Crossover Photonic Switching Network with CMOS/SEED Smart Pixel Device and 2D Optical Fiber Bundle Array

A 16 X 16 Crossover photonic switching network with hybrid integrated CMOS/SEED smart pixel device and 2D optical fiber bundle array I/O access device is reported in this paper. SEEd array devices ar used as light receivers and transmitters, while CMOS devices make efficient logical processing. 4 X 40 2D multilayer optical fiber bundle arrays are fabricated and are used as I/O access devices in the crossover photonic switching network. The center to center spacing between adjacent optical fibers in the same layer of the fiber array is 125micrometers , and the spacing between adjacent layers is 250micrometers . Displacing tolerance of the fiber bundle arrays is less than 4 micrometers and the angular tilt error is less than 0.03 degree. It has the feature of high density, high precision, array permutation and easy to couple with 2D CMOS/SEED smart pixel device

Molecular identification of adenoviruses associated with respiratory infection in Egypt from 2003 to 2010.

BACKGROUND: Human adenoviruses of species B, C, and E (HAdV-B, -C, -E) are frequent causative agents of acute respiratory infections worldwide. As part of a surveillance program aimed at identifying the etiology of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Egypt, we characterized 105 adenovirus isolates from clinical samples collected between 2003 and 2010. METHODS: Identification of the isolates as HAdV was accomplished by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and confirmed by a set of species and type specific polymerase chain reactions (PCR). RESULTS: Of the 105 isolates, 42% were identified as belonging to HAdV-B, 60% as HAdV-C, and 1% as HAdV-E. We identified a total of six co-infections by PCR, of which five were HAdV-B/HAdV-C co-infections, and one was a co-infection of two HAdV-C types: HAdV-5/HAdV-6. Molecular typing by PCR enabled the identification of eight genotypes of human adenoviruses; HAdV-3 (n = 22), HAdV-7 (n = 14), HAdV-11 (n = 8), HAdV-1 (n = 22), HAdV-2 (20), HAdV-5 (n = 15), HAdV-6 (n = 3) and HAdV-4 (n = 1). The most abundant species in the characterized collection of isolates was HAdV-C, which is concordant with existing data for worldwide epidemiology of HAdV respiratory infections. CONCLUSIONS: We identified three species, HAdV-B, -C and -E, among patients with ILI over the course of 7 years in Egypt, with at least eight diverse types circulating

Effects of excluding grazing on the vegetation and soils of degraded sparse-elm grassland in the Horqin Sandy Land, China

Livestock grazing is a crucial cause of vegetation degradation and desertification in sandy lands. The sparse-elm grassland of Horqin Sandy Land, China has suffered severe degradation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Management to exclude grazing is often necessary for ecological restoration, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. We report effects on vegetation and soils in a 10-year experiment to exclude livestock, completely or seasonally, in comparison with a continuously grazed area in Horqin. Complete exclusion of grazing and restriction of grazing to summer both led to significantly increased plant cover and density relative to the grazed control. Species richness increased, reflected in higher Shannon-Wiener indices; only complete exclusion increased the Simpson diversity index, whereas Pielou evenness was significantly lowest under seasonal grazing. Exclosure treatments were also associated with improved soil texture, and increased water retention, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, total carbon and total phosphorus. Soil pH and C/N ratio were highest under the seasonal grazing regime. The results indicated that exclosure management indeed improved biodiversity and ecosystem services in an erosion-prone region. Although total exclosure was most effective in restoration of degraded sparse-elm grassland, seasonal grazing management was highly beneficial and represented a good compromise with resource utilization and economic development

Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Well-Defined Block Copolypeptides via Controlled NCA Polymerization

This article summarizes advances in the synthesis of well-defined polypeptides and block copolypeptides. Traditional methods used to polymerize α-amino acid-N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) are described, and limitations in the utility of these systems for the preparation of polypeptides are discussed. Improved initiators and methods that allow polypeptide synthesis with good control over chain length, chain length distribution, and chain-end functionality are also discussed. Using these methods, block and random copolypeptides of controlled dimensions (including molecular weight, sequence, composition, and molecular weight distribution) can now be prepared. The ability of well-defined block copolypeptides to assemble into supramolecular copolypeptide micelles, copolypeptide vesicles, and copolypeptide hydrogels is described. Many of these assemblies have been found to possess unique properties that are derived from the amino acid building blocks and ordered conformations of the polypeptide segments. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

