Buried RF Sensors for Smart Road Infrastructure: Empirical Communication Range Testing, Propagation by Line of Sight, Diffraction and Reflection Model and Technology Comparison for 868 MHz-2.4 GHz.

Updating the road infrastructure requires the potential mass adoption of the road studs currently used in car detection, speed monitoring, and path marking. Road studs commonly include RF transceivers connecting the buried sensors to an offsite base station for centralized data management. Since traffic monitoring experiments through buried sensors are resource expensive and difficult, the literature detailing it is insufficient and inaccessible due to various strategic reasons.

Impact of Li-Ion Battery on System's Overall Impedance and Received Signal Strength for Power Line Communication (PLC).

In anticipation of the hybrid utilisation of the radio frequency (RF) wireless transceiver technology embedded in future smart Li-ion battery cells to deliver hybrid links based on power line communication (PLC) and wireless connections, herein we present an empirical high-frequency investigation of the direct current (DC) bus. The focus is to determine, via statistical tools including correlation coefficient (CC), root mean squared error (RMSE) and feature selective validation (FSV) method, the impedance and signal change impact on a possible communication link when fully charged cells are present or completely missing from the bus. Moreover, to establish if technological differences may be accounted for during the empirical experiments, Li-ion cells from two different manufacturers were selected and connected via three subsequent capacitive couplings of 1 µF, 1 nF and 1 pF.

DC Power Line Communication (PLC) on 868 MHz and 2.4 GHz Wired RF Transceivers.

Efficient management through monitoring of Li-ion batteries is critical to the progress of electro-mobility and energy storage globally, since the technology can be hazardous if pushed beyond its safety boundaries. Battery management systems (BMSs) are being actively improved to reduce size, weight, and cost while increasing their capabilities. Using power line communication, wireless monitoring, or hybrid data links are one of the most advanced research directions today.

Wireless Communication Test on 868 MHz and 2.4 GHz from inside the 18650 Li-Ion Enclosed Metal Shell.

As the RF communication on 18650 Li-ion cell level has not been reported due to its challenges and constrains, in this work, a valid wireless data link is demonstrated in an enclosed empty metal shell at 868 MHz and 2.4 GHz based on the IEEE 802.15.

Nondestructive Method for Mapping Metal Contact Diffusion in In2O3 Thin-Film Transistors.

The channel width-to-length ratio is an important transistor parameter for integrated circuit design. Contact diffusion into the channel during fabrication or operation alters the channel width and this important parameter. A novel methodology combining atomic force microscopy and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) with self-consistent modeling is developed for the nondestructive detection of contact diffusion on active devices.

Role of Purkinje fibers in post-infarction ventricular tachycardia.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the role of Purkinje fibers in monomorphic, post-infarction ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Background: Ventricular fibrillation and polymorphic VT in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI) may be triggered by ectopy arising from Purkinje fibers.

Methods: From among a group of 81 consecutive patients with post-infarction monomorphic VT referred for catheter ablation, 9 patients were identified in whom the clinical VT had a QRS duration < or =145 ms.

Risk of thromboembolic events after percutaneous left atrial radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the risk of thromboembolic events (TEs) is variable and is influenced by the presence and number of comorbid conditions. The effect of percutaneous left atrial radiofrequency ablation (LARFA) of AF on the risk of TEs is unclear.

Methods And Results: LARFA was performed in 755 consecutive patients with paroxysmal (n = 490) or chronic (n = 265) AF.

Effects of two different catheter ablation techniques on spectral characteristics of atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) and electrogram-guided ablation (EGA) on the spectral characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the relationship between changes in dominant frequency (DF) and clinical outcome.

Background: Circumferential pulmonary vein ablation and EGA have been used to eliminate AF. Spectral analysis may identify high-frequency sources.

Isolated potentials during sinus rhythm and pace-mapping within scars as guides for ablation of post-infarction ventricular tachycardia.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify ventricular tachycardia (VT) isthmus sites by pace-mapping within scar tissue and to identify electrogram characteristics that are helpful in identifying VT isthmus sites during sinus rhythm (SR).

Background: Pace-mapping has been used in the scar border zone to identify the exit site of post-infarction VT.

Methods: In 19 consecutive patients (18 men, mean age 66 +/- 9 years, mean ejection fraction 0.

A tailored approach to catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Because the genesis of atrial fibrillation (AF) is multifactorial and variable, an ablation strategy that involves pulmonary vein isolation and/or a particular set of ablation lines may not be equally effective or efficient in all patients with AF. A tailored strategy that targets initiators and drivers of AF is a possible alternative to a standardized lesion set.

