Physical Multi-Layer Phantoms for Intra-Body Communications

This paper presents approaches to creating tissue mimicking materials that can be used as phantoms for evaluating the performance of Body Area Networks (BAN). The main goal of the paper is to describe a methodology to create a repeatable experimental BAN platform that can be customized depending on the BAN scenario under test. Comparisons between different material compositions and percentages are shown, along with the resulting electrical properties of each mixture over the frequency range of interest for intra-body communications; 100 KHz to 100 MHz. Test results on a composite multi-layer sample are presented confirming the efficacy of the proposed methodology. To date, this is the first paper that provides guidance on how to decide on concentration levels of ingredients, depending on the exact frequency range of operation, and the desired matched electrical characteristics (conductivity vs. permittivity), to create multi-layer phantoms for intra-body communication applications

Monte Carlo simulation of the transmission of measles: Beyond the mass action principle

We present a Monte Carlo simulation of the transmission of measles within a population sample during its growing and equilibrium states by introducing two different vaccination schedules of one and two doses. We study the effects of the contact rate per unit time $\xi$ as well as the initial conditions on the persistence of the disease. We found a weak effect of the initial conditions while the disease persists when $\xi$ lies in the range 1/L-10/L ($L$ being the latent period). Further comparison with existing data, prediction of future epidemics and other estimations of the vaccination efficiency are provided. Finally, we compare our approach to the models using the mass action principle in the first and another epidemic region and found the incidence independent of the number of susceptibles after the epidemic peak while it strongly fluctuates in its growing region. This method can be easily applied to other human, animals and vegetable diseases and includes more complicated parameters.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Submitted to Phys.Rev.

Performance Analysis of Using the Next generation Australian SBAS with Precise Point Positioning Capability for Intelligent Transport Systems

© 2019 IEEE. In 2018, a next-generation Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) test-bed was launched in Australia/New-Zealand in preparation for building an operational system. This new generation SBAS includes Ll legacy SBAS, new dual-frequency multi-constellation (DFMC) SBAS, and orbit and clock corrections for precise point positioning (PPP) using GPS and Galileo. In this paper, the next generation SBAS and its models are first presented, and the benefits of using its new components are discussed. Test results for lane identification applications in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are presented and analyzed. Kinematic tests were performed in different ITS environments. These are characterized by different levels of sky-visibility and multipath, including clear sky, suburban, low-density urban, and high-density urban environments. Performance analysis show that results vary widely depending on the operational conditions but all SBAS solutions have better positioning accuracy compared with the standalone solutions that are currently used in transport applications. The DFMC SBAS slightly outperformed the Ll SBAS, with accuracy at sub-meter, and it has advantages during periods of fluctuations of the ionosphere with an extended coverage area. As expected, the SBAS-based PPP solutions have shown to give the best positioning precision and accuracy among all tested solution types, with sub-decimeter level accuracy, provided that enough convergence time is available. The paper concluded by giving remarks on the use of this new technology for ITS

Induction of Mincle by Helicobacter pylori and consequent anti-inflammatory signaling denote a bacterial survival strategy

Evasion of innate immune recognition is one of the key strategies for persistence of Helicobacter pylori, by virtue of its ability to modulate or escape the host innate immune receptors and signaling pathways. C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) predominantly expressed by macrophages are pivotal in tailoring immune response against pathogens. The recognition of glyco or carbohydrate moieties by Mincle (Macrophage inducible C-type lectin) is emerging as a crucial element in anti-fungal and anti-mycobacterial immunity. Herein, we demonstrate the role of Mincle in modulation of innate immune response against H. pylori infection. Our results revealed an upregulated expression of Mincle which was independent of direct host cell contact. Upon computational modelling, Mincle was observed to interact with the Lewis antigens of H. pylori LPS and possibly activating an anti-inflammatory cytokine production, thereby maintaining a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Furthermore, siRNA mediated knockdown of Mincle in human macrophages resulted in up regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and consequent down regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our study demonstrates a novel mechanism employed by H. pylori to escape clearance by exploiting functional plasticity of Mincle to strike a balance between pro-and anti-inflammatory responses ensuring its persistence in the host

Profile for Aquatic Resources Management: Kdol Chrum, Bourei Cholsar and Sangkum Mean Chey Villages Kampong Krasaing Commune, Bourei Cholsar District, Takeo Province, Cambodia

