Energy Efficient Routing Protocol for Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

Due to the sensibility of power issue in wireless sensor networks and the limitations of power sources, preserving energy issue prepossess most recent advances researches in this field. Routing protocols have considerable space in those researches, and the hierarchal algorithms like LEACH are a common kind of important techniques used to decrease energy consumption in sensor networks. It increases the network scalability and prolonging network lifetime. Hierarchal based energy efficient routing protocols should be designed to adapt with characteristics of heterogeneous wireless sensor networks. In this paper a new LEACH based clustering scheme for heterogeneous wireless sensor networks proposed, which is called master, advance, and normal nodes LEACH (MAN-LEACH) deal with heterogeneity and attempt to remedy some original LEACH drawbacks. In MAN-LEACH, the cluster heads are selected by take in consideration the ratio between residual energy of each node in network after certain round and the average energy of the network. So the chances to become a cluster head for nodes are differ according to the residual energy they have. Also MAN-LEACH introduced multi levels of amplifying energy to transmit packets through network, the lowest level used to transmission between cluster members and cluster head, the middle to transmit between cluster heads and highest level used to transmit between cluster heads and base station. The performance of MAN-LEACH evaluated against three other protocol approaches LEACH, MOD-LEACH, DEEC, and simulation results show that MAN-LEACH gives longer lifetime, highest average residual energy rate, and highest rate in transferring packets to base statio

Coronal microleakage for readymade and hand mixed temporary filling materials

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the sealing ability of the readymade temporary filling and hand mixed materials by assessing coronal microleakage.MATERIALS & METHODS: Standardized access cavities were prepared in 80 intact human permanent premolar teeth. They were divided randomly into four experimental groups (n=20). The teeth were restored using one of the temporary materials including Cavisol, Litrak, Zinc phosphate cement, Zinconol (IRM). Thermocycling was applied on the specimens. Methylene blue dye was applied and penetration was evaluated under stereomicroscope. Grading of the microleakage pattern was from 1 to 3, with 3 providing the best seal. Results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test (P < 0.05).RESULTS: Microleakage of Cavisol and Litrak samples achieved grade 3; whereas zinc phosphate cement and Zinconol samples absorbed the dye into the bulk of the materials. Cavisol was found to exhibit the best seal amongst the four tested materials followed by Litrak, zinc phosphate cement, and Zinconol. There was a statistically significant difference in the microleakage scores obtained between the materials (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Among the four materials tested, readymade temporary filling provided the best sealing ability over hand-mixed. This study emphasizes the importance of correct placement and sufficient thickness of temporary filling materials in endodontic access cavities to ensure a tight seal.

A Comparative Study of the Microleakage of Resilon/Epiphany and Gutta-Percha/AH-Plus Obturating Systems

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the apical sealing ability of Resilon/Epiphany-filled root canals with those that were obturated with gutta-percha/AH-Plus endodontic sealer. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 extracted human single-rooted teeth were selected; 25 teeth for each test group and five for each control group. After conducting conventional endodontic treatment, the teeth were immersed in physiologic saline solution for thirty days, and subsequently sealed and stored in methylene blue dye solution for seven days. The teeth were sectioned to evaluate the linear apical leakage using a stereoscopic microscope. The data were statistically analyzed by non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The results showed significant differences between the two groups of endodontic sealers (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Within the limitation of the present in vitro study, Resilon/Epiphany sealer had better apical sealing ability than gutta-percha/AH-Plus sealer

Design of heterogeneous bifunctional catalyst for upgrading bioethanol through the Guerbet reaction

