This paper presents a configurable CMOS integrated circuit front-end for the recording of a wide range of biopotentials (ExG). The system offers a choice between a single-differential or double-differential recording channel topology, wide continuously adjustable gain range (37–66 dB), selectable CMOS or BJT input stages, offset compensation, differential and buffered single-ended voltage out…
A novel class of spatial four degree-of-freedom Schönflies-motion parallel manipulators with four identical subchains is presented. Their features are that each serial subchain undergoes the pure Schönflies motion without redundant joints. The parallel mechanisms possess the simplest topology and are suitable for pick-and-place operations. Kinematic analysis of the 4- parallelmanipulator, inc…
Perforation response and failure of sandwich panels with composite face sheets and aluminum foam core are investigated experimentally in this paper. Quasi-static perforation and low-velocity impact tests are carried out by using a material test system and a drop weight machine, respectively. The load-displacement response, energy absorption and energy-absorbing effectiveness of sandwich pan…
The obstacle of gene therapy is the shortage of efficient delivery system. The development of the gene delivery system with high transfection efficiency and low toxicity appears to be crucial. Recently, we reported that the extrangraft- poly((2-dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate) (DPD) can be potentially used as efficient gene vector. Herein, DPD was systematically studied for its potential in …
Background and Aims Phosphorus deficiency is a major limiting factor for crop yield worldwide. Previous studies revealed that PHR1 and it homologues play a key role in regulating the phosphate starvation response in plants. However, the function of PHR homologues in common wheat (Triticum aestivum) is still not fully understood. The aim of the study was to characterize the function of PHR1 ge…
Abstract The adsorption of CO2 on Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-d (BSCF) perovskite oxides in the absence and presence of O2 and H2O at various temperatures was investigated by temperature programmed desorption (TPD). XRD was used to characterize the phase of the samples before and after adsorption. No CO2 desorption peak was observed when CO2 was adsorbed on BSCF at room temperature. A CO2 desorpti…
Abstract. 2-Naphthol, which originates widely from various industrial activities, is toxic and thus harmful to human liver and kidney. A new compound biodegradation system was adopted to degrade 2-naphtholcontaminated wastewater. Enzymatic response to 2-naphthol biodegradation in the aqueous phase was also studied. As a co-metabolic substrate, salicylic acid could induce the two microorganis…
Abstract. H1−xLaNb2−xMoxO7 was prepared by solid-state reaction followed by an ion-exchange reaction. Pt was incorporated in the interlayer of H1−xLaNb2−xMoxO7 by the stepwise intercalation reaction. The H1−xLaNb2−xMoxO7 showed hydrogen production activity and the activities were greatly enhanced by Pt co-incorporating. The x value in H1−xLaNb2−xMoxO7 had an important effect…
Abstract. The flow characteristics of monodisperse thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microspheres during the phase transition in microchannels with different surface wettabilities and roughnesses are investigated systematically. Glass microchannels are modified by hydroxylation treatment to achieve hydrophilic surface, by self-assembly of chlorotrimethylsilane to realiz…
Abstract. We report a modified method to synthesize SBA-16 mesostructured silica under refluxing condition using block co-polymer poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) (F127) as template, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as co-template, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as silica source. The physiochemical properties of SBA-16 silica were characterized b…
Abstract. Dye adsorption and microstructure of TiO2 film are important properties when it is used as photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). This study investigated the application of a low crystallinity TiO2 film in DSCs. The low crystallinity TiO2 film is composed of interconnected spherical particles with an average size of 20 nm and has homogeneous mesoporous inner structur…
Abstract. In this work, diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings were deposited on plasma nitrided AISI 1045 steel by magnetron sputtering. Three BN-containing additives andmolybdenum dithiocarbamate (MoDTC) were added to poly-alpha-olefin (PAO) as additives. The additive content (mass fraction) in PAO was fixed at 0.5 wt%. The friction and wear characters of DLC coatings on nitrided steel discs …
Abstract. The influence of CO pretreatment on the properties of CuO/CeO2/y-Al2O3 catalysts was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The activities of the treated catalysts were measured in low-temperature CO oxidation reactions (
Abstract. Chiral proline derivative was anchored on mesoporous SBA-15 materials by nucleophilic substitution of chloropropyl-functionalized SBA-15 with (S)-(-)-a,a-diphenyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanol. Chloropropylfunctionalized SBA-15 prepared by co-condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate and 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane using P123 copolymer as the pore directing agent in strong acidic environ…
Biodiesel is manufactured by transesterification of animal fat or vegetable oil. The reactants (oil and methanol) and the products (fatty acid methyl ester and glycerol) are partially mutual soluble in the reaction process. Intersolubility of the reaction components is essential data for the production design and process operation. In this work, the Jatropha curcas L. oil (oil) has been transes…
Biodiesel (BD) is an alternative diesel fuel derived from both vegetable oils and animal fats. Currently, most BD is made by alkali-catalyzed transesterification of a refined oil or fat, the cost of which is the major expenditure in producing BD. Yellow and brown greases are readily available renewable fats that are less expensive and hence represent attractive feedstocks for the production of…
High temperature stress disturbs cellular homoeostasis and results in a severe retardation in crop growth and development. Thus, it is important to reveal the mechanism of plants coping with heat stress. In this study, a novel gene that we identified from Brassica napus, referred to as BnTR1, was found to play a key role in heat stress response in planta. BnTR1 is a membranebound RINGv (C4H…