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Conventional Counterparts (conventional + counterpart)
Selected AbstractsDesign of miniature wideband interdigital filtersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RF AND MICROWAVE COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2007Neil Thomson Abstract In this paper a practical design procedure is suggested for designing wideband miniature interdigital filters. The proposed design approach is based on a concept of parameter mapping between two wideband filters, i.e. a conventional interdigital filter with uniform impedance resonators (UIR) and a desired miniature interdigital filter using stepped impedance resonators (SIR), allowing filter designers to deploy traditional designs with powerful electromagnetic (EM) simulators. For demonstration, a five-pole SIR interdigital filter with a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 25% has been designed, fabricated, and tested. The demonstrator shows an excellent performance, which matches well to that of its conventional counterpart so as to validate the proposed design procedure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2007. [source] Internal model control design for transition controlAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2000Min-Sen Chiu The problem of controlling processes with a wide range of operating conditions is addressed. The process dynamics is represented by the weighted-sum of the linear model by using model validity functions. By treating the validity functions as uncertainties in the system, an internal model control (IMC) design strategy is developed for a particular class of nonlinear systems. Robust stability analysis under mixed time-varying and time-invariant uncertainties is presented. Simulation results confirm that the proposed IMC design method is indeed superior to its conventional counterpart. [source] Evaluation of a Non-Targeted "Omic" Approach in the Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified PlantsPLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006S. B. Metzdorff Abstract: Genetically modified plants must be approved before release in the European Union, and the approval is generally based upon a comparison of various characteristics between the transgenic plant and a conventional counterpart. As a case study, focusing on safety assessment of genetically modified plants, we here report the development and characterisation of six independently transformed Arabidopsis thaliana lines modified in the flavonoid biosynthesis. Analyses of integration events and comparative analysis for characterisation of the intended effects were performed by PCR, quantitative Real-time PCR, and High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Analysis by cDNA microarray was used as a non-targeted approach for the identification of potential unintended effects caused by the transformation. The results revealed that, although the transgenic lines possessed different types of integration events, no unintended effects were identified. However, we found that the majority of genes showing differential expression were identified as stress-related genes and that environmental conditions had a large impact on the expression of several genes, proteins, and metabolites. We suggest that the microarray approach has the potential to become a useful tool for screening of unintended effects, but state that it is crucial to have substantial information on the natural variation in traditional crops in order to be able to interpret "omics" data correctly within the framework of food safety assessment strategies of novel plant varieties, including genetically modified plant varieties. [source] Novel tumor necrosis factor-knockout mice that lack Peyer's patchesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2005Dmitry Abstract We generated a novel tumor necrosis factor (TNF) null mutation using Cre-loxP technology. Mice homozygous for this mutation differ from their "conventional" counterparts; in particular, they completely lack Peyer's patches (PP) but retain all lymph nodes. Our analysis of these novel TNF-knockout mice supports the previously disputed notion of the involvement of TNF-TNFR1 signaling in PP organogenesis. Availability of TNF-knockout strains both with and without PP enables more definitive studies concerning the roles of TNF and PP in various immune functions and disease conditions. Here, we report that systemic ablation of TNF, but not the presence of PP per se, is critical for protection against intestinal Listeria infection in mice. [source] One-Dimensional Conducting Polymer Nanostructures: Bulk Synthesis and ApplicationsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 14-15 2009Henry D. Tran Abstract This Progress Report provides a brief overview of current research activities in the field of one-dimensional (1D) conducting polymer nanostructures. The synthesis, properties, and applications of these materials are outlined with a strong emphasis on recent literature examples. Chemical methods that can produce 1D nanostructures in bulk quantities are discussed in the context of two different strategies: 1) procedures that rely on a nanoscale template or additive not inherent to the polymer and 2) those that do not. The different sub-classifications of these two strategies are delineated and the virtues and vices of each area are discussed. Following this discussion is an outline of the properties and applications of 1D conducting polymer nanostructures. This section focuses on applications in which nanostructured conducting polymers are clearly advantageous over their conventional counterparts. We conclude with our perspective on the main challenges and future research directions for this new class of nanomaterials. This Progress Report is not intended as a comprehensive review of the field, but rather a summary of select contributions that we feel will provide the reader with a strong basis for further investigation into this fast emerging field. [source] Plant diversity and land use under organic and conventional agriculture: a whole-farm approachJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2007R. H. GIBSON Summary 1Organic farming is thought to lead to increased biodiversity and greater sustainability than higher-yielding conventional farming systems. It is usually assumed that organic farms have both larger and higher quality areas of semi-natural habitats, although this assumption has not been unequivocally tested. 