Computing performability for wireless sensor networks

The performability of a wireless sensor network (WSN) can be measured using a range of metrics, including reliability (REL) and expected hop count (EHC). EHC assumes each link has a delay value of 1 and devices have no delay or vice versa, which is not necessarily appropriate for WSNs. This paper generalizes the EHC metric into an expected message delay (EMD) that permits arbitrary delay values for both links and devices. Further, it proposes a method based on Augmented Ordered Multivariate Decision Diagram (OMDD-A) that can be used to compute REL, EHC and EMD for WSN with both device and link failures. Simulation results on various networks show the benefits of the OMDD-A approach

Classification of dry-cured hams according to the maturation time using near infrared spectra and artificial neural networks

An attempt to classify dry-cured hams according to the maturation time on the basis of near infrared (NIR) spectra was studied. The study comprised 128 samples of biceps femoris (BF) muscle from dry-cured hams matured for 10 (n=32), 12 (n=32), 14 (n=32) or 16 months (n=32). Samples were minced and scanned in the wavelength range from 400 to 2500 nm using spectrometer NIR System model 6500 (Silver Spring, MD, USA). Spectral data were used for i) splitting of samples into the training and test set using 2D Kohonen artificial neural networks (ANN) and for ii) construction of classification models using counter-propagation ANN (CP-ANN). Different models were tested, and the one selected was based on the lowest percentage of misclassified test samples (external validation). Overall correctness of the classification was 79.7%, which demonstrates practical relevance of using NIR spectroscopy and ANN for dry-cured ham processing control. Key words: dry-cured ham, classification, near infrared spectroscopy, artificial neural network

Rapid and Efficient Removal of Perfluorooctanoic Acid from Water with Fluorine-Rich Calixarene-Based Porous Polymers

On account of its nonbiodegradable nature and persistence in the environment, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) accumulates in water resources and poses serious environmental issues in many parts of the world. Here, we present the development of two fluorine-rich calix[4]arene-based porous polymers, FCX4-P and FCX4-BP, and demonstrate their utility for the efficient removal of PFOA from water. These materials featured Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of up to 450 m^{2} g^{-1}, which is slightly lower than their nonfluorinated counterparts (up to 596 m^{2} g^{-1}). FCX4-P removes PFOA at environmentally relevant concentrations with a high rate constant of 3.80 g mg^{-1} h^{-1} and reached an exceptional maximum PFOA uptake capacity of 188.7 mg g^{-1}. In addition, it could be regenerated by simple methanol wash and reused without a significant decrease in performance

Blunted angiogenesis and hypertrophy are associated with increased fatigue resistance and unchanged aerobic capacity in old overloaded mouse muscle.

We hypothesize that the attenuated hypertrophic response in old mouse muscle is (1) partly due to a reduced capillarization and angiogenesis, which is (2) accompanied by a reduced oxidative capacity and fatigue resistance in old control and overloaded muscles, that (3) can be rescued by the antioxidant resveratrol. To investigate this, the hypertrophic response, capillarization, oxidative capacity, and fatigue resistance of m. plantaris were compared in 9- and 25-month-old non-treated and 25-month-old resveratrol-treated mice. Overload increased the local capillary-to-fiber ratio less in old (15 %) than in adult (59 %) muscle (P < 0.05). Although muscles of old mice had a higher succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity (P < 0.05) and a slower fiber type profile (P < 0.05), the isometric fatigue resistance was similar in 9- and 25-month-old mice. In both age groups, the fatigue resistance was increased to the same extent after overload (P < 0.01), without a significant change in SDH activity, but an increased capillary density (P < 0.05). Attenuated angiogenesis during overload may contribute to the attenuated hypertrophic response in old age. Neither was rescued by resveratrol supplementation. Changes in fatigue resistance with overload and aging were dissociated from changes in SDH activity, but paralleled those in capillarization. This suggests that capillarization plays a more important role in fatigue resistance than oxidative capacity

