Search

Vehicular communication networks are essential to the development of intelligent navigation systems and improvement of road safety. Unlike most terrestrial networks of today, vehicular networks are characterized by stringent reliability and latency requirements. In order to design efficient networks to meet these requirements, it is important to understand the system-level performance of vehicular networks. Stochastic geometry has recently emerged as a powerful tool for the modeling and analysis of wireless communication networks. However, the canonical spatial models such as the 2D Poisson point process (PPP) does not capture the peculiar spatial layout of vehicular networks, where the locations of vehicular nodes are restricted to roadways. Motivated by this, we consider a doubly stochastic spatial model that captures the spatial coupling between the vehicular nodes and the roads and analyze the performance of vehicular communication networks. We model the spatial layout of roads by a Poisson line process (PLP) and the locations of nodes on each line (road) by a 1D PPP, thereby forming a Cox process driven by a PLP or Poisson line Cox process (PLCP). In this dissertation, we develop the theory of the PLCP and apply it to study key performance metrics such as coverage probability and rate coverage for vehicular networks under different scenarios. First, we compute the signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR)-based success probability of the typical communication link in a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET). Using this result, we also compute the area spectral efficiency (ASE) of the network. Our results show that the optimum transmission probability that maximizes the ASE of the network obtained for the Cox process differs significantly from that of the conventional 1D and 2D PPP models. Second, we calculate the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR)-based downlink coverage probability of the typical receiver in a vehicular network for the cellular network model in which each receiver node connects to its closest transmitting node in the network. The conditioning on the serving node imposes constraints on the spatial configuration of interfering nodes and also the underlying distribution of lines. We carefully handle these constraints using various fundamental distance properties of the PLCP and derive the exact expression for the coverage probability. Third, building further on the above mentioned works, we consider a more complex cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communication network in which the vehicular nodes are served by roadside units (RSUs) as well as cellular macro base stations (MBSs). For this setup, we present the downlink coverage analysis of the typical receiver in the presence of shadowing effects. We address the technical challenges induced by the inclusion of shadowing effects by leveraging the asymptotic behavior of the Cox process. These results help us gain useful insights into the behavior of the networks as a function of key network parameters, such as the densities of the nodes and selection bias. Fourth, we characterize the load on the MBSs due to vehicular users, which is defined as the number of vehicular nodes that are served by the MBS. Since the limited network resources are shared by multiple users in the network, the load distribution is a key indicator of the demand of network resources. We first compute the distribution of the load on MBSs due to vehicular users in a single-tier vehicular network. Building on this, we characterize the load on both MBSs and RSUs in a heterogeneous C-V2X network. Using these results, we also compute the rate coverage of the typical receiver in the network. Fifth and last, we explore the applications of the PLCP that extend beyond vehicular communications. We derive the exact distribution of the shortest path distance between the typical point and its nearest neighbor in the sense of path distance in a Manhattan Poisson line Cox process (MPLCP), which is a special variant of the PLCP. The analytical framework developed in this work allows us to answer several important questions pertaining to transportation networks, urban planning, and personnel deployment. Doctor of Philosophy Vehicular communication networks are essential to the development of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and improving road safety. As the in-vehicle sensors can assess only their immediate environment, vehicular nodes exchange information about critical events, such as accidents and sudden braking, with other vehicles, pedestrians, roadside infrastructure, and cellular base stations in order to make critical decisions in a timely manner. Considering the time-sensitive nature of this information, it is of paramount importance to design efficient communication networks that can support the exchange of this information with reliable and high-speed wireless links. Typically, prior to actual deployment, any design of a wireless network is subject to extensive analysis under various operational scenarios using computer simulations. However, it is not viable to rely entirely on simulations for the system design of highly complex systems, such as the vehicular networks. Hence, it is necessary to develop analytical methods that can complement simulators and also serve as a benchmark. One of the approaches that has gained popularity in the recent years for the modeling and analysis of large-scale wireless networks is the use of tools from stochastic geometry. In this approach, we endow the locations of wireless nodes with some distribution and analyze various aspects of the network by leveraging the properties of the distribution. Traditionally, wireless networks have been studied using simple spatial models in which the wireless nodes can lie anywhere on the domain of interest (often a 1D or a 2D plane). However, vehicular networks have a unique spatial geometry because the locations of vehicular nodes are restricted to roadways. Therefore, in order to model the locations of vehicular nodes in the network, we have to first model the underlying road systems. Further, we should also consider the randomness in the locations of vehicles on each road. So, we consider a doubly stochastic model called Poisson line Cox process (PLCP), in which the spatial layout of roads are modeled by random lines and the locations of vehicles on the roads are modeled by random set of points on these lines. As is usually the case in wireless networks, multiple vehicular nodes and roadside units (RSUs) operate at the same frequency due to the limited availability of radio frequency spectrum, which causes interference. Therefore, any receiver in the network obtains a signal that is a mixture of the desired signal from the intended transmitter and the interfering signals from the other transmitters. The ratio of the power of desired signal to the aggregate power of the interfering signals, which is called as the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), depends on the locations of the transmitters with respect to the receiver. A receiver in the network is said to be in coverage if the SIR measured at the location of the receiver exceeds the required threshold to successfully decode the message. The probability of occurrence of this event is referred to as the coverage probability and it is one of the fundamental metrics that is used to characterize the performance of a wireless network. In our work, we have analytically characterized the coverage probability of the typical vehicular node in the network. This was the first work to present the coverage analysis of a vehicular network using the aforementioned doubly stochastic model. In addition to coverage probability, we have also explored other performance metrics such as data rate, which is the number of bits that can be successfully communicated per unit time, and spectral efficiency. Our analysis has revealed interesting trends in the coverage probability as a function of key system parameters such as the density of roads in a region (total length of roads per unit area), and the density of vehicles on the roads. We have shown that the vehicular nodes in areas with high density of roads have lower coverage than those in areas with sparsely distributed roads. On the other hand, the coverage probability of a vehicular node improves as the density of vehicles on the roads increases. Such insights are quite useful in the design and deployment of network infrastructure. While our research was primarily focused on communication networks, the utility of the spatial models considered in these works extends to other areas of engineering. For a special variant of the PLCP, we have derived the distribution of the shortest path distance between an arbitrary point and its nearest neighbor in the sense of path distance. The analytical framework developed in this work allows us to answer several important questions pertaining to infrastructure planning and personnel deployment.

