937 research outputs found

    Redundancy Strategies for a High Splitting Optically Amplified Passive Optical Network

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    Copyright IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.High splitting, optically amplified, passive optical networks (SuperPONs) are investigated in terms of redundancy provision and protection mechanisms. Options for redundancy, including the important special case of dual homing, are detailed, and it is determined as to which of these options (duplication of the feeder and first distribution section, and N+1 protection of the optical amplifiers in the amplified splitter) would be required to be provided to all attached users to facilitate appropriate availability of the basic telephony service. The distributed amplified splitter dual homing solution is found to outperform the single amplified splitter solution in terms of its survivability. The protection mechanisms necessary to automatically switch to the redundant provision are discussed and it is seen that with the aid of suitable regular precautionary procedures protection switching can generally be provided rapidly (<50 ms). Finally, an availability, and cost versus availability, study confirms the aforementioned redundancy assessment for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) implementations, but shows fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) as needing additional redundancyPeer reviewe

    Inhibition of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase by a Mustard Gas Analog in Murine Macrophages

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    Background: 2-Chloroethyl ethyl sulphide (CEES) is a sulphur vesicating agent and an analogue of the chemical warfare agent 2,2â€Č-dichlorodiethyl sulphide, or sulphur mustard gas (HD). Both CEES and HD are alkylating agents that influence cellular thiols and are highly toxic. In a previous publication, we reported that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhances the cytotoxicity of CEES in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. In the present investigation, we studied the influence of CEES on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells since NO signalling affects inflammation, cell death, and wound healing. Murine macrophages stimulated with LPS produce NO almost exclusively via inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity. We suggest that the influence of CEES or HD on the cellular production of NO could play an important role in the pathophysiological responses of tissues to these toxicants. In particular, it is known that macrophage generated NO synthesised by iNOS plays a critical role in wound healing. Results: We initially confirmed that in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages NO is exclusively generated by the iNOS form of nitric oxide synthase. CEES treatment inhibited the synthesis of NO (after 24 hours) in viable LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages as measured by either nitrite secretion into the culture medium or the intracellular conversion of 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2DA) or dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). Western blots showed that CEES transiently decreased the expression of iNOS protein; however, treatment of active iNOS with CEES in vitro did not inhibit its enzymatic activity. Conclusion: CEES inhibits NO production in LPS stimulated macrophages by decreasing iNOS protein expression. Decreased iNOS expression is likely the result of CEES induced alteration in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-ÎșB) signalling pathway. Since NO can act as an antioxidant, the CEES induced down-regulation of iNOS in LPS-stimulated macrophages could elevate oxidative stress. Since macrophage generated NO is known to play a key role in cutaneous wound healing, it is possible that this work has physiological relevance with respect to the healing of HD induced skin blisters

    Inhibition of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase by a mustard gas analog in murine macrophages

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    BACKGROUND: 2-Chloroethyl ethyl sulphide (CEES) is a sulphur vesicating agent and an analogue of the chemical warfare agent 2,2'-dichlorodiethyl sulphide, or sulphur mustard gas (HD). Both CEES and HD are alkylating agents that influence cellular thiols and are highly toxic. In a previous publication, we reported that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhances the cytotoxicity of CEES in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. In the present investigation, we studied the influence of CEES on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells since NO signalling affects inflammation, cell death, and wound healing. Murine macrophages stimulated with LPS produce NO almost exclusively via inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity. We suggest that the influence of CEES or HD on the cellular production of NO could play an important role in the pathophysiological responses of tissues to these toxicants. In particular, it is known that macrophage generated NO synthesised by iNOS plays a critical role in wound healing. RESULTS: We initially confirmed that in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages NO is exclusively generated by the iNOS form of nitric oxide synthase. CEES treatment inhibited the synthesis of NO (after 24 hours) in viable LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages as measured by either nitrite secretion into the culture medium or the intracellular conversion of 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2DA) or dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). Western blots showed that CEES transiently decreased the expression of iNOS protein; however, treatment of active iNOS with CEES in vitro did not inhibit its enzymatic activity CONCLUSION: CEES inhibits NO production in LPS stimulated macrophages by decreasing iNOS protein expression. Decreased iNOS expression is likely the result of CEES induced alteration in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-ÎșB) signalling pathway. Since NO can act as an antioxidant, the CEES induced down-regulation of iNOS in LPS-stimulated macrophages could elevate oxidative stress. Since macrophage generated NO is known to play a key role in cutaneous wound healing, it is possible that this work has physiological relevance with respect to the healing of HD induced skin blisters

