The performance of the vehicular communication-clustering process

For the new wireless systems and beyond, the intelligent transportation system is considered as one of the main features that could be covered in the new research topics. Furthermore, both high-speed data transmission and data processing play a crucial role for these generations. Our work covers two main propositions in order to attain an improvement in such intelligent systems performance. A clustering algorithm is proposed and presented for grouping mobile nodes based on their speeds with some modified head assignments processes. This will be combined with a parallel-processing technique that enhances the QoS. Mainly, this work concerns enhancing the V2V data transmission and the processing speed. Thus, a wavelet processing stage has been imposed to optimize the transmitted power phenomenon. In order to check the validity of such proposition, five main efficiency factors have been investigated; namely complementary cumulative distributions, bit rates, energy efficiency, the lifetime of cluster head and the ordinary nodes reattaching-head average times.

Robust Vehicular Communications Using the Fast-Frequency-Hopping-OFDM Technology and the MIMO Spatial Multiplexing

Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication is one of the more emerging technologies in the 21st century from either the comfortable transportation or safer transportation point of view. Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication has one crucial factor, which is the huge information to be shared among vehicles, such as the position, the road data. In such situation, the accurate information sharing process is the most important factor in order to make the vehicles operating in the most feasible way. This work proposes a more robust vehicle communication system to make the existing vehicle transportation system more efficient. In this paper, we propose a fast frequency hopping orthogonal frequency division multiplexing to mitigate the Doppler spread effect on our previously published clustering benchmark.  This benchmark contains both of a clustering weighting factor based stage and a multiparallel processing stage. This is in addition to modify the PHY layer of the existing IEEE 802.11p standard in order to impose Multiple Input Multiple Output for higher throughput purposes.The results show a noticeable stability compared to our previously published work. Furthermore, the results are almost exceeds the achieved results from the Lower-ID Distributed Clustering Algorithm (DCA) from both of the speed and communication range

Fatores associados com a resistência a Ciprofloxacina e Levofloxacina em Bacilos Gram-Negativos isolados de infecções do trato urinário

Background and Objectives: Fluoroquinolones represent a class of amtimicrobials which isfrequently prescribed for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) of both hospital and community origin. This study aims, to determine the frequency and the factors associated with resistance to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin in gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with UTIs treated in a hospital in southern Brazil. Methods: It was performed a transversal and analytical study based on cases of urinary tract infection caused by gram-negative bacteria (GNB) from patients at the Hospital Universitário Dr. Miguel Riet Correa Jr. in Rio Grande/RS from August 2012 to July 2013. Independent variables such as the age and sex of patients, source of infection of the UTI and the characteristics of the bacterial isolates were analyzed. Results: Of the 562 GNB isolated andanalyzed, the total frequencies of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin resistance were, respectively, 25.5% and 23.3%, 62.6% community origin and 59% in hospital origin. The risk factors associated with ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin resistance were male patients, infections acquired in the hospital, longer hospitalization times, and the presence of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in the clinical isolates. Conclusions:The results showed strong association between GNB resistancewith the time spent in the hospital and the presence of ESBLs. To control antibiotic resistance andthe reduction the costs in public health, it is necessary that thehospitals have a strong policy ofcontinues vigilanceof the use of and of the resistance of antibiotics. KEYWORDS: Bacteria. Fluoroquinolones. Cross Infection.Justificativa e objetivos: As fluoroquinolonas representam uma classe de antimicrobianos que é frequentemente prescrita no tratamento de infecções do trato urinário (ITU), tanto de origem hospitalar como originárias da comunidade. Este estudo tem como objetivo,determinar a frequência de resistência à ciprofloxacina e levofloxacina, além de seus fatores associados em bacilos Gram negativos (BGN) isolados de pacientes com ITU em um hospital no Sul do Brasil. Métodos: foi realizado um estudo transversal e analítico, baseado em casos de infecções do trato urinário causadas por bactérias gram-negativas provenientes de pacientes atendidos no Hospital Universitário Dr. Miguel Riet Correa Jr. em Rio Grande/RS, de agosto de 2012 a julho 2013. Foram analisadas variáveis independentes como idade, sexo, origem da infecção e características dos isolados clínicos bacterianos. Resultados:Dos 562 BGN isolados e analisados, foi encontrado uma frequência de resistência à ciprofloxacina e à levofloxacina de 25,5 e 23,3%, respectivamente, 62,6% de origem comunitária e 59% de origem hospitalar. Os fatores de risco associados à resistência a ciprofloxacina e levofloxacina, foram pacientes do gênero masculino, infecções adquiridas no ambiente hospitalar, commaior tempo de internação, e apresença de β-lactamases de espectro estendido (ESBL) nos isolados clínicos. Conclusões:Os resultados mostraram uma forte associação da resistência bacteriana de BGN com a permanência no ambiente hospitalar e a presença de ESBL. A fim de controlar a resistência antimicrobiana e a redução nos custos em saúde pública torna-se necessário que os hospitais tenham uma forte política de vigilância contínua do uso e da resistência de antibióticos

