L-band briefcase terminal network operation

During 1989, SkyWave Electronics Ltd. developed a lightweight battery powered, L Band Briefcase Satellite Terminal (LBT) which is capable of providing truly portable voice and data communications on a global scale. The LBT is designed to operate through Inmarsat's Atlantic Region Satellite MARECSB-2, and Teleglobe Canada's 18 meter Laurentides Earth Station. A small operating network, consisting of up to 20 mobile terminals and homing on the Laurentides Earth Station, was set up in the spring of 1990 to provide commercial service to LBT users, both domestic and international. This paper describes the LBT and the operation of the network

Dirty Recycling: Auto Salvage and Its Potential Impacts on Marginalized Populations

The salvage yard represents the final waypoint in the cradle-to-grave cycle of the automobile. Residual amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and acids used in automobiles can be extremely harmful to human health and the environment if not managed correctly. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which minority populations were exposed to the hazards of the auto salvage industry. Census data for population, income, race/ethnicity, sex, and age were organized using ArcGIS software. Population demographics were analyzed in the areas surrounding 98 auto salvage yards found in Philadelphia and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia County, the results showed that low-income minorities, females, and 65+ individuals are over represented groups near auto salvage yards. Conversely, Adams County showed few spatial relationships in demographic distribution. Our findings suggest that in urban counties, such as Philadelphia, depressed property values have resulted in a large percentage of below average income minorities inhabiting areas in close proximity to auto salvage yards. On the other hand, auto salvage yards in rural areas, such as Adams County, do not appear to have the same effect because population density and racial diversity are much lower

The Identification of Notch1 Functional Domains Responsible for its Physical Interaction with PKCθ

The adaptive immune system is a complex network of cells that protect the body from invasion by foreign pathogens. Crucial to the function of the adaptive immune system is the activation, proliferation and differentiation of T cells in response to foreign pathogen presentation by antigen presenting cells. T cell activation is driven through different signaling pathways that are dependent on phosphorylation of substrates by kinases. In the PLC pathway that activates the il2 gene program, Protein Kinase C-q (PKCq) and Notch1 localize to the immunological synapse and help drive the signaling cascade that leads to robust T cell activation. It has been previously shown that PKCq and Notch1, both interact with the CBM complex at the immunological synapse. Additionally, PKCq and Notch1 both have specific cytoplasmic and nuclear functions that help drive the il2 gene program. Here, we demonstrate the localization of PKCq and Notch1 constructs transfected into HEK 293 cells. The use of deletion constructs of Notch1 was intended to inform us of what functional domain of Notch1 was responsible for the interaction with PKCq, however no direct interaction was demonstrated with the PKCq and Notch1 constructs used in these experiments. We hypothesize that this is likely due to the inactive form of PKCq found in our construct, or a result of the cell type used in these experiments

From commercialising intellectual property to facilitating open innovation: the evolution of UK biotechnology incubators

This paper investigates the changing landscape of biotechnology incubators in the UK and evidences their evolution from 1999 to 2017. We highlight the changing policy environment for biotechnology incubators and begin to investigate the evolution of UK biotechnology incubators from facilities that primarily support the commercialisation of intellectual property derived from universities to facilities that reuse former pharmaceutical research and development laboratories and collocate with operational pharmaceutical companies. This study uses two desk-based surveys that provide snap-shots of 21 biotechnology incubators taken in December 2012 and December 2017. The surveys provide a detailed examination of the characteristics of UK biotechnology incubators and their tenant companies. We observe the appearance of biotechnology incubators with an economic regeneration remit, funded by and working in partnership with regional government (BioPark Hertfordshire & BioCity Nottingham). We also observe the appearance of corporate biotechnology incubators (Akcomak, 2009) co-located on operational pharmaceutical research and development sites with an open innovation remit e.g. Astra Zeneca (Manchester), GlaxoSmithKline (Stevenage) and Boots (Nottingham). We propose that regional and national policy initiatives and changes in the business model of large pharmaceutical companies have been the main drivers for the evolution of biotechnology incubators in the UK

Surface electrical properties experiment, part 1

The work is reported which was performed on the Surface Electrical Properties Experiment Data Acquisition System. Areas discussed include: data handling and processing, installation and external signal application, operation of the equipment, and digital output. Detailed circuit descriptions are included

Developing adaptive capability: the case of Nottingham’s nascent biotechnology sector

A region’s adaptive capability describes its ability to respond positively to changes and shocks that affect the regional economy over time and take advantage of new and emerging market opportunities from wherever they arise. Central to this idea is the manner in which historic economic strengths or capabilities can be turned to new purposes. This paper provides a case study that uses the concept of adaptive capability as a lens through which to explore the emergence of a notable bioscience based industrial cluster in a city region of the UK and the part that it played in helping to restructure the economic base of the city. The local economy of Nottingham faced major structural changes in the late 1990s. These changes saw not only the demise of what had at one time been a key industrial sector, but also the departure of two of the city’s three principal employers, and the closure of a major research facility owned by a third. The case explores the manner in which capabilities linked to this constellation of firms were redeployed in order to take advantage of new market opportunities. The case places particular emphasis on the contribution of firms, the restructuring of industry sectors and institutional changes that occurred at this time, to the city’s adaptive capability. In the process the case study reveals a notable example of adaptation as the local economy moved away from a previous path of regional and sectoral development, towards a new and yet related trajectory. Central to this process was the purposive re-tasking of physical assets and the mobilization of knowledge assets that were the legacy of one of the city’s historic industrial strengths. The paper concludes with a brief consideration of the wider relevance and applicability of this model of bioscience based regional development