A new LC series element for compact bandpass filter design

A new LC series element based on a modified version of the split rings resonator introduced in is proposed. Owing to its small electrical size, the new open split ring resonator (OSRR) is a very attractive element for compact bandpass filter design. As an example, we have designed and fabricated a filter to produce a bandpass around the resonance frequency of the employed OSRRs. The filter bandwidth is controlled by the length of the transmission lines connecting the OSRRs. Sharp and deep out-of-band rejection is achieved by cascading several OSRRs. Circuit theory and electromagnetic based simulations reasonably agree with experiments.     

Two new species of Acanthobothrium in Narcine entemedor (Rajiformes: Narcinidae) from the northwest coast of Guanacaste Peninsula, Costa Rica

This paper describes 2 new species of Acanthobothrium collected in Narcine entemedor from Cuajiniquil, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica (10 degrees 57'N, 85 degrees 42'W). Acanthobothrium franus n. sp. averages 27 mm long, composed of 110 proglottides, has bothridial hooks 344-469 microns long, and 24-56 testes per proglottis. This new species resembles Acanthobothrium colombianum, Acanthobothrium coquimbensis. Acanthobothrium dujardini, Acanthobothrium lineatum, Acanthobothrium lintoni, and Acanthobothrium paulum. The new species differs from these 6 species by having a relatively shorter cirrus sac length not reaching the middle region of the proglottis. Additionally, A. franus differs from these species by having longer bothridia (627-1,408 microns vs. 299-391 microns for A. colombianum, 312-480 microns for A. coquimbensis, 240-560 microns for A. dujardini, 275-624 microns for A. lineatum, 389-720 microns for A. lintoni, and 300-880 microns for A. paulum), and larger bothridial hooks (344-469 microns vs. 175-193 microns, 120-192 microns, 180-210 microns, 118-216 microns, 108-230 microns, and 104-229 microns, respectively). Acanthobothrium inbiorium n. sp. averages 59 mm long, composed of 198 proglottides, has bothridial hooks 95-120 microns long, and possesses 44-73 testes per proglottis. Among species of Acanthobothrium, the new species resembles Acanthobothrium electricolum, Acanthobothrium dasybati, Acanthobothrium dighaensis, Acanthobothrium icelandicum, Acanthobothrium indicum, Acanthobothrium microcephalum, and Acanthobothrium wedli. The new species closely, resembles A. dasybati, but differs from that species in average strobila length and number of proglottides (58 microns long and 198 proglottides in A. inbiorium vs. 20 and 80 in A. dasybati, respectively). The new species can be distinguished from A. electricolum by having a wider scolex (450-900 microns vs. 189-252 microns), from A. dighaensis by having a narrower scolex (450-900 vs. 1,050-1,429), and from A. indicum by average strobilar length and number of proglottides (58 mm and 198 for A. inbiorium vs. 25 mm and 145 for A. indicum). Finally, A. inbiorium differs from A. icelandicum by having a shorter cirrus sac (122-285 for A. inbiorium vs. 380-410 for A. icelandicum), and A. microcephalum and A. wedli by having longer bothridia (an average of 603 microns vs. 447 microns for A. microcephalum and 350 microns for A. wedli), and fewer testes per proglottis (44-73 vs. 105-115 and 80-100, respectively). Morphological similarities suggest that some components of the eastern Pacific fauna of Acanthobothrium might share historical associations with the Caribbean and the western Pacific/Indian Ocean fauna.     

An efficient numerical spectral domain method to analyze a largeclass of nonreciprocal planar transmission lines

Presents an efficient numerical application of the Galerkin method in the spectral domain (SD) to the analysis of striplike/slotlike coplanar transmission lines embedded in a bianisotropic multilayered medium. The method is based on obtaining the spectral dyadic Green's function by the equivalent boundary method (EBM), a suitable third order extraction technique of the asymptotic behavior of the Green's dyad, an enhanced numerical integration scheme, and the use of an adequate contour integral method for searching zeros in the complex plane. This method, namely the SD-EBM, has been found to be very suitable for analyzing transmission lines with semiconductors and/or ferrites magnetized at an arbitrary direction, including the study of magnetostatic wave propagation phenomena     

Novel Heterobimetallic Radiotheranostic: Preparation,Activity, and Biodistribution

A novel Ru^II(arene) theranostic complex is presented. It is based on a 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid macrocycle bearing a triarylphosphine and can be tracked in vivo by using the γ emission of ¹⁵³Sm atoms. Notably, the heteroditopic ligand can be selectively metalated with ruthenium at the phosphorus atom despite the presence of other functionalities that are prone to metal coordination. Subsequent labeling with radionuclides such as ¹⁵³Sm can then be performed easily. The resulting heterobimetallic complex exhibits favorable solubility and stability properties in biologically relevant media. It also shows in vitro cytotoxicity in line with that expected for this type of metallodrug, and is nontoxic to the organism as a whole. As a proof of concept, initial studies in healthy mice were performed to obtain information about the uptake, biodistribution, and excretion of the radiolabeled complex.     

Decision support systems in water resources in the demarcated region of Douro – case study in Pinhão river basin,Portugal

This paper puts forward the importance of decision support systems (DSS) for the planning and management of water resources. A case study of the Pinhão river basin, in Portugal, is presented. Given the importance of vineyards in the Douro region, it is important to determine if water availability will be enough to meet present and future water demands. In order to answer this question, DSS tools were used to assess different scenarios. The MIKE BASIN software was used in the hydrographical basin of Pinhão river, assisted by a geographic information system, GIS, which allowed the modelling of the basin, both temporally and spatially, facilitating the visualisation and interpretation of results. According to the attained results, it was verified that, at present, the hydrographical basin meets the considered water needs. The DSS proved to be an important tool to assist the decision‐making process in the studied river basin.     