2Here we test the hypothesis that in comparison to conventional farms, organic farms have larger areas of semi-natural and boundary vegetation, and organic farms support higher levels of plant abundance, richness and diversity within cropped and semi-natural areas. 3Our study compared whole-farms: 10 organic farms were paired with 10 conventional farms in a complex landscape in the south-west of England. On average, organic farms were 7·3 years post conversion. Plant abundance, species richness and diversity were measured in all crop and non-crop landscape elements on each farm. 4Organic farms had greater total areas of semi-natural habitat (woodland, field margins and hedgerows combined). Woodland area on it's own was also significantly greater. Organic farms had more continuous blocks of woodland (with simpler perimeters than similarly sized patches on conventional farms), whereas woodland on conventional farms often consisted of more linear patches. 5Semi-natural habitats on organic farms did not have higher plant abundance, richness or diversity than their conventional counterparts. The only landscape element that showed a significant increase in plant abundance, richness or diversity was arable fields. 6Synthesis and applications. Even within a complex agricultural landscape differences do exist between organic and conventional farms, these differences being larger areas of semi-natural habitats on organic farms. However, with the exception of arable fields, no habitats on organic farms were yet of a better quality than their conventional counterparts in terms of plant abundance and diversity. Conventional farmers may be able to achieve an increase in plant diversity within arable fields by adopting some organic management practices at the field scale (e.g. exclusion of synthetic herbicides), and whole-farm conversion to organic practice might not be required. However, further work is needed to determine any biodiversity benefits of larger areas of semi-natural habitat on conventional farmland. [source] Mimicking biological delivery through feedback-controlled drug release systems based on molecular imprintingAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009David R. Kryscio Intelligent drug delivery systems (DDS) are able to rapidly detect a biological event and respond appropriately by releasing a therapeutic agent; thus, they are advantageous over their conventional counterparts. Molecular imprinting is a promising area that generates a polymeric network which can selectively recognize a desired analyte. This field has been studied for a variety of applications over a long period of time, but only recently has it been investigated for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Recent work in the area of molecularly imprinted polymers in drug delivery highlights the potential of these recognitive networks as environmentally responsive DDS that can ultimately lead to feedback controlled recognitive release systems. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009. [source] Comparison of herbicide regimes and the associated potential environmental effects of glyphosate-resistant crops versus what they replace in EuropePEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 4 2008Gijs A Kleter Abstract While cultivation of transgenic crops takes place in seven of the EU member states, this constitutes a relatively limited part of the total acreage planted to these crops worldwide. The only glyphosate-resistant (GR) crop grown commercially until recently has been soybean in Romania. In addition, large-scale experimental European data exist for GR sugar and fodder beets, and, to a lesser extent, GR oilseed rape. These GR crops are likely to have an impact both on the use of herbicides and on the environmental impact of the latter. From the data on these GR crops, it appears that quantities of herbicides applied to GR beets are decreased while those on GR soybean are slightly increased compared with their conventional counterparts. Depending on the parameters used for prediction or measurement of environmental impacts of GR crops, generally similar or less negative impacts were observed compared with conventional crops. Favourable environmental effects of the glyphosate-containing herbicide regimes on GR crops appear feasible, provided appropriate measures for maintaining biodiversity and prevention of volunteers and gene flow are applied. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Steerable catheters in minimally invasive vascular surgeryTHE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER ASSISTED SURGERY, Issue 4 2009Yili Fu Abstract Background Remote-controlled catheter navigation systems have recently been introduced into minimally invasive vascular surgery and some of them have already been applied in clinical practice. Steerable catheters with improved manoeuvrability play an important role in these innovations for conventional catheterization. Methods This review details the development of various steerable catheters, both in use clinically and under investigation. Comprehensive comparison and analysis in several key aspects are followed to reveal both the advantages and limitations of these catheters, as well as the requirements for relevant techniques. Results Steerable catheters are able to select direction in the distal end, and superior to conventional counterparts in many aspects. Differences between magnetic and active catheters mainly lie in function, safety, configuration of operating room and cost. They have similar requirements for miniaturization and slave insertion mechanisms. Conclusions Steerable catheters are rapidly evolving and still require technological refinements to extend current capabilities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||