Parallel Processing for Range Assignment Problem in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor network is a collection of autonomous devices called sensor nodes which sense the environmental factors such as temperature, pressure, humidity, moisture, etc. The nodes sense the data, process it and transmit to the other nodes within their transmission range through radio propagation. Energy minimization in wireless sensor networks is a significant problem since the nodes are powered by a small battery of limited capacity. In case of networks with several thousand nodes, the simulation of algorithms can be very slow. The parallel computing model provides significantly faster simulation time for larger networks. Parallel processing involves executing the program instructions by dividing them among multiple processors with the objective of reducing the running time. So, we propose algorithms for the range assignment problem in wireless sensor networks using the parallel processing techniques. We also discuss the complexity of the proposed algorithms and significance of the parallel processing techniques in detail. The proposed techniques will be useful for implementing the distributed algorithms in WSNs

Atomic Bloch-Zener oscillations for sensitive force measurements in a cavity

Cold atoms in an optical lattice execute Bloch-Zener oscillations when they are accelerated. We have performed a theoretical investigation into the case when the optical lattice is the intra-cavity field of a driven Fabry-Perot resonator. When the atoms oscillate inside the resonator, we find that their back-action modulates the phase and intensity of the light transmitted through the cavity. We solve the coupled atom-light equations self-consistently and show that, remarkably, the Bloch period is unaffected by this back-action. The transmitted light provides a way to observe the oscillation continuously, allowing high precision measurements to be made with a small cloud of atoms.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Updated version including cavity heating effect

Observational study of tympanic membrane changes in allergic rhinitis

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common condition affecting 20-30% of the population. This condition affects not only the nose but also the sinuses and ears in many ways. Many studies are there worldwide implicating AR as a cause of serous otitis media. But only few studies have actually studied the tympanic membrane (TM) changes observed in patients with allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study is to document the TM changes observed in patients with AR and to correlate them with the duration of symptoms and also influence of prior treatment of AR on the TM changes observed.Methods: A total of 111 patients and so 222 ears were studied. A detailed history of the duration of symptoms and any prior treatment for AR was recorded. The TM changes seen were classified and recorded. The duration of disease and treatment were taken as grouping variables and the tympanic membrane changes were ranked and used as testing variable. The results were statistically analyzed using non- parametric test, Kruskal – Wallis test.Results: There was no statistically significant correlation between duration of AR and the TM changes observed. However there was a significantly less number of patients with TM retraction observed in the patients who had taken prior treatment compared to those patients who had taken no prior treatment.Conclusions: It is concluded that institution of early treatment may prevent development of Eustachian tube dysfunction and TM changes in patients with AR

A subsurface cyclonic eddy in the Bay of Bengal

CTD data collected from the northwestern Bay of Bengal during late July 1984 reveal the existence of a cold core subsurface eddy centered at 17°40\u27N and 85°19\u27E. The thermal structure observed across the eddy indicates that it was confined to a level well below the mixed layer, between 50 and 300 db, and that it had a diameter of about 200 km. A temperature drop of 4–5°C as compared with the surroundings was observed at the center of the eddy. A plausible mechanism for the eddy generation is baroclinic instability at the interface of two opposing boundary currents present along the shelf edge of the western boundary of the Bay of Bengal. The southward current in the northern bay results partly from fresh water influx and to a larger extent from the action of wind stress curl while in the southern part the northward current is purely wind-driven. High stratification caused by fresh water influx prevented the eddy from being detected at the surface

Site specific nutrient management software for coffee

Chemical fertilizers are integral part of agriculture and continue to be inevitable source of nutrients. A site specific soil test based nutrient management system ensures the judicious use of fertilizers by contributing to the sustainable and economic production without polluting the soil resources. Coffee is a major commercial crop of India and the site specific fertilizer recommendations for this crop have proved to have advantages over ‘blanket fertilization’ by improving the fertilizer use efficiency and profitability. The software was designed in such a way that entries corresponding to the block-wise soil test data viz., soil pH, available N, P and K generate necessary information on the quantity of suitable and available fertilizers that need to be applied to each block to meet the demand of the crop and plant

A PROSPECTIVE SINGLE-BLINDED STUDY ON THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the serum zinc (Zn) levels, safety, and efficacy of Zn supplementation in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients.Methods: A randomized single-blinded study of two groups: Group A received conventional TB therapy while Group B received conventional TB therapy along with 15 mg of Zn tablet. 40 patients were assigned in each group by randomized permuted blocks.Results: After 8 weeks of treatment in Group A 27 patients and Group B 36 patients were found to be sputum negative with p=0.0421 and 0.0629. After 24 weeks of treatment in Group A 37 patients and Group B 40 patients were found to be sputum negative with p=0.00976 and 0.00971. By this, the given treatment was effective in the patients with PTB.Conclusion: Zn supplementation improves the effect of TB medication treatment and results in earlier sputum smear conversion