The culture variable vis-à-vis anti-bribery law: a grey area in transnational corporate criminal liability

Cross-border transactions are generating corresponding globalisation of law enforcement efforts. Culture has significantly influenced the legal analysis of anti-bribery law. With the increase of transnational bribery, benefits from globalisation will be undermined unless an effective legal regime can mitigate the harm of bribery. It is perceived that corruption in China is more prevalent than in the West given its embedded place in Chinese culture. It is further alleged that Chinese multinational companies (MNCs) are taking advantage of an unlevel playing field, as they are not subject to stringently-enforced anti-bribery laws. This hypothesis creates a myriad of anti-bribery problems in terms of legislation and enforcement, which particularly manifest in China’s perceived cultural toleration of bribery. Cultural assumptions undermine the global anti-bribery regime and compromise potential collaborative anti-bribery efforts across jurisdictions in a rapidly globalizing world. The Chinese culture does not necessarily impede China’s criminalisation of paying bribes to foreign officials. It is argued that the cultural role should not be overestimated, otherwise the hazard of the ethnocentric engagement with the Chinese culture would affect the ability of foreign MNCs to integrate their global compliance programmes. Multinationals can only mitigate their exposure to criminal liability globally, provided that they comply robustly with anti-bribery laws of both home and host jurisdictions

Investigation of Acoustic Emission and Surface Treatment to Improve Tool Materials and Metal Forming Process

Silicon nitride and WC-Co cermet tools are used for metal forming processes including extrusion and drawing. These materials are used to make tool dies which are exposed to deformation caused by friction and wear. Surface treatments such as ion implantation, laser blazing and coating have been found to improve surface properties, to optimize tribological behavior between the metal and die, as well as to extend service life of the tool dies. Early detection and continuous monitoring processes by non destructive testing (NDT) methods are needed in order to ensure the functionality of the wear process and extend the tool service life. Acoustic emission is one of the promising NDT methods for this application. The surface treatment chosen for this investigation was ion implantation. Three types of wear resistant materials with and without surface treatment were selected for this project; silicon nitride and two tungsten carbides (6% Cobalt and 10% Cobalt). This investigation was conducted using a pin-on-disk device for wear/friction tests of the selected materials with lubrication and/or without lubrication against both a stainless steel disk and an aluminum disk. The acoustic emissions generated during the experiments were recorded and analyzed. The results of this investigation showed that the ion implantation improved the tribological properties of the materials and reduced acoustic emission and coefficient of friction. A linear relationship between the average amplitude of the acoustic emission and the coefficient of friction of the tested materials was found. The investigation demonstrated that the acoustic emission method could be used to monitor the wear/friction processes

Les études québécoises en Chine

Les études québécoises en Chine ont ceci de particulier qu’elles s’inscrivent dans le cadre plus large des relations économiques entre la Chine et le Canada et, depuis quelques années et plus particulièrement depuis le jumelage officiel des villes de Shanghai et de Montréal, entre la Chine et le Québec. Pourtant, malgré la croissance remarquable des échanges entre le Québec et la Chine et la fondation d’un centre d’études québécoises à Shanghai, la connaissance du Québec qu’ont la majorité des Chinois reste insuffisante. Cet article présente le contexte de l’émergence des études québécoises en Chine et les conditions de travail souvent difficiles des chercheurs chinois, retrace les étapes parcourues et soulève les problèmes tout en ouvrant de nouvelles perspectives pour les études québécoises en Chine.Quebec studies in China must be considered within the broader framework of economic relations between China and Canada and, since recent years and more specifically since the official twinning of the cities of Shanghaï and Montreal, between China and Quebec. However, in spite of the remarkable increase in exchanges between Quebec and China and the founding of a Centre for Quebec studies in Shanghaï, the majority of Chinese know little about Quebec. This article lays out the context encompassing the rise of Quebec studies in China and the often difficult working conditions experienced by Chinese researchers, retraces the steps taken, and raises the issues which remain problematic while opening up new perspectives for Quebec studies in China