ESCORT

The antimicrobial effects of silver nanocomposite particles (Ag-ZnO NC) on microorganisms, the antimicrobial mechanism and applications in medical devices are not yet clear. Stable Ag-ZnO NC were prepared and their morphological sizes and shapes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The effect of Ag-ZnO NC was tested on Bacillus thuringiensis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in antibacterial tests including growth kinetics, antimicrobial susceptibility (disc diffusion) and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Different concentrations of nanocomposites (i.e. 10, 20, 50,100, and 200 μg) showed concentration-dependant efficacy on all three tested microorganisms. E. coli was fairly sensitive in 200 μg of NC, forming a ∼15 mm inhibition zone; followed by B. thuringiensis, having ∼9 mm of inhibition zone, while P. aeruginosa, a pathogenic bacterium, showed negligible inhibition zone with Ag-ZnO NC. Growth of E. coli under Ag-ZnO NC treatment was significantly delayed with an extended lag phase of 2 hrs and 30 mins. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the bacteriostatic effect of Ag-ZnO NC, which was manifested in cell division arrest with significant cell elongations compared to the control. The free radical generation effect of Ag-ZnO NC was tested against all these organisms. The results suggest that Ag-ZnO NC can be used effectively against microbial growth. This may be of use in diverse medical devices for antimicrobial control and can be a proper substitute for antibiotics in curing human health.

The Columbus metropolitan area is one of the few growing areas of the Midwest and has been the fastest growing metropolitan area in Ohio for some time. Delaware County, north of Columbus, is one of the highest growth counties in the nation. While generally the employment and population growth in the Columbus area has been positive, unprecedented traffic problems have been developing in the Columbus area due to the growth, and due to the continuous increase in single occupancy auto travel. Traffic congestion that has now become common in the Columbus area, is only expected to worsen as growth continues, and as needed expansion of transportation infrastructure falls further behind. The traffic congestion that has resulted, affects not only the freeway mainline, but also many of the interchanges and the arterial streets serving the interchanges. Columbus is designing a state-of-the-art Freeway Traffic Management System, is expanding an advanced Urban Traffic Control System, and is maintaining a number of closed-loop systems. Each one of these systems has been designed to operate very efficiently and optimize the traffic operations in their own domain; nevertheless, the combined operations are bound to be sub-optimal, because the systems operate uncooperatively on the same large urban traffic domain. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop an interface that by utilizing the existing traffic signal control systems infrastructure (control devices, software and hardware) and by building relatively inexpensive software and hardware, will produce a prototype for an integrated freeway-surface street control system.

The growing number of connected devices in IoT networks has raised security concerns. These networks face unique challenges, including limited resources, lack of standardized security protocols, and diverse devices and applications. Identity-based authentication is needed to address these threats and limitations. Implementing a multi-factor authentication system can enhance security and protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. The proposed Identity Based Authentication (IAS) scheme is implemented using the NS-2 simulator to address security challenges in IoT networks. Each node is assigned a unique identity for authentication, ensuring only authorized access and preventing security breaches. The IAS scheme enhances IoT network security by verifying node identities. Two scenarios are considered to evaluate the scalability and interoperability of the IAS scheme. The first scenario involves a random environment, assessing performance in real-world settings with varying device densities and network conditions. The second scenario involves a cluster-based environment, providing insights into the scheme's functionality and efficiency. By examining both scenarios, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the authentication scheme performs in different deployment scenarios. The findings highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate authentication scheme based on the specific network environment and requirements. The superiority of the IAS authentication scheme suggests its potential for widespread adoption and implementation in various network scenarios over other authentication schemes.

