Effect of unequal power allocation in turbo coded multi-route multi-hop networks, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2006, nr 1

Multi-hop ad hoc networks are promising candidates for next generation mobile communications. They have sufficient channel capacity to achieve high data rate transmission for large number of users. One advantage of multi-hop networks is to realize multi-route transmissions. Since information bit streams can be transmitted over multiple routes, we can obtain route diversity effect. In order to enhance the route diversity effect, we usually introduce forward error correction schemes. Turbo coding is one of suitable coding methods for multi-hop networks. The turbo encoder generates one message stream and two parity streams whilst the message stream is more important than the parity streams for achieving reliable communications. Thus an unequal power allocation to the message and parity streams could be effective in improving the performance. In this paper, the effect of unequal power allocation for turbo coded multi-hop networks is investigated. Assuming the channel as additive white Gaussian and binary symmetric, we will show considerable performance improvement by unequal power allocation in terms of the bit error rate performance in multi-route multi-hop networks

Two UV-Sensitive Photoreceptor Proteins, Opn5m and Opn5m2 in Ray-Finned Fish with Distinct Molecular Properties and Broad Distribution in the Retina and Brain

Opn5 is a group within the opsin family of proteins that is responsible for visual and non-visual photoreception in animals. It consists of several subgroups, including Opn5m, the only subgroup containing members found in most vertebrates, including mammals. In addition, recent genomic information has revealed that some ray-finned fishes carry paralogous genes of Opn5m while other fishes have no such genes. Here, we report the molecular properties of the opsin now called Opn5m2 and its distributions in both the retina and brain. Like Opn5m, Opn5m2 exhibits UV light-sensitivity when binding to 11-cis-retinal and forms a stable active state that couples with Gi subtype of G protein. However, Opn5m2 does not bind all-trans-retinal and exhibits exclusive binding to 11-cis-retinal, whereas many bistable opsins, including fish Opn5m, can bind directly to all-trans-retinal as well as 11-cis-retinal. Because medaka fish has lost the Opn5m2 gene from its genome, we compared the tissue distribution patterns of Opn5m in medaka fish, zebrafish, and spotted gar, in addition to the distribution patterns of Opn5m2 in zebrafish and spotted gar. Opn5m expression levels showed a gradient along the dorsal–ventral axis of the retina, and preferential expression was observed in the ventral retina in the three fishes. The levels of Opn5m2 showed a similar gradient with preferential expression observed in the dorsal retina. Opn5m expression was relatively abundant in the inner region of the inner nuclear layer, while Opn5m2 was expressed in the outer edge of the inner nuclear layer. Additionally, we could detect Opn5m expression in several brain regions, including the hypothalamus, of these fish species. Opn5m2 expression could not be detected in zebrafish brain, but was clearly observed in limited brain regions of spotted gar. These results suggest that ray-finned fishes can generally utilize UV light information for non-image-forming photoreception in a wide range of cells in the retina and brain

Decreased AdipoR1 signaling and its implications for obesity-induced male infertility

Abstract Obesity is among the risk factors for male infertility. Although several mechanisms underlying obesity-induced male subfertility have been reported, the entire mechanism of obesity-induced male infertility still remains unclear. Here, we show that sperm count, sperm motility and sperm fertilizing ability were decreased in male mice fed a high-fat diet and that the expression of the AdipoR1 gene and protein was decreased, and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes and protein increased, in the testis from mice fed a high-fat diet. Moreover, we demonstrate that testes weight, sperm count, sperm motility and sperm fertilizing ability were significantly decreased in AdipoR1 knockout mice compared to those in wild-type mice; furthermore, the phosphorylation of AMPK was decreased, and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes and proteins, caspase-6 activity and pathologically apoptotic seminiferous tubules were increased, in the testis from AdipoR1 knockout mice. Furthermore, study findings show that orally administrated AdipoRon decreased caspase-6 activity and apoptotic seminiferous tubules in the testis, thus ameliorating sperm motility in male mice fed a high-fat diet. This was the first study to demonstrate that decreased AdipoR1/AMPK signaling led to increased caspase-6 activity/increased apoptosis in the testis thus likely accounting for male infertility

Recent Progress on DNA ToF Backscattering Spectrometer in MLF, J-PARC

DNA is a time-of-flight backscattering neutron spectrometer installed at the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility in J-PARC. After opening user program, we have been developing and upgrading DNA. The energy resolution is improved and achieved the designed value of 1.4 μeV by renewing the disks of the pulse shaping chopper that can rotate at max 300 Hz instead of 225 Hz of the previous disks. The installation of Si311 analyser mirrors has been almost accomplished, which extends momentum transfer region up to 3.7 Å-1. We demonstrate the effect of this extension by measuring and analysing methyl rotation dynamics in solid toluene at 10 K and 40 K. We also report variety of sample environment available at DNA and their remote handling

Cryomodule tests of four Tesla-like cavities in the Superconducting RF Test Facility at KEK

A 6-m cryomodule including four Tesla-like cavities was developed, and was tested in the Superconducting RF Test Facility phase-I at KEK. The performance as a total superconducting cavity system was checked in the cryomodule tests at 2 K with high rf power. One of the four cavities achieved a stable pulsed operation at 32  MV/m, which is higher than the operating accelerating gradient in the ILC. The maximum accelerating gradient (E_{acc,max⁡}) obtained in the vertical cw tests was maintained or slightly improved in the cryomodule tests operating in a pulse mode. Compensation of the Lorentz force detuning at 31  MV/m was successfully demonstrated by a piezo tuner and predetuning