Cu2+ removal from aqueous solution by Platanus orientalis leaf powders

An investigation steeredto ascertain the adsorption potential of fallen Platanus orientalis leaf powder (FPOLP) ascost-effective adsorbentto removeCu2+from an aqueous solution. The FPOLP was physically activated in two different forms (oxidation) and (N2) flowconditions. Batch operations for Cu2+ adsorption were performed to ascertain adsorption characteristics of FPOLP and activated samples. The results indicated that the optimum activation temperature and time were 500 oC and 180 min, respectively, while the best Cu2+ removal was achieved when the solution was controlled at pH 3 and the adsorbent dosage at 3 g/L.Additionally, an evaluation of the mechanism of adsorption fitted very well intopseudo-second-order. FTIR, scanning electron microscopy and BETmeasurements suggested that the new functional groups and the increased surface area related to the porous structure played a critical role in Cu2+ removal by the activated leaf powder. FPOLP has a great potential to remove Cu2+ in an aqueous solution

High-Efficiency Asymmetric Transmission of Circularly Polarized THz waves using a Dielectric Herringbone Metasurface

An interesting topic is that of metamaterials imparting chiral responses which invoke a disparity between opposite handednesses of circularly polarised (CP) light. Most chiral metamaterials are either 3D-helical structures [1] or stacked metallic structures with twisted orientations [2]. These structures allow selective transmission of one CP whilst prohibiting or reflecting the other, termed Circular Dichroism. However, for 2D chiral metamaterials, this is not so. Instead, the cross-polarisation conversion of one CP to another is different. The original work in [3] used an anisotropic lossy planar-chiral “fish-scale” structure to exhibit this effect, termed Asymmetric Transmission (AT). However, these responses are small with efficiencies less than 25%. Works to improve efficiency used 3D arrangements. Work in [4] achieved much higher efficiency than for the 2D planar-chiral structures, but due to the metallic construction absorption losses were unavoidable; such losses were given as 37%. Here, we propose a means of achieving AT using a loss-free mechanism at 1THz frequency by constructing Monolithic Herringbone metamaterials from a dielectric medium [5]. This device works by a spin-selective interference of CP light, due to Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phases, in conjunction with a propagative dynamic phase (Fig. 2) causing constructive interference for TRL and destructive for TLR Jones matrix components. An analytical derivation (Fig. 1a) was found to agree well with numerical simulations (Fig. 1b) for the design. These results indicate a conversion efficiency of LCP to RCP (TRL) exceeding 80%. Fabrication of Intrinsic Silicon was used for the devices (Fig. 2) and THz Time Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was used to characterise the samples, showing a 60% spin-conversion efficiency (Fig. 3). Such a device is robust and is not easily degraded by errors in fabrication

Pancharatnam-Berry Phase Induced Spin-Selective Transmission in Herringbone Dielectric Metamaterials

A dielectric metamaterial approach for achieving spin‐selective transmission of electromagnetic waves is proposed. The design is based on spin‐controlled constructive or destructive interference between propagating phase and Pancharatnam–Berry phase. The dielectric metamaterial, consisting of monolithic silicon herringbone structures, exhibits a broadband operation in the terahertz regime

Liverome: a curated database of liver cancer-related gene signatures with self-contained context information

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. A number of molecular profiling studies have investigated the changes in gene and protein expression that are associated with various clinicopathological characteristics of HCC and generated a wealth of scattered information, usually in the form of gene signature tables. A database of the published HCC gene signatures would be useful to liver cancer researchers seeking to retrieve existing differential expression information on a candidate gene and to make comparisons between signatures for prioritization of common genes. A challenge in constructing such database is that a direct import of the signatures as appeared in articles would lead to a loss or ambiguity of their context information that is essential for a correct biological interpretation of a gene’s expression change. This challenge arises because designation of compared sample groups is most often abbreviated, <it>ad hoc</it>, or even missing from published signature tables. Without manual curation, the context information becomes lost, leading to uninformative database contents. Although several databases of gene signatures are available, none of them contains informative form of signatures nor shows comprehensive coverage on liver cancer. Thus we constructed Liverome, a curated database of liver cancer-related gene signatures with self-contained context information.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>Liverome’s data coverage is more than three times larger than any other signature database, consisting of 143 signatures taken from 98 HCC studies, mostly microarray and proteome, and involving 6,927 genes. The signatures were post-processed into an informative and uniform representation and annotated with an itemized summary so that all context information is unambiguously self-contained within the database. The signatures were further informatively named and meaningfully organized according to ten functional categories for guided browsing. Its web interface enables a straightforward retrieval of known differential expression information on a query gene and a comparison of signatures to prioritize common genes. The utility of Liverome-collected data is shown by case studies in which useful biological insights on HCC are produced.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Liverome database provides a comprehensive collection of well-curated HCC gene signatures and straightforward interfaces for gene search and signature comparison as well. Liverome is available at <url>http://liverome.kobic.re.kr</url>.</p

Platforms for Parallel Processing of Task on GPU

Import 05/08/2014Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá zpracováním úloh na grafické kartě. Konkrétním typem úloh jsou paralelní třídící algoritmy. V první části práce se vyskytuje popis technologií CUDA a OpenCL, ve kterých je později třídící algoritmus implementován. Dále je rozebrán princip daného algoritmu a jeho implementace. Následuje profilování a optimalizace třídícího algoritmu. V poslední částí je testování algoritmů na různých grafických kartách a porovnání obou technologií.This thesis deals with the processing tasks to the graphics card. Specific types of tasks are selected sorting algorithms. The first part includes description CUDA and OpenCL technology in which sorting algorithm is implemented. Next it is described the principle of the algorithm and its implementation. Next step is profiling and optimization of sorting algorithm. The last part includes testing these algorithms on different graphics cards and a comparison of both technologies.460 - Katedra informatikydobř

Las competencias matemáticas a partir de una estrategia didáctica en un ambiente de geometría dinámica

Se presenta una experiencia desarrollada en el contexto de la asignatura Práctica Educativa II del profesorado en matemática de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de la Universidad Nacional del La Pampa. Dicha asignatura tiene entre sus objetivos la adquisición de competencias para diseñar unidades didácticas sobre los distintos contenidos curriculares de Matemática. La experiencia está centrada en la resolución de problemas con uso de tecnología, vivenciada por los futuros profesores para su posterior planificación y transferencia al ciclo básico de la educación secundaria. En particular se trabajó en el diseño de una actividad para la enseñanza de conceptos geométricos usando tecnología, con una mirada reflexiva al modo de plantear relaciones entre álgebra y geometría

Adsorption at Natural Minerals/Water Interfaces

This book introduces the latest research regarding the adsorption of heavy metals, toxic ions, and organic compounds at the interfaces of water/minerals, such as mineralogical characterizations, surface chemistry, and modification of natural minerals as adsorbents, as well as the adsorption of cations, anions, and organic compounds in water. Presenting findings by the authors and their co-workers, the book helps readers grasp the principals and benefits of using minerals for water treatment, as well as the advanced technologies in the area developed over last 30 years, especially the last 10 years