402 research outputs found
Multiperson Detection and Vital-Sign Sensing Empowered by Space-Time-Coding RISs
Passive human sensing using wireless signals has attracted increasing
attention due to its superiorities of non-contact and robustness in various
lighting conditions. However, when multiple human individuals are present,
their reflected signals could be intertwined in the time, frequency and spatial
domains, making it challenging to separate them. To address this issue, this
paper proposes a novel system for multiperson detection and monitoring of vital
signs (i.e., respiration and heartbeat) with the assistance of
space-time-coding (STC) reconfigurable intelligent metasurfaces (RISs).
Specifically, the proposed system scans the area of interest (AoI) for human
detection by using the harmonic beams generated by the STC RIS. Simultaneously,
frequencyorthogonal beams are assigned to each detected person for accurate
estimation of their respiration rate (RR) and heartbeat rate (HR). Furthermore,
to efficiently extract the respiration signal and the much weaker heartbeat
signal, we propose an improved variational mode decomposition (VMD) algorithm
to accurately decompose the complex reflected signals into a smaller number of
intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). We build a prototype to validate the proposed
multiperson detection and vital-sign monitoring system. Experimental results
demonstrate that the proposed system can simultaneously monitor the vital signs
of up to four persons. The errors of RR and HR estimation using the improved
VMD algorithm are below 1 RPM (respiration per minute) and 5 BPM (beats per
minute), respectively. Further analysis reveals that the flexible beam
controlling mechanism empowered by the STC RIS can reduce the noise reflected
from other irrelative objects on the physical layer, and improve the
signal-to-noise ratio of echoes from the human chest
Study on cosmogenic activation in copper for rare event search experiments
The rare event search experiments using germanium detectors are performed in
the underground laboratories to prevent cosmic rays. However, the cosmogenic
activation of the cupreous detector components on the ground will generate long
half-life radioisotopes and contribute continually to the expected background
level. We present a study on the cosmogenic activation of copper after 504 days
of exposure at an altitude of 2469.4 m outside the China Jinping Underground
Laboratory (CJPL). The specific activities of the cosmogenic nuclides produced
in the copper bricks were measured using a low background germanium gamma-ray
spectrometer at CJPL. The production rates at sea level, in units of
nuclei/kg/day, are 18.6 \pm 2.0 for Mn-54, 9.9 \pm 1.3 for Co-56, 48.3 \pm 5.5
for Co-57, 51.8 \pm 2.5 for Co-58 and 39.7 \pm 5.7 for Co-60, respectively.
Given the expected exposure history of the germanium detectors, a Monte Carlo
simulation is conducted to assess the cosmogenic background contributions of
the detectors' cupreous components.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Passive Human Sensing Enhanced by Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface: Opportunities and Challenges
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have flexible and exceptional
performance in manipulating electromagnetic waves and customizing wireless
channels. These capabilities enable them to provide a plethora of valuable
activity-related information for promoting wireless human sensing. In this
article, we present a comprehensive review of passive human sensing using radio
frequency signals with the assistance of RISs. Specifically, we first introduce
fundamental principles and physical platform of RISs. Subsequently, based on
the specific applications, we categorize the state-of-the-art human sensing
techniques into three types, including human imaging,localization, and activity
recognition. Meanwhile, we would also investigate the benefits that RISs bring
to these applications. Furthermore, we explore the application of RISs in human
micro-motion sensing, and propose a vital signs monitoring system enhanced by
RISs. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the promising potential
of RISs in sensing vital signs for manipulating individuals. Finally, we
discuss the technical challenges and opportunities in this field
Hydroelastic investigation on a pile breakwater integrated with a flexible tail for long-wave attenuation
A novel concept of wave attenuator is proposed for the defense of long waves, through integrating a flexible tail to the lee-side surface of a pile breakwater. The flexible tail works as a floating blanket made up of hinged blocks, whose scale and stiffness can be easily adjusted. A two-phase-flow numerical model is established based on the open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code OpenFOAM to investigate its wave attenuation performance. Incompressible Navier—Stokes equations are solved in the fluid domain, where an additional computational solid mechanics (CSM) solver is embedded to describe the elastic deformation of the floating tail. The coupling of fluid dynamics and structural mechanics is solved in a full manner to allow assess of wave variation along the deforming body. The accuracy of the numerical model is validated through comparison with experimental data. Effects of the flexible tail on performance of the pile breakwater are investigated systematically. Dynamic behaviours of the tail are examined, and characteristics of its natural frequency are identified. For safety reasons, the wave loads impacting on the main body of the pile breakwater and the stress distribution over the tail are specially examined. It is found that both the length and stiffness of the tail can affect the wave-attenuation performance of the breakwater. A proper choice of the length and stiffness of the tail can greatly improve the long-wave defending capability of the pile breakwater. The maximum stress over the flexible tail can be restrained through optimising the deformation and stiffness of the tail
Relationship between plasma glutamate and cardiovascular disease risk in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by gender
ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the association between plasma glutamate (Glu) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and whether this association differs by gender.Material and methodsWe retrieved clinical information on 1032 consecutive patients with T2DM from a same tertiary care center from May 2015 to August 2016. Glu was quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Glu was converted into a categorical variable based on the median concentration in the whole population, while logistic regression was used to obtain the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and the correlation between Glu and various biochemical indices was analyzed.ResultsWe found that Glu was positively associated with the risk of CVD in patients with T2DM. This correlation was more significant in women. In T2DM patients, the higher the age, body mass index (BMI), weight and systolic blood pressure (SBP), the lower the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) concentration and the higher the Glu. In female patients, the correlation between age, weight, BMI, SBP, and plasma Triglycerides (TG), and Glu was also statistically significant.ConclusionIn conclusion, female T2DM patients with high levels of Glu have a higher risk of developing CVD
6-MethylÂpyridine-2(1H)-thione
There are two unique molÂecules in the asymmetric unit of the title pyridineÂthione derivative, C6H7NS, each of which adopts the thione rather than the mercaptan form. The rings in both molÂecules are essentially planar, with maximum deviations from the least-squares planes through all non-H atoms of 0.021 (2) and 0.017 (2) Å. In the crystal structure, the molÂecules form centrosymmetric cyclic dimers through interÂmolecular N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds. Additional C—H(methÂyl)⋯S interÂactions generate a three-dimensional network
Axin downregulates TCF-4 transcription via β-catenin, but not p53, and inhibits the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We previously reported that overexpression of Axin downregulates T cell factor-4 (TCF-4) transcription. However, the mechanism(s) by which Axin downregulates the transcription and expression of TCF-4 is not clear. It has been reported that β-catenin promotes and p53 inhibits TCF-4 transcription, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate whether β-catenin and/or p53 is required for Axin-mediated downregulation of TCF-4.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Axin mutants that lack p53/HIPK2 and/or β-catenin binding domains were expressed in lung cancer cells, BE1 (mutant p53) and A549 (wild type p53). Expression of Axin or AxinΔp53 downregulates β-catenin and TCF-4, and knock-down of β-catenin upregulates TCF-4 in BE1 cells. However, expression of AxinΔβ-ca into BE1 cells did not downregulate TCF-4 expression. These results indicate that Axin downregulates TCF-4 transcription via β-catenin. Although overexpression of wild-type p53 also downregulates TCF-4 in BE1 cells, cotransfection of p53 and AxinΔβ-ca did not downregulate TCF-4 further. These results suggest that Axin does not promote p53-mediated downregulation of TCF-4. Axin, AxinΔp53, and AxinΔβ-ca all downregulated β-catenin and TCF-4 in A549 cells. Knock-down of p53 upregulated β-catenin and TCF-4, but cotransfection of AxinΔβ-ca and p53 siRNA resulted in downregulation of β-catenin and TCF-4. These results indicate that p53 is not required for Axin-mediated downregulation of TCF-4. Knock-down or inhibition of GSK-3β prevented Axin-mediated downregulation of TCF-4. Furthermore, expression of Axin and AxinΔp53, prevented the proliferative and invasive ability of BE1 and A549, expression of AxinΔβ-ca could only prevented the proliferative and invasive ability effectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Axin downregulates TCF-4 transcription via β-catenin and independently of p53. Axin may also inhibits the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells via β-catenin and p53.</p
Observation of SQUID-like behavior in fiber laser with intra-cavity epsilon-near-zero effect
Establishing relations between fundamental effects in far-flung areas of
physics is a subject of great interest in the current research. We here report
realization of a novel photonic system akin to the radio-frequency
superconducting quantum interference device (RF-SQUID), in a fiber laser cavity
with epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) nanolayers as intra-cavity components. Emulating
the RF-SQUID scheme, the photonic counterpart of the supercurrent, represented
by the optical wave, circulates in the cavity, passing through effective
optical potential barriers. Different ENZ wavelengths translate into distinct
spectral outputs through the variation of cavity resonances, emulating the
situation with a frequency-varying tank circuit in the RF-SQUID. Due to the
presence of the ENZ element, the optical potential barrier is far lower for
selected frequency components, granting them advantage in the gain-resource
competition. The findings reported in this work provide a deeper insight into
the ultrafast ENZ photonics, revealing a new path towards the design of
nanophotonic on-chip devices with various operational functions, and offer a
new approach to study superconducting and quantum-mechanical systems.Comment: to be published in Laser & Photonics Review
Immunomodulatory Hydrogels:Advanced Regenerative Tools for Diabetic Foot Ulcer
Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most common complications of diabetes, bringing physical and mental challenges for patients due to the lack of efficient curative therapy. Despite considerable advances in pharmacological and surgical approaches, clinical trials for DFU patients remain disappointing due to the local overactive and excessive inflammation. Immunomodulatory hydrogels has significant advantages to overcome the clinical challenge of DFUs therapy. Here, recent fabrication and regenerative advances in the utilization of functional hydrogels for altering the immune microenvironment of DFUs are comprehensively reviewed. The pathological features and the healing processes of DFUs, followed by summarizing the physicochemical properties essential for the design of regenerative hydrogels for immunomodulation in DFUs, are briefly introduced. Then, the potential immuno-therapeutic modalities of hydrogels and emerging trends used to treat DFUs via multitherapeutic approaches and enhanced efficacy and safety are discussed. Taken together, by linking the structural properties of hydrogels to their functions in DFU therapy with a particular focus on immunomodulatory stimuli, this review can promote further advances in designing advanced hydrogels for DFUs, resulting in improved diabetic wound repair through translation into clinical setting in the near future.</p
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