Radio Frequency Identification Technology: Applications, Technical Challenges and Strategies

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to discuss the technology behind RFID systems, identify the applications of RFID in various industries, and discuss the technical challenges of RFID implementation and the corresponding strategies to overcome those challenges. Design/methodology/approach - Comprehensive literature review and integration of the findings from literature. Findings - Technical challenges of RFID implementation include tag cost, standards, tag and reader selection, data management, systems integration and security. The corresponding solution is suggested for each challenge. Research limitations/implications - A survey type research is needed to validate the results. Practical implications - This research offers useful technical guidance for companies which plan to implement RFID and we expect it to provide the motivation for much future research in this area. Originality/value - As the infancy of RFID applications, few researches have existed to address the technical issues of RFID implementation. Our research filled this gap

Knowledge-based planning in robotic intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery treatments

PURPOSE: To develop a knowledge-based planning (KBP) model that predicts dosimetric indices and facilitates planning in CyberKnife intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy (SRS/SRT). METHODS: Forty CyberKnife SRS/SRT plans were retrospectively used to build a linear KBP model which correlated the equivalent radius of the PTV (req_PTV ) and the equivalent radius of volume that receives a set of prescription dose (req_Vi , where Vi = V10% , V20% ... V120% ). To evaluate the model\u27s predictability, a fourfold cross-validation was performed for dosimetric indices such as gradient measure (GM) and brain V50% . The accuracy of the prediction was quantified by the mean and the standard deviation of the difference between planned and predicted values, (i.e., DeltaGM = GMpred - GMclin and fractional DeltaV50% = (V50%pred - V50%clin )/V50%clin ) and a coefficient of determination, R(2) . Then, the KBP model was incorporated into the planning for another 22 clinical cases. The training plans and the KBP test plans were compared in terms of the new conformity index (nCI) as well as the planning efficiency. RESULTS: Our KBP model showed desirable predictability. For the 40 training plans, the average prediction error from cross-validation was only 0.36 +/- 0.06 mm for DeltaGM, and 0.12 +/- 0.08 for DeltaV50% . The R(2) for the linear fit between req_PTV and req_vi was 0.985 +/- 0.019 for isodose volumes ranging from V10% to V120% ; particularly, R(2) = 0.995 for V50% and R(2) = 0.997 for V100% . Compared to the training plans, our KBP test plan nCI was improved from 1.31 +/- 0.15 to 1.15 +/- 0.08 (P \u3c 0.0001). The efficient automatic generation of the optimization constraints by using our model requested no or little planner\u27s intervention. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a linear KBP based on PTV volumes that accurately predicts CyberKnife SRS/SRT planning dosimetric indices and greatly helps achieve superior plan quality and planning efficiency

Identification of gene-phenotype connectivity associated with flavanone naringenin by functional network analysis

Naringenin, extracted from grapefruits and citrus fruits, is a bioactive flavonoid with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antifibrogenic, and anticancer properties. In the past two decades, the growth of publications of naringenin in PubMed suggests that naringenin is quickly gaining interest. However, systematically regarding its biological functions connected to its direct and indirect target proteins remains difficult but necessary. Herein, we employed a set of bioinformatic platforms to integrate and dissect available published data of naringenin. Analysis based on DrugBank and the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins revealed seven direct protein targets and 102 indirect protein targets. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of total 109 naringenin-mediated proteins was next visualized using Cytoscape. What’s more, all naringenin-mediated proteins were subject to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis by the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery, which resulted in three ESR1-related signaling pathways and prostate cancer pathway. Refined analysis of PPI network and KEGG pathway identified four genes (ESR1, PIK3CA, AKT1, and MAPK1). Further genomic analysis of four genes using cBioPortal indicated that naringenin might exert biological effects via ESR1 signaling axis. In general, this work scrutinized naringenin-relevant knowledge and provided an insight into the regulation and mediation of naringenin on prostate cancer

Water-dispersible and quasi-superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles prepared in a weakly basic solution at the low synthetic temperature

Magnetite nanoparticles were prepared in a weakly basic solution at the low reaction temperature by the co-precipitation method. As a comparison, the oxidative precipitation method was also applied in this study. The structure, morphology, and other properties of the obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The above characterization data indicate that small size and narrow size distribution are found for magnetite nanoparticles prepared by the co-precipitation method. Further magnetic property and Zeta potential results illuminate that magnetite nanoparticles prepared by this method display a quasi-superparamagnetic property and a good dispersion in the aqueous solution. Based on the investigation results, the magnetite nanoparticles with a quasi-superparamagnetic property and a fine dispersion can be facilely prepared in a weakly basic solution at the low reaction temperature by the co-precipitation method

Ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes: a natural experiment study

Background Radical regulations to improve air quality, including traffic control, were implemented prior to and during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Consequently, ambient concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and particular matter 10 micrometers or less (PM 10 ), were reduced in a distinct and short window of time, which presented a natural experiment for testing the relationships between maternal exposure to PM 10 and NO 2 during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes. Methods We estimated the effect of PM 10 and NO 2 exposure during each trimester of gestation on the risk of preterm birth among live births and the birth weight among term babies. The data were based on 50,874 live births delivered between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010 at the Beijing Haidian Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Air monitoring data for the same period were obtained from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center. Results Among full-term births, maternal exposure to NO 2 in the third trimester predicted birth weight, with each 10-unit increment (per 10 ug/m 3 ) in NO 2 concentration associated with a 13.78 g (95 % confidence interval: −21.12, −6.43; p \u3c 0.0001) reduction in birth weight. This association was maintained after adjusting for other pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and PM 10 . No relationship was found between the concentration of PM 10 and low birth weight among full-term births. Neither PM 10 nor NO 2 concentrations predicted the risk of premature birth. Conclusions Exposure to ambient air pollution during certain periods of pregnancy may decrease birth weight, but the effect size is small

The Unified Equation of State for Dark Matter and Dark Energy

We assume that dark matter and dark energy satisfy the unified equation of state: $p=B(z)\rho$, with $p=p_{dE}$, $\rho=\rho_{dm}+\rho_{dE}$, where the pressure of dark matter $p_{dm}=0$ has been taken into account. A special function $B=-\frac{A}{(1+z)^{\alpha}}$ is presented, which can well describe the evolution of the universe. In this model, the universe will end up with a Big Rip. By further simple analysis, we know other choices of the function $B$ can also describe the universe but lead to a different doomsday.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, ws-mpla.cls, accepted by MPL

The Real Scalar Field in Schwarzschild-de Sitter Spacetime

In this paper, the real scalar field equation in Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime is solved numerically with high precision. A method called polynomial approximation is introduced to derive the relation between the tortoise coordinate x and the radius r. This method is different from the tangent approximation [1] and leads to more accurate result. The Nariai black hole is then discussed in details. We find that the wave function is harmonic only near the horizons as I. Brevik and B. Simonsen [1] found. Howerver the wave function is not harmonic in the region of the potential peak, with amplitude increasing instead. Furthermore, we also find that, when cosmological constant decreases, the potential peak increases, and the maximum wave amplitude increases.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. To be published in volume 35(2003), G.R.