A circular polarization hybrid-integrated rectangular ring antenna for RFID reader

In this paper, a compact hybrid-integrated microstrip rectangular ring antenna with circular polarization is proposed for RFID reader. By integrating a cross-slotted patch hybrid with a rectangular ring antenna in the same plane, the proposed antenna has the features of circular polarization, compact size, low cost, light weight and unique flexibility for RFID applications. A prototype operating at 915 MHz is designed and fabricated. The measured results agree well with the simulated results. © 2012 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Multi-population methods in unconstrained continuous dynamic environments: The challenges

Themulti-populationmethod has been widely used to solve unconstrained continuous dynamic optimization problems with the aim of maintaining multiple populations on different peaks to locate and track multiple changing peaks simultaneously. However, to make this approach efficient, several crucial challenging issues need to be addressed, e.g., how to determine the moment to react to changes, how to adapt the number of populations to changing environments, and how to determine the search area of each population. In addition, several other issues, e.g., communication between populations, overlapping search, the way to create multiple populations, detection of changes, and local search operators, should be also addressed. The lack of attention on these challenging issues within multi-population methods hinders the development of multi-population based algorithms in dynamic environments. In this paper, these challenging issues are comprehensively analyzed by a set of experimental studies from the algorithm design point of view. Experimental studies based on a set of popular algorithms show that the performance of algorithms is significantly affected by these challenging issues on the moving peaks benchmark. Keywords: Multi-population methods, dynamic optimization problems, evolutionary computatio

A new sponge tray bioreactor in primary treated sewage effluent treatment

The new attached growth sponge tray bioreactor (STB) was evaluated at different operating conditions for removing organics and nutrients from primary treated sewage effluent. This STB was also assessed when using as a pre-treatment prior to micro-filtration (MF) for reducing membrane fouling. At a short hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 40min, the STB could remove up to 92% of DOC and 40-56% of T-N and T-P at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.4kg COD/m3 spongeday. This OLR is the best for the STB as compared to the OLRs of 0.6, 1.2 and 3.6kg COD/m3 spongeday. At 28mL/min of flow velocity (FV), STB achieved the highest efficiencies with 92% of DOC, 87.4% of T-P, and 54.8% of T-N removal. Finally, at the optimal OLR and FV, the STB could remove almost 90% of organic and nutrient, significantly reduce membrane fouling with HRT of only 120min. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd

An Open Framework for Constructing Continuous Optimization Problems

Many artificial benchmark problems have been proposed for different kinds of continuous optimization, e.g., global optimization, multi-modal optimization, multi-objective optimization, dynamic optimization, and constrained optimization. However, there is no unified framework for constructing these types of problems and possible properties of many problems are not fully tunable. This will cause difficulties for researchers to analyze strengths and weaknesses of an algorithm. To address these issues, this paper proposes a simple and intuitive framework, which is able to construct different kinds of problems for continuous optimization. The framework utilizes the k-d tree to partition the search space and sets a certain number of simple functions in each subspace. The framework is implemented into global/multimodal optimization, dynamic single objective optimization, multiobjective optimization, and dynamic multi-objective optimization, respectively. Properties of the proposed framework are discussed and verified with traditional evolutionary algorithms

Remineralization of demineralized dentin using a dual analog system.

ObjectiveImproved methods are needed to remineralize dentin caries in order to promote conservation of dentin tissue and minimize the surgical interventions that are currently required for clinical treatment. Here, we test the hypothesis that bulk substrates can be effectively mineralized via a dual analog system proposed by others, using a tripolyphosphate (TPP) "templating analog" and a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or poly(aspartic acid) (pAsp) "sequestration analog," the latter of which generates the polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) mineralization process studied in our laboratory.Material & methodsDemineralized human dentin slices were remineralized with and without pre-treatment with TPP, using either PAA or pAsp as the PILP process-directing agent. A control experiment with no polymer present was used for comparison.ResultsNo mineralization was observed in any of the PAA groups. In both the pAsp and no polymer groups, TPP inhibited mineralization on the surfaces of the specimens but promoted mineralization within the interiors. Pre-treatment with TPP enhanced overall mineralization of the pAsp group. However, when analysed via TEM, regions with little mineral were still present.ConclusionPoly(acrylic acid) was unable to remineralize demineralized dentin slices under the conditions employed, even when pre-treated with TPP. However, pre-treatment with TPP enhanced overall mineralization of specimens that were PILP-remineralized using pAsp

Ca isotope constraints on chemical weathering processes: Evidence from headwater in the Changjiang River, China

This study aims to clarify the relationship between chemical weathering of rocks and the carbon budget of rivers and better understand the weathering mechanisms of plateau watersheds. We chose to study the Jinsha River, which originates from the Tibetan Plateau and also is in the upper reaches of the Changjiang River. Analysis of hydrochemistry, radiogenic strontium isotope and stable calcium isotopes were conducted of the Jinsha River water samples, which were collected along its mainstream and main tributaries in the summer. The results show that the water chemistry of the mainstream waters is dominated by evaporite weathering, which have low 87Sr/86Sr values (0.7098–0.7108) and wide range of Sr contents (2.70–9.35 μmol/L). In contrast, tributaries of the Jinsha River have higher 87Sr/86Sr (0.7090–0.7157) and lower Sr contents (∼1 μmol/L). Moreover, the Ca isotopic compositions in the mainstream (0.87–1.11‰) are heavier than the tributaries (0.68–0.88‰) and could not be fully explained by the conventional mixing of different sources. We suggest that secondary carbonate precipitation fractionates Ca isotopes in the Jinsha River, and fractionation factors are between 0.99935 and 0.99963. At least 66% of Ca was removed in the mainstream of the Jinsha River through secondary mineral precipitation, and the average value is ∼35% in the tributaries. The results highlight that evaporite weathering results in more carbonate precipitation influencing Ca transportation and cycling in the riverine system constrained by stable Ca isotopic compositions and water chemistry