Background: The importance of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction as a predictor of mortality and morbidity after acute myocardial infarction (MI) is well known. In MI, Doppler echocardiography can be used to determine the LV diastolic function, and a restrictive transmitral flow pattern has been related to the development of congestive heart failure and increased mortality. In patients with various etiologies of LV systolic dysfunction, restrictive filling has also proven to be an independent predictor of adverse outcome. Materials and Methods: 130 patients who presented with diagnosis of acute MI were included. Echocardiography was performed within 24 hours of arrival to the coronary care unit. Most widely used approach for measuring mitral-to-apical flow was used for velocity propagation. Based on the ratio E/Vp, patients divided into two groups with E/Vp 1.5. Patients were followed up subsequently. Results: In the study population, the average age of patients was 59 ± 11.6 years. There were 105 male (80.77%) and 25 female patients (19.23%). On evaluation of risk factors, 69 patients (53.08%) were hypertensive, 71 patients (54.62%) were diabetic, 7 patients (5.38%) were smokers, and 43 patients (33.08%) had dyslipidemia. In patients with E/Vp 1.5, 20 patients (22.73%) had Grade I DD, 52 patients (59.09%) had Grade II DD and 16 patients (18.18%) had Grade III DD. Conclusion: In this echocardiographic study of 130 patients with MI E/Vp measured with color M mode is easily obtainable and this E/Vp is a strong predictor of heart failure and mortality. The ratio of peak E wave velocity to flow propagation velocity can be used with other diastolic function variables in predicting outcome. Furthermore, these Doppler variables may be used as simple tools to rapidly risk stratify patients with acute MI.

