A beam-forming network for a circular switched-beam phased array antenna

This paper reports on the design and development of a dividing/phasing network for a compact switched-beam array antenna for Land-vehicle mobile satellite communications, The device is formed by a switched radial divider/combiner and 1-bit phase shifters and generates a sufficient number of beams for the proper satellite tracking.

A Ku-band active transmit-array module with a horn or patch array as a signal launching/receiving device

This paper is concerned with the design of a Ku-band active transmit-array module of transistor amplifiers excited by either a pyramidal horn or a patch array Optimal distances between the active transmit array and the signal-launching:receiving device, which is either a passive corporate-fed array or a horn, are determined to maximise the power gain at a design frequency: Having established these conditions, the complete structure is investigated in terms of operational bandwidth and near-field and far-field distributions measured at the output side of the transmit array, The experimental results show that the use of a corporate-fed array as an illuminating/receiving device gives higher gain and significantly larger operational bandwidth, An explanation for this behavior is sought.

Mobile digital technology: Emerging issues for marketing

The growth of direct marketing has been attributed to rapid advances in technology and the changing market context. The fundamental ability of direct marketers to communicate with consumers and to elicit a response, combined with the ubiquitous nature and power of mobile digital technology, provides a synergy that will increase the potential for the success of direct marketing. The aim of this paper is to provide an analytical framework identifying the developments in the digital environment from e-marketing to m-marketing, and to alert direct marketers to the enhanced capabilities available to them.

Fatal monensin toxicity in a dog after chewing a bovine intra-ruminal slow-release device

A 20kg, 10-month-old male Kelpie developed a rapid onset of profound paresis progressing to flaccid paralysis and dyspnoea, followed by death about 36 hours after chewing on a partly discharged anti-bloat capsule from a dead cow. Intoxication by monensin in the capsule was considered the cause of death. No Lodes holocyclus were found on the dog. Evidence of muscle damage was seen in clinical biochemistry assays of plasma, but consent for necropsy was not obtained. The median lethal dose for Beagle dogs of the material contained in anti-bloat capsules is 0.5-1.0g. As this represents a serious toxicity risk if dogs chew these devises, the manufacturer includes a warning on potential dog toxicity in product literature.

Fluid-mobile trace element constraints on the role of slab melting and implications for Archaean crustal growth models

We use published and new trace element data to identify element ratios which discriminate between arc magmas from the supra-subduction zone mantle wedge and those formed by direct melting of subducted crust (i.e. adakites). The clearest distinction is obtained with those element ratios which are strongly fractionated during refertilisation of the depleted mantle wedge, ultimately reflecting slab dehydration. Hence, adakites have significantly lower Pb/Nd and B/Be but higher Nb/Ta than typical arc magmas and continental crust as a whole. Although Li and Be are also overenriched in continental crust, behaviour of Li/Yb and Be/Nd is more complex and these ratios do not provide unique signatures of slab melting. Archaean tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorites (TTGs) strongly resemble ordinary mantle wedge-derived arc magmas in terms of fluid-mobile trace element content, implying that they-did not form by slab melting but that they originated from mantle which was hydrated and enriched in elements lost from slabs during prograde dehydration. We suggest that Archaean TTGs formed by extensive fractional crystallisation from a mafic precursor. It is widely claimed that the time between the creation and subduction of oceanic lithosphere was significantly shorter in the Archaean (i.e. 20 Ma) than it is today. This difference was seen as an attractive explanation for the presumed preponderance of adakitic magmas during the first half of Earth's history. However, when we consider the effects of a higher potential mantle temperature on the thickness of oceanic crust, it follows that the mean age of oceanic lithosphere has remained virtually constant. Formation of adakites has therefore always depended on local plate geometry and not on potential mantle temperature.

In situ characterization of stickiness of sugar-rich foods using a linear actuator driven stickiness testing device

A stickiness testing device based on the probe tack test has been designed and tested. It was used to perform in situ characterization of drying hemispherical drops with an initial radius 3.5 mm. Tests were carried out in two drying temperatures, 63 and 95 degreesC. Moisture and temperature histories of the drying drops of fructose, honey, sucrose, maltodextrin and sucrose-maltodextrin mixtures were determined. The rates of moisture evaporation of the fructose solution was the fastest while those of the maltodextrin solution was the lowest. A profile reversal was observed when the temperature profiles of these materials were compared. Different modes of failure were observed during the stickiness tests. Pure fructose and honey solutions remained completely sticky and failed cohesively until the end of drying. Pure sucrose solution remained sticky and failed cohesively until complete crystallization occurred. The surface of the maltodextrin drops formed a skin shortly after the start of drying. It exhibited adhesive failure and reached a state of non-adhesion. Addition of maltodextrin significantly altered the stickiness of sucrose solution. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Programa de apoio ao desenvolvimento de novas empresas de base tecnol??gica agropecu??ria e ?? transfer??ncia de tecnologia (Proeta)

