M/C2/c/K queuing model and optimization for a geriatric care center

Queuing systems with finite buffers are reasonable models for many manufacturing, telecommunication, and healthcare systems. Although some approximations exist, the exact analysis of multi‐server and finite‐buffer queues with general service time distribution is unknown. However, the phase‐type assumption for service time is a frequently used approach. Because the Cox distribution, a kind of phase‐type distribution, provides a good representation of data with great variability, it has a vast area of application in modeling service times. The research focus is twofold. First, a theoretical structure of a multi‐server and finite‐buffer queuing system in which the service time is modeled by the two‐phase Cox distribution is studied. It is focused on finding an efficient solution to the stationary probabilities using the matrix‐geometric method. It is shown that the stationary probability vector can be obtained with the matrix‐geometric method by using level‐dependent rate matrices, and the mean queue length is computed. Second, an empirical analysis of the model is presented. The proposed methodology is applied in a case study concerning the geriatric patients. Some numerical calculations and optimizations are performed by using geriatric data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computation of the dielectric rod waveguide radiation modes

The continuous mode spectrum of a dielectric rod waveguide is analysed in detail. The validity of the orthogonality relations is proved explicitly and the related normalization factors are computed and presented. The results are compared with existent literature and some discrepancies are noted. A full wave approach is pursued without making use of the weak guidance approximantion.     

Novel CeO2–CuO-decorated enzymatic lactate biosensors operating in low oxygen environments

The detection of the lactate level in blood plays a key role in diagnosis of some pathological conditions including cardiogenic or endotoxic shocks, respiratory failure, liver disease, systemic disorders, renal failure, and tissue hypoxia. Here, we described for the first time the use of a novel mixed metal oxide solution system to address the oxygen dependence challenge of first generation amperometric lactate biosensors. The biosensors were constructed using ceria-copper oxide (CeO₂–CuO) mixed metal oxide nanoparticles for lactate oxidase immobilization and as electrode material. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC, 492 μmol-O₂/g) of these metal oxides has the potential to reduce the oxygen dependency, and thus eliminate false results originated from the fluctuations in the oxygen concentration. In an effort to compare the performance of our novel sensor design, ceria nanoparticle decorated lactate sensors were also constructed. The enzymatic activity of the sensors were tested in oxygen-rich and oxygen-lean solutions. Our results showed that the OSC of the electrode material has a big influence on the activity of the biosensors in oxygen-lean environments. While the CeO₂ containing biosensor showed an almost 21% decrease in the sensitivity in a O₂-depleted solution, the CeO₂–CuO containing electrode, with a higher OSC value, experienced no drop in sensitivity when moving from oxygen-rich to oxygen-lean conditions. The CeO₂–CuO decorated sensor showed a high sensitivity (89.3 ± 4 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²), a wide linear range up to 0.6 mM, and a low limit of detection of 3.3 μM. The analytical response of the CeO₂–CuO decorated sensors was studied by detecting lactate in human serum with good selectivity and reliability. The results revealed that CeO₂–CuO containing sensors are promising candidates for continuous lactate detection.     

Propagation of soliton waves in nonlinear dielectric slab waveguides of parabolic index of refraction

The pulse propagation in a non-linear slab waveguide of parabolic index of refraction is treated by using differential equation techniques. A graded index dielectric slab waveguide free of material dispersion with a cubic order non-linearity is considered. The electromagnetic wave inside the waveguide is described in terms of a non-linear equation. Slowly varying envelope function representation is employed to develop a non-linear partial differential equation for the unknown envelope function of the electric field. An averaging method over the transverse direction is applied to reduce the unknown envelope function non-linear differential equation into a form resembling the well known non-linear Schrödinger differential equation. This equation is solved by applying the Inverse Scattering Method. The N-soliton solution is developed and presented explicitly for the practical case of the single mode dielectric slab waveguide. Numerical results presenting single and double soliton propagation are also given.     

Comparative study of millimeter wave propagation at 30 GHz and 60 GHz in indoor environment

The millimeter wave band appears to be a favourable choice for personal wireless communication systems for indoor environment, as it meets the requirements for sufficient bandwidth, small terminal dimensions and sporadic usage for commercial applications.In this paper measurements of millimeter wave propagation in both 30 GHz and 60 GHz bands, are presented in a comparative way. The topology of measurements covers both a line-of-sight situation and also a case where a direct path between transmitter and receiver does not exist. Although the second case does not seem obvious for outdoor applications in these frequencies, in indoor environment the multipath signals produced by objects like walls, doors, furniture etc., can be utilised in order to overcome the man-made shadowing.Both slow and fast fading characteristics of the received signal are studied and the measurements are modelled by the conventional Rician and Rayleigh distributions. Both frequency bands offer advantages for usage in in-house wireless communication systems. Although in 30 GHz band the coverage area is bigger than in 60 GHz (with the same transmitting power), frequency reuse is easier in 60 GHz band. because even if millimeter waves escape through windows, the specific attenuation due to atmospheric oxygen (15 dB/km) at 60 GHz eliminates the interference between communication channels in neighbouring buildings.