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The mobile devices related industries are subject to rapid change, driven by technological advances and dynamic consumer behaviour. Hence, the understanding of the mobile devices markets is an important step in the analysis phase of mobile applications development. In this paper, a brief description of the different markets is introduced followed by an analysis of the main features of the markets leaders' devices which are important in the development process of mobile web applications. Finally, approaches are proposed to deal with the mobile devices diversity.
The embedding of microwave devices is treated by applying the finite-difference method to three-dimensional shielded structures. A program package was developed to evaluate electromagnetic fields inside arbitrary transmission-line connecting structures and to compute the scattering matrix. The air bridge, the transition through a wall, and the bond wire are examined as interconnecting structures. Detailed results are given and discussed regarding the fundamental behavior of embedding.
This paper explores the potential of an m-learning environment by introducing the concept of mLab, a remote laboratory environment accessible through the use of handheld devices.
We are aiming to enhance the existing e-learning platform and internet-assisted laboratory settings, where students are offered in-depth tutoring, by providing compact tuition and tools for controlling simulations that are made available to learners via handheld devices. In this way, students are empowered by having access totheir simulations from any place and at any time.
Transthoracic impedance cardiography (ICG) is a non-invasive method for determination of hemodynamic parameters. The basic principle of transthoracic ICG is the measurement of electrical conductivity of the thorax over the time. The aim of the study was the analysis of hemodynamic parameters from healthy individuals and the evaluation of various hemodynamic monitoring devices. Fourteen men (mean age 25 ± 4.59 years) and twelve women (mean age 24 ± 3.5 years) were measured during the cardiovascular engineering laboratory at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Offenburg, Germany. The ICG recordings were measured with the devices CardioScreen 1000, CardioScreen 2000 and TensoScreen with the corresponding Software Cardiovascular Lab 2.5 (Medis Medizinische Messtechnik GmbH, Illmenau, Germany). In order to create identical frame conditions, all measurements were recorded in the same position and for the same duration. Various positions were simulated from horizontal lying position to vertical standing position. Altogether, more than 30 hemodynamic parameters were measured.
In contrast to conventional aortic valve replacement, the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a new highly specialist alternative to surgical valve replacement for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and high operative risk. The procedure was performed in a minimally invasive way and was introduced at the university heart centre, Freiburg – Bad Krozingen in 2008. The results have been getting better and better over the years. The aim of the investigation is the analysis of electrocardiogram conduction time and the electrocardiography changes recorded hours and days after the procedure depending on artificial heart valve models, which may lead to pacemaker implantation, even the analysis of the effectiveness of treatment.
In previous work we [1] and other authors (e.g. [2]) have shown that agent-based systems are successful in optimizing delivery plans of single logistics companies and are meanwhile successfully productive in industry. In this paper we show that agent-based systems are particularly useful to also optimize transport across logistics companies. In intercompany optimization, privacy is of major importance between the otherwise competing companies. Some data has to be treated strictly private like the cost model or the constraint model. Other data like order information has to be shared. However, typically the amount of orders released to other companies has also to be limited. We show that our agent-based approach can be easily fine tuned to trade off privacy against the benefit of cooperation.
This thesis deals with the implementation of the SUBSCALE algorithm in the Python programming language. First, the current state of research and the needs of the target group are considered. Then, the choice of language is decided based on the findings. On the basis of self-generated requirements, the implementation is carried out.
Finally, the code is evaluated for accuracy, consistency, and execution time, as well as its applicability in practice.
Since the implementation of the current work proved to be unconvincing, an approach is tested in which Python is used only as a front-end.
The Metering Bus, also known as M-Bus, is a European standard EN13757-3 for reading out metering devices, like electricity, water, gas, or heat meters. Although real-life M-Bus networks can reach a significant size and complexity, only very simple protocol analyzers are available to observe and maintain such networks. In order to provide developers and installers with the ability to analyze the real bus signals easily, a web-based monitoring tool for the M-Bus has been designed and implemented. Combined with a physical bus interface it allows for measuring and recording the bus signals. For this at first a circuit has been developed, which transforms the voltage and current-modulated M-Bus signals to a voltage signal that can be read by a standard ADC and processed by an MCU. The bus signals and packets are displayed using a web server, which analyzes and classifies the frame fragments. As an additional feature an oscilloscope functionality is included in order to visualize the physical signal on the bus. This paper describes the development of the read-out circuit for the Wired M-Bus and the data recovery.
Kommentar zu "Intracortical microstimulation of human somatosensory cortex" von Sharlene N. Flesher et al., veröffentlicht in Science Translational Medicine, Vol. 8, No. 361, Seite 361ra141 (DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf8083)
Since direct current high energy shock fulguration was initially performed in the mid 1980s, ablation of cardiac arrhythmias has come to widespread use. Today the most frequently used energy source for catheter ablation is radio frequency (RF). It was the German engineer Peter Osypka who made available the HAT 100 as the first simple commercial RF ablator.
Nevertheless, in the first years of ablation, physicians were effectively working in the dark. Until today with an increasing understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms, both at the atrial and ventricular levels, this curative technology has made tremendous progress. Now, due to crucial improvement of RF ablation generators, temperature and contact force sensor catheters in combination with non-flouroscopic electroanatomical mapping technologies, computerized temperature and impedance controlled radiofrequency catheter ablation can be used to cure all types of arrhythmias including atrial and ventricular fibrillation. For the latter, cooled ablation by saline solution irrigated catheters has been developed to a widely used standard method. This procedure resulting in pulmonary vein isolation requires transseptal puncture and is technically demanding. Nevertheless, it has shown to be more effective than antiarrhythmic drug therapy.
While earliest RF ablations were performed with non-steerable catheters, today are used steerable sensor catheters without or with external and internal cooling and tips of 4mm or 8mm length. Further innovations like integration of mapping and cardiac imaging give exact information of the number of pulmonary veins and branching patterns and help to correlate electrical signals with anatomical structures.
The magnetic navigation significantly improved the success rates and safety of catheter ablation. Thus, in most cases RF catheter ablation has developed in the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias from an alternative approach to drug therapy into the first therapeutic choice providing low complication rates.
In future, robotic navigation will further simplify procedures and reduce radiation exposure of this curative approach.
Introduction: Despite lots of developments in the last years, radiofrequency ablation of rhythm diseases is a safe but still complex procedure that requires special experience and expertise of the physicians and biomedical engineers. Thus, there is a need of special trainings to become familiar with the different equipment and to explain several effects that can be observed during clinical routine.
Methods: The Offenburg University of Applied Sciences offers a biomedical engineering study path specialized in the fields of cardiology, electrophysiology and cardiac electronic implants. It`s Peter Osypka Institute for Pacing and Ablation provides teaching following the slogan “Learning by watching, touching and adjusting”. It conducts lots of trainings for students as well as young physicians interested in electrophysiology and radiofrequency ablation.
Results: In-vitro trainings will be provided using the Osypka HAT 200 and HAT300s, Stockert EPshuttle and SmartAblate system as well as the Boston EPT-1000XP and Maestro 3000 and the Radionics RFG-3E cardiac radio frequency ablation generators. All of them require different handling as well as special accessories like catheter connection cables or boxes and back plates. The participants will be trained in the setup of temperature, power and cut-off impedance dependent on different ablation catheters. Furthermore troubleshooting in hard- and software is part of the program. Performing procedures in pork or animal protein and using physiological saline solution to simulate the blood flow, they can study the influence of contact force and impedance on lesion geometry etc. and to avoid adverse effects like “plops”. Lots of catheter types are available: 4mm tip, 8mm standard and gold tip, open and closed irrigated tip ablation catheters of different companies. The experiments will be completed by measuring the lesion size dependent on the used catheter type and ablation settings.
Conclusion: In-vitro training in radiofrequency ablation is a challenge for biomedical engineering students and young physicians.
Introduction: Patient selection for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) requires quantification of left ventricular conduction delay (LVCD). After implantation of biventricular pacing systems, individual AV delay (AVD) programming is essential to ensure hemodynamic response. To exclude adverse effects, AVD should exceed individual implant-related interatrial conduction times (IACT). As result of a pilot study, we proposed the development of a programmer-based transoesophageal left heart electrogram (LHE) recording to simplify both, LVCD and IACT measurement. This feature was implemented into the Biotronik ICS3000 programmer simultaneously with 3-channel surface ECG.
