Compressive Reflector Antenna Phased Array

Conventional phased array imaging systems seek to reconstruct a target in the imaging domain by employing many transmitting and receiving antenna elements. These systems are suboptimal, due to the often large mutual information existing between two successive measurements. This chapter describes a new phased array system, which is based on the use of a novel compressive reflector antenna (CRA), that is capable of providing high sensing capacity in different imaging applications. The CRA generates spatial codes in the imaging domain, which are dynamically changed through the excitation of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) feeding arrays. In order to increase the sensing capacity of the CRA even further, frequency dispersive metamaterials can be designed to coat the surface of the CRA, which ultimately produces spectral codes in near- and far- fields of the reflector. This chapter describes different concepts of operation, in which a CRA can be used to perform active and passive sensing and imaging

Comparative assay of protease enzyme activity in protoscolices (Hydatid cyst) and liver tissues

Hydatidosis is a zoonosis disease caused by the larva of Echinococcus granulosus parasite in man and animals. The Proteases enzymes are necessary for nutrition, migration and evasion of immunity of parasite into host. The aim of this study was to determine the protease activity of hydatid cyst protoscolices (PSC), healthy and cystic liver tissues in order to compare of this biomarker for host and parasite in hydatid disease. In this study, PSC were collected from sheep liver tissue infected with hydatid cysts at an abattoir and washed 3 times with PBS buffer.  PSC samples were freeze-thawed and sonicated while collected liver tissues were homogenized. Extract solution samples were centrifuged and stored at - 20°C. Protease enzymes activity was measured in the extract solutions of PSC and sheep liver tissue samples (healthy and cystic livers). Samples protein concentrations and protein bands were detected using Bradford and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) methods respectively. To determine significant difference between two groups, statistical t-test was performed. The values of protease enzyme activities in healthy, cystic and PSC were determined 0.0028, 0.0087 and 0.50U/ml/mg respectively. Elevation of protease enzyme activity in cystic liver as compared with healthy was not significant. Statistical T-test showed higher protease enzyme activity for PSC as compared to healthy (p<0.05). SDS-PAGE confirmed 24 kDa and 54 kDa bands for protease enzyme in PSC samples and 24 kDa band in liver samples. Protease enzyme activity and molecular weight as compared to healthy liver tissues could be concerned as a comparative metabolic biomarker for host and parasite in hydatidosi

Near-Field Radar Microwave Imaging as an Add-on Modality to Mammography

According to global statistics, there is a high incidence of cancer in western countries; and, due to the limited resources available in most health care systems, it seems like one of the most feasible options to fight against cancer might be strict prevention policies—such as eliminating carcinogens in people’s daily lives. Nevertheless, early cancer detection and effective treatment are still necessary, and understanding their efficacy and limitations are important issues that need to be addressed in order to ultimately enhance patients’ survival rate. In the case of breast cancer, some of the problems faced by conventional mammography have been addressed in the literature; they include high rate of false-positive and false-negative results, as well as the possibility of overdiagnosis. New technologies, such as digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), have been able to improve the sensitivity and specificity by using 3D imaging. However, the low contrast (1%) existing between tumors and healthy fibroglandular tissue at X-ray frequencies has been identified as one of the main causes of misdiagnosis in both conventional 2D mammography and DBT. Near-field radar imaging (NRI) provides a unique opportunity to overcome this problem, since the contrast existing between the aforementioned tissues is intrinsically higher (10%) at microwave frequencies. Moreover, the low resolution and highly complex scattering patterns of microwave systems can be enhanced by using prior information from other modalities, such as the DBT. Therefore, a multimodal DBT/NRI imaging system is proposed to exploit their individual strengths while minimizing their weaknesses. In this work, the foundation of this idea is reviewed, and a preliminary design and experimental validation of the NRI system, used as a DBT complement, is introduced

In Vitro Study of Mebendazole (Anthelmintic drug) Effects on the Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Enzyme Activity of Hydatid Cyst Parasite

Hydatid disease is caused by the larva of Echinococcus granulosus parasite. Mebendazole (MBZ) is used as an alternative choice for the treatment of the disease. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an essential enzyme in amino acid metabolism. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of MBZ on AST activity of hydatid cyst parasite in order to detect enzymatic parameter for drug efficiency. In the present study, AST activity was estimated in the extracts of untreated parasite (hydatid cyst protoscolices) and treated samples by MBZ (100 µg final concentration). Samples’ protein quantity and quality were detected by Bradford and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) methods respectively. For the purpose of determining the significant difference between the two independent samples, t-test was conducted. The values of the assayed AST specific activities of treated and untreated parasite samples were measured as 0.18 and 1.53U/ml/mg protein respectively. The difference between AST activities mean values of the two groups proved to be significant (P<0.05). SDS-PAGE demonstrated protein band of 50 kDa for AST enzyme. Considering the effect of the MBZ drug on AST activity in parasite, it can be concluded that this enzyme is useful for improving the drug efficiency

Numerical Simulation of A Cubic Spout-Fluid Bed: Influences of Inlet Gas Temperature and Jet to Bed Cross-Section Ratio

In this paper, we study the role of inlet gas temperature and jet to bed cross-section ratio on hydrodynamics and circulation patterns of particles in a spout-fluid bed. The system is modeled using CFD-TFM approach based on Eulerian-Eulerian method. Simulation results are validated by experimental data measured by (Link 2008. "PEPT and Discrete Particle Simulation Study of Spout-fluid Bed Regimes." Aiche Journal 54 (5): 1189-202). First, the sensitivity analysis of simulation results versus the most significant parameters are conducted to find the optimum values for each parameter. Subsequently, the role of inlet gas temperature and cross-section ratios are studied in detail. The simulation results clearly demonstrate that increasing the inlet gas temperature raises particles\u27 velocity in the bed and affects the circulation pattern in annulus region. Additionally, it is shown that higher gas temperature leads to existence of hot spots in the annulus region. In case of jet to bed cross-section ratio, using larger ratios results in higher velocities and lower pressure drop along the bed

An observational study of secondary task engagement while driving on urban streets in Iranian Safe Communities

In Iran the prevalence of traffic injuries and death from vehicle collisions are high. Driver engagement in non-driving-related tasks has been previously identified as an important contributing factor to crashes. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of drivers’ engagement in potentially distracting activities in Kashmar, Khalilabad and Bardaskan, which are three Iranian International Safe Communities. Observations took place at 12 randomly selected roadside locations in each city, which were comprised of six main streets and six side streets. In total 7979 drivers were observed. The prevalence rates of potentially distracting activities in Kashmar, Khalilabad and Bardaskan were 24.3%, 26% and 24.9%, respectively. In both Kashmar and Khalilabad the most frequently observed secondary tasks were drivers talking to passengers (10.6% and 11.5%, respectively) followed by mobile phone use (3.4% and 4.0%, respectively). Although in Bardaskan the most commonly observed secondary task was also talking to passengers (12.7%), the second most common was reaching for an object (3.2%). In all three cities younger drivers were significantly more likely to be observed engaged in a secondary task while driving. Furthermore, involvement in secondary tasks while driving was significantly higher amongst females and those driving on a working day. The percentage of drivers identified as potentially distracted in these three Safe Communities was worryingly high. Thus, interventions should be integrated into the WHO Safe Community network in these cities, including: education regarding the risks associated with engaging in secondary activities while driving, law enforcement, tougher legislation, periodic assessment, raising public awareness, as well as attracting political and social support