Progressive Processing of Continuous Range Queries in Hierarchical Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we study the problem of processing continuous range queries in a hierarchical wireless sensor network. Contrasted with the traditional approach of building networks in a "flat" structure using sensor devices of the same capability, the hierarchical approach deploys devices of higher capability in a higher tier, i.e., a tier closer to the server. While query processing in flat sensor networks has been widely studied, the study on query processing in hierarchical sensor networks has been inadequate. In wireless sensor networks, the main costs that should be considered are the energy for sending data and the storage for storing queries. There is a trade-off between these two costs. Based on this, we first propose a progressive processing method that effectively processes a large number of continuous range queries in hierarchical sensor networks. The proposed method uses the query merging technique proposed by Xiang et al. as the basis and additionally considers the trade-off between the two costs. More specifically, it works toward reducing the storage cost at lower-tier nodes by merging more queries, and toward reducing the energy cost at higher-tier nodes by merging fewer queries (thereby reducing "false alarms"). We then present how to build a hierarchical sensor network that is optimal with respect to the weighted sum of the two costs. It allows for a cost-based systematic control of the trade-off based on the relative importance between the storage and energy in a given network environment and application. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves a near-optimal control between the storage and energy and reduces the cost by 0.989~84.995 times compared with the cost achieved using the flat (i.e., non-hierarchical) setup as in the work by Xiang et al.Comment: 41 pages, 20 figure

Soft x-ray polarizer for optical productions of any orthogonal state of the linear and circular polarization modes

An efficient soft x-ray polarizer that is able to optically convert a linear polarization state to any orthogonal state of not only linear but also circular polarization modes is found by means of numerical calculations of the intensities of individual orthogonal polarization components in reflected waves. Calculation results, using the known linear-polarization-mode based Kerr matrix as well as a newly derived circular-polarization-mode based Kerr matrix, indicate that a +45?? or -45?? linearly polarized incident wave can be readily converted to any orthogonal states of both circular and linear polarization modes, i.e., left- and right-handed circular and s - and p -linear polarizations through reflection, at certain grazing angles of incidence near the critical angle from a simple ferromagnetic thin film of Co (9.0 nm) Si substrate. The intensities of almost pure circularly or linearly polarized reflected waves are about 10% or less in a certain spectral soft x-ray range just below the absorption edges of constituent magnetic elements. The counterpart orthogonal states of the linear as well as circular modes can be rapidly switched simply by reversing oppositely the orientation of longitudinal magnetizations. These results suggest that the orthogonal polarization states of the circular- and linear-polarization modes converted from such a polarizing optical element through reflection can be practically used in probing the vector quantities of element specific magnetizations in multicomponent magnetic materials.open2

Competing states for the fractional quantum Hall effect in the 1/3-filled second Landau level

In this work, we investigate the nature of the fractional quantum Hall state in the 1/3-filled second Landau level (SLL) at filling factor $\nu=7/3$ (and 8/3 in the presence of the particle-hole symmetry) via exact diagonalization in both torus and spherical geometries. Specifically, we compute the overlap between the exact 7/3 ground state and various competing states including (i) the Laughlin state, (ii) the fermionic Haffnian state, (iii) the antisymmetrized product state of two composite fermion seas at 1/6 filling, and (iv) the particle-hole (PH) conjugate of the $Z_4$ parafermion state. All these trial states are constructed according to a guiding principle called the bilayer mapping approach, where a trial state is obtained as the antisymmetrized projection of a bilayer quantum Hall state with interlayer distance $d$ as a variational parameter. Under the proper understanding of the ground-state degeneracy in the torus geometry, the $Z_4$ parafermion state can be obtained as the antisymmetrized projection of the Halperin (330) state. Similarly, it is proved in this work that the fermionic Haffnian state can be obtained as the antisymmetrized projection of the Halperin (551) state. It is shown that, while extremely accurate at sufficiently large positive Haldane pseudopotential variation $\delta V_1^{(1)}$, the Laughlin state loses its overlap with the exact 7/3 ground state significantly at $\delta V_1^{(1)} \simeq 0$. At slightly negative $\delta V_1^{(1)}$, it is shown that the PH-conjugated $Z_4$ parafermion state has a substantial overlap with the exact 7/3 ground state, which is the highest among the above four trial states.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure

Biological and structural characterizations of mutations in X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDT), an X-linked genetic disease manifesting itself in a disproportionate skeletal structure, is caused by mutations in the SEDL gene. Four missense mutations (S73L, V130D, F83S, and D47Y) have been identified by molecular diagnosis as disease-causing SEDT. Nevertheless, how SEDL mutations disrupt the skeletal structure and cause disease remains unknown. We report here the cloning, expression, and characterization of three different missense mutations (S73L, V130D, and D47Y) in mouse SEDL. The overexpression of the D47Y mutation was mainly observed in the supernatant but those of the S73L and V130D mutations are shown in the insoluble pellets. The substitution of the S73L mutation induces the exposure to hydrophobic amino acids and causes aggregation. That of V130D might break hydrophobic interaction and decrease the secondary structure. The CD spectra of three mutants (S73L, V130D, and D47Y) showed that the a-helices decreased more than that of wild-type SEDL. The F83S (stop) mutant might suggest a large conformational change as the mutant V130D. In order to visualize conformational changes in mutated structures, we used molecular modeling techniques minimizing the total energy. These results could provide the biological characterization and conformational information of the SEDL mutants and suggest the clinical severity of the disorder among human SEDL patients

