Design of a loop-based random access memory based on the nanoscale quantum dot cellular automata

Photonic Network Communications - The use of modern quantum dot cellular automata (QCA) on the nanoscale gives better results than complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS)...     

A fair reader collision avoidance protocol for RFID dense reader environments

A radio frequency identification system can establish a communication between tags and readers through a wireless connection. Due to the optimized coverage of the environment, the readers are placed close to each other in this system and hence it is called dense reader environment. The very property of such an environment leads to increase in the probability of occurrence of reader-to-reader and reader-to-tag collisions which consequently come up with decrease in performance of the network. To solve this problem, many various protocols have been proposed of which centralized ones provide higher throughput. Our proposed method can reduce reader-to-reader collision through combining TDMA and FDMA mechanisms and benefiting from sift probability function and fairness. Furthermore, we found that distance comparison between two readers can reduce reader-to-tag collision as well. Our simulations indicate that the proposed method provides better throughput, average waiting time and fairness than existing ones. Our method also supports the mobility of the readers.     

Copper Extraction Kinetics by Beta-Diketone Derivatives (Acylpyrazolones and Acylisoxazolones) in Water/Chloroform Biphasic System

Abstract

Copper(II) extraction and back-extraction rates were determined in a water/chloroform system using a bell-shaped transport cell. Various 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-acyl-pyrazol-5-ones (with acyl = benzoyl, 2-thenoyl, octadecanoyl, p-tert-butylbenzoyl, 3-phenyl-propanoyl, and iso-nonanoyl) and 3-phenyl-4-acylisoxazol-5-ones (with acyl = benzoyl and p-tert-butylbenzoyl) were considered. The back-extraction rate is shown to be limited by the diffusion of the complex in the organic unstirred layer, whatever the stirring speed and whatever the ligand considered. At low stirring speed, the extraction rate appears to be limited by the diffusion of either a complex or a ligand species in the unstirred layers, depending on the pH. At high stirring speed, the extraction rate is limited by the interfacial complexation. The extraction rate dependence on side-group variation cannot be correlated with hydrophobicity or acidity of the extractants and may be explained by structural differences of the CO vicinal group of the acyl.     

The effect of a graphite addition on oxidation of ZrB2–SiC in air at 1500 °C

Dense ZrB₂ containing 15 vol.% SiC and 15 vol.% graphite was exposed to flowing air at 1500 °C. A layered scale structure developed that consisted of (1) a uniform SiO₂-rich layer on the surface, (2) a layer of ZrO₂ and SiO₂, (3) a layer of ZrO₂ (4) a partially oxidized layer composed of porous ZrB₂, ZrO₂, and graphite, and (5) unaffected ZrB₂–SiC–C. A thermodynamic model based on volatility diagrams and consistent with the experimental observations was constructed to explain the development of the layered structure. Oxidation behavior was consistent with passive oxidation and formation of a protective surface layer. Analysis indicated that it may not be possible to form a protective surface layer without actively oxidizing SiC and producing a porous partially oxidized layer between the outer protective layer and the underlying unoxidized material.     

In vivo study of anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor antibody‐based iron oxide nanoparticles (anti‐EGFR‐SPIONs) as a novel MR imaging contrast agent for lung cancer (LLC1) cells detection

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) conjugated with anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody (anti‐EGFR‐SPIONs) were characterised, and its cytotoxicity effects, ex vivo and in vivo studies on Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1) cells in C57BL/6 mice were investigated. The broadband at 679.96 cm⁻¹ relates to Fe–O, which verified the formation of the anti‐EGFR‐Mab with SPIONs was obtained by the FTIR. The TEM images showed spherical shape 20 and 80 nm‐sized for nanoparticles and the anti‐EGFR‐SPIONs, respectively. Results of cell viability at 24 h after incubation with different concentrations of nanoprobe showed it has only a 20% reduction in cell viabilities. The synthesised nanoprobe administered by systemic injection into C57BL/6 mice showed good Fe tumour uptake and satisfied image signal intensity under ex vivo and in vivo conditions. A higher concentration of nanoprobe was achieved compared to non‐specific and control, indicating selective delivery of nanoprobe to the tumour. It is concluded that the anti‐EGFR‐SPIONs was found to be as an MR imaging contrast nanoagent for lung cancer (LLC1) cells detection.Inspec keywords: toxicology, biomedical MRI, lung, magnetic particles, biomedical materials, nanofabrication, nanomagnetics, transmission electron microscopy, nanomedicine, superparamagnetism, nanoparticles, iron compounds, proteins, cellular biophysics, molecular biophysics, cancer, tumours, Fourier transform infrared spectraOther keywords: MR imaging contrast agent, LLC1, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, Lewis lung carcinoma cells, ex vivo conditions, cell viability, antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody‐based iron oxide nanoparticles, antiEGFR‐SPION, lung cancer cell detection, antiepidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody, cytotoxicity effects, C57BL‐6 mice, antiEGFR‐Mab, FTIR spectra, TEM, spherical shape, incubation, nanoprobe concentrations, systemic injection, Fe tumour uptake, image signal intensity, in vivo conditions, time 24.0 hour, Fe₃ O₄      

