Multiway wideband power dividers

In this article, we propose a new design methodology to broaden the bandwidth of a multiway Bagley power divider (BPD). Single‐frequency matching uniform quarter‐wave‐length microstrip lines in the conventional design are replaced with impedance‐varying transmission lines of broadband matching characteristics. The equivalent transmission line model is used for profiling impedance variations, which are governed by a truncated Fourier series. Such variations are determined by finding the optimum series coefficients that result in a wideband matching nature. The proposed technique leads to flexible spectrum allocation and matching level. Furthermore, the resulting structures are compact and planar. First, analytical results of three 3‐way BPDs of different fractional bandwidths are presented and discussed to validate the proposed approach. Then, two examples of 3‐ and 5‐way BPDs with bandwidths of 4–10 GHz and 5–9 GHz, respectively, are simulated, fabricated, and measured. Simulated and measured results are in a good agreement, with input port matching of below ?15 dB and ?12.5 dB for the 3‐ and 5‐way dividers, respectively, over the bands of interest. The obtained transmission parameters of the 3‐ and 5‐way dividers are ?4.77 ± 1 dB and ?7 ± 1 dB, respectively, over the design bands. The proposed wideband dividers find many applications in microwave front‐end circuitry, especially in only‐transmitting antenna subsystems, such as broad‐ and multicast communication links. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 25:730–738, 2015.     

The Discovery of Potent SHP2 Inhibitors with Anti-Proliferative Activity in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Despite available treatments, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Knowing that the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is a regulator in tumorigenesis, developing inhibitors of SHP2 in breast cells is crucial. Our study investigated the effects of new compounds, purchased from NSC, on the phosphatase activity of SHP2 and the modulation of breast cancer cell lines’ proliferation and viability. A combined ligand-based and structure-based virtual screening protocol was validated, then performed, against SHP2 active site. Top ranked compounds were tested via SHP2 enzymatic assay, followed by measuring IC50 values. Subsequently, hits were tested for their anti-breast cancer viability and proliferative activity. Our experiments identified three compounds 13030, 24198, and 57774 as SHP2 inhibitors, with IC50 values in micromolar levels and considerable selectivity over the analogous enzyme SHP1. Long MD simulations of 500 ns showed a very promising binding mode in the SHP2 catalytic pocket. Furthermore, these compounds significantly reduced MCF-7 breast cancer cells’ proliferation and viability. Interestingly, two of our hits can have acridine or phenoxazine cyclic system known to intercalate in ds DNA. Therefore, our novel approach led to the discovery of SHP2 inhibitors, which could act as a starting point in the future for clinically useful anticancer agents.     

Cellular IP address provisioning in a heterogeneous wireless network

In this article, we propose a dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address assignment architecture for heterogeneous wireless IP devices network. The IP device could be a sensor device, a laptop, a cell phone, or any wireless device using IP communications. The proposed architecture introduces security and service reliability to the consumer while reducing the operational expenditure for the service providers. According to the proposed scheme, each node maintains an IP address pool storing the current occupancy of each IP address. Each node advertises its database whenever the ratio of negative acknowledgments from the domain name server to the total number of requests at a given node exceeds a certain threshold. We evaluate our IP assignment scheme under two traffic intensity scenarios, namely the uniform traffic intensity and the heterogeneous traffic intensity. Performance evaluation is carried out with respect to blocking probability and average IP list utilization. We define three types of blocking probability for the user requests as follows: The real blocking, the unjustified acceptance, and the unjustified rejection. We observe that the proposed scheme outperforms the uniform assignment as long as the threshold is below 1.5% for the uniform intensity scenario and 1% for the heterogeneous scenario. Furthermore, this architecture considers the security aspect of the wireless network by allowing only registered devices to communicate with other registered devices. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of TiO(2)-chitosan/glass photocatalyst for the removal of a monoazo dye via photodegradation-adsorption process

In this paper, the newly explored TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass was suggested as a promising alternative material to conventional means of wastewater treatment. Characterization of TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass photocatalyst was studied with SEM-EDX, XRD, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The combination effect of photodegradation-adsorption process for the removal of methyl orange (MO), an acid dye of the monoazo series occur promisingly when four layers of TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass photocatalyst was used for MO removal. Approximately, 87.0% of total MO removal was achieved. The reactive -NH(2), -OH, and metal oxide contents in the prepared photocatalyst responsible for the photodegradation-adsorption effect were confirmed by FTIR study. Similarly, MO removal behavior was well supported by SEM-EDX and XRD analysis. Significant dependence of MO removal on the TiO(2)-Chitosan loading can be explained in terms of relationship between quantum yield of photocatalytic reactions and photocatalyst structure/activity. Hence, the research work done thus far suggests a new method, having both the advantages of photodegradation-adsorption process in the abatement of various wastewater pollutants.     

General design of impedance‐varying multi‐way Wilkinson power divider with bandwidth redefinition characteristics

In this article, a general design methodology of a multi‐way compact equal split Wilkinson power divider (WPD) with bandwidth redefinition characteristics and planar structure is proposed. Quarter‐wave matching uniform transmission lines in the conventional design are replaced with non‐uniform transmission lines (NTLs) governed by a truncated Fourier series. Even mode analysis is adopted to obtain NTLs with predefined bandwidth functionalities; whereas several isolation resistors are optimized in the odd mode analysis to achieve proper isolation and output ports matching over the frequency range of interest. Compactness is achieved by incorporating only one quarter‐wave wideband NTL transformer, with a length computed at the center frequency, in each arm. Two 3‐way WPDs with different frequency bands (i. e., 5‐9 GHz and 4‐10 GHz) and one 5‐9 GHz 4‐way divider examples are designed and simulated. Furthermore, a wideband 3‐way WPD operating over 4‐10 GHz band is fabricated and measured. Results show input and output ports matching and isolation below ?15 dB, and transmission parameters in the range of [–4.9,–6.2] dB and [–6,–7.5] dB across the operating band of the 3‐way and 4‐way WPDs, respectively.     

