bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reliability and Availability Evaluation of Wireless Sensor Networks for Industrial Applications
Authors: Silva Ivanovitch , Guedes Luiz Affonso , Portugal Paulo , Vasques Francisco
Published: January 2012

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) currently represent the best candidate to be adopted as the communication solution for the last mile connection in process control and monitoring applications in industrial environments. Most of these applications have stringent dependability (reliability and availability) requirements, as a system failure may result in economic losses, put people in danger or lead to environmental damages. Among the different type of faults that can lead to a system failure, permanent faults on network devices have a major impact. They can hamper communications over long periods of time and consequently disturb, or even disable, control algorithms. The lack of a structured approach enabling the evaluation of permanent faults, prevents system designers to optimize decisions that minimize these occurrences. In this work we propose a methodology based on an automatic generation of a fault tree to evaluate the reliability and availability of Wireless Sensor Networks, when permanent faults occur on network devices. The proposal supports any topology, different levels of redundancy, network reconfigurations, criticality of devices and arbitrary failure conditions. The proposed methodology is particularly suitable for the design and validation of Wireless Sensor Networks when trying to optimize its reliability and availability requirements.
Sustainable and Integrated Development—A Critical Analysis
Authors: Koroneos Christopher J. , Rokos Dimitri
Published: January 2012

The words “Sustainable Development” are frequently used by very lightly, to the extent that they have lost their meaning. There is a presumption that for any perspective analysis or any development proposal, these two words are the most appropriate. Sustainability has been incorporated in the objectives of many studies. The historical model of industrialized societies in the 19th and 20th centuries served as the central notion of what constitutes development in both the cost-effectiveness and equity perspectives. According to some analysts, this path represents the model for global prosperity. However, a number of growing parallel literatures recognize the importance of diverse development pathways in achieving an environmentally and socio-economically better world. The term sustainable development does not bring forward all aspects of development. A new term that incorporates the wellbeing of all citizens through economic development and the preservation of the environment is needed. A “Worth-living Integrated Development” could be a term that combines economic development, social development and environmental protection. A Worth-living Integrated Development may be achieved only when human societies decide to create necessary presuppositions—at the educational, research, economic, social, political, technical/technological and environmental levels—for a better world, based on the human values of peace, justice, solidarity, political, economic and social democracy and ethics, respect for nature and for the variety of cultures of all human beings.
Octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS)-coated ionic liquid drops: Micro-reactors for homogenous catalytic reactions at designated interfaces
Authors: Zhang Xiaoning , Cai Yuguang
Published: January 2012

An ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) can assemble on prefabricated carboxylic acid–terminated chemical patterns on octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) film. The chemical pattern controls the position, shape and size of the IL on the surface. After the IL assembly – by incubating IL drops assembled on sample surface in an OTS silane vapor – an OTS layer was coated on the IL drop surface which encapsulated the IL drop. The OTS-coated capsule can exist stably under aqueous solution. The OTS coating protected the IL drops from being instantaneously dissolved by other solutions. We found that a homogenous catalyst (FeCl3) dissolved in [Bmim]Cl can be assembled together on the chemical patterns and subsequently encapsulated together with [Bmim]Cl by OTS coating. The pinhole defects within the vapor-coated silane layer provide space for the catalyst inside the capsule and reactants outside the capsule to meet and react. When the OTS-coated capsule containing a FeCl3/IL mixture was soaked under H2O2 solution, the Fe3+ ions catalyzed the decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide at the vapor-coated OTS-water interface. Since the shape and position of the interface is defined by the underneath chemical pattern, our findings show that the OTS-coated IL drops assembled on chemical patterns can be used as novel micro-reactors. This allows homogenous catalytic reactions to occur at the designated interfaces.
Thermodynamic and kinetic stabilization of divanadate in the monovanadate/divanadate equilibrium using a Zn-cyclene derivative: Towards a simple ATP synthase model
Authors: Sell Hanno , Gehl Anika , Sönnichsen Frank D , Herges Rainer
Published: January 2012

For the condensation of anions such as phosphate and ADP to form ATP and water, nature employs sophisticated supramolecular systems to overcome coulomb repulsion and activation barriers. For an attempt to create a simple, analogous chemical system, the dimerization of vanadate is probably the simplest model. We have investigated Zn-benzylcyclene which favors the dimerization thermodynamically as shown by NMR titration. Moreover, EXSY NMR experiments reveal that the vanadate dimer is also kinetically stabilized with respect to hydrolysis by complexation with Zn-cyclene.
VILNIAUS SENAMIESTIS – GYVOSIOS KULTŪRINĖS ATMINTIES ŠERDIS
Authors: Rubavičius Vytautas
Published: January 2012

In the Western world, cities and urban networks are the basic cultural and civilizational force. Urban historical heritage grounds and strengthens identities of urban communities, which are essential for civilizational development. Cities are visual shapes of the processes of local social and international relations and cultural production. The identities of urban communities are formed not only by their urban lifestyles, but also by urban visual surroundings with cultural and religious symbols and meanings. Urban historical heritage is the source of urban uniqueness and identity, thus it plays an important role in cultural memory formation and maintenance. The old town is the core of this kind of heritage where “genetical” programme of urban development is inscribed. In addition, the Old Town of Vilnius embodies the main features of Lithuanian historical statehood. Thus, the criteria of urban developmental works in the Old Town area should rely on the tasks of the reinforcing both urban space structure and the features of urban identity and exceptionality, and also on the sustainment and spread of cultural historical memory ensuring identity of the urban community.

