Identification of the genomic mutation in Epha4rb-2J/rb-2J mice

The EphA4 receptor tyrosine kinase is involved in numerous cell-signalling activities during embryonic development. EphA4 has the ability to bind to both types of ephrin ligands, the ephrinAs and ephrinBs. The C57BL/6J-Epha4rb-2J/GrsrJ strain, denoted Epha4rb-2J/rb-2J, is a spontaneous mouse mutant that arose at The Jackson Laboratory. These mutants exhibited a synchronous hind limb locomotion defect or “hopping gait” phenotype, which is also characteristic of EphA4 null mice. Genetic complementation experiments suggested that Epha4rb-2J corresponds to an allele of EphA4, but details of the genomic defect in this mouse mutant are currently unavailable. We found a single base-pair deletion in exon 9 resulting in a frame shift mutation that subsequently resulted in a premature stop codon. Analysis of the predicted structure of the truncated protein suggests that both the kinase and sterile α motif (SAM) domains are absent. Definitive determination of genotype is needed for experimental studies of mice carrying the Epha4rb-2J allele, and we have also developed a method to ease detection of the mutation through RFLP. Eph-ephrin family members are reportedly expressed as numerous isoforms. Hence, delineation of the specific mutation in EphA4 in this strain is important for further functional studies, such as protein–protein interactions, immunostaining and gene compensatory studies, investigating the mechanism underlying the effects of altered function of Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases on phenotype

Statistical Analysis of Rain at Millimeter Waves in Tropical Area

The high frequencies of millimeter wave (mm-wave) bands have been recognized for the fifth generation (5G) and beyond wireless communication networks. However, the radio propagation channel at high frequencies can be largely influenced by rain attenuation, especially in tropical regions with high rainfall intensity. In this paper, we present the results of rainfall intensity and rain attenuation in tropical regions based on one-year measurement campaign. The measurements were conducted from September 2018 until September 2019 at 21.8 GHz (K-band) and 73.5 GHz (E-band) in Malaysia. The rainfall intensity was collected using three rain gauges installed along a 1.8 km link. The rain attenuation is computed from the difference between the measured minimum received signal level (RSL) during clear sky and rain conditions. The measured rain rate and rain attenuation distributions are then analysed and benchmarked with several previous measurements and well-known prediction models such as the ITU-R P. 530-17. The rainfall rate results showed that the best agreement between the measured rainfall rate in Malaysia and the ITU-R PN.837-1 prediction value for Zone P is up to 0.01% of time (99.99% of time agrees well and only disagrees for 0.01% of time). For the E-band, the maximum measured rain attenuation exceeding 0.03% of the year is around 40.1 and 20 dB for 1.8 and 0.3 km links, respectively, at the maximum rain rate of 108 mm/h. For the K-band, the maximum rain attenuation exceeding 0.01% of the year is around 31 dB for the 1.8 km link. Finally, the rain rates exceeding 108 and 180 mm/h at 73.5 and 21.8 GHz, respectively, along the 1.8 km path caused an outage on our measurement setup. The rain rate of 193 mm/h and above caused an outage for the 0.3 km E-band link. The experimental data as well as the presented data analysis can be utilized for efficient planning and deployments of mm-wave wireless communication systems in tropical regions

Rain Attenuation Measurements and Analysis at 73 GHz E-Band Link in Tropical Region

This letter presents the rainfall intensity and rain attenuation analysis in tropical region based on a one-year measurement using the 73.5 GHz E-band link of 1.8 km with three rain gauges installed along the path. The measured rain rate and rain attenuation were analysed and bench-marked with previous measurements and prediction models. The findings from this work showed that Malaysia agrees with the ITU-R rain prediction model of Zone P by 99.99% of time. The maximum measured rain attenuation exceeding 0.03% of the year is around 40.1 dB at the maximum rain rate of 108 mm/h

A Blueprint for an Integrated Project Based Learning Framework in Engineering Education:A Case Study at Taylor’s University

As a means to produce highly sought after graduates, education institutions are now turning to Project-Based Learning (PjBL). The road to a successful implementation of PjBL at the institutional level is lined with challenges and has deterred many. One of the major challenges is the number of projects needed to sustain such an implementation. As a means to overcome this, an integrated PjBL framework is proposed. It is observed that this framework makes it very obvious to staff working on a research project that they could leverage on students in the various design modules by carving out different aspects of their research projects into smaller projects that could be offered as student projects. In doing so, staff research workload and the need to develop projects to support PjBL are no longer seen as separate workload but are synergistic