We consider a body-area sensor network (BSN) consisting of multiple small, wearable sensor nodes deployed on a human body to track body motions. Concerning that human bodies are relatively small and wireless packets are subject to more serious contention and collision, this paper addresses the data compression problem in a BSN. We observe that, when body parts move, although sensor nodes in vicinity may compete strongly with each other, the transmitted data usually exists some levels of redundancy and even strong temporal and spatial correlations. Unlike traditional data compression approaches for large-scale and multi-hop sensor networks, our scheme is specifically designed for BSNs, where nodes are likely fully connected and overhearing among sensor nodes is possible. In our scheme, an offline phase is conducted in advance to learn the temporal and spatial correlations of sensing data. Then a partial ordering of sensor nodes is determined to represent their transmission priorities so as to facilitate data compression during the online phase. We present algorithms to determine such partial ordering and discuss the design of the underlying MAC protocol to support our compression model. An experimental case study in Pilates exercises for patient rehabilitation is reported. The results show that our schemes reduce more than 70% of overall transmitted data compared with previous approaches.
Fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM
2.5
) induces free radicals and oxidative stress in animals, leading to a range of illnesses. In this study,
Ganoderma Microsporum
immunomodulatory (GMI) proteins were administered to alleviate PM
2.5
-induced inflammatory responses in mother rats, and PM
2.5
-induced inflammatory responses and neurological damage in their offspring. The results suggested that GMI administration decreased the risk of neurological disorders in mother rats and their offspring by reducing the white blood cell count, lessening inflammatory responses and PM
2.5
-induced memory impairment, and preventing dendritic branches in the hippocampi from declining and microRNAs from PM
2.5
-induced modulation.
The flexible, anti-fouling, and bionic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biochip, which has a Nepenthes peristome-like structure, was fabricated by photolithography, replicated technology, and thermal evaporation. The pattern of the bionic Nepenthes peristome-like structure was fabricated by two layers of photolithography with SU-8 photoresist. The bionic structure was then replicated by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and grafting the zwitterion polymers (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, MPC) by atmospheric plasma polymerization (PDMS-PMPC). The phospholipid monomer of MPC immobilization plays an important role; it can not only improve hydrophilicity, anti-fouling and anti-bacterial properties, and biocompatibility, but it also allows for self-driving and unidirectional water delivery. Ag nanofilms (5 nm) were deposited on a PDMS (PDMS-Ag) substrate by thermal evaporation for SERS detection. Characterizations of the bionic SERS chips were measured by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical microscope (OM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and contact angle (CA) testing. The results show that the superior anti-fouling capability of proteins and bacteria (E. coli) was found on the PDMS-PMPC substrate. Furthermore, the one-way liquid transfer capability of the bionic SERS chip was successfully demonstrated, which provides for the ability to separate samples during the flow channel, and which was detected by Raman spectroscopy. The SERS intensity (adenine, 10−4 M) of PDMS-Ag with a bionic structure is ~4 times higher than PDMS-Ag without a bionic structure, due to the multi-reflection of the 3D bionic structure. The high-sensitivity bionic SERS substrate, with its self-driving water capability, has potential for biomolecule separation and detection.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.