RFID Technology in Intelligent Tracking Systems in Construction Waste Logistics Using Optimisation Techniques

Construction waste disposal is an urgent issue for protecting our environment. This paper proposes a waste management system and illustrates the work process using plasterboard waste as an example, which creates a hazardous gas when land filled with household waste, and for which the recycling rate is less than 10% in the UK. The proposed system integrates RFID technology, Rule-Based Reasoning, Ant Colony optimization and knowledge technology for auditing and tracking plasterboard waste, guiding the operation staff, arranging vehicles, schedule planning, and also provides evidence to verify its disposal. It h relies on RFID equipment for collecting logistical data and uses digital imaging equipment to give further evidence; the reasoning core in the third layer is responsible for generating schedules and route plans and guidance, and the last layer delivers the result to inform users. The paper firstly introduces the current plasterboard disposal situation and addresses the logistical problem that is now the main barrier to a higher recycling rate, followed by discussion of the proposed system in terms of both system level structure and process structure. And finally, an example scenario will be given to illustrate the system’s utilization

Characterization of the micro-environment of the testis that shapes the phenotype and function of testicular macrophages

Tissue-specific macrophages are important for the activation of innate immune responses and general organ homeostasis. Testicular macrophages (TM) reside in the testicular interstitial space and comprise the largest leukocyte population in the testis and are assumed to play a role in maintaining testicular immune privilege. Numerous studies have indicated that the interstitial fluid (IF) surrounding the TM has immunosuppressive properties, which may influence the TM phenotype. However, the identity of the immunosuppressive molecules present in the IF is poorly characterized. In this thesis it is shown that in the rat, IF shifts the M1 phenotype of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor induced bone marrow derived macrophages towards the M2 phenotype. M2 macrophages polarized by IF mimic the properties of TM such as increased expression of CD163, high secretion of IL-10 and low secretion of TNF-alpha. In addition, IF-polarized macrophages display immunoregulatory functions by inducing the expansion of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells. This thesis provides evidence that PGE2, PGI2, testosterone and corticosterone are important immunoregulatory molecules in the IF, playing a relevant role in determining the phenotype of TM. Except corticosterone, all of these factors are able to inhibit the NF-kB signaling pathway to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and thus maintain an immunosuppressive microenvironment of the testis. Corticosterone was found to be the principal immunosuppressive molecule in the IF. Its receptor, the glucocorticoid receptor, was found to be present in TM immunohistochemically. In addition, TM locally produce small amounts of corticosterone, which suppress the expression of inflammatory genes and render TM refractory to inflammatory stimuli. Taken together, these results suggest that testicular corticosterone shapes the immunosuppressive function and phenotype of TM. This steroid hormone may therefore play also an important role in the establishment and maintenance of the immune privilege of the testis.Gewebsspezifische Makrophagen haben eine wichtige Funktion bei der Aktivierung angeborener Immunantworten und der Organhomeostase. Testikuläre Makrophagen (TM) befinden sich im Interstitium des Hodens und stellen die größte Leukozytenpopulation in der männlichen Gonade dar. Es wird angenommen, dass sie eine wichtige Funktion in der Aufrechterhaltung des Immunprivilegs des Hodens ausüben. Studien haben gezeigt, dass die interstitielle Flüssigkeit (IF), wleche die TM umgibt, immunsuppressive Eigenschaften aufweist, die den Phänotyp der TM beeinflussen könnten. Allerdings konnten immunsuppressive Moleküle in der IF bislang kaum charakterisiert werden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird für die Ratte als Modell gezeigt, dass die IF den durch Granulozyten- Makrophagen-Kolonie-stimulierenden Faktor (GM-CSF) induzierten M1 Phänotyp von Makrophagen, die aus dem Knochenmark isoliert wurden, in Richtung des M2 Phänotyps verschieben kann. IF-polarisierte M2-Makrophagen zeigen damit charakteristische Eigenschaften von TM, wie z. Bsp. erhöhte Expression von CD163, hohe Level von sezerniertem IL-10 bei geringer TNF-alpha Sekretion. Darüber hinaus zeigen IF-polarisierte Makrophagen immunoregulatorische Funktionen, indem sie die Expansion von immunsuppressiven regulatorischen T-Zellen induzieren. In dieser Studie werden erstmals auch Ergebnisse vorgestellt, die zeigen, dass PGE2, PGI2, Testosteron und Corticosteron wichtige immunregulatorische Moleküle in der IF darstellen und eine wesentliche Rolle bei der Bestimmung des TM-Phänotyps spielen. Mit Ausnahme von Corticosteron sind die genannten Faktoren in der Lage, den NF-kB-Signalweg zu hemmen, und damit die Produktion von entzündungshemmenden Zytokinen zu unterdrücken. Bei Corticosteron war der NFkB Signalweg bei der Immunsuppression nicht blockiert. Corticosteron konnte als wichtigster immunsuppressiver Faktor in der IF identifiziert werden. Dessen Rezeptor, der Glucocorticoidrezeptor, konnte in TM mittels Immunhistochemie gefunden werden. TM produzieren lokal moderate Mengen an Corticosteron, die die Expression inflammatorischer Gene unterdrücken und TM unempfindlich gegenüber entzündlichen Stimuli machen können. Zusammengenommen zeigen diese Ergebnisse, dass testikuläres Corticosteron maßgeblich für die immunsuppressive Funktion und den spezifischen Phänotyp der TM verantwortlich ist. Damit könnte das Steroidhormon auch eine wichtige Rolle bei der Etablierung und Aufrechterhaltung des Immunprivilegs im Hoden spielen