Methods: A 5F oesophageal electrode was perorally applied in 44 heart failure CRT-D patients (34m, 10f, 65±8 yrs., QRS=162±21ms). In position of maximum left ventricular deflection, oesophageal LVCD was measured between onsets of QRS in surface ECG and oesophageal left ventricular deflection. Then, in position of maximum left atrial deflection (LA), IACT in VDD operation (As-LA) was calculated by difference between programmed AV delay and the measured interval from onset of left atrial deflection to ventricular stimulus in the oesophageal electrogram. IACT in DDD operation (Ap-LA) was measured between atrial stimulus and LA..
Results: LVCD of the CRT patients was characterized by a minimum of 47ms with mean of 69±23ms. As-LA and Ap-LA were found to be 41±23ms and 125±25ms, resp., at mean. In 7 patients (15,9%), IACT measurement in DDD operation uncovered adverse AVD if left in factory settings. In this cases, Ap-LA exceeded the factory AVD. In 6 patients (13,6%), IACT in VDD operation was less than or equal 10ms indicating the need for short AVD.
Conclusion: Response to CRT requires distinct LVCD and AVD optimization. The ICS3000 oesophageal LHE feature can be utilized to measure LVCD in order to justify selection for CRT. IACT measurement simplifies AV delay optimization in patients with CRT systems irrespective of their make and model.
In-vivo and in-vitro comparison of implant-based CRT optimization - What provide new algorithms?
(2011)
Introduction: In cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), individual AV delay (AVD) optimization can effectively increase hemodynamics and reduce non-responder rate. Accurate, automatic and easily comprehensible algorithms for the follow-up are desirable. QuickOpt is the first attempt of a semi-automatic intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) based AVD algorithm. We aimed to compare its accuracy and usefulness by in-vitro and in-vivo studies.
Methods: Using the programmable ARSI-4 four-chamber heart rhythm and IEGM simulator (HKP, Germany), the QuickOpt feature of an Epic HF system (St. Jude, USA) was tested in-vitro by simulated atrial IEGM amplitudes between 0.3 and 3.5mV during both, manual and automatic atrial sensing between 0.2 and 1.0mV. Subsequently, in 21 heart failure patients with implanted biventricular defibrillators, QuickOpt was performed in-vivo. Results of the algorithm for VDD and DDD stimulation were compared with echo AV delay optimization.
Results: In-vitro simulations demonstrated a QuickOpt measuring accuracy of ± 8ms. Depending on atrial IEGM amplitude, the algorithm proposed optimal AVD between 90 and 150ms for VDD and between 140 and 200ms for DDD operation, respectively. In-vivo, QuickOpt difference between individual AVD in DDD and VDD mode was either 50ms (20pts) or 40ms (1pt). QuickOpt and echo AVD differed by 41 ± 25ms (7 – 90ms) in VDD and by 18 ± 24ms (17-50ms) in DDD operation. Individual echo AVD difference between both modes was 73 ± 20ms (30-100ms).
Conclusion: The study demonstrates the value of in-vitro studies. It predicted QuickOpt deficiencies regarding IEGM amplitude dependent AVD proposals constrained to fixed individual differences between DDD and VDD mode. Consequently, in-vivo, the algorithm provided AVD of predominantly longer duration than echo in both modes. Accepting echo individualization as gold standard, QuickOpt should not be used alone to optimize AVD in CRT patients.
Introduction: To simplify AV delay (AVD) optimization in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), we reported that the hemodynamically optimal AVD for VDD and DDD mode CRT pacing can be approximated by individually measuring implant-related interatrial conduction intervals (IACT) in oesophageal electrogram (LAE) and adding about 50ms. The programmer-based St Jude QuickOpt algorithm is utilizing this finding. By automatically measuring IACT in VDD operation, it predicts the sensed AVD by adding either 30ms or 60ms. Paced AVD is strictly 50ms longer than sensed AVD. As consequence of those variations, several studies identified distinct inaccuracies of QuickOpt. Therefore, we aimed to seek for better approaches to automate AVD optimization.
Methods: In a study of 35 heart failure patients (27m, 8f, age: 67±8y) with Insync III Marquis CRT-D systems we recorded telemetric electrograms between left ventricular electrode and superior vena cava shock coil (LVtip/SVC = LVCE) simultaneously with LAE. By LVCE we measured intervals As-Pe in VDD and Ap-Pe in DDD operation between right atrial sense-event (As) or atrial stimulus (Ap), resp., and end of the atrial activity (Pe). As-Pe and Ap-Pe were compared with As-LA an Ap-LA in LAE, respectively.
Results: End of the left atrial activity in LVCE could clearly be recognized in 35/35 patients in VDD and 29/35 patients in DDD operation. We found mean intervals As-LA of 40.2±24.5ms and Ap-LA of 124.3±20.6ms. As-Pe was 94.8±24.1ms and Ap-Pe was 181.1±17.8ms. Analyzing the sums of As-LA + 50ms with duration of As-Pe and Ap-LA + 50ms with duration of Ap-Pe, the differences were 4.7±9.2ms and 4.2±8.6ms, resp., only. Thus, hemodynamically optimal timing of the ventricular stimulus can be triggered by automatically detecting Pe in LVCE.
Conclusion: Based on minimal deviations between LAE and LVCE approach, we proposed companies to utilize the LVCE in order to automate individual AVD optimization in CRT pacing.
A new yield function for lamellar gray cast iron materials is proposed. The new model is able to describe the results of recently performed microstructure-based finite-element computations that resolve the three dimensional yield surface of three different gray cast irons. The yield function requires only the yield stress in tension and compression of the respective material as model parameters. Furthermore, the algorithmic formulation of the new model is assessed for numerical robustness and efficiency.
Message co chairmen
(2017)
In this study, a high-performance controller is proposed for single-phase grid-tied energy storage systems (ESSs). To control power factor and current harmonics and manage time-shifting of energy, the ESS is required to have low steady-state error and fast transient response. It is well known that fast controllers often lack the required steady-state accuracy and trade-off is inevitable. A hybrid control system is therefore presented that combines a simple yet fast proportional derivative controller with a repetitive controller which is a type of learning controller with small steady-state error, suitable for applications with periodic grid current harmonic waveforms. This results in an improved system with distortion-free, high power factor grid current. The proposed controller model is developed and design parameters are presented. The stability analysis for the proposed system is provided and the theoretical analysis is verified through stability, transient and steady-state simulations.
Exploiting Dissent: Towards Fuzzing-based Differential Black Box Testing of TLS Implementations
(2017)
The Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol is one of the most widely used security protocols on the internet. Yet do implementations of TLS keep on suffering from bugs and security vulnerabilities. In large part is this due to the protocol's complexity which makes implementing and testing TLS notoriously difficult. In this paper, we present our work on using differential testing as effective means to detect issues in black-box implementations of the TLS handshake protocol. We introduce a novel fuzzing algorithm for generating large and diverse corpuses of mostly-valid TLS handshake messages. Stimulating TLS servers when expecting a ClientHello message, we find messages generated with our algorithm to induce more response discrepancies and to achieve a higher code coverage than those generated with American Fuzzy Lop, TLS-Attacker, or NEZHA. In particular, we apply our approach to OpenssL, BoringSSL, WolfSSL, mbedTLS, and MatrixSSL, and find several real implementation bugs; among them a serious vulnerability in MatrixSSL 3.8.4. Besides do our findings point to imprecision in the TLS specification. We see our approach as present in this paper as the first step towards fully interactive differential testing of black-box TLS protocol implementations. Our software tools are publicly available as open source projects.
Energy and environment continue to be major issues of human mankind. This holds true on the regional, the national, and the global level. And it is one of the problems, where engineers and scientists in conjunction with political will and people's awareness, can find new approaches and solutions to save the natural resources and to make their use more efficient.
The automatic classification of the modulation format of a detected signal is the intermediate step between signal detection and demodulation. If neither the transmitted data nor other signal parameters such as the frequency offset, phase offset and timing information are known, then automatic modulation classification (AMC) is a challenging task in radio monitoring systems. The approach of clustering algorithms is a new trend in AMC for digital modulations. A novel algorithm called `highest constellation pattern matching' is introduced to identify quadrature amplitude modulation and phase shift keying signals. The obtained simulation and measurement results outperform the existing algorithms for AMC based on clustering. Finally, it is shown that the proposed algorithm works in a real monitoring environment.
