scholarly journals Intelligent polymer droplets eject membranes and drive multimodal-propulsion  of floating objects            

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Ferraro ◽  
Sara Coppola ◽  
Veronica Vespini
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Systems ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Polymer Membranes ◽  
Marangoni Effect ◽  
Thin Polymer ◽  
Water Cleaning ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Floating Objects ◽  
First Time ◽  
Intelligent Polymer

Self-propulsion of bodies floating in water is of great interest for developing new robotic and intelligent systems at different scales. Frequently, the propulsion concept has been related to the Marangoni effect often demonstrated through surfactants. Here we show for the first time that polymer droplets, made of appropriate combination of solvent/polymer, can represent a new strategy to activate different functionalities on water. We demonstrate that, by dispensing such intelligent polymer droplets, it is possible to propel motions with different modalities of any class of floating objects made of different shapes/materials. On demand propulsion and self-rotation (free and along a pivot) are reported for different objects. Furthermore, we discovered that meanwhile the object is propelled, polymer membranes can be created through the spreading phenomena on water’s surface. Such thin polymer membranes can cover extensive areas and follow predefined paths as function on the motion assumed. We report preliminary example of possible exploitation of these new combined functionalities induced by the intelligent polymer droplets for propulsion of multiple objects and water cleaning through particles’ capture. In perspective, the droplet can be endowed with intelligence to control the various operations by knowing a priori the exact location of the delivery and its volume.

scholarly journals A Multi-User Interactive Coral Reef Optimization Algorithm for Considering Expert Knowledge in the Unequal Area Facility Layout Problem

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6676
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Salas-Morera ◽  
Laura García-Hernández ◽  
Carlos Carmona-Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Collaborative Design ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Fitness Function ◽  
Facility Layout ◽  
Layout Problem ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Problem Instances ◽  
Expert Designer ◽  
First Time

The problem of Unequal Area Facility Layout Planning (UA-FLP) has been addressed by a large number of approaches considering a set of quantitative criteria. Moreover, more recently, the personal qualitative preferences of an expert designer or decision-maker (DM) have been taken into account too. This article deals with capturing more than a single DM’s personal preferences to obtain a common and collaborative design including the whole set of preferences from all the DMs to obtain more complex, complete, and realistic solutions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the preferences of more than one expert designer have been considered in the UA-FLP. The new strategy has been implemented on a Coral Reef Optimization (CRO) algorithm using two techniques to acquire the DMs’ evaluations. The first one demands the simultaneous presence of all the DMs, while the second one does not. Both techniques have been tested over three well-known problem instances taken from the literature and the results show that it is possible to obtain sufficient designs capturing all the DMs’ personal preferences and maintaining low values of the quantitative fitness function.

scholarly journals Schizocrania (Brachiopoda, Discinoidea): taxonomy, occurrence, ecology and history of the earliest epizoan lingulate brachiopod

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Mergl ◽  
Lucie Nolčová
Keyword(s):  
Trophic Structure ◽  
Ventral Valve ◽  
Dorsal Valve ◽  
Early Devonian ◽  
Sea Floor ◽  
Open Sea ◽  
History Of ◽  
Barrandian Area ◽  
Floating Objects ◽  
First Time

The lingulate brachiopod Schizocrania (Trematidae, Discinoidea) is reviewed. Ptychopeltis is definitively synonymized with Schizocrania, because new data indicate that convexity of the shell, profile of the anterior margin commissure, density of the dorsal valve costellation, ornamentation of the ventral valve and shape of the pedicle notch are worthless for separation of these genera. Four Ordovician species of Schizocrania are reported from the Barrandian area: S. multistriata (Darriwilian), S. hornyi (Sandbian), S. incola (Sandbian) and the new species S. equestra sp. nov. (Katian). Occurrence of Schizocrania striata is confirmed for the first time around the S/D boundary in the Barrandian area. Schizocrania has a wide geographic range with mid-Ordovician to early Devonian occurrences in Laurentia, Avalonia, West Gondwana and the Silurian occurrence in Baltica. Schizocrania was the earliest lingulate brachiopod adhering to floating objects in an open sea (both living cephalopods and their empty drifting shells), but it was highly opportunistic, and used any vacant hard surface on the sea floor (conulariids, strophomenid brachiopods, trilobites) as a suitable substrate for settlement of the larva. Decline of the genus coincided with disappearance of planktic graptolites, and might have been caused by competition of rapidly evolving planktic dacryoconarids, increased predation pressure, and rebuilding of the trophic structure in the early Devonian seas.

scholarly journals Detection of analytes in mitochondria without interference from other sites based on an innovative ratiometric fluorophore

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
pp. 5461-5466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian-Bing Ren ◽  
Qian-Ling Zhang ◽  
Dongdong Su ◽  
Xing-Xing Zhang ◽  
Lin Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Strategy ◽  
First Time

A new strategy that integrates the targeting group and response moiety together for the preparation of mitochondrial probe was developed. Bioimaging studies have shown that for the first time, the newly designed probe HDFL-Cys can first accumulate in mitochondria and then react with the analyte.