Santrauka

Vakarų pasaulyje miestai ir jų ryšių tinklai yra pagrindinė civilizacinės plėtros ir kultūrinės kūrybos galia. Istorinis urbanistinis paveldas yra ne tik civilizacijos gėrybių sankaupa: jis palaiko ir tvirtina civilizacijos plėtrai būtinus miesto bendruomenių tapatumus. Miestai yra regimas vietinių socialinių santykių, tarptautinių ryšių ir kuriamos kultūros erdvinės raiškos pavidalas. Miesto bendruomenių tapatumus formuoja ne tik miestiškų gyvenimo būdų visuma, bet ir regimi miestiški vaizdai, taip pat su jais siejami istoriniai kultūriniai bei sakraliniai simboliai ir prasmės. Istorinei kultūrinei atminčiai palaikyti bei tvirtinti svarbus yra tas urbanistinis paveldas, kuriame glūdi miesto tapatumo ir išskirtinumo bruožai, įsitvirtinantys kultūrinėje atmintyje. Tokio paveldo branduolys ir šerdis, kurioje tarsi įrašyta „genetinė“ konkretaus miesto raidos programa, – yra Senamiestis. Vilniaus Senamiestis savaip įkūnija ir Lietuvos valstybingumo bruožus. „Genetiniai“ miesto tapatumo ir išskirtinumo bruožai yra ir šiuolaikinės urbanistinės paveldo ekonomikos, taip pat kultūros industrijų „ištekliai“. Todėl urbanistinės veiklos Senamiestyje kriterijai turėtų būti jo urbanistinės erdvinės struktūros, tapatumo ir išskirtinumo bruožų tvirtinimas, kultūrinės atminties gaivinimas ir sklaida, stiprinant miesto bendruomenės istorinių šaknų pajautą – įsigyvenimą į miestą, taip pat paveldo ir kultūros industrijų išteklių gausinimas. Klausimas, kodėl iki šiol Lietuvoje dar nėra deramai suvokta Senamiesčio svarba valstybingumui ir nacionaliniam tapatumui tvirtinti, istorinės kultūrinės atminties gyvybingumui stiprinti, kūrybingai miesto bendruomenei ugdyti?
URBANISTINIŲ STRUKTŪRŲ POTENCIALO VERTINIMAS: KAUNO CENTRAS MIESTO VISUMOS KONTEKSTE
Authors: Zaleckis Kęstutis , Kamičaitytė-Virbašienė Jūratė
Published: January 2012

The regenerative potential of a city as an ever- changing complex system is revealed by the evaluation results of the potentials of its subsystems. To reach this aim, method of fractal analysis can be used, which not only reveals the form properties of an evaluated structure but its functionality as well. The urban potential is understood as meta-functional possibilities of city territories, which are determined by fractal indexes of structures (as generators of streams), streets (as connections between generators), greenery (as eco-compensational territories and green generators of streams in bipolar system of meta-functional zones of a city) and public spaces (as generators of streams and spaces of communications). Using this method, evaluation of potential of Kaunas urban structures was performed. The results of the analysis allowed identifying meta-functional zones of Kaunas city: urban frame, nature frame and background areas with unused potential of urban qualitative and quantitative development, indicating the weak sides of their urban morphological structure. The results also allowed identifying complex parameters of a spatial code of valuable urban areas that can be applied regulating use of the territories.

Santrauka

Miesto, kaip nuolat besikeičiančios sudėtingos sistemos, atsinaujinimo ir evoliucionavimo potencialą atskleidžia apibendrinti jo posistemių potencialų įvertinimo rezultatai. Tam tikslui gali būti naudojamas fraktalinės analizės metodas, kuris atskleidžia ne tik vertinamos struktūros formos savybes, bet ir jos funkcines galimybes. Urbanistinis potencialas suprantamas kaip metafunkcinės miesto teritorijų ir erdvinių struktūrų galimybės, kurias parodo pastatų (srautų generatoriai), gatvių (ryšiai tarp generatorių), želdynų (ekokompensacinės teritorijos ir žalieji srautų generatoriai miesto bipolėje metafunkcinių zonų sistemoje) ir viešųjų erdvių (srautų generatoriai ir ryšių erdvės) fraktaliniai indeksai. Naudojant šį metodą atliktas Kauno urbanistinių struktūrų potencialo vertinimas. Tyrimo rezultatai leidžia išryškinti metafunkcines Kauno miesto zonas: urbanistinį karkasą, gamtinį karkasą ir fonines, neišnaudotų urbanistinės kokybinės ir kiekybinės plėtros galimybių teritorijas, nurodant jų urbanistinės morfostruktūros trūkumus. Rezultatai taip pat leidžia identifikuoti vertingų urbanistinių teritorijų erdvinio kodo kompleksiškus parametrus, kurie gali būti naudojami reglamentuojant teritorijų panaudojimą.
URBANISTINIŲ TENDENCIJŲ POVEIKIS MIESTO CENTRO RENOVACIJAI
Authors: Bardauskienė Dalia , Pakalnis Mindaugas
Published: January 2012