Soft x-ray resonant magneto-optical Kerr effect as a depth-sensitive probe of magnetic heterogeneity: A simulation approach

We report a noticeable depth sensitivity of soft x-ray resonant magneto-optical Kerr effect able to resolve depth-varying magnetic heterostructures in ultrathin multilayer films. For various models of depth-varying magnetization orientations in an ultrathin Co layer of realistic complex layered structures, we have calculated the Kerr rotation, ellipticity, intensity spectra versus grazing incidence angle ??, and their hysteresis loops at different values of ?? for various photon energies ?? 's near the Co resonance regions. It is found from the simulation results that the Kerr effect has a much improved depth sensitivity and that its sensitivity varies remarkably with ?? and ?? in the vicinity of the resonance regions. These properties originate from a rich variety of wave interference effects superimposed with noticeable features of the refractive and absorptive optical effects near the resonance regions. Consequently, these allow us to resolve depth-varying magnetizations and their reversals varying with depth in a single magnetic layer and allow us to distinguish interface magnetism from the bulk properties in multilayer films. In this paper, the depth sensitivity of the Kerr effect with an atomic-scale resolution is demonstrated and discussed in details in several manners with the help of model simulations for various depth-varying spin configurations.open9

Affective Role of the Future Autonomous Vehicle Interior

Recent advancements in autonomous technology allow for new opportunities in vehicle interior design. Such a shift in in-vehicle activity suggests vehicle interior spaces should provide an adequate manner by considering users' affective desires. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the affective role of future vehicle interiors. Thirty one participants in ten focus groups were interviewed about challenges they face regarding their current vehicle interior and expectations they have for future vehicles. Results from content analyses revealed the affective role of future vehicle interiors. Advanced exclusiveness and advanced convenience were two primary aspects identified. The identified affective roles of each aspect are a total of eight visceral levels, four visceral levels each, including focused, stimulating, amused, pleasant, safe, comfortable, accommodated, and organized. We expect the results from this study to lead to the development of affective vehicle interiors by providing the fundamental knowledge for developing conceptual direction and evaluating its impact on user experiences.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, 2 table

DECAY FACTOR WITH EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES IN TWO CIRCULATING FLUIDIZED BED (CFB) RISERS

The effects of the riser inlet velocity, solid mass flux and particle size on the axial solid holdup profile and decay factor were investigated using two circulating fluidized beds (CFBs) with FCC (Geldart A) particles as the bed materials. Based on the experimental results from the two-CFBs, the axial solid holdup in the two CFBs were compared with the correlations of previous studies. Also, an empirical correlation was proposed for decay factor that exhibited a good agreement with experimental data

The Decline of Physical Activity with Age in School-Aged Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Maintaining physical activity is important for children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study examined whether age predicted habitual physical activity (HPA) or cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in school-aged children with CP and clarified the relationship between HPA and CRF. We utilized cross-sectional data from 39 children with CP (18 girls and 21 boys; mean age 7.44 years; mean body weight 24.76 kg; mean body mass index 15.97 kg/m2; hemiplegic or diplegic CP). The participants wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph) for five days to measure HPA, physical activity energy expenditure (kcal/kg/d), sedentary physical activity (%SPA), light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (%MVPA), and activity counts (counts/min). Participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise tests on a treadmill using a modified Naughton protocol. Linear regression and correlation analyses were performed. p-value (two-tailed) \u3c 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Age was positively associated with SPA. MVPA negatively correlated with resting heart rate (HR), and activity counts were negatively correlated with resting HR. In conclusion, our study found strong evidence of a negative association between HPA and age in school-aged children with CP. It highlights the importance of creating and improving recreational opportunities that promote physical activity in all children with CP, regardless of whether they are considered therapeutic

Interpreting positive signs of the supraspinatus test in screening for torn rotator cuff.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the supraspinatus test as a screening test for detecting torn rotator cuff and to determine what its valuable positive signs were. Both the empty-can test and full-can test were performed on 200 shoulders diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-and in some cases, surgical findings-to have full-thickness or partial-thickness torn rotator cuff s, or no tear in the rotator cuff . During the maneuver, the presence of pain or weakness or both pain and weakness were recorded as positive signs, and the distribution of these signs were analyzed according to the degree of tear. The predictive values were calculated in 2 ways by considering (1) only full-thickness tears as tears and (2) both full- and partial-thickness tears as tears. The 2 tests and the 2 ways of considering partial-thickness tears were compared. Pain and weakness were severity-dependent, and the empty-can test had a higher incidence of pain. The sensitivities of the 2 supraspinatus tests in all positive signs were higher when including partial-thickness tears in the tear group ; however, their specificities were higher when excluding partial-thickness tears. Both pain and weakness were interpretive for the supraspinatus test, and both tests were sensitive to full- and partial- thickness tears and specific for full-thickness tears