Effect of Chemicals and Growth Regulators on Post-Harvest Shelf-Life and Quality in Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Cv. Red Lady

The present investigation on papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady was carried out at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, during the year 2010-11. The study was carried out using 9 different treatments involving two chemicals calcium nitrate and calcium chloride at 1, 2, 3 and 4% concentration and two growth regulators, viz., GA3 at 75, 100, 150 and 200mg/l, and BA at 100, 125, 150 and 175mg/l concentration conducted separately in a factorial concept of completely randomized design (CRD), with three replications, under laboratory conditions. Physical parameters studied were per cent fruit ripening, physiological loss in weight (PLW), fruit firmness, shelf-life, and, physic-chemical properties studied were: total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, reducing sugars, acidity, ascorbic acid and Brix:acid ratio. Fruits treated with CaCl2 @ 4% showed significantly low PLW, per cent fruit ripening, and the highest fruit-firmness, shelf-life, lowest total soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars, Brix:acid ratio, and highest acidity and ascorbic acid content, which were on par with CaCl2 @ 2% application. Fruits treated with GA3 @ 100mg/l also exhibited similar results for these parameters. It was concluded that CaCl2 @ 4 % had a beneficial impact on shelf-life of papaya fruits upto 10.67 days without any loss in either physical or physic-chemical properties. Similarly, application of growth regulators such as GA3 and BA @100mg/l significantly increased shelf-life of papaya fruits upto 12 days and 11 days, respectively, while showing the best physical and physico-chemical properties

Examining New Phylogenetic Markers to Uncover the Evolutionary History of Early-Diverging Fungi: Comparing MCM7, TSR1 and rRnA Genes for Single- and Multi-Gene Analyses of the Kickxellomycotina

The recently recognised protein-coding genes MCM7 and TSR1 have shown significant promise for phylogenetic resolution within the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, but have remained unexamined within other fungal groups (except for Mucorales). We designed and tested primers to amplify these genes across early-diverging fungal clades, with emphasis on the Kickxellomycotina, zygomycetous fungi with characteristic flared septal walls forming pores with lenticular plugs. Phylogenetic tree resolution and congruence with MCM7 and TSR1 were compared against those inferred with nuclear small (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) rRNA genes. We also combined MCM7 and TSR1 data with the rDNA data to create 3- and 4-gene trees of the Kickxellomycotina that help to resolve evolutionary relationships among and within the core clades of this subphylum. Phylogenetic inference suggests that Barbatospora, Orphella, Ramicandelaber and Spiromyces may represent unique lineages. It is suggested that these markers may be more broadly useful for phylogenetic studies among other groups of early-diverging fungi

The prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in 1-2 yrs olds in a semi-urban area of Sri Lanka

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>ECC remains a problem in both developed and developing countries and ECC has been considered to be present in epidemic proportions in the developing countries. The aetiology and associated factors of ECC should be studied adequately to overcome this health hazard. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of ECC in 1 to 2 years old children in some selected MOH areas (semi-urban) in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was conducted as a cross sectional study. A total of 422 children aged 1-2 years were selected using systematic sampling technique in Maharagama, Piliyandala, Nugegoda and Boralesgamuwa MOH areas in Colombo district, Western province, Sri Lanka. The pre-test was done initially with 10 children aged 1 1/2 year olds.</p> <p>Prior to the clinical examination of each child, a questionnaire consisting questions regarding tooth brushing, dietary habits, breast and bottle feeding, long term medications(Sweetened medications taken more than 3 months), attending a dental clinic during pregnancy of mother and socio-economical status of the family was administered to mothers of those children. Sterile dental mouth mirrors were used to detect ECC in children.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of ECC of the whole sample of 410 children aged 1-2 years was 32.19% and the mean dmft was 2.01 and the mean dmfs was 3.83. From the children who had ECC 95% were untreated. There were significant relationships between dmft and long term use of medications (p < 0.000), intake of sugar with milk (p = 0.013), sweet consumption (p = 0.013), employment of mothers (p < 0.000) and visiting a dental clinic during pregnancy (p < 0.000).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study documents high prevalence and severity of ECC among 1-2 years old children in four selected MOH areas of Colombo district and caries in most of the children with ECC (95%) were untreated. Results reveal an urgent need to increase awareness among the public about ECC and institute preventive strategies.</p

Gravitational lensing in the Kerr-Randers optical geometry

A new geometric method to determine the deflection of light in the equatorial plane of the Kerr solution is presented, whose optical geometry is a surface with a Finsler metric of Randers type. Applying the Gauss-Bonnet theorem to a suitable osculating Riemannian manifold, adapted from a construction by Naz\i m, it is shown explicitly how the two leading terms of the asymptotic deflection angle of gravitational lensing can be found in this way.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. Accepted by Gen. Rel. Grav. Version 2: change of notation in sec.