A city centre is an integral part of the overall urban model of the city and its metropolitan area. Therefore, the centre is influenced by the same urban trends. Renovation of the centre and devastated inner areas is related to the chaotic suburbanization trend. This trend is known as urban sprawl. It sucks viable powers (people, investments) from the city, which reflects in the loss of density of the existing urban structure as well as unaesthetic landscapes and threatens the revitalization of the existing urban structures and centres. The research on master plans of cities show their nonconformity to the demographic situation, which makes it impossible to avoid negative consequences of urban spread, growing use of resources, car dependency and pollution. New housing is developed to satisfy market needs, whereas the public interest is ignored. Based on the theoretical and practical research, the authors came to the conclusion that there is a need for a coordinated urban/rural policy and a realistic integrated territorial planning system as well as related monitoring and implementation tools. The EU policy documents and resolutions of National urban forums, which serve as a strong public think tank and monitoring tool in Lithuania, can serve as the guide for the sustainable development. The urban issues should be integrated into the National strategy for 2030. Santrauka Miesto centras yra integruota viso miesto ir jo metropolinės zonos dalis, jį veikia tos pačios urbanistinės tendencijos. Sąlygų miestų centrams renovuoti, degraduojančioms teritorijoms atsinaujinti ir kompaktiškumui pasiekti susiformavimas ar, jei pripažįstame, kad plėtrą galima valdyti, sudarymas, yra susijęs su chaotiškos priemiesčių suburbanizacijos mastu. Nevaldomos priemiesčių suburbanizacijos reiškinys tarptautiniuose mokslo darbuose, politikos dokumentuose vadinamas urbanistiniu sprogimu. Lietuvoje urbanistinis sprogimas išryškėjo XXI a. pradžioje, jį lemia įvairūs sociokultūriniai veiksniai. Atlikti tyrimai rodo, kad urbanistinis sprogimas reikalauja miestų renovacijos išteklių, blogina miestų demografinę situaciją, didina energijos vartojimą, automobilių skaičių bei viešosios infrastruktūros poreikį. Chaotiškos priemiesčių suburbanizacijos problemų neišsprendžia fizinės aplinkos projektavimas, atsietas nuo socialinio, ekonominio planavimo. Jis daugiausia sprendžia komercinius uždavinius. Remdamiesi pasaulinio garso urbanistų teiginiais, ES urbanistinės politikos gairėmis, atliktais Lietuvos urbanistinių tendencijų tyrimais, Vilniaus miesto monitoringo ataskaitos duomenimis, autoriai teigia, kad chaotiškas priemiesčių urbanizavimas yra nei funkcionalus, nei estetiškas, nei palankus miestų urbanistinių struktūrų, tarp jų ir centrų, renovacijai. Jis gali būti įveiktas tik numatant kompleksines, koordinuotas urbanistinės politikos, teritorijų planavimo ir įgyvendinimo priemones.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Authors: Khurram Muhammad , Khaar Hamama Tul Bushra , Fahim Muhammad
Published: January 2012

Introduction: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) strains are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin. Clinical characteristics, drug susceptibility patterns, and outcomes of MDR-TB patients treated at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, were studied from January 2007 to April 2010. Methodology: Thirty diagnosed patients (60% male and 40% female) of MDR pulmonary TB were included. Each patient was treated according to WHO guidelines and followed for two years. Clinical characteristics (age, gender, literate or illiterate educational status, employment status, and income), drug susceptibility testing (DST) reports, and outcome (cured, treatment failure, default, and died) of each patient was noted.Results: Mean patient age was 36.2 ± 15.4 years. In total, 60% patients were illiterate, 60% employed, 60% had income < Rs 5000 (42 Euro per month), 73.3% lived in an overcrowded residence, 60% were smokers, and 83.3% had taken anti-tuberculosis therapy previously. DST of MDR-TB strains for ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and streptomycin showed high resistance ( > 60%). Except for ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, < 20% resistance was noted in second-line anti-tuberculosis agents. Overall, 10% of patients were cured, 40% died, 20% had treatment failure, and 30% patients defaulted.Conclusion: Pulmonary MDR-TB in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, is common in young males, poverty related circumstances, and has poor outcome. DST shows high resistance to first- line anti-tuberculosis agents and quinolones
The MCP-1 (CCL2) -2518 GG genotype is associated with protection against pulmonary tuberculosis in Moroccan patients
Authors: Arji Naima , Busson Marc , Iraqi Ghali , Bourkadi Jamal Eddine , Benjouad Abdelaziz , Boukouaci Wahid , Lahlou Ouafae , Ben Amor Jouda , Krishnamoorthy Rajagopal , Charron Dominique , El Aouad Rajae , Tamouza Ryad
Published: January 2012

