A predefined channel coefficients library for vehicle-to-vehicle communications

It is noticeable that most of VANETs communications tests are assessed through simulation. In a majority of simulation results, the physical layer is often affected by an apparent lack of realism. Therefore, vehicular channel model has become a critical issue in the field of intelligent transport systems (ITS). To overcome the lack of realism problem, a more robust channel model is needed to reflect the reality. This paper provides an open access, predefined channel coefficients library. The library is based on 2x2 and 4x4 Multiple – Input – Multiple – Output (MIMO) systems in V2V communications, using a spatial channel model extended SCME which will help to reduce the overall simulation time. In addition, it provides a more realistic channel model for V2V communications; considering: over ranges of speeds, distances, multipath signals, sub-path signals, different angle of arrivals, different angle departures, no line of sight and line of sight. An intensive evaluation process has taken place to validate the library and acceptance results are produced. Having an open access predefined library, enables the researcher at relevant communities to test and evaluate several complicated vehicular communications scenarios in a wider manners with less time and efforts

Satisfaction and quality of life in women who undergo breast surgery: a qualitative study to develop conceptual model

Background: In cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery, measurement of patient-reported outcomes has become increasingly important to research efforts and clinical care. We aimed to describe how breast conditions and breast surgery impact on patient satisfaction and quality of life. Methods: We conducted qualitative, in-depth interviews with 48 women who had undergone either breast reduction (n = 15), breast augmentation (n = 12), or breast reconstruction (n = 21) surgery in order to begin to build a theoretical understanding of patient satisfaction and quality of life in breast surgery patients. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Results: The patient interviews revealed that breast conditions and breast surgery impact women in the following six main areas: satisfaction with breasts; satisfaction with overall outcome; psychosocial well-being; sexual well-being; physical well-being; and satisfaction with the process of care. We used these six themes to form the basis of a conceptual framework of patient satisfaction and quality of life in women who undergo breast surgery. Conclusion: Our conceptual framework establishes the main issues of concern for breast surgery patients. This new framework can be used to help develop local guidelines for future clinical assessment, management and measurement, establish the validity of the current management strategies, and develop evidence-based guidance for the development of new patient reported outcome measures for future outcomes research

Sub 1GHz M2M communications standardization: The advancement in white space utilization for enhancing the energy efficiency

Energy efficiency of machine to machine (M2M) communications terminals is one of the major design goals of M2M networks, resulting from anticipated over 50 billion M2M communications devices to be deployed into the networks by 2020 [1]. The stakeholders in the M2M communications have observed that it will be environmental and economic catastrophic to deploy M2M communications devices without solving the energy inefficiencies associated with wireless devices that are expected to be used for M2M communications. In view of the aforementioned energy challenge, sub 1GHz spectra have provided enormous opportunities that can be energy efficient, cost effective and coverage efficiency which can be utilized for M2M communications. This work will evaluate the energy efficiency benefits of optimized Sub 1GHz spectra for M2M communications

Employing VANET technology to alleviate road congestion in real time

Nowadays, traffic road jams are considered one of the most serious problems facing a large group of people, where many drivers die or are exposed to serious injuries because of road accidents that occur due to road congestion, driver's behaviour by disobeying the rules and traffic lights or bad management for traffic system. The eagerness on developing the deployment traffic road information among vehicles to reduce road accident and to make the journey more safe was the main motivation behind the improvement of Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks VANETs. VANETs are a special category of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET), which considered the cornerstone for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) that used to established communication among vehicles on a road using an infrastructure-less network. On this study, we will use graph model representation to design a novel algorithm which can deal with Instantaneous accident/incident occasions, road works and roads amendments to provide instant actions list to the transportation team to reduce congestion in shorter time, and to use wireless access technologies to send individual message to the relevant vehicles to avoid the congestion through Road Side Units (RSUs) devices. The aim of this research is to develop Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) for a city (e.g. Northampton) using VANETs technology, specifically vehicle to infrastructure communications which lead to reducing the traffic congestion or mitigation. The performance of proposed study will be evaluated via various congested scenarios using simulations software (Omnet++, SUMO and Veins) to assess the validity of the proposed algorithm

