A game theory-based approach for the study of inter-interference in coexisting wireless body area networks

A wireless body area network (WBAN) enables the continuous monitoring of health conditions including heart rate, temperature, and glucose levels. It is composed of several sensors that are placed on the body. The network's performance is significantly affected by the unpredictable movements of the human body. Due to the varying proximities between them, the existence of several WBANs creates a challenge when mobility is involved. In this fictitious scenario, we consider a park area with both mobile and static WBANs or WBAN-equipped individuals passing through the park who have varying degrees of mobility. When a mobile WBAN passes a static WBAN and is within a minimum distance of the static WBAN, they pair up and immediately interfere. Inter-interference caused by WBANs operating in a limited area causes packet loss and performance deterioration. In this work, static WBAN locations are optimised to minimise interference and system inter-interference problems are addressed by a game theoretic method. This paper formulates a flexible game theoretic framework to study WBAN coexistence using the expected pay-off function considering a two-player game. It is observed from the results obtained that the probability of interference caused by fast mobile WBANs is reduced to a maximum of 50% compared with that caused by slow mobile WBANs thereby reducing the need for relocation of static WBANs.     

Effect on structure,stability, and H+ irradiation on Nd3+/Ru4+-loaded iron phosphate glass for nuclear applications

Nuclear energy generation technology is critically linked with the safe disposal of radioactive waste. In this context, iron phosphate glass (IPG) is gaining predominance as nuclear waste vitrification matrix that necessitates a thorough study on the effect of the loading of various nuclear fission waste materials in it. In this study, the effect of the loading of Nd³⁺ (which acts as a surrogate for radioactive curium (Cm)) and Ru⁴⁺ (which is a fission product of ²³⁵U) in IPG has been assessed. The optimum loading of Nd³⁺/Ru⁴⁺ leading to the formation of homogenous melt has been ascertained via powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The modification in the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ ratio in IPG and the consequent change in its average coordination number with Nd³⁺/Ru⁴⁺ loading has been deduced from the Mössbauer studies. Local structure analysis has been done using X-ray absorption spectroscopy at Nd/Ru/Fe K-edge (as applicable) for all the single and co-loaded IPG samples. All the co-loaded samples show enhanced glass stability and glass forming ability compared to unloaded IPG which has been ascertained via detailed thermal studies. The variation in IPG network structure on the addition of Nd₂O₃ and RuO₂ has been ascertained through spectroscopic techniques like Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman. The base glass and a few representative homogenous single and co-loaded IPG samples have been irradiated with 4.5 MeV proton beam to simulate the hosting of radioactive elements and the radiation effect on glass structure has been ascertained using FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. The suitability of IPG as nuclear waste vitrification matrix for Nd³⁺ and Ru⁴⁺ is established through all the above analyses.     

Nucleotide-Driven Molecular Sensing of Monkeypox Virus Through Hierarchical Self-Assembly of 2D Hafnium Disulfide Nanoplatelets and Gold Nanospheres

Liquid interfaces facilitate the organization of nanometer-scale biomaterials with plasmonic properties suitable for molecular diagnostics. Using hierarchical assemblage of 2D hafnium disulfide nanoplatelets and zero-dimensional spherical gold nanoparticles, the design of a multifunctional material is reported. When the target analyte is present, the nanocomposites’ self-assembling pattern changes, altering their plasmonic response. Using monkeypox virus (MPXV) as an example, the findings reveal that adding genomic DNA to the nanocomposite surface increases the agglomeration between gold nanoparticles and decreases the π-stacking distance between hafnium disulfide nanoplatelets. Further, this self-assembled nanomaterial is found to have minimal cross-reactivity toward other pathogens and a limit of detection of 7.6 pg µL⁻¹ (i.e., 3.57 × 10⁴ copies µL⁻¹) toward MPXV. Overall, this study helped to gain a better understanding of the genomic organization of MPXV to chemically design and develop targeted nucleotides. The study has been validated by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, surface-enhanced Raman microscopy and electromagnetic simulation studies. To the best knowledge, this is the first study in literature reporting selective molecular detection of MPXV within a few minutes and without the use of any high-end instrumental techniques like polymerase chain reactions.     

A Simulation Study for Optimizing Grain Size in Poly-Crystalline Silicon Material Using Impedance Spectroscopy

Silicon - This paper uses impedance spectroscopy as a simulation tool to analyze grain boundaries properties in poly-crystalline materials. The interfacial structure at grain boundaries in...     

State of the Art Metallopolymer Based Functional Nanomaterial for Photodetector and Solar Cell Application

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - Metallopolymeric functional nanomaterials have been gained the significant interest of researchers because of their exclusive...     

Social positioning matters: A socialized affordance perspective of mHealth in India

Existing research on technology affordance rarely considers the role of social structures in shaping the interaction between human actors and technology. In this paper, we draw upon the concept of social positioning to explore how socialized affordances of technology adoption, as well as their impact in work and social life, are shaped by the social positions that human actors occupy within multiple social structures. We do so by examining the adoption of mHealth devices by community health workers in India. The study generates theoretical implications for research on affordances of technology and social structures by integrating social positioning of actors in the analysis of a digital practice, and enriching IS research by incorporating the broader social arrangements and power relations.     

Transition Metal Phosphide Nanoarchitectonics for Versatile Organic Catalysis

Transition metal phosphides (TMP) posses unique physiochemical, geometrical, and electronic properties, which can be exploited for different catalytic applications, such as photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, organic catalysis, etc. Among others, the use of TMP for organic catalysis is less explored and still facing many complex challenges, which necessitate the development of sustainable catalytic reaction protocols demonstrating high selectivity and yield of the desired molecules of high significance. In this regard, the controlled synthesis of TMP-based catalysts and thorough investigations of underlying reaction mechanisms can provide deeper insights toward practical achievement of desired applications. This review aims at providing a comprehensive analysis on the recent advancements in the synthetic strategies for the tailored and tunable engineering of structural, geometrical, and electronic properties of TMP. In addition, their unprecedented catalytic potential toward different organic transformation reactions is succinctly summarized and critically analyzed. Finally, a rational perspective on future opportunities and challenges in the emerging field of organic catalysis is provided. On the account of the recent achievements accomplished in organic synthesis using TMP, it is highly anticipated that the use of TMP combined with advanced innovative technologies and methodologies can pave the way toward large scale realization of organic catalysis.     

Design and Performance Evaluation of a Novel Dual Tunneling based TFET Considering Trap Charges for Reliability Improvement

Silicon - Interface trap charges originate in the semiconductor while, fabricating the device, which occur due to the process, radiation stimulated impairments, leading to serious reliability...     

Antibiotic resistance profiling and valorization of food waste streams to starter culture biomass and exopolysaccharides through fed-batch fermentations

Food Science and Biotechnology - The present study evaluated antibiotic resistance (ABR) in bacteria isolated from different food wastes viz., meat slaughterhouses, dairy and restaurants. About 120...