This publication is part of a collection of three profiles covering nine aquatic resources-dependent villages in the provinces of Stung Treng, Takeo and Siem Reap. The profiles are important because in most, if not all, of the aquatic-resources villages of Cambodia, critical data and information useful for planning and management are not available in a documented form. The development of the village profiles is viewed as a basic requirement for planning and overall management. It is only an initial step to identify future programs and projects related to aquatic resources. The profiles depict the present state of the villages and their aquatic resources. In general, the villages have limited infrastructure and other physical resources. In the villages of Takeo and Siem Reap, total flooding occurs in the wet season and villagers must rely on transportation by boat. In Stung Treng villages, partial flooding is also a problem as it makes the few existing roads significantly impassable during the wet season.Botanical resources, Resource management, Fishery management, Cambodia,

Identification and seasonal fluctuations of the mango fruit fly in central Sudan

    Field surveys were carried out in Hantoub area, east of Wad Medani, Sudan, during the period from March 1998 to February 1999 to identify the prevailing species of mango fruit fly and to study their seasonal abundance and fluctuation, using yellow dome-shaped taps with attractants (cue-lure and methyl eugenol), and sticky yellow traps. Infestation level and the most susceptible stage of fruit maturity in four tested cultivars (Alphons, Baladi, Shendi and Abu samaka) were studied. The behaviour of the adult fly in the field was observed and the alternative host plants for the pest were also surveyed. The results revealed that Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) was the dominant species of fruit flies in the study area. The peak population of the fly was observed in the humid months of July and August. Alphons cultivar was the least susceptible while Shendi cultivar showed high susceptibility. The ripe stage of the fruit was the most preferred stage for infestation. Guava fruit represented the best alternative host for the pes

Open circuit fault diagnosis technique for inverter switches and gate drive malfunction

Open circuit faults (OCFs) in voltage source inverters (VSIs) can significantly affect their performance and reliability. In this paper, a novel fault diagnosis technique (FDT)is presented for the detection and classification of two types of OCFs in VSIs: gate drive malfunction (GDM) and open switch fault (OSF). the effect of these OCFs on the output current of the VSI is analysed, this shows that they can be identified and distinguished using the average and root mean square (RMS) ratio of the current parameters. The proposed FDT is simple to implement and can identify switch faults with quick response, without the need for additional equipment. In this work the authors adopted the ensemble bagged tree classification method to detect and classify the GDM and OSF, the results show the credibility of the proposed technique in identifying different open circuit faults

Evolution of an elliptical bubble in an accelerating extensional flow

Mathematical models that describe the dynamical behavior of a thin gas bubble embedded in a glass fiber during a fiber drawing process have been discussed and analyzed. The starting point for the mathematical modeling was the equations presented in [1] for a glass fiber with a hole undergoing extensional flow. These equations were reconsidered here with the additional reduction that the hole, i.e. the gas bubble, was thin as compared to the radius of the fiber and of finite extent. The primary model considered was one in which the mass of the gas inside the bubble was fixed. This fixed-mass model involved equations for the axial velocity and fiber radius, and equations for the radius of the bubble and the gas pressure inside the bubble. The model equations assumed that the temperature of the furnace of the drawing tower was known. The governing equations of the bubble are hyperbolic and predict that the bubble cannot extend beyond the limiting characteristics specified by the ends of the initial bubble shape. An analysis of pinch-off was performed, and it was found that pinch-off can occur, depending on the parameters of the model, due to surface tension when the bubble radius is small. In order to determine the evolution of a bubble, a numerical method of solution was presented. The method was used to study the evolution of two different initial bubble shapes, one convex and the other non-convex. Both initial bubble shapes had fore-aft symmetry, and it was found that the bubbles stretched and elongated severely during the drawing process. For the convex shape, fore-aft symmetry was lost in the middle of the drawing process, but the symmetry was re-gained by the end of the drawing tower. A small amount of pinch-off was observed at each end for this case, so that the final bubble length was slightly shorter than its theoretical maximum length. For the non-convex initial shape, pinch-off occurred in the middle of the bubble resulting in two bubbles by the end of the fiber draw. The two bubbles had different final pressures and did not have fore-aft symmetry. An extension of the fixed-mass model was considered in which the gas in the bubble was allowed to diffuse into the surrounding glass. The governing equations for this leaky-mass model were developed and manipulated into a form suitable for a numerical treatment