The instability of ultra-thin films of an electrolyte bordering a dielectric gas in an external tangential electric field is scrutinized. The solid wall is assumed to be either a conducting or charged dielectric surface. The problem has a steady one-dimensional solution. The theoretical results for a plug-like velocity profile are successfully compared with available experimental data. The linear stability of the steady-state flow is investigated analytically and numerically. Asymptotic long-wave expansion has a triple-zero singularity for a dielectric wall and a quadruple-zero singularity for a conducting wall, and four (for a conducting wall) or three (for a charged dielectric wall) different eigenfunctions. For infinitely small wave numbers, these eigenfunctions have a clear physical meaning: perturbations of the film thickness, of the surface charge, of the bulk conductivity, and of the bulk charge. The numerical analysis provides an important result: the appearance of a strong short-wave instability. At increasing Debye numbers, the short-wave instability region becomes isolated and eventually disappears. For infinitely large Weber numbers, the long-wave instability disappears, while the short-wave instability persists. The linear stability analysis is complemented by a nonlinear direct numerical simulation. The perturbations evolve into coherent structures; for a relatively small external electric field, these are large-amplitude surface solitary pulses, while for a sufficiently strong electric field, these are short-wave inner coherent structures, which do not disturb the surface.
A wide range catalyst screening with noble metal and oxide catalysts for a metal–air battery with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte was carried out. Suitable catalysts reduce overpotentials during the charge and discharge process, and therefore improve the round-trip efficiency of the battery. In this case, the electrodes will be used as optimized cathodes for a future lithium–air battery with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte. Oxide catalysts were synthesized via atmospheric plasma spraying. The screening showed that IrO2, RuO2, La0.6Ca0.4Co3, Mn3O4, and Co3O4 are promising bi-functional catalysts. Considering the high price for the noble metal catalysts further investigations of the oxide catalysts were carried out to analyze their electrochemical behavior at varied temperatures, molarities, and in case of La1−x Ca x CoO3 a varying calcium content. Additionally all catalysts were tested in a longterm test to proof cyclability at varied molarities. Further investigations showed that Co3O4 seems to be the most promising bi-functional catalyst of the tested oxide catalysts. Furthermore, it was shown that a calcium content of x = 0.4 in LCCO has the best performance.
Private households constitute a considerable share of Europe's electricity consumption. The current electricity distribution system treats them as effectively passive individual units. In the future, however, users of the electricity grid will be involved more actively in the grid operation and can become part of intelligent networked collaborations. They can then contribute the demand and supply flexibility that they dispose of and, as a result, help to better integrate renewable energy in-feed into the distribution grids.
High-precision signal processing algorithm to evaluate SAW properties as a function of temperature
(2013)
This paper presents a signal processing algorithm which accurately evaluates the SAW properties of a substrate as functions of temperature. The investigated acoustic properties are group velocity, phase velocity, propagation loss, and coupling coefficient. With several measurements carried out at different temperatures, we obtain the temperature dependency of the SAW properties. The analysis algorithm starts by reading the transfer functions of short and long delay lines. The analysis algorithm determines the center frequency of the delay lines and obtains the delay time difference between the short and long delay lines. The extracted parameters are then used to calculate the acoustic properties of the SAW material. To validate the algorithm, its accuracy is studied by determining the error in the calculating delay time difference, center frequency, and group velocity.
Researchers are developing new GNSS receivers and antennas based on an innovative signal-processing scheme to significantly improve GNSS tracking reliability and accuracy under degraded signal conditions. It is based on the principles of synthetic-aperture radar. Like in a multi-antenna phased array receiver, GNSS signals from different spatial locations are combined coherently forming an optimized synthetic antenna-gain pattern. The method is implemented in a real-time PC-based software receiver and works with GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo signals. Multiple frequencies are generally supported. The idea of synthetic-aperture processing is realized as a coherent summation of correlation values of each satellite over the so-called beamforming interval. Each correlation value is multiplied with a phase factor. For example, the phase factor can be chosen to compensate for the relative antenna motion over the beam-forming interval and the resulting sum of the scaled correlation values represents a coherent correlation value maximizing the line of sight signal power.
The paper proposes a system architecture for charging infrastructure that serves the requirements of future fleets of shared-use electric vehicles in urban scenarios. The focus of the development is on the interfaces to central stakeholders such as mobility service providers, distribution network operators and utilities. The main concept of the proposed system is the adherence to a stringent resource-oriented design approach, following the design principles of the Representational State Transfer (REST) architectural software style for distributed systems. This design approach is used from the cloud-based services down to the implementation of the charging infrastructure's control algorithms. Focusing on the resources of the various entities simplifies the implementation of their interactions, compared to the explicit declaration of services that are available. The system design ensures that the charging infrastructure is open to all users and generates a benefit beyond basic charging operations. Integration in emerging smart markets is done via open web-based interfaces. These allow for the generation of an added value of concrete services for shared-use electric mobility. A link to the field of grid operation is proposed using the ISO/IEC 61850 telecontrol standard. The smart meter capabilities of the charging stations can be used to gain additional information on the current state of the distribution grid. As an exemplary service a load management service for a fleet of shared-use electric vehicles is going to be implemented.
Background: Increasing awareness of the importance of evidence-based medicine is demonstrated not only by an increasing number of articles addressing it but also by a specialty-wide evidence-based medicine initiative. The authors critically analyzed the quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials published in this Journal over a 21-year period (1990 to 2010).
Methods: A hand search was conducted, including all issues of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from January of 1990 to December of 2010. All randomized controlled trials published during this time period were identified with the Cochrane decision tree for identification of randomized controlled trials. To assess the quality of reporting, a modification of the checklist of the Consolidated Standard of Reporting Trials Statement was used.
Results: Of 7121 original articles published from 1990 to 2010 in the Journal, 159 (2.23 percent) met the Cochrane criteria. A significant increase in the absolute number of randomized controlled trials was seen over the study period (p < 0.0001). The median quality of these trials from 1990 to 2010 was "fair," with a trend toward improved quality of reporting over time (p = 0.127).
Conclusions: A favorable trend is seen with respect to an increased number of published randomized controlled trials in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Adherence to standard reporting guidelines is recommended, however, to further improve the quality of reporting. Consideration may be given to providing information regarding the quality of reporting in addition to the "level of evidence pyramid," thus facilitating critical appraisal.
There is an increasing demand by an ever-growing number of mobile customers for transfer of rich media content. This requires very high bandwidth which either cannot be provided by the current cellular systems or puts pressure on the wireless networks, affecting customer service quality. This study introduces COARSE – a novel cluster-based quality-oriented adaptive radio resource allocation scheme, which dynamically and adaptively manages the radio resources in a cluster-based two-hop multi-cellular network, having a frequency reuse of one. COARSE is a cross-layer approach across physical layer, link layer and the application layer. COARSE gathers data delivery-related information from both physical and link layers and uses it to adjust bandwidth resources among the video streaming end-users. Extensive analysis and simulations show that COARSE enables a controlled trade-off between the physical layer data rate per user and the number of users communicating using a given resource. Significantly, COARSE provides 25–75% improvement in the computed user-perceived video quality compared with that obtained from an equivalent single-hop network.
Multi-phase management is crucial for performance and durability of electrochemical cells such as batteries and fuel cells. In this paper we present a generic framework for describing the two-dimensional spatiotemporal evolution of gaseous, liquid and solid phases, as well as their interdependence with interfacial (electro-)chemistry and microstructure in a continuum description. The modeling domain consists of up to seven layers (current collectors, channels, electrodes, separator/membrane), each of which can consist of an arbitrary number of bulk phases (gas, liquid, solid) and connecting interfaces (two-phase or multi-phase boundaries). Bulk and interfacial chemistry is described using global or elementary kinetic reactions. Multi-phase management is coupled to chemistry and to mass and charge transport within bulk phases. The functionality and flexibility of this framework is demonstrated using four application areas in the context of post-lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells, that is, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cells, lithium-oxygen (Li-O) cells, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFC). The results are compared to models available in literature and properties of the generic framework are discussed.
The study from Mehrazin et al. in HJNM 2011; 14(3): 243-50 on the neuropsychology, morphological computerized tomography (CT) and functional neuroimaging with 99mTc-labelled ethylene cystein-ate dimer single-photon emission tomography (SPET) in mild trau-matic brain injury (MTBI) is an interesting new approach to a disease condition which is often neglected or denied. Related to the above, we may note that the French composer Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), who suffered from Pick ́s disease with primary progressive apha-sia, had a taxi accident in 1932, with a mild concussion, perhaps an MTBI. Apart from the dysphasia and beginning apraxia, which Rav-el had already 5 years prior to the taxi accident, these symptoms exacerbated-the dysphasia became a progressive aphasia-and he developed additional severe deficits in concentration and atten-tion after the accident. It has also been suspected that this accident may have triggered Ravel ́s agraphia the unability to write down any new composition beyond the date of the taxi accident, a condi-tion that Ravel himself described as unacceptable and which made him feel very sad as his mind was full of ideas. Due to the deterio-ration of his health, which can also be seen in his appearance on late photographs, Ravel consulted the famous neurosurgeon Prof. Clovis Vincent. Vincent, who suspected a hydrocephalus, opened Ravel ́s skull on December 19, 1937, showing a normal brain. Soon after surgery Ravel died. In conclusion, a SPET/CT approach com-bined with a brain perfusion analysis using statistical parametric mapping might be the recommendable approach today for mild traumatic brain injury.
