Application of NSGA-II to Obtain the Charging Current-Time Tradeoff Curve in Battery Based Underwater Wireless Sensor Nodes.

In this paper, a novel application of the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA II) is presented for obtaining the charging current-time tradeoff curve in battery based underwater wireless sensor nodes. The selection of the optimal charging current and times is a common optimization problem. A high charging current ensures a fast charging time. However, it increases the maximum power consumption and also the cost and complexity of the power supply sources. This research studies the tradeoff curve between charging currents and times in detail. The design exploration methodology is based on a two nested loop search strategy. The external loop determines the optimal design solutions which fulfill the designers' requirements using parameters like the sensor node measurement period, power consumption, and battery voltages. The inner loop executes a local search within working ranges using an evolutionary multi-objective strategy. The experiments proposed are used to obtain the charging current-time tradeoff curve and to exhibit the accuracy of the optimal design solutions. The exploration methodology presented is compared with a bisection search strategy. From the results, it can be concluded that our approach is at least four times better in terms of computational effort than a bisection search strategy. In terms of power consumption, the presented methodology reduced the required power at least 3.3 dB in worst case scenarios tested.

A New Method for Gaining the Control of Standalone Underwater Sensor Nodes Based on Power Supply Sensing.

In this paper, a new method for gaining the control of standalone underwater sensor nodes based on sensing the power supply evolution is presented. Underwater sensor networks are designed to support multiple extreme scenarios such as network disconnections. In those cases, the sensor nodes involved should go into standalone, and its wired and wireless communications should be disabled. This paper presents how to exit from the standalone status and enter into debugging mode following a practical ultra-low power design methodology. In addition, the discharge and regeneration effects are analyzed and modeled to minimize the error using the sensor node self measurements. Once the method is presented, its implementation details are discussed including other solutions like wake up wireless modules or a pin interruption solution. Its advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The method proposed is evaluated with several simulations and laboratory experiments using a real aquaculture sensor node. Finally, all the results obtained demonstrate the usefulness of our new method to gain the control of a standalone sensor node. The proposal is better than other approaches when the hibernation time is longer than 167.45 µs. Finally, our approach requires two orders of magnitude less energy than the best practical solution.

A Novel Charging Method for Underwater Batteryless Sensor Node Networks.

In this paper, we present a novel charging method for underwater batteryless sensor node networks. The target application is a practical underwater sensor network for oceanic fish farms. The underwater sections of the network use a wireless power transfer system based on the ISO 11784/11785 HDX standard for supplying energy to the batteryless sensor nodes. Each sensor has an accumulator capacitor, which is charged for voltage supplying to the sensor node. A new distributed charging scheme is proposed and discussed in detail to reduce the required time to charge all sensor nodes of the underwater sections. One important key is its decentralized control of the charging process. The proposal is based on the self disconnection ability of each sensor node from the charging network. The second important key is that the hardware implementation of this new feature is quite simple and only requires to include a minimal circuitry in parallel to the current sensor node antenna while the rest of the sensor network remains unaltered. The proposed charging scheme is evaluated using real corner cases from practical oceanic fish farms sensor networks. The results from experiments demonstrate that it is possible to charge up to 10 sensor nodes which is the double charging capability than previous research presented. In the same conditions as the approach found in the literature, it represents reaching an ocean depth of 60 m. In terms of energy, in case of an underwater network with 5 sensors to reach 30 m deep, the proposed charging scheme requires only a 25% of the power required using the traditional approach.

Design of a Practical Underwater Sensor Network for Offshore Fish Farm Cages.

In this paper, we present the design of a practical underwater sensor network for offshore fish farm cages. An overview of the current structure of an offshore fish farm, applied sensor network solutions, and their weaknesses are given. A mixed wireless-wired approach is proposed to mitigate the problem of wire breakage in underwater wired sensor networks. The approach is based on the serial arrangement of identical sections with wired and wireless interconnections areas. Wireless section alleviates underwater maintenance operations when cages are damaged. The analytical model of the proposed solution is studied in terms of maximum power transfer efficiency and the general formulas of the current in their transmitting antennas and sensor nodes are provided. Subsequently, based on simulations, the effects of parasitic resistance across the network are evaluated. A practical underwater sensor network to reach the 30 m depth with sensor nodes distanced 6 m is used to determine the proposal compliance with the ISO 11784/11785 HDX standard in its normal operation. Taking into account the cable breakage scenario, the results from experiments demonstrate the robustness of the proposed approach to keep running the sensor nodes that are located before the short circuit. Sensor node run time is reduced only 4.07% at most using standard values when a cable breakage occurs at the second deepest section.