Em dezembro de 2001, o Proeta foi criado pela Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecu??ria (Embrapa) com apoio financeiro do Fundo Multilateral de Investimentos do Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (Fumin/BID), por meio de um acordo de coopera????o t??cnica n??o-reembols??vel. O programa tem o objetivo de contribuir para a transfer??ncia de tecnologias e conhecimentos gerados pela Embrapa para empreendimentos de base tecnol??gica, mediante a utiliza????o do processo de incuba????o de empresas. Para concretizar a iniciativa, foram estabelecidas experi??ncias-piloto em cinco unidades de pesquisa da Embrapa, estrategicamente situadas nas regi??es Nordeste, Centro-Oeste e Sudeste. Entre os resultados e avan??os obtidos merecem destaque 21 tecnologias disponibilizadas, 14 conv??nios firmados com incubadoras, 16 propostas de neg??cios apresentadas, 14 empresas pr??-selecionadas e incubadas, e uma empresa graduada. A consolida????o das alian??as e parcerias no processo de incuba????o resultou em um sistema de inova????o que auxilia o desenvolvimento sustent??vel da cadeia produtiva do agroneg??cio, gerando benef??cios para a sociedade em geral

Melhoria de gest??o com foco no trin??mio: pessoas, processos e tecnologia de informa????o

O trabalho iniciou-se em junho de 2005, na GMEFH1, cuja metodologia se pautava na revis??o dos processos de trabalho, levantados a partir de reuni??es semanais com um grupo representativo, na defini????o de pap??is e responsabilidades dos colaboradores da ??rea, no desenvolvimento de um sistema de informa????o que possibilitasse a consolida????o dos procedimentos e uniformiza????o de condutas e, por fim, no treinamento de uma pr??tica gestora, com estabelecimento de metas, registro e revis??o de procedimentos, bem como o monitoramento de prazos e resultados. O cen??rio anterior apresentava grande descontrole do fluxo do processo de trabalho, aus??ncia de padr??o nos procedimentos, n??mero desconhecido das peti????es sem an??lise (passivo), infraestrutura impr??pria, subjetividade na an??lise t??cnica, inexist??ncia de planejamento estrat??gico, entre outros. Ap??s a realiza????o do trabalho, foram observados os seguintes resultados: acr??scimo significativo da produtividade, apesar da redu????o do quadro-geral de pessoas (de 38 para 30) e do n??mero de t??cnicos (de 34 para 23) desempenhando a atividade-fim (an??lise 100 t??cnica para concess??o de registro de medicamentos); tratamento do passivo com redu????o de 89% das peti????es que iriam para a an??lise; grande diminui????o do tempo de resposta ao setor regulado; e padroniza????o nos procedimentos de an??lise t??cnica, trazendo uniformidade na conduta t??cnica, tema recorrentemente requisitado pelo setor regulado

Tecnologia da informa????o como suporte ?? gest??o em controle de infec????es hospitalares: impacto na qualidade assistencial

O controle de infec????es hospitalares (CIH) implica a????es complexas e multifacetadas, representando um observat??rio privilegiado das pr??ticas de gest??o. Relata-se aqui o desenvolvimento de ambiente de informa????es gerenciais no Hospital de Cl??nicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) e seu impacto na institui????o. A tecnologia da informa????o permitiu a cria????o de interface ??nica e a an??lise dos diferentes indicadores epidemiol??gicos de forma intuitiva. Foi desenvolvido um banco de dados orientados a assuntos que permitissem a vis??o multidimensional dos indicadores e a comparabilidade externa. Houve mudan??a no perfil de a????o dos profissionais de CIH n??o apenas pela redu????o do tempo e do trabalho gastos com a coleta exclusiva dos dados, mas principalmente pela interven????o direta nos processos assistenciais. Entre outros exemplos, houve redu????o nas taxas hiperend??micas de infec????o associadas ?? ventila????o mec??nica, com impacto sist??mico

An??lise da implementa????o do Programa Sistema Brasiliero de Tecnologia Sibratec Modalidade Extens??o Tecnol??gica

Este trabalho apresenta uma an??lise do processo de implementa????o do Programa Sistema Brasileiro de Tecnologia ??? SIBRATEC, programa do MCTI cujo objetivo geral ?? promover extens??o tecnol??gica para solucionar pequenos gargalos na gest??o tecnol??gica, adapta????o de produtos e processos e a melhoria da gest??o da produ????o das micro, pequenas e m??dias empresas, bem como desenvolver o fomento ?? expans??o do conhecimento cient??fico nas empresas.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o formato e a adequa????o dessa modalidade do programa a partir da contextualiza????o da implementa????o de pol??ticas que visam ao desenvolvimento da Ci??ncia Tecnologia e Inova????o ??? C T&I no Brasil, da caracteriza????o da pol??tica p??blica lan??adas e da coleta de dados, por meio de question??rio, sobre a percep????o dos coordenadores das redes apoiados pelo programa. A pesquisa permitiu concluir que o programa est?? alinhado ??s caracter??sticas da pol??tica atual de C T&I e que sua implementa????o ?? centrada na avalia????o ex-post. O programa foi considerado bastante adequado pelos coordenadores dos projetos de pesquisa apoiados. Em contrapartida, a continua????o do programa necessita de ajustes para que os objetivos previstos sejam alcan??ados em sua totalidade e a sistematiza????o da avalia????o do programa poder?? se constituir em uma ferramenta bastante ??til na gera????o dos subs??dios necess??rios para a tomada de decis??o sobre os novos rumos do Programa Sibratec