Design and analysis of multifrequency Wilkinson power dividers using nonuniform transmission lines

In this article, based on nonuniform transmission lines, the design of compact multifrequency Wilkinson power dividers (WPDs) is presented. This is accomplished by replacing the quarter‐wave uniform transmission lines in the conventional WPD by multiband nonuniform transmission line transformers (NTLTs). The design of these NTLTs is performed under the even mode analysis of the WPD. A single isolation resistor is used between the two output ports whose value is determined using the simple odd mode analysis of the WPD. For verification purposes, a triple‐frequency WPD and a quad‐frequency WPD are designed, simulated, fabricated, and measured. The results of the full‐wave simulations and the measurements verify the validity of the design procedure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011.     

Iodine-aided fabrication of hollow carbon fibers from solid poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers

Hollow carbon fibers were fabricated from solid poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fibers with the aid of an iodine pretreatment followed by stabilization. Iodination converted the chemical structure of PVA to polyene form due to dehydration reaction, and stabilization of heat treatment at 200 °C in air provided insolubilization of iodinated PVA fibers. These processes extremely enhanced the carbon yield and enabled to obtain intact carbon fiber. By selective iodination and subsequent stabilization within the fiber cross-section close to the fiber surface, hollow carbon fibers were made through the carbonization.     

Radiation‐modified copolymer for the extraction of metal ions from water

The modification of heavy‐duty polyethylene films was carried out through the graft copolymerization of acrylamide and vinyl acetate mixtures of different compositions with the simultaneous radiation method. The influence of the synthesis conditions (the irradiation dose, comonomer composition, and dilution) on the degree of grafting was investigated. The grafted samples were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of the grafting degree on the thermal stability of the modified polymer was examined. The extraction of heavy and toxic metals such as cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and lead by the modified heavy‐duty polyethylene was evaluated, and the metal‐ion uptake by the grafted and chemically treated samples seemed better than that of the grafted and untreated ones. Both the rate and amount of the metal‐ion uptake were affected by the temperature of the feed solution and the grafting degree. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

An empirical investigation of knowledge management competence for enterprise resource planning systems success: insights from Jordan

The primary objective of the study reported herein is to empirically test the implicit, positive relationships between ERP-related Knowledge Management Competence (KM-competence; knowledge creation, knowledge retention, knowledge transfer, and knowledge application) dimensions and the extended Enterprise Resource Planning System Success construct (ERP system success; individual impact, workgroup impact, organisational impact, information quality, system quality, and vender/consultant quality). Data were collected from 173 of business and IT managers in 455 organisations in Jordan. Statistical techniques employed included confirmatory factor analysis to examine validity of the measurement model, and structural equation modelling using AMOS 16.0 is also utilised to test the hypotheses. The results of analysis show there is a positive significant impact of ERP knowledge creation on ERP success. Also, ERP knowledge retention positively and significantly affects ERP system success. Moreover, ERP knowledge transfer positively and significantly influence ERP system success. Furthermore, ERP knowledge application has positive effect on ERP system success. The results also indicate that ERP success construct is robust since all six observed variables are strongly loaded to the latent variable. Research limitations as well as implications for practice and research are discussed.     

Influence of Liposomes’ and Lipoplexes’ Physicochemical Characteristics on Their Uptake Rate and Mechanisms by the Placenta

Pregnant women are still considered as drug orphans. Developing new medications for pregnancy complications is an urgent need. Nanomedicines seem to be a promising approach to control the biodistribution of drugs to ensure both the mother’s and the fetus’ safety. Understanding the interaction between nanoparticles and the placental barrier is a key factor to the success of the development of nanomedicines for pregnant women. In this study, we evaluated the behavior of fluorescent PEGylated liposomes and lipoplexes in human placental tissue using in vitro and ex vivo models, BeWo cell culture and suspended villous placental explants, respectively. Fluorescent based analytical tools such as Fluorescence activated cells sorting (FACS), confocal microscopy and HPLC coupled to fluorescence detection were used to assess liposomes penetration and their endocytosis mechanisms in the placenta. First, no influence of the PEGylation density was observed on the cellular internalization of liposomal formulations using both models. The comparison between neutral and cationic liposomes exhibits a significant higher internalization of the cationic formulation compared to the neutral ones. In addition, the HPLC quantification of the fluorescent liposomes in human villous explants demonstrated an increase of cationic liposomes uptake with increasing incubation concentrations. Similar uptake of cationic liposomes and lipoplexes, containing the same cationic lipid, the DMAPAP but with an overall neutral surface charge, was observed and evidenced the higher effect of composition than charge surface on trophoblast penetration. Moreover, both cationic liposomes and lipoplexes exhibited an endocytosis mechanism of internalization via pathways implicating dynamin. These data highlight the key role of the liposome’s lipid composition and the possibility to modulate their internalization in the placenta by adjusting their design.