One-stop Aqua Shops (OAS)

(4pp.)

Kuddus Ansary’s One-stop Aqua Shop (OAS) guide

(4pp.)

Empirical Doppler Characterization of Signals Scattered by Wind Turbines in the UHF Band under Near Field Condition

Time variability of the scattering signals from wind turbines may lead to degradation problems on the communication systems provided in the UHF band, especially under near field condition. In order to analyze the variability due to the rotation of the blades, this paper characterizes empirical Doppler spectra obtained from real samples of signals scattered by wind turbines with rotating blades under near field condition. A new Doppler spectrum model is proposed to fit the spectral characteristics of these signals, providing notable goodness of fit. Finally, the effect of this kind of time variability on the degradation of OFDM signals is studied.

"Band of Angels": una adaptación cinematográfica bajo la sombra de "Gone with the wind"

Santamaría, José Miguel; Pajares, Eterio; Olsen, Vickie; Merino, Raquel; Eguíluz, Federico (eds.)

The Kaipara story: a closer look at the benefits of working together, the evolution of a federation of aquaculture self-help groups and a one-stop aqua shop in rural West Bengal

What is special about Kaipara is that most recently, they have founded a federation of Self-Help Groups that work together to develop their own support network and to draw in the support of others. This is a sophisticated ‘home-grown’ support infrastructure that is the subject of this story. (Pdf contains 8 pages).

Prediction Of Shear-Band Thickness In Metallic Glasses

We derive an explicit expression for predicting the thicknesses of shear bands in metallic glasses. The model demonstrates that the shear-band thickness is mainly dominated by the activation size of the shear transformation zone (STZ) and its activation free volume concentration. The predicted thicknesses agree well with the results of measurements and simulations. The underlying physics is attributed to the local topological instability of the activated STZ. The result is of significance in understanding the origin of inhomogeneous flow in metallic glasses. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Wide Band Strong Acoustic Absorption in a Locally Network Anechoic Coating

Composite materials with interpenetrating network structures usually exhibit unexpected merit due to the cooperative interaction. Locally resonant phononic crystals (LRPC) exhibit excellent sound attenuation performance based on a periodical arrangement of sound wave scatters. Inspired by the interpenetrating network structure and the LRPC concept, we develop a locally network anechoic coating (LNAC) that can achieve a wide band of underwater strong acoustic absorption. The experimental results show that the LNAC possesses an excellent underwater acoustic absorbing capacity in a wide frequency range. Moreover, in order to investigate the impact of the interpenetrating network structure, we fabricate a faultage structure sample and the network is disconnected by hard polyurethane (PU). The experimental comparison between the LNAC and the faultage structure sample shows that the interpenetrating network structure of the LNAC plays an important role in achieving a wide band strong acoustic absorption.

Locally resonant phononic woodpile: A wide band anomalous underwater acoustic absorbing material

To meet the demand of modern acoustic absorbing material for which acoustic absorbing frequency region can be readily tailored, we introduced woodpile structure into locally resonant phononic crystal (LRPC) and fabricated an underwater acoustic absorbing material, which is called locally resonant phononic woodpile (LRPW). Experimental results show that LRPW has a strong capability of absorbing sound in a wide frequency range. Further theoretical research revealed that LRPC units and woodpile structure in LRPW play an important role in realization of wide band underwater strong acoustic absorption.

Structural and mechanistic motifs in membrane proteins: the three-dimensional modelling of rhodopsin, band 3, and the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Because so little is known about the structure of membrane proteins, an attempt has been made in this work to develop techniques by which to model them in three dimensions. The procedures devised rely heavily upon the availability of several sequences of a given protein. The modelling procedure is composed of two parts. The first identifies transmembrane regions within the protein sequence on the basis of hydrophobicity, β-turn potential, and the presence of certain amino acid types, specifically, proline and basic residues. The second part of the procedure arranges these transmembrane helices within the bilayer based upon the evolutionary conservation of their residues. Conserved residues are oriented toward other helices and variable residues are positioned to face the surrounding lipids. Available structural information concerning the protein's helical arrangement, including the lengths of interhelical loops, is also taken into account. Rhodopsin, band 3, and the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor have all been modelled using this methodology, and mechanisms of action could be proposed based upon the resulting structures.

Specific residues in the rhodopsin and iodopsin sequences were identified, which may regulate the proteins' wavelength selectivities. A hinge-like motion of helices M3, M4, and M5 with respect to the rest of the protein was proposed to result in the activation of transducin, the G-protein associated with rhodopsin. A similar mechanism is also proposed for signal transduction by the muscarinic acetylcholine and β-adrenergic receptors.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was modelled with four trans-membrane helices per subunit and with the five homologous M2 helices forming the cation channel. Putative channel-lining residues were identified and a mechanism of channel-opening based upon the concerted, tangential rotation of the M2 helices was proposed.

Band 3, the anion exchange protein found in the erythrocyte membrane, was modelled with 14 transmembrane helices. In general the pathway of anion transport can be viewed as a channel composed of six helices that contains a single hydrophobic restriction. This hydrophobic region will not allow the passage of charged species, unless they are part of an ion-pair. An arginine residue located near this restriction is proposed to be responsible for anion transport. When ion-paired with a transportable anion it rotates across the barrier and releases the anion on the other side of the membrane. A similar process returns it to its original position. This proposed mechanism, based on the three-dimensional model, can account for the passive, electroneutral, anion exchange observed for band 3. Dianions can be transported through a similar mechanism with the additional participation of a histidine residue. Both residues are located on M10.