‘Podracing’: experimenting with mobile TV content consumption and delivery methods

Recently, mobile TV has been launched in several countries. While mobile TV integrates television contents into mobile phones, the most personal of communication devices, it becomes interesting to know how this feature will be used throughout the day and in varying contexts of everyday life. This paper presents empirical results on the use of mobile TV with different delivery mechanisms and both quantitative and qualitative results on how end-users prefer to use mobile TV contents in different situations. The data is based on ongoing empirical research in Finland in 2006 and 2007. The mobile TV services under study included both news and entertainment contents, and were tested in 3G, DVB-H and Wi-Fi networks using different delivery paradigms: broadcast, on-demand and download. To explore the use of different delivery methods and content consumption, we have developed a mobile TV service protoype, called Podracing. The analysis shows that users appreciated up-to-date information and information-rich media forms and contents especially for mobile news delivery. There was high demand for only the latest news on mobiles. The real-time property was considered important. Most of the users looked at the headlines or followed the news several times a day – much more often than the traditional TV and news prime times would allow.     

Triple layer refractive index profile for tapered fibre beam expanders

A triple layer index profile for tapered fibre beam expanders is designed. It is shown that it reduces the coupling losses between two unequal circular waveguides when compared to the use of a single-layer index profile. It is also shown that the ellipticity of the modal field can be changed simultaneously with the size of the modal field using this triple layer profile.<>     

Permanent open shunt as a reason for impotence or reduced potency after surgical treatment of priapism in 26 patients

A permanent open shunt as a cause of impotence or impaired potency after a shunt operation for priapism is an unusual situation. In this series we studied the persistence of an open shunt in 26 patients who had developed impotence or impaired potency after operative treatment for priapism. All patients had been examined by cavernosography on the suspicion of an open shunt, giving a positive finding in five of 26 cases, in all of which impotence was cured by closure of the shunt. In five patients without a permanent open shunt potency returned to normal only after 6-12 months.     

Inhibition of Hepatitis C Replication by Targeting the Molecular Chaperone Hsp90: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 4,5,6,7-Tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-d]thiazole Derivatives

Cellular chaperones that belong to the heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) family are a prerequisite for successful viral propagation for most viruses. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) uses Hsp90 for maturation, folding, and modification of viral proteins. Based on our previous discovery that marine alkaloid analogues with a 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-d]thiazole-2-amine structure show inhibition of HCV replication and binding to Hsp90, a series of twelve novel compounds based on this scaffold was designed and synthesized. The aim was improved Hsp90 affinity and anti-HCV activity. Through structural optimization, improved binding to Hsp90 and specific HCV inhibition in genotype 1b and 2a replicon models was achieved for three compounds belonging to the newly synthesized series. Furthermore, these compounds efficiently inhibited replication of full-length HCV genotype 2a in a reporter virus RNA assay with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.03 to 0.6 μm .     

Mineral fillers in low density-polyethylene films

The use of fillers is an established method of modifying the properties of plastics. The recent increase in prices of plastic raw materials and the new developments in compounding technology have heightened the interest of the plastic industry in compounds of fillers and polyethylene. This article discusses briefly the literature dealing with the effect of fillers on the properties of polyethylene, and research carried out on the effects of different mineral fillers, talcs, micas, clays, wollastonite and dolomite on the many properties of low density polyethylene films. The fine grade talcs have proved to be better than the other fillers with respect to most film properties. The platy talcs decreased the oxygen permeability by as much as 80 percent and the water vapor transmission rate by as much as 70 percent. With talcs, clays and dolomite the yield strength increased but with all fillers the tensile strength at break weakened with increasing filler content. A low elongation at break and a low tearing, resistance indicate the brittleness of the films especially at high filler contents (over 30 wt percent). The coefficients of friction decreased considerably with all fillers and a significant improvement in printability was achieved. However, none of the fillers had more than a very minor effect on the heat sealability of low density polyethylene.     

