Can frequency diversity provide performance gains for WSNs at 2.4GHz for the fire hydrant to above ground channel

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) which utilise IEEE 802.15.4 technology offer the potential for low cost deployment and maintenance compared with conventional wired sensor networks, enabling effective and efficient condition monitoring of aged civil engineering infrastructure. We will address wireless propagation for a below to above ground scenario where one of the wireless nodes is located in a below ground fire hydrant chamber to permit monitoring of the local water distribution network. Frequency Diversity (FD) is one method that can be used to combat the damaging effects of multipath fading and so improve the reliability of radio links. However, no quantitative investigation concerning the potential performance gains from the use of FD at 2.4GHz is available for the outlined scenario. In this paper, we try to answer this question by performing accurate propagation measurements using modified and calibrated off-the-shelf 802.15.4 based sensor nodes. These measurement results are also compared with those obtained from simulations that employ our Modified 2D Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) approach. ©2009 IEEE.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and thermal property of a novel supramolecular assembly: (NH42810424)(CHNO) O-[H(V)O(]2H)4(10)28(2), constructed from decavanadate and caffeine

A novel 3D supramolecular assembly constructed from decavanadate and caffeine building blocks, (NH4)(2)(C8H10N4O2)(4)[H4V10O28].2H(2)O (1), has been synthesized in aqueous solution and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, H-1 NMR, V-51 NMR, TG-DTA, and single crystal X-Ray diffraction. The compound 1 crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, a = 15.801(1) Angstrom, b = 12.914(1) Angstrom, c = 15.913(2) Angstrom, beta = 113.55degrees, V = 2976.4 (5) Angstrom(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0498 with 6818 reflections. Water molecules, ammonium ions, and caffeine act as "cement" linking the polyanions into 1D chain along the c-axis by hydrogen bonding. In compound 1, extensive hydrogen-bond contacts and strong pi-pi interactions lead to an ordered 3D supramolecular framework. TG-DTA curves indicate that the weight loss of the complex can be divided into three stages.

Syntheses and properties of polyimides derived from diamines containing 2,5-disubstituted pyridine group

A Series of novel homo- and copolyimides containing pyridine units were prepared from the heteroaromatic diamines, 2,5-bis (4-aminophenyl) pyridine and 2-(4aminophenyl)-5-aminopyridine, with pyromelltic dianhydride (PMDA), and 3,3',4,4'-biphenyl tertracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) via a conventional two-step thermal imidizaton method. The poly(amic acid) precursors have inherent viscosities of 1.60-9.64 dL/g (c = 0.5 g/dL in DMAC, 30 degrees C) and all of them can be cast and thermally converted into flexible and tough polyimide films. All of the polyimides show excellent thermal stability and mechanical properties. The polyimides have 10% weight loss temperature in the range of 548-598 degrees C in air. The glass transition temperatures of the PMDA-based samples are in the range of 395-438 degrees C, while the BPDA-based polyimides show two glass transition temperatures (T(g)1 and T(g)2), ranging from 268 to 353 degrees C and from 395 to 418 degrees C, respectively. The flexible films possess tensile modulus in the range of 3.42-6.39 GPa, strength in the range of 112-363 MPa and an elongation at break in the range of 1.2-69%. The strong reflection peaks in the wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the polyimides have a high packing density and crystallinity.

Differential effects of the CCKA receptor ligands PD-140, 548 and A-71623 on latent inhibition in the rat.

Latent inhibition (LI) is a behavioural paradigm in which repeated exposure to a stimulus without consequence inhibits the formation of any new associations with that stimulus. To the extent that LI reflects a process of learning to ignore irrelevant stimuli, disrupted LI has been suggested as an animal model for the attentional deficits observed in schizophrenia. The antipsychotic potential of cholecystokinin (CCK) stems from its colocalization with dopamine (DA) in the mesolimbic pathway, where it demonstrates both excitatory and inhibitory effects on dopaminergic activity. This may be explained by mediation through different receptor subtypes. A variety of hypotheses has emerged regarding the potential clinical application of subtype-selective CCK-based drugs. The present experiments examined the effects on LI of two selective CCKA ligands: PD-140,548 (a CCKA antagonist, Experiment 1: 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 mg/kg) and A-71623 (a CCKA agonist, Experiment 2: 0.02, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/kg). In both experiments, the effects of haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg) were also investigated. Animals receiving 0.1 mg/kg of haloperidol or 0.001 or 0.1 mg/kg (but not 0.01 mg/kg) of PD-140,548 treated the preexposed stimulus as irrelevant after a low number of preexposures. In contrast, no facilitatory effect on LI was detectable at any of the A-71623 doses. The finding that A-71623 failed to enhance LI indicates that it is unlikely that this compound would have any antipsychotic effect within the clinical setting. Considering the facilitatory effect exerted by PD-140,548 on LI, it is probable that the inhibition of CCK activity might prove a more promising strategy for the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia.

