An ohmic RF MEMS switch for reconfigurable microstrip array antennas built on PCB

This paper presents the analysis, design and simulation of an ohmic RF MEMS switch specified for reconfigurable microstrip array antennas built on PCB via an integrated monolithic technology. The proposed switch will be used to allow antenna beamforming in the operating frequency range between 2.4GHz and 4GHz. This application requires a great number of these switches to be integrated with an array of microstrip patch elements. The proposed switch exhibits outstanding switching characteristics, following a relatively simple design, which ensures reliability, robustness and high fabrication yield

On the design of an Ohmic RF MEMS switch for reconfigurable microstrip antenna applications

This paper presents the analysis, design and simulation of a direct contact (dc) RF MEMS switch specified for reconfigurable microstrip array antennas. The proposed switch is indented to be built on PCB via a monolithic technology together with the antenna patches. The proposed switch will be used to allow antenna beamforming in the operating frequency range between 2GHz and 4GHz. This application requires a great number of these switches to be integrated with an array of microstrip patch elements. The proposed switch fulfills the switching characteristics as concerns the five requirements (loss, linearity, voltage/power handling, small size/power consumption, temperature), following a relatively simple design, which ensures reliability, robustness and high fabrication yiel

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid on myogenic and inflammatory responses in a human primary muscle and tumor coculture model

The antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) make it a potentially novel treatment in chronic inflammatory muscle wasting disease, particularly cancer cachexia. Human primary muscle cells were grown in coculture with MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic tumor cells and exposed to varying concentrations of c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA. Expression of myogenic (Myf5, MyoD, myogenin, and myostatin) and inflammatory genes (CCL-2, COX-2, IL-8, and TNF-) were measured by real-time PCR. The t10,c12 CLA isomer, but not the c9,t11 isomer, significantly decreased MIA PaCa-2 proliferation by between 15% and 19%. There was a marked decrease in muscle MyoD and myogenin expression (78% and 62%, respectively), but no change in either Myf5 or myostatin, in myotubes grown in coculture with MIA PaCa-2 cells. CLA had limited influence on these responses. A similar pattern of myogenic gene expression changes was observed in myotubes treated with TNF- alone. Several-fold significant increases in CCL-2, COX-2, IL-8, and TNF- expression in myotubes were observed with MIA PaCa-2 coculture. The c9,t11 CLA isomer significantly decreased basal expression of TNF- in myotubes and could ameliorate its tumor-induced rise. The study provides insight into the anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative actions of CLA and its application as a therapeutic agent in inflammatory disease states.<br /

Organic farming as a rational choice: Empirical investigations in environmental decision making

Based on a postal survey of farmers conducted in 2004 in Western Germany (n = 657), a rational choice model of the adoption of organic farming is tested. Using methods of direct utility measurement, rational choice (RC) theory is applied directly in the empirical study. By that, questionable assumptions on the variability of preferences and the type of preferences to use in RC explanations can be avoided. The results indicate that the subjectively expected utility model is well suited to explain the adoption of organic farming. Expectations on the development of operational characteristics of the farm and farmers’ daily work are at the core of the decision. Farmers especially consider aspects like pest and weed control, the development of yields or the use of chemical substances. While solely economic factors like prices and marketing are also important, these are subordinate to operational aspects. In addition, a moderate impact of environmental concern regarding the adoption of organic farming is observed. (author's abstract

Alphaherpesvirus Proteins Related to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 ICP0 Affect Cellular Structures and Proteins

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early protein ICP0 interacts with several cellular proteins and induces the proteasome-dependent degradation of others during infection. In this study we show that ICP0 is required for the proteasome-dependent degradation of the ND10 protein Sp100 and, as with the other target proteins, the ICP0 RING finger domain is essential. Further, comparison of the kinetics and ICP0 domain requirements for the degradation of PMI and Sp100 suggests that a common mechanism is involved. Homologues of ICP0 are encoded by other members of the alphaherpesvirus family. These proteins show strong sequence homology to ICP0 within the RING finger domain but limited similarity elsewhere. Using transfection assays, we have shown that all the ICP0 homologues that we tested have significant effects on the immunofluorescence staining character of at least one of the proteins destabilized by ICP0, and by using a recombinant virus, we found that the equine herpesvirus ICP0 homologue induced the proteasome-dependent degradation of endogenous CENP-C and modified forms of PML and Sp100. However, in contrast to ICP0, the homologue proteins had no effect on the distribution of the ubiquitin-specific protease USP7 within the cell, consistent with their lack of a USP7 binding domain. We also found that ICP0 by itself could induce the abrogation of SUMO-1 conjugation and then the proteasome-dependent degradation of unmodified exogenous PML in transfected cells, thus demonstrating that other HSV-1 proteins are not required. Surprisingly, the ICP0 homologues were unable to cause these effects. Overall, these data suggest that the members of the ICP0 family of proteins may act via a similar mechanism or pathway involving their RING finger domain but that their intrinsic activities and effects on endogenous and exogenous proteins differ in detail