1/f-Like Scaling in Normal Neutrophil Dynamics: Implications for Hematologic Monitoring

Daily neutrophil counts show considerable variability in normal subjects. The dynamics of these apparently erratic fluctuations have not been characterized. We hypothesized that this variability might reflect the kind of 1/f-like (inverse power-law) spectrum seen in other physiologic processes. Fast Fourier transform analysis of neutrophil count data over 64 consecutive days from four previously reported normal volunteers showed a good fit (r = 0.84; p 0.001) to the predicted power-law regression line (y = ?1.14x ?1.05). Further characterization of normal and pathologic neutrophil spectra may have diagnostic value.     

Heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of methanol over uranyl-anchored nanoporous MCM-41 and MCM-48

The vapor-phase photodegradation of methanol to carbon dioxide was carried out over uranyl-anchored nanoporous MCM-41 and MCM-48 hosts (designated as UO2(2+)/MCM-41 and UO2(2+)/MCM-48, respectively) under simulated light and ambient conditions. Preliminary results indicate that the photoactivity of the latter is considerably decreased as compared to the former due to the presence of a smaller fraction of photoactive uranyl (UO2(2+)) ions in UO2(2+)/MCM-48.     

DABPR: a large-scale internet of things-based data aggregation back pressure routing for disaster management

In this paper, we propose a data aggregation back pressure routing (DABPR) scheme, which aims to simultaneously aggregate overlapping routes for efficient data transmission and prolong the lifetime of the network. The DABPR routing algorithm is structured into five phases in which event data is sent from the event areas to the sink nodes. These include cluster-head selection, maximization of event detection reliability, data aggregation, scheduling, and route selection with multi attributes decision making metrics phases. The scheme performs data aggregation on redundant data at relay nodes in order to decrease both the size and rate of message exchanges to minimize communication overhead and energy consumption. The proposed scheme is assessed in terms of packet delivery, network lifetime, ratio, energy consumption, and throughput, and compared with two other well-known protocols, namely “information-fusion-based role assignment (InFRA)” and “data routing for in-network aggregation (DRINA)”, which intrinsically are cluster and tree-based routing schemes designed to improve data aggregation efficiency by maximizing the overlapping routes. Meticulous analysis of the simulated data showed that DABPR achieved overall superior proficiency and more reliable performance in all the evaluated performance metrics, above the others. The proposed DABPR routing scheme outperformed its counterparts in the average energy consumption metric by 64.78% and 51.41%, packet delivery ratio by 28.76% and 16.89% and network lifetime by 42.72% and 20.76% compared with InFRA and DRINA, respectively.

     

An optimal network coding based backpressure routing approach for massive IoT network

Wireless Networks - In order to mitigate the power consumption issue for the sensor’s nodes, an efficient power optimized routing protocol is needed. Therefore, this paper proposes a network...     

Sunlight-Assisted Photocatalytic Oxidation of Methane over Uranyl-Anchored MCM-41

Uranyl ions anchored within the mesopores of MCM-41 silicate host matrix served as highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts for sunlight-assisted room-temperature photooxidation of methane in the presence of air to selectively form carbon dioxide. The extent of conversion depended upon the methane content; lower the concentration, faster was the completion of reaction. It was also confirmed that no thermocatalytic reaction occurred below 200 °C in the absence of radiation, other test conditions remaining the same. These results are of relevance from the point of view of abatement of VOCs in the environment.     

Friedel–Crafts benzoylation of p-xylene over clay supported catalysts: novelty of cesium substituted dodecatungstophosphoric acid on K-10 clay

2,5-Dimethylbenzophenone is used extensively as a UV light stabilizer in plastics, cosmetics and films and produced by the benzoylation of p-xylene using homogeneous catalysts which pose several problems. The benzoylation of p-xylene with benzoyl chloride was carried out in a batch reactor using clay supported catalysts such as 20% (w/w) dodecatungstophosphoric (DTP) acid/K-10, 20% (w/w) Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀/K-10, 20% (w/w) ZnCl₂/K-10 and K-10 itself and sulfated zirconia. Amongst these catalysts, 20% (w/w) Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀/K-10 was found to be a better catalyst which could be reused without any further chemical treatment eliminating the effluent disposal problem. This catalyst was fully characterized. The reaction obeys the Eley–Rideal type of mechanism with a weak adsorption of the benzoylating species.     

Temporal and spatial phase analyses of the electrocardiogram stratify intra-atrial and intra-ventricular organization

We hypothesized that electrocardiogram (ECG) spatial phase analysis would define a spectrum of intracardiac organization from atrial fibrillation (AF), nonisthmus-dependent and isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (AFL) to supraventricular tachycardias (SVT), and similarly for ventricular arrhythmias. We analyzed arrhythmia ECGs of 33 patients with isthmus (n = 9) and nonisthmus (n = 5) dependent AFL and SVT: atrial (n = 3), atrioventricular nodal (n = 3), and orthodromic reciprocating (n = 3) tachycardias, as well as AF (n = 5), ventricular tachycardia (monomorphic, VT-MM; n = 7), and fibrillation (VF; n = 3). ECG spatial phase was considered coherent when the correlation coefficient of an atrial (or ventricular) template to its ECG over time maintained a constant relationship in XY, XZ, and YZ planes. Regularity was quantified spectrally from ECG and correlation series. Spatial coherence occurred in 9/9 cases of isthmus--but only 1/5 of cases of nonisthmus-dependent AFL (p < 0.01; chi2). All showed one dominant spectral peak (temporal coherence). In AF, spatial phase was inconsistent in all planes and spectra were broad band. Temporal and spatial coherence occurred in other SVT. VT-MM maintained spatial phase and a single spectral peak, while VF displayed neither. Our conclusions are that temporal and spatial phase analysis from the ECG stratifies intra-atrial and intra-ventricular organization and reveals subtle variability lost on visual inspection.     

Torsades de Pointes: A Characteristic Spectral Pattern in Sudden Cardiac Death

Torsades de pointes type of ventricular tachycardia is represented by a power spectrum with multiple discrete frequency bands. The lowest apparent peak (at 1 Hz) corresponds to the envelope frequency of the oscillating QRS vector. Additional peaks corresponding, respectively, to the heart rate (~4 Hz) and its higher harmonics show a characteristic power scaling which was remarkably similar in three subjects with torsades. The consistency of this spectral pattern may be of diagnostic utility and also suggests, contrary to prevailing theory, that torsades is due to a single process, rather than to multiple ectopic foci.