A Vertical Channel Model of Molecular Communication based on Alcohol Molecules

The study of Molecular Communication(MC) is more and more prevalence, and channel model of MC plays an important role in the MC System. Since different propagation environment and modulation techniques produce different channel model, most of the research about MC are in horizontal direction,but in nature the communications between nano machines are in short range and some of the information transportation are in the vertical direction, such as transpiration of plants, biological pump in ocean, and blood transportation from heart to brain. Therefore, this paper we propose a vertical channel model which nano-machines communicate with each other in the vertical direction based on pure diffusion. We first propose a vertical molecular communication model, we mainly considered the gravity as the factor, though the channel model is also affected by other main factors, such as the flow of the medium, the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, the delay or sensitivity of the transmitter and the receiver. Secondly, we set up a test-bed for this vertical channel model, in order to verify the difference between the theory result and the experiment data. At last, we use the data we get from the experiment and the non-linear least squares method to get the parameters to make our channel model more accurate.Comment: 5 pages,7 figures, Accepted for presentation at BICT 2015 Special Track on Molecular Communication and Networking (MCN). arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1311.6208 by other author

Weighted allocations, their concomitant-based estimators, and asymptotics

Various members of the class of weighted insurance premiums and risk capital allocation rules have been researched from a number of perspectives. Corresponding formulas in the case of parametric families of distributions have been derived, and they have played a pivotal role when establishing parametric statistical inference in the area. Non-parametric inference results have also been derived in special cases such as the tail conditional expectation, distortion risk measure, and several members of the class of weighted premiums. For weighted allocation rules, however, non-parametric inference results have not yet been adequately developed. In the present paper, therefore, we put forward empirical estimators for the weighted allocation rules and establish their consistency and asymptotic normality under practically sound conditions. Intricate statistical considerations rely on the theory of induced order statistics, known as concomitants.Comment: 20 page

PIANO: Proximity-based User Authentication on Voice-Powered Internet-of-Things Devices

Voice is envisioned to be a popular way for humans to interact with Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. We propose a proximity-based user authentication method (called PIANO) for access control on such voice-powered IoT devices. PIANO leverages the built-in speaker, microphone, and Bluetooth that voice-powered IoT devices often already have. Specifically, we assume that a user carries a personal voice-powered device (e.g., smartphone, smartwatch, or smartglass), which serves as the user's identity. When another voice-powered IoT device of the user requires authentication, PIANO estimates the distance between the two devices by playing and detecting certain acoustic signals; PIANO grants access if the estimated distance is no larger than a user-selected threshold. We implemented a proof-of-concept prototype of PIANO. Through theoretical and empirical evaluations, we find that PIANO is secure, reliable, personalizable, and efficient.Comment: To appear in ICDCS'1

Increased risk of cardiovascular and renal disease, and diabetes for all women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus in New Zealand:A national retrospective cohort study

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to compare cardiometabolic and renal outcomes for all women in New Zealand with gestational diabetes (2001–2010) with women without diabetes, 10–20 years following delivery. Methods: A retrospective cohort study, utilizing a national dataset providing information for all women who gave birth between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2010 (n = 604 398). Adolescent girls <15 years, women ≥50 years and women with prepregnancy diabetes were excluded. In total 11 459 women were diagnosed with gestational diabetes and 11 447 were matched (for age and year of delivery) with 57 235 unexposed (control) women. A national hospital dataset was used to compare primary outcomes until 31 May 2021.Results: After controlling for ethnicity, women with gestational diabetes were significantly more likely than control women to develop diabetes—adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 20.06 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 18.46–21.79; a first cardiovascular event 2.19 (1.86–2.58); renal disease 6.34 (5.35–7.51) and all-cause mortality 1.55 (1.31–1.83), all p values <.0001. The HR and 95% CI remained similar after controlling for significant covariates: diabetes 18.89 (17.36–20.56), cardiovascular events 1.79 (1.52–2.12), renal disease 5.42 (4.55–6.45), and all-cause mortality 1.44 (1.21–1.70). When time-dependent diabetes was added to the model, significance remained for cardiovascular events 1.33 (1.10–1.61), p = .003 and renal disease 2.33 (1.88–2.88), p < .0001 but not all-cause mortality.Conclusions: Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of adverse cardiometabolic and renal outcomes. Findings highlight the importance of follow-up screening for diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, and renal disease

Agenda 21 and the ecological footprint as instruments to achieve a sustainable university

