Social-sine cosine algorithm-based cross layer resource allocation in wireless network

Cross layer resource allocation in the wireless networks is approached traditionally either by communications networks or information theory. The major issue in networking is the allocation of limited resources from the users of network. In traditional layered network, the resource are allocated at medium access control (MAC) and the network layers uses the communication links in bit pipes for delivering the data at fixed rate with the occasional random errors. Hence, this paper presents the cross-layer resource allocation in wireless network based on the proposed social-sine cosine algorithm (SSCA). The proposed SSCA is designed by integrating social ski driver (SSD) and sine cosine algorithm (SCA). Also, for further refining the resource allocation scheme, the proposed SSCA uses the fitness based on energy and fairness in which max-min, hard-fairness, proportional fairness, mixed-bias and the maximum throughput is considered. Based on energy and fairness, the cross-layer optimization entity makes the decision on resource allocation to mitigate the sum rate of network. The performance of resource allocation based on proposed model is evaluated based on energy, throughput, and the fairness. The developed model achieves the maximal energy of 258213, maximal throughput of 3.703, and the maximal fairness of 0.868, respectively

Cashew research in India

Cashew, after its introduction from Brazil during the 16th Century, has established very well in India. A total of 40 high-yielding varieties have been released so far by the Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, and various Agricultural Universities, for cultivation. Of these, 13 are hybrids and 27 are selections. Research achievements in the area of crop improvement, management, protection and post-harvest technology over the last six decades are reviewed and documented here. As India has been importing raw nuts to the tune of 6.5 lakh tons annually to cater the demand of established processing factories, research priorities have been identified to meet the challenges of enhancing production and productivity of cashew in the country

Probabilistic Analysis of Facility Location on Random Shortest Path Metrics

The facility location problem is an NP-hard optimization problem. Therefore, approximation algorithms are often used to solve large instances. Such algorithms often perform much better than worst-case analysis suggests. Therefore, probabilistic analysis is a widely used tool to analyze such algorithms. Most research on probabilistic analysis of NP-hard optimization problems involving metric spaces, such as the facility location problem, has been focused on Euclidean instances, and also instances with independent (random) edge lengths, which are non-metric, have been researched. We would like to extend this knowledge to other, more general, metrics. We investigate the facility location problem using random shortest path metrics. We analyze some probabilistic properties for a simple greedy heuristic which gives a solution to the facility location problem: opening the $\kappa$ cheapest facilities (with $\kappa$ only depending on the facility opening costs). If the facility opening costs are such that $\kappa$ is not too large, then we show that this heuristic is asymptotically optimal. On the other hand, for large values of $\kappa$, the analysis becomes more difficult, and we provide a closed-form expression as upper bound for the expected approximation ratio. In the special case where all facility opening costs are equal this closed-form expression reduces to $O(\sqrt[4]{\ln(n)})$ or $O(1)$ or even $1+o(1)$ if the opening costs are sufficiently small.Comment: A preliminary version accepted to CiE 201

Osjetljiva spektrofotometrijska metoda za određivanje sulfonamida u farmaceutskim pripravcima

A new, simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of some sulfonamide drugs has been developed. The method is based on the diazotisation of sulfacetamide, sulfadiazine, sulfaguanidine, sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole and coupling with 8-hydroxyquinoline in alkaline media to yield red coloured products, with absorption maximum at 500 nm. The Beer’s law is obeyed from 0.17.0 µg mL1. The limits of quantification and limits of detection were 0.110.18 and 0.030.5 µg mL1, respectively. Intraday precision (RSD 0.10.5%) and accuracy (recovery 97.3100.8) of the developed method were evaluated. No interference was observed from common adjuvants. The method has been successfully applied to the assay of sulpha drug in the pharmaceutical formulations.U radu je opisana nova, jednostavna i osjetljiva spektrofotometrijska metoda za određivanje sulfonamida. Metoda se temelji na prevođenju sulfacetamida, sulfadiazina, sulfagvanidina, sulfamerazina, sulfometazina i sulfametoksazola u diazoderivate koji kondenzacijom s 8-hidroksikinolinom u alkalnom mediju daju crveno obojene produkte s maksimumom apsorpcije pri 500 nm. Beerov zakon vrijedi u koncentracijskom rasponu 0,17,0 µg mL1. Granice kvantifikacije i granice detekcije su 0,11-0,18, odnosno 0,03-0,05 µg mL-1. Za predloženu metodu procijenjene su intermedirska preciznost (RSD 0.1-0,5%) i točnost (analitički povrat 97,3-100,8). Uobičanjene pomoćne tvari u tabletama ne interferiraju tijekom određivanja. Metoda je uspješno primijenjena za analizu sulfonamida u farmaceutskim pripravcima