The suffix-free-prefix-free hash function construction and its indifferentiability security analysis
(2012)
In this paper, we observe that in the seminal work on indifferentiability analysis of iterated hash functions by Coron et al. and in subsequent works, the initial value (IV) of hash functions is fixed. In addition, these indifferentiability results do not depend on the Merkle–Damgård (MD) strengthening in the padding functionality of the hash functions. We propose a generic n-bit-iterated hash function framework based on an n-bit compression function called suffix-free-prefix-free (SFPF) that works for arbitrary IVs and does not possess MD strengthening. We formally prove that SFPF is indifferentiable from a random oracle (RO) when the compression function is viewed as a fixed input-length random oracle (FIL-RO). We show that some hash function constructions proposed in the literature fit in the SFPF framework while others that do not fit in this framework are not indifferentiable from a RO. We also show that the SFPF hash function framework with the provision of MD strengthening generalizes any n-bit-iterated hash function based on an n-bit compression function and with an n-bit chaining value that is proven indifferentiable from a RO.
A survey in 2000 revealed that only about 30% of the prescriptions in the European pediatric population were on the basis of evidence-based medicine (EbM). Less for radiopharmaceuticals and principally for diagnostics, radiologists throughout Europe are referred to the pediatric guidelines of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), as none of the frequently used tracers have been evaluated in clinical trials in the different pediatric subgroups. Following a resolution to address the lack of EbM in children, the European Commission published the Pediatric Regulation EC 1901/2006 and its amendment EC 1902/2006, effective from 2007. This regulation foresees the development of evidence-based medicine in the pediatric population. This is effected through a set of principles like the mandatory pediatric investigation plan (PIP) to be included with the market authorization application (MAA), and the pediatric use market authorization (PUMA) for off-patent pharmaceuticals, and to a very small part radiopharmaceuticals with funding possibilities for pediatric-specific research through the 7th Framework Programme (7FP) of the European Union.
Routine nuclear cardiology examinations indicate heart rate, cardiac rhythm, the height of cardiac pulse and respiration rhythm. It would be of interest to study whether these data, especially if the same tests are repeated, can indicate patients’ well being in the future and perhaps patients’ life span, other factors being equal. Related old theories and suggestions are mentioned. Furthermore, some drugs like I-f channel antagonists and stress tests testing cardiac reserves could support such a study.
The Humboldt digital library (HDL) represents an innovative system to access the works and legacy of Alexander von Humboldt in a digital form on the Internet (www.avhumboldt.net). It contributes to the key question about how to present interconnected data in an appropriate form using information technologies. The HDL has been created as a dynamic digital library with the capability of connecting multilingual and multimedia data from diverse online archives. Humboldt’s volumes have become available, but beyond that any relevant information related to the observations of Humboldt, even outside the works can become immediately accessible. This makes it possible to recognize natural changes and compare Humboldt’s descriptions with recent situations. The technology we have developed addresses the issues of sustainability and makes it possible to detect changes in the environment since the time of Humboldt’s observations.
The separation of nitrogen and methane from hydrogen-rich mixtures is systematically investigated on a recently developed binder-free zeolite 5A. For this adsorbent, the present work provides a series of experimental data on adsorption isotherms and breakthrough curves of nitrogen and methane, as well as their mixtures in hydrogen. Isotherms were measured at temperatures of 283–313 K and pressures of up to 1.0 MPa. Breakthrough curves of CH4, N2, and CH4/N2 in H2 were obtained at temperatures of 300–305 K and pressures ranging from 0.1 to 6.05 MPa with different feed concentrations. An LDF-based model was developed to predict breakthrough curves using measured and calculated data as inputs. The number of parameters and the use of correlations were restricted to focus on the importance of measured values. For the given assumptions, the results show that the model predictions agree satisfactorily with the experiments under the different operating conditions applied.
We present a novel fabrication route yielding Raney-platinum film electrodes intended as glucose oxidation anodes for potentially implantable fuel cells. Fabrication roots on thermal alloying of an extractable metal with bulk platinum at 200 °C for 48 h. In contrast to earlier works using carcinogenic nickel, we employ zinc as potentially biocompatible alloying partner. Microstructure analysis indicates that after removal of extractable zinc the porous Raney-platinum film (roughness factor ∼2700) consists predominantly of the Pt3Zn phase. Release of zinc during electrode operation can be expected to have no significant effect on physiological normal levels in blood and serum, which promises good biocompatibility. In contrast to previous anodes based on hydrogel-bound catalyst particles the novel anodes exhibit excellent resistance against hydrolytic and oxidative attack. Furthermore, they exhibit significantly lower polarization with up to approximately 100 mV more negative electrode potentials in the current density range relevant for fuel cell operation. The anodes’ amenability to surface modification with protective polymers is demonstrated by the exemplary application of an approximately 300 nm thin Nafion coating. This had only a marginal effect on the anode long-term stability and amino acid tolerance. While in physiological glucose solution after approximately 100 h of operation gradually increasing performance degradation occurs, rapid electrode polarization within 24 h is observed in artificial tissue fluid. Optimization approaches may include catalyst enhancement by adatom surface modification and the application of specifically designed protective polymers with controlled charge and mesh size.
We report the fabrication and characterization of glucose-tolerant Raney-platinum cathodes for oxygen reduction in potentially implantable glucose fuel. Fabricated by extraction of aluminum from 1 μm thin platinum–aluminum bi-layers annealed at 300 °C, the novel cathodes show excellent resistance against hydrolytic and oxidative attack. This renders them superior over previous cathodes fabricated from hydrogel-bound catalyst particles. Annealing times of 60, 120, and 240 min result in approximately 400–550 nm thin porous films (roughness factors ∼100–150), which contain platinum and aluminum in a ratio of ∼9:1. Aluminum release during electrode operation can be expected to have no significant effect on physiological normal levels, which promises good biocompatibility. Annealing time has a distinct influence on the density of trenches formed in the cathode. Higher trench densities lead to lower electrode potentials in the presence of glucose. This suggests that glucose sensitivity is governed by mixed potential formation resulting from oxygen depletion within the trenches. During performance characterization the diffusion resistance to be expected from tissue capsule formation upon electrode implantation was taken into account by placing a membrane in front of the cathode. Despite the resulting limited oxygen supply, cathodes prepared by annealing for 60 min show more positive electrode potentials than previous cathodes fabricated from hydrogel-bound activated carbon. Compared to operation in phosphate buffered saline containing 3.0 mM glucose, a potential loss of approximately 120 mV occurs in artificial tissue fluid. This can be reduced to approximately 90 mV with a protective Nafion layer that is easily electro-coated onto the Raney-platinum film.
There are some existing Java benchmarks, application benchmarks as well as micro benchmarks or mixture both of them,such as: Java Grande, Spec98, CaffeMark, HBech, etc. But none of them deal with behaviors of multi tasks operating systems. As a result, the achieved outputs are not satisfied for performance evaluation engineers. Behaviors of multi tasks operating systems are based on a schedule management which is employed in these systems. Different processes can have different priority to share the same resources. The time is measured by estimating from applications started to it is finished does not reflect the real time value which the system need for running those programs. New approach to this problem should be done. Having said that, in this paper we present a new Java benchmark, named FHOJ benchmark, which directly deals with multi tasks behaviors of a system. Our study shows that in some cases, results from FHOJ benchmark are far more reliable in comparison with some existing Java benchmarks.
A theoretical description is given for the propagation of surface acoustic wave pulses in anisotropic elastic media subject to the influence of nonlinearity. On the basis of nonlinear elasticity theory, an evolution equation is presented for the surface slope or the longitudinal surface velocity associated with an acoustic pulse. It contains a non-local nonlinearity, characterized by a kernel that strongly varies from one propagation geometry to another due to the anisotropy of the substrate. It governs pulse shape evolution in homogeneous halfspaces and the shapes of solitary surface pulses that exist in coated substrates. The theory describing nonlinear Rayleigh-type surface acoustic waves is extended in a straightforward way to surface waves that are localized at a one-dimensional acoustic waveguide like elastic wedges.
