Distribution of Induction, Electric Field, and Current Density, in Thin YBa2Cu3O7−x Films Carrying Transport Current

An array of miniature Hall sensors has been utilized to measure the spatial distribution and time evolution of the local induction in a thin YBa ₂ Cu ₃ O _7–x film at the remanent state, before and after the application of a dc transport current. As a result of transport current the induction peak is shifted from the center of the sample, indicating an inhomogeneous current distribution. Transport current markedly changes the spatial distribution of the electric field and the relaxation rate, creating a dynamic neutral line where the electric field is maximum, and the relaxation rate is zero.     

Evaluation of the European market for satellite-UMTS terminals

This paper is concerned with dimensioning the potential market for Satellite-Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (S-UMTS) terminals in Europe. In order to size the market, the satellite component is assumed to play a complementary role to its terrestrial counterpart. According to this role, the market segments for S-UMTS and potential users for each terminal type have been identified. Different terminal types have also been categorised according to their supported level of mobility and their usage type: whether for individual usage or for group usage. A mapping is made between the terminal types and the potential user groups. The market size for each terminal type is predicted using the Logistic model, taking into account the tariff and the wealth of each individual country in Europe. Analysis is performed for EU15 and non-EC European countries for each terminal type under consideration. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mobility management incorporating fuzzy logic for heterogeneous aIP environment

The next generation in mobility management will enable different mobile networks to interoperate with each other to ensure terminal and personal mobility and global portability of network services. However, in order to ensure global mobility, the deployment and integration of both satellite and terrestrial components are necessary. This article is focused on issues related to mobility management in a future mobile communications system, in a scenario where a multisegment access network is integrated into an IP core network by exploiting the principles of Mobile IP. In particular, attention is given to the requirements for location, address, and handover management. In a heterogeneous environment, the need to perform handover between access networks imposes particular constraints on the type of information available to the terminal and network. In this case, consideration will need to be given to parameters other than radio characteristics, such as achievable quality of service and user preference. This article proposes a new approach to handover management by applying the fuzzy logic concept to a heterogeneous environment. The article concludes with a presentation of mobility management signaling protocols     

Satellite-UMTS traffic dimensioning and resource managementtechnique analysis

The universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) will consist of space UMTS (S-UMTS) and terrestrial UMTS (T-UMTS) components. An algorithm for predicting the traffic capacity in terms of the number of subscribers for the satellite component of UMTS is presented. The algorithm takes into account the takeup characteristics of new products, the growth of gross domestic product (GDP), the projection of population, the tariff of the service, and price fall over the forecast period. The predicted traffic is used to generate a traffic grid in terms of Erlang of dimension 36×72 in steps of 5° in both the latitude and longitude directions. The traffic grid is used to evaluate the performance of a dynamic channel allocation (DCA) technique as, well as a fixed channel allocation (FCA) technique. Both channel allocation techniques have been considered with the queuing of handover (QH) requests. In order to compare the respective techniques' performance, a low-earth orbit mobile satellite system (LEO-MSS) mobility model is developed to take into account the effect of satellites' motion during interbeam handovers. A theoretical model for obtaining the values of blocking probabilities for low-traffic loads is presented. Finally, the performance of the DCA-QH technique is compared with the FCA-QH technique under suitably defined traffic and mobility conditions     

Process optimization for bioethanol production from cassava starch using novel eco-friendly enzymes

Although cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a potential bioethanol crop, high operational costs resulted in a negative energy balance in the earlier processes. The present study aimed at optimizing the bioethanol production from cassava starch using new enzymes like Spezyme^® Xtra and Stargen™ 001. The liquefying enzyme Spezyme was optimally active at 90 °C and pH 5.5 on a 10% (w/v) starch slurry at levels of 20.0 mg (280 Amylase Activity Units) for 30 min. Stargen levels of 100 mg (45.6 Granular Starch Hydrolyzing Units) were sufficient to almost completely hydrolyze 10% (w/v) starch at room temperature (30 ± 1 °C). Ethanol yield and fermentation efficiency were very high (533 g/kg and 94.0% respectively) in the Stargen + yeast process with 10% (w/v) starch for 48 h. Raising Spezyme and Stargen levels to 560 AAU and 91.2 GSHU respectively for a two step loading [initial 20% (w/v) followed by 20% starch after Spezyme thinning]/initial higher loading of starch (40% w/v) resulted in poor fermentation efficiency. Upscaling experiments using 1.0 kg starch showed that Stargen to starch ratio of 1:100 (w/w) could yield around 558 g ethanol/kg starch, with a high fermentation efficiency of 98.4%. The study showed that Spezyme level beyond 20.0 mg for a 10% (w/v) starch slurry was not critical for optimizing bioethanol yield from cassava starch, although an initial thinning of starch for 30 min by Spezyme facilitated rapid saccharification-fermentation by Stargen + yeast system. The specific advantage of the new process was that the reaction could be completed within 48.5 h at 30 ± 1 °C.     