Determination of Probiotic and/or Chlortetracycline Inclusion Effects on Nursery Pig Growth Performance

A total of 300 nursery pigs (DNA 200 × 400, Columbus, NE; initially 13.0 lb BW) were used in a 42-d study evaluating the effects of feeding chlortetracycline (CTC) in combination with probiotics on nursery pig performance. Probiotics are a class of antimicrobial alternatives designed to enhance growth performance and digestive tract health. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and allotted to pens based on initial BW. Pigs were fed a common pelleted starter diet for 4 d and then weighed, and pens were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments based on BW in a completely randomized design. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of chlortetracycline (0 vs. CTC at 400 g/ton from d 0 to 42) and probiotic (0 vs. 1 lb/ton Bioplus 2B (Chr. Hansen USA, Inc., Milwaukee, WI)) vs. 1 lb/ton Poultry Star (Biomin America, Inc., San Antonio, TX). Experimental diets were fed in 2 phases (Phase 1: d 0 to 14 and Phase 2: d 14 to 42) and fed in meal form. On d 14 and 28, CTC was removed from the diet according to FDA regulations. For overall performance, there were no interactions (P \u3e 0.05) between added probiotics and CTC. However, pigs fed CTC had improved (P \u3c 0.001) ADG, ADFI, and overall BW compared with those fed diets without CTC. While adding Poultry Star to the diet increased (P \u3c 0.05) BW and ADFI on d 14, there were no consistent benefits of feeding either probiotic alone or in combination with CTC

Effects of SRP Vaccine in Reducing E. coli O157:H7 in Cattle

Cattle are the main reservoir of Escherichia coli O157:H7, which is a foodborne pathogen that causes bloody diarrhea in adults and kidney damage in children . E. coli O157 is shed in the feces of cattle, which can be a contamination source of water, ground beef, fresh vegetables, and unpasterized milk and fruit juices. In 2003, shiga-toxin producing E. coli O157:H7 caused 73,000 illnesses, which resulted in over 2,000 hospitalizations and 60 deaths in the United States. The estimated annual cost of this illness was $405 million, which included$370 million for premature deaths, $30 million for medical care, and$5 million for lost productivity. Strategies to reduce this food borne illness must be further investigated. A new vaccine technology targeting E. coli O157:H7 in hopes of reducing the colonization of this pathogen in beef cattle has been developed (Epitopix, LLC, Wilmar, MN). This vaccine was designed to block the transport of iron into the bacterial cell, which is an essential nutrient needed for the survival of this microorganism. Previous trials showed that this vaccine elicited an immune response and reduced fecal shedding of the pathogen in five-month old Holstein steers. The purpose of this experiment was to further evaluate the efficacy of this new siderophore receptor/porin protein (SRP) technology by analyzing fecal shedding and immune responses of mixed-breed calves orally inoculated with E. coli O157:H7

Effects of Added Copper and Zinc on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Pigs Fed Diets with or without Ractopamine HCl