Recommendations for the optimal care of patients with recent-onset psychosis in the Asia-Pacific region.

Providing optimal care to patients with recent-onset psychosis can improve outcomes and reduce relapse. However, there is a lack of consistency of the implementation of guidelines for such patients across the Asia-Pacific region. We determined a pragmatic set of recommendations for use on a day-to-day basis to help provide optimal care at this crucial stage of illness. The recommendations were developed over a series of meetings by an international faculty of 15 experts from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and South Africa. A structured search of the PubMed database was conducted. This was further developed based on the faculty's clinical experience and knowledge of the literature into 10 key aspects of optimal care for patients during the first five years of a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, with particular relevance to the Asia-Pacific region. Several common principles emerged: adherence to antipsychotic medications is crucial; substance abuse, psychiatric and medical comorbidities should be addressed; psychosocial interventions play a pivotal role; and family members can play a vital role in overall patient care. By following these recommendations, clinicians may improve outcomes for patients with recent-onset psychosis.

Olanzapine IM versus haloperidol IM for acute agitation in schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia presenting with agitated or violent behavior require pharmacological tranquilization. Olanzapine is the first atypical antipsychotic to have a short acting intramuscular preparation for control of agitation. There is a need to review the efficacy and safety of olanzapine intramuscular compared to intramuscular haloperidol. Objectives: To compare the efficacy of olanzapine intramuscular with haloperidol intramuscular in controlling acute agitation among patients with schizophrenia. Methodology: The authors searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Register (November 2004), Cochrane Database for studies, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Issue 1, 2002), MEDLINE (1992 to the present), Clinical Trials.gov, Lilly Trial Registry and ClinicalTrialresults.org. Authors also hand-searched references of journal articles and contacted pharmaceuticals for relevant literature. Articles included in the meta analysis were randomized clinical trials comparing the efficacy of intramuscular olanzapine to intramuscular haloperidol for controlling agitation among patients with schizophrenia. Included studies had participants 18 years old and above who had schizophrenia and were acutely agitated. Intervention included olanzapine intramuscular 10-20 mgs compared with haloperidol 5-10 mgs. Outcomes included were decreased in agitation as measured by time to tranquility, change in PANSS scale or other appropriate scale and mean dose to achieve tranquility. Secondary outcomes measures were occurrence of adverse events, patient and care giver satisfaction and economic costs. Analysis: Two authors independently assessed the quality of the studies. Data were extracted using the Cochrane Data Extraction Form. Missing data from the studies furnished by ClinicalTrialresults.org. Data that were continuous were sing mean change. Difference in mean change was analyzed using inverse variance, fixed effects method at 95% confidence interval. Data that were dichotomous were analyzed using odds or risk ratio using Mantel-Haenszel method at 95% confidence interval. Results: Pooled data from the studies did not show that olanzapine intramuscular was not equal to haloperidol intramuscular in decreasing acute agitation among patients with schizophrenia. In terms of treatment emergent adverse events, the risk for treatment emergent adverse events was more for haloperidol IM compared olanzapine IM. Conclusions: It cannot be said that olanzapine IM and haloperidol IM are not equal in decreasing agitation among patients with schizophrenia. In terms of treatment emergent adverse events, the risk for extrapyramidal side effects and dystonia was more for haloperidal IM compared to olanzapine IM while the risk for abnormal blood pressure was more for olanzapine IM compared to haloperidol IM. There is need to assess other factors like economic cost, patient and caregiver satisfaction which the studies in this meta-analysis did not include.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding sex among first-stroke patients

This paper aims to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of first-stroke patients regarding sex. It also aims to describe the socio demographic and clinical profiles of first-stoke patients. It is hope of the investigators to come up with recommendations that will respond to the needs of stroke patients as well as the caring physician.

Psychosocial aspect of disaster: psychiatric morbidity

To determine the prevalence of psychiatric syndromes among the disaster victims in CABCOM, Pampanga who underwent psychosocial processing.