This paper presents a multicarrier code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system architecture that is based on complete complementary orthogonal spreading codes. The architecture has several advantages as compared to conventional CDMA systems. Specifically, it offers multiple-access interference-free operation in additive white Gaussian noise channels, reduces cochannel interference significantly, and has the potential of higher capacity and spectral efficiency than conventional CDMA systems. This is accomplished by using an ldquooffset stackedrdquo spreading modulation technique. To maintain good performance in the presence of fading, the offset stacked modulator is followed by a quadrature-amplitude modulation map, which is designed to optimize performance in a fading environment. This new modulation scheme also simplifies the rate-matching algorithms that are relevant for multimedia services and Internet Protocol-based applications.
Design of next-generation cdma using orthogonal complementary codes and offset stacked spreading
(2007)
This article presents an innovative code-division multiple access system architecture that is based on orthogonal complementary spreading codes and time-frequency domain spreading. The architecture has several advantages compared to conventional CDMA systems. Specifically, it offers multiple-access-interference-free operation in AWGN channels, reduces co-channel interference significantly, and has the potential for higher capacity and spectral efficiency than conventional CDMA systems. This is accomplished by using an "offset stacked" spreading modulation technique followed by quadrature amplitude modulation, which optimizes performance in a fading environment. This new spreading modulation scheme also simplifies the rate matching algorithms relevant for multimedia services and IP-based applications.
Lattice vibrations and electronic transitions in the rare-earth metals: Praseodymium under pressure
(2004)
Praseodymium was investigated by Raman spectroscopy under pressure. A negative pressure shift of the E2g mode is observed in the dhcp phase, which indicates that the initial structural sequence hcp→Sm−type→dhcp→fcc as a whole in the regular lanthanides is associated with a softening of this mode. The pressure response of the phonon modes, observed in the monoclinic and α-uranium phases, where 4f bonding becomes important, is characteristic for anisotropic bonding properties.
Experimental and theoretical investigations of the time of equalization of the concentration of an impurity in a rectangular flow‐type chamber have been carried out. It has been shown that the process of equalization of the concentration with time is exponential in character. The characteristic equalization time has been computed using the theory of turbulent diffusion. Theoretical results describe experimental regularities with an accuracy of about 10%. The value of the coefficient of turbulent diffusion for different configurations of flows in the chamber has been obtained from a comparison of experimental and calculated results.
The importance of obtaining simultaneous particle size and concentration values has grown up with continuing discussion of the health effects, of internal combustion engine generated particulate emissions and in particular of Diesel soot emissions. In the present work an aerosol measurement system is described that delivers information about particle size and concentration directly from the undiluted exhaust gas.
Using three laser diodes of different wavelengths which form one parallel light beam, each spectral attenuation is analysed by a single detector and the particle diameter and concentration is evaluated by the use of the Mie theory and shown on-line at a frequency of 1 Hz. The system includes an optical long-path-cell (White principle) with an adjustable path length from 2.5 to 15 m, which allows the analysis within a broad concentration range.
On-line measurements of the particulate emissions in the hot, undiluted exhaust of Diesel engines are presented under stationary and transient engine’s load conditions. Mean particle diameters well below 100 nm are detected for modern Diesel engines. The measured particle concentration corresponds excellently with the traditional gravimetrical measurements of the diluted exhaust. Additionally, measurements of particle emissions (mostly condensed hydricarbons) from a two-stroke engine are presented and discussed.
The flow field-flow fractionation (FIFFF) technique is a promising method for separating and analysing particles and large size macromolecules from a few nanometers to approximately 50 μm. A new fractionation channel is described featuring well defined flow conditions even for low channel heights with convenient assembling and operations features. The application of the new flow field-flow fractionation channel is proved by the analysis of pigments and other small particles of technical interest in the submicrometer range. The experimental results including multimodal size distributions are presented and discussed.
Formal verification (FV) is considered by many to be complicated and to require considerable mathematical knowledge for successful application. We have developed a methodology in which we have added formal verification to the verification process without requiring any knowledge of formal verification languages. We use only finite-state machine notation, which is familiar and intuitive to designers. Another problem associated with formal verification is state-space explosion. If that occurs, no result is returned; our method switches to random simulation after one hour without results, and no effort is lost. We have compared FV against random simulation with respect to development time, and our results indicate that FV is at least as fast as random simulation. FV is superior in terms of verification quality, however, because it is exhaustive.
This paper treats the interaction between acoustic modes and light (Brillouin scattering) in a single mode optical fibre. Different observed spectra of the Brillouin backscattering in several fibres have been already reported. In order to have a clear idea of the process, we made a simulation to be able to `draw' the theoretical Brillouin spectrum of an optical fibre and to identify the origin of the observed backscattered lines.
First, the model and the computation method used in our simulation are described. Second, the experimentally observed spectra of two real fibres are compared with their computed spectra. Real spectra and simulated spectra are in good agreement.
Our work provides an interesting tool to investigate the changes in the Brillouin spectrum when the input parameters (characteristics of an optical fibre) vary. This should give useful indications to people working on systems which use Brillouin backscattering.
The Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) has left us with many puzzles. The well-known oil painting by Elias Gottlob Haußmann is the only painting for which Bach actually posed in person. According to this portrait, Bach must have been quite obese. The cheeks and nose are flushed – possibly as signs of hypertension – and the eye lids are narrow – a sign of myopia. Furthermore, there is a thinning of the lateral third of the right eyebrow, which is known as Hertoghe’s sign, and indicated periorbital edema. Both signs are compatible with hypothyroidism. Bach might have been suffering from type-2 diabetes as the origin of his final illness, and the obituary reports two cataract surgeries by oculist John Taylor in March/April 1750, and, four months later, “apoplexy” followed by a high fever, of which Bach died. It may be speculated, however, that Bach’s entire illness was the result of his presumed obesity, possibly in combination with hypothyroidism.
A simple measuring method for acquiring the radiation pattern of an ultrawide band Vivaldi antenna is presented. The measuring is performed by combining two identical Vivaldi antennas and some of the intrinsic properties of a stepped-frequency continue wave radar (SFCW radar) in the
range from 1.0 GHz to 6.0 GHz. A stepper-motor provided the azimuthal rotation for one of the antennas from 0 ◦ to 360 ◦. The tests have been performed within the conventional environment (laboratory / office) without using an anechoic chamber or absorbing materials. Special measuring devices have not been used either. This method has been tested with different pairs of Vivaldi antennas and it can be also used for different ones (with little or no change in the system), as long as their operational
bandwidth is within the frequency range of the SFCW radar.
Keywords — SFCW Radar, Antenna Gain Characterization,
Azimuthal Radiation Pattern
Oesophageal Electrode Probe and Device for Cardiological Treatment and/or Diagnosis (EP3706626A1)
(2020)
The invention relates to an oesophageal electrode probe (10) for bioimpedance measurement and/or for neurostimulation; a device (100) for transoesophageal cardiological treatment and/or cardiological diagnosis; and a method for the open-loop or closed-loop control of a cardiac catheter ablation device and/or a cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support device. The oesophageal electrode probe comprises a bioimpedance measuring device for measuring the bioimpedance of at least one part of the tissue surrounding the oesophageal electrode probe. The bioimpedance device comprises at least one first and one second electrode, wherein the at least one first electrode (12A) is arranged on a side (14) of the oesophageal electrode probe facing towards the heart and the at least one second electrode (12B) is arranged on a side (16) of the oesophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart. The device (100) comprises the oesophageal electrode probe (10) and a control and/or evaluation device (30), which is configured for receiving a first bioimpedance measurement signal from the at least one first electrode (12A) and a second bioimpedance measurement signal from the at least one second electrode (12B), and comparing same, and generating a control signal on the basis of the comparison. The control signal can be a signal for the open-loop or closed-loop control of a cardiac catheter ablation device and/or a cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support device.
In this paper, we establish a simple model for the exchange of messages in a vehicular network and we consider fundamental limits on the achievable data rate. For a vehicular network, the exchange of data with other nearby vehicles is particularly important for traffic safety, e.g. for collision avoidance, but also for cooperative applications like platooning. These use cases are currently addressed by standards building on IEEE 802.11p, namely ITS-G5 and DSRC (dedicated short range communication), which encounter saturation problems at high vehicle densities. For this reason, we take a step back and ask for the fundamental limits for the common data rate in a vehicular network. After defining a simple single-lane model and the corresponding capacity limits for some basic multiple- access schemes, we present results for a more realistic setting. For both scenarios, non-orthogonal multiple-access (NOMA) yields the best results.
This paper evaluates the implementation of Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols suitable for massive access connectivity in 5G multi-service networks. The access protocol extends multi-packet detection receivers based on Physical Layer Network Coding (PLNC) decoding and Coded Random Access protocols considering practical aspects to implement one-stage MAC protocols for short packet communications in mMTC services. Extensions to enhance data delivery phase in two- stage protocols are also proposed. The assessment of the access protocols is extended under system level simulations where a suitable link to system interface characterization has been taken into account.