A total of 480 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 107.4 lb) were used to determine the interactive effects of supplemental Cu, Zn, and Ractopamine HCl on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of added copper sulfate (CuSO4; 0 vs. 125 ppm Cu), added zinc oxide (ZnO; 0 vs. 150 ppm Zn), and Ractopamine HCl (0 vs. 10 ppm during the last 28 d prior to marketing; Paylean®; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN). All finishing diets were fed in four phases in meal form and contained 11 ppm Cu and 73 ppm Zn from the trace mineral premix. The study design was structured as a randomized complete block design and replicated with two finishing groups. Pigs were randomly allotted to pens upon entry into the finisher barn. Pens of seven (group 1) or eight (group 2) pigs were balanced on initial BW and randomly allotted to 1 of the 4 mineral treatment diets with two treatment replications per weight block and four weight blocks per finishing group. At 28 d prior to marketing, pens within each block and mineral treatment were randomly assigned to receive either 0 or 10 ppm Ractopamine HCl in addition to the mineral treatment. At the conclusion of the 90-d (group 1) or 83-d (group 2) finishing period, carcass characteristics were measured. Adding Cu or Zn alone resulted in numerical improvements in overall F/G and caloric efficiencies; however, the improvements were not additive (Cu × Zn, P = 0.065, 0.068, and 0.064 for F/G and caloric efficiency on a ME and NE basis, respectively). No significant improvements were observed in overall ADG or ADFI due to added Cu and/or Zn. In contrast, Ractopamine HCl improved (P \u3c 0.001) overall ADG, F/G, and caloric efficiency, thereby increasing final BW by 3% with no change in ADFI. Ractopamine HCl also increased (P \u3c 0.001) HCW, percentage carcass yield, and HCW F/G. Adding Zn or Cu alone to diets containing Ractopamine HCl numerically improved percentage carcass yield and HCW F/G, but this effect was not present when the mineral was added to the control diet or when the minerals were fed in combination in the Ractopamine HCl diets (Cu × Zn × Ractopamine, P = 0.011 and 0.024 respectively). Regardless of HCW, pigs fed Ractopamine HCl had decreased (P = 0.014) backfat, increased (P \u3c 0.001) loin depth, and percent fat-free lean. No effects of added minerals on these carcass traits were observed. In summary, the addition of 125 ppm Cu and/or 150 ppm Zn to diets containing Ractopamine HCl failed to improve finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics while 10 ppm Ractopamine HCl increased lean tissue deposition and improved feed and caloric efficiency

Development of 11-Plex MOL-PCR Assay for the Rapid Screening of Samples for Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli

Strains of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a serious threat to the health, with approximately half of the STEC related food-borne illnesses attributable to contaminated beef. We developed an assay that was able to screen samples for several important STEC associated serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O104, O111, O121, O145, O157) and three major virulence factors (eae, stx1, stx2) in a rapid and multiplexed format using the Multiplex oligonucleotide ligation-PCR (MOL-PCR) assay chemistry. This assay detected unique STEC DNA signatures and is meant to be used on samples from various sources related to beef production, providing a multiplex and high-throughput complement to the multiplex PCR assays currently in use. Multiplex oligonucleotide ligation-PCR (MOL-PCR) is a nucleic acid-based assay chemistry that relies on flow cytometry/image cytometry and multiplex microsphere arrays for the detection of nucleic acid-based signatures present in target agents. The STEC MOL-PCR assay provided greater than 90% analytical specificity across all sequence markers designed when tested against panels of DNA samples that represent different STEC serogroups and toxin gene profiles. This paper describes the development of the 11-plex assay and the results of its validation. This highly multiplexed, but more importantly dynamic and adaptable screening assay allows inclusion of additional signatures as they are identified in relation to public health. As the impact of STEC associated illness on public health is explored additional information on classification will be needed on single samples; thus, this assay can serve as the backbone for a complex screening system

Development of 11-Plex MOL-PCR Assay for the Rapid Screening of Samples for Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coil

Citation: Woods, T. A., Mendez, H. M., Ortega, S., Shi, X. R., Marx, D., Bai, J. F., . . . Deshpande, A. (2016). Development of 11-Plex MOL-PCR Assay for the Rapid Screening of Samples for Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coil. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 6, 12. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2016.00092Strains of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a serious threat to the health, with approximately half of the STEC related food-borne illnesses attributable to contaminated beef. We developed an assay that was able to screen samples for several important STEC associated serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O104, O111, O121, O145, O157) and three major virulence factors (eae, stx(1), stx(2)) in a rapid and multiplexed format using the Multiplex oligonucleotide ligation-PCR (MOL-PCR) assay chemistry. This assay detected unique STEC DNA signatures and is meant to be used on samples from various sources related to beef production, providing a multiplex and high-throughput complement to the multiplex PCR assays currently in use. Multiplex oligonucleotide ligation-PCR (MOL-PCR) is a nucleic acid-based assay chemistry that relies on flow cytometry/image cytometry and multiplex microsphere arrays for the detection of nucleic acid-based signatures present in target agents. The STEC MOL-PCR assay provided greater than 90% analytical specificity across all sequence markers designed when tested against panels of DNA samples that represent different STEC serogroups and toxin gene profiles. This paper describes the development of the 11-plex assay and the results of its validation. This highly multiplexed, but more importantly dynamic and adaptable screening assay allows inclusion of additional signatures as they are identified in relation to public health. As the impact of STEC associated illness on public health is explored additional information on classification will be needed on single samples; thus, this assay can serve as the backbone for a complex screening system