Chip-based photonic radar for high-resolution imaging

Radar is the only sensor that can realize target imaging at all time and all weather, which would be a key technical enabler for future intelligent society. Poor resolution and large size are two critical issues for radars to gain ground in civil applications. Conventional electronic radars are difficult to address both issues especially in the relatively low-frequency band. In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, a chip-based photonic radar based on silicon photonic platform, which can implement high resolution imaging with very small footprint. Both the wideband signal generator and the de-chirp receiver are integrated on the chip. A broadband photonic imaging radar occupying the full Ku band is experimentally established. A high precision range measurement with a resolution of 2.7 cm and an error of less than 2.75 mm is obtained. Inverse synthetic aperture (ISAR) imaging of multiple targets with complex profiles are also implemented.Comment: 4 pages, 6figure

Rapid Determination of Active Ingredient Contents in Rhizoma Gastrodiae Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Combined with Artificial Rabbits Optimization-Least Square Support Vector Regression

In order to rapidly and non-destructively detect gastrodin and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in Rhizoma Gastrodiae, near infrared spectral data of the dried tuber of Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow were collected in the wavelength range of 900–1 700 nm. First, convolutional smoothing (SG) and standard normal variable transformation (SNV) were used for spectral data preprocessing. Second, feature wavelength extraction was carried out by competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and iteratively retains informative variables (IRIV). According to the results of establishing least squares support vector machine (LSSVR) model based on feature wavelength, the best method of feature wavelength extraction was selected. In order to improve the accuracy of the model, this study introduced the artificial rabbits optimization (ARO) algorithm to optimize the regularization parameter γ and the kernel function density σ2 in LSSVR and the superiority of ARO to particle swarm optimization (PSO) and grey wolf optimizer (GWO) was evaluated. The results showed that the ARO algorithm was superior to PSO and GWO in in terms of optimization speed and ability. The best prediction models for gastrodin and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol were CARS-ARO-LSSVR, with prediction correlation coefficient (R2p) of 0.969 6 and 0.957 7, and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.014 and 0.020, respectively. Therefore, this study shows that near-infrared spectroscopy can be used for quantitative detection of active components in Rhizoma Gastrodiae, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of rapid detection devices for Rhizoma Gastrodiae

Synthesis and characterisation of controllably functionalised polyaniline nanofibres

A novel method for functionalising solution based polyaniline (PAni) nanofibres is reported whereby the degree of side-chain attachment can be controllably altered. The covalent attachment of functional side-groups to the surface of PAni nanostructures is achieved by post-polymerisation reflux in the presence of a nucleophile and the functionalised nanomaterial can be purified by simple centrifugation. The technique is therefore easily scalable. We demonstrate that control over the extent of side-chain attachment can be achieved simply by altering the amount of nucleophile added during reflux. We provide evidence that covalently attached carboxlate side-chains influence the doping mechanism of polyaniline and can be used to introduce self-doping behaviour. Acid functionalised nanofibres remain redox active and retain their optical switching capabilities in response to changes in the local chemical environment, thus making them suitable for adaptive sensing applications

Solvated inverse vulcanisation by photopolymerisation

Inverse Vulcanisation (IV) under neat reaction conditions (without solvent) has enabled the research and development of the fundamental chemistry as well as the generation of unique sulfur-rich polymers with unprecedented properties. However, such bulk polymerisation can be problematic, especially with high molecular weight. The energetics of the thermal polymerisation process, combined with poor heat control of solvent-free polymerisation, cause risks of dangerous auto-acceleration if the process is scaled up. The required high temperatures (>160 °C or 135 °C even with catalysts), exceed the boiling point of most commonplace organic solvents, preventing implementation of solvents for IV under thermal conditions. We report here a photo-induced IV polymerisation in solvent at room temperature. The reactions proceed smoothly and efficiently with excellent yields, despite the potential negative factors of reflection, refraction, and low absorption intensity of light by these organic solvents, opening an attractive avenue for the preparation of functional sulfur-rich polymers as well as their potential applications. The extension of crosslinkers to the value-added C5 fraction of industrial byproduct and β-carotene showcase the benefit of this low temperature protocol. Mechanistic study reveals that the moisture in both substrates and solvents might play a key role for the generation of toxic H2S by-product in IV reaction under thermal conditions, with photopolymerisation remaining un-affected. This protocol not only extensively expands the scope of crosslinkers for the IV reaction together with resultant polymers, but also provides a potential scale-up route for industrial application by avoiding the generation of toxic H2S by-product and possible explosion risk with high temperature