This paper is discussing the development of a wireless Indoor Smart Gardening System with the focus on energy autonomous working. The Smart Gardening System, which is presented in this paper consists of a network of energy autonomous wireless sensor nodes which are used for monitoring important plant parameters like air temperature, soil moisture, pressure or humidity and in future to control an actuator for the plant irrigation and to measure further parameter as light and fertilizer level. Solar energy harvesting is used for powering the wireless nodes without the usage of a battery. Comparable Smart Gardening Systems are usually battery-powered. Furthermore, the overall Smart Gardening System consists of a battery powered gateway based on a Raspberry Pi 3 system, which controls the wireless nodes and collects their sensor data. The gateway is able to send the information to an internet server application and via Wi-Fi to mobile devices. Particularly the architecture of the energy autonomous wireless nodes will be considered because fully energy autonomous wireless networks could not be implemented without special concepts for the energy supply and architecture of the wireless nodes.
Nowadays, robotic systems are an integral part of many orthopedic interventions. Stationary robots improve the accuracy but also require adapted surgical workflows. Handheld robotic devices (HHRDs), however, are easily integrated into existing workflows and represent a more economical solution. Their limited range of motion is compensated by the dexterity of the surgeon. This work presents control algorithms for HHRDs with multiple degrees of freedom (DOF). These algorithms protect pre- or intraoperatively defined regions from being penetrated by the end effector (e.g., a burr) by controlling the joints as well as the device’s power. Accuracy tests on a stationary prototype with three DOF show that the presented control algorithms produce results similar to those of stationary robots and much better results than conventional techniques. This work presents novel and innovative algorithms, which work robustly, accurately, and open up new opportunities for orthopedic interventions.
The CAN bus still is an important fieldbus in various domains, e.g. for in-car communication or automation applications. To counter security threats and concerns in such scenarios we design, implement, and evaluate the use of an end-to-end security concept based on the Transport Layer Security protocol. It is used to establish authenticated, integrity-checked, and confidential communication channels between field devices connected via CAN. Our performance measurements show that it is possible to use TLS at least for non time-critical applications, as well as for generic embedded networks.
Uncontrollable manufacturing variations in electrical hardware circuits can be exploited as Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs). Herein, we present a Printed Electronics (PE)-based PUF system architecture. Our proposed Differential Circuit PUF (DiffC-PUF) is a hybrid system, combining silicon-based and PE-based electronic circuits. The novel approach of the DiffC-PUF architecture is to provide a specially designed real hardware system architecture, that enables the automatic readout of interchangeable printed DiffC-PUF core circuits. The silicon-based addressing and evaluation circuit supplies and controls the printed PUF core and ensures seamless integration into silicon-based smart systems. Major objectives of our work are interconnected applications for the Internet of Things (IoT).
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication promises improvements in road safety and efficiency by enabling low-latency and reliable communication services for vehicles. Besides using Mobile Broadband (MBB), there is a need to develop Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) applications with cellular networks especially when safety-related driving applications are concerned. Future cellular networks are expected to support novel latencysensitive use cases. Many applications of V2X communication, like collaborative autonomous driving requires very low latency and high reliability in order to support real-time communication between vehicles and other network elements. In this paper, we classify V2X use-cases and their requirements in order to identify cellular network technologies able to support them. The bottleneck problem of the medium access in 4G Long Term Evolution(LTE) networks is random access procedure. It is evaluated through simulations to further detail the future limitations and requirements. Limitations and improvement possibilities for next generation of cellular networks are finally detailed. Moreover, the results presented in this paper provide the limits of different parameter sets with regard to the requirements of V2X-based applications. In doing this, a starting point to migrate to Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) or 5G - solutions is given.
The next generation cellular networks are expected to improve reliability, energy efficiency, data rate, capacity and latency. Originally, Machine Type Communication (MTC) was designed for low-bandwidth high-latency applications such as, environmental sensing, smart dustbin, etc., but there is additional demand around applications with low latency requirements, like industrial automation, driver-less cars, and so on. Improvements are required in 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks towards the development of next generation cellular networks for providing very low latency and high reliability. To this end, we present an in-depth analysis of parameters that contribute to the latency in 4G networks along with a description of latency reduction techniques. We implement and validate these latency reduction techniques in the open-source network simulator (NS3) for narrowband user equipment category Cat-Ml (LTE-M) to analyze the improvements. The results presented are a step towards enabling narrowband Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) networks.
The excessive control signaling in Long Term Evolution networks required for dynamic scheduling impedes the deployment of ultra-reliable low latency applications. Semi-persistent scheduling was originally designed for constant bit-rate voice applications, however, very low control overhead makes it a potential latency reduction technique in Long Term Evolution. In this paper, we investigate resource scheduling in narrowband fourth generation Long Term Evolution networks through Network Simulator (NS3) simulations. The current release of NS3 does not include a semi-persistent scheduler for Long Term Evolution module. Therefore, we developed the semi-persistent scheduling feature in NS3 to evaluate and compare the performance in terms of uplink latency. We evaluate dynamic scheduling and semi-persistent scheduling in order to analyze the impact of resource scheduling methods on up-link latency.
The Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) protocol has been designed to provide end-to-end security over unreliable communication links. Where its connection establishment is concerned, DTLS copes with potential loss of protocol messages by implementing its own loss detection and retransmission scheme. However, the default scheme turns out to be suboptimal for links with high transmission error rates and low data rates, such as wireless links in electromagnetically harsh industrial environments. Therefore, in this paper, as a first step we provide an analysis of the standard DTLS handshake's performance under such adverse transmission conditions. Our studies are based on simulations that model message loss as the result of bit transmission errors. We consider several handshake variants, including endpoint authentication via pre-shared keys or certificates. As a second step, we propose and evaluate modifications to the way message loss is dealt with during the handshake, making DTLS deployable in situations which are prohibitive for default DTLS.
The Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol is a cornerstone of secure network communication, not only for online banking, e-commerce, and social media, but also for industrial communication and cyber-physical systems. Unfortunately, implementing TLS correctly is very challenging, as becomes evident by considering the high frequency of bugfixes filed for many TLS implementations. Given the high significance of TLS, advancing the quality of implementations is a sustained pursuit. We strive to support these efforts by presenting a novel, response-distribution guided fuzzing algorithm for differential testing of black-box TLS implementations. Our algorithm generates highly diverse and mostly-valid TLS stimulation messages, which evoke more behavioral discrepancies in TLS server implementations than other algorithms. We evaluate our algorithm using 37 different TLS implementations and discuss―by means of a case study―how the resulting data allows to assess and improve not only implementations of TLS but also to identify underspecified corner cases. We introduce suspiciousness as a per-implementation metric of anomalous implementation behavior and find that more recent or bug-fixed implementations tend to have a lower suspiciousness score. Our contribution is complementary to existing tools and approaches in the area, and can help reveal implementation flaws and avoid regression. While being presented for TLS, we expect our algorithm's guidance scheme to be applicable and useful also in other contexts. Source code and data is made available for fellow researchers in order to stimulate discussions and invite others to benefit from and advance our work.
The paper describes the methodology and experimental results for revealing similarities in thermal dependencies of biases of accelerometers and gyroscopes from 250 inertial MEMS chips (MPU-9250). Temperature profiles were measured on an experimental setup with a Peltier element for temperature control. Classification of temperature curves was carried out with machine learning approach.
A perfect sensor should not have thermal dependency at all. Thus, only sensors inside the clusters with smaller dependency (smaller total temperature slopes) might be pre-selected for production of high accuracy inertial navigation modules. It was found that no unified thermal profile (“family” curve) exists for all sensors in a production batch. However, obviously, sensors might be grouped according to their parameters. Therefore, the temperature compensation profiles might be regressed for each group. 12 slope coefficients on 5 degrees temperature intervals from 0°C to +60°C were used as the features for the k-means++ clustering algorithm.
The minimum number of clusters for all sensors to be well separated from each other by bias thermal profiles in our case is 6. It was found by applying the elbow method. For each cluster a regression curve can be obtained.
Recently, the demand for scalable, efficient and accurate Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS) has seen a rising trend due to their utility in providing Location Based Services (LBS). Visible Light Communication (VLC) based IPS designs, VLC-IPS, leverage Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in indoor environments for localization. Among VLC-based designs, Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) based techniques are shown to provide very low errors in the relative position of receivers. Our considered system consists of five LEDs that act as transmitters and a single receiver (photodiode or image sensor in smart phone) whose position coordinates in an indoor environment are to be determined. As a performance criterion, Cramer Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) is derived for range estimations and the impact of various factors, such as, LED transmission frequency, position of reference LED light, and the number of LED lights, on localization accuracy has been studied. Simulation results show that depending on the optimal values of these factors, location estimation on the order of few centimeters can be realistically achieved.