The Influence of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) on Sodium Regulation and Nitrogenous Waste Excretion in the Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is both ubiquitous and diverse in composition in natural waters, but its effects on the branchial physiology of aquatic organisms have received little attention relative to other variables (e.g. pH, hardness, salinity, alkalinity). Here, we investigated the effects of four chemically distinct DOM isolates (three natural, one commercial, ranging from autochthonous to highly allochthonous, all at ∼6 mg C l−1) on the physiology of gill ionoregulation and nitrogenous waste excretion in zebrafish acclimated to either circumneutral (7.0–8.0) or acidic pH (5.0). Overall, lower pH tended to increase net branchial ammonia excretion, net K+ loss and [3H]PEG-4000 clearance rates (indicators of transcellular and paracellular permeability, respectively). However, unidirectional Na+ efflux, urea excretion and drinking rates were unaffected. DOM sources tended to stimulate unidirectional Na+ influx rate and exerted subtle effects on the concentration-dependent kinetics of Na+ uptake, increasing maximum transport capacity. All DOM sources reduced passive Na+ efflux rates regardless of pH, but exerted negligible effects on nitrogenous waste excretion, drinking rate, net K+ loss or [3H]PEG4000 clearance, so the mechanism of Na+ loss reduction remains unclear. Overall, these actions appear beneficial to ionoregulatory homeostasis in zebrafish, and some may be related to physicochemical properties of the DOM sources. They are very different from those seen in a recent parallel study on Daphnia magna using the same DOM isolates, indicating that DOM actions may be both species and DOM specific

Characterization of Freshwater Natural Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM): Mechanistic Explanations for Protective Effects Against Metaltoxicity and Direct Effects on Organisms

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) exerts direct and indirect influences on aquatic organisms. In order to better understand how DOM causes these effects, potentiometric titration was carried out for a wide range of autochthonous and terrigenous freshwater DOM isolates. The isolates were previously characterized by absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. Proton binding constants (pKa) were grouped into three classes:acidic (pKa ≤ 5), intermediate (5 \u3c pKa ≤ 8.5) and basic (pKa \u3e 8.5). Generally, the proton site densities (LT) showed maximum peaks at the acidic and basic ends around pKa values of 3.5 and 10, respectively. More variably positioned peaks occurred in the intermediate pKa range. The acid–base titrations revealed the dominance of carboxylic and phenolic ligands with a trend for more autochthonous sources to have higher total LT. A summary parameter, referred to as the Proton Binding Index (PBI), was introduced to summarize chemical reactivity of DOMs based on the data of pKa and LT. Then, the already published spectroscopic data were explored and the specific absorbance coefficient at 340 nm (i.e. SAC340), an index of DOM aromaticity,was found to exhibit a strong correlation with PBI. Thus, the tendencies observed in the literature that darker organic matter is more protective against metal toxicity and more effective in altering physiological processes in aquatic organisms can now be rationalized on a basis of chemical reactivity to protons

Resonant tunneling diode oscillators for optical communications

The ability to use resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) as both transmitters and receivers is an emerging topic, especially with regards to wireless communications. Successful data transmission has been achieved using electronic RTDs with carrier frequencies exceeding 0.3 THz. Specific optical-based RTDs, which act as photodetectors, have been developed by adjusting the device structure to include a light absorption layer and small optical windows on top of the device to allow direct optical access. This also allows the optical signal to directly modulate the RTD oscillation. Both types of RTD oscillators will allow for seamless integration of high frequency radio and optical fiber networks.European Union's Horizon research and innovation programme [645369

A Chromosomal Deletion and New Frameshift Mutation Cause ARSACS in an African-American

Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is a rare, progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by ataxia, spasticity and polyneuropathy. First described in the French-Canadian population of Quebec in 1978, ARSACS has since been identified in multiple patients worldwide. In this clinical case report, we describe the evaluation of an 11-years-old African-American male who presented to neuromuscular clinic for assessment of a gait abnormality. He had a history of gross motor delay since early childhood, frequent falls and a below average IQ. Chromosomal microarray revealed a 1.422 megabase loss in the 13q12.12 region, which includes the SACS gene. Next Generation Sequencing then showed a novel, predicted to be pathogenic missense mutation (c.11824dup) of this gene. His clinical presentation and neurological imaging further confirmed the diagnosis of ARSACS. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of this disease in the African-American population of the United States. This case report further highlights the growing trend of identifying genetic diseases previously restricted to single, ethnically isolated regions in many different ethnic groups worldwide

Speciation without chromatography: Part 2. Determination of tributyltin by chloride generation flow injection atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure is described for the quantitation of tributyltin in aqueous samples and extracts based on its relatively high volatility in halide media, permitting vapour phase sampling from the headspace above such samples.Tributyltin chloride (TBT-C1) was purged from various chloride containing aqueous matrices and collected on the surface of an iridium treated graphite tube for subsequent quantitation by graphite furnace atomic absorption. Iodide, bromide and chloride matrices were compared for their generation efficiency. The effect of acidity of the sample was also studied. An absolute detection limit of 1.3 ng TBT (as tin) was estimated, corresponding to a detection limit of 0.33 ng ml 1 for a 4 ml sub-sample. Method validation was achieved using NRCC PACS-2 (sediment) Certified Reference Material, for which reasonable agreement between certified and measured values of tributyltin content was obtained. A procedural concentration limit of detection of 66 ng g 1 TBT in the sediment could be achieved