Self-Assembled Polymeric Micellar Nanoparticles as Nanocarriers for Poorly Soluble Anticancer Drug Ethaselen

A series of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide) (mPEG-PLA) diblock copolymers were synthesized, and mPEG-PLA micelle was fabricated and used as a nanocarrier for solubilization and delivery of a promising anticancer drug ethaselen. Ethaselen was efficiently encapsulated into the micelles by the dialysis method, and the solubility of ethaselen in water was remarkably increased up to 82 μg/mL before freeze-drying. The mean diameter of ethaselen-loaded micelles ranged from 51 to 98 nm with a narrow size distribution and depended on the length of PLA block. In vitro hemolysis study indicated that mPEG-PLA copolymers and ethaselen-loaded polymeric micelles had no hemolytic effect on the erythrocyte. The enhanced antitumor efficacy and reduced toxic effect of ethaselen-loaded polymeric micelle when compared with ethaselen-HP-β-CD inclusion were observed at the same dose in H22human liver cancer cell bearing mouse models. These suggested that mPEG-PLA polymeric micelle nanoparticles had great potential as nanocarriers for effective solubilization of poorly soluble ethaselen and further reducing side effects and toxicities of the drug

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis for Fault Dislocation Magnitude Induced by Strong Earthquakes: A Case Study of the Sichuan-Yunnan Region

Seismic risk in this region is high in Sichuan-Yunnan region of western China, and active faults are well developed in this region. Tunneling in this region would inevitably come across with active faults, and the stability of the tunnel would face serious threats due to the dislocation of an active fault. The magnitude of the fault dislocation is an important design parameter in the design work of tunnels across an active fault. However, traditionally this parameter is estimated as a deterministic value that is often overestimated. In this paper, the probabilistic analysis method was introduced into the estimation of the dislocation magnitude for a tunnel in Sichuan-Yunnan region. To demonstrate the proposed approach, the Xianglushan tunnel in the Central-Yunnan-Water-Transmission Project, which crosses the Longpan–Qiaohou active fault, was taken as an example case. The seismicity parameters in Sichuan-Yunnan region and the dislocation probability caused by earthquakes are considered. The fault dislocation magnitude that may occur during the service life of the tunnel can be estimated as a probability function, and parameter analysis was conducted. Thus, anti-dislocation design work of the tunnel may be conducted based on this reasonable estimation

Innovating transport with QUIC: Design approaches and research challenges

ISSN:1089-7801ISSN:1941-013

Damage mechanism of conventional joints and proposal of a novel joint for hollow-core slab bridges

The prefabricated hollow-core slab bridge is a common bridge. In prefabricated hollow-core slab bridges, joints play an important role in connecting prefabricated slabs and ensuring the integrity of the bridge. However, as the service time of the bridge increases, conventional joints have a large number of typical diseases that affect the safety and durability of bridges. In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model of the entire construction phase is established to investigate the development difference of shrinkage and creep between joints and hollow-core slabs. The effects of vehicle load and temperature gradient on joints were analysed, the failure mechanism of joints was explored, and a novel joint was proposed. The results of a nonlinear analysis showed that the novel joint can effectively improve the mechanical performance of joints and cracks can be effectively controlled. Moreover, the novel joint solves the problem in that the conventional novel joint cannot be vibrated effectively