Energy-Aware Topology Evolution Model with Link and Node Deletion in Wireless Sensor Networks

Based on the complex network theory, a new topological evolving model is proposed. In the evolution of the topology of sensor networks, the energy-aware mechanism is taken into account, and the phenomenon of change of the link and node in the network is discussed. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are conducted to explore the topology characteristics and network performance with different node energy distribution. We find that node energy distribution has the weak effect on the degree distribution P(k) that evolves into the scale-free state, nodes with more energy carry more connections, and degree correlation is nontrivial disassortative. Moreover, the results show that, when nodes energy is more heterogeneous, the network is better clustered and enjoys higher performance in terms of the network efficiency and the average path length for transmitting data

Gas-Phase Complexes of Americium and Lanthanides with a Bis-triazinyl Pyridine: Reactivity and Bonding of Archetypes for F-Element Separations.

Bis-triazinyl pyridines (BTPs) exhibit solution selectivity for trivalent americium over lanthanides (Ln), the origins of which remain uncertain. Here, electrospray ionization was used to generate gas-phase complexes [ML3]3+, where M = La, Lu, or Am and L is EtBTP 2,6-bis(5,6-diethyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-pyridine. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of [ML3]3+ in the presence of H2O yielded a protonated ligand [L(H)]+ and hydroxide [ML2(OH)]2+ or hydrate [ML(L-H)(H2O)]2+, where (L-H)- is a deprotonated ligand. Although solution affinities indicate stronger binding of BTPs toward Am3+ versus Ln3+, the observed CID process is contrastingly more facile for M = Am versus Ln. To understand the disparity, density functional theory was employed to compute potential energy surfaces for two possible CID processes, for M = La and Am. In accordance with the CID results, both the rate determining transition state barrier and the net energy are lower for [AmL3]3+ versus [LaL3]3+ and for both product isomers, [ML2(OH)]2+ and [ML(L-H)(H2O)]2+. More facile removal of a ligand from [AmL3]3+ by CID does not necessarily contradict stronger Am3+-L binding, as inferred from solution behavior. In particular, the formation of new bonds in the products can distort kinetics and thermodynamics expected for simple bond cleavage reactions. In addition to correctly predicting the seemingly anomalous CID behavior, the computational results indicate greater participation of Am 5f versus La 4f orbitals in metal-ligand bonding

A Strategy for Modelling Mechanochemically Induced Unzipping and Scission of Chemical Bonds in Double-Network Polymer Composite

A molecular mechanics model for covalent and ionic double-network polymer composites was developed in this study to investigate mechanisms of mechanochemically induced unzipping and scission of chemical bonds. Morse potential function was firstly applied to investigate mechanical unzipping of the covalent bonds, and then stress-dependent mechanical energy for the interatomic covalent bonds was discussed. A new mechanochemical model was formulated for describing the mechanically induced ionic bond scissions based on the Morse potential model and equations for electrostatic forces. Based on this newly proposed model, mechanochemical behaviors of several common interatomic interaction types (e.g., A+B-, A2+B2-/A2+2B-/2A+B2- and A3+B3-/A3+3B-/3A+B3-) of the ionic bonds have been quantitatively described and analyzed. Finally, mechanochemical unzipping of the covalent bonds and dissociation of the ionic bonds have been characterized and analyzed based on the molecular mechanics model, which has well predicted the chemical and mechanochemical activations in the covalent and ionic double-network polymer composites

Are You A Tourist? Tourists’ Self-identification and the Definition of Tourism

This study empirically investigates the question of who is a tourist, building on the literature of what is tourism, how to measure tourism, and the negative characterization of the term tourist. The study’s main contribution is that it contrasts the distance-based practical definitions with tourists’ self-identification and characterizes those who define themselves as tourists. Data came from 1,619 responses to a visitor survey, conducted at a midwestern destination. A surprisingly high proportion of the respondents self-identified as tourists suggested that while it might still exist, the negative connotation of the term “tourist” is not always as dominant as suggested by the literature. The statistical analyses (chi-square test, Marascuilo procedure, and a binary logistic model) suggest that the propensity to self-identify as tourist is positively related to the distance traveled and first-visit status, and it is lower among visitors whose trip purpose was to visit friends or relatives. These findings on how travelers might feel about the role of distance in the definition of tourism could assist policy makers who use distance to define and measure tourism. The characterization of those who self-identify as tourists has important implications for CVBs and DMOs who wish to better address the negative connotation of the term “tourist” in their communication

A potential explanation for the effect of carbon source on the characteristics of acetate-fed and glucose-fed aerobic granules

This paper proposes a new theory to account for the effect of carbon source on the characteristics of acetate-fed and glucose-fed aerobic granules. It is well known that reactor pH can vary in response to the oxidation of glucose or sodium acetate. As such, the effects associated with the carbon sources may be explained by the changed pH. The proposal was explored by experiments. Aerobic granules were cultivated in three identical sequencing batch reactors (SBRs, R1, R2 and R3), fed with sodium acetate, glucose, glucose and maintained pH at 4.5 - 5.5 (the variation of reactor pH in the oxidation of glucose), 4.5 - 5.5 and 7.5 - 8.5 (the variation of reactor pH in the oxidation of sodium acetate), respectively, and the effects of carbon source and reactor pH on the characteristics of aerobic granules were assessed. The results showed that the characteristics of aerobic granules, including microbial structure, mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), sludge volume index (SVI) and nitrification-denitrification, were strongly affected by reactor pH, but were independent with the carbon source supplied. These results fully supported the validity of the new theory. The theory suggests that the cultivation of aerobic granules with glucose or sodium acetate should take more attention to reactor pH rather than carbon source itself. The implications of this theory are discussed with regards to the other common carbon sources as well as better understanding of the mechanisms of aerobic granulation.Keywords: Acetate-fed granules, glucose-fed granules, reactor pH, carbon source, characteristicsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(33), pp. 5357-5365, 16 August, 201