An address assignment for the automatic configuration of mobile ad hoc networks

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are infrastructure-less, multi-hop wireless networks, which can be deployed without any pre-existing setup. MANETs are mobile in nature and any node can join and leave the network at any time. Due to mobility, MANETs must be able to configure themselves without human intervention. Configuration (such as address assignment) of a node in such a network is an important issue. In this paper, we present a solution for address assignment, which is distributed in nature and can be used for IP address configuration in MANETs. Each node can allocate the address independent of others. Although our solution uses broadcast messages, results show that by fixing a few parameter values we can reduce the number of broadcast messages. We simulate the protocol and results show that our solution yields better performance those of the earlier algorithms.

Towards a verifiable real-time, autonomic, fault mitigation framework for large scale real-time systems

Designing autonomic fault responses is difficult, particularly in large-scale systems, as there is no single ‘perfect’ fault mitigation response to a given failure. The design of appropriate mitigation actions depend upon the goals and state of the application and environment. Strict time deadlines in real-time systems further exacerbate this problem. Any autonomic behavior in such systems must not only be functionally correct but should also conform to properties of liveness, safety and bounded time responsiveness. This paper details a real-time fault-tolerant framework, which uses a reflex and healing architecture to provide fault mitigation capabilities for large-scale real-time systems. At the heart of this architecture is a real-time reflex engine, which has a state-based failure management logic that can respond to both event- and time-based triggers. We also present a semantic domain for verifying properties of systems, which use this framework of real-time reflex engines. Lastly, a case study, which examines the details of such an approach, is presented.     

Partial-Update L∞ -Norm Based Algorithms

The computational complexity of an adaptive filtering algorithm increases with increasing the filter tap length and therefore, the use of such a filter can become prohibitive for certain applications, especially for real-time implementation. In this paper, we develop low-complexity adaptive filtering algorithms by incorporating the concept of partial updating of the filter coefficients into the technique of finding the gradient vector in the hyperplane based on the L_infin-norm criterion. Two specific partial update algorithms based on the sequential and M-Max coefficient updating are proposed. The statistical analyses of the two algorithms are carried out, and evolution equations for the mean and mean-square of the filter coefficient misalignment as well as the stability bounds on the step size are obtained. It is shown that the proposed partial update algorithm employing the M-Max coefficient updating can achieve a convergence rate that is closest to that of the full update algorithm. Finally, simulations are carried out to validate the theoretical results and study the convergence rate of the proposed algorithms     

High-performance implementation of in-network traffic pacing for small-buffer networks

Demands on data communication networks continue to drive the need for increasingly faster link speeds. Optical packet switching networks promise to provide data rates that are sufficiently high to satisfy the needs of the future Internet core network. However, a key technological problem with optical packet switching is the very small size of packet buffers that can be implemented in the optical domain. Existing protocols, for example the widely used Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), do not perform well in such small-buffer networks. To address this problem, we have proposed techniques for actively pacing traffic at edge networks to ensure that traffic bursts are reduced or eliminated and thus do not cause packet losses in routers with small buffers. We have also shown that this traffic pacing can improve the performance of conventional networks that use small buffers (e.g., to reduce the cost of buffer memory on routers). A key challenge in this context is to develop systems that can perform such packet pacing efficiently and at high data rates. In this paper, we present the design and prototype of a hardware implementation of our packet pacing technique. We discuss and evaluate design trade-offs and present performance results from an prototype implementation based on a NetFPGA fieldprogrammable gate array system. Our results show that traffic pacing can be implemented with few hardware resources and without reducing system throughput. Therefore, we believe that traffic pacing can be deployed widely to improve the operation of current and future networks.     

Electrochemical synthesis of hexagonal closed pack nickel: A hydrogen storage material

An in situ hydrogen generation and storage technique is demonstrated during the electrodeposition of hexagonal closed pack (HCP) nickel from NiCl₂-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (NiCl₂-EmimCl) and NiCl₂·6H₂O-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (NiCl₂·6H₂O-EmimCl) melts. During electrolysis, the dissolution of hydrogen in nickel takes place due to the electrolysis of water. This results in the production of HCP nickel. The hydrogen content of the electrodeposited nickel from NiCl₂-EmimCl was found to be 1.2 wt.%. Thermal analysis showed that the phase transformation from HCP nickel to FCC occurred at 462 °C, releasing hydrogen in the process.     