Introduction: Both monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), also designated officially as chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and interleukin-12 p40 (IL-12 p40) molecules, encoded by polymorphic genes, are central components of the immune response to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Their genetic diversity has previously been associated with the outcome of tuberculosis (TB) infection. We investigated whether the MCP-1 -2518 A/G and the IL-12B (p40) +1188 A/C polymorphisms influence susceptibility to or resistance against pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in a Moroccan population group. Methodology: Genomic DNA from 337 patients along with 204 healthy controls were genotyped for the above-mentioned genetic variations using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Results: We found a higher prevalence of homozygous MCP-1 -2518 G allele in healthy individuals than in patients (pc = 0.04; odds ratio  = 0.35; 95% confidence interval  = 0.13 - 0.86), suggesting a potential protective effect, whereas analysis of IL-12B +1188 variation failed to reveal any such association. Conclusion: Our results are in agreement with recent findings in Ghanaian patients, complying with the known genetic admixture of the Moroccan population.
Primary tubercular psoas abscess: a rare presentation
Authors: Chawla Kiran , D’Souza Annet , N Shyamasunder Bhat , Mukhopadhayay Chiranjay
Published: January 2012

Primary tubercular psoas abscess is a rare clinical entity and has seldom been reported in an otherwise healthy person. Here we report an interesting case of primary tubercular psoas abscess in an immunocompetent male with no other traceable source.
Morphological modification by tubercle bacilli: no time for denial
Authors: Velayati Ali Akbar , Farnia Parissa , Masjedi Mohammad Reza , Zhavnerko Gennady Konstantinovich , Ghanavi Jalaledin , Poleschuyk Nikolai Nikolaevich
Published: January 2012

This item has no abstract. Follow the links below to access the full text.
Resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Nairobi
Authors: Ndung'u Perpetual Wangui , Kariuki Samuel , Ng'ang'a Zipporah , Revathi Gunturu
Published: January 2012

Introduction: In Kenya, which ranks thirteenth of 27 high tuberculosis burden countries, diagnosis is based on Ziehl-Neelsen staining alone and patients are treated without information on sensitivity patterns. This study aimed to determine resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from pulmonary samples.Methodology: Pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Nairobi were randomly sampled after informed consent and recruited into the study using a structured questionnaire. Specimens were cultured in liquid and solid media, and drug susceptibility tests were performed for first-line drugs including (isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide). Results: Eighty-six (30%) of 286 isolates were resistant to at least one of five antibiotics tested. Thirty-seven (30.2%) isolates were resistant to isoniazid; 15 (11.6%) to streptomycin; 13 (4.5%) to ethambutol; four (1.4%) to rifampin ; and 30 (10.4%) to pyrazinamide. Double resistance was seen as follows: four (1.4%) isolates were resistant to both isoniazid and pyrazinamide; four (1.4%) to streptomycin and isoniazid; and one (0.3%) to rifampin and streptomycin. Two isolates (0.7%) were multidrug resistant, and one was triple resistant with an additional resistance to ethambutol. Results also showed 88.7% of patients were below the age of 40 years, while 26.3% were HIV positive. The majority of the patients (66.5%) were unemployed or self-employed in small businesses, with 79.4% earning less than 100 USD per month.Conclusion: The high resistance observed in isoniazid, which is a first-line drug, could result in an increase in multidrug resistance unless control programs are strengthened. Poverty should be addressed to reduce infection rates.
L'imagination en morale dans la philosophie contemporaine de langue anglaise
Authors: Chavel Solange
Published: January 2012

Résumé Un grand nombre de philosophes contemporains de langue anglaise accordent un rôle éminent à l’imagination dans le raisonnement moral. S’inspirant de sources historiques variées ou des développements récents de la psychologie de l’empathie, ces auteurs cherchent à élargir la conception de la rationalité morale et de ce qui compte légitimement comme un argument. Cet article précise deux usages fondamentaux de la notion d’imagination : se mettre à la place d’autrui et imaginer l’avenir. Tout en soulignant la fécondité de la notion d’imagination morale, on en relève également les limites épistémologiques et morales : processus exigeant, coûteux en temps et toujours faillible, l’imagination permet de comprendre pourquoi la narration et la fiction sont des ressources morales véritables mais de portée limitée.
Introduction and Overview of Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Ansari Seema , Hasnain Syeda Fariha , Ansari Adeel
Published: January 2012

Wireless Sensor Networks are an exciting technology that can solve a variety of applications. Wireless sensor networks, coupled with the efficient delivery of sensed information, could provide great benefits to society. The surroundings can be the physical world, a biological system, or an Information Technology (IT) framework. The use of wireless sensors allows for fast setting up of sensing tools and access to locations that would not be realistic if cables were attached. This chapter provides a brief technical introduction to wireless sensor networks, with background and history and an understanding of sensor networks, design constraints, security issues, and a few applications in which wireless sensor networks are enabling. A brief discussion of the network topologies that apply to wireless sensor networks are also discussed.
Literature Review of MAC, Routing and Cross Layer Design Protocols for WSN
Authors: Al-Khdour Tayseer A. , Baroudi Uthman
Published: January 2012

