An analytical model for hybrid checkpointing in time warpdistributed simulation

The Time Warp distributed simulation algorithm uses checkpointing to save process states after certain event executions for later recovery at the time of a rollback. Two main techniques have been used for checkpointing: periodic state saving and incremental state saving. The former technique introduces large overheads in reconstructing a desired state by coasting forward from an earlier checkpointed state if the computational granularity is large. The latter technique also has large overheads in applications with large rollback distances. A hybrid checkpointing technique is proposed which uses both periodic and incremental state saving simultaneously in such a way that it reduces checkpointing time overheads. A detailed analytical model is developed for the hybrid technique, and comparisons are made using similar analytical models with periodic and incremental state saving techniques. Results show that when the system parameters are chosen to represent large and complex simulated systems, the hybrid approach has less checkpointing time overhead than the other two techniques     

Modeling of microstrip lines using neural networks: Applications to the design and analysis of distributed microstrip circuits

In this article, two models for solving microstrip lines are presented. The models utilize radial-basis-function neural networks. Using the first model, one estimates the effective dielectric constant and the width of the microstrip line, knowing its characteristic impedance and the frequency. The second model provides the effective dielectric constant and the characteristic impedance of the line based on knowledge of its width and the frequency. Besides their remarkably fast responses, the proposed models are capable of estimating the required quantities with very high accuracy. The potential of the proposed models is demonstrated in the design and analysis of two distributed microstrip circuits. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 14, 166–173, 2004.     

Realizations of fully differential voltage second generation current conveyor with an application

Three novel CMOS realizations for the fully differential voltage second‐generation inverting current conveyor (FDVCCII‐) are proposed in this paper. The first realization has a limited input range, and the other two realizations have a rail to rail input range and show excellent features in linearity and bandwidth. As an application to the FDVCCII‐, a floating gyrator is proposed. A floating inductor is realized using the floating gyrator and it is used in realizing a second‐order low‐pass filter, which is simulated and compared with the ideal result. All circuits are simulated with SPICE using CMOS 0.35µm technology and supply voltages ±1.5V to verify the theoretical results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sanguinarine Inhibition of TNF-α-Induced CCL2, IKBKE/NF-κB/ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway,and Cell Migration in Human Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Angiogenesis is a process that drives breast cancer (BC) progression and metastasis, which is linked to the altered inflammatory process, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In targeting inflammatory angiogenesis, natural compounds are a promising option for managing BC. Thus, this study was designed to determine the natural alkaloid sanguinarine (SANG) potential for its antiangiogenic and antimetastatic properties in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The cytotoxic effect of SANG was examined in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell models at a low molecular level. In this study, SANG remarkably inhibited the inflammatory mediator chemokine CCL2 in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. Furthermore, qRT-PCR confirmed with Western analysis studies showed that mRNA CCL2 repression was concurrent with reducing its main regulator IKBKE and NF-κB signaling pathway proteins in both TNBC cell lines. The total ERK1/2 protein was inhibited in the more responsive MDA-MB-231 cells. SANG exhibited a higher potential to inhibit cell migration in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to MDA-MB-468 cells. Data obtained in this study suggest a unique antiangiogenic and antimetastatic effect of SANG in the MDA-MB-231 cell model. These effects are related to the compound’s ability to inhibit the angiogenic CCL2 and impact the ERK1/2 pathway. Therefore, SANG use may be recommended as a component of the therapeutic strategy for TNBC.     

Reactions with Thiazolo[3,2-b]-s-triazol-3(2H)-ones

5-Aryl-3-carboxymethylthio-1,2,4-triazoles 2 are cyclised to 6-arylthiazolo[3,2-b]-s-triazol-3(2H)-ones 3 . This structural assignment has been based on IR and NMR spectra. 2-Arylmethylene-6-arylthiazolo[3,2-b]-s-triazol-3(2H)-ones 7 were prepared by several methods. Compounds 3 coupled with diazotised anilines to give 2,3-dihydro-6-arylthiazolo[3,2-b]-s-triazole-2,3-dione 2-arylhydrazones 8 . The action of amines on 3a opens the thiazolone ring with the formation of substituted (5-phenyltriazol-3-ylthio)-acetamides 9 .     

Polyaniline/akaganéite nanocomposite for detoxification of noxious Cr(VI) from aquatic environment

In this work, a removal of toxic hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) ion from aqueous solution was investigated and studied using nanocomposite of polyaniline (PANI) and akaganéite nanoparticles (NP). HCl doped PANI, and akaganéite NPs were prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization and co-precipitation techniques, respectively. The synthesized materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). It was indicated that the formed oxide NPs were consisted of akaganéite as dominant phase plus minor phases of hematite, magnetite, and/or maghemite. HRTEM images of the prepared nanocomposite demonstrated that the phases of oxide NPs embedded in the nanocomposite had the same crystallinity and morphology of pristine oxide NPs. It was found that size of nanocomposite particles has diameter ranged from 8.95 to 16.21 nm. Cr(VI) removals in a wide pH range from 2 to 9 were appropriated for prepared nanocomposite. The nanocomposite has demonstrated high removal percentage of 99.2 % and removal capacity of 17.36 mg/g for 7.0 mg/L Cr(VI) polluted aqueous solution at pH 2.0 for 5-min contact time. The synthesized nanocomposite was applied to remove Cr(VI) from a leather tanning wastewater sample with efficiency of 93.4 %.     

Multivariate statistical analysis for monitoring the hydrocarbon potentiality of the source rocks in the North Western Desert,Egypt

The authors aimed to examine a multivariate statistical analysis approach for monitoring the hydrocarbon potentiality of source rocks in the North Western Desert to recognize the potentiality of source rocks and subsequently investigate the maturation level of the proven potential source formations for oil preservation. To achieve this aim, they applied multivariate statistics analysis (principle component analysis [PCA], cluster analysis, and correlation coefficient) and Rock-Eval pyrolysis analyses. The results showed that both PCA and cluster analyses have showed two types of source rocks. The first is classified as poor to fair source rock and immature to marginally mature source rock, the second is considered as fair to good source rock and mature to post mature source rock. PCA extracted two independent factors, which explained 81.87% of the total variance. The first type of source rock was responsible for 50% of the total variance and was best represented by variables TOC, S2, OI, and R_o, and the second one was responsible for 31.65% of the total variance and was represented by the HI variable. Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant positive correlation between TOC and S2 or R_o. A positive correlation between S2 and HI or OI and also between OI and R_o was observed, while no significant correlation was noticed between HI and R_o.     

Fully Automated Inductance Measuring System Using New Fabricated Inductance Box

Decade inductance boxes are widely used in electrical laboratories for calibration of instruments that measure inductance. The main aim of this paper is to construct a new inductance box providing a huge number of automated inductance steps, which are used in the laboratories to perform full automatic calibration of inductance meters. Therefore, a new inductance box has been introduced that mainly consists of three decades. The three inductance decades have the same design, but each has its four different internal inductive elements. Each decade can generate 15 different inductance values, so it is more economical and practical compared to the other ordinary decades, which produce only 10 values by using 10 internal inductive elements. 1666 different inductance values can be obtained from this inductance box, while 4096 inductance values can be obtained by the possible combinations of its three decades steps. Practical design, fabrication and specifications of this new inductance box are demonstrated in detail. It is designed to achieve relative accuracy in the range from 5 × 10^?4 to 5 × 10^?3. It could be used to perform full automatic inductance measurements at the National Institute of Standards, Egypt, for the first time. Comparison between an ordinary inductance box and the new introduced one has been made to validate its performance.