Performance enhancement of DS/CDMA system using chaotic complex spreading sequence

In this paper, a novel direct sequence/spread spectrum (DS/SS) communication system is proposed. This scheme exploits the two-dimensional complex valued chaotic Ikeda map as the spreading sequences. With this double spreading DS/SS system, the effect of multiple access interference can be mitigated by choosing the spreading sequences with appropriate cross-correlation properties. The performance of the system is assessed and demonstrated in a multiuser environment by means of computer simulation with additive white Gaussian noise, Rayleigh fading, and selective fading channel conditions. These studies reveal that the proposed system significantly outperforms the Gold code DS/SS-BPSK system in synchronous channel conditions. In asynchronous case, the improvement is substantial for low signal-to-noise ratios.     

Cleavage of Müllerian inhibiting substance activates antiproliferative effects in vivo

Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), an inhibitor of growth and development of the female reproductive ducts in male fetuses, requires precise proteolytic cleavage to yield its biologically active species. Human plasmin is now used to cleave and, thereby, activate immunoaffinity-purified recombinant human MIS at its monobasic arginine-serine site at residues 427-428. To avoid the need for exogenous enzymatic cleavage and to simplify purification, we created an arginine-arginine dibasic cleavage site (MIS RR) using site-directed mutagenesis to change the serine at position 428 (AGC) to an arginine (cGC). The mutant cDNA was then stably transfected into a MIS-responsive ocular melanoma cell line, OM431, followed by cloning for amplified expression to test its biological activity in vitro and in vivo. Media from each clone were assayed for production of MIS RR by a sensitive ELISA for holo-MIS, and high- and low-producing clones were selected for further study. Media from the highest MIS RR producer caused Müllerian duct regression in an organ culture bioassay. Other transfections were done with an empty vector (pcDNAI Neo) or a construct lacking the leader sequence and thus failing to secrete MIS, to serve as controls. The OM431 clones containing the MIS RR mutant were growth inhibited in monolayer culture. The high- and low-producing MIS RR OM431 clones, along with transfected OM431 controls, were injected into the tail veins of immunosuppressed severe combined immunodeficiency mice for in vivo analyses. Four to 6 weeks later, pulmonary metastases were counted in uniformly inflated lungs. OM431 clones containing the more easily cleaved MIS RR displayed a significant dose-dependent reduction in pulmonary metastases when compared to the lungs of animals given injections of OM431 clones containing empty vector, leaderless MIS, or wild-type MIS that requires activation by plasmin cleavage. Since the purification protocol of MIS RR is less complicated than that for wild-type MIS, which requires subsequent enzymatic activation, MIS RR can be used for scale-up production with increased yields for further therapeutic trials against MIS-sensitive tumors.     

High styrene–rubber ionomers,an alternative to thermoplastic elastomers

High styrene rubber ionomers were prepared by sulfonating styrene–butadiene rubber of high styrene content (high styrene rubber) in 1,2‐dichloroethane using acetyl sulfate reagent, followed by neutralization of the precursor acids using methanolic zinc acetate. The ionomers were characterized using X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and also by the evaluation of mechanical properties. The FTIR studies of the ionomer reveal that the sulfonate groups are attached to the benzene ring. The NMR spectra give credence to this observation. Results of DMA show an ionic transition (T_i) in addition to glass–rubber transition (T_g). Incorporation of ionic groups results in improved mechanical properties as well as retention of properties after three cycles of processing. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 2294–2300, 2002     

Mitigation of ammonia-induced SCC in a cupronickel alloy by additions of MgCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The work presented in Part 1 of this article showed that additions of magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) to ammonia solutions reduced the tendency of ammonia-induced stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) initiation in a Cu-5%Ni alloy. The present work was undertaken to study the SCC behavior of the test alloy exposed to ammonia in the presence of varying concentrations of MgCl₂. The exposure to MgCl₂ additions reduced the severity of the ammonia-induced SCC.     

Tailoring magnetic and dielectric properties of rubber ferrite composites containing mixed ferrites

Rubber ferrite composites containing various mixed ferrites were prepared for different compositions and various loadings. The magnetic and dielectric properties of the fillers as well as the ferrite filled matrixes were evaluated separately. The results are correlated. Simple equations are proposed to predetermine the magnetic and dielectric properties. The validity of these equations is verified and they are found to be in good agreement. These equations are useful in tailoring the magnetic and dielectric properties of these composites with predetermined properties.     

