Scanning Photo-Induced Impedance Microscopy - Resolution studies and polymer characterization

Scanning Photo-Induced Impedance Microscopy (SPIM) is an impedance imaging technique that is based on photocurrent measurements at field-effect structures. The material under investigation is deposited onto a semiconductor-insulator substrate. A thin metal film or an electrolyte solution with an immersed electrode serves as the gate contact. A modulated light beam focused into the space charge region of the semiconductor produces a photocurrent, which is directly related to the local impedance of the material. The absolute impedance of a polymer film can be measured by calibrating photocurrents using a known impedance in series with the sample. Depending on the wavelength of light used, charge carriers are not only generated in the focus but also throughout the bulk of the semiconductor. This can have adverse effects on the lateral resolution. Two-photon experiments were carried out to confine charge carrier generation to the spacecharge layer. The lateral resolution of SPIM is also limited by the lateral diffusion of charge carriers in the semiconductor. This problem can be solved by using thin silicon layers as semiconductor substrates. A resolution of better than 1 mu m was achieved using silicon on sapphire (SOS) substrates with a I l.Lm thick silicon layer

Enhancing physical layer security of cognitive radio transceiver via chaotic OFDM

Due to the enormous potential of improving the spectral utilization by using Cognitive Radio (CR), designing adaptive access system and addressing its physical layer security are the most important and challenging issues in CR networks. Since CR transceivers need to transmit over multiple non-contiguous frequency holes, multi-carrier based system is one of the best candidates for CR's physical layer design. In this paper, we propose a combined chaotic scrambling (CS) and chaotic shift keying (CSK) scheme in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based CR to enhance its physical layer security. By employing chaos based third order Chebyshev map which allows optimum bit error rate (BER) performance of CSK modulation, the proposed combined scheme outperforms the traditional OFDM system in overlay scenario with Rayleigh fading channel. Importantly, with two layers of encryption based on chaotic scrambling and CSK modulation, large key size can be generated to resist any brute-force attack, leading to a significantly improved level of security

Enhancing secrecy rate in cognitive radio networks via multilevel Stackelberg game

In this letter, physical layer (PHY) security is investigated for both primary and secondary transmissions of a cognitive radio network (CRN) that is in danger of malicious attempt by an eavesdropper (ED). In our proposed system, the secondary transmitter (ST) is acted as a trusted relay (TR) for primary transmission and the PHY security is facilitated by the cooperation between the primary transmitter (PT) and the ST using the multilevel Stackelberg game. In particular, we formulate and solve the optimization problem of maximizing secrecy rates in different phases of primary and secondary transmissions. Finally, numerical examples are provided to demonstrate that the spectrum leasing based on trading secondary access for cooperation is a promising framework for enhancing secrecy rate in CRNs

Enhancing secrecy rate in cognitive radio networks via stackelberg game

In this paper, a game theory based cooperation scheme is investigated to enhance the physical layer security in both primary and secondary transmissions of a cognitive radio network (CRN). In CRNs, the primary network may decide to lease its own spectrum for a fraction of time to the secondary nodes in exchange of appropriate remuneration. We consider the secondary transmitter node as a trusted relay for primary transmission to forward primary messages in a decode-and-forward (DF) fashion and, at the same time, allows part of its available power to be used to transmit artificial noise (i.e., jamming signal) to enhance primary and secondary secrecy rates. In order to allocate power between message and jamming signals, we formulate and solve the optimization problem for maximizing the secrecy rates under malicious attempts from EDs. We then analyse the cooperation between the primary and secondary nodes from a game-theoretic perspective where we model their interaction as a Stackelberg game with a theoretically proved and computed Stackelberg equilibrium. We show that the spectrum leasing based on trading secondary access for cooperation by means of relay and jammer is a promising framework for enhancing security in CRNs

Construction of a Plasmodium falciparum Rab-interactome identifies CK1 and PKA as Rab-effector kinases in malaria parasites

Background information The pathology causing stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum reside within red blood cells that are devoid of any regulated transport system. The parasite, therefore, is entirely responsible for mediating vesicular transport within itself and in the infected erythrocyte cytoplasm, and it does so in part via its family of 11 Rab GTPases. Putative functions have been ascribed to Plasmodium Rabs due to their homology with Rabs of yeast, particularly with Saccharomyces that has an equivalent number of rab/ypt genes and where analyses of Ypt function is well characterized. Results Rabs are important regulators of vesicular traffic due to their capacity to recruit specific effectors. In order to identify P. falciparum Rab (PfRab) effectors, we first built a Ypt-interactome by exploiting genetic and physical binding data available at the Saccharomyces genome database (SGD). We then constructed a PfRab-interactome using putative parasite Rab-effectors identified by homology to Ypt-effectors. We demonstrate its potential by wet-bench testing three predictions; that casein kinase-1 (PfCK1) is a specific Rab5B interacting protein and that the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PfPKA-C) is a PfRab5A and PfRab7 effector. Conclusions The establishment of a shared set of physical Ypt/PfRab-effector proteins sheds light on a core set Plasmodium Rab-interactants shared with yeast. The PfRab-interactome should benefit vesicular trafficking studies in malaria parasites. The recruitment of PfCK1 to PfRab5B+ and PfPKA-C to PfRab5A+ and PfRab7+ vesicles, respectively, suggests that PfRab-recruited kinases potentially play a role in early and late endosome function in malaria parasites

Effect of Modeling Techniques on the Simulation: Calculating the Stress Concentration Factors in Square Hollow Section T-Joints as a Case Study

The capability of the simulation software motivates the engineers to analyze the stress in complex welded joints where ordinary mathematical expression may lack. However, unfortunately, the simulations were interpreted mechanically without considering the simulation parameters deeply. For this reason, this research aims to study the effect of simulation parameters on the stress concentration factor of square hollow sections structures using ANSYS workbench. In this context, two main meshing techniques (face split vs. slicing) and various behavior of materials (linear vs. nonlinear) having been considered. The outputs of the investigations revealed the superiority of the materials nonlinearity over linear behavior in terms of results acceptability comparing to their corresponding real-life ones. For instance, the supercritical fluid of nonlinear plastic material estimated to be 14 which was closest to the 12 obtained experimentally by Mashiri et al. In addition to that, face split technique outperformed the slicing in terms of result accuracy and solving time. Solving the face split model elapsed 254 s only which is dramatically less than the minimum time (1605 s) of sliced models. This is because any slicing process will lead to the formation of the contact elements at interfaces and uncomfortable meshing which may in turn adversely effect on the simulation efficiency

Clinical pattern of ocular toxoplasmosis treated in a referral centre in Serbia

Purpose To analyze the clinical pattern of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) in a referral centre in Serbia. Patients and methods The medical records of consecutive patients admitted for OT to the single referral centre for uveitis in Serbia between 2006 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. OT was diagnosed on the basis of typical fundus lesions and positive serology for Toxoplasma. Results In a total of 457 uveitis patients, OT was the third leading cause, with 59 patients (12.9%). Most OT cases (73%) were monocular. An active primary retinal lesion was observed in 36% and recurrent OT in 64% patients. Localization of lesions was central/paracentral (44%), juxtapapillar (27%), peripheral (19%), and multifocal (10%). Other ocular manifestations of inflammation included vitritis (44%), anterior uveitis (19%), and retinal vasculitis (10%). Complications included choroidal neovascularization in two and exudative retinal detachment with cataract, glaucoma, and cystoid macular oedema in one patient each. The detection of Toxoplasma-specific IgM antibodies in a single patient indicates a low rate of OT concomitant with acute infection. After treatment, the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased significantly. However, 14 (24%) patients ended up legally blind in the affected eye, of which 2 (3%) with bilateral blindness, all with a very poor BCVA (0.047 +/- 0.055) at presentation. Visual impairment and treatment outcome were both associated with central localization of lesions (P lt 0.0001 and P = 0.006, respectively). Conclusion OT is a significant cause of posterior uveitis in Serbia. Patients should be aware of the recurring nature of OT and react immediately if symptoms occur. Eye (2012) 26, 723-728; doi: 10.1038/eye.2012.20; published online 24 February 201

Diagnostic techniques for inflammatory eye disease: past, present and future: a review

Investigations used to aid diagnosis and prognosticate outcomes in ocular inflammatory disorders are based on techniques that have evolved over the last two centuries have dramatically evolved with the advances in molecular biological and imaging technology. Our improved understanding of basic biological processes of infective drives of innate immunity bridging the engagement of adaptive immunity have formed techniques to tailor and develop assays, and deliver targeted treatment options. Diagnostic techniques are paramount to distinguish infective from non-infective intraocular inflammatory disease, particularly in atypical cases. The advances have enabled our ability to multiplex assay small amount of specimen quantities of intraocular samples including aqueous, vitreous or small tissue samples. Nevertheless to achieve diagnosis, techniques often require a range of assays from traditional hypersensitivity reactions and microbe specific immunoglobulin analysis to modern molecular techniques and cytokine analysis. Such approaches capitalise on the advantages of each technique, thereby improving the sensitivity and specificity of diagnoses. This review article highlights the development of laboratory diagnostic techniques for intraocular inflammatory disorders now readily available to assist in accurate identification of infective agents and appropriation of appropriate therapies as well as formulating patient stratification alongside clinical diagnoses into disease groups for clinical trials