Plasmonic Nanoantenna Array Design

Recently, wireless optical communication system is developing toward the chip level. Optical nanoantenna array in optical communication system is the key component for radiating and receiving light. In this chapter, we propose a sub-wavelength plasmonic nanoantenna with high gain operating at the standard optical communication wavelength of 1550 nm. The designed plasmonic antenna has a good matching with the silicon waveguide in a wide band, and light is fed from the bottom of the nanoantenna via the silicon waveguide. Furthermore, we design two kinds of antenna arrays with the proposed plasmonic nanoantenna, including one- and two-dimensional arrays (1 × 8 and 8 × 8). The radiation characteristics of the antenna arrays are investigated and both arrays have high gains and wide beam steering range without grating lobes

Fatigue Detection for Ship OOWs Based on Input Data Features, from The Perspective of Comparison with Vehicle Drivers: A Review

Ninety percent of the world’s cargo is transported by sea, and the fatigue of ship officers of the watch (OOWs) contributes significantly to maritime accidents. The fatigue detection of ship OOWs is more difficult than that of vehicles drivers owing to an increase in the automation degree. In this study, research progress pertaining to fatigue detection in OOWs is comprehensively analysed based on a comparison with that in vehicle drivers. Fatigue detection techniques for OOWs are organised based on input sources, which include the physiological/behavioural features of OOWs, vehicle/ship features, and their comprehensive features. Prerequisites for detecting fatigue in OOWs are summarised. Subsequently, various input features applicable and existing applications to the fatigue detection of OOWs are proposed, and their limitations are analysed. The results show that the reliability of the acquired feature data is insufficient for detecting fatigue in OOWs, as well as a non-negligible invasive effect on OOWs. Hence, low-invasive physiological information pertaining to the OOWs, behaviour videos, and multisource feature data of ship characteristics should be used as inputs in future studies to realise quantitative, accurate, and real-time fatigue detections in OOWs on actual ships

Sequencing and Analysis of MicroRNAs in Bovine Milk Exosomes

In this study, density-gradient centrifugation was used to extract bovine milk exosomes, and the small non-coding RNA (sRNA) in the exosomes were sequenced by Illumina sequencing technology to explore the expression profile of bovine milk microRNAs (miRNAs). Through quality control of the original sequence, a total of 3 899 629 pure sRNA sequences were obtained, and their length was concentrated at 28 nt. By comparison with the database, 61 known miRNAs and 346 novel miRNAs were identified. The results of gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that miRNAs from bovine milk exosomes played a critical role in various biological processes such as cell process, single organism process and metabolic process. It mainly consisted of cells and organelles and was mainly involved in molecular functions such as binding, catalytic activity and transporter activity. The results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that the known miRNAs and the new miRNA target genes were significantly enriched in pertussis (ko05133), chemokine signal pathway (ko04062), endocytosis (ko04144), lysosome (ko04142) and other pathways, and bovine milk exosome miRNAs played an important role in specific signaling pathways

Heparan Sulfate Facilitates Spike Protein-Mediated SARS-CoV-2 Host Cell Invasion and Contributes to Increased Infection of SARS-CoV-2 G614 Mutant and in Lung Cancer

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and has been a serious threat to global public health with limited treatment. Cellular heparan sulfate (HS) has been found to bind SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SV2-S) and co-operate with cell surface receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to mediate SARS-CoV-2 infection of host cells. In this study, we determined that host cell surface SV2-S binding depends on and correlates with host cell surface HS expression. This binding is required for SARS-Cov-2 virus to infect host cells and can be blocked by heparin lyase, HS antagonist surfen, heparin, and heparin derivatives. The binding of heparin/HS to SV2-S is mainly determined by its overall sulfation with potential, minor contribution of specific SV2-S binding motifs. The higher binding affinity of SV2-S G614 mutant to heparin and upregulated HS expression may be one of the mechanisms underlying the higher infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 G614 variant and the high vulnerability of lung cancer patients to SARS-CoV-2 infection, respectively. The higher host cell infection by SARS-CoV-2 G614 variant pseudovirus and the increased infection caused by upregulated HS expression both can be effectively blocked by heparin lyase and heparin, and possibly surfen and heparin derivatives too. Our findings support blocking HS-SV2-S interaction may provide one addition to achieve effective prevention and/treatment of COVID-19

Test of Perfomance ERK Hybrid Dryer with Biomass Furnace as Additional Heating System for Nutmeg Seed (Myristica SP.) Drying

Conventional drying depend on the weather. It was caused agricultural product damaged, and moldy attack. So we need hybrid dryer with a source of radiation and solar biomass to continuous drying and can be controlled.The aims of this research is test performance of ERK hybrid dryer to drying the nutmeg seed during the drying process. Experiments were conducted to determine the distribution of temperature in the dryer in condition with no material and material conditions. Input of energy derived from biomass combustion in the furnace (evening) and combination of biomass and radiation (during the day). Measurements of temperature and RH using a thermocouple CC and alcohol thermometer. Temperature and RH to be measured include temperature and RH in dryer with several measurement points representing the up, middle , bottom and inlet temperature, outlet temperature and ambient temperature measurements at intervals of 30 minutes. The results showed average temperature ranges between 42 ° C - 51 ° C and RH ranged between 50.96 % -55.65 % . Time of drying is used to dry nutmeg from the initial moisture content from 80.72 % wb to 9.67 % wb is 52 hours with an average drying rate is 7.8 % db / hour . The total energy used to heat and vaporize materials,water that is 290 499.9 kJ. Efficiency of drying system 8.63% and energy of drying required to water evaporated is 28520.62 kJ / kg. The result quality of product obtained color of nutmeg generally more uniform