New approaches to Quality-of-Service (QoS) Routing in wireless sensor networks which use different forms of learning are the subject of this paper. The Cognitive Packet Network (CPN) algorithm uses smart packets for path discovery, together with reinforcement learning and neural networks, while SelfSelective Routing (SSR) is based on the “Ant Colony” paradigm which emulates the pheromone-based ...

Owing to the evolution of the smart grid, the emergence of hybrid power systems (HPSs), and the proliferation of plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles, the development of efficient and robust maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms for renewable energy sources due to their inherent intermittent nature has overwhelmed the power industry. In this paper, an incremental conductance (IC) based Her...

Facilitating interactive or collaborative learning through the capabilities of wireless devices can be challenging due to the heterogeneity of technologies used in the many devices available. As wireless networks become increasingly “smart,” the idea of wireless grids becomes more practical. Wireless grid specifications are emerging through research efforts following over a decade of support fr...

This paper presents a new digital protection system to solve the protection challenges in future smart grids, i.e., fast protection and fault isolation in a loop-structured system with limited magnitude of fault current. The new system combines two protection algorithms, i.e., a differential protection as the primary algorithm and an overcurrent protection as the backup one. The new system uses...

This month, we focus on current research in bed rest in pregnancy. Dr. Lorenz discusses four recent publications, and each is concluded with a "bottom line" that is the take-home message. The complete reference for each can be found in on this page, along with direct links to the abstracts.

This work studied the influence of effluent recirculation upon the kinetics of anaerobic degradation of dairy wastewater in the feedless phase of intermittent upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors. Several laboratory-scale tests were performed with different organic loads in closed circuit UASB reactors inoculated with adapted flocculent sludge. The data obtained were used for determinati...

I n t e r v e n t i o n Patients were allocated to bed rest (n = 84), physiotherapy (n = 83), or continuation of ADLs (n = 83). Bed rest could be done at home or in the hospital and lasted 7 days. Physiotherapy sessions were scheduled twice weekly for 4 to 8 weeks and involved segmental mobilization, disc unloading and loading exercises, and hydrotherapy. Patients in the continuation-of-ADLs gr...

For many years, average bed occupancy level has been the primary measure that has guided hospital bed capacity decisions at both policy and managerial levels. Even now, the common wisdom that there is an excess of beds nationally has been based on a federal target of 85% occupancy that was developed about 25 years ago. This paper examines data from New York state and uses queueing analysis to e...

Bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) infestations are currently controlled by a variety of non-chemical and chemical methods. There have been few studies on the comparative effectiveness of these control techniques. We evaluated three bed bug management strategies in an apartment building: (1) non-chemical methods only (n = 9); (2) insecticides only (n = 6); and (3) integrated pest management includi...

The pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen were studied under microgravity (µG) conditions and compared with those at normal gravity (1G) in humans. Six healthy human volunteers were given 600 mg oral dose ibuprofen during 1-day simulated µG antiorthostatic bed rest position, then at normal position (1G) in a sequential design with 7 days washout time. Saliva and plasma samples were obtained up to 8 hou...