Possibilities of Fabricating Copper-based RFID Tags with Photonic-sintered Inkjet Printing and Thermal Transfer Printing

This letter studies the possibilities of manufacturing copper-based passive UHF RFID tags using inkjet and thermal printing on two substrate materials, polyimide (Kapton) and a polyester based substrate (Flexcon THERMLfilm). Both printing methods are tested to fabricate different tag designs, and the performance of successfully printed tags is evaluated using wireless measurements. Measurement results show that both the printing methods, while using copper material, can be used to effectively fabricate passive UHF RFID tag antennas on selected substrates

Deskripsi Bahan Bakar, Bahan Baku dan Tenaga Kerja terhadap Produksi Tahu

This research assessed about the production of tofu industrial in Gunung Sulah, Sukarame district, Bandar Lampung city. This research emphasize some point, they are the stock of material, fuel and human resource for the production result. The method used is the descriptive into 35 sample with the purposive sampling method, while the data analysis based on tabulation and percentage. This research showed that : (1) The amount of basic material needs which are used to produce the tofu, partly used 26-45 Kg, (2) Generally the number of workers needed are 52 male (72,22%) and 20 female (27,78%). (3) The fuel amount used for 31-50 logs everyday. (4) The daily production touch 4000-6000 packs of tofu based on 35 respondent or about 62,85%. The production are distributed and marketed by agencies or direct sell to domestic markets.Penelitian ini mengkaji tentang hasil produksi industri tahu di Kelurahan Gunung Sulah Kecamatan Sukarame Kota Bandar Lampung. Adapun titik tekan dalam penelitian ini adalah pada ketersediaan bahan baku, bahan bakar, dan tenaga kerja terhadap hasil produksinya. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif. Penelitian ini menggunakan 35 sampel dengan menggunakan metode purposive sampling, sedangkan untuk analisis data menggunakan tabulasi dan persentase. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa: (1) Kebutuhan jumlah bahan baku yang digunakan dalam memproduksi tahu, sebagian besar pengusaha menggunakan bahan baku perharinya sebanyak 26-45 kg, (2) Secara keseluruhan jumlah tenaga kerja yang dibutuhkan pada industri tahu adalah sebanyak 72 orang, terdiri dari tenaga kerja laki-laki sebanyak 52 orang (72,22 %) dan wanita sebanyak 20 orang (27,78 %). (3) Jumlah bahan bakar yang digunakan perharinya sebanyak 31-50 batang kayu bakar,. (4) Hasil produksi peharinya mencapai 4000-6000 potong tahu. Hasil produksi dipasarkan melalui agen maupun dijual langsung kepasar

An Exploratory Framework for Intelligent Labelling of Fault Datasets

Software fault prediction (SFP) has become a pivotal aspect in realm of software quality. Nevertheless, discipline of software quality suffers the starvation of fault datasets. Most of the research endeavors are focused on type of dataset, its granularity, metrics used and metrics extractors. However, sporadic attention has been exerted on development of fault datasets and their associated challenges. There are very few publicly available datasets limiting the possibilities of comprehensive experiments on way to improvising the quality of software. Current research targets to address the challenges pertinent to fault dataset collection and development if one is not available publicly. It also considers dynamic identification of available resources such as public dataset, open-source software archieves, metrics parsers and intelligent labeling techniques. A framework for dataset collection and development process has been furnished along with evaluation procedure for the identified resources

Performance comparison of inkjet and thermal transfer printed passive ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency identification tags

The authors compare the maximum read range of passive ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency identification tags that have been produced using different metal printing techniques, specifically inkjet printing and thermal transfer printing (TTP). They used the same substrate (THERMLfilm), antenna designs and electronic circuitry in their comparison so as to isolate the effect of the metal printing. Owing to the high metal conductivity, the thermal transfer printed tags printed with copper (Cu) film performed as well or better than the inkjet printed tags printed with silver ink, even when they changed the inkjet printed tags to a Kapton substrate that is better suited to inkjet printing. The aluminium (Al) thermal transfer printed tags had up to 33% less read range than Cu thermal transfer printed tags. TTP needs no sintering, and provides an attractive alternative low-cost fabrication method. Characterisation of the printed traces by both methods reveals that the printing techniques achieve similar surface roughness. The achieved conductivities for TTP on THERMLfilm were better than for inkjet. The best measured read range for TTP was 10.6 m. Across the different tag designs, the measured read ranges were 15-60% (1-10%) better for thermal printing, compared with inkjet printing on THERMLfilm (Kapton)

Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a South Indian rural community

Background: To estimate the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in a rural south Indian community and to evaluate the association between metformin use and prevalent vitamin B12 deficiency in people with T2DM stratified by oral vitamin B12 supplementation.Methods: Using a cross sectional study design, a random sample of people with T2DM (N=438) was recruited from a rural community. Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined as serum B12 ≤200pg/ml. Data on metformin dose, duration of use, oral vitamin B12 supplementation, and diet were collected. Laboratory measurements included complete blood count, tests for hepatic, renal, and thyroid function, as well as serum vitamin B12 levels and HbA1c.Results: The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in people with T2DM was 11.2% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 8.2%-14.1%). The odds of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients receiving a metformin dose of 2 grams/day were 4 times higher compared to those receiving ≤1 gram/day, after adjusting for oral B12 supplementation (odds ratio 4.2;95% CI 1.5-11.8). The odds of vitamin B12 deficiency in those taking metformin and receiving oral vitamin B12 supplementation were lower compared to those on metformin and not receiving vitamin B12 supplementation (adjusted odds ratio 0.20; 95% CI 0.06-0.70).Conclusions: Vitamin B12 deficiency affects 1 in 10 people with T2DM, is associated with higher dose metformin use, and oral vitamin B12 supplementation mitigates B12 deficiency in this group

