Global Routing Protocols for Wireless Body Area Networks

This work primarily consists of two parts. The first part deals with a wireless body area network with battery operated nodes. Global routing protocols are considered. The Dijkstra`s algorithm was modified using a novel link cost function in order to perform energy balancing across the network. The proposed protocol makes optimal use of the network energy and increases the network lifetime. Hardware experiments involving multiple nodes and an access point are performed to gather wireless channel information. Performance of two different types of network architectures is evaluated viz. on-body access point and off-body access point architectures. Results show up to 40% increase in average network lifetime with modest average increase of 0.4 dB in energy per bit. Proposed protocol lessens the need to recharge batteries frequently and as all the nodes deplete their energy source at the same time due to energy balancing, recharging can be done for all the batteries at the same time instead of recharging them one at a time. Network connectivity is evaluated using outage as a metric. Results show the cut-off effect which signifies the minimum amount of transmission power required to achieve reliable communication. The advantages of an off-body access point are demonstrated. The second part presents a global routing protocol based on Dijkstra`s algorithm for wireless body area networks with energy harvesting constraints. The protocol dynamically modifies routing trees based on available energy accumulated through energy harvesting. Various harvesting methods are considered. The results show that low data-rate applications are achievable using existing energy harvesting techniques while high data-rate applications call for advancements in these methods

Quantifying the Safety Effects of Access Management Using VISSIM and SSAM: A Case Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and operational impacts of different levels of access management strategies on vehicular traffic. The researchers concentrated the study on one of the major arterial located in Lawrence, Kansas. This research used VISSIM 5.40 microsimulation software to model the existing conditions and three models with different levels of access management such as low, medium, and high. These models were based on the 23rd Street/ Kansas -10 located in Lawrence, Kansas in 2014. The two access management strategies that were implemented were driveway consolidation and median control. The three levels developed were: 1) low - driveway consolidation only, 2) medium - driveway consolidation along with raised median and 8 mid-block openings, 3) high - driveway consolidation along with raised median and 5 mid-block openings. Left turning movement into the driveways was only permitted at the mid-block openings. Simulated conflict were used to evaluate the safety of the access management strategies. The researchers used Safety Surrogate Assessment Model (SSAM) to identify the simulated conflicts generated by VISSIM. The simulated conflicts and travel times of each model were compared with each other. There was an increase in the travel times for the low level and the high level of access management compared to existing conditions. The medium level of access management experienced a slight decrease in the travel time compared to the existing conditions. In case of total simulated conflicts, there was a significant decrease and a slight decrease in the low level and the medium level respectively when compared with the existing conditions. The total simulated conflicts increased significantly for the high level compared to the existing conditions. There was a significant decrease in the crossing conflicts in all the levels compared to the existing conditions. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicated that the access management strategies do have a positive effect on the safety of the corridor

DISCOVERY AND BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ALLOSTERIC INHIBITORS OF FACTOR XIa (FXIa)

Thrombosis is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity that is associated with myocardial infarction, stroke and pulmonary embolism. Anti-thrombotic agents which intend to reduce the occurrence and severity of thrombosis usually target the enzymes of the coagulation cascade. FXIa, a 160 kDa homodimer is gaining popularity of late as a potential target for anti-thrombotic agents due to its relative safety. A number of inhibitors which target the active site of FXIa have been reported but to our knowledge there have been no inhibitors which act via an allosteric mechanism. The aim of this project was to screen for allosteric inhibitors of FXIa from of pool of sulfated small-molecules.These molecules were primarily designed to act as heparin mimetics; heparin being a natural anti-coagulant. These compounds were then analyzed to determine whether inhibition was via an allosteric mechanism

Pulsed power molten salt battery

It was concluded that carbon cathodes with chlorine work well. Lithium alloy chlorine at 450 C, 1 atm given high power capability, high energy density, DC + pulsing yields 600 pulses, no initial peak, and can go to red heat without burn-up. Electrochemical performance at the cell and cell stack level out under demanding test regime. Engineering and full prototype development for advancing this technology is warranted

Cathodes for molten-salt batteries

Viewgraphs of the discussion on cathodes for molten-salt batteries are presented. For the cathode reactions in molten-salt cells, chlorine-based and sulfur-based cathodes reactants have relatively high exchange current densities. Sulfur-based cathodes, metal sulfides, and disulfides have been extensively investigated. Primary thermal batteries of the Li-alloy/FeS2 variety have been available for a number of years. Chlorine based rechargable cathodes were investigated for the pulse power application. A brief introduction is followed by the experimental aspects of research, and the results obtained. Performance projections to the battery system level are discussed and the presentation is summarized with conclusions