[Resumen] Para frenar el rápido deterioro ambiental, la universidad ha de formar a las nuevas generaciones en un modelo de sostenibilidad integral (solidaridad sincrónica y diacrónica) y, además, contribuir al cambio en los estilos de vida, en los conocimientos y conductas de la sociedad actual. Esto precisa un nuevo marco teórico-metodológico bajo el paradigma de la sostenibilidad que fundamente y concrete las propuestas educativas. Tomando como referencia los principios del desarrollo sostenible y utilizando como «herramientas» la Agenda 21en la Universidad y la Huella Ecológica, hemos desarrollado y puesto en práctica una estrategia metodológica (ecometodología) con el fin de capacitar a nuestro alumnado (profesorado en formación) para actuar con criterios de sustentabilidad, tanto colectiva, como individualmente[Abstract] In order to stop the quick environmental deterioration of the planet, University has to prepare the new generations following a model of integral sustainability (synchronic and diachronic solidarity) and it also has to contribute to a change in lifestyles, in knowledge and behaviours in our society. There is a need for a new theoretical-methodological frame under the paradigm of sustainability to base educational proposals on it and to concretize them. Taking into consideration the principles of Sustainable Development and using the tools of «Agenda 21 in the University» and Ecological Footprint, we have developed and applied a methodological strategy (ecomethodology) to enable ours students (future teachers) to act, collectively and individually, according to the criteria of sustainabilit

Functional Surface Coating on Cellulosic Flexible Substrates with Improved Water-Resistant and Antimicrobial Properties by Use of ZnO Nanoparticles

It is of significant interest to create functional flexible surfaces that simultaneously exhibit high water-resistance and antimicrobial performances for medical or packaging applications. This study reported a synthesis of functional surface coating on flexible cellulose materials (filter papers) with ZnO nanoparticles and binds of renewable soybean oil-based polymers. Self-aggregation of ZnO nanoparticles could form ZnO particles with two regular morphological patterns. Rather than a rod-like morphology, a flower-like ZnO benefited a promotion of surface hydrophobicity. Moreover, surface with the flower-like ZnO showed a 51.6% promotion on antimicrobial activities against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) than the rod-like ZnO. A low binder/ZnO ratio of 0.2 led to a remarkable improvement on water repelling performances without negative effects on a coating adhesion of ZnO. Under this condition, a hydrophobic surface was achieved with a large static contact angle of 138° when applying ZnO nanoparticles at a dosage of 3 g m−2

From Castor Oil‐Based Multifunctional Polyols to Waterborne Polyurethanes: Synthesis and Properties

Abstract A novel castor oil‐based multifunctional polyol (CM) is fabricated through mild thiol‐ene photo induced reactions using castor oil (CO) and 1‐thioglycerol (MPD) as building blocks. The effect of the reaction time, molar ratio of thiol to carbon–carbon double bond, and the loadings of photo‐initiator are optimized. The resulting CM is combined with CO and employed as cross‐linkers to prepare castor oil‐based water‐borne polyurethane emulsion with desirable mechanical properties and water resistance. Owing to the incorporation of CM cross‐linker with high hydroxyl value of 371 mg KOH/g (which is 2.27 times higher than that of the CO), the prepared castor oil‐based waterborne polyurethane (CMWPU) possesses compacted 3D network structure with high cross‐linking degree, leading to improved glass transition temperature (45 °C), tensile strength (10.8 MPa), water contact angle (87.4°), and decreased water absorption rate (16.12%) with 20% CM additions. Overall, this work illustrates the feasibility of introducing bio renewable CM combined with CO to develop castor oil‐based WPU employing a sustainable development strategy

Comparative pulmonary toxicity of two Ceria nanoparticles with the same primary size

Ceria nanoparticles (nano-ceria) have recently gained a wide range of applications, which might pose unwanted risks to both the environment and human health. The greatest potential for the environmental discharge of nano-ceria appears to be in their use as a diesel fuel additive. The present study was designed to explore the pulmonary toxicity of nano-ceria in mice after a single exposure via intratracheal instillation. Two types of nano-ceria with the same distribution of a primary size (3–5 nm), but different redox activity, were used: Ceria-p, synthesized by a precipitation route, and Ceria-h, synthesized by a hydrothermal route. Both Ceria-p and Ceria-h induced oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity in mice, but their toxicological profiles were quite different. The mean size of Ceria-p agglomerates was much smaller compared to Ceria-h, thereby causing a more potent acute inflammation, due to their higher number concentration of agglomerates and higher deposition rate in the deep lung. Ceria-h had a higher reactivity to catalyzing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and caused two waves of lung injury: bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) inflammation and cytotoxicity in the early stage and redox-activity-evoked lipid peroxidation and pro-inflammation in the latter stage. Therefore, the size distribution of ceria-containing agglomerates in the exhaust, as well as their surface chemistry are essential characteristics to assess the potential risks of using nano-ceria as a fuel additive