Abnormal Trafficking of Endogenously Expressed BMPR2 Mutant Allelic Products in Patients with Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

More than 200 heterozygous mutations in the type 2 BMP receptor gene, BMPR2, have been identified in patients with Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (HPAH). More severe clinical outcomes occur in patients with BMPR2 mutations by-passing nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD negative mutations). These comprise 40% of HPAH mutations and are predicted to express BMPR2 mutant products. However expression of endogenous NMD negative BMPR2 mutant products and their effect on protein trafficking and signaling function have never been described. Here, we characterize the expression and trafficking of an HPAH-associated NMD negative BMPR2 mutation that results in an in-frame deletion of BMPR2 EXON2 (BMPR2ΔEx2) in HPAH patient-derived lymphocytes and in pulmonary endothelial cells (PECs) from mice carrying the same in-frame deletion of Exon 2 (Bmpr2 (ΔEx2/+) mice). The endogenous BMPR2ΔEx2 mutant product does not reach the cell surface and is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, chemical chaperones 4-PBA and TUDCA partially restore cell surface expression of Bmpr2ΔEx2 in PECs, suggesting that the mutant product is mis-folded. We also show that PECs from Bmpr2 (ΔEx2/+) mice have defects in the BMP-induced Smad1/5/8 and Id1 signaling axis, and that addition of chemical chaperones restores expression of the Smad1/5/8 target Id1. These data indicate that the endogenous NMD negative BMPRΔEx2 mutant product is expressed but has a folding defect resulting in ER retention. Partial correction of this folding defect and restoration of defective BMP signaling using chemical chaperones suggests that protein-folding agents could be used therapeutically in patients with these NMD negative BMPR2 mutations

The benefits of 24/7 in-house intensivist coverage for prolonged-stay cardiac surgery patients

ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of 24/7 in-house intensivist care for patients requiring prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay following cardiac surgery.MethodsA propensity-matched retrospective before-and-after observational study comparing 2 models of ICU physician staffing was undertaken. Previously, residents (with intensivist backup) provided care for patients after cardiac surgery (surgical ICU cohort). ICU physician staffing was modified with the implementation of 24/7 in-house board-certified intensivist coverage in a cardiac surgery ICU (cardiac surgery ICU cohort) for postoperative care. Patients with a prolonged ICU stay (ie, >48 hours) were identified and their outcomes analyzed for both models of care.ResultsPropensity matching between cohorts was successful for 271 patients (75.7%), with matched patients being used for comparison. There was no difference in ICU or 30-day mortality. There was also no difference in ICU length of stay (LOS); however, the median hospital LOS was significantly shorter in the cardiac surgery ICU cohort (12.3 vs 11.0 days; P < .01). There was a decrease in the proportion of patients receiving transfused red blood cells in the cardiac surgery ICU cohort (80.8% vs 65.7%; P < .001). The cardiac surgery ICU cohort had reduced complications relating to sepsis (4.7% vs 0.7%; P < .01) and renal failure (22.5% vs 12.5%; P < .01); however, the identification of neurologic dysfunction was significantly higher (11.1% vs 20.7%; P < .01).ConclusionsFor patients requiring a prolonged ICU stay, our model of 24/7 in-house intensivist coverage was not associated with changes in ICU LOS, nor ICU and 30-day mortality. However a reduction in blood product use, ICU complications, and total hospital LOS was observed

Verification and Validation of the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT)

This paper describes the processes and results of Verification and Validation (V&V) efforts for the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT). We describe the test program and environments, the tools used for independent test data, and comparison results. The V&V effort produced approximately 13,000 test scripts that are run as part of the nightly buildtest process. In addition, we created approximately 3000 automated GUI tests that are run every two weeks. Presenting all test results are beyond the scope of a single paper. Here we present high-level test results in most areas, and detailed test results for key areas. The final product of the V&V effort presented in this paper was GMAT version R2013a, the first Gold release of the software with completely updated documentation and greatly improved quality. Release R2013a was the staging release for flight qualification performed at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) ultimately resulting in GMAT version R2013b

Comparison of pre-treatments to reduce salinity and enhance biomethane yields of Laminaria digitata harvested in different seasons

Pre-treatment can enhance anaerobic digestion of seaweed; however, seasonal variation in the biochemical composition of seaweed has a significant impact on the pre-treatment effect. In this study, various pre-treatments were employed for the brown seaweed Laminaria digitata harvested in March (with high ash content and low carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio) and September (with low ash content and high C:N ratio). Washing of L. digitata harvested in March with hot water (defined as 40 °C) removed 54% of the ash and improved the volatile solids (VS) content by 31% leading to an improved biomethane yield of 282 L CH4 kg VS−1. This pre-treatment affected a 16% increase in biodegradability, reduced salt accumulation in the digestate by 54%, and increased specific methane yield per wet weight by 25%. This level of effect was not noted for seaweed harvested in September, when the biodegradability is higher