We demonstrated a CNT synaptic transistor by integrating 6,6-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester(PCBM) molecules as charge storage molecules in a polyimide(PI) dielectric layer with carbon nanotubes(CNTs) for the transistor channel. Specifically, we fabricated and compared three different kinds of CNT-based synaptic transistors: a control device with Al2O3/PI, a single PCBM device with Al2O3/PI:PCBM(0.1 wt%), and a double PCBM device with Al2O3/PI:PCBM(0.1 wt%)/PI:PCBM(0.05 wt%). Statistically, essential device parameters such as Off and On currents, On/Off ratio, device yield, and longterm retention stability for the three kinds of transistor devices were extracted and compared. Notably, the double PCBM device exhibited the most excellent memory transistor behavior. Pulse response properties with postsynaptic dynamic current were also evaluated. Among all of the testing devices, double PCBM device consumed such low power for stand-by and its peak current ratio was so large that the postsynaptic current was also reliably and repeatedly generated. Postsynaptic hole currents through the CNT channel can be generated by electrons trapped in the PCBM molecules and last for a relatively short time(~ hundreds of msec). Under one certain testing configuration, the electrons trapped in the PCBM can also be preserved in a nonvolatile manner for a long-term period. Its integrated platform with extremely low stand-by power should pave a promising road toward next-generation neuromorphic systems, which would emulate the brain power of 20W.

IoT (IoT) allows diverse devices, sensors, and systems to connect with each other. The IoT has transformed numerous sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and industry, by facilitating automation. IoT devices are constantly generating massive amounts of data. Real-time IoT data offer crucial insights for faster strategic decisions and improved planning across sectors. To maximize the potential of IoT devices in rural areas, real-time analytics (RTA) and SDP are crucial for immediate data analysis. This chapter thoroughly explains the central concepts, designs, technologies, and applications of SDP and RTA within the IoT. Additionally, it addresses security and privacy concerns, explores diverse applications across various sectors, and discusses potential future advancements and directions. Furthermore, it analyzes security and privacy implications, illustrates applications across multiple sectors, and considers future developments and trajectories. Besides, it investigates security and privacy challenges, showcases use cases from diverse sectors, and outlines potential future progress and pathways.

The investigation of collisions between contiguous building structures due to severe earthquakes is of great importance, particularly in large cities where there is a high population density. These collisions will produce strong impact forces that will significantly influence the dynamic behavior of building structures. Moreover, these impacts may provoke serious structural damage, that can lead to local collapse, or in the worst-case scenario to complete structural collapse. Different measures and techniques in mitigating pounding effects between adjacent buildings during seismic hazard events were extensively developed and studied by several researchers in recent years. This study presents an overview of these different pounding mitigation solutions, namely regarding the required separation seismic gap, link elements, shock absorber devices, structure stiffening, and supplemental energy and control devices. The main conclusions of several researches, from pioneer to state-of-the-art studies, concerning code provisions for minimum gap sizes and solutions for pounding mitigation between buildings, are compiled and presented in this study to demonstrate its diversity, effectiveness, and practical applications.

For 10 years since its opening SHINKANSEN, Japan’s 210 km/hr railway line, has carried 700 million passengers with a perfect safety record. Train operation safety depends on the working of local devices, while overall traffic control is maintained by a centralized system with a computer to aid the dispatchers. The local devices for safety control have an extremely high failsafe function which rejects any mistaken order from the center, when it judges that said order conflicts with the safety. The present paper describes the fundamental idea behind this highly reliable train operation control system.

Traffic Control Systems of Nanosatellites in the Zone of the International Space Station

In this paper, the authors elaborate on the problem of capacity constraint state optimization under partial information, with constraints on multiple operational parameters, and with diverse controllable devices. The authors present an approach with similarities to existing optimal power flow (OPF) principle but extend it towards cases of limited observability and a wider range of constrained state as well as control variables. In the paper it is demonstrated how an optimization problem can be formulated that adequately reflects inequality constraints defined on arbitrary operational variables (such as voltage magnitudes) and solves — if feasible — for an arbitrary combination of control variables (e.g. nodal active power balances, nodal reactive power balances etc.). Furthermore, it is demonstrated how to decide whether or not an operational parameter is observable from available measurement data and controllable through the nominated control variables. Afterwards, Linear Programming is applied to find the optimal solution. The proposed approach is demonstrated using a 29 bus distribution systems as a test case. It can be seen that the presented approach is capable of finding the feasible control variable setting, satisfying given operational constraints and being optimal on a given objective function.

Nanofibrillated cellulose-reinforced biopolymer nanocomposites for FDM 3D printing: From processing to biodegradation.