Amplified spontaneous emission in cladding-pumped L-banderbium-doped fiber amplifiers

Propagation of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in cladding-pumped long-wavelength-band erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) is analyzed numerically. Forward and backward ASE power dependence on cladding area is analyzed for both pumping directions. ASE power propagating counterdirectionally to the pump is found to experience strong dependence on the cladding area. Increasing the cladding area results in more uniform pump distribution along the EDF, preventing short-wavelength gain and ASE buildup. Quantum conversion efficiency in cladding-pumped L-band EDFAs is discussed     

Tissue biocompatibility of new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials

Drug-eluting stents are a recent innovation for endovascular and endourethral purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the biocompatibility of new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials in vivo. Rods made of SR-PLDLA (self-reinforced poly-96l,4d-lactic acid) covered with P(50l/50d)LA and rods made of 96l/4D SR-PLA and covered with P(50l/50d)LA including indomethacin 3.3 μg/mm² or dexamethasone 1.5 μg/mm², were inserted into the dorsal muscles of 20 rabbits serving as test animals. Rods made of silicone and organotin-positive polyvinylchloride were used as negative and positive controls. The animals were sacrificed after 1 week, 1 month, 2 months or 4 months. Histological changes attributable to the operative trauma were seen in all specimens at 1 week and 1 month. At 2 months both dexamethasone and indomethacin induced less fibrosis than the plain SR-PLDLA covered with P(50l/50d)LA without drug. At 4 months dexamethasone induced both chronic inflammatory changes and foreign body reaction, whereas the reactions in the indomethacin and drug-free plain SR-PLDLA groups were insignificant. The new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials are highly biocompatible. Drug-eluting biodegradable stents may offer a promising new treatment modality for vascular and urethral diseases. However, further studies are needed to demonstrate their feasibility and efficacy.     

The accuracy of estimating the thermal insulation of clothing ensembles - the effect of appraisers

The effect of the appraisers on the estimation of the thermal insulation of clothing ensembles was investigated. Nine appraisers, four experienced and five inexperienced, estimated the total thermal insulation by summing the values for individual garments. Lists of individual garments worn by workers were given during thermal comfort measurements carried out in shops and stores during one winter and summer. The beginners estimated the thermal insulation as accurately as the experienced appraisers. There were, however, great individual differences, for which three main reasons were found. Interpolation between the insulation provided by two garments was insufficient, and the insulation of these garments should be checked in more precise tables. Classification of the garments into heavy, medium and light clothing items was not adequate, and garments not listed by the workers confused the estimation given by different appraisers. The effect of error in thermal insulation on the PMV index is negligible if more than one appraiser estimates the thermal insulation and the mean of the estimates is used.     

Association of smoking with lower urinary tract symptoms

PURPOSE: We studied the association of smoking with lower urinary tract symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1994 we performed a population based study by mailing a questionnaire to all 3,143 men born in 1924, 1934 or 1944 who resided in Tampere, or in 11 rural or semirural municipalities in the same county. Of this population 68% were ultimately included in the study. A modified Danish Prostate Symptom Score-1 was used to assess urinary symptoms and associated bothersomeness. A symptom index was created by multiplying the symptom and bothersomeness scores of hesitancy, incomplete emptying, urge, urge incontinence, nocturia and daytime frequency, and totaling the products. The index for lower urinary tract symptoms was defined as positive when it reached 7 points. Subjects were also asked whether they had smoked for at least a year, and they were defined as smoking currently, formerly and never according to the response. RESULTS: Compared with respondents who never smoked age adjusted odds ratios were 1.47 (95% confidence interval 1.09 to 1.98) and 1.38 (1.08 to 1.78), respectively, for those who currently and formerly smoked. After further adjusting for alcohol consumption, body mass index, previous prostate surgery, pelvic area surgery, prostate cancer and bladder cancer, the odds ratios for current and former smokers were 1.39 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.93) and 1.34 (1.03 to 1.75), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking increases the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms. The similarity in the odds ratios of these symptoms between current and former smokers suggests that changes caused by smoking occur long term or the pathological process resulting in symptoms starts early in smokers. The decreased risk of lower urinary tract symptoms after the cessation of smoking suggests that the process is reversible but recovery is a long-term process.