In this chapter, the authors present a literature review for MAC, routing, and cross layer design protocols proposed for WSN. This chapter consists of three sections. In the first section, the authors discuss in depth the most well-known MAC protocols for WSN. A comparison among theses protocols will be presented. Moreover, the major advantages and disadvantages of each protocol are discussed. The routing protocols for WSN are discussed in the second section. The discussed protocols are classified into data centric routing protocols, Hierarchical routing protocols, location based protocols, and QoS aware routing protocols. Moreover, A Classification of Routing Protocols based on the Application is presented in this section. In the third section, some cross layer design protocols are discussed. A comparison among the discussed protocols according to layers integrated, intended applications, cross-layer objectives, and the evaluation approach, is presented.
Energy Efficient Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Ponnusamy Vasaki , Abdullah Azween , Downe Alan G.
Published: January 2012

This research presents a survey of energy efficient routing protocols in sensor network by categorizing into a main classification as architecture based routing. Architecture based routing is further classified into two main areas: flat or location based routing protocol, and hierarchical based routing protocols. Flat based routing is more suitable when a huge number of sensor nodes are deployed, and location based routing is employed when nodes are aware of their location. Hierarchical routing look into alternative approach by placing intermediate nodes in terms of cluster heads, gateway nodes, or mobile entities for efficient handling of energy. The survey is presented in order to highlight the advantage of hierarchical based routing, mainly the deployment of mobility routing. As not many surveys have been conducted in mobility based routing, this chapter can be helpful for looking into a new perspective and paradigm of energy efficient routing protocols.
Using Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization for Energy-Efficient Clustering in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Ali Hamid , Shahzad Waseem , Khan Farrukh Aslam
Published: January 2012

In this chapter, the authors propose a multi-objective solution to the problem by using multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm to optimize the number of clusters in a sensor network in order to provide an energy-efficient solution. The proposed algorithm considers the ideal degree of nodes and battery power consumption of the sensor nodes. The main advantage of the proposed method is that it provides a set of solutions at a time. The results of the proposed approach were compared with two other well-known clustering techniques: WCA and CLPSO-based clustering. Extensive simulations were performed to show that the proposed approach is an effective approach for clustering in WSN environments and performs better than the other two approaches.
Low Complexity Processor Designs for Energy-Efficient Security and Error Correction in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kong J. H. , Ong J. J. , Ang L.-M. , Seng K. P.
Published: January 2012

This chapter presents low complexity processor designs for energy-efficient security and error correction for implementation on wireless sensor networks (WSN). WSN nodes have limited resources in terms of hardware, memory, and battery life span. Small area hardware designs for encryption and error-correction modules are the most preferred approach to meet the stringent design area requirement. This chapter describes Minimal Instruction Set Computer (MISC) processor designs with a compact architecture and simple hardware components. The MISC is able to make use of a small area of the FPGA and provides a processor platform for security and error correction operations. In this chapter, two example applications, which are the Advance Encryption Standard (AES) and Reed Solomon (RS) algorithms, were implemented onto MISC. The MISC hardware architecture for AES and RS were designed and verified using the Handel-C hardware description language and implemented on a Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGA.
Medium Access Control Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kumar Pardeep , Gunes Mesut
Published: January 2012

This chapter provides an overall understanding of the design aspects of Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). A WSN MAC protocol shares the wireless broadcast medium among sensor nodes and creates a basic network infrastructure for them to communicate with each other. The MAC protocol also has a direct influence on the network lifetime of WSNs as it controls the activities of the radio, which is the most power-consuming component of resource-scarce sensor nodes. In this chapter, the authors first discuss the basics of MAC design for WSNs and present a set of important MAC attributes. Subsequently, authors discuss the main categories of MAC protocols proposed for WSNs and highlight their strong and weak points. After briefly outlining different MAC protocols falling in each category, the authors provide a substantial comparison of these protocols for several parameters. Lastly, the chapter discusses future research directions on open issues in this field that have mostly been overlooked.
Improved Energy-Efficient Ant-Based Routing Algorithm in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zungeru Adamu Murtala , Ang Li-Minn , Prabaharan SRS. , Seng Kah Phooi
Published: January 2012

High efficient routing is an important issue in the design of limited energy resource wireless sensor networks (WSNs). This chapter presents an Improved Energy-Efficient Ant-Based Routing Algorithm (IEEABR) in wireless sensor networks. Compared to traditional Basic Ant-Based Routing (BABR), Improved Ant-Based Routing (IABR), and Energy-Efficient Ant-Based Routing (EEABR) approaches, the proposed IEEABR approach has advantages of reduced energy usage and achieves a dynamic and adaptive routing that can effectively balance the WSN node power consumption and increase the network lifetime. This chapter covers applications and routing in WSNs, different methods for routing using ant colony optimization (ACO), a summary of routing algorithms based on ant systems, and the Improved Energy-Efficient Ant-Based Routing Algorithm approach. Simulations results were analyzed while also looking at open research problems and future work to be done. The chapter concludes with a comparative summary of results with IABR and EEABR.
A Game Theoretical Approach to Design
Authors: Mehta S. , Kim B. H. , Kwak K.S.
Published: January 2012

