Adaptive backbone protocol for heterogeneous wireless networks

We propose Adaptive Backbone Protocol ABP, a lightweight protocol for distributed formation of a backbone over Heterogeneous Wireless Networks. ABP does not require any neighborhood information and consequently scales well with the number of nodes and network size. We present an analytical framework to study the performance of ABP. By making the nodes rotate the role of backbone nodes, we extend the life of the network.     

Qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of composite mixtures of antibodies by native mass spectrometry

Native mass spectrometry was evaluated for the qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of composite mixtures of antibodies representing biopharmaceutical products coexpressed from single cells. We show that by using automated peak fitting of the ion signals in the native mass spectra, we can quantify the relative abundance of each of the antibodies present in mixtures, with an average accuracy of 3%, comparable to a cation exchange chromatography based approach performed in parallel. Moreover, using native mass spectrometry we were able to identify, separate, and quantify 9 antibodies present in a complex mixture of 10 antibodies, whereas this complexity could not be unraveled by cation exchange chromatography. Native mass spectrometry presents a valuable alternative to existing analytical methods for qualitative and semiquantitative profiling of biopharmaceutical products. It provides both the identity of each species in a mixture by mass determination and the relative abundance through comparison of relative ion signal intensities. Native mass spectrometry is a particularly effective tool for characterization of heterogeneous biopharmaceutical products such as bispecific antibodies and antibody mixtures.     

Technologies for the study of hydropeaking impacts on fish populations: Applications,advantages, outcomes,and future developments

Dam construction and streamflow regulation are increasing throughout the world, with impacts in impounded aquatic ecosystems. Hydropower dams, some of them causing a phenomenon called “hydropeaking” during their operation, are known for having a variety of impacts on downstream aquatic biota, particularly fish, and respective habitat. This can result in significant changes, from the community (e.g., fish assemblage structure) to the individual level (e.g., physiological and behavioural adjustments). Researchers and managers involved in the assessment of hydropeaking impacts must be resourceful and use methods that allow their precise evaluation, from large to fine-scale habitat and biological responses. In the last decades, technological advances allowed for the development of techniques and instrumentations that are increasingly being used in hydropeaking impact and mitigation assessments. This paper aims to provide a review, to researchers and managers interested in this field, of some of the most innovative methods and techniques, involving technology, that are available to study hydropeaking effects on downstream ecosystem, particularly from a fish perspective. We discuss the fundamentals behind such techniques, their advantages, and disadvantages, while also providing practical examples of their application and of the type of results that can be obtained. We finish by discussing some of the shortcomings of these methods and how related technology can evolve to solve current limitations.     

Designing accessible experiences for older users: user requirement analysis for a railway ticketing portal

This article presents the results of a survey that shows that older users differ in their attitude and experience towards the Internet not only according to their age or to their previous knowledge with Internet services, but also according to what they are expecting from this media. The aim of this study was to collect information about barriers on usage and perception of an online ticketing service for a nationwide public railway company, in order to enhance the notion of “accessibility” toward a broader understanding including non-technical accessibility factors as semantic accessibility and/or procedural accessibility. The results of the survey with 1,208 participants and additionally focus groups, interviews and qualitative analysis of user feedback indicate that in order to improve and optimize the usage of the online system for older adults, it is necessary to develop a system which is not only universally accessible, but also satisfies the specific expectations of senior users. This article concentrates on designing accessible user experiences and presents several recommendations to the area and for WCAG 2.0 according to the results.     

CH_4/CO_2重整反应中压力的影响

<正>近年来,CH_4与CO_2反应（式1）制合成气,已成为化工和催化领域的国际研究热点。由于体系中CO分压很高,极易积碳,因而催化剂的失活是所有研究者面临的主要问题。一些研究者研制的催化剂可在几十至几百小时内不失活,但相当多是在高CO_2/CH_4比、高温或低压下获得的结果,这种条件的实际意义十分有限。实际生产时希望在接近反应（1）的计量进料比下操作,以获得满意的产物组成;希望在较低温度下操作,以降低能耗,或降低对反应器的要求;对于操作压力,由于原料均有一定压力,而且为了与合成气作为原料的后续生产过程相匹配,工业生产希望CH_4与CO_2反应能在一定压力下进行。     

Nitinol for Prosthetic and Orthotic Applications

As global populations age, conditions such as stroke and diabetes require individuals to use rehabilitation technology for many years to come due to chronic musculoskeletal, sensory, and other physical impairments. One in four males currently aged 45 will experience a stroke within 40 years and will often require access to prolonged rehabilitation. In addition, worldwide, one individual loses a limb every 30 s due to the complications of diabetes. As a result, innovative ideas are required to devise more effective prosthetic and orthotic devices to enhance quality of life. While Nitinol has already found much favor within the biomedical industry, one area, which has not yet exploited its unique properties, is in the field of physical rehabilitation, ranging from prosthetic and orthotic devices to assistive technology such as wheelchairs. Improved intervention capabilities based on materials such as Nitinol have the potential to vastly improve patients?? quality of life and in the case of orthoses, may even reduce the severity of the condition over time. It is hoped that this study will spark discussion and interest for the materials community in a field which has yet to be fully exploited.     

Application of metal triflate catalysts for the trans-esterification of Jatropha curcas L. oil with methanol and higher alcohols

This paper describes an experimental study on the application of metal triflate salts for the (trans‐) esterification of fatty esters (triolein, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate), fatty acid (oleic acid), as well as Jatropha curcas L. oil with methanol and higher alcohols (ethanol, n‐propanol, iso‐propanol, iso‐butanol, tert‐butanol). The effect of the metal type (scandium, bismuth, aluminium, lanthanum, copper, zinc) and process conditions on reaction performance were evaluated. Highest conversions were obtained with Al(OTf)₃. Reaction of triolein with methanol gave 99 mol% conversion at 165 °C for 1 h and the main product was the methyl ester. In addition, partial methoxylation of the carbon–carbon double bonds in the fatty acid chains was observed, though their fraction in the mixture was less than 20 mol%. The trans‐esterification reaction was also successfully performed using higher alcohols, giving >95 % conversions for ethanol, n‐propanol, iso‐propanol and iso‐butanol, whereas tert‐butanol was not reactive. For the reaction of oleic acid with methanol, quantitative esterification, partial methoxylation of the carbon–carbon double bonds and the formation of small amounts of a lactone was observed. The methodology using Al(OTf)₃ was successfully performed on the trans‐esterification reaction of JO (FFA content of 2.1 wt%) with various alcohols. Key properties (viscosity, pour point and cloud points) of the (branched) Jatropha esters were determined. The best cold‐flow properties were obtained for the iso‐propyl esters of JO, with cloud point and pour point of ?3 and ?24 °C, respectively.     

Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase (PRS): A new gene family in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains at least four PRS genes, all of which have been cloned and sequenced. Each of the four derived amino acid sequences have more than 60% similarity to the corresponding polypeptides of man, rat, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The PRS1 gene maps on chromosome XI, PRS2 on chromosome V, PRS3 on chromosome VIII and PRS4 on chromosome II. One member of this gene family, PRS1, contains a region of non-homology (NHR) shown by cDNA cloning and sequencing not to be an intron. The results presented here suggest that the presence of this NHR is not detrimental to the function of the gene. To date the possibility of protein splicing can be neither proven nor disputed. The sequences submitted to the EMBL data library are available under the following accession numbers: PRS1 (X70069), PRS2 (X74414) and PRS3 (X74415).