Cognitive Vehicular Networks: An Overview

AbstractCognitive Radio (CR) is extending the applications of wireless communications worldwide. Cognitive radio verifies the electromagnetic spectrum availability and permits the modification of the transmission parameters using the interaction with the environment. The goal is to opportunistically occupy spectral bands with minimum interference to other users or applications. Cognitive radio for Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (CRVs or CR-VANETs) is a new trend in the automotive market. Recent and future vehicles will offer functionalities for the transmission of intra-vehicular commands and dynamic access to wireless services, while the car is in transit. This paper describes the cognitive radio technology and its signal processing perspectives for the automotive market

Effect of Epidemic Interference on the Performance of M-ASK, M-PSK and M-QAM Modulation Schemes

This article presents a study on the performance of different digital modulation systems in the presence of epidemic interference. This type of interference is caused by the fast increase in the number of users in a system at a given time. The epidemic interference can be modeled as a non-stationary stochastic process, which presents random power levels over time. In a previous work, the authors assessed the effect of the epidemic interference on the performance of BPSK, QPSK, and M-QAM systems. The present paper extends the previous results for MASK and M-PSK systems. Furthermore, numerical results from Monte Carlo simulations are presented for all evaluated digital modulation systems

Probability density functions of the packet length for computer networks with bimodal traffic

ABSTRACT The research on Internet traffic classification and identification, with application on prevention of attacks and intrusions, increased considerably in the past years. Strategies based on statistical characteristics of the Internet traffic, that use parameters such as packet length (size) and inter-arrival time and their probability density functions, are popular. This paper presents a new statistical modeling for packet length, which shows that it can be modeled using a probability density function that involves a normal or a beta distribution, according to the traffic generated by the users. The proposed functions has parameters that depend on the type of traffic and can be used as part of an Internet traffic classification and identification strategy. The models can be used to compare, simulate and estimate the computer network traffic, as well as to generate synthetic traffic and estimate the packets processing capacity of Internet routers KEYWORD

Objective and Subjective Evaluation of Spatially Transcoded Videos for Mobile Receivers

Digital television produces video signals with different bit rates, encoding formats, and spatial resolutions. To deliver video to users with different receivers, the content needs to be dynamically adapted. Transcoding devices convert video from one format into another. The reception of digital videos using mobile receivers, implies that the spatial resolution of the video must be adjusted to fit the small display. This paper presents subjective and objective quality analysis of spatially transcoded videos. Transcoding algorithms that downsample the video frames using the moving average, median, mode, weighted average and sigma filters are considered

Neovestitol, an isoflavonoid isolated from brazilian red propolis, reduces acute and chronic inflammation: involvement of nitric oxide and IL-6

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOIsoflavonoids have been largely studied due to their distinct biological activities identified thus far. Herein, we evaluated the activity of neovestitol, an isoflavonoid isolated from Brazilian red propolis, in acute and chronic inflammation. As for acute inflammation, we found that neovestitol reduced neutrophil migration, leukocyte rolling and adhesion, as well as expression of ICAM-1 in the mesenteric microcirculation during lipopolysaccharide-induced acute peritonitis. No changes were observed in the levels of TNF-alpha, CXCL1/KC and CXCL2/MIP-2 upon pretreatment with neovestitol. The administration of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor abolished the inhibitory effects of neovestitol in neutrophil migration and ICAM-1 expression. Nitrite levels increased upon treatment with neovestitol. No effects of neovestitol were observed on the chemotaxis of neutrophils in vitro. As for chronic inflammation, neovestitol also reduced the clinical score and joint damage in a collagen-induced arthritis model. There was no change in the frequency of IL-17-producing TCD4+ cells. In addition, pretreatment with neovestitol reduced the levels of IL-6. These results demonstrate a potential anti-inflammatory activity of neovestitol, which may be useful for therapeutic purposes and/or as a nutraceutical.Isoflavonoids have been largely studied due to their distinct biological activities identified thus far. Herein, we evaluated the activity of neovestitol, an isoflavonoid isolated from Brazilian red propolis, in acute and chronic inflammation. As for acute inflammation, we found that neovestitol reduced neutrophil migration, leukocyte rolling and adhesion, as well as expression of ICAM-1 in the mesenteric microcirculation during lipopolysaccharide-induced acute peritonitis. No changes were observed in the levels of TNF-alpha, CXCL1/KC and CXCL2/MIP-2 upon pretreatment with neovestitol. The administration of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor abolished the inhibitory effects of neovestitol in neutrophil migration and ICAM-1 expression. Nitrite levels increased upon treatment with neovestitol. No effects of neovestitol were observed on the chemotaxis of neutrophils in vitro. As for chronic inflammation, neovestitol also reduced the clinical score and joint damage in a collagen-induced arthritis model. There was no change in the frequency of IL-17-producing TCD4+ cells. In addition, pretreatment with neovestitol reduced the levels of IL-6. These results demonstrate a potential anti-inflammatory activity of neovestitol, which may be useful for therapeutic purposes and/or as a nutraceutical6FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2012/01365-0; 2012/22378-