scholarly journals Synthesis and characterization of green tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) extract and its major components-based nanoflowers: a new strategy to enhance antimicrobial activity

RSC Advances ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (70) ◽  
pp. 44303-44308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayşe Baldemir ◽  
N. Buse Köse ◽  
Nilay Ildız ◽  
Selen İlgün ◽  
Sadi Yusufbeyoğlu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Antimicrobial Agent ◽  
Green Tea ◽  
Camellia Sinensis ◽  
Synthesis And Characterization ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Main Components ◽  
First Time

In this study, for the first time, a novel organic–inorganic nanobio-antimicrobial agent called “nanoflowers” (Nfs) from Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze extracts and its main components were produced and the increase in the antimicrobial activity of Nfs was elucidated.

scholarly journals Aligning policy and law? The creation of a domestic abuse offence incorporating coercive control

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Burman ◽  
Oona Brooks-Hay
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Coercive Control ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Scottish Government ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
First Time ◽  
Criminal Justice Response

Since 2000, the Scottish Government has adopted a gendered definition of domestic abuse which explicitly positions it as both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality. Following the launch of a new strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls, the Scottish Government announced proposals to create, for the first time, a bespoke offence of domestic abuse, designed to encompass the spectrum of abusive acts that constitute domestic abuse, including emotional and psychological abuse. The new offence is intended to better reflect the experience of victims subject to coercive control, improve the criminal justice response and facilitate access to justice. It represents one of the most radical attempts yet to align the criminal justice response with contemporary policy and feminist conceptual understanding of domestic abuse as a form of coercive control. Drawing on feminist scholarship which has interrogated the value of law reform, we critically assess the scope of the legislation, the likely challenges associated with its use in the Scottish context, and the potential for unintended consequences.

scholarly journals LQAC-5: The fifth release of the Large Quasar Astrometric Catalogue

2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A145 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Souchay ◽  
C. Gattano ◽  
A. H. Andrei ◽  
D. Souami ◽  
B. Coelho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Positional Accuracy ◽  
Mid Infrared ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Complete Catalogue ◽  
Absolute Magnitudes ◽  
Celestial Sphere ◽  
First Time ◽  
Cross Match

Context. In addition to their great astrophysical interest, quasars represent quasi-ideal reference objects in the celestial sphere with, a priori, a lack of significant proper motion. Since the fourth release of the Large Quasar Astrometric Catalogue (LQAC-4), a large number of quasars have been discovered, in particular those coming from the DR14Q release of the SDSS. With the advent of the Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2), it is now also possible to fold in extremely accurate quasar positions. Aims. Following the same procedure as in the previous releases of the LQAC, our aim is to compile the large majority of the recorded quasars, with their best estimated coordinates and substantial information about their physical properties such as the redshift, multi-bands apparent, and absolute magnitudes. Emphasis is given to the results of the cross-matches with the Gaia DR2 catalogue, which considerably increases the positional accuracy. Methods. New quasars from the SDSS DR14Q release were cross-matched with the precedent LQAC-4 compilation with a 1″ search radius, which leads to 149 084 objects not present in the previous LQAC-4 release. Another cross-match was done with the Gaia DR2 catalogue, which enables us to considerably improve the positioning of these objects. For the first time, parallaxes and proper motions from the DR2, when available, are added to our compilation. Furthermore, a cross-identification of the LQAC-5 with the AllWISE survey gives additional mid-infrared information for an important percentage of objects. Results. Our final catalogue, namely the LQAC-5, contains 592 809 quasars. This represents roughly a 34% increase with respect to the number of objects recorded in the LQAC-4. Among them, 398 697 objects were found in common with the Gaia DR2, within a 1″ search radius. That corresponds to 67.26% of the whole population of the compilation. Conclusion. The LQAC-5 delivers a nearly complete catalogue of spectroscopically confirmed quasars (including a small proportion of 14 126 compact AGN’s) to the astronomical community, with the aim of giving their best equatorial coordinates with respect to the ICRF2 and with exhaustive additional information. For more than 50% of the sample, these coordinates are extracted from the very recent Gaia DR2.

Variability of transit light curves of Kepler objects of interest

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A143
Author(s):  
O. V. Arkhypov ◽  
M. L. Khodachenko ◽  
A. Hanslmeier
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Spherical Shape ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Aerosol Generation ◽  
Timing Variability ◽  
Cross Correlation Analysis ◽  
Medium Time ◽  
First Time