    Enhanced adhesion from high energy ion irradiation

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    We have found that irradiation of a variety of thin film-substrate combinations by heavy ion beams at energies of mega-electronvolts per atomic mass unit will produce a remarkable enhancement in the adherence of the film. For example, gold films can be firmly attached to soft materials such as Teflon using a 1 MeV beam of protons (10^(14) cm^(−2)) or helium ions (10^(13) cm^(−2)) and to harder materials such as silicon (10^(15) cm^(−2)), quartz (2 × 10^(15) cm^(−2)) and tungsten (2 × 10^(14) cm^(−2)) with 0.5 MeV a.m.u.^(−1) beams of fluorine or chlorine ions. In the case of metal films on semiconductors a low resistance contact results. The mixed layer at the interface is observed to be quite thin (approximately 50 Å or less); for silver on silicon electron diffraction and imaging studies of the interface region reveal the presence of crystalline silver compounds

    Innovating Management Control by Dynamic Analysis of Pareto in a Hotel Business

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    This paper deals with the Pareto Analysis of problems observed and criticized by clients in a hotel establishment in the municipality of Porto Velho, capital of the State of Rondocirc;nia. The general objective of the research is to study the use of Pareto Analysis in these problems that annoy the clients; (1), to group the data in descending order of frequency and to calculate the cumulative values (2), and indicating innovation for managerial control through a tool for Pareto Analysis in a dynamical way (3). The methodology of the qualitative-quantitative approach, of an exploratory nature, is adopted; the bibliographic survey and the field research are applied in support of the case study. Through the database system that the company under study possesses, the data necessary to be used in the Pareto Analysis are obtained, completing the first specific objective; the grouping of these data in descending order of absolute frequency, the calculation of the cumulative values, the preparation of the Pareto Diagram and the analysis carried out successfully completed the second specific objective; and finally the study is finished with the creation of a tool that allows a more dynamic analysis of the scenario in which the company is inserted, as a proposal of innovation for the institution to perform its practical and dynamic analyzes, useful in decision making. This study is a contribution of the academy to managers who work with complex decisions in hotel or related establishments interested in customer satisfaction

    Effect of Iodine Doping on Bi2_{2}Sr2_{2}Ca1_{1}Cu2_{2}Ox_{x}: Charge Transfer or Interlayer Coupling?

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    A comparative study has been made of iodine-intercalated Bi2_{2}Sr2_{2}Ca1_{1}Cu2_{2}Ox_{x} single crystal and 1 atm O2_{2} annealed Bi2_{2}Sr2_{2}Ca1_{1}Cu1_{1}Ox_{x} single crystal using AC susceptibility measurement, X-ray photoemission (XPS) and angle-resolved ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (ARUPS). AC susceptibility measurement indicates that O2_{2}-doped samples studied have Tc_{c} of 84 o^{o}K, whereas Tc_{c} of Iodine-doped samples studied are 80 o^{o}K. XPS Cu 2p core level data establish that the hole concentration in the CuO2_{2} planes are essentially the same for these two kinds of samples. ARUPS measurements show that electronic structure of the normal states near the Fermi level has been strongly affected by iodine intercalation. We conclude that the dominant effect of iodine doping is to alter the interlayer coupling.Comment: LBL 9 pages, APS_Revtex. 5 Figures, available upon request. UW-Madison preprin