Methods And Results: Catheter ablation was performed in 153 consecutive patients (mean age, 56+/-11 years) with symptomatic paroxysmal AF with the use of an 8-mm tip radiofrequency ablation catheter.

Characteristics of cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter after left atrial ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Patients who have previously undergone ablation of atrial fibrillation may experience cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter during follow-up. The effects of left atrial (LA) ablation on the characteristics of CTI-dependent flutter have not been described.

Methods And Results: Fifteen patients underwent ablation of CTI-dependent flutter late after LA ablation of AF.

Comparison of mapping criteria for hemodynamically tolerated, postinfarction ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Mapping criteria for hemodynamically tolerated, postinfarction ventricular tachycardia (VT) have been evaluated in only small series of patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of various mapping criteria for identifying a critical VT circuit isthmus in a post hoc analysis.

Methods: Ninety VTs (cycle length 491 +/- 84 ms) were mapped in 48 patients with a prior myocardial infarction.

Movement of the esophagus during left atrial catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the extent of esophageal mobility that occurs during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation under conscious sedation.

Background: Ablation along the posterior left atrium may cause an atrioesophageal fistula. One strategy for avoiding this risk is to not deliver radiofrequency energy at sites in contact with the esophagus.

Randomized comparison of encircling and nonencircling left atrial ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial (LA) circumferential ablation has been reported to eliminate atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether an ablation without encirclement of the pulmonary veins (PVs) is as effective as LA circumferential ablation is not clear.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of LA circumferential ablation and nonencircling linear ablation in patients with chronic AF.

Effect of left atrial circumferential ablation for atrial fibrillation on left atrial transport function.

Background: The effects of left atrial (LA) circumferential ablation on LA function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have not been well described.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of LA circumferential ablation on LA function.

Methods: Gated, multiphase, dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) scans of the chest with three-dimensional reconstructions of the heart were used to calculate the LA ejection fraction (EF) in 36 patients with paroxysmal (n = 27) or chronic (n = 9) AF (mean age 55 +/- 11 years) and in 10 control subjects with no history of AF.

Topographic analysis of the coronary sinus and major cardiac veins by computed tomography.

Background: The coronary sinus (CS) and its branches may play a role in the genesis of various arrhythmias. Applications of radiofrequency energy within the CS may be necessary. Atrio-esophageal fistula has been recognized as a complication of ablation along the posterior left atrial wall.

Mechanical interruption of postinfarction ventricular tachycardia as a guide for catheter ablation.

Background: Mechanical trauma has been described as a helpful guide for ablation of atrial tachycardias and accessory pathways. In postinfarction ventricular tachycardia (VT), the reentrant circuit is partly endocardial and therefore may be susceptible to catheter trauma.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and significance of VT termination resulting from catheter trauma.

Catheter ablation of atypical atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia within the coronary sinus after left atrial ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to describe the prevalence and ablation of coronary sinus (CS) arrhythmias after left atrial ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: The CS has been implicated in a variety of supraventricular arrhythmias.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients underwent mapping and ablation of atypical flutter that developed during (n = 5) or after (n = 33) ablation for AF.

Effects of age and size in the ears of gekkonomorph lizards: middle-ear sensitivity.

Previous studies of electrophysiological audiograms in gekkonomorph lizards revealed greater sensitivity in adults than in juveniles. We investigated whether this difference, as far as it is affected by the middle ear, is due to animal age or size. The velocity transfer function of the tympanic membrane (TM) was examined using laser interferometry in nine samples: adults of three large gekkonomorph species, adults of three small species (each related to one of the former), and juveniles of the large species, their sizes matching those of the small-species adults.

The middle ear of gekkonoid lizards: interspecific variation of structure in relation to body size and to auditory sensitivity.

Wishing to assess the effects of the dimensions of the middle ear on the auditory sensitivity of gekkonoid lizards, we measured middle ear components in preserved geckos, which in life had yielded 'cochlear microphonics' audiograms. We examined two to seven specimens of 14 species. The measures of middle ear elements varied relative to head or body length similarly within species and among species.

Toxic effects associated with consumption of zinc.

A 27-year-old man with a history of acne presented to his primary care physician because of fatigue and dyspnea on exertion of 4 weeks' duration. He was remarkably pale, orthostatic pulse changes were noted, and a systolic ejection murmur was heard. The patient had profound anemia (hemoglobin concentration, 5.