Novel synthesis of ultra‐fine Sb2 O3 nanocubes using plant extract

In this study, the synthesis of ultra‐fine grade antimony trioxide (Sb₂ O₃) using plant extract for the first time is reported. Antimony chloride was used as a starting material and Dioscorea alata tuber extract was used as a reducing and capping agent. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. XRD analysis indicates the formation of pure Sb₂ O₃ nanoparticles. The result from FE‐SEM and DLS showed that the particles have a cube‐like morphology and have an average size of 346.4 nm which falls within the range of ultra‐fine grade Sb₂ O₃.Inspec keywords: field emission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, particle size, nanofabrication, light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet spectra, nanoparticles, antimony compounds, Fourier transform infrared spectraOther keywords: field emission scanning electron microscopy, FE‐SEM, dynamic light scattering, DLS, XRD analysis, antimony chloride, starting material, reducing agent, ultrafine grade antimony trioxide, plant extract, dioscorea alata tuber extract, capping agent, X‐ray diffraction, pure antimony trioxide nanoparticles, cube‐like morphology, Sb₂ O₃      

Effect of manganese and cobalt doping on conductivity of ZnO based varistors: a study by complex plane modulus

Effect of manganese and cobalt doping (0.50 mole%) on electrical properties of ZnO based varistors has been studied using complex plane modulus analysis. It is found that total resistivity of Mn doped sample is more as compared to that of Co doped sample. This has been ascribed to existence of Mn in variable valence states viz. Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ which promotes hopping conduction leading to increase in the conductivity as compared to Co doped sample, in which Co exists predominantly in +3 state with traces of Co²⁺ or Co⁺⁴ states. This accounts for its less conductivity. Mechanism of conduction is the same for grains and grainboundaries.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Ferrocenylquinoline as a Potential Antileishmanial Agent

The emergence of resistance against antileishmanial drugs in current use necessitates the search for new classes of antileishmanial compounds. Herein we report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel ferrocenylquinoline for activity against Leishmania donovani. 7‐Chloro‐N‐[2‐(1H‐5‐ferrocenyl‐1,2,3‐triazol‐1‐yl)ethyl]quinolin‐4‐amine ( 1 ) was generated by coupling an iron(II) ethynylferrocene species with 4‐(2‐ethylazido)amino‐7‐chloroquinoline using click chemistry. The synthesized compound 1 was tested for its antileishmanial activity using both promastigote and amastigote stages of L. donovani. Compound 1 showed promising anti‐promastigote activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 15.26 μM and no cytotoxicity toward host splenocytes. From the battery of tests conducted in this study, it appears that this compound induces parasite death by promoting oxidative stress and depolarizing the mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby triggering apoptosis. These results suggest that ferrocenylquinoline 1 is a suitable lead for the development of new antileishmanial drugs.     

Sub-grade characteristics of soil stabilized with agricultural waste,constructional waste,and lime

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - The waste generated from the agriculture and construction sector is a serious threat to the environment due to its disposal problems. This...     

Improvement in shape memory in magnesium niobate modified PZST

A modified lead zirconate stannate titanate system (PZST) has been studied for shape memory effect. Addition of magnesium niobate (MN) slows down the dipole relaxation process, leading to increased (∼3-fold improvement) remnant strain in the PZST system (0.99PZST–0.01PMN). Room temperature X-ray diffraction patterns before poling (antiferroelectric (AFE) tetragonal) and after poling (ferroelectric (FE) rhombohedral), clearly demonstrate that the transition to the ferroelectric phase is stable even in the absence of any electric field. A small applied electric field (∼1.7 kV/cm) in the opposite direction was required to bring the sample back to its original shape. Field-induced strain butterfly loops taken at 50 Hz show that the material response time is quite small.