Game Theory provides a mathematical tool for the analysis of interactions between the agents with conflicting interests, hence it is a suitable tool to model some problems in communication systems, especially, to wireless sensor networks (WSNs) where the prime goal is to minimize energy consumption than high throughput and low delay. Another important aspect of WSNs are their ad-hoc topology. In such ad-hoc and distributed environment, selfish nodes can easily obtain the unfair share of the bandwidth by not following the medium access control (MAC) protocol. This selfish behavior, at the expense of well behaved nodes, can degrade the performance of overall network. In this chapter, the authors use the concepts of game theory to design an energy efficient MAC protocol for WSNs. This allows them to introduce persistent/non-persistent sift protocol for energy efficient MAC protocol and to counteract the selfish behavior of nodes in WSNs. Finally, the research results show that game theoretical approach with the persistent/non-persistent sift algorithm can improve the overall performance as well as achieve all the goals simultaneously for MAC protocol in WSNs.
Geometric Structures for Routing Decision in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kumar Alok , Varma Shirshu
Published: January 2012

This chapter surveys routing algorithms in Euclidean, virtual, and hyperbolic space for wireless sensor networks that use geometric structures for route decisions. Wireless sensor networks have a unique geographic nature as the sensor nodes are embedded and designed for employing in the geographic space. Thus, the various geometric abstractions of the network can be used for routing algorithm design, which can provide scalability and efficiency. This chapter starts with the importance and impulse of the geographical routing in wireless sensor networks that exploits location information of the nodes to determine the alternatives of the next hop node on the desired routing path. The scalability of geographical routing encourages more effort on the design of virtual coordinates system, with which geographical routing algorithms are built up and applied to route data packets in the network. The geometry of large sensor network motivates to calculate geometric abstractions in hyperbolic space. Thus the challenge is to embed the network virtually or hyperbolically, which affects the performance and efficiency in the geographical message delivery.
Sulfuric acid nucleation: power dependencies, variation with relative humidity, and effect of bases
Authors: Zollner J. H. , Glasoe W. A. , Panta B. , Carlson K. K. , McMurry P. H. , Hanson D. R.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Nucleation of particles composed of sulfuric acid, water, and nitrogen base molecules was studied using a continuous flow reactor. The particles formed from these vapors were detected with an ultrafine condensation particle counter, while vapors of sulfuric acid and nitrogen bases were detected by chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Variation of particle numbers with sulfuric acid concentration yielded a power dependency on sulfuric acid of 5 ± 1 for relative humidities of 14–68% at 296 K; similar experiments with varying water content yielded power dependencies on H2O of ~7. The critical cluster contains about 5 H2SO4 molecules and a new treatment of the power dependency for H2O suggests about 12 H2O molecules for these conditions. Addition of 2-to-45 pptv of ammonia or methyl amine resulted in up to millions of times more particles than in the absence of these compounds. Particle detection efficiencies, sulfuric acid and nitrogen base detection, wall losses, and the extent of particle growth are discussed with the help of a recent computational fluid dynamics study that simulated the flow and chemistry in the flow reactor. Results are compared to previous laboratory nucleation studies and they are also discussed in terms of atmospheric nucleation scenarios.
Antarctic ozone hole as observed by IASI/MetOp for 2008–2010
Authors: Scannell C. , Hurtmans D. , Boynard A. , Hadji-Lazaro J. , George M. , Delcloo A. , Tuinder O. , Coheur P.-F. , Clerbaux C.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. In this paper we present a study of the ozone hole as observed by the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on-board the MetOp-A European satellite platform from the beginning of data dissemination, August 2008, to the end of December 2010. Here we demonstrate IASI's ability to capture the seasonal characteristics of the ozone hole, in particular during polar night. We compare IASI ozone total columns and vertical profiles with those of the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment 2 (GOME-2, also on-board MetOp-A) and electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozone sonde measurements. Total ozone column from IASI and GOME-2 were found to be in excellent agreement for this region with a correlation coefficient of 0.97, for September, October and November 2009. On average IASI exhibits a positive bias of approximately 7% compared to the GOME-2 measurements over the entire ozone hole period. Comparisons between IASI and ozone sonde measurements were also found to be in good agreement with the difference between both ozone profile measurements being less than ±30% over the altitude range of 0–40 km. The vertical structure of the ozone profile inside the ozone hole is captured remarkably well by IASI.
Quantification of levoglucosan and its isomers by High Performance Liquid Chromatography – Electrospray Ionization tandem Mass Spectrometry and its applications to atmospheric and soil samples
Authors: Piot C. , Jaffrezo J.-L. , Cozic J. , Pissot N. , El Haddad I. , Marchand N. , Besombes J.-L.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. The determination of atmospheric concentrations of levoglucosan and its two isomers, unambiguous tracers of biomass burning emissions, became even more important with the development of wood as renewable energy for domestic heating. Many researches demonstrated the increase during recent years of atmospheric particulate matter load due to domestic biomass combustion in developed countries. Analysis of biomass burning tracers is traditionally performed with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique after derivatization and requires an organic solvent extraction. A simpler and faster technique using Liquid Chromatography – Electrospray Ionisation – tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was optimized for the analysis of levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan isomers after an aqueous extraction. This technique allows a good separation between the three compounds in a very reduced time (runtime ~5 min). LOD and LOQ of this method are 30 μg l−1 and 100 μg l−1 respectively, allowing the use of filters from low-volume sampler (as commonly used in routine campaigns). A comparison of simultaneous levoglucosan measurements by GC-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS for about 50 samples coming from different types of sampling sites and seasons was realized and shows very good agreement between the two methods. Therefore LC-ESI-MS/MS method can be used as an alternative to GC-MS particularly for measurement campaigns in routine where analysis time is important and detection limit is reduced. This paper shows that this method is also applicable to other environmental sample types like soil.
Spatial and temporal CO2 exchanges measured by Eddy Covariance over a temperate intertidal flat and their relationships to net ecosystem production