Deposition of lead and cadmium released by cigarette smoke in dental structures and resin composite

Cigarette smoke is a significant source of cadmium, lead, and toxic elements, which are absorbed into the human organism. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the presence of toxic elements, cadmium, and lead deriving from cigarette smoke in the resin composite, dentine, and dental enamel. Eight cylindrical specimens were fabricated from resin composite, bovine enamel, and root dentin fragments that were wet ground and polished with abrasive paper to obtain sections with 6‐mm diameter and 2‐mm thickness. All specimens were exposed to the smoke of 10 cigarettes/day during 8 days. After the simulation of the cigarette smoke, the specimens were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. In the photomicrographic analysis in SEM, no morphological alterations were found; however, the microanalysis identified the presence of cadmium, arsenic, and lead in the different specimens. These findings suggest that the deposition of these elements derived from cigarette smoke could be favored by dental structures and resin composite. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A review of heat-treatment effects on activity and stability of PEM fuel cell catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

This paper reviews over 120 papers regarding the effect of heat treatment on the catalytic activity and stability of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell catalysts. These catalysts include primarily unsupported and carbon-supported platinum (Pt), Pt alloys, non-Pt alloys, and transition metal macrocycles. The heat treatment can induce changes in catalyst properties such as particle size, morphology, dispersion of the metal on the support, alloying degree, active site formation, catalytic activity, and catalytic stability. The optimum heat-treatment temperature and time period are strongly dependent on the individual catalyst. With respect to Pt-based catalysts, heat treatment can induce particle-size growth, better alloying degree, and changes in the catalyst surface morphology from amorphous to more ordered states, all of which have a remarkable effect on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and stability. However, heat treatment of the catalyst carbon supports can also significantly affect the ORR catalytic activity of the supported catalyst. Regarding non-noble catalysts, in particular transition metal macrocycles, heat treatment is also important in ORR activity and stability improvement. In fact, heat treatment is a necessary step for introducing more active catalytic sites. For metal chalcogenide catalysts, it seems that heat treatment may not be necessary for catalytic activity and stability improvement. More research is necessary to improve our fundamental understanding and to develop a new strategy that includes innovative heat-treatment processes for enhancing fuel cell catalyst activity and stability.     

Experimental and numerical study of fastener pull-through failure in GFRP laminates

A methodology to design and analyze multi-material bolted joints in hybrid train structures is presented. This methodology enables the prediction of the response of a multi-material bolted joint in a short amount of time and it is suitable to be used for large structures, where the number of bolts can be very high. The method developed is applied to a real industrial case which consists on the connection between the roof and the side of a carbody shell train structure. Experimental tests are performed on a full-size sub-component. The comparison between the experimental data and the numerical results confirms the accuracy of the method.     

Removal of heavy metals using different polymer matrixes as support for bacterial immobilisation

Great attention is focused on the microbial treatment of metal contaminated environments. Three bacterial strains, 1C2, 1ZP4 and EC30, belonging to genera Cupriavidus, Sphingobacterium and Alcaligenes, respectively, showing high tolerance to Zn and Cd, up to concentrations of 1000ppm, were isolated from a contaminated area in Northern Portugal. Their contribution to Zn and Cd removal from aqueous streams using immobilised alginate, pectate and a synthetic cross-linked polymer was assessed. In most cases, matrices with immobilised bacteria showed better metal removal than the non-inoculated material alone. For the immobilisation with all the polymers, 1C2 was the strain that increased the removal of Zn the most, whereas EC30 was the most promising for Cd removal, especially when combined with the synthetic polymer with up to a ca. 11-fold increase in metal removal when compared to the polymer alone. Removal of individual metals from binary mixtures showed that there was differential immobilisation. There was greater removal of Cd than Zn (removals up to 40% higher than those showed for Zn). The results show that metal contaminated environments constitute a reservoir of microorganisms resistant/tolerant to heavy metals that have the capacity to be exploited in bioremediation strategies. Capsule immobilisation of bacteria in the naturally occurring alginate and pectate and in a synthetic cross-linked polymer increased the Zn and Cd removal abilities from single and binary contaminated waters; the applications with the synthetic polymer were the most promising for Cd and Zn removal in single and binary mixtures.     

Effects from log-yard stormwater runoff on the microalgae Scenedesmus subspicatus: intra-storm magnitude and variability

This paper describes the effects posed by stormwater runoff from an industrial log-yard on the microalgae Scenedesmus subspicatus. The effects of stormwater runoff sampled during two rain events were determined by exposing S. subspicatus cells to different concentrations (% v:v) of each sample. The effects were measured as the percentage change in growth rates in relation to a control culture after exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The runoff from the first rain event had no negative effects to S. subspicatus, posing in most cases growth stimulation, whereas the runoff from the second rain event inhibited algae growth. Differences in runoff physico-chemical characteristics combined with the hydrological factors of each rain event explained these opposite effects. The hypothesis of toxic first flush phenomenon was confirmed in the second rain event on the basis of normalized inhibitory effects and runoff volume. It was found that 42, 51 and 50% of the inhibitory effects during exposures of 24, 48 and 72 h were associated with the initial 4% of the total discharged volume. The fact that negative effects were observed in the two runoff events analyzed, raises concern about the potential environmental threats posed by runoff originated from wood-based industrial areas during the entire hydrological year.