This study investigated the ability of lubricin (LUB) to prevent bacterial attachment and proliferation on model tissue culture polystyrene surfaces. The findings from this study indicated that LUB was able to reduce the attachment and growth of Staphylococcus aureus on tissue culture polystyrene over the course of 24 h by approximately 13.9% compared to a phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-soaked control. LUB also increased S. aureus lag time (the period of time between the introduction of bacteria to a new environment and their exponential growth) by approximately 27% compared to a PBS-soaked control. This study also indicated that vitronectin (VTN), a protein homologous to LUB, reduced bacterial S. aureus adhesion and growth on tissue culture polystyrene by approximately 11% compared to a PBS-soaked control. VTN also increased the lag time of S. aureus by approximately 43%, compared to a PBS-soaked control. Bovine submaxillary mucin was studied because there are similarities between it and the center mucin-like domain of LUB. Results showed that the reduction of S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis proliferation on mucin coated surfaces was not as substantial as that seen with LUB. In summary, this study provided the first evidence that LUB reduced the initial adhesion and growth of both S. aureus and S. epidermidis on a model surface to suppress biofilm formation. These reductions in initial bacteria adhesion and proliferation can be beneficial for medical implants and, although requiring more study, can lead to drastically improved patient outcomes.

Microstructural modification caused by pulsed arc welding was investigated. An analytical temperature distribution model was used to identify process parameters for two series of experiments. Mild ...

Data about oxidative stress in percutaneous coronary interventions are still controversial. We assessed the oxidative stress and enzymatic antioxidants activities in ACS patients going for PCI, whether complicated or uncomplicated. The patients were divided into three groups: control, uncomplicated PCI and complicated PCI. Estimation of free radical markers e.g. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidants assay like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were done. The mean level of all antioxidants were comparatively low while the level of free radical marker (MDA) was comparatively high than the respective control in both patients groups before PCI. After PCI, the level of all antioxidant enzymes in both groups of patients decreased further while the level of MDA increased as compared to respective pre PCI levels (p

An analytical model of the heat flow during pulsed welding is constructed by first developing a solution for the temperature distribution due to an instantaneous, stationary, Gaussian heat source. This solution is first extended to treat the case of a moving heat source for a single pulse and then extended to treat the case of pulsed welding by summing the temperature changes due to a series of pulses. Test gas tungsten arc welds in mild steel are used to confirm the validity of the model.MST/1371

Solid-state transformations occurring in a weld are highly nonequilibrium in nature and differ distinctly from those experienced during casting, thermomechanical processing, and heat treatment. This article focuses on welding metallurgy of fusion welding of steels and highlights the fundamental principles that form the basis of many of the developments in steels and consumables for welding. Examples in the article are largely drawn from the well-known and relatively well-studied case of ferritic steel weldments to illustrate the special physical metallurgical considerations brought about by the weld thermal cycles and by the welding environment. The article provides information on welds in other alloy systems such as stainless steels and aluminum-base, nickel-base, and titanium-base alloys.

People with Parkinson's disease (PWP) face critical challenges, including lack of access to neurological care, inadequate measurement and communication of motor symptoms, and suboptimal medication management and compliance. We have developed QDG-Care: a comprehensive connected care platform for Parkinson's disease (PD) that delivers validated, quantitative metrics of all motor signs in PD in real time, monitors the effects of adjusting therapy and medication adherence and is accessible in the electronic health record. In this article, we describe the design and engineering of all components of QDG-Care, including the development and utility of the QDG Mobility and Tremor Severity Scores. We present the preliminary results and insights from the first at-home trial using QDG-Care. QDG technology has enormous potential to improve access to, equity of, and quality of care for PWP, and improve compliance with complex time-critical medication regimens. It will enable rapid "Go-NoGo" decisions for new therapeutics by providing high-resolution data that require fewer participants at lower cost and allow more diverse recruitment., Competing Interests: Competing Interests All authors declare no financial or non-financial competing interests.