Authors: Polsenaere P. , Lamaud E. , Lafon V. , Bonnefond J.-M. , Bretel P. , Delille B. , Deborde J. , Loustau D. , Abril G.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Measurements of carbon dioxide fluxes were performed over a temperate intertidal mudflat in southwestern France using the micrometeorological Eddy Covariance (EC) technique. EC measurements were carried out in two contrasting sites of the Arcachon flat during four periods and in three different seasons (autumn 2007, summer 2008, autumn 2008 and spring 2009). In addition, satellite images of the tidal flat at low tide were used to link the net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) with the occupation of the mudflat by primary producers, particularly by Zostera noltii meadows. CO2 fluxes during the four deployments showed important spatial and temporal variations, with the flat rapidly shifting from sink to source with the tide. Absolute CO2 fluxes showed generally small negative (influx) and positive (efflux) values, with larger values up to −13 μmol m−2 s−1 for influxes and 19 μmol m−2 s−1 for effluxes. Low tide during the day was mostly associated with a net uptake of atmospheric CO2. In contrast, during immersion and during low tide at night, CO2 fluxes where positive, negative or close to zero, depending on the season and the site. During the autumn of 2007, at the innermost station with a patchy Zostera noltii bed (cover of 22 ± 14% in the wind direction of measurements), CO2 influx was −1.7 ± 1.7 μmol m−2 s−1 at low tide during the day, and the efflux was 2.7 ± 3.7 μmol m−2 s−1 at low tide during the night. A gross primary production (GPP) of 4.4 ± 4.1 μmol m−2 s−1 during emersion could be attributed to microphytobenthic communities. During the summer and autumn of 2008, at the central station with a dense eelgrass bed (92 ± 10%), CO2 uptakes at low tide during the day were −1.5 ± 1.2 and −0.9 ± 1.7 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively. Night time effluxes of CO2 were 1.0 ± 0.9 and 0.2 ± 1.1 μmol m−2 s−1 in summer and autumn, respectively, resulting in a GPP during emersion of 2.5 ± 1.5 and 1.1 ± 2.0 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively, attributed primarily to the seagrass community. At the same station in April 2009, before Zostera noltii started to grow, the CO2 uptake at low tide during the day was the highest (−2.7 ± 2.0 μmol m−2 s−1). Influxes of CO2 were also observed during immersion at the central station in spring and early autumn and were apparently related to phytoplankton blooms occurring at the mouth of the flat, followed by the advection of CO2-depleted water with the flooding tide. Although winter data as well as water carbon measurements would be necessary to determine a precise CO2 budget for the flat, our results suggest that tidal flat ecosystems are a modest contributor to the CO2 budget of the coastal ocean.
Statistical framework for evaluation of climate model simulations by use of climate proxy data from the last millennium
Authors: Hind A. , Moberg A. , Sundberg R.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. A statistical framework for comparing the output of ensemble simulations from global climate models with networks of climate proxy and instrumental records is developed, focusing on near-surface temperatures for the last millennium. This framework includes the formulation of a joint statistical model for proxy data, instrumental data and simulation data, which is used to optimize a quadratic distance measure for ranking climate model simulations. An essential underlying assumption is that the simulations and the proxy/instrumental series have a shared component of variability that is due to temporal changes in external forcing, such as volcanic aerosol load, solar irradiance changes and greenhouse gas concentrations. Two statistical tests are formulated. Firstly, a preliminary test to establish whether a significant temporal correlation exists between instrumental/proxy and simulation data. Secondly, the distance measure is expressed in the form of a test statistic of whether a forced simulation is closer to the instrumental/proxy series than unforced simulations. The proposed framework allows any number of proxy locations to be used jointly, with different seasons, record lengths and statistical precision. The new methods are applied in a pseudo-proxy experiment. Here, a set of previously published millennial forced model simulations, including both "low" and "high" solar radiative forcing histories together with other common forcings, were used to define "true" target temperatures as well as pseudo-proxy and pseudo-instrumental series. The pseudo-proxies were created to reflect current proxy locations and noise levels, where it was found that the low and high solar full-forcing simulations could be distinguished when the latter were used as targets. When the former were used as targets, a greater number of proxy locations were needed to make this distinction. It was also found that to improve detectability of the low solar simulations, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio was more efficient than increasing the spatial coverage of the proxy network. In the next phase of the work, we will apply these methods to real proxy and instrumental data, with the aim to distinguish which of the two solar forcing histories is most compatible with the observed/reconstructed climate.
Evaluation and bias correction of satellite rainfall data for drought monitoring in Indonesia
Authors: Vernimmen R. R. E. , Hooijer A. ,   Mamenun, Aldrian E. , van Dijk A. I. J. M.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. The accuracy of three satellite rainfall products (TMPA 3B42RT, CMORPH and PERSIANN) was investigated through comparison with grid cell average ground station rainfall data in Indonesia, with a focus on their ability to detect patterns of low rainfall that may lead to drought conditions. Each of the three products underestimated rainfall in dry season months. The CMORPH and PERSIANN data differed most from ground station data and were also very different from the TMPA 3B42RT data. It proved possible to improve TMPA 3B42RT estimates by applying a single empirical bias correction equation that was uniform in space and time. For the six regions investigated, this reduced the root mean square error for estimates of dry season rainfall totals by a mean 9% (from 44 to 40 mm) and for annual totals by 14% (from 77 to 66 mm). The resulting errors represent 10% and 3% of mean dry season and annual rainfall, respectively. The accuracy of these bias corrected TMPA 3B42RT data is considered adequate for use in real-time drought monitoring in Indonesia. Compared to drought monitoring with only ground stations, this use of satellite-based rainfall estimates offers important advantages in terms of accuracy, spatial coverage, timeliness and cost efficiency.
Identification of runoff generation processes using hydrometric and tracer methods in a meso-scale catchment in Rwanda
Authors: Munyaneza O. , Wenninger J. , Uhlenbrook S.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Understanding of dominant runoff generation processes in the meso-scale Migina catchment (257.4 km2) in Southern Rwanda was improved using analysis of hydrometric data and tracer methods. The paper examines the use of hydrochemical and isotope parameters for separating streamflow into different runoff components by investigating two flood events occurred during the rainy season "Itumba" (March–May) over the period of 2 yr at two gauging stations. Dissolved silica (SiO2), electrical conductivity (EC), deuterium (2H), oxygen-18 (18O), major anions (Cl− and SO42−) and major cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) were analyzed during the events. 2H, 18O, Cl− and SiO2 were finally selected to assess the different contributing sources using mass balance equations and end member mixing analysis for two- and three-component hydrograph separation models. The results obtained applying two-component hydrograph separations using dissolved silica and chloride as tracers are generally in line with the results of three-component separations using dissolved silica and deuterium. Subsurface runoff is dominating the total discharge during flood events, More than 80% of the discharge was generated by subsurface runoff for both events. This is supported by observations of shallow groundwater responses in the catchment (depth 0.2–2 m), which show fast infiltration of rainfall water during events. Consequently, shallow groundwater and contributes to subsurface stormflow and baseflow generation. This dominance of subsurface contributions is also in line with the observed low runoff coefficient values (16.7–44.5%) for both events. Groundwater recharge during the wet seasons leads to a perennial river system, and wet season recharge is isotopically characterising all discharge components.
Nietzsche and the Romans
Authors: Bett Richard
Published: January 2012

