Theory of Non-Equilibrium Heat Transport in Anharmonic Multiprobe Systems at High Temperatures

We consider the problem of heat transport by vibrational modes between Langevin thermostats connected by a central device. The latter is anharmonic and can be subject to large temperature difference and thus be out of equilibrium. We develop a classical formalism based on the equation of motion method, the fluctuation–dissipation theorem and the Novikov theorem to describe heat flow in a multi-terminal geometry. We show that it is imperative to include a quartic term in the potential energy to insure stability and to properly describe thermal expansion. The latter also contributes to leading order in the thermal resistance, while the usually adopted cubic term appears in the second order. This formalism paves the way for accurate modeling of thermal transport across interfaces in highly non-equilibrium situations beyond perturbation theory.

The Additive Value of Semi-Quantitative Analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT For The Diagnosis of Device Related Infections In Patients With A Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) improve quality of life and long-term survival in advanced heart failure, but device related infections (DRI) remain cumbersome. We evaluated the diagnostic capability of FDG-PET/CT and the additive value of semi-quantitative analysis for the diagnosis of DRI. Methods: LVAD recipients undergoing FDG-PET/CT between December 2012 and August 2020 for suspected DRI were retrospectively included. FDG-PET/CT was performed and evaluated according to EANM guidelines and assessors were blinded to the clinical context of included patients. Final clinical diagnosis of driveline infection and/or central device infection, based on multidisciplinary consensus and findings during surgery whenever performed, was used as the reference for the diagnosis. Results: 44 patients were evaluated for 62 episodes of suspected DRI. Clinical evaluation established driveline infection in 33 (54%) episodes, central device infection in 8 (14%) and combined infection in 2 (4%). Visual analysis of FDG-PET/CT achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 0.83 and 0.73, respectively, for driveline infections, while semi-quantitative analysis found comparable results (p=0.77). For central device component infections, visual analysis of FDG-PET/CT achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 1.0 and 0.26, respectively, while semi-quantitative analysis using SUVratio (background liver) achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 1.0 and 0.8, respectively. Both SUVmax and SUVratio outperformed visual analysis (p<0.001). Conclusions: FDG-PET/CT is a valuable tool for the assessment of DRI in LVAD recipients. Semiquantitative analysis significantly increases specificity of FDG-PET/CT for the analysis of central device components and should be considered in equivocal cases after visual analysis.

Multilink Internet-of-Things Sensor Communication Based on Bluetooth Low Energy Considering Scalability

As the growth rate of the internet-of-things (IoT) sensor market is expected to exceed 30%, a technology that can easily collect and processing a large number of various types of sensor data is gradually required. However, conventional multilink IoT sensor communication based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE) enables only the processing of up to 19 peripheral nodes per central device. This study suggested an alternative to increasing the number of IoT sensor nodes while minimizing the addition of a central processor by expanding the number of peripheral nodes that can be processed per central device through a new group-switching algorithm based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE). Furthermore, this involves verifying the relevancy of application to the industry field. This device environment lowered the possibility of data errors and equipment troubles due to communication interference between central processors, which is a critical advantage when applying it to industry. The scalability and various benefits of a group-switching algorithm are expected to help accelerate various services via the application of BLE 5 wireless communication by innovatively improving the constraint of accessing up to 19 nodes per central device in the conventional multilink IoT sensor communication.

Vocalizations in dance classes teach body knowledge

Language is believed to be a central device for communicating meaning and knowledge between humans. It is superb in its capacity to code abstract ideas and displaced information, which can be conveyed from person to person, sometimes across centuries. When it comes to instructing a bodily skill in co-present situations, language is used along with other multimodal resources. This paper focuses on the role of vocalizations in dance teaching, syllables that express simultaneous body movement rather than abstract lexical content. While being essentially a vocal resource, the meaning of vocalizations arises in the simultaneously moving bodies. By carrying indexical and only partially conventionalized meaning, vocalizations constitute a puzzle for linguistic theory that preferably targets the arbitrary, symbolic and conventionalized aspects of human vocal production. The meanings conveyed from one body to another through a vocalization are experiential rather than intellectual. Vocalizations provide a solution to the problem of transferring body knowledge from one autonomous organism to another, and can even be embedded in syntax. The analysis is based on an occasion of teaching a jazz routine to a larger group of students.

IOT Based Camera Motion Control System

The robotics and automation industry which is ruled the sectors from manufacturing to household entertainments. It is widely used because of its simplicity and ability to modify to meet changes of needs. The project is designed to develop a robotic vehicle using android application for remote operation attached with wireless camera for monitoring purpose. Recent advances in smart technology design with integration of smart sensors and embedded components have enhanced human life quickly in so many fields such as home automation, smart phones, smart cars, etc. An Android-based control system is proposed which can maintain residential, industrial security and provides an application which remotely controls all the functions and features of home appliances using Internet of Things (IOT). The details of the users and devices are stored in a database on the server. The central device connects to the internet and the application presents the user with a list of devices to interact with. The server manages the users and devices, and handles the communication between the application and the central device. The system proposed will be economical and can be expanded as it allows connection and control of a number of different devices.