    Thermodynamics of the incommensurate state in Rb_2WO_4: on the Lifshitz point in A`A``BX_4 compounds

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    We consider the evolution of the phase transition from the parent hexagonal phase P63/mmcP6_{3}/mmc to the orthorhombic phase PmcnPmcn that occurs in several compounds of Aâ€ČAâ€Čâ€ČBX4A'A''BX_{4} family as a function of the hcp lattice parameter c/ac/a. For compounds of K2SO4K_{2}SO_{4} type with c/ac/a larger than the threshold value 1.26 the direct first-order transition Pmcn−P63/mmcPmcn-P6_{3}/mmc is characterized by the large entropy jump Rln2Rln2. For compounds Rb2WO4Rb_{2}WO_{4}, K2MoO4K_{2}MoO_{4}, K2WO4K_{2}WO_{4} with c/a<1.26c/a<1.26 this transition occurs via an intermediate incommensurate (Inc)(Inc) phase. DSC measurements were performed in Rb2WO4Rb_{2}WO_{4} to characterize the thermodynamics of the Pmcn−Inc−P63/mmcPmcn-Inc-P6_{3}/mmc transitions. It was found that both transitions are again of the first order with entropy jumps 0.2Rln2and0.2Rln2 and 0.3Rln2.Therefore,at. Therefore, at c/a ~ 1.26the the A'A''BX_{4}compoundsrevealanunusualLifshitzpointwherethreefirstordertransitionlinesmeet.Weproposethecouplingofcrystalelasticitywith compounds reveal an unusual Lifshitz point where three first order transition lines meet. We propose the coupling of crystal elasticity with BX_{4}$ tetrahedra orientation as a possible source of the transitions discontinuity.Comment: 13 pages,1 Postscript figure. Submitted as Brief Report to Phys. Rev. B, this paper reports a new work in Theory and Experiment, directed to Structural Phase Transition

    Quasiparticle excitation in and around the vortex core of underdoped YBa_2Cu_4O_8 studied by site-selective NMR

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    We report a site-selective ^{17}O spin-lattice relaxation rate T_1^{-1} in the vortex state of underdoped YBa_2Cu_4O_8. We found that T_1^{-1} at the planar sites exhibits an unusual nonmonotonic NMR frequency dependence. In the region well outside the vortex core, T_1^{-1} cannot be simply explained by the density of states of the Doppler-shifted quasiparticles in the d-wave superconductor. Based on T_1^{-1} in the vortex core region, we establish strong evidence that the local density of states within the vortex core is strongly reduced.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

    Generational Differences and Determinants of Purchase Behavior towards Sustainable Clothing in a Developing Economy

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    The fashion industry contributes significant plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions globally. One approach to minimize the industry’s environmental impact is through a shift to sustainable clothing. This study determined the predictors of purchase behavior towards sustainable clothing in a developing economy, which is the Philippines. Furthermore, this paper compared Filipinos from Generations X and Z. Results of a multiple regression analysis from a sample of 212 participants in an online survey showed that generation and environmental knowledge predicted the purchase of sustainable clothing. Moreover, Gen Z scored higher in environmental knowledge and purchase of sustainable clothing. The findings provide insights on increasing the usage of sustainable clothing, which can significantly reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry

    Methods for Compression of Feedback in Adaptive Multicarrier 4G Schemes

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    In this paper, several algorithms for compressing the feedback of channel quality information are presented and analyzed. These algorithms are developed for a proposed adaptive modulation scheme for future multi-carrier 4G mobile systems. These strategies compress the feedback data and, used together with opportunistic scheduling, drastically reduce the feedback data rate. Thus the adaptive modulation schemes become more suitable and efficient to be implemented in future mobile systems, increasing data throughput and overall system performance.This work has been partly funded by the Spanish government with projects MACAWI (TEC 2005-07477-c02-02), MAMBO2 (CCG06-UC3M-TIC-0698), and European COST Action 289 and is a result of work done within this European actio
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