Real-Time Ethernet has become the major communication technology for modern automation and industrial control systems. On the one hand, this trend increases the need for an automation-friendly security solution, as such networks can no longer be considered sufficiently isolated. On the other hand, it shows that, despite diverging requirements, the domain of Operational Technology (OT) can derive advantage from high-volume technology of the Information Technology (IT) domain. Based on these two sides of the same coin, we study the challenges and prospects of approaches to communication security in real-time Ethernet automation systems. In order to capitalize the expertise aggregated in decades of research and development, we put a special focus on the reuse of well-established security technology from the IT domain. We argue that enhancing such technology to become automation-friendly is likely to result in more robust and secure designs than greenfield designs. Because of its widespread deployment and the (to this date) nonexistence of a consistent security architecture, we use PROFINET as a showcase of our considerations. Security requirements for this technology are defined and different well-known solutions are examined according their suitability for PROFINET. Based on these findings, we elaborate the necessary adaptions for the deployment on PROFINET.
A method for determining properties of a pipeline includes feeding a sound wave signal at a predetermined feed point into the pipeline so that the sound wave signal propagates in an axial direction of the pipeline. The frequency spectrum of the transmitted sound wave signal has a frequency component or a spectral range with a maximum frequency that is smaller than the lower limit frequency for the first upper mode. Reflected portions of the transmitted sound wave signal are detected as received sound wave signal and are evaluated with regard to the transmitted sound wave signal to determine at least the distance of each reflection site from the feed point.
Online comment on: "Printing ferromagnetic domains for untethered fast-transforming soft materials"
(2018)
Solar irradiance prediction is vital for the power management and the cost reduction when integrating solar energy. The study is towards a ground image based solar irradiance prediction which is highly dependent on the cloud coverage. The sky images are collected by using ground based sky imager (fisheye lens). In this work, different algorithms for cloud detection being a preparation step for their segmentation are compared.
The fisheye camera has been widely studied in the field of ground based sky imagery and robot vision since it can capture a wide view of the scene at one time. However, serious image distortion is a major drawback hindering its wider use. To remedy this, this paperproposes a lens calibration and distortion correction method for detecting clouds and forecasting solar radiation. Finally, the radial distortion of the fisheye image can be corrected by incorporating the estimated calibration parameters. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
This paper deals with the detection and segmentation of clouds on high-dynamic-range (HDR) images of the sky as well as the calculation of the position of the sun at any time of the year. In order to predict the movement of clouds and the radiation of the sun for a short period of time, the clouds thickness and position have to be known as precisely as possible. Consequently, the segmentation algorithm has to provide satisfactory results regardless of different weather, illumination and climatic conditions. The principle of the segmentation is based on the classification of each pixel as a cloud or as a sky. This classification is usually based on threshold methods, since these are relatively fast to implement and show a low computational burden. In order to predict if and when the sun will be covered by clouds, the position of the sun on the images has to be determined. For this purpose, the zenith and azimuth angles of the sun are determined and converted into XY coordinates.
Design of a Programmable Passive SoC for Biomedical Applications Using RFID ISO 15693/NFC5 Interface
(2018)
Low power, low cost inductively powered passive biotelemetry system involving fully customized RFID/NFC interface base SoC has gained popularity in the last decades. However, most of the SoCs developed are application specific and lacks either on-chip computational or sensor readout capability. In this paper, we present design details of a programmable passive SoC in compliance with ISO 15693/NFC5 standard for biomedical applications. The integrated system consists of a 32-bit microcontroller, a sensor readout circuit, a 12-bit SAR type ADC, 16 kB RAM, 16 kB ROM and other digital peripherals. The design is implemented in a 0.18 µm CMOS technology and used a die area of 1.52 mm × 3.24 mm. The simulated maximum power consumption of the analog block is 592 µW. The number of external components required by the SoC is limited to an external memory device, sensors, antenna and some passive components. The external memory device contains the application specific firmware. Based on the application, the firmware can be modified accordingly. The SoC design is suitable for medical implants to measure physiological parameters like temperature, pressure or ECG. As an application example, the authors have proposed a bioimplant to measure arterial blood pressure for patients suffering from Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).
A printed electronics technology has the advantage of additive and extremely low-cost fabrication compared with the conventional silicon technology. Specifically, printed electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors (EGFETs) are attractive for low-cost applications in the Internet-of-Things domain as they can operate at low supply voltages. In this paper, we propose an empirical dc model for EGFETs, which can describe the behavior of the EGFETs smoothly and accurately over all regimes. The proposed model, built by extending the Enz-Krummenacher-Vittoz model, can also be used to model process variations, which was not possible previously due to fixed parameters for near threshold regime. It offers a single model for all the operating regions of the transistors with only one equation for the drain current. Additionally, it models the transistors with a less number of parameters but higher accuracy compared with existing techniques. Measurement results from several fabricated EGFETs confirm that the proposed model can predict the I-V more accurately compared with the state-of-the-art models in all operating regions. Additionally, the measurements on the frequency of a fabricated ring oscillator are only 4.7% different from the simulation results based on the proposed model using values for the switching capacitances extracted from measurement data, which shows more than 2× improvement compared with the state-of-the-art model.
Oxide semiconductors are highly promising candidates for the most awaited, next-generation electronics, namely, printed electronics. As a fabrication route for the solution-processed/printed oxide semiconductors, photonic curing is becoming increasingly popular, as compared to the conventional thermal curing method; the former offers numerous advantages over the latter, such as low process temperatures and short exposure time and thereby, high throughput compatibility. Here, using dissimilar photonic curing concepts (UV–visible light and UV-laser), we demonstrate facile fabrication of high performance In2O3 field-effect transistors (FETs). Beside the processing related issues (temperature, time etc.), the other known limitation of oxide electronics is the lack of high performance p-type semiconductors, which can be bypassed using unipolar logics from high mobility n-type semiconductors alone. Interestingly, here we have found that our chosen distinct photonic curing methods can offer a large variation in threshold voltage, when they are fabricated from the same precursor ink. Consequently, both depletion and enhancement-mode devices have been achieved which can be used as the pull-up and pull-down transistors in unipolar inverters. The present device fabrication recipe demonstrates fast processing of low operation voltage, high performance FETs with large threshold voltage tunability.
An Ultra-Low-Power RFID/NFC Frontend IC Using 0.18 μm CMOS Technology for Passive Tag Applications
(2018)
Battery-less passive sensor tags based on RFID or NFC technology have achieved much popularity in recent times. Passive tags are widely used for various applications like inventory control or in biotelemetry. In this paper, we present a new RFID/NFC frontend IC (integrated circuit) for 13.56 MHz passive tag applications. The design of the frontend IC is compatible with the standard ISO 15693/NFC 5. The paper discusses the analog design part in details with a brief overview of the digital interface and some of the critical measured parameters. A novel approach is adopted for the demodulator design, to demodulate the 10% ASK (amplitude shift keying) signal. The demodulator circuit consists of a comparator designed with a preset offset voltage. The comparator circuit design is discussed in detail. The power consumption of the bandgap reference circuit is used as the load for the envelope detection of the ASK modulated signal. The sub-threshold operation and low-supply-voltage are used extensively in the analog design—to keep the power consumption low. The IC was fabricated using 0.18 μm CMOS technology in a die area of 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm and an effective area of 0.7 mm2. The minimum supply voltage desired is 1.2 V, for which the total power consumption is 107 μW. The analog part of the design consumes only 36 μW, which is low in comparison to other contemporary passive tags ICs. Eventually, a passive tag is developed using the frontend IC, a microcontroller, a temperature and a pressure sensor. A smart NFC device is used to readout the sensor data from the tag employing an Android-based application software. The measurement results demonstrate the full passive operational capability. The IC is suitable for low-power and low-cost industrial or biomedical battery-less sensor applications. A figure-of-merit (FOM) is proposed in this paper which is taken as a reference for comparison with other related state-of-the-art researches.
Printed Electronics (PE) is a promising technology that provides mechanical flexibility and low-cost fabrication. These features make PE the key enabler for emerging applications, such as smart sensors, wearables, and Internet of Things (IoTs). Since these applications need secure communication and/or authentication, it is vital to utilize security primitives for cryptographic key and identification. Physical Unclonable Functions (PUF) have been adopted widely to provide the secure keys. In this work, we present a weak PUF based on Electrolyte-gated FETs using inorganic inkjet printed electronics. A comprehensive analysis framework including Monte Carlo simulations based on real device measurements is developed to evaluate the proposed PE-PUF. Moreover, a multi-bit PE-PUF design is proposed to optimize area usage. The analysis results show that the PE-PUF has ideal uniqueness, good reliability, and can operates at low voltage which is critical for low-power PE applications. In addition, the proposed multi-bit PE-PUF reduces the area usage around 30%.