The value of 18F-FDG PET/CT for the diagnosis of device related infections in patients with a left ventricular assist device - a dual centre study

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Partnership UMCG Siemens for building the future of Health (PUSH) Background Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used for the treatment of end-stage heart failure. LVADs improve quality of life and long-term survival, but device specific infections remain cumbersome. These infections can lead to life threatening complications and are difficult to diagnose with conventional radiological imaging. In this study, FDG-PET/CT accuracy for the diagnosis of LVAD specific infections was evaluated with specific focus on potential confounders and the additive value of semi-quantitative analysis. Materials/methods All LVAD recipients with an available FDG-PET/CT from September 2013 until August 2020 in two LVAD centres in the Netherlands, with a suspicion of driveline and/or central device infection were included. FDG-PET/CT was performed according to European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) guidelines. Potential confounders were documented and assessors were blinded to the clinical context of included patients. Assessment of FDG-PET/CT was performed visually and semi-quantitatively with 6 regions of interest alongside the driveline and central device components. The final clinical diagnosis of either driveline infection or central device infection, based on findings during surgical intervention or multidisciplinary consensus, was used as the reference for diagnosis. Results In total 38 patients (average age 55 years, 84% males) were evaluated for a total of 55 episodes of suspected device-specific infection. Clinical evaluation established driveline infection in 28 cases, central device infection in 7 and combined infection in 4. Visual analysis obtained a sensitivity and specificity of 0.83 and 0.75 respectively, in differentiation between infected and non-infected drivelines. Visual analysis of FDG-PET/CT of central device components showed excellent sensitivity: 1.0, but suffered from poor specificity: 0.23. Semi-quantitative analysis using a SUVmax was comparable to visual analysis for establishing driveline infections, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.80 and 0.84 respectively, while for central device infections, semi-quantitative analysis using a SUVratio outperformed visual analysis, with a sensitivity and specificity reaching 0.88 and 0.90 respectively. Conclusions FDG-PET/CT is a valuable tool for the assessment of device-specific infections in LVAD recipients. Semi-quantitative analysis can significantly increase diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for the analysis of the central device components and should be considered in cases where the diagnosis cannot be rejected based on visual analysis.

The Lake Front Case

This chapter discusses the most important decisions about property rights in American law: the Lake Front Case of 1892. It argues that the decision stands for the proposition that certain critical resources, most notably those associated with navigable waterways, must remain under the control of public authorities. The chapter examines how the central device of the Lake Front Case — the public trust doctrine — became a product of the exigencies of litigation. It also introduces Justice Stephen Field and his doctrinal basis to defeat the Illinois Central's powerful vested rights argument. The chapter then highlights the significance and consequences of the enactment and repeal of the Lake Front Act. It analyses how the public trust doctrine was not deployed in the litigation to freeze the submerged land in its original condition. Ultimately, the chapter reviews the longstanding controversy generated by the Illinois Central's presence on the lakefront.

Detection of Tennis Activities with Wearable Sensors

This paper aims to design and implement a system capable of distinguishing between different activities carried out during a tennis match. The goal is to achieve the correct classification of a set of tennis strokes. The system must exhibit robustness to the variability of the height, age or sex of any subject that performs the actions. A new database is developed to meet this objective. The system is based on two sensor nodes using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless technology to communicate with a PC that acts as a central device to collect the information received by the sensors. The data provided by these sensors are processed to calculate their spectrograms. Through the application of innovative deep learning techniques with semi-supervised training, it is possible to carry out the extraction of characteristics and the classification of activities. Preliminary results obtained with a data set of eight players, four women and four men have shown that our approach is able to address the problem of the diversity of human constitutions, weight and sex of different players, providing accuracy greater than 96.5% to recognize the tennis strokes of a new player never seen before by the system.

Burla y risa en “El celoso hasta la muerte” de Alonso de Castillo Solórzano

This article explores the function of mockery and laughter in the short novel “El celoso hasta la muerte” by Alonso de Castillo Solórzano. I interpret this text as a “novela de burlas” or comic novella, a specific type of narrative in which mockery is a central device. The analysis pays close attention to the mechanism of the “canned laughter” that reveals the function of ridicule and the role of both the victim as scapegoat and his victimizers. At the end, this short novel reflects the literary sensitivity of the aristocratic audience to whom it is addressed: a small group of noble families and friends that the author met during his stay in Valencia.

EEMIP: Energy-Efficient Communication Using Timing Channels and Prioritization in ZigBee

With the expansion of the Internet-of-Things, energy-efficient communication is becoming vital. The communication among energy-limited devices (e.g., powered by batteries or harvesting the energy from their environment) must be energy-efficient, prolonging their lifetime or increasing data throughput. This article aims at proposing energy-efficient periodic communication for devices over the ZigBee protocol and powered by a battery. We propose using timing channels for different data priorities, thus, more important data are sent more frequently. The priority is also considered in case of congested traffic, where a central device (coordinator) prioritizes more important communication. We have implemented a simulator, which serves for verification of the proposed solution, and conducted experiments comparing the proposed EEMIP method with the standard nonbeacon ZigBee communication. The experimental results show that the proposed method is more energy efficient.