Pathophysiology of the Belgrade rat

The Belgrade rat is an animal model of divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) deficiency. This strain originates from an X-irradiation experiment first reported in 1966. Since then, the Belgrade rat’s pathophysiology has helped to reveal the importance of iron balance and the role of DMT1. This review discusses our current understanding of iron transport homeostasis and summarizes molecular details of DMT1 function. We describe how studies of the Belgrade rat have revealed key roles for DMT1 in iron distribution to red blood cells as well as duodenal iron absorption. The Belgrade rat’s pathology has extended our knowledge of hepatic iron handling, pulmonary and olfactory iron transport as well as brain iron uptake and renal iron handling. For example, relationships between iron and manganese metabolism have been discerned since both are essential metals transported by DMT1. Pathophysiologic features of the Belgrade rat provide us with a unique and interesting animal model to understand iron homeostasis

Size reduction of microstrip antenna by elevating centre of patch

A new structure of microstrip patch antenna with considerable reduction in its size and wide impedance bandwidth, with marginally degraded antenna performance, is proposed. These merits are obtained by elevating the centre of the radiating metallic patch, and thus increasing the electrical length of that patch more effectively. For the purpose of example, the proposed size-reduced antenna has been designed and tested at 3 GHz and 53% of size reduction is achieved compared with the conventional one. It showed the possibility that the non-planar antenna structure can provide new a design opportunity for compact devices.This work was supported by KOSEF under the ERC program through the MINT research centre at Dongguk University