COPRA - A communication processing architecture for wireless sensor networks

Abstract. Typical sensor nodes are composed of cheap hardware because they have to be affordable in great numbers. This means that memory and communication bandwidth are small, CPUs are slow and energy is limited. It also means that all unnecessary software components must be omitted. Thus it is necessary to use application specific communication protocols. As it is cumbersome to write these from scratch every time a configurable framework is needed. Copra provides such an architectural framework that allows the construction of application specific communication protocol stacks from prefabricated components

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

The P2X7 ion channel is dispensable for energy and metabolic homeostasis of white and brown adipose tissues

Several studies suggest a role of extracellular adenine nucleotides in regulating adipose tissue functions via the purinergic signaling network. Metabolic studies in mice with global deletion of the purinergic receptor P2X7 on the C57BL/6 background indicate that this receptor has only a minor role in adipose tissue for diet-induced inflammation or cold-triggered thermogenesis. However, recent data show that a polymorphism (P451L) present in C57BL/6 mice attenuates P2X7 receptor function, whereas BALB/c mice express the fully functional P451 allele. To determine the potential role of P2rx7 under metabolic and thermogenic stress conditions, we performed comparative studies using male P2rx7 knockout (KO) and respective wild-type controls on both BALB/c and C57BL/6 backgrounds. Our data show that adipose P2rx7 mRNA levels are increased in obese mice. Moreover, P2rx7 deficiency results in reduced levels of circulating CCL2 and IL6 with a moderate effect on gene expression of pro-inflammatory markers in white adipose tissue and liver of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. However, P2X7 expression does not alter body weight, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia associated with high-fat diet feeding on both genetic backgrounds. Furthermore, deficiency of P2rx7 is dispensable for energy expenditure at thermoneutral and acute cold exposure conditions. In summary, these data show that-apart from a moderate effect on inflammatory cytokines-P2X7 plays only a minor role in inflammatory and thermogenic effects of white and brown adipose tissue even on the BALB/c background

Role of Liver CD38 in the Regulation of Metabolic Pathways during Cold-Induced Thermogenesis in Mice

Boosting NAD+ levels are considered a promising means to promote healthy aging and ameliorate dysfunctional metabolism. The expression of CD38, the major NAD+-consuming enzyme, is downregulated during thermogenesis in both brown and white adipose tissues (BAT and WAT). Moreover, BAT activation and WAT “browning” were enhanced in Cd38−/− mice. In this study, the role of CD38 in the liver during thermogenesis was investigated, with the liver being the central organ controlling systemic energy metabolism. Wild-type mice and Cd38−/− mice were exposed to cold temperatures, and levels of metabolites and enzymes were measured in the livers and plasma. During cold exposure, CD38 expression was downregulated in the liver, as in BAT and WAT, with a concomitant increase in NAD(H) and a marked decrease in NADPH levels. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the malic enzyme, along with enzymes in the glycolytic pathway, were downregulated, which is in line with glucose-6-P being re-directed towards glucose release. In Cd38−/− mice, the cross-regulation between glycolysis and glucose release was lost, although this did not impair the glucose release from glycogen. Glycerol levels were decreased in the liver from Cd38−/− animals upon cold exposure, suggesting that glyceroneogenesis, as gluconeogenesis, was not properly activated in the absence of CD38. SIRT3 activity, regulating mitochondrial metabolism, was enhanced by cold exposure, whereas its activity was already high at a warm temperature in Cd38−/− mice and was not further increased by the cold. Notably, FGF21 and bile acid release was enhanced in the liver of Cd38−/− mice, which might contribute to enhanced BAT activation in Cd38−/− mice. These results demonstrate that CD38 inhibition can be suggested as a strategy to boost NAD+ and would not negatively affect hepatic functions during thermogenesis

EUROPA Parallel C++ Version 2.1

This paper presents the definition of EUROPA: a framework within which parallel C++ environments can be developed and standardised. EUROPA (also called EC++) sets out a framework which will add portability to parallel C++ systems and will run across a variety of hardware architectures, while encompassing as wide a set of parallel computing models and paradigms as possible, both standard models and user extensible models. This is done entirely within standard C++, i.e. without syntactic extensions to C++

Progress in Efficient Active High-Lift

This paper presents some of the progress in research on efficient high-lift systems for future civil aircraft achieved by the Coordinated Research Centre CRC 880 sponsored by the German Research Foundation. Several new approaches to increasing the lift are applied as part of the design of a reference aircraft with short take-off and landing capability: The numerically predicted positive effect of Coanda jet blowing at the trailing edge flap is validated in water tunnel experiments. Robust miniature pressure and hot-fi�lm sensors are developed for the closed-loop control of a piezo-actuated blowing lip. A flexible leading-edge device utilizes composite materials, for which new structural designs are developed. Additionally, a potential de-icing system, as well as a lightning-strike protection are presented. A high power-density electrically driven compressor with a broad operating range is designed to provide the blowing air ow. Different propulsion systems for the reference aircraft are evaluated. An ultra-high bypass ratio engine is considered to be most promising, and thus a preliminary fan stage design process is established. The rotor dynamic influences of the engine on the aircraft structure are investigated through a hybrid approach using a multibody model and modal reduction