the selection of the winner for each category but also for the capture of valuable insights, intuition, historical experience, judgments and know -how of the REO personnel when they are performing the selection process.Finally, the R2AKS is modest effort by the university to leverage their existing knowledge while at the same time ensuring the knowledge capture is well-documented, reused, and accessible to the public and distributed throughout the organization

Differential placental methylation and expression of VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR genes in human term and preterm preeclampsia

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication of placental origin is associated with altered expression of angiogenic factors and their receptors. Recently, there is considerable interest in understanding the role of adverse intrauterine conditions in placental dysfunction and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Since we have observed changes in placental global DNA methylation levels in preeclampsia, this study was undertaken to examine gene promoter CpG methylation and expression of several angiogenic genes. We recruited 139 women comprising, 46 normotensive women with term delivery (≥37 weeks), 45 women with preeclampsia delivering preterm (<37 weeks) and 48 women with preeclampsia delivering at term. Expression levels and promoter CpG methylation of VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR genes in placentae from respective groups were determined by Taqman-based quantitative real time PCR and by the Sequenom® EpiTYPER™ technology respectively. RESULTS: We observed several differentially methylated CpG sites in the promoter regions of VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR between the normotensive and preeclampsia groups. We specifically observed hypomethylated CpGs in the promoter region and an increased expression of VEGF gene between term and preterm preeclampsia. However, mean promoter CpG methylation could not account for the higher expression of FLT-1 and KDR in preterm preeclampsia as compared to normotensive group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicates altered DNA methylation patterns in the VEGF, FLT-1 and KDR genes in preeclampsia as compared to the normotensive group, which could be involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Hypomethylation of VEGF promoter and consequent upregulation of VEGF mRNA levels could be a compensatory mechanism to restore normal angiogenesis and blood flow in preterm preeclampsia. This study suggests a role of altered DNA methylation in placental angiogenesis and in determining adverse pregnancy outcomes

Investigating the properties of granulation in the red giants observed by Kepler

More than 1000 red giants have been observed by NASA/Kepler mission during a nearly continuous period of ~ 13 months. The resulting high-frequency resolution (< 0.03 muHz) allows us to study the granulation parameters of these stars. The granulation pattern results from the convection motions leading to upward flows of hot plasma and downward flows of cooler plasma. We fitted Harvey-like functions to the power spectra, to retrieve the timescale and amplitude of granulation. We show that there is an anti-correlation between both of these parameters and the position of maximum power of acoustic modes, while we also find a correlation with the radius, which agrees with the theory. We finally compare our results with 3D models of the convection.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the ASP proceedings of "The 61st Fujihara seminar: Progress in solar/stellar physics with helio- and asteroseismology", 13th-17th March 2011, Hakone, Japa

Performance measurement - A balanced score card approach

This paper suggests a framework of performance measurement through a balanced scorecard and to provide an objective indicator for evaluating the achievement of the strategic goals of the corporate.This paper uses the concepts of balanced score card and adopts an analytical hierarchical process model to measure an organizational performance. The balanced score card is a widely used management framework for the measurement of organizational performance.Preference theory is used to calculate the relative weightage for each factor, using the pair wise comparison.This framework may be used to calculate the effectiveness score for balanced score card as a final value of performance for any organization.The variations between targeted performance and actual performance were analyzed