Catalytic conversion of ethanol through the Guerbet reaction to higher carbon number molecules allows efficient transformation of biomass to liquid fuels and commodity chemicals. A selective and stable heterogeneous catalyst is required to render this conversion possible in an economic way. The reaction was found to proceed through two parallel mechanisms on basic magnesia where acetaldehyde, formed from ethanol dehydrogenation, can either couple with itself or with adsorbed ethoxide to form new carbon-carbon bonds and the ethanol to acetaldehyde pressure ratio was found to determine which of these two mechanisms predominates. Amphoteric titania, and acidic alumina were found to have very low ethanol dehydrogenation activity and can only catalyze the Guerbet reaction through the acetaldehyde self-coupling mechanism. Strong acidic sites were found to catalyze alcohol dehydration while strong basic sites were found to catalyze esterification and show poor stability under humid conditions. Mild acid-base sites on titania were found to selectively catalyze acetaldehyde aldol condensation and exhibit high stability under humid conditions. To overcome the low dehydrogenation activity of titania, addition of a metallic function was proposed. Among several metals tested, copper was found to be the most selective catalyst for dehydrogenation either as unsupported powder or supported nanoparticles. A synergetic effect was obtained from deposition of the copper nanoparticles on the titania surface since it was found to facilitate product desorption, a step that was found to be the rate limiting for acetaldehyde aldolization. Supported copper nanoparticles were found to catalyze the undesired alcohol esterification reaction. To suppress this side reaction, alloying copper with gold and promotion with chromium and potassium were found to be beneficial. A hybrid sequential-simultaneous reaction configuration was proposed to allow preliminary alcohol selective dehydrogenation on a monofunctional catalyst followed by simultaneous dehydrogenation, aldolization, and product hydrogenation on a bifunctional catalyst

Management of Blood Supply and Blood Demand to Ensure International Health Security

Maintaining international health security requires proactive and reactive activities and actions to minimise the negative impact of any health event that threatens public health. Blood transfusion services are a critical part of healthcare services, and blood and blood products can neither be synthesized nor stored for a long period. So, proper management of blood supply and blood demand is mandatory to preserve adequate safe blood. A failure to manage blood inventory and the resulting blood shortage are considered national and international health security threats because maintaining an adequate supply of safe blood is lifesaving for many patients. Blood shortages lead to the failure of blood transfusion services that ends with the collapse of the health system and health insecurity if health authorities do not take immediate corrective action. An imbalance between blood supply and blood demand is not only a threat to health security, but also poses some of the greatest threats to the national and international economy and security. The perception of health issues as an international health security threat is associated with benefits through attracting political and decision-makers’ attention and support. The global health policies and international health regulations concerning the management of blood supply and blood demand should be implemented and updated regularly. The information provided by this chapter addresses the management of blood supply and blood demand as an international health security issue and provides guidance in planning for proper management of blood inventory to avoid a sudden blood shortage and its catastrophic consequences

Medical system based on thermal optical system and neural network

Military personnel in the training or operational phases always need constant medical examination, but the presence of efficient medical care is difficult to implement in real-time for such cases. A wireless system for thermal tracking of soldiers was proposed, as well as tracking their vital signs in real time. Thermal cameras are used with an optical system designed to increase the accuracy of the thermal images captured as the change in the electro-cardiogram, heart rate, and temperature measurements are measured using a specially designed circuit. The results from both the thermal system and the biometric system are combined and sent to a computer for analysis using a model prepared with neural network technology. The proposed system was tested, and a database was created for 127 males and 110 females during training and rest times. The neural network model achieved a response time of 85 seconds until the release of the final analysis, and the accuracy of the proposed tracking system is 96%. The main contribution of this paper is the design of an integrated portable system for rapid, in-field, real-time military medical diagnostics

Sternal healing after bilateral internal mammary arteries use for Coronary artery bypass grafting in diabetic Patients; short-term results