This article examines Nietzsche's interest in and appeal to the Romans in both his published and unpublished work. In most cases he shows little interest in specific figures from ancient Roman politics or military history, literature, or philosophy. Julius Caesar is the conspicuous exception among politicians and generals; he figures among Nietzsche's very short list of truly great human beings. In the literary and philosophical sphere, the major exceptions are Horace and Petronius, but the latter only at the end of his working life. He admires both writers, Petronius especially, and this attitude is connected in some ways with his general estimation of the Romans. His attitude to the Romans in general becomes increasingly positive, and they serve in his writing increasingly as a foil for Christianity, over the course of his career, culminating in The Antichrist.
Do-It-Yourself:
Authors: Dawkins Nicole
Published: January 2012

Drawing on limited ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2009 and 2010, this article analyzes how the idioms of “craft” and “handmaking” are being evoked and (re)imagined in Detroit. Because of a recent flurry of journalistic accounts of artists, makers, and entrepreneurs flocking to the city’s industrial ruins, Detroit has reemerged in the public imaginary as a utopic “blank canvas”: an empty space waiting to be inscribed and transformed by the arrival of a new (and predominately white) creative class. In this narrative of transforming the “Motor City” into “Maker City,” the future of the not-quite-postindustrial city rests in the hands of those willing and able to do-it-themselves. While urban farming, artist collectives, hackerspaces, and business start-ups are all part of this narrative, here I focus primarily on the gendered domestic arts (knitting, sewing, needlepoint, and so on), craft fairs, and in particular the work of an all-female grassroots collective of makers called Handmade Detroit. Interrogating the intersections between postfeminist and post-Fordist subjectivities that emerge in and through the narratives, spaces, and practices of the “indie” crafting community in Detroit, I argue that pleasure and self-fulfillment are often exchanged for what might otherwise be felt to be unstable, precarious, and even exploitive work. Finally, this article explores how the transformative rhetoric of DIY often espouses values of pleasure, autonomy, and (consumer) choice, reproducing neoliberalist rationalities and limiting the political potential of craft and community activism in Detroit.