PREPARATION OF GLASSES AND GLASS CERAMICS OF HEAVY METAL OXIDES CONTAINING SILVER: OPTICAL, STRUCTURAL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)PREPARATION OF GLASSES AND GLASS CERAMICS OF HEAVY METAL OXIDES CONTAINING SILVER: OPTICAL, STRUCTURAL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES. Silver containing heavy metal oxide glasses and glass ceramics of the system WO3-SbPO4-PbO-AgCl with different AgCl contents have been prepared and their thermal, structural and optical properties characterized. Glass ceramics containing metallic silver nanoparticles have been prepared by annealing glass samples at temperatures above the glass transition and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The presence of the metallic clusters has been also confirmed by the observation of a surface plasmon resonimce band in the visible range. Cyclic voltammetric measurements indicated the presence of metallic silver into the glasses, even before to perform the thermal treatment.354755761Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Guava pomace: a new source of anti-inflammatory and analgesic bioactives

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud Guava pomace is an example of the processing waste generated after the manufacturing process from the juice industry that could be a source of bioactives. Thus, the present investigation was carried out in order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potential and determinate the main phenolic compounds of a guava pomace extract (GPE).\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan, dextran, serotonin, histamine-induced paw edema and neutrophils migration in the peritoneal cavity models. Acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing and formalin test were performed to investigate the antinociceptive effects. In addition, the content of total phenolic and of individual phenolic compounds was determined by GC/MS.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud GPE showed anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan, dextran, serotonin, histamine-induced paw edema and neutrophils migration in the peritoneal cavity models (p < 0.05). GPE also demonstrated antinociceptive activity by acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing and formalin test (p < 0.05). The total phenolic value was 3.40 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g and epicatechin, quercetin, myricetin, isovanilic and gallic acids were identified by GC/MS analysis.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud The presence of bioactive phenolic compounds as well as important effects demonstrated in animal models suggest that guava pomace could be an interesting source of anti-inflammatory and analgesic substances.We thank "Cepêra - Agro Industrial Ibitirama Ltda", the company that provided the guava pomace samples. This research was supported by the "Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel" (CAPES) and "National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development" (CNPq)

Effect of different synthesis methods on the textural properties of calcium tungstate (CaWO4 ) and Its catalytic properties in the toluene oxidation.

Calcium tungstate (CaWO4) crystals were prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH) and polymeric precursor methods (PPM). These crystals were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption, X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. The morphology and size of these crystals were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Their optical properties were investigated by ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Moreover, these materials were employed as catalysts towards gas phase toluene oxidation reaction. XRD indicates the purity of materials for both preparation methods and MAH process produced crystalline powders synthesized at lower temperatures and shorter processing time compared to the ones prepared by PPM. FE-SEM images showed particles with rounded morphology and particles in clusters dumbbells-like shaped. PL spectra exhibit a broad band covering the visible electromagnetic spectrum in the range of 360 to 750 nm. XANES and EXAFS results show that preparation method does not introduce high disorders into the structure, however the H2-TPR results indicated that the catalyst reducibility is affected by the preparation method of the samples