Re‐evaluation of stannous chloride (E 512) as food additive

The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provides a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of stannous chloride and stannous chloride dihydrate (E 512) as food additives. The Panel considered that adequate exposure and toxicity data were available. Stannous chloride is only permitted as food additives in one food category and no reply on the actual use level of stannous chloride (E 512) as a food additive and on its concentration in food was provided by any interested party. According to the Mintel's Global New Products Database (GNPD), stannous chloride was not labelled on any products in the EU nor in Norway. The regulatory maximum level exposure assessment scenario is based on the maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for stannous chloride (E 512), which is 25 mg Sn/kg. The mean exposure to stannous chloride (E 512) from its use as a food additive was below 1.3 μg Sn/kg body weight (bw) per day for all age groups. The 95th percentile of exposure to stannous chloride (E 512) ranged from 0.0 μg Sn/kg bw per day in all groups to 11.2 μg Sn/kg bw per day in adults. Absorption of stannous chloride from the gastrointestinal tract is low there is no concern with respect to carcinogenicity and genotoxicity. Gastrointestinal irritation was reported in humans after ingestion of a bolus dose of 40 mg Sn. The Panel concluded that stannous chloride (E 512) is of no safety concern in this current authorised use and use levels

Yeşil mimarlık ilkeleri :yeşil ödüllerin değerlendirme ölçütleri üzerine bir araştırma.

The present thesis focuses on “green awards” in architecture. It aims at searching out the principles of “green architecture” through a comparative analysis of leading awards in this domain. In order to represent the essence of the green movement in general, the process which it passed through the decades in response to the existing impacts of human activities on the environment is first reviewed. The concepts of green, ecological and sustainable architecture are discussed in this context. Then the international award programs established to promote environmentally appropriate practices in architectural design and construction are studied. Four awards selected among others are analyzed in detail with a special focus on the evaluation criteria. The criteria are compared with each other with the objective to find out recurrent parameters of green architecture in different awards, and a set of criteria is obtained from the comparative analysis of the awards. In the fourth chapter, case studies selected among the nominated projects in the awards are analyzed in detailed by using the evaluation criteria obtained. As a result of this study on the green awards and selected projects of best practice, the principles which define a green building or project are discussed in the conclusion.M.Arch. - Master of Architectur

Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of new organotin compounds

The wide use of tin in industry, agriculture and pharmacology led to an intensive studying of its effects in the environment and its organisms. Tin occurs in two forms, the inorganic and the organic one. Specifically, organotin compounds (OTCs) are characterized by the existence of at least one carbon-tin bond and are classified as mono-, di-, tri- and tetra- substituted compounds depending on the number of additional alkyl groups bound on tin. OTCs have widely used as stabilizers and coating agents, as well as, catalysts in the industry of plastic, wood preservatives and agricultural biocides. Through its various uses, tin may be dispersed in the ecosphere resulting in its accumulation in the food chain. A number of organometallic compounds of tin cause effects on humans, the environment and the various biological systems. However, many organotin compounds are studied for their antitumor and cytotoxic activity. In this context, new organotin compounds (OTCs) were prepared containing oxygen tripodal ligands [(η5 -C5R5)Co{P(OEt)2O3]- , {R=H, (LOEt-) (3), R=Me (L*OEt-) (4)}. The chloro-derivatives LOEtSnCl (5) and L*OEtSnCl (6) were formed by displacement of Na from the precursor compounds (3) and (4) with SnCl2●2H2O (1), while the phenyl derivatives LOEtSnPh3 (7) and L*OEtSnPh3 (8) by the reaction of compounds (3) and (4) with Ph3SnCl (2).The present thesis, deals with the investigation of the possible genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of new organotin compounds in human lymphocytes. Initially the effect of some tin salts was studied in human lymphocytes, as they are precursors of the new organotin compounds, while they take part to various human activities and thus, they accumulate in the food chain. This was followed by studying the genotoxic and cytostatic activity of the new organotin compounds and their precursors was tested with two basic methods by which genetic alterations can be screened (viability test and comet assay).Our results suggest that the lower concentrations of the studied compounds require further study and evaluation as they exhibited cytostatic activity against the tumor cells without adversely affecting the culture of the normal human lymphocytes.Η ευρεία χρήση του κασσίτερου στη βιομηχανία, στη γεωργία και στη φαρμακολογία οδήγησε στην εντατικοποίηση της μελέτης των επιδράσεων του, τόσο στο περιβάλλον, όσο και στους οργανισμούς που ζουν σε αυτό. Ο κασσίτερος απαντάται σε δύο μορφές, την ανόργανη και την οργανική μορφή. Συγκεκριμένα, οι ενώσεις του οργανικού κασσίτερου (Organotins Compounds, OTCs) χαρακτηρίζονται από την ύπαρξη ενός τουλάχιστον δεσμού άνθρακα – κασσιτέρου και ταξινομούνται από την ύπαρξη ενός τουλάχιστον δεσμού άνθρακα – κασσίτερου και ταξινομούνται ως μόνο-, δι-, τρι- και τέτρα- υποκατεστημένες ενώσεις που εξαρτώνται από τον αριθμό των πρόσθετων αλκυλομάδων που είναι δεμένες στον κασσίτερο. Οι οργανομεταλλικές ενώσεις του κασσίτερου έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί ευρέως ως σταθεροποιητές και παράγοντες επίστρωσης, καθώς και ως καταλύτες σε βιομηχανίες πλαστικών, συντηρητικά ξύλων και αγροτικά βιοκτόνα. Μέσα από τις διάφορες εφαρμογές του, ο κασσίτερος μπορεί να διασκορπίζεται στην οικόσφαιρα με αποτέλεσμα τη συσσώρευσή του στη τροφική αλυσίδα. Ένας αριθμός οργανομεταλλικών ενώσεων του κασσίτερου προκαλεί επιπτώσεις στον άνθρωπο, στο περιβάλλον και τα βιολογικά συστήματα. Όμως, αρκετές οργανομεταλλικές ενώσεις του κασσίτερου μελετώνται για την αντικαρκινική και κυτταροτοξική τους δράση.Υπό το πρίσμα αυτό, παρασκευάστηκαν νέες οργανοκασσιτερικές ενώσεις (OTCs) περιέχοντας τριποδικούς συνδέσμους οξυγόνου [(η5 -C5R5)Co{P(OEt)2O3]- , {R=H, (LOEt-) (3), R=Me (L*OEt-) (4)}. Τα χλώρο-παράγωγα LOEtSnCl (5) και L*OEtSnCl (6) σχηματίστηκαν με αντίδραση μετάθεσης του Na από τις πρόδρομες ενώσεις (3) και (4) με SnCl2●2H2O (1), ενώ τα φαίνυλο-παράγωγα LOEtSnPh3 (7) και L*OEtSnPh3 (8) από την αντίδραση των ενώσεων (3) και (4) με Ph3SnCl (2). Στη παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή, μελετήθηκε η πιθανή γενοτοξική και κυτταροτοξική δράση των προαναφερθέντων νέων OTCs σε ανθρώπινα λεμφοκύτταρα. Αρχικά μελετήθηκε η δράση ορισμένων αλάτων του κασσίτερου σε ανθρώπινα λεμφοκύτταρα, καθώς αποτελούν πρόδρομες ενώσεις για τη σύνθεση των νέων OTCs, αλλά και απαντώνται σε διάφορες ανθρώπινες δραστηριότητες με προέκταση τη συσσώρευσή τους στη τροφική αλυσίδα. Στη συνέχεια, ακολούθησε μελέτη της γενοτοξικής και κυτταροστατικής δράσης των OTCs, τόσο σε κανονικά, όσο και καρκινικά κύτταρα. Τέλος, ελέγχθηκε η κυτταροστατική δράση των νέων οργανοκασσιτερικών ενώσεων και των πρόδρομών τους με δύο βασικές μεθόδους ελέγχου των γενετικών αλλοιώσεων (έλεγχος βιωσιμότητας και comet assay).Τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης μας δείχνουν ότι οι μικρότερες συγκεντρώσεις των υπό μελέτη ενώσεων χρήζουν περαιτέρω παρακολούθησης και αξιολόγησης, καθώς εμφάνισαν κυτταροστατική δράση στην συγκεκριμένη καρκινική σειρά που χρησιμοποιήθηκε στις διαδικασίες ελέγχου, χωρίς να επηρεάζουν αρνητικά τις καλλιέργειες των κανονικών ανθρώπινων λεμφοκυττάρων