The importance of axial effects for borehole design of geothermal heat-pump systems

This paper studies the effects of axial heat conduction in boreholes used in geothermal heat pump systems. The axial effects are examined by comparing the results obtained using the finite and infinite line source methods. Using various practical design problems, it is shown that axial effects are relatively important. Unsurprisingly, short boreholes and unbalanced yearly ground loads lead to stronger axial effects. In one example considered, it is shown that the borehole length is 15% shorter when axial conduction effects are considered. In another example dealing with underground water freezing, the amount of energy that has to be removed to freeze the ground is three times higher when axial effects are considered.     

Antagonistic properties of centrally truncated analogs of [D-Trp(32)]NPY

We have previously shown that [D-Trp(32)]NPY can competitively antagonize NPY-induced feeding in rats (Balasubramaniam et al. J. Med. Chem. 1994, 37, 811-815). This peptide, however, did not bind to SK-N-MC cells with Y-1 receptors. Since centrally truncated NPY analogs have been shown to bind Y-1 receptors, we synthesized similar analogs of [D-Trp(32)]NPY and investigated their Y-1 (SK-N-MC) and Y-2 (SK-N-BE2) receptor affinities and their properties in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells. None of the analogs with D-Trp(32) mobilized intracellular calcium, [Ca2]i, in HEL cells. Although Des-AA(6-24)[Aoc(6)]NPY and the corresponding D-Trp(32) analog exhibited no affinity to Y-1 receptors, Des-AA(7-24)[Aoc(6),D-Trp(32)] NPY(6) exhibited weak binding. Replacing Pro(5) in 6 with D-Ala to stabilize the central chain reversal, and hence the antiparallel alignment of the N- and C-terminal regions known to be important for Y-1 binding, resulted in an analog, Des-AA(7-24)[D-Ala(5),Aoc(6),D-Trp(32)]NPY (7), which exhibited moderate antagonist potency in attenuating NPY effects on cAMP and [Ca2+]i, in SK-N-MC and HEL cells, respectively. This analog also shifted the dose-response curve of NPY on blood pressure in anesthetized rats. Deletion of only the 7-17 and/or the incorporation of N-Me-Ala(5), superior beta-turn stabilizer, in 7 did not improve the Y-1 receptor affinity. Des-AA(7-24)[D-Ala(5), Gly(6),D-Trp(32)]NPY exhibited an affinity similar to that of 7, suggesting that a long spacer arm is not necessary for efficient Y-1 receptor interaction. Locking the antiparallel alignment via a 2/26 or 2/27 lactam bridge did not improve the binding. Finally, replacement of D-Ala(5) in 7 with D-Trp dramatically increased both the binding and the antagonistic potencies. Modeling based on the avian pancreatic polypeptide X-ray structure suggested that analogs which have the N- and C-terminal regions in close proximity might exhibit good binding, and that the D-Trp(32) substitution may induce a beta-turn that could be important for exhibiting antagonism. A systematic investigation has resulted in the development of relatively potent Y-1 receptor antagonists. Further structure-activity studies with these compounds and those previously reported by us and other investigators should result in the development of long-acting and receptor selective antagonists.     

Angiogenesis and Anti-Angiogenic Treatment in Prostate Cancer: Mechanisms of Action and Molecular Targets

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Many therapeutic advances over the last two decades have led to an improvement in the survival of patients with metastatic PC, yet the majority of these patients still succumb to their disease. Antiagiogenic therapies have shown substantial benefits for many types of cancer but only a marginal benefit for PC. Ongoing clinical trials investigate antiangiogenic monotherapies or combination therapies. Despite the important role of angiogenesis in PC, clinical trials in refractory castration-resistant PC (CRPC) have demonstrated increased toxicity with no clinical benefit. A better understanding of the mechanism of angiogenesis may help to understand the failure of trials, possibly leading to the development of new targeted anti-angiogenic therapies in PC. These could include the identification of specific subsets of patients who might benefit from these therapeutic strategies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the pathways involved in the angiogenesis, the chemotherapeutic agents with antiangiogenic activity, the available studies on anti-angiogenic agents and the potential mechanisms of resistance.