Highly efficient dipole antenna with planar meta-surface

The radiation performance of a dipole antenna closely placed to a planar meta-surface based on parallel short dipoles and continuous wires is presented. Owing to the uniform illumination of the superstrate, an enhancement of gain up to 6.8 dBi is obtained, the thickness of the whole system being 0.135 lambda_o and the aperture efficiency 82%.     

Reversing roles: A cognitive strategy for undoing memory deficits associated with token status.

Tested whether having tokens (Ts) adopt the role of judge reduces cognitive deficits; examined several hypotheses to explain these deficits. In 3 experiments, Ss were asked to remember as many as possible of opinions exchanged in a group interaction with 3 actors. Experiment 1 demonstrated that judging majority members helped gender Ts improve their memory and ruled out self-denigration as a mediator of token deficits. Experiment 2 indicated that judging others was effective regardless of whether the others were said to know about it or not, ruling out insulation from evaluative scrutiny as a viable mediator for the judge role. Experiment 3 suggested the judge role restores completely the Ts' cognitive capacities and ruled out heightened responsibility as an explanation for the improved memory on judges. This work suggests that Ts may perform better if they can restructure cognitively their social environments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development and integration of a reactive real-time decision support system in the aluminum industry

This paper aims at providing real-time decision support in reaction to disruptive events in manufacturing environments. More precisely, we demonstrate how this approach can support the rescheduling process in enterprise resource planning (ERP)-controlled environments. Our demonstrative example, based on a real scenario in the aluminum industry, illustrates how a genetic algorithm and a real-time discrete event simulation model can be integrated within the common enterprise information systems.     

Development and validation of a new joint system for sectional blades

The development and validation of a new joint system for sectional blades is presented in this paper. The system is a bolted connection located in the blade spar cap, and its geometry accommodates a higher number of bolts than any other conventional solution requiring inserts. This results in higher transmitted loads per spar cap width. The modular concept of the system is composed of cell units that can be easily integrated into the design and manufacturing of different blade architectures and used in blades of various lengths by selecting the appropriate number of cell units. The design of the system was performed using analytical and finite element analyses. The analyses were validated using risk reduction mechanical tests, which resulted in an optimized joint system. The loads to be transmitted by the joint system were calculated according to IEC61400‐1 using the GH‐Bladed Version 3.80 on a 5 MW onshore class II‐A wind turbine with a tower height of 120 m and a 61.5 m blade with double spar webs. The joint system was successfully tested in a full‐scale mechanical test for its validation under Germanischer Lloyd guidelines and supervision. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of integrin expression on the surface of osteoblast-like cells by atomic force microscopy

The transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a human cytokine which has been demonstrated to modulate cell surface integrin repertoire. In this work integrin expression in response to TGF-β1 stimulation has been investigated on the surface of human osteoblast-like cells. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy to assess integrin expression and to evaluate their distribution over the dorsal side of the plasma membrane. AFM probes have been covalently functionalised with monoclonal antibodies specific to the β1 integrin subunit. Force curves have been collected in order to obtain maps of the interaction between the immobilized antibody and the respective cell membrane receptors. Adhesion peaks have been automatically detected by means of an ad hoc developed data analysis software. The specificity of the detected interactions has been assessed by adding free antibody in the solution and monitoring the dramatic decrease in the recorded interactions. In addition, the effect of TGF-β1 treatment on both the fluorescence signal and the adhesion events has been tested. The level of expression of the β1 integrin subunit was enhanced by TGF-β1. As a further analysis, the adhesion force of the single living cells to the substrate was measured by laterally pushing the cell with the AFM tip and measuring the force necessary to displace it. The treatment with TGF-β1 resulted in a decrease of the cell/substrate adhesion force. Results obtained by AFM have been validated by confocal laser scanning microscopy thus demonstrating the high potential of the AFM technique for the investigation of cell surface receptors distribution and trafficking at the nanoscale.     

Transmission enhancement between rectangular waveguides by means of left-handed media

Results showing the experimental verification of the transmission improvement when a left-handed material (LHM) is placed in between rectangular waveguides are presented. This improvement has been characterised by means of measuring the increase of transmission (S/sub 21/ parameter) and is related to the enhancement of the radiating features of an open-ended waveguide caused by the use of the LHM as superstrate.     

Short and Medium Term Durability Evaluation of FRP-Confined Circular Concrete

Evaluation of environmental durability of concrete circular specimens strengthened using externally applied fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) composites for confinement reinforcement was studied. FRP-confined concrete cylinder tests were carried out for various environmental exposure conditions including interior, exterior, and freeze–thaw cycling in saltwater. Two types of resin matrix-based FRP composite systems, including epoxy and urethane resin, utilizing either carbon or glass fibers were used. In addition, continuous single and double layer wrapping schemes were applied for confinement for each of the four FRP composite systems. The overall stress–strain behavior of FRP-confined concrete does not change fundamentally but different levels of exposure significantly affect its absolute stress–strain curve. The radial strain and corresponding axial strain at the point of zero volumetric strain is significantly affected by different levels of environmental exposure. It is proposed that the relative FRP composite effectiveness must be used to calculate the ultimate radial strain of FRP-confined concrete. It was found that for the four FRP systems used in this study the ultimate radial strain is not significantly affected by the type of exposure. The writers believe that the results shown in this paper help engineers to understand the short and midterm effects of the environment on FRP confined concrete; long term effects are still under investigation.     

In vitro activity of the new ketolide HMR3647 in comparison with those of macrolides and pristinamycins against Enterococcus spp

Ninety-four erythromycin-susceptible and 107 erythromycin-resistant enterococcal strains (MIC of >/=512 microgram/ml) were inhibited by the ketolide HMR3647 at MICs of 相似文献   

Chest wall rhabdomyosarcoma

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in the pediatric age group. The primary tumor site is an important prognostic determinant. Axial lesions are associated with decreased survival and provide a clinical challenge. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the authors' institutional experience between 1972 and 1996 was performed. Patients were from a data base of 302 consecutive cases. RESULTS: Fifteen consecutive patients with chest wall rhabdomyosarcoma were identified. The median age was 16 years (range, 6 months-25 years). Median follow-up was 6.6 years (range, 10 months-18.5 years). Nine patients presented with a mass, six with pain, two with respiratory distress, and one with ulnar neuropathy. The median lesion size was 7 cm (range, 3-16 cm). A surgical procedure was the initial therapy for 13 of 15 patients. Fourteen patients received radiation therapy with a median dose of 4400 cGy. All but one were included in institutional-based trials using multiagent chemotherapy. At last follow-up, 10 patients were alive and disease free, with a median survival of 123 months (range, 51-221 months). Seven of ten survivors underwent a complete resection as their initial therapy. There was no surgical mortality, and only two patients had treatment-related complications. Of the five patients who died, two underwent complete resection as their initial therapy. All five patients had invasive tumors. Four were > 10 cm, 3 were of alveolar subtype, and 2 were embryonal. CONCLUSIONS: Complete resection of chest wall rhabdomyosarcoma is recommended. However, survival is possible for patients with microscopically positive surgical margins with the addition of chemotherapy and radiation.