Schreiben am Übergang zwischen Schule und Hochschule

Die vorliegende Masterarbeit beschäftigt sich mit den Herausforderungen von Schüler_innen mit anderen Erstsprachen als Deutsch beim Verfassen ihrer Vorwissenschaftlichen Arbeit (VWA) und mit den Bildungsbenachteiligungen, die durch die Einführung der VWA und deren Anforderungen entstanden sind. Dabei fokussiert die theoretische Abhandlung in der Masterarbeit vor allem auf die Themen Textkompetenz und Bildungssprache, welche Schüler_innen für das Verfassen der VWA und für den Bildungserfolg in der Schule benötigen. Im Mittelpunkt der Masterarbeit steht ein Kooperationsprojekt zwischen dem BrgORG Henriettenplatz im 15. Wiener Gemeindebezirk und der Universität Wien. Im Rahmen des Pilotprojekts wurden die Schüler_innen einer siebten Klasse, die überwiegend Deutsch als Zweitsprache sprechen, bei ihrer Vorwissenschaftlichen Arbeit von Lehramtstudent_innen begleitet und unterstützt. Das Kooperationsprojekt wurde im Zuge der Masterarbeit wissenschaftlich begleitet und evaluiert, um herauszufinden, welchen Beitrag das Projekt leisten kann, um Schüler_innen mit anderen Erstsprachen als Deutsch bei ihrer Vorwissenschaftlichen Arbeit zu unterstützen und inwieweit es einen Teil zur chancengerechten Bildung beitragen kann

service of process - comparative legal view

V magistrski nalogi obravnavam institut vročanja v pravdnem postopku držav Rusije, Združenega kraljestva in Slovenije. Primerjalnopravno so analizirani pojem in vsebina vročanja, načini vročitve, napake pri vročanju in njihova poprava. Analizirala sem sisteme vročanja v omenjenih državah ter njihove prednosti in pomanjkljivosti. Za opredelitev učinkovitosti vročanja v pravdi je bilo treba opredeliti kriterije primerjave. Pri opredelitvi učinkovitosti pravdnega postopka sem upoštevala časovno komponento in preobremenjenost sodišča v zvezi z nalogo, ki jo ima v postopku vročanja. Učinkovitost je usmerjena v varstvo pravic strank postopka in hitrost postopka. V okviru učinkovitosti postopka mora biti stranka pravilno obveščena, kar zagotavlja njeno seznanjenost s pomembnimi dejstvi in stališčem nasprotne stranke. Pravilnost obveščanja je odvisna od uspešne vročitve pisanja naslovniku. V zvezi s tem so bili obravnavani institut fikcije vročitve in problemi, ki nastanejo v primeru, ko poslano ni bilo dejansko vročeno. Ugotovila sem, da se postopek vročanja v Rusiji, Združenem kraljestvu in Sloveniji bistveno razlikuje. Vsaka država ima v svojem sistemu prednosti in pomanjkljivosti zakonodajnega reguliranja na področju vročanja. Analiza je pokazala, da med omenjenimi državami ni idealnega modela vročanja ter da bi bil pri vsakem sistemu vročanja potreben vnos bistvenih sprememb. Prav tako sem na primerih treh držav pokazala zvezo med učinkovitostjo norm procesnega prava glede vročanja ter varstvom pravic strank postopkaIn this master\u27s thesis, I am dealing with the service of documents in civil proceedings of Russia, the United Kingdom and Slovenia. The comparative method is used to analyse the following: concept and contents of service, methods of service, incorrect service and possible improvement of service. Throughout this analysis, the advantages and disadvantages of the systems of service in these countries are shown. To determine the effectiveness of service, it was necessary to define the criteria for comparison. In defining the effectiveness of litigation, I took into account the duration of the proceedings and the workload of the court, both concerning the tasks the court has in the service process. The protection of the rights of the parties in the proceedings and the speed of the procedure often depend on the effectiveness of the service, which ensures party’s familiarity with the relevant facts and with the positions of the counterparty. In this regard, I examine the so-called fictitious service and the problems that emerge in case the sent document was in fact not served. I have found that in Russia, the United Kingdom, and Slovenia the service procedure varies considerably. Each of the mentioned countries has advantages and disadvantages in its system of legislative regulation in the field of service. While comparing the different service procedures, I concluded that there is no ideal model and that all the compared systems would require substantial changes. I have also shown that there is a correlation between the effectiveness of the rules of procedural law regarding the service and the protection of the rights of the parties to the proceedings