A gut microbial factor modulates locomotor behavior in Drosophila

While research into the biology of animal behaviour has primarily focused on the central nervous system, cues from peripheral tissues and the environment have been implicated in brain development and function. There is emerging evidence that bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain affects behaviours including anxiety, cognition, nociception and social interaction. Coordinated locomotor behaviour is critical for the survival and propagation of animals, and is regulated by internal and external sensory inputs. However, little is known about how the gut microbiome influences host locomotion, or the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. Here we report that germ-free status or antibiotic treatment results in hyperactive locomotor behaviour in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Increased walking speed and daily activity in the absence of a gut microbiome are rescued by mono-colonization with specific bacteria, including the fly commensal Lactobacillus brevis. The bacterial enzyme xylose isomerase from L. brevis recapitulates the locomotor effects of microbial colonization by modulating sugar metabolism in flies. Notably, thermogenetic activation of octopaminergic neurons or exogenous administration of octopamine, the invertebrate counterpart of noradrenaline, abrogates the effects of xylose isomerase on Drosophila locomotion. These findings reveal a previously unappreciated role for the gut microbiome in modulating locomotion, and identify octopaminergic neurons as mediators of peripheral microbial cues that regulate motor behaviour in animals

Effect of different shading intensities on growth and yield of cherry tomato

Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicon var cerasiforme) is small size fruits, with a bright red colour resembling to cherry and becoming popular in the retail chains which are marketed at a premium price. The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different (35, 50 and 75 per cent) shading intensities on growth and yield (qha-1 ) of cherry tomato. Significantly maximum yield was recorded in 35 per cent shading intensity and genotype Kalash Seeds Product (KSP)-113 (579.44 and 503.88 q ha-1 , respectively). Among the different shading intensities and genotypes, maximum plant height was observed in 75 per cent shading intensity and genotype KSP -113 at 30 days interval (74.70 and 60.95 cm, respectively). The minimum days to 50% flowering of cherry tomato were observed in cherry tomatoes grown under 35 per cent shading intensity (45.00 days) as compared to other shading intensities while minimum days to 50% flowering were observed in genotype KSP-113 (44.00 days). The maximum length of the cluster (9.58 cm), the weight of cluster (27.67 g), number of fruits per cluster (9.42) and number of pickings (11.67) were observed in 35 per cent shading intensities and in genotype KSP-113. The cultivation of KSP-113 genotype under 35 per cent shading intensity was found to be most sustainable for improving growth and yield of cherry tomato during the summer season

Assessment of cardiac biochemical markers cystatin C and lipoprotein(a) and their relationship with glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, is one of the predominant health emergencies of this century. Cardiovascular diseases are associated with raised morbidity and mortality in diabetes, contributing to substantial share of community health expenditure. This study was taken up to determine level of cardiac biomarkers cystatin C (CysC) and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) & their association with glycemic control & lipid profile parameters to assess cardiovascular risk profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: This study included 100 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and 100 apparently healthy controls. Diabetic patients were categorised as good glycemic control (50) - HbA1c ≤ 7.5% and poor glycemic control (50) - HbA1c > 7.5% groups. Biochemical parameters CysC, Lp(a), HbA1c and lipid profile were analysed in all participants. Results: Lp(a) and CysC were significantly increased in diabetic patients than in controls. CysC, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), TC/HDL, LDL/ high density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio were significantly increased and HDL was decreased in poor glycemic control group than good glycemic control. CysC correlated positively with HbA1c, Lp(a), TC and LDL while negatively with HDL which was statistically significant. Correlation observed between Lp(a) and HbA1c was not significant. Conclusion: Our study denotes increased cardiovascular disease risk in diabetic patients particularly in those with poor glycemic control. Evaluation of CysC and Lp(a) together, would ameliorate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction and facilitate appropriate interventions. This study aids in stratification of high-risk diabetic persons for cardiovascular diseases at early asymptomatic phases which will prevent or delay disease advancement and improve clinical outcomes in diabetic patients

Highly efficient chemo- and enantioselective enzymatic resolution of (±)-methyl O-acetylmandelates

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