ZnO random laser diode arrays for stable single-mode operation at high power

2010-2011 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Enhanced Coagulation of Titanium Tetrachloride Aided by the Modified Compound Bioflocculant

© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers. The compound bioflocculant (CBF) was modified by graft copolymerization of acrylic amide and dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride, and the novel copolymer was denoted as MCBF. The effect of MCBF used as coagulant aid with titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) was investigated for both high and low molecule weight natural organic matter (NOM) removal. Floc characteristics were studied using a laser diffraction particle-sizing device. Results indicated that the monomers were successfully grafted onto the CBF, and the molecule weight and zeta potential of CBF were greatly improved. The MCBF with TiCl4 exhibited synergistic effect by promoting NOM removal, especially at low TiCl4 doses. Additionally, using MCBF as a coagulant aid with TiCl4 can significantly increase the floc growth rate, size, strength, and broken-floc recoverability. The effect of MCBF on fractal dimension of flocs generated by TiCl4 depended on NOM properties. Both coagulation performance and floc properties were significantly affected by dosing sequence

First report of Perkinsus honshuensis in the variegated carpet shell clam Ruditapes variegatus in Korea

The recent discovery of Perkinsus honshuensis, a new Perkinsus species infecting Manila clams Ruditapes philippinarum (Sowerby, 1852), in Japan, suggested that, based on proximity, P. honshuensis could also be in Korean waters, where to date, P. olseni was believed to be the only Perkinsus species present. Perkinsus sp. infections consistently occurred among Ruditapes variegatus clams on a pebble beach on Jeju Island, off the south coast of Korea. The typical \u27signet ring\u27 morphology of the parasite was observed in the connective tissue of the digestive gland, and infection intensity was comparatively low (3.3 x 10(3) +/- 1.2 x 10(4) to 1.3 x 10(4) +/- 6.1 x 10(4) cells g(-1) gill weight). Further DNA analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2) and non-transcribed spacer (NTS) regions of the parasite showed 98.9-99.8 and 98.5-99.5% similarity to those of P. honshuensis from Japan, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses using ITS and NTS sequences indicated that Perkinsus sp. from Jeju formed a highly supported clade with P. honshuensis. This is the first report of P. honshuensis infections in clams in Korean waters and the first report of R. variegatus as a host for that parasite

Advancement of the annual traffic census in Hong Kong

This paper summarises the process, findings and recommendations of a recently completed joint university consultancy project that reviewed the annual traffic census (ATC) in Hong Kong. The results of a survey that assessed the usefulness of the census report are presented, together with an overview of the existing traffic data collection process and traffic detection equipment. Areas for improvement are then identified, including the sampling strategies for the collection of vehicle classification and occupancy data, the procedure for the development of group scaling factors, the method for the selection of core and coverage stations, the approaches to developing growth factors and traffic flow estimation, the presentation method and database structure of the census framework, and the manpower requirements. Based on these identified areas, a new computer program is developed to integrate all of the tasks of the census report and to produce the results in CD-ROM format. Finally, concluding remarks are given together with recommendations for further study.published_or_final_versio

A network traffic flow model for motorway and urban highways

The research reported in this paper develops a network level traffic flow model (NTFM) which is applicable for both motorway and urban roads. It forecasts the traffic flow rates, queue propagation at the junctions and travel delays through the network. NTFM uses sub-models associated with all road and junction types which comprise the highway. The flow at any one part of the network is obviously very dependent upon the flows at all other parts of the network. To predict the two-way traffic flow in NTFM, an iterative simulation method is executed to generate the evolution of dependent traffic flows and queues. To demonstrate the capability of the model it is applied to a small case study network and a local Loughborough-Nottingham highway network. The results indicate that NTFM is capable of identifying the relationship between traffic flows and capturing traffic phenomena such as queue dynamics. By introducing a reduced flow rate on links of the network then the effects of strategies employed to carry out roadworks can be mimicked

Phosphorylation of the androgen receptor is associated with reduced survival in hormonerefractory prostate cancer patients

Cell line studies demonstrate that the PI3K/Akt pathway is upregulated in hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) and can result in phosphorylation of the androgen receptor (AR). The current study therefore aims to establish if this has relevance to the development of clinical HRPC. Immunohistochemistry was employed to investigate the expression and phosphorylation status of Akt and AR in matched hormone-sensitive and -refractory prostate cancer tumours from 68 patients. In the hormone-refractory tissue, only phosphorylated AR (pAR) was associated with shorter time to death from relapse (<i>P</i>=0.003). However, when an increase in expression in the transition from hormone-sensitive to -refractory prostate cancer was investigated, an increase in expression of PI3K was associated with decreased time to biochemical relapse (<i>P</i>=0.014), and an increase in expression of pAkt<sup>473</sup> and pAR<sup>210</sup> were associated with decreased disease-specific survival (<i>P</i>=0.0019 and 0.0015, respectively). Protein expression of pAkt<sup>473</sup> and pAR<sup>210</sup> also strongly correlated (<i>P</i><0.001, c.c.=0.711) in the hormone-refractory prostate tumours. These results provide evidence using clinical specimens, that upregulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway is associated with phosphorylation of the AR during development of HRPC, suggesting that this pathway could be a potential therapeutic target

Optimally combining dynamical decoupling and quantum error correction

We show how dynamical decoupling (DD) and quantum error correction (QEC) can be optimally combined in the setting of fault tolerant quantum computing. To this end we identify the optimal generator set of DD sequences designed to protect quantum information encoded into stabilizer subspace or subsystem codes. This generator set, comprising the stabilizers and logical operators of the code, minimizes a natural cost function associated with the length of DD sequences. We prove that with the optimal generator set the restrictive local-bath assumption used in earlier work on hybrid DD-QEC schemes, can be significantly relaxed, thus bringing hybrid DD-QEC schemes, and their potentially considerable advantages, closer to realization.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

Effect of lifestyle factors on risk of mortality associated with influenza in elderly people

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Critical Micronutrients in Pregnancy, Lactation, and Infancy: Considerations on Vitamin D, Folic Acid, and Iron, and Priorities for Future Research

The Early Nutrition Academy and the European Commission-funded EURRECA Network of Excellence jointly sponsored a scientific workshop on critical micronutrients in pregnancy, lactation, and infancy. Current knowledge and unresolved questions on the supply of vitamin D, folic acid, and iron for pregnant women, lactating women, and infants, and their health effects were discussed. The question was addressed of whether, and under which circumstances, supplementation with these micronutrients in addition to usual dietary intakes is advisable. The workshop participants concluded that public health strategies for improving supplementation with these micronutrients in pregnancy, lactation, and infancy are required. Further research priorities should focus on adequately powered human intervention trials to obtain a stronger evidence base for the amounts of vitamin D, folic acid, and iron that have optimal effects on health. The conclusions of the workshop should help to inform the scientific community as well as public health policy strategies. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base