Context. Hitherto, the study of exoplanetary transit timing and duration variability has supposed transit light curves (TLCs) to be symmetric, suggesting a priori a spherical shape for the transiting object, for example, an exoplanet. As a result, the independent positions of transit borders are unknown. However, the borders of TLCs are most sensitive to the presence of exo-rings and/or dust formations of great interest. Aims. For the first time we check for a timing variability of independently treated borders of transits of different types of exoplanets. Methods. Using quadratic approximation for the start-, end-, and minimum parts of the long-cadence TLCs from the Kepler mission archive after their whitening and phase folding, we find the corresponding transit border timings: Δts, Δte, respectively, and the TLC minimum time Δtm. These parameters were found separately for each folded TLC constructed in the consequent non-overlapping time-windows with the respective medium time tw. Temporal and cross-correlation analysis of the obtained series of Δts(tw), Δte(tw), and Δtm(tw) were applied for the detection and diagnostics of variability of transit borders and TLC asymmetry. Results. Among the considered TLCs of 98 Kepler objects of interest (KOIs), 15 confirmed giant exoplanets and 5 objects with still debatable status (probably non-planets) show variations in their transit timing parameters at timescales from ≈400 to ≳1500 days. These variations are especially well manifested as an anti-correlation between Δts and Δte, indicating variability in the dimensions of transiting shadows, especially along their trajectories. There are also objects with well pronounced oscillations of transit border timing and asymmetry. Conclusions. The discovered variability of transit timing is important as an indicator of large-scale non-stationary processes in the atmospheres of KOIs, as well as dust and aerosol generation in their upper layers and in their close vicinity. These findings highlight the need for a dedicated and detailed study.

Intratumoral injection of oncolytic adenovirus H101 in combination with vinorelbine/cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 17082-17082
Author(s):  
C. Zhou ◽  
Y. Xu ◽  
J. Ni ◽  
S. Zhou ◽  
J. Xu
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Nsclc ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Intratumoral Injection ◽  
Oncolytic Adenovirus ◽  
Time To Progression ◽  
Minor Response ◽  
Viral Particles ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Nsclc Patients ◽  
First Time

17082 Background: Chemotherapy is main treatment for advanced NSCLC. But its efficacy is quite small with improvement of 1–2 months in median survival. New strategy against NSCLC is needed. Oncolytic adenovirus H101 is found to be effective against NSCLC. This trial is desigened to investigate efficacy and toxicity of intratumoral injection of H101 in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of NSCLC. Methods: The NSCLC patients confirmed cytologically or pathologically were randomized to intratumoral injection of adenovirus H101 (1.5 × 1012 viral particles) plus NP chemotherapy (arm A) or NP chemotherapy (arm B). Objetive response was evaluated every two cycles and time to progression (TTP) and overall survival were followed up. Results: Out of 18 evaluable patients in Arm A, 4 patients showed partial response (PR),3 minor response(MR), 7 stable disease (SD) and 4 disease progression (PD), while in Arm B 16 evaluable patients showed 3 PR, 4 MR, 3 SD and 6 PD. At the first time of response evaluation, there was 1 PD in Arm A,but in Arm B there were 5 of PD. Failure rate in Arm B was significantly higher than in Arm B. Survival curves between the two arms were similar. Six month, 9 month and 1 year survival rates were slightly higher in Arm B and median TTP was also prolonged in Arm A. Except non-infectious fever, Arm A was similar in other toxicities to Arm B. there was only 2 patients developing mild pneumothorax. Conclusions: Intratumoral injection of H101 1.5 × 1012 viral particles in combination with NP chemotherapy was feasible, effective and safe in treatment of advanced NSCLC. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Optimization of Elastic Supports for Laminated Composite Plates

2012 ◽  
Vol 249-250 ◽  
pp. 881-886
Author(s):  
Jackson Kong
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Laminated Composite ◽  
Composite Plates ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Vibration Modes ◽  
Laminated Composite Plates ◽  
Nodal Lines ◽  
Search Optimization ◽  
Rigid Supports ◽  
First Time

The fundamental frequency of a plate can be raised by placing appropriate number of rigid supports at various optimal locations along the nodal lines of vibration modes, as previously shown by other researchers. Unlike previous works, however, the present study aims to determine the optimal locations and the corresponding minimum stiffness of elastic spring supports using a direct search optimization method, presuming that the nodal lines of vibration modes can be identified a priori. As examples of applications, the optimal locations and stiffness are determined for isotropic plates and laminated composite plates with various lamination schemes, results of the latter are presented for the first time in open literature. Although only plates with regular geometry are treated in this preliminary study, further extension to plates with irregular geometry and other boundary conditions is being carried out.

scholarly journals Variability of contemporary vegetation around Petuniabukta, central Spitsbergen

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel Prach ◽  
Jitka Klimešová ◽  
Jiří Košnar ◽  
Olexii Redčenko ◽  
Martin Hais
Keyword(s):  
High Latitude ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Vegetation Pattern ◽  
Svalbard Archipelago ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Phytosociological Relevés ◽  
First Time

Abstract Vegetation was described in various spatial scales in the area of 37.8 km2 including distinguishing vegetation units, vegetation mapping, recording phytosociological relevés (53), and completing species lists of vascular plants (86), mosses (124) and lichens (40). Phytosociological relevés were elaborated using ordination methods DCA and CCA. The relevés formed clusters corresponding well to a priori assigned vegetation units. Slope and stoniness significantly influenced the vegetation pattern. Despite the high latitude (nearly 80° N), the vegetation is rather rich in species. Non-native species do not expand. The moss Bryum dichotomum is reported for the first time from Svalbard archipelago.

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