The foraging task is one of the canonical testbeds for cooperative robotics, in which a collection of coordinated robots have to find and transport one or more objects to one or more specific storage points. Swarm robotics has been widely considered in such situations, due to its strengths such as robustness, simplicity and scalability. Typical multi-robot foraging systems currently consider te...

background microencapsulation is a useful method to prolong a drug release from dosage forms and to reduce its adverse effect (1) among various available methods. the microencapsulation of hydrophilic active ingredients requires the use of a polar dispersing phase such as a mineral oil. acetone/paraffin systems are conventionally used. objectives the current study aimed to investigate two diffe...

OBJECTIVE Notch signalling pathways are critical for angiogenesis and endothelial cell (EC) fate; however the mechanisms regulating these processes in the inflamed joint remain to be elucidated. Here, we examine whether Notch signalling mediates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin 2 (Ang2)-induced vascular function. METHODS Notch-1 intracellular domain (Notch-1 IC), Not...

This paper describes the recent advances in semiconductor photodiodes for use in ultra-high-speed optical systems. We developed two types of waveguide photodiodes (WG-PD) — an evanescently coupled waveguide photodiode (EC-WG-PD) and a separated-absorption-andmultiplication waveguide avalanche photodiode (WG-APD). The EC-WGPD is very robust under high optical input operation because of its distr...

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) have been rapidly gaining ground on conventional cigarettes due to their efficiency in ceasing or reducing tobacco consumption, competitive prices, and the perception of them being a much less harmful smoking alternative. Direct confirmation that long-term EC use leads to reductions in smoking-related diseases is not available and it will take a few decades before th...

In the present study electrocoagulation (EC) has been evaluated as a treatment technology for arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] removal from water. Laboratory scale experiments were conducted with three electrode materials namely, iron, aluminum and titanium to assess their efficiency. Arsenic removal obtained was highest with iron electrodes. EC was able to bring down aqueous phase arsen...

Received: 8 April 2003 Revised: 17 October 2003 2nd Revision: 15 March 2004 Accepted: 24 March 2004 Online publication date: 18 May 2004 Abstract The study discussed in this paper uses case studies of six small voluntary organizations to determine the primary factors that influence electronic commerce (EC) adoption. The findings indicate that perceived benefits, including efficiency, informatio...

Quasi solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been fabricated with electrolytes containing I−/I3 redox couple using 80 % hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) doped with potassium iodide (KI) and a mixture of potassium iodide and tetrapropyl ammonium iodide (Pr4NI) salts. The quasi solid state gel polymer electrolytes were prepared using 1:1 ethylene carbonate (EC):propylene carbonate ...

The purpose of this study was to determine if Pasteurella haemolytica can directly injure bovine pulmonary endothelial cells (EC) and if neutrophils have a beneficial or detrimental role in bacterium-EC interaction. Various combinations of live P. haemolytica, heat-killed P. haemolytica, anti-P. haemolytica immune serum, polymyxin B, and bovine neutrophils were added to confluent monolayers of ...

Hydroponic cultivation using organic, fully biodegradable substrates that provide the right physical properties for plant growth and development is now future of soilless production. Despite high productivity strict control production conditions in this method, excessive salinity substrate often occurs. However, recent research results indicate at a enough threshold can improve yield quality, w...