An experimental study of combining evolutionary algorithms with KD-tree to solving dynamic optimisation problems

This paper studies the idea of separating the explored and unexplored regions in the search space to improve change detection and optima tracking. When an optimum is found, a simple sampling technique is used to estimate the basin of attraction of that optimum. This estimated basin is marked as an area already explored. Using a special tree-based data structure named KD-Tree to divide the search space, all explored areas can be separated from unexplored areas. Given such a division, the algorithm can focus more on searching for unexplored areas, spending only minimal resource on monitoring explored areas to detect changes in explored regions. The experiments show that the proposed algorithm has competitive performance, especially when change detection is taken into account in the optimisation process. The new algorithm was proved to have less computational complexity in term of identifying the appropriate sub-population/region for each individual. We also carry out investigations to find out why the algorithm performs well. These investigations reveal a positive impact of using the KD-Tree

Use of quercetin in animal feed : effects on the P-gp expression and pharmacokinetics of orally administrated enrofloxacin in chicken

Modulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp, encoded by Mdr1) by xenobiotics plays central role in pharmacokinetics of various drugs. Quercetin has a potential to modulate P-gp in rodents, however, its effects on P-gp modulation in chicken are still unclear. Herein, study reports role of quercetin in modulation of P-gp expression and subsequent effects on the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in broilers. Results show that P-gp expression was increased in a dose-dependent manner following exposure to quercetin in Caco-2 cells and tissues of chicken. Absorption rate constant and apparent permeability coefficient of rhodamine 123 were decreased, reflecting efflux function of P-gp in chicken intestine increased by quercetin. Quercetin altered pharmacokinetic of enrofloxacin by decreasing area under curve, peak concentration, and time to reach peak concentration and by increasing clearance rate. Molecular docking shows quercetin can form favorable interactions with binding pocket of chicken xenobiotic receptor (CXR). Results provide convincing evidence that quercetin induced P-gp expression in tissues by possible interaction with CXR, and consequently reducing bioavailability of orally administered enrofloxacin through restricting its intestinal absorption and liver/kidney clearance in broilers. The results can be further extended to guide reasonable use of quercetin to avoid drug-feed interaction occurred with co-administered enrofloxacin or other similar antimicrobials.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

SLC39A6: A potential target for diagnosis and therapy of esophageal carcinoma

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly lethal cancer, and its underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Recent large-scale genome-wide association studies in Chinese Han populations have identified an ESCC susceptibility locus within the SLC39A6 gene. Here, we sought to explore the expression and biological function of SLC39A6 in ESCC. Methods: Multiethnic validation of SLC39A6 protein expression was performed in different cohorts of patients from Chinese Han and Kazakh populations in the Xinjiang region by immunohistochemistry. The associations among SLC39A6 expression, clinicopathological parameters, and prognosis outcomes of ESCC were analyzed. And the effects of SLC39A6 silencing by siRNA on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasiveness, as well as the proteins involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of esophageal cancer cells, were studied. Results: SLC39A6 protein expression increased progressively from normal esophageal epithelium (NEE) to low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia to ESCC, and finally reached the highest in high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia from Han ethnic. Similarly, SLC39A6 protein was significantly overexpressed in Kazakh ethnic ESCC compared with that in NEE. Increased expression of SLC39A6 was found to be closely correlated with histological grade and early Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage I/II. High tumorous SLC39A6 expression was significantly correlated with shorter overall survival (OS). Cox regression analysis confirmed that SLC39A6 expression was an independent prognostic factor for poor OS in ESCC. Experimentally, the suppression of SLC39A6 expression promoted ESCC cell apoptosis but abrogated proliferation and invasion, and induced an EMT phenotype that included enhanced expression of E-cadherin, loss of vimentin, and morphological changes in ESCC cells in vitro. Conclusions: Combined, our findings highlight a tumor-promoting role for SLC39A6 in ESCC, suggesting that SLC39A6 could serve as an early detector of high-risk subjects and prognostic biomarker. The targeting of SLC39A6 might be a potential therapeutic strategy for blocking ESCC

Single photon emission from plasma treated 2D hexagonal boron nitride

© 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. Artificial atomic systems in solids are becoming increasingly important building blocks in quantum information processing and scalable quantum nanophotonic networks. Amongst numerous candidates, 2D hexagonal boron nitride has recently emerged as a promising platform hosting single photon emitters. Here, we report a number of robust plasma and thermal annealing methods for fabrication of emitters in tape-exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) crystals. A two-step process comprising Ar plasma etching and subsequent annealing in Ar is highly robust, and yields an eight-fold increase in the concentration of emitters in hBN. The initial plasma-etching step generates emitters that suffer from blinking and bleaching, whereas the two-step process yields emitters that are photostable at room temperature with emission wavelengths greater than ∼700 nm. Density functional theory modeling suggests that the emitters might be associated with defect complexes that contain oxygen. This is further confirmed by generating the emitters via annealing hBN in air. Our findings advance the present understanding of the structure of quantum emitters in hBN and enhance the nanofabrication toolkit needed to realize integrated quantum nanophotonic circuits