Search

A wide bandwidth folded V-shaped patch antenna with high gain and low cross polarization is presented. The proposed antenna is composed of a folded V-shaped patch, an H-shaped coupling slot cut in the ground plane and a feed line with a stub printed on the bottom layer of the grounded substrate. By folding the V-shaped metallic patch, the proposed antenna can achieve a low profile structure and good performance in radiation patterns. The antenna element and the antenna array operating at 2 GHz were fabricated and tested. The prototypes with the single element can achieve a −10 dB return loss bandwidth of 28.5% (1.65 to 2.2 GHz) and a stable gain of 8.6 dBi, while the 1 × 2 array exhibits a bandwidth of 34.1% (1.58 to 2.23 GHz) and a stable gain of 11.5 dBi.

For determination of the eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine sediments based on gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD), a rapid and effective method for simultaneous sample extraction and purification was developed, in which ultrasonically assisted alkaline hydrolysis was combined with solvent extraction. The sediment sample was processed in an ultrasonic bath in 2. 00 mol/L NaOH-methanol solution for 30 min, and subsequently extracted by n-hexane. The organic phase was then separated and purified by silica column and concentrated to 100 µL for GC-ECD analysis. Under the optimized conditions, the recoveries and relative standard deviations (RSDs) for eight PBDE congeners ranged from 63.6% to 110.3% and from 1.7% to 10.5% (n = 5), respectively. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N = 3) ranged from 0.002 to 0.011 ng/g except for deca-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209), which was 0.097 ng/g. With high accuracy, good stability and adequate recovery, the established method was successfully applied to the analysis of PBDEs in the surface sediments from Bohai Sea. The concentrations of ∑8PBDEs (sum of 2,4,4'-tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE-28), 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), 2, 2', 4, 4', 5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99), 2, 2', 4, 4', 6-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE100), 2, 2', 4, 4', 5, 5'- 1.566 to 6.760 ng/g and from 1.461 to 6.438 ng/g, respectively. A decreasing gradient of concentration was basically observed with increasing distance off the shore, indicating that anthropogenic activities, surface runoff and river inputs may be the sources of PBDEs in the sediments from Bohai Sea.

Aim: To study the effect of lycopene on ameliorating renal function of diabetic nephropathy. Methods: Sixty male SD rats were divided into four groups: normal untreated (NC-U), normal treatment (NC-L), diabetes untreated (DM-U) and diabetes treatment (DM-L). DM was prepared by a single injection of STZ (70 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.5). DM-U and NC-U rats received control diet; DM-L and NC-L rats received lycopene. After treated with lycopene for 8 weeks, blood was obtained for analyzing plasma lipid profiles, glucose and renal function. The kidneys were used to determine SOD activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, processed for histological examination and western blot. Results: Treatment of diabetic rats with lycopene decreased the values of blood urea nitrogen, 24 h urea protein and creatinine. The serum lipids like TC, TG, and LDL were decreased and HDL was increased in DM-L rats when compared with those of diabetic rats. Administration of lycopene decreased the levels of MDA content and expression of CTGF, increased Akt/PKB phosphorylation and SOD activity in diabetic renal tissues. Conclusions: Lycopene protects against development of diabetic nephropathy and ameliorates renal function via improving oxidative status and regulating p-Akt and CTGF.