Aldosterone induces endothelial dysfunction in resistance arteries from normotensive and hypertensive rats by increasing thromboxane A(2) and prostacyclin

Background and purpose: The present study was designed to assess whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activation is involved in the effects of chronic aldosterone treatment on endothelial function of mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA) from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Experimental approach: Relaxation to acetylcholine was measured in MRA from both untreated and aldosterone-treated strains. Vasomotor responses to prostacyclin and U46619 were also analysed. Release of 6-oxo-prostaglandin (PG)F(1 alpha) and thromboxane B(2) (TxB(2)) was determined by enzyme immunoassay. COX-2 protein expression was measured by western blot. Key results: Aldosterone reduced acetylcholine relaxation in MRA from both strains. In MRA from both aldosterone-treated strains the COX-1/2 or COX-2 inhibitor (indomethacin and NS-398, respectively), Tx2 synthesis inhibitor (furegrelate), prostacyclin synthesis inhibitor (tranylcypromine) or Tx2/PG2 receptor antagonist (SQ 29 548), but not COX-1 inhibitor SC-560, increased acetylcholine relaxation. In untreated rats this response was increased only in SHR. Prostacyclin elicited a biphasic vasomotor response: lower concentrations elicited relaxation, whereas higher concentrations elicited contraction that was reduced by SQ 29 548. Aldosterone increased the acetylcholine-stimulated production of 6-oxo-PGF(1 alpha) and TxB(2) in MRA from both strains. COX-2 expression was higher in both strains of rats treated with aldosterone. Conclusions and implications: Chronic treatment with aldosterone impaired endothelial function in MRA under normotensive and hypertensive conditions by increasing COX-2-derived prostacyclin and thromboxane A(2). As endothelial dysfunction participates in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular disorders we hypothesize that anti-inflammatory drugs, specifically COX-2 inhibitors, could ameliorate vascular damage in patients with elevated aldosterone production.

Carga proviral do HTLV-1 e HTLV-2: um método simples através da PCR quantitativa em tempo real

Os vírus linfotrópicos de células T humanas, quando integrados ao genoma da célula hospedeira, provírus, têm como marcador de replicação seu DNA proviral. A carga proviral parece ser um importante fator no desenvolvimento de patologias associadas a estes retrovírus. Neste estudo foi desenvolvida uma metodologia para quantificação absoluta da carga proviral dos HTLV-1 e HTLV-2 através da PCR em tempo real. Cinqüenta e três amostras de doadores de sangue com teste de ELISA reagente foram submetidas à metodologia, que utilizou o sistema TaqMan® para três seqüências alvo: HTLV-1, HTLV-2 e albumina. A quantificação proviral absoluta foi determinada através da proporção relativa entre o genoma do HTLV e o genoma da célula hospedeira, levando em consideração o número de leucócitos. O método apresentado é sensível (215 cópias/mL), prático e simples para quantificação proviral, além de eficiente e adequado para confirmação e discriminação da infecção pelos tipos virais.

Perfil dos professores participantes da 2ª edição do curso de LIBRAS a distância: uma propsota de formação continuada no contexto educacional inclusivo

This research presents an analysis of the profile of participants in the second edition of the Extension Course “Libras by distance: a proposal for continuing education of teachers in inclusive educational settings”, funded by the Program for Continuing Education of Teachers in Special Education, the SEESP / MEC and the support of the UAB, whose goal was to promote a theoretical-practical-discourse on the importance of Libras in deaf education. The course was developed by the School of Philosophy and Science of UNESP / Marília, in distance mode. practicing teachers in public schools, linked to 19 Departments and / or Directors of Education in several regions of Brazil took the course. The information was collected from the questionnaire responses of the diagnostic evaluation performed in the pre-registration course. In general, the information was about place of residence, marital status, family constitution, educational training and professional experience in special education. We performed quantitative analysis and descriptive statistics on the data. The information presented refers to a summary of results for the total sample investigated. With the release of the profile of participants we expect to contribute towards the organization of new extension courses in the area of deafness, in distance mode, aimed at the in-service training of teachers with a view to Inclusive Education.

Na 50 Nachlass Arthur Schopenhauer - 'Schopenhauer-Archiv', 548 - Bitte um Weiterleitung des Briefes an Adele Schopenhauer

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Ms.Ff.F.Stoltze 3. 548 - Brief von Friedrich Stoltze an Unbekannt

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Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 548 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Leo Löwenthal und Herbert Marcuse (p. VI 19, 159-388)

107 Briefe zwischen Max Horkheimer und Leo Löwenthal; 10 Briefe von Max Horkheimer an Samuel H. Flowerman (Sandy); 1 Brief von Samuel H. Flowerman an Frederick Pollock, 26.03.1946; 2 Briefe von Max Horkheimer an Herbert Marcuse, 1946; 1 Brief von Leo Löwenthal an Reiwald, [Juli 1946]; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an John Slawson, [Juli 1946]; 1 Brief von dem American Jewish Committee an Leo Löwenthal, 20.06.1946; 1 Brief von dem Coulmbia University Bookstore (New York) an Leo Löwenthal, 18.06.1946; 1 Brief von Frank D. Fackenthal an Max Horkheimer, 14.06.1946;

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 579 - Korrespondenzen mit Friedrich (Frederick) Pollock (p. VI 33, 361-548)

3 Briefe zwischen Robert M. Mac Iver und Frederick Pollock, 1943; 1 Brief von dem Office of Strategic Services (Washington) an Frederick Pollock, 14.09.1943; 1 Brief von dem U. S. Government Printing Office (Washington) an Frederick Pollock, 01.09.1943; 1 Brief von Frederick Pollock an Franco Bruno Averardi, 19.07.1943; 1 Brief von Frederick Pollock an Leo Löwenthal, 15.07.1943; 1 Brief von Emil E. Mayer an F. Landauer, 28.05.1943; 2 Briefe zwischen Frederick Pollock und Erich Rosenberg, 1943; 1 Brief von Frederick Pollock an George Mintzer, 12.05.1943; 1 Brief von Iago Galdstone (Arzt) an Frederick Pollock, 10.05.1943; 1 Brief von Frederick Pollock an Theodor W. Adorno, 11.05.1943; 1 Brief von Frederick Pollock an den British Information Services (New York), 11.05.1943;