(1) Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impacts patients' quality of life and negatively affects public healthcare costs. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) in OA treatment across different anatomical districts, determining pain reduction and overall improvement in the patient's quality of life. (2) Methods: In this systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for randomized controlled trials involving patients with osteoarthritis undergoing PEMF therapy. Seventeen studies (1197 patients) were included. (3) Results: PEMF therapy demonstrated positive outcomes across various anatomical districts, primarily in knee osteoarthritis. Pain reduction, assessed through VAS and WOMAC scores, showed significant improvement (60% decrease in VAS, 42% improvement in WOMAC). The treatment duration varied (15 to 90 days), with diverse PEMF devices used. Secondary outcomes included improvements in quality of life, reduced medication usage, and enhanced physical function. (4) Conclusions: Diverse PEMF applications revealed promising results, emphasizing pain reduction and improvement in the quality of life of patients. The variability in the treatment duration and device types calls for further investigation. This review informs future research directions and potential advancements in optimizing PEMF therapies for diverse osteoarthritic manifestations.

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) enable unprecedented flexibility in tailoring the structural and optoelectronic properties, facilitating their use across diverse next-generation device applications. Here, we used the first-principles study and comprehensively examined MoS2 and MXO (M = Mo, W; X = S, Se, Te) monolayers and their layered vdWHs. We modeled 12 different stacking configurations of MoS2-MXO vdWHs for model-I and model-II (six for each model) and examined their stability through binding energy, interlayer distance, and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations at room temperature. Remarkably, MoS2-MXO vdWHs exhibit a staggered type-II band alignment, while MoS2-WTeO vdWHs show type-I band alignment, confirming that they inherently facilitate spatial separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, showing good response toward high-efficiency optoelectronic and photocatalytic water splitting. Work function and plane-averaged electrostatic potential difference, as well as charge density difference distributions were investigated, which highlight pronounced charge redistribution and potential steps, underscoring the presence of interlayer charge transfer at the interface of MoS2-MXO vdWHs that can effectively modulate carrier dynamics. The optical response was explored through calculations of the complex dielectric function, revealing pronounced absorption across the visible and also near-infrared regions, confirming it as an appealing candidate for high-performance solar energy conversion, photodetection, and optoelectronics. Further, photocatalytic applications of MoS2-MXO vdWHs were examined by aligning their band edges with respect to the redox potentials of water for pH = 0-3. Our results demonstrated that the band edge positions of MoS2-MXO vdWHs possess the thermodynamic requirements necessary for visible-light-driven water splitting, hence enabling both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. Collectively, our findings establish MoS2-MXO vdWHs as promising platforms for next-generation photocatalytic hydrogen production, offering a viable route toward sustainable and clean energy technology applications.

The modulation of exciton energy and state density of layer-structured transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is required for diverse optoelectronic device applications. Here, the spontaneous inversion of exciton state population in monolayer MoS2 is observed by turning the pump light power. The excitons prefer to exist in low energy state under low pump power, but reverse under high pump power. To discuss the mechanism in depth, we propose a semiclassical model by combining the rate equation and photo−exciton interaction. Considering the modifying of exciton−exciton annihilation, the spontaneous inversion of exciton state population is phenomenologically described.

Technology evolution theory is reviewed and applied to human computer interaction devices, systems and environments. A review of developments in multi-device pointing innovations identifies some key elements inhibiting and promoting convergence and evolution. Thus, we set the foundation for creating a platform of diverse interaction applications, devices and environments.

Railway traffic control is performed by the man with the use of specific technical means. Technical development and wide functionality of railway traffic control systems contribute to the fact that one deals with many types of devices, created with the help of various technologies. That is why the maintenance of the devices and systems presents a big challenge for railway infrastructure administrators, and it needs to be supported by technical diagnostics. The need for diagnostics of railway traffic control devices results from their destruction process which is related to their lifespan, use intensity, technical service quality or operation quality level. Gathered in the diagnostics process information concerning changes of the technical condition of the devices allow effective restoring to their original state thanks to regeneration. That is why academic research is being carried out and actions connected to implementing new diagnostic methods in the railway traffic control area are taken. The article presents chosen railway traffic control devices diagnostic systems.