A Facile Synthesis of Polypyrrole/Carbon Nanotube Composites with Ultrathin, Uniform and Thickness-Tunable Polypyrrole Shells

An improved approach to assemble ultrathin and thickness-tunable polypyrrole (PPy) films onto multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been investigated. A facile procedure is demonstrated for controlling the morphology and thickness of PPy film by adding ethanol in the reaction system and a possible mechanism of the coating formation process is proposed. The coated PPy films can be easily tuned by adding ethanol and adjusting a mass ratio of pyrrole to MWCNTs. Moreover, the thickness of PPy significantly influences the electronic conductivity and capacitive behavior of the PPy/MWCNT composites. The method may provide a facile strategy for tailoring the polymer coating on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for carbon-based device applications

Cadmium-induced genomic instability in Arabidopsis: molecular toxicological biomarkers for early diagnosis of cadmium stress

Microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis, random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and methylation-sensitive arbitrarily primed PCR (MSAP-PCR) are methods to evaluate the toxicity of environmental pollutants in stress-treated plants and human cancer cells. Here, we evaluate these techniques to screen for genetic and epigenetic alterations of Arabidopsis plantlets exposed to 0–5.0 mg L−1 cadmium (Cd) for 15 d. There was a substantial increase in RAPD polymorphism of 24.5, and in genomic methylation polymorphism of 30.5–34.5 at CpG and of 14.5–20 at CHG sites under Cd stress of 5.0 mg L−1 by RAPD and of 0.25–5.0 mg L−1 by MSAP-PCR, respectively. However, only a tiny increase of 1.5 loci by RAPD occurred under Cd stress of 4.0 mg L−1, and an additional high dose (8.0 mg L−1) resulted in one repeat by MSI analysis. MSAP-PCR detected the most significant epigenetic modifications in plantlets exposed to Cd stress, and the patterns of hypermethylation and polymorphisms were consistent with inverted U-shaped dose responses. The presence of genomic methylation polymorphism in Cd-treated seedlings, prior to the onset of RAPD polymorphism, MSI and obvious growth effects, suggests that these altered DNA methylation loci are the most sensitive biomarkers for early diagnosis and risk assessment of genotoxic effects of Cd pollution in ecotoxicology