Facile microwave‐assisted synthesis of NiO nanoparticles and its effect on soybean (Glycine max)

NiO nanoparticles in high purity, 15 ± 0.5 nm in size, were prepared via solid‐state microwave irradiation. The [Ni(NH₃)₆](NO₃)₂ complex as a novel source was decomposed in the presence of microwave irradiation for a short time (10 min). The present method is facile, safe, and low‐cost. This method exhibits other advantages; there is no need of a solvent, fuel, surfactant, expensive material, or complex instrument. Synthesised NiO nanoparticles were determined by various analyses. Also, for the first time, NiO nanoparticle effects on biochemical factors in soybean were investigated. Seeds of soybean were grown in the Murashige and Skoog agar medium containing different concentrations of NiO nanoparticles (0, 200, and 400 mg/L) for 21 days under growth chamber conditions. Estimates of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide contents, and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) under treatment of NiO nanoparticles were assayed. The result showed that by significantly increasing the concentration of NiO nanoparticles, the activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes was enhanced. Malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents significantly increased in the presence of NiO nanoparticles. In this study, the increasing activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase was not enough for radical oxygen species detoxification.Inspec keywords: nickel compounds, molecular biophysics, biotechnology, microorganisms, nanoparticles, biochemistry, microwave materials processing, hydrogen compounds, enzymes, cellular biophysicsOther keywords: solid‐state microwave irradiation, synthesised NiO nanoparticles, soybean, facile microwave‐assisted synthesis, biochemical factors, Murashige, Skoog agar medium, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide contents, antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase enzymes, radical oxygen species detoxification, NiO, [Ni(NH₃)₆](NO₃)₂      

Media training for diabetes prevention: a participatory evaluation.

The Media and the Message - Promoting Healthy Eating and Active Living for Diabetes Prevention was a project aimed at raising awareness of diabetes risk factors and enhancing the public's access to credible, up-to-date, healthy eating and active living messages in the media. Cross-country workshops were held to teach media strategies and key diabetes prevention messages to multidisciplinary groups of health professionals. Evaluation was integral to the project; both the process and outcomes were assessed using Health Canada's Population Health Approach. Timeline and budget were tracked. Questionnaires were created to evaluate advisory committee conference calls and to determine participants' perceptions of the 19 workshops and resources. A pre-workshop/post-workshop and three-month follow-up questionnaire format, along with an online media-tracking tool, was used to collect outcome data and to measure changes in confidence and media behaviour. Sixty-three percent of participants (150 of 238) reported that multidisciplinary workshops were very valuable. Three-month follow-up revealed a significant increase in confidence in all media activities taught at the workshops, although this failed to translate into increased media activity. Sixty-eight percent (78 of 115) of responding participants disseminated workshop learning. Detailed evaluation revealed that multidisciplinary workshops are valued and effective in increasing confidence. However, eliciting behaviour change following a workshop remains a challenge.     

Decentralized adaptive terminal sliding mode control design for nonlinear connected system in the presence of external disturbance

In this article, a decentralized adaptive integral terminal sliding mode control is presented for a class of nonlinear connected systems. It is assumed that the system is also confronted by unknown disturbances, while the interconnections between subsystems are assumed unknown. An integral terminal sliding surface for each subsystem is locally considered to guarantee the stability of the closed-loop system, and to increase the convergence speed during a tracking task. The unknown interconnections between subsystems are estimated using adaptive rules. An appropriate Lyapunov candidate is chosen to perform global stability analysis. In this regard, design parameters are chosen such that the closed-loop stability is ensured. Performance of the proposed method for a mechanical connected system, including two chaotic subsystems, is shown through simulations.