Printed electronics offers certain technological advantages over its silicon based counterparts, such as mechanical flexibility, low process temperatures, maskless and additive manufacturing process, leading to extremely low cost manufacturing. However, to be exploited in applications such as smart sensors, Internet of Things and wearables, it is essential that the printed devices operate at low supply voltages. Electrolyte gated field effect transistors (EGFETs) using solution-processed inorganic materials which are fully printed using inkjet printers at low temperatures are very promising candidates to provide such solutions. In this paper, we discuss the technology, process, modeling, fabrication, and design aspect of circuits based on EGFETs. We show how the measurements performed in the lab can accurately be modeled in order to be integrated in the design automation tool flow in the form of a Process Design Kit (PDK). We also review some of the remaining challenges in this technology and discuss our future directions to address them.
In public transportation, the motor pool often consists of various different vehicles bought over a duration of many years. Sometimes, they even differ within one batch bought at the same time. This poses a considerable challenge in the storage and allocation of spare parts, especially in the event of damage to a vehicle. Correctly assigning these parts before the vehicle reaches the workshop could significantly reduce both the downtime and, therefore, the actual costs for companies. In order to achieve this, the current software uses a simple probability calculation. To improve the performance, the data of specific companies was analysed, preprocessed and used with several modelling techniques to classify and, therefore, predict the spare parts to be used in the event of a faulty vehicle. We summarize our experience running through the steps of the Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining and compare the performance to the previously used probability. Gradient Boosting Trees turned out to be the best modeling technique for this special case.
This paper describes the use of the single-linkage hierarchical clustering method in outlier detection for manufactured metal work pieces. The main goal of the study is to group defects that occur 5 mm into a work piece from the edge, i.e., the border of the metal work piece. The goal is to remove defects outside the area of interest as outliers. According to the assumptions made for the performance criteria, the single-linkage method has achieved better results compared to other agglomeration methods.
Targeting complex fractionated atrial electrocardiograms by automated algorithms during ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation has produced conflicting outcomes in previous electrophysiological studies and catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. The aim of the investigation was to evaluate atrial and ventricular high frequency fractionated electrical signals with signal averaging technique.
Methods: Signal averaging electrocardigraphy allows high resolution ECG technique to eliminate interference noise signals in the recorded ECG. The algorithm use automatic ECG trigger function for signal averaged transthoracic, transesophageal and intra-cardiac ECG signals with novel LabVIEW software.
Results: The analysis in the time domain evaluated fractionated atrial signals at the end of the signal averaged P-wave and fractionated ventricular signals at the end of the QRS complex. We evaluated atrial flutter in the time domain with two-to-one atrioventricular conduction, 212.0 ± 4.1 ms atrial cycle length, 426.0 ± 8.2 ms ventricular cycle length, 58.2 ± 1.8 ms P-wave duration, 119.6 ± 6.4 ms PQ duration, 103.0 ± 2.4 ms QRS duration and 296.4 ± 6.8 ms QT duration. The analysis in the frequency domain evaluated high frequency fractionated atrial signals during the P-wave and high frequency fractionated ventricular signals during QRS complex.
Conclusions: Spectral analysis of signal averaging electrocardiography with novel LabVIEW software can be utilized to evaluate atrial and ventricular conduction delays in patients with atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Complex fractionated atrial and ventricular electrocardiograms may be useful parameters to evaluate electrical cardiac bradycardia and tachycardia signals in atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia ablation.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with hemodynamic optimized biventricular pacing is an established therapy for heart failure patients with sinus rhythm, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and wide QRS complex. The aim of the study was to evaluate electrical right and left cardiac atrioventricular delay and left atrial delay in CRT responder and non-responder with sinus rhythm.
Methods: Heart failure patients with New York Heart Association class 3.0 ± 0.3, sinus rhythm and 27.7 ± 6.1% left ventricular ejection fraction were measured by surface ECG and transesophageal bipolar left atrial and left ventricular ECG before implantation of CRT devices. Electrical right cardiac atrioventricular delay was measured between onset of P wave and onset of QRS complex in the surface ECG, left cardiac atrioventricular delay between onset of left atrial signal and onset of left ventricular signal in the transesophageal ECG and left atrial delay between onset and offset of left atrial signal in the transesophageal ECG.
Results: Electrical atrioventricular and left atrial delay were 196.9 ± 38.7 ms right and 194.5 ± 44.9 ms left cardiac atrioventricular delay, and 47.7 ± 13.9 ms left atrial delay. There were positive correlation between right and left cardiac atrioventricular delay (r = 0.803 P < 0.001) and negative correlation between left atrial delay and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = −0.694 P = 0.026) with 67% CRT responder.
Conclusions: Transesophageal electrical left cardiac atrioventricular delay and left atrial delay may be useful preoperative atrial desynchronization parameters to improve CRT optimization.
Wireless sensor networks have recently found their way into a wide range of applications among which environmental monitoring system has attracted increasing interests of researchers. Such monitoring applications, in general, don way into a wide range of applications among which environmental monitoring system has attracted increasing interests of researc latency requirements regarding to the energy efficiency. Also a challenge of this application is the network topology as the application should be able to be deployed in very large scale. Nevertheless low power consumption of the devices making up the network must be on focus in order to maximize the lifetime of the whole system. These devices are usually battery-powered and spend most of their energy budget on radio transceiver module. A so-called Wake-On-Radio (WoR) technology can be used to achieve a reasonable balance among power consumption, range, complexity and response time. In this paper, some designs for integration of WOR into IEEE 802.1.5.4 are to be discussed, providing an overview of trade-offs in energy consumption while deploying the WoR schemes in a monitoring system.
Energy consumption for cooling is growing dramatically. In the last years, electricity peak consumption grew significantly, switching from winter to summer in many EU countries. This is endangering the stability of electricity grids. This article outlines a comprehensive analysis of an office building performances in terms of energy consumption and thermal comfort (in accordance with static – ISO 7730:2005 – and adaptive thermal comfort criteria – EN 15251:2007 –) related to different cooling concepts in six different European climate zones. The work is based on a series of dynamic simulations carried out in the Trnsys 17 environment for a typical office building. The simulation study was accomplished for five cooling technologies: natural ventilation (NV), mechanical night ventilation (MV), fan-coils (FC), suspended ceiling panels (SCP), and concrete core conditioning (CCC) applied in Stockholm, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Milan, Rome, and Palermo. Under this premise, the authors propose a methodology for the evaluation of the cooling concepts taking into account both, thermal comfort and energy consumption.
Chronic insomnia is defined by difficulties in falling asleep, maintaining sleep, and early morning awakening, and is coupled with daytime consequences such as fatigue, attention deficits, and mood instability. These symptoms persist over a period of at least 3 months (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 criteria). Chronic insomnia can be a symptom of many medical, neurological, and mental disorders. As a disorder, it incurs substantial health-care and occupational costs, and poses substantial risks for the development of cardiovascular and mental disorders, including cognitive deficits. Family and twin studies confirm that chronic insomnia can have a genetic component (heritability coefficients between 42% and 57%), whereas the investigation of autonomous and central nervous system parameters has identified hyperarousal as a final common pathway of the pathophysiology, implicating an imbalance of sleep–wake regulation consisting of either overactivity of the arousal systems, hypoactivity of the sleep-inducing systems, or both. Insomnia treatments include benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-receptor agonists, and cognitive behavioural therapy. Treatments currently under investigation include transcranial magnetic or electrical brain stimulation, and novel methods to deliver psychological interventions.
Environmental Monitoring is an attractive application field for Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). Water Level Monitoring helps to increase the efficiency of water distribution and management. In Pakistan, the world’s largest irrigation system covers 90.000 km of channels which needs to be monitored and managed on different levels. Especially the sensor systems for the small distribution channels need to be low energy and low cost. The distribution presents a technical solution for a communication system which is developed in a research project being co-funded by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The communication module is based on IEEE-802.15.4 transceivers which are enhanced through Wake-On-Radio (WOR) to combine low-energy and real-time behavior. On higher layers, IPv6 (6LoWPAN) and corresponding routing protocols like Routing Protocol for Low power and Lossy Networks (RPL) can extend range of the network. The data are stored in a database and can be viewed online via a web interface. Of course, also automatic data analysis can be performed.