Background:&nbsp; Bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) use may improve long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); however, the risk of infection is high.&nbsp; &nbsp;Skeletonization of the internal mammary may decrease the risk of infection, especially in patients with diabetes. Our study aimed at evaluation of sternal healing in diabetic patients with different techniques of bilateral internal mammary artery harvesting. Methods: This prospective randomized study included 200 diabetic patients who underwent CABG using BIMA between 2017 and 2019. We divided patients into two groups; Group A had skeletonization of both internal mammary arteries, and Group B had pedicled left mammary and skeletonized right mammary. Patients were observed for three months, post-operatively for any sternal wound problems. Results:&nbsp;There was no significant difference regarding the baseline variables. Type I diabetes mellitus was present in 25% in group A (n= 24) and 13.64% in group B (n= 12) (p= 0.324). There was no difference in harvest time between groups (83 ±4 vs. 81 ±3 minutes in group A vs. B, respectively. P= 0.1). The mean number of grafts was 3± 0.5 in Group A and 3± 0.6 in Group B (p= 0.8). Postoperative drainage was 402.9 ± 174.1 ml in Group A vs. 387.2 ± 153.6 ml in Group B (p= 0.474). The duration of ICU stay did not differ significantly between groups (2± 0.7 in Group A vs. 2± 0.5 in Group B; p= 0.8). Deep sternal wound infection occurred in 4.17% in group A (n= 4) and 4.55% in group B (n= 4) (p= 0.705). Superficial wound infection occurred in eight patients in group A (8.33%) and eight patients in group B (9.1%) (p= 0.59). No patient had sternal dehiscence in group A vs. four patients in group B (4.55%) (p= 0.39). Conclusion: We did not find differences between bilateral mammary artery harvest with skeletonization of both arteries versus skeletonization of the right mammary only on sternal healing nor wound infection in diabetic patients undergoing CABG. A larger study is recommended

Coronal microleakage for readymade and hand mixed temporary filling materials

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the sealing ability of the readymade temporary filling and hand mixed materials by assessing coronal microleakage. MATERIALS & METHODS: Standardized access cavities were prepared in 80 intact human permanent premolar teeth. They were divided randomly into four experimental groups (n=20). The teeth were restored using one of the temporary materials including Cavisol, Litrak, Zinc phosphate cement, Zinconol (IRM). Thermocycling was applied on the specimens. Methylene blue dye was applied and penetration was evaluated under stereomicroscope. Grading of the microleakage pattern was from 1 to 3, with 3 providing the best seal. Results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Microleakage of Cavisol and Litrak samples achieved grade 3; whereas zinc phosphate cement and Zinconol samples absorbed the dye into the bulk of the materials. Cavisol was found to exhibit the best seal amongst the four tested materials followed by Litrak, zinc phosphate cement, and Zinconol. There was a statistically significant difference in the microleakage scores obtained between the materials (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Among the four materials tested, readymade temporary filling provided the best sealing ability over hand-mixed. This study emphasizes the importance of correct placement and sufficient thickness of temporary filling materials in endodontic access cavities to ensure a tight seal

Bloodstream infection in cancer patients; susceptibility profiles of the isolated pathogens, at Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan

Introduction: Bloodstream infection is one of the major causes of mortality in patients with malignancies. This study aimed to determine the local profile of blood culture isolates and their antibiotic sensitivities in febrile neutropenic cancer patients and todecide if any modifications to antibiotics policies are necessary. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted between the first of October to the end of December 2018 at KhartoumOncology Hospital, Sudan. Blood samples from febrile neutropenic patients were collected for culture. Isolates were identified,and their antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by standard laboratory procedures. Results: Bloodstream infections were confirmed in 12 % (n = 69/569) of total blood cultures. Gram negative bacilli were the dominant causative agents (63.8%) while (36.2%) of infections were caused by gram positive cocci. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate (30.4%).The proportions of resistance among gram negative bacilli were high for cefuroxime, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, Ceftazidime,and ceftriaxone. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing isolates were identified in 34.1% of the positive cultures. Grampositive cocci showed high resistance to tetracycline, penicillin and erythromycin but were completely sensitive to vancomycinand gentamicin. Most of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were methicillin resistant.Conclusion: Gram negative bacilli were the predominant etiologic agents of bloodstream infections in our patients. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria showed high levels of resistance for most of the common antibiotics used for empiric treatment. Regular surveillance to study bacterial resistance patterns must be conducted to modify antibiotics stewardshipin our institution.Keywords: Blood stream infection; malignancy; antibiotics sensitivity; Sudan