Effect of vulcanization temperature on the technical properties of NR,SBR, and BR

Compounds of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and butadiene rubber are vulcanized at different temperatures and the crosslink density and physical properties of the vulcanizates are compared. It is found that for each compound there is an optimum vulcanization temperature which results in the best compromise of properties for specific applications.     

On the magnetic, mechanical and rheological properties of rubber–nickel nanocomposites

Rubber–nickel nanocomposites were synthesized by incorporating freshly prepared nanometric nickel particles in two different matrices namely natural rubber and neoprene rubber according to specific recipes for various loadings of nano nickel and the cure characteristics of these composites were evaluated. The maximum torque values register an increase with the increase in loading of nickel in both composites and this is attributed to the non-interacting nature of nickel nanoparticles with rubber matrices. The cure time of natural rubber composites decreases with increase in the content of nickel, and in neoprene rubber cure, time increases with increase in filler content. In natural rubber, the curing reaction seems to be activated by the presence of nickel particles. The magnetization studies of the composites reveal that the magnetic properties of nickel are retained in the composite samples. The elastic modulus of natural rubber and neoprene rubber are largely improved by the incorporation of nickel particles.     

Model based evaluation of exterior daylight illuminance distribution

Energy conservation in buildings is greatly influenced by natural daylight in tropical region. A vital step towards development and promotion of daylighting technology in buildings is a prior study on estimation of exterior daylight availability for illuminating its interiors. In view of this, the present communication depicts the preliminary work progress carried out to arrive at a comprehensive idea on assessment of daylight availability and its characteristics. The study is reported taking the representative case of Bangalore (India) (latitude 12.97° N, longitude 77.56° E),which in future work facilitates to device suitable interior illuminance models and lighting controls for a daylight-artificial light integrated scheme. The objective of this paper is to document the estimation of spatial exterior daylight parameters like exterior horizontal as well as vertical global and diffuse daylight illuminance in addition to their respective luminous efficacies computed using an established analytical model. The paper also highlights user friendly computer simulation tool developed, for the detailed estimation of daylight availability at a particular region by the inclusion of corresponding solar radiation data.     

Photoacoustic analysis of proteins: volumetric signals and fluorescence quantum yields

A series of proteins has been examined using time-resolved, pulsed-laser volumetric photoacoustic spectroscopy. Photoacoustic waveforms were collected to measure heat release for calculation of fluorescence quantum yields, and to explore the possibility of photoinduced nonthermal volume changes occurring in these protein samples. The proteins studied were the green fluorescent protein (GFP); intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP), and adipocyte lipid-binding protein (ALBP), each labeled noncovalently with 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (1,8-ANS) and covalently with 6-acryloyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (acrylodan); and acrylodan-labeled IFABP and ALBP with added oleic acid. Of this group of proteins, only the ALBP labeled with 1,8-ANS showed significant nonthermal volume changes at the beta = 0 temperature (approximately 3.8 degrees C) for the buffer used (10 mM Tris-HCI, pH 7.5) (beta is the thermal cubic volumetric expansion coefficient). For all of the proteins except for acrylodan-labeled IFABP, the fluorescence quantum yields calculated assuming simple energy conservation were anomalously high, i.e., the apparent heat signals were lower than those predicted from independent fluorescence measurements. The consistent anomalies suggest that the low photoacoustic signals may be characteristic of fluorophores buried in proteins, and that photoacoustic signals derive in part from the microenvironment of the absorbing chromophore.     

Studies on a new method of preparation of zinc sulphide useful for luminescent phosphors

Hitherto the zinc sulphide material required for luminescent phosphors has usually been obtained by the reaction between a zinc salt and hydrogen sulphide. In this paper we report a new method of preparation of zinc sulphide by the reaction between thiourea and a zinc salt in an alkaline medium, at optimum conditions of pH. The zinc sulphide precipitate obtained under varying conditions of pH has been characterized by the methods of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and diffraction, optical microscopy, magnetic susceptibility, diffuse reflectance and density. A very important point which came out of these investigations is that with varying pH for the precipitating conditions, varying degrees of non-stoichiometry have been obtained. All these aspects have been discussed in terms of interstitial zinc atoms or Zn⁺ ions and electrons in anion vacancies.