Heterogeneous silver-polyaniline nanocomposites with tunable morphology and controllable catalytic properties

National Natural Science Foundation of China [51173153, U1205113]; Special Program for Key Research of Chinese National Basic Research Program [2011CB612303]; Xiamen Science and Technology Committee [3502Z20121021, 3502Z20120015]This paper introduces not only a simple hydrothermal route to silver-polyaniline (Ag-PANI) nanocomposites with controllable morphology, but also a type of catalyst possessing tunable and switchable catalytic capability. Ag-PANI Janus nanoparticles (NPs) and Ag@PANI core-shell NPs have been constructed successfully at different hydrothermal temperatures. The diameter of both Ag and PANI hemispheres of Janus NPs, as well as the PANI shell thickness of core-shell NPs, was finely tuned via adjustment of the feed ratio. We also gained a deeper insight into the functionalities of PANI components in the catalytic capability of the heterogeneous catalysts, choosing catalytic reductions of nitrobenzene (NB) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as model reactions. Our results showed that the catalytic capability of the nanocomposites was dependent on the PANI morphology and hydrophobicity. The PANI shell coating on Ag NPs can concentrate the lipophilic NB, thus leading to an enhanced catalytic capability of Ag@PANI core-shell NPs. However, this enhanced catalytic capability was not observed for Ag-PANI Janus NPs when catalytically reducing NB. More importantly, the catalytic capability of the core-shell NPs in the reduction of hydrophilic 4-NP is switchable by varying the PANI shell from an undoped to a doped state

Knowledge Management Application of Internet of Things in Construction Waste Logistics with RFID Technology

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging concept and that is currently under creation and development. However, it has already made an impact on many research domains by providing new solutions and ideas particularly in waste management and recycling. The IoT concept has provided a new research path that is conducive with public awareness of environmental protection considerations and improving recycling rates. This paper focuses on plasterboard waste as an example to propose a smart waste management framework. The 3 layers of the IoT model has been extended to 4-layers by splitting the application layer into knowledge management and visualization layer respectively. A smart waste management application has been developed, based on a case study of a local SME waste recycling company. This smart waste management system uses a service science approach, and it not only provides full logistical records for waste transportation but also provides waste collection arrangements and incident handling guidance to both management and operational staff

Application of RFID and Mobile technology in Tracking of Equipment for Maintenance in the Mining Industry

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a crucial factor in reducing the down time in equipment maintenance in the mining industry. The paper describes a tracking and verification system using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and mobile RFID technology developed for an SME in the UK to monitor the assembly of parts for a manufacturing company. The system uses low cost passive tags (costing few cents) to provide information in real time using TCP/IP protocol which is internet compatible and can be viewed anywhere in the organisation worldwide to provide more effective management control. The RFID technology and mobile RFID equipment is able to operate in a manufacturing and fabrication ‘metal environment’ with read/write distances of up to 6m. The information can be linked to a CAD system and/or Witness Quick 3D to provide visualisation and simulation of the shop floor in terms of equipment and personnel movement. This information can also be linked to digital imagery and used to provide evidence and visualisation for agile management systems in mining machinery workshops and stores

Applications of RFID and mobile technology in tracking of equipment for maintenance in the mining industry

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a crucial factor in reducing the down time in equipment maintenance in the mining industry. The paper describes a tracking and verification system using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and mobile RFID technology developed for an SME in the UK to monitor the assembly of parts for a manufacturing company. The system uses low cost passive tags (costing few cents) to provide information in real time using TCP/IP protocol which is internet compatible and can be viewed anywhere in the organisation worldwide to provide more effective management control. The RFID technology and mobile RFID equipment is able to operate in a manufacturing and fabrication ‘metal environment’ with read/write distances of up to 6m. The information can be linked to a CAD system and/or Witness Quick 3D to provide visualisation and simulation of the shop floor in terms of equipment and personnel movement. This information can also be linked to digital imagery and